Let Me Hold You Longer

My parents gave me a book, Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury, on my first Mother's Day. The illustrations are beautiful and the rhyming lines have caught N's ear over the past week. The essence of the book is the importance of treasuring the "lasts" of childhood as children grow up. Of course, it makes me weepy as I rock my little boy and read about how one day, he will "leave to me his past" when he goes off to college "come some bright fall morning." What really gets me is the way he asks me to "read this book one more time," over and over again. It's like N is God's mouthpiece, gently reminding me to treasure these moments. As I am typing this post, N is standing beside me at the computer desk, listening to his special praise music. I love the way he asks for "more music, please" after every song. I am richly blessed indeed. Thank you, God.

Kitchen Help

N has quite a collection of kitchen cupboard containers that keep him busy during the day. His favorite thing yesterday was feeding "peanuts" to his circus animal toys. We've also spent a lot of time reading some new library books and listening to music. I love the way he has begun memorizing parts of books so that he can "read" them all by himself.


It has been a very busy week for G because of all of the turmoil in the banking industry, so we are praying for our Daddy a lot! Other than that, things have been pretty normal around here. My friend babysat N for me today while I went to the doctor, and she let him take his nap at her house, too. She pretty much gave me a "mommy's afternoon out!" I treated myself to lunch at Panera and then did a little shopping all by MYSELF! :) Independence is a very precious thing these days. I feel so energized after this time on my own, and am so very grateful for my friend. God took care of me through her today.

Easy Banana...

We love and miss our family in far away places!

Weddings and Things...

This weekend marked the official beginning of Auntie M and Uncle R's wedding season! My aunt and uncle hosted an engagement party for them, and we had a great time meeting some of R's friends and family. Unfortunately our camera batteries were really low that day so we didn't get many good pictures, but I'm sure between my dad and uncle, the event received full photo coverage!


We spent the rest of the weekend taking care of things around the house and just enjoyed being together. Friday night we made it to the Greek Festival, and the dinner plates and pastries were wonderful as always. I really love eating my favorite food when I'm pregnant because it just tastes even better.

Here are a few shots from around the house so you can see the new floors.




And here is N playing with some leftover non-slip material we put under the rugs. He loves naming and sorting his shapes. Notice that he's wearing a DISPOSABLE DIAPER!!!


Yes, we have made the switch for the rest of N's diaper days. I plan to use the cloth diapers for baby M for a year or more, but the odor was just becoming unbearable with N's diapers now that he's a "big boy." Anyway, it's a little luxury for me during the last few weeks of my pregnancy and I'm sure it will save me some time and effort once baby M is here to add to the laundry pile!

I forgot to take a picture last week...so here is my 8 month plus a few days baby belly.


We have officially moved N into his new bedroom, and he likes it a lot in there. I need to start washing baby clothes and getting things all settled in the nursery. Today I picked up some nursing pads and a few extra crib sheets at Target, and I plan to do a little cooking ahead (stuff that can go in the freezer) over the next few weeks. G and I are getting really excited about meeting baby M! We can only hope his big brother will feel the same way. :)

N Meets Baby O

My college roommate A and her husband G had their first baby in June, and I finally had an opportunity to visit and meet the little guy last week. Baby O is precious! I am so happy for my friends.

N's favorite thing was "helping" by pushing buttons on the baby swing and buckling the carseat.


We met our suitemate K, her daughter and her dad for dinner - my, how things have changed since we used to head to El Rodeo for a cheap meal when we were Carolina students. It's still so much fun - just a little more wild with our children wanting to eat chips and pour salsa on themselves these days!


N did really well until the very end when he wanted to chase his friend M around the restaurant, but his pregnant mother wasn't up for expending that much energy after the meal. Here's how he felt about staying at the table just a little longer...


N and I came home to new floors last Friday. We are enjoying them, but I think the best thing is just being home with Daddy again. Things are starting to get back to normal, at least for the next few weeks, right?


I had my 8 month doctor's visit today, and everything went well. The baby is doing great, and I'm hanging in there, too. As long as I have plenty to eat I'm doing well - I'm really hoping the Greek Festival doesn't get rained out tomorrow night, because I intend to eat a healthy portion of some of my food favorites!

Taking it easy at Nanny and PopPop's house

For the past week and a half, N and I have been in Cheraw with my parents during a construction project at our house (new flooring downstairs!) We have both loved the extended time with Nanny and PopPop, although we have missed Daddy a lot. He was able to come down last weekend, but mostly he has been working, "managing" the floor project, and re-living his bachelor days while staying with my future brother-in-law.

Our routine since we've been at Nanny and PopPop's house has included a daily walk, outside playtime, lunch with PopPop, naps, and playtime with Nanny after she gets home from school. It has been so nice to eat dinner with my folks, especially since my mother specializes in baking her own version of Burger King's cini-minis - we've all been eating well!

Here are some shots from the past week.

Visiting PopPop at work - N was scared at first, but was quickly won over by the peach cobbler my Dad's coworkers were eating when we got there...


To McLeod Farms with Nanny to get some fresh peaches (we also tasted a peach enchilada with ice cream!)


Playing in Nanny and PopPop's bedroom after a bath


Reading The Cat in the Hat - N (and my Dad, too) will sit still for the entire book!


Pool time in the backyard


He likes the mist a lot!


Walking with PopPop after dinner


Driving "blinky-blinky" on the "road" - N likes to say, "Light turns green, our turn go!"


Speaking of the road, N and I will be traveling to Durham to visit my college roommate, her husband and her new baby tomorrow. I am excited to meet this little guy!

Curious George

Here's our boy in his Curious George outfit, playing with his Curious George jack-in-the-box. We've also been reading Curious George and the bunny today.

It has been a relaxing day at home for us. We took a walk and then played outside with sidewalk chalk and bubbles for a long time. Lunch was pbj's, crackers and grapes for both of us, and now N's down for a nap.


Since I was on a mini "Mama vacation" last week while Nanny and PopPop kept N for us, I have some leftover chores to take care of today. I thoroughly enjoyed myself during the two days he was in Cheraw, doing everything from hanging out at a coffee shop and playing with photos for N's baby scrapbook (projected completion date is sometime before my due date, October 30) to having lunch with a friend and a dinner date with G.

I feel quite rested and as though I lived a life of small luxuries last week. Here's N enjoying one of his favorite "luxuries," water with ice cubes. :)