The McDonald Family welcomed their sweet blue eyed baby girl, Evie, in May! We caught up with them recently to hear all about what they’re loving about life with Evie so far, how the big brothers are adjusting (spoiler alert: they’re the best helpers!), and what it’s been like welcoming a little one in the midst of the pandemic. More below!
Photo: ser.en.dip.iti photography
Tell us about your family!
Hello from The McDonald Family! I'm Alissa, my husband is Matt, and our kids are Bennett, Brooks, and Evie. Matt and I attended the same school from elementary school all the way through college, but we didn't officially meet until our early 30's when we were reintroduced by mutual friends. Matt came to pick me up at my shop in downtown Glens Falls, and our first date at Davidson's felt like dinner with an old friend. We both grew up in South Glens Falls, and we haven't gone far! As much as we love dreaming about moving to warmer weather, there's something pretty special about being here with friends and family. Our hobbies have changed recently since we can't do some of the things we used to love to do, but we've been taking the kids on short hikes and spending a lot of time at the pool!
On Sharing the News
This pregnancy didn't have the same celebrations and fancy Pinterest-themed milestones as my first two. Between being busy with two toddlers and being stuck at home during quarantine, things weren't exactly typical! In our close-knit family, I couldn't keep it a secret long. We didn't have a fancy announcement this time. We had Bennett blurt it out at a family dinner!
My sisters each have two boys and a girl, so we all wondered if the pattern would continue. I don't think it was a coincidence that the pattern did continue. In October, my favorite person in the world, my Grammy, passed away-- and that's when I knew I'd have a girl. I knew in my heart that this little girl was her gift to me.
All about Evie
Evie Rosemary was born on May 27, 2020 at 2:16pm weighing 8lbs 13oz and measuring 22 inches.
We were really stuck on a name for her! It was just a few weeks before she was due, and we'd piled the kids in the car to go for a drive. Bennett loves to ask questions in the car. He was asking me to spell a few of the names we'd mentioned to him. He asked me to spell Evie, which was one of the names on our list. As I spelled out E-V-I-E, I realized it was a nod to my maiden name, Bevivino. That's how we knew it was definitely our favorite!
I love being a boy mom, but oh my goodness...there is something special about a girl. I've been waiting my whole life for this! From the adorable outfits to the bows to her sweet smile, there's so much to love. Her dad and big brothers adore her too. We snuggle all day long. I wear her in a carrier for most of the day because she likes to stay close!
My mom and sisters say she looks like me, but she has Matt's blue eyes, and maybe his hair color. We can't tell yet! But I think she has my feisty personality.
On Parenthood
My favorite part about the third baby is watching Evie's big brothers with her. They are always asking to help, and they're right by her side when she cries. It's so sweet watching them take on the big brother role already. The most challenging part is being away from friends & family during a time when we'd normally be leaning on them a lot more than usual. We haven't been able to share her quite as much this time around. Selfishly, I love the extra time to have her all to myself, but I'd love for her to be able to be around the whole family more often.
Since becoming parents, life is definitely different! With three toddlers, there's not a lot of downtime. But we've learned some of life's greatest moments happen in the day-to-day. Whether we're laughing at something one of the boys said, or we're running around trying to keep up with them, we know we'll someday look back on these days as the best.
On the Future
I can't wait to watch her grow up alongside her brothers. We're getting ready to move into a new house that has plenty of space for everyone to run and play along with a great big treehouse in the backyard. I can't wait to watch the 3 of them making memories in our new home.
Words of Wisdom
The best advice someone has given us? To find time every day for yourself! Matt and I each have our alone time. He goes mountain biking, I read. We each need some time to recharge so we can fully show up for our kids and for each other.
And our advice for new parents - as tired as you are, stay up when the kids go to bed or get up before they get up in the morning. Enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or stay up late working on a project. You need your adult time, too!
Just for Fun
What are the top products that got you through the first few months?
Happy Baby Carrier, SwaddleMe Swaddles, Freshly Picked Backpack Diaper Bag
If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter at home, what would you do?
We'd go to Craft on 9 for a beer, pork belly sandwich & fries! (Can you tell I've been dreaming about this?)
By the way…
I noticed some of the new parents in this series thanking the nurses at Glens Falls Hospital, and I'd like to echo that. I was very nervous about giving birth during a pandemic, but they made everything as smooth and safe as possible. Every nurse, midwife and doctor answered our questions and took the time to ease our fears. We would like to especially thank Natalie, our delivery nurse. She stayed by my side the whole time except when she had to run out to get water for me (about 100 times) because we couldn't leave the room. She was the absolute sweetest, and I'll never forget her!
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