Nana and Poppy are on their way....

I told Ben that his Nana and Poppy (Brad's parents) were coming to see him today. I also told him that he was SOOOOO CUTE that they would probably eat him up. He liked the idea... this was his reaction! He had a bath this morning and I didnt comb his hair until it was dry, hence the craziness. Personally, I love it!

The next picture is after a wardrobe change due to a major blow out poopy diaper.

On our own...gulp...

My mom left tonight. Brad and I are officially on our own w/ Baby Ben. We have been doing most of his care the last few days w/ mom doing mercy diaper changes occasionally and feeding us regularly. That's the part I'll miss...homemade food, the 'dish fairy' loading and unloading the dishwasher, and reassurance that we are doing things 'right'. The thought of getting up, feeding Ben, changing him, getting myself showered and dressed, making breakfast, straightening the house for first family pictures at noon (an old coworker of Brad's is coming up from Louisville to photograph us in our home) and making sure the nursery is picture ready seems a little daunting right now. I'm sure we will be fine but it was nice having mom as a back up. I'm very glad she was able to spend this week w/ us...especially since we don't live close enough for daily or even weekly visits.

This week has gone well over all and our confidence as new parents is increasing a little....not much but a little. I only cried once over the baby this week and that was because I used a new thermometer to take his temp and it said 103.1 !! It turned out to be a defective thermometer because every time I took his temp (and mine) I got a different number....I threw it away to avoid future scares but the thought of him being ill or hurt is just too much for me! I love him tremendously!!

About the pic......My older bro, Chad, was supposed to pick up my mom yesterday however just before they walked out the door Lilly, my 5 yr old niece, fell sliding around in dress shoes in their kitchen and had to be taken to the hospital for stitches in her chin. So today my younger bro, Justin, drove up w/ Colton, my nephew, to take mom home.....here is Colton holding Ben. He really likes his cousin, showing him his boots and checking out Ben's tiny hands.

Thanksgiving w/ the Cathey Family!

Brad's family all came to visit for Thanksgiving! We are all notoriously terrible at remembering to take pictures to witness our Cathey family gatherings but I did manage to snap a couple of the kiddos (Gabrielle (1) and Trey (2)). We had a great time and strayed beyond the traditional w/ jambalaya instead of turkey on the big day! It was a hit and collectively prepared w/ the women-folk as sous chefs in the chopping dept and my BIL, Dale, as head chef manning the pot and welding the spices (it's his family's recipe). The rest of the time visiting involved chasing the kiddos, discovering the wonders of Wii, cooking and eating, a chilly walk around the lake in our neighborhood, and even a little bit of early Christmas exchanges since we won't be making the trek to Memphis this yr since baby will be arriving soon. We enjoyed the visit and hope to repeat it before too long when the Impending Boy arrives! Brad's sister Valerie is also pregnant and due in March so at the very least we can expect to visit North Carolina some time in the spring when they are ready for company. Look out--the Cathey family is multiplying fast!

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
~Author Unknown.

Paige and Lilly visit....mission furniture accomplished

More excitement in November! On Saturday, Nov. 22nd I got a visit from my older brother, Chad, and my two blondie nieces, Paige (left, 11...just days away from 12) and Lilly (right, newly 5). Chad brought the much awaited crib and bookcase formerly belonging to Lilly. As you can see, the girls and I made chocolate chip cookies while Chad and Brad did the heavy lifting. Below is a pic of Paige looking too cool for school in her skater girl get-up.

Here are the cookies in progress..Lilly ate as much raw cookie dough
as she put on the cookie sheet....she left before any belly-ache onset. LOL!

Lilly sporting my girliest apron, making baking look glamorous like any good 1950's housewife. She is the polar opposite of her older sister in the style department....Paige wouldn't be caught dead in a pink-laden apron w/ rhinestones and a bow!

Below is a pic of the bookcase in the process of being organized. I will likely choose close lidded bins for the bottom shelf to maintain a more polished look....so the bins you see are destined for in closet organization...more on that later.

The crib is here but not assembled. Comments w/ encouragement for Papa Bear, aka Brad, to get on his fatherly construction duties are welcomed! ;) You know...no pressure we're only 2.5 weeks away from my due date.....

Everyone can rest assure that things will be ready for when baby.....should I reveal the likely name choice...Ben arrives in a few weeks. We are going to be homebodies for the rest of the pregnancy so there really is time for further organization. All the baby clothes have been washed, we have a bassinet, I am pre-registered at the hospital...the 'have to' list is complete. The 'it would be nice to' list is a work in progress. Besides I have more pressing things to think about like LABOR AND DELIVERY. :)