Pre-Easter Weekend

This last weekend was filled with pre-Easter activities. First we had our studio photo shoot, then on Friday night, Wayne and I took Nathan to the Frisco Easter Egg Hunt. We had never been before, but I thought it sounded like fun...a huge Easter egg hunt on a soccer ball field, tons of prizes and treats for the kids, plus it was divided into different age groups. So I thought Nathan would have fun practicing hunting for eggs and since he would be in the age group of "Under 2," it wouldn't be too crazy...WRONG!

I think all of Frisco showed up! When Wayne took this picture, the crowd was small!


Nathan was so excited though!


A kiss for Daddy :)


As the time got closer to start the hunt, the crowd got bigger. When they blew the whistle, Wayne and Nathan had to fight for some eggs! After about 30 seconds, the treats were gone! Nathan got 3 pieces of candy, but to him, that was a ton :)


Nathan and Mommy


I got a sticky kiss too!



He loved his treats!



After the hunt, Nathan and Daddy found a big hill where Daddy taught Nathan the art of rolling down! We went out to eat and to the Toys R Us afterwards and had a really fun night together. The next day was our trip to the mall and to visit the Easter Bunny!


Last year, when we took Nathan to see the Easter Bunny, he wanted nothing to do with him. He started crying as soon as we walked up to him and didn't even sit on his lap. This year was completely different! Like visiting Santa, Nathan thought that seeing the Easter Bunny was the best thing ever!

After getting his picture taken, we took him to a place in the mall called The Indoor Safari Park. I had never been in there before, but it was so much fun! They not only had toys to look at and buy, but also little rides to go on!


Nathan rode the train


And a wild dinosaur! I thought the animals they had to ride on would just rock back and forth, but they walk around the area! One of the workers helped him steer, and he had the best time!

Here's a video of him

Easter Bunny Photo Shoot

On Friday afternoon, I took Nathan to Studio One to One to get his Easter picture taken. He was so excited to go because he was going to get to hold a REAL bunny. Giving him a bath, getting him dressed and out the door was so easy because all he wanted to do was hold that bunny! He even let me do my own little photo shoot before we left!

Nathan was a perfect angel at the studio! He followed directions perfectly and never fussed. I was so proud of him! What I loved watching the most was when the photographer brought in the baby bunny (she did some pictures of just him in the beginning). Nathan was so sweet and gentle with it. And he talked and talked to her. He kept telling me and the photographer, that he loved HIS bunny :)

Every single picture was so great, it was so hard to pick which ones I wanted! I ordered two of them so as soon as they come in, I'll put them on the blog.

We Have a Name!

Wayne and I have been trying to think of the perfect name for our little girl for 31 weeks! We finally had it narrowed down to 10, then 5, then our top 3. So last weekend we got serious and were able to both agree on THE name :)

Luckily, my sister, Carrie spent her spring break with us and helped me completely finish the baby's room. And now that we had a name, we were able to paint the letters to go above her crib. The last thing we need to do to the room is make the curtains or valence to go above her window. That's my mom's job though...she's coming over next week to measure and help me decide what I want done. Then, all we need is the baby to finish it off!



Her name is....


Her full name is Charlotte Rose Parnell. Rose was my great grandmother's name, and when I told my grandma that we were using Rose as the middle name, she was so happy that she started crying :)


Charlotte's letters look even better in person...it was hard to get the lighting right to really show them off, but here is a closer look at one of the letters. We painted them a sweet shade of pink and then sponged the polka dots. It was a major chore to get the letters centered, the ribbons and bows tied, and to hang them! I'm so glad it's done, and I really love the way it looks!


My sitting area


Before Carrie came, this closet was FILLED with clothes, toys, and baby equipment. She helped me sort and organize everything, and I'm so appreciative!




My mom got her these dresses


And these little shoes...how sweet are they?!


The changing table


This is the picture above the changing table.


Her bookshelf


My mom made this quilt :)


And the dust ruffle...this picture doesn't do it justice. The material is so beautiful because it has the sweetest little roses on it.


And here I am at 31 weeks! I feel so huge! I swear I'm so much bigger this time around, but I feel great so I don't care :)

A Day Out With Thomas

Last weekend was a big weekend for us! Not only did we go to Chuck E Cheese, we also went to see Thomas the Train and actually go on a REAL train ride. Nathan loves, loves, LOVES trains, especially Thomas and his friends. So when we found out there was an event here that was all about Thomas and included a train ride, we knew we had to take Nathan! Lauren and her daddy, Shawn, also went with us. That made it even more fun for Nathan.


When Nathan woke up Sunday morning, I asked him if he was ready to go see Thomas. He jumped out of bed and said, "Mommy, I so excited!" It was raining that morning, but we decided not to let that ruin our morning. Nathan got his umbrella out and had fun playing in the rain while waiting for Lauren.


"Lauren's here!"

When Lauren got out of her car, Nathan couldn't wait to hug her. But, Lauren wouldn't even look at Nathan at first. She kept saying, "Tissue Daddy." Her nose was running, and she wanted her daddy to wipe it first. Then she turned to Nathan and gave him the biggest hug...she just wanted to look her best for her boyfriend :)

These two are ready to go! We took two cars, but Lauren and Nathan rode together in my car, and Wayne rode with Shawn. Lauren and Nathan talked the whole way there! Here is a bit of their conversation:

Nathan: "Lauren, you excited to ride a real train?"

Lauren: "Uh huh!"

Nathan: "Lauren, what you saying? Where is Daddy?"

Lauren: "Daddy in my car."

Nathan: "Oh, daddy in your car? Ok"

Lauren: cough, cough

Nathan: "Cover your mouth Lauren like this" and he demonstrates how to cough and cover his mouth :)

Nathan: putting his finger in his nose

Lauren: "No nose Nay-Nay"

Nathan: "Ok Lauren, I sorry."

There was a huge display of electric trains under this tent that Nathan and Lauren loved looking at.


My little train conductor :)


And every train conductor needs a whistle!


Hi Lauren!


After looking at the trains, Lauren and Nathan got train tattoos.



Nathan's chose a "James" tattoo


And Lauren got "Herold the Helicopter."

Even though it was raining, that didn't slow us down. In fact, I think the rain actually made it more fun for Nathan and Lauren. It was the one time that it was ok to splash in the puddles and get wet. We just let them play in the water however they wanted!





Even though we had umbrellas ready, Nathan always seemed to walk a little too far from it :)

There was also a petting zoo available for them.





Time for the train ride!


Thomas is the blue train in the front. There was a huge, long line for pictures of Thomas' face, so this was the best I could do.


"How much longer do we have to wait in line to ride the train?"





Once we got on the train, Nathan and Lauren were so excited. This was the best group picture we could get...Lauren thought it was funny to not look at the camera :) Once the train started moving, Lauren and Nathan had so much fun looking out the window and playing and talking to each other. They were really good for the 20 minute ride.

Afterwards, we treated ourselves to corn dogs and funnel cakes for lunch...healthy! When you go to things like this, the junk food is the best part! Nathan and Lauren both loved their first funnel cakes...they made us proud! We had a great time and will definitely go back again next year

And here is a video of Nathan and Lauren splashing around.