Well, after much turmoil, debate, back-and-forth, color psychology, and split-personalitied indecisiveness...we have FINALLY decided on a nursery for Miss Everleigh. Y'all, you would have thought I was picking out china patterns for the Queen of England, or even worse, having to pick out my wedding dress again! The horror!!! But, I have finally decided, and here it is.
This will be her furniture, and I am absolutely in love with it. I love the little crystal knobs and the detailed carving. It's black, but has a hint of brown in this pic...
This will be her bedding, etc., which interestingly enough is called "Harlow"...one of the names I loved for a little girl...
The big news is here! We are having a baby GIRL! Everleigh Hazel Maciuk will join us in September and we are just giddy with excitement and anticipation!
We told our families on Friday night by ordering a cake that was iced in white but the cake on the inside was the color of the gender of our little lovey. You can imagine the excitement and surprise when my little sister cut into it and pulled out a PINK slice of cake! We also had everyone there dress in either pink or blue, depending on what their gender guess was! FUN!
Many have wondered where we came up with the name, Everleigh Hazel, so here it is. Dan and I were wanting a unique name that was also classic and timeless. A blogger I follow regularly, mostly because of her BEAUTIFUL writing and way with words, had a daughter in January. I was reading the post about her birth aloud to Dan one night when I came across the name of her daughter, Everly. Dan and I both just stopped and said, "THAT'S IT!" We instantly fell in love with how sweet, delicate, and timeless it sounds, as well as how unique and almost old Hollywood it is! At the time we didn't know we were having a girl, but we just knew this was to be her first name if we did!
Now here's the really cool story. Her middle name will be Hazel...the first name of my precious, beloved Grandma who lost her fight with Lupus & Parkinson's Disease on September 18, 2008, just before Dan and I were married. I ADORED my Grandma, and have wanted to honor her by naming a daughter Hazel for as long as I can remember. When we went for my first ultrasound, they set my due date to September 17, the day before the anniversary of when she went to be with Jesus. I have been a little sad about that because I wouldn't want our baby to be born on a day that will forever be a little sad for me. However, when we had our ultrasound last Thursday and they told us we are to be the parents of a baby GIRL, they ALSO changed our due date to September 13, which was my Grandma's BIRTHDAY!! Now, the chances of us actually having her on our due date are slim, but it confirmed that this girl was meant to be Hazel. I know my Grandma is smiling in heaven at the thought of that. I rarely saw her smile in the last few years of her life, so that makes me happy.
We are already in love with just the thought of her. We find ourselves daydreaming about what she will look like, how cute she will be in her funky little clothes, how funny she will be, how much HAIR she will have, playing the piano and drums, doing ballet, etc. : ) Hey, a parent can dream, right? Most of all, we daydream about how much our hearts are going to explode with love every second we spend with her. We have prayed for her for a long time, and know she is a precious, timely, gift from God. A reminder that He does love us dearly, and finds us worthy to bring HIS children into the world and raise them in the way they should go. I can't wait to be a momma to Miss Everleigh. I love you little girl!
Is it cheating to post my "Heart Day" blog the day before my actual "Heart Day?" Isn't that the essence of these "Heart Day" posts...to give me a break from my usual hectic Tuesdays to reflect on the little things in life that suit my fancy? Well, I know tomorrow will be exceptionally busy for me, so I am already thinking about these treasures!
We had a FUN weekend! We went to Kansas City to see our fun friends, Jared and Mandy, and their PRECIOUS girls, London (4), Cadence (3), and Rilo (1). They are too much fun!! It's always nice to be around friends that you can just be so silly and laugh until your belly hurts. We have some FUNNY stories from the weekend, for sure! Love you guys!
We finally bought something for our little sweetie pie this weekend! Is it sad that the first thing we bought it has to do with discipline? This little white patent leather chair will serve as our "Time-Out" chair. It is TOOOO cute! You can't really tell how little it is here, but it stands about 36" tall. If our little one loves this chair as much as I do, we may have to re-think the "time-out" plan.
Now THIS is a big deal! I guess this is considered our second baby purchase. If you saw my first "Heart Day" post, you know that I want an old vintage pram stroller so badly! However, they are SUPER expensive, so I knew I wouldn't be able to have one. Not to mention how unpractical they are! They are MASSIVE and you can't really fold them up and put them in the back of your car to go to the park. BUT, they are gorgeous, so dream I did. Until my dream came true on Saturday! My sister-in-law found this original Marmet pram, made in England, at a garage sale in Nashville! These prams range from $600 to $1000 on EBay right now! It was owned by an Olympic swimmer from England, and made its way to the states, and now into my arms! I can't WAIT to push our little one around in this! Our baby is ALREADY stylin'!!!!
And last, but certainly not least, the tummy pic. Oh boy, this sucker is growing at a RAPID rate! My doctor DID tell me a couple weeks ago to expect to double in size over the next few weeks, and I am WELL on my way! It's fun though! I love pregnant bellies, and mine is no exception. Last Thursday we got to go have another ultrasound because we have a friend who is an ultrasound tech at the hospital. We watched our sweetie for 45 minutes! It was moving all around, sitting Indian style, sucking its little thumb. At one point it even took its thumb out of its mouth and gave us a thumbs up! : ) I was measuring about a week ahead, so I fully expect my due date to change at our official doctor's appointment on the 29th. I am now feeling movement quite often. It is THE neatest feeling in the world! Every time I feel it, it still makes me sit straight up with my eyes wide open. I hope I never get used to it. We are in love with you, baby Maciuk! You are already the apple of our eyes!
Not gonna lie...today was a rough one. The pregnancy emotions combined with the usual stress of my Tuesday schedule got the best of me. But, I designed this diaper bag tonight at my fave, 1154 Lill Studio in Kansas City, and it's making me feel MUCH better! Oh, and I also designed this wedding invitation for my dear friends Matt and Maggie tonight! They loved it, so SCORE! I think it's pretty cute too...just like them! They are getting married on my birthday, and that's THE best present anyone could give me! WEDDING CAKE ON MY BIRTHDAY! Hope you all had a MUCHO FAB Tuesday!
Sometimes you meet someone in your lifetime who you know is a treasure from that first moment. That's how I felt when I was introduced to Tommy Van Zandt in 2004. I was to be the Account Executive assigned to his commercial real estate business at the agency I was with at the time. Tommy and I hit it off QUICKLY! You see, I'm a daddy's girl somethin' fierce, and I learned quickly that Tommy's great love was being a husband (to one of the most beautiful women I know) and, a father. My heart tends to seek out those types...the "Dad" away from my Dad, if you will. Although no one will EVER, EVER, EVER top my daddy in my heart, a girl can never have too many "dad-figures" to admire when she doesn't get to see hers every day. I found that in my friendship with Tommy Van Zandt. Over the next few years, my career path took me in a few different directions. No matter the direction, Tommy would always check in...like a "dad" would. When I would see him at the gym, at the coffee shop, or out on the town, I always got a "dad" style hug, and that big TVZ smile. One day I saw him in Panera Bread, and he introduced me to one of my future bosses, David Roth, President of WorkMatters, an incredible faith in the workplace ministry, that I later worked for for a little over a year before moving to Oklahoma City. Whoever was a friend of Tommy's was a friend of mine!
About a year and a half ago, I did a rebranding project for Sage Partners, Tommy's commercial real estate company in Fayetteville. Our friendship really, really blossomed during that time when I would office with them about 15 hours a week. We would laugh (he thinks I'm crazy), I would share about my relationship with Dan and how it was progressing, and he would share about his family and kids. He would ask advice on raising teenagers since Dan was a youth pastor and I was fully involved in his ministry. Sweet, sweet times. In fact, similar to what a young man would do with a girl's father, Dan went to Tommy before he proposed to me to let him know what he was planning to do, and ask permission to take me away for a few days. I still have the email Tommy wrote in response to Dan. It was the sweetest thing.
Last February, Tommy was injured cutting limbs in his backyard after the ice storm. He fell from a 10-foot ladder and immediately knew he had broken his neck and was paralyzed from the neck down. Our hearts were completely BROKEN for Tommy and his family. I remember laying in bed the night I found out and just bursting into tears of compassion and hurt for them. I called my husband just bawling. How could something like this happen to such a good, precious, LOVED man? A man who was so active! I used to see Tommy at the gym five mornings a week running before work...an avid outdoorsman...the father of two teenage boys? After a stay at the hospital in Fayetteville, Tommy was moved to Denver to a rehab hospital where he would stay for months. In the meantime, Dan and I moved to Oklahoma City. The last conversation I had on the phone with Tommy was telling him that we were thinking about taking the job in Oklahoma City.
Fast forward to this morning. I had the PRIVILEGE of going back to hear Tommy speak about his experience and his influence at the WorkMatters Eight-to-Five Unplugged event. I also got to see all of my old co-workers from WorkMatters! No one knew I was coming, which was really fun, including Tommy. I snuck in the back door because I was running a few minutes behind the 6:30am start time. Right when I walked in, Tommy and I locked eyes for the first time in over a year, and he winked at me to acknowledge he knew I was there. That was the beginning of the water works for me.
This is an amazing man. The room was PACKED...standing room only...with people who love and admire him for who he was before the accident, and who he has become after. He spoke about how he felt the Holy Spirit on him and in him while he was laying on the ground waiting for someone to find him that day. He spoke about how God is using this situation to influence others in his life on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis. He talked about how prayer really works. He talked about how life can truly change in the time it takes to fall from a 10-foot ladder in your own backyard. Then after, people got to stand up and tell how Tommy has influenced THEIR life.
I didn't say anything in front of the crowd, but wanted to. I would have told Tommy that he is a precious friend and has poured so much into my life. He has been such an example of how a husband should love a wife. I remember him telling me on more than one occasion that he "married WAY out of his league." We would laugh about that and assure him that he, in fact, HAD married out of his league! : ) However, what he doesn't know is that one of the moments I knew I was going to marry Dan was when he told someone I was "out of his league." And that was all because of Tommy. I admire and love him as a business man, a husband, a father, a friend, and most of all, as my brother in Christ. I would have told him that I don't understand why this is God's plan for his life, but I know he must be considered worthy to carry such a ministry position.
People's lives were changed today, and I have no doubt that they are changed every day because of Tommy. I have tears welling up in my eyes right now just thinking of him and how brave and humble and courageous he is. He has embraced this situation with such grace and beauty, and my heart needed to see that after a year. I got to speak with Tommy today and joke around with him like we always did. I "tried" to ask about Robyn (his wife) and the boys, but all he wanted to know about was me...my pregnancy, our house, my job, our church, etc. That's Tommy for ya...typical Tommy. I love that man. I absolutely adore him. And I treasured our time together today. Thanks for who you are, Tommy. You are a precious, precious man.
March 24, 2010
We had a doctor's appointment yesterday! I was so excited because I thought we were going to get to see our little nugget again! Guess I just thought you got to see them every time. I had hoped this was true because sometimes, when you haven't really been sick at all or had any weird cravings, you wonder if they are really in there. Anywho, we didn't get to see the baby, but we DID get to hear the heartbeat again! And by the sound of it, I think this is what we are having...
Not because it was saying "ribbit", but because they had to chase the precious little thing all over my stomach to keep track of the heartbeat (which is very healthy, by the way)! The nurse even commented that it was a very active baby, and because of that, I might start feeling it sooner than later! I cannot wait for that day!! This also might explain why I've been so dad'gum tired! They baby is active enough for both of us!
We went over some desires and plans with our doctor, whom we LOVE, as well. She asked about where we wanted to deliver, if I wanted to breast or bottle feed, etc. One of the last questions was epidural or natural delivery? Now, those of you who might not know me as well, I've got a little hippy, flower-child, running through my veins. Just enough for me to prefer organic vs. non-organic, make-up that makes you look like you don't have any on, boycott on most over-the-counter and prescription meds (see the movie "The Constant Gardner"), the windows down on the car and up in the house, and truth be told, a shower every other day or so (I take a sink bath on those days...don't worry). So natural childbirth is naturally my first option, and no, I'm not a glutton for punishment. There is something very pure about it in my mind. The way God intended it to be (after the fall, of course). An uninhibited expression of "I am momma, hear me roar." And I'm sure I will roar plenty! Something is so sweet and attractive to me about experiencing every bit of pregnancy, the joys and the pains, right along with this precious lovely one I am growing inside of me. I have been called everything from stupid, to idiot, and everything in between when sharing that with most. I was relieved to find that my doctor fully supports it, with the proper preparation both mentally and physically. It is my desire to spend as much time getting ready for this as I can including, yoga, reading, meditation and pain management breathing. It is also my desire to hire a doula, or labor coach, to help me through it. So, call me what you will, I feel like it's the right thing for me this time. It is in NO WAY an attempt to be SuperWoman. Just something I feel deep down in my spirit.
We will find out what we are having on Thursday, April 29th! I am down with whatever! I will be in love no matter what! My hubby, on the other hand, is smitten with the idea of being a daddy to a baby girl. I think he daydreams in rose-colored glasses already, and I'm SURE he would paint that nursery pink TODAY if I would let him! Cutie! We are pumped, no matter what, and are blessed and honored to be chosen to raise a little one.
With that, any wagers on what we'll be having? Girl or boy?
I am the wife to a hottie named Dan, who literally swept me off my feet...and still does. I am the mother to our first delicious little bit, Everleigh Hazel Maciuk, born in September 2010. I stay at home with my lovey-baby and do freelance marketing consulting and design, including wedding invitations and stationery. Life is full and life is good!
Look at this YUMMY, creative cradle!!!! Je t'aime!
For those about to ROCK...
I ADORE this crib!!
But will probably be just as happy with this one since it's LOTS cheaper!
This onesie is a MUST HAVE around our house! What a great way to explain to your baby EXACTLY where they came from! ; )
This DELICIOUS blue chair with silver nail heads and upholstery that feels better than velvet!
And last, but certainly not least, the tummy pic. Oh boy, this sucker is growing at a RAPID rate! My doctor DID tell me a couple weeks ago to expect to double in size over the next few weeks, and I am WELL on my way! It's fun though! I love pregnant bellies, and mine is no exception. Last Thursday we got to go have another ultrasound because we have a friend who is an ultrasound tech at the hospital. We watched our sweetie for 45 minutes! It was moving all around, sitting Indian style, sucking its little thumb. At one point it even took its thumb out of its mouth and gave us a thumbs up! : ) I was measuring about a week ahead, so I fully expect my due date to change at our official doctor's appointment on the 29th. I am now feeling movement quite often. It is THE neatest feeling in the world! Every time I feel it, it still makes me sit straight up with my eyes wide open. I hope I never get used to it. We are in love with you, baby Maciuk! You are already the apple of our eyes! 
Oh, and I also designed this wedding invitation for my dear friends Matt and Maggie tonight! They loved it, so SCORE! I think it's pretty cute too...just like them! They are getting married on my birthday, and that's THE best present anyone could give me! WEDDING CAKE ON MY BIRTHDAY! Hope you all had a MUCHO FAB Tuesday!
This is an amazing man. The room was PACKED...standing room only...with people who love and admire him for who he was before the accident, and who he has become after. He spoke about how he felt the Holy Spirit on him and in him while he was laying on the ground waiting for someone to find him that day. He spoke about how God is using this situation to influence others in his life on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis. He talked about how prayer really works. He talked about how life can truly change in the time it takes to fall from a 10-foot ladder in your own backyard. Then after, people got to stand up and tell how Tommy has influenced THEIR life. 
Not because it was saying "ribbit", but because they had to chase the precious little thing all over my stomach to keep track of the heartbeat (which is very healthy, by the way)! The nurse even commented that it was a very active baby, and because of that, I might start feeling it sooner than later! I cannot wait for that day!! This also might explain why I've been so dad'gum tired! They baby is active enough for both of us! 
Happy Tuesday, my dearies!
