Week 27

The above picture is for my HSM girls!! (27 Weeks)

These are some more pictures from our friend's, The Brook's, gender reveal party for their baby a few weeks ago...

This is me and Rebecca, who is also pregnant!

Rebecca (at 13 weeks), Kristin (at 20 weeks), Me (at 24 weeks). I love these girls, and love that we are getting to share this season of life!

Week 25

My sister Heather and my niece Charlotte came out to visit this weekend. They stayed with us which was great because I got to monopolize their time, and have tons of one on one time with Charlotte in which I didn't have to share her with anybody! She is so sweet, and having her here this weekend really made me glad that my son and Charlotte will be so close in age. It will be great that they will get to grow up together...I just wish they lived closer!

We went to our friend's baby's gender reveal party on Saturday. It was such a special time to be with them as they found out they will be having a little girl! Mike and Kristin are going to be amazing parents and their daughter will be blessed because of them. It will be exciting to share the ups and downs of parenting with them!

While my sister was here we also were able to register! She was such a help and having her there really helped me not to feel overwhelmed by all of the baby "stuff!" It seems like entering this stage of life requires learning a new language...the language of "Baby Gear." I'm so glad she was here to walk me through the aisles pointing out the items I'll need and the ones not to bother with. I have always loved having an older sister and even as I get older I learn to value that relationship on deeper levels. Love you Heather and Charlotte!

Week 24

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy is going! I am already 24 weeks, which means we only have 16 weeks (hopefully!) until we welcome our little man. When I began to count down rather than count up, D-day suddenly seems so much sooner!

Ryan and I purchased some big items this weekend to get ready for the baby. We bought a glider/rocker for the nursery and a car. We bought a Honda Pilot, which is an automatic (yay!) and it has four doors (double yay!), so we will actually be able to get the baby in and out! ;)  It would have been a real struggle to continue to deal with my little 2 door, manual Civic! We are so grateful to have the means to afford these luxuries. When I think about moms all over the world who have their children strapped to their backs in just some fabric, I feel so blessed that I get to live where we are living and afford what we can to provide for our baby.

I am really looking forward to this weekend. My sister is coming into town and bringing my adorable niece, Charlotte. I'm sure we will take plenty of pictures because I cannot help snapping away when I'm with my gorgeous niece! So next blog post should be full of a lot more fun pictures besides just ones of my belly! ;)

Here is a preview of Charlotte:

Week 22

This week was so much fun! Ryan was finally done with his finals for school, so we were able to finally enjoy some time together. On Friday night we went to El Torito at the Harbor and celebrated the close of his first semester in seminary. It was a nice time and we got there in enough time to have dinner overlooking a twilight harbor. Afterward we ran into Ralph's for some groceries and the checker asked if I was pregnant! It caught me off guard, but it was special because it was the first time a stranger has guessed that I am!

On Saturday we had our first beach day of the season. The weather was absolutely perfect and we were able to meet some of our friends there. It was the first time that I laid out since being pregnant, and as soon as I got in the sun the baby totally started moving. It was the first time I was able to actually see him move through my skin. It was such a weird but cool experience! Ryan was even able to see it, so it was fun that we were both able to see it together. There were 4 little boys that were playing in the sand next to us, and I couldn't help but think that soon I would be taking my own son to the beach and introducing him to the beauty that God has created and allows us to enjoy!

Week 21

I woke up one morning this week and felt little feet (I think they were feet) pretty high up on my side. It took me by surprise because it was the highest I've felt the baby before. I am amazed at how fast he is growing. He's already half the length he will be once he's born!

I am getting more and more excited to get the nursery ready. I have started to look into what kind of furniture we want to get, and I can't wait until we get it all together. Ryan finishes school next week, and after that we will have time to go shopping and look at the different types of cribs, gliders and dressers. We will also probably register soon too. I so look forward to experiencing this special time with him!

Baby McCawley Is A...

Friday, April 23, 2010



This was truly one of the most special nights of our lives! We are grateful to all of our friends and family who were able to be there and make finding out what we are having so special for us!

Me at 20 Weeks

Me and my sister-in-law, Jenna (She's 5 weeks ahead of me!)

It's cake cutting time!!!

Ryan's excited!

IT'S A BOY!!!

Week 20

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

This week was the best yet! We had our 20 week doctor appointment and got to see our little one on the ultrasound again! It was a bittersweet time because it was the last ultrasound we will probably get, but the next time we see the baby is when we have it! The ultrasound tech was surprised about how long the baby was, so I think it's going to be tall like Ry. We also got more pictures which are always so special. We got a very special one of the hand and some great profile shots!

The tech was also able to see the gender. We had her write it down in two seperate envelopes. One envelope we dropped off at a bakery and the other we kept. We had the bakery bake a cake that was either pink or blue inside. We are having a party on Friday night and we will cut the cake, and all find out together what we are having! It is going to be so exciting, and I cannot wait to find out what it is!

Week 18

Week 17

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The baby's movements have become more consistent. Even as I'm writing this, I can feel him/her move! it is the sweetest feeling, and reassuring knowing that everything is ok. The baby likes to move around in the afternoon (hopefully that means he or she will sleep in! ha!) I've noticed it a lot when I'm sitting at my desk at work. Ry jokingly said the baby will be a boxer since it's throwing me so many baby punches! I woke up this morning to the movement and couldn't fall back asleep, but I didn't mind. I enjoy feeling the baby move! This week the baby is 5" long and about the size of a turnip (but hopefully it's a lot cuter).  :)

Week 15

Week 14

  Tuesday, March 9, 2010

This week was so fun! We were able to share the news with my grandma and some friends I had grown up with. We were up in Anaheim for a funeral, which was a beautiful service remembering a Godly man. The occasion brought together so many old friends from the church I grew up in. It was so nice to see everyone and catch up, and to be there for my friend who had lost her dad. He was such a great example, and I can only hope to raise our children to love our Father the way he did.

After the funeral, we stopped by my grandma's house and gave her the same card we had given our parents. I am grateful to have one last grandparent that will get to meet our baby. Her mom (my great-grandma) was alive well into my 20's and it was so special to always have 4 generations alive at the same time, which I'm happy will continue for this little one.

This weekend Ryan and I also experimented with observing the Sabbath from sundow on Saturday to sundown on Sunday. (This was an assignment Ry had to do for one of his seminary classes). We stayed off our computers and kept the TV and radio off. It was such a refreshing time together and with the Lord. It allowed us to to just talk, enjoy each other's company, read and do a devotional. I think it would be a great habit to do more often in our house.

This week the baby is 4" from crown to rump, about the size of an apple and weighs around 2 ounces. It is incredible to think the baby is already that big! I'm excited for my belly to grow, but I'm also trying to enjoy every moment, especially now when I'm not that big and uncomfortable yet! :)

Week 13

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

This week marked the first time I'm pretty sure I felt the baby move! It was very subtle, but I'm almost certain that's what it was. I've never felt anything like that before. I was standing at the kitchen sink and felt a fluttery movement. I can't wait to feel it again, just to make sure it was the baby. I am so excited to feel the baby more and more!

Week 12

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

We had our 12 week doctor's appointment this week. We were able to have another ultrasound, and it was so amazing! I was blown away by how big the baby is and how much it has grown. It look like a real baby now! The ultrasound was such a great experience and the tech gave us a dvd of the whole thing. We also got several pictures that show the baby in different positions. The tech spent a long time with us and let us watch the baby sleep, stretch, even suck it's thumb! The tech had me cough a couple of times to get the baby to be more active. I fell in love right there with that blurry black and white image! It's amazing to see the baby moving on the screen and knowing that you are getting to watch what is happening RIGHT NOW inside of you! It blows my mind! We were also able to hear the heartbeat, and it was so special to share that moment with Ryan, knowing that God allowed us to participate in creating that little heart that will continue beating for so many years! I am so thankful!

Week 10

Week 9

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

This was a fun week because all of our family now knows and we were getting phone calls from my very excited mom. Two days after we told them, my mom sent us a package in the mail that had a rattle, rubber ducky, baby powder and baby nail clipper. I think it is so cute how excited she is! This baby is going to be loved!

This week was also exciting because we found out that some of our really good friends are also pregnant and she is only 4 weeks behind us! I am SO excited for this blessing in their lives and that she and I will get to walk through this together. I couldn't ask to be more blessed than to have two very special women in my life to experience all of this with! (My sister-in-law is also pregnant and the cousins will only be 5 weeks apart! How fun it will be to watch them grow up together!) You girls are amazing and I know that God has some very special moments planned for us!

Week 8

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

We had our first appointment with our doctor this week, which included our first ultrasound. We were sitting in the dark room, watching the screen as the little kidney bean shaped baby appeared. It was so surreal seeing the heartbeat – the pulsating of the little heart was amazing to see, and made it real that there is life growing inside me. I continue to be alternately overwhelmed and blessed by the fact that God allows us to be so intimately involved in the creation process. We also had a funny moment when the ultrasound tech moved the wand around to "check for twins." When she didn't find another baby, Ryan said, "Oh thank goodness!" We both feel so blessed that God has entrusted a new life to us that we are responsible for, a new soul that we are to guide in the ways of his word.

This week was also a milestone for us as we told all of our families! We had my mom and stepdad over for dinner on Friday night. We went to my dad and step mom's for dinner on Saturday and had Ryan's parents and brother and sister-in-law over for dinner on Sunday. We told each of them by giving them the picture below in a frame. Each reaction was so precious and memorable. We will cherish those moments forever!

(The photos (as well as our photo in the header of the blog) were taken by our very talented friends, Travis and Hayley. You can see more of their work here.)

We're Having A Baby!

Saturday, January 2, 2010 — Week 4

Ryan and I found out we are having a baby! We are so excited for this blessing and to experience this next season of life. We have so much to look forward to, and so much to learn!

I waited until Saturday morning to take the test. And of course I was so excited so I woke up early. I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to slip out of bed to take the test, and it was positive! I slid back in bed thinking that Ryan was asleep, but he asked me if I had taken it. I just smiled at him and he gave me a huge hug. We are so excited to experience all of the changes and new things that we will learn and be challenged by before and after our little one arrives. And we are thankful to God for blessing us with this truly amazing gift!

Baby McCawley is due September 7th, 2010! We can't wait to meet you!

(Below is Ryan's pregnancy sympathy picture).  :)