2011

2011 is looking pretty incredible so far. I'm nice and cozy inside with my boys while it's snowing tons outside after spending the day with the girls. Our sweet son is 2 months old as of this past Wednesday and we can't believe it! He has changed so much already, and we are so excited to continue watching him grow. Taking after his Daddy, he is the most relaxed, happy baby ever! I know I'm 100% biased, but we feel so very spoiled that he is doing so well - including in the sleeping department :) We are so blessed!

Liam smiling at his sweet Daddy :)

These two... there just are no words for this love

Pictures and More Pictures!

Last week, Liam got his picture made with Santa! We got several pics, and here are a couple of our favorites.

Yesterday our sweet baby boy was 1 month old! Can't believe it! He has changed so much already, and we couldn't be more blessed. The 3 of us went to have our pictures made, and the photographer has them up in the online gallery now! When I got her email this morning I was SO excited! She got them up so fast, and it made my day! Like a good postpartum woman, I teared up the whole time I was looking at them. I love my wonderful husband, and I can't imagine a better man to go through this journey with. Our precious baby boy is just perfect, and I can't help but smile with each picture. If you want to look at them, the website is http://www.digitalmemoriesbychristy.com/ Password is Liam

Smiling!

I finally caught Liam's smile on camera! And... he laughed this morning! He was half asleep, and I know he had no clue what he was doing, but it was adorable!

What are the odds???

So... Liam just peed, of course right when I took his diaper off. Well, he rung his ear! Yep, that's right... I looked everywhere for where that stream landed and found it all in his ear. Just had to share! LOL

Liam Has Arrived!!!!!!

Our sweet Liam is here with us! We are enjoying him so much, and every day we somehow love him more. Weighing in at 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long, he arrived at 12:15 AM on November 5th. With the exception of about 2 hours, he slept all night last night - hooray! He is just precious. Here are a few pics!

Our family pic - after I got to take a shower :)

This is one from Liam's "photo shoot" right before we left the hospital in his take home outfit!

Our first family picture!

Comfy Baby

We have decided that Liam is a little too comfy in my belly :) Saturday my due date came and went. When we went to the doctor Monday, they scheduled me to be induced Thursday morning... that's TOMORROW! Woo hoo! So today I am trying to rest some, get some things done, and rest some again. I'm making one final "clean sweep" through the house and hopefully will be just tired enough to sleep good tonight... although Nathan and I think neither of us will be able to!

Can't believe tomorrow is almost here! Nathan and I are liking this "schedule" thing... haha. Since he's nice and comfy in there, we might not actually have a baby tomorrow (although of course we're hoping we do!) but we know that we will get up in the morning, go to the hospital, and won't be coming home until little Liam is coming home with us! AHHH! Anyway, back to more of my "resting some" before I get back up to clean a little. Next time I get on here, it'll be a baby picture!!!

Waking up to a Crib

This morning Nathan and I woke up to a cute, tiny little crib... beside our bed... for the baby that will be in it soon... My mom came yesterday and helped me clean and do random odds and ends for the baby, make some returns, and put up this crib. She also got to see the bedding all put together in the crib for the first time! It's all washed and ready - even though Liam will be sleeping nice and comfy right here for a little while :)

We even have the little diaper caddy all stocked and ready for our little guy... so weird!

Nathan and I knew this day was coming. The day we would officially have a crib in our bedroom. After both agreeing that it would be so weird - in a good way - but nonetheless weird - to have a crib right beside us, the day finally arrived. We are so excited, and getting there as far as the readiness factor. Towels, washcloths, blankets washed. Diapers and wipes ready for that cute little bottom. Diaper caddy for our bedroom stocked. Diaper caddy to keep in the living room stocked. Hospital bag partially packed (finishing that today). All we have to do is pick out one preemie outfit just in case he's not 10 lbs (haha, gosh I hope not!) and then I can wash all the clothes and bibs. After that one load, all his stuff will be nice and clean with that great "Dreft" baby smell :)

Now we're down to crunch time - finishing up some final random things and waiting for our sweet Liam!

Anxious!

Well, I had a fabulous 25th birthday yesterday. My husband and family are incredible!

On an anxious note, I am so ready to meet this little guy! I will be 34 weeks on Saturday, and I can't believe I am already to that mark. In about 6 weeks depending on whether he's an early-comer, perfectly punctual, or just plain stubborn - we are going to have a baby. Wow. I am definitely getting anxious - in a curious kind of way. Not too nervous, and not worrisome, just curious. I'm curious what he will look like. And who he will look like. Nathan's baby pictures are just beautiful, and just maybe he'll have that cute red-auburn hair that Nathan had when he was little. Just maybe he will be calm and patient and sweet and strong like his daddy. I just have so many things I'm wondering about. I hope he is healthy (which all things point that he is). I hope he loves us the way we love our parents. I hope one day we will be able to see him be baptized when he chooses for himself to follow Christ. I am excited for him that he is going to have such incredible family surrounding him. He is going to have amazing grandparents, amazing great grandparents, and even an amazing great-great grandmother. He is going to have amazing and fun aunts and uncles. I'm excited about the things that they are going to teach him about life that Nathan and I can't. I'm excited for the first time he rides a bike with my dad and for the first time he goes fishing with Nathan's dad. I'm excited about the first time he sits on the counter with our moms and makes some cookies. I'm excited to see the look on our parents' faces when they meet him for the first time. And I absolutely can't wait to look at Nathan the first time we're holding our baby boy - and I hope I have a million pictures. I'm excited for the sense of accomplishment he will fill as he learns to do things.

I have all these hopes and dreams for this little guy I haven't even met yet, and curious, hopeful, anxious, excited is exactly what I am.

Happy Day :)

Today we had our second baby shower! It was a church shower with some really great friends, and it was so good to just hang out with everyone after we have all had some crazy summers. Also, my parents were down and my mom took some pics of us in our backyard. I was having a hard time making myself pay for pics of me and Nathan together and since my mom has done well for us in the past and I really just wanted a few good ones to have of this time in our lives, she gave it a try for me - and they turned out great! I am super excited about getting them up in the house! Blogger would never load the pics but for you facebook-ers I posted some of my favorites up there. Happy Almost Monday! I'm off to get some sleep!!!

And Labor Day weekend comes to a close...

We had a very successful weekend in the Coggin household this weekend! Friday night, Nathan and I relaxed at home in preparation of a busy weekend with some amazing family. Saturday, Nathan's' mom came over and helped me finish emptying the nursery and cleaning it from top to bottom. That night, her and Nathan gave the closet a fresh coat of paint and Nathan hung the new closet shelves. By Saturday night, we had a nice, clean, blank slate to start working on Sunday. Sunday after church my parents and Nathan's aunt came down and started painting! The two colors look so great, and the chair rail looks great too! Everything in our little one's room is completely cleaned and freshly painted - trim, doors painted, carpets shampooed. Everything looks so good, and we are so grateful for amazing family that are always there to help! Sunday night we got the dresser put together, and Monday we were able to move it into the room and put the crib together as well. It looks so cute, and I can't wait to continue adding things as they come! We are even closer to welcoming our little boy, and we are so excited! I posted all the pics on facebook, but here are a few.

Pictures!

Here are some pics from the first baby shower!!!

I haven't gotten them all yet from everyone taking pictures so I'll have to post some more later!

Little Liam :)

Yes, we have a name. And yes, we have had it for a good little while. I figured I would make it official to the blog world. Our little guy is Liam Andrew Coggin! Picking a name was definitely fun, and Liam must be meant to be because Nathan really liked it and as soon as he said it I was sold. And it just happens to go amazingly (we think) with Andrew... Liam's daddy's middle name :) How weird that we are his Mommy and Daddy. And how even more weird that I was 30 weeks on Saturday! 10 Weeks to go!!! (Approximately...) We are so excited and are feeling a rush of emotions as we enter this home stretch.

Sunday was a day I have been anticipating for a while - the first baby shower! It was so great to see everyone, and I am so grateful to have some pretty amazing friends and family! The first baby shower brought tons of babysitting offers (which I won't forget about... haha) and the best was just hanging out with everyone and catching up! Liam's closet is quickly filling up as well!

And, since you are taking a break from work or whatever you were doing to play online for a few, check out the new link I posted for Margalena's new website! I put it in the top right-hand corner, and it is there to stay as she will, I'm sure, be updating it as she completes new pieces! I am so proud of her! There is a place for upcoming events on there, but I will put a plug in for the one in Newnan - Powers Crossroads is a big festival in Newnan (or technically right outside of Newnan) all through Labor Day weekend. So all my fellow "Newnan-area people" stop by and see her stuff! In case you don't see the link or it doesn't work for some reason, the website is: www.margalenalepore.com Check it out!!!

Lately...

So... the end of last week brought us a package from Nathan's aunt, and in that package was our little guy's swing!!! Last night we put it together, and here is a pic of the finished product :)

Since I haven't been on here for a while... here are a couple pics of life lately

The whole fam in Myrtle Beach! I can't believe the next time we go we will be playing with our little guy in the sand! AHHH!!!

Our trip to visit Melissa in TN! Bailey and Toby had a blast together! We kinda had fun too ;)

Tennessee Bound :)

Myrtle Beach was great! We had so much fun! The photo uploader is acting up, so it won't let me upload any pics but we had a great time :) It has been way too long since we went on a family vacation! I can't believe that next time we'll have a new little man along with us! CRAZY!!!

Today we are cleaning and getting ready to head to TN Friday for a long weekend with Melissa! I can't wait to be up there with her again, and Nathan has been wanting to see her and her new house too! Toby gets to tag along this time, and he gets to meet his new buddy Bailey! We can't wait to watch them play together... haha!

Well, off to some cleaning with the hubs, work for 2 days and then headed to TN!!!

It's a BOY!!!

So, I know this is several weeks late, but IT'S A BOY!!! We are so excited! Nathan's face during the ultrasound was absolutely priceless :) Everything is going well, and little baby Coggin is perfectly healthy. I got to see all 4 little heart chambers, and the ultrasound lady even showed me a nice pretty view of his aortic arch! I was definitely looking for those 4 chambers!! We can't believe how quickly we are approaching this little miracle. I will be 24 weeks Saturday! Last week we went to register, and we had so much fun! And this week we started cleaning out the baby's room which is amazing. It has been a busy and incredible time in our lives and we are absolutely loving it!

I absolutely STINK at updating this... obviously... but we are super excited about going to the beach TOMORROW!!! We are mostly all packed and running some last minute errands today, dinner wth some great friends, and then heading to the beach with my fam in the morning! We are so ready to sit in the sun, and I am even excited about my little maternity bathing suit. Didn't think that would ever be something I actually liked. We will definitely post pictures from the beach when we get back. And on Monday we are going for our 24 week appointment, which just happens to be on our 2nd Anniversary!!! HOORAY!!! Anyway, back to getting ready for our little beach vacay! I'll try not to wait so long before I get on here again!

Oh My...

... the past two weeks have been insanely crazy...

Mother's Day, or rather "Mother-To-Be Day" was amazing :) Nathan knew I have been wanting a nice camera before the baby and he got me one. I have my first Sony SLR camera, and I am loving it. We are both loving taking pictures of anything we can, and hopefully we'll be used to it by the time the baby is here!

Tennessee... Clarksville, TN to be exact was great. The bf moved up there, her house is ADORABLE, and we had so much fun just hanging out and decorating and putting things together. It was amazing, and I can't wait to go back and see her again later this summer! We're so proud of our MD!!!

In the midst of all these great things, a good friend of ours was in the hospital in critical condition. After I got back from TN we spent a few days at my brothers so we would be close to Piedmont and even closer to Egleston for me. So I was at Greg's, work, or Piedmont visiting our friend. And Nathan was at Piedmont all day while I was working. For all my medical friends out there... blood clot, piece broke off and, of course, went to pulmonary artery... cardiac arrest... intubation... CPR... it was bad. Last week, on Saturday, this man was awake and in his room in the stepdown unit with his wife and baby girl. It was INCREDIBLE to see this very special family together in one room. We were all smiles. Hopefully, he will even be coming home soon. Prayers and prayers and prayers were answered, and we are all SO very grateful for God's incredible work with this family.

WHEW! I told you it was crazy. Oh my... is really all I can say. So hopefully now I will have a little more time to blog :) On a baby note, I am 18 weeks today! WE CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I can't believe June is almost here... which is when we have our 20 week ultrasound! We are so excited to find out boy/girl, and hoping everything is where it's supposed to be in our new little one. I will just be looking for 4 chambers in that little heart!!!

Here are some pics from the past couple weeks!

Me and MD!!! On her beautiful patio after we put together her brand new patio set!

18 weeks!!!
Me and Toby had a photo shoot with the new camera... haha
Courtesy of my wonderful husband, there are actually a TON of pictures, but here are a few!

The 18 week belly shot!

Toby's close up :)

He is spoiled rotten, I mean loved... haha

Me and my first baby!

14 weeks and counting...

Saturday I was officially 14 weeks. We spent the day in Athens for Linsey's graduation, and we were so glad to be there! It was a great day :)

The countdown for Nathan until the kids are out for summer is at 19 days now! He is SO ready!!! I am ready for it too! 3 days of work and 4 days with the hubby... SWEET!!! We are so excited about this summer and can't wait to spend tons of time together, especially with the baby coming this Fall. THIS FALL... that still sounds so weird!

Here are a few of "14 week pictures"!!!

Zipper-less

Maternity pants are zipper-less. I can't count the times that I have looked down thinking I forgot to zip my pants when there is actually no zipper... haha. This is a habit about a quarter of a century old, and it is driving me crazy! I continue to freak out, look, and then think, "what a dummy I am". Anyway, there is my two cents about maternity pants :) For awhile all my regular pants would still zip and I could "rig" the button to make them work. Well, not anymore! There is no button and no zip, so maternity pants it is. My friend, Crystal, gave me several pair of pants and that has been so helpful. Other than that I have been sale shopping around (not that I don't sale shop all the time anyway) I was also presently surprised last weekend to find out that Ross has a small maternity section. I got a few things for such a good price! Also, last week we had our 12 week appointment. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time (at 8 wks you can see it on the ultrasound but can't hear it). That was very cool and felt so surreal that this thing on my belly was hearing a heartbeat. It was awesome.

On a note other than "baby", soccer season is officially over for Nathan. He (along with every other teaching I know) is counting down the days until summer! They are all so ready, and I don't blame them one bit. They definitely earn their summer break! I got to spend last weekend with my parents, and that was great. We had a yard sale at the daycare, and at a whopping $50-something I was the yard sale champ. The rain was not good for us... It was a fun day though. I'm almost done with night 1 of 3 and then it is off to my sister-in-law's graduation at UGA! It will be great to spend the day with everyone, and I even got a cute little dress to wear :) Now I just can't wait to get home and crawl in bed for some good sleep. There is nothing like crawling in bed after you have been up all night :)

Love :)

I love this... being at home with this man. When I used to dream about the "fairy tale life" as a little girl - well, this is it. I was probably wearing a little makeup in the fairy tale though... haha!

I, too, love this. I love that he loves the belly, I love that he rubs it, and I love that it makes him smile :)

Here is the "official" 13 week picture. Wow, I feel like this looks huge compared to the 12 week picture! This is also a little tighter shirt so you can see all the belly in all its glory, but I still love it :)

Second Trimester

We are officially 3 days into the 2nd trimester... wahoo! Here is a little pic of the "3 of us". (Yes, my Christmas plates are totally still on the wall... haha) I actually forgot they were there until I saw this pic! Anyway, we are so excited, and we can't wait for October but are ready to enjoy the summer together before the baby comes! I am so ready for the school year's end so we can just have fun and "nest" together soon!

You can kind of see the belly in this pic :) All the ones we have taken from the side look weird... haha. They are safely saved on my computer but won't make it up here just quite yet. This pic was a week ago - so 12 weeks pregnant. More to come soon :)