BEDDING!!!!!

We got it!!!!!!!!
All of it!

I am sooooo excited! I can't wait to get it all put together!!!!!!!!

It is even cuter in person then I ever imagined!!!!!!!! EHH!!!!!!

Introducing!

I'm so excited to share with you Aaden's shower invitation! I worked on it literally for months, and wanted it to be as perfect as it could be. ;)

Now that it has been in circulation for a little while and my guests have seen it I'm excited to share it with EVERYONE!!!!!! :)

I simply ADORE it!

"Practicing"

David and I are both OVER THE  MOON excited about Aaden's arrival.
We can't wait to meet our precious baby & just praise God for what he has created.

Yesterday afternoon I was resting on the couch and realized I hadn't seen or heard from Hubs in awhile. Our house isn't that big, so I decided to go see what he was up to ...


I saw the most heartwarming thing ...

When I asked him, "What are you doing?"

he responded ... "Practicing!!"

Wow! I am so totally in love with that man!!!!!!!

Aaden's Furniture!

I have been anxiously waiting for Aaden's furniture to arrive, and well it has been an adventure to say the least!

First I fell in love with a set that was on sale and perfect. When we went to buy it was no longer available. After several days of calling, we learned the stores didn't know if the manufacturer planned to make anymore, and it they would be getting any more shippings.

So, I did my best to let it go. However, after weeks of looking elsewhere and not finding anything in our budget & adorable I checked back with the original pieces, and turns out they were back in stock and still on sale.

PARTY!!!!!!! ;)

So, we purchased right away all to realize it was still backordered until June 7th. Pooh. I didn't want to wait, but the deal was just to perfect to pass up.

So, Grandma and Grandpa Holschen generously bought the furniture for us and I went about counting down the days until we would get the pieces.

Finally around the 13th of June we were able to go pick it all up!!!!


I can't tell you how excited I was.
My parents were going to get it, and then bring it all to our house.


Well, when they arrived at the store Dad learned the pieces were too large to fit into his mini-van. He called my Aunt Donna and her and my Aunt Karen came up to save the day.

What we thought would be an easy open and close case was a whole lot more interesting!!!!!

Aunt Donna trying to figure out how to get the changing table out of its packaging

SMILE!!!!!

Pull! :)

Sometimes it takes 2 ... and it still doesn't budge. ;)

I think even Aaden's animals were laughing at us all!

Out! SUCESS!

oh wait, just kidding, it is damaged!

The whole backend is busted, and the drawers had missing elements.

I was soooooooooooo bummed. Can't even tell you!

Dresser was in perfect shape though!

What a bunch of troopers! Dealing with the mosquitos just to get the crib pieces inside. 

I love them!!!!!!

So, the crib is up, the dresser is up, the hutch is assembled and sitting on a broken changing table AND I'm still waiting for the replacement.

Yep, I'm almost 32 weeks preggo.

Nope, I'm not biting at the bit to get this moving ...

LOL

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Holschen, Aunt Donna, and Aunt Karen for all your hard work!

I appreciate you all doing such heavy lifting and loving David, myself, and Aaden enough to drop everything and come help even late into the night.

THANK YOU!

Love you!

Mom + Dad = Aaden

David and I will have been together a WHOOPING 9 years the end of July! Sometimes I think about that and it just blows my mind.

So, to our precious baby boy ...
Mommy & Daddy's <3 story {minus too much "mooshy" stuff!}

It was the summer of 2002 and I was going into my senior year of HighSchool. I had never had a boyfriend, never held a boys hand, and wasn't really interested in the "casual dating" scene many of my friends were. I had decided to wait to date someone I could see myself marrying.

Daddy was a little more "experienced" {LOL} He had 3 girlfriends throughout HighSchool and had held hands and kissed a girl. He was however single and looking the summer of 2002.

We both got jobs at the Belleville Pool, Mommy as a cashier and Daddy as a lifeguard. I had noticed Daddy from the cashier "cage" upstairs, but was certain Daddy hadn't noticed me ...

One day our boss needed an emergency cashier worker and he called me in to cover a shift. Since it was suppose to be my day off, I didn't have a vehicle to drive to work. Our boss sent David to pick me up! We met for the very first time in Grandma and Grandpa Holschen's driveway.

I thought he was adorable, but I was so nervous we hardly talked on the way from Grandpa's house to the pool. However, Daddy finally broke the ice by asking me where I went to High School. I told him Belleville East, and he continued to torment me as he graduated from Belleville West.

The next few days I stole extra glances at Daddy from the cashier cage, and he seemed to be thirsty more then usual finding lots of excuses to come upstairs. I hoped and hoped he would ask me out, but he just gave me a hard time about where I went to High School.

He did finally ask me out, and I shly said YES! BUT ... after a lot of thinking I was starting to wonder about him {LOL} SOO ... I began asking around. I wanted to know about his character. :)

Everyone said such sweet things. Mostly that well, he can have a bit of a temper {NO NOT MY DAVID ... wink wink} if annoyed, but mostly he is easy going, funny, and really really nice. So, after getting good feedback {thanks Emily, Maryl, and Megs!} I was starting to feel better about the whole first date thing.

When I got off work however I noticed his car was no longer downstairs. He asked me out, but he never got my number. I was bummed. I began to think he was just playing a prank and I had fallen for it.


HOWEVER ... lucky me ... David got my number from the pool list and called me later that night. We had a lovely first date! We went miniature golfing at Centerfield, to Brenden's for some pool, and then to Smokey Bones for cokes and talking.

It was not only the best first date I could of ever imagined, but the longest!!!! We were together until well after midnight getting to know each other.

We spent a lot of time together the next few weeks. We had dinner dates, I met his family, we went to church together, and spent A LOT of time together. He still hadn't kissed me yet though, and well, I was starting to wonder if he ever would. ;)

He asked to hold my hand the first time {what a gentlemen} while in the car to a "surprise" location. I gladly accepted and oh goodness was this whole summer romance starting to feel real.

He took me to the pool after hours {he had a key, so it was almost legal, LOL} and told me to have a seat while he went into the office. He started playing music over the loud speak and came back out and asked me for our first dance. SO SWEET!!!

While dancing he asked me to be his girlfriend. I shook my head yes. The song was coming to a close, and I could tell he wanted to kiss me, but I was SCARED!!!! LOL I wanted to kiss him, but I had no clue what I was doing. So, I refused to look up at him, because I knew if I did he would of planted one on me. As the song ended, David used his hand and lifted my chin. He closed his eyes, and he totally was going for it. I remember literally thinking ... "holy crap he is coming in"

and then ...

it happened. My worst fears. I kissed the poor guys teeth. I had no clue what I was doing, and totally totally bombed. I pulled away freaking out, and it was the most ackward moment EVER. {okay, the most ackward moment in my 17 years of life}

We drove home in silence and I kept thinking I blew it. It was over.


Daddy walked me to the door, leaned in and hugged me tight. He wispered in my ear ... " It's okay, we will just have to keep practicing!" I nodded in agreement, and he left.


The rest is history!
6 years of dating
2 years & 9 months of marriage

and in only 61 days comes YOU!!!!!!!!!


Oh how blessed we are.
I hope and pray sweetie boy that someday you will meet a wonderful lady. She will be kind and sweet and God fearing and you will adore her as much as your Daddy adores me. I wish you happiness and grace forever as God intended it to be.

You are so loved our precious darling boy!


SO, we went swimming last week at the place we met.
the memories ....

My Birthday!!!

I was so super spoiled for my birthday this year!

Grandpa and Grandma Holschen took me on a Motherhood Maternity Shopping Spree at the Outlet Mall where I got several new outfits & some new pants. MUCH NEEDED!!!!

Our sweet friends the Pritchett's {Maryl & Ryan} bought me the small plates to my Pier One Set. :) YIPPEE!!!!!!!!

I got a wonderful card in the mail from the Brown's in Ohio, a hilarious singing telephone message from Suz and countless other phone calls, text messages and facebook comments from all kinds of friends & family. I felt so incredibly blessed and loved. :)

Grandpa and Grandma Watson even got us tickets to the Cardinals vs. Cubs Game!!! We had AWESOME seats, & so much fun eating everything and trying to stay cool.

CARDS WON!!!! {of course, was there any doubt}

Daddy and Aaden especially SPOILED me!! Not only is getting to be a mommy soon enough a wonderful present, but they also bought me a WONDERFUL Spa Day Package!!!

Oh my goodness, it was heavenly!!

1 hour and a 1/2 prenatal massage
1 hour facial
a manicure
AND
a pedicure

insane!! Seriously, EXACTLY what this pregnant mamma wanted!!!!!


Thank you everyone for making 26 such a special year for me!
To my 2 favorite boys ... I love you always!

Bye Bye Apartment Life

I remember when David moved into my little apartment in O'Fallon. At only 400 square feet we knew it would be TIGHT! From the moment he moved in though, we felt like big kids!

We loved having a space {even super small} that was our own.

LOL

HOWEVER ... our happiness in such a small space wore off quickly. There was no room for storage. No space for David's clothes or my shoes. ;) Loud fighting neighbors, rate hikes for no reason, high electricity bills, crazy pooping birds, leaky roofs, falling wall trim ... and I could go on and on.

Needless to say, when we found out Aaden was coming ... we were both THRILLED at the prospect of moving

...

and then, moving day came.


We both found ourselves more emotional then expected at leaving our first home. With two and a half years in those walls, a whole lot had happened. All kinds of first, and while leaving was in the cards, and we were ready ... it was sad to see our first place go.

now, in the house, our living room & kitchen are the size of the whole apartment, LOL.

It was an old 70s building, but the bookshelves for storage, ROCKED!

and this is it.

bathroom & bedroom & you have seen the whole space.

28 1/2 weeks

I think you can tell I'm starting to feel a little tired & worn out.

Bye Bye Ansley Oaks Apartment 108

Hello 6200 Joann Drive

We can't wait to start new memories in the walls of a new space with our sweet Aaden. What fun!!!!!

28 weeks -- THIRD TRIMESTER BABY!

Some of you may have read about some concerns we had at our 20 week ultrasound about our sweet Aaden being a BIG BOY!

Our doctor after seeing the photos was slightly concerned that he might be too big for me to actually have naturally, and so she sent us to a specialist.

On May 31st, and at my 28 week mark, we went to have a special 3D ultrasound done. Of course I was hoping sweet Hubs would be able to go ... BUT we had 2 very sad things going against us.

1) It was after a Holiday {Memorial Day} and his school really looks down on vacation days after holidays.

and

2) It was only a few days until the end of the school year, and finals were being given.


SOOO ... Grandma Zonetta got to go with me to the appointment. :) {Seriously, the next best thing to my husband!!!!}

She picked me up, and snapped this photo.
28 weeks {in my new outlet mall find!}

I just look big, but there is a baby in there! ;)

We went to the specialist appointment first. Mom knows she isn't suppose to take photos, but it didn't stop her {reason 100,000 I love her ... & know I'm her daughter, haha}

My chart ... I can totally read what it says. ;)

Good news, and some waiting ...

A) Aaden is BIG. He was in the 80th percentile at this stage with lots more growing to do.

B) 80th percentile is down from 90th percentile only a few weeks earlier.

C) Is it from Gestational Diabetes, or he is just big??


Next, we went to my 28 week OBGYN appointment. I ADORE my doctor. Seriously she is the kindest and most gentle lady.  I just have nothing but good things to say about her! While we were waiting for her, Mom snapped a few more illegal photos. ;)

When the doctor came in, she recommended I go and get my gluclose screening THAT DAY {because well, I had been putting it off slightly, and now I was late}. LOL

So, we left the doctors office, and went straight to the gluclose screening. The orange soda stuff is as awful as everyone says, and when I was finished drinking it I was relived I did it in the 4 minutes allowed ... I'm not sure I could of drank it a second time. {ICK!}

Good news ..

NO GESTATIONAL DIABETES

so ... Aaden is big because he is big. {Or as I like to think of it ... because I am such a good cook.}  ;)


What does this mean?

We get to wait to see how big he gets and if that affects my ability for having him naturally. We shall see ...

OFFICE FURNITURE

Well, Suzy and I had our showers the same weekend!
She planned mine for Saturday, and hers was on Sunday afternoon.

Since this was right in the middle of important moving time for us, the boys {Grandpa Jim, Grandpa Dave and David} were still hard at work at the house!!!

Grandpa Jim painted and put in new hardware on all my kitchen cabinets!!!!!

It is so fresh and modern now!

On Sunday, Grandpa Dave and David went to pick up my Craigslist find. Brand new office furniture. I have been looking for something similar to these IKEA bookshelves for a very long time.

The price is really reasonable on the IKEA website, but the closest store is in Chicago, and shipping is NOT reasonable at all.

Several months ago I put a wanted add on Craigslist at the advice of a facebook friend, and had long since forgotten about it by the time I got the email from a kind man in St. Louis selling THE EXACT SET I'D BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!!!!

Grandpa Dave and David went to pick it up for me, and it was in AWESOME condition!! 

Over Memorial Weekend, we spent that Saturday getting my office totally organized! :)

I can hardly believe it everything is cleared out!!!!!!!

thanks to my Dad, THE MAN! {and Hubs of course!}

for some reason this picture won't turn ...

I'm 28 weeks in this photo ... THIRD TRIMESTER!!!!

I love all the storage. I will finally be able to put out all my paper and see in one glance what inventory I have on hand!

Posing in front of the sign we had made at our vacation at Pigeon Forge last year. This was done in Dollywood. :) It looks perfect in my office!

More photos of the finished product later!!!!

Suzy & Kaiya's Shower!

yummy yummy food & snackies!

filling out prayer flags.

The Cooks are hanging them in Kaiya's playroom.

<3ed the idea!!!

the cupcake bouquet.

super cute & darling!

GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!

super precious!

a cross-stitched jungle themed blanket for baby Kaiya that her Mama made.

priceless!!!!

Some nursery art I created. :)

Believe it or not, three of us were pregnant at the shower!!!

Suzy

Suzy's Sister-in-Law Randi

and Me

Randi is due only 1 week after me, and she is having a precious baby girl. Her name is unknown to the public so we teased her about giving Mildred a shot. ;)

Such a wonderful day!

Suzy's friends and family were so generious!

It was a pleasure being a part of such a fun day!

Can't wait to meet you KAIYA!!!!!