How Come?

Warning Rant to Follow:

How come it is okay for you to say to me you are so skinny you need to eat something (repeatedly) but if I were to say to you (and never would by the way) "you are a fatty and you could use to miss a few meals" it is not okay??? I just don't get it. As if it is not offensive to me for someone to imply that I starve myself to be thin which is so not the case at all. Just like it would be offense to a bigger person to imply they just eat all the time and/or are lazy which may or may not be the case. With all that said I smile politely, say a comment to take up for myself and then quickly leave but inside I am furious and I want to say "just because I don't have a humongous gut like you do does not mean I do not eat". So, there you go. (rant over)

NAMI Walk

It was terribly HOT today at the NAMI walk. We did not make it the whole way because the boys were starting to get fussy and Amy and I were hot and worrying about the boys sunscreen holding up. However, it was the first walk with the little ones and I sure there will be many more as Amy and I are "walkers" and tend to do these things together. Nash and Lane enjoyed each others company and at one point were just about holding hands. They did enjoy their sippy cups with water and crackers and talking and pointing at each other.

Fun in the Sun

We blew up the pool last night and Nash got to get in it today. At first it was a little cold for him but then he enjoyed it. He would not keep his hat or sunglasses on for nothing. As soon as I put it on he would take it off. I had other motives for our time in the sun besides wanting to see how Nash did in his pool..........Mama needs a tan! (I got a little carried away with the pics as always)

brusha brusha

II got out Nash's toothbrush and toothpaste tonight. I thought I would give it a try and he LOVED it. He did not want to give it up. I had to trick him to get it away from him. I guess if we start early and he likes it he will keep it up. (maybe more evidence that he is still teething as well)

Before and After

We had our yard landscaped last week and they got finished while we were gone. I am excited about it and think it looks good. Right now they are just baby plants but as they get bigger and bloom I am sure they will look great. It really adds a lot to the house. We were in such a hurry to get into the house since Nash was on his way we did not get the landscaping done but I am glad it's done now.

I...I will survive (sing it like the song)

The Lake and Garvan Gardens

Yes I did survive and had a great time. Chris and I left out Thursday night to Hot Springs where we stayed at the Arlington for a "spa package" for two nights. (this was all the idea of my wonderful husband). We walked around the strip, shopped, visited the wax museum, Garvan Gardens, and did the mineral bath and massage. We got Nash a sock monkey named "Rufus" that Chris thought he had to have. We saw some interesting people. Even a man that looked just like Jacob from Lost. We both did a double take. We ate at some good places, a little Italian place that we happened upon and I don't remember the name of and the Pancake Shope. The bath experience was one I could probably write a whole post on itself. Long story short my modesty had to go out the window but it was very relaxing and we enjoyed it. I did survive and did much better than I thought. I did call several times but I do that when I am at work as well. I was able to relax and enjoy spending time with my husband. It felt like a second honeymoon and we both had a great time!

On Saturday, I could not wait to get to the lake to see my little man. When we got there he was asleep with his Poppy on the couch and I swear he looked like he was five years old! He looked like he had grown and changed so much. I grabbed him and when he woke up. It was like I never left. I was so afraid he would not come to me and be mad. I have seen some kids do that when their parents left. We just kind of hung out and relaxed at the lake. Nash got to see some friends of the family that had not seen him and we all had a good time. Nash got to take a ride in the Mule, swing on the Kinman's big swing, and eat waffles. The weather was not great and not much to do on the lake so we left today in the pouring down rain (I swear I was afraid for my and my family's life several times on the way home). We are glad to be home and missed our luxuries of home (our wonderful bed and shower). When Nash came home and saw his toys he got so excited like it was the first time he saw them. Sadie missed us too as he spent most of the time in my old bedroom at my mom's house and was excited to come home. Nash was happy to see him and tried his best to keep up with him as he ran around the house.

Tomorrow

So, tomorrow is mine and Chris's five year anniversary, first year anniversary of living in our home, AND THE FIRST TIME WE ARE LEAVING NASH. We are going away for a couple of nights which we need and I am excited about BUT I AM LEAVING NASH FOR THE FIRST TIME. I know he will be fine with my mom and mom-in-law and they are LOVING that they are getting to keep him over night. He STILL has not been sleeping good so maybe I will sleep good (if I am not too worried about him). I am also worried about my mom and mom-in-law with him getting up and how he will do if I am not there. Because when he has gotten up and Chris got him and he is fussy, he wants his mama! So, mom and mom-in-law be prepared for several calls and have your phones on you (please)! (I am hoping it goes better than I am expecting. I will let you know when I get home how we all did).
To top things off, my phone totally died today and when I took it to the at&t store I was told that I was not due for an upgrade for a month. So, I scrambled for an old phone to use in the mean time. (Thanks Pam and Kayla) I thought...... I can't go away without my phone even though my husband has his. I need to know I can call or be called if needed at any time.
Good news-our landscaping got started yesterday and should be done by this weekend. I will post pictures when I can. Oddly we got set up with a security system for our home tonight as well. That's another story but something I have been wanting.
We are reuniting with Nash on Saturday at the lake with my in-law's. It will be his first time at the lake and I always enjoy going so that will be a fun way to come back to him and it's a long weekend! So all and all a good thing but I have a little knot in my stomach and tears in my eyes so there's that!

Sadie and Nash

Sadie likes to get in our shower............Nash likes to close doors.

a good night's sleep (that would be nice)

Let me start by giving some history with me and sleep. As long as I can remember I have always liked to sleep. As a child I would go to sleep before my bed time and enjoyed taking naps. I know that is odd. I did have those times of staying up late or all night at sleep overs or what have you but those were few and far between. Even at sleep overs, I would be the first to go to sleep. In fact, I remember one particular sleep over when whoever went to sleep first was going to "get it" and it was me. I got shaving cream on me, written on with magic markers, and toothpaste (which burned by the way).
The last week or so Nash has not been sleeping good. I can handle the waking up where I go rock him and he goes back to sleep but this is more than that. This is him not being happy about anything other than walking around. The last two nights we had to resort to putting a movie on because he would at least watch it and calm down. Thursday morning he woke up at 4:30 and stayed up. This morning he was up from 12:30 to 2:30, woke up at 3:45, and then again at 7:00. So, it's been rough. In fact last night my husband got up and walked around with him. I can count on one hand the amount of times Chris has gotten up with him and maybe have a finger or two left. In the beginning with me breastfeeding, I was the one getting up and he would sit with him in the morning while I took a nap. So, now he only gets up when Nash is screaming loud enough and long enough to wake him up.
Nash has never been a great sleeper and goes through spurts of good sleeping. In the beginning I remember praying for him to sleep longer. What's hard is that I can't comfort him now. I think he is teething and has not been feeling good. A friend and I used to joke about (and you new mom's probably can relate) in the beginning when you are getting up every two hours or more having the fleeting thought of ringing a neighbor's doorbell and leaving. Trust me, it's just a joke! It would be so much easier if I did not have to get up and work the next day like today. It's times like these I wished I lived in one of the countries that give mom's a year maternity leave. WOW! That would be nice. I remember early on when I was wanting Nash to start sleeping through the night people who had been through this already were telling me even when he does there will be other times that come up where he will go back to getting up again and that's where we are for now. Hopefully when he starts feeling better I will be getting some better sleep.

A rough first Mother's Day

Nash and I had a rough first Mother's Day. It started at 12 am this morning with him up crying and not being able to calm him down for a good hour. This morning when he did get up he drank his bottle and then threw up like the exorcist! Nice. He has been running a fever, coughing, sneezing, and fussy today. He did give me a gift, the Willow Tree figurine and a gift card. Not the best Mother's Day ever. I would of liked to been able to go to church, have us dressed nice and take better pictures, and for him to have had a better day and felt better but oh well. I guess mommas always have to be mommas and take care of their babies regardless of what day it is.

11 Month Pictures

Nash is 11 months old today on Mother's Day. He is growing and learning so much. Some of his new things are: he is pulling and standing up on EVERYTHING, he is trying his hardest to walk, he walks around the coffee table and back and forth from the couch to the coffee table, he has been able to crawl up the stairs but only with mom right behind him or he certianly would fall, he now has four teeth (two on top and two 0n the bottom which he likes to grind), he likes to go to people more now, he gives hugs a lot, he has said (that I know he knew what he was saying) "mama, dog dog, ball, and bye bye", he likes to make a weird smacking noise, he likes to eat more table food, ummmmmmmm. I'm sure there's more but that's all I can think of now. I wanted to take some outside pics but it has been too rainy. Maybe we can do those next month.

stimulating the economy......or spending too much money

Lately, I feel like we have done our part in stimulating the economy. I would rather think of it that way then spending too much money. If you know me personally..I HATE to spend money. I typically WAY over think the purchase. If I do allow myself to go through with it and justify it, I have guilt about it afterwards.
I guess we started it off by purchasing our lap top, then planning a summer beach trip, getting our yard landscaped (which has not occurred yet due to all the rain and that makes me sad for a couple of reasons), then May is filled with events like Chris's birthday, Mother's Day, our anniversary (5 years by the way), my mother-in-law's birthday, and there is always graduations and wedding invites that we get. Then of course our big day in June (the 10th, Nash's birthday). We are not doing anything major just cake and ice cream at the house but I have splurged a little on cute plates, cups, napkins, invitations, thank you cards, and cute t-shirt that go with his Prince theme and since there is absolutely NO prince stuff in local stores but gobs of princess stuff (yes I have a problem with that) I had to buy it all online. I am surprised at how much stuff adds up to be. However, I totally justify this one because it is his FIRST birthday and I am sure future birthday parties at fun kids places are going to be pricey so really it isn't that bad. Only other thing in June I think of now is Father's Day and I have already actually started on it. July brings mine, my brother, and nephew's birthday. Throw in a couple of trips that my husband takes in the summer (not major trips but trips none the less). It all adds up.
Writing this all down is very anxiety producing for me. What I can say though is I am very proud of how well we have been able to save money. I am thankful to still have a job in which I can help provide for my family when so many are losing theirs (not by choice). I know we have been blessed in so many ways.
I realize that others may think nothing of my little list of things we are spending money on and others may think it's a lot like I do. What I don't understand is those that seem to spend money just to be spending it. They either have tons of it to spend or are just careless. I guess that is so totally opposite of me that I can't think that way. My splurge (that I feel guilty about afterwards if I do buy something for myself ) is hitting up sales at Old Navy that add up more than I would like to spend which I did recently by the way..
Wow! I think I have beat the dead horse long enough. I guess by me going on and on about this topic you can see of how big of an issue it is for me. What can I say, I am cheap, frugal, what ever you want to call it and I will admit it!

Our Mother's Day Date

Nash getting his hand painted.

What a goofy face! He liked having his own paint brush.

Two goofy faces! But for some reason this picture is the only one I got of the two of them.

Nash and I met up with Kat and Nate to make pottery for my Mother's Day present from

Nash. I can't take credit for the idea even though I think it is a wonderful idea. My friend Amy told me about it. Nash got his hand painted and put his handprint on the plate and then I painted the rest. I also can't take credit for the cute designs. They have a book to give you some ideas. I am super proud of myself for doing it though and it looking decent because I have a very low self-confidence in my artistic ability and assumed I would need the lady to do it for me. Nash and Nate did really good and liked getting their hands painted which apparently is not the norm as Kat and I witnessed twin 13 month old girls crying big tears over it. They also played well togehter while the moms finished up the painting. So, the plates are left there for a week to be fired and obviously the colors will show up more and we had a great time together. It is something I would like to make a tradition out of.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is Chris's birthday. Nash got him this cute little card and sunglasses. I got to thinking this is his first birthday with Nash here. We did not know if we were going to get to celebrate his birthday today or not because he had a baseball game that at first was not rained out but it turned out to be so we got to go out to eat with Chris's parents to Purple Cow. Nash enjoyed it and was a good boy. He loves his daddy and is a mini me of him. He is looking more and more like Chris to me daily and does things like him. When Chris concentrates he sticks his tounge and Nash does the same thing. Weird. Must be genetic because he couldn't have learned that already. Anyways, Happy Birthday Daddy! We Love You!