"Diapers & Dresses" Baby Shower

Now that you've seen how I made the diaper invitations, I'd like to show you the baby shower!!

Thank you, Cindy for once again letting us throw a party at your house.  

It is such a great space to entertain, and I am always so grateful for how much you help!

First the food...

I made these cupcakes - they were gluten free! I love how the icing colors came out.  

We had all sorts of yummyness... Caprese on a stick, my candied pecan & strawberry salad, deviled eggs 

an INCREDIBLE fruit salad lemonceillo (shown below)

traditional shower mints - these things are totally addictive. 

We had strawberry water, pink grenadine Sprite and raspberry mimosas.

I wanted everything to have a light shade of girly pink. 

I decorated the mantel with pink and white dresses covered in pearls and simple pink and turquoise diaper cakes.  

and there were lots and lots of hydrangeas...

Jill was showered with gifts

and surrounded by so many of the women that love her. 

Congratulations on your sweet baby girl, Savanna.

xoxo, CB

"Diapers & Dresses" Baby Shower Invitations

My sweet friend and college roommate (who happened to marry Jason's best friend Brett) had a beautiful baby girl this summer, Savanna.
I was honored to throw her a baby shower back in May and thought I'd share how I made the invitations for the party!

(yep, I'm still catching up on these old posts and pictures!!)

We threw her a "Diapers & Dresses" baby shower.

I made the most fun invitations...

because I'm completely ridiculous but mostly because 

I couldn't bring myself to pay someone else 

$6 an invitation to make them for me.

(I'm a total cheapo!)

Here's what they eventually looked like:

First, I made a pattern for the diaper.  

This was all trial and error, but you can see how I folded the paper in half to get two even sides.  

I bought iridescent pink paper to use as the outside of the diaper. 

2.  I traced the pattern on the pink paper, 

3.  then cut out the diaper patterns.

4.  After that, I folded the bottom up, and tucked the corners in to make the "diaper"

5. Then I started working on the inside "liner."  

I printed the invitation wording on pink & white polka dot paper:

"Diapers, dresses, outfits and shoes, 

These are the things the family could use. 

To welcome their second child into the world, 

A precious and beautiful, sweet baby girl."  

I took this picture so you could see how I lined up the wording on the inside, 

then I traced where to cut it with a pencil.

6. I cut the bottom of the liner with scalloped scissors.  

7. Then I cut the top of the liner to match the size of the diaper front with straight scissors. 

This is what the liner looked like once it was cut. 

(this is the back, the writing is on the front)

8. I added adhesive to the back. 

These scotch adhesive rollers are so easy and they're not messy!  

I like using it better than glue, because the glue wrinkled the paper and didn't stick as well.  

9. Once the diapers and liners were attached, I punched holes in the corner of the top of the diaper 

(where you would normally "pin" a diaper) to be able to run ribbon through it.  

I used turquoise ribbon in 1 1/2 in width.  

This one was made by Offray (I bought it at Walmart) 

Lastly, tie your bows and repeat, repeat, repeat.  

I LOVED how they turned out, but they did cost extra postage because they're not flat. 

(yes, Jason, you were right... I was wrong! ;)

 I can just imagine getting something like this in the mail and having a fun time opening it up.  

I absolutely love stationary, so the time spent on these was totally worth it!

Drake & Charlotte's Birthday Party

I'm still in catch-up mode, and came across these photos from Drake's 3rd & Charlotte's 1st Birthday Party this summer!  

These kids are insatiable and the party was beautiful, so I had to share...

taken: August 10, 2013

The Drake aka Birthday boy. 

Tammy did a great job with the cakes and all the decorations, it was very cute!

Aren't those cakes sweet? Ombre! 

We sang "Happy Birthday," Drake blew out his candles...

     

and we all watched with big smiles on our faces!

Charlotte was so excited to eat her birthday cake.  

It was slow going at the beginning - I don't know if she really liked it, but once the sugar set in, she was all in!

Next up, presents!!

Oh... my... goodness... these kids made out like bandits :) 

Diving in after the loot...

Charlotte had so much to look at, I think she had a great time soaking it all it.  

I love that she chose Dumbo to hone in on.  

Harper, Colton & Jack were big helpers with the presents...

and Jason made Drake a holster for a little pistol.  It was awesome!

YESSS!!! 

Monsters INC!! 

This cracks me up.

We all had such a fun time - it was a great party!

After nearly 5 months have passed, you too can enjoy all the pictures!!

You appreciate it more when you have to wait for it, right? ;) suuuurrreeee... 

lots of love, CB

p.s. I was having some very serious problems with my camera - so much so that it totally stopped working shortly after this party!  Turns out a part of my favorite lens ("the nifty 50" or the "plastic fantastic" - Canon Fixed 50mm) actually broke off inside the body of the camera and stopped me from being able to do all sorts of great stuff... primarily focus a shot.  It has been out of commission for the past 4-5 months and I just got it repaired, so now we're back in business!  My computer is up and running, and the camera should be fine so HOPEFULLY, the next round of pictures shouldn't take 5 months to post!

19 Months

I'm playing catch up because my laptop has been verryy grumpy for a long time and I was so frusterated with it that I just stopped posting... but now, thanks to Longhorn Mac Repair and an amazingly talented computer guy named Patrick, the 'ole MacBook Pro is back up to speed.  I couldn't be happier - this laptop is probably 5-6 years old but it is a great computer.  I hated the idea of having to buy a new one because the keys were getting stuck and the touchpad was acting up... so I took it to a repair shop (first time ever!) to see if they could fix it and VOILA, within 24 hours it was back to new again.  I am tickled.  

Enough about the laptop... CATCHING UP.  I took these pictures when Travis turned 19 months, so they're definitely a bit dated, but I don't want to forget how he looked (he's already changed so much!)  AND, if I don't post the pictures here, they'll get lost in the abyss of iPhoto, so I think it's better for them to have a place to live in blogland :)

Travis at 19 months

taken: August 1, 2013

That's Lovie in the picture up there.  Lovie is Travis' favorite toy... 

he snuggles and plays peek-a-boo and sleeps with lovie...  sometimes he even covers up Elmo with his Lovie "blankie" 

It's very sweet.  

Thank you, Steph for the HUG! book.  He got it for his 1 1/2 birthday from one of my best friends and he LOVES that book... it has magnetic paws that "close" the book, and he likes to read it to himself.  Sometimes he lets me read to him, but on this day, he was being a very independent big boy reader. 

Yay for books!  The best gifts :)

xoxo, CB

21 Weeks - The Belly Reveal

You asked for the belly photos... and here they are!

 This week I got to meet with a Multiples Specialist, Laura.  She happens to be amazing, and an Aggie (class of '93) - I truly felt so much more calm after meeting with her... she really did a lot of preparation before she meet with me, because she knew all about my health and my pregnancy with Travis and my work.  It was great.  I think it's the collaboration of two great people that really care about their patients (Dr. Carter and Laura).  

Laura had this amazing little calendar ready for me... and those that know me well know how much I like goals and lists, so this was right up my alley.   It is great information and helps explain a lot about what will be going on in my twin world over the next few months. 

12/18     21+ weeks    
Rest 1 hour mid-day and 2 hours early evening after work.  

   Begin decreasing activities at home and work. 

1/31     28 weeks    
Uterus close to full term size and contracts more often.
Decrease to part time hours (or) work part time in office and part time home.
Rest intervals 2 hours mid day and 2 hours early evening.
Decrease all your activities more.

3/1     32 weeks
** Big goal to pass **
Moms tolerate very little activity
Limit running errands/outings to less than 2 hours.
Have everything complete (classes, baby showers, nursery room)
Stop work or work part time from home if able.

3/14     34 weeks
Will not need steroids to mature babies' lungs thus, will not give medications to stop labor.
Babies usually in NICU ~ 2 weeks. ("feeders/growers")

3/28     36 weeks
Usually the babies have very little time in hospital.

4/4 - 4/11     37-38 weeks
Ideal delivery timing.

4/25     40 weeks
Official Due Date (for paperwork, etc.)

I highly doubt I'll stop working early - I can't sit still for long.  But if for some reason these little boys need me to be planted, then I will figure it out.  But I will be bored.  Very bored.  ;)

Anyhow, just wanted to share the photos and the calendar of events - both very cool and very different from the first time we were pregnant.   Gotta keep everyone on their toes!

Sweet dreams, CB

TWIN UPDATE

I went to visit Dr. Carter today and get a checkup on the babies and everything looks good.

I realize this is the first twin post I've done, so if you're in shock to hear the news that Jason and I are expecting multiples... SURPRISE! :) we are so excited about them. We are having 2 more boys! It will be a little house of men and I couldn't be more happy about it. Somehow God has given us the opportunity to have a big family and I pray that everything will be alright with their health... I guess it's my job to worry about that stuff, right? 3 boys. Oh my! It's so much to get a handle on.

So here's the update:

I am 21 weeks along now and I'm my belly is measuring at 27 weeks. They are growing so fast! I got to see them kicking each other on the sonogram today. I love it. They're so fun to watch. I kind of wish I had a sonogram machine at my house so I could just peek at them and see what they're doing.

Their heart rates are strong - 142 for lefty and 144 for righty. Apparently righty is already breathing on his own (which Dr. Carter was very excited to see - she said they usually don't see that until 32 weeks... so he may be a fast learner).

What else??? I'm supposed to gain FIFTY pounds during this pregnancy!! I have added 5 but I've got a long way to go. I can't imagine how hard it's going to be to lose 50 pounds. Good grief. I know I shouldn't think about that - think fat happy babies. That's what matters. But I will definitely need to invest in a treadmill.

I'm so blessed that I haven't been sick (but once) and I feel really good. I went to a yoga class last night and laughed at myself all the way through it because I definitely can't move the way I used to. Trying to balance this bump while in star pose or plank or chair pose was genuinely comical... But today I feel amazing. My shoulders are sore and I love that feeling and I'm sure it's all in my head but I feel more energized, which is wonderful because I have been so tired lately.

Two more boys.

I'm still wrapping my head around it.

Send me your name suggestions... The name is the hardest part and we need help!

Lots of love, cyndy

Halloween

Go bananas!

We got Boo-ed!!

"Boo!" Bags

Don't you just love the fall? The air cools, you can finally wear a jacket, it smells like football season :) one of my favorite parts of fall is Halloween - the candy truly is the best part (any time I can buy a jumbo bag of Reece's Peanut Butter cups and people don't judge me, I'm in!) but now that we have a little boy in our home, Halloween has taken on a whole new life for us. We sing "Monster Mash" and "Ghost Busters" in the car and I am so excited to help build up this fun holiday in his little world.

Last weekend, while visiting Tammy a little package arrived at her door. A huge smile came across her face and as she brought the package in, she giddily said "hah! We got Boo-ed!" I was a bit dumbfounded, because I had no idea what she was talking about so she went on to explain the process of Boo-ing at Halloween.

1. Late at night a neighbor knocks on your door and leaves a "treat" for you.
2. You're supposed to make 2 treats and deliver them to 2 other neighbors within 24 hours.
On the package is a fun poem about the boo-gift and why it is there, in addition, there is a photo copied picture of a "boo" ghost that you put in your door to ward off other boo-ers from repeating your house.

The hope is to spread fall fun around the neighborhood and build up the fun of Halloween.

It was so fun to watch Tammy and Chris get giddy about their late night delivery, and trying not to get caught! We shopped and found fun treats to put in the boo bags and I was SO inspired - I thought, I have got to do this!!!

So, I went a little nuts and made more than 2 - actually I made 8! I thought, this will give us a fun head start and hopefully we'll have little boo-ghosts popping up all over the neighborhood!

Happy Halloween everyone! Yay for Boo's!

Charlotte's on the move!

Go!

Beach races!

Our happy place

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Travis Wants...

This morning over breakfast Travis told Jason:

"I. want. go. coast."

Me too, buddy! Me too.

Happy Monday! :)

xoxo, CB

Travis is in heaven