Showered With Love: Part 1

Well we are entering week 27 of growing my sister and my mom was getting so excited for some really big events coming up...BABY SHOWERS!  In fact, she had two this weekend.  But before I get to those you may notice this nice quilt I received before the showers.  See, my Aunt Nikki cannot give gifts when she's SUPPOSED to.  She gets so excited and then has to spill the beans to my mom.  So, we received this beautiful quilt made my Nita and Nikki.  I simply love it and I know Charlotte will too.  

Just look how excited my mom is here.  Clearly she didn't realize we were supposed to be taking a photo.  (I don't know why she always jacks this up)

Ok, I had to check it out.  What a sweet gift.

And again, not looking.  Those two.

So before the showers started my mom wanted to make sure I had some fun things to do too, so she hooked up a playdate with my buds Truman and Tucker.  This is by far my new favorite way to walk...without a leash, in a storm drain.  LOVE IT.  This picture comes with a scary/funny story.  Mom was trying to get a photo of all of us dogs so, yet again, I pose, no one else does.  Truman (the giant Golden) hears mom say his name and gets so excited and starts running to mom to see what she needed.  I can replay this in my head in slow-motion...that guy barrels into my mom tossing her completely in the air.  Now, his mom is pregnant too so I think he felt awful because instead of running off, he falls with my mom and lets her bounce on top of him to break her fall (he even squeaked a little, poor dude).  Good move Truman, because as you know I am missing a toof and it wasn't from being friendly to a dog so you're lucky my mom was okay.  Mom laughed so hard she nearly peed her pants.  No joke.  But Truman's mom panicked that she was injured and came running over freaking out.  Which, let me tell you, is why parents shouldn't freak out when their kids get hurt because as soon as mom saw Libby freaking out, she freaked out!  I gotta say, I'm shocked the old lady didn't use this as a reason to go see my sister on that screen.  I think she's growing up a little.  

Then my homie Tucker Luther came over to do a fun dog walk event.  We had a ton of fun.  He only screamed like a monkey for the first half.  

So, now that my mom spoiled me rotten for the week it was time for her to get spoiled too. 

At this shower she was spoiled by her friends. Aunt Nikki, Elena, Aunt Jodi, Lacey, and cousin Brie all helped make that day one of the best days mom can remember.  Dang, those are some cute ladies.  

I love this picture.  (Funny story I once heard my mom tell...one time, mom and Aunt Nikki were in a bar and this guy came up to them and wanted to buy them a drink.  He said, "Man you guys are so cute and have such big teeth, like a horse."  I sure know these two ladies pretty well and you can imagine their response.  They blew him off and took the drink of course.)  

Awe, looky there!  It's mom and grandpaw!  He's one of my favorite people.  So weird how much they look alike.

Now this one gets me you guys.  This is my Grammie, Aunt Bridge, Aunt Janel, and Uncle Danny.  Grammie flew in from Seattle to be with me and mom (oh and to bring dad his coffee and make him think he has a servant).  The other three drove all the way up from Texas!  I'm not even joking.  Word on the street is they brought my cousins but I didn't get to see Maya and Gus.  Mom was so excited to see them.  They will make just the best aunts and uncle.

Then there is these two trouble makers.  Funny story again...after mom and dad got SO spoiled at the shower with tons of gifts dad thanked everyone for coming and for all their generous gifts and then said "but guys I only registered for one thing and I can't believe no one got it!"...which that one thing was a mustache pacifier.  He's weird.

Now this is one of my favorite parts of the shower...the CREATIVITY mom's friends put into it!  They had a book shower where each food had a kids book to go with it!  And mom got to keep the books!  Although putting the book Olivia (the pig) next to the pork was a little morbid...those girls.

This is another cute picture.  Here mom is with Taylor, one of the first babies she ever held coming to celebrate mom's baby.  And this baby is way taller than mom.  #embarrassingmom  (she's 15)

Oops, jumping ahead to when mom and dad brought home all their gifts.  This was my favorite they got and brought a little tear to my eye.  It says "My best friend was rescued" (Aunt Nikki is so smart to know that).  Not sure how my sister already knew that mom and dad rescued me but I like that she already knows we will be best friends.  I hope she wears this when I meet her.

See how excited mom was to get this!

Nita knew just how to please them both.  Cute dress for mom, camo bib for dad.  Double win.

Don't laugh guys, but this hooligan is my dad.  He thinks he has this fatherhood thing down already.  Apparently Tiger Woods agrees in the background.  

Mom woke up earlier that morning feeling like today was Christmas.  She knew they were going to be surrounded by everyone they loved so much who were coming to celebrate the arrival of my sister.  She went to bed that night humbled and beyond grateful to have so many people in our lives who love us so much.  

Until June, I'll enjoy my quiet, peaceful days snuggled up with my mom and dad.  That is one think I am forever grateful for.  

-Nelson

Spring and Mom Have Sprung

Well I had to take a recent blog break.  Mom had a cold, and, well, we've been super busy.  Looks like I need to go back to week 24.  First things first, we took our weekly pic and yet again I am ready and mom jacks it up.  If you can tell, she sure had a growth spurt.  Which would explain the extreme food consumption.  Dad even brought mom a scone at work.  Miss Kellie asked why in the world the truckload of food she brings everyday is not enough?  Good question.  

As you can tell in the picture we finished the heavy hauling portion of the nursery.  Grandpaw wrapped up the painting on moms snow day and then couldn't resist coming back that night to help assemble the crib.  Dad loves putting things together.  (Maybe we will get to have a set of Legos once my sister is here and I stumble all over those tiny ass pieces)

Of course they needed some help with the directions.  

Dad you got plumber pants homie!   

And wall-la!  (I used phonics on that one).  Crib, dresser, and even some tiny (too tiny for me to wear!) clothes!  I think this room turned out to be quite amazing if I do say so myself.  

Then that took us into week 25.  Mom summed it up quite nicely on the board "filling your closet".  She allowed herself one week to shop for my sister, despite EVERYONE telling her not to. We were even watching a movie one night and at the end mom said she didn't even know how it happened but the baby just bought herself 8 outfits while watching TV.  (I like her sneaky style).   Dad said he will need to work extra hard now that she found online baby shopping.  Uh, newsflash dad, mom earns her keep around her too....for now.  So Baby Gap and Carter's got busy and within a few days we got some cute stuff in mail.  

Mom was so excited about the nursery she had Aunt Jodi come out to see it.  And guess who she brought..... the one and only Tucker Luther, whom I'm dominated at he park, gangsta style.  Prozac ain't got nothing on you T-Dog.  

Later that night, mom and dad went out on a date.  You should ask my dad about remembering the scheduled date night mom had set up as he had a mandate hike, it almost got ugly up in here.  But they ended up having a great time!  Mom had a three course meal (shocker) ending with a delightful dessert that she didn't share.  

My app didn't say much about the baby having a growth spurt during week 25 but my mom sure did.  She's a heathen.  Luckily they were home by 7:30.  These days it's impressive if mom and I see the nightly news.  We are getting so tired!  But, then we struggle with sleeping, go figure.  One day this week mom got up at 3:12 AM and could NOT go back to sleep.  She was so wide awake that she even woke me up to keep her company.  Woman, hasn't anyone ever told you not to wake a sleeping baby??  Good luck remembering that in a few months.  So, being the great son I am, I got her out of bed and we went for a nice pre predawn walk at 4:45.  Things sure are quiet outside at 4:45.  We even scared the deer.

Luckily this week we finally got to feel spring!  Mom and I took some time to enjoy the view on a walk.  

Mom said it was cool to sit with her baby and feel the other one kick.  Oh hey geese.  My friends.  I digress.  

And then we got home and got a HUGE package!  We waited for dad to open it up.  It was our first baby gift!!!

Aunt Bridgett and Charley with Uncle Danny and Aunt Janel sent my sister this awesome carseat.  I ride free style in the car but apparently the baby needs to be caged up in some five-point harness contraption.  Not sure how she will hang out the window...fun-sucker.  

And the gifts just kept coming!  We went to a party at Aunt Nikki's and, of course, she couldn't wait to give us the baby gift she and Nita made (even though they are coming to a shower in a few days).  But I could see why she was so excited.  We got the most beautiful and thoughtful homemade quilt.  I took to it immediately.  (Plus they say you should introduce the baby to the dog by bringing some of the dogs stuff to the hospital for her to sniff out.  Right?)

Dad even knew what these things were and boy do they bring out the cheesiest smile in that guy.  

How many times do I have to say this baby is already so spoiled?  

To end our week we went to celebrate Cody and Laneah's engagement.  I absolutely love my Cody.  He's calm and pets me.  Score and score.  Anyway, just mom and dad went to this one because I was still recovering from Snake Saturday.  Here is my Aunt Amber and Grandma.  Grandma said they have to put their hands on their hips because it makes you look skinnier.  Uh, grandma, please revert to the dessert photo above.  A hand on hip ain't gonna do much work for mom these days.

And here is my dad and grandparents.  He loves pictures.

Don't even get me started on these two.  Papaw had to offer Cody and Laneah advice for their upcoming marriage.  This goober said "uh, well, sometimes you just gotta lie a little". -Words of Wisdom from Papaw.  

Awe and here is my mom and dad.  They take okay pics when I'm not around!  

And then all the Clampets together.  What a crew.  Da-Da-Der-Der-Der-Der-Der-Der.  

So, because I waited so long to blog I pretty much just had to glaze over the past few weeks.  Mom's big, we got awesome gifts, and I love spring.  Can't complain huh?!  

I'm off to enjoy my spring break this week.  We kicked it off with a good book, a nice jar of PB, and a relaxing morning walk to watch the birds.  #livinthedream

"Be kind to one another"

-Nelson

Painting and Primping

Well the damn snow is back.  (Mom says I shouldn't cuss...okay sailor).  Just when I thought my walks were going to get even longer, they get even shorter because my paws cannot handle it!

Before the snow started this weekend we did get some major work done in the nursery.  Grandpaw, his friend, Charley, and dad got busy on whatever makes lots of loud noises.  I sure love helping dad and grandpaw, but this one was just a little to much for me.  I'm out.

To get away from all the clamor, mom and I spent all day running around the entire city.  Later we came back to a beautiful room.  Charley got to use the nail gun but I think dad and Grandpaw were in the background waiting their turn. 

Mom and dad were so thrilled with how it turned out!  Check it out.  Also check out my grandpaw's butt photobombing the picture.  #embarrASSing (see what I did there :)  )

Dad is chomping at the bit to put my sisters bed together so he's even more excited about the progress!

Later that night my mom and dad spent a long time getting ready, which is NOT normal.  They put on these fancy outfits and looked so pretty.  Turns out they were going to the NFL 101 Awards.  Not sure what that's supposed to be but mom was just excited to get all fancy.  (this was when the damn snow started though which you know turns her into a nervous wreck).  They considered having me get a picture of them but after careful consideration we decided the lack-of-thumbs made it impossible.  That mom, she's so smart though...she figured it out.  Look how well they clean up!

  

Once there, they finally got someone to take a picture of them together.  These days I'm noticing how much those two look alike.  Which makes me confused on who I got my golden hair from?  

Mom was excited because she got to see some famous NFL players.  Her favorite was Peyton Manning.  She said he kept trying to get in the photo with her but I sure as heck can't see him.  I'll just take her word for it.  

Sounds like those two had a fun, fancy night out.  

The next day we spent the whole day snuggled on the couch.  That night wore her out.  She did however make me some delicious dog food though.  I will say she's really funny these days.  She laughs...A LOT but sometimes she gets so upset.  Like when she was making my dog food.  She dropped an egg on the floor and had a pretty good temper tantrum.  I excused myself upstairs until she was done.  I didn't want her to be embarrassed.  What's funny is my dad was on the couch and didn't hear a thing the entire time. Uh, are you deaf?  I wonder if he will hear my sister cry??  Mom says she's going to hook the baby monitor up to the TV so he won't be able to miss it.  She's so smart.  

So, overall we had a really good week 23.  Sadly, mom forgot to take a belly picture (oh shucks).  But she ate like a horse, so just take my word that my sister was growing this week.  Her friend, Katie thinks it's so funny how much mom can eat.  I often think it's alarming...that lady can put it down...and she doesn't share as much as she used to with me.  

Signing off today as I go to help my grandpa finish up the fine details of the little lady's room.  Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have his help!?

                            

-Nelson