Baby Shower

Saturday, My mom, sister, and a some friends threw a baby shower for Presley. It was a small shower at my Mom's house with close friends and family.

Mantle decorations

Everything was so sweet!

The tables. They were so pretty.

They did a lot of work, but I think everyone loved it and had a great time.

Some of the flowers.

 The shower was at noon and they had prepared a full lunch and served each guest. Everything was so good. We had salad, chicken casserole, steamed veggies, cream cheese muffins, strawberry pretzel salad, chocolate covered strawberries, cake, and whoopie pies with water, lemonade, fruit tea, and iced coffee to drink. I think that is everything. It was really yummy!

My friend Stephanie made these strawberries. They were just as yummy as they are pretty!!!

My sister made these, that tutu is for baby Presley. :)

Mason jars with pink straws. so cute.

My friend used to make cakes as a side business.  She quit doing it as a business once she started having babies. She does a wonderful job and occasionally still makes them for "special"  people and events. She made this one for my shower.

There were about 20 people there. We got so many sweet things for Presley. She is already so loved by so many.  Baby girl stuff is so cute and fun!!!

Me with my grandmother's, mom, and sister.~pictures taken from my sis~

A few of the guests. ~pic taken from my sis~

guests observing opening of the gifts. ~pic taken from my sis~

My SIL Lauren, Myself, Mom, and sister Amy.
These ladies worked so hard to make the shower a success.
Thank you so much!!!

Gift table. The framed dress is the dress my mom brought me home from the hospital in.

I woke up at 3 am(my normal wake-up time these days) with one eye swollen shut! I moved to the recliner and finally fell back asleep around 4 am. I woke again around 6:30 with my eye still swollen. I took a hot shower and took some allergy medicine a NP friend had told me would be fine if needed. The swelling went down a lot, but my eye was still irritated and red. I was so frustrated, because it was shower day. I had bought a new dress and was so excited. It takes a lot to feel good about yourself when 33 weeks preggers; a swollen, red, lazy eye does not help matters.

You can see how one eye is smaller than the other in this picture. This is typical for my life. It is a good think I have a good sense of humor or I would have been mortified. Ha Ha!

waiting to open gifts

By the way, it was just irritated from sinus/allergy problems. It is completely better now, but the sinus/allergy problems are not. It wasn't pink eye, in case you were worried. :)

I am so thankful for such sweet friends and family. They love our family so well. Caleb, Brady, Presley, and myself are so very blessed to have some many people who love and care for us. My love language is by far gifts, so I am always left feeling so overwhelmingly loved and blessed after showers.

I made these pretzels as favors for all the guests to take home.

I can not wait for our baby girl to officially join our family and use all of her sweet things.

For more pictures and details you can go to my sister's blog here.

 

The World According to Brady...

Time for a few Brady stories. He keeps us on our toes and laughing all the time. You never ever know what is going to come out of that little mouth. :o

We always ask Brady what he learned in Bible class after it is over. Wednesday he replied, "Jesus was washing his friends feet. But Peter said don't wash my feet. Then Jesus said you better let me wash your feet."

 

Brady asked me last week why I was walking like a penguin. He proceeded to laugh hysterically afterwards.

 

The other night Brady said, "When I grow up big, I am gonna smoke just like my Papa!"- That one didn't go over so well. Apparently he spent the next day telling Papa how yucky smoking is and it is what is making him cough all the time.

Brady asked me if we had diapers for the baby, I told him we had some. Brady quickly said, "Diapers- check!" 

He said after seeing a Chuck-E-Cheese commercial the other day, "when my baby is born, Poppi and Sue Sue are taking me to Chuck-E-Cheese and they will let me ride the cars ride".  He totally made that up.

We met my friend Brandi last week for dinner while Caleb went to a concert. Brady sat as close as humanly possible to Brandi during dinner. He looked at her and said, "My daddy told my mommy my game was at the school with the rocket ship, but when we got there no one was there. Then my mommy cried and cried and called daddy and told him to tell us where the ballgame was. Then daddy told us where to go and we made it to the game. " Unfortunately this was a very accurate account of our trip to one of Brady's games one Saturday morning. He has started telling everything!!!

That is all for now. I am sure there is more, but it so hard to remember everything. Especially since he talks non stop all day long.

Where is Brady?

Since we have put the crib up in the babies room, Brady has been obsessed with it and that room.

If we can't find him for a minute, you will usually hear giggling coming from her room.

He is nearly always sitting in her crib.

He is often playing with her little toys as well.

I have a feeling we will have to monitor this very closely once she gets here.

I don't want Brady trying to get her out by himself or climbing in to play with her. LOL!

I hope his love for her sticks around. ;)

Baby Talk- 32 Weeks

32 Weeks

Less than 8 weeks left.

I am getting so excited and ready to welcome her into our family. I have a small friends and family shower at my mom's house on Saturday. I am so excited to shower little Presley with love and gifts. The nursery is coming right along, especially now that our room is back to normal. Yay! Yay!

I am definitely starting to feel ready for her to just get here. I know I am beginning to look further along and more uncomfortable by the comments. They have gone from you look so cute to how much longer???? Overall I feel like it has gone quickly, but I  am quickly entering the miserable phase. I am still incredibly thankful for her and that she can continue to grow and develop properly. :) 

The picture this week is real life. This is how I look daily.  I was cleaning around the house and cooking dinner for a friend. I hadn't had a shower, yet. I had on no make-up and my hair was thrown in a knot. My face and neck are swollen from allergy/sinuses plus being 32 weeks preggo. (Our entire family is battling extreme sinus problems, including Caleb. He rarely ever has sinus probs.) Brady took the picture, because he always wants to take a picture of me. Considering all that, it didn't seem so bad.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 32 weeks

Size of baby: size of a jicama

Total Weight Gain/Loss: up about 16 lbs

Clothes: It is getting to be mostly maternity with a few regular things sprinkled in.

Gender: Girl! Presley Lynn Barrett

Movement: Yes! All. the. time.

Sleep: I wake up at 3 am every night, sometimes I am able to fall asleep in bed, but mostly I end up moving to the recliner. I was looking on facebook today and noticed most of my comments were at 3-4 am. Ha Ha!

What I miss: sleeping and feeling normal

Cravings: sweet stuff and salty stuff, snack type stuff. My appetite has really decreased, but I am hungry all the time. It is a strange combination. I really just want to eat snack stuff and no meals.

Symptoms: so many crazy things, heart burn, dark spots on my hands, leg cramps, itchy skin, back aches,  a little swelling around my feet, hands, and face(my blood pressure is still perfect though, so no worries), and so many other strange things.

I have stopped wearing both my wedding rings. I haven't been able to wear my engagement ring for quite sometime, because the band is thick and it irritates my other fingers if I have the slightest bit of swelling. However, my wedding band is thinner and I have been wearing it alone until this week. I struggled to get it off the other night, so Caleb and I decided I should retire it for a while.

Best Moment this week: enjoying a sweet mother's day with my family

What am I looking forward to: my appointment Thursday and shower Saturday!!!

Mother's Day Weekend 2012

We had a great weekend. Caleb was off all weekend including Monday, weekends when he is off are my favorite.

Friday night was the first Friday night we haven't had a ball game in a few weeks, so we just spent the night at home.

Saturday, Brady had a t-ball game. The games are so fun! Brady had quite the fan section at this game. My parents, my grandparents-Mimi and Clark, my friends-Amie and Brandi, Caleb's mom, and myself were all cheering him on from the sidelines. This coming weekend will be his last games for the season, then they have tournaments.

A quick story from his game: Brady was playing short stop. The coaches give them general directions of what to do if the ball comes to them depending on where they are positioned. For example: catch it and throw it to first base. They aren't able to look around the field and determine where the ball should go quite yet. So, the ball comes to Brady at short stop and he had been told if the ball comes to him to throw it to 2nd base.

Here is how it went.

1. He caught the ball.

2. everyone yelled for him to throw it to 3rd instead

3. He threw it to second.

4. There wasn't anyone on 2nd to catch the ball.

5. Brady turns to the crowd with the biggest smile ever on his face and yells, "I did to mom!"
6. The ball is in the outfield by itself, while the runner runs home.

He did exactly what he was told. It was so sweet and funny.

The rest of Saturday was spent doing things around the house.

Caleb and Brady bought me my Mother's Day gift while they went to take the trash off. Brady told me what it was as soon as he walked into the house. "Hey Mom, we got you a sharp flower!"

Sunday Morning, Caleb and Brady fixed me breakfast of eggs, sausage, and biscuits. We spent the rest of the day at church and at my mom's.

Brady painted these flower pots for my Mom, Caleb's mom, and both of my grandmother's on Saturday. We got those all delivered. They were a big hit and Brady was very proud of them. He made sure to tell everyone that was his hand on the pot. Ha Ha!

These turned out to be perfect gifts. The pots only cost a little over a $1 each. We used acrylic paint we already had and I wrote on them with a sharpie. I originally planned to plant a flower in each one, but decided against it because we had a little bit of travel to do and a few stops to make and I didn't want the flowers dying in the car or getting dirt all over the car. It worked out.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I realize for some it is not a particularly fun day. Whether you are desiring to be a mom or missing a mom or  child, I hope your day was filled with love and comfort. 

Friday Play Day

We had a play date today.

The plastic bags are full of water balloons. It took less than 2 minutes  for them to bust all of them. Wendie said that was about 2 hours worth of filling up water balloons.

Notice all the empty bags. I think they are looking for more, but there weren't any.

We picked up Noah and brought him with us because his mommy had a Dr. appointment and Noah wouldn't be able to come otherwise.

The play date was at Brady's friends Case and Kendall's house. Their mom Wendie went all out for a wonderful play date.

Brady and Grady. If you find one, the other is usually not far behind.

They live on a hill so they made a slip in slide, which the kids LOVED!

The 4 year olds holding hands.

I know I cut there heads off, but I love this picture. They are funny.

They also had a couple kiddie pools, water balloons, water guns, and bubbles.

Noah preferred to keep water on the slide rather than slide down. Ha Ha!

The kids played and played while the mommies soaked in the sun a little.

We had a yummy lunch of sandwiches/croissants, fruit with dip, chips, chicken nuggets, carrots with spinach dip, and fruit tea.

Fashion show including Thomas the Train, Lightening McQueen, 2 Transformers, a bumblebee, and Buzz Lightyear(not pictured).

The kids finished off playing together inside, but it wasn't over before we were treated to a Halloween costume fashion show!

Noah, Brady, and I stopped by to visit my mom at work, the we took advantage of being out at Happy Hour at Sonic before coming home.

This may have been one of my favorite play dates to date. I think the kiddos might agree!

Baby Talk- 31 Weeks

31 Weeks

This is the new color in our bedroom. More to come on that later!

I know I do these posts each week, but sometimes it hits me just how close we are to being a family of four. This was one of those weeks. I can not believe we have less than 9 weeks to meet our sweet baby girl! I am so ready and not so ready all at the same time!!!

This picture is blurry. I had to use the timer and this was the best one that I didn't cut my head off.

She is really giving me a run for my money recently. She is wiggling and kicking herself lower and lower. It is good because there is a lot less pressure on my ribs and lungs, but more pressure lower. I am getting less and less sleep each night, but I really want to be sleeping. I also have lots of waddling, back aches, and itchy skin.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 31 weeks

Size of baby: four naval oranges

Total Weight Gain/Loss: up about 16 lbs

Clothes: It is getting to be mostly maternity with a few regular things sprinkled in.

Gender: Girl! Presley Lynn Barrett

Movement: Yes! All. the. time.

Sleep: very little.

What I miss:  sleeping and feeling normal

Cravings: I had a random desire to eat hot fudge cake the other day. My sweet husband ran out and got me one after he put Brady to bed the other night. I am hungry often, but can't eat much at a time due to room. Sweets really hit the spot!

Symptoms: so many crazy things, heart burn, dark spots on my hands, leg cramps, itchy skin, back aches,  and so many other strange things.

Best Moment this week: welcoming Presley's sweet friend Nora.

What am I looking forward to: next appointment and baby shower

Monday

We had the painter and the HVAC guys all here on Monday to get our house back together. I can not tell you how happy I am to have my house getting back in order!!!

Monday morning our friends, Ana and Steven, had their first baby girl, Nora. I so wanted to rush out and see her, but with all the work going on at the house I needed to be there to let people in and out and answer questions.

We made sure to visit them later in the day. More on that in a minute.

Before that though, my sister brought Noah over while she did some running around town and visiting with Nora.

Brady and Noah have started to really play well together.

They played for a while.

Then had lunch!

 Then popsicles.

Then watched Toy Story.

They had the best time together.

I am not sure what is going on here, but I am pretty sure the words I don't want to hear anyone crying in a minute came  out of my mouth at this point. Ha!

Brady and I visited Nora after Amy picked up Noah. I walked out and forgot my camera so I didn't take any pictures at the hospital. I did steal this sweet picture of her in the nursery from Ana's facebook. Brady LOVED Nora. He was so excited and talked and talked. He kept getting in her face and trying to love and interact with her.

There was a lull in visitors when we were there, so we really got to love on Nora. We brought a few goodies for Nora, Mommy, and Daddy. I am so excited Nora and Presley will be so close in age.

(Nora and Noah is just a little confusing, try to keep up.)

Amy brought us a sweet gift for Presley for keeping Noah. I am lazy, so I stole this pic from Amy's blog instead of taking my own. ;o

We came home with dinner and waited for Caleb to get home. He had some things to do after work, so he was later than normal.

I think the only thing left on our house is the carpet. I will do a full post on our new bedroom when we get it all back together. I have to do a nursery post as well. I am excited for it all to get done.

That is all for now.

Wild Weekend

Caleb asked me a few weeks ago if I thought we would ever have a quiet, calm weekend again.

I laughed and said not for 25 years or so. Ha!

My calender is a little overwhelming at the moment, but I wouldn't change it for anything.

Our weekend was jam packed with events!

Friday, our good friend Taylor graduated from nursing school. We went to his pinning and skipped his actual graduation. 

He is in there somewhere.

Brady had to wear his uniform. He enjoyed the graduation with oreos.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Brady and Caleb rushed to Brady's t-ball game and I went to a lingerie shower.

After nearly 6 years of marriage and 2 pregnancies, lingerie showers aren't nearly as exciting. It was still a fun time anyway. Ha Ha!

This is the only 2 pictures I took. Oops!

 

Noah only wanted to blow out the candles at the shower.

Caleb and Brady went with all of Caleb's family to eat at Cracker Barrell after the game. We all met back at home sometime after 9.

Saturday morning, we all got up early as usual. Caleb had to be at work, Brady had another game, and the drywall man was coming to begin the repairs to our wall.

The game was intense. I didn't take any pictures at all. We already played this particular team. We will just say that their strategy does not promote fun for all, but only winning. They are 3 and 4 years old. I am not sure anyone involved had a good time.

The rest of the teams are not like that, which is good.

Saturday night after Caleb got off work we decided to grab some dinner. We went to a hibachi place we had a coupon for. It was good. Brady had the best time!!!

Sunday, Caleb had to work again. Caleb went to church with his parents for friends and family day, but I teach the 4 year old class on Sunday morning, so Brady and I went to church as usual. Caleb headed to work after church and Brady and I had a lunch date at one of my favorite places.

We came home and took naps. Then headed back to church as a family. They had a singing thing and food afterwards, so we stayed for that. Brady and Grady led Jesus loves me in front of all the teenagers and whoever was there. It was so sweet!!! I so wish I had my camera, but I didn't even have my phone.

I need to do better at taking pictures!

All About Brady

I did a quick questionnaire with Brady a few months ago and I thought I would do it again since we are just a couple of months away from adding a new baby to our family. I hope to do this in a few months after she is born to see if his answers have changed!

I also have seen several Meet My Mom and Meet My Dad questionnaires on Pinterest and thought I would throw those in as well!

1. What is your name?         B-R-A-D-Y,  He spelled it out!           

2. How old are you? 3
3. Where do you live?  Murfreesboro
4. What is your favorite color? Purple
5. What is your favorite animal? Snake
6. What makes you happy?  my snake
7. What makes you sad? I don't know, but you know what makes me mad? That Kayla(Brady's aunt) left her car at Gigi and Papa's, because she is not supposed to do that.
8. What is your favorite toy? cars
9. What is your favorite food? Macaroni
10. What is your favorite song?         ABC's

11. Who is your best friend? Grady
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?(added by request from my mom:)) A man just like my daddy

Meet My Dad.

1. What is my daddy's name? Caleb

2. What does daddy do for fun? baseball

3.  What does daddy do at work? make money

4. What is daddy's favorite thing to eat? Strawberries

5. What is daddy's favorite thing to drink? Tea

6. How old is daddy? 2

7. What is daddy's hair like? brown

8. What is daddy's favorite thing to do? look at the computer

9. What is your favorite to do with daddy? play baseball

10. What makes daddy the best? he plays ball with me

Meet My Mom.

1. What is mommy's name? Amber

2. What does mommy do for fun? clean the kitchen

3. What does mommy do at work? make money

4. What is mommy's thing to eat? Macaroni too!

5. What is mommy's favorite thing to drink? Tea

6. How old is mommy? 2

7. What is mommy's hair like? brown

8. What is mommy's favorite thing to do? watch t.v.

9. What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? clean the kitchen

10. What makes mommy the best? the baby

Baby Talk- 30 Weeks

I am finally in the 30's! I can NOT believe we will be meeting our baby girl in less than 10 weeks. That is not long at all!

Everything is still developing and progressing perfectly!

I am getting more and more, "how much longer questions?" and "you look like you are about to pop" every day. I can't say that I love those comments. ;)

I am actually feeling pretty good for 30 weeks. I am uncomfortable, my feet and back hurt, and I am tired, but I don't feel miserable just yet. I think I am beginning to waddle, though.

This picture was taken on Saturday morning before Brady's game. I am wearing my Brady's mom shirt.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Size of baby: size of a head of cabbage

Total Weight Gain/Loss: up about 15-16 lbs. I went to the Dr on Monday and had only gained 1 lb in 2 weeks.

Clothes: It is getting to be mostly maternity with a few regular things sprinkled in.

Gender: Girl! Presley Lynn Barrett

Movement: Yes!

Sleep: It is getting more difficult. I usually end up in the recliner almost every night.

What I miss:  Being able to bend over and just feeling comfortable.

Cravings: everything sounds good, but I can only handle small portions.

Symptoms: the only new symptom is some dark spots on my hands. So weird.

Best Moment this week: A great Dr appointment and the bedding arriving!!!

What am I looking forward to: next appointment in 2 weeks, the nursery starting to come together, and an upcoming baby shower with sweet friends!!!