St. Simons Island and a Tour of Homes

My mom, our friend Patti, and I set out for St. Simons early on Friday morning! We spent the day tooling around the island shopping and dining, and were excited to stop into Two Friends and Two Friends Too since the owner is a Perry gal. They have absolutely adorable things! 

We really could not have asked for a more beautiful weekend! The weather was absolutely perfect! And we loved driving around the island seeing the blooming azaleas, the lush palmettos, and the charming oak trees at every turn.  

Here's Mom and Patti outside of Two Friends

And Patti and I with the local produce at an antique shop and market 

We had dinner at Halyard's on Friday night - so delicious! It was a fun girls' night out! 

Saturday was spent on the Christ Church Tour of Homes. Mom and Patti had done the tour before, and I was tickled to be able to go this year! If you have a chance to go in 2014, you should! 

There were homes located on both St. Simons and Sea Island. We began our morning (with a few hundred other ladies) on Sea Island....it was a glorious Spring day! We ran into a few friends along the way and loved seeing the different design styles as well as locations of these houses - views of the march, the ocean, and live oaks.

This is the historic and charming Christ Church

One of the homes was located right on the ocean on Sea Island - the grounds were amazing! And we took advantage of the photo op!

Hope you all had a great weekend too! 

Awesome Friends, a Road Trip, and Wedding Plans

I wanted to share a few peeks at the pics recently taken of my girlfriends and me. The crazy-talented Genya of VUE photography has shot several of my friends' weddings, and was so sweet to take a few photos of us girls. It happened to be the coldest and windiest day in Atlanta yet, but I do think there are some fun pics regardless of how cold we were! And of course, a few funny shots too!

I love these girls so much! And with 3 babies on the way to join the two little ones we've already got, it's going to be a busy group! Meredith and Johnathan's precious little David hung with us girls for the morning, as did Glenn's adorable 4 year old, Luke.

After braving the elements, we were all so happy to be out of the wind with a hot drink!

My mom and I spent Thursday in Atlanta at Scott's followed by Identity Thief at Cine Bistro...so funny! On Friday morning, we hit the road heading to Kentucky to visit my Aunt Bren and our other cousins. Preggie wanted Krystal on the way. ;)

And we loved staying at my Aunt Bren's beautiful house! 

In addition to a visit, we were there to help plan my cousin Katie's wedding...taking place in September. She's so excited to marry her prince, and is sweet enough to ask me to help plan! I am thrilled....we covered the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, music, menus, and more!

The wedding ceremony and reception will take place at the family farm - a gorgeous locale with horses, ponds, and rolling hills! 

That's me and Katie in front of an old Amish wagon they happened to have in one of the barns - I got so excited to use it for the wedding! 

Hope y'all had a nice weekend! 

Babies Times Three

Don't worry, there's no early April Fool's - I'm not having triplets. BUT, my best friends did give me and our two other expectant mommies a triple baby shower this past weekend! It was a wonderful morning spent with our girlfriends and moms, all in preparation for these three babies that will be here soon! 

The girls went above and beyond to make it a special morning for me and Baby Boy Griffin, Hollie and Baby Boy Hill, and for Meghan and Baby Girl Wages. They're the best friends you could ever ask for! I was bad and didn't take any pictures, but

Jill has a great post on the shower here, 

and Hollie has a great one too. 

I am 30 Weeks, 3 days today! In the 3rd trimester, and only 67 days to go!

The little guy is about the size of an eggplant and is just at 3 lbs. Fortunately, he's very active, but only during the day time..he hasn't been keeping mommy awake at night - yet! :) 

Happy Thursday! 

Off to Scott's today!

Special Weekend

We spent the weekend in Atlanta. It was fun to play in the big city for a few days. On Thursday, my mom met me at the flower shop - she'd come up for the long weekend to help me prepare for a rehearsal dinner and wedding that I'd be not only attending but doing the florals for! I don't know what I'd do without her! 

She and I had a ball on Thursday arranging and designing flower arrangements and compositions, and even had my sister Abbye put to work! 

Later that night, we got to have dinner with Brince and Laura Lyn too! 

Friday was spent having lunch with friends before delivering the flowers to Piedmont Park's Magnolia Hall for the rehearsal dinner for my and David's dear friends Sydney and Gray. Sydney's family is quite large, and I am fortunate enough to know most of them...some of which are really good friends! Sydney's cousin's wife, Ashley happens to be one, and she and I are due to have our babies 4 days apart! She's having a baby girl, and we are excited to have our kids grow up together. :)

Saturday was the usual wedding frenzy with installing the wedding reception decor and getting the bouquets and such to the bride. I was so happy to see her before her walk down the aisle.

Her dress was absolutely stunning - perfect on her. She looked incredible!

Here she is with her sisters Colby and Ansley - who also happen to be great friends of mine too! 

Loved their eggplant dresses.

On Sunday, our little baby boy was honored with a Griffin family baby shower along with the other Griffin baby on the way, David's cousin Kathryn's little girl - held at the Griffin condo. As I've mentioned before, Kathryn and I are due 2 days apart in May - isn't that just so fun? 

David and Kathryn's Aunt Vicky hosted a lovely, special baby brunch for the expectant parents. Pink and Blue were the colors of the morning. We were surrounded by our family and so much love! 

Vicky knows my love for anything chinois - the plates were gorgeous! And baby's breath graced the centerpieces. Chevron paper cups held a favor of Hershey's kisses while the bright blue napkins hinted at a soon-to-be stork's arrival. 

The bar held vintage baby prints with honeycomb balls and tiers of both chocolate and coconut pies. They were divine!

My sweet mother in law had her antique pram polished and shined for baby boy Griffin. I really can not find the words to say how much I love this special gift. It's just gorgeous - and happens to be the same blue in baby boy's nursery bedding and chest. 

There were lots of gifts to open from darling family and friends for baby girl Stempler and baby boy Griffin! 

I felt so lucky to have all the aunts there! Aunt Abbye, Aunt Jill, and Aunt D...and one special grandmother to be - my mom!

Here's the soon to be Aunt Sally and Uncle James with the other mommy, Kathryn and her husband Justin.

Uncle Grady, Aunt Vicky and Pammy prepared the most delicious brunch for us all...Pammy's divine homemade biscuits, bacon, fruit, and Grady's egg strata...it was wonderful!!! 

David and I felt so loved {and spoiled too!} with all the precious gifts for our little guy.

It was so fun to open all those blue things! 

And so fun to have Kathryn open all of her pink things too! 

We got matching hooded towels for the bambinos - one in pink and one in blue!

David's Aunt Jane and Uncle Chris even found baby boy a Firehouse outfit! How precious! 

And here we are with the soon to be new grandparents - what a lucky little guy to have these as grands! 

It was a wonderful day with family! Feeling more and more ready to meet our little fellow every day!

28 weeks

This past Monday I hit the 28 week mark! 

Officially in the 3rd trimester! Yikes!

Where did the past 7 months go? 

Now, our little guy has grown to about 2.5 lbs. He's kicking and moving up a storm, and I am one thankful mommy for each and every little movement. He loves when David puts his hand over my tummy, and always responds by moving a lot!

His nursery is coming along, and I can't wait to show you pictures soon!

A {Love}ly week

This past week was so fun! 

It began with Monday in my grandmother's kitchen with my Mom, aunt Jill, and Abbye making fudge. I had been home for a long weekend and got to be the preggie taste tester! :) Every bite was divine! And I was already anticipating my Valentine's package in the mail once the fudge had set. 

Prior to Valentine's Day, David and I had been enjoying a coffee pie (top) and amazing strawberry cream cheese pie tarts (bottom) from my friend Amanda at Buttermilk Pie Company. She makes wonderful pies, and is so stinkin' sweet! She's got a great list of pies she makes, so contact her for her menu. They make fantastic gifts too!

Last week, I found this pic of me and my Valentine from 11 years ago and wanted to share...time flies when you're in love and having fun! 

On Wednesday, David surprised me with a gorgeous pink hydrangea and roses - we decided to go out the night before Vday and he had made a reservation at Antebellum - a new restaurant in Flowery Branch. It was wonderful! There was live music and a fantastic menu - we can't wait to go back. 

Our vday fudge arrived in time for an early treat too! 

We had planned to stay at home for the weekend, and I thought a post-Valentine's dinner party with friends was in order! Will have more pics of the pretty table up on my other blog later today. 

On Friday night, Brince and Laura Lyn came into town. We enjoyed a late dinner and catching up with them over pizza at Little Italy! 

David recently bought an assault rifle a very intense pellet gun to help with our squirrel and crow issue. A little Saturday morning target practice was in order before the boys left LL and I to shoot skeet. Us gals had a fun morning of shopping around Gainesville! 

Later in the afternoon, the Hills and Smithsons joined us! I had these furs in my cedar closet - and we couldn't resist a fun picture of the ladies all bundled up! 

And for dinner, our friends Caroline and Zach along with Callie and Brian joined us too! It was a nice night laughing and catching up with friends. I had asked the girls to bring their wedding pictures which was so fun! While the boys were playing corn hole, we had so much fun looking at each other's wedding albums, engagement pics, and wedding videos!

Hope you all had a fantastic Valentine's Day and weekend! 

XOXOXOX

Lately

Sorry I've been slack about blogging lately. It's certainly not because we haven't been busy! :)

David and I recently attended a Stock the Bar party for our friends Sydney and Gray. They're getting married at the the end of February. This is me with Sydney, the bride, on the left, her sister Ansley, and sister Colby on the right. Truly, I feel like these girls are my sisters! I am so excited and honored to be doing the flowers and decor for Sydney and Gray's rehearsal dinner and wedding reception. I'm going to be busy, but I am so looking forward to it! 

And this past weekend we had the best time spending it with our nephew Ben! 

We got to see his last basketball on Saturday morning and see the "Ninjas" accept their trophies for  a season well played!  

I left David and Ben doing boy stuff so I could attend David's cousin Kathryn's baby shower at her mother's home. Kathryn and I are due two days apart - how sweet to have cousins so close in age! She's having a girl, Baby Morgan, and of course we're expecting our baby boy! 

The shower was so pretty, the food was delicious, and I loved seeing Kathryn open all of those girly gifts! 

David and I gave Ben a sleeping bag and lantern for Christmas, and more "camping" gear for his birthday. We wanted him to come and do boy things all weekend! I think we succeeded! 

Ben has always loved our kitty Sandy, and she was very sweet while he picked her up over and over. ;) 

David and Ben "camped" on the boat under the boat cover on Saturday - there were a few snow flurries so they felt like they were really roughing it for an hour or so! 

Saturday night we enjoyed Mellow Mushroom - the little guy was hungry - he almost ate a whole pizza! After a bath and the boys making our fort, we settled in to watch Hugo. The movie was precious but none of us made it to the end - we were pooped! 

Our Sunday was spent having lunch with Amanda, a little Downton Abbey down time for this aunt and uncle, and watching the super bowl Beyonce with friends. 

Hope you all had a fun and safe weekend too!