Pressing On: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Showered in San Antonio

I made it back to Laredo today after spending a lovely week and a half in San Antonio. It all started out with picking my mom up from the airport and then spending the next day running lots of errands with her, including finding some fabric for Avery's crib skirt. On Saturday some of my best girlfriends hosted a wonderful baby shower for us. The setting was beautiful and the girls had it decorated to perfection. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. It's a crazy thing to be surrounded by people you love and that love you- and to be showered by their kindness and generosity. We received so many sweet presents: cute, cute clothes, our pack in play, swing, stroller, fun toys and books and some beautiful handmade gifts. Zach's Grandma who was unable to make to the shower sent the most lovely crocheted blanket. Zach's Aunt Janie and Uncle Greg crafted an amazing cradle for Avery and his Grandma Dot made the bedding for it. It was truly a wonderful afternoon. We loved celebrating how God has answered our prayer through giving us Avery and are so thankful for everyone's generosity and kindness in helping us prepare for her. It was great having my mom with me for the majority of last week- we worked on and finally finished Avery's crib skirt, took the dogs on lots of walks, organized, shopped, and enjoyed Sonic's happy hour.

Entrance at the shower

The hostesses made this tree and brought it all the way from Dallas!

Sweet birdie notes on the tree

The hostesses...aren't they wonderful?

Pretty centerpiece using receiving blankets

The Christening gown my mom gave us

Beautiful cradle a la Greg and Janie

Did I mention the cute clothes Avery received?!

So fun to see Cheryl and Fay

Ladies in the fam

Avery's grandmas

Margaret and Tonya won the play-doh baby sculpting game

Well...we tried for a group photo :)

Finally done!...Avery's crib skirt! My mom is a master seamstress.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Bluebonnets

The bluebonnets announced the arrival of spring several weeks ago. This is one of my favorite times of the year. A few weekends ago, a friend from church and photographer, Anna Sharp, took some photos for us in the bluebonnets. It turned out to be a beautiful evening with some great lighting. Anna did such great job, and Zach and I really had a good time! Check out more of her work at photographyinlife.com.

Anna Sharp Photography

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Avery Grace

It's official. Zach and I have decided to name our baby girl Avery Grace. Zach initially proposed the name Avery. We eventually started calling her that just between us, and then when we tried out different names, they just didn't seem right. So Avery it is. And Grace- it's hard to think of a name more suited for her because she is such a picture of God's grace, his unmerited favor, to us. We love being able to calling her by name.
We had a nice Easter weekend. On Easter Sunday, our pastor gave a sermon on Mark 16, a chapter covering the Resurrection of Christ. One thing that really made an impression on Zach and I is what the angel said to Mary Magdalene and Mary when they arrived at the tomb early in the morning and found that Christ was not there. The angel told them (paraphrased) Christ had risen from the dead and to go tell his disciples and Peter that Christ was going before them to Galilee and they would see him there. Peter was one of the disciples, so why did Christ mention him separately? Our pastor shared that this specific mention was to reveal Christ's unmeasurable grace and love for Peter- the one who had denied Christ three times right before Christ was crucified. How amazing is that kind of love, is this God, who despite our failures, our guilt, our fluctuating faith and lack of courage, calls us out by name, just like Peter, to offer us true life in Christ- where mercy, grace, and love abound. That is something to celebrate. Happy Easter!

Easter lunch with friends

Avery at 30 weeks!...with her Easter basket from her great Aunt Sally

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Roadtrip to Waco

This past weekend we headed the opposite direction from our usual weekly route on I-35 route - to Waco! Zach's Aunt Janey and her husband, Greg, hosted a family lunch and shower for us on Saturday afternoon. On the way we stopped at the Annual Texas Shelby Cobra meeting (translation: car show) in San Marcos. It's the 4th meeting we've gone to in 5 years. (What's that you say? Oh, that I'm such a good wife?! Well, I should let you know that Zach also endured a trip to IKEA before we reached our final Waco destination.) We arrived in Waco on a beautiful afternoon, and as always Janey had prepared a feast for us. Her cousins, Karen and Judy, and Judy's daughter Amanda and Amanda's daughter Lillian joined us- along with the significant others: Palmer and Tom. Zach's mom and brother also drove down for the gathering, and of course Zach's Grandma Dot was there too. We all enjoyed the yummy food, and baby girl was showered with some sweet presents. We really enjoyed this time with family- many that we don't get to see very much, and are thankful for the way they celebrated and helped us prepare for our baby girl!