Pictures with the people I love!

Of course my Mom and Dad!!

No this is not Mom, this is actually Aunt Becky. Voted biggest smile, good work Beck!!

Grandpa Phillips

Cousin Kiersten

Grandpa Palmbos Grandma Phillips, who is running a close second on the biggest smile!

Cousin Alisha

These are only a few of the people who make Nathaniel laugh and whom he loves very much! There will definitely be more to come. I just have to remember my camera when we go to family get togethers..haha

Fun in the Sun!!

Nathaniel's first big vacation out of snowy Michigan. We drove straight thru to Orlando, FL, and we couldn't have asked for a better baby. Nathan fussed for the last hour on the way there and about the last half hour on the way home. Other than that he never cried except when he was hungry or wet. He was a very good baby the whole time we were gone, even while, cutting 2 bottom teeth. Jack, Nathan and I, all had a wonderful time, and none of us wanted to come home..Here are some sneak peaks of Nathan's first moments of warm weather and sunshine!!






Nathan had a lot of fun with Grandpa and Grandma Palmbos too! I think Grandpa had his screachy voice downpat by the time the vacation was over!




Long day at Animal Kingdom. Nap time half way thru, I was a very good boy though!

RELAXIN!!

Lovin the water.

Mommy and I after playing in the pool!

Nathaniel's favorite time of the vacation, playing in the kiddie pool with Mom and Dad. Probably our favorite time of the vacation as well!

Where has the time gone!!

Well I would like to apologize for the length of time from my last post, I will try not to let it go that long again. I cannot believe it has already been 3 months since Nathaniel has been born. It is absolutely amazing watching him grow day by day, and now, how he is interacting with Jack and I so much. He has been rolling over for about a month already, and he is weighing in at 15 lbs. I am talking baby talk 24/7, but it is so much fun especially when Nathan talks back like he knows what I am saying.

I have been back to work, for a month now and it was so hard going back. I miss Nathaniel so much when I have to leave for the day but I know he is in good hands, with Jack taking care of him. Jack is currently in between jobs, so please keep him in your prayers, that the Lord will provide him with a job that he can use all of his very many talents. With going back to work I started giving Nathaniel a little formula in his bottles, basically 3oz breastmilk and 2oz formula. Only to find out he is allergic to cows milk. So for a couple weeks there, I had no idea what was wrong with him. Let me tell you, that is terrible. Knowing that something is wrong with your child, and yet you have no clue what it is. He was a totally different boy once we switched him to a hypoallergenic formula, but with the price being what it is it sure better make a difference.

On another note, I had my scariest moment yet since Nathaniel has been born. Jack was gone for the morning a few days ago, and I had just got done feeding and changing Nathaniel. I had him lying on the floor watching cartoons. I had to grab something out of the garage but when I tried to get back in I realized the door had locked behind me. NOT GOOD!! I ran around the back of the house with just my house slippers on and up the back deck, to look in the window and see Nathan still just as content as could be, watching tv. I felt the worst feeling ever, staring at your child through a window knowing you can't get in the house. AWFUL! So I ran to every house in our culdesac and not a single sole was home until the very last house I tried. By then my feet were near frostbit but luckily that was the last of my concerns. Jack was at his parents which was at estimated 35 minutes away, fortuantely the neighbors (ones that were not home at the time) had a spare key. So we were able to get a hold of Mike and he came from work (only 5 minutes away) and unlocked my door. Thank you Mike!! I came inside, now starting to cry, only to find my son looking up at me laughing, like nothing had even happened!!

Well, just wanted to put up some pictures and let you all know that everything is going great. Nathaniel is the cutest baby on earth (I know, I know every mom says that about their child), with an unbelievable personality. I can not even remember my life before him and personally I don't want to. My life is better than I could have ever imagined and way better than I deserve. I feel like I have been given the best two gifts there are to recieve, my husband who is not only wonderful and perfect to me, but is the best father a child could ask for, and then Nathaniel, who one day I hope and pray will know just how great GOD is!!

NATHANIEL JON PHILLIPS

The biggest gift God could give us arrived in our arms on October 21, 2008. Nathaniel Jon Phillips, weighing in at 7lbs 15oz, and 20 1/2 inches long, is the best miracle both Jack and I could have recieved. A beautiful son, something niether Jack nor I deserved, yet still, God gave to us. I never imagined something so small changing your whole life. I look at him yet today, two weeks later and still get tears in my eyes, knowing that I carried this little boy in my womb for 10 months and now he is here, healthy, happy and absolutely beautiful. It was a long and strenuous labor and delivery and although I thought Nathaniel was never going to make an appearance, I thank the Lord for bringing him out of the womb healthy and with no complications. Nathaniel Jon has a very big meaning to both Jack and I, Nathaniel is in memory of my little brother that passed away at 6 months of age a year younger than me, and Jon is in memory of Jack's younger brother that is handicapped. What a special little boy we have!!!!

I thank God everyday for my husband, bringing him to me a year ago and now for my son, a part of both Jack and I. I pray now Jack and I will raise Nathaniel to know the Lord and look to him in everyday of life, because without the Lord we can do nothing.

Being a first time mom, I am constantly worrying about Nathan. I was on the phone with my very wise mother the other day. A mother who had 7 kids and lost a very special little boy 27 years ago, also named Nathaniel. She said something to me that brought tears to my eyes but yet was so true, something I would like to leave with all of you that read this. She told me, "Shelly always remember Nathaniel is not yours, he is Gods, and he is only here for a short amount of time for you to take care of, love and learn from. But keep in mind the Lord will give and take when he feels it is time, so instead of stressing something will happen to him, enjoy every minute you can spend with him!!!"

Our Wedding Day!!

Jack and I became one on June 22, 2007, in front of friends and family at The Reformed Baptist Church of Holland. Jack and I had dated for 3 1/2 years before he proposed to me in one of the most romantic places in the world, Hawaii. Jack and I met through my place of employment, the one and only Blimpie Subs and Salads. For most of you that know me pretty well I ran the Hudsonville store for my parents for many years. Jack came in almost every day for a couple years (trust me, I could make his sub in my sleep), and little did I know, he was not exactly coming in for the food but more to see me. (He still tells me I am the best sandwich artist there is out there. What a compliment!!) And little did he know that throughout those couple years, my crush on him only got stronger and stronger. Until one day, he finally asked me for my phone number, and the rest is history. Let's just say Blimpie is definitely our favorite restaurant!!

Our wedding day was absolutely perfect. I had everything I ever wanted, family, friends, the Love of my life, and most of all GOD, who blessed us with one of the most beautiful days of the year!! I will never forget that day, and I give thanks to the Lord for bringing the man of my dreams to me and making it all happen!!

THAT DAY I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND. THE ONE I LAUGH WITH, LIVE FOR, AND WILL LOVE ALWAYS!!!

Waiting for our little miracle

It has now been 40 weeks of pregnancy for me and still no baby. Today is my due date and it looks like this little bundle of joy is going to be just as stubborn as both his/her mom and dad., or maybe he/she is cozy and warm in my tummy. I went to the doctor yesterday and was only dilated to a 1, I was rather bummed about this cause I thought for sure I would be dilated more. I guess God has different intentions. Jack and I are so excited and have been since the day we found out. But now that the due date is here and will soon be gone we continue to get more excited everyday. We are both fine with the baby coming on it's own time as long as it is healthy. Well that is, hopefully, within the next week or two. haha