Happy Birthday & Sunday Football

Parker Richard Hughes 7:26am 9lbs 10oz 22in

Daddy & Parker (with eyes open) watching Da Bears.
~Randi

"Sweet Baby" 2.16.06

I have never shared this letter that I wrote to "Sweet Baby~2.16.06" back on 1.27.09. I ran across it again today as I was "nesting" by getting Mathen's baby book completed. For some reason I feel like I need to share this letter so here is goes.

My Dearest Baby,

I came across some items today that reminded me of you. They were bracelets given to me by the hospital the day you were taken from me. Words can't express the ultimate sadness and emptiness I felt that day. Your Dad was so great and strong for me but deep down his heart was broken for you as well. God only knows why you were only to live ten short weeks in my womb. Some say you weren't a fetus yet but Mommy & Daddy knew from the beginning how special you were, you were our baby. When we heard your first heartbeats our hearts soared. When the day came for us to hear you heartbeats again, there was silence, our hearts sank. God needed you with Him and we may never know why. We do know that a day doesn't go by without thinking about you. We love you! I love you! One day you and I will meet and my eyes shall fill with tears because I will be with my baby again.

God, thank you for keeping my baby safe in your arms until the time comes for us to reunite.

Love always, Mommy

I can't find the pic of Sweet Baby at this moment so I can't show you my little peanut.


It does get easier but there are many days where a thought pops into my mind, or a memory and I get teary eyed or just need to cry for a moment.

Thanks for letting me share!

First Snow

Mathen woke up today and we had him look out of the window...SNOW!

Then little man began telling us about his and daddy's time playing yesterday with his frogs and lizard. He was into the story.

Now he wants to go "build snowman" in the snow. We shall see after breakfast.

My Babies Quilts

I am so happy that I was able to finish Mathen's quilt as well as Sweet Baby's. I wanted them similar but I added 4 new patterns in Mathen's. I'm sure I will have plenty of pictures with my babies and their quilts but here are the finished products.

Mathen's Quilt

Up close of Mathen's quilt showing the backing and binding.

Both quilts :)

Mathen sleeping with his quilt literally right after I finished the last stitch. He was so happy!!

A bonus picture of my little man showing off mommy's hair cutting abilities LOL. Thank goodness for clippers and guides.

I don't know and THANKS!

These are some things that I have been thinking of the last few days, weeks and some months.

I am about to be a mother of TWO! Am I ready?
What will Mathen think of me or of "baby" when we come home?
Do I have everything I need?
Can I handle TWO kiddos by myself when everyone else is at work?
I don't want Mathen to think he is getting pushed out of the way (this brings tears to my eyes).
A positive note: I will be able to actually PLAY with Mathen more like I used to before pregnancy!
Does Mathen know how much I truly LOVE and ADORE him and he will ALWAYS be my first born, no one can ever take that place?

I know I am in preggo brain mode with all the emotions that go with it but I am being honest. I know GOD is in control and I trust that HE will guide me as the days go by in handling "life" as it comes. I am so blessed to be a part of amazing family and friends that I can call/text/email at a moments notice and they are willing to talk/listen.

I am so very thankful for a husband that goes to work all day and deals with the stress of disorderly high school students but then he comes home (most of the time with a smile) and gives Mathen and I a kiss hello! I am able to stay at home because he works so hard to provide. He even talks of getting a part time job to help. At this time, I told him I would rather see him more than have extra money. He is such a great dad and is really looking forward to the new baby coming soon! (Plus, I am looking in January to start working part time some place where Mathen and baby can come with me...i.e. church school, daycare, etc.)

I am also very thankful for in-laws that have let us move in even when we can't tell them a date we will actually get to move out. They are excited to see Mathen every day and are ready to meet little one. They have given Rick and I time to get out (without needing a sitter in advance) and grab a bite or to do some shopping/looking. Not saying it is easy for any of us to share a house but we all see the bigger picture and know that this is just temporary. They have provided more than words can ever express!

This blog is all over the place but so is my brain :) Time to enjoy some one-on-one with Mathen!

I am LOVED

My little man giving me and my toes some much needed care! He cracks me up. Thank You Lord for my precious boy!!
~Randi

Last Weekend of October

The last week or so has been chilly here in Omaha. I'm talking waking up with it being 31 degrees outside and the high maybe getting up to 60 degrees on a good day. I am not complaining, being 37.5 weeks pregnant. I do love waking up and putting on my over sized (more fitting now hahaha) sweatshirt that I took over from Rick when we were dating and my comfy, never leave the house pants. I also enjoy letting Mathen run around in his pj's because we stay in the house most of the week. I don't think he has any problems with keeping his cool pj's on either as you can see in the next two pictures.

 This boy loves his Thomas trains...you can't tell but he has Thomas on his pj's as well :)

 On October 29th, Uncle Jeremy, Hunter and Bailey came over to spend the night and hang out with all of us. Mathen enjoys having his cousins over as much as possible. He bosses them around and they play really well together. He also cherishes his moments with Hunter. Here is a quick picture of Hunter letting Mathen sit on his lap while they watched a movie. Mathen adores Hunter!

 Here is a picture of Bailey's and Mathen's pumpkins. Along with the adorable frog :)

 Here is Hunter's pumpkin...Mathen really wanted to take the "lil pumpkin" out but he eventually gave up.

 On Saturday, October 30th, we all loaded up in the cars and headed to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. The hiking trails were closed (not complaining hahaha) due to deer hunting but we were able to walk around the visitor center.

The refuge visitor center provides cultural and natural history exhibits and refuge information. The center, built in 1981, provides a theater, sales area for interpretive and educational publications, viewing galleries overlooking DeSoto Lake, and artifacts excavated from the hull of the Steamboat Bertrand that sank here in 1865.

Here are the pictures that I did capture while in the center.

Halloween

This is a very weird subject for me. I have never really enjoyed the celebrating of Halloween. I don't judge those that do by any means, I just get a weird feeling when it comes to this time of year. I know with Mathen getting older, I will not be able to keep him from seeing/experiencing things that will scare/frighten him and then I fear I won't know how to explain them on a 2.5 yr old level. Call me a worrier but it is how I am made. With that being said, Shae & I did pick out a cute lion "shirt" (what Mathen calls it) in case he wanted to go to a few neighbors houses. Let's just say that I am glad I took this picture when we first got home with it because he has not even attempted to put it back on at all. He will carry it around and show it to people but he doesn't want it on at all.

He is the most adorable lion I have ever seen :)

 He was very content handing out candy to all the 60 plus kiddos that came by the house. Luckily, we didn't see more than a handful of older/scarier kids so that made him happy.

He enjoyed playing with his cars in between the trick-or-treaters. He also enjoyed snacking on some candy throughout the evening!

Well, that wraps up October...can't believe November is upon us already. Now is the time to prepare for "Sweet Baby" to make his/her grand entrance into Omaha, NE.

"Sweet Baby's" quilt

Here is the finished quilt.
~Randi

Mickey's Rockin Road Show