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.

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

Anna Sharp Photography

Anna Sharp Photography

Anna Sharp Photography

Anna Sharp Photography

Anna Sharp Photography

Anna Sharp Photography

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

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!

Cobra meeting!

Judy made a pretty flower arrangement...the bunny is a rattle!

Aunt Janey- our hostess

Zach's mom and brother made the drive from Abilene

Baby girl's great Grandma Dot

Grandma Amy :)

Sweet smocked dress from Grandma Dot

Cute "Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth" book from Karen

Apparently a "must have" for a good sleeping baby- thanks Amanda!

Sweet surprise

This past Sunday our friends, Megan and Dylan, invited Zach and I and some other friends, Steven and Mary, over for lunch.  Come to find out, we were going to much more than lunch.  When we arrived we were greeted by the girls in our Sunday night bible study for a surprise baby shower for both Mary and I!  (Mary and Steven's baby boy is also due on June 16th!)  The girls had prepared all sorts of yummy food, fun games (who knew baby food tasted so terrible!) and showered us with all sorts of fun gifts.  I was overwhelmed and so thankful for their love and generosity.  What sweet friends God has given us!

The ladies

With momma Mary

Yummy food

Shower games

Fun presents for baby Hogan and Ellis!

Mary and I with Megan- She was the mastermind behind the surprise.

Our other weekend events included: baby girl turning 28 weeks- hello third trimester!, picking up her crib and dresser, little Luna getting her first hair cut, going to a "car seat" class at the hospital (who knew there was a class just about about car seats?!) and a friend from church taking a few "maternity photos" for us.  All in all, a great weekend!

28 weeks

Bringing home the crib- we were the cool folks driving down the highway with a failing piece of packing sheet following us home.

A clean, short haired Luna

27, 30 and 1,200

We had some big numbers this weekend.  Baby girl is 27 weeks old, I turned the big 3-0, and Zach drove from Laredo to Midland to Andrews to Abilene and back- 1,200 miles in his trusty red pick-up.  Not too fun to spend a weekend apart, but we both had good things about our weekends.  Zach had some productive meetings in Midland and was able to see his family in Abilene.  I got to hang out with some girlfriends and of course, Luna and Bear.   Here's a few photos from the weekend:  

Luna in the bluebonnets...Spring is officially here!

A sweet, sweet dress I wore (30 years ago) that my mom sent me.  It's really beautiful and I can't wait to see baby girl in it!

 

Bear and Luna's favorite game (besides stealing socks).

Almost 26 weeks!

Last Friday baby girl had her almost 26 week appointment- including an ultrasound!  It was great to get to take another little peek.  She's weighing in at 1 lb, 14oz. We're so thankful all her measurements and heartbeat looked good!  The night before the appointment baby girl and I were showered by the sweet ladies at our church, Redeemer Presbyterian.  It was such a lovely gathering.  We had some yummy food, were given some fun and very useful gifts and were prayed over by these women.  I felt very honored, and well, showered.  

Almost 26 week photo- We couldn't get a good profile shot, so here's an almost profile with her bringing her hand to her face. :)

Baby girl from a different angle :)

A couple fun things she's received:

The softest little bunny Zach's mom sent baby girl

Some ultra girly shoes from our friends The Hogans