Baby Morgan's Austin Baby Shower

This weekend was such a great time. My sister and mom threw Baby Morgan and me a beautiful ladies shower in Austin, Tx at my parents house. My Aunt and cousin came in from Dallas, my sister from Rockport, friends from Austin, San Antonio and Houston as well as my cousin from Atlanta. It was such a great shower and weekend and they truly "showered" Baby Morgan with love and presents. She is already spoiled rotton.

me and my cousin Georgie

Melanie & Stacie

Cute mother & daughter :) - my aunt patty & cousin georgie

my sister & cousin Betsy

my sister enjoying the torture of feeding me gross baby food...way too much!

me with the hostesses- my mom and sister (and their BOB jogging stroller gift- yay!!)

all of the austin friends- ann, hollie & cornelia

melanie, me, stacie and georgie

betsy, jen, melanie, me, stacie and georgie

The shower was beautiful... lots of great food, friends and fun! Many, many thanks to my sister who was the party planner/ hostess and to my mom, aunt and cousin Georgie who all helped pitch in as well. Thanks a million! It meant so much to us. We love you!

great job on all the decor ladies :) beautiful!

gift bags

After the shower festivities we had sister and cousin family bonding time at the Oasis for some live music and cocktails ( of course I was designated driver) :). We ended the weekend with some great brunch at Magnolia Cafe and shopping on South Congress. There was much damage at the Kendra Scott store as always!

I love you all ladies! Thank you so much for all coming and all of the awesome presents and surprises that were brought and even shipped down for those who couldn't make it! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!


just some of the goodies for baby girl

I also really want to say thank you to my sweet husband who stayed back in Houston and picked up all of the nursery furniture and put it all together for me. It is all in and set up, now I get to put it all in place, decorate...and all the fun stuff! I am def feeling the urge to nest! :)

On a last (un-fun) note, got a call this morning from my OBGYN that I failed the 1 hour glucose test. I can't say at all that I am really shocked, as my doctor said that there was no need to fast before hand and so my test was set for 3pm after 2 meals. After all of my past pregnant friends told me they were always told to fast before, I started to freak out a little bit. My doctor told me before it "should" be fine, but if the results come back positive not to worry too much before I take the 3 hour glucose test. Ugh. So, low and behold I got the call this morning and I have to go back in and take it tomorrow morning. What a great waste of a half day. Just praying that I failed the first time because I had eaten, not because I have gestational diabetes, etc! So, here is to me not trying to worry too much before I get the results back for the next test. Grrr.

Mis

Adventures in Babymooning (week 26)....

We just returned from our last "official" pre- baby trip, and it was such a great time. We headed to LA for a couple of nights to visit Kevin's mom and dad who are staying with our niece who has been working on some commercials, etc. We got some great visiting in and were able to see  Rodeo Dr., The Grove, eat at Nobu, walk around Venice Beach and found an awesome little breakfast spot called Aroma Cafe. I really had never been to California before and was so in awe of how beautiful everything was and the spectacular weather. I can definatly see what all the fuss is about in la la land. It was a  quick visit, but it was great to visit with everyone and now I definatly cannot wait to go back to stay for a little bit longer next time!

Kevin, Morgan, Lynn & Ron-- Venice Beach

Baby Girl @ 25 weeks in Santa Monica

Aroma Cafe in Studio City, Ca- amazing!

We flew out of LA Monday and headed to Kauai, Hawaii. I had never been to Hawaii at all before, so I was really excited to soak it all in. On the advice of my friend Courtney, who just moved there, as well as Stacie & Scott, who got engaged there, it sounded like the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure for a babymoon. We flew directly into Lihue airport, and stayed at the St. Regis in princeville. It was amazing to say the least. We layed on the beach, swam, got massages, worked out, took a helicopter tour and hiked. We are big runners/ walkers so I though 4 miles would be cake for this 6 1/2 months preggo lady, but it was quite the workout. A lot of the trail was steep incline or decline with rocks/ boulders that we were having to step on and around. I took my time to avoid slipping and falling on poor little baby bump, so we were good. The beach at the end of the hike was gorgeous and well worth the hike. Plus, it was really nice to have an actual "workout" again and not just a Memorial Park walk. Anyways, for anyone who wants a great beach trip with plenty of outdoorsy adventure options, I would definately recommend Kauai and then of course the St. Regis for some amazing pampering and stunning views. Helicopter trip & Jurassic Park waterfall was also a MUST SEE!

St. Regis - view from breakfast

Visiting Courtney, her bf Damon for dinner at Bar Acuda tapas

Jurassic Park waterfall- helicopter tour

arial view

arial view from helicopter

hiking back from the beach- hanalei hike

For the most part, Hawaii was an excellent choice for a babymoon, but on a side-note for those other mom's to be, the flight home was pretty rough. Although we flew direct from Kauai to LA and LA to Houston, it was still a total of about 11 hours with layover in between on a red eye. Kevin didn't mind at all (with his ambien), but an overnight flight and not being able to take any sleep aids or nyquil and having preggo circulation was pretty uncomfortable. Not to mention, I had total cankles my lovely feet looked like sausages by the end of the flights! I guess it just gets pretty rough to fly for that long after about the 5-6 month mark. Hopefully though, we will be back on Houston sleep schedules in the next couple of days. Well worth it though!

I will be officially 27 weeks on Thursday. My first baby shower is this weekend in Austin and I am so excited to see my friends and family that will be there...plus always a great excuse for a girls weekend! I really cannot believe how the time has flown by. Baby girl is growing more and more every day, and her kicks and punches are getting stronger and stronger. I am still feeling physciallt pretty good, just trying to keep my complaining about my ever expanding body in check, as my husband, friends and family are probably about ready to kill me hearing my complaining as the scale goes up! I am sorry, and this may just be my personal opinion, but for those of you that haven't been pregnant...just because you are pregnant still doesn't mean it is easy to settle in to your ever changing body, swelling, etc! I know it will all well be very well worth it once little Miss makes her appearance!  I can tell you that I look forward to my total conditioning, weight lifting and crossfit classes post pregnancy. I like my bring-me-to-tears workouts!

We had a blast and it was a much needed break and recharge, but I am happy to be home and to Houston fall weather (finally!). I even put out my pumpkins and fall decor yesterday. I even got a call that baby furniture is in and can be picked up this week! Yay!

Happy Tuesday!

Mis

25 Weeks...

Today is my 25 week mark! Today our baby is the size of an eggplant and is starting to feel the difference between up and down because her equilibrium is being formed.  Thank goodness for thebump.com updates for all of these handy facts! I had my OBGYN appointment yesterday and things are looking good. I was just given a doppler heartbeat read, no ultrasound, but her heartbeat sounded good and all test results have been good and normal from this point so far... Amen! I did get the yield sign from my doctor in the weight gain department (go figure) as last month I had a 7 lb. weight gain, and she would have preferred a 4 lb. Ughh. But, I am stepping back up my Memorial Park walks and will have to cut back a little on my excessive Chick- fil- A trips. My doctor really does not want me to gain more than 35 lbs. and I am right there with her on that. It was so surreal starting to talk about my "birthing plan"...I guess this means that it is really going to happen! Last night I also SAW Harper kicking yesterday. I have been feeling her since about 21 weeks, but it was so cool to actually see my stomach move. So bazaar, but so awesome! To me, that sums up a lot of  things about pregnancy!

For those of you who know me at all, you know that I have a severe clothing addiction. Kevin calls it a shopping/ spending addiciton, but I just think that I am fashionable...ha. Anyways, with the addition of a new lady in our life in January, I think that I have transferred my desire to buy clothing to buying Harper clothes. In my defense, I am ONLY buying sale and raiding my favorite TJ Maxx & Marshalls...so Kevin can't get too angry with me. Special thanks to Joella (my sister in law and mother of three) who gave me fabulous tips when we went shoppoing in Amarillo on what baby clothing is actual useful and easy for babies, and what just really makes your life more difficult.  I know I am  a dork, but here are just some of my finds (who could resist this stuff anyways?!)





Thank you Doodles sale...

Ralph Lauren Layette



Gap Sleepers



ralph lauren jumper in my signature color :)

 



More Juicy & Ralph Lauren 





variety from TJ's and Children's Place



Baby Juicy

This week we also decided to pull the trigger on a last minute babymoon trip (always us last minute) so we leave for Los Angeles on Saturday for 2 days to visit Morgan, Ron & Lynn (Kevin's parents and our niece) who are there while Morgan auditions, takes classes, etc to become our famous actress. Then we will fly out of LAX to Kauai, Hawaii for 5 nights. Yay! We are really looking forward to getting one last good adventure in before Baby Morgan makes her appearance in the world. I am sure that this will def be more of a relaxing trip for me, but we still plan on definately getting in some good hikes, kayaking and of course spa-ing & dining. Pictures to come...

Aloha!

Mis

Our last weekends project!



The official nesting phase has begun. It was a busy weekend of most importantly painting the nursery, and swapping the 2nd floor guestroom (new nursery) and combing it with the third floor office. We got a lot done and I am in awe of all of the STUFF we have collected after just living in our home for two years! Still working on the deep cleaning thing, as that will be a work in progress for a while. Anyways, here is a pic of how the paint color turned out. Now we are just waiting on the crib and dresser to be in and for me to figure out what the heck I want to do with my "statement wall". Ah, so many difficult choices! Here are some of my options...not sure what I will end up going with!

the newly painted nursery...sherwin williams "breaktime" at 50%

option #1: bookshelf wall idea...thanks to allison domonoske

option #2: possibly a tree decal by crib?

falling for fall (maternity) fashion...

Maybe it is because this has been such a long, hot & dry summer...but I am so excited for fall weather to be here and most of all the fashion that comes along with it. If we are being honest, it is probably mostly because being almost 6 months preggo, I am really over swimsuits, tanks tops and shorts. So, I am dressing like fall until it decides to fully make it here! Today was a high of 87...so we are looking better and better!

Anyways, here are some of my favorite fashion finds & wants for this fall! Lots of my maternity gear finds...I gotta do what I can to at least attempt to still feel somewhat cute for the next 3.5 months! Good news is a lot of my maternity finds can be worn most baby too...

Nanette Lepore Leather Coat: Just picked this up at a great bargain for fall ...but will not wear with maroon mini skirt, I promise!

Gap Maternity: best skinny maternity jean find: $79 + 40% off ... and they look just as cute as the Joe's Jeans for $250

Newest purchase from pea in the pod...comfy but still a little sexy: $89. Spanx required!

great versitle work dress: pea in the pod

Brand: More of Me Maternity- obsessed with the Chevron pattern and fall colors. Eyeing this for my baby shower in October: $175 (dress)

splurge preggo must have: Hudson maternity jeans: $200

splendid sweater shrug: $175

best maternity tank I've found- Target :$12.99. Perfect for under shrug or to sleep.

More of Me Maternity @ Nine Maternity in the Village: my pick for formal wedding we have in November: $125

  Boots & Bags...gotta love the riding boot and I love the newer structured satchels.

Tory Burch Satchel: $595 (ouch)

Riding Boot: $475

Elaine Turner Riding boot: $325 (i'll wait for their 20% off sale)

 love the zipper detail on back

Kendra Scott - Fall 2011-- I think I could buy & wear every piece in her collection... gilt.com does have past seasons Kendra Scott on it every 3-4 months, so clean up while you can for 50% off!



Kendra Scott Fall-- love a pop of a bold color

More Kendra. Love. Could go with anything!