The Finishing Touches

Sunday, Daniel and I spent some time putting the finishing touches on the foundation of Foster's nursery. There are still a few wall hangings that are on backorder (antique airplanes-super cute!) that we need to hang. It seems like we've been working on it forever. Between having the bedding made, reupholstering the chair, finding just the right rug in NC, and Daniel repainting multiple items to perfection...it seemed like we'd never finish.

The funniest part of all was the stapling of my fingers. We were almost finished with the chair and Daniel ran to the store to get some last minute items we needed for the gathering we were having at the house that evening. As he was leaving he said, "Be careful with the staple gun Courtney." Of course I sarcastically replied," I am not an idiot, I use staple guns all the time. It's not like I'm going to staple a finger!" 10 minutes later I was on the phone frantically calling Daniel with a staple wedged in my pointer finger. So...whose the idiot now? (rhetorical- don't answer that!)

We really have had fun putting the room together. It is just our style. Simple, clean, and classic. How can you go wrong with a Tiffany Blue dresser, I ask you?

Anyway, everyone's been bugging me for Belly pictures, so that is next!

SURPRISE!!!

Last night an ordinary trip to one of our new favorite eats- Sandy Bottoms- turned into the most pleasant surprise birthday party for me! I thought Daniel and I were just going out to enjoy a gorgeous, warm night on the porch and listen to the waves rolling in accompanying the live music, when low and behold bunches of friends showed up! Thank you to all of you who came last night! And...a special thanks to my friends and Navy "Fly Boys" who drove up from Jacksonville. We know the trip is a long one, but I hope the food and fun were well worth it. It is so nice to know that we have so many close friends on this side of the state! You all mean so much to me...both the old and new friendships we have developed.

So, now I am officially over the 3-0 hump! SCARY. Seems like the cellulite on the back of the legs exploded over night- course it could have been the fried shrimp or Publix cake...who knows? OR maybe it is just being fat and pregnant!

Those of you who were not able to attend, you were missed. To my dear, sweet, thoughtful husband who never seems able to pull off a surprise to save his life...You did it...finally!
Thank you and I love you!

22 Week Ultrasound

Here is Foster's Profile. I went to the Doctor last Monday and had the "official" ultrasound done. All looked good and Foster is in the 50th percentile for weight at 1pd. He was very active and punched and kicked the entire time we were there. I feel more movement with each passing day. It seems the monster inside me has just as much energy as Daniel and I did as kids- SCARY!!! Perhaps he won't talk quite as much as I did and still do. Maybe he will have Daniel's more reserved personality!

It's Official!

Well everyone, here we are...up and running on our first official blog. With so much happening in our lives and with our family and friends literally spread all over the world, we figured this would be a great way to update anyone who wants to be updated on the happenings in our life.

As opposed to facebook, you won't receive annoying messages on your blackberrys or junk in your inboxes. Just come and check us out when you want to, or ignore us completely- your choice!

Since I will be a stay at home mom next year, and who knows what that will entail- Does anyone really know what to expect???- I thought it might be time to enter the modern age and do " the modern mom" thing 100 percent. What does a modern mom do you may ask??? They BLOG!

So here is my best attempt. Will I update daily? Probably not...weekly? perhaps. I figure that as long as I am adding pics and captions more than once a year, I am already well past my record for adding pics and captions to facebook. By the way, pictures from Christmas two years ago are still on our camera- pathetic. I am hoping this will inspire me to get with the program.

I am currently 22 weeks preggers with our first child...a boy. We are naming him Foster Ryan Russell. Foster is my maiden name, and I have always wanted to name a baby boy Foster. We also think that Foster Russell sounds like a famous athlete, so with Daniel and my genes combined...here's hoping! I am feeling pretty well. My energy is back up. Not like I am going to run a 5k tomorrow, but certainly not falling asleep at 6 p.m. anymore. Just a few walks with our dogs a day and 5 days a week with 4th graders pretty much zaps all my energy anyway.

After our final Hurrah (trip to NYC after Christmas),we have spent the late part of winter and early spring trying to put together our nursery. Daniel will deploy soon, so it was important for us to have everything ready before he left. Unfortunately, in case you haven't heard, Daniel will miss the birth and first 4 months of Foster's life. Therefore, I will be the most insanely stressed out, emotionally nightmarish mom ever!!! I won't think about that now...that is for later- just think of me each night before you go to bed between this fall and remember that it could be worse! To all of my wonderful family and friends...you are welcome anytime and your help will be appreciated more than you will ever know. I will truly need all the help I can get!

The nursery is perfect- or will be once the curtains are up. We are waiting for the hardware and finials (which are red airplanes- super cute) and then we can truly finish the room and I will post a picture. The bedding I had made came in last week and I am in love! Colors are black, white, red, and Tiffany Blue!

Mom and Jaime have risen to the challenge of finding the most adorable boys' clothing you can find. I have already seen a few items and I am telling you- they should go into business and buy for a kids' boutique. Although the initial disappointment of it not being a girl still surfaces each time they see a polka dot dress or ruffled pant-a-looms, they have immersed themselves in seersucker jumpers and embroidered sun suits. Foster will certainly be the best dressed tot on the block!

Our dogs will be making the largest adjustment, as we have had a Kanine Behavior Specialist/Trainer to the house to help us teach our dogs- who think they are human- to once again be dogs. With a child coming into our home very soon and pooches who run our home 24-7, we knew we had to do something. I was amazed; Chloe and Welli were swept away by the storm! We have much more training to partake in (more Daniel and myself than the dogs), we are now hopeful that we may actually be able to have a peaceful, calm environment in which to raise our son. Not to mention- it will be much less stressful for me. Already the dogs are more respectful of their alpha and omega (I'll let you guess which of us is which!) and there is less barking and chaos...thank goodness. Even Chloe, who we thought would never be able to just "chill out" has already made such a change!

Anyway, that is our first attempt at making a connection to you all. As I said before, check us out for updates, or choose to ignore us altogether. Life is too short to feel overwhelmed with information technology, right?

I will get back to you soon.