Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2011

15 week update & OTW

Greetings! Sorry for the late-week post this time! Short work weeks always seem to throw me for a loop...

I hope that everybody had a great Labor Day weekend! We were just productive enough to not feel guilty about relaxing on Labor Day :) Saturday was filled with FOOTBALL as the new season begun. Our Auburn Tigers left much to be desired, but they were able to pull off a W! JD's "hetero-life mate", Jason, paid us a surprise visit on Saturday & spent the weekend with us! Jason is currently doing Marine Reserve Officer training up in Virginia, so we don't get to see him as much as we'd like! Sunday JD & I continued our search for nursery furniture for Baby Baker. I think that we finally found what we are looking for - now we just need to get the rest of the nursery / house ready before we can bring it home!

This weekend, JD's mom & dad are coming up to kick off "work week" - we are hoping to get a number of things done before next Sunday, including cleaning out & painting the nursery! BUT - we have lots to do before we can get that started, so we'll have to see!

Speaking of baby, we hit the 15 week mark last weekend!! Here is this week's update:

Your Pregnancy: Week 15 (www.parentsconnect.com)
What You're Thinking:

"Why does this feel like it's going so fast and yet so slow all at the same time?" (A-men!!)
Your energy may have returned but that doesn't mean you should be hitting the clubs until 4:00 AM every night. With a baby growing inside you, sleep is one thing that you can't go without. Try these tricks to ensure you beat up the sheets.

If your growing belly is getting in the way of a good night's sleep, surround yourself with pillows to make for an extra-comfy nest effect. Sometimes room temperature can affect sleep, so make sure that your air conditioner is cranked up if you're feeling too hot.

Some sleeping positions are more comfortable than others for pregnant woman, like the "I'm just going to pass out on the La-Z-Boy" position. And get comfy sleeping on your left side while you're preggers: It's what the docs recommend to keep the blood flowing full steam ahead between you and the tadpole.



Your Baby
Although many women don't start feeling the baby move until the 17th week (or later), your baby has been having his own party in the amniotic sac he calls home. If you feel a little flutter in your belly this week, don't discount it as gas or hunger. It could be your babe banging around. Here's more to look forward to:

Baby's head is now resting on his well-formed neck instead of directly on his shoulders like Igor. He's beginning to grow eyebrows and eyelashes this week. (All the better to give you that "Mom, you're crazy" look when he's a teenager.) The hair on the head also begins to grow and, with some creative styling, you'll be able to turn those locks into a Maddox Jolie-Pitt faux-hawk some day.

Although baby's eyes are sealed shut, he's now able to sense light. His eyes and ears finally look like real baby features now. As your baby practices sucking and swallowing actions, he may actually hiccup. You'll know he's had one too many shots of amniotic fluid by the steady thump-thump you feel.

Over the next month, baby will grow faster than ever, so make sure you load up on enough nutritious food and fluids to support his growth. Your baby now measures nearly 4 inches, about the size of a Kit Kat "finger" (regular-size, not the Big one you get at the movies), and weighs almost 2 ounces.





Tomorrow is our sweet puppy Luna's 4th birthday! To celebrate, her *thoughtful* brother Benny planned a small family birthday party. People in attendance will be: Luna, Benny, Aja, me, JD, Katie, Dwain, Tanner, Sadie, Johnny, Pam, & Wilson. Benny was in charge of sending out the "e-vite" invitations, so I promised I would help by making a dog-friendly birthday cake for all of the pups to enjoy! I'll let you dog lovers out there know how it turns out :)

Hope that everybody has a great weekend & enjoys this autumn-like weather!!

War Eagle!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Growing Old...

Within a 10 day period, I found my first grey hair {gasp!} & had to get these....



So far, 27 has been a rough year for this gal.

over. the. weekend.

This was a pretty nice weekend for the Bakers...

Friday we went to Big Blue Bagel to see JD & the Man perform! My sweet friends {Katie, Tonya, & Leah} came to keep my company! We even made friends with the bartender, Todd.

Saturday morning we got to catch up & hear all about Katie's recent vacay to Puerto Rico with her boo Dwain! {Katie B spent the night at our house Friday night :)} WOW. After hearing her talk about their trip, I am so ready for a beautiful, relaxing, tropical vacation! Her pictures are incredible - check them out!

I also made a cake for JD's birthday {coming up this Wednesday} - I saw the recipe in last month's Southern Living magazine & knew that it was something I had to try: Key Lime Pound Cake! Here's the cake when it came out of the oven, but before I poured the glaze over the top:


...and here's the picture from Southern Living:



Yumm-O!!

Saturday afternoon we grabbed a little lunch in Crestline & then got ready to meet up with the Knechts for the Boil in the Hood crawfish boil!!

Sunday was really chill around the house - JD didn't have to work at Mellow, so we had the whole day to do whatever we wanted. JD ended up brewing a new batch of beer & bottling another one (a CERVEZA) that we'll serve at supper club this month! I hosed off all of the patio furniture & started to spray paint the wicker furniture. Keeping it the same color, but just patching up some chipped places from where we painted it last summer.

There was also a lot of this going on this weekend:





We are looking forward to next weekend when we start our big house projects!!! JD's sweet parents are coming up to help us - I'll post progress pictures soon!

Friday, February 25, 2011

catching up

Hi all - things have been busy around the Baker house, so I haven't had a chance to post lately {oops...}

Since my last post, I helped to host a wedding shower for my good friend, Leigh Ciarkowski! Leigh & I met in our bunco group in 2009 & we quickly bonded over our mutual love for dogs! Leigh & her future hubby have 3 dogs: Bettis, Maggie, & Peanut. Here are a couple of shots from the wedding shower, which was held at Leigh's friends' BEAUTIFUL home in Avondale - please note the LOVELY cake that our friend Emily made special for Leigh (www.primecakes.com):







After Leigh's shower, JD & I went out to celebrate {valentine's day} with dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse! JD stumbled upon a gift card at work & when nobody claimed it, we thought it must be fate! Dinner was lovely & we had fun getting all gussied up for a night out!



Over the weekend we tried to spend as much time outdoors in this beautiful spring-like weather as possible! I met some friends from the Phi Mu Alum group for an officers' brunch on Saturday while JD stayed home to bottle some more home brew! Sunday we palled around with our friends, Liz & Richard, after their return from their Las Vegas vacation! The group indulged in lots of al fresco drinking, per the usual...

This past Wednesday we celebrated my 27th birthday!! Sweet JD was so excited to give me my presents bright & early that morning! My most favorite was a special edition of the book The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. The thing that makes this book special is that it is part of a collection with beautiful, unique cover art done by Penguin Books Senior Cover Designer, Coralie Bickford-Smith. Here is what my new book looks like - can't you just imagine it on a bookshelf?!?


{yes, this picture was taken in bed - I was that excited to start my collecting!!}

There are several other beautifully designed classics in the collection - I can't wait to collect more of these beauties!!

After work, JD & I met up with some sweet girlfriends at our favorite neighborhood bar, Parkside Cafe, for a couple of drinks, followed by dinner with my sweet sister in law, Katie All in all, a great birthday all around - I'm looking forward to what year 27 has in store!

Last night I did something totally fun & different with some fun girlfriends from work - Sips n' Snips!! You may be familiar with a similar concept, Sips & Strokes, where friends can get together to "sip" a beverage of choice & paint a picture under the guidance of an instructor. Well, Sins n' Snips is a little different ---- still sipping beverages, but instead of painting you are MAKING A FLOWER ARRANGEMENT!!! I was sooo excited to do this as "learning how to arrange flowers" was on my bucket list - and this way was much more fun as I had friends by my side! Here are a few pictures from the night:







and the finished product:




I LOVE them!!! And I can't believe that I did it! The really great part about doing Sips n' Snips is that the fabulous instructors (who own & operate Helena Florist) give you ideas & techniques for creating different arrangements at home!

This weekend we are heading back to GA to visit my parents & attend 2 wedding showers for my bestie Katie Davies! I'm sure to have lots of updates from that visit!

Until next time,

peace & love.

the bakers.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

SPRING has SPRUNG

Hello All - hope everyone is experiencing as good of weather as we are in Birmingham! Sunny & hot (almost 90* today) - with a slight breeze. Too nice to be chained to the desk, if you ask me :)

First & foremost - I am so tickled to report that my very best friend Sarah got engaged a couple of weeks ago!! She & her FIANCE, Daron, have been dating for 5 years - I am able to recall that because they met while working together at Brick Oven Pizza Co. in Auburn, which is where & how JD & I met! I know she is going to have such fun with wedding planning - & that they will have a lifetime of love with one another! Couldn't be happier for her to have found such happiness with a great guy like Daron! Congrats guys :)

Not a ton to report here... I traveled to Boston a couple of weeks ago for a work conference - my first time to "bean town" & it was lovely!! I spent most of the week in a conference room, but I did try to sneak away & make the most of my trip - I did the historical walking tour which hit up all the "hot spots" of downtown Boston, saw Feneuil Hall & did some window shopping, spent some time in Boston Common, took the "T", had a beer at the bar that inspired "Cheers", & much more... While in New England, I was able to rent a car & drive up Hwy 1 in to Maine to visit one of our hospitals in Portland - such a beautiful drive! I must-do for anyone in that area!

Last week was my friend Natalie's birthday -we celebrated with our friend Julie, who drove over to visit from Atlanta! It's always good to catch up with my girlfriends...

JD has final exams this week for his first term at Troy - already knows that he made an A in his Info. Systems class (yay!) & will know about Econ later in the week! He's been working so hard & I know he is looking forward to a *brief* break until his next term starts.

We did a little bit of yard work this week - mostly just putting straw in the beds & pulling weeds... nothing exciting, but wow what a difference it makes! JD & I have been brainstorming this week about inexpensive improvements / projects we could do around the house to give it a little "face-lift"... toying with the idea of painting a couple of rooms or maybe we will go ahead & reorganize our laundry room? Hmmm...

Mom & Dad are coming to visit this weekend - I hope the weather holds out because we bought tickets for the Birmingham Barons baseball game Saturday night! It's nothing like catching a Braves game at Turner Field, but it will scratch that summertime baseball itch if you've got it!

I guess that's all I have time for for now - until next time...

peace & love.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Seasons of LOVE


hey out there!


I come to you after a long break from blogging... I want to start this blog post by paying tribute to my late Grandmother who passed away on January 29. Mema was an incredible woman who lived a long life of fulfilment - anyone who lives to celebrate their 91st birthday can certainly say the same. Although Mema will be missed greatly, I know that she is in a much happier place now, dancing with Papa up in Heaven...

I hope that everyone had a great Valentine's Day! I, myself, spent the day of love with my husband & his family and friends on the streets of Mobile - celebrating JD's favorite holiday, Mardi Gras!! Amongst the beads, parades, & Moon pies, we were able to get in a nice sushi dinner to celebrate our love - so nice!! > It's always a treat to spend time with my in-laws & this Mardi Gras was no exception!


In other news, I've got a birthday coming up! Next Tuesday will mark the 26th year of my life & I am looking forward to getting together with friends & family to celebrate! Mom & Dad are coming over from Social Circle this weekend for some pre-birthday fun - Mom has even agreed to bring the 'fixins to make my favorite dinner - her chicken pot pie :) YUM! Then the following weekend JD & I are taking a trip up to Nashville, TN to visit with some of my FAVORITES!! It will also be the weekend before my bestie, Sarah's, birthday - so I'm sure we'll be doing plenty of celebrating there too! Nashville - I hope you're ready!


JD is getting ready to start his first term at Troy University in the middle of next month. I am so proud of him for working so hard to pursue his degree - I know it's been tough for him to balance school, work, a family, & hobbies, but he is doing great!! He is definitely an inspiration for me to go back to school...

I have volunteered to hold an Officer position for the Birmingham Area Phi Mu Alum group for the coming year - tonight is our first Officer meeting & I am looking forward to seeing what's in store for me! I have been looking for ways to be more involved in groups outside of work and home & I think that this will be a great group to work with!


Work continues to be busy for me, so I'm afraid that this is all I have time for...

Until next time...

peace & love