Showered with fun

Saturday was the first Dallas baby shower.

You know, the one connected to this cute invite?
Yeah, that one.

This one was a small group of friends from my grad school days. This was also sort of the triumvirate of baby showers...number one would have been Deborah's, chronicled here. Incidentally, Deborah is about to have her second baby on June 1...so she's the MORE-pregnant- than-me one in these photos. She looks fabulous, of course. I hope I look that good in a couple of months! The second baby shower - at the same place, in the same room, was Stacy's, chronicled here. Stacy had her baby in late January. She's the mother-of-an-almost-four-month-old in these photos. She looks fabulous, of course. I hope I look that good when I have a four month old!

The shower was hosted by my good friends Deborah, Stacy, Wilma and Maria. It is so nice to have such good friends. And, I should say, while I'm at it, that my other two hostesses, and really, all the guests, looked fabulous. Because it's true and I don't want anyone ever to think I didn't notice. I took my camera, and you will see there are some photos here, but sister, I am not very good at taking photos at my own baby showers, clearly! This is the second one, and other photos people take with my camera notwithstanding, I do a poor job of covering the event when I am the honored guest, it seems. But, here are a few for you today.

First up, a smattering of guest photos:

Deborah and Wilma, catching up.



Maria and Angela doing the same.



You might recognize Angela a little better in this one...



My fabulous grad school mentor and dear friend Pat.
And, in the blurry background, our also newly pregnant friend Alexa!
Congrats Alexa!



OK, so like I said, I don't do a great job with the photos at these things.
But, I want to also say my mother-in-law Cheryl attended, which was very nice!
Would have been nicer had I gotten her in focus and all...details!
As you will also see, though, thankfully, Stacy took photos too!



Speaking of blur, what a great photo this would have been!
Stacy and Wilma, visiting before we had lunch.



Baby drop cloths.

Of course, there are two amazingly wonderful things that happen at these showers. First, you get to catch up, carry on, and remember why you like these girls so much and wonder why you don't get together more often. And how lucky you are to know them and have them in your life. Two, the honored guest (in this case, me, writing in the third person) is humbled and thankful for the thoughtful, special gifts she receives for this impending newborn. There were so many nice things - changing pad and cover, disposable table covers, diapers, an adorable guitar onesie, bottle warmer, storage sets, bath supplies, bassinet sheet, bib, wipes. The photo above is of the burp clothes with a theme - funny huh? And, last but not least, my fabulous hostesses got us this:

The pack-n-play! Woo-hoo! How nice was that?



In addition, they gave out these adorable cookie favors.
In two of our nursery colors, no less.



Group shot.
Back row: Maria, Alexa, Lola, Pat, Angela, Cheryl
Front row: Wilma, Stacy, Amy, Deborah

On a completely unrelated note, I watched GLEE for the first time last week and I am totally hooked - it's totally goofy, but I LOVED it! And, I'm bringing this up now because I want you to notice - doesn't Deborah look like the twin sister of this GLEE actress? Am I right? I know - striking resemblance, no? OK, back to the shower.

I have to say, what an amazing group of women in that photo! They are all so great - accomplished, thoughtful, funny, smart women. And what a lucky girl I am to know them all and have them in my life. And what fun it was to spend the afternoon with them. Thank you ladies, for taking part of a Saturday to come out to the shower. Thank you, hostesses, for hosting a lovely event. Thank you to everyone for their thoughtful and useful presents. It was so much fun!

And...there is more fun to come!

I have a couple more showers coming up in June...this adorable invite showed up in my mail at the end of last week. Of course, I'll show you the photos I get around to taking and let you know all about it here after they happen. I can't wait to see everyone.

That's it for now! See you soon.

Meet Sophia Claire

S and I became an Uncle and an Aunt again, respectively, last Friday, when sister-in-law Kim gave birth their second daughter, Sophia Claire. She weighed 6lb 14oz and was 19.5 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great. They went home on Mother's Day. Here are some photos of her first day.

She looks a lot like big sister Alexandra.
And of course, her mother and father.
Her coloring is a little more "Italian" at this point.



Dad, Mom and Baby.



Big sister Alexandra had a long day, but enjoyed spending time with her grandparents.



Aunt Brooke and baby Sophia


Cousin Andrew


Uncle Michael took his turn checking the little girl out.



Aunt Laura, Kim's sister.


Aunt Kelsey, Kim's other sister.



Tiny toes!



Grandpa checked her out for quite a while.



Here is one of me with the new niece.


And, there's proud Uncle S.

So, as she grows and changes, I'm sure you'll see updates here. It'll be exciting to get to know her and her personality, won't it? We're glad to have met our new niece! Welcome to the world, little one!

See you soon.

6 and One Half Months

For those of you who don't get why pregnancy is counted in weeks, this week equates to 6 and one half months. 26 weeks. So there you go. And, again, overnight it seems, the belly is protruding more than it was previously. S took some progress photos for you and for me. Incidentally, you know why they don't count months, don't you? Because pregnancy is MORE than nine months, my friend. Take 40 weeks and divide it into months...you do the math. Yep, that's right, it's closer to TEN months of gestation. Ahem.

Front view.

Let's see...what updates can I tell you from the last such update. Well, the shirt I'm wearing in the photo came from my friend Kellie. She provided me, very nicely, with some maternity clothes last weekend that she no longer needs. Also in the "gimme" department, I failed to mention in the recent Indiana posts that my niece Amber provided Baby S with two huge bags of hand me downs from her son Rolen. And sister-in-law Brooke gave us another huge bag just the other day. The kid won't be naked, that's what we're sure of. Thank goodness for family and friends!

Also helping with the photos - Ellie.
She wanted to be part of the action.

Also since the last post - turns out I turned myself inside out and into an unnecessary lather about the one hour glucose test. Such a lather, in fact, that I failed it. Probably because of said lather instead of anything else. Hindsight. You see, I was just certain I was going to fail that test. I don't know why. I just was. When the nurse took my blood pressure that afternoon, it was 148/80. My normal blood pressure is 110/70. Or lower. I said to the nurse, "Wow, that's high!" She said, "Yeah, we'll try again in a couple of minutes." Coupla minutes pass, blood pressure is taken again, result is a bit better - 138/80, but still sky high. Also turns out that when your body feels you are stressed, you know what it does? It holds sugar. Nice going, Ate Up. Nice going.

Side view.

So I failed the test and was sent to then take the three hour glucose test the following week. But this test, in addition to being three hours long. THREE HOURS LONG. A THREE HOUR TEST. A THREE HOUR TEST. In addition to that, you have to eat NO SUGAR, mainly protein for three days prior and then you must fast from 10pm the night before you go into the lab at 8:30am. I am here to tell you I am not much on sugar these days, but I do like me some fruit. And an occasional carb. So three protein days were a buzzkill. Then, I will let you imagine what a lovely human I was after no coffee or breakfast. For three hours. Did I mention it was a three hour test? Maybe I did.

S then went all "artistic" on me...a close up.

So they take your blood when you arrive. Then you drink this super sweet orange carbonated liquid. Then they take your blood at one hour. At two hours. At three hours. By the time I got to three hours, sister, I was in no shape to be on this planet. But, I was calm for the test. And I had resolved that if I ended up with gestational diabetes, it wasn't the end of the world. It would be a pain, but it would be alright. You cannot control if you get it, but you can control how you react to it, how you control your diet, etc. If controlled, there is no adverse effect on the baby. And it goes away after the baby is born.

Me, wondering what the heck S is doing.

Back to my state at the end of the test. S wrote me an email asking if I wanted to meet up for lunch. I wrote him back sure, but if he wasn't there when I got to the restaurant, I was starting without him. Then, before he received my email, he phoned me and asked me if I wanted to meet up. At this point what I can only describe as a hunger-pregnancy-no caffeine induced meltdown ensued. I thought he was calling to ask me to wait for him. I said, probably louder than a normal speaking tone, "I said I would like to meet, but I am NOT waiting for you!" He said, "Why are you yelling at me?" Then I said something like, "Do you get what I'm saying man? I am NOT waiting for you - I haven't eaten in FOURTEEN HOURS!!!" (I do want to point out that 14 hours without food is cruel and unusual punishment for a pregnant lady. Thank you.) Tears started gushing from my eyes. I started repeating, "Do you get what I'm saying?" I was now in a full-on bawling session, driving down the road to eat. I think he got that I was not rational at that moment. He met me...and had tea, since I had already eaten. God bless him. I think he loves me.

Me, asking what he's doing. "Being artistic," he said.

OK, so this story is getting way too long, but I waited for the results the next day which I was sure were going to confirm gestational diabetes...meaning dietitians, food journals, finger pricks for the next three months. But the nurse called. And it turns out I don't have it. Amen. I'm moving on and am so thankful!

Orchids and lemons...how unique and fabulous!

Also in the "I think he loves me!" category...Monday S sent flowers to my place of employment. Why? Wait for it...for MOTHER'S DAY! Awwwwwww! So I could enjoy them all week. What a doll. I wasn't really expecting a Mother's Day gift - I mean, I am not yet a MOTHER and all, but it was such a wonderfully sweet, loving, kind gesture. And sister, I'm enjoying the heck out of those flowers.

So there's the update. On this topic.
Once again. See you soon.

A Wedding

Saturday we attended a wedding of some friends of ours from undergraduate days at SMU. Juliana and Alex - they didn't meet while they were at SMU, but rather at alumni gatherings just a few years ago. And now they are married. Here are some highlights - something was amiss with the camera - hope it's not going downhill again - don't think so - just think this crazy photographer needs to check her settings more regularly. Anyway...here we go!

Our pew at the church.
Kevin and Kellie, Tricia and Wayne, S on the other end.

As people arrived to our pew, I made them move on in, and I kept the aisle seat so I could take some photos. Rabid photo taker I am, they all obliged. But S ended up on the other end!

Awaiting the bride.


And then she came right on down the aisle near me with her dad!
Score on the bride photo!


Advice was given, vows were said, rings were exchanged.


Then they were official. Mr. and Mrs.
Blurry photo by me, of course.


Tricia, me and Kellie at the reception.

I thought this was a good photo of all three of us, no? Just strange yellowness because of the camera settings. We have not all become jaundiced. Don't call the physician just yet. We're all fine.

Beautiful flowers...


...beautiful cake...




...proof the groom did go to SMU and was in the band!


The reception was SRO!


Here are the hubbies...no they aren't jaundiced either.
Kevin (Kellie), Wayne (Tricia) and of course, my S.


S grabbed the camera and turned on the flash...


...I was telling him to turn off the flash here. Clearly.


Then, S and I took at turn at jaundiced together.

Yes, S has new specs. Nice, huh? Very Euro-forward, no? Or something. I think they look nice on him whatever the style is supposed to be.

A quickly snapped shot of the new Mr. and Mrs.


And one of Kellie and S with them.
Kellie, Alex and S were all in the same class.

So there you have it! The tainted highlights of a beautiful affair. Tainting by me, beauty by the newly wedded couple. May they enjoy years and years of happiness. All the best to Juliana and Alex!

See you soon.