When you wish upon a star

...I wish I could blog, go for a run and cook dinner each night, all at the same time, all while enjoying precious time with my little munchkin, from whom I have been away from all day at work...

I think I am going to need more stars.

But, in all seriousness, I really do intend to pick up blogging again.  Soon.

oh...and I also wish for a pure and innocent joy as infectious as this little guy's!

Someday soon…

Someday soon….I will catch up on the ‘ole blog.  But for now you’ll have to see pics on Facebook, as I only have time..ehh…the energy…to post to one social media outlet these days.
But, let me leave you with a snapshot that makes me grin from ear to ear.
I like to think his little brain was thinking…“WoooHooo mama!  This swing is a rockinnnn’!!!!”

Rock on little buddy, rock on!

The picture chair debut!

Yay!!! I am so excited to begin the monthly picture chair posts!!!

Below is Walker at “zero” months….which was actually taken at 10 days old.

I cannot wait to see how this little guy grows month by month - from a squished up newborn whose head I can hardly keep propped up long enough to snap a photo into a hard to tame, can’t keep him in the chair for a mere 10 seconds infant.

Happy “0” Months!!!

We love you little peanut!

A week of Walker

Good grief the time is flying by!  Walker is 11 days old today and I can hardly believe it.  All you mamas out there have always said that, and now  I totally get what  you mean.  The time flies…almost too fast.

We are getting more and more into a “routine” if that is even possible with such a young little one.  Jordan was still home with us this week, which was such a special thing.  Learning this whole family thing side by side sure does make it seem less daunting.  I was spoiled having a FULL week with him home.  Other than vacations, I don’t know of a time in our entire 8 years together that we have ever had this much time together.  Truly a treat!

Walker is such a good eater and I hope he continues this trend because it is really making his sleep pattern more than bearable.  He usually can make it 3 hours on average in between feeds.  Sometimes he only goes 2.5 hours and other times we get nearly 4.5 hours between (which is rare, but does happen, Yay!).

We took him to the Pedi on Monday for his infant follow-up and he was already back up to his birth weight – 7.4 – which gave us the green light to let him sleep as long as he will and not wake him for feeds.  We were thrilled with his progress!  He also grew a 1/4 inch in length.  I have a feeling this little dude is going to grow like a weed!

Tuesday was a fun day I have imagined and looked forward to for months!  Summer, with Summer Photography, came over to take W’s newborn photos.  We had the best time and he was such a milk drunk little trooper.  I cannot wait to see the images Summer captured! 

On a funny note, we had Walker diaper-less for well over an hour for some of the photos and he was fine -no accidents.  Then, as we were wrapping things up (too bad we weren’t wrapping Walker up), Jordan was holding our diaper-less dude in his lap and all of the sudden there came a rumble and wham!  Mustard seed explosion ALL over Jordan, his jeans, our carpet, etc…so much so that it soaked through Jordan’s jeans onto his boxers.  And as we were cleaning the mess, Walker decided to further treat Daddy with a geyser of tee tee all up Daddy’s nice, white shirt.  It. Was.Hysterical.  Needless to say, it was a fun and memorable morning, in more ways than one :).

This week we also had our first bath….

Sorry bud, next time Mom will do better and cover you up better for the photos.  I’m still learning :).

The rest of the week was filled with sweet friends and family popping in for visits, which has been so fun!  Walker is still so teeny and sleepy and cuddly. 

I just love this sweet lil dude!

…and so does Sophie!  She is doing so great and really adjusting to Walker.  She’s super curious but also growing particularly protective. When visitors come over and are holding him, she goes a bit nuts.  A tad annoying but more so sweet.

This coming week his Cici (my mama) is coming to stay, play and help care for our little mister.  I am really looking forward to the expert help and company.  Although it is 100+ degrees out, I hope to get him out and about some and feel comfortable taking him on short outings on my own. 

Speaking of out- I am itching to get out and about myself. Now, I don’t mean I want to go and run in a 5K race, but I just feel the urge to get out and get moving. All you non c-section mamas out there…how soon after delivery did you start walking or doing active things?  Two weeks? Longer?

Welcome Walker Gene Young!

Wednesday, July 7th will be a date forever etched

in Jordan's and my memory. 

With God's guiding hand, Jordan and I became parents to one precious little boy - Walker Gene Young.

Born at 4:39 pm, weighing 7 lbs 4 ounces and measuring 19 1/4 inches long -  he is perfect in our eyes. 

We are forever thankful to God for His indescribable gift. 

Below are some pics. When time permits (ha!!) I promise to put some posts up with details, etc...of his birth. Mom and Dad are getting used to our new routine, or lack thereof..and wouldn't have it any other way!

Thumbs up! It's go time!

Daddy doing the honors.  A truly unimaginable moment for us both!

Well hello there, sweetheart, I'm the voice you've been hearing the past 9 months.

Our new family :)

One proud Daddy

First car ride...poor little guy's head

Welcoming Walker into his home :)

Reg and Aunt B

Aunt Ash

Proud big cousin Mabry holding Walker and her little bro Miles

First family photo.  Sophie has been doing SO good adjusting to Walker.  Very curious but very sweet :).

Thank you to all of our dear friends and sweet family for your support and prayers throughout the pregnancy and now for your shared excitement as we celebrate the birth of our son, Walker Gene. 

WE.ARE.BLESSED.

We love you more and more every day little buddy!!!!

Trimming – in more ways than one

Random, I know, but funny to me.
I have to post some pics of the trimming my main squeeze has been up to as of late. He is quite into grooming…the yard and his head.

Seeing as how our yard at the new casa has at least tripled,  Jordo is now officially a riding lawn-mower kinda’ guy.  This pic makes me start singing “I’ll take ya for a ride on my big, green tractor”…anyone else know the tune?


 

And then, there’s the other type of trimming my mister has been up to. 

  


I was thinking, hmmm, I suppose this is his summer ‘do; however Jordo has informed me that this is his new permanent ‘do. 

It’s funny, I thought it was the moms-to-be who usually tried to simplify things in their lives as parenthood approached. 

Jordan was bragging about how quickly he could get ready and out the door now.  I quickly replied “That’s great!  And since you’ll be so speedy you’ll have plenty of time to watch Walker while I am still getting ready!”

He! He! He!  Love you babe!

Twinkle Toes

Last weekend Reg and I headed south to join Miss M’s fan club and watch her strut her stuff on stage as both a dainty ballerina and a tap dancing star.

At last year’s recital, she was truly a tiny dancer.  Wow! What a difference a year makes.  This year she was waaay into the dances and knew a good majority of the steps.  She and her little dance class friends were SO stinkin’ cute!
   
I am SO proud of her and how much confidence and pizazz she had on stage.  I honestly can’t believe how she is morphing into such a big girl, right before my very eyes!   And check out Miles in the pic above with Reg.  You know the expression "growing like a weed"?  Well, yeah, that’d pretty much describe him to a T. 

I sure love my M & M!!!

A walk down memory lane

UPDATE:
I think some of you readers might be smokin' something! The point of me subjecting you all to the progess pics of my bump mountain was show you all just HOW large the 'ole belly has gotten.  People, puuuhlease.  You all are nuts!

Well, Dr. W told me to stick to walking, not running, during pregnancy.  So, let’s obey the doctor’s orders and take a walk, shall we?!?

A walk down memory lane reminiscing on how one’s tummy once looked – many, many weeks ago.

Ya know, an inexperienced individual might venture to think, “My skin couldn’t possibly stretch any further than this, right?”  Oh, but no.  That silly, naive individual would be wrong.  Dead wrong.

Proof is in the pictures.   

 
10 weeks


13 weeks


17 weeks


19 weeks


24 weeks


28 weeks


34 weeks

And yes, folks, I am “only” 35 weeks this week, thus leaving plenty-o-weeks left for more unimaginable belly expansion. 

Yes, the human skin, it truly is an amazingly elastic thing, I tell ya.

3rd Annual Baylor Besties & Babies Weekend – Lake Athens, TX

After college it was so nice to be able to stay in touch and see my closest girlfriends due to the gazillion weddings were were all either in or attending.  Not too long after the wedding rush died down, the baby boom began for all of my gal pals. 

With little ones entering our lives, my Baylor Besties  (Alaina, Ashleigh, Jenna, Leigh & Sarah) and I decided we’d make a pact to try and see one another and each others’ kiddos (and hopefully hubbies, too) at least once a year.  With everyone being spread out across 3 states, the planning and logistics of getting 6 couples’ and 3 kiddos’ (with 3 more on the way)schedules coordinated can be..umm….shall we say….challenging.

So, needless to say, we’ve had this past weekend, the 3rd Annual Baylor Besties and Babies Weekend, on the books for 5 months.  Can you imagine the anticipation and excitement we’ve been feeling for the weekend to arrive (and thus fly by)?!?!?

Leigh’s parents graciously opened up their lake house on Lake Athens to all 15 of us again this year.  With 100 degree days, sunshine, the boat and lake at our disposal, we made the most of the long Memorial Day weekend.

     
It was such a treat to get together to see each other and the little munchkins who are growing waaay to fast ( Caro and Mase are 2 years old and Gage is 18 months).  An added bonus to getting together this time was to celebrate the impending arrival of 3 new little ones.  Yep,  3 out of 6 of us gals are preggers (34, 32 and 20 weekers).  Babies, babies everywhere!!



The guys had a ball playing Frisbee golf, floating the lake, dominating trying the wakeboard and setting of fireworks so kindly and loudly each night.



As for us gals, we just chatted away, catching up and playing “remember when” .  For some reason, remember when seems like yesterday when in reality, it has been 7 years.  Jigga huh?!?! Did I just read that correctly.  S.e.v.e.n. years?!?!  Are we seriously getting that old???

The girls were so sweet and threw a joint shower/sprinkle for Walker and Lincoln (due just 10 days apart) and Ella (arriving mid-October and ‘lil sis to Mason).  The hubbies and little ones were there, too. 



It was wonderful.  They went all out and did a happy hour with mocktails for us, served tasty appetizers and showered us with an assortment of thoughtful gifts  including strollers, the much-envied birthday canvas’s, personalized onesies, diaper cakes loaded with goodies and last, but not least, for Walker, a Cowboys Romo jersey .  I.WAS.ECSTATIC. Now our little man is ready for game day :).



The whole weekend was perfect.  It warmed my heart getting to see my girls, spend time with the hubbies and love on the little ones.  I knew it would go by too quickly, and it did. I was so sad to say our goodbyes Monday morning.  I mean, if I had a million dollars (cue the Bare Naked Ladies song from 1998) I would arrange visits with these peeps, who I truly adore, monthly, quarterly…even semi-annually. 



God sure knew what he was doing when he crossed all of our paths at Baylor.  These girls (and now their families, too) bring me such joy.




Here’s to the countdown beginning for next year’s reunion.  I wonder how many babies we’ll be corralling then?!?!

In a holding pattern

Okay, so I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the past few weeks I have begun to feel as though I am in some sort of holding pattern.  It is like I can’t think about, plan or look at anything past July 13th (or whenever our little guy decides to come).  Is this normal? 
It is nearing summer, and I just feel so out of sorts.  No vacation planned.  No long weekends with friends somewhere or trips down to Jordan’s family beach house. 
Going out to eat is not the same.  Getting dressed is certainly not the same.  Sound sleeping is now a distant memory.  Concentrating at work and planning/working deals more than 6 weeks out is impossible.
It is as though my whole life is gradually changing, preparing me for baby, right before my very eyes, but without the sweet, tiny, snuggly reward just yet.
Don’t get me wrong here, I am absolutely thrilled for him to get here and wouldn’t trade a minute of this pregnancy for “the good old days”, but at the same time, he is not here yet, and I have yet come to know and feel that indescribable joy that everyone tells me having a baby brings.
I know his arrival will wash away all of what my old “normal” was. But until then, I feel like I am just up in the air, circling the airport, waiting for a runway to open…in a holding pattern.
Anyone know the feeling?

Thank you, thank you very much…

Wow!  Another weekend and another wonderful day leaving the hubs and I ever thankful for such wonderful friends.  This past Saturday my bestie Kami and sis/bestie Ash threw Jordan and I a Couples Baby Shower.  

The hostesses with the mostesses

These two gals know me about as well as anyone and went out of their way to put the perfect touches on the day for us.

It was at one of our favorite spots, the patio at Manny’s.  Can you say yum?!?  And it didn’t rain.  Can you say hallelujah?!?

They had my favorite fleurs, hydrangeas, and a delicioso cake from Society Bakery, that came draped with plenty of buttery, sugary goodness…aka icing (my absolute favorite part of any cake!)

 

So many of our good friends (many of which we don’t see near often enough) came out to help us celebrate Walker.  It was wonderful.  A few of our friends even brought their little munchkins, too, which was SUCH a treat! 

Below are some pics from the shower.  Let me please take this time to ask that you give props to this blogger who has officially reached the point of her pregnancy that she detests any and all photos of her.  Bleh, bleh, bleh.

BUT, noooo, I am STILL going to post them on here because they capture pics of this special, special time for Jordan and I and have lots of dear friends in the pics.  So, forget vanity. I am playing for team reality.

Poppa, Cici, Mimi and Peeps (the grandparents)

Walker’s 3 future girlfriends ‘ mamas.  Babies everywhere!!!

I guess we didn’t get the black and white attire memo :) . Cute girls!

Mimi, Jordan and Peeps (Jordo’s parents)

The uncles

  Cici, Aunt Ash, Aunt B and Mimi

surrounding Walker with love :).

Thanks again to two very special ladies in my life, Ashley and Kami, for throwing Jordan and I this special shower.  We feel truly blessed to have such an amazing group of family and friends loving on us and our little guy during this super exciting time.