Grannies

This past weekend the Grannies went to Greenville to have a get-together before the baby comes! They were so sweet to plan this time for the 4 of us to just "be". It was perfect. Becca kept saying on Saturday, "This is the most perfect day!" We spent the weekend very low-key, just how we all liked it. We walked around town, helped Becca find some dresses for her upcoming wedding showers, took Scout (Anna's dog) for a long walk, got Mellow to eat at the house for supper, fell asleep before 10 either talking or watching Glee, caught up on how each other's hearts are really doing, laughed a lot, and even bought sweet baby bukes an outfit in which to come home from the hospital. (A hat, onesie, booties and blanket)

It was SO GREAT! Love my Grans and love our time together. We don't think we've done that, just the 4 of us, since before I got married - CRAZY!

Next time we see each other it will be either when Baby Bukes is born or when Becca gets married (May 21!). Looking forward to whenever it is and especially to our next reunion!

Favorite Pics from the weekend. Anna may have 1 of the 4 of us coming shortly. . .

Yes, they all have baby bumps. You can get your very own at your local maternity store. We did in fact ask the sales clerk to take a picture of all 4 of us and she confusingly asked, "So, are you all pregnant?"

Anna, Holland and Becca

Love you girls,

Official Countdown:

38 days!

45 days left!

8 month picture courtesy of Hal!

I must admit that there is a slight increase in discomfort with each day that passes. We think we've decided on a name ("think" being the operative word here) but have decided to keep it a secret. It's funny, we have had so much trouble with this - I guess because we don't "know" her yet it's hard to be sure what she should be called. What we are thinking is her name now could change when she is born - we'll just have to see.

Had a great trip to Myrtle Beach this past weekend for the Marathon. You should read the journey of Tay's training leading up to the race here. It was such a great weekend filled with laughter, sunshine, the beach, friends and family! JoBeth and Tombo were gracious enough to host us at his grandparent's beach house in North Myrtle. It was so fun to be with both of them and with Beau and Handley Reid. Beau kept us quite entertained.

Taylor did amazing! I don't want to ruin anything he may post on his blog, so I'll leave it at I AM SO PROUD OF HIM! It is a pretty amazing thing to watch people run across the finish line of a 26.2 mile run. It's even more amazing when you've watched that person train and prepare and to see them push through to finish - it's tearfully inspiring. JoBeth and Tombo both said they want to run a marathon next year . . . I may even go as far to say after the inspiration from Saturday's race, I may want to run one at some point. But, I'm making no commitments :).

Here are some pics from the weekend! It was SO great!

Date Night - Fritti

I realize I should have probably started specifying each date night in the title because they are all starting to run together. So, from now on, you'll know where we went from the title.

Last night we went to Fritti. We had a Scoutmob (seriously, if you don't do scoutmob you are missing out! We go to so many new restaurants we never would: a. know about; b. try).

It's been fun to try a few restaurants over in the old 4th ward/Inman Park area.

Fritti is a pizzeria and it is delicious! It has the same make-up as Verasano's Pizza: thin crust, hot off the hearth, authentic. Unlike Verasano's they offer a wider variety of toppings. We got one with caramelized onions and some sort of fine bacon (mmm) and another with musrooms and truffle oil (Linds had told us all about the truffle oil). When they brought the pizza out we thought there was no way we could eat all of both, but, of course, we only came home with 1 piece for lunch today!

Once again we were there by 6:15 and headed home by 7:20 :). But we loved it!

If we were going to rank, I think we voted Verasano's as our favorite thus far.

At date night we talked about how I've been starting to feel more nervous these days. I am nervous about the nearing future, going into labor, experiencing labor (although as soon as they say the word epidural, I'm jumping on it!), holding her once she's born, feeding, sleeping, bringing her home, how things will change with Tay and me, how we will interact as a family, how we will navigate through this whole new world (can't help but sing the Aladdin song on a magic carpet ride!), etc.

I am just nervous. A lot of uncharted territory that is coming. . . she's coming and I'm not sure I'm ready.

It's getting closer - it's really happening - we are going to be parents. Of course I am excited beyond words, of course I cannot wait to hold her, of course I cannot wait to see Tay adore her and she adore him. Of course the joy is still so present about this new phase; but when being honest, I admit, that I am nervous at the same time.

Official Countdown:

55 Days!

2 months!

Today is February 7. Next Month it will be March 7. The month after that will be April 7. Just in case you forgot, I am supposed to have a baby on that day . . .

This weekend I got to be with my nephew and niece at my parent's house! My sister was sweet to include Tay and me with all of their friends for Tombo's birthday celebration. It was so fun because 2 other couples have kids Beau's age and one couple is due with their 2nd in June - so he and Handley Reid will be around the same age as well. Anyone of my friends reading this post - GET TO WORK :)

I took my camera with good intentions of capturing my life as an aunt . . . and failed. But here are a few:

Look at sweet Handley Reid in her tutu and ballerina slippers :) Oh I love her! (and this bib is AMAZING!! Covers EVERYTHING!)

Beau loves McConnell. She told her parents she couldn't wait to see him; that he was her best friend :)

McConnell and Beau with Joby

And, my favorite picture of the weekend . . . George and Beau - on the infamous scooter -I believe this was taken before the big spill

Official countdown:

59 days!

Thankful

Last week was "full" of receiving love from really really dear people in my life.

I want to elaborate on each one because they have meant so much to me, but I also don't want too much time to pass by post their departure!

So, here is my attempt at a quick run-down:

Tuesday January 25

A cercie package arrives from Trisha Holmes (Aubs' mother-in-law) so sweet!

Just some precious pink loveys to put in Baby Bukes' nursery

Wednesday January 26

Aub's Package Arrives

When I open the package I find this beautiful black box with the label, "Baby Bukes" . . .

When I open the black box I find this dear note to Baby Bukes from Aunt Aubs along with a sweet necklace for her to wear and the paint swatches.

Under the first layer is a note of instructions along with a cd to listen to as we decorate :)

Then I uncover what starts the dialogue between myself and Baby Bukes of "Oh my goodness!"

Below: Option #1 - Color scheme: Platinum, Pink and White - (More expensive)

A detailed rendering of the Nursery Nook using options designed by Aubs and perfectly displayed as how the room would look if we were to go with #1. . . AMAZING

Under Option #1 Rendering is Option #1's breakdown of actual items that are in the room. She literally went through and pulled out the exact pieces she drew in and documented them by price, picture and where I could buy/find them . . . seriously!? Isn't this an, "Oh my goodness!"

Then, I keep turning the pages and I discover Option # 2 - Color Scheme: Platinum, Pink and White - (Less Expensive). So, the same idea for the nursery, just less expensive options to pull of the same feel . . . seriously, "Oh my goodness!"

Option #2's breakdown!

Option # 3 - Color Scheme: Tan, Pink and White (More Expensive). Under it was the breakdown for this option!

Option #4 - Color Scheme: Tan, Pink and White (Less expensive). And of course, under neath this one was the breakdown!

Option # 5 - Color Scheme: Pink and White (More Expensive). And the next sheet held the breakdown!

Option #6 - Color Scheme: Pink and White (Less Expensive). And, you guessed it! Underneath was the breakdown for this option!

How amazing was all of that!?! The talent, the time, the effort the thoughtfulness, the sweet touches! It was SO exciting to open up and even MORE exciting to see what was actually inside and even MORE an opportunity for tears to flow at the sweetness of it all from my sweet pal Aubs! My pictures do NO justice! I wish you could see them all in person . . . simply amazing!

When I've not been able to fall back asleep in the middle of the night, I catch myself wanting to just come sit in the den and look through them all again . . . I just love it!

THANK YOU AUBS!! What a fun thing this has been for me to do this with you :)

Thursday January 27

Mattress Arrives from Claire! Thank you Birdie :)

I couldn't wait to get it on the crib! I didn't even take the wrapping off! Baby Bukes will be so thankful to have a place to rest her head :)

Friday January 28

Catie arrives from Houston

I unfortunately didn't take any pictures of her on Friday night to show her arrival :( But we had a little sleepover to make the most of our time - oh how we miss you Catie Girl! We went to Ria's Bluebird for breakfast Saturday morning, and NY Times wasn't lying: World's Best Pancakes!

Catie, you are a love to FLY in to help throw a shower! THANK YOU!

Saturday January 29

Anna arrives from Greenville

She and Ryan spent the night with us, watched Social Network, ate cookies, went to church, had their first try at Flying Biscuit and then helped me find a dress for the shower last minute before we had to make our appearance :) THANK YOU for making the trip in for the shower, Cweep! It was so special to have you here!

Sunday January 30

Love and friends and gifts arrive to baby shower.

The sweetest hostesses in the world: Hal, Catie, Linds and Kyle - THANK you GIRLS!!!!!!!!

This seriously was AMAZING! I felt SO loved! Precious precious precious! Every time I turned the corner there was something else that just captured my heart! Look at this sweet banner for Baby Bukes!
And these "Booties" filled with nuts (I had one friend who thought it was supposed to be baby bump:) Then I had to explain to Tay what a "bootie" was :)
The Shower was at Hal's house! Just perfect!Opening presents - Mama, "Eesie", gave me this beautiful matlesse and will put Baby Bukes' initials on it when we decide what her name is :)The Stanfill girls: Kerri, Claire, and Heather. Love you all - Baby Bukes is blessed to have you as Aunts and Birdies :)

A group shot before everyone started to leave! Thank you for showering us!!!!!!

Thank you Lord! I have been learning a lot about how hard and trying times - those we would not normally consider blessings in life - are those to be thankful for. However, we can still thank Him and praise Him for the things that are joyful and fun and tender and make us feel special - so for all of this past week and the people who've poured out their love to us, THANK YOU, Lord for these blessings!

Official Countdown:

63 Days!

(We're now in the single digit weeks left . . . 9 weeks, yikes!)