Slags' Baby Shower was a Hoot!

Posted by Ethne~

Now that Slags’ baby is here I realize that I probably oughta show y’all the pictures from her baby shower last month!  I was supposed to have a little time left before baby came – I bet that’s what Slags and Brian are saying too!

First family photo!!

Well, as you know from our announcement post, Baby N came in extra-dramatic fashion, so she’ll probably be in the hospital for a little extra time than expected, but we have every reason to hope and expect that she’ll stay strong and get to go home soon.  She’ll be happy to go home to the ADORABLE nursery her parents have set up for her (I sewed the valance for the window, see here).

Isn't Slags the cutest mom-to-be ever?

With friends in the nursery.

The shower guests put the finishing touches on things – everything from homemade quilts to tie-dyed onesies to hand-made jingle alphabet blocks.  Slags and Brian have amazing friends and family.  I’ll let pictures tell the rest of the story.

The theme wasn't Beauty and the Beast, it was OWLS, but I COULD NOT HELP MYSELF, I had to put this pink rose under glass as decor.  Thanks to my friend Keri who loaned the glass clochet dome when I was frantically searching for one.

Cream cheese mints (made by me)

Mimosa punch (I made the ice ring with orange juice and berries instead of water)

Sub sandwiches, Barb's cookie fruit salad, chips, monster cookies, deviled eggs, ombre pink cake

Chocolate and yellow cake - tutorial post here

Party favors - that post here!

My gift for Slags and Brian was the diaper cake - I made the owl on top named "Owlivia"

This is what the diaper cake looks like on the inside - with baby wash as the center for strength and nursery-matching receiving blankets as "fondant".

(I must say THANK YOU to Suzanne for the shower game and taking pictures and Michelle for making deviled eggs!)

Baby N Has Arrived!

Posted by Ethne~

Friends, it’s our favorite news to report – Baby N has arrived!  Best friend Slags, and her hubby Brian, were a wee bit surprised when her water broke, 3 weeks early, on Wednesday.  I, however, wasn’t surprised in the least seeing as my exact text that evening was “Full term now!!!” 

The gorgeous Mama and Daddy!

[Any of you flunkies out there who want to know when your babies will ACTUALLY come can leave me alone as I’m convinced this psychic birthday prediction talent only extends to the block on which I grew up.  I wanted Grizz’s baby L to be born on Halloween, and she came on October 26^th.  Grizz grew up across the street from Slags and me tho, not on the same block.  And if we’re really getting historical, I predicted that my twins would be born in September, the same month as Shaun’s and my birthdays, but that’s mostly because (a) I was miserable and (b) I was trying to convince Shaun that my push present should be blue diamonds which I thought could be substituted for sapphires.  As it was, the girls were born on October 3^rd.  So, flunkies, don’t call me, I’m rubbish.]

All Wednesday night, Steph, Grizz, Slags, Lori and I were texting and chattering, and so darn excited, that by the time we got the word that she was getting ready to push Thursday morning, we were hardly able to see straight!!  It seemed to take forever and there was still no word on baby!

As it turns out, little N takes right on after her surrogate Auntie Ethne and LOVES to be excessively dramatic – she didn’t want to come out of her mama {APPARENTLY} unless she was draped in crown jewels.  And I mean DRIPPING IN ICE, literally, because now she’s gotta chill out on this revolutionary cooling blanket that helps newborns recover from rough deliveries.  Little Princess!

Look at the pink bow!!  You can read about N's AMAZING treatment here.

Lori, Grizz, Corey and I went to visit the new family today.  Grandma Barb (remember Barb’s pickles and slushburgers???) and Grandpa Les were there and enjoyed my nursing testimonials.  We even got to go down and see Baby N for ourselves.  She is so beautiful!  From her nose to her ears to her long fingers, I’d say she’s gonna look just like Slags. 

Grizz and Corey smartly brought their camera down to see N - who is sporting a red bow today.

Mama Teresa is doing ok, and Daddy Brian hasn’t had a chance to shave since Wednesday – but there is so much positive affirmation that when N warms up on Monday, she’s gonna scream and squawk and tell ‘em all who’s boss.  Heck, she’s already opened her eyes and looked at Mama and Daddy, and, having a special insight into her sense of the dramatic, I’d say she was giving Daddy the stink-eye and singling him out as the first one she plans to poop on.  It’s what I’d do.

Friends, Baby N is looking really great, but she and her parents could still use lots of our strength and thoughts and prayers.  Please send all the good will you can to Minneapolis so this beautiful little girl can keep her parents up all night just as soon as possible.

ADVENT BOOKS!

Posted by Lori~

Recently one of the college students I work with gave me a GREAT idea for an advent calendar for Mur-Man.  Wrap a Christmas book a day for 25 days.  Each day you read them a book.

The best part is that I have a TON OF CHRISTMAS BOOKS and so does Crafty G-Ma (my mom).  So, I literally bought one book (and I still have extras to change it up next year).

And, even better…I already did it for next year.  So on December 1, we will be all ready for the countdown to Christmas.