French Baby Shower.

Last weekend I threw my good friend Andrea's baby shower. She is almost the last of our friends from High School to have a baby, so we wanted it to be really special for her.

Luckily, because of the bad economy beautiful restaurants who usually charge an arm and a leg to have an event in are practically giving away the space if you will use them for food. So, we got to hold Andrea's baby boy shower at the lovely LaCaille.

Because of the location I decided I wanted to do a french theme. And I thought it all turned out darling. We had our little luncheon in the attic of the restaurant, a really pretty spot, I had never seen before. And we based the entire shower decor and details on the lovely shower invite Ann Elizabeth did for me. She is the best.

LaCaille's event coordinator Colby had the idea to do a cute little clothline between the flower arrangements with pics of Andrea and Alex (the baby's mom and dad, when they were babies)

It looked so cute. And Sax Romney's flower arrangements were beyond lovely. I love hydrangeas.

Sorry so many detail photos but its my favorite part of any party, the little things... and Ashlee Raubach (my photographer friend) captured them all perfectly.

NOW... here is the actual shower

Lindsey (our friend who flew in from Chicago for the shower), as a gift to Andrea surprised her my picking her up in a limo, and even bigger surprise is we were all in it to come get her! Thanks Lindsey, that made it extra fun. It was like Prom all over again. (without the boys)

Here is all our friends and party guests, a bunch of whom are also pregnant. I was so surprised no one got "sick" in the limo.

(from left to right) Melissa (shanley) Cook- prego, Callie (salmon) Anderson-prego, Chelsey (nyborg) Bell, Kristin (defa) Neilsen- prego, Me-prego, Andrea (hyde) Mason-obviously prego, Nicole (knight) Knight - just became unprego( had her baby) Katie (dickamore) Flanders, Lisa (williams) Hasleton and Lindsey (cooksey) Lunt

the gifts

These are the book of games, a trivia game with questions about all our friends childbirth and pregnancy stats and stories, a match which friend to which baby picture game, and gift bingo. All so fun. The booklet was tucked into the napkin at each girls place setting.

The mini cakes, by Carrie's Cakes that were the party favors. And so good, well mine was until I threw it up (ahh joy of pregnancy)

the lunch

the cute mommy to be.

the group. and yes, I told everyone to wear black, I know how annoying and obsessive of me, but I thought it would be cute if we all matched Andrea's shower colors.

opening the presents and playing gift bingo. I really love baby showers.

Andrea, we are so happy for you and so excited to meet baby Dexter, hope you enjoyed your special day!! Love you!

and thanks to Ashlee Raubach Photography for the lovely pictures.

Pregnant - 3rd Time Around.

It's 12:30 am and I should be asleep, like everyone else in my house is. But, I cant. And so here I sit. Blogging. Maybe I shouldn't since I am an overly emotional pregnant person.

One week ago (last Sunday) I spent the day nauseated and sick and throwing up, I only made it to about 20 mins of church before I headed home. And sadly for me, I didnt even make it home before I threw up (alot) the next few days weren't much better, I was tired and just felt like junk. And on Thursday morning after repeatedly throwing up in the shower, I needed to explore farther. Which led me to retake a pregnancy test which just a few weeks ago said, "not pregnant" It was positive, yay!!

I feel overwhelmingly grateful for the chance to have another baby. Really. I do. This #3 has taken us a lot longer than the other 2 did, so I almost felt like it was too good to be true when stick said "pregnant" this time. I have been waiting for this. But yet... nothing but tears. I cannot stop crying, even now as I type, my eyes are so swollen I can hardly see what I am typing. This part is the hard part for me. And I forgot just how hard it is. I get so sick when I am pregnant, all day, every day for weeks on end. And it is so hard. I have only in fact left the house 1 time since I found out I was pregnant, to attend a baby shower I was throwing and have been working on for a long time. (which by the way was probably the best thing I could of done, taken a break from my hibernation) Other than that, I have been in the house. In my sweats, feeling awful. I haven't kept anything down and no matter how much I sleep, I cannot get enough energy to even want to blow-dry my hair.

I know that I am so so so happy to have this baby, and to add to our family. And I love new babies. Love them. So don't think by reading this post that I am not happy about this. I really am, its an answer to prayers. This baby is already loved. I just have realized this time is going to be the same as the rough pregnancies before. When I was pregnant with Adyson, I had no one else to care for, I could drowned in my misery. And I did. Then when I got pregnant with Max, I had Ady to care for but she was only just turning 1. So, we could be home and sick and it was ok. No dance, no preschool, no reason to have to be anywhere. I remember she would follow me into the bathroom to throw up and pretend she was throwing up to. Then I would lay her on my chest and turn on Baby Einsteins and just be home. All day... all week until I felt better. So, I am just scared this time, that I have more responsibilities, and feeling guilty at the prospect of all the fun things my kids are going to miss doing with me cuz I dont feel well enough to do anything right now. Literally, I didn't even come out of my room today until almost evening except for once to get a drink.

I am not really sure why I am writing this. Except that this blog is a sort of journal for our family. And I actually now feel a little guilty for complaining at all. I know there are a lot of people who have a very hard time getting pregnant, and some who cannot at all. And I don't want anyone like that to think that I am not grateful that I can get pregnant and I do have healthy babies. I know that is such an amazing blessing. I just wanted to be honest about how I felt right now. A little scared about how I am going to handle the pregnancy this time around and incredibly emotional for no good reason. I really could fill a well with the amount of sobbing I have done on my bathroom floor this weekend.

But at least I'm 8 weeks down... 32 to go. (hopefully only 30, if all goes to plan).... great now I'm crying again, that's forever.

newest news.

Halloween Happenings.

{Cornbellys October 2009}

October is usually on of our favorite and busiest months. There is something about this time of year. And here in Utah if you have kids are a million things you can do during the Halloween month. Last year, as I previously stated, we overkilled. So, this year we just got done what we could and had a great time.

Here are some of the things I have not already documented.

Our Couples Halloween Dinner Party.

Like last year, we invited over a couple of couples to do a costumes required fondue dinner. These are the 2 cute couples we joined us

The Shergills and the Brufords. Eric and I also dressed up, I was batgirl and he was my sidekick Robin. Why no pics??? Well, cuz when you spend the whole day cleaning, setting up and child caring and leave you self 5 seconds to get ready, the pics are a little rough looking. So, I spared you. And us.

Like last year, we did stations of fondue, started in the kitchen for the appetizer cheese course then moved to the dining room for the main course then the fondue fountain for dessert was set up on the island. It was all so yummy!

Here is a picture of Ady's dance class all dressed up in their Halloween costumes for this weeks class. They are all so cute. Ady really wanted to wear her costume that we took to Disneyland instead of her witch costume she picked out for Halloween because she loves the huge tutu.

Then on Friday, Eric, Max and I attended Ady's school Hallowenn program. She was darling and sang and danced so well.

We stayed after for more games and carmel apples with her class.

Then we headed straight over for trick or treating at Eric's office. The kids got so many treats, I don't think they even need to go trick or treating tonight (of course we will) but they don't NEED anymore candy.

I am sure the kids are going to be sad, all the Halloween stuff is about to end. Its been so much fun.

the only thing we forgot to document and I wish I would have were all the little hallowen favors and treats the kids and I made. I think the only one I got a pic of was the ones from the Fondue Night, but the kids and I stuffed and tied cute backs with Halloween stickers for Eric to hand out to the kids at the office. we also made several different sweets and treats for friends and trick or treaters. All turned out really cute.

maui-sitters

At Eric's office his employees work hard all year to try and meet a certain "sales quota" to be able to attend "President Club" a trip Eric takes the top producers on. Well, we already have this trip scheduled and planning underway for the 2010 Presidents Club which will take place in Maui, Hawaii.

And mostly only adults attend President's Club only occasionally an infant who still needs to be with mom.

A few of the mothers whose husbands will be attending President's Club this year with us, are having a hard time finding babysitters for the 5 days. Like college age girls or couples to come stay in their homes and run the household while they are gone. So, I told them I would try and get word out to see if any of my bazillions of Smoot family or friends know or are interested in a 5 day babysitting job and earning some good money. If you are leave me a comment or email me at hailey (at) thekandells (dot) com.

Thanks!