Counting Our Blessings: May 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Baby #2 - 38 (almost 39) weeks

Well, here I am - almost 39 weeks along with Baby #2! It has been a little while since I posted a "pregnant" picture and since I went to the doctor this morning for my (now) weekly check-up, I decided it was as good of day as any to take a picture of how big Baby #2 is getting to be!

Everything is great - my blood pressure is good, my weight gain is terrific (24 lbs - they like most Moms to gain between 25-35 lbs), my water retention is minimal (MUCH LESS, thank goodness, compared to my pregnancy with Jay), I have occasional contractions, but they aren't regular (just my body getting ready), and I'm sleeping great, too - although getting up about 4 times a night to piddle is a bit annoying. Most days I usually take a nap in the afternoon somewhere in the midst of Jay's afternoon nap. I'm trying to keep my "sleep bank" full so I'm not deprived when it comes to "game time." The only downer is that I have Group B this time, which isn't too big of a deal. I'll just get hooked up to an IV and will receive some antibiotic at the hospital during labor to help prevent Baby #2 from getting it when I deliver him.

Matt and I are both hoping for a JUNE baby. I'd rather not put family on the busy roads this Memorial Day weekend. My due date is June 5, but we're secretly hoping that this little guy might decide to arrive on Jay's birthday (June 2) so they'd be exactly two years apart. My Grandma did it - giving birth to my dad exactly three years to the day of when she had given birth to his older brother (my uncle Dale). So here's to hoping...

God's timing is perfect, and that is what we desire most of all. Please join us in praying for a smooth labor and delivery and a healthy baby boy in the next week or so. We'll keep you all posted regarding his arrival!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Just Because...

What a blessed woman I am! Matt came home with this beautiful bouquet of 18 red and white roses last night, purchased "just because..."

I sure love you, Matt! I am so honored to be married to you.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Another Bridal Shower for Sis

Last Thursday, May 20, Jay and I attended a bridal shower for Molly hosted by her former teacher co-workers. The hostess went ALL OUT and really took off on the Scottish theme. Scotch oranges, potatoes with scotch and steel-cut oats, followed by dessert which was angel food cake with a butter"scotch" pudding and whipped cream filling. Door prizes included shortbread cookies, argyle socks, etc.

Opening her first gift...

What every cook desires - really great cookie sheet pans!

She received a GORGEOUS Tiffany (& Co.) vase (notice the authentic Tiffany's box)

And more terrific kitchen supplies!

We were all envious of this triple tiered cake stand...they can be separate or stacked together like the picture on the box.

The hostess set a beautiful table for dessert and tea.

And at each place she printed out different Scottish quotes. Molly's quote came from the musical "Brigadoon."

Jay even had a place set at the table for him including a small plate, small fork, small spoon, and small glass. As you can see he thought Elmo and Cookie Monster should join in the party, too.

It was another lovely bridal shower indeed! Molly enjoyed her fourth and final bridal shower this past Saturday, May 22. Now she can focus on all the "end of school year" tasks related to her job and accomplishing the last details leading up to her wedding in early July.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

2nd Birthday Parties

Saturday, May 15 and Saturday May 22 we attended 2nd birthday parties of two of Jay's girl friends.

The first party involved:
A puppet show at the local library

Below: The birthday girl, Sarah, her Mom Anastacia (due with baby boy #2) and the puppeteer.

Which was followed by lunch and fun back at their home. Below here are several photos of us trying to get a good one of all the 2 year old friends. For some reason Jay lost it for the photo montage and was just fine once the posing was finished. It made for some really funny photos.

Audrey's 2nd birthday party happened this past Saturday. It was a fun and lovely party. The minute we walked in their door Jay saw Audrey playing with her new tea set from her Uncle Luke and Jay didn't miss a beat and joined right in, pretend pouring tea and having Audrey take pretend sips out of the tea cups.

Here is Audrey posing for pictures with her personal 2nd birthday cake.

Audrey with her Grandma Marty, her first cousin, and another girl friend.

Jay enjoyed playing with Declan who is 8 months old.

Watching Audrey open her gifts was probably my most favorite part of the party. She is just so much more verbal than Jay being just 2 weeks older than him. When opening her first gift of clothes she remarked, "Pretty! Audrey wear now."

As you can guess from the above photo, Jay was right there in the midst of opening all her gifts and played with each one along with Audrey. He had a great time (and so did I).

Below was the result of the car ride home...one tuckered out guy.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Sister's Seattle Bridal Shower

Last Saturday, May 15, the four of us bridesmaids along with Molly's two honorary bridesmaids hosted a bridal shower for Molly in Seattle.

Here is the little table that greeted the guests as they came into the home...a basket of blank envelopes for people to write their address on to speed up the thank-you note process for Molly.

Followed by a place to put the bridal shower gifts...

...and a table showing off the kilt, coat of arms, clan badge, engagement announcement, and scrapbook supplies for writing marriage advice notes on for Scott and Molly. I made sure to take pictures of every guest so that we can put a little photo of the person along with their advice together in the memory scrapbook.

It was a mid-afternoon bridal shower so we decided to have a chocolate fountain for dipping fresh fruit, angel food cake, marshmallows, and the like. It smelled DIVINE! Chocolate and white cupcakes were also served topped with a big fresh raspberry on top. M-m-m!

A view of the food table from up above (upstairs)...

Cinnamon bears, chocolate covered pretzels, red hots, and red and black licorice on the living room coffee table continued to carry out our red, white, and black color scheme/theme.

Crackers, cheese, chips, veggies and dip with the red gerber daisies adorned the kitchen workstation.

And the sangria, water, and non-alcoholic cran/raspberry punch adorned the other kitchen workstation.

Here is a sweet picture of fiance Scott's Mom with Molly...

And a picture of Molly with fiance Scott's sister (soon to be sister-in-law) Kristy.

Pictured below is Ceceilia, Scott's Dad's wife, and Molly.

Here is Molly with our Mom, Amy, and our good family friend, Karen!

Molly's former housemate, Stacia, came with her darling 3 month old daughter, Poppy.

And here are some photos of friends from Molly's church. They participate in a small group Bible Study together.

A photo of bridesmaid Danielle...

Good friend Courtney...

...and bridesmaid Debbie from Oregon.

Following are several snapshots taken while guests filled out a "How well do you know Molly" worksheet for the bridal shower game.

The bridal shower was so much fun (and beautiful)!

Following the bridal shower a small group of us went out to dinner together. To make Molly "stand out" from the rest of us, we gave her this white "bride" t-shirt and cute little veil to wear. Isn't she beautiful??? How gorgeous is she gonna look in her bridal gown when she looks this good in a t-shirt and jeans!!

Looking forward to your wedding day on July 10th, sis! Love you!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Molly's Family Bridal Shower

Saturday morning, May 8th, we enjoyed watching these three munchkins play together. Jay was especially great with baby Sarah (giving this Mom some hope that he'll be sweet and good to his new baby brother in about a month).

Jay giving baby Sarah a kiss while she got in some tummy time.

The five of us ladies, (back row left to right) bridesmaid Debbie from Oregon, cousin Amy, myself, sister-in-law Mandy, and cousin Alisha hosted a salad luncheon bridal shower Saturday afternoon to celebrate my sister's upcoming wedding.

Punch, water, coffee and tea table with a beautiful floral bouquet leftover from Grandma's memorial service the day before.

The food table...8 varying salads, a meat and cheese tray, and Mom's homemade crescent rolls.

The gift table

Here is the display table with what now will be Molly's wedding china that Grandma Dorothy bought/used, along with fiancee Scott's family's tartan/kilt, family coat of arms, and family crest.

Christina lived with our family for several years in highschool. It was good to see her and we snapped this picture of the three of us together.

Guest table #1

Guest table #2

Guest table #3

Guest table #4

Guest table #5

Guest table #6

Pictured a bit later is the head table at which Mom, Molly, and Grandma Alma sat. Grandma Alma lovingly provided the floral basket centerpiece for the head table and the floral corsage that Molly wore.

After lunch I shared a short devotion for Molly. This picture was taken just after I finished my "speech."

Cousin Alisha organized a fun little game followed by us hostesses serving angel food cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream on top. M-m-m! Then the gift opening began!

As you can see, she had lots of little girls "helping" out.

Here is Aunt Mary Kaye explaining to Molly a few things about her new Bosch mixer. Lots of family members went in together to purchase a new one for her. (This is somewhat of a tradition in our family - getting a new Bosch mixer to use in our new family homes, I mean. We love our Bosch mixers!)

A quick family photo - me and sister-in-law Mandy in back row; Mom, Molly, and Grandma Alma seated in front.

And I'll end this post with a montage of pictures of a tender moment exchanged between Mom and daughter following the conclusion of the bridal shower.

Molly, we are so happy for you and are so looking forward to taking part in your special wedding day in July! Love you!

Counting Our Blessings