Lucky in Love Shower

I'm linking up with Kelly today for her Show Us Your Life about wedding showers.

I just co-hosted a wedding shower for my cousin, Kourtney, this past weekend.  Kourtney and her fiance, Matt, are getting married on November 11, 2011 (11-11-11), so we went with the theme, "Lucky in Love" playing on their wedding date.

We chose to use four-leaf clovers (and shamrocks!) as our symbol for the shower.  Guests ate their lunches on white plates, but we had purple and green accents in the napkins, appetizer/dessert plates, and decorations.  

As people arrived, we invited them to get a drink and some appetizers.  For appetizers, we had Veggie Pizza, Baked Brie, and assorted cheeses and crackers.

For lunch, we ordered wraps from the local grocery store, and had several salads for sides.  We had:  Orzo salad, Summer Salad (greens with Craisins, candied pecans, strawberries, and Gorgonzola cheese with a a lovely homemade dressing), fruit salad, and Ramen noodle coleslaw.  

For dessert, we had lovely cupcakes, shamrock cookies, assorted cookies (made by my mom and aunt), and cannolis.  

The beverages were a rum lemonade, which we called, "Lucky Lemonade," regular lemonade, which we called, "Less Lucky Lemonade" and iced tea.  We also had a pitcher of water, with floating lemons and limes.  

We only played two games, a "How well do you know the bride?" game and bingo as Kourtney was opening her gifts.  There were plenty of prizes, in green and purple bags, too!

For favors, we gave everyone a scratch lotto ticket in a cute little envelope we purchased on Etsy.  A couple people won $1 or $2, but nothing too big!  

All in all, it was a very lovely shower, and I can't wait to celebrate with the bride and groom on 11-11-11!

Bathroom Renovation!

Today marks the first day of our bathroom renovation!  Words cannot express my excitement for this event!  Our house is 54 years old, and our only full bathroom is one of the only rooms that has not been updated.  We're talking 50's style tile, a huge (and water-wasting) toilet, and grout that has seen its best days years ago.  

Kurt's friend, Artie, owns a construction company, so he, and two of his guys, arrived early this morning to begin the demolition.  I can hear the tiles flying around up there as I type.  Today and tomorrow are demolition and prep days.  Wednesday and Thursday are tiling and installing days, and Friday is painting and putting back together day.  The only downfall is that we don't have a working shower for the next few days.  Kurt's going to shower at work (his office has a gym), Sam will get a bath in the kitchen sink, and I'm going to be borrowing my friends, Jenni and Blake's, shower.  

I'll update as progress is made!  

Do You Tot Swap?

I'll be the first to admit, when I head the phrase, "Tot Swap," my initial reaction was, "What the heck?  Swapping Tots?!"  I definitely had to do a little investigating to find out what Tot Swap was all about, and I'm glad I did!

Tot Swap is a children's consignment sale.  They have pretty much everything a child would need for sale.  They have a lot of different rules about what can and cannot be sold.  Things have to be in good condition.  Clothes can't have any stains or holes.  You get the idea.  Sam and I ventured out to our first Tot Swap outing last week.  My mission:  a Snap and Go stroller base and an excersaucer.  This is what we saw when we entered the old grocery store building:

To say it was a packed house is an understatement.  I've never seen so many things in one building.  They had tables upon tables of toys, books, games, puzzles.  Racks upon racks of clothes for all different sizes.  Rows upon rows of accessories.  It was a new momma's dream come true!

I spent $150 (don't tell Kurt! just kidding, he already knows!) but got a lot for my money.  I bought...

This exersaucer for $15

This Snap and Go stroller base for $25

These two brand new Melissa and Doug toys (which I'm putting away for Christmas gifts!)

As well as a bunch of fall clothes, some with the tags still on them! I also got Sam a few gently used toys (which I came home and disinfected right away).  I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the Tot Swap event and can't wait to go again next year!

Show Us Your Life!

Today, I'm linking up to Kelly's Show Us Your Life.

I found out I was pregnant the Sunday before Labor Day 2010, after taking a pregnancy test very early in the morning.  Kurt was still sleeping, so I quietly left the house and headed to Target.  I knew I wanted to make telling him that we were expecting a very special moment. At Target, I found this adorable hooded towel that said, "I love daddy!"  I bought that, along with a card that said (in so many words) how I knew he was going to be a great father.  I wrapped the towel and the positive pregnancy test up and filled out the card.  By the time I got home, Kurt was up and at 'em, so I told him I had something special for him.  He literally had no idea what I was giving him!

 Kurt reading the card. He thought the card was telling him how he is such a great dad to our Macey pup!  He had no idea what he was about to open up!

 PREGNANT!

 The pregnancy test and "I love daddy!" towel

A close up!  

Kurt was so shocked!  We both started crying out of pure joy and excitement.

We told our friends Jenni and Blake the exciting news later that night.  It was too hard of a secret to keep!  I told Jenni I had some pictures I wanted to her to see on my camera, which were the pictures I posted above.  They were so excited for us! 

We decided to wait a little while to tell our families, but we knew we wanted to do it in a special way.  We told my family the day before my first doctor's appointment (8 weeks).  I found this awesome poem online that I typed up and put into special "Grandma" and "Grandpa" frames for my mom and dad.  The poem goes like this:

I do not have a face to see, 

or put inside a frame. 

I do not have soft cheeks to kiss; 

I don't yet have a name. 

You can't hold my tiny hands, 

nor whisper in my ear. 

It's still too soon to sing a song, 

or cuddle me so near. 

But all will change come May, 

when they say I'm due. 

I'm your new grandson or granddaughter; 

I can't wait till I meet you. 

All I ask between now and then 

is your patience while I grow. 

I promise I'll be worth the wait, 

because of all the love we'll know. 

So as you're waiting patiently, 

please pray lots and lots for me. 

I cannot wait to be a part 

of this wonderful family!

For my brother and sister, I got plain black frames and wrote, "You're going to be an aunt!" and "You're going to be an uncle!"  My sister was the first person to get her present opened and this was her reaction...

She screamed!  She says she just had a feeling on the way over to our house that we were going to have a special announcement!

 My mom with her frame and poem!

 My brother with his frame

 The excited aunt and uncle-to-be!

The beaming grandparents-to-be!

My mom and dad both started crying right then and there!  They were so excited to be grandparents!

We waited one more week to tell Kurt's family because we were going to all be together at Family Weekend at his sister's college.  I had adorable shirts made for our nephews on Etsy that said their names (Jack and Will) and "Big Cousin."  We were tailgating with Kurt's family before the football game, and Kurt and I took Jack and Will to our car and put their shirts on them.  Kurt carried Will over to his brother and dad, and said, "Check out his shirt!".  I had Jack and had him say to Kurt's mom, "Nina, look at my shirt!"  It took my mother-in-law a little while to get it, but my sister-in-law, Molly, caught on right away.  Again, everyone was so excited!  I then gave Kurt's parents a "Grandchildren" frame with a picture of Jack and Will in one section, the poem in another section, and wrote "Your third grandchild coming in May!" in the third section.  We gave Kurt's sister the same, "You're going to be an aunt!" frame and his brother a "Cousins" frame for them to put a picture of the three cousins in.

Jack and Will wore their shirts when they came to visit us right after Sam was born!

 The boys with their "Big Cousin" shirts!

The cousins: Jack, Will, and Sam

Telling our families that we were expecting was one of the most exciting times in my life!  What was even more exciting, though?  When they actually met this little blessing...

Two Months!

My sweet baby boy,

Just as I said last month, I cannot believe you are two months old today.  You continue to bring Mommy, Daddy, and everyone who knows and loves you so much joy!  I can't imagine spending a day without seeing your bright, blue eyes, and cheery smile.  

You've had a busy second month.  You went to school with me and met my students and coworkers.  They loved seeing you and you managed to have your first "official" blow-out diaper while there.  Good times!  I hope that's not a sign of what you think about going to school!  

Over Father's Day weekend, you went to your first baseball game with Mommy and Daddy.  We saw the Orioles and Nationals play, but you mostly slept.  We're going to try our second game this coming Saturday.  I wonder if you'll sleep through this game, too!  On Father's Day, we went to brunch with your Nina, Grandad, and Aunt Kristen.  As usual, you were great at the restaurant.

You spent a lot of time with your family this month.  We went to visit your PapPap on the Appalachian Trail with MomMom.  You even hiked a little bit of the trail!  Way to go!  PapPap came home for a week break, so we visited with him a lot.  We probably won't see him again until he finishes the trail in October.  We had a great 4th of July, celebrating with Daddy's family at the Bradshaw beach house on Sunday, and with Mommy's family at MomMom and Pap's house on the 4th.  You went to your first parade and loved the bands!  You started kicking around like crazy!  You also loved your first time swimming in the neighborhood pool!  

Developmentally, you have grown so much this month!  You started really smiling at us when we talk to you.  Your eye sight and hearing have gotten so much better.  You love to look around, especially at ceiling fans and the t.v.  When we were at the pool the other day, a train went by, and you turned your head to look in the direction of the sound.  It was pretty cool to see you do that!  You also found your hands this month.  You love to put your fingers in your mouth and you've even begun to suck your thumb.  You enjoy spending some time on your playmat, listening to the music, watching the lights, and kicking the different things hanging down.  This month, you also started sleeping in your crib.  What a big boy you are!  We still swaddle you at night, and you sleep for 5-7 hour stretches, wake up to have a bottle, and then usually sleep for another two hours or so.  You rock at sleeping!  You love a clean diaper and a full tummy.  You give us your best smiles when we change your diapers, which is interesting!  

We go to the doctor tomorrow for your two month appointment.  I keep telling you that you are going to be getting some shots tomorrow, but you just smile at me.  You like your doctor a lot, and are always a good sport at the office.  Let's hope it stays that way!  I can't wait to see how much you weigh and how long you are!

We have a busy month ahead of us!  You are going to go on a few road trips and will visit the beach for the first time.  I can't wait to experience all these new things with you!  I love you so, so much, Pumpkin!!  You are my Sammy Doodles!

Love, 

Mommy

Water Boy!

I think we've got a water boy on our hands!  Kurt and I decided to take Sam over to our neighborhood pool last night for his first swimming experience.  He's a huge fan of the bathtub, so we hoped he'd feel the same way about the swimming pool. We waited until about 6:00 PM to head over, to avoid the strong sun time, and spent about 30 minutes exploring the baby pool. If you told me years ago that in the year 2011, I'd be swimming in the baby pool, I would have never believed you!  Kurt and I took turns getting into the pool with Sam and letting him get used to the water.  For his first time, I think he did fantastic.  He was happy and calm, just like he is in the bathtub. Here are some pictures of our first swimming adventure!  I'm sure there will be many more!

 In mommy's arms

 Chillin' poolside

 Exploring with daddy

First introduction to the water

Newborn Pics!

Two weeks ago, we got together with Gino, the photographer who took our maternity pictures, for some newborn pictures.  Six weeks is a little old for newborn pictures because babies are so active at that age, but I still wanted some professional pictures of our little family.  Here are some that Gino forwarded to me: