Gorgeous Saturday

Ahhh....the weather lately - well not as I write this post since it's cold and misty rainy - but the weather lately has been spectacular.....totally flip flops and white jeans weather and I have been loving every minute of it....Yes, ask me how I feel about this weather come July when it's a scorcher....you will probably hear differently.

After our fabulous date night I decided that we should spend Saturday outside after we ran our errands that morning. Our morning errands consisted of putting the final touches on our baby registry....this was a hoot....I will start with that....

I had already done my research on big gear items before we went to the stores so I kind of knew what we wanted already....this was really just for the store kind of items that are hard to search out and see online....and it was something fun for me and Orie to do together.

We started off with our "gun" and immediately it was faulty....Orie just kept wondering why there wasn't an iPhone app for this! We talked about how many diapers William will go through and Orie's mouth hit the floor! We scanned lots of fun items and then went on to our next store. We scanned more fun items there.....I kept offering Orie the scanner and asking his opinion on things. He never wanted the scanner though....not until the end when I was sick of holding it....that is when he took over. I can remember the items he scanned for his baby registry because I then had to come home and delete them! Here is what Orie scanned for his baby.....

a loaf of Pepperidge Farm bread
an Easter candy dish
goldfish
a bottle of wine
batteries
and some sort of candy at the check out

I'm not sure if I am having a baby or if I am married to a big baby!!!

It was such a fun morning!

We then came home and immediately began to soak up some sunshine. Orie had some yard tasks to take care of like the sprinklers and hosing off the pollen and I got busy lying out on my new chaise chairs....it was magical. We listened to music, played with Grace and ultimately just soaked up sun and each other....What a perfect day!

We are hoping for more sunshine in our future......

Date Night....

I am not sure why I title this date night....like it's a big deal....Orie and I have date night a lot/no secret that we like to hang out with each other....we just haven't had it a lot lately.

So this past week when the weather was beautiful....I suggested that Friday after work we go sit on a patio somewhere and have a date night and then maybe head to dinner. It was a plan and Friday's weather was super cooperative....it was GORGEOUS!

I drove Orie to work that morning and then picked him up from work for our date....I dressed in a super cute new dress and got all dolled up with cute jewelry and shoes for our date....I think my husband said I was the hottest pregnant lady he had ever seen....! We headed to a spot he had heard about near his office but their patio was not very big and it was definitely full by this time....Orie tends to work later than most normal people:(

So we regrouped and headed over to the West Village as these Dallas people like to call it. It's a small shopping center with tons of outdoor patios....so we knew it would be a prime spot to sit outside. We strolled around and found the perfect outside table at Cru...It was lovely....the waiter came over and we started to order some drinks but to my surprise they did not have any non alcoholic beverages except for water....no alcohol free wine, no alcohol free champagne, not even any cranberry and sprite....I was shocked. However, the patio and weather was so nice that we carried on with our sunset at Cru....Orie had a nice beverage!

After we stayed our welcome at Cru we headed to dinner at Victor Tangos....ever since Audrey's Bachelorette Dinner I have been craving it....and the food did not disappoint this trip either! The service did though....our waitress must have been having a super non attentive/bad/rude/cut her tip in half kind of day(if I had the heart to really do that....I did reduce it though!)

Overall....we had a lovely evening and it is always fun to go on a real date with your husband! Thanks Orie for a lovely evening!

Just Between Friends

Last week I joined my friend Lori for the Just Between Friends Consignment Sale. I have heard about it for a while and knew that I really wanted to go....always hoping to find something fabulous but really just wanting to check it out and see what all the craziness was about. My friend Lori has gone/worked/bought/sold at this for years and is always raving about it.

I headed out to the Mesquite Rodeo and waited for her to arrive. During my wait I saw some serious women ready to shop....I was a little frightened.....They were getting out of their cars with huge Ikea shopping bags, reusable bags, rolling racks and the kind of carts people use for laundry in NYC. All I had done to prepare was to bring my over the body satchel purse so that I could be hands free....clearly I was not prepared. I called another friend Amy and let her know my concerns as the women poured in and out of the rodeo doors with their gear.....she just giggled! She knew about this sale and had in fact consigned this year.....she had seen the madness inside the day before.

I perked up when Lori arrived and we walked in together....all I can say when I walked in was that I was in pure shock at the size of this building and the fact that it was filled from corner to corner.....the only floor space were the small aisles in between racks and tables FULL of baby and children's stuff.....clothing, gear, accessories, furniture, strollers, bouncers, exersaucers, bottles, shoes, more stuff and then even a little bit of crap!

Naturally, I started off in the baby boy clothing aisle....and boy did I get some finds! I will not describe all of them....partially not to bore you and also because my sister Jen does not approve of all this buying for William!!! Let's just say I got several BRAND NEW items for pennies! It was one of the greatest afternoons ever....I can totally do the rummage sale thing...GO ME!

Enjoy some pics from the afternoon.....

my first view of the left side of the hall....more stuff than I could have imagined...

people had their laundry carts to roll around or made makeshift carts by tying a belt to the handle of a laundry basket and dragging it around.....OMG

more of the "stuff"

this was a women waiting in line to check out....that rack is all of her purchases!

Things that make me go hmmmm.....

....cold weather when you have been wearing sun dresses and flip flops for two weeks

....the way Grace's hair sticks straight up when a stranger comes to our house

....why banana peels smell so gross in the trash can

....the price of bottled water

....people who use Facebook as a political platform and expect to be taken seriously

what makes you go hmmmmmm?

Baby Shopping Extravaganza....

A weekend or so ago we had a baby blowout in Dallas.....complete with the V family, the M family, and two of the three K families......it was super fun and we didn't miss out on anything....needless to say I was exhausted when everyone had to head home!

Here's how the weekend went....

Friday morning Kat, Mom and Linda drove over and I met them to do a little baby bedding shopping! We had great success and the most beautiful bedding ever is on its way to me! I bought a set (skirt, bumper, sheet, crib blanket and pillow) in this floral embroidered design in cream on white....it is beautiful! I wish I had a picture of exactly what I ordered but these will have to do.....

not the polka dots.....and no blue....cream on white....

this is a picture of the bassinet set that mom did for her bassinet in Shreveport....she did ecru on white in the same pattern...it's beautiful as well!

I felt very accomplished after this and it wasn't even noon! After our bedding success we headed off to have some lunch and do a little more shopping.....Kat had great success with her changing table refinishing job at Uptown Country and I picked out and ordered William's baby book. Next we were off to do a little maternity shopping....and actually had success there too....no wonder we didn't win the lottery...we used all our good luck this weekend! Thanks mom for some great new maternity pieces....I will certainly feel cute when I wear them!

Friday afternoon/evening the rest of the gang made it to town.....the Varnadore clan rolled in with two precious boys and gear for the weekend.....they were ready to have some fun! That night everyone came to our house for dinner and game night....yes game night! It was the highlight of the trip.....Jen had made an adorable game " Who Wants to be a Parent" so that we could win her baby gear that she graciously donated to William and August! It was hysterical.....I don't think Orie and I won the game but we definitely won lots of goodies. The worst moment came when my husband could not identify a day gown or a jon jon....tragic! Ethan was a great banker and all our guests....Charlie, Linda, Tess, Papa, Ethan, Rodney and Jen the host...provided great help and comedy the whole evening! Thanks Jen for all your hard work and all the goodies for William! What a fun night....here are some pics from that....

the banker....

the host....

yes...her questions had demonstrations and interactive answers....

kat and josh with swaddled baby August....

Di and Orie with swaddled William....

success....a diapered August....

and a diapered William.....

I think we must have lost that question....maybe it was when Orie didn't know what a daygown was?!?!

Saturday we went off with a bang.....The boys headed to Top Golf for some male bonding and some fun while the girls headed off to the mall for some serious shopping! I would say we had great success again....Jen found lots of great things for her girls vacation coming up....mom found some stuff for her trip to Naples....and Kat and I found a few things that should work throughout the pregnancy....even though Captain Jen did NOT approve of those purchases....she thinks we are living in denial about how big we will get!

We ended the day with a great dinner at Javier's....have you noticed we go there a lot when people come in town? That is because it is probably my sister's favorite restaurant in the world and has therefore become a favorite of almost everyone in the family! Dinner was delicious....even though mine had to go back for a little more grill time....no one likes to eat raw steak! After dinner we headed over to Palomar for a cocktail and some patio time....what fun the evening was! Then it was home and in bed for me.....

Sunday we had a lazy morning and then some electrical work and nursery arrangement with the fam and then headed off to Ozona for brunch....it was a GORGEOUS day on their patio complete with family and fun....what a perfect way to end the weekend....Enjoy a pic from our Frat-tastic little nephew...isn't he a doll?



What did your latest family weekend look like?

My baby....

Ha....no no....William is not here....but this pretty pretty is....

This is the Bugaboo Frog which I have wanted for YEARS....since I worked at Oh Baby! in Baton Rouge....I know you shouldn't want/covet/love a material possession this much but I'm not perfect...and if you have followed this blog for a while you already know that!

When we found out we were having a baby and that they were discontinuing the Frog at the end of 2010 we just knew it was destiny - ha! The Frog was my Valentine's Day present and I immediately wanted to put it together.....

Putting things together in our house is always exciting....Orie and I work really well together but we often times have no idea what we are doing. Orie likes to read and follow directions....I like to just look at a picture and maybe figure it out from there! What usually works best is when he gives me instructions like which piece to hand him or which piece to put where....he always lets me help though...thank goodness....if I just had to sit there and take orders I would be super bored!

This is how assembly went on Bugaboo Frog night.....

Orie consulting the video demonstration the nice people at Bugaboo sent us....note the easy accessibility of our laptop computer....no matter where we are!

Diana unpacked all the pieces and laid them out neatly....

Orie followed the directions on how to assemble the wheels to the frame.....Diana attached said wheels....

and poof Bugaboo was built!

We built it in bassinet version since that is what William will use at the beginning....once he is a few months old we will switch the seat lining from the bassinet style to the upright style....

Grace wasn't too sure about what we were doing and really doesn't like the stroller at all....I don't think it's any indication of her love for William, she typically hates things that move, have wheels, or come at her in an aggressive way....vacuums, swifters, strollers, toy riders for kids, and the list goes on!

Come stroll with us any day!

Audrey's Bridal Shower

Here comes the bride......

Yes....we are gearing up for another wedding in this family.....Orie's sister Audrey is tying the knot soon and I am playing catch up on the festivities....

I blogged about the bachelorette party a while back and now it's time for a blog on her bridal shower. Her sweet friends hosted it and it was at Jamie's home....which was an adorable South Highlands charmer....I love those homes!

Friends and family were there and showered her with lots of really nice things....she and Chris should have a good start on their kitchen accessories and lots of entertaining "ware".... It was a great way to spend a little time on a Sunday afternoon....Thanks Audrey for including me....we can't wait for the wedding weekend!

CHH's Christening

A few weekends ago I was able to attend one of my favorite boys Christening celebrations at St. Joseph's.....it was absolutely beautiful!

Not only is this baby beautiful...but his gown was beautiful (with beautiful history)....the church was beautiful....the intimate ceremony was beautiful....and everything about the morning was perfect. I don't think his mommy and daddy could have been more proud!

If you know CHH and his family then you know that there are a TON of cousins....most of them still running around Shreveport with their children.....well all of these children wore this gown and all of their initials are embroidered on the slip....it was so neat to read off the initials and realize all the ones who wore it.....what a special gown! I would venture to say the oldest cousin is about 36 ish and would have been the first one to wear it....wow that is special!

Thanks CHH for including me in your day...it was super special!

carie...di...charlie....(he was this happy throughout the entire thing!)

carie...charlie....di (don't you just love his sweet smile?)

Cupcakes and Cheeseburgers with a Splash of Champagne....

It's no secret that we love to celebrate....! It may be a secret what we are celebrating lately though.....

This past weekend we headed home to celebrate the gender reveal of our 1st baby.....yes we are having a baby blog fans! Don't worry...I promise to continue blogging our fun adventures and not be just a mommy blog....I can't promise there won't be pic or two of our newest celebration though!

I wanted to tell our family and friends in some fun festive way and most importantly...together. I didn't want anyone knowing ahead of time or after everyone else. So....I planned an adorable...if I say so myself....Cupcakes and Cheeseburgers with a Splash of Champagne party!

What pregnant girl doesn't want a cheeseburger? And everyone loves champagne and cupcakes right? It was set and I was so excited about getting all the things together. We had a color theme of pinks, blues and greens.....we didn't want to lead anyone in the wrong gender direction!

Orie and I found out the sex Wednesday morning and we had to keep it a secret until Saturday night....wow was that a task! Carie couldn't believe I wasn't telling her and everyone had their feelings and their votes and all of that ready for the night....it's amazing how so many people "just know" what it is!!!!

I enlisted Jen to be the party photographer (I forgot my camera!) and she did a fabulous job documenting everything.....warning picture overload but I LOVE it! Enjoy them all!

Cooper and Ethan....team blue and team pink


trying to get a posed one....aren't they adorable?

Rod joins in....he's team blue!

Uncle Orie and Ethan....lots of pink here....

Tess and Ethan....both in pink....

Papa, Tess and their boys....

Di...Gammie and Grandma....lots of blue going on!

Carie and Di....Carie was a big supporter of team pink....

the adorable cupcakes from Buttercups....

two dozen of those cupcakes....oh well...you gotta love leftover sweets right?

frog cupcakes for E and C...

the prince and princess frog centerpiece with flowers....

pink lemonade and blue moon

What if I am on team blue but I don't want blue moon?

our festive glasses...

blue baskets for the cheeseburgers.....we had a great party supplier for our paper liners:)

Di....Gammie....Grandma and Tess

Aunt Jen...Di....Aunt Kat (and August!)

Tess and Orie....

Everyone tried to get an early bite out of the cupcake to find out boy or girl....silly Rodney....

Ethan chose a pink cupcake....hoping desperately that his team would win :(

Di and Orie....

Aunt Carie with Ethan....

E and C

Cooper learned "cupcake" this weekend!

and boy was it good!

Grumpus and Gammie....CHEERS!

Orie and Grandma.....waiting anxiously for pink or blue!

Di and Carie.....

Jen and Rod.....a house of blue for sure!

Tess is ready!

Aunt Kat and Uncle Josh....

Di and Orie waiting to see everyone's faces when they find out....

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

Tess with the blue inside of her cupcake....

lots of happies....

so excited about baby boy.....

Aunt Kat and August excited about baby boy.....

Ethan isn't too sure if he picked the right team....

but....three cheers for baby boy!!!

Tess is excited....even though team pink didn't prevail...


Aunt Di and Ethan...

baby boy cousin has a present for Ethan...

a fish named Flower.....(whew....I was worried for a minute we were going to have to name our Baby Flower....the fish seemed to do the trick and change his suggestion for our baby!)

we can only hope our baby boy is as sweet as this one....

he will have lots to teach him....

reading the card on Ethan's fish......

Feed your fish....talk to your fish....give your fish a good home....and love your fish....just like my mommy and daddy are doing for me....


Everyone listening to the card....


and at the bottom of the card.....Love, William

we didn't want anyone to feel left out....so....A Fish for Everyone! Love, William

Di and Carie....so excited for Charlie and William to play together....

Di and Uncle Rod.....

Flower Swordfish....

William already has some sweet gifts....

his own official Saints bib....Who Dat going to be our new cousin!


William's latest fashion trend....

tie dye.....YUCK! this outfit goes back several years to E and C's wardrobe....it was as awful then as it is now.....thanks Rod....we knew this was really just from you....

Cooper getting in on the action....excited about his baby boy cousin

a sweet outfit for William....I can remember picking this out for Ethan 4 years ago....awww....I love that they will share some sweet clothes!

a beautiful bib for William....thanks Kat and Josh....

his first lesson on how to be a Tiger....what a great book!

Ethan and Grumpus having some fun with Mardi Gras beads.....

William's very own lovie from Tess and Papa....I LOVE IT!

I think sweet Charlie was hoping for a little girl.....oh well....they can be best friends instead of boyfriend girlfriend!

all that sugar must have gone to these boys' heads.....

We just had the best evening celebrating with our family....thanks to everyone who came to our party and showed all their love and excitement to William....we can hardly wait to meet him!

After the party we headed out to meet some friends for some socializing....everyone was thrilled about Baby Boy and Orie just loved getting to have his daddy moment! What a fun evening.

I just can't think of anything else we have done....this was the highlight lately for sure!