Happy 10th Anniversary!

I'd like to interrupt all my INSANITY blog posts for a special announcement.  An announcement more insane than any workout program...

As of today, Rebecca and I have been married TEN (10) years.  Now that's insane.

So, Rebecca, here's a little something to commemorate our time together.

10 GREAT THINGS ABOUT 10 YEARS WITH YOU

10. Date Nights
These have been few and far between over the last 4 years (since having kids), but I have had so much fun experiencing life with you.  We've shared delicious dinners and we're always willing to try new places and foods when given the opportunity.  I actually enjoyed the trips to Five Guys while you were pregnant with Isaac, though I packed on a few pounds.  We've caught a few movies (actually in theaters!) over the years.  We've been to tons of concerts, many of which I would've never bought tickets to if not for you (I mean that in a good way).  We've gotten to a couple of ballgames (including the rain delayed game in Pittsburgh that we left too early only to find out the next morning that the Cardinals made an awesome comeback that we missed - Doh!).  We've seen a plethora of plays/productions/even musicals, and even experienced a hilarious Jerry Seinfeld stand-up routine.  You know there's more, but to the point... I really enjoy spending time with you.

9. The 2006 Playoffs and World Series
Let me preface this one by saying that this should really encompass all of the time we spend together in the comfort of our home, chilling on the couch, snuggling (until I get too hot), and watching the tube.  We have our TV shows we like to watch (House, Big Bang, early CSI, etc.), but in 2006 you watched all seventeen (17) Cardinals playoff games with me on our then-new high-def flat panel TV.  All of them.  I know you slept through a few innings, but you proved your fanhood that year and I remember how much fun we had watching those games en route to a World Series Championship.  It was one of those pre-children special moments to me.

8. Vacations Together
With or without our kids, we have had a blast and been so blessed to see a little bit of God's [and some of man's] creation.  The fun began in Kuaui, Hawaii on our honeymoon and has taken us to such places as Gatlinburg, Charleston-SC, San Diego, Hilton Head, Edisto Island, Asheville, Hershey, Pittsburgh, the Caribbean, beaches galore, and most recently, Savannah.  And while we had our "moments" during some trips... you know, spousal navigational disagreements, we managed to get everywhere we were going and enjoy ourselves.  And granted I have been quoted as saying, "Buying that Tom Tom GPS likely saved our marriage," road trips with my bestie are still the best.  I know... I can't quite attach myself to that new word either.

7. Making a Home Together
We bought our house in February 2002.  Ever since then, and perhaps even before then while renting a duplex, we really seemed to click when it came to making our house really feel like our house.  Our style, our taste, your research and our execution of ideas has really made our home the best place for us to start and end our days.  It's special to me that though we are so different when it comes to the things at which we excel, these home projects have always been something at which we've made a great team.  Well... that and making babies!  Woo hoo!

6. Free [Salon Quality] Haircuts!
Maybe some people wouldn't rank this higher than vacations together or making a home together, but while we were in a moment of comic relief, I thought this would be a good spot for this one.  You know I can't stand to be too serious for too long.  That being said, think of all the money I/we have saved in haircuts!  I mean, yeah, you work your fingers to the bone, but... just since we've been married, if I got my haircut once every six weeks (which is pretty conservative), and paid $20 per cut, that's... about 9 haircuts multiplied by ten years, multiplied by $20... that's $1800 we've saved in haircuts!  Not to mention the money we'll save on our kids' haircuts.  Oh, wait, we have a daughter.  Add colors, highlights, perms(?), and up-dos to that list.  I should also mention that the free shampoos afterwards are quite the icing on the cake.  You don't get that at the barber shop!

Salon chair or porch?  It's nice to have options.

5. Your Vocals
Boy, are you vocal! :-)  Sometimes to a fault.  But not when your singing.  Seriously, I m not sure I've ever expressed or expressed enough how your singing floored me from the start.  When you sing, and especially when you're singing to worship God, you touch my heart and so often lead me into a my own place of worship.  It's incredibly beautiful.  And although you hear it from others every time you sing, I wish I never grew tired of telling you that you needed to cut a CD.  We could be rich, I tell you...RICH!!  But who knows, if you made it big years ago, you might have dumped me for a sweeter piece of arm candy.  Instead, thankfully, you've let God lead, and I'm pretty sure he hasn't steered you wrong.  Really I just wanted a CD for keepsake/family heirloom purposes.  But wait!  Now, for the first time, you're in a band!  A band so new it doesn't even have a name yet.  I know how much you're enjoying it and that makes me super happy for you, and I get the feeling I might soon get that CD that I -- and many others -- have been waiting for.

Like I said... Gorgeous.

4. October 6, 2001
It was the first day of the rest of our lives.  It was awesome.  You were a gorgeous bride.  We shared a funny moment at the wick-less unity candle.  You sang Valentine to me at our reception.  And I heard the prime rib was delicious.  How did we not get to eat our dinner until we were on our way to Greensboro?  Cold chicken tenders and leftovers in a Styrofoam box for us.  But we were too excited to care.  That was a sweet day.  You've been a great wife ever since.  It had to be you.

Cue up Harry Connick, Jr.



2. The Sex!
I'm kidding.  I mean... I'm not kidding in the sense that "it" wouldn't make some uncensored Top 10 List, but that's not really my style.  If anyone else reading must know, we've only had coitus twice and it was for pro-creation purposes only.  True story.
Now... you may have noticed there's no number 3.  That is because there's a tie for the #2 spot.  On two perfect days over the last 4 years, you gave birth to my other two favorite people.

    2-a. Isaac James, born December 22, 2007.

    2-b. Ella Riley, born May 3, 2010.

Speaking of "the difficult part!" 

You are a wonderful mom.  You were a wonderful mom from the moment we found out these children were being woven in your belly.  And while you are all the things a fun-loving mom is supposed to be, I'm more proud that my children have a mother, who cares to do well the things that are the more difficult parts of being a parent.  You are prepared.  You are scheduled.  You are disciplined.  You're the bomb mom.  I see it, and I love you for it.

1. You Love Jesus
Completely.  That relationship is something that translates into so much more in our relationship.  And that truth continues to sustain our marriage.  Thank you for your commitment to Christ, for your faithfulness to me, and for your partnership in parenthood.

Happy Anniversary!

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..."

~ Ephesians 5:25 ~

Say What?!

I'm experiencing more and more every day the truth that "kids say the darndest things."  I've not documented enough of the hilarious things that I've heard come out of Isaac's almost-three-year-old mouth.  So I'm starting today a new series of blog posts that will from here on out fall under the "Say What?!" label.  Not to mention, Ella is only 6 and a half months old and has already uttered her name and "kitty" (which was Isaac's first word at 6 months old, too!)  Anyway, without writing them down I'll forget these moments much too soon, and so... here we are.
Isaac has recently become an expert navigating his way to some computer game sites.  This afternoon he was playing some Sesame Street games on pbskids.org.  He got to Cookie Monster's "Color Me Hungry" where Grover asks that you help Cookie Monster match certain fruits and vegetables with the box they belong in based on what color they are.  He proceeds to tell you some facts about the foods as they are correctly matched.  This is the dialogue that took place after Isaac correctly matched the honeydew to the green box...

Grover: What a wonderful melon! It helps you grow and it is good for your blood and for your digestion. Not only that, but it is sweet and delicious.
Isaac: Yeah, and it's good for diarrhea, too.

Haha! Say What?!

As an encore, this evening Isaac asked me if I wanted to play in his room....

Me: Sure, but I've got to pee first... I'll be there in a minute.
Isaac (opening the door while I'm "midstream"): Good job, daddy... Tell me when you're done and I'll wipe you.
Me: Uh, I'm good.

Haha! Say What?!

Today's Good Read: Psalm 8:2

Ella Riley McMahon

Baby Ella has arrived!  Okay, so it was nine days ago.  Fair to say I've had a few moments of time when I could have probably published a quick blog entry; however, energy has been at a premium over the last week, and I've been waiting for the dazed and confused fog to pass.  So this is it!
Early on the morning of May 2nd, Rebecca spent most of the morning sick with a stomach bug and became very dehydrated.  We all know what causes dehydration, so I'll leave it at that.  Rebecca felt awful and began to have mild contractions, so we decided to go ahead and get to the hospital, figuring she was due May 8th, so this might be magic time.  Turned out that the dehydration can cause contractions, and after a bag and a half of fluids and a little rest, the doctor sent us home to spread news of a false alarm.  She could have induced (one was scheduled for May 4th anyway), but preferred to not make Rebecca go into labor feeling the way she had for the previous 12 hours.
So we got home around 10:30am and Rebecca headed back to bed.  I knew she really felt drained because (a) she didn't want to vacuum anything, and (b) she killed a 32 oz. Gatorade and loved it -- she hates Gatorade (but I've told her that Gatorade only tastes good when you need it and she's not the jock/sweaty-type that has ever much needed Gatorade... you follow me?  Anyhoo...) She spent the next 10 hours in bed, quite literally, other than to pee and finally get a shower around 9pm.  And then, the real labor began.  I called my mom -- and aren't moms especially great in times like these?! -- and she came over and sat with Rebecca as I got Isaac ready for bed.  We began timing contractions around 9:45pm and at 10:30pm decided that this was no false alarm.  It was time to go!  Mom spent the night at our house with Isaac, though obviously didn't plan to sleep much.
We got back to the hospital around 11pm and told them we were there to stay this time!  The details of the next four hours are a little fuzzy, but they involved breaking her water, getting an epidural, and me nodding off on a bedside stool (I did eventually move to the uncomfortable dad's chair, because when I start nodding off I twitch hard enough to kick a 40-yard field goal and didn't want to destroy any nearby medical equipment).  We both rested through the early phase of contractions, but eventually the nurses came in, I half-woke up, and it was time to have a baby.  Don't worry, I eventually gathered my wits and did an outstanding coaching job.  Rebecca was awesome, breezing through the [no-doubt painful] "hard part."  After only 35 minutes of pushing, out came our baby girl.  And yes, I cut the umbilical cord... without realizing I had grabbed it with my left hand to help stabilize it.  It seemed incredibly strong... and slimy.
So while big brother Isaac slept, Rebecca and I excitedly welcomed Ella Riley at 3:08am on Monday, May 3, 2010.  Only a half-ounce separated her from her big brother's size at birth -- 8 pounds, 6.5 ounces and 20.5 inches long.  She has a full head of dark brown hair and seems to favor the McMahon side of the family... she looks like my dad and brother Kyle!  What?!  Scary, I know! :-)  No, really she is absolutely beautiful, and we are blessed beyond measure.  Praise God!

Today's Good Read: Psalm 139:13-16

A few pictures... see more on Facebook!

 

All Things New

Happy Easter!  I couldn't have planned a better day to write my first blog entry on McMahonhood.  If you're a Christian, this is the most celebrated day of the year, and it could not be more beautiful from where I sit and write.  I even caught the sunrise around 7:15 this morning from my porch.  I don't know why it is different for me (in a good way) this year, other than that I believe God can make any and every day new and special.  This is without a doubt a special day.  Our church service was filled with songs that felt like anthems and we sung them out, especially the Resurrection Hymn (and I'm not usually overwhelmed by "hymns").  Man, it can be really powerful if you allow it to be.  Darren brought a great Easter message, too.
Certainly a lot of my excitement is about meeting my little girl in about a month.  I totally remember the awe of Isaac's birth (I'm not sure it ever left) and I know it's going to be just as incredible the second time around.  So I/we wait patiently, but with much anticipation for baby Ella.
I'm also jacked up about baseball starting up.  Easter and baseball and a new baby - Spring has finally sprung for me.  And I'm looking forward to and expecting a big year from Albert and the Cardinals.  No one saw them coming when they got healthy late in 2006 just in time to put a beat down on the Tigers in the World Series, and this year they have a killer roster.  It's really theirs to lose.  So I'm excited to sit in my chair and watch some baseball with the fam... well... I know I can at least make Ella sit with me when she gets here.  And I will give Rebecca some props - she's has become a Cardinals fan over the years and actually watched EVERY game of the 2006 playoffs (that was like 14 games!).  That's my girl.
Anyway, take a deep breath yourself... God is good.  Easter's for real.  All things are being made new.

Happy Easter!

Today's Good Read: Revelation 21:5