Couples Shower

Saturday June, 27th was the last of our Baby Showers. This one, like the rest, was unique as well. The shower was in the big town of Palo Pinto at the Cloud residence and couples were invited. We had a cute Pink Camo theme that my very creative friends came up with and customized all the decorations. Erica did a great job designing the invitations in pink camo. A really good turn out of people came.. Friends since kindergarten, old roommates, ex-lifeguards and former co-workers!

They had several games for us to play like "Name that Baby Food" -- a game of Taste Testing (or smelling in my case). Another game of "Identify the Candy Bar" --that happened to be smooshed up and strategically placed in diapers!

The hostesses had prepared Hamburgers with all of the fixin's and had a cake to match the theme. Bridget did a great job on the Diaper Cakes and awesome little camo painted flower pots with rolled up wash cloths for flowers you can see setting onthe table. You might ask -- where in the world did they find Kaitlyn's name painted in pink camo too!? Bridget also of course.

Shower Synposis:
Our friends and family have truly "showered" us with gifts as we wait (not much longer) on the most blessed gift - Kaitlyn! All of the showers were equally fantastic and everyone out did themselves. We are so greatful for all of our guests and hostesses. I believe that we don't need one thing. We're just waiting on our arrival! A big thank you to everyone!

Mini Vacation

Bruce and I got home from Millsap about 9:00 and started packing for Sunday morning. Taylor got home from the Jonas Brother's concert about 1:00am and we all went to bed.

Sunday we got up and left about 6:30am and headed for New Braunfels with a little pit stop at the Czech Stop in West --mmmm.


We spent the day at Schlitterbahn where Bruce and Taylor experienced a variety of thrilling rides. I spend a relaxing day mostly in the shade and near a spring fed pool that was nice and cool. We went to 2 sections of the park and enjoyed some time in the lazy river. We spend about 8 hours there altogether before leaving water-logged and tired from the sun.

(more pics to come later when we get the underwater camera developed)

We drove into Austin and stayed with Bruce's Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Mo. We had fun seeing their home and visiting with them. We went to grab a bite to eat at Cheddars and turned in early.


Monday we started the day at IHOP and headed back towards San Marcus where Taylor and I did some shopping. We found some (more) clothes for Kaitlyn and some clothes that matched Kaityln's for Taylor which she was really excited about. I think they'll make for some cute pictures soon enough!

We headed to Aquarena Springs for a tour in the Glass Bottom boats after shopping. It was really neat to see the springs pumping water into the lake. They told us that if the lake were to empty, it could refill within 8 hours with the amount of water being pumped by the springs beneath there. That's much faster than our pool filled back up last summer! Cheaper too I'm sure!

Our final destination before heading home was the State Capital. We took our own little self guided tour into the library, the governer's hospitality room, and where the House of Representatives meet before heading to the most important stop....the GIFT SHOP!

We made it home about 7:00 Monday evening. Taylor leaves for Church Camp on Wednesday morning. We've ordered her a suprise to be there when she arrives. Stay tuned for more updates soon! Another busy weekend ahead!

Family Gathering

After the Millsap shower, we we able to visit with family we don't get to see very often. Bruce's Aunt Cecelia and Uncle Curtis were in from Vernon, Carolyn Gaye had her son Jason in with Brandy and their kids. Carl and Christina were over with the kids and Kevin and Colton came out. We went to Thurber, Tx for dinner at the Smoke Stack Restaurant.(Speaking of Carl and Christina's kids -- I forgot to make mention of my wonderful photographers from the shower -- Carly Jo and Crysta!! Thanks girls for the photos!)

After dinner we sat out on the front porch enjoying some good company on a nice summer evening.

Father's Day Weekend

After partying at Taylor's school and at the Lockheed pool for the end of school party, we got up Sat for another busy day. We woke up early for cinnamon rolls and to braid Taylor's hair for her big night out on the town --the Jonas Brothers Concert!!


















For Father's Day, Taylor and I got Bruce an Ipod Touch. It holds music, games, apps, movies, and has wi-fi so he can "stay connected!" We figured he could carry around lots of pictures with the new baby coming and have something to do while waiting!

Bruce dropped Taylor off with her mom so they could make T-Shirts for the concert and meet up with their concert-going friends. Bruce headed onto Cabela's for a Father's Day shopping experience with his dad and uncle Curtis who was in from Vernon for the Millsap Baby Shower. Kevin and Colton were able to do some shopping there with them too. I headed to Weatherford to have my car serviced then off to shower number 4!

Millsap Shower

This one was more like Baby Lunch! These women worked really hard making sandwiches, cakes, punch, cookies, quiche and tortilla pin wheels. - The works!

Lisa and Christina went all out for the shower! They had some really creative ideas. Christina made a 3 tier diaper cake and several bouquets of "roses" made from baby socks, onsies, burp cloths and bibs. She really put some time and effort into these creations!

Then, she and Lisa with some help from others put all the awesome clothes they've been collecting for Kaitlyn on a string and hung it like a cloths line. Really great idea to show off the gifts! Something I'd not seen before, but I will for sure duplicate when I have a chance.

This shower would win the "Guests from Farthest Away" award. Bruce's family from Irving to Vernon to Duncan, Oklahoma came in to help us celebrate! I was really glad they could all make it!

You can also see in the picture above the beautiful hand made gifts. Some super nice baby blankets hand-embroidered and crocheted from Bruce's Nanny Mom and some embroidered burp clothes from Linda Jo. Nanny mom even included a big nice throw for Taylor!

End of School

Well, Taylor's 4th grade year has come to an end. Thursday they had a talent show at her school. She performed with the Jump Rope Team and they did a great job in a challenging area! They had to jump on the small stage with a piano and things hanging from the ceiling creating some challenges for them.

Friday, they had pajama day and that was my last day as Room-Mom. They had enough snacks for a Thanksgiving dinner I think. Non-traditional of course. Pop-corn, RootBeer Floats, Cookie Cake, Pickles, and the list goes on. She had a really great teacher this year, Michelle Palmer and we can't wait to see who she gets for 5th grade!

They had an End of Year Swim Party at Lockheed Martin Recreation Associations' pool that evening. She had a great time with her friends and cried at the end cause she doesn't want to grow up. Shouldn't that be us??

Baby Brunch

Sunday, June 14th was the 3rd baby shower -- or Baby Brunch as it turned out. We met at Blue Mesa for a wonderful brunch. Good food, great company and lots of great items for Kaitlyn! Each shower seems to be as unique as the hostesses. We received a lot of items you can never get enough of like diapers, wipes, lotions, washes and towels, burp clothes and bottle basics. Kaitlyn has a few more items to add to her ever growing wardrobe too!

Busy Mineral Wells Weekend

We headed West last friday night to Mineral Wells for a busy, fun-filled weekend.
Saturday Lindsey, Sharon and Andrea hosted a Shower in Mineral Wells at the church I grew up in. Alot of good friends were able to make it! I was excited to introduce Taylor to my former piano teacher and have a chance to catch up with her some.
Charity came in carrying a Bassinet filled with clothes and picture frames and albums. I thought that idea of the bassinet filled with presents was familiar. I told my mom on the way home that I thought I had done something like that for her when Cambren was born. When we got home, my sister reminded me that bassinet used to be my nephew Tyson's and I got it from Sharon to give to Charity at her shower.
























After, the shower we celebrated my niece Mackenzie's 10th Birthday! Melanie had helped me bake the cake Saturday morning.

Sunday, Taylor and I loaded up to go home and Bruce took off for an afternoon with the guys bow fishing. They had a good time w/ only a couple of fisherman going overboard on occassion.

Monday Taylor started swimming lessons. She wasn't real excited about them at first, but she really enjoyed them once she got there. It's hard to explain that kids do well in the pool --but don't know the correct ways to swim and why that's important.

After the swimming lessons, we had just enough time to make it to see Up in 3D. I have mixed feelings about that movie. I won't give anything away, but I thought the whole movie was really pretty sad. I was expecting it to be more funny than sad. I did like the 3D aspect though.

Other Fun Family Outings

Memorial Day weekend we had my niece, Tori's final recital. She got an award for dancing 7 years. Her hip-hop routine went off flawless! They looked GREAT!

Last weekend we had Dylan's (Bruce's cousin) High School Graduation Party in Glen Rose. Big, fun family gathering:

Month 8 - Ready or not!

I'm in the middle of the last trimester now and I must say that month 7 seemed ok --not much different that the others. However, month 8 is seeming to be a bit different. It's strange how 7 was just another month ..but 8...EIGHT is basically one month until, pretty much, this baby is coming real soon after that - at anytime.
I'm going to the dr. every two weeks now and everything is on the up and up. Taylor, Bruce and I did a hospital tour a few weeks ago to check out the facility and be sure we know where to go! It was a group tour with other expecting couples who were full of questions that prompted some pretty scary/interesting dreams. I think it's anxiety setting in! And - I have decided that child birthing classes are probably overrated. I'm going with the theory "Ignorance is Bliss!!" I did go to classes with Charity when Cambren was born --and he's going to be a 1st grader now! I figure it's all going to happen one way or the other.

Like I mentioned in the last blog --everyone is preparing for Kaitlyn's arrival this month. We are so blessed to have so many close friends and family that we have showers booked every weekend this month. It's pretty overwhelming and a blessing to know we have so many caring people in our lives.

Our first shower was given at my office. Bruce was able to pick Taylor up from school and make the festivities. Taylor was super excited saying that "she's been waiting for this day!!" She'd also told me previously that she's waiting TEN YEARS to have a little sister. We recieved so many nice things --cute things, pretty things, soft things, PINK things and necessary things too! Some of my co-workers even had big sister gifts for Taylor! Neither of us expected that; it's nice how thoughtful that is. She took some of her presents to school to show her teacher. One of the gifts for her, was made by my counter-part at work, Dianna. She does some great mosiac work and made Taylor a vanity tray complete with little glass bottles of perfume.

And! I have to give my compliments to the daddys-to-be. Another co-worker, Jonathan, is an exptant father too, one week before me. He and Bruce kept up with the list of gifts and they did a fantastic job!! Thanks guys!

This is the thought that runs through my mind most of the day --and night!