It's a boy!

This is probably not news to most, but we had our ultrasound on Monday and found out that we are having another BOY!!! He appears to be healthy, too, which is the real blessing. Steven is pretty pumped about having another son, and I have to admit it will be fun to see Eli and little D grow up together, just 2 years apart. We are going to call him David, just haven't decided on the middle name yet. He's quite a mover, that's about all I know about him for now. I do hope my Mom is correct in her prediction that he will have curly blonde hair, but if I have another one with stick straight blonde hair or dark hair and a double crown I will love it too.
We broke the news to Sadie and she took it very well, she has mentioned several times about my tummy getting bigger and when I told her that the baby was going to grow and grow until it was time for him to be born she smiled really big and said "I can't wait!". As for Eli, I think he's in denial. Whenever I ask him where the baby is and try to point to my belly he just looks around the room and behind me like, "what, I don't see a baby!". He is talking more and more these days, trying to say more than is understood but nonetheless it is cute. He loves his books and gets very animated when we read the same ones over and over. Sadie is into her puzzles and pretending, as well as her all time favorite - bossing Eli around. She thinks she outsmarts us when she finds him an appealing toy only so she can play with the one he currently has. They are cute little buddies though, for the most part. I had sent her to her room the other day for a bad attitude then went upstairs because I couldn't find Eli. He had accompanied her to her room and when I stuck my head in the door he waved and said "Bye Mommy!" then shut the door in my face. I guess they're sticking together, for now.
I remember being pregnant with Eli but overwhelmed with love for Sadie and thinking "can I possibly love another child like I love this one?" Of course, I discovered that I can, and do, love Eli just as much as Sadie. So this pregnancy is exciting, when I actually take a breath and have time to think about it, because I don't wonder if I'll love David like I love the others. I know I will! And what a sweet blessing from the Lord. Praise HIM from whom all blessings flow! Goodnight all.

Last Minute Romantic Get-Away

No, I am not advertising a mountain cabin somewhere. The title actually describes my weekend! Well, sort of. I am working this weekend but when I got off work yesterday afternoon Steven and I drove to Raleigh. He was speaking at a church in Apex this morning so we decided to send the kids to Charlotte via his Mom and go by ourselves, since I had to work and drive back seperately today. It was a great decision. The kids are having a blast with cousins and grandparents (we are so thankful for parents who are willing and able to take care of our kids!). My sweet husband, who is by nature pretty tight, spoiled me last night. We got a cozy hotel room and went to the Melting Pot for dinner, which is probably my favorite restaurant. We don't go much since it is pretty pricey, but it's where we went the night we got engaged so it holds a special place....plus it's just incredible food. I love the atmosphere too, the booths are very private and the atmosphere is relaxed, something about cooking your own food, slowly, makes you enjoy it more. We had a great complimentary breakfast at the hotel this morning then headed off to church, getting out the door is a breeze when we are by ourselves. We enjoyed a nice lunch then I headed back to Pleasant Garden for a quick nap before work tonight. It was a sweet 24 hours and I am thankful for my husband. As he said from the pulpit this morning, we can't really conceive of God's ways, they are higher than ours. His main point was not about how the Lord sovereignly brought us together, which He did, but how He designed the plan of salvation, beginning with the birth a little baby in a manger. Nothing we could have ever come up with, but what an awesome thing it is. Thank you baby for a great date night! And everyone else....Merry Christmas!

Pregnant, painting, and shopping.

Well it's that time of year again. I'm pregnant! I'm pretty sure I have told most people in my life but since it is pretty monumental I think I should blog about it, too. It has been a pretty smooth pregnancy so far, I am one of the lucky ones that does NOT get morning sickness, and other than living for naptime (aka - snoozing on the couch during Dora) and bedtime, the first trimester goes pretty well for me. I am 15 weeks tomorrow so the energy is actually starting to pick up a little, which is good since I took on a new project after Thanksgiving....painting my dining room. I am obviously not an experienced painter since after I had primed the walls I realized I was using oil based paint, and I also didn't put down drop cloths. NOT SMART! Needless to say my floors have a little color in them now. After that the job went very well and I am pleased with the results (from the base molding up). Especially pleased to have it done. The house also got decorated in there sometime for Christmas, which I love. We have a new addition of a lighted deer in the front yard thanks to my mother-in-law (we can't pass the thing without Eli saying "Dee! Mawmaw!")  I love it.
Backtracking a little, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We drove to SC on Wednesday and spent Thanksgiving at my Grandma DuBose's house with my parents, my brother and his family, and one of my uncles and his family. My mom and I were so organized that we even had time for a brisk walk before lunch was served! The next day we saw most of the Nash side at a post-thanksgiving barbeque lunch. I have to say I cried many a tear as we drove away from the home that used to be my grandparent's, losing both Grandmas in one year makes me sad but also thankful for the years and years of memories I do have with them. It is fun to see my parents and in-laws making those same memories for my kids to cherish when they are grown.
Speaking of kids, mine are keeping me busy as usual. Sadie is very excited about the baby. I took her with me to an appointment the day before Thanksgiving and she was thrilled to get to hear the "new baby's heartbeep". Her vote is definitely for a girl and she informed us today that Eli wants a boy (not sure how she knows this, his vocabulary hasn't picked up that much in the past month). Even though he only has a few new words he has taken to singing quite a bit. No real words, but there is usually a tune and it is very loud. He gets that from his Daddy. I took them shopping with me today at Kohls, by myself, to knock out some Christmas shopping. I actually got quite a few things and was feeling a little smug about my accomplishments, with my kids in tow, when I went to crank up the car and realized I didn't have my cell phone. Thankfully, an honest person found it and left it for me at customer service, but I was nonetheless humbled by the experience and again reminded that shopping without kids is much preferable. On our way out of Sams today with my Mom we gave Sadie and Eli some change to put in the Salvation Army jar. I, again, was becoming slightly prideful at this wonderful teaching moment when a lady passed by and handed Sadie a bill to put in the jar. I was quickly reminded of my child's depravity when she looked at it and said "I think I'll keep this." Lesson learned.
It is a sweet time of year. Despite the commercialism and craziness I do love the decorations, the food and fellowship, and of course, and most importantly, the many reminders of the truth behind Christmas, the salvation that was started with the birth of Christ. I hope you are enjoying this time as well. It wont be another month before the next post....I promise. Goodnight!

October update....in November.

I counted the nights the other day and figured out I spent more nights away from home in October than I did sleeping in my own bed (that counts working once a week, too). Lots of trips, some planned, some not. I will tell about it mostly with pictures. We started out the month by going to Hilton Head for a few days with my parents. It was a great time, Eli enjoyed his donuts in the morning with Daddy, as you can see, as well as a park trip and lots of Papa Nana time.

 On the last day of our trip my Grandma Nash got sick and had to go to the hospital. Daddy left early that day and we packed up and came a few hours behind him. I'm glad I got to see her that night and the next morning, because that was the last time, this side of heaven. The next week was a sad one and ended in another trip to SC for the funeral. A sad time but yet it was sweet to be with the family and honor her with our memories. Sadie even made a new one and got to fly in Uncle Mike's plane. I couldn't wait to hear how much she liked it, only to find out she fell asleep a few minutes into the flight.

 Our next trip was to the mountains, a beautiful rental cabin about 30 miles north of Boone that we shared with Leslie and her family as well as a few friends. The Harrell cousins had a great time together, Sadie and Bennett played very well together and would spend hours in the basement jumping on the couches and whatnot. The big boys did some 4-wheeling but it was quite steep so Steven didn't do a whole lot of riding. We got a couple good walks in that really kicked our butts on the way back up. It was a great couple of days, a nice getaway. This is the house. 

 

 Here are Laine and Sadie trying on the fake mustaches.

The very next week Sadie was out of preschool on Thursday so my Mom and I went to Greenville and Atlanta to see a friend and some family for a couple days. It was a whirlwind trip but quite fun. Our first stop was in Greenville to see my dear friend Julie, and her family. Sadie and Mary Addison had a great time together, minus a few normal 3 year old behavior issues. Eli and Raylie didn't have a whole lot of interaction but they were really cute.

 The Harrells and Edwards kiddos.

 Julie and I have been friends since 1997 when we met our first week of college at Appalachian State. She's a keeper!

 We spent the night that night in Greenville with my cousin, Ryian, and her husband Keelan. We didn't take any pictures but Sadie was in hog heaven with their 2 little dogs to play with. Eli was scared of the 2 pound dogs so he just watched them from my lap, for the most part. The next morning we got up and drove to Atlanta to another cousin's house. Alison and Jesse spent the week at Hilton Head with us and their kids, Lucy and Benjamin, are great little buddies for my two. Here are Eli and Benjamin hammin' it up.

 Lucy is a year older than Sadie but they have a great time together.

 I got home just in time for Halloween but since it fell on a Sunday this year the kids didn't actually get to trick or treat. In case you're tempted to feel sorry for them.....don't. They get plenty of attention and plenty of sweets. And I made them dress up the next day in their costumes because they were just so darn cute.

 We should be home for most of November, which will be good, even though our travels were quite fun. I can't believe it's November! More blog posts will be coming soon...I've been putting off this big one for a while but actually have lots of little things to blog about. With my record lately, don't hold your breath! Until next time......

Too blessed to be depressed

I am way overdue on a post, I know, but things have been a little busy. My beloved Grandma Nash passed away about a week and a half ago. Below are a few pictures from last summer, and a tribute I wrote about her the day after she died. I will post again soon about the other happenings in our lives.

I was blessed to be the 2nd grandchild born to Thelma and Homer Nash. I was a bit of a surprise, being a girl, since Thelma had birthed 4 boys and then my brother came along. Being around so many boys, however, Grandma did not lose her femininity. She loved cooking, jewelry, flowers, and clothes. It was like heaven itself to visit Grandma and Granddaddy’s house as a kid. We were greeted with fresh sweet tea, and often a spaghetti dinner followed by chocolate cake. One of my favorite memories was waking up to the smell of breakfast, and not just any breakfast. Grandma’s famous grits, which she could keep in perfect consistency for hours on the stove, awaited us as we straggled in one by one. There were also eggs, bacon, and toast. Grandma was the picture of southern hospitality, but it was truly genuine. I never once heard her gossip or talk badly about anyone. She loved people unconditionally and had great relationships with her daughters-in-law. She taught me those unspoken but valuable lessons of what a family should look like, by her love. She lost her beloved after 50 years of marriage, and it was a privilege for me to watch them together. As a child I used to tell my parents to “kiss like Grandma and Granddaddy.” Any time one of them left they would kiss three quick times, which meant “I love you.” To honor her, on our wedding day, Steven and I gave each other three quick kisses after our vows.

I am sitting in the room that my grandparents shared for most of their married life, just one day after Grandma went to be with the Lord. Earlier today I saw the dry-erase board in the kitchen, which Grandma wrote on several years ago. Thankfully no one has erased it, as I believe it was a theme in her life. Several years ago Grandma was struck with a disease that severely weakened her, and she has been unable to get out of bed without assistance, living in a hospital or nursing home for years. Despite all this, she has maintained her sweet smile, enjoying life as much as she could. I never heard her complain. Looking back on it, I hope I would be that brave. She truly had a humble, grateful spirit, and honestly believed she was “too blessed to be depressed.” What a legacy.

This 31 year chapter in my life is ending, the one with my grandparents. From the blessed childhood of growing up on their knees, to learning valuable lessons from them as a teenager, to watching my own children bring them joy, it has been a gift. Hopefully I can pay it forward one day if the Lord sees fit to give me grandchildren.

Too much cuteness.

I feel like I need to "write these things down" that my kids have been doing/saying or I'm going to forget them. Who should I start with? Eli, I guess, since I don't have as many things on him...yet. I have the feeling he's going to be a ham. The other day I heard him call for me and, lo and behold, I turned the corner in my room and he was laying down on the floor with a diaper in one hand and the Desitin in the other. He did need both, smart little fella. My best friend Julie visited today and has a little boy that is 8 months old. Eli waved at him and immediately brought him a ball. It's like an unspoken code, I think. He is getting more interested in books lately, too, which is exciting to me. One of his favorites is a very cute little Sandra Boynton book called "Moo, Baa, La La La" in which the "cow says moo, the sheep says baa, three singing pigs say la la la." I was reading a different book to him today and pointed to a pig, asking him what a pig says. He answered immediately "la la la". And finally, his most (in?)famous moment these last couple weeks, is the following....A picture is worth a thousand words.

 Now for Sadie. As I'm sure I have mentioned in the past, Sadie is our little night owl. If she takes a nap, or even sometimes if she doesn't, that girl can easily see 10, 11pm at night. The other night she was really wired but was obediently staying in her room. I went up around 10:30 and she had cleaned her entire room (it had been quite messy). I was very impressed, and will no longer take the excuse that she can't pick up. I gave her 30 more minutes to wind down then was ready for bed myself. I went in and laid down with her, thinking surely that would get her to go to sleep. She kept wiggling and I told her she needed to stay quiet if she wanted me to stay in there. Her reply "I just can't keep my eyes and my mouth shut." The story of her life! She was in the nursery at another church just last night and there was a little bitty baby there. The nursery worker was asking her very kindly to not get too close to the baby. Sadie was a little confused so she said "is she allergic to people?". I apoligize if these are not new stories (they usually make it briefly to facebook before I get around to blogging). As I mentioned earlier we had some great company today. Sadie loves Anna and Abbey Hylton but at times the two 3 year olds are a little too strong-willed and forget how much they like each other. We worked through it though and I think in time these 3 little girls will be best buddies - if they're not already. Here is a picture of a good moment.

Until next time.....Goodnight!

The difference between boys and girls...

My cousin told me this summer about a book she read, talking about gender differences. The author of the book had a little girl and determined to raise her gender neutral (she didn't buy her "girl toys"). She thought she had proved her point that culture creates the feminism of little girl's interest, until she came into the room finding her daughter putting the fire truck to bed. It was tucked under a blanket and the little girl was telling it goodnight in a completely motherly way. If I had any doubts that we are born girls or born boys, from the inside out, they have been erased since having Sadie and Eli. She is so maternal, almost always carrying some sort of "baby" around with her. I have realized this week that the only toy necessary for Eli is a ball. He was throwing apples around today in the kitchen. That and beating things with his golf clubs (usually Sadie). Here are some pictures to prove my point:



You can see the buggy behind Eli, filled with balls (lemons and oranges, actually)


Meanwhile, Sadie's buggy is filled with a good assortment of grains, veggies, and fruit.


 Eli's choice of profession, I guess, includes wearing a hat and yelling.


 Sadie's profession, as suspected, involves babies.


 They did work quite well together at the pizza shop (part time job in a few years??)



And putting on a wild animal show.


 Just a hunch, but I'm pretty sure Papa is the favorite in Charlotte.


 And clearly the admiraion is quite mutual with these two.

I am thankful for my girl and my boy, and that the Lord made them just as they should be!
p.s. Isn't Sadie's new haircut cute? :)