Baby Nash’s Bash!

On Sunday, my dearest friends at church threw me the most precious shower for my sweet Nash! It took place in our church lobby and was perfect in every way! They completely outdid themselves and I am so thankful and blessed to have friends that are so giving. Since they would share NO details with me, everything was a complete surprise! From the too cute invite…to the personalized cupcakes….to the darling skateboards that each guest took home with them with a date to pray for us…to the REAL skateboard that all of the guests were able to sign…it was AMAZING! It was an afternoon that I will never forget…and our family will always be grateful for the blessing of our church family.
The sweet hostesses…Jen, Libby (with Jen’s baby, Brynn, Remy, Shannon, me,
Carrie, Amy  & Margie…(& Jody got away before she could take a pic with me!)   This is what I think his birthday will be! :) We’ll see…  Mammer was there to celebrate Nash with us! And, don’t let her fool you…she’s standing on her tiptoes!!!… Look at all of those gifts…and that’s not even CLOSE to all of them! I opened for well over an hour and a half! …But, funny story…after only opening two gifts, I was SOOOO hot that I was starting to sweat profusely! So, the girls rallied together and found me a box fan that sat right beside me the entire time! You have NOOOO idea how thankful I am that I had that fan! I would have been MISERABLE without it….and, the lovely windblown model look helped make a dramatic scene at the same time! :) ha! Some of the guests and a few of my gifts! …Another funny story…the towel that I’m holding was apparently on my registry! I had registered for some towels but not one with aqua and white sea shells! My friend, Libby, that sweetly bought it for me, thought it was an odd choice, but it was ON my registry! It gave us a good laugh!!!
 
It’s so fun getting new outfits for this little guy!!!…and, my sweet friend Jen, dressed her baby girl in leopard just for me! She matched my shoes so we had to have a pic! :)
 
  A few of our sweet guests had gifts for Quinn! He was so excited to open them when we got home and I was so thankful that they had thought of the Big Brother…it meant so much to me!!!… And, look at Nash’s loot!!!! Can you even get over it!? It was INSANE! And SO fun to go through when we got home! I loved showing it all off to Matt and Q. The only things not pictured are his crib bedding and our Sit & Stand…both from Mammer and Slickpaw!!!
Blessed beyond words!!! P.S. Because I don’t think I ever announced it…and because it’s all over this blog post, here is our littlest man’s full name…

Nash Baylor Poe!
We love it…hope you do too! :)

Cherishing Our Only Child: Reason Four

Because in July, these precious smiles will have one more person to go to…so, for now, I’ll soak up the INSANE amount that I get all to myself…

Bye-bye “That!”

Last Monday night, while grabbing a few things at the store, Quinn requested to look at the toys! (what else is new!) And, while browsing, he came across the cool, new Toy Story 3 section. When he found one that he was extra interested in, Matt and I spontaneously said that he could have that toy if he slept without his “that” (his beloved passy) for FOUR nights!

Immediately, the little ploy didn’t get the most positive feedback, but after I talked about the chart I would make and how HE COULD DO IT, he started to seem a little excited.

So, that night, we came home and I made the chart. And, that very same night, Matt put him in bed with NO that! I must admit that it did break my heart a little bit. “That” has always been his only consistent “lovey” and I hated that we were taking it away. Honestly, the fact that he still used it didn’t bother me…even thought I knew he was WAY too old! But, it was now (before Nash’s arrival) or WAY later…because I knew myself too well to know that I WOULD NEVER take away his “that” when his baby brother had one all of the time!

Anyway, after less than 10 minutes in bed that first night, he started to fuss a little bit. So, Matt went in there and he said, while sitting up to look at his chart, “I know I really want that toy…so, can I at least have a drink of water!?” Bless him! Good thing Matt went in there…I may have caved!

But, HE DID IT! He woke up twice in the night, but easily went back to sleep…and, when he woke on Tuesday morning, he put his first sticker on his chart!!!!

With each nap/night, it seemed to get a little easier and he seemed more and more proud of himself. During the four days, he learned Philippians 4:13…I can do all things through Jesus who gives me strength…and he would tell EVERYONE he saw that he had slept without his that. He’d say, “I did something that made Mommy & Daddy REALLY proud!!!” And, he was right!!! We were SO proud of him and his determination!!!

The third night he had a hard time going to sleep, and when I went in there to encourage him, he said, “Mommy, it’s kinda tough to sleep without my that!” But, he never asked for it and never cried! Such a big boy!!

During the third afternoon, while we were working in Nash’s room, he said, “Can we just bring my basket of that’s in Nash’s room? I don’t need them anymore!!!”

…And, after pushing through…and REALLY wanting that toy, on Thursday after naptime, he added his last sticker!!! He was SO excited and danced around (which explains the blurry pictures) for a long time! We called friends and family and celebrated his accomplishment! Then, when Daddy got home, we went to the store to claim his prize!
You deserve it little boy! We are SOOOOO proud of you!!! …
… And, if I’d known it would be this easy, I would have done it a lot sooner!!!

Dear OH MY GOSH, we’re getting close {a.k.a. 32 weeks},

Dear OH MY GOSH, we’re getting close (a.k.a. 32 weeks/Seven Months),      

It’s real! I’m going to have a baby! Quinn is going to be a big brother and each room in our house is going to be in daily use! I think the reality of it is REALLY starting to sink in…and, thankfully, I’m OK with that! Because of you, the room is becoming TOO cute for words! I can’t wait to put the finishing touches on it so that I can show it off to everyone I know. It’s crazy how different it is from Quinn’s, but it’s strange how I feel that it’s just “so Nash!” …whatever that means! I walk in the nursery and immediately get that excited feeling. It’s fun…and I’ve loved working on it!

Thankfully, after our sweet sonogram, we found out that Nash DID in fact make a turn in the right direction. And, since he’s not breech anymore, I’m feeling GREAT! Don’t get me wrong, my back still hurts some and the “growing pains” in my belly are sometimes too much to bear, but I feel like I can go and do…and, honestly, seem to have a hard time wanting to stop! I’m a “doer” and there always seems to be something that can keep me busy…be it writing info in Nash’s baby book, going through Quinn’s newborn clothes, or making a list of things that I still “MUST HAVE,” it’s always something. My brain just won’t turn off!

But, naps are still nice! I take a few a week and am sleeping pretty good at night. Sadly, the UNEXPLAINABLE leg cramps and CRAZY dreams have started to wake me up during some evenings, and the heat of the {not even} summer leaves me SUPER hot at night. I’ve even resorted to sleeping on top of our covers with a light blanket..and our night time air conditioner is set on 70! I HATE being hot!

As far as that precious big brother goes, he MELTS my heart! He’s really wanting to help with the nursery and LOVES to drag his toys into Nash’s room to play! Being in his baby brother’s new crib with a few of his cars is one of his favorite places to be! Quinn loves to oooh and aahh over cute clothes that we get for Nash and takes pride in picking out passys and toys when we go to the store. I really do feel that he’s going to be the most amazing big brother of all time! Cravings have kind of gone by the wayside. I’ll have an occasional “must have” craving that usually comes once…Red Wine Vinaigrette from Quizno’s, Dickey’s chopped beef sandwich, peanut butter cookie from Which Which. But, they’re not what they once were. My appetite is slowing down…and, that’s good for my weight gain! :) 

So, thank you 32 weeks, because, Overall, things are great! …Soon enough, the nursery will be ready and waiting, memoires at sweet baby showers will be made, doctor’s appointments will come every week and my already BIG belly will continue to grow even more! So, for now, I’m going to LOVE the fact that Nash MUST be the most active baby of all time and enjoy laughing at my belly as it moves in ways that don’t seem possible. What a miracle!

Cherishing Our Only Child: Reason Three

Because I know that when a baby is in the house, quiet moment like these will become more and more rare. … {Cuddling in bed one morning…watching Little Bill…while Quinn took frequent breaks to love on and sing to his baby brother!}

And, tonight, I don’t know if my heart was extra tender or if my sweet love was just extra sweet, but I got things like…
”Mommy, will you please come cuddle with me!” …as he drug a blanket and pillow into Nash’s room to present his request!
&
”Mommy, please lay down and sleep with me for a little bit…and a little bit longer!”…when I was putting him to bed.

I must admit that the tears were free falling. I love him so very much it hurts!!!

Cherishing Our Only Child: Reason Two

Because I know that when I’m taking care of two little guys, my patience for things like messes that Taco Bueno Cinnamon Chips make will grow shorter!…But, at least I have a living vacuum that is ALWYAS willing to help clean up crumbs! :) …

Cherishing our Only Child: Reason One

Because we know that in about 6 short weeks, he won’t seem like the baby anymore. But, for now, he does…and he is!…and we love him more than words!!!…

Pink Axle hat WINNERS!!!…

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
6
18
Timestamp: 2010-05-19 17:48:04 UTC

Congratulations!!!!

The green/brown hat goes to… And, the pink/brown one goes to my sweet sister-in-law (why pink?! Do you have something to tell us!?!?!?)… YAY! So excited for you both.
Chelle, please comment with your email so that I can get your shipping info. And, Boogie, I obviously have yours! :)

But, don’t worry if you didn’t win! Go to www.pinkaxle.com to order your own! There are SO many cute ones!

Our Marvelous Miracle

You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body,
and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.
Nothing about me is hidden from you!
But with your own eyes you saw my body being formed,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
Psalm 139:13-18

I don’t know if words will ever be able to describe how thankful I am to have captured my sweet pregnancy in these pictures. Over Mother’s Day weekend {with less than 2 months to go until we meet Nash} we drove to Baylor to meet my friend, Jaime, so that she could take pictures of thePoeFam3 around campus! And, to say she did an amazing job is SUCH an understatement! …I could never pick just one favorite. And, the ones below are just a few of the ones that make my heart melt! (Just wait until you see the ones of Quinn LOVING on his Momma!!!…I’m saving those for a special post!) I had so much fun coordinating our outfits and playing dress-up! :) And they just capture how I love being pregnant!!! I have loved sharing another pregnancy with Matt and a first with Quinn. Matt is, again, in awe of the whole thing and Quinn is so sweet and adoring of his baby brother already! The miracle of what I’m getting the privilege to do will NEVER get old to me! I’m so thankful…and so blessed! I am praising God daily for the wonderful way he is creating my littlest love!…

TWO chances to WIN a hat from Pink Axle…

Hi friends! Here’s the next giveaway! …
Just by leaving a comment, you could win one of these two hats from Pink Axle…

DARLING or what!?!?

They are both sized medium…so they can fit toddlers, too! I love them!

Here’s what you do…
1. Leave a comment!
2. Tell me which hat you can’t live without!
3. Wait on pins & needles until Wednesday…when I announce the winner!!!