Pictures of Baby Nate!

Ok, here are some pictures of the precious new boy! Shelley and Chip will post some more news and pictures once they are home and settled in. Until then enjoy these from Aunt Robyn. The puppy dog that he's snuggling with in the first picture was a present from Streed and Ella. They are missing their Mommy and Daddy, but are doing well otherwise. Isn't he a cutie?!

Baby Nathan!

Nathan arrived this morning at 7:38. He is 10 lbs 8 oz, 20 inches, and beautiful! Mommy and Baby are doing well. We'll post pictures soon.

The Crown...As requested

She brought me the crown one morning and literally wore it for a few hours. She is so girly and yet so not girly at the same time.

Baby Shower

My friends from our "Mom's Group" gave me a surprise diaper shower a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun and was so sweet.

They made me wear a blue fuzzy crown. Ella has since fallen in love with it.

Krista is cutting the cake. She makes cakes that are oh-so-good! I don't know what I am doing.

A few of us as we were leaving the restaurant. Just wanted yall to see a full body shot.

The Nerves are Shot!

I can tell I am nearing the end of pregnancy. There is very little patience left. Not so much with my family, but with the public. I was at Wal-Mart this morning and there was a a very loud and socially awkward woman on her cell phone. She was talking so loudly that you had to have been able to hear every word from a 50yd radius. And, she was telling a story that involved a colorful vocabulary. All I could think was 1. Don't say anything and 2. If my kids were with me I would have to say something.

When I left Wal-Mart I met up with Chip and the kids. We decided to take them to the McDonalds playground for lunch. My mood went from bad to worse. We ordered at 11:10am. I took the kids to the play place while Chip waited on the food. At about 11:12 Ella crawled through what appeared to be urine in the "tree house". A grandmother went to tell the workers that it needed to be cleaned. By 11:30 we still did not have our food and the play place still had not been cleaned. By my request, Chip demanded our money back and we left. We went through the Wendy's drive thru and went HOME! I SWEAR I will not go back there. I have said that once but this time I am serious.

So, the kids ate and went to bed. I put on pj's, laid on the couch and watched/napped through SWEET HOME ALABAMA. Ahh, I am better now.

e-mealz.com

A friend of mine let me know of an internet meal planning site that is amazing. I signed up a few weeks ago and have printed several weeks worth of menus but used the first ones today. It was great and totally MINDLESS! Thinking through meals and a shopping list weekly or even monthly can be such a chore. This is so easy. And, Chip loved the meal--as did STREED! That is worth the money in itself. It is only $5 a month. You sign up for whatever plan you want--family, low-fat, points system... Tonight I made a chicken stew, salad and french bread. Along with printing your menu each week you print a shopping list that is organized according to whatever grocery store you most frequently shop. I didn't even know what the menu was today when I went to the store. I just grabbed my previously printed shopping list and headed to Wal-Mart. I am sold on this. At this point in my life I need as much mindless activity with positive results as possible. Check it out--e-mealz.com

Thoughts while awaiting Nathan

I had a thought last night, or earlier in the night, before I attempted to get some sleep. As I walked out of the bathroom for the 50th time yesterday, I saw in front of me Ella's 9 month picture--a round, super smiley face. Immediately it made me smile. Then, I looked up and saw her 6mth pic and one of her in the hospital as a newborn. I realized that I didn't know her in the hospital. Did I love her, yes. But, as she has grown and her personality has developed more and more (day by day), I have come to love her more maybe because I have come to know her more. I know what she likes and doesn't like. I know her funny faces. I know her cries. I love the squeal she makes when she and Streed are doing something fun and messy. All of this made me excited about Nate. I have only had a few glimpses of excitement with his upcoming arrival. I am more nervous than anything. But, realizing that I don't know him yet and that I will get to start knowing another child of mine soon made me excited. I am looking forward to seeing him, watching him grow, seeing who he looks like and acts like as time progresses. So, as I write this at 5:04 am after having been on the couch since midnight, trying to get some decent sleep, I am excited to meet him, hopefully sooner than later. Maybe after we get the baby bed set up. Hey, I did wash his clothes last night.

Curious Streed

He is definitely 3--this means he asks "why", "who", "what", "what you talking bout", "who you talkin to", "when", "how" about everything. I laugh because sometimes he follows up my answer with, "Oh, I not know that!" in a really excited tone. He made me laugh today because of one such question. He was about to go outside and play with his friend Pete. He was all ready in his Auburn gear. He said he was going to kick the ball and throw the ball. HE said he was going to be the quarterback. As soon as he said it he asked, "What's the quarterback?". It was so funny because he is the one who said quarterback and then he realized he didn't know what that meant. I must admit at times it is so frustrating to not be able to get out a full sentence, statement, command etc without being asked "why". Sometimes he answers this for me. He looks at me with his sweet eyes and says, "Said so?". I know as a child that is not a good enough answer. But, as a parent, you just don't always have to explain yourself. But, I also know he is in a high learning time in his life so this helps me to be more patient with him and explain things...most of the time.