Nesting Continued...

I guess it seems that there is always something I could be organizing, cleaning or arranging! WHICH. I. LOVE.

This week has been filled with an array of different "to-do's" that I have been checking off my list and getting ready for the big day....Christmas that is!

The many boxes of baby items from my shower have been staring at me long enough and I had to give the "assembly" a try! Yes, probably a man's job but again, my impatience got the best of me!

I am proud to say that I assembled four, somewhat difficult baby contraptions and they are secure, sturdy and ready to go!

The MamaRoo! I loooooove this device!


Our spare stroller and the wonderful CoSleeper!


Bouncer! I wish I had an adult-sized one of these!...


I actually love doing that sort of thing...perhaps for the personal challenge alone.

With a nice and easy work week, I have had lots of time to work on gift wrapping and tackling errands. I am guilty of going to Buy Buy Baby aaaagggain but I just love that store! It's a blessing that the store is 20 minutes from our house; it's trouble enough already! I just keep thinking of things I need....okay, WANT but do you blame me??

Tuesday night was a wonderful dinner with Nora!! Sometimes I think Nora should have considered a career in stand-up but technically there is still time!!? She is such a great friend and I love spending time with her....as we say to each other often, if we have this much fun sober, imagine when we can drink together! ...just sayin'...

And what could possibly be on tap for today? Cleaning of course! It's definitely a laundry day as well since I have two piles of clothes sitting on my bedroom floor and they have been judging me since Tuesday; I can just feel it. Other than that, I will be putting the finishing touches on any gifts upwrapped and finishing the day off with a Neighborhood Luminary & S'Mores Party!....do you expect anything else on The Wheel??

Pregnancy Brain

I must admit that pre-pregnancy, I was a non-believer of this so-called "pregnancy brain". And of course, that was an ignorant claim having never been pregnant before.

Now 8 and 1/2 months into my first pregnancy, I can say for a FACT that it does EXIST! Then again, I have to say that...I need some sort of excuse for all of the dumb things I have done throughout this pregnancy.

A few examples:

* Chris: "Kelley, what time is the Daddy Boot Camp tomorrow?:
Kelley: "Twelve to Noon"
Chris: "ummm, no...what time is the class tomorrow?"
Kelley: "Twelve to Noon!"
Chris: "do you realize what you're saying? the class starts and ends at the same time???"
Kelley: "Wow".

* Greeting Jess as a "Bride to Be" instead of a "Newlywed!"

* Calling people by the wrong name

* Constantly ending up in rooms of my house saying "what the heck am I doing in here???"

* Signing Chris up for a class online and forgetting to hit the final step "CONFIRMATION"! As a result, he shows up to find that he is not on the list! :(

* The list of work flubs I have made is frightening...let's just say, they happened more than I'd like to admit and boy were they stupid!

I'd like to think I am a pretty quick-witted person but after this, I really don't trust myself anymore. It will be sooo nice to have the full capacity of my brain back soon!

It does come back, right????....

Annual Gulliver Christmas Eve Party!

For the last few years, we have celebrated the Gulliver Christmas Eve party a week before Christmas to make sure we can all get together since our family has grown so much! Dad and Ann hosted this year and it was a wonderful, relaxing evening :)

Santa Claus made an appearance and as you can imagine, all the kids were thrilled when he arrived with a bag full of presents! Next year will be the first year that Chris and I will participate in the "Santa" fund...wow, that seems crazy to me!...by then, little Avery may be the only one that believes in Santa!...

Progress Update!

My Baby Shower!

I don't even have words to explain how incredible my Baby Shower was! It was one of the very best days I have had and a memory I will cherish always.

Every detail was perfect and contributed to making that day so special for me.

I will not be able to thank Susan, Jamie, Lisa, Jackie, Laura and Jordan enough for hosting this incredible shower for me! They put so much time, energy and thoughtfulness into making it perfect. I am sooo blessed to have each of them in my life. I was speechless.

It was at the adorable restaurant, Coup des Tartes, which felt like a gorgeous, cozy home setting filled with Christmas decorations, a burning fire and big comfy couches! I was overwhelmed by the amount of people that came to celebrate and share in this special occasion with me! It meant so very much.

They had a bar set up with mimosas, juices, teas, etc. to really get the party started! ;) We were all served an incredible lunch and delicious dessert....yuuuuummmmy! Ohhh and did the gift opening follow! For literally the next 2 and 1/2 hours, I sat on the couch to open more gifts than I have ever opened in my life!! I felt humbled and beyond excited to receive all these amazing things for Avery! I don't know how else to say it but I was SPOILED beyond belief!

Aside from the abundance of thoughtful and generous baby gifts and wonderful atmosphere, it was especially nice to spend the afternoon with so many of my family members and friends! I am soo incredibly blessed to have all these amazing women in my life.

It seems like just yesterday Susan was saying...."ohhh, smelly...I can't wait to throw a baby shower for you one day!"



My Hostesses!!



























Thank you to Nora, Susan and Jamie for taking pictures!! ...there are still so many I was unable to include but hopefully this captures the day!

6th Annual Team Christmas Party!

6 years later and the Annual Team Christmas Parties are still going strong!

We have yet to experience a Team Christmas party that was not filled with GREAT company, GREAT food, TONS of laughter and CLASSIC memories!

Jim & Katie hosted this year and wow, what an incredible job they did! We had the most delicious dinner in a gorgeous Christmas setting and a beautiful home!

Since I was obviously not drinking, we picked up the Plas' and Brooks' on the way and headed East :) By 11:30pm, the party was still going strong but with throbbing heart burn and a taste of exhaustion, I was ready to head home. Never fun to be the party pooper but after all, it was STILL a work night!

This year, Katie had a great idea to do a White Elephant Gift Exchange which turned out to be a blast! It's not so easy to come up with great ideas but I am happy to report, I thought of a last minute idea that proved to be the hit of the Gift Exchange :) hhahaa...clearly I am not humble about this one! But come on, it got a REALLY good response! ;) When Jim, Ash and I took team pictures 4 years ago, it wouldn't be right without a "funny" picture included and since then, this picture of Jim & Ash hugging (the one printed on the shirt) has been classic. Not to mention the inside joke that Ashley is Jim's longest relationship. Ahhh, a true partnership. They didn't find out until the very end that I made one for each of them!



And should I have been surprised when I walked in to work today only to see Jim wearing the shirt still?? :) Ash is scheduled to wear his tomorrow. I love these guys.