Baby Shower

Today was so wonderful. My friends Kristin, Jessica & Alissa, along with my stepmom Sue, worked together to throw me a beautiful baby shower! My closest family and friends were there and I couldn't ask for more. The food was yummy, the decorations were adorable and the gifts were beyond generous. Lola doesn't need one single thing more. She's set!!! A very yummy cake from my fave, Creative Cakes!

Jessica's beautiful living room as decked out for the shower!
The adorable favors created by Alissa and her mom!

The gifts just kept growing!

Everyone gathered for a yummy brunch!

Two of the world's most beautiful blondes!

New Mommy Tracy with Baby Parker (who was a perfect gentleman the entire time!)

Lovely hostesses

Grandma Sue got Lola this adorable onesie which Mommy LOVES!

Katie & Gretchen had a very special gift for Lola!

A beautiful set of PJs for Mommy from Grandma Kiki

Ooohhh, a fork & sppon!

Very excited about the on-the-go feeding set...

Auntie Brittany got Lola a beauitful picture frame...

Tracy helping show just how HUGE my belly is!

Just a quick update...

Had an ultrasound today. Lola looks great (and big!)...they estimated her weight to be 5 lbs. 7 oz. which lands her in the 33% percentile. So happy she crossed the 5 lb. mark! My doctor says she expects me to have her 2 weeks prior to my due date. I'm still sticking with my intuition which tells me she'll have to end up inducing me because I'll go OVER my due date. Only time will tell! :)

Easy Shepherd's Pie

Another great recipe compliments of Real Simple magazine that is, well....real simple! It was so good. I think it'll be less than a week before I make it again!

1 pound ground beef
1/3 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce (I added a few more dashes b/c I go nuts for this flavoring)
8 ounces of frozen mixed veggies, thawed (I used carrots, green beans and corn--it all came together in the same package...and I only thawed them on the counter while I cooked the meat)
1/4 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese (optional, but it was good)
16 oz. package of refrigerated or frozen and thawed mashed potatoes (I just made 4 servings of instant Hungry Jacks)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Brown beef over medium-high heat until no traces of pink remain.
3. Drain fat and return to pan. Mix in ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Add veggies and cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
4. Transfer mixture to casserole dish.
5. Mix potatoes and cheese. Cover meat mixture with potatoes.
6. Bake in oven for 10 minutes.
7. ENJOY! :)

Lola Central...

...is how we're referring to our home from here on out. We put together 3 more baby "things" on Saturday and have come to the (pleasant!) realization that our home is quickly being redecorated with new furnishings by such chic brands as Graco and Fisher-Price! Some of the furnishings have given John a run for his money, as in, he's done battle with them during the assembly process. Thankfully, the swing, bouncy seat and car seat (see below) were pieces of cake as far as assembly goes. Now all Mommy has to do is install the carseat and take it up to the police station to be inspected for safety.

This is the coolest swing. It has a bunch of different sounds you can play for baby AND you can hook your iPod up to it and play her a little Beach Boys! :)

Our "Blue Light Special" from Kmart. Remember when I posted awhile back about my experience with the motorized scooter?? This is what we got on that excursion.

A sweet little bouncy seat that Mommy still needs to get batteries for...

This wasn't put together this weekend, but I thought I'd include it. Our stroller works 3 different ways. It can be used like this, as a pram...

...and we can snap the carseat into it! The pram part also converts to a big kid seat. It's called the "Chameleon". Can you see why?!

A dress for Lola...

Look what Daddy bought Lola yesterday! Isn't it beautiful? We stopped in Lil Surprises in downtown Frankfurt when we were at the farmer's market yesterday. We almost walked out without buying it but then I saw the "50% off dresses" sign on our way out and Daddy couldn't say no to the image of his sweet baby girl in this impossibly adorable dress. The smallest size they had was 12 mo. so it'll be awhile before you see her in it...unless she's a fat baby like her Mommy was...then she'll probably be in it at 6 mo. Our daughter, this dress and a perfect pair of patent leather Mary Jane's. So excited!

Saving Grace

For the past 4 months, my dear friend Alissa and her sweet little girl Ellyana would walk down the block and come visit me a few times a week. Their visits were like sunshine to me, which I needed alot of since I couldn't really go anywhere. I don't know what I would have done had I not had the pleasure of their company to help pass the time. I honestly think Alissa was more excited about me coming off bed rest than I was myself! To celebrate, I joined them for story hour at our beautiful library that thankfully, is within walking distance from our homes! Yes, Lola is going to be a little bookworm just like Mommy was. Here's some pics of our fun morning/afternoon....what a beautiful mother and child!

NO MORE BEDREST!

After 4 long months of bedrest, it is officially over. I am 34 weeks and therefore, have clearance from my doctor to get back on my feet like a normal person. I asked here if I had any restrictions and she said "Well, don't go to the gym and start kickboxing." I didn't do things like that BEFORE I was pregnant, why would I start now!? Haha!

I can't thank everyone enough for their support and prayers along the way. There is no way our little growing family could have made it this far without the people who love us praying as you did. Lola should be here in just a few short more weeks and we cannot wait to share our little lady with you all. If I could ask for just a few more prayers that she arrives safely and healthy while you're at it?? :)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Crockpot Greek Chicken

I tried out a new (and very easy!) recipe today and like always, I got John's seal of approval. Therefore, it becomes blog-worthy :)

1.5 pounds of peeled potatoes, quartered
Bunch of carrots, peeled, cut into 3 inch-ish chunks
3-4 spit chicken breasts, skin on
Greek Vinaigrette Dressing of your choice

Toss the potatoes in the dressing and layer on bottom of crock pot. Toss the carrots in the dressing and layer on top of the potatoes. Toss the chicken breasts in the dressing and layer on top of the carrots. Cook on low for 5 hours. ENJOY!

*Happy Father's Day*

Being pregnant, everyone focuses on you. All cares, concerns and sympathies are directed towards the Mommy. But it's important to remember that she didn't get pregnant by herself. She needed a Daddy....and I happen to think I found the best possible Daddy Lola could ever hope to have.

We hope everyone had a wonderful day! :)

xoxo

Somewhere between 32 & 33 weeks...

So who thinks Lola is getting pretty big in there?!

(All images copyright JohnnyH photography)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I hope I'm as cute a kid as you!

Love, Lola

A future suitor for Lola?

Some of you may remember Chris & Tracy Stine from our wedding party. They're good friends of ours from the Enterprise days. They came by this past Sunday to introduce us to their beautiful son. We were just marveling at how much our lives have changed in the only handful of years we've know each other. It seems like only yesterday we were busy renting cars...now we're busy makin' babies! And Mr. Parker is quite a handsome one. Such a sweet baby! It was so good to see them all and nice to hear their recent labor experience. John & I took mental notes of what's ahead in only a few more months!

Having a little fun weighing Parker on the baby scale!
Alissa & Ellyana stopped by to say hi...

I think he looks great with a baby!

A baby in the arms and a baby in the belly!

What a handsome duo!

That face...those eyes! Lola's gonna have a big crush on him!