A little Southern Charm for our Charlotte

When we picked out the name Charlotte for our little girl my sisters immediately started planning a Southern brunch baby shower.  From the biscuit bar to the copious amount of yellow and gray to match her nursery... it was the best shower I have been to (even without my personal bias).  I felt so overwhelmed by the amazing generosity and love.  Not only from my mom and sisters, but from my aunts and friends who traveled to attend! I just kept looking around in awe that so many people love and support our little family.  Be prepared for a million pictures because I just can't get over how beautiful it was! 

Meredith is an expert diaper cake boss. She planned this cake for 6 months. It included 316 size 2 diapers, crib sheet, 4 receiving blankets, headbands and decorations! I would run into her at Target and every time she had more diapers in her basket.  I have to say all her work was worth it because it was the hit of the shower! I am still admiring how amazing it turned out. 

                                 

We played the embarrassing ribbon around my giant belly game.  For the record NO ONE's ribbon was too short.  Always good to find out you look bigger than you are ;)

The day of our ultrasound my best friend's mom, Cathy, called to tell me she would make me a quilt!  I was ecstatic because her quilts are unbelievable.  She took me to Ft. Collins to pick out fabric and then I had to wait 3 long months to see it.  Even knowing how amazing she is, I was not prepared for how perfect Charlotte's quilt would be! My cheesy smile gives away how excited I was to have it.

I made Austin come help me open presents because I was getting embarrassed with all the attention on me!

Jessica and Emily left Friday night to be here for my Saturday shower.  It was one of those gestures that made the shower even more magical and I'm so grateful for their sacrifice!

I'm so grateful that Charlotte will have such wonderful people in her life.

Most of the pictures are curtesy of Austin's amazing aunt... who is Charlotte's official photographer!

Holiday overload

I am officially over the holidays.  Normally I can't get enough, but this year I had plenty.  I started out the Christmas season with a last "girls trip" before the baby to Salt Lake.   My mom and I shopped from opening to closing of stores and had so much fun getting ready for Christmas!

Our neighborhood does a Christmas light contest every year.  Last year we thought ahead and found this blow up on clearance at Lowe's.  I bought it thinking that for a hundred bucks a 4 ft blow up was a bargain!  However, this year when we blew it up it was actually 12 feet and as tall as our house! Even with this white trash blow up, somehow we lost! I think it was fixed.

In my Grinchlike state I couldn't stomach the thought of buying, decorating and cleaning up after a Christmas tree.  Luckily my mom sent this mini version for a little Christmas bling.

 We then had Christmas parties every weekend night, and were already feeling ready to be finished.  Unfortunately, for actual Christmas, Austin and I counted that we opened presents on 5 different occasions.  My family had two Christmases and his family had two Christmases and we had our own little Christmas... it was a lot.  In total we had 6 holiday meals! It was so fun, but at 8 pregnant, I was exhausted!

                                           

2014 was one of the best years of my life.  It brought 2 amazing job opportunities, a new baby on the way and so many wonderful memories.  We both feel beyond blessed for the life that we have.  2015 will be quite the change, but we are so looking forward to parenthood.