Just Some Cute Stuff

Mr. Nash is at such a fun stage! We are trying all kinds of new things - different baby foods, swinging, sippy cups, playing in the laundry basket, bubbles, crawling in the grass and so far, he has loved all of it! EXCEPT - oatmeal! He is officially allergic to oatmeal. I knew he got a rash with Aveeno baby products. However, with oatmeal cereal, we are talking a terrible rash all over his body, swollen face, and diarrhea. So, we were instructed by the Dr. to avoid all wheat products until he's a year old (so that means no sneaking him a cracker when no one is looking, Pops!). Other than that mishap, we are having a blast! He is constantly making us laugh and wonder what we ever did before him! I've posted alot of pictures and a couple of videos below. *Disclaimer: I realize that I may go overboard with all the pictures and videos. But, its for the grandparents, folks! I am totally aware that everyone may not appreciate Nash's every move ( as I and the grandparents do)!* Enjoy!

Playing ball with Tootsie

Just a swangin'

Playing in the laundry basket

Look at my little teeth!

Grace was crawling ALL over him and he didn't mind one bit!

He was headed out the back door on a pretty day

NOTHING sweeter than a sleeping baby!

He has started sleeping with little blankies - he doesn't seem to fight going to sleep as much when he has one. I try to switch them out so he doesn't get too attached to one - I'll let you know how that works out (best laid plans...)!

Pretty close to crawling!

This was his first time in the swing - he loves it! He does kinda bonk his head here, so we learned he needs a towel behind him - but no permanent damage done!

Cochran Family Reunion

What do you do when your 89 yr. old Granddaddy plans a last minute family reunion?? You go, of course - no questions asked! This was for the Cochran clan (my maternal grandfather's side). There were people there from Florida to California. My Granddaddy was so happy! His generation has left us quite a legacy. I hope our generation can keep that legacy of "loving GOd and loving family" going. I also hope to grow old as gracefully as he has. He still builds things, goes fishing, climbs up in deer stands - he is one active man and I'm sure that's why he's doing so well! I also have never heard him complain. LOVE that man!

Nash, Granddaddy, and Destin

Nash and JoJo

Grace and Aunt Amy

Our little family

Grandma Beth and Nash

Caddo Lake - can't explain why I love this place so much! I guess it's just in my blood! I want my ashes spread on this lake when I die (does that count for my will???)

Nash's Dedication

We recently had Nash's baby dedication at church. We went up on stage and pledged to teach Nash about God to the best of our ability and our church family pledged to do the same, then an elder prayed over us - it was a special moment! Mark's parents and my mom and step-dad came in for the big event.

I think it might be time for the church nursery! He is getting sooo wiggly and always wants to be on the go!

He fell asleep with Pawpaw at lunch - it had been a long morning!

Papa Al and JoJo gave Nash a Bible - he really just wanted to eat it, but exposure is good, right?? Maybe, at this age, digesting it through his bowels is equivalent to binding it on his forehead. ;)

It's AMAZING what can happen in a week!!!

Wow! That's all I can say for how fast Mr. Nash is developing! In the last week he has:
1. Got 2 bottom teeth
2. Learned how to get on his hands and knees and rock
3. Started sitting up for 5-10 minutes with no support
4. Said "ma-ma-ma" (ok - more like screamed it when he was crying and I don't think he knows he's calling me, but it progress folks!!!)
5. Figured out applesauce is pretty yummy

As for the rest of us - Mark went on the 8th Annual River Trip to the Guadalupe River with our college buddies. This was the first year I couldn't make it and I was a little torn at first, but then Nash did all that cool stuff and I wouldn't have wanted to miss that!!! Mark had a great time, as usual! Thanks to the Nelson's for taking care of him!

Nash and I went to the country, where, I'm pretty sure I feel the most at home. We went to visit my best friend, Emily, and her sweet family. Emily is a "retired" art teacher who moved in with her Pepaw in De Leon, TX this summer to focus on her art full-time. She is such an adventurous soul and I love that about her!!! You all should check out her website where she posts her artwork: http://www.emilyjeanstewart.com/. She mostly does paintings, but I think she's also a budding photographer (see her work in the pics later in this posting). Anyways, with Emily and her family helping me with Nash, I think he had a blast!!! There was always someone around to give him undivided attention (which is the kind of attention he prefers!). Saturday night he showed off by crawling around the floor and giggling until 11:30 pm - he was just having so much fun, he did not want to go to sleep! However, we all paid for that the next morning at little De Leon Church of Christ, when he was so tired that he had a little meltdown in the cry room - I thought it was sound-proof, but apparently not b/c everyone came up us after church and laughed about it. Ooops!

I prayed last week for God to reveal myself to me - the good and the bad - b/c I tend to be better at reading others than I read myself. He hasn't disappointed! I've learned a lot about myself lately and it is rather humbling. Self-reflection is always that way for me! So, please pray that God continues this work he has started in me and that I will have an open heart for the changes I need to make! One side of me struggles with liking some semblance of order and structure, but this project is never-ending and definitely not conducive to my rules, so also pray that I LOOSEN UP!!!! And let God do his magic in me.

These first three pictures are the ones Emily took on her Pepaw's porch! I LOVE them!!!! I think I'm going to get them framed.

Emily wearing Nash's bib. he!he! Makes me giggle!

I swear I say, "Tootsie, quit licking!!!" 20x a day - but as you can see, Nash encourages her!

My Cutie Patootie

We LOVE the McCathran's!!!

Ty and Amy (my bro and his wife) and kids have been quarantined the past couple of months due to Jake's surgery so they were ready to get out of the house a little bit. Well, they got their wish! We met them in Marshall last weekend at the lakehouse and had fun out on Caddo Lake. Pops and Nonnie cooked out for us - Uncle Eric took us out on the boat - Aunt Jill, Uncle Jason and Aunt Jolie came by to visit - so it was nice to see everyone! Then, Amy and kids came to Fort Worth to watch Nash for me while my babysitter is out of town. Amy is so sweet to volunteer to do that - I know they kept her busy, but she is so patient and nothing seems to ruffle her feathers! One morning when I was heading out the door for work I heard Amy say to the babies "In a little bit we can have story time and singing time. It will be so fun! Would ya'll like that???" That's Aunt Amy in a nutshell! It was so fun to get the cousins together! Jake is a very busy 2 yr old - to watch him play no one would ever suspect he had heart surgery 6 weeks ago! Grace and Nash are really starting to notice and play with each other. Their play consists of: Nash grabbing Grace's hair, Grace stealing his toy and crawling away with it (she is full out crawling on her hands and knees already!), Nash trying to belly crawl after her, Nash dumping the dog water all over them, some more hair pulling, drooling all over each other, some more toy stealing - you get the picture! It is so cute! We stayed so busy with all 3 kids that when they left it felt SOOO quiet around here. Here are some cute pictures from our adventures with the McCathran's.

Pops playing with Nash - he knows right where the tickle spot is!

The kids are a little young to be alligator bait in the swamp so we got out the kiddie pool

Jake is so proud of himself for putting a cup on Grace's head!

Grace and Nash sitting so sweetly together

Ooops! Where did Grace's bow go?

Rolling around on the floor together

Jake loved the boat ride

All about Nash

I know I'm a little behind with this, but things have been crazy around here! Nash is 6 1/2 months old now and had his 6 month check up this past week. He is healthy as can be!!! My guesstimations were close, but he officially clocked in at 19 lbs 7 oz (80th %ile) and 28 inches long (95th %ile) - so he's still my big boy! He is continually getting more active - he WANTS me to put him on the floor sometimes and he can manuever all around our living room. He is starting to follow me (by crawling on his belly) from the living room to the kitchen. I think I need to move the dog food bowl b/c I caught him going for it 2 different times today, and he dumped the water on himself and my niece, Grace, this past week. He's also getting really good at sitting up - the past 2 nights in the bath tub he sat without any hand support for a couple of minutes. Speaking of baths - I think that's his favorite time of day! He also still loves to go outside and LOVES to play with Tootsie (which really consists of him grabbing a handful of her hair while she licks him square in the mouth) - I think they would both sit there and do that all day if I let them! We are slowly starting to introduce some baby foods - still likes rice cereal, he thought applesauce was pretty good too, but carrots caused a rebellion (spitting, gagging, pushing the spoon away, refusing to open his mouth) - we'll try that again later. Really, we have it easy - he's healthy, he sleeps well, eats well, and is overall just good-tempered. Every day that I go to work with my special needs babies, I appreciate all the more what challenges so many families face every day. Having Nash has made me a more compassionate and better therapist (and person in general , I think) and I thank God for that!!! Enjoy the pics!

My attempt at posing him on our bed

This is my favorite shirt that fits right now - it's a "Mom" tatoo if you can't see it. Thanks Aunt Cheryl!

Fun in the bath! Out of all those actual bath toys we have for him, he still prefers the old plastic cup! For Christamas I'm thinking of just getting him tissue paper and big empty boxes (j/k!!;)