"I'm Still Standing!"

We are officially a family of four...five counting our k-9 child. We have welcomed sweet Palmer into our world and I am happy to report that I have not made any attempts to run away from home. Nathe and I have been pleasantly surprised at how simple having 2 has been. Now with that being said, I'm absolutely exhausted but the transition has been a very smooth one. Nathaniel has taken to his brother wonderfully. We are grateful for this! My labor with Palmer was QUICK! I went into labor at 1 am and labored at home for 2 hours...didn't want to be bed ridden at the hospital. We headed to hospital at 3 am and Palmer was here at 5 am. I was grateful for this as well because I really wanted to have him with no drugs. I must say that my recovery was worth every pain and push. I will definitely avoid drugs again bc I was up walking around and taking a shower in no time...Cassie, my sister, asked Nathe and I when I got pregnant if she could be in there with us and we let her. She was fabulous bc she stock piled her i-pod with all my favorite hymns/songs and that was AWESOME. At one point I remember a nurse singing along to "Come Thou Fount"...I was NOT singing, I'm pretty sure I was yelling, but none the less it was a very neat experience. Nathe was my rock. He was right by me the whole time...he's a great cheerleader...the only things he was missing were pom poms and a cute little uniform. Both my boys like to let their heart rates drop dramatically and this time I was even prepped for a c-section. Thank God my dr checked me one last time and let me push before they decided on a c-section. Really, even if I had had to have one, I wouldn't have cared that much but due to the fact I had no epidural, I would have had to be put under...that would have been a bummer. All in all, we are praising our Father for another sweet boy. I'm reminded every day of how blessed I am. We've been surrounded by our family and friends and showered with love, meals, and CANDY...I can't get enough...gestational diabetes really put a cramp in my style. I've got my stash of candy corn (thanks tiff!) by my nightly nursing spot...I TEAR into that! Palmer might turn orange. I will post pictures soon.

"Randomness"

Here is a hodge-podge of pictures...I am about 6 months prego in the first...gotta love the self take picture, Nathaniel's new room, my latest art project for a sweet family at church, my cousin's wedding, and Nathaniel's first day of school! That just about covers it.

"Lately"

I really am going to post pictures one day. For now, I'll give a bit of an update on everyone so people will stop harassing me to update our blog. :) Nathaniel is going through a very emotional stage. The other day he dropped a chip on the floor and cried for 30 minutes...VERY out of character for him. He is proving to be very much a creature of habit. He is NOT a fan of change. In the past couple of months, he's moved to a new room with a big boy bed, started his new Sunday School class, and is reminded daily by others that his momma is very pregnant with his little brother. When asked about his brother, he has 2 possible reactions. He begins singing his abc's in a very stern way or burries his head in furniture or a shoulder and says, "no, no, no." So, we are off to a great start. Hahaha. Oh, bless him. It should be interesting. I was getting dressed the other day and he ran up to me, slapped my stomach, and said "momma, what's that??!!" It was almost as if he'd just noticed for the first time. He also seems to think that whenever we are at Target, he must YELL "help me!" to everyone we pass. If they walk away, he yells, "come back here!" I'm amazed that I haven't been arrested. Really. I've gotten looks, but I guess no one has called the police yet.

Nathe had a "guys weekend" this past wkend. He had fun. I'm grateful that he has such a great group of "manly" friends. They are all great dads and husbands...it's good for them to get that time. Really, it's only fair. Nathe is super great about letting me grab dinners and go out of town with my girls. Lately, I've really felt overwhelmed by how the Lord has blessed me such great friends. I'm so thankful. My pregnancy is going great. I cannot believe that he's almost here. Crazy. I feel really good. I had no idea how miserable the heat was making me. The cooler weather is amazing. It really makes a huge difference.

That wraps us up. I will go ahead and plead for your prayers for Palmer as he grows, Nathaniel as his world is about to be rocked, Nathe and I as we prepare to have 2 boys, and myself as I am beginning to realize the days of having one are quickly dwindling...which is a wonderful thing, but still scary.

I will post pictures soon.

"Paiging Nathe Hendricks and Cassie Gorman!"

We are hot here in Memphis. Crazy hot. My heart truly goes out to all you 8-9 month preggo ladies. I have managed to maintain a good attitude in this heat. My efforts failed miserably tonight. My sister, Nathaniel, Nathe, and I went to Target. I had to pick some things up for Nathaniel's first day of "school" tomorrow. Crazy. I will address that after I make public my complete lack of brain function. Nathe took Nathaniel to a different department. Cassie wandered off from me and before I knew it I was asking a target worker to paige both Cassie and Nathe. This was after I waited responsibly at the front of the store for 20 minutes...in reality it was probably 5...or 3. After waiting, I went hunting with a purpose. I finally found Cassie talking to another target worker aka witness of a crazy pregnant lady..I yelled "where have you been? I've paiged you!!!!!!!!" The target employee got a very shocked look on his face and responded, "me?" Now. Really? Why would I paige a target employee and then verbally harass him. It all ended with Nathe not accepting my excuse of pregnancy...which I do not play the pregnant card hardly at all...and Cassie offering to buy me a diet coke. All that to say, this heat is starting to make me absolutely crazy.

Nathaniel goes to "school" tomorrow. I found myself labeling things, making cookies for his teachers, and having the thought over and over of "I could "accidentally" forget his lunch and then I could have a very valid excuse to come back up there to check on him midday." It will be great for both of us. It will give him a chance to learn and play with others and me a chance to finish a canvas for a family at church.

In other news, we are wrapping up some last home renovations. In the next month, Nathaniel will move upstairs to his "big boy" bed and room. Next week our potty training boot camp will take place. He is proving to me everyday that he is not a baby anymore. These days he's very verbal...some of his latest comments have included telling Nathe that he is supposed to get a warning before being spanked, asking me "why?" 24/7, also asking me "what are you doing?", he also follows Grissom around interrogating him when my pat answer begins to be "because". When he gets mad, he recites his ABC's in a very angry manner...it's quite humorous. He has started singing his routine bed time song. Nathe and I have sung a particular song ever since he was a newborn before bedtime and he has started to sing with us. Well, he now prefers to sing into his karoke microphone while playing his piano. It is quite possibly the funniest and sweetest thing we've ever seen him do. Priceless. I'm now a little over 6 months pregnant with Palmer Mosley. He's very active. I feel this little boy ALL the time. I love it!

"It's a Monkey!, Happy Birthday, Hall Bath...DONE!"

Well, it is safe to say that this past month has been eventful. We celebrated Nathaniel's 2nd birthday, found out we are having a BOY, and accomplished one of the LAST renovating house projects we have. I get exhausted saying all that...but I must also say that all of those things have been such blessings. Nathe and Rick (his Dad) did all renovations to our hall bath...let me say that it used to have pepto bismol pink tile, tub, sink, toilet...the only thing that was not this blessed color were the walls and those were navy blue with pink flowers. Everything was replaced. I literally had a rush of all 80's sitcom songs rush into my brain and out of my mouth everytime I was in that place. We are now enjoying our new hall bath...with out the background music...well, now a choir of angels descends and sings the most glorious song I have ever heard. Monday we found out the sex or really the species of our baby...it was a monkey according to Nathaniel...that is what he yelled in the ultrasound room...it was amusing to say the least. He gets funnier and funnier everyday. Newborns really aren't the cutest so we might be able to tell him that it is a monkey for the first few weeks. On his actual birthday we woke him up to a doughnut with 2 candles...the house almost burned down because Nathe thought it would be hilarious to get him the ones that do not blow out. We celebrated all day. It was a Sunday. The nursery workers, church members were so sweet to laugh and congratulate him everytime he yelled, "Happy Birthday to You!" It was a great day. We had an official party a week later...it was also very fun.

"We Are Alive and GROWING!"

We are officially enjoying summer! We just got back from Pickwick. Nathaniel was absolutley hilarious to watch. The child is fearless. He loved the lake. He, of course, loved 4-wheelin. I think his idea of a perfect day would consist of riding a 4-wheeler, meeting Thomas the Train, and eating cucumbers and tomatoes all day long. We have been blessed by the fact that he loves loves healthy food...really prefers it over stuff like chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers.

I am definitely enjoying the summer. We decided that I would not teach part-time next year. Two months after we decided that, I found out I was pregnant at my doctor's office, a month after that Nathe received a promotion. We have, once again, experienced the fullness of God's goodness and faithfulness. Life is truly good right now. My cup overfloweth. We are thrilled about our second child due Thanksgiving. I am a bit in denial. Although it is getting harder to stay in that frame of mind as my stomach is growing and growing. I am so busy chasing Nathaniel around that I honestly forget. The other day I actually said, "boo boo, guess what? mamma has a baby in her belly and you are gonna be a big brother." He responded, in his usual response, "ok, mamma." I am not going to lie. Myself and the newborn weeks are not bff. Most of you know that. I'm very vocal about how miserable those first 6 weeks are simply because no one talks about it. So, I take it upon myself to instill sheer fear and panic in new mothers...that's a bit dramatic, but I do believe in talking about struggles and surrounding yourself with people who will pray for you and hold you accountable to the truth...also tell you that running away from home is not the answer ;). However, one thought that brings me absolute joy is seeing Nathaniel interact with a baby. He is all boy, but has the most gentle spirit. He's so much like his Daddy. I would be blessed beyond measure to know that he would grow up to be just like his Father. He will at times act like me. He has told me to "shhhhhhh" before with his finger over his mouth while I am telling him not to do something...at those times I think, "there I am."

Well, I feel like that post was all over the place...I guess that is pretty consistent with our life right now.

"Grissom, Choo-Choo's, and Potty Training"

"bird watching"

"this child eats vegetables like they are candy...he's a bit of a freak...in a great way"

"sweet boy"

"mom, you are kidding, right? once upon a POTTY? seriously?" he loves to follow me into the bathroom, weigh himself while I go to the bathroom, and say, "bye bye tee tee!"

"sleepy-head but fully capable of identifying his choo choo's"

"elizabeth, momma"

"BFF!!!!!"

"stealing kisses"

"taking a shower with dada"

"We Miss You, Willie!"

"Willie's Favorite Spot"

"Willie's Dafodills"

This has been a whirlwind of a month. Mainly because our dear next door neighbor passed away last Saturday. Willie collapsed in her backyard right by her favorite space. She was 82 and had the heart of a 30 year old...she was known in our house as "Big Willie Style." She was a tiny lady with a big heart. She was constantly working in her garden or doing something for someone else. I like to tell myself that as soon as she met the Lord, He put her in charge of His favorite garden.

"Reasons Why I Am Officially Keeping My Son..."

Nathaniel is growing and growing. It is an absolute joy and privilege to watch him learn and become this little person. Lately, I am loving so many diffferent "sayings" and "actions." I have decided to document them. Here goes...

1. You scream, "ball!" at the grocery store when we pass frozen turkeys

2. You have started to fold your little hands and pray WITH daddy and me...you "secretly" slip pieces of food into your mouth in between bowing your head and keeping your hands folded, and then you say men-men about 3 times during the prayer

3. You get embarrassed, or jealous...I cannot decide, when daddy kisses mamma

4. You say, "Woo Woo," every time I say, "guess what?"...you are completely obssessed with your woo woo...my mom

5. You have started telling me to "shhhhh" with your finger over your mouth when you get in trouble

6. You are mezmorized by choo choos...you will get 2 of your favorites, climb up on the couch, and cover yourself with blankets, then point to the tv insisting we watch choo choo

7. You find a corner in the house to "shoo shoo", #2, and then when I find you, you say. "mama, shoo shoo"

8. Everytime you see lotion you touch the top, receiving no lotion, and spread your hands all over your body

9. When you get tired, you play with my hair and suck your thumb

10. You light up beyond explanation when dada comes home, you are always waiting at the front window for his car to pull up, when he does, you do this march/dance number and run to the back door

11. You blow on hot laundry saying, "ha ha"

12. You lead your grandparents to the bathroom, when they babysit, at 7:00 p.m. saying "teeth, teeth"

13. You think you are God's gift to your karoke machine