Dear Baby (33 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Little Lady,

This past weekend we were in Northport Point, Michigan for Charley and Catharine's wedding.  Your Auntie Catharine and I have been best friends for 11 years.  She cannot wait to meet you and spoil you!

(33 weeks, 3 days)

Traveling is getting more and more tiring but this trip was so worth it!  It was so nice to see the entire O'Brien/Noble crew... I hadn't seen some of them in about 10 years.  Everyone was so complimentary of my baby bump.  You have stayed pretty compact in there which has allowed me to keep some of my girlish figure, thank you for that!  It was a nice little boost since I have been feeling pretty sluggish and lumpy lately.  I did my best to be a trooper and not leave the party early for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.  I was out till about 11:30/12 both nights which is certainly late for me these days, haha. Your daddy was such a sweetheart and didn't give me a hard time when I was moving slower than usual.  He is the best. 

Your daddy got to play a round of golf before the wedding.  He sure does love his golf.  Silly me didn't tell him there was a golf course there (honestly, I didn't even remember!) so he had to borrow clubs, oops.  It was such a nice weekend and we kinda fell in love with the area so we plan to take a trip back sometime. 

We have one more flying trip this weekend and then we are done... with flying that is.  Does all this traveling tire you out?  I hope I am taking it slow enough for you.  Time is really flying by.  I can hardly believe that you will be here in +/- 6 weeks!  I guess I better do some more work on that nursery of yours.

Your daddy and I love you so much!     

Love,
Mom 

(33 weeks, 3 days)

Dear Baby (32 weeks)

Dear Little Lady,

This past weekend your daddy and I went on our babymoon to Bermuda.  It was the last vacation we will take before your arrival and pretty much the only traveling we have done for just the two of us all year.  Oh boy did we really need this relaxing time alone.  We have been so caught up with all our obligations this summer and all the prep work for your arrival that we have hardly had time to breath.

We spent most of our vacation doing... nothing.  It was awesome.  We just laid on the beach and floated in the ocean.  Your dad drank his Cambridge Splashes while I sipped my virgin strawberry daiquiris... yummmm.  I even got my first prenatal massage!  Could you tell I was feeling more relaxed?  My sciatic nerve didn't bother me once on our whole trip!

(31 weeks, 2 days)

Your daddy went fishing one morning and caught a 10 pound bone fish.  You should be very proud!  They are not easy to catch and that was a really big one.  Your daddy is so excited to teach you how to fish!      

I am pretty sure I fell even more in love with your daddy during this vacation.  Watching him rest his hand on my belly and talk to you just melts my heart.  He loves you so much.  I could not have fallen in love with a better man, I am so lucky.  I cannot even imagine how much my love for him will grow when he holds you for the first time.  Thinking about it already brings tears to my eyes.

(paradise with the two loves of my life!)

(31 weeks, 2 days)

We are all rested and ready to finish all our preparations for your arrival.  We cannot wait to meet you!

Love,
Mom

Dear Baby (30 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Little Lady,

This past weekend we went to St. Louis to visit your daddy's family and celebrate your second baby shower.  What a fun trip it was.  We got to spend lots of time with your G-Paw and Grandma.  G-Paw loved the card you made for him - you are so thoughtful.  We got to go to Ted Drewes for frozen custard TWICE!  It was so tasty.  I always get the All Shook Up with bananas and Reeses peanut butter cups... I'm sure you would like to have another one right now!  Of course we also had to stop at Carl's for cheeseburgers, they are your daddy's favorite.

We got to go to Busch Stadium for the Cardinals game on Friday night.  It was my first time at Busch Stadium... yours too.  Every time we go to a baseball game I can't help but picture your daddy taking you to your first game... hopefully your first game will be a Cardinals game.  I know he can't wait for that.  Obviously because we were there the Cardinals won!   

Your Grandma threw you the sweetest baby shower... there were even elephant cake pops!  I may or may not have eaten four of them. 

All the ladies at the shower are so excited to meet you!  You received so many wonderful and thoughtful gifts.  Your Grandma asked everyone to bring you a book for your library so we have lots of new books to read you.  Your daddy read you Harry the Dirty Dog last night.  Did you like that one?  We had so much fun at the baby shower, didn't we?  I know you loved your gifts because you kept kicking me while I was opening them.  I can't believe you still have one more baby shower, you sure are spoiled!  Where am I supposed to put all your things?

Thank you Grandma for throwing Little Lady such a sweet shower!

We are getting closer and closer to meeting you and we couldn't be more excited.  It's crazy to think that the next time we see your G-Paw and Grandma you will be here!

We love you little one, keep growing... and maybe think about turning vertical sometime in the next few weeks, no pressure.

Love,
Mom

(30 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Baby (25 weeks, 6 days)

(25 weeks, 2 days)

Dear Little Lady,

This weekend you and I got to spend some very relaxing time in the sun with some awesome ladies.  Did you have a good time?  We went swimming in the pool and the ocean.  Could you feel that?  I wonder if it feels different for you when I am floating in water.  Maybe not though.  Could you tell that I was one blissed out mama?  There is nothing better than sitting on a sandy beach in front of the ocean.  We camped out under an umbrella so you wouldn't get too hot.  It was heaven.  Being near the ocean just makes my heart happy and being able to share that with you is the best.

(a little Miami storm rolling through)

(Anne and Julie... oh that view!)

(really missing this!)

I really hope that you make some amazing friends in your lifetime.  It is never too late to make new friends either!  5 years ago I didn't know any of these ladies and now they are my besties.  Spending time with such a special group of girls really made your mama feel so lucky to have made such incredible friends.  A weekend full of fun and laughter with really good friends does wonders for one's soul.  We are gonna have to do it again!

(Anne, Aubrey, Jenna, Dre and Me)

(Jenna, Aubrey, Me, Anne and Julie)

We did miss Dad while we were away, didn't we?  This trip got me really excited for the little babymoon weekend your Dad and I just booked.  It will be awesome to have some relaxing beachy alone time before you make your grand entrance and take over our lives... in a good way :) 

Keep kicking and growing in there.  We need you to fatten up!

Love,
Mom

(25 weeks, 3 days)

(25 weeks, 3 days)

Santa Monica

This past weekend we spent the 4th of July holiday in sunny Santa Monica, CA celebrating the marriage of our dear friends Heather and Nolan.  What a fun weekend is was though is was pretty exhausting for me.  Being is the sun felt so good even if I did leave with a bit of a sunburn.  I could totally get used to 75 degree weather without humidity... damn you NYC humidity.

(Santa Monica Pier)

We rented bikes one afternoon to bike down to the Venice Boardwalk.  What an adventure that was.  I hadn't ridden a bike in years.  Thankfully we all made it out alive and didn't get into any accidents (there were some dicey moments).

(Venice Boardwalk)

The wedding took place at Shutters on the Beach overlooking the ocean.  We danced the night away to the best live band.  It was such a great time and we had quite the Skidmore crew in attendance.  Unfortunately my sciatic nerve was acting up all night so I wasn't feeling my best but I made it through!

 (the three amigos)

(23 weeks, 3 days... with really flat hair)

Lesson learned this weekend... do not try to keep up with everyone.  I am still working on slowing down but it is so hard.  Oh well.

More Asheville photos!

I just wanted to post some more photos from our trip to Asheville.

Photos from our hike up Craggy Gardens...

(Merrick and Will)

(Naomi... so beautiful!)

Portraits and candids from our Saturday night BBQ...

(Tom)

  

(love these two!)

 

(Nick)

(Will)

(Kev)

(Seriously I could not love these two more!!!  I am such a lucky big sister and this baby will have the coolest uncles!!!)

(p.s. don't pay attention to how super preggo my face looks in the photo...)

 Photos from our walk at the bird sanctuary...

 (Me and Naomi)

 (Will)

(Third Nature... in nature)

We had the best visit and we miss everyone already!  Getting to spend time with family is something I really treasure and will never take for granted.  I have been blessed with the best family I could have asked for (and married into an incredible family as well).  This little baby is going to be so loved by the greatest aunts and uncles... eek I am so happy I could cry!

Dear Baby (19 weeks, 6 days): our Asheville adventure

 

(family photo at the Biltmore - 19 weeks, 3 days)

Dear Baby,

Tomorrow we will be half way to meeting you (if you arrive on time) and guess what... your Dad felt you move last night!  I have been feeling you move around so much and it was so special for him to feel it too.  You gave him a nice little jab.

This past weekend your Dad and I went down to Asheville, NC to visit your Uncle Nick, Aunt Naomi, Uncle Merrick and Will, Will and Tom... we had quite the crew!  The whole weekend was filled with great food, beautiful scenery and tons of laughter.  Getting together with these guys is always so much fun.  I know you are just going to LOVE being around them. 

We did a little hike at Craggy Gardens up into the clouds... so much wispy air!

 (this is how I felt during the hike, hehe)

(Uncle Merrick)

We did a little summer house shopping by checking out the Biltmore.

 (family photo... what a view!)

 (Uncle Nick and Aunt Naomi)

We ate at Mela (awesome Indian food with the best mango lassi ever!), White Duck Taco (crazy delicious tacos!), Limones (Mexican brunch!) and the CHOCOLATE LOUNGE (no explanation necessary).  The Chocolate Lounge = heaven... I would probably be there every day if I lived in Asheville... I sure hope you enjoyed the chocolate too.  All the yummy food made me one happy preggo mama! 

Saturday night we grilled burgers, sausages, corn and asparagus at Uncle Merrick, Will, Will and Tom's house.  It was a feast.  Nick and Naomi made the most delicious potato salad... I must steal the recipe.  I will post some photos from that night when I get them from Uncle Nick.  We spent that whole evening laughing hysterically... especially when Vanessa made her debut.

We plan on taking you back to Asheville next year for some adventures.  I know you will love it!

Love,
Mom