Baby Shower: The Guests

So not to take away from all of the wonderful guests at my shower...but we got big news from my doctor tonight. My blood pressure is a bit high (don't worry too much - I don't have preeclampsia. Baby Jace is super healthy), so our sweet boy is scheduled to be induced on Sunday, February 8th at 12:30 AM. Considering the socialites that Josh and I are, I think it is very much appropriate to get the party started at such an hour. My friends better be taking a few grape-bombs in his honor that night!

 

In other interesting news, I got to see Jace's boy parts for the first time today, so that was weird...

 

Now enough about my soon to be firstborn son...time to focus on my friends!

 

Once again, we had an overwhelming amount of love and support from our friends at the shower. I seriously have to pinch myself every now and then to make sure this is real life. These people that I very much consider to be my extended family are some of the most real, kind, non-judgmental, and hilarious people that I could ever know. They are an absolute mess, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

I normally hate cheesy pictures like this...but I just love my girls to pieces. Jace sure has a whole lotta good lookin' Aunties :)

 

And one of my absolute favorites from the day. My Camel and Princess JG are the real deal:

 

And of course I love my mini-guests:

 

Here are some other randoms from the afternoon. Enjoy!

 

Lori wins the award for most miles traveled! All the way from Tallahassee! What a great friend! Except for too skinny to be standing next to a preggers like me (what a b*tch).



Brittany is a co-worker and now dear friend of mine.  Also expecting baby #2 in July!

Unfortunately, Patrick had to ruin the picture below:

 

And OMG, I was so super pumped to see these two ladies at my shower. Cassie, Terrie, and I go waaaay back. Like...I still credit Cassie and her family for being the reason I moved to Knoxville 8 years ago:

 

Another one of my faves below. Sweet Jess is due the day after my original due date! We have gotten pretty close during this preggers journey as we share our stories/complaints/fears/etc with each other. This girl is about as sweet and calm and collected as they get. I cannot wait for Jace and Meadow to be best buds!

 

So there you have it. No doubt about it, they're pretty much the coolest kids you could ever hang around. And I simply cannot even express how excited I am to have these losers around to corrupt my son. #soon :)



Maternity Monday: Baby Shower - The Hosts

So this past Saturday my sweet and dear friends, Bunny and Kate, hosted an absolutely fantastic, wonderful and just perfect baby shower for our sweet Jace. I really couldn't have had a better time. And let me tell you...it's kinda been an epiphany for me.  Another one of my favorite days ever, and I was totally sober. That's sayin' something right there.

My baby shower was so much fun that I'll have to divide it out into three different posts. So today, I'll focus on the hosts. Bunny has turned into a total pro when it comes to showers.  She hosted our wedding shower last year. She hosted our baby shower this year. And I told to her to start preparing for a divorce shower next year (totally kidding, y'all). She has these showers down to a science.  She is an invitation, decoration, and food-making pro. And she is always so kind to give up her beautiful home for these special occasions. She has brought so much celebration and fun into my life - and I am forever grateful for her giving friendship :)

Kate is the better half of one of our favorite married couples. She's also a fairly newbie momma to a beautiful baby boy, Thomas (aka Jace's future mentor). Thomas is one of those babies that will just give any unsure adult total confidence. Since day one, he has been the most laid back, easygoing, sweetest and happiest babies that I have ever been around. It doesn't matter who picks the cutie patootie up, he's going to warm your heart with his sweet, infectious smile. I hope I'm half the momma that Kate has been :)

 

The decorations were just adorable. Like...I can't decide on my favorite part! The balloons? The onesies on clothespins? That awesome cake?? It all just warmed my soul! Unfortunately, I was too dang busy having such a great time that I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked, but here goes:

 

 

FYI - that punch was a new creation by Bunny and was to die for. I can't imagine how fantastic it would be with a little bit of vodka or rum in it :)

And this fooooood. ohhh emm geeeeee, this food. This is only half of what was served. Pretty sure Baby Jace hit the 7 pound mark after this shower was over:

 

I'm so thankful for Bunny and Kate for giving me (and Josh and Jace) such a special day, and I'm not sure how I'll ever repay them. I love these two ladies so much, and I just can't express my gratitude enough.

17 more days until your due date, Baby Jace. We just can't wait :)

 

Swimmer Sam

So my youngest nephew, Sam, is quite the swimmer. We're really not sure where he gets it from. You throw me in a pool? I'll tread water for maybe five seconds before doggy paddling over to the side of the pool. And that's only IF I don't actually drown. I can't swim.  Not backstroke, not freestyle, and definitely not any of those other fancy swim-terms.

 

 

 

Sam, on the other hand, can do all that fancy business and FAST. He's 12 years old, and he works really, really hard to improve his times, and it makes his Aunt Lizard (that's me) very proud. Last weekend, we had the pleasure to watch him swim a big meet at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center on the UT Campus. What a nice facility they have at UT - I was very impressed.

 

Apparently, Tennessee did swimming proud back in the 70s. Not sure what has happened since then, but I'm crossing my fingers that Sam chooses to come to Knoxville for college to turn that swim program back around :)

 

 

 

Sam's absolute best event is the breaststroke (c'mon y'all, he's TWELVE. It's not appropriate to make jokes about that yet...). He has been great at that event since he first started. In fact, he's really quite good at several events. I know this because we had to stay for NINE hours on Saturday since he made so many finals! Totally worth the wait to watch my nephew take a top 8 spot in so many events. Michael Phelps better watch it!

 

My nephew is the tall, lean one (also two traits he does not get from his Aunt) in lane 8:

 

 

I'll tell you what...I might just hire him to train me after I'm done with this whole preggers thing. Think he could whip me into those six-pack abs shape before summer?

 

 

Sammy...your hard work is certainly paying off! I am very proud of all the events you can swim. Most importantly, I'm so proud of all the time, effort, and hard work you put into your swimming.  Since you were wee itty bitty, you have never been one to give up.  In my opinion, your perseverance is one of your very best attributes!

 

And hey...please don't forget about your Aunt Lizard and Uncle Josh when you make it to the Olympics :)

 



Goodbye Roaring Twenties!

Considering I was the only sober person at my birthday celebration, I could make up some good stories to blog about.  But just like a lady shouldn't kiss and tell...I don't think a birthday girl should party and tell either. So instead, I'll just recap my birthday weekend with these wonderful pictures. They tell the whole truth anyway:

 

Friday Night Recap: misspelled cookie cake, TV, and several dollars lost playing LRC

 

 

 

 

Saturday Daytime Recap: hangovers and hot tubs and ridiculous selfies

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday Evening Recap: Mom's spaghetti dinner and sunset photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday Evening Recap: creeping on Tamika and a hodgepodge of typical

 

 

 

 

 

But my absolute favorite picture from the weekend?

 

I love these people. Hoping my next thirty years stay just as weird! Cheers :)