Pretty in Pink

Saturday, Gabe and I were in Aurora, MO for the Bean's baby shower. Gabe's mom threw us a beautiful shower at the Community Center. A sea of pink! There is no doubting that our little baby bean is going to be pink and girly!

Gabe made a cameo appearance just as we were opening gifts.

More adorable clothes!

Thanks a bunch Mom and Dad! We love you!

Once again, we are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Thanks to all who came and gave such wonderful gifts. As usual, time flew by in an instant and it was all over. But we had a great time.

I can't believe we are about to start Week 34. 6 weeks and counting.

Week 32: Getting Closer

This week we spent working on the nursery. Okay, Gabe spent the week working on the nursery while I watched. He has been a busy bee these last couple weeks painting and putting together furniture. I have to say, it turned out really good!

Here is the paint project in progress. It's a bit hard to see and this pic doesn't really do it justice. We chose neutral colors so that we don't have to re-paint for the next baby, and I would be less likely to tire of the color (a bad habit). We chose a "ragging on" effect for the faux finish. Gabe really did a fantastic job!

I love how the furniture turned out. Gabe's patience was stellar as I made him move everything around 20 different ways before settling on this. I have to admit, this was Gabe's suggested layout from the get-go. I must really learn to listen to his advice.

View of the crib. We got this crib before we ever found out the sex of the baby, so we bought a neutral wood color. I was a bit apprehensive of how it would look with the white furniture, but I kind of like not having everything white. The rocking chair is a place holder until we find a more comfortable chair conducive to baby rocking/feeding. This one is a gorgeous antique family heirloom that I don't want to ruin.

As usual, Brody is the ever present helper as I started to put things out. Gabe's work is done in here. Now my work begins as I fill everything in. I am so excited for the finished room! Stay tuned for more pics once we get the bedding and everything in place.

It is hard to believe we only have 8 weeks left before we get to meet our little baby bean. Everything is still going according to plan. Gabe and I attended our Birthing Class a couple weeks ago. I think Gabe walked out pretty excited while I came out completely freaked out! I am starting to feel the effects of the last weeks of pregnancy. I now walk slower than molasses. Breathing is still an issue. I would be perfectly happy sleeping all day. And my back has begun to complain a LOT! But the fun part is feeling and seeing her move. Her activity has definitely increased. The little stinker still gets stage fright so Daddy doesn't get to feel her much, but I hope that changes soon. As long as things continue to go well, we won't get to have any more ultrasounds. In the coming weeks we should get an estimate on her weight and find out if she is in the right position.

Movin' On Up....

This is what we did this weekend:


Yep, we did it. We bought this minivan. 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. We are now officially part of the New Parents Club.

We started out looking at SUVs but the price tag for what we wanted was still a little steep. Plus, with us living out of town so far, gas mileage is a big deal. Our Honda Accord fits pretty well, but when we thought about taking the entire family (dogs included) on trips, the Honda wasn't going to cut it. In the end we needed a car that could handle 2-3 dogs, a kid with the carseat and have enough storage that can hold all the stuff we would drag along. So the search began.

With all that is going on in the car industry, it really is a good time to buy a car. We got a killer deal. We got everything we wanted except leather seats. But in the end, we couldn't see finding anything that fit our needs better than this.

This sucker is loaded!! Storage galore. Automatic everything - sliding side doors, rear hatch..etc. Dual DVD system, satellite radio, MP3 player, rear back-up camera. Way cool. This sucker is so big, its like a limosuine! The only thing missing is the wet bar.

We hated to give up leather seats, but these seats are scotch guarded to help out with clean-up. Still looks like new.
Touch screen radio/dvd controls.

The DVD system is pretty awesome. 2nd and 3rd row each get a screen and can each watch seperate movies if they want to. Comes with a remote and wireless headphones. This will make the long drives to Denver a piece of cake. Parents, kids, and dogs can ride in style and comfort.

The best part for us was the low mileage (22,000) and the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty.

Now we pray that Chrysler doesn't go out of business.

Cravings

People are always asking me what cravings I have had these past few months. And I always reply with the truth. Not many. Sure, I have a hankoring for something that sounds good at the time, but I have yet to experience the true "craving". That is, until yesterday.

It actually started the night before. After Gabe and I test drove really nice Chrysler Pacifica, we stopped for gas and I was left waiting in the car staring across the street at a Krispy Kreme. I thought to myself "ooooh, that sounds pretty good"...but I suppressed the thought and we drove home for a more nutritious dinner.

But I couldn't get those donuts out of my head. All night I thought about them. Dreamed about them. I could even taste them and feel them melting in my mouth. I have a Krispy Kreme donut maybe once a year. Honestly, I don't really care for them. They are too sugary in my opinion. I would rather have a sprinkled cake donut. So what is going on?!?!?

The next morning, I asked Gabe to look up Krispy Kreme on the Internet and tell me where there is one on the way to work. Turns out, there isn't one that is on my normal route to work. Bummer.

So in the car I go, trying once again to suppress this now obvious full blown craving. Nope, I gotta have them! I know where there is one a little out of the way, but not far off the route. I am gonna go!

Radio traffic says there is a big wreck on the highway. Looks like I can't go that way today. POOP!!! Guess I will take the back way. Radio traffic then says there is a big wreck on the back way too!!! What to do??? I am already late for work. This is just a bad morning. Again, I talk myself out of Krispy Kreme. I don't need them. They are not good for me and baby bean anyway.

Fast forward to the traffic jam I am sitting in. Stop and go. Uh oh, my pea size bladder is full. I have about 20 minutes left on the drive. I am not going to make it to work. I gotta go! I can't hold it too much longer! Agony! Guess what? The turn off to Krispy Kreme is coming up! I am goin'!!! I mean, I gotta empty my bladder anyway, I might as well do it at Krispy Kreme right? YES!!!!!!

Decided to get a dozen and share at work. I had to fight really hard to not tear the box open and eat 1/2 of them in the car.

Finally make it to work. Ate two of them faster than you can say Krispy Kreme. It was Heaven! Everything I dreamed it would be!!! Ate another about an hour later. Yummmy!!!

Major tummy ache. No more Krispy Kreme for me. Craving over.

Happy New Year!

Dear Friends and Family,

A virtual toast from our house to yours. Here's to a happy, healthy 2009! [clink!]

Gabe, Alli, Cheyenne, Angel, Cookie, Brody, Linus, and Baby Bean!