Our happy 6-week-old Joel

Nothing melts the heart like a baby's smile - especially when it is your own little one smiling at the sound of your voice or as he looks at your face! Wow!!! It overwhelms the heart!!!

Joel's 2nd Week

Joel & Mommy are doing well - you can click on this link (new album of pictures) to see many new pictures from Joel's second week, but following are a few of our favorites.

Welcoming Joel

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born…” (Ecc. 3:1-2).

We’re so thankful the Lord has purposed this blessed time in our lives and would like to share our joy with you through the following video and photos!

Pictures of Joel

Sorry for the slow turn-around time in getting these photos posted; we're finding out that there's a lot to do taking care of child! :-)

Since it's impractical to upload many pictures through blogger.com, we've posted over 100 pictures here: Joel Douglas Makaio.

And thanks for all your congratulatory emails - they were a lot of fun to read while we were waiting around in the hospital!

Shower of Blessings!

Thanks to my dear friend Amy (Herman) White,


I had the sweet blessing of celebrating the soon-to-be arrival of our little Joel with my precious home church family and friends & family in the New Castle area. It was so special to be able to share this joyful time with these dear people who have watched me grow up and prayed us through the difficulties of my illness.

Staci (Storie) Small and her 11-week-old son Gavin came from Indianapolis. Staci and I became friends when my family moved in next door to her – we were 3 years old! Now we will have sons the same age!

Heather (Young) Harvey and her mom came down from Hartford City, IN. Heather and I have been dear friends since I was 5 years old.

Of course there were some fun games (hosted by Amy (Boyd) Golliher):

How many squares of toilet paper around is Alisha's baby belly???

Who can drink apple juice from a baby bottle the fastest???

We so deeply appreciate all the gracious gifts and the work that went into making the day so special.

Handmade baby gifts are a treasure:

baby blanket made by Lynda Spicer (from church)

burp cloths made by Linda Branham (neighbor of my parents)

Adorable outfits!!

And all those special baby "goodies" - like shampoo, washcloths, toys, bibs, etc!! What fun!

I love reading to Joel! Amy had each of the ladies bring an unwrapped book for little Joel. What a wonderful idea!! Joel has already been enjoying them.

Joel's Nursery

I thought you might enjoy seeing the way Joel's nursery has come together. I just love it! Because my dad has called me "Pooh" since I was little I've always wanted a Winnie the Pooh nursery. I decided to go with Classic Pooh because I liked the colors and the calmness it gives. I just love sitting in the nursery with the light of the little Pooh lamp reading and singing to Joel and eagerly awaiting his arrival. What a precious time!

Practicing!

Jeremy and I were able to get some "baby care practice" in while my whole family was together last weekend. As we held my nephew Jack we couldn't help but become more eager to hold our little Joel!(Yes, Jack got some good kicks from Joel while he was lying on my belly!)

33 Weeks!

...and counting!!!

Wow! These last few weeks have gone by so quickly! The reality of Joel’s approaching arrival is starting to really hit me. So many emotions all at the same time – excited, nervous, elated, overwhelmed, etc!!! I just spent a week and a half at my parents’ in IN helping take care of my dad after elbow surgery and my dad reminded me the next time I come back there I’ll be a mother!! Woohoo!!! And Whoa!!!

New Nephews!!

Many of you know our families so we thought you would enjoy seeing pictures of our two new nephews. Yep, all boys and all have names starting with "J" - what a hoot! We are so glad our little Joel will have boy cousins his age to play with. What an extra sweet blessing from the Lord!

Jayden Jonathan Vegter - born to Jon and Hope Vegter on Tuesday, December 4th.

Jayden was born with a diaphragmatic hernia - which meant half of his diaphragm was missing. By God's awesome working, Jayden has already had surgery to correct the diaphragm and move all his organs that were up in his chest cavity back to their proper places and he is off of the ventilator and only has a small oxygen tube now. He is even nursing and swallowing already. He is doing so well they are talking of allowing him to go home in the next few weeks. What a miracle little Jayden is!! We know God is always at work but it is so thrilling when we are able to actually see His mighty hand!

Jack William Allen – born to Nathan and Denise Allen on Friday, December 7th.

We thank the Lord that little Jack is healthy and he and Denise are doing great. Jack makes number 4 for Nathan and Denise. They have Rachel (10), Samuel (9), and Andrew (4) - all pictured here with my parents.

Christmas 2007

Our last quiet Christmas! Okay by us - we've had quiet for 11 years; we're ready for a change!

(Well, maybe not all of us are ready!!!)

We spent Christmas and New Year's with my parents and most of my family this year. We would have been in Florida with Jeremy's family for Christmas this year but we didn't feel it would be wise for me to fly being 7 months pregnant. So, our Christmas Day was very quiet with just my parents and Jeremy, Laddie and I (and baby Joel, of course - he made his presence known by kicks not squeals this Christmas!).

We were joined by my sister Christy, her husband Todd and their two children, Caytlin (11) and Zachary (9) and my brother Tommy, his wife Tracy and their three children, Hannah (10), Thomas (9), and Brittney (7) for New Year's weekend. We had a great time together!

(Thomas and Zach)

(Caytlin, Brittney, and Hannah)

We were also able to be at my Grandma Warne's Christmas this year. My grandma is 95! Doesn't look it, does she?! She's just as sweet and precious as ever. She is an inspiration and sweet blessing to me.

Another sweet blessing of this Christmas season was having my dear friend Phyllis Rice visit for a few days. She was my drama teacher at Maranatha and has become such a dear friend. Last summer she moved to WA and lives with her daughter Lydia and her husband and their new baby Lily Sophia. I was overjoyed that she was able to be here and see my "babybelly" in person. Joel let her feel some good hard kicks, too.

Hope all of you were able to enjoy a blessed holiday season and are rejoicing in the gift of another year to walk with the Lord! We are overflowing with eager anticipation of the joy this new year holds for us! In less than 9 weeks (give or take a few!) we will be holding our precious son!!

26 weeks!

Baby belly pictures have been requested by my "far-away" friends so here are a few of my 26 week belly.

Showered by Showers!

We’ve all experienced “April Showers,” right? Well, I just recently experienced "November Showers!” We flew Jeremy’s mom up to help get our nursery ready and she had a few other things in mind while she was here. Let’s just say I was “flooded” with happy baby wishes and gracious baby gifts! The way so many of our friends and family are rejoicing with us in the gift of this little one is a tremendous blessing to us. What a joy to be able to praise and thank the Lord together!! Here are a few pictures from the occasions:

Vegter/Lowery Family Baby Shower -

Lowery Family in the area -

Pregnant Cousins!

Two of Jeremy's cousins on the Vegter side - Nikki Arn and DeAnna Henkel - are also expecting. They are both two months along in this picture.

Mini Baby Shower #1 -

Esther Matthiesen and Dolores Boyes are dear ladies from our church. The Matthiesens are our neighbors and Dolores is like an adopted "great-grandma" to little Joel. She gave him his first basketball (much to Joel's daddy's delight!) and made me a "cake" out of cloth diapers (complete with football decorations - much to the delight of Joel's mommy with her football family roots!)

Mini Baby Shower #2 -

All of these ladies are close friends of my mother-in-law and she combined her visit with them with a little baby shower for me and Joel because each of the ladies has prayed so much for Jeremy and I over the past several years. Fun to rejoice together!

Surprise Baby Shower!!

My mother-in-law loves surprises and she was at it again!! She had it all planned out - as I was being distracted upstairs by a few friends who just "dropped by" to see the nursery my home was filled with several friends eager to share in the joy of this coming little one. Yes, I was surprised!

It was such a treat to have Hope (Budhal) Robertson and her son Joel come to the shower.

My mother-in-law surprised both Jeremy and I with a sweet gift of Jeremy's old toys for our son to enjoy. These toys have been toted all over the country through my in-laws' numerous moves just waiting for Jeremy's son to inherit them! (Jeremy's dad is rejoicing that he doesn't have to pack them anymore!)


And here is Laddie's favorite gift given to little Joel:



(We are just hoping it goes the other way around, too - "Laddie Loves Baby!!!")

Mini Shower #3 -
Again combining visit with friends and welcoming baby:


Joel's first Winnie the Pooh!!

"I love my Daddy!"Joel will be clothed and clean!


Yea football!! Yes, Joel will be one adorably dressed little fella - as well as greatly celebrated and dearly loved!! Thanks for sharing in our joy!