My First Mother's Day

I felt the specialness of Mother's Day today.
I've always liked the opportunity to remind Mom that we love her, and do things for her on an important day.

But today I felt like an almost-Mom, and almost is good enough right now.

Ben started out the morning by making me french toast by request.  Made with milk/vanilla/&cinammon on Grandma Sycamore white bread (I'm craving it again just typing it.) Topped with strawberries/bananas & sided with bacon.

Admittedly at this point, church isn't the comfiest place for me, my feet, my heat stroke.  I suppose the only unchallenging part is the fact that all I wear are dresses and skirts, so I have something to wear.

After church we were invited to my parents for Mother's Day dinner, and they put on quite a spread.  We had do-it-yourself wedge salads, artichoke dip, grilled pineapple, steak, buttered noodles, Japanese cucumbers, rosemary bread with oil/vinegar, and carrot cake muffins.  I can say I was adequately full...which is uncommon for me these days.

My family - aunt, grandma, parents - all love to give presents, so it looked a bit like Christmas.  I gave my mom a pack-n-play.  "Happy Grandmother's Day!"

My Mom decorated for the party

My dad wrapped one of my mom's gifts as a purse...he is cute.

Grandma and her pack -n- play!

My Aunt Cathie brought faux 'staches for a quick pic

Ben spoiled me with 6 weeks of cleanings from a local cleaning company.  We have used three so far, and it is taking a major burden of my house off my shoulders during this never-ending-I'm-exhausted-feet-are-huge-want-to-sleep time.  We have always been a couple that likes to prestate expectations for an event so we don't disappoint the other on an important day.  It may spoil the element of surprise, but it elimanates the element of "love test."  So, he really pulled off everything I requested flawlessly.

So here is to hoping that I can fulfill Ben's expectation for Father's Day to actually be a daddy to a new baby boy by that day!

Pregnancy {Week 34}

Another week down in this fastest/slowest adventure of pregnancy.

School is still plugging away, week by week, leaving me with a light at the end of the school-year tunnel, and another light a bit further of labor/delivery/baby boy.

Ben and I decided that there is no better time than the present to get our backyard done(ish.)  Ben mapped it all out, and we came up with a plan that would both be fun to look at, but super fun for our little guy as he grows up.  We took all our mommy/daddy friend's advice about what they wished they had, compiled it into a realistic idea, and he went to work.  Unfortunately for Ben, I'm getting significantly larger by the passing minute, and I'm perfectly incapable of virtually all things required to finish a backyard.  I've supported thus far by sitting on the patio and chatting, bringing drinks and dropping them from the balcony, a couple Home Depot runs, drawing a diagram of plants we want, and occasionally pretending I'm able to help by picking up a shovel, only to be shut down on that idea.  Photos coming on Week 35 post, because it will hopefully be done by then.

A darling coworker of mine, Sue Scofield, kindly offered to throw me a little work shower, which I definitely jumped on.  I'm a sucker for a party.  And a big sucker for a party in my honor.  She threw the shower Thursday after work in her home, and a great group of my coworkers came to wish me well and shower me and my babes with love and cute stuff.  We ate fab food and laughed at the darling outfits and items.  My vice principal even rounded out her gift with a GWA uniform for my little guy, which he will certainly be rocking to school next spring.  My mom and I failed epically and didn't take a single photograph, so just imagine the fabulous.

*I continue to grow and drop.  I'm rotating a small wardrobe of maxi-dresses and stretch waisted skirts with maternity Tshirts.  I'm bored with it, but I am super comfortable.

*After a day of work, then coming home to clean and tidy or running some errands, I am really exhausted every night.  It feels strange to be so tired after doing pretty normal tasks.

*My feet turn into odd-looking, unshapely sausages by day end.  I stare at them in disbelief, then I awake the next morning to my more petite foot shape (which still doesn't fit into the majority of my shoes.)

*After each baby shower I look forward to coming home and re-presenting the stuff to Ben, requiring much more of a reaction than is natural for him.  Then I spend the next day unboxing/detagging and putting away the new goods.  I like to walk in his room and see it ready for his arrival (I think it tricks me into believing he is coming sooner.)

This Saturday my Aunt Betty and her darling daughters threw me a family and neighborhood shower.  I feel completely beyond spoiled by the love and effort put into these parties for me.  I have had so much fun each week with something to look forward to.

Again, the party was flawless, from the invitation, to the favors, to the entry door decor (which I got to keep.)  The food was so divine.  My darling grandma was there.  My Aunt Cathie (dad's sister) came...with a GIANT teddy bear and chest of baby necessities.  My mom's sisters were all there.  Heaps of my cousins came.  Some ladies from my growing-up neighborhood came.  My Kindergarden/1st grade teacher came.  Like I said, there is no way to NOT feel loved.  And because pictures say a thousand words, and a picture taken by my talented cousin, Adri, probably say more...

Week 33 & Shower of Love

I've gotten behind, and it is making remembering all the feelings/discomforts/emotions difficult to remember.  Woops!

So this post will be dedicated to the over-the-top fabulous baby shower Karlee threw for me this week.  There was nothing like calling Karlee to say "I'm pregnant!" and her immediate response is "Oh my gosh, congratulations, when am I throwing your shower?"  It was from that day forward she went into full planning mode and pulled in off flawlessly!  So, thank you Karlee, for making me feel 100% special, and to Stacie and Angie for lending a helping hand.

The party was set for Saturday, April 28th.  I had a great group of my friends through high school and college coming from all over to attend, again, making me feel super important.

The decor was to-die-for...one of those occasions that it took the entire 6 hours I was there visiting to notice and appreciate each little detail that was not spared.

The food table had miniature corked glass bottles housing the menu items for lunch.

The gift table had a larger version bottle "Gifts" and an old fashioned fishing net.

The entry table had a model ship and darling boat favors.

The fireplace hung an "Ahoy" sign made of burlap.

Like I said...no detail spared.

Everyone arrived quite punctually and we obviously had not a moment *in the SIX HOURS* I was there without something to catch up about.

They all spoiled me so much with gifts for my little guy, no doubt he will be loved.  Though, for my own memory and bragging, I would love to have pictured every gift with an excerpt about it's giver and a blurb about how much I loved it...I shall spare the online world and journal.  But!  It must be noted that my dear friend Nikki Batista (who returned to the US only a week prior after YEAR in France & a few weeks in Dominican Republic) invites me to Quilted Works on a Wednesday....I picked out a quilt pattern, then had to pick THIRTEEN fabrics.  I didn't sleep a wink that night because I was so giddy like Christmas imagining how amazing this blanket she was going to make would be.  She sewed the whole thing on Thursday and had it ready for the shower.  I am so in love with it that I'm surprised I haven't slept with it yet.  Flannel pieced front (with a ship!) and brown minky back.  Seriously!??!

Needless to say...I am feeling so spoiled, and cannot believe I get another few showers before this whole process wraps up and I meet Mr. Hulet.