Landon, We're Waiting....

My best friend Aida and her husband Chris are expecting their first child in only a few weeks. Actually, he could really be here sooner. We are all so excited and waiting anxiously for that day to come. I can't wait to meet Landon Cole!

While we are waiting, we decided to throw her a shower to make sure Landon has everything he needs. I used a cute little set of giraffe images to create a custom invitation for Landon, complete with a pop-out giraffe and beautiful polka-dot ribbon.

Then, there was the food.... Grab a plate and a fork and dig in.

I wrapped plastic forks in a brown napkin with blue "It's a Boy!" ribbon to match the blue plates.

Yumm.....

Full table spread with my homemade chandelier (blue cardstock and giraffe paper cut in circles and hung with raffia from the light fixture)

My dad carved the baby carriage watermelon for the fruit salad. Such a good dad!My mom's giraffe-print cupcakes

And don't forget to grab a drinkMock Mimosas

The Mother-to-be with the grandmas...
And with the hosts...

(Isn't she just the cutest thing ever?)

Now it's time for presents...

Presents table overflowing (Notice the gorgeous - if I do say so myself - giraffe-themed diaper cake?)

Lots of fun necessities...

and cute giraffe clothes!

And what Alabama baby shower is complete without the Alabama football? Roll Tide, Landon!

Landon seriously racked up!

Now, before you leave be sure to take a favor!

Animal Cracker bags with oh-so-cute tags

Now hurry up, Landon!
We are all waiting patiently!!!

12 Weeks

12 weeks is almost 3 months!! I still have 2 more weeks to go until the 2nd trimester, and I'm definitely ready for that transition. I want the morning sickness, dizziness, and all the other little side effects (that I am happily enduring as a sign that baby is still happy and healthy inside me) to end and the baby bump to arrive.

I need to figure out just how I should be doing these baby belly pictures. But until I figure that out, here is one I've snapped on my computer... so that you can see that I have a tiny little bump but nothing much to write home about just yet.


Mind you, I wasn't a washboard to begin with my six pack is now hidden.

I'm ready for the protruding baby bump, though. I'm glad I've written those words so that one day a few months from now when I'm complaining about the large, protruding baby bump I can look back on my words and be at least somewhat thankful for the bump.... maybe.

And so you can see my pregnancy glow....


I'm feeling it. I really am. And when I have the energy, I bask in it!

When I can stay up late enough...

... this guy really cracks me up!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Sarah Palin Will Be Missed
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Tasers

John Stewart had a pretty heart-felt goodbye to Sarah, as well.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Quitter - Leave Sarah Palin Alone
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

Can I get one of those Sarah Palin heart t-shirts??

Hello, Lover...

We finally meet. After months of eying you from afar and dreaming of the one day I would need you in my life, I finally get to caress your smooth metal frame, your luxurious organic soybean bassinet lining, your firm telescoping handle.

Your sleek style and modern appeal send chill bumps down my spine.



With your rubber-coated chrome finish tires that never go flat, I know you will cross whatever terrain I ask of you with unmatched ease. And your shock absorbing suspension system will keep baby safe and sound all the way.



While it is still early and I can't quite call you mine, I know that day is fast approaching. Until then, I'm glad we've had this opportunity to meet. It was love at first sight. I'll be seeing you....

The 2009 UppaBaby Vista

Show Us Your Dress!

What bride can resist showing off her wedding dress? Kelly over at Kelly's Korner recently had a "Show Us Your Life" wedding dress edition so I can't miss out on this opportunity!! It also helps break up the - what I'm sure will be monotonous - baby posts.

Without further ado - THE dress...

I went back to my hometown bridal store to find the perfect gown. It was just glowing on my wedding day!Mom helped tie me upView from behindKissing my husband in the Alabama snow... and don't forget those shoes!


Ya'll know I love my wedding photos. Thanks for putting up with more!

Boy or Girl?!?

This week we had baby's second check-up. He/she is doing well. We actually got to hear the heartbeat! So exciting! We're now in the 12th week and I haven't gained any weight. I'm super excited about that because I'm definitely worried about gaining too much and having a hard time working it off post-baby. I want to gain what I need to gain but don't want (much) more. While I may not have gained any weight, the weight has definitely redistributed throughout my body and I can tell a big difference in the fit of my clothes. I have a few maternity pieces that I probably don't quite need yet but I'm already working them into my wardrobe.

More exciting news - I have scheduled baby's first 4D ultrasound for after the 15 week mark. On August 22nd (now less than a month away) we'll learn if our little baby is a girl or boy!

Everyone but Lucas and The Rookie are saying 'it' is a boy. I'm not-so secretly pulling for a girl but I really will be happy just to have a healthy baby! There is always time for a girl down the road and a protective older brother is always useful.

What You Get....

when you turn a quarter of a century...

Thanks, husband!

(now I just have to figure out how to work this thing)

Peace, Love, and Baby

Jill @ Homemade by Jill was having an awesome little giveaway, and I actually won!

Our little one will reap the benefits.... in only about 6 and a half months. This cute little peace sign onesie will be here waiting (along with these awesome See Kai Run shoes I won a while back.... as long as our little 'it' is a girl)! I am so excited! Go check out more of Jessie's awesome creations.

We Have Babies!

No, no. It is not quite time for me and when that time comes I hope it is still a singular baby...

But we do have baby birdies!

I water my ferns every morning and have noticed a nest with eggs in one for a few weeks. I started my morning ritual off this morning and was about to move to the chosen fern when I saw fur! No more eggs! These babies had hatched. I was so surprised they weren't chirping. I had to check and make sure they were actually alive.... you know, without touching them or getting too close. Then I saw one of the little cuties blink and also noticed their little bodies moving up and down breathing. It was a wonderful way to start my day off.... even though when I woke up today I thought it was Saturday and it is actually only Tuesday. Uhm, just a little off! Anyway, I watered 'around' the fern and hope that is enough for it to survive until the chickies can fly.

The miracle of life
is alive and well at our household!

Picnic in the Park... First Trimester Style

What do I mean by first trimester style?

I mean, the father-to-be is happy and glowing....


... and the pregnant lady is still recovering from this morning's havoc.


Oh, well. At least someone is glowing!

We picked up Subway (Toasted, of course, to prevent 'listeria' - whatever that is - because you know there is a 'no' list for just about everything you can think of during pregnancy) and enjoyed our routine lunch in the park. I am so glad to have Lucas back. He just recently returned from his 10 day trip to Colombia, where he broke the news! More on that later...


Oh, and I definitely did not see the first picture of myself, get extremely horrified, and put on powder before continuing our very 'non-staged' photo-op.... just in case you were wondering. Haha!

In my defense, I needed that powder since I picked the husband up at 12:30 last night (a.k.a. this morning) from an airport over 2 hours away and was still at work at the crack of dawn. Okay, 9:00 a.m. isn't the crack of dawn but it sure felt like it after only 4 hours of sleep.

Thanks, husband, for capturing that moment.

Happy Father's Day!

Before we got pregnant, Lucas and I had discussed that we would definitely go to our first doctor's appointment to confirm everything before we told anyone. During the weekend we found out, we planned to tell my parents on Father's Day - a week and a half away! How fun that would be! Then, Monday morning I realized my appointment wouldn't be until the following Tuesday. Oh, well. Forget the plans! We're telling them on Father's Day!

The tricky part of this plan was that I was to spend the coming Tuesday with my mom. She had a doctor's appointment at Vanderbilt. I did so good at keeping the surprise! We even talked about what it would be like one day when I had children. There were many times throughout the day when it was extremely difficult for me to keep quiet. My mother and I are so close and I tell her (almost) everything! How could I not tell her such big news?!? Because I knew it would be even more special coming on Father's Day, surrounded by my dad and grandparents. So I waited.

The big day came and I was so excited!! I made the cutest little onesies that read 'Happy Father's Day, Granddaddy!' and 'Happy Father's Day, Pappaw!' After we ate it was time for presents. My dad and granddad opened their real presents first (a grill cover for my granddad and a banjo instructional book and dvd set for my dad). I usually discuss all presents with my mom and she knew about these. Then after they opened and enjoyed their presents for a while I gave them their other presents. My mom gave me a look as if to say, 'what else did you get them? we haven't talked about this?' So she was really curious.

They opened up their presents and took out the onesies. It hit everyone at just about the same time. We were all crying and so happy. They have wanted this news from us for so long and it was really surreal to actually be able to share it!

Now, here is a little something to clue you in to how excited my mother is. As soon as everyone got in their hugs and kisses, my mom told my dad to go get 'those boxes' out of the car. What?!? Yes, my mom had presents for us just waiting on the day we popped the news!! She had made us three baby blankets already and had bought a cute little neutral Pottery Barn diaper bag. She is crazy!!! But that's why we love her!

I am so glad we had the opportunity to share the news on Father's Day. It is something none of us will ever forget. My dad and granddaddy (and Lucas, of course) are the best men I could've ever asked for in my life. They all work so hard and care for and love their families more than life itself. I'm glad we could include them on such a special day. Our precious baby is so lucky to be surrounded by this truly amazing family.

Ahhh, the tests DO work!

Let's just say, I've seen my fair share of negative pregnancy tests over the last few months. I was beginning to be discouraged and wondering if those stupid sticks ever read positive. I certainly had seen no proof of that.

But we kept 'trying' and one night all my doubts vanished.

It was a Friday night - June 12th. Lucas and I had gone out for dinner. After being thrown off schedule the month before, I really had no idea when to be expecting 'my friend' and when was the right time to test. I decided, 'what the heck - let's do this thing.' Lucas was against it. I believe his exact words were: 'if you wanna waste $4 go ahead' (words that will forever live in emphamy, no doubt).

So while he was unloading the car, I went to our bathroom and took the test. Before I could even get my pants zipped back up that stick was blazing positive. I couldn't believe it! I looked at the stick - looked at the box - looked at the stick....

I'm pregnant!

I ran downstairs with the stick in my pocket, trying to act as calm and collected as I possibly could. I didn't do a very good job. I immediately showed Lucas the stick and tears started streaming down my face. Without the box, Lucas had no idea what the two lines meant. But judging the huge smile and river of tears on my face, I guess he figured it out pretty quickly.

We are going to be parents!

What an awesome moment that was. We hugged. We cried. We stared at the test in disbelief. And disbelief made me run to the bathroom and take another test (I have a stockpile). AGAIN - obviously positive!

I was so excited and so nervous! I wanted to go immediately to the doctor but had to wait until Monday morning to call. So Monday morning at 7:55 a.m. I started calling! When I got a hold of the receptionst, she congratulated me and scheduled my appointment for a week and a half later. A week and a half later?!? I couldn't stand it!!!

But alas, I did. And here we are today - happy and healthy with a baby on the way!

I am so excited to experience all the ups and downs of pregnancy and share them with you. More anxiously, I am anticipating the day when I become a mother and Lucas becomes a father! How amazing!

Less than 7 months to go! Let the countdown begin!

Big News

Remember me? I know I've been a bad blogger lately. But - like I mentioned earlier - we've had lots of things going on and I've just been swamped. Well, now comes the day I can share with you all of the excitement that has been going on and one of the many things that has kept me busy the last few weeks...... Are you ready?

That's right! Our family is growing!!!

He/she is already the love of my life (even though 'it' is waking me up with sickness most mornings and leaving me exhausted by the end of each day).

We are so thrilled - words can't express! And from now on I hope to be documenting (more faithfully) the progress as our family becomes complete. Our little one is set to join us on February 11th, and we have much to do to prepare!