Cheers...

Christmas Humor

This is for all of you "Scrooges" out there... and those of you who have a sense of humor!



After going to the grocery store today to pick up a few last minute things... this is even more funny!

"Nutty Santas"

I was supposed to make these with my sister and niece for Christmas but our plans got delayed when Jeff was asked to come in to work nights tonight. So, I went ahead and made them ahead of time. It would have been more fun with some company but I always enjoy decorating cookies! :)
This is the first time for me to make them and have some ideas for tricks to do next time to make them look a bit better.
I took Nutter Butter cookies and dipped them in Royal Icing on both ends and then one end in red and white sprinkles. Then, I used mini chocolate chips for the eyes with the icing as "glue". I piped on the white dot on Santa's hat and the red noses. I think that next time, instead of icing for the noses, I think I will use some kind of small red candies and I need to make the icing a bit thicker to keep it from running off of the cookies before it hardens.
I think they are cute and might become a tradition every year. I saved the taste-test for Jeff and it seemed to pass, so I think they are safe to make again.

My recent Must-Haves!

Mr. Coffee Frappe maker
The best part is that it's on $80!
http://www.mrcoffeecafefrappe.com/product.aspx

Earth Therapeutics® Anti-Stress Microwaveable Comfort Wrap


Desktop Player for my iPod
$10 at www.containerstore.com

Label Maker
Pleasantly addicting!
Plastic Ornament Storage Box
I need to get some of these soon for when we take down our tree!

3 Little Babies

Here is a picture of Stori, Elysha, and I all pregnant together! We have had a blast going through this together and we can't wait for our little ones to become friends :)
Disclaimer: This is an AWEFUL picture of me, but I was trying to tell Jeff instructions on my camera... plus, it's just hard to get a good picture of myself this far along. lol
From left to right:
Stori (23 weeks), Elysha (31 weeks), and Me (32 weeks)

I can't wait to cuddle up with this...

So it has been on my long list of things to do to make a new robe.
I have become kind of a "robe-snob" while trying to shop for a new one. There were so many things I needed it to have...It had to be thin, preferably cotton, since I get hot easily and would be using it to get ready in the mornings in; had to have long enough arms (hard to come by for me); had to be long enough that my booty doesn't hang out but not a full length...
While shopping for a new one I could not find one that fit my criteria without spending a fortune on one! So, like most things, I thought, "I can make that", so the other night, I found the time.
I took one of the few robes that I had purchased from Target that was not working out, apart and used it as a quasi pattern and changed it up to match what I wanted.
I got some cheap fabric at Hobby Lobby since I wasnt sure if this was going to be a good idea or not, and "had at it." I cleared off the dining room table, laid out the fabric, cut up the old robe, and within a few hours, I had a new one! :)
It really was a lot of fun! I thought about taking pictures as I went for the sake of the this blog post, but I was too engrossed in the project. lol
I had a bit of a challege getting the collar on there to lay correctly, but I think I got it. Also, its a bit of a challenge to fit around a pregnant belly! lol Since it's just a robe and can be a little loose, I think it will last me a while even after the belly is gone. ;)
Here is the finished product:


I am not 100% in love with the fabric choice that I made, but it's pretty. Since I will be using it to get ready in the mornings I am sure it will get grungy soon and I can just make another.
hmm.. Maybe a business venture??? jk

Just Because...

I love this commercial!

Blessings

God is Great!!
It is amazing to watch my little baby girl move around inside of me. I can't even describe the feeling I had when they turned on the monitor and we saw Avery's face in 3D.
I literally was taken aback! It's funny because I've seen these 4D pictures many times before of friends babies. They are all adorable! But when it's yours... its just different.
I get choked up right now just thinking about that.
I will never forget a few certain things about my pregnancy with Avery...
1. The day I found out I was pregnant; June 1st, 2009
2. The first time I felt a real kick (we were at my parent's house for the weekend and I had just laid down to go to bed when, POP, there she kicked!!) I about jumped out of bed and did a little dance. I wanted to wake Jeff up so bad, but he sleeps so hard that I knew that would be a futile effort. lol) Jeff has finally felt her moving around. For the longest time she liked to tease him and stop moving every time he put his hand on my tummy :)
3. The first time we heard the heart beat and saw her ultrasound
4. Yesterday's 4D ultrasound session. Wow! I highly suggest people go do it. It's not that expensive, relatively, and it is so fun! Allyson and Tim gave us this session as a gift so we shared this experience with them. I am so glad they were there to watch it with us.

I'm sure there will be lots more memories to be made, but for now, those are the big highlights
As a part of the session we were able to get 6 b&w 3d photos, about 65 color photos, a DVD of the session (it has all of her movements recorded and put to music), and we got a teddy bear with her heartbeat recorded inside. I think it will be fun for her to have and listen to when she decides to join us.
Anyways, here are a few pictures. I just picked a few of my favorites; there's more on Facebook...

Feet

She was being shy

Yawning

Happy Day!

There are 3 things going on today that just simply make me smile...

1. LOST Season 5 came out on DVD. I will be going to get it ASAP!


2. The Biggest Loser Finale is tonight.


3. We have our first birthing class at the hospital. It's supposed to be a tour of the delivery wing of the hospital so we know where to go on "the big day". {I hope we get to see some babies :) } Also, just a general overview of what to expect from the delivery. I am a bit nervous....

Irony...

LOVE

This is my favorite picture from my session with Hillary!

Repeat of Last Year??

I hope so!! :)

More Pictures

Hillary finished my pictures from my session with her! She has posted a few on her Blog.
She did a beautiful job, but I hate looking at pictures of myself! I always feel like I look dumb, my hair is doing something funky, I'm making a funny face... you name it!
Anyways, she's sending me the whole session on a CD so I can't wait to get it and look at them all!
Thanks Hillary! I had a blast working with you. I hope we can do it again one day :)

'Tis The Season

We got all of our Christmas Decorations up last night.

This is such a wonderful time of year! You can't help but be in a good mood. :)
Here are a few pictures of the decorations:
(disclaimer: some of these pictures are really bad since I could not get the lighting to cooperate)

Our stockings... I know Avery isn't here yet, but her stocking deserves to be hung, right? lol
Jeff's first comment: "Avery's stocking is bigger than ours"... to which I replied, "That's the way it is supposed to be, dear. Santa will need to make sure to fill it up, too!" lol

A close up of one of our decorative trees... LOVE!

This Santa is my favorite piece that I have. He is hand made and his clothes are stitched from upholstery fabric. He makes me smile every time I get him out of his wrapping in the attic. Too bad he can't stay out all year.

I made this little beauty for our front door. The picture does not do it justice AT ALL!! I love it though. It's something different than the usual wreath that everyone has.

I got these reindeer from my mom and dad for Christmas at the Nutcracker Market in Houston. (that is a whole post in itself... but needless to say, if you love the Holidays and decorating your house with anything Fall or Christmas themed, this is the place to go!)

Week 30

Avery is just chuggin' along... Mommy is getting ready for her to get here already! It seems to be going by so much slower now! Good news, though, I got weighed at the doctor today and have not put on any weight since my last apt at 25 weeks. I guess the weight is just shifting around cuz I know my belly is getting bigger!

Maternity Pictures

This was my second session for pictures, but they were taken by my cousin, Tanya Pabor, so she was able to get them to be yesterday at Thanksgiving dinner. She did a great job! We had a blast. This is my favorite picture from the session.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my niece Annelise's first birthday. We celebrated last weekend with a party since her birthday is always going to be right around Thanksgiving. (She was a "Turkey Baby" last year). Maybe I'm just biased, but she is just the sweetest and cutest baby out there! Here's to a wonderful first year and to many many more to come! :)

Book Worm

Yes, I have turned into one. I finished book #2 of my list of Mitch Albom's books to read. Although I disagree on the theology basis of the book, it was still amazing and I highly recommend it. It makes you stop and think about how you interact with the people around you and makes you wonder who's lives you may have touched without ever knowing it.

"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from the inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves."

"Life has to end, love doesn't."

"Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else."

YES!!!!

...It's about time! We have a date for the LOST premiere! February 2, 2010 will kick off the 6th and final season. It will be a bitter sweet day!

http://www.docarzt.com/lost/we-have-a-premiere-date/

Happy Birthday...

... A little late! To Daniel, Hannah's boyfriend! His birthday was on the 20th, but since I am notoriously late at these things... here I am. He's a big soccer fan so we got him a Houston Dynamo's jersey.

Actually, I just noticed that it is his golden birthday this year... He is 20 on the 20th! :P

Shower #4

This shower was given by my sister Emily and a dear family friend Rita Elrod. It was a "Bath Time" theme. They are some awesome shower planners! They had 2 games (which I lost misearably at), lots of bath toys as decorations, and Emily made a very cute diaper cake. Oh! and there were rubber duckies floating in the punch!

There were about 25 people that were able to make it. All of them are long time friends that I have not seen in a very long time, so it was great to get to see them. Another friend of mine, Ryane, (whom I grew up with and lived with in college for a year) just found out that she is pregnant, too! I think this makes #7, of friends who are due after me! Whoa! Anyways, here are a few pictures:

Emily and Rita

The pretty table

The Cake

Lauren made the cookies! Sooo cute and yummy :)

Diaper Cake

So True!

Dose of Laughter

Baby Shower #2

Baby Shower #2 was in Nederland for the Gribnau side of the family. Aunt Julie and Aunt RuthAnne always throw such beautiful showers. Thank you again for opening your house for us and all of the beautiful gifts!

Aunt Julie and RuthAnne


The Spread! Yum!!


Auntie Em and Aunt Hannah


Nana and Meemy

Baby Daddy Shower

Jeff's guy friends are some of the best men I have ever met. They are wonderful friends and co-workers for him. Tim decided that he needed to have a "Baby Daddy Shower" for all of the men to celebrate Jeff becoming a dad. What do you do at a man baby shower?? Well, I have to say that I was impressed with how well it turned out. I couldn't be there to witness, but I know there was lots of beer, football, horseshoes, and poker. They also, in good fun, made Jeff sit in front of all of them to open presents! The fact that they brought presents, organized food, etc, was very impressive! It sounds like they had a lot of fun. Thanks Tim and Allyson for opening your house for all those boys! :)