Vintage Shower & Sweet Harper Grace

Kim - Joe - Cade - Harper

A while back (a long while back) I hosted a baby shower for my sister. As you are starting to notice I do not like traditional "baby" stuff. So when I found out I was having a niece it made planning the shower that much more fun. Little girls are EASY. My one request from my sis was I don't want a lot of pink. Clearly she wasn't interested in traditional either. I personally LOVE pink but went with the next best thing PURPLE mixed with a touch of mossy green and gold. Some of the stuff I used was new and some was stuff that I found around the house that just worked.

Invitations:
I couldn't do store bought invites for this shower (not that there is anything wrong with store bought invites). There was just nothing that was PERFECT. I had my mind made up what I "NEEDED" so my husband helped bring my idea to life. We sat down and this is what we came up with. It fit my theme just the way I envisioned it.

On the Menu:
I wanted to keep this fairly simple but still appear very fresh. This was toward the beginning of my pregnancy so energy was something I was lacking and food was starting to become a burden. I don't think I even at one of the cupcakes that I made for this shower and don't think I have made a batch since (even though I heard they were tasty).

• Chicken Salad Crescent Sandwiches
• Fresh Fruit Cups
• Cupcakes (of course)
• Veggies
• Chocolate
• Purple Punch

Decor:

• Cupcake Holder (decorative tree found at OOPS that just happened to be perfect for cupcakes)
• Metal Serving Tray and Utensil Holder from POTTERY BARN
• Glass Beverage Dispenser (Bed Bath & Beyond)
• Wooden Boxes (repurposed from a gift that was sent to us)
• Glass Canisters 
• Small Canning Jars (Walmart) with customized labels (created by Miles)
• Tulle & Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)
• Birdcage, Eggs, Paint & Moss (Hobby Lobby)
• Utensils, Napkins & Plates
• Harper Banner (homemade craft)
• Diaper Cake (one of the other hostesses graciously offered to make this)

The Gifts: 

• Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag (my favorite diaper bag company)
• Tutu Outfit with Matching Ruffle Socks (The Baby's Room)
• I Love My Auntie Onesie 
• Legging with Bling on the Bottom (Three Monkeys) with a matching headband

                     Me -- Kim -- Mom -- Grandma -- Aunt B -- Kerry -- Lindsay

Here are a few shots my husband and I have taken of sweet Harper Grace so that you get the entire picture of why this shower had to be so girly and custom. We just love this precious girl!

WE HAVE A NAME

With three months and twenty days to go it is all starting to sink in. MILES AND I ARE HAVING A BABY!  As you know we were pretty secretive with the whole name process. We really wanted that to be something that was just us and then make people love it once we KNEW. I went through the 100,000 name book, the unique name book and the massive web search all the while keeping a running list of prospects. If both Miles and I didn't love the name it did not make the list :)  With that said, we know! Baby B will be named  Gavin Witt Boyer. Gavin because we love it. Witt because it is Miles middle name and a big part of the business we have worked to build. Boyer because that is what we are. I hope you all love it as much as we do. If you don't just keep it to yourself because it isn't going away (hahaha).

If the name wasn't more excitement than you could take here is what I have been doing lately. SHOPPING! Not shopping for little boy clothes but shopping for little man Gavins wardrobe. As you can see he is going to look a lot like his daddy! I just got a gap package in the mail today which are not shown above but trust me they are pretty stinking cute. Lindsey & Matt Lovelady got G his very first pair of Sperry's (top left). How cute are those??? Thanks again guys. We have received several other fun gifts that aren't shown above but trust me they are all adorable!!! The little lion was something I had been eyeing prior to getting pregnant and then it just so happened that it matches a portion of the fabric for the bedding my mom and I will be making. WE WILL HAVE TONS OF PICTURES TO COME AS THINGS KEEP MOVING ALONG.

As I'm sure you can tell my husband created this entire blog post for me (at least the picture part of it). I don't typically like photos of myself but I have had several requests for "bump" pictures. I am still a little hesitant about my growing belly being the center of attention. It just isn't natural. The first photo was taken in June while we were in Rhode Island. As you can see I was hardly showing if you can even tell. The second photo was taken in Alabama. Still not showing very much but getting there. The last set of photos were taking last minute on the side of the road on our way to Cade's birthday party. 

Aside from choosing a name, shopping and growing we have of course been keeping busy. I have made several passes at my own closet trying to make room for my "big girl" clothes. If you can get enough energy to actually clean it out, the best time is when you are preggo. Nothing little and cute is appealing at all and goes to the helping hands pile :) Gavin has been kicking and rolling for weeks now. He even kicked the dog the other day. It was pretty neat the first time Miles felt it. This little boy is strong. I am still sleeping good between bathroom breaks at night. I am LOVING food! I am HATING heat which is reflected by our high bill this month. I'm not sure what else to say besides I am loving the thought of meeting Gavin SOON! Check back soon because we have our 3D/4D ultrasound on the 18th!

Baby B Makes Three

Half way there!  Awhile back Miles and I found out that we were having a baby. Yes, it was planned but not expected so soon! It was a "hey Miles guess what" kind of moment followed by a "WOW" followed by an "is that a good wow or a bad wow" from me :)

The FIRST TRIMESTER was tough. I know everyone always told me how tired I would be and how food just wasn't the same, but I think I always just thought to myself "It couldn't be that bad". Well let me just tell you how it really has been for me and why my blog has been neglected.

Nausea -

• From the time I woke up until I went to bed I felt like I could throw up. Luckily I never did. 
• Brushing my teeth in the morning and sometimes at night made me gag. 
• After the first month I learned to despise chicken (which WAS my food of choice most nights of the week prior to being preggo), Cheeto Puffs and Mac & Cheese. I still will not eat any of them even at week 20.
• Sometime it got so bad that Miles would have to hide his food or eat in the other room because the thought of him eating it would make me want to throw up. 
• Disliking food led to not cooking which is why there have been no blog posts in a while. If I cooked it I wouldn't eat it. 
• AND THE WORST: not being able to tell the people at work that the smell of the food they are heating in the kitchen makes you want to run out the front door

Sleep - 

• All I wanted to do was sleep. At work I wanted to sleep, when I got home I wanted to sleep and then when night came I could not sleep. Vicious cycle!

Tears - 

• I have to admit, I haven't been the crazy basket case that apparently some people become. Miles says I have actually been pretty easy to deal with. BUT that is not to say I haven't had a few random moments where I cry in a movie that I would normally not be affected by or have a minor melt down because OMG I AM HAVING A BABY!!! 

With all of the above you also have to somehow put on a smile and act like you are 100% because you can't tell anyone the good news or why you feel terrible. 

People said "Don't worry, the SECOND TRIMESTER will be better". When the second trimester came and I still felt like crap I began to lose hope that I would ever be normal again. BUT I did! Finally I feel like a human again. Lazy just isn't my thing and it was starting to get the best of me. Now the Nausea is for the most part under control but then you step into a whole new set of issues. 

Weight Gain - 

• I don't know about you but I am pretty consistent with my weight. I have pretty much always been about the same size. As I get further along in the second trimester my baby gets bigger and bigger. Example: right now I am growing a baby inside of me that is the size of a cantaloupe. OMG I AM HAVING A BABY!!! So naturally as the baby grows into larger fruit and veggies, I am growing into sizes that are unfamiliar to me. NOT MY FAVORITE! 
• Not only does your belly grow, but other parts of your body start to grow...

Clothing - 

• During the first trimester it was cute that I had to unbutton my pants when I sat down. Now that I am in the second it isn't so cute that I can't button or zip my pants. Which leads to my second bullet...
• Maternity clothes...UGH! Do they even make cute maternity clothes around here? I feel like I am wearing a body suit when I put on a pair of those pants with the elastic waist that goes up to my boobs. They are comfortable though :) 
• Dresses are my new best friend! 

Potty Breaks - 

• Lets just say I get up anywhere between 3-5 times a night...
• How do you get any work done when you are expected to drink that much water???

Out of Breath - 

• Walking across the house can wear you out depending on the day. Maybe a slight exaggeration but still it is pretty bad.

Sleep - 

• The more pillows the better! 

Now for the fun part of the second trimester: IT'S A BOY!!!! ISN'T HE CUTE????

We finally had our first ultra sound and found out the gender of baby b! The switch from baby/it to a he/boy is a real eye opener. So what's to come????

Baby Furniture -

• We found the perfect crib, dresser & hutch at the Baby's Room in Rogers, AR. My parents graciously offered to buy them for us. I will have pictures to share in about 10 weeks when it all comes in. 

Baby Bedding - 

• TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH
• If I were having a girl I could decorate 10 nurseries but since I am having a boy it has been a little bit of a challenge. All of the pre made bedding is less than thrilling. SOO...we have picked out fabric to have it made. I just need to make sure it goes with my furniture before we begin. Pictures to come as we make progress. 

Names - 

• Names are HARD! Your child has to live with this for the rest of their life and it is all your fault if you pick a bad one :) Needless to say we don't have a definite name yet but several prospects. NO I WILL NOT SHARE UNTIL IT IS PICKED AND DEFINITE. 
• If you throw out names before it is decided people pick them apart. 

Baby Clothes - 

• Let the shopping begin! 
• I want my baby boy to look like a little man not like a baby blue mess :) Personal preference for sure. 

Well that is a brief look into what pregnancy has been like for me so far. I'm sure nobody cares but it is nice to have it written down somewhere to look back on one day. 

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pie

Miles and I typically have very different interests when it comes to sweets. Not that we don't love all sweets but when you have to pick sides Miles loves brownies and most of the time stuff with fruit on it. I on the other hand LOVE ice cream, cookies, cupcakes. Really anything with chocolate in or on it. BUT there is one thing we both agree on and it is peanut butter! I found a Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pie recipe that is a must try. WARNING...it is super rich!!!!

Recipe:
1 Ready made chocolate pie crust (I have the homemade crust recipe if you really want it but the store was out of chocolate wafers when I went to make this)
1- 8 oz package cream cheese, cut up
3/4 cup peanut butter - CREAMY
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream (NOT whipped cream) - it comes in a carton in the milk section
2 tsp sifted powdered sugar
3/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Step 1: For filling, beat cream cheese and peanut butter till smooth. Add the 1 cup powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; beat until combined.

Step 2: In a chilled mixing bowl beat whipping cream and the 2 tbsp powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Gently fold about 1/3 of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream and miniature chocolate chips into peanut butter mixture. Spoon into crust. Cover and chill for about 2 hours (I leave mine in over night).

Creamy Chicken Bake with Mashed Potato Casserole

A while back we had the pleasure of hosting dinner for some of our favorite people and kids (Kim, Cade, Ashley, Dustin, and Cameron). Except for the plate of food on the floor because of my nephew, dinner was a success. Cade even got to hold his first baby. I have since made this dinner for the Kenyon's so that I could spend a little time with their new baby Joel. The best part is you can make the potatoes the night before and bake the day of. I served a peanut butter pie with dinner but that post will come later :)

Creamy Chicken Bake

Recipe:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 to 2 cans of cream of chicken soup (it calls for cream of broccoli but that just didn't sound good to me)
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 jar of sliced mushrooms (I did not use this time because my husband hates mushrooms)
1/4 cup grated marmesan cheese
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (I use about double that because I like my chicken crispy)
2 tbsp butter, melted

Step 1: Place the chicken into a shallow baking dish. Stir the soup, milk, garlic powder and mushrooms (if used) in a medium bowl. Spoon the soup mixture over the chicken.

Step 2: Stir the cheese, bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle cheese mixture over the soup mixture.

Step 3. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. I baked mine for an hour!!!!

Mashed Potato Casserole

Recipe:
6 medium baking potatoes such as russet
1/3 cup sliced green onion - I did not use
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
1- 8 oz carton of sour cream (I use light)
4 to 5 tbsp milk - this was not enough for me but I kept adding milk until it was the way I like it
Parsley to taste or Chives

Step 1: Grease 1 1/2 qt casserole; set aside. Peel potatoes. Quarter potatoes. Cook, covered, in boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain.

Step 2: Meanwhile, in a small skillet cook the green onions and garlic in the butter until tender. Mash and drain the potatoes (LOVE LOVE LOVE my Kitchenaid mixer). Add in the onion mixture, sour cream, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Gradually beat in enough milk to make smooth and fluffy. Transfer to prepared casserole. Cover and chill up to 24 hours.

Step 3: To serve, bake, uncovered in a 350 oven for 45 minutes or until heated through. If desired sprinkle with parsley.

Note: I put the chives in during step two.

Recipes came from my Better Homes and Garden cookbook

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

I don't normally cook with rotisserie chickens because I hate dealing with meat on bones but here is a super easy recipe for a creamy chicken noodle soup I stumbled upon in my Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade cookbook. I kind of feel like I am cheating when I cook like this but lets face it, we don't always have tons of time to cook from scratch. Plus this provided me with excellent lunches for work.

Note: I made this when it was still cold outside :)

Recipe:
1 store-bought roasted chicken
1 cup diced celery
1 cup dice carrots
4 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth
2 cans (10 3/4 oz each) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 tsp fine herbs (blend of chervil, chives, parsley, and tarragon)
2 cups egg noodles, cooked

Step 1: Remove the skin and bones from the chicken. Shred. In a crock pot, place chicken, celery, and carrots. Stir in broth, sou, and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Cover and cook on high heat for 3 to 4 hours or low heat for 8 to 9 hours (I of course did 4 because I refuse to leave my crock pot going when I am not home)

Step 3: When soup is done, stir in cooked egg noodles and heat.

Headband & Tutu for Harper

May 12! That is the day that my sweet niece Harper Grace Phillips is going to be born. Since this is the first baby girl in my side of the family, I have had a hard time keeping myself from going overboard with the gifts. Ok...I did go overboard but who is counting :) I made a beautiful tower of gifts for the shower we hosted at my house (photos to come in a later blog). There was no way I was pulling a gift from that for her "work" shower. SOOO I decided I would make something in the spirit of being a new crafter. Every little girl NEEDS tons of cute bows and headbands! It is just necessary. So I figured out how to make rosette flowers and crafted a headband. No headband is complete without a matching tutu. So I crafted one of those too! Check out the end result!