today, i had a big ward baby shower...
it was awesome. totally a.w.e.s.o.m.e.
but it has come to my attention that one very special thing was missing...

There was delicious food...

And cute party favors for all of my guests...

And more good food...

and there were cute babies, and pretty moms, and polka dot balloons...

and there were even these amazing little photo cubes (featuring the Kortmeister and Yours Truly...) hanging from trees and umbrellas all over the backyard! Can I just say I love Nancy and her awesomely talented photo-shopping ways so much that it hurts? There. I said it. Also, she has been cancer free for THREE years (and not two like I said in the previous post). We are so darn proud of her! Yay Nancy!


And there were friends. Lots of dear, wonderful friends who are barrels of fun and who are AMAZING little baby shoppers who gifted me with just piles and piles of darling, thoughtful, and very useful things! Who could even ask for more than that? (I'll tell you who, ME. That's WHO!)

"Well, what more could you POSSIBLY want?!" (You may ask... and I certainly wouldn't blame you for asking...)

How about one of these?
Why on earth didn't anyone think to get me one of these?
I mean, seriously.

I want to be able to drink 64 ounces of water, and then giggle my booty off while jumping on the trampoline, without having "one little drizzle!"

In fact, that is my very definition of a happy, fulfilling life! (Isn't it yours?)
So, seriously, what's up with no "Myself" people?
C'mon!
Their introductory video had me laughing so hard that I realized I definitely needed one...

but Target doesn't even offer it on their baby registry!
What's up with that?

So...if you missed my shower, but still wanted to get me a little something...
there's a subtle hinty hinty for ya.

Love,
Me

PS. Thanks so much to Nancy, Mary Lee, and all of my awesome friends who came out to celebrate with me! Even though I did NOT receive a "Myself" trainer as a baby shower gift, it simply can't over-shadow the fact that I m one blessed girl with some seriously wonderful friends and family! ;)

baby. shower.

my sweet friends stacey and kristen threw a wonderful baby shower for me and a few friends, and it was so much fun! it also didn't hurt to have a distraction from the absolute nightmare of a night we had last night. {kortland, dog bite to the face, four and a half hours in the emergency room, five stitches...you know, stuff like that...} that crazy mess needs a post all its own, and i don't even think i'm mentally ready to re-live it, so, for now, let me just say that everything is okay...and it will continue to be okay, but it's best for baby bob's sake {okay, and my sanity as well} that i just focus on some seriously happy things. like, a new baby. and great friends. and a wonderful little boy. and a most excellent hubba-a-bubs. and a really fun, charming, whimsical, happy baby shower full of a bunch of people whom i love... you know, things like that... so, without further ado, i give to you, my baby shower.

and um, yes, stacey's home does look like it could be featured on the cover of house beautiful, even in person. okay, more so in person. in case you were wondering...but she's so kind and sweet and wonderful and down to earth that it's sort of hard to hate her even though my instincts tell me i should (okay, no they don't) ... so i just adore her instead.

and did you notice the tags? BOB. love it. and what {you may ask} were those darling chinese take out boxes full of? why, cake bites from the sweet tooth fairy {i will answer.} lemon, chocolate raspberry, and coconut cake bites to be exact. and don't ask me to pick a favorite, i couldn't if i tried...



cupcakes were from the cocoa bean... and i think we were unanimous...they sort of kick the Sweet Tooth Fairy's bum... (we love her too though, we're just sayin'... they sort of do...) leave it to stacey (cupcake connoisseur of the century) to find some of the most ridiculously delicious cupcakes in the valley.

AND, leave it to stacey & kristen collectively to make sure that even the water bottles were darling...

up close and personal with a cake bite.

and isn't our co-hostess (miss caroline) BEYOND adorable? yeah, i know.

stacey...and lots of cupcakes... (did that really need to be explained?)

chocolate raspberry cheesecake, mmmmmmm....


{photo courtesy of the lovely miss caroline}

{banner courtesy of the lovely miss kristen}

and now, my absolute favorite photo series from the day:

(there is not a cuter little girl in existence, i swear!}


above: me, showing the girls where the dog ripped kort's lip open.{in case you were wondering where that might have been, i will tell you. if you were asked to name the worst possible part of the lip...you know, the part where you would never, ever want a dog to bite you because it is super delicate and intricate, and would be really hard to repair, and would pretty much leave a scar no matter what, even if a plastic surgeon was the one sewing it up (which, thankfully, it was a "plastic's guy" as the hospital calls them)... you know, that part? *** yeah, that's where.}

not only was miss caroline a fabulous resident photographer, she was also a very eager "babysitter." just a peach, that one.

i don't know what was so funny, but this picture perfectly sums up the day: lots of laughter, and great conversation with good friends. we talked about child birth, and babies, and miracles, and a lot about stitches {as my brain is sort of on ONE track today...but i tried not to be a total debbie-downer... tried.} man, i love my friends.

i am a blessed girl indeed.

and no, I still can't believe it... (in case you were wondering)

I had the most surreal weekend ever, people.
My mom and Aunt Elaine threw a family baby shower... for ME.
ME.
Why?
Because after five long years,
40 some-odd negative pregnancy tests,
a lot of crying,
and just as much hurting,
I'm having a baby.
{See? Proof.}

(and yes, in case you were wondering, this is totally going to be one of "those" posts where I go on and on about the wonders of being pregnant after five years of thinking it may never happen again...so if you've had enough of these... feel free to skip it. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, so some verbal and visual processing is in order, mmmkay?)

There were cupcakes. (Thanks Elaine and Celeste!!)

In fact, there were entire trees full of cupcakes!
(And what could be better than trees full of cupcakes?)

and there was food...

and best of all, there was family.
(Funny, cute, crazy family from both of my Blackwell and Headlee sides.)

(...and even one of my favorite friends evah!}

Mom, Cristi, and Celeste's delicious new baby Abram. (above)

My beautiful sissie-in-law Rachelle (right) and her beautiful sister Brook (left). I love them both!

Me and Baby Bob.

Ohhhhh, and we can't forget Kell. He is our "miracle baby" ice breaker! Baby Bob wasn't coming down until Kell got here, checked things out, and gave him the "go-ahead!" Oh, and he has thighs for DAYS!

{told you so}

Sorry, I just have to get this off of my chest:
I can't believe that that bump is on me.
I can't believe that there is a real baby in there.
I can't believe I get to be a mom all over again.
I can't believe these presents are for MY baby.
Just can't.

And no, I still wouldn't change a thing.
Those five years were the worst and best thing that ever happened to me.
This joy is so much more real, tangible, and savored coming out of 5 years of pain and doubt...
Thank you to my family for coming out and celebrating this little miracle with me.
Thank you for being part of my support system over the long haul.
And thank you to my mom and aunt for throwing such a beautiful little party.
I love you so much it hurts.
Love,
Lola