Braeden's first smiles!!!

Braeden smiled for the first time this week. Before now, he only smiled in his sleep (which is still completely adorable, just not as exciting as response smiling...). Nathan snapped a pic so everyone could see Braeden's open-mouth, enthusiastic smile! (Sorry it's blurry.)

We also recorded some genuine baby coos. Braeden "found his voice" a few weeks ago, and now he "talks" all the time - which makes me smile.

Braeden Finds His Voice! from Colleen & Nathan Clark on Vimeo.

1 Month Old!!

Braeden turned 1 month old on June 2nd, so we took some photos next to his growth chart and Gaston the Gorilla. It's crazy how much he's grown and changed in the last month. He's 9.5lbs and starting to get little fat folds. He's making total eye contact now, following objects, staying awake for hours at a time, and sleeping in (almost) 4 hour cycles throughout the night. Oh, they grow up so fast!! :)

Braeden Michael Clark: 5.2.2010

I had the best intentions to write this post within a few hours of coming home from the hospital (on Monday!). I couldn't wait to show our friends and family our beautiful baby boy...but, Braeden had different plans for us. Perhaps this is true for all new parents, but he has us under a spell; neither Nathan nor I want to do anything other than obsess over him. With that said, take a look at his first photo shoot (at 2 days old). He's such an adorable little nugget!

Birth Announcements

With Braeden's arrival only 1 week away (hopefully), we have decided to start working on the birth announcements. We think that a "family oriented" announcement is the best approach for us - considering we're feeling more like "a Family" these days, instead of "a Couple". And, after tons of inspiration-research and a few rounds in Publisher, we agreed on a spring/bird-inspired card. Here's a sneak peak at what's to arrive in your mailbox within the next month or so...

Nursery: check! (finally!)

We have 3.5 weeks before Braeden is due, and we're happy to report that the nursery is complete!! Well, almost complete. But, it's complete enough to unveil to our friends and family!

Nathan and I didn't want a cookie cutter nursery. We wanted something fun, imaginative, semi-gender neutral and able to transcend from baby to toddler.

What do you think?!

We added lots of personal touches! I made the crib bedding (nope, I had no previous sewing experience, but it's amazing what you can learn from podcasts and other online tutorials!). I combined several tutorials and applied a "figure it out as you go" method. The results: not too shabby!

Nathan made a frame out of wall molding for our National Geographic map, and then nailed it directly to the wall. Hanging artwork above the crib could be dangerous if it's not secured, so we decided that a taped poster and a completely secured "frame" was the best solution.

Another first: using a miter box/saw. Like sewing for me, this was Nathan's big project. The results: not too shabby


We searched and searched for the perfect functional art before we stumbled on the most adorable vinyl Hooting Owl Growth Chart. Ironically, all of the pieces of the wall vinyl were delivered except for the growth chart! Thankfully, the seller is committed to happy customers and has the growth chart on the way!

We were also gifted an awesome Pottery Barn-esque changing table, which was made by Nathan's friend, Shane. (Yes, he really did make it...Shane's something of a modern day craftsman!) Then, Nathan's dad applied a quick coat of espresso paint so it would match the room, while I made some new basket liners that complemented our color scheme...and voilà, it became the perfect addition to our nursery!

Here's a closer look at the Hooting Owl {sans} Growth Chart.

And here's a closer look at my first sewing project! I used this podcast to make the basket liners without a pattern. Worked perfectly!

Braeden has received several adorable stuffed animals and tons of books, but perhaps the most exciting gifts were the 4 animal paintings that we received from Nathan's brother, Jeremy. The monkey, octopus, elephant and lion couldn't be any more perfect! Thanks, Jeremy!

When the "final" details are added (old family photos, the growth chart and a mobile or two), we'll be sure to update the photos. For now, we hope you enjoyed the unveiling of Braeden's little nursery!

BIG NEWS!!!!

Clearly, we have neglected our little blog child these last few months. Not a single post since Nathan's bday... We sincerely apologize!!!

And, considering we're already 6.5 months preggers, I doubt this will be "news" to anyone reading, but...we're preggers, and it's a BOY!!!!

These last few months have been amazing - eagerly awaiting response kicks from little Braeden as Nathan talks to him, planning and decorating the not-too-boy-themed nursery (stay tuned), and generally daydreaming about our little baby boy. 3.5 months to go and counting!!!!!!!

to protect or not to protect...that is the question

Nathan and I have been going back and forth with the idea of password protecting this site or leaving it open for anyone to stumble upon (i.e., via a search engine). And, after much debate, we've decided to leave the site open...at least, for the time being.

Blogger, our blog provider, isn't very user friendly for the "everyday reader". In order to protect our site, first we have to make our blog private, then we have to send out email invitations to read our blog, then if an invited reader doesn't already have a Google account, that person will have to create one, and only then is that person able to log onto our site. It's a cumbersome process that might actually deter our family and friends from reading - and we don't want that!

So for now, enjoy signing onto our site without any roadblocks.

XOXO,
Colleen and Nathan

a sneak peak at our new place!

We've Moved to a new home and a new blog!!!

FINALLY! Nathan and I have a real home!

Well, kind of. It's still an apartment - but it's an entire floor of a 3 flat - and it's over 1,200 sq ft. That's ENORMOUS compared to our tiny 720 sq ft, 1 bedroom in the Gold Coast. And, with our new home, we've decided to create a new website - a kind of continuation of our uber-popular wedding website.

Please come back often and see what we've been up to!