Celebrating Wes & Jen

My brother Wesley and long-time love Jennifer are getting married soon- April 2nd!- and we've had fun getting ready with them. We're all four in the wedding- five of us if you include my sweet baby girl in the belly bump! You'll definitely notice her under that bridesmaid's dress at 7 months baked!

Recently my parent's threw a great anniversary party for them. It was a great mix of their friends, my parent's friends, people we've known over the years. Since Wes & Jen dated for 10 years there are a lot of people that have been with them over the course of their relationship, and are so excited for them as they take this wonderful, lasting step together!

Perfect setting

Happy couple

Me & my little love- he's been sporting a "Tom Brady" look lately as he hates haircuts so we just haven't taken him to get one. I recently got a little off those ears, but I think we're going to have to suffer thru a real cut soon!

Some of Wes's friends were really digging his high school senior pic and thought they could look tough like him!

Wes's best man found out what he'd be wearing this night and thought it'd be funny if they all showed up in the same... very cute matchy-matchy, guys!

Jen with her brother Nicholas and grandfather Pep.


More celebrating below!

Bridal Shower

This past weekend I threw a bridal shower for Jen, with Aunt Laura's help. It was a sweet time where women of all ages and points from Jen's life came to celebrate this upcoming marriage and show her their love and support. It was a fun afternoon, Jen and Wes were showered with many lovely things, and we are all now in "wedding mode" for the main event in less than a month!

Weekend with the Brooms

We had a great weekend visit from some of our dearest friends, Dave & Laura Broom. It was short but very sweet. We showed them some of the highlights of Tampa, including a boat ride, a cuban sandwich, playing in the sand and dinner at the beach.

Georgia took these group pics for us- not bad for a not-quite-4-year old! A little cropping and they were blog-ready!

We got to see baby Charlotte snuggled up in Laura's baby belly, due just one month before our own baby girl. It's always so neat to share this special time of pregnancy with a close friend, as I've gotten to do each time.

This is Georgia on the boat- or Georgia most anywhere! This girl loves to color!!

This is what I call the "future Brooms pic"- playing in the surf with their own little girl soon! We are so excited for them!

I had to share these next 2 pics b/c I knew Dave & Laura would get a kick out of them- my kids LOVE the beach, so much so that they cover themselves in it! They were literally throwing the sand into the air above their heads and watching it rain down on each other- that is sand in the pic below, not a grainy picture! What a couple of messes!!

Thanks for coming to see us, Brooms! We love and miss you guys and had so much fun!

Pink or Blue?

We had our family over tonight to find out if Hippo 3 is a little boy or girl!

Larry and I went to the ultrasound yesterday, and Baby was doing great- all healthy and whole. As we did with Lincoln, we had the ultrasound tech write the sex on a card and we opened it later- this time we went out to dinner, kidless!, and opened it together. It's a special moment!

We made all the family wait a day to find out and they came over for dessert. Well, the in-town family came over and we had the Hipps in Birmingham on speakerphone and videochat! And, as they say, the secret was in the cake...

Ready....

Ta-da!!

It's a GIRL!!!

Shock and awe all around! I think we were all, including Larry & I, expecting a boy for some reason. But God has other plans! Bring on more dresses and bows!!

It was a relief in terms of the cake- strawberry cake is much more appealing than blue cake!

I used this strawberry cake recipe and it was yummy- very moist and strawberryious. (I know- I made that up)

I said we were ALL expecting a boy- I misspoke. Georgia has been unwavering in her belief that this baby is a girl. Since she has understood that there is a baby in mommy's tummy, she's declared it a girl- we shoulda listened! :)

The three girls... (Wow- that's weird to say!)

I think Lincoln is finally understanding what is happening to him- sandwiched between two sisters, and I'm not sure he's as excited about it! ;) Don't worry buddy- daddy's already planning your guy escapes!

I'm 20 weeks now- over half way there, and feeling good! I honestly focus on this pregnancy a lot less than I have the previous ones- big brother and sister keep me otherwise occupied! But physically I feel good- I'm hungry a lot and still get tired pretty easy, but that's life! My belly is starting to be noticeable because people are saying things like, "wow- look at that belly!" I remind myself it's a baby!!It's supposed to look like this! ;) I still find it amazing, incredible, awe-inspiring and humbling when I think of the miracle God is performing in me right now, shaping and forming this precious child. I thank Him for His goodness and mercy everyday!

Cookies by Georgia