"Where Saints are Sinners"

Well, the time is here! Nathan's band, Making Malorie, has finished their album are it is on PRE-sale. Which means, place your order now and you will be the first to receive it when it is released. It's very exciting and I am so proud! The CD's are $10. Also, you can go to their new website, http://www.makingmalorie.com/, and preview a song. It's just a demo today, but later this week a completed song will be posted.

In other family news, next week we go back to the doctor for another ultrasound. So, October 6th is the date and I'm very anxious. I just want a healthy baby, no matter the gender.

I love fall and am glad that is is here. I love the leaves changing, the cooling weather, and am ready for our trip to the pumpkin patch. Noah has changed and grown so much in the past year (see last year's picture), I can't believe it. He's going to love it and I'll probably have just as much fun as him.

He doesn't know it, but it's been a big week for him. Sunday we bought his new big boy bed. But shhhh don't tell him. It's for Christmas. He's getting a race car bed. As a big brother, he needs to be a big boy! I can't wait to see his eyes light up! He also got his first motorcycle. He's already had one accident, but it didn't deter him. Here's a picture!

Have a great rest of the week. Let me know if you want an album!

St. George Island

Nathan, Noah, and I went on our first "real" family vacation last week. We went to St. George Island, Florida and had the BEST time! Our friends Seth and Michelle rented a house for the month and we were invited to come rent a room and vacation with them for a week. Their little boy, Fisher, is just 6 months older than Noah, and those 2 little boys were 2 peas in a pod! We were definitely on vacation and did nothing but relax and enjoy the island. We cooked together, went to the beach, went fishing out our back door on the dock, and sat on the screened in porch. Our friends Susan, Matt, and Karlene were also there and it was such a blessing. Nathan and I haven't stopped talking about it and we are already trying to plan next year! The weather was perfect and the island was practically empty because it was September. We only ate out once, and it was to a very very nice restaurant where Nathan and I enjoyed the finest quality food. We were drooling over it and asking for more. I was able to get some much needed rest and am feeling pretty good these days. I am 17 weeks and already feeling huge. It's way too early for that! #2 is going strong in there and we are anxious to find out gender. 2 more weeks and we should know as long as hide and seek is not his/her favorite game!

Nathan goes back into the studio this week to finalize some things with the album and then we should be able to start pre-selling this thing. We are excited and anxious to get the ball rolling.

Check out our web album. We have hundreds of new pictures. You'd think I do nothing else, but take pictures of Noah. I promise I do other things. I do have a job selling houses!

Heartbeat!

Today was another doctor's appointment and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat! Watch the video and you can hear it too. It's such a great feeling of relief to know that he/she is alive and well in there. I have lost another pound or two, but my tummy is growing. I'm a little big for this stage, but our initial ultrasound did show only one baby- so atleast that's not a worry!




This weekend we celebrated my brother, Jay's, 31st birthday! We went to dinner at Tony Roma's and then went to pet the sting ray's, and ride the carousel. Those pictures are all online. We had so much fun. It was a wonderful family evening together. Happy Birthday Jay!




This Thursday night at Austin Peay, Nathan's band, Making Malorie, will be playing a mini-concert for the students. It is open to the public and they are going to be doing some of Nathan's originals. They are supposed to play at 8 PM and are very excited for the opportunity. If you're near the area, you should come enjoy the show! But, I will obviously try to post some pictures and maybe video from the evening.

Noah- 18 months

We went to the doctor for Noah's 18 month check-up and he finally grew! He hadn't grown since his 12 month appointment and it was about time! He was so big at first that he needed a little time to level out. He is now 33.5 inches tall (75th percentile) and 27 pounds (50th percentile). Dr. Prine says that is a great ratio and that he is doing wonderful. We talked about his eating habits, his sleep schedule, and answered lots and lots of questions about his progress in social and developmental skills. Of course, he passed all of the tests. He said hi and bye to every nurse and to Dr. Prine and was full of personality. He had a vaccination and cried for about 2 seconds only because he had to lie down on the table. We've been working on getting his allergies under control so his nose will stop running, but it's just that season. He's in perfect health and we don't have to go back until 2 years old! Time sure is flying!

Noah's 18 month pictures are up- check them out! http://picasaweb.google.com/rachelloxley

Right after we had the pictures made, Noah got his first real haircut. He did an amazing job and looks like a big boy now. Definitely not a baby. It was sad to see the curls go, but it was time. I think Nathan dealt with it the worst. He was so proud of his son's cool hair!

Hope and Hannah Chayse turn 3!

Please check out all of the pictures or you won't believe it for yourself! It was a crazy fun party. There were way too many people, but it made it all the more fun. Hope and HC only turn 3 once, right? And who's to say they'll always be in love with Princesses. So, it was the perfect time for a Princess Party at their palace. There were games, prizes, food, AN AWESOME CAKE, and even a moon walk. It was a costume party, so all of the kids and some of us festive adults dressed in our best royal attire. Noah did all he could with his wardrobe, but he was dashing! I wore a bridesmaid dress and thank goodness it still fit. 3 of us in the family, just happened to wear Nanu's pearls- very cool that we were blessed with those gifts! KK was the Queen of Hearts and we talked Pops out of his queen outfit! We had a really great time and Noah slept good that afternoon. From our web album you can link to Jay's web album, where there are lots more pictures.

Happy 3rd Birthday Princess Hope and Princess Hannah Chayse!

We Love You~ NaNa, RaRa, and Noah

Summer Has Come and Gone!

Sorry that I've been a horrible blogger this summer! It seems like it has flown by. It has been an amazing last few months- and it only keeps getting better. I guess one of the last times I wrote we had just added a new family member, Lucy the dog. She's been a great addition and constant playmate to Noah. I have been the skeptic, but it's working out pretty good. Well, since then we have another new addition to the family, but this time it's by way of my belly! We are expecting baby Lox #2! I am due March 4th and am thrilled. I am feeling very good, much better than the first time around. But, my cravings seem to be a little stronger :). We are just praying for a healthy baby, and we honestly would be thrilled with a girl or boy!

It feels as if most of our summer has been spent on the road (even though that's an exaggeration!) Nathan's band, Making Malorie has been playing for several youth camps all over this summer. Noah and I have been to the Cherokee National Forest and to DISNEY WORLD! Disney was a first for Nathan and Noah, and we'll be back! We've driven a few thousand miles this summer, but it's been a lot of well spent time together.

Nathan has also kind of given birth this summer, to his little project! Making Malorie has been in the studio recording their first album. He has had a blast with it, but it's been a lot of work. It is a 6 song short CD, but Nathan wrote 3 of the songs. So, of course, he's a little attached to the project. Hopefully it will be ready in the fall for your listening ears. We'll keep you updated. Until then they're selling several different shirts to help support the cause. They even have baby and toddler shirts!

Little Noah isn't so little anymore. He's already growing into the roll of BIG BROTHER. He's growing and developing so quickly, my baby is gone! He has atleast a 50 word vocabulary and it's always increasing. He's obsessed with cars and trucks and has gained quite a collection. Car rides keep him very entertained just pointing at all of the big trucks and white trucks! He really is a lot of fun these days, even though he's learned the word NO. Man, oh man!

Ok, so I know I've left out a lot of details....hours of swimming, multiple family reunions, birthday parties, and time shared with friends- BUT you can view it all in our web album of pictures. Follow the link that's on the right! And I promise to try and do better on this blog thing!

Having a Blast!

Well, we have been having a blast lately as a family! We have been super busy, but we have really been cherishing the time we have together. Noah is obsessed with being outside, so we have spent a lot of time taking walks, sliding, and going to playgrounds. It is kicking mine and Nathan's allergies into full swing, but it's well worth it. We went to 3 different playgrounds last week and had a great time at all of them. He is very curious and wants to see how everything tastes. You cannot trust him for a minute, because he has no fear!

Here are Noah and Ruthie getting ready for a 4 wheeler ride together last weekend! Ruthie is getting close to pose for the picture and Noah doesn't know how to handle the affection!

This past weekend was Mother's Day and it was a weekend full of time with family. We spent Saturday night with Granny, Sunday lunch with Nana, and Sunday dinner with KK. We will get to see Gran soon when her foot is feeling better and can handle a visit from a very active one year old! And Grandmama will be in town the end of May. We love our mom's and grandmom's so much and wouldn't survive without them. We are so blessed!

We also had a visitor arrive this weekend- a dog! Of course, Noah is thrilled! The dog arrived on Saturday and still hasn't left. We are trying to find her home and until then, we are calling her Lucy. She is so cute and Nathan is secretly hoping we get to keep her.

Sunday at church, our pastor spoke about Birth. He talked about our rebirths as Christians and how we are made new in Christ. It was a very fitting message for this time of the year. Noah, Melody, and I have been working on my flower beds, and this year we are attempting to grow some veggies and herbs. New growth is everywhere. Josie, Kylie, and Adam were all born last week. (Congratulations to those new families!) And life is happening all around us. It is such a blessing to see God at work and know that He is at work on us. It is not the easiest concept for a non-believer to understand how we as Christians are born again- but through Christ we are. Anything is possible and we must just believe and have faith that He will take care of us. Faith and patience seem to be hard things for me lately, but God is holding fast to His promises. He always has and always will carry us through the difficult times. He has never failed me and I have always been taken care of. Why is it so hard for me to remember that and why do I worry? I guess I'm only human! Have a great week and thank God for the ability to be reborn.