Capturing the Good Life

A few weeks ago mom told me our friend Whitney would be coming over to take pictures of us.  Knowing I never shy away from a camera (not that I have a choice), I got really excited as to what we would be posing for!  Well, duh, it was to celebrate the exciting months that we have been carrying around Charlotte.  I know "we" technically isn't correct, but I'm with my mom every step of the way so I feel I've put my hours in.  Whitney did an amazing job capturing some of best moments with me, my mom, and dad.

Some of these pictures even seem too good to be true.  Well, that's because they are.  Mom had a vision of what she wanted me to do but she's always told me to look AT the camera.  So this time, when she said look at my belly I was so confused.  She decided the best way to get me to look at her belly was to put a treat under her shirt.  I nailed it.  And got a treat.

Mom and I did our pictures together because dad was at baseball practice.  I have to say, we are quite a great pair.

Love my momma.  She loves me.  

This is one of my favorite pictures ever.  Despite the fact she was tricking me with a treat, I really do love this one of us.  I didn't want to hurt Charlotte so I made sure to use just the tips of my toes on her belly.  

Finally dad got home.  Long story short, mom didn't plan out his outfit in advance so he dressed like goon.  Luckily he has me to really steal the spotlight in the photos.  

(Hey Whit, couldn't you have shaved off a little of mom's backside?!)

Apparently these pictures were so special to mom and dad because this is where they got married 4 years ago!  I wasn't in those pictures, which is why they are blasted all over social media.  

This is just one of my favorites.  These two love me so much and it always makes me smile.  (you can't really see my smile because of the smothering but it's there) 

(they were kissing....I'm out)

(mom scaring the neighbors)

That's it!  That's my family!  For now...and I wouldn't change a thing.  

-Nelson

Joys of Week 35

My mom can't stop talking about how she has loved every minute of pregnancy.  She loves feeling my sister, seeing herself grow, put together a nursery, and all the fun things that come along with growing a human.  I have to say, her tone changed just slightly within the last week.  Here are some of the things I've overheard my mom talk about:

1.  When told she measured TWO WEEKS ahead, mom yelled at Dr. Wittek.  #embarrassing  #limittheicecream

2.  When going to bed Friday night mom became a geriatric soon-to-be-mom.  She threw her back out.  Or at least struggled to move.  She gets up LOTS in the night to go to the bathroom.  I know this because I've started sleeping on the floor beside her (summer gets hot).  Mom does a great job at getting up and seeing where I'm at so she doesn't step on me.  That's not an inconvenience at all for a someone half asleep to do five times a night.  Anyway, it took her so long with so many moans and whines before her feet even touched the ground.  Then she held on to the wall the entire way to the bathroom.  Yikes, she looked in pain.  

3.  Bladder Blues.  She goes, she leaves bathroom, she goes again.  Not sure this is the best use of her time.  

4.  She's starving, she's not.  Which is it??

5.  Emotions....are on OVERDRIVE!  My poor dad.  He's been such a great help lately.  Doing chores, making dinner and searing the entire house with smoke because "that's what the meat guy said to do", taking me for walks, walking with mom and me on the weekends, growing a goatee...oh, that last one just made mom happy, it really didn't help anything.  But I tell you what, she gets emotional quick.  Like when dad said he was going to go on a golf trip.  Mom got so sad.  Strangely, she wants him around ALL the time.  I mean, I love my dad, he's pretty much the coolest but we can stand to let him do his own thing mom. 

 

6.  What's my name?  Where do we live?  What day is it?  If my mom can remember the answers to just one of those questions then we are doing good.  She pretty much forgets everything.  Everyday.  She even said she is so frustrated being around herself.  (not me).  As long as people are aware that this is truly a symptom of her condition, life will be okay.  Even moody Miss Heckerson loves mom despite the fact she is failing at her job most days.    

7.  She wants something done...STAT!  If mom has an idea, chore, or something she wants done you better be ready to work.  There is no wait time.  Got mulch- go get it, got a bookcase- go find one, washing machine stinks- dad give her your credit card.    

Despite all this, she still loves every minute of harboring my sister and wouldn't change a thing.  She and dad can't wait to see what she'll look like.  Personally, I hope she has my eyes.  

Love,

Nelson

Oh- and we were so excited to meet Baby Colton Coquillard and Nora Lloyd.  Mom has been pregnant with Libby and Holly this entire time, so S%*# just got real that those two had their babies!

Mother's Day

Week 33...someone had a growth spurt this week!

This year Mother's Day was even more special.  I always like to make my mom feel wonderful on this day.  I started off the week posing for this wonderful photo, yet again.  Nailed it.

I really enjoy the throw back to this bow, takes me back to the 50's style.  Anyway, I had a great Saturday with my mom and dad.  Dad wanted to actually get up and go on our morning walk with mom and me!  (well, I use the term "wanted" loosely).  So we started off the day at my favorite time, 7 AM.  Someone has to get mom prepared for reality, and pretty soon she will realize I've actually been letting her sleep in.  After our long walk we had a nice trip to Home Depot....we sure sound like an old married couple here.  Got some mulch and I came home to help mom and dad in the yard.  

Mom got stuck in the position for quite some time, so I helped her out by moving around the mulch.  It's getting awfully hard for her to  move around these days.  

The next morning I was so excited because my family came over for a yummy brunch.  I got to see some of my favorite people!  

But my favorite part of this day was when my dad gave mom her Mother's Day gift.  Dad and I went back and forth on what or if she should do something for her.  I mean, I do something most years because she is indeed MY mom, so it just makes sense.  But my sister isn't quite here yet so it's kinda a grey area.  By moms reaction, dad knocked his gift out of the park.  During our fabulous brunch dad gave mom a letter.  It was actually a letter to my sister from my dad.  Let me tell you what, that was a sure way to get my momma to be a mess.  She read the first line and lost it!  Dad had to read it out loud.  And I have to say, he really did a nice job.  Kinda hard to read, but you get the point.    

(sis- I've heard mom rap...wait until you're old enough not to be embarrassed anymore)

She said she could not have asked for a better gift.  

So we enjoyed our last Mother's Day as a family of 3.  I can't wait to see what next year brings and what creative ways my sister and I can spoil mom.  Next up, Father's Day!

Showered With Love: Part 2

I told you about mom and dad's first baby shower and what a hit that was!  The next day, mom got to go to another one, this time thrown my all my grandma's and my Aunt Amber.

**Remember how I once mentioned that my grammie takes pills and wine when she flies.  Just a note, she did not just get off a plane in this picture, despite what it looks like.  I think she was still recovering from the shower the day before.  Although my mom looks quite refreshed.  

My Aunt Sharon also came up to help my grandma's too.  She works on a farm so it was natural for her to corral the herds at this shower.  

My Great Grandma Frazier and Great Aunt Stephanie were there too.  Sad I missed seeing them.  

I've also talked about Cody and how much I love him.  Well he got himself a super cute fiancé whom mom just loves.  She can't wait to welcome Laneah into the crazy family.  

All the ladies from every side of our huge family were in attendance.  This one was just as special as the first.  The gram's and aunt made delicious food and had the food match a book theme too!  This sister of mine better end up being a good reader! 

One of mom's favorite surprises was the hilarious cake that Amber made.  That was so thoughtful and talented of her to make a round cake WITH fondant!  

When the gift opening started so did all the excitement!  Mom was so thrilled to get the pimped-out stroller!  That was one of my favorites too so we can keep up on our walking and take my sister.  Thanks to lots of people from the Myers side of the family for making that happen!  

She got lots of special gifts too, like some homemade quilts.  Gram Beletsky spent months making this for my sister, and her first great granddaughter.  It took mom's breath away.  Sister will love this and mom will always tell her how it was made with love. 

GGB (as she likes to be called) also gave mom some cute books, one used to belong to my grammie when she was little!  I can't wait to read that one to my sister.  Maybe when my grammie visits next we can read that one to her together!  

While all the ladies were oohing and ahhhing over all the cute baby stuff, I was hanging with my dad, grandpa, and Papaw.  Guy time  

Mom ended the day with calling dad to collect all their gifts and load them up.  He's a great guy like that.  I think she used the term "pack mule".  

My grandma's and Aunt Amber made that day so special with so much love.  I think all the women loved the detail these four put into making this day so special.  Mom could not have wished for a better weekend with all the family and friends she loves.  After these showers, we just sat in the nursery and took it all in and reminded ourselves how very blessed we are and how loved my sister already is.  

-Nelson

Weekends are the Best!

I suffer through sitting on the couch during the week watching anything that's on channel 12 (because that's the channel mom leaves on for me all day) just to get to the weekends.  In week 29 of growing my sister I really had a great time.  First, I got to wear this sweet bib and this time, I really liked my weekly pic!  I sure do love a good PB&J so I thought this outfit was a hoot.

Here is a better shot of just me.

Then, mom and dad took me to breakfast with them.  I love going wherever they go.  I can make sure they are safe and I get to see so many people who want to talk to me.  I try and not beg for food when we are out in public, no one likes a begger.  So really I'm just sitting her telling mom how pretty she is.  

Just when I thought my weekend fun was over, mom throws in this extra surprise of getting to go see one of my favorite people...grandpaw!  He works outdoors now so it's like a double whammy.  My favorite part of his new job...golf carts.  Who knew!?  Mom thinks this is funny because when she was around my age this was one of her favorite things to go do too!  Now she is taking me.  Funny how things turn out.  

That was plenty for me to do in one day so M&D got all shnazzied up to go to a wedding.  Remember what I always say about taking pictures with these two??

Luckily they are cute.  

Short and sweet but that was my weekend and I loved every minute of it.  An added bonus, mom finally got me a place to sit in my sisters room!  I was getting a tad tired of the floor.  This turned out to be quite a nice purchase on her part.  

This will really come in handy because we have been reading to my sister lately because we think she can hear us.  Sitting on the floor and is begging to get uncomfortable for the large lady in my life.  

If that story didn't put my sister to sleep it sure did me!

And finally, to top of my week I got the last of the PB...really fitting since I started my week with a an  "I love PB" bib".  Irony.  This was great and so is my picture.   Until....

All of a sudden, while my dad was washing the dishes he just rips some weird noise which I can only assume was a giant fart.  One thing I've learned in pictures with my mom, don't break the pose.  I think I did quite a nice job of that.  

-Nelson

PS:  There isn't much to tell about these picture other than I love being with my mom and I think I look quite wise.  My favorite photographer, Whitney, always brings out the best in me.  

Gram Comes To Town

During the exciting week of showers, my wonderful Grammie came to town.  I look forward to every visit she makes.  She obviously spoils me, because, hello, she loves dogs more than people, but she really spoils mom and dad too... A LOT.  Every time she leaves, mom, dad, and I always talk about how much we will miss her.  So I thought it would be nice to list the top 10 ten reasons why we love when Grammie comes to visit:

10. Our bed is made each morning- shockingly dad is out of it
9.  She over-buys at the grocery store and then we have lots of leftovers
8.  She does loads of laundry
7.  She runs lots of errands for us so we don't have to
6.  She organizes and cleans the things that we act like we can't see
5.  She brings my dad coffee in bed, on he couch, at the door, etc.  (nonsense)
4.  She rubs my dad's back and greets him from work with a hug and "how was your day honey" (unrealistic expatiation to set)
3.  She washed, folded, washed, organized, washed, shopped, and hung all my sister's belongings.
2.  She loves on me every second
1.  On her first day she is under the influence of pills and wine so we always get to hear the same stories twice....three times if we are really lucky!