October in Review

Good evening all! I'm just sitting here relaxing, waiting on a certain baby to show up. Due date is tomorrow...just sayin'.  Before all the baby stuff starts I wanted to go ahead and do a quick review of our October. It seems like there was a lot going on...I was constantly thinking the baby was coming at any time (laugh), scrambling to all the things on my to do list in case of an early arrival (at least I cleared some space early) and trying to do some special "fall" things before we have all things Christmas beating on our doors-which I'm not a fan of early Christmas stuff btw. That should wait until after Thanksgiving at least in my humble opinion.

So here go...

At the beginning of October, as some of you might have seen, Ellie and I took maternity pictures together. It went really well and timely. If you are wondering about John just know I ran the idea by him but he hates pictures...esp. posed ones that he can't attempt to ruin by making faces, etc. So it was completely fine with just Ellie and I. Brooklyn Ash photography did a great job!

Ellie and I have continued on our "homeschool" lessons...still going well I can report. It's very laid back and informal but we both enjoy it most days.

We celebrated Jo-Jo's (John's grandmother) 91st birthday! Its always a good time to pack into her house with all the cousins, aunts and uncles to celebrate. We even got to meet the newest cousin, little Owen!

Ellie got to pick out pumpkins since we couldn't make it to a pumpkin patch over the weekend. Momma was feeling not so great and just wasn't up for it. On the flip side she thoroughly enjoyed visiting the nursery and picking out pumpkins. I tried again to take her last weekend to the patch but she turned me down! Have you ever???

The baby grew....

Ellie got to see the fire trucks during story time at our local library. She HATED the firemen trying on the fire suits and refused to look at them and was on the verge of tears but thankfully she stuck it out and we got to see the trucks afterwards!

We went to see SC Children's theatre puppet show production. This was our 3rd trip to see this group in a year and other show didn't disappoint! Ellie got upset when they were taking the scenes down to switch stories but otherwise all good...I guess she was just really into it.

On the 23rd we hosted my in laws to some dinner (more or less catered) LOTS of treats and pumpkin carving outside. Some pumpkins were great (all but ours LOL) and some got honorable mentions. John was cracking us all up with his efforts. Nothing was going like he wanted and it was pretty hilarious. Ellie colored hers which kept her entertained and made kind comments about all the pumpkins around her. I painted mine like a donut. Go figure.

On my next to last shift, some of my co workers threw a little last minute shower for me. It was a nice surprise. I'm glad this little girl could get some special things just for her.

And....I finished my shifts so I'm on maternity leave!!!

John and I had a night out together and it was so nice. We had dinner and a movie (classic I know) but going out with your spouse and laughing together is good for the soul.

Yay for bathroom portraits 

Lastly we rounded out October we dressing up like Anna from Frozen (duh) and going to trunk or treat at our church on Sunday and going around the neighborhood on Monday night. We didn't stay out long but Ellie seemed to really enjoy herself and stocked up on candy! Also on Halloween in an effort to keep us entertained, we went to the lake in our old neighborhood and had a picnic. It was so beautiful out there and I wish we had gone back sooner!

That's all for now. Hopefully we will be starting the next post off with some baby photos! Pray for us!

September in Review

hello, hello.

Everyone's favorite month is here so as promised I have written a (finally on time I might add!) post for September to review. Here we go!

Labor day weekend was spent with me laboring at work but thankfully John and I had off on Monday so we had some fun...well I thought it was, don't know if he'd agree. We went to Hendersonville, NC for the Apple Festival. It was quite beautiful but of course quite hot. We got there in time to order some lunch. John picked it up while I tried to hold 2 little spots on the curb to watch the parade. I was hell bent on not missing it as I thought Ellie would really enjoy it. It was a really nice parade and we/she did enjoy all the trucks, tractors, fire trucks, horses, etc. After the parade we found our apples to buy, regular ones and a candy apple for me, and let Ellie ride the little tractors. After all that we were hot and tired. So back home it was to make some apple granola!
 

The weekend of the 10th we went to Charlotte for a concert I had been waiting for since April! John had been since dreading it lol. I had been wanting to see Florida Georgia Line since well a while and when the opportunity came I jumped. We left Saturday about 2 hours later than I had wanted of course, dropped Ellie off for a grandparent sleepover and we headed out. We got to Charlotte without issue. We checked in, changed clothes, went to a quick dinner and headed out to the show. We were, as mentioned, running late which carried over to this point too. The whole thing started at 7 and at 8 30 we were fighting to get into parking. It was nuts. Apparently the show was sold out so about 50, 000 people were all trying to get in...still. Some how our car was picked by a police officer to pull around and go to the VIP parking area. Oh man what a break! We quickly busted out of the car and high tailed it to the show. As fast as someone 8 months pregnant in boots can high tail it but never underestimate a determined woman! We missed the first 2 acts (meant to anyways :) and walked to our seats literally as Cole Swindell came out. Perfect timing! I've tried at least to stop getting hyped up about being too late to things or worrying how it will all work out. If it does go fine, i.e. this instance, then I get hyped for no reason and well if it doesn't work out...at this point I can deal. Anyways, anyways, the show was great, the lead singer (I mean he is like 90% of the duo it seems) is too stinking cute and John and I had a great time just having some solid time together just us two. We love our Ellie but parents are still husband and wife and husband and wife need to be together too. We spent the night, ordered breakfast in bed and headed back Sunday to shop and see our little Ellie.

The next weekend was..drumroll..my birthday! The big 3-1. I had to work technically but got someone to cover the second half of my shift so we could do something Sunday. We went to my in laws were we had cake and dinner, balloons and presents! I still love me some birthdays...
On the following Monday, (Tuesday ?) I had a doctors appt. were some circulation problems were talked about (nothing serious thankfully!) and my doctor so graciously dropped my down to 8 hour shifts!! Man what a difference 4 hours can make. Speaking of which...4 weeks left!! Not that I'm counting..

Me and baby E hitting up target after a ultrasound...of the venous variety 

The last weekend in September I had my glorious 4 day weekend. We went back to Hendersonville to visit an orchard. The last time we went I was about 18 weeks or so pregnant with Ellie. It was so, so busy (duh) this time of year. It was a beautiful day. unseasonably hot, but just beautiful. We picked some granny smith apples, gala and Fuji. We (I) bought apple cider donuts and cider slushies. Ellie chilled in her wagon the whole time like a little princess and picked a few apples with dada's help.  We left hot and happy. We stopped in a cute little area of town to get lunch before heading home.

September has been a really great month! It was also been the month of final touches on nesting (if that's what we are calling it) but let's be honest I nest 24/7, 365 days a year. I do most of my cleaning, DIYs (minor ones people!), and decorating while Ellie sleeps. Occasionally I'll slip something in or finish a project when she's up but I try to focus on her when we are together. She is old enough to try and join in on somethings, esp if it is for the baby. I want her to be involved in that process to an extent ;) I will be sharing our home tour this month. My last touches on all the rooms are done for a while, the to do list is mostly cleared and I have decorated for fall! I'm satisfied with how things are and the focus in October is relaxing and enjoying our last weeks just the 3 of us.

1 Post, 1 Month

Hello, hello. How's everyone on this Monday night? I'm feeling well, a little anxious as tomorrow we will find out how baby Hughes is doing on ultrasound and of course hopefully see if it is a he or she! but let's not get ahead of ourselves...we are here to see what May was about! Also thinking this whole month in review thing may very well become.... a thing. Blogging just takes a back burner these days but that's fine. This blog is here to share and stay in touch. I'm still trying to do just that!

So May....good month, felt mostly well and my family felt mostly well. Morning (day) nausea faded out and Ellie got a week long respiratory virus but other than that we were well.

We celebrated Mother's Day. We went to Jo-Jos like we usually do and had a nice time (like we also usually do!)

Ellie and I spent some mild mornings at the park and ate lunch outside on the (newly) furnished patio. It's kinda sad to think it's already too hot now to do some of those things outside...

I tried (still trying to remember) to document this baby's growth.

We celebrated John's dad's birthday

Most notably, we took off to Gulf Shores, Alabama for a family wedding on Memorial weekend.

Friday we left as early as possible for us since we had to drop off the dogs and we traveled all. day. long. Really its only 8 hours but with the terrible traffic and road construction it was naturally longer. ellie is actually a trooper in the car and only starts to hardcore whine when we at the tail end of wherever we are going. She just plays, talks, sleeps, snacks a little and then we she wakes its usually a little rough. Then again we are all kinda losing it at that point in a trip I guess. Friday we arrived about an hour before the rehearsal dinner and made to the dinner with about 15 minutes to spare. Just about everyone from john's family was able to travel there which was really nice. His aunt (Groom' mom) even cooked the ENTIRE rehearsal dinner. Crazy right? The labors of love! It was absolutely delicious. Ellie was be-bopping all around having a good ole time during the speeches but it was time to go when she needed a diaper change and there was noooo where to go. Except home of course. We stayed in a 3 bedroom condo with john's parents and sister and it was really nice. It had a huge deck which overlooked the wharf and all the boats coming and going. Also it was in the same area as a ton of shops and restaurants so getting breakfast and coffee was just a little hop away in whatever clothing you could decently throw on early in the morning! You needed to go early because all kinds of everybody was awake by 9 30.

These two are next!

Random guy photo bombing us! I was completely oblivious when I was taking these pictures lol. He is in all 3 making different faces.

Saturday went to the pool for a bit and then it was Wedding time!

Coleman and Kirby got married in a church but had the reception waterfront at a venue within walking distance to where we stayed. It was a beautiful ceremony and a nice reception, but most of all we were all happy to just see them happy. Weddings really are so so special.

Got to say... Ellie was SO stinkin cute in her tutu dress. She said no way to pink or purple but she still likes a dress as long as it's blue! 

Cousins running around together

Beautiful bride and groom!

Sunday we were able to kick back and play all day so went to the beach early in the afternoon/late morning and then back to the pool later. Of course on Monday we all traveled back home safely thankfully. The trip back wasn't nearly as long but truthfully overall it wasn't a bad drive. Totally worth it no matter in order to see a beautiful couple join their lives together and be with our family!

Hope to be back for mini posts on the baby, some special days and hopefully a little home tour if I can ever get to a "stopping point" with decorating this house! Probably not but hey with baby on the way I will be saying ENOUGH! Sooner rather than later. Have a great rest of the week!