Our First Family Outing

On Sunday my parents had us over for a family BBQ! This was our first time to go out all together other than just to go for a ride. Maddox did great and got to hang out with his cousins. The twin girls were not quite sure what to think about him but warmed up to him pretty quickly. Here are a few pics of us as a family and of Maddox with his cousins. What a great evening...complete with Dads amazing cooking! YUM!

I adore this picture of Maddox and Greg. Maddox is so content in his Daddies arms.

Maddox Mommy & My new Mirror

Look at that cute little Texas Tech Red Raider! This TTU blanket is Maddox's favorite to lay and play on. We pulled out the mirror this past weekend and it is his new favorite (and ours too because it keeps him quite occupied). I'm not sure if I am beginning to think that my son is a little vain and likes the way he looks in the mirror or if he is just checking himself out to try and figure out why nobody else can take there eyes off of him. I hope when he looks in the mirror he sees an extremely well loved adorable little man! Here are a few pics of him and I playing! I realized that I have a ton of pictures of Maddox during the past few weeks...a million of him and his Daddy, a bunch of him and his grandparents and too many to count of him alone....not hardly any with me and my little man though. So Greg took a few of us playing this weekend. As much as new moms may not want to be photographed the first few weeks post baby...don't pass up the special moments to take pics with your kiddos!

Look at me...I'm 3 (weeks that is)!

Maddox turned 3 weeks old yesterday. Here are a few pics from this week. He is going through quite a little growth spurt the past few days...eating...and eating...and eating! He also has started really looking at things and focusing on them. He loves to lay on the play yard and look at the toys that hang down. Happy 3rd (week) birthday little man!

Bath Time

I happen to LOVE a nice long bath (have not really had a chance to take one in the past 3 weeks but hope to very soon), Maddox on the other hand is not so fond of his sponge baths. He is so relaxed and calm after they are over and usually sleeps best on bath nights but during the bath he is not his happiest. Greg & I on the other hand just laugh and laugh through his tears because he is just so cute! I love him SO much! Here are a some pictures of a few different bath times. Have you ever seen a Butt that cute?

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Look at me...I Wear Shorts!

So I have been sending Greg a picture of Maddox from my phone every morning since he has gone back to work so that he can see the little guy. This was the picture from yesterday and one of both of our favorites so far. He was the cutest little guy in this outfit. The shorts actually have a matching shirt but that is a little too big still so we just threw the shorts on with a classic little white onsie (a staple in Maddox's wardrobe). I just simply adore him!

A few More Pics of the little guy

Here are a few more because the 10 in the last post just didn't seem like enough ;)

Maddox Carlen Nurse

The whole real reason that I started this blog was so that I could share pictures and updates of our new little man once he arrived. I am so proud to say that he is here and has been here for two weeks. I am a little late on getting started with my promise of pictures and updates but I have had my hands a little full.
Maddox Carlen Nurse made his debut into this great big world on July 2nd @ 11:31 pm. Life will never be the same and life has never felt this good! From the moment I saw him and the from the moment I held his sweet little body close to mine I knew my life had just gotten so much better. My life is forever changed in the most amazing way. Maddox was born a little man at 6lbs.7ounces and measures 19 1/2 inches long. Maybe a little man in size but not a little man in heart and willpower. He has since gained some ounces and at our 2 week appointment last Thursday he tipped the scale at 7lbs1 oz. He seems to grow and change so much every day. I will post a few pictures now of Maddox over the last two weeks and I promise to be diligent about posting some every week or so in the months ahead. I feel like I have so much to tell y'all about him and so many things to report but he is quietly sleeping for the first time today and Mama needs a little nap to so that I can give him all my best when he wakes up in a few short hours (or minutes I suppose). I will sum the past two weeks up with these thoughts...although there are sleepless nights and although there are hours filled with endless crying and although it is not always easy I can proudly say that this is the best thing I have ever done in my life. I have traveled, lived in fun cities, built a great career but NOTHING compares to what me and my amazing husband have accomplished in creating this little man. This little man that I love so much. There is no better feeling than the one that I get when he is cuddled in my arms. He needs me and I need him even more than that. He fits perfectly into the family Greg and I started less than one short year ago. Greg is an amazing father and has supported me through the past two weeks in ways I didn't know he was capable. He has proven once again to be the amazing man that I fell in love with. A huge thanks to all of our families and friends for the endless love and support (especially to my Mom who stayed with us well over a week and just kept staying one more night when she saw the tears in my eyes that she was leaving). A huge thanks to Greg for just being him. And lastly the biggest thank you goes to Maddox for making my life complete in ways I didn't know a precious child could. I can say today and am 100% sure that I will look back at the end of my days and confidently say that being a Mom is the best thing I ever did. I promise to my little man that I will be my best to do it well everyday.

Happy Fathers Day!

Sunday was fathers day and it was a great day! I got to spend it with a few of my favorite fathers...my Daddy, my brother-in-law (who happens to be a great dad) and my sweet husband who is a proud Papa to be! It was a relaxing day. We woke up pretty early and Greg got to open a few gifts that Maddox got him for fathers day (since he kind of is now) and then I took him for breakfast! Our favorite....Esperanzas. My Parents and the Gass family came over for a delicious lunch and lazy afternoon. The guys as you can see did a great job of holding down the fort in the living room "watching the US Open" or so they said while us ladies played with Nats girls and chatted the afternoon away. It was a great day! Happy Fathers Day to all the fabulous fathers out there.

Happy 1st Birthday Emma & Lizzie!

Today is a big day for the Gass family (My older sisters family). The twin Gass Girls turned one today. We had a family dinner to celebrate the special day and it was made complete with the little girls getting to eat the first real sweet treat that they have ever eaten in their one year of life...a whole chocolate cupcake with icing. It was so fun watching them dig in hands first and they LOVED the sweetness! Happy Birthday to the two cutest one year olds I know!

Maddy is a great Big sis and coached her sisters along

as they tried to figure out the whole cupcake thing!

They waited patiently as we sang "Happy Birthday" to them!

This is Emma (Greg's Buddy).

They are two peas in a pod...Emma has as much

energy as Greg does and keeps him on his toes.

Emma Loves her Uncle Greg!

35 Weeks...5 Weeks to go!

We had an appointment to see our little man yesterday and he is doing great! Both Maddox & Mom got a great report from the Doctor. Maddox measured from what they predict to be 5lbs 8 ounces. If he continues to gain 1/2 lb. for the next five weeks it looks like he will take after his Dad (who was almost 9lbs.) and be a pretty big baby! Dr. Hardt said she has no reason to believe that I wont go full term at this point but then again to be prepared because anything can happen! We are not going to post any pics this time because we didn't get any that were that great...needless to say the little guy is pretty crowded in his little space and didn't want to come out and smile for pictures. I am feeling pretty good. I am not sleeping much at all and am uncomfortable but overall I am fine! A big special thanks to Maddox's sweet Dad for being so amazing the past few weeks. I have wanted for nothing...ice cream has been readily available and back & feet massages have taken place without even asking for them. Most of all Greg has made me feel very special, very loved and made this such a precious time for us. Maddox is gonna be one lucky kiddo to have such a great daddy!

Colonial Weekend - Sitting this one OUT!

There are a lot of things you can't, shouldn't or maybe just don't want to do when your pregnant. I had to sit out my first big event this weekend. We decided that because of the heat and amount of time I would need to be on my feet it was not a good idea for me to go to the Colonial this weekend. Those of you who know me know my love for sports and being at live sporting events. Needless to say, I was quite bummed. Greg and Dwaine went on Friday all day and then Kris came up on Saturday and went with both of the boys all day. I got to be the chauffeur and drop them off and pick them up both days. Although I was bummed I didn't get to go Saturday turned out to be a fun and relaxing day spent with my Mom. We went and got a mani/pedi together, did some shopping and laid around. The colonial and all those other things that you can't shouldn't or don't want to do will always be around in a few months when I am ready to do them again. Missing out on the little things are well worth the outcome of what is to come! Here are some pics of the gang at the tournament!

Changing Table/Dresser

So we added another piece of furniture to Maddoxs room this weekend. As you know my sweet Dad is making all of the furniture for his room. I picked out the furniture I wanted at Restoration hardware, printed him the pictures and here we are with now 2 of the 4 pieces of furniture done and ready for Baby MCN! Here are some pics of the final product and the process of making it. Greg and Justin helped Dad out with this one quite a bit! I couldn't be happier with how they turned out! Thanks again Dad!