Monday, January 21, 2013

Kind and Generous



Steve's sleeping soundly snoring loudly beside me, baby girl's kicking away (she busts out the extra fancy moves after hours), there's a fluffy at the end of the bed and I'm feeling cozy and content.
Last week was a busy one.  Every night was a late one.
It feels good to be in bed next to Steve (even if he's snoring like a beast and hoggin' the covers). 


I love opening a "new post" page - looking back on the past few days - reviewing and reflecting.

Thursday...

We had another doctor's appointment (30 and a half weeks).  Baby girl is measuring exactly where she should be - to the day.  The nurse found her heartbeat almost instantly this time.  She put the volume up to the max for us - the loudest we've ever heard that sweet sound - music to our ears.  As my doctor measured and pressed on my belly, baby girl gave her about ten giant kicks in a row.  It was adorable. 
***

I got back in the kitchen again...a little intimidated this time.  Because I just wing it mostly.  I really need to try a few recipes.

I made pumpkin gnocchi (okay, Wegmans did) and sauteed chicken with garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg and cream.
A bit fall-ish, but I could eat pumpkin "stuff" any day. 
Steve makes awesome caramelized brussel sprouts.  So, I wanted to give em' a whirl for the side dish.
 




Everything turned out great! Steve didn't gag and asked for seconds.  And the whole house smelled like fall.
Definitely will make this again!




Friday night...

My mom and I went to see my brother, Nicholas, play at one of his new spots.
He sounded fabulous.



And the grub wasn't too shabby either. 



That couple needed to desperately get a room!
***


"Kind and Generous" - Natalie Merchant


Saturday...
where the title of this post comes in


Steve and I woke up and got ready to go over to Jessica and Ed's.  We all had a girls' day/boys' day planned since last month.  When we arrived and Jessica answered the door, the expression on her face made me ask if everything was okay. 
She told me to come in and as I peered inside, my eyes met with her dining room wall... 





and then with these beautiful girls...



And I screamed.



And I cried hard.



They had a special celebration day planned for baby girl and I.
I was SO surprised.  Like, truly, had not even the slightest clue...and that doesn't happen often.
I usually peck info out of Steve or he accidentally spills the beans.  He did a fantastic job at keeping his mouth shut.  And my friends...
They blew me away with their thoughtfulness. 
I was so touched and so excited to spend the day with them.




Jessica makes the prettiest baby bouquets...filling them with silk flowers and "flowers" made with baby pieces - onesies, socks, bibs...
I've had her make a few for friends in the past and always dreamed of what my baby bouquet would look like someday...
It was perfect.   
And went in the nursery as soon as I got home.


The guys headed back to our place.  Notice Ed, with his XBOX in hand.


We headed downtown for lunch.  They made reservations at one of my favorite restaurants.
Sitting there, surrounded by so much love, I thought to myself how damn blessed I am...how we should all get together more often...how these girls, who all came into my life at different times, all mean so much to me, all know me so well
 and all more than just get along...we're all friends. 




We sat for a couple hours...sharing stories.  Some very loud and what some would consider a little out of line for lunchtime kinda stories.  But come on, when you're talking about labor and your friends are sharing birth experiences, the "v" word is gonna come out of your my mouth more times than not...and I may say it at the top of my lungs three or four hundred thousand times.  That's what girlfriend dates are about...laughing your ass off and losing track of time.  We all laughed so incredibly much that day.  It felt so good.






Back to Jessica's for dessert...


  


Everything was so stinkin' cute!  Fun sodas, hot chocolate, coffee, tea...
Sweet little tea cups - Kim said it best - "I don't think I've ever drank out of one of these things in my life!" HA!




 

Yummy and magical red velvet cupcakes. 
 I may have inhaled a red feather while sucking the icing out of the end of the straw.




They had another surprise for me. 



I had to wear the wrapping.  It was too awesome not to.





So very generous...

My breast pump

 You know this only led to more hilarious and fun stories!!

 See...



 Baby girl was movin' and shakin' after a lunch of butternut squash soup, salad, a cajun chicken sandwich, and that amazing dessert medley.  Everyone wanted to feel her kicks.
So, I got down on the floor...seemed like the logical thing to do. :)
Kim played baby girl some Bruno Mars and we watched her give a few kicks.









I love these ladies so much.  
As I've mentioned - it's all been sinking in so deeply lately.
Saturday, it sunk even deeper.
And I'm so very thankful for their kindness, generosity and most of all,
their love.
<3





***

Sunday morning, I woke up and cleaned a few offices - thinking about everything - laughing to myself, shedding a few happy tears and smiling through my pregnant lady grunts and groans that come with bending these days...

I say it often, but it's never enough...


Thank you. <3

I hope everyone's week is off to a beautiful start!
I'll see ya later this week.



Thankful Lovin'...Always,


35 comments:

Kara and Mary said...

What wonderful friends! I absolutely love the picture of you crying and Steve photo bombing the background. Priceless!!

Angela said...

yay! How fun! What an awesome group of girls you have!!!! what an adorable little party, I love everything from the decorations, to the.cupcakes, to you lying on the floor to show off some kicks! you'll remember that day forever! I'm so happy for you mama :) have a.great week!

Angela said...

yay! How fun! What an awesome group of girls you have!!!! what an adorable little party, I love everything from the decorations, to the.cupcakes, to you lying on the floor to show off some kicks! you'll remember that day forever! I'm so happy for you mama :) have a.great week!

Unknown said...

:) wow! You're getting closer and closer. It amazes me how fast OTHER lady's pregnancies go by...lol! I cannot cannot cannot wait to "meet" her:). You have amazing friends ...so happy you had that special day, Maria. Xx.

Jenny said...

Aw, what awesome friends you have! It sounds (and looks) like it was the perfect day of celebration. Congrats on 30 weeks!

Stephanie said...

How sweet of your friends! Everything.g looked so bright and happy -- how perfect! Umm, the dinner you made looks AMAZING. I've never had brussel sprouts in my life - but now I feel like I need to!
Hope you're having a fantastic day, sweets! <3

Unknown said...

How awesome!!!! What a great bunch of friends, you are so blessed!

And I'm officially starving looking at all the food. :)

Have a great week, Maria! Xoxoxox

lovejoy_31 said...

Ok Maria! I am crying at work AGAIN. Love that you have such good friends who regularly spoil you and baby girl. So much love to you, Steve and baby girl.

xoxo,
Joy

waitingforarainbow said...

I love how you scream and cry and cackle laugh so much now. You are truly blessed, and your life is filled with so much love! I'm always in awe of how creative Jessica is. Everything is so beautiful!
Oh and I laughed at the xbox picture... of course.
Lotsa love!
Heather

Unknown said...

What a wonderful surprise for you Maria! You have lovely friends. Beautiful pictures. Wow! All the goodies look so yummy. I am feeling hungry. It is approaching lunch time in Jamaica and I could be having some right now!:)I am glad you were able to go out and celebrate this special moment with your friends. Continue to have good times Maria. I am so happy for you. Lots of Love, Friendship and Best Wishes to you, Steve and Beano!

JP said...

What a wonderful surprise! I love that Steve didn't spill the beans and you were completely shocked. Good friends make life grand! Have a wonderful week!

Heather said...

You have the sweetest friends!!! (although, it's not really surprising seeing how you are the sweetest person ever!) Love the baby bouquet! She should sell them on etsy. :)

Maria said...

I think you might have the craftiest cutest friends in the world. I would have offered up ice water in dixie cups and maybe some store bought cookies. LOL Martha Stewart has nothing on you guys! Sending tons of love!

Kari said...

This made me all teary eyed!! Baby girl is so loved already, mama! :)

Hope you're doing well! We need to have a little catch up session soon!

xoxo

Rebecca said...

What a great surprise! You are a lucky girl! Yum! Red velvet.

Tami said...

Gnocchi is one of my all time favorite meals.

Your friends are the BEST! What a nice surprise they did for you. The decorations were fabulous. It sure looks like you had a lovely day.

Brittany said...

Oh my gosh...totally teary eyed over here! How incredibly thoughtful of Jessica and your girlfriends to plan such a sweet day! Those cupcakes are the CUTEST. And you got a breastpump?! That's amazing!! I'm borrowing one from my sis in law and it's proving to be a lifesaver...you're gonna love yours! Pumpkin gnocchi? Mmmmm makes me wish it were fall all over again! I'm with you though, I could eat pumpkin stuff year round. In fact, no joke, there's a pumpkin pie in the oven right now. I'm obsessed. I have a problem. Ha! Hope you and baby girl are having a GREAT week! Btw, I can't wait to find out her name :). I know it's going to be beautiful!!
xoxo, Britt and Bear

Jodi said...

What sweet ladies. I am with others that those post made mea tax teary too. Looks like a great few days indeed.. You deserve the greatest :)

Faith said...

So sweet! Your friends did amazing! You can see in the pictures how touched you were!

I'll Love You Forever said...

Maria, you have some sweet amazing friends. That was so fun to see via pictures. You are so beautiful. I am glad that things are going so well!
Xoxo

M said...

Awww, what an awesome party...so sweet! Love the breast pump picture hahha!

So hard to believe that you are in the home stretch now. Only a few more weeks and baby girl will be here!!

Ashley said...

What an amazing surprise for you!! Everything looks so wonderful and you can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into planning that. What a lucky girl you are. :) Glad my dinner is almost ready because I swear I am always hungry after reading your posts because there is always lots of yummy food pictures!

Hope you are having a great week!

Olivia said...

You have some great friends and you obviously mean a lot to them :)

So glad you had an awesome time!!
Liv

Jessica White said...

How blessed both you and your baby girl are to be surrounded by so many wonderful loving women.

Jessica White said...

How blessed both you and your baby girl are to be surrounded by so many wonderful loving women.

Chandra said...

Gotta love a group of girls who can throw an amazing party...not to mention those cupcakes! And all the other food you enjoyed! Yes, I'm hungry and wish I had a piece of that chicken! New to your blog and glad to have found your creative spot. All the best to you and the new baby;)

Chandra
astylishlittlelady.com

LOVE MELISSA:) said...

You have the most awesome friends and this looks like a fantastic celebration. YOu deserve all the happiness and I was just thinking in two months, you will have a baby!!! AWWWW~~~~~~ XOXOX

waitingforarainbow said...

When I saw the phone on your belly, I thought you guys were doing the "baby beat" app, where you can listen to your baby's heartbeat! I've had a few friends say they did it, but you can only do it with iPhone I guess? Pfft. iPhone beats my galaxy s3 again!
I know I already commented on this post.. (I'm such a stalker!)
But I have been meaning to comment about that lol. Have you heard of this crazy app? It can't be real.

I'm in awe of your perfect baby belly by the way. Mine was hairy, itchy, stretch marked, and gross.
I am just dying to see that beautiful baby girl!!

Heather Nelsen said...

So so SWEET!!! How great to be surprised with a baby shower by all of your sweet friends!! Love that you got to experience those sweet memories. :) The countdown in on- less than 10 weeks!!!!!

Have a great week, Maria!!

Heather

Miki said...

Awe! That so sweet of your friends! ;D And I need to try pumpkin gnocchi! Sounds yummy!

Unknown said...

you really have the sweetest besties ever. your so lucky to have so many good friends;) cant believe how close you are getting. everytime i catch up on your blog i am amazed at your growing belly and makes me so happy for you.

V said...


Hey lady :)
I'm just doing some catch up reading! You look amazing and I hope everything is going well with baby girl <3 I've been thinking about you lately, your due date is getting so close!
That was so sweet of your friends! <3 it looks like you had a great time :)
oxo V

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