Baby Craig's Shower

My mom threw me a "surprise" brunch baby shower on Sunday. Even though I saw a text and knew it was coming, it was still basically a surprise since I didn't know anything about it when I planned this trip. Also, it's always nice to have a little foresight so that I knew to brush my hair and whatnot ;)

We all filled up on the brunch buffet, played a few games (my friend Zshnette guessed my stomach size exactly!), ate some of the most delicious cupcakes ever (also baked by Zshnette), and opened tons of adorable gifts for baby Craig, including a light blue sleeper handmade by my cousin. This baby is so spoiled already! Then we sat around talking until Ez fell asleep in his stroller. It was a perfect shower and I loved every minute of it. Thanks mom! And thanks to everyone that could make it.

Afterward my friends and I got pedicures at this place that had the most amazing massage chairs ever. My lower back hasn't been doing that well since I pretty much have to sleep sitting up with this cough I have, and those chairs were heaven. I love the way my toes turned out, but even if I didn't, I'd go back just for the chairs.

We capped off our last night in town with dinner out, and then one more cupcake for this pregnant lady. Perfect ending to a perfect week!

Baby Shower #3 (Last One, I Promise!)

 

In case you missed my other baby shower post, Baby Shower #1 was a surprise from work, and Baby Shower #2 was in Modesto with my mom's side of the family and some of my dearest, oldest childhood friends. Baby shower #3 was co-ed and held at our house for all of the So Cal friends and family. The theme was balloons/hot air balloons, and I wish I had some better pictures of the cute hot air balloons Jessica got for the event. However, they'll make an appearance in Ezra's nursery, so you'll see some pics shortly.

Hot Air Balloon Cookies

For food we had a delicious giant smorgasboard. Millie took care of all the meat eaters with some fried chicken, potato salad, and sandwiches, as well as the adorable cake above. Grandma Kathleen brought her delicious homemade mac & cheese. And we had tons of cupcakes, chips, dips, fruits, veggies, and candy. For party favors, I made hot air balloon cookies using my mom's sugar cookie recipe. Yummy!

Guests wrote Ezra messages on this adorable handmade guest sign-in. The giraffe was cut out from a gift bag from the 99 Cent Store. The sun and clouds stickers were also from the 99 Cent Store. And Millie diligently cut out all the balloons from construction paper. I LOVE the end result, and you'll also see its reappearance in Ezra's nursery.

Jessica came up with the great idea for a 2013 time capsule. She got the vintage-looking map-themed suitcase from Michaels and we asked guests to bring something iconic from 2013 when we sent out the invitations. We haven't quite decided when he will open it. I'm thinking that by 2023, when he's ten, he should be old enough to appreciate the time capsule. Some of the contents include: baseball stats, the 2013 Farmer's Almanac, several issues of prominent magazines, a deck of Kardashian playing cards (wonder if they'll still be famous in a decade!), and some Star Wars toys to represent Ezra's due date: May the 4th (aka - Star Wars Day). I love it all, and many thanks for your originality to everyone who participated!

One of my other favorite aspects of the shower was the "Photo Booth" we had set up. For a backdrop we used the homemade balloon Ezra decorations that Jen made and gifted to me at my Modesto baby shower. We also set up my camera on self-timer, and set up a small white board and some pens and encouraged guests to write a message for Ezra. I can't wait to print them out and include them in his baby book (another maternity leave project I plan on getting around to in the coming days). Check out the cute decorations and thoughtful/funny messages below:

Grandma Kathleen

Jessica - Party Planner Extraordinaire!

Great Aunt Linda

Cousins Luana & Logan

  

Millie - My Other Expert Party Planner!

Uncle Nev

Rhoda, Ricardo, & Co.

 

The Serna Family

The Parents-to-be!

Again, I'm amazed by the craftiness and generosity of our friends and family. Ezra received some beautiful handmade quilts and blankets, and a customized onesie. He also received tons of cute toys and books, and practically an entire wardrobe for the next year. I also got a boppy nursing pillow which I'm really excited about; everyone who has had one raves about them. Check out how spoiled that lil guy is, and he hasn't even made an appearance yet!

Baby Showers #1 & #2 (Yes, We're Spoiled...)

About two and a half weeks ago, work threw me a surprise baby shower. You may remember the video of me walking into the conference room and turning bright red with surprise, before turning around and looking like I was either going to flee or kill Joe (posted here). But I promise I wasn't mad, just completely shocked (in a good way). Everyone at work was so sweet and generous, HR did an amazing job of planning and keeping everything a secret, and the bosses are super excited about the first work baby (besides their own).

Baby shower #2  was in Modesto, courtesy of my mom and two of my oldest and dearest friends - Zshnette and Jen. Joe and I drove up there after work on Friday. Aside from a little GPS incident, where I was unable to make my phone work in time to locate a Starbucks until half a mile past the last Starbucks in civilization (aka - right before a 40 mile-long black hole known as the Grapevine), the rest of the drive went pretty smoothly.

On Saturday, Joe dropped me off with my family while he went to visit with his Grandfather. The baby shower was at Chevy's (one of my fave restaurants) and everything was absolutely perfect. There was cake AND seven different kinds of cupcakes (thanks Zshnette!), which is a pregnant woman's heaven. There were a lot of fun games, including a hilarious mad libs version of Ezra's birth. Apparently I'm going to be in labor for 25 hours before giving birth to a fluffy 15 lb, 2 inch long baby with soft knuckles and 18 fingers and toes. He will have my big toe, and Joe's knee.

I had so much fun, and thanks to everyone who came with special thanks to the planners. I love all of you and feel so blessed to have you in mine and Ezra's lives.

Highlights of the trip included:

• Seeing my family and friends one last time before I pop.
• Finding out during the "Guess How Big My Belly Is" game that I'm actually only half the size I think I am.
• Spending time with Joe and my family.
• Joe getting to see his grandfather.
• Eating my weight in cake and cupcakes. 
• Finding out how crafty many of my friends and family are. Ezzy got a ton of homemade gifts, including baby decor and blankets - more pics on that when I finish his nursery. Actually, Ezzy got a ton of adorable and generous gifts in general - that spoiled lil guy! Many thanks to everyone! Can't wait to dress him up, decorate his nursery, and play with him using all his new loot. Love you!

Coming soon: Baby Shower #3 (I told you we're spoiled!), our maternity photo shoot, and Ezzy's nursery tour.

35 Weeks Bump Update

Nesting at 35 Weeks Pregnant

Symptoms: Heart burn and cramps. Joe actually Googled my cramps and found out they're Braxton Hicks contractions. Also, nesting, which would have been necessary even if I wasn't pregnant, since we just moved, but once Joe mentioned Braxton Hicks I became obsessed with putting together Ezzy's dresser so that I can wash all his clothes so I can pack my hospital bag.
Best Moment of the Week: Work threw me a surprise baby shower! Joe knew about it for the past month, but I was completely shocked. I turned bright red as soon as I figured out what was going on. I can't believe how generous everyone was. Ezzy got some adorable clothes & bedding, some new Reeboks (more expensive than Mommy's shoes!), a diaper genie, and much, much more! He's a spoiled little guy already.

What We're Reading & Watching this Week: Looking forward to watching the Walking Dead season finale tonight!
Food Cravings: Easter candy and fro-yo - the usual. My mom also sent some cookies, which I ate for breakfast over the weekend. There's oatmeal in them, so I think they count as a breakfast food.
Exercise: I went to the park for a walk last week and managed one lap before I sat on a bench and people watched for half an hour. Just walking through Ikea on Sunday felt like a major workout to me. Add in the moving and unpacking and furniture assembly and I think that's enough activity for a nearly 8 months pregnant lady.
What I Miss: Bending over like a normal person. Standing up like a normal person. Walking a whole mile at a time without wanting to sit down.
Happy or Moody? Happy.
Movement: Yep, all the time.
Looking Forward to: We're heading up to Modesto on Friday night for another baby shower, which means lots of family & friend time. Yay!