Itty bitty babymoon

With two weeks left until our due date, Brian concocted a romantic date night for us last night. We don't have time to take a trip before the baby comes (a la babymoon), but this was the perfect reprieve from projects and other demands that have taken up our time and attention recently.

We started the afternoon at the Wichita State Shockers baseball game and enjoyed some ridiculously delicious pretzels and sunshine in third-row box seats. We ditched the game early when some rainy weather rolled into town so we could dash home and tend to our pups. After the storm blew over, it was on to our next stop: Botanica. Our visit was just past the prime of all the gorgeous tulips, but we found lots of spring blooms -- still raindrop-blessed -- and colors during our peaceful stroll:









We had a quiet dinner at Sabor and then went to see "Oceans". We spent our time together chatting about how much our lives are about to change, how much we can't wait to meet our son or daughter and how blessed we are for it.

Three weeks to go!

All of the backaches, swollen feet, random appetite changes and occasional sleepless nights could not make me any less grateful for this little miracle in my life.

Roo has been getting the hiccups more often and still is on the move. Even in the midst of the discomfort of the eighth month of pregnancy, I know I'll miss this experience when it's over. But then I'll have a precious child to hug and kiss and share all of life's wonders and experiences.

The doctor is guessing baby will come early, but probably not in the next week and a half. Have you voted in our baby guessing game? Better make your guesses known by clicking here to vote. Bragging rights are at stake, you know.

Can't wait to meet you, little one!

Sweet silly Lilly

At six years of age, Lilly Anna Kournikova* is our youngest pet. We keep telling her that she won't be the baby of the household much longer. I wonder if it's sunk in yet ...


* We named our catch-loving pooch after a certain tennis star. They're both spunky, attractive and always ready when someone sends a bouncing ball their way. I think it's been a fitting moniker.

Tenants wanted

Nice young married couple with a little one on the way seeks kind feathered friends. Free room and board available. Must not mind romping pups who may sound intimidating but just want to play. Inquire within.

Fantastic flora

Spring is smiling on our gardens. These are all bulbs and perennials that have returned for a visit:

April shower

I was blessed to have my two dear friends Nicole and Ann throw a baby shower for me last weekend at our church, Aldersgate UMC.







The girls put together such a thoughtful, wonderful shower. Their little details showed all of the time and planning they put into the event. I loved the blue punch, pictured above, with a rubber ducky floating in it. The ducky is a nifty baby product that will indicate when bathwater is too warm for baby. I'll put that little guy to good use.

They also had a table set up with a bouquet of cheerful tulips, scrapbook pages for my guests to sign and baby pictures of Brian and me:


I received so many thoughtful gifts, including some adorable handmade bibs, a beautiful white crocheted baby blanket (at left) and a quilt certain to become a family heirloom:






Brian's grandmother embroidered the blocks in this quilt in the 1940s. Janice, my mother-in-law, pieced the top and had it professionally quilted. I love how it links generations -- and the women's creativity -- together.

I also received books, baby necessities and a few more Classic Pooh items for the nursery. My friend Lyn found this Classic Pooh Christmas blanket. It'll be fun to make it part of baby's first Christmas:


My friend Crystal gave a creative gift: She borrowed the "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" wedding tradition for her gift. Among the items she gave me was a loaner on her baby car seat base, which is a great help to us. Brian and I plan install those soon and have them checked at a hospital safety inspection.












My Aunt Terry and Uncle Joey surprised me by driving into town from Columbia, Mo., to visit. Terry joined friends and family at the shower, and it was so great to have her there. Brian's cousin Joni and her two sweet daughters, Audrey (pictured with me below) and Caroline, drove down from the Kansas City area. It made the day even more special to have them there.


My co-worker and fellow preggo Lindsey had the honor of guessing to the exact dimension how big my baby bump was in the cut-a-piece-of-yarn-to-guess-how-big-mama-to-be-is-around-the-middle game. She admitted that she used her own preggo belly as a guide of sorts. We teased her for cheating but agreed that she was just being resourceful.
















Also in attendance were Brian's Grandmother, who soon will meet her first great-grandchild, and "Grandma Foos", a special woman in our lives. Her daughter has been friends with my mother-in-law since they were in high school. (Don't these ladies look stunning? Their color coordination was completely accidental, but looked fabulous.)

The best part part of the day was looking around the room and realizing all of the strong, loving women in my life who offer their advice and support to my growing family.

Thank you, ladies, for everything.

See additional photos from the shower in my Facebook photo album.

Happy Easter!

Today was a very full, glorious day. We attended Aldersgate's 11 a.m. service with Eric, still visiting from Lawrence. Brian & I joined the choir to sing Handel's Messiah. (Love that song!) Then we had a big lunch with his family, followed by and a big dinner with mine. The weather was sunny and warm, and our hearts and stomachs are full.

Pictures from my in-laws home:





Brian sported his grandfather's hat. Very handsome!

Janice had this little Easter ducky for Baby B.

Dakota & Lilly played outside with Molly. Speaking of Easter hams ...

Photos from my parents' home:


Mom with her brightly colored cake. (Fun and tasty, with homemade icing. Yum!)

My nephew Kaden on his daddy's shoulders.

Mommy mocktails

The book "Margarita Mama: Mocktails for Moms-to-be" by Alyssa Gusenoff has provided some great recipes for me. I still get my fancy -- and often healthy -- mixed drinks while feeling like a supermom-to-be.

A couple of the simplest drinks I've tried and liked recently:

Pregnancy Breeze

3 ounces cranberry juice
4 ounces grapefruit juice
2 tsp. grenadine

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add all the ingredients, stir and serve. (If I need a treat, I rim my glass with pink sugar. Cheers!)

Mocha Mania

4 ounces decaffeinated iced coffee
4 ounces chocolate milk

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add coffee and chocolate milk. Mix with a straw and enjoy!

Brotherly love/indentured servitude

Today I am especially thankful for my brother-in-law Eric, who spent the day helping Brian on home projects. Brian has a list of things he wants to accomplish before Baby B. is born.


Eric sanding wood for a ladder to hold quilts and blankets in the nursery.


A design Brian created and would soon cut out for a custom bookshelf for the nursery.

Cheese! (Dakota is grinning because he thinks Uncle Eric drove all the way from Lawrence just to hang out with him. Shhh. Don't ruin it for the poor pup.)

While the boys worked outside, I worked inside, focused on some serious spring cleaning/nesting. My favorite chore of the day was washing adorable baby clothes, receiving blankets, burp cloths, etc. So cute! So tiny! So soft! I can't wait to start organizing the nursery and finding a home for everything.

Snapshots of spring

I love this time of year, when the days get longer, the weather gets warmer and the flowers start to bloom. Brian & I have been enjoying alfresco dining, evening walks with the pups and the anticipation of what this season will bring to our lives.

Preggo pics

How's this for a March T-shirt for a preggo Irish girl?

VIP parking, baby! Just one of hundreds of things I'll miss about this crazy, miraculous chapter of my life.