Feelin' the Love

Man, those East Texans know how to do it right!  These are the gals from Lee's family.  We are all at a shower for his cousin, Rileigh, who is in the orange sweater in the middle. Precious, I say, precious she is...and is going to be one beautiful bride!  We are unfortunately going to have to miss the wedding, as Baby B is due 2 weeks prior, but I cannot wait to see and hear all about it!  I tell you, this is one heck of a group of girls.  I could not imagine any other people I would rather be in-laws with.  From L to R:  Kristin Walker, myself, Jeni Adair, Randi Beth, Rileigh Barber (soon to be Watson), Robin Cohagen and bridesmaids (shout out - we are missing Natalie, she's livin' life in Cali and couldn't make it).

 (cousin-in-law) Kristin, Luke and I.  Kristin is pretty much the shower queen of the family and does it up right for every one!  Man, are we blessed.

Krisin Wilson & I.  Kristin is Lee's best man's wife (who is gorgeously pregnant with baby #4 in this picture).

Rileigh, Vicki & I.  Rileigh is Lee's cousin and a beautiful bride to be.  Vicki is her super awesome momma...who is pretty much Awe-some!

My rock-star sis-in-law, Randi Beth.  Need I say more?

These pictures are from my BFF from 6th grade, Jaime's casa.  She and her mom pretty much out did themselves and turned her house into a baby shower wonderland.  Not a detail was missed.

This cake was a vanilla cake layered with champagne/strawberry/custard filling.  It is the same cake that  Jaime had at her wedding....and I believe I had several servings back then and again this time!

It was OH MY GOODNESS good!!!

Gage's first Aggie clothes!  Look at those super sweet hightops!

My man's son's wardrobe would not be complete without some Baby Wrangler onesies (oh my goodness...teeny tiny pearl snaps)!

Sue, Momma Jeane, myself and Mom

Lee's aunt & cousins:  Lauren & Nancy L'Amie and Sarah Mayfield

My gals:  Toni Sneary, LeeAnne Meyers,and Shannon Poutinen.  These are truly my soul sisters.  I love every single one of them and am a better person because of knowing each of them.

My gal, Tonni & I, bumping it up! (she is exactly 14 wks behind me)

One of my "other mothers", Vicki Barker.  This was my 4-H mom and was pretty much responsible for getting me into the horse thing.

Shelley & I

Shannon P & I.  Not only is this one of the sweetest people I know, this girl made some of the cutest little gifts that I have gotten thus far.  She is a budding seamstress and is sooo incredibly creative!

LeeAnne Meyers, a woman who I am truly proud and blessed to call a friend.  One hell of a woman.

Party in South Texas 

at Dodson Casa

Diaper cake from Lori McDonald

Friends from college:  Cody & Dawn Fry

College gal Pal, Angela Bull, her daughter Grace & I

My sweet buddy and friend, Anna

Lap full of kiddos:  Grace & Faith Fry and Abby & Anna McDonald

Buddies:  Nick & Andrea Henley

A week after this picture, these guys moved to North Carolina for Nick to finish 

training as a pilot in the Marines.  We miss them!

Addie Barrett and I and the cutest little wipe carrier ever!

Church buddies:  Don, Cheryl and Josh Parker and I

Javier, Leilani, Andres, Lee & I.  This is a precious little family from Puerto Rico 

and their handsome little man.

Leilani gave me this absolutely beautifully hand crocheted outfit that her grandmother made.  

It is one of the sweetest little outfits I have ever seen and I am honored to have it.

Cilla Donovan, Lee & I

Church friends and Pamper Parties

Sunday School girls:  Emily, myself and Maddison

One of our favorite church mommas and huge blessings in our life, Leslie Pullin

More of my Sunday School girls:  Emily and Raven

Laredo, myself and a sweet picture she drew for us of our "new" family

Sloan family and myself.  This is one of the sweetest mommas with 3 of the cutest girls ever!  (L to R) Laredo, myself, Brenham, Lucky and Abilene (Abby)

Rest, rest, rest....

...and then more rest!  As of  Monday, May 9, 2011, I have been placed on "strict" bed rest to prevent a pregnancy related hypertension called, Preeclampsia.  The symptoms I had were protein in urine, elevated uric acid levels and a sudden (non-diet) related significant weight gain.  Woooo Hooooo!!!!  My life now consists of laying vertically about 23.5 hrs each day, primarily on my left side as we try to prevent any changes in my blood pressure.  I am allowed to get up to use the restroom and to take 1 shower per day.  And let me please tell you...a trip to the shower has NEVER been so exciting nor felt sooooooo good!  I find myself in there using every last drop of hot water until I am forced to go back to bed.  Now, after dramatically and woefully describing my life...

Let me just say, with a mom that does this (every meal of the day):

(and this is just course 1 of dinner)


and a husband that does this, so that I don't loose my mind watching soap operas all day:

It's totally doable!

Quite honestly, this week has been full of incredible blessings - My mother had been planning for weeks to come down this Wednesday, to deliver some bookcases that she was getting rid of (just as I was looking for some).  WHAT GREAT TIMING???  That was just about the time I was beginning to think that this bed rest thing wasn't going to be so cool and my man was trying to figure out if and how to change his plans to be out of town for a prior commitment on Sunday.  Problem solved...mom stayed, so if I decide to pop, she can take me in!  The three of us have had "dinner parties" in here each night with them bringing chairs and tv trays into our room so that I don't have to eat alone.  As if that wasn't enough, my man comes and hangs out with me whenever he can.  This is quite a busy time for him, with long days already, and my barn chores on top of his workload. See what I mean...totally and completely blessed!  So, as I get used to being spoiled and having a personal assistant that runs my errands, cooks and cleans for me....mom is having fun decorating our house (talk about a win-win for me!).  These are the bookshelves that she brought down and "organized".

Gage's Room

Our Room

At times, I may think I want to complain, but you know what....I've got it pretty good!!!

Sneak Peek...

Okay, I wanted to give you all a sneak peak at Gage's nursery!
 
Mom is coming down next week to bring me some book shelves, and I have a few small things left to hang on the walls, but you can get the idea.  Mom did an amazing job on the bedding and the curtains!!!  AND...we found the incredible rug (that matches perfectly) at Ross for $29.99!!!!  

*Not sure how to format these to view side-by-side*

 I absolutely love the crib (which will turn into a toddler bed and then a full sized bed) that Dad let us pick out, but gave it as a gift to us.  It was sooooo incredibly easy to put together....only took Mom & I about an hour and a half. 









Here are a few pictures of Lee unpacking it...and then the final product.  First picture is Grumpy Lee, saying it's too late to do this....

Second picture, is happy Lee, pointing to the sign above him talking about a having a happy home! 

Skip to: Final Product

 

This is a print that I found and fell in LOVE with, bought online and had it framed with credit I had at Hobby Lobby!  The title is:  Nap Time.

We have a chair coming from Lee's parents, that will go in our room...because, we have run out of room in his room!  Papa Gare & Nana Mare graciously drove wwwwaaaaaaayyyyy out of their way on a trip to Dallas to pick it up for us (picture is from the people we purchased the chair from). We found it on Craigslist for less than 1/2 of what it was in the store!  Both the chair and the ottoman glide!

There is also a picture that Lee's parents gave us of Lee when he was younger and a place for a picture of Gage, it is going on the top of the book case (didn't get a shot of this...will include it with final pictures).

We officially have our bags packed, however, I think there are still a few more things to go in here

 oh...and, we may need a couple more pillows...

and, look at all this stuff you gotta have to take a kid home!

Sooo....that's about it for now, folks!  We will have some more pictures and updates soon!