Welcome Mary Neal Bryan McCann

Yesterday at 6:01 PM, Lindsey gave birth to our fourth daughter, Mary Neal Bryan McCann. After 48 hours in the hospital for preeclampsia, the doctors finally gave us the green light for surgery. Mary Neal came into the world weighing 9 lbs 8 ounces, 20 1/4 inches. Lindsey has recovered very well and Mary Neal is eating and sleeping like a champ.

 

 Like all our girls, Mary Neal's name has great significance. For years Lindsey has been impacted by the simple faith of the young mother Mary in the Bible. Mary showed great obedience as she faithfully received the news from the angel about the coming birth of Jesus. This truth was driven home to us when our pastor preached on Luke 2:19. As the shepherds and the angels came to see the newborn Jesus and told of the sayings they had heard, Mary responded by "treasuring up all these things, pondering them in her heart." We hope that Mary Neal will model this same simple faith as she treasures up the hope of the gospel in her heart.

 

 Neal and Bryan are the maiden names of both of her grandmothers. We hope all of our children remember those who have gone before them, and it is a reminder to us all of the great importance of family. We are honored and blessed to have such loving and supportive families.

 

 One final note on having four girls. Folks love to make jokes about how we are in trouble and I am all alone and how we have to save for so many weddings, etc. These jokes are harmless, yet behind all jokes is some level of truth. As a father I just want to say what an amazing privilege, responsibility, and joy it is to have these four little girls. I could not imagine or want a different family. I get to be the first man to love each of them, the first man to take them on a date, and the man to hopefully walk them down the aisle. It is a special and awesome calling that Lindsey and I have been blessed with, and we look forward with eager anticipation to the journey ahead.

 

We love you Mary Neal! Love Dad, Mom, Lucy, Ellie, and Anna.

How did we get here?

I can't believe my little baby girl is growing up. Today starts the first day of Kindergarden. She is attending our neighborhood public school and we are very excited for this opportunity to get to know our community around us even more. She has a great teacher Ms. Hurst and has 2 little girls in her class that she already knows from gymnastics and preschool. Praying hard for my little girl this morning as she begins this big adventure. First day of preschool in Honduras 2009






And here we are today 2012. Is it just me or does she look so big in this picture?!

Sweet Girls

Well summer is officially here as today is the last day of Lucy's preschool.

I can't believe she will be off to Kindergarden in the fall, where did my baby go?

This girl will also be starting preschool for the first time in the fall and be gone 3 days a week.

That just leaves me with this sweet girl and her new baby sister to care for.

All that to say I am not ready for all of these changes to occur, so I am going to soak in my time with all 3 of these girls this summer. Even if I am going to be big, uncomfortable, and hot and in the midst of the lack of schedule and sibling quarrels, we are going to find JOY this summer in being together!

Sisters!

I love watching these girls develop a relationship with one another. Anna can be hard to deal with and a bully sometimes, not quite understanding what it means to share, and yet the older girls are so patient and loving towards her.

On this particular day, Anna got upset about something, and Sean walked into the kitchen and found this. Sweet big sister comforting little sister and both of them loving it.

This was one of the first days I actually let Anna join in on the Polly Pocket fun. As you can see from her face she really thought she was big stuff.

We recently found out that our 4th child will be another precious daughter. What joy it will be to watch these sisters grow up to maturity. Sure I had days that I fought constantly with my sister growing up but that is not what I remember. What I remember are long talks when one of us was struggling with something, back rubs at night, and giggling over silly shows we put on for our parents. I love that I have the privilege of raising these 4 little girls and watching each of them grow into little women. And what a special man these girls have in their father, Sean, who loves and cares for them, and teaches them how a man is to treat them and love them, while all the time pointing them to their Heavenly Father.

Matching Dresses

I know the day is coming soon when my girls will HATE matching each other, but for now they love it and think it is the coolest thing ever. So until that day goes we are going to live it up.

I love this picture because it looks like they are just hanging out and catching up on the latest girl talk.

Easter Pics

We had a full and joyous Easter this year, reflecting on Christ's death and celebrating His resurrection! On Thursday night we attended our churches Maundy Thursday service, and then we drove to Appling for the annual Easter Egg hunt. We had a wonderful time there celebrating with family but we were all too busy to take even one picture. And then it was back to our church for Easter morning and over to some dear friends house for lunch afterwards. Here are some pictures in their front yard.

Ellie looks as if she is in pain, but that is only her smile no worries.

This picture just makes me laugh and might be found in one of those awkward family photo books.

And this is why there are no good pictures of our sweet 1 1/2 year old. She is quite a handful if you don't know her.

Christ is Risen!

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The Camp Out

We got this great tent from Aunt Curley for Christmas, and tonight the bigs and Sean wanted to try it out in the yard.


Can't you just see their excitement exuding from their faces.


A little bed time story/you tube video before "lights out".



Hope everyone stays warm in their sleeping bags and in the tent the whole night through. Meanwhile Anna and I will be enjoying our nice snug and warm beds.

Its that time again...

Well its a even year and our youngest is 17 months old, so of course it is time to get pregnant again. And what do you know it happened! McCann Baby #4 should be welcomed into the world the first week of October, at least that is what we are hoping for since we need another October baby of course.









For those of you who we have shared with about our plans of adoption. We are trusting that this pregnancy was all apart of God's plan and going to continue moving forward with adoption although at a slow pace, taking it one child at a time. Lord willing, the Lord will still bless us with a little boy from Ethiopia one day. And for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, we should hang out it has been a while :)

McCann girls at 17 months

Just because I love to compare what they all look like at the same age :) Amazing how they can look so different and yet so much the same.

Updated Pics

I love this picture, I don't know why but a sweet little stair step picture of the girls. I also love that Ellie's hand is placed gently behind her little sis. Such sweetness.


This great group shot was taking by the grandparents while we were away for 2 weeks in Israel. Oh how I hated to leave my babies for that long but clearly they were no worse for the wear and loved every minute of grandparent time. And I enjoyed a fun trip as well, with a added bonus of lots of uninterrupted conversation with my husband.