Nursery is complete!

Our little one's nursery is finally complete, and I am so pleased with the turn out.  We will add some more items once Baby makes his or her arrival, so that we can have a few gender specific items.
I have to give a huge thanks to everyone who helped it come together.  My mom, who purchased the changing table, and had it painted and complete right on time, and also gave me the idea for the nursery rhyme prints!  My sis, Melody, who hung up the baby clothes, and helped me decide where to put everything.  My sis, Kelsey, who gave me the adorable Geaux Tigers picture (especially since she roots for the VOLS).  Mostly though, Kevin, who has been sooooooo patient when I wanted to move things, while hanging pictures, and with all my obsessing making sure it is perfect!

Here are some pictures, hope you enjoy!

View from the door:

Changing table is an old side board found at an estate sale and painted:

Geaux Tigers!!  My old stuffed bunny rabbit, and baby's coming home outfit.

Bookshelf made from old doors.  I found it at a sale when a local store closed, they used it for display.

Artwork made from pages of a 1950s nursery rhyme book.  Cost $1 at a garage sale, just had them framed in ready made frames from Michael's.

Close up of crib, Bratt Decor Park Avenue crib, bedding is custom done by Ve at Louise's Fashions.  I fell in love with the Blue fabric and found the yellow to add some more color.

Glider and picture frame from Medina, pillow and table skirt also by Ve.  Two giraffe prints from mom, table from an estate sale, and lamp from Target.

Little duck toy was mine when I was little!

Closets by Closets in order, this was just a big empty space.  I love that everything will have a place.

Meet Dixie the Giraffe, Kevin insisted we get a big giraffe, this one is Melissa & Doug, found on Amazon.com

And finally a little peak at my growing cloth diaper stash!

34 weeks and a trip to NOLA

We just got back from a long weekend in New Orleans, and it was wonderful!  We arrived on Friday, and after resting a while from the drive, which was not too bad, but not fun this pregnant, we met up with friends for dinner.  We went to August , one of John Besh's restaurants, and it was amazing.  The food was so yummy!  After the long day I went to bed exhausted, and Kevin met up with friends for a while in the Quarter.
Saturday Kevin and I had some room service, and then we headed out to Magazine Street for some serious baby shopping.  We hit up Zuka Baby for some cloth diapers.  It was great to finally be able to shop for these in a store rather than online.  We found some great ones to complete our stash, and found a really cute wet bag.  The girls in the store were super nice and helpful, if you are ever down there, definitely pop in!
After that we went to Baby Bump Maternity  and bought a few more maternity clothes.  I swore I would not purchase any more, but I really underestimated how big I would get.  I finally bought some shorts, I am so glad I did because it is getting HOT here!  I bought 2 more casual dresses and one more dressy dress.  Between friends' baby showers, another party for us, and Easter I will get use out of these for sure, plus two of them will be great for after baby.  The service here was wonderful as well, and everything there was super cute.
We then stopped for lunch, and then did a little window shopping before heading back to Hotel Monteleone for some rest before the main event of our trip... Anna and Scott's wedding.  What a fun wedding!!  Outside in a pretty courtyard with candles all around.  Anna was beautiful,  and it was such a happy occasion.   They had a great band, and I wish I could have stayed till the very end, but I needed to get back and put my feet up!  My feet looked like sausages stuffed into super tiny heels. 
Sunday I woke up feeling refreshed, and we met the Picous and the Mileys across the street at Mr. B's for a wonderful brunch.  I was so excited they were able to drive over and see us.  Its kind of sad, and crazy that this was the last time we will all be able to do this so easily as next time we all see each other there will be 3 more little ones!
After brunch we walked over to Jackson Square to watch Ken finish the Half Ironman.  We spent the rest of the day at Pat O's and then hanging around Ken and Karen's condo before heading to Port of Call for the best cheeseburger ever!
We spent this morning eating beignets and strolling down Royal where we picked up some art work for the house.  We stopped in Baton Rouge for lunch at Sammy's and then finally headed home. 
I am so glad we made this trip, this was the last time we will really be able to just up and go somewhere for a long time! 
Some pics from the trip:

Leigh, Me & Lauren

Kevin, Joseph & Sutton

Me at 34 weeks in front of St. Louis Cathedral

Baby Shower

Last weekend was my baby shower, and it was wonderful!!  I had such a wonderful time, and my hostesses went above and beyond!  It was beautiful day, and I had so much fun visiting with everyone, and we received some great gifts for Baby Payne!  Thank you to all who came, and all of you who made it happen!  I think some pictures will do it better justice than I can in words.

Beautiful Decorations, by Leigh.  Yummy food including a Fruit Salad, BLT Dip, Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, Cheese Round, & Cookie Dough dip with Graham Crackers!!  All so yummy!!

Mimosas, wine, and tea, and the cutest cups!  They had the birds from the invitation and Baby Payne on them!  Loved them!!

Diaper Cake!!

Whoa!!  Baby presents Galore!  Notice the swing, from my lovely hostesses!!

And here are a few of me opening a couple of gifts:

Diaper Bag!! 

1 of 6 adorable onsies from Oh Little Rabbit on Etsy.  Thanks Mom!!

Uppababy Vista Stroller!!  Love it!!  I was so surprised, Kevin's parents and my mom got it for us! 

Kevin's Aunt Joan, his grandmother, Mamaw Mac, and his mom, Brenda (Gran).

Hostesses!  Trisha, Leigh, me, Virginia, Rachel, and Nancy Jane.  Best friends a girl can ask for!

My mom, Kelsey, me and Melody.  Who would have thought Mel would be in the hospital a few hours later.  Glad to report she is recovering well and should be discharged today!!

Love this shot!!

Thank you to everyone who made this such a special day!!  I can't wait for Baby Payne to meet all these wonderful people!



31 weeks!

So its been a while.  I am 31 weeks and 4 days today. I have been feeling pretty blah since hitting the 3rd trimester, but I am starting to feel a little better.  I guess that is good since I hear the last month can be a bitch.  I'll spare you the woe is me list of ailments I have been expereincing.  No one needs to hear me whine (thought I am sure many of you have). 

Everything with baby is going well, I am up to appointments every two weeks now, and measuring right on track for my due date.  Baby has been doing lots of moving and streching lately, which is fun, excpet when I am trying to sleep.

Here is a picture from last Saturday at 30 Weeks 5 days: