Our Little Monster

Not So Little, Tiny Hands & Feet

Cashem James, I will forever remember your hands and feet this way, a little bigger than most newborns but still so small.

Oh, and look at those eyelashes!

All I Want For Christmas

T Day

This was my first Turkey Day not spent in Maine with most of my family. It was also the first one I got to spend with my own, new little family. Kim, Claire and I cooked way more than we needed while Ben fried up the turkey outside (another first and not the last! yum!) A few of Ben's friends came over, that like us couldn't make it home for the Holiday.

Ben and Cash, thank you for making my first Thanksgiving away from home so great. I look forward to every one we get to spend together from here on out. I love you both more than all of the oil we had to get for that turkey.

Thanksgiving Day

11/25/2010

Before & After

This is 9 pound Cash about 24 hrs before he was born.

Cashem James Bartlett

Born at 5:45am on November 8th 2010

Weighing at a whopping 9 pounds 9 ounces.

22 inches long.

My Sister Nicole

I've mentioned before. I have an amazing family. Every one of them is so special to me, they have all taught me different things and helped me be who the person I am.
I love them all exactly the same, but today there's a few things I want you all to know about my sister Nicole. She was my roommate for 2 years and in that 2 years we became pretty tight. She changed my life in so many good ways. She got me a job at Bank of America at which I spent almost 5 pretty successful years at. (I only occasionally curse her for getting me a job at that place.) She taught me to be responsible in general and with money. Towards the end of the two years I hardly ever had to ask her to borrow funds to cover my half of rent anymore. She taught me to be strong and taught me what it was like to have a real true friend. There is nothing I will ever be able to do to repay her for all she has given me.

No, I am not using this blog as free advertisement, she's not for sale. I was just reminded how wonderful a person she is when UPS showed up at my door with a bag from Old Navy filled with Maternity clothes from her today. I have bought very few things for myself since I started to blow up like a balloon. Really, like 3 total things. Not only did I try to ignore the fact that I was getting larger by the week day but I also didn't have a bunch of cash to drop on clothes. (we're going to have a baby soon, I hear they aren't cheap.)

Nicole, I love you. You are the best friend anyone could have, not to mention an incredible sister. Thank you so much for all the clothes. You don't know how much it means to me.. and probably even more to Ben, now that he doesn't have to listen to me cry every time I get ready.

Ps. I intended on attaching pictures from my little fashion show, but I found out I dont photograph well these days. Ick.

There's a missing pink tank top in this pic, because I'm wearing it and as I said, those pictures didn't make it to the blog.

09/04/2010

A Few Pics Of The Almost Finished Nursery

Thank you everyone for your gifts.

As you see it makes this room actually look like a nursery.

The Lone Yam

Just last Sunday, Kimmy made harvest rolls to go with the Pot Roast I had started early that day. She hit up Lion King (Ben often slips up and calls Food Lion, Lion King) Kim got the few item's she needed for the harvest rolls, got home and open the can of yams to find this..

and only this!

The Crib

Cash would be completely crib-less if it weren't for my Mom, who supplied the crib and my Mother In Law who mailed us the mattress and sheets. Thank you both so much. Ben, Cash and I are very lucky to have you guys in our lives. We all love you very much.

Built With His Own Hands

While checking out websites for things to fill our empty nursery, I found a cubby set from Pottery Barn that I loved. Unfortunately Pottery Barn isn't exactly in our budget...(Who's is it in really?)

Ben took a look at it online with me and was pretty sure he could build it. We set out on a journey to Lowe's, one table saw, a dozen other tools and some wood later he was ready to start. Still spending way less than we would have on the piece of furniture online.

He spent a couple weekends picking away at the project and with every step finished I was even more impressed with the work this guy could do. One cubby is complete. I look at it every day. Ben did an amazing job on it and I couldn't be more proud to have it in the nursery. I know some day Cash will be as proud of this and his dad, as I am on a daily basis.

Myrtle Beach

After a long week of Ben being out in the field, day and night. (We're talking over hundred degree weather here, sunshine or not. With humidity at 98% and bugs crawling on him while he got in those few hours of sleep a night.) We decided to spend the weekend a little more comfortably. Early Saturday morning we drove about 3 hours to Myrtle Beach, spent the day on the beach then the evening eating as much seafood as possible with friends. The following day was a bit rainy. We hit up the outlets and did some shopping before the drive back to Fayetteville.

Kimmy & I.

Ben & I On The Balcony

Stephanie & I

Ben & I At The Beach

07/08/2010

Boundry Line Lake. Fayetteville, NC.

The Making Of The Nursery

Ben had 12 days off for block leave. With no plans of traveling, so we took the opportunity to get a head start on the nursery. This room was originally "the office". The walls, as you can see in some of the pictures need some work. We don't plan on being in this house forever, so instead of making real repairs we just washed down the walls and slapped some paint on it. It's amazing what a can of paint can do. It only took us a couple days to have it cleaned, painted and painted again. Casey helped out a ton with the painting and had us laughing the whole time.

There are a few more touches we will be adding on soon and of course we will be sharing those with you all!