dinner table at a late summer noble swine.

table welcoming guests and nice paper for them to write encouraging notes to me

scandinavian-inspired balsa wood hearts that my mother and i made as gifts to the women

tulips (yay spring!) with a photo of my brother and i and my grandpa lantz’s old cowboy boots

price is right game about the cost of baby items.

mimosas (for them) and fruit juices for all.

erica made the wine glass tags out of trinkets from my mother’s junk jewelry box.

i love how my mother always has fresh flowers around the house. once spring really comes, the flowers will be from her own yard.

chicky and i could not get enough of each other.

grandma driver. how glorious she is!

auntie (my mother’s aunt) and aunt debbi

me, egg souffle, and michelle

guess who’s who!

jana (will be giving birth to little boy about 3 weeks after me!) and cindy

my own personal baker, alison. see the cupcakes below (she also did our wedding cake!)

chicky picked out the presents and helped me open them. how patient she was for a three-year old.

anna stopped by a little later for some lazy time on the couch and yoga demonstrations.

thanks to all the amazing women who came out to little bean’s celebration and showered us with wisdom, encouragement, and items to make sure little bean is taken care of. we love you!

garden 2011

for the second half of my spring break, i sprung up to minnesota to see my family. the days were filled with one epic ikea run, dogwood coffee, arts and crafts, a baby shower, and good time spent with some very amazing women.

my grandma driver was in town from oregon and this was a HUGE surprise to me. she bought a last-minute plane tickets and surprised me at the airport. i lost it. completely lost it. how loved i am by her and how special to have her with me to celebrate the little bean. she has 20-some other grandkids so time with her is really precious since i know she’s got a lot of other people to love!

my mother and i also had some really great time together. she’s been so wonderful to talk to re: ideas for the little bean: baby items needed (and not needed), birth plans, parenting techniques, etc. she’s the most amazing woman ever and i cannot wait to emulate her large love and generosity with my little one.

this trip was also a really special time with my sister(in-law), erica. erica and i had a girls’ night over pizza, baby clothes and grey’s anatomy, at her house. she’s been extremely instrumental in guiding me through the ups and downs of pregnancy and i admire her honesty with all things baby, marriage, and family related. i really lucked out in the in-law department. she’s my best friend.

last but not least, chicky. this little girl has stolen my heart. we really clicked this trip: reading books, telling stories, playing with my make-up (though my application of it just made her look like she had a black eye). she is brilliant, precocious, hilarious, and oh-so loved.