Hattiesburg Shower for Baby Les!!

My wonderful friends had a shower for me this weekend, and it was the best!;) I wasn't able to have a shower last pregnancy. Bed rest put an end to that!! So I was excited to have one. Thanks, Ladies!! I am very thankful to have such amazing, thoughtful friends. 

Thanks to my friend Maurie Hartel for taking pics!!

Loved my invitation!!

The cake was precious!! (and yummy!!)

The food was delicious too! Everything was perfect.

Mimosas were passed... and for the many preggers in attendance - apple cider/orange juice... delicious!!

I think this was the "expecting Mama" blend...;)

Sweet Amanda is 24 wks pregnant with a baby girl - Layla Grace Lee!! We can't wait to meet her!

My big tummy. I was 32 wks the day of the shower.

Stephanie Mayfield and her little girl, Maddie. She is too cute.

My sis-in-law, Leah, and I

Maurie and I

Love these girls!!

Everyone started to thin out as we were chatting, chatting, chatting... and eating... So I decided to take gifts home and open them with Ceci and Daddy. How much FUN!! Ceci loved it!! We tried to tell her the gifts were for her new baby brother. Every time we asked if she wanted a "new baby in the house" or wanted a "baby brother," she shook her head no. Super. A few weeks ago Jonathan's cousin came in town with her 4 month old twin boys, and that was our first glimpse into Cecilia around Mommy and Mam-ma (Jonathan's Mom) holding other babies. It did NOT go over well... AT ALL. Let's hope she has a change of heart in the next few weeks. Yikes!

More wonderful friends!! So much fun.

Candice made it in from Birmingham for the shower. SOOO excited she came!! LOVVVVE her!! Can she please move closer????!

Pregnancy #2

I haven't blogged much about this pregnancy. It is difficult chasing Cecilia and focusing on anything else... Miss Demanding! I had a check-up Tuesday at 31 wks, 3 days and all looked great. They did an ultrasound, etc. Les was weighing in at 3 lbs, 12 oz and at 32 weeks, so he is growing just great and ahead of schedule. I have gained a whopping 46 lbs. so far this pregnancy. Yikes. And I still have weeks to go. I guess I'll have time to lose it later!! That's what I keep telling myself at least. This pregnancy has been much different than the last! I was very sick at the beginning of this pregnancy and finally got over that. I was also on bed rest at FGH for 6 wks last pregnancy (condition: placenta previa, which I don't have this pregnancy. Whew). I'll be 32 wks on Sat for my first shower. My wonderful friends have decided to give me a shower since I wasn't able to have one last pregnancy. The invitations had gone out on a Friday, and I was admitted to the hospital Sunday (never to be released until I had Cecilia). I have a shower in Hattiesburg this Saturday then one on the Coast next Saturday. Yay!! How fun!! THANKS to my fabulous, sweet friends!!! They are the best.

The Year of the Surprise Party...

We are all turning 30 this year, and we had yet another surprise gathering...


Happy Happy Birthday to my wonderful, amazing and hard-working husband Jonathan!! I knew I wanted to do something special for his 30th. This definitely turned into a full-out party. It was all well worth it... even if my 30 week pregnant swollen feet still have yet to recover. Wow. It was a long night for this mama!

This party was months in the making!! I had some help, thank goodness. My decorator and caterer are so wonderful... and the bartenders were amazing. I had the party at our friend David Fortenberry's, and he was the BIGGEST help. He had kids scrubbing the floors of his garage the day before, had them hand wash and dry all the wine/beer glasses for the event, had them direct vehicles for parking and help the entire night with whatever I needed. A huge thanks to him. He also had a few good ideas along the way like the mist fans which were added at the 11th hour to my rental order. In record breaking heat, I guess you could say these were a hit!;)

Friends, friends and more friends!! I was so excited with the turnout. It was come and go but we had right under 100 throughout the night. Great turnout for Jonathan!! He is loved by many!! And a huge thanks to all his friends who came from afar to attend. He hasn't seen these college friends in quite some time, and I was SO excited they could attend. It was some work to keep this a surprise, but we managed to do it. And they were even able to mingle at my house before being shuttled over to the party that evening. Thanks to Jonathan's family for keeping him occupied that day.

Surprise gift!! So this was exciting, given that I didn't "get" Jonathan anything for his birthday.;) One of his friends called the day of the party saying a gift was being delivered to the house (party). Well, when the XL Big Green Egg arrived I was stunned. I'm not much into BGEs:), but I do know these are very nice. Six of his friends/co-workers all split the cost. Thanks, guys!! VERY nice surprise gift to add to the night!!

And now for the YUMMY menu, compliments of Fran Ginn, The Back Door Cafe in Columbia, MS. She always does an amazing job, and this party was no different! I requested a "cajun" theme, and boy did she deliver!! Delicious!! Fran had these menu cards printed for the serving area... Nobody left hungry!!

        Happy Birthday, Jonathan!    

               Pulled Pork Poboys

           

               Jambalaya with Tasso

               Mamaw’s Smothered Chicken

   

               Seafood Potato Salad

               “Wop” Salad

               French Bread  

               Alligator and Pork Sausage

               Smothered Crawfish and Pork Sausage

               Natchitoches Meat Pies

               Back Door Tomato Sandwiches

               Crawfish Pies

               Boudin Balls

And the cake table...!!! Rather than opting for one big cake, I did five cakes - strawberry, coconut, italian creme, caramel and chocolate. This gave the guests a little variety - as well making the cake table colorful!! I had five baby pictures of Jonathan framed, on top of burlap decor. Did I remember to get a picture of the food, cakes or decor/greenery? No!:( What a busy night!! 

I'm so glad I gave the camera to my friend Maurie Hartel or I'm afraid I wouldn't have snapped a single shot! I handed over the camera right before Jonathan showed up for the "surprise," and she took some great pictures!

The invitation was done by Joanna Keith of Unink Design, LLC. She does a fabulous job!!

I had these cute little huggies made...

Ok, this is hilarious. Jonathan's friend Derek had this made for people to sign. The thinking bubble over Jonathan's head is RIGHT ON.

Had to include this pic of Forrest. He cracks me up!

We had everyone gather by the garage area before Jonathan arrived... this was a good crowd who all got there around 6 pm for the "surprise" at 6:45!! We had a lot come and go throughout the night.

The birthday boy was delivered by JJ (Jonathan Jones) and Paula!! They are the best!!

Jonathan's reaction was just what I expected - total shock and a little smirky grin.;)

I thought it would be ok for C to join us for the "surprise." Daddy was excited to see her!!

Uncle Ben (and Uncle Josh) helped take care of the rascal.

C was showing Uncle Ben some of her dance moves.

And more dance moves...

 

Jonathan and his Mom. His Dad left two days before the party for his annual study abroad trip to London.:( Thanks to Mam-ma for keeping the rascal that day and night!!

Fun times!!

The Duhon Family (less Big D)... C finishes blowing her kiss in the next pic.;)

SO glad all these guys made it in town!! L to R: Eric, Matt, Josh, Derek, Chuck, Chris & Jonathan

Love these girls!! L to R: Brittany, Amanda & Chrissy

Forrest & Maurie

The fun band!!

 

Jonathan's friend/co-worker from Boston made it in town!! John Maestranzi. I LOVE this guy!!

Leah & Josh

What a fun and memorable night!!
Happy Birthday, D!!

18-Month Check-up!!

I have not been too good at posting these days!! Things have been so crazy this summer. Lots and lots of things on the calendar!! The weekend of my birthday (June 15th), Jonathan took me to Natchez to celebrate my 30th. We stayed at Monmouth and toured several other homes. It was soooo relaxing and a lot of fun - except for my ankles and feet getting quite swollen!! The joys of pregnancy in the hot, HOT summer... C stayed with Mam-ma and Papa and went to Jackson to help Aunt Sarah's boyfriend, Ben, move.

This past week Jonathan and I took C to her 18-month check-up. OH MY. It sounded like an exorcism was being conducted in the exam room. She did NOT want to be touched. In fact, by the time she got her shot at the end of the appt (last one for a while - thank goodness), we couldn't tell a difference in the level of screams from before and after the shot! Luckily, our doc did warn us that this check-up is the worst. For some reason, he said 18-months is "that age" for resisting check-ups. Well, she definitely fit the norm then!! And her visit went great!! She passed!;) They asked several developmental questions, etc. She continues to be in excess of the 90th percentile in height and head size and has moved from the 40th to 50th percentile in weight from last check-up!! My sweet lovey is a big girl and I cannot believe how fast she is growing up!:(

Her latest obsessions --- coloring and stickers!! We have stickers EVERYWHERE... and you guessed it - crayon on the walls. 

These are a few pictures from the past week...

 She loves making this face!!!

Daddy was eating a snack with her... Why doesn't she get this happy when Mommy feeds her?! Oh, silly Daddy!! That is an almost demolished strawberry she's eating. She loves fruit!! Some of her faves - strawberries, blueberries and bananas!

Love these two pics!! Rascal!