Grandma Mondays

I cannot express how thankful I am for Mondays.  On Sunday evenings both Greg and I typically have a small case of the end-of-weekend blues, as Monday is the start of another busy week of work without much downtime for our family.  It's always just a little bit sad when we put Ben down to bed on Sunday nights. 

However, Monday always ends up being a great day!  I feel SO lucky that my mom was able to cut back to 4 days a week in order to stay with Ben 1 day each week.  I am also VERY thankful that she chose for her day to be Mondays.

Each Monday morning when she arrives to watch Ben, I am able to finish getting ready and then get out the door without having to pack up all of my things, AND Ben's things, AND Ben!  I am able to drive straight to work, which cuts about 30 minutes off of my morning commute (and my afternoon commute).  It just makes for a much more relaxed day.

In addition to watching Ben, my mom has decided to make a meal for us each Sunday to bring with her on Mondays!  So far she has made Clam Spaghetti, Minestrone, Chili, and tonight she has made Teriyaki Chicken!  She also has made us a dessert or another type of snack each week.

This morning, my mom brought bran muffins and chocolate chip cookies.  It's SO nice of her to go out of her way to help us like this and we REALLY appreciate it! 

Thanks mom/grandma! :)

Rachel's Bridal Shower

Last April, when Rachel and Peter got engaged, I think there were a few of us that mentally began to brainstorm ideas for her bridal shower.  Rachel has been so involved in planning and executing some of the greatest showers for her friends, that we were eager to return the favor.  Some got into the details FAR more than others (ahem, Maureen), for which I am most thankful!  I was totally in baby-planning mode, and then newborn-baby-mode, and it was so amazing that there were a team of us to plan and prepare for Rachel's Sex and the City themed shower :)

Becca and Cam's house has become the go-to place to hold events for this group, and they again were nice enough to open their home for this party!  Maureen arrived before me to start putting up all of the decor that she had been dedicating her nights to the week prior to the shower, and it turned out SO perfect.  When I arrived, I started to download music for the SATC play list - all songs that were featured either in the movie or on the series.  After set up, I ran to pick up the sushi we had ordered as the rest of the girls put the finishing touches on the room, and guests began to arrive at 5 pm.

Everyone looked so fantastic in their "cocktail attire"!  Rachel in particular looked beyond amazing.  We played a few games, ate some food, and then watched her open her themed gifts.  Everyone was told to bring a gift based on an assigned SATC character, which ended up being super hilarious.  This is a group that KNOWS their SATC ladies :)

Here are several pictures that I stole from other blogs and photo albums (thanks to all of the photographers)!

Congrats to you Rachel!  I cannot wait for the big day!

Invitations, made by Layne

Beautiful decor by Maureen

Delicious cupcakes made by Kalle

Party Favors - assorted beauty supplies and Vogue Magazines!

Pin the *various items* on Rachel aka Carrie Bradshaw

The bride to be with her bridesmaids!

(Kalle, Rachel, Maureen and me)

Chi-O's! XO

Layne, me, Jecca and Erica

And finally, the game - How Well do the Bride and Groom Know Each Other?

I had a fun time with this one.  A few weeks prior to the shower, Greg, Ben and I went over to Rachel and Peter's for a breakfast date.  Before we left, without Rachel knowing, I recorded Peter giving his answers to the game so that we could show it at the shower.  It was fun to surprise Rachel with this, and I think everyone enjoyed it too :)

23 weeks

Outlook Calendar LOL

I was chuckling at myself as I entered this on my calendar this afternoon.

Subject: CasperBabyPants

Location: Mill Creek Town Center - Top Pot Doughnuts

Start Time:  10:30....AM

Seriously, this is so amusing.  I'm going to a rocking Saturday MORNING concert with my kid, my mom, and hopefully lots of friends and their kiddos!

More info on this free concert here.

And while you are there, preview some of their jams, here.  My favorites (yep, I already have favorites) are "Bad Blue Jay", "Butterfly Driving a Truck", and "Helicopter".

22 weeks

Talking to the Sun

This little sun.  It's Ben's favorite component of his activy station/jumper, and also the most dangerous!  I actually had to remove it shortly after taking this video because Ben will get super close to it, push it away, and then it SPRINGS back and smacked him in the face.  I'm hoping that when he is a little older (possibly with sharper reflexes?) I can put it back in.  He would literally turn himself all the way around to play with it before, but clearly he is not ready. 

Anyway, here he is enjoying it while he had it.

The most important thing he has to do today

This morning when I woke up (after 11 glorious hours of sleep, which occurred after a night of approximately 3 hours of sleep due to what I can only assume was teething pain), my mind immediately started running through all of the things I needed to do today. 

* Make coffee

* Finish a document/send an email for work, (and various other work-related tasks)

* What will we have for dinner?

* When can I get to the mall to find something to wear for the bachelorette party?

* What does a 30-year-old mom even WEAR for a night of boozing/clubbing on Capital Hill?

* I wonder when Greg will get home so I can squeeze in some yoga?

* Etc. Etc.

I then woke Ben up, watched him smile for a few minutes, and sat him upright.  And it occurred to me that he too has an agenda.  With serious determination in his eyes, he:

* Grabbed his feet

* Blew spit bubbles

It was like he was waiting all night to accomplish these tasks.

I guess we both have some work to do today!