Its Getting Real!!

This past weekend I had my first baby shower (of four!!). Can I just say that baby Tanner racked up! Christmas came early for him and he is not even here yet! My wonderful mother-in-law (Meme) threw me the first shower in Charlotte. I truly am blessed to have someone like her in my life, she is just amazing. The shower had a Noah’s Ark theme, which I absolutely love! I had always said if we had a boy that is how I would decorate the nursery… hope I don’t regret choosing another theme instead! She had delicious food catered from “Toast”, a local restaurant in Huntersville with things like prosciutto wrapped asparagus, mini spinach quiche, sesame chicken skewers and fruit medley skewers. Grandma Slater also sent down some wonderful goodies…Buckeyes (chocolate, peanut butter, and rice krispies!! YUM!) and white chocolate dyed blue and molded into booties, bottles and diaper pins. Meme also had games arranged such as bingo, a nursery rhyme game, and guess how big the pregnant lady is with a string.

It was so touching that so many people were able to come despite the shower being held the day after Thanksgiving when most are traveling and spending quality time with their families. I won’t name any names, (haha) but it took some people over three hours to get there even though it should have only taken them one. :) (Mom, please ask dad for a GPS for Christmas, please. Or maybe make sure there is a map in your car before you are about to venture into the unknown. Just kidding.) :) I have to say one of the things that touched my heart most was Matt’s Aunt Debbie and Uncle Paul driving all the way down from Ohio Friday morning (getting up at 3am!!!) to be at the shower. It was so special to me and I will never forget that.

Tanner got so many of the millions of things that he (we) need!! Many of the gifts were from our registry which is awesome, because obviously those are the things that we need the most. Some of the things he got were: Pack-n-play, swing and bounce swing, stroller and infant carrier, rainforest jumperoo, rainforest melodies and lights deluxe gym, baby monitor, snug glider swing frame, floppy seat, boppy, thermometer, hamper, soft and cozy blankets, a handmade ABC123 quilt, newborn tub, toys, bottles, books, outfits and onesies, bibs, beautifully filled baskets, some NC State gear, and baby’s first piggy bank. The list goes on and on, but I was certainly overwhelmed! I also can’t forget to mention my sweet sweet husband’s sneaky surprise. First, let me start by saying when we arrived at the Murphy’s on Thanksgiving day there was already a table filled with gifts of all the people who were unable to attend. Little did I know that in that mix was a special surprise from my Mattie! So on with the story… I was about half way through with opening gifts and I opened up the next card…without even reading the words I was like, wait a minute, I know this handwriting, so I flipped the card over to see who signed it and sure enough it was my husband. I started to read it and literally got through the first three or four words and had to put it down… I was in tears. He is the sweetest man alive. So I came back to his card and gift at the very end but still was unable to read the card at that point… I did however open the gift and it was the exact diaper bag that I wanted! (An Amy Michelle designer baby bag) I guess he was listening! It is brown on the outside with periwinkle blue lining. Usually, it is hard to surprise me, because I am not typically fond of surprises and like to know what is going on at all times. But, this was one of the nicest surprises ever. If you’re wondering, I was able to finally read the card! :)

Friday was a great time that I will not soon forget and now I have three more showers to come that have a lot to live up to! Thank you so much Mom/Meme Murphy for everything!

PS - our house is now full to the brim! We're not quite sure where it all is going to go.. SO - when you come visit, please excuse the mess because I certainly don't see it getting any better! Thank you in advance for your understanding! :)

Now Playing: Tanner Murphy in 3D

As of today we are down to just over 2 months or 10 weeks or 69 days or 1656 hours .... do you think we are ready for this baby to arrive? Tanner has been doing his thing (kicking, swimming, growing) and we have been working hard getting ready for him. All the furniture has (finally) arrived and his room is painted a nice "sonic sky" blue. Once everything is decorated and in order we will post nursery pictures. In addition to the nursery prep, we have been attending classes at WakeMed Cary Hospital that have covered everything from labor and delivery to new parent time management to breastfeeding. Needless to say we are learning some things that we had never expected to know (tar poo in the first diapers!).

Enough with the boring stuff though. Today, we got to experience some of the advances in technology with a 4D/3D ultrasound. We went this morning with our fingers crossed that baby Tanner would be in a cooperative mood for his first photos. Well, he wasn't! He was sleeping and he kept putting his hands over his face. But, we did get some good pics out of it. Our first reaction is that he looks completely like his daddy, but we'll let you be the judge:

Here is a short video of him while sleeping:

Finally! ... I know!

So, I can't even tell you how many long distance friends and family members have requested pictures of my belly or baby bump (whatever you prefer to call it). I know you don't get to see me often so photos help you stay better connected, but I have just not felt like snapping pictures of myself. Truthfully, I usually love taking pictures. Gotta preserve those memories people! (quick -what movie is that from??) But, when pregnancy has made your hair and skin go to the crapper and your belly is stretching by the minute, it doesn't really put you in the mood for photo opps. I had not given in until this weekend.

Two of our best friends got married this weekend, so of course the photos kept on coming. (And let me take a moment to say that Jenn and Matt could not have looked more happy.. the wedding was gorgeous ... and the bride was absolutely stunning!!) For those of you who don't have facebook or myspace (where the pics are already posted), you can see me here at 27 weeks pregnant. I got this outfit one week ago and when I wore it this weekend I already felt like I was about to pop out of the top! Better wear it a couple of times this week to get my moneys worth!! And that's another topic worth discussing at some point ... maternity clothes are ridiculously expensive!!

Please note that one of our friends (MARIA) made me pose this way... really, she forced me to take the pic. :) So please thank her. I've also included another photo from this weekend of the happiest couple in the world!