Nash's First Trip to PA

The evening we moved out of our house in Memphis, we found out that Annie's brother - Uncle Tommy - was seriously ill and in ICU.  He had known for a bit over a week that he had cancer, and had undergone surgery to remove a tumor from his kidney.  Complications arose after the surgery, and we got the sad sad news that evening that he had passed.  My heart broke for Annie, knowing that she was so far away from her family in such a time of loss.  We made the decision to get our stuff moved in to our apartment in Nashville and then drive home to Pennsylvania with Frank and Annie.  Definitely not the reason we envisioned making a trip to PA, but it was nice to get to spend time with family - even in the midst of such a sad time.  We are so sad that Nash never had a chance to meet his Uncle Tommy, we're positive they would've hit it off!  Rest in peace Uncle Tommy...we miss you and love you.

We tried to snap a few pics with everyone Nash met during our trip to PA - most are below!  Enjoy!

Nash meeting 3 of the 4 Koch girls...we met Julie a day later, but didn't get it on camera!

Cavan welcoming Nash

Meeting all of these new people is hard work....snoozin' on Nannie's couch

Yummy....rice cereal

Nash and Jodi

Nash and Ginny

Mrs. Malloy getting some cuddles from Nash

Moving from Memphis

note:  I'm back dating all of my "catch up" posts so we can remember when these things actually happened! 

Moving out of our house on Meda street was a lot of work.  It started back in March when we had the POD delivered and loaded the contents of our garage...and didn't end until we pulled out of the driveway June 9.  I really think that God makes moving so much work in order to ease the pain and sentiments of moving away from a ton of memories.  1014 Meda was such a great place for us to live - we miss it dearly, but not as much as we miss our friends in Memphis.  I am sure we will grow to love the Nashville/Hendersonville area as well...but it was definitely hard to leave.

Frank and Annie were in town to help us pack up the final things and get everything out of the house and into our apartment in Hendersonville.  I don't know what we would've done without them - what a help they were - THANK YOU Frank and Annie!  After most of the packing was completed, we managed to get downtown to spend one last evening in Memphis.  We started by spending some time down on the river with a bottle of wine and some cheese (requirement when more then 2 Murphy's gather) and of course our camera.  We topped it off with a visit to Gus's, then back home to rest up for the big moving day.

The movers were great and pretty efficient...the truck took off about 3:00 in the afternoon and we were left to load up the items we weren't sending on the truck.  Aunt Becky and Uncle Brad were gracious enough to let us crash with them before the big moving day, so that's where we were headed.  I lingered around the house a bit after Matt, Nash, Annie and Frank drove off...it was definitely a place I'll never forget and I definitely left a few tears there.  It was hard to drive away and leave a place where we created so many memories as a family!  That evening, we ordered out from the Commissary, hung out with Aunt Becky and Uncle Brad, and took one last visit to see some of our best friends in town - Jen and Danny Thompson.  Jen made us a great memory book from our time in Memphis...we LOVE it.  So, so hard to leave them...this post needs to end before I start crying...

So...here are some final pictures of our time in Memphis and 1014 Meda!

Family photo on the Mississippi River

Mud Island - Memphis, TN

Nash, Nannie, and Opa

The whole Murphy crew...minus Uncle Mark

Sweaty from packing and sad to leave our first home...

But even more sad to leave our buds...even though we're smiling here.

Danny and Murph

I miss this one like you wouldn't believe..

Amy and Jen

Beach Trip! Nash's First Vacation!

Nash's first vacation.....to the beaches of Dauphin Island, Alabama.  We drove down on Memorial Day weekend and met our good friends - the O'Neals - at our beach house.  Their kiddos Gretchen and Harper are the sweetest little girls and we had a great time during our 5 days there.  We lucked out in terms of the oil spill...the oil didn't reach the coast of Dauphin Island until the end of our stay.  It was extremely sad to see the dolphins and pelicans in their natural habitat, knowing that a day is approaching where they will have no where to go and the oil will be destroying their homes.  We spent our time on the island relaxing, eating, drinking, and enjoying our time with good friends. Nash loved the water and his toes in the sand and was the cutest little beach bum ever!  We had a great vacation, and the relaxation was a great way to prepare for the craziness that would commence upon our arrival back in Memphis - packing and moving!  Proof of relaxation below:

Still hoping these blue eyes are going to stick around!

Mid-afternoon champagne - one of the many perks of vacation.

First time in the ocean!

Cutest little footprints.  Ever.

Family feet.

Chillin'

Harper and Sha

Gretchen and Elton

4 months old!

Hard to believe that we've already been parents for 4 months...it's even harder to believe that our teeny baby is now 13 pounds, 1.5 ounces and 24.5 inches long.  Seems so far from 5 pounds, 12 ounces and 18 inches long.  I miss those teeny teeny fingers and toes, but Nash's personality is so much fun right now - I wouldn't trade these days for anything!  Here's his monthly recap:

• Four month check up with Dr. Stecker went well - everything is on track and he is in the 25th percentile for height and weight and 10th percentile for his head circumference. 
• Rice cereal is officially on the menu - it only took Nash a few meals before getting the hang of the spoon/tongue/swallow situation.  We got to share his first bites of rice cereal with Nannie and Opa on skype - how fun is that?  We've been given the OK to start baby food as well, but will probably hold off on that until we get settled in Nashville.
• No toy is off limits!  Nash is beginning to hold his toys and react to them - you can see the excitement when you pull out a new toy or one he hasn't seen in a while.  
• Nash is still in size 1 diapers...the Target brand diapers didn't go over so well.  They were pretty scratchy and we had quite a few leaky diapers.  We are using the Costco brand of diapers right now and think we really like them.  They're definitely priced right and much softer than the Target brand.  We probably shouldn't get too used to them though - no Costco near us in Nashville!
• Sleep patterns for Nash are holding steady at what they were a month ago...we feel pretty lucky!
• Nash is still nursing like a champ for the most part - still eating every three hours during the day and stretching from about 9 pm to 6 am at night.  

Below are a few pictures from our "at home" 4 month photo shoot...

Obligatory shot with the lion

See the tufts of hair?  Look really hard...they're there!

Who doesn't love baby toes?

Momma's love bug

Under Contract!

Our house is under contract!!

After two days of negotiating with first time home buyers, we are set to close on June 10!  Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well with the inspection and appraisal - and that we can find a home we want to purchase in Hendersonville!

We will miss this home, for sure...lots of memories to say the least:

• our first home and mortgage(s)
• our first puppy
• our engagement (in the kitchen, after a lovely night in CY)
• our wedding (and all the planning)
• our first remodel (finishing the attic into our master suite)
• our first kiddo
• our awesome neighborhood and neighbors

So many great things have gone happened within these walls...it will be sad to leave, but I am sure our next home will be just as great!  (Thinking positively, right?!?!)


We'll miss you 1014...

Grandma Kay's Visit

(I am very far behind...the next few post's will be catch up!)

Back in April, my mom drove to Memphis for a long weekend visit.  We had a great time with her...the weather was perfect and we attempted to do as much relaxing as possible!  She drove in and got here late Thursday evening.  Friday morning we took Nash for a walk in his stroller and stopped for brunch at a new place in our neighborhood - mom had the most amazing pancake ever and I enjoyed a ham and cheese quiche with yummy (aka buttery) home fries.  Roscoe joined us after brunch as we finished out our walk before heading to Aunt Becky's to hang out for the afternoon.  We sat on her back deck and enjoyed the gorgeous weather - we stripped Nash down and let him enjoy the weather nude (in the shade of course!). 

The weekend got a little crazy as we got calls to show the house both Saturday and Sunday.  When that happens, all goodness breaks loose in our house and we scramble around to get all of the baby gear in the nursery, furniture dusted, counters cleared, floors de-furred, and carpets vacuumed.  WHEW.  If I'm here alone, and Nash is very good (napping) it takes me about 90 minutes to do everything I want to do.  I know I totally go overboard - but what if the one who is seeing the house is THE one?  haha....I know I'm crazy.  Thank goodness my mom was around that weekend...we had 5 showings between Saturday and Sunday.  Not to mention the fan fiasco that was our Saturday morning (don't ask).  Anyway - she was a huge help in getting the house ready or keeping Nash entertained while we got the house ready. 

Not only did she help us get the house ready, but she watched Nash on Saturday night while Matt and I went on a date - yay!  We started in Cooper Young and met some friends at Cafe Ole for a pitcher of margaritas and then headed downtown where we enjoyed dinner at McEwans - a staple downtown that we've been meaning to go to for a long time.  It was delicious, and we topped it off with dessert from the Cheesecake Corner in the south main district.  We brought the cheesecake home and shared it with our sweet babysitter!

Sunday evening (after showing the house 4 times!), our friends Danny and Jen came over for burgers before we all headed out to Minglewood Hall to see Amos Lee.  Aunt Becky came over to sit with Nash while we were at the show.  We love Amos Lee's albums, and his live show was so awesome.  It was so much fun to be able to take my mom with us - she loves Amos Lee too, and I think she really enjoyed it. 

The next morning was Monday, which meant mom was returning to Indiana...we got up and said our goodbyes, which is always so sad!  We'll be seeing her soon though...we have a trip to Indiana planned for my high school reunion in June.

A few pictures from her visit...

So good to see you Grandma Kay!

Showing off his smiles to Grandma

Matt and I before heading out to dinner

Come back soon Grandma!

3 months old!

A three month update on what our not-so-little man is up to these days, besides growing additional chins:

• We're not completely sure how big Nash is...our guess is close to 13 pounds.  We don't visit Dr. Stecker until he is 4 months old - so a guess will have to do!
• Nash wears size 1 diapers - Pampers currently but we have a pack of the Target brand (Up and Up) that we're trying next.  Crossing our fingers - they're much cheaper!
• All of Nash's newborn clothes (save a few onesies) are packed away and he is now wearing mostly 3 months clothes - but the summer 3-6 month clothes definitely do not seem too big!
• Mr. Chubbs (as daddy likes to call him) is full of smiles and coos - definitely reacts to those he knows well - mommy and daddy!
• Nash still loves his mirror, but is getting more interested in some of his books...mostly ones with bright, bold colors and patterns.  He spends some time each day in his bouncer batting at the toys that hang down - has not started reaching and grabbing for them yet, but I can't imagine he's far off.
• Takes his last feeding between 8 and 9 in the evening and usually goes down about 30 minutes after he eats and sleeps for a good 7 hours!  It ends up being about 8 hours between feedings - it's been great to have a little non-baby time in the evenings to just relax.
• Mornings are still Nash's happiest time, as it is with most babies.  His fussy period in the evenings has seemed to calm down (knock on wood).
• Roscoe is now quite entertaining for Nash...anytime Roscoe is around, Nash is extremely attentive.  Nash follows Roscoe with his eyes and is so happy with himself when he does so.  Roscoe is so sweet with him...we hang out on the couch and cuddle daily - and as long as Roscoe gets cuddles he doesn't care if it's coming from me or Nash!
• Nash is still a great eater (bet you couldn't' guess from the size of his cheeks!) and nursing is still going great.  I've been able to stock up a supply of milk and Matt now gives Nash his middle of the night bottle (usually anywhere between 3 am and 4:30 am) on the weekends when he doesn't have to work.  I love the extra sleep, and Matt loves feeding him - and Nash just loves eating!  Works out well for all of us.

 What is a post without pictures, right?  Here's your cuteness fix for the day...enjoy!

lovin the blue eyes

 Nash's favorite romper...

;)

early morning cuddles with daddy

showing of his serious side

cuddles with the furry baby of the house

Nash was all smiles for daddy

Skyping with Nannie and Opa...it was hot in the house that evening!

Reading before bedtime with daddy

Cutest little Penn Stater ever!  

3 months old!

Nash's First Easter Sunday

Nash's first Easter Sunday morning was full of surprises...in his pants.  Yes, we went through three outfits (2 blowout diapers, 1 vomit episode) before we had to walk out the door for church.  I have to admit, the little guy looked handsome in all of them - but this is what he ended up wearing on his first Easter Sunday:

He was absolutely perfect during church - we didn't even have to get him out of his carseat during the service.  I know he's too little to understand the meaning of Easter and what an amazing day it is in the life of Christians, but what an incredible day it will be when he is able to comprehend.  Not that any of us can really comprehend how special God's love is for us that He died on a cross and rose again...but it is our responsibility as Nash's parents to be sure we help him attempt to comprehend God's love and grace for us.  It's a pretty intense responsibility, and one of the things about parenthood that makes me the most nervous. 

After church, we headed out to Germantown to visit and have lunch with Aunt Becky, Uncle Brad, and Kyle.  Lunch was great, dessert was yummy, and it was great to catch up with everyone - especially Kyle, who was home for Easter from Auburn.  After lunch, Nash took a nap - and managed to be just as handsome napping as he was above with his Easter basket.

Aunt Becky was kind enough to snap a few family photos of us - doesn't happen very much around our house.  Roscoe just can't manage to get the focus down and snap the button at just the right time.  ;)

We hope you all had a blessed Easter Sunday!

It's hard work...

...trying to find your thumb!

Nash has been working hard for the past week or so to find his thumb.  Frustration mounts as he gets close, but no cigar.  He finally succeeded a few days ago in the car...and we happened to have the camera around to catch the action!  We'll be pretty excited when this becomes a more consistent activity - Nash being able to soothe himself is pretty appealing!  Hope everyone is having a great week!

Trying..

Getting closer...

SUCCESS!

Ahh...