Gulf Shores here I come!!

We are leaving for the beach tonight when Chase gets home from work!!! I can not wait...8 days at the beach with nothing to do but relax. We are driving to Jacksonville, AL tonight to take Belle and Harley to Chase's parents. His mom was very nice and agreed to keep them while we were gone. Boarding is SO expensive! Saturday morning we will be leaving after Emory's early morning feeding and head to Birmingham to follow my parents to Gulf Shores. It should be an interesting trip with two new babies traveling with us. We may make more frequent stops then normal but by tomorrow afternoon, we will be at the beach and that is all that matter to me. On the way down we are going to be stopping in Clanton, AL for PEACHES!!! I have been craving peaches since last season and grocery store peaches are NOT the same. Yumm, I can't wait!! So needless to say, I will not be blogging for at least a week, but there will be plenty when we return! I am officially in vacation mode!

KT photography

So my little sister was blessed with ALL the creativity in the family. We still aren't sure where she gets it from, but we are glad she has it!! I believe it was her junior year in high school, Katie decided to take a photography class. She liked it and was pretty talented and decided she wanted one of those big fancy cameras. Lucky for me! Now I don't have to pay a sitting fee at a studio to get pictures of my daughter! The only downside is that she is in Birmingham and I am in Nashville. So we take advantage anytime we can to get pictures. Here are a few she took while we were in Birmingham for her graduation.







You can bet there will be lots of pictures when we get back from the beach!! Mandy and I bought coordinating outfits for Payton and Emory, it is going to be so cute!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Yesterday was our third anniversary. I can't believe it has been three years. In a way it seems like we were just married. The pictures from our honeymoon still scroll across our computer screen, it feels like yesterday, yet it was three years ago. These past three years have been wonderful. Each year better than the last. This past year has been great. We moved to Nashville and tried something different. We both started new jobs and moved to a city neither of us knew. It forced us to meet new people and try new things. We have met life long friends here in Nashville and have enjoyed getting to know a new city. Nashville has so much more to do than Birmingham. The only downside is that our families aren't here. However, it isn't a long drive to Birmingham or Jacksonville and it is nice having family come and visit. I love to entertain, so it works out well!

For our first anniversary we stayed in Birmingham and did things around town (Oak Mountain State Park, the air show--very cool). For our second anniversary we went to Atlanta. I had been wanting to go the aquarium and Chase finally gave in. We also visited the new Coke Museum. I highly recommend both places. This year, since I am not quite ready to leave Emory with anyone just yet, we decided to stay at home and grill out. Dinner was wonderful. Chase grilled steaks and I sauteed mushrooms that turned out wonderfully, if I do say so myself. And of course what is a steak dinner without a loaded baked potato and a salad. Emory slept the whole time, so we were able to enjoy dinner. I was able to eat with both hands and we didn't have to worry about putting the pacifier back in her mouth every 5 minutes! Of course I had to take a picture of our beautifully prepared dinner.

Chase even thought to light the candles.

For gifts this year I got a combined "pushing present"/mother's day/anniversary right hand ring. It is beautiful, he did a great job. Chase wanted a motorcycle but of course that is NOT what he got! He has been wanting this Casio keyboard, the keys light up to teach you how to play, so that is what he got. He was very excited and put it together in the middle of our living room, instead of the bonus room where I had intended for it to go. He swears he will move it this afternoon when he gets home! I took pictures of him playing it, but he made me promise not to put them on my blog or facebook! So here is a boring picture of just the keyboard.

We will address the motorcycle issue later!

After dinner we enjoyed chocolate covered strawberries and watched the movie License to Wed. It was actually kinda cute. Emory behaved throughout the evening which made for a nice relaxing evening at home! Happy anniversary to us!

Because I take too many pictures!!

This was probably around 4am when she didn't want to sleep.

I had to take this picture because this was the first time she had stayed asleep in her crib after I had laid her down. It didn't last long!

She just looked so cute in her turtle towel!

Lounging around after bath time.

One of her first "real" smiles. There have been many others, they are just very hard to get on camera!

Playing away!

Watching daddy wash the cars.

She doesn't look very happy, but I assure you she was. She loves being outside.

Keep scrolling for more posts.

Daddy's Little Girl

Belle wanted to make sure she made the picture too!

I thought this was so sweet. I walked into the bedroom last night to find them like this! Since she was asleep he was afraid to move her to her bed, but he wanted her close!

Daddy's attempts at getting Emory to sleep/entertain her!

He would have her wear this onesie everyday!

What can I say!

Keep scrolling for more posts.

Birmingham Trip

Two weekends ago Emory and I were able to drive down to Birmingham for my little sister's graduation. The plan was to stay until Wednesday afternoon, the day after Katie's graduation. Since we were going to be staying through part of the week, Chase wasn't able to go due to work. I still can't believe that Katie has graduated from high school and will be starting college this fall! I am having a hard time with this...I know my parents are! Their baby is going "off" to college! It's nice to know that when we travel back to Birmingham for football season, (Go Blazers!) Katie will be there too. That makes it a little easier.

While we were in Birmingham, Emory was able to meet A LOT of the people that mean so much to Chase and I! We didn't get to my parents until late Saturday evening and we spent the night fighting sleep. I guess it was being in a new place but Emory didn't sleep very much the first night. Sunday we went to church, this was the second trip to church for Emory. The next time we go I think she'll be going to the nursery. I spent 95% of the time walking around and giving Emory the tour of Brookwood Baptist! One of the reasons we went down on the weekend was because the church was having senior recognition. We were able to see Katie be recognized and then we had to walk more! The service was followed by lunch at Pine Tree Country Club. Emory slept the whole time! So I actually got to sit back and enjoy.









There were 21 seniors in all. (not all are pictured)

Sunday afternoon Mandy and Katie and I went to doodles (something I miss very much) and then met mom for some shopping. Nita bought Emory two cute outfits for the beach...not that she needed any clothes!

Monday Katie and Emory and I went to Children's Hospital to visit the girls I use to work with and then to dad's (Papa's) office for a visit and lunch. Monday night was dinner at Cole and Mandy's. Emory fell asleep on the couch after a staring contest with her elephant!
I guess you could say the elephant won!

Tuesday Mandy and I took both babies up to Blue Cross and Blue Shield to visit my mom's co-workers! There were a lot of people to visit but Payton and Emory did great. That night was graduation and all the family was coming over before graduation for Katie to open gifts and visit.





















Graduation started at seven and Emory started getting fussy at 7:05pm! We watched all of graduation from the back of the church. She actually behaved very well and even fell asleep. The only problem we had was on the drive home when she screamed the entire way home! It made the drive from Shades Mountain Baptist Church to River Run so much longer. As soon as we got home and she was being held (after changing her diaper) she was a happy camper!




















Wednesday we met more friends for breakfast and then again for lunch. Later that afternoon we headed home. Emory and I had had a great time but we missed Chase and were ready to see him!

So Sorry

I am so sorry that I have been delayed in blogging. I don't really have an excuse except that I have a newborn that LOVES to be held. Which of course makes it difficult to type and post pictures. Plus, I haven't really had anything to write about. I just wanted to say that more blogs are coming very soon! I have several things to post. Again, so sorry for the delay!

One Month

Emory is one month old today. I can't believe it, it feels like she was just born, but at the same time it feels like she has been here forever. I can't remember what I did with my time before her. She fits so perfectly into our lives, it's hard to imagine it without her now! The last month has been amazing! It is hard to put into words the emotions that I have felt over the last four weeks since Emory's arrival into this world. I believe that I have felt every emotion possible since I went into labor a month ago. At first I didn't want to get my hopes up that she was coming because I didn't want someone to tell me that I was wrong and had to go home to wait longer! Then it was fear. Fear because she didn't like when I pushed, causing her heart rate to drop. The mom in me wanted to be clueless but the nurse in me wouldn't let me. When I heard her cry for the first time, tears of joy filled my eyes! The nurse placed her in my arms and I looked at the most amazing miracle, my daughter! She was beautiful and immediately my heart was filled with love for someone I had just met!! Ok I know I had carried her around with me for nine months but seeing her for the first time was incredible! When it was time to bring her home, fear set in again. I have been around kids all my life and I am a pediatric nurse, but this kid was mine and we were taking her home! Yikes! I have decided there are no prerequisites for motherhood! It doesn't matter that I have babysat since I was 12 or that I have been a pediatric nurse for four years (that actually might make it worse), motherhood is something that comes naturally in part. The other part you learn, trial and error! Emory calls the shots around here now! My heart aches when she is crying and I can't fix the problem and sometimes frustration when she's been crying and fussy for an hour and I can't help her!

This morning I watched her as she began to wake up again to nurse. I love watching her make her "turtle" face and listening to her make the sweetest noises as she starts to stir. She is a little snuggle bug and loves to cuddle up next to me after she has nursed. I will lay her on my chest to burp her and she kicks her legs until she moves her face right beside my neck where she falls asleep. It makes it hard to put her down to finish her nap. I wonder what she's dreaming about when she smiles in her sleep!

She is much more alert and awake for longer periods of time now and has started to find her "voice" so when we are playing she "talks" and smiles. But when I get the video camera out to film it for Chase she stops. Then of course starts back when the camera is off. Tummy time isn't her favorite thing but she is starting to get the hang of it and bath time is going very well! The initial bath was a little traumatic for her, at least she thought it was, but since then she loves them until you wash her hair. I told her we would probably fight about that for years to come!

This past month has been wonderful. God has truly blessed my life with a loving husband, a beautiful, healthy daughter, a wonderful family always willing to give advice :), and caring friends, always there to help! I couldn't ask for more!

Family Fun Weekend

This weekend was filled with family. Late Friday night Chase's brother and his family and Haley and her boyfriend came to visit. We had a great time seeing Bennett and getting to spend more time with Blue. We had not seen Blue since she was born. Bennett has gotten so big and talks ALL the time now! He will be two in July! I can't believe it! Here are a few pictures from their visit.

We let Bennett play with our old digital camera. I think it was the highlight of his weekend!!


Chase was playing guitar and Bennett had to join in.
He had great time learning from his Uncle Chase.

We couldn't pass up the opportunity for a photo session. Blue is 5 weeks older than Emory.
I thought this picture was funny. They were getting a little tired of having their picture taken.

The only way to get Bennett to sit still long enough to take a picture of the three of them, was to give him a camera too!! He was trying to take a picture of the babies and managed to startle them both!


This might be my new favorite outfit for Emory. The little frog feet are so cute!

Sunday we drove to Rogersville to see Payton be Baptized. We were able to see my side of the family and spend a few hours with them before heading back to Nashville. It was a long day filled with driving but a great first Mother's Day!

At lunch Sunday afternoon. She slept through lunch, her belly was already full.

So sweet!

Family photo after lunch.

So...

I have decided that this is how Emory was positioned while I was pregnant. She is starting to stretch out more but she loves to be "all balled up" and her legs fit so perfectly this way. I guess this is what happens when you sit the same way for nine months!!

Genetics

We go back and forth on who Emory looks like. To me she is a good combination of both of us. Chase said that she looked like him when she was born and all swollen, but since then he believes she is starting to look more like me. I had my mom bring up pictures of me when I was about Emory's age and I found a few of Chase as well. As I was looking through all my pictures, I came across pictures of my nephews and my niece. Genetics are a strange thing!!

Emory two days old.

Me three hours old according to the back of the picture.

Chase a week or so old.

Bennett one day old.

Blue one day old.

Payton 6 days old.

Let me know what you think!

Cousins

Emory's cousin Payton was in town last week. Mandy and I of course couldn't resist the urge to have a photo session with the two of them. Emory slept the whole time and Payton laughed the whole time but we were able to get some very cute pictures. For those of you who don't know, Payton is my brother's son and is 10 weeks older than Emory. So in this picture, Emory is 2 weeks old and Payton is 12 weeks. I am sure there will be many more pictures to come of the two of them!