Here is a little Thanksgiving morning Joseph video. What a sweet little voice!



Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!

The Birthday Boy Diaries

He's here! Joseph Taylor Blachly was born on November 26, 2007 at 2:30! Welcome baby boy!

The Birthday Boy Diaries

This day last year was a Monday and I was so glad I didn't have to go to work. I would rather writhe in labor pain than go back to my job as a receptionist ever again. I wanted to be a mommy! My water broke last night at almost 11 exactly and I got up questioning if that what was really just happened. I called my best friend Shannon who is a labor and delivery nurse for a little moral support and reassurance. Did my water really just break? How would I know? Don't I need to have the baby within 24 hours if my water did break...and what if the contractions don't start even if my water did break? I didn't have to worry about any of that. They started hard and fast less than an hour later and I finally woke up Josh to tell him the news. He about flipped out of bed - literally. It was a moment I'll never forget! The "I think it's time" moment!! I was hurting pretty bad so we jumped into action.

Thank goodness it was Monday so the On Call Doctor for my OBGYN office would be off duty and I could have my beloved Dr. Ryder deliver me. Everything was so surreal and the stupid nurse I had kept asking me all these questions and feeling around on me. Talk about a good way to piss someone off. The last thing I wanted to do was answer question and it was taking everything I had to answer one every now and then. Since it was shift change I ended up getting a GREAT nurse named Allison. She was my age and so gentle and sweet.

We called Mom and Sister Shannon and luckily both were there within the hour to help me and Josh through. Nothing like some veterans to make you feel a little more at ease. The sun was rising and it was a beautiful day. I got my epidural while it was still dark out so I could start to relax a little. My contractions had been coming one on top of the other - just seconds apart - and I couldn't catch my breath and felt really bad. I remember Friend Shannon and Summer coming, and Edie and Josh's Uncle Rick who just happened to be in town, but I just couldn't talk much. Wasn't quite in the mood. ;)

I remember being scared. I was scared to push and I was really scared about the little baby that was about to come out. It was all about to change forever. Sister Shannon brushed and braided my hair. The baby's heart beat rang out on the speakers. Then they told me it was time to push.

I really started crying when they told me it was time. I was so emotional. I asked everyone to take their leave so it was just me and my Joshie. I pushed and pushed and pushed! Three hours later I was still pushing and had a small fever and the baby seemed to be slightly under stress. Dr. Ryder told me it was time to make a decision. She said she needed to get the baby out. We could have a c-section or try the vacuum. I cried. I didn't want surgery and I had been pushing for so long...I didn't want that to go to waste! We tried the vacuum but only had three shots. It popped off twice - but she said it was really close!! On the third try I pushed so hard. Literally like a life depended on it. Josh still teases Joseph to this day about getting stuck in his mom's 'hoo-haa'.

Joseph popped out as the whole room was screaming PUSH! All those nice nurses and Dr. Ryder were great. I wanted to know if it was a boy or girl so bad! Dr. Ryder held him up and said "What is it, Dad?!" Josh said "It's a boy!" And thank goodness, because we didn't have a girls name picked out yet.

Then they took him away from me and I didn't get to see him for another four hours - which to a new mom seemed like DAYS. He was very lethargic and had a fever. He wouldn't even cry. Josh stayed at the nursery window the whole time at my request (and I am sure of his own free will too) - received our visitors there and all - and then came up once his pediatrician gave him a clean bill of health.

EVERYONE was there! Probably 15 people. My whole family and all the kids, plus Josh's family and Uncle Rick, and my best friends....all in my little room. Once that baby came in I broke down and hugged him up and cried and cried. Everyone was quiet and staring and I remember lots of flashes from cameras. Finally my sister suggested everyone leave and give us some time alone. I nodded to say yes please. That little baby boy in my arms was pure magic. I will never forget that little itty bitty face. It was not a bad thing, but yes indeed, everything was going to be so different from there on out. Looking back it almost makes me laugh out loud at how different it would be.

364 Days Old

Thanks, Jen, for this awesome picture!

Tomorrow is Joseph's birthday. We had a pretty darn fun time at his birthday party on Sunday. And afterward I realized that all those men came to a sweet baby's party instead of staying home for the Cowboy game. Oops - bad planning on my part. I guess in the day of DVR'ing, it's all good, right?

What a ride it was the week before. The weather forecast was up and down for weeks...the last being for rain at noon and cloudy skies. Since we were having it at the park, we cleaned the house for Plan B - just in case. I knew it would just be so much fun there and it was our special park that Joseph loves so much.


Then the baking began, and I baked and baked! We ran with the firetruck theme and made sugar cookies with a fire hat cookie cutter. I made about 10 gallons of poured cookie icing in red and yellow for the hats. They turned out really tasty. I also made a big ol 9x13 sugar cookie firetruck for the top of the cake. It turned out so cute, but was too big for the cake!! I was so ticked! Since the cake was uneven on top and the cookie was too thin, it started to crack when I put it on. But there was no way I was leaving it at home after all my back breaking labor (haha, just kidding, I had a good time with it) so I slapped it on a cookie sheet and hauled it out there anyway! I threw a fire hat cookie on top of the cake instead and called it done. Man that cake was good!! It was yellow with lemon icing. Yum.









All of our best friends and family came out for the party. About 30 minutes before noon the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds! It was awesome. It turned out to be not too chilly at all...I couldn't believe our luck. I mean, what mom would plan an outdoor birthday party in November?!

Cayden found this little hill and parked himself there with his lunch and trucks for a little picnic. Baby Connor...still in the hospital with Tammy...was missed. We sent a bunch of cake to him.

Oh my gosh, look at these two beauties. Are they beautiful or what?

"Excuse me Joseph, I'll take a Capri Sun, please!" He kept himself entertained in the ice for probably 10 minutues.

But then he started crying, and I don't blame him b/c I think his hands were frozen.



He loved playing with Cousin Cayden's trucks. Can't you just hear the "brrrrrrr" engine sound coming out of his mouth?!



He got a few bites but didn't get to tear into his cake like his dad wanted, so we decided to sing him happy birthday tomorrow and let him really 'have his cake and eat it too.'







Joseph got three 'push and ride' cars! Yahoo! That was just what he needed. He loves them. We decided to keep two just for good measure. Josh was making coffee early this morning and he said the Lightening McQueen one went off by itself and scared the tar out of him. Hahaha! I can just imagine him in the almost dark, bleary eyed, quietly scooping coffee then hearing that car start up!

Hard to believe the past year went SO FAST. We had such a special time on Sunday and thanks to those of you who helped up celebrate. It was a blast. Joseph says "Hey man, come have some cake with me soon!" :)

Hello! Where Do I Begin?!

I am just bubbling over with thoughts to share! I've missed my blog the past few days and I'm pretty sure it missed me, too. Funny how I can come over here and type a few paragraphs or post some fun pictures and my day feels more complete. I think I've got me a sort of diary here. Sans the really really juicy stuff that I am sure you would love to read but would be for my eyes and heart only! Still, what is the hangup with bloggers these days and pouring your heart out for others to read? Interesting phenomenon...and I am feeding the need (for myself to pour and for others to read) for this madness! Without further ado:

Maybe an index for this thoughts swirling around in my head? Oh how I love lists...
1 - Family pictures for Joseph first birthday!
2 - Joseph's birthday party!
3 - Baby Connor
4 - Simple Abundance: Rising to the Occasion and Everyday Life is Prayer
5 - Thanksgiving!

Oh man, this may have to break down in to several posts. Ha.

We met with Amy of Amy Karp Photography on Saturday afternoon and took some fun family pictures for Joseph's first birthday. I wanted to use Amy for both maternity shots and newborn shots of Joseph but I never arranged it (stupid, stupid Heather!). Everything was fast and furious around those times and before I knew it...here we are. Amy does such great work and I am really excited to get our proofs. We did the mini session: 30 minutes of shooting and 10-15 proofs, b/c after our wedding proofs (500-someodd photos) I surely didn't need a huge mess of photos to choose from or to have sitting around gathering dust. We want to get a nice family photo on the wall and of course for the rest of the family to have too.

Anyway, we met up at the Arboretum and it was totally overcast and pretty chilly. I was really worried about Joseph's nap time falling during the shoot but it worked out perfectly when he took a late and long morning nap. Amy was so stinkin' sweet and SO good with Joseph. She was so non threatening (unlike those strangers in public who come straight up to him in his personal space, start in cooing at him and scare the child) and she seemed to click with Joseph - and had him smiling right out of the gate. He had a few rough patches but even so she said she blew her proof count out of the water, thank goodness.

Oh and Amy's precious 7 month old Sam was there! He is one of those Gerber babies that could be a little model. So cute. He looked up at me and gave me the sweetest grin before he went strolling off with his grandparents.

Amy put up some sneak peeks on her blog and I love them so far. Check out the one with us walking under the bare trees. I have a really similar one from my bridal portraits, so it's cool to see us with a baby now. *sniff, sniff* lol.










I'm going to have to close for now and check off number one from my list above! I'll get the pictures of Joseph's birthday up soon! Got a ton of cute ones! Such a fun time!

Have a wonderful week. Thank goodness it's a short work week so we get our daddy home with us to play and relax. Gobble gobble!

A Texas Institution

I can't help but give a little football love today. My "little" nephew, a sophomore mind you, plays for the varsity football team. The Argyle Eagles are *flying* (haha, I had to say that!) their way into the next round, class 3A Division 2 state football playoffs. They will play the Kaufman Lions (home to much of Tammy's family) on Friday. The Lions have won 8 games in a row and feature a strong running attack and very stingy defense. Kaufman soundly defeated Dallas Roosevelt 28-0 in their opening round of the playoffs. Sounds like this will be a big game!

David was even interviewed by the Denton Record Chronicle after last week's game. How fun!

This is from the booster club's website: "Last year's defensive MVP David Johnson also turned in one of his most dominating games, just when Argyle needed it most. David recorded 3 sacks in the game, added another 3 tackles for lost yardage, and caused a fumble."

"We got after it on the defense tonight and we all decided there just was no way that Paris was going to beat us to the outside or get any time to throw the ball," said David in his post-game interview.

Alright, Eagles...let's pull it out for a win! I really wish I could go support them, but I took Joseph a few games back and he freaked out everytime the crowd cheered. We ended up sitting on the grass behind the stadium and playing - quietly. So much for that. I'll be there in spirit and certainly will get the play by play after the game. Football in Texas in the fall is so much fun!!

A Little Baby Bottom, Anyone?

These are for my Grandma! Grandma Pankratz always does love a good baby bottom. Don't you, Grandma?! Well, you're not alone.

We love a good baby bottom in this house, too!

I am in need of a little therapeutic blogging. I had a very humbling experience yesterday. I saw a horrible car accident. I went to run a couple of errands and my first stop was to Party City on I-75 to get some things for Joseph's birthday party next weekend. I was finished and had just pulled out of my parking space when I heard the initial crash. I actually thought I had hit something or something fell over in the bed of the truck, but I knew there was nothing in the bed and I definitely didn't feel like I had hit anything. Right then I see the sparks and smoke and all the madness on the service road. It was pretty intense. I threw the truck into park and ran without even shutting it off. The car closest to me was pretty trashed and took out a huge landscaping boulder and small-ish tree. There was a young 20's girl in that car, and I couldn't see her face b/c her side airbags had deployed. She started to crawl to the passenger's side to get out and I yelled to her to ask if she was ok. She "looked" ok, except for that "just seen a ghost" expression on her face - no external injuries. Then I saw the car that had hit her a ways up...upside down. I'll spare you the details because if you are as sensitive as me it will bother you. But it wasn't pretty. I ran over there and there were several other people gathering by that time. A couple of people helping one guy out who I *think* was in the backseat and myself and another guy ran to the passenger side where he was still belted in. The really nice guy who ran over there with me said "hold on buddy" and crawled in on his back (on all the glass and mess, mind you) to make sure he was ok then help unlatch his seat belt. By that time the driver had crawled out too. Then I started to look around and everyone was freaking out at the scene. There was beer everywhere. A 12 pack of Corona and various other beers littered the ground and inside of the car. I can't say if they were drunk for sure, I can only assume. Another man who had pulled up behind the wreck was screaming at the guys about trying to kill everyone. Apparently they had been weaving in and out of traffic on the service road and they had nearly hit his car first, but instead slammed in to the girl who was slowing to turn in to the parking lot where I was.

Can I just go through all the "what if's" first?
What if I had been going home instead of to my next errand? I would have been in the driveway where the accident happened.
What if I had had Joseph with me? Thankfully he was at home with Josh.
What if the lady in front of me at the store had moved a little faster (she was a total pain to the cashier) then I would have missed the scene totally. Hopefully.
What if they hadn't chosen to drink and drive?
What if they had chosen to drive a little slower? Witnesses say they were going anywhere from 70-90mph moments before they hit her.
What if they were in the middle of an emergency and had a really really good reason to be driving so fast?
What if all those nice people hadn't stopped to help?

Now for what I am grateful for...
I am grateful that I wasn't going home because I undoubtedly would have been involved. And it would have been on the drivers side.
I am grateful for the emergency vehicles that arrived in what seemed like only seconds.
I am grateful for their efficiency and stoicism. They came and knew what to do and did it so well. Like a well oiled machine. Josh and I wondered what kind of calls the fire department get the most of. Car wrecks, medical attention, actual fires? They (along with the policemen, and paramedics) are truly heroes.
I am grateful the young girl was ok. I know she is going to feel like she got hit by a train for a couple of days and I pray that she doesn't have any long term neck or back trouble from those horrible people who hit her. She said she just got her car in February. I think probably most of us know how a car accident can turn your world upside down. There will be months of insurance and medical stuff and car hunting, etc in her future.

I stayed with her until I knew she was ok. Her dad got there very quickly and, oh god, what parent wants to drive up on that? I saw in his heart break in his jog over to her when he arrived. I've seen that look once when my mom had to come pick me up after a car wreck once. Heck, I've seen that look more times that I wish I ever had. And felt it on myself a couple of times. Today not excluded. I've been letting myself go over it again and again in my head hoping it will work itself out so I can stop thinking about it soon. And thinking a little blog therapy might help.

I didn't mention yet, that two of the guys ran. That leads me to think there was absolutely something wrong with the situation. Obviously. These idiots (that is putting it nicely, isn't it?) who were not in any shape to be running from the law (again, I won't share the details on their injuries) took off briefly after we helped pull them from their flipped car. One was caught, which I am guessing it wasn't hard to do, just behind the closest store and the other supposedly got into a car that passed by! ??? I don't know if they knew them or what the deal with that was...

Somewhere in there I went back to the truck and turned it off and got a pen and paper for the girl, who asked for it. I gave her my grocery list. I don't think I'll miss it and I wonder if she'll be looking at it thinking of me. I hope I gave her a half an ounce of comfort in the scary aftermath. I don't think anything really could have comforted her but I guess it made me feel better to watch over her for that time. (Half hour? 45 minutes? It seemed so short and so long at the same time.) I felt it was time to leave so I sat in the truck and gathered my wits and called Josh. I made it back home shaking in my boots and feeling nauseated the whole way. Boy were some hugs and kisses in order when I got home. I love my family and I love the guardian angel sitting on my shoulder.

Need I say it? Don't take life for granted. Don't forget that everything can change in an instant. Don't forgot to have compassion and empathy for others. Appreciate those that DO follow the law and respect life everyday. I can't accurately express in words the thoughts in this paragraph...but I love you all....and with that I think I should close.

I couldn't resist a few more from the park...

Best Buds Forever

We met our friends at the park the other day for a little R&R. Relaxation for the moms that is; the babies didn't do too much resting or relaxing! We let McDonalds pack up a picnic for us and spent a WONDERFUL afternoon playing.

Little Ethan was no fear and all smiles! He is our newest friend who moved here from Austin, and thank goodness. I found an awesome new friend in his mommy! He just had his first haircut the other day and was lookin' good! ;)

And our good friend Blakey was there too...of course. We love to see him as often as possible. It's amazing how sweet Blake and Joseph are with each other. Blake just turned one and Joseph thought his birthday party was so cool he wanted one too.

What is this, son? No thumb sucking on the playground! Don't you know the other kids are going to getcha for that?!

Man, these guys loved the slide! Especially climbing up it...

...and the up stairs on the other side, too.

Our sweet babies all have big, beautiful blue eyes.





We were ready to go and it wasn't long before I realized I couldn't find my car keys. Then Casey says..."where's your purse?" I had apparently put my keys in my purse like always then at the last minute I decided to throw my purse in the trunk since I didn't need it at the park. It was one of those BIG ol' dumb ass "oh shit" moments. I had Casey take us home, right around the corner, since it was nap time. We don't have a spare key at the house (I know, I know...) so I arranged for AAA to come help me after Joseph woke up and took off for the park, waited and waited and waited. I waited until about 20 minutes after the estimated time they gave me and called to check on the status. It was rush hour so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Apparently they had already come, while I was walking back to the car! So, the estimated time: 60 minutes is "between NOW and 60 minutes", not IN 60 minutes. I told the operator they should be more specific with that! She said they would send someone else out--and forever later my tow truck in shining armor arrived...well after dark, in the cold, to a hungry mom and baby. Talk about pissed! The driver was very very nice though and was really quick and we were on our way - three hours later! Thank goodness we were at a (safe) park so Joseph was entertained the whole time. Suffice it to say I learned my lesson, big time. :)

The weather has been so nice lately! I've enjoyed opening up the house and letting the breeze blow through. Joseph found the open window so much fun...

The breeze blew in his face and he just smiled and smiled and banged on the screen. We sat there for awhile and let it blow our hair.

Check out our pretty azaleas out the window. I would highly recommend the Encore brand which bloom three times a year. These blooms have been going for over a month now.

Ahh yes, life is good! A sunny day...beautiful flowers...a nice breeze...and lots of hugs and kisses! If only everyday was as good as this.