Autumn’s Bridal Shower and Baby Shower #3

It has been so crazy the last couple of days so let me get you caught up on what has been going on.

First I helped plan my best friend, Autumn’s, bridal shower. Second, as everyone knows, I have been trying to prepare for Maddox’s big arrival (finishing the nursery, packing our hospital bags, etc.). I can’t believe I only have 2 weeks left. 

So lets cover the first topic, Autumn’s bridal shower.  My contribution to the shower was invitations, preparing the food and finding a location which ended up being my house. First I wanted to show you what I had to go through before I could even start cleaning house to prepare for the event.

I had just had my baby shower (baby shower #2) in Lepanto and this is only half of what we got. Plus our guest bedroom was full of stuff from the first shower.  Thank goodness my mother came over that weekend and helped me wash all the cloths and organize everything.

So, after everything was cleaned and in its place it was time to cook. The menu consisted of bacon / cheese quiches, chicken salad sandwiches, mango salsa, cheese/vegetable tray, homemade hot apple cider, mimosa  and for desserts, petit fours. So lets get to the pictures. 

The food spread.

So lets get to the decorations for the shower. Me being 9 months pregnant couldn’t do everything so my wonderful sister in law stepped in and did the decorations. She is very talented and did a wonderful job.

She made this beautiful banner.

These are the flowers I got at the local grocery store to go with the color scheme.

Some more of  my sister in laws wonderful decorations.

Autumn had a great turnout and ended up getting a lot of great stuff.

I am so happy for Wes and Autumn and can’t wait for their wedding in March. It is going be a blast.

Congratulations Autumn

Ok, so now on to the second topic, baby shower #3.

This baby shower was at the clinic that I work at. My wonderful co-works threw a diaper and wipes party.

Here is the cute cake they got me. It tasted so good.

And, lets get to the pictures of the presents and as you know it was mostly diaper and wipes. Hey diapers are so expensive so they were much appreciated.

So as you can see I have been super busy. So far this year has been great and Chris and I have been so blessed.

We have a ultrasound on Thursday and if our little man is big enough we will have him the following week. I’m a little nervous and scared but so excited to finally have him here.

Oh and by the way the nursery is almost done. As soon as we get the final touches completed I will post pictures.

I would also like to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful husband (1/26). You are my best friend and the love of my life.

Lepanto Baby Shower and our Snow Day.

This past weekend was so much fun. Saturday was Maddox's second baby shower and this one was in my home town, Lepanto. I moved away from there about 9 years ago so I have lost contact with a lot of people and I wasn't sure how many people would show but Maddox had another great turnout.

This shower was thrown by aunts and a couple of my friends. They did an amazing job. It was so nice catching up with friends and family that I haven't seen in a while. There was so much food and tons of presents. We ended up needing a UHAUL to get everything back to Little Rock. Well, let me just show you some pictures

The Cake

Flower arrangement

Diaper cake that Denise made. I love the piggy bank on top.

The shirt that my aunt got Maddox. She thought it was funny.

His first pair of overalls.

Jumper from Gran.

Christopher's running stroller that he had to have.

Swing

The blanket that my mom made. My mom also got me the Canon Power Shot A3100 IS since my point and shot camera broke.

Car seat/Stroller

Me and Karon. This is one of my mom's best friends and one of my favorite people.

Me and my mom.

Aunt Mona, Grandma and Aunt Starre.

Me and Chris

After the shower was over we decided to head back to Little Rock because we were under a winter weather advisory.

Sunday is our grocery day so we headed to Walmart. While we were fighting the winter weather crowd it started snowing. By the time we got done shopping there was already 2 to 3 inches of snow on the ground. We live in a hilly neighborhood and it took us 2 hours to get back home from the store.

As soon as we walked through the door we decided to let Dixie and Chloe out. Dixie has never seen snow and she loved it. They played for hours.

After we got the dogs in, Chris and I decided to ride around in the neighborhood so that I could take pictures.

Our house

Chris and I both stayed home today because the roads were so bad. It was nice. Next weekend is my best friend Autumn's bridal shower at my house.

Oh I forgot, 4 to 5 more weeks and Maddox will be here. We are so excited.

Happy New Year from the Leonard's

First I would like to tell you how we rang in the New Year. Chris (my wonderful husband) took me to dinner at one of my favorite steak places, The Riverfront Steak House. Then we went and visited my in-laws at Christopher's aunt's house and after about an hour we decided to go home to watch the ball drop. Sounds boring but it was one of my favorite New Year Eve's.


Next I would like to tell you how amazing this past year was. I meet a girl named Autumn who became my best friend, who is now marrying my husband's best friend, Wes, in March.

• Then I went to one of the best parties in my life. My brother-in-law, Jacob married his high school sweetheart Jessi and the celebration went on all night. I love these two and wish them nothing but the best.

• Last but not least, Chris and I found out that we were excepting our first child. We are having a boy and we are naming him Maddox Ryan Leonard. He is excepted to make his grand entrance in Feb 2011. We are so excited.

Now for my resolutions for 2011:

1. To be a great mother.
2. To lose all my baby weight.
3. Spend more time with family.
4. Finish all the craft projects I start.



In someway I hate to see 2010 go but I am really excited about this year because of Maddox. I know this year is going to be an amazing ride and I can't wait to share it everyone.

Happy New Year

Christmas 2010

Well Christmas has come and gone, but it has left me a present at least, swollen feet. This Christmas was hard for me being 33 weeks pregnant and running all over the country, but it was one of the best.

Chris and I began celebrating Christmas last weekend. We went to Lepanto to celebrate the holidays with my family. Chris calls it the, "The Triple Crown of Christmas" because we spend one day with just my parents then the others with my grandparents for a grand total of 3 parties. I forgot my big new camera and my old point and shoot camera just broke so I have no pictures (I am so mad).

Maddox racked up on gifts. He got clothes from my parents, Red Rider BB gun from my brother and a Andy doll from my grandmother. I got stuff to take to the hospital with me when I deliver like a couple of nice night gowns, house shoes and a robe. Chris got a new robe, clothes and house shoes.

After we completed the "Triple Crown Christmas" it was time to go back to work. After work Chris and I spent our nights doing laundry, cleaning house and cooking. My in-laws and our best friends Wes and Autumn were coming over Friday for dinner so the house had to be spotless. Here are a couple of pictures of my house all decorated for the season.

Our Christmas tree.

My mantel all decked out.

Some of the Christmas cards we received.

Friday night was a blast. I made homemade apple cider and it was awesome if I do say so myself. Chris cooked prime rib and I did green bean bundles, amazing potatoes (that is really the name of them) and Caesar salad. For dessert I made a peanut butter pie (my favorite).

It was so nice visiting with everyone. After Cindy and Chester left, we exchanged presents with Wes and Autumn. I got a purse from Autumn and Chris got a flask and BB gun (isn't funny that Chris and Maddox got the same gift) from Wes.

While Chris and I were cleaning up from the party, we decided it would be fun to exchange our gifts. Chris is really hard to buy for. When he wants something he usually just goes out and buys it. We also had a $50 dollar spending limit on each other this year ( We have a baby to prepare for). So, I asked myself what does Chris always say he wants but would never buy? This is what I came up with:

A wireless charging pad.

He loved it and immediately took it out of the box and started playing with it. Then he realized I went over my budget and got mad. He stomped around and then went and got me my present and this is what he got me:

My Keurig coffee/tea maker.

I have been wanting one of these all year but I have been pregnant (no caffeine) but being the amazing husband Chris is he bought me decaf coffee and tea. I am so excited and yes Chris went over his budget too so I didn't feel to bad.

The next morning we woke up to my favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story. We gave our dogs their Christmas presents and started getting ready to go to Cindy and Chester's house to celebrate the holidays with Christopher's family.

Chris giving Dixie and Chloe their big Christmas bones.

Look how much they enjoyed them.

After we got dressed we headed over to Cindy and Chester's. They always have a big family gathering for Christmas with food and a friendly game of Dirty Santa. But, before everyone got there we exchanged gifts. I got a new camera bag and wallet from Cindy and Chester and a camera strap slip cover from Jessi and Jacob. Chris got a hand drill and clothes from his parents and two ASTATE paintings from Jessi and Jacob.

Christmas Tree

Chris and I. I am 33 weeks pregnant. My face looks so big.

Jacob and Jessi

After the Leonard family gift exchange, the rest of the family started showing up. It was so nice visiting with everyone.

Chris playing with Addison's tunnel.

Harrison and Abby playing in the tunnel.

Presents for Dirty Santa

I am sad to see the holidays go. We had a great Christmas and have been blessed in so many ways this year. We have a great family and the best blessing of all has been Maddox. I know next year will be even better because we will have our little man to share the holidays with.

Little Rock Baby Shower

This weekend I had my first baby shower for Maddox. It was in Little Rock and my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt-in-law (is this a word) threw it for me. I was a little concerned because I am not from Little Rock and have not accumulated many friends but Maddox ended up having a great turnout.

The decorations were fantastic along with the food. Maddox also racked up and got a lot of nice gifts.

This is the banner that my wonderful sister-in-law, Jessi made to celebrate Maddox.

The food menu consisted of quiche, fruit, miniature cupcakes, punch and chicken salad sandwiches.

The diaper cake.

Me at 30 weeks.

The canvas that Jessi made. It is so cute.

He got a lot of cute clothes.

Maddox's High Chair.

My Vera Bradley diaper bag that my best friend Autumn got me.

The amazing blanket Jessi made.

This is a personalized cross that Maddox's Aunt Lynn gave him.

It was nice to have friends and family together to celebrate the upcoming birth of Maddox. I am so thankful that so many people came and showered Maddox with so many gifts. He is already so loved and spoiled.