The past month!

See, I told you. Me+blogging=FAIL. But I'm back. And I'm pretty sure I know my problem. I've got to streamline my picture taking and uploading process. I've also got to learn how to not depend on Nick to take the pictures. (We got a fancy new Nikon for Christmas and I haven't taken the time yet to learn how to use it). So, since I wrote last, LOTS has happened. I've written about ten papers, taken a new job, had some extended family turmoil, survived tornadoes, you know, normal stuff :) One of the best things is that I finished the spring semester (you know, the semester when I had a BABY?!) and even though I'm taking two (easy) classes this summer, I am OUT of school for a month! Yippee!! I've been mulling over some summer goals in my head and here is what I've come up with so far...

1) learn how to use the Nikon (read the manual and practice)

2) start choosing music for my very first choir! (more on that later)

3) work on Nash's baby book

4) work off some more baby weight (so far it's coming off without much work, but the last ten pounds is probably gonna be toughest!)

5) blogging at least once a week

And I'm looking forward to these things... but here are some other things I'm REALLY looking forward to!

*U2, Nashville, 7-7-11 AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaah!!! So fun, can't wait.

*the beach! I don't know when but I want to go...we only live about 4 hours from the beach and I haven't been to an AL beach since I've lived here. 5 YEARS!! I've lived here for 5 YEARS! this is ridiculous, really.

*lots of trips to SnoBiz. one of our favorite summer dessert dates.

This weekend Nash and I are flying up to spend Mother's Day/Derby weekend in KY! Nash's first plane ride. I'm nervous. Dear Lord, please keep us safe and keep Nash from crying the whole time! I don't want him to be "that" baby on the airplane annoying everyone. But if he is, what can ya do? Have some grace, people! ughhh...see, I'm already freaking out ;) Til next time ya'll.

(heaven help, I typed "ya'll"....I HAVE lived in AL for 5 years!! I never used to say ya'll! ugghhh)

I'll leave you with a little video I captured this month!

My Old Kentucky Home

Nash took his first road trip this week to visit family and friends in Kentucky. He did GREAT! In the car, adjusting to new surroundings, sleeping through the night....everything! Here are some highlights.

We did some relaxing with the Grandparents.



Nash met his Great-Granny and Papa Howard. I feel so blessed that Nash has TWO Great-Grandmothers and one Great Papa!



Four generations!


We took a gorgeous drive to Wallace Station to eat lunch. Nick and I saw it featured on The Food Network a few months back and ever since then, Nick wanted me to take him. It's nestled in the middle of some beautiful horse farms and they are just beginning to look pretty and springy again. I wish we had stopped and taken some pictures of the horses and daffodil-sprinkled countryside but these will have to do:

We visited and were visited by many friends over 4 days. It was sooo good to see everyone. Friends are good for the soul.

That's all for now! I'm starting the last half of the semester tomorrow so blogs will be few and far between but I'm getting better at it. Til next time.

Some pictures cause I promised!

Today, Nash is two months old! I took this picture when he was 4 weeks old (which I though constituted a month). He was beginning to smile for real!



I'm told that months aren't counted by weeks (4, 8, 12, etc...) so I took this picture today, March 11th on his two month birthday. He is much more smiley now and just about ready to start chuckling. I can't wait!

This weekend we are heading to Kentucky so Nash can meet his Great Granny and Papa Howard! My dad hasn't seen him since the day after we left the hospital (other than via skype) so he is super excited to see his grandson again, too. We've also got some other little future girlfriend babies to introduce to Nashy! I'm a little nervous about the drive but I'm sure he'll do great. He is a reeeeeeally good baby and I'm NOT just saying that! I just hope he doesn't sleep the whole way there and then keep us up all night. Oh well....we'll see! Say some prayers for safe travels for us and all the other "spring breakers." I'll leave you with another sweet picture or two. This might be my most favorite outfit of Nash's. I bought it for him on my Birthday shopping extravaganza day at Gymboree and it says "I Am the Future." I honestly didn't think he would be wearing it until sometime around AUGUSTish when he would ACTUALLY be "6to9" months old but if you haven't heard yet, we have a very big and very fast-growing baby! Oh, and yes, I HAVE busted into a certain Whitney Houston song while Nash was wearing this....that's probably why he's smiling ;)

Best Birthday Gift Ever

So, it's been ten days since I blogged last. I started to panic a little this morning because I realized this. "Here I go again" I said to myself...."not keeping up with this blog either."
Ah, but the kid is ASLEEP!! So I'll type fast.
I've had a good excuse for not blogging. I've been busy turning ThIRtY!! 30!! 3.0. Woah.
Where does the time go?
Anyway, I had a fantastic Birthday weekend. Nick and I celebrated "Kelsey's Birthday Observed" on Friday (real Bday was Sat) because he had to work on Saturday. I got a pot of beautiful daffodils, lunch at Urban Standard, a trip to the new Railroad Park, and a visit to the Birmingham Museum of Art (until Nash started screaming bloody murder 20 minutes in....he does NOT like Art Museums yet). Then my BFF AnneDean from KY flew down to meet Nash and we carted this poor child all over town. We spent a little over 5 hours at the Summit on Saturday then went back to finish up on Sunday after church! (Nash does not like Old Navy either we discovered!) We ate at Chuy's for lunch and then got takeout from Stix's for Dinner. OH! And I canNOT forget to mention my new fav dessert bar in town which I visited with Nick on Friday also. YOLO dessert bar was sooo good that I took AnneDean back there on Sunday after church, too. Holy cow. Can you say "best strawberry cupcake in town"....and gelato, and chocolate truffles...mmmm!!
So I gained another year, and probably 5 more pounds ;)
But, the best Birthday gift ever was.....
a smile from my sweet 6 week old son! Right in the middle of the Gap from the comfort of his stroller. I waved at him and said "hi!!" and he threw his arms around and smiled really big right at me. I'm in love.

I am promising myself that I will post pictures on this blog soooon. (wait, didn't I say that last week?)
Perhaps I am too busy living in the moments to record them. I won't ever apologize for that :)

Mommy Moments

So, about my first "I'm a bad mother" moment....
Nash was a few days old and I was changing his diaper. Now, we are not fortunate enough at this point to be the owners of the "pee pee teepee" so my pee-in-the-face prevention is saying "don'tpeedon'tpeedon'tpee" over and over again until I get the clean diaper on as fast as I can. There are a few seconds in there that always leave me very vulnerable to being peed upon.
One time though, Nash didn't pee on ME. No. He peed on himself! I had his legs up in the air at the perfect angle for him to pee right in his own face!!! He didn't cry or scream. In fact, he looked like he kind of enjoyed it like he enjoys his warm baths. However, I was the one screaming "NO NO NO!! I'm a terrible mother!!! aaaaaaahhhh!!!" I can't believe I let my son pee on himself. oops :)
The end.

What's in a name?

Two nights ago, Nick and I were sitting on the couch with Nash watching his every movement (our new favorite activity) when he raised his right eyebrow as if to say, "what are you looking at? I'm awesome. I know."
Me: "cool! I can't raise my right eyebrow, only my left. can you?"
Nick: "yeah, I can only raise my right. LOOK he just raised the other one!"
Me: "he can do both?! I've never been able to do both!!"
Nick: "He's like the 'best-of', Nick and Kelsey's Greatest Hits!"

(reading this back makes me realize how completely nerdy this must seem-especially to the childless population)

So, anyway, there ya go. I also like this preset design because there are three dandelions on the top right of the page. If you ever saw our Lovechild EP you know we had two dandelions stamped on the CD and cover. awwwwww....

We've also been hearing this loud new crowing sound from Nash- "KAAA!" cute.

Next up-my first "I'm a terrible mother!!" moment :)

Because it's what you do...

I've recently joined the "mom club" and now I've decided to start a blog because that is what mom's do. Right? Well, not really...I mean, yes, lots of my mom-friends have blogs but I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone is doing it. Instead, I've found myself wanting to capture memories of these past 4 weeks with my new son and the pen and journal have stayed glued to my bedside table, while my laptop always seems to find its way into my lap (which is currently being shared by my son and a boppy). So, since I haven't been able to keep a pen and paper record of moments I thought I would try the blogging thing...
again...
this is seriously the 4th or 5th blog I've started and tried to keep up with...
wish me better luck this time ;)
If anyone reads this, please leave a comment. It might just motivate me to keep it up!
That should suffice as an appropriate introduction. Now, on to some of those sweet moments I mentioned.
"Reflections on the first 4 weeks" should be the title of my first post. They've been really great. Better, actually, than I imagined. I heard every horror story in the book about life with newborns. I was prepared for BATTLE! But, besides the actual "BIRTH day" of my little Nash Elliot (and believe me, that WAS a battle), the first 4 weeks have been better than expected. Do NOT get me wrong...they have been sleep-deprived, busier-than-I've-ever-been-in-my-life weeks, but they have been sooo full of joy and amazement that the stress pales in comparison. Perhaps I was just prepared?
Some of the funny moments:
Nick (around 2am one morning during one of Nash's wake-up calls)-"he's out of batteries."
Me-"umm....?"
Nick-"wait, I mean, diapers...he's out of diapers!"
both-"hahahaha!"
Me-"there's more DIAPERS in his room. hahaha!"

and another:
upon waking for another middle of the night feeding I find myself burping my child by slapping the back of his HEAD instead of his BACK! whoops ;) (he's ok though)

and the joys:
his first smiles...he's only 4 weeks new but I see him becoming more and more alert and intentional with his facial expressions. SO SWEET! he's like a little flower bud I get to watch open in slow-motion. cheesey, i know. but true.

Okay, enough gushing. My next posts will explain the blog title and describe Nash's birth story (I wrote that to remind myself. Mommy-brain is REAL!!). I'll probably have some more entertaining anecdotes by the next time I write, too. Til then... xoxoKels