Elliott's Park Hill Shower.

On Sunday, some of the women who go to the church where I grew up, threw me a shower. Once again we were overwhelmed by our friends and family's generosity!  Elliott is set for the first few months of his life.  We got diapers, wipes, clothes, books, toys, blankets, bibs, our baby monitor, a high chair, and more!

I was especially excited that Gary's grandmother and two of his aunts were able to make the trip from Arkadelphia and Bentonville for the shower.  Thanks to Shirley and Meemaw, Elliott now has his own OBU gear, since we all know he will be a future Ouachita Tiger.

Here are a few photos from the shower.  We are so blessed to have each of these women in our lives!

The beautiful hostesses! 

Baby Paisley got to come celebrate too!

Me with Gary's grandmother and aunts.

33 Weeks.

Elliott:

You're growing like crazy these days, and so am I!  This week you are about the size of a honeydew, weighing about 4.5 pounds and measuring in at around 19 inches long.

We had a busy week this week.  We attended our final two classes: childbirth and newborn care.  In our childbirth class we learned what things to expect when I go in to labor, how to cope with the pain, and got a tour of the labor and delivery wing of the hospital where you'll be born.  In newborn care we learned, how to change your diapers, bathe you, care for your cord stump, soothe you when you're upset, etc.  I think we're now as prepared as we can be for your arrival, the rest will just have to come naturally.

We also had another baby shower, thrown by several women that go to church with your Pia.  We got so many nice things!  Your nursery is now complete and we've washed and organized all your new things.  Aside from getting your car seat and installing it in our car, we are ready for your arrival in case you decide to come early.

On Monday we took some maternity pictures with our friend, Grant.  I can't wait to see them!  I thought it would be a special keepsake for you to have when you are older.

We're checking things off the list and looking forward to enjoying the holidays with our family.  This will be our last holiday season as a family of two!

We love you,
Momma

Stepping Up for Ouachita 2011.

Thursday was the 2nd annual Stepping Up for Ouachita women's luncheon and style show to raise money for women's scholarships at OBU.  I was honored to get to serve on the planning committee both last year and this year.  Also our salon has volunteered to style the girl's hair for the style show both years.

This year the event was held on campus in Arkdelphia to celebrate OBU's 125th anniversary.  Laura and I got an early start Thursday morning, arriving at 8am to style hair and apply make-up to the 9 models.  After we had all the girls ready, we enjoyed the luncheon at our table with Amy, Gary's grandmother, Betty Jo Grant, her friend, Mary McBeth, Gary's aunt, Shirley Hardin, my mom, and her friend, Suzanne Sims.  The food was wonderful and there was a packed house.  I'm looking forward to hearing how much money was raised for young women to come to school at OBU.

After the lunch, we got to visit with my brother who is a sophomore at OBU this year.  Ouachita holds such a special place in my family's hearts.  I was thankful to be a part of giving back so that other girls can have the opportunity to experience what I did at OBU.

32 Weeks.

Elliott:

You're about to hit a growth spurt, packing on around a half a pound a week in cute little baby fat.  This week you weigh around 3.9 pounds and measure around 19 inches, still about the size of a head of lettuce.

This week we had our first baby showers.  All of our friends and family are so excited to meet you, and they showered us with all kinds of gifts.  You have so many cute little things waiting for you in your room now.  We are overwhelmed with how blessed we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives who already love you so much.  I can't wait to use all the things we got when you arrive.

After the showers I spent a lot of time "nesting" in your room.  I put everything away and washed all your clothes and bottles.  I think I may have over done it a little, because my lower back has been really sore, and I've spent every night this week on the heating pad.  I've also been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions at the end of the work day.  Dr. Chang says this is just my body's way of practicing for labor in 8 short weeks!

Loving you more all the time,
Momma

Elliott's Shower at Aunt Jessica's.

On Sunday my sister and a few of my friends hosted another shower for Elliott.  This shower was family and my friends that don't go to Epoch with us.  Once again, I was so impressed with the cute decor and all the yummy snacks the girls prepared.  They even prepared a canvas for everyone to help paint, so now Elliott has an awesome piece of art for his room.  The canvas had a tree with "Gary & Kat" carved into the trunk painted on a blue background, then the guests used orange paint on their fists to add "baby footprints" on the branches as leaves.  It turned out so cute, and the colors match his nursery perfectly.  

Me with the wonderful hostesses!

Me with my mom, sister, grandma and cousin. 

Once again, we got SO many nice things, and I plan to post some of them later, because they are just too cute not to show off!  I've spent my day off organizing all of his new things in his room, and I'm so overwhelmed by how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends and family who already love Elliott so much.  His room is filled with gifts, and we still have one more shower to go!

Epoch Church Shower for Elliott.

This weekend we had our first baby showers for Elliott, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. The one on Saturday was thrown by some of my friends from church at Laura and Caleb Gunnels' house.  (I'll share about the one on Sunday in a separate post.)  These girls are so crafty, all the little details they thought of made this shower so much fun!

The awesome cake!

Candy Bar.

Front door.

Pumpkin cupcakes.

cookies.

Each guest filled out one of these sweet cards for Elliott.

Me with all of the wonderful hostesses! 

Tate came in town from TX for the shower!

Love the mustache straws!

We got so many cute things from all our friends at the shower.  I'll have to make a separate post to show off all the loot Elliott got.  We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful community in Epoch Church! 

31 Weeks.

Elliott:

Hey there sweet boy!  We are down to single digits on the countdown now.  Only 9 weeks to go!  This week you are the size of a head of lettuce, weighing 3.2 pounds and measuring around 18 inches long.

Our visit with doctor Chang last Thursday went well.  You were measuring right on track, your heart rate was 146 BPM, and I found out I passed my glucose test at the last appointment.  We start going every 2 weeks now to check on you, which will make these last 2 months fly by for me.

This week you have been especially active, rolling around a lot.  I'm hoping you are staying head down though, because you are running out of room fast.  I've decided you are gonna be a little night owl, because that's when you're most active.

This week we have our first baby showers.  I can hardly wait to see all of the little things you are going to get from our friends and family.  I'm looking forward to organizing all of your things in your room over the next few weeks.  We finally finished and hung your alphabet wall in your nursery, all that's missing now is a few finishing touches, and of course you!

So excited to meet you I can hardly stand it,
Momma