Friday, June 26, 2009

Something Really Old, Someone New, Somethings Borrowed, Somethings Blue

Something Really Old...
These are the "finished" photos of Joey and Matthew's room in our really really old house :-). "Finished" because there will soon be some art on the wall (hopefully I can have a picture of that up soon)..... We really like the way the room turned out and it's been nice to update small sections of the house as we are able.






These last 2 pictures are of the closet which used to be blue, and is a walk-in closet which I LOVE! It's easier to have the boys share a room with this added space AND we can keep our guest room (which is coming in especially handy now that we have nearly 2 months worth of visitors!

Someone New...
These shots are from Matt's first photo shoot with our second son! The first is my favorite!!




Somethings Borrowed...
These are some of Matt's recent shots, of the baby's first week and other household goings-on. Enjoy!





Somethings Blue...
We've received so many cute things for Matty.... here are just some of our new treasures.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Pictures Pictures Pictures






Matt had a photo shoot up in the studio this morning/early afternoon, so my mom, Jessie, and I and both of the boys cleared out to give the 6 arrivals and their various artistic directors the space. We went to a regional park pretty nearby and played on the playground and visited the lake and fed the ducks. It was the first time Joey had ever fed ducks.









Joey even wanted to share some of his bread with a little girl who was hoping to feed the ducks. It was very sweet! I kept little Matty in our new sling the whole time, which he seemed happy with. It was a beautiful afternoon, 74 degrees and sunny, even a little warm at times. We have been so glad to have my mom, and Matt's sister visiting with us. The extra hands are wonderful and it's great seeing Joey get lots of attention when ours is beginning to be divided! I know he'll have some adjusting to do in the future, but for now, we are living it up!!!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

First Things First









The same day that we had little Matty we went to get Joey's first haircut. It was one of the things that we planned to do on our last day as a family of 3. We had planned to get his haircut, and go to a park to fly some kites and then to have a dinner out all together. The next day my mom was arriving and we'd have company until long after baby. Little did we know (although we expected) that I was in labor that day, since it wasn't painful at first (and well could have been false labor) and since it was 5 days early.

So mid-afternoon found us at Snips getting Joey's first haircut. I'm so glad that we still had a chance to share this special time as a family. Matt took along his camera and captured the occasion and afterwards we let Joey play with the plethora of toys at the shop.




So as you can see, there's still a little curl to it, in the back. *sigh*.... a little
curl





More to come soon, and baby pictures of course!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Matthew Aaron Beardsley, Born Sunday Morning


Born June 14, 2009, 5:03 a.m. Matthew Aaron Beardsley, 9 lbs 1.4 oz, 21 inches.
Laurie and baby are in good health and high spirits. We came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and are enjoying life at home as a family of 4. Laurie is recovering very quickly after a beautiful labor and delivery and will certainly be sharing more details in the weeks to come.

Thank you for all your prayers! Little Matthew is a sweet blessing for us....

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Just for Fun

In the spirit of Ziggy, here is a video of Ziggy Marley, our Ziggy's namesake. We got to see him in concert about 3 weeks ago, which was really fun! (I just listened to the song while I did other stuff, so I can't really vouch for the video....)

Hope you enjoy!

My First iMovie!!



Now if someone wants to comment on how I get the full picture to appear when I cut and paste the embedded html here on the blog, then by all means..... :-)

Thanks!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Thoughts on Two

Today is exactly one week from our due date.  We have fun things happening in the next few days.... Matt has a few photo shoots that he has REALLY been looking forward to, My mom arrives this weekend, and we are (finally) beginning to feel more ready for this little guy.  Most of the things that I have been rushing to finish (or worried that I wouldn't get to) are already done or on my last short list of things that only take a few minutes each.  (yes!!!)

My last short list has things on it like:

vacuum
mop floor
De-Hair sofa (:-)  (we own lots of hairy little furry things.)
(These are mostly things that it would be lovely to get finished, but that can easily be done in a few minutes even after the baby arrives). 

As we barrel towards "due date" and I approach these last few things to do, I have been thinking alot about the BIG last in our lives.... our last days as a family of 3.  It's wonderful to know that we are having another little boy, a brother, a son.  I hope that Joey will soon be meeting his best friend.  I can't believe I will have another baby soon, another little baby and I am so looking forward to all of those little baby things that have slowly faded away with Joey (babbles that don't mean anything, discoveries of little hands and feet, big smiles with only gums, tiny clothes, a child that can sleep in my arms).  

At the same time, it's hard to think about having "another" baby.  I have a baby.  He sleeps in a crib, with a pacifier, wears diapers and doesn't talk too much.  He thinks his Daddy and Mommy and "Bow Wow" and "mrow mrow" (like "meow meow") are the world, and to him we have been his world, and he has been ours for almost 2 years.  I have a baby.... so how can our lives expand, and how can my heart expand enough to make room for this one without pushing a little bit of my Joey out?  How could I possibly love any other thing the way I love him?  I don't know.  I know it happens because people have more kids and because they want to, and because everyone says you feel that way and you wonder how you will love them as much but then suddenly you just.....do.  You just do.  I know that is true.  

I know.  It's still so hard though to look at my baby now, and to know that this is our last time as a family of 3, that these are our last days and our last memories....the last few things that in a retelling a few years later we will tell our second son "that was before you were born, when it was just Mommy and Daddy and Josiah.".  It's hard to know too that Joey won't remember this time.  It's hard not to feel like something is being taken from him.  

I don't want to sound gloomy.  We are thrilled.  I can't wait.  I wish my due date was tomorrow and that I could meet this wiggly little boy right now.  There is so much that I am looking forward to that I can't even think straight sometimes...... but there is something that is so wonderful and amazing in the present that I wish I could hold onto it somehow, but somehow move forward as a family too.  Is that so strange, to want things to grow and change, and want things to stay exactly the same at the same time?  

Whew, I hope that's not all too heavy for the blogsphere.  I'll have to promise to make my next post really lighthearted ;-)  to make up for being so serious.  But I will take one more serious moment and ask for your prayers and blessings over our family.... that we may enjoy each other, and enjoy our first little boy as much as possible before and after the birth of his little brother.  Prayers for a smooth actual birth and also that it may be the birth of a lifelong friendship.  

I look forward to announcing news of our new little baby in the coming days (or weeks)and sharing that joy with all of you... but for now, here are some (much much!) overdue pictures from our last (20 wk. sonogram).  









Psalm 136:1-6
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;



"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."


May we be constantly amazed that God has blessed us with such a great privilege.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Getting Ready and Denial

I'm pretty huge.  Really.

I was really big with Joey and am definitely bigger now, although I've gained 15 lbs LESS this pregnancy.  Crazy huh.  I just happen to be one of those women  who get a GIANT belly.  I can still wear exactly my same jeans, if I button them below the belly (don't worry people, I don't do that!).  Maybe it's because they were both boys, or something.  Who knows?  
Anyway, I think I've been about 38 weeks pregnant for 3 months, at least I've looked that way.  When I told people, 3 months ago, that I had that much time left, they looked at me in shock and said inappropriate things (all you ladies with kids know what I mean), but now when I tell people that I am due in a week and a half, everyone nods understandingly and says something like "you must be ready!".  

See the funny thing is, I was ready 3 months ago.  Now, I need every second of those 11 days I have left.  EVERY SECOND.  I am in total denial about baby deadline.  

Joey's labor started with alot of bleeding and a huge contraction in the middle of the night when I got up to go the bathroom.  So when 2 nights I woke up with alot of tightness and cramping in my belly and needed to go to the bathroom..... I did what any self-respecting procrastinator would do.  I pretended I did not have to go to the bathroom and I didn't feel anything, and I went back to sleep.  whew.  Luckily for me, I didn't feel anything when I woke up a few hours later (except a much more violent urge to pee!).  

So folks, that's where we are right now, 11 days from due date.  At least some of us are getting ready.....




Yep, still works.

As far as I am concerned, I know this little guy will come when he comes and I can't wait to meet him. If it wasn't for 11 more days, I certainly won't be sitting around twiddling my thumbs either though ;-)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

BFFs

More to follow, but for now...

**Please Note**
Pictures have not been altered to portray giant puppy growing at shocking rate.  


Do You REALLY Love Your Mac???

Matt just got a new battery for his laptop.  



And then I saw him smell it. 



When I commented, he said it smelled different than the old one. 



Uh huh. 



 So my question is, do you really love your mac?