What a difference a vacation and family LOVE can make....

So, we are back from our AMAZING week away in Boston/Martha's Vineyard. We had such a great time. The wedding was absolutely PERFECT. We are so thankful that James and Alessandra included us so much in their BIG DAY! We really enjoyed staying at the gorgeous beach/wedding house and getting to know Alessandra's wonderful family and friends. They were so thoughtful to let us stay with them. It made it that much more fun. I LOVE a destination wedding! Out of all the times we have visited Boston, I still had not gone to the Vineyard. It was just as I imagined. The first day and half were rainy and cool, but the sun came out Thursday afternoon and the weather stayed perfect the rest of our trip. The town was so cute. We can't wait to go back next summer with our little guy and explore more. Maybe James and Alessandra will come with us. We just love those two. Frank is so lucky to have so many close relationships from high school and James from college. I am also lucky that they ALL are with amazing women (married or dating). I have so much fun with every one of the "wives/girlfriends/fiances". It is hard being away from them all for extended periods of time, but we pick up right where we left out as soon as we see eachother. Hopefully, we will be living closer soon. Even if that is not in the cards for us; it is still good to know we have such good/geniune people in our lives. San (as her fam and friends call her) was probably the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. I knew she would be. She is just the most naturally beautiful women inside and out. Can you tell I have a girl crush? Luckily she knows and doesn't care. The wedding went off without a hitch (except that the bride almost passed out at the altar) OOPPS!!! She got a little heated/light headed and had to take a little break. It made the service that much sweeter. Being the paparazzi that I am, I got all the ACTION on video too. Should be a funny memory to watch. She still looked gorg so that is all that matters! ha! Frank and I had a blast at the outdoor/tented reception. His highlight was giving his best man speech. He is so cute. He really did do a good job, and really enjoyed being told that. Ha! If there is one thing I don't think little Wilson will be; that is shy. His mommy and daddy do like attention..JK..kinda! I called it an early night after the wedding (but did dance till the very end) because I had stayed up with the group the couple nights before and wanted to be rested for my BIG SHOWER Sunday. I think people were a little shocked to see me cutting a rug on the dance floor with my big belly and all. Being pregnant is not an excuse to not have fun. Luckily, I felt GREAT all week and the belly is just an added accessory! Ha!

New friends!

Pretty bride at the rehearsal dinner!

Newly married!

Cute pic.not sure what I am doing with my arm!

dancing the night away

Best buds and Wilson's Godfather

Sunday morning we said our goodbyes (so sad to leave all our new friends) and headed back on the ferry to Boston. It was so pretty outside so I got to sit on the observation deck of the ferry and look out over the ocean. I think my saving grace this summer has been all the traveling to COOLER places we have done. The Charleston summer heat is NOT MY FRIEND. It is starting to cool off a bit and the miserable humidity is breaking in the morning and evenings so hopefully I can enjoy the rest of this pregnancy outside a bit more. When we got to Frank's mom's house; her and his sister Leandra were busy with last minute shower details. They went ABOVE and BEYOND!!! They made me feel so special. Jenessa also came with some yummy cookies and chicken bites. Of course all the AUNTS (as I call them...Frank's mom's sisters) also brought yummy food and treats. Wilson is one lucky little boy to be so loved. His mom did not leave any details out. All the guests brought books for him (I LOVE that) as well as tons of gifts and giftcards. We played a cute little nursery rhyme game (I def need to brush up on those). All the Conroy/Kiley women were there too. Frank's grandmother Anne was there and his cousin's wife Melanie. Frank's friends wives (Jenna and Kim) also came. My other two friend wives/girlfriends (Esther and Noelle) were there in spirit. His mom's best friend/sister Rosie and her daughter Megan came with sweet Ava (the new grandbaby). It was just an amazing day. Frank's mom had little candies wrapped with special paper just for Cash. She made a sign, had tons of balloons, made her signature candy cake, had the cutest boo boo bunnies for favors. There were candy pops, jello shots (thanks Gena), yummy cookies, amazing STRAWBERRY cupcakes (Lee-Lee). IT WAS PERFECT!!! I almost cried when I walked out to see everything, but Frank's mom already was so I just laughed. I just LOVE that woman so much. I know God has given her to me as a special gift. I need her and appreciate her so much. In my life, there have been two women that have always been there for me and I think have helped me be who I am. My grandmother was one and now momma Sue. I see alot of my grandmother in Sue. I sometimes think those two met up somewhere along the lines and agreed to be my angels. I know Wilson is going to just love his Nanna just like I adored my Nanny. Hopefully Nanny has gotten a little snuggle time in with him up in Heaven before she sends him my way.

The hubs made an appearance

My hostesses!

Of course she stayed by my side the entire time! Did I say I love her yet?

cute smell good candles

We wrapped up the week relaxing with the family and wishing our time wasn't up. It always goes by way too fast. Momma Sue and Big Frank will be here in nine short weeks so that makes it a little easier. We got all settled back in with "our girls" Tuesday night and yesterday. I went to my dreaded 3hr/four blood draw glucose test yesterday and passed with flying colors. Not one level was above normal. I guess when you starve yourself for 13 hours that will do it. The drink was still disgusting but I managed to keep it down this time. I am so happy to have that worry off my back. I am still going to watch my sugar intake, but not feel guilty every time I eat a cookie. Frank is so sweet and brought me a mini Ben and Jerry's cookie dough icecream treat home. He is the sweetest hubby!

 My 30 week checkup went well and I am now in the home stretch. They measure our fundus (uterus) every visit now and in two weeks it went from 27 to 32 so that was a little shocking. I gained three pounds so hopefully it was all in the belly (not butt) area. He was kicking and bouncing around a ton during his doplar because of the glucola drink, but his heart beat was still steadily beating! I am all signed up for the breastfeeding class and our hospital tour. Frank is also going to take the infant CPR class in November. I just need to get us in to see the pediatrician soon. We will just be relaxing and enjoying life before baby these next couple months. I know he will be here before we know it! Hope everyone (or the one person reading this) has a great weekend. I will be working...booo!

Nursery, 29 weeks, and a big fat FAIL!!!

So, this week has not been the BEST of weeks! The third trimester and me are not starting off on the right foot. I am totally OVER the heat and feel FAT AS A COW!!! I don't want to sound like a spoiled brat because I am very thankful that God has given me the blessing of pregnancy. I know so many women would give an arm and a leg to be in my situation; it's just sometimes it gets old. 10 months is a LONG time. I have had a wonderful pregnancy so far, but feel like the weight gain and overall sluggishness is starting to do me in. I don't know if I just overdid it the last couple of weeks and now it is catching up with me or what. I do know that my belly feels as hard as a rock most times (and if I eat even the slightest bit it gets even more hard). Little baby boy is kicking and moving constantly; and I do still love that, but I am over the feeling full ALL THE TIME (and I know it only gets worse). It is hard to bend over and my back hurts constantly, and I am swollen pretty much all the time now. So, feeling already like I was defeated this week I went in for my 28 week appointment and glucose test Thursday morning. It did not go well AT ALL! First, I am starting to rotate doctors in the practice so I can meet all of them just in case my primary MD is not able to make it to the delivery for some reason.  I was instructed to stop by the lab first to get my yummy orange sugar drink then head up to my appointment. I did just that. I downed the disgustingly thick orange drink pretty fast and went to meet with the doctor. Pretty much right away my stomach was in knots. I was weighed (where I was told I gained 6lbs in 3 weeks..yippee!) and then the new doctor came in. She was ok, but not my favorite. First, she was about 5'1 and 90lbs. I think she took one look at my weight on my chart and about stroked out. She then looked at my lovely cankles and told me she would be writing me a prescription for over the belly TED hose to be worn to work! I cannot wait to put those BAD BOYS on in the 100 degree heat!!! She also told me to lay off the salt. Now, I am not sure if it was because of my high blood sugar or what, but I really wanted to kick her in the face. ( I would never). She then started in on finding a pediatrician ASAP and signing up for "classes" ASAP. Ok woman!!!! I got it!!! I have been seeing a doctor for the past 7 months so I am well aware of what needs to be done. Well, once I got out of there I was headed back down to wait thirty minutes until I could have my blood drawn to check my glucose level. That is where things got interesting. I was already feeling pretty dizzy and hott, and baby C was flipping and flopping like a mad man from all that sugar. I chugged about two 20 ounce waters in five minutes and then went to the bathroom because I just didn't feel right. I then puked up that lovely orange drink and all the water I had just consumed. FUN, FUN!!!! I knew then that my level was going to be high. I told the tech and she said the same thing, but drew it anyway. I left there feeling like a big, fat failure. That night my friend Anna (who is also preggers) called to tell me my level was 159!!!! Yikes!!! Above 135 is no good. I think it freaked her out more than me. I already knew it was going to be high. I am super bummed and a little worried about what will happen, but am glad I now know. I am avoiding ALL candy and ALL cookies. I can't totally stop eating sugar because it is in EVERYTHING, but I can lay off the pure sugar that is in cakes, cookies, and candy. I am guilty of consuming high quantities of all three of these things for the last seven months so doing without for the next 11 weeks will not kill me. I have my repeat test on September 14 when we get back from vacation. Hopefully, if I do what I am supposed to this next week and a half, I will pass that one. I am dreading it since it is double the orange drink and takes three hours. It just made an already rough week feel even worse. If it was just me getting big and fat I wouldn't care so much, but I don't want to do anything to hurt the babes. I know that there is really nothing I can do besides watching what I eat to help the situation, but I still feel guilty. To make things worse, I began packing for our tip to Boston next Tuesday and realized I have nothing to wear to the rehearsal dinner. The dress that fit a week ago will no longer zip. GREAT!!! Luckily I had a dress made to wear to the actual wedding or I would be royally screwed. I think I have a skirt that I can make work for the rehearsal, but I don't feel cute in it at all. Oh well!!!! That is enough complaining I think!!! Sorry for this rant. I am sure I will look back on this a year from now and think, "poor, pitiful Brittney...such a baby!" It feels better to get it out though. On a happier note; we are heading to Boston and Marthas Vineyard Tuesday. I cannot wait to be in the cooler weather and just relax for a week. My lovely MIL and Frank's sisters are throwing me a baby shower next Sunday. I cannot wait to be with all the people I love so much. I need that. It is hard being away from them for so long. Also, Wilson's room is pretty much done. We just have a couple things to add that are at our parent's houses (like Frank's hobby horse and my BIG stuffed lion). So here is a sneak peak so this post isn't all bad!

Changing table/dresser

Both these pictures were above my crib as a litle girl. I just had them refurbished! LOVE THEM!!

Frames to put maternity pictures in and Cash's newborn pic (me+Frank=baby)

Little framed pic of Frank and I on his dresser...match made in HEAVEN!

Two little chunks!

His shelves that I LOVE..it has glass on the sides and is distressed!

Gotta have some bulldog stuff!



Letters I painted and pom poms I made!



So that is all folks...probably won't post again until we get back from our trip. Hopefully with good news from my test! Have a great holiday weekend. I am off to work the next three nights before we leave!



Life has been BUSY...and we are 28 WEEKS!!!

These past two weeks have been full of fun and BUSY, BUSY! Frank and I stayed home last week and tackled some DIY projects. We made a headboard together. I found a design online and just knew my handy hubby could cut the wood for me. I ordered some fabric, batting, and foam and once it arrived we were ready to go. It turned out GREAT. Frank did such a good job cutting the wood and attaching the foam (with spray adhesive) then we tackled nail gunning the batting and fabric on together. It took us a little trial and error to get the fabric just right, but in the end I LOVE it. It is not perfect, but well worth the time and money we put into it. We could not afford to buy something like this in a store and it's one of a kind. If anyone wants to know how we did everything I would love to help you. Here is our finished project!

Frank pointed out that one side is slightly off. I DO NOT CARE!!! I am just very thankful that my husband is willing to make things for me! He is so handy!

I also made a wreath for my friends shower I hosted this weekend. It was a little more time consuming than I thought it would be. I had to individually hot glue all the moss on to the straw wreath and that took FOREVER! Frank was done cutting the wood for the headboard before I was done and I had been working on it since Friday night. In the end it was well worth it. I LOVE how it turned out. I can use it for another friends shower in a couple months that I am cohosting and then again once baby Wilson is here. I will just change the tiny wood letters to match whatever monogram is for that baby! Thrify!

We went to church on Sunday and Frank snapped this pic of me in all my 27 week belly glory! Baby and mommy are doing great! He kicks and moves around constantly and I LOVE it. I am feeling more and more swollen as the weeks go by and work kicks my butt harder than it used to. But all and all I CANNOT complain! We are just hanging in there. I have pretty much finished his nursery besides a few little things so I will do a post on it later this week. I love sitting in there and dreaming about when he is FINALLY here. I know he will be here before we know it, but being preggers for ten months can get OLD!

The rest of the week I spent working and finalizing all the things I needed for my friend Katherine's shower. I was a little worried that we might get bad weather on Friday so I went ahead and got all the food and supplies I needed Friday AM after work. My sis and her bf came to stay with us Friday night. I was a little sleepy headed from not getting too much sleep after work Thursday night, but we had fun. We ate dinner and my sis helped me puff some pom poms for the shower, and put together the wish tree table I set up. Then we played a really fun game called Mad Gab. It is addicting and super funny when the person trying to guess the phrase is basically saying the phrase but has no clue. That was me a couple times! I love that my sister's bf lives here in Charleston and I get to see her when she visits him. I miss our crazy, wild beach days and nights out though. Oh the days!!!

Saturday, Frank and I headed to Columbia so I could get fitted for a dress I am having made for the wedding he is in next week (In Martha's Vineyard)! I feel pretty fat and blah these days so I wanted something to help me feel pretty. Annabelle Laroque is the lady that made my wedding reception dress and I know this one will be just as amazing! It is to the floor (to cover the cankles) and navy and cream. She is going to add a little sash to to snazz it up. I will be able to wear it to another wedding here in Charleston too. We also hit up Hobby Lobby (of course) and Frank got a wood sign and letters to paint for little baby Tyler. He is so cute. I didn't even buy anything. Now that is a SAD day! Once we headed home it was time for more baby shower planning and some relaxing.

Sunday was the BIG DAY! It was so fun to get to do this for Katherine and baby Tyler. It is her first baby and I am so excited for her and Michael. It has been super fun being preggers with her and my other bestie Anna (all with boys). KK is four weeks ahead of me and Anna is about 10 behind. I cannot wait for our little fellers to play together. I just love these two girls!

We had such a GREAT time. Anna made these AMAZING candy pops as favors for me! She is such a good little baker. She can do cupcakes and cakes too. She is just too cute. She is like my mini me (WWAAAYY mini). I just love her!

Too cute!!!


Allyson brought a cake that was so yummy and the CUTEST thing. Luckily we could just take the baby off the tope and didn't have to eat him! HA!

Alicia made a yummy alcohol punch and we also had a yummy blue non-alcohol punch that I made. They were both big hits. And Colleen made a super cute diaper cake that was perfect for KK. I also did little things for Tyler like a wish tree where you filled out a card with all your wishes for him as he grows up. We also signed a little Goodnight Moon book for him (KK's fav) and gave books instead of cards for little Ty! I decorated with a onsie garland on the mantle and gave KK 12 months worth of little onsie stickers to take Tyler's pics every month. That way she can see how he changes over his first year. I also had little cutouts with his name and candles all around...and his ultrasound pic. We also HAD to have pom poms. A party is not a party without those. It was all super fun and I could not have done it without Frank to help. He is so great when it comes to those things. He is such a great husband. Also, all the girls who came and helped make things...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! You are all the best! I know Katherine felt loved and that is the whole point! I can't wait to start planning little Anna's shower soon! It will have to be just as amazing! Here are a few pics from the party!



Wish tree and book signing station!



Desserts!

"See how I grow" garland

Mommy of honor!!!


Today I SLEPT ALL day!!! Now I am ready for two nights of work (I think). I have my glucose test this Thursday so I will do a post later this week with those results (hopefully good) and the babies room. Then I will be packing and working three nights before we leave for Boston next Tuesday. This should be our last CRAZY busy few weeks. Life is busy, but really, really GOOD too!!!

Officially the WORST blogger EVER!!!

So, It has been a LOONG time since I last blogged. My weekly pregnancy posts have falllen to the wayside! I promise I will be back on my A game next week. With our WONDERFUL Ireland vacation and getting ready to head out of town yet again September 6 (for Frank's best man's wedding) I have just been running around CRAZY. I worked three nights in a row as soon as we got home last week and was just pooped Sunday! I think I was still recovering Monday, and yesterday had a girls day with two wonderful preggo friends..Anna and Katherine. We went to Columbia and met up with Anna's mom (so sweet and fun). I headed over to Laroque to have a dress made by the wonderful Annabelle (she made my feather wedding dress) for the wedding coming up. I wanted to feel pretty at the wedding since I will be about 30 weeks preggo and Frank is the best man. I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like. I will be able to wear it to another wedding in September we have and could even get it cut short after the pregnancy to wear alot more. I think it is going to be SUPER cute. Last night when we got home (after driving home through an AWFUL thunderstorm) I got busy crafting on some of the goodies I picked up at Hobby Lobby in Columbia. After going on three years of living in Charleston I still can't believe there is NO HOBBY LOBBY!!! It is a crime! And Columbia has TWO!!! No fair! Especially now that the baby is coming and with the two showers I am throwing I just can't stand it. They already had Thanksgiving and Christmas goodies out and it made me so excited for the fall. I wish my buddy Jessica was with me to wonder around looking at all the fun stuff. Her and Nicole are coming to visit in January after the baby comes so we will HAVE to make a trip to hit up the after Christmas deals. That is when I get most all my holiday decor. Well, we had a GREAT day getting fitted, having lunch and shopping. We went to a really cute baby store and Anna found some things that really got her excited about decorating her sweet little ones nursery. I can't wait to see Anna and Katherine's nurseries soon. I think it is sooo fun that we are all three having boys together!!! Hopefully they will be the best of friends.

So on to the most AMAZING trip of our lives.....IRELAND!!!

We saw a bunch a BEAUTIFUL scenery, ate a TON (mostly I did), met some wonderful locals, wondered around little towns and drove down little windy roads (scared to death). We drove up mountains, walked up mountains, saw tons of cows and goats and sheep. Ate some more! Frank enjoyed some Guiness while I kept on eating. We just had the most amazing time. I could go on and on and on FOREVER!! I'll save you from that, but if anyone is thinking of taking a trip to Ireland we would recommend it 100%. We loved using Brendan Vacations (thanks Kerri) and it was just so fun to be able to drive around on our own and not have a strict schedule, but still have a final destination every night. We will NEVER forget this trip and hope to go back soon (maybe with our little boy and Frank's mom). It is just an amazing country with amazing people and history. The only negatives (and they were worth it) were our first car not having power steering and the flights. I just don't do as well on them being pregnant. I am glad I didn't know what I was getting myself into beforehand so I wasn't too worried (prob not good). I swelled up like a marshmallow!! It was national geographic like...ha!! Then poor Frank did not do well with the last hour of turbulance coming home and my head tried to explode with the weather change. Fun, fun!!! It was all worth the amazing adventure! We would do it again in a heartbeat!

Here are a few pictures from the 400 we took!

Me no likey!

But he sure does!

First purchase in Ireland for our little one!

Breathtaking!

Now this is what I am talking about!

My love!

These were a a lifesaver!! I know...SEXY!

My favorite dessert of all time!

So now we are home...getting back to the daily grind. The baby is doing GREAT! I go Friday for my 24 week app (a week late) and hopefully he is just a growing in there. He sure does like the kick his mommy! I felt him more in Ireland than ever. He must have LOVED all the food I gave him. We are just at 25 and half weeks and feeling great! I will do a 26 week post Monday and then promise to be a better blogger. I don't really know why I am so worried that people may have missed me. This blog is really just for me anyway. I am now on my way to meet little miss Kinley Ryan Babel.  My friend Tessa  and her husband Ryan just welcomed her yesterday so I am headed to visit her and then off for work. I cannot wait to get my hands on that sweet angel. Her daddy is going to need to lock her up in 15 years bc she is one of the few girls I know of so many preggo friends. Everyone is having BOYS! I know her mommy is so happy to have here here finally. I hope everyone has a GREAT rest of the week!