The Grand Shower Finale: Bedtime Stories with the Morses

Well our event planning friends sure know how to throw a heck of a shower!  The theme was Bedtime Stories with the Morses.  They had a food table staged to look like a bed, the cocktails were themed appropriately with nightcap drinks, and yes, there was even a platter of cookies and milk - is there anything more Eric than that?  It was in a trendy East Village Loft they had rented out from a photographer, so it was wide open, and overlooked downtown.  Here I am at the entrance before heading in.

We had a really nice sized group of about 20, both male and female, and the games were Leslie-originals!  She had turned common nursery rhymes and popular baby books into mad-libs, which gave everyone a laugh.  After the games, we did gifts and then they turned up the music and we all danced a little bit.  (Some enjoyed the nightcap drinks quite a bit!)  :) 

Here I am with the hostesses, Julie, Kylee, Leslie and Nikki.

Here they are having some fun with my baby bump!

Here was another really neat thing they did - cards with "wishes" that everyone read to us.  I scanned a couple funny ones.  These will look great in the baby book!

It could not have been more precious!  We feel like the two luckiest people in the world to have such wonderful families, and to also have our "Des Moines family" of our sweet and funny friends.  The rest of the weekend, we have been putting finishing touches on the nursery, washing all kinds of baby clothes, bibs, swaddling blankets, you name it!  The countdown is really on!  The doctor told me at our Thursday appointment - PACK YOUR BAG!  If I were to go into labor, she has officially baked long enough in the oven that they would not try to stop me from having our little girl!!!

"20 Years from Now"

Today, on my 29th birthday, my mom sent me a letter I wrote 20 years ago.  I got to the sentence where it says "I might be pregnant" and I simply lost it.  I can't explain why the hysteria, but if you read on, you'll see that I really had a pretty clear vision of what my life "might" look like.  It's eerie how accurate I was (except about living in Florida - I think that was because we went there for spring break and I wanted to basically go on spring break for the rest of my life.)  My tears turned to laughter as the randomness of the letter picks up towards the end.  I guess that's what I thought an almost 30 year old did!  Reading this letter gave me a real sense that I have really accomplished more than I give myself credit for - and 3rd grade Laura may, in fact, approve of this older and wiser Laura.  I really do have everything I could ask for, and I feel so blessed to have the a sense that I am truly at the mountaintop right now.  Enjoy.

Showered with love at Grandma-to-"bee"'s house!

 We had quite a nice shower in La Crosse over Father's Day weekend with Eric's side of the family!  There was no shortage of bee theme decor and games!   They had this incredible beehive cake that was quite possibly the best cake I've ever had!  They also made me "Queen Bee" for the day and I got to wear this lovely bee antenna headband.  CLEVER!

Here is a closeup of the cake.  I just could not get enough!!

 

I also just had to snap a pic of the most flawless symmetrical cheese and sausage platter I've ever seen. Those Wisconsinites know how to do a cheese platter!!

Next we played games, my favorite of which was one where they had the male shower attendees line up on the couch.  Amy and Julie proceeded to hand out baby bottles filled with beer and the first guy to finish his bottle won!  It took longer than you would think, and it wasn't until Eric's uncle Randy outsmarted the system that we had ourselves a winner.   I have to say it was pretty good entertainment for the ladies - watching these grown men with foaming up beer and having them wipe their chins with the beer running down.  Lots of belly laughs!  Here is a short clip after the screaming and laughing had died down...

And no shower update is complete without a photo of us opening a gift.  This one was from Aunt Amy and Uncle Dan, who we asked at the end of the shower to be the godparents of our little baby girl.  They happily accepted and it didn't even take Dan 10 minutes to start quoting (with a pretty good impression I might add) lines from the Godfather.  What an awesome weekend with family!

August babies bring June showers!

Well I'm a bit behind in my weekly updates so let me go back to last week when my co-workers threw me a shower Thursday night at Marji's house!  Everyone brought an appetizer to share and we all got to relax and visit a little bit before the gifts! 

Here are the adorable (and delicious) bee cupcakes:

Here I am opening a gift.  Specifically, the bee mobile for over the crib.

And here is a video of Eric opening a very special gift from this same shower that was more from Melinda's husband Travis to Eric than anything else.  VERY appropriate for two Packer fans the year after they won the Superbowl! 

Week 31: Everything's Coming up Roses!

As the heat of June in Iowa settles upon us, one thing is for certain.  Our roses LOVE the heat!  (Much more than my developing kankles, but that story a fun blog update does not make.)  We have a climbing rose that has gone absolutely gangbusters on our arbor.  This photo was taken safely inside the air conditioning.

I thought I would also show you a few rose arrangements inside the house on our newest IKEA purchases, that mama-to-be assembled all by herself on Saturday while Eric was out on errands.  (I gotta say it feels good to be useful!)  Here is end table #1 in our TV room.

Here is end table #2 in our TV room with roses from the front of the house.

And here is a bookcase in the baby's room with one of the paler pink roses on top.  Definitely ready for some books!  You might also note my winning artwork from when I was 10.  Literally, I won 1st place in the Kellar Elementary School art fair in 1992, and it was matted and framed and hung in our school for at least 10 years.  My mom was kind enough to retrieve it for me years later and I have to say, I think baby Morse would enjoy having this piece adorn her nursery.  Not everyone can say their mom is an award winning artist, right?  :)

Destination Chicago: Babymoon for the Morses

One of the perks of getting married on a holiday weekend is that you'll always have that extra day off to get away and celebrate your wedding anniversary as a couple.  For Eric and I, that getaway has been Chicago the last couple years.  We like to stay at a different hotel every time, and of course try new restaurants, but we also have some pretty strict traditions as well.  Here are the highlights!

Friday Night: Texas de Brazil  (NEW!)

For those of you who have not been to a brazilian steakhouse, the format is simple.  Giant salad bar buffet followed by all-you-can-eat meat, by which you indicate to the server by a chip next to your plate flipped to green or red.  They served several types of steak, pork, chicken, lamb... all on giant skewers which they carve at your plate.

We went for a little stroll down to the river after dinner.  Beautiful night for a walk!

Saturday: Cubs Game (TRADITION!)
We spent a few hours (and I mean FEW- short game) in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, with Marji (also pregnant and due 2 weeks before me) and her husband Tony.

We had awesome seats in the first row of our section, which meant maximum leg room and since we were under the awning, we never felt the sprinkles that came through towards the end of the game.  Sad to say the Cubs played terribly and the game was over in a quick two and a half hours.  We still managed to get our eat on... check out the helmet full of nachos!  Yup, we did pretty good!  I guess if you're going to go crazy on food, no time like pregnancy!

Saturday Night: Giordanos (TRADITION!) and Room Service (NEW!)

One thing we always do the night of a Cubs game is go find deep dish pizza.  Last year it was Gino's, but this year we had Giordanos.  There is really nothing like it.

After dinner, we tried to go see a movie, but the one we wanted to see was sold out, so we opted to go back to the room, where I took a lovely bubble bath in our grand tub and we ordered some FABULOUS chocolatey room service.  MMMM...

Sunday: Grand Lux Cafe and Navy Pier Dinner Cruise  (NEW!)

We woke up to dark and stormy skies on Sunday, so we made the most of it and had brunch at the Grand Lux Cafe, where we ate the most delicious beignets I've EVER tasted.  We took it easy that day and did a small amount of indoor shopping, and relaxed in the room.

 Luckily the skies cleared up and we were able to go on our dinner cruise!!!  We had a lot of laughs and I have to say this was the highlight of the trip.  We were greeted with Happy Anniversary wishes, and a window seat table with rose petals.  Eric even got to enjoy two glasses of champagne in honor of the occassion!  :) 

 The sunset, the food, and the views were spectacular. 

A perfect end to a perfect BABYMOON!!

All photos from our trip are at this link: Chicago Babymoon Pics!

Presenting... the NURSERY!!!

After a weekend of painting, assembly, and surprises, the nursery is now open and ready for business!  Eric and Grandpa Mike spent all day on Saturday painting and doing all kinds of odds and ends (chores not safe for a pregnant lady).  Here they are getting the paint on the wall.

  And a friendly pose for the fans.  :)

Then they went to Suite Dreams to pick up our crib!

I'm sure the neighbors are all gossiping now - "Did you see those Morses were bringing a CRIB into that house??"

After the paint was dry, they started loading in all the furniture.  Here is a LazyBoy recliner we decided to re-purpose and put a slipcover on and call it good! 

Two great minds set out to assemble a crib...

Looking good, guys!

It's beginning to look like a baby could live here!

Now at this point Julie had gone mysteriously missing.  Mike didn't seem to be concerned, but I started to wonder what was up.  After she got back, our suspicions were confirmed.  She had snuck out to buy our mattress and entire bedding ensemble!!!  After a few tears and hugs later, on went the mattress!

And here we are with the new bedding and crib!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Morse!

Here is the changing table, complete with a little craft project on the baskets - yellow polka dot ribbon and bee buttons to keep things in place.  We also got a hamper in the mail from my Aunt Karen which has found it's spot in the room.

Here is the crib with the new sheets on.  I haven't figured out the bumpers yet but I think I've still got some time to get that done.

Here are the curtains that match the set - and the walls!

Here is the view from the door so you can get a visual of the full floorplan.

 And here is my "nursing nook"!  VERY comfy rocking Lazy Boy chair, with a side table for bedtime books.

There you have it!  Still have some decisions to make about what to put on the walls, and after an upcoming trip to IKEA next weekend, perhaps some accessories and more storage.  I can sleep peacefully now knowing if the baby came tomorrow, she has a room ready for business!  Thank you to Mike and Julie Morse for all their help and tireless work this weekend.  Today was more exciting than Christmas!