Baby Showers

This was a busy weekend! I had baby shower #2 at my sister's house. This shower was with all of my long time friends and neighborhood family! It was given by Mary Helen and Heather, but of course, all of my SIL were there to help! (Next weekend Pam and Melissa are having a shower for all of my Manchester family and friends.) Ella and I received some wonderful things!!! I spent all day Sunday going through everything and organizing her room. WOW, babies sure do have a lot of stuff :)


Here is Pam, Mary Helen, Me, Heather and Melissa in front of the gift table!

Before it became the gift table it was the food table! That is one of the MANY benefits of our showers...THE FOOD IS WONDERFUL!!!

I love Petit Fours!!!

Look how gorgeous it all is...

These are prayer cards. They were passed out among my friends and family and each person read a prayer for Ella. There were even prayers for Mommy and Daddy. This is such an emotional prayer and I am truly blessed to have the people that mean the most to me pray this for my new family!

Beautiful flowers were everywhere!

The next couple are some of the great gifts we received!

And this is the gift table after I had opened all of the presents! Look at all of that wonderful stuff... And it will all be used :)

After my showerI had to quickly return to Manchester to go and enjoy another baby shower. This was a couples shower for our good friends Pete And Cheryl! They are having a little girl named Kayla Brooke. Cheryl and I are only a couple days a part in our deliveries... I have a feeling these two little girls are going to be good friends :)

This was a fun shower! The boys put together an awesome shrimp boil.

This was a little game the boys played. They all had baby bottles with some beer in it. The object was who could suck the beer out fastest, well Jeramy gave it such a go, his nipple collapsed! (The funny thing was, everybody's nipple was cut, except for Pete's! So he was having the hardest time finishing the beer. All of the ladies knew, so we were just giggling the whole time.)

Here stands the proud winner, Jason!

What a great, but exhausting, weekend!

Jeramy's 31st Birthday and Our 1st Baby Shower

Jeramy and I have had a great weekend! Friday was Jeramy's 31st Birthday and we kicked it off Thursday night with a cake I made for him. We just couldn't wait to cut into it, so I added some candles and of course I had to sing him "Happy Birthday!" Friday, January 25th, was the special day, but we had to work so we just proceeded as normal with our schedules. That evening we celebrated over some good ole' German food at Gausthaus. We stuffed our faces and came home and watched a movie...in which we both fell asleep! Aren't we exciting folks :) But we spent some great time together and that is what is important.

This is a little cake my mom got for Jeramy.

Saturday evening we had our 1st Baby Shower. It was a couples shower given by our great friends Brad & Katy. This was a really fun shower! The group was small and it made it that much more fun. We played the "dirty diaper game" and enjoyed each others company.

This is us opening our first gift from Brian and Angel!

We received lots of great things for Ella! A changing pad and cover, a Boone Frog toy scoop for the bathtub, which I think Jeramy will love more then Ella, some photo albums, lots of little goodies, an adorable little bath robe, and a beautiful sun dress! There was so much more and we are so thankful for it all!

Today, Sunday, the first thing I did was go into Ella's room and go through all of the fun stuff :) Her room is officially a tornado at this point, guess I need to start organizing and washing clothes this week. We picked up the house, went to get a bite to eat and enjoyed the beautiful day outdoors. We met some friends at the farm and watched to dogs play fetch and soaked up the afternoon sun! It was wonderful....

Whoa Baby!!!

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been a while since I've posted, but there really hasn't been much going on. Today I had my 32 week check up and everything looks good. I have had a feeling that I was measuring big and I was right. I am measuring 2cm bigger then I should be (34cm). My doctor said that if I continue to measure big then I will need to have an ultrasound to check the baby's weight. Another ultrasound....If insurance will cover it I will take it in a minute! :) So I was talking to Heather about my measurements and she said that with Rylee she did the same thing. At around 32 weeks she started to measure big, she was actually induced 2 weeks before her due date and still had a 9 lb. baby girl! I just thought it was funny that our pregnancies could be very similar after all... Now at this point my body could change very quickly, it could catch up or it could continue to get bigger. Mean while, I am just going to enjoy the last couple weeks of quiet and day dream as she moves and kicks around!

I wanted to show you the furniture for Ella's room! Like I said before we are so fortunate to have been given this beautiful furniture. Everything looks so great and I have to take a peek in there everyday. Do you see the rocking chair...my mother gave me this, it was ours as children. I loved it then and I love it now! My favorite thing right now is to sit in there and read a book. It is so peaceful...I also daydream about watching my little one in her crib! We are so blessed in every aspect of our lives...

One Step Closer

Being off work the week of Christmas was super nice, but thank God I was able to help out in Bell Buckle! Sunday and Monday I was bored....Stayed in my pj's all day and attempted to take down Christmas but got bored with it, so New Years Day I decided to go to Murfreesboro. I really did not have an agenda, but I went anyway. Started off at Lowe's where I got (2) glass knobs for the closet door in Ella's room(they match the knobs on the dresser). Then I headed to Target. As I was walking through the home department, looking for a rug, I found an affordable curtain rod with glass on each end. $14.99, how can you beat that! So I thought "I better get that for my little Ella!" As I continued walking, I cruised through the curtains, not planning on buying anything but I wanted to see the selection of white curtains. Not too much to choose from... Then in the "shabby chic" section I found beautiful pink linen sheers. They are very light and I thought "Hmmm those would look just as good as white." (2) sheers for $19.99 and it was the only pack they had. "I shouldn't pass this up..." So in my arms they went! This is all stuff I need right? Happy with my purchase I decide it is time to leave the Boro so I won't spend any more $$. On my way out I stop at my Brother and SIL to see the bunk beds they had refinished for my nephews...ADORABLE! I love it...I love little boy stuff :) Maybe one day. They are so generously giving me the baby furniture to use! And Melissa had some goodies for me to take home. I am so excited and we should get the bed and changing table as soon as my dear hubby goes to get them! Thanks guys!!! I head home after my little stop and get to work hanging the curtains, so I can surprise Jeramy when he got home. Why stop there... Ella's name for Christmas was drawn by Beth, my niece, and she and my mom got ELLA in wood letters for my wall, above the crib. I decided to go ahead and hang those too! I love it...and it is all coming together so nicely! Jeramy was extremely surprised and we both just starred in awe at how wonderful it all looked. One and half weeks away from 8 months...can you believe this?

Lots to Report

So it is New Years Eve and I must say it has been a busy Holiday. We have had lots of family functions and they were all enjoyable, but I'm glad to say they are over. I have been off work this week and have been filling in for a friend at her cute little shop in Bell Buckle, Comforts of Home. It has been a nice change of pace, except the fact that I had a stomach bug all week. I'm better and my appetite is back!

Yesterday I even went hunting with Jeramy! It was a lot of fun...I must confess that I have not gone with him since we were dating and I do miss the simple escape to nature! We get out to the farm and hike to the old barn about an hour before sundown. As we were climbing in the barn, my mind starting cranking...."This is really not the safest place for a pregnant person." Then Jeramy says "if I get a shot, cover your ears because it will be loud." More brain cranking "Could the gun shot damage Ella's developing ear drums?" After a moment of worry, I simply closed my eyes and said a prayer to keep us safe in what ever happens. Well the funny thing is Jeramy thought the same thing and said a prayer himself. Not the smartest outing we could have taken, but we realize this and could only pray for protection! And that is what happened, we were protected! We saw nothing and decided to head back. As we climbed out of the barn and hit the ground about 6-8 doe run across the field. We both just laughed and Jeramy said " that's why they call it hunting and not killing!" After that we went and ate dinner together. It was just a fun evening together and we both really enjoyed it!

To give you a little update on my last post, I think I have been doing better! I have definitely been conscious of the sweets I've been eating. Now Christmas day was a different story, but it is one day and I told myself that I can eat freely only if I promise myself to get back the next day! Well I had no problem doing that because of the stomach bug I came down with. I actually lost a couple of pounds but after the first full meal I could eat they were back....no worries! I have also been walking some...I plan to go out today too.

Now its on to 2008 and we have a lot to do and a lot to be thankful for!!! I had a little panic attack Saturday. It is a scary thought that I am 10 weeks away from the birth of our little Ella Bean! WOW. At the beginning I thought this was going to be the longest 9 months ever and now it is almost here. Still in shock, but trying to cope....It will be wonderful, but the next two months are going to be crazy! Work, home, everything!

Well Happy New Year everyone....thanks for an incredible year :)

Reality Check

Yesterday was my 7 month appointment. Ella is doing great and is moving all around. It took a minute or two to even find the heartbeat, but once we did it was very strong! I also received my Rhogam shot yesterday. Harmless! I was kinda nervous, because I have heard bad rumors about it being the worst shot ever received. I guess they made some changes on it...

Now on to the reality check: It seems as though I am gaining too much weight. My doctor simply advised me to walk 30 minutes a day and to cut out my sugary drinks, etc. She said that will really help me cut unwanted calories so that my weight gain does not get out of control. Okay, I have not been the best patient, I will admit that...but I really and honestly don't feel that I have put on as much as the scales say! But the scale does not lie, now does it :( So I'm definitely feeling sorry for myself today. But my mind is a workin' and I just have to do better! I can not go on with my pitty party because it is not fair to those around me...i.e.) Jeramy, with whom I had a break down on last night! Sorry baby!

My game plan: To count my calories and exercise, when I can! Pre-baby, I had lost 15 pounds by counting my calories and exercising. I felt good and I looked better then I had in a long time. Here is a picture of Jeramy and I at the beach in April:
I wasn't smaller then when Jeramy and I first met, but I was more toned! I was pleased... Now when I got pregnant I was very self conscious about my weight gain. I tried to walk, but could not due to the heat...twice I overheated and got sick...so when the weather was cool enough to get out in, I had lost my fire. However, I did eat pretty well. But in the past two months, I guess I have destroyed my chances of keeping my weight gain under 30 pounds....no I have not crossed that mark yet, but I still have 2 1/2 months to go.

New goal: To keep my weight gain to 35 lbs or under! Eat 2100 (good) calories a day and exercise.

I am not trying to lose weight. My first priority is for my baby to be healthy! I simply want to eat better foods and get some walking in as much as I can. I realized this morning that the juice I thoroughly enjoy every morning is packed with sugar, duh! So it is these simple things that I am going to watch and treat myself to on occasion. Maybe after Christmas the sweet treats won't be as readily available and I won't grab a hand full of whatever, whenever I walk by!

Any suggestions you can give me will be much appreciated and even healthy snack favorites you would like to share... Plus prayer! I will take it all...

Brand New View

I am so excited !!! Today I got new Furniture. Jeramy and I have been talking about this for some time now and just have not found anything we like. Then piece by piece we found what we wanted. I was finally able to get Jeramy to the furniture store last Saturday, showed him the couch I liked and he bought it for me!!! Sunday we went to purchase the recliner, that we were able to take home right then and there and today I got the couch. I love it and I am so lucky that my husband would do this for me.

This week I also got these two fabulous bar stools for my kitchen. I saw them at Ross when I was doing some Christmas shopping for a very low price! I spread the word that I wanted them, they are a perfect match for my kitchen! And don't they look so cute... Needless to say I have had a GREAT Christmas so far!

And just to finish things off here is my Christmas tree. If I could keep this up all year I would, I just love the way it fills up my house. To me it is just so cozy!

It may have taken 3 years to get some of these things, but it was well worth the wait and we are so thankful for everything we have!