Photo Shoot

Last night we had our photo shoot for our "belly" pictures. I was very hesitant to do these at first, but after months of convincing from Matt, I agreed. Plus, our friends Melinda and Christie (who also photographed our wedding) gifted this session to me, so how could I resist?! It's just a little out of my comfort zone. While I think mine is super cute right now, showing off my bare belly also means showing off some pretty unsightly scars and a totally jacked-up belly button. Years ago my real belly button was sliced in half and put back together in a very wacky way. I guess I don't have to worry about it poking out right now? Instead it just looks flattened out and even more non-existent. Matt and I have an agreement that we are not to touch up my belly scars in any way for these pictures, though. If it were up to him, we'd just do all bare belly shots. He likes how my tummy looks and is proud of it in the way that it reflects how far we've come, which is so special to me. Thinking in that perspective, how could I refuse to do this for him? Matt was so excited and involved during the session too--helping pick out the "outfits" and adding his opinions and ideas to the poses. We took some "Momma and Daddy loving on the babies" belly pics first and then the rest was me--NOT naked at all, but in a way few have ever seen me before.

I'm probably making this more dramatic than it really is. Melinda and Christie made me feel SO comfortable and they are so professional. Plus, I don't think my butchered up belly looks as bad as I fear. I think these pictures will turn out so gorgeous and will prove that it's my own self-consciousness getting in the way. I'm extremely happy I did these pictures now and know I will look back fondly on them and of this time.

All 4 of us were welcomed at the studio. Poor babies, I think they're stuck for life with their "first given names"...

Can't wait to show off some beautiful pictures in a couple weeks!

Lovable Leo's

As a Leo myself, I'm kind of partial to others celebrating their own Leo birthdays right now. We celebrated Cary's birthday--as well as my Dad and Jackie's birthdays--this past weekend.

(Doesn't really go with the present-opening theme, but I enjoy the "attitudes" given to me here by the two Tour de France fans on the right...)

Good thing Tiger and Mario are pacing around close by for any needed help

We're sporting our cover-ups/comfy dresses we got in Hawaii 4 years ago. If only I had known back then that I would want to wear it all the time now I would've gotten 5 more! I think I found my "going home from the hosptial" get up. Total elastic on top, loose--but not in a Moo-Moo way--on the bottom. Perfect.

The Dirty 30'ers

Matters of the Heart

Last week was kind of crazy. Matt's heart went into unexplained Atrial Fibrillation and since he is so healthy his doctor decided he should spend some observation time in the hospital rather than wait it out a week just taking beta blockers. After a couple different IV drips, his irregular and rapid heart beat finally converted late the first night and he felt a lot better. As a result of all the testing he went through though, a "large" hole was discovered in his heart. Large enough that it must be pursued to possibly require closure somehow. He ended up staying an extra night in the hospital so he could be right there and ready for a TEE scope test early the next morning which gave us exact dimensions of the hole in his heart. This week we are beginning our consultations with cardiologists to figure out our plan of action. Ever since his heart converted, he has been doing and feeling great. We're very grateful that our biggest problem with the hospital stay was actually the food rather than anything too scary health wise! When we weren't gagging from the look and smell of his meals, we were trying to figure out what some of it actually was. I thought hospital food had improved? Although the only meal I ever got with my hospital stays was broth, so what do I know? I'll let you decipher what this dinner actually was one night...Don't you want to just eat up that spinach?!

Needless to say when we're at the same hospital having our babies in a couple months, I will be requesting--make that demanding--my meals brought to me from somewhere else!

Shower Blowout

So after all the craziness of Matt's not-so-fun week (see post above), it was nice to cap things off with a fantastic weekend. Matt's parents got to town Friday afternoon and left early this morning. It was very special they were here and that Rhonda got to come to our 4th and final baby shower. Once again we were showered with love by so many friends and family and I relished in every second of it!

With Rhonda before we headed over to Cheryl's for the party Saturday

Some of the adorable party decor

Soon-To-Be Aunt Stacey

Ashlee, the great hostess, preparing the all-important vino

opening-of-the-presents fun

What wonderful present is wrapped in this giant box??

It's our twin jogging stroller!!

Group photo (minus Dolores who is taking the picture). This must be right before "Oh Happy Day" (the song playing at this time) went into it's wailing extra-curricular singing at the perfect moment of silence when we are all smiling.

Thank you Cheryl and Ashlee for such a fun, perfect and most wonderful baby shower!!!

Matt and his Dad showed up at the end to eat up some food and cake and help get the rest of our gifts back home

Check out yet another great stash of gifts--and Matt immediately putting together our two swings when we got home. Can you see Mario's head poking around in his sneaky attempt to snatch the "Octoplush" toy buried in the pile?

A WICKEDly Fun Weekend

What a fun weekend this was! Our Saturday first started out with Cheryl's "Party with a Purpose" to help fundraise for the Seattle Get Your Guts in Gear (GYGIG) bike ride in August. GYGIG is so dear to our hearts since it is an organization that raises money for all kinds of non-profits that benefit Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Colon Cancer, and the United Ostomy Association. Matt and I have participated in these rides for the past 3 years and Cheryl joined us last year for the ride in Seattle. With it being in August though, the Kovich's are taking the year off and it means so much to us that Cheryl has decided to ride it again. Putting all his raffle tickets in one bucket, Matt was very excited to learn that he did indeed win the Starbucks gift card prize.

After Cheryl's party we got all dressed and ready for our Couple's Baby Shower that The Short's and The Curry's hosted for us Saturday night. This party was an absolute BLAST! We got to "party" with Matt's work friends and all of our Rice friends. All of our friends were so generous, we love hanging out with all these guys and had such a fun time!

Check out some of the cute and great decor...

James looks excited about present-opening time

Matt imagines his son-to-be chilling out in this Winnie The Pooh robe and slippers (courtesy of Patti and Kevin) smoking cigars, so he felt the urge to kind of act it out for us

We came away with such wonderful gifts!

We love this diaper cake!

Amanda and Jill are the BEST BEST hostesses!!! Love these pretty ladies :) :)

On Sunday we got to see WICKED! Since this is my 4th time to see it, I'm pretty sure I can say it's my favorite Musical. This time Matt and Brent with us too.
So a fantastic weekend was had by all. Looking forward to this coming weekend too when we'll have some more visitors and our last Baby Shower.

A Work In Progress

The babies' room is a work in progress. We figure the decor and other cute accessories and things for the walls will come with time in the next year. We'd rather not rush into that and instead let their newborn pictures and things they take a liking to fill those spaces in the year(s) to come. Our big issue now is storage! The other night we set out on a mission to pretty much complete the room. We did just that and Matt, with some assistance from Uncle Robby, stayed up late that very night and got it all up and done.

some more shelves...

And okay, I guess we did add some "decor" with a curtain...

Drawers for much needed storage in the closet...

...And to end with kind of a complete look for now...

We also got a 4-shelf bookcase that will fit perfect in one of the corners. That should arrive next week sometime. I believe we've done all we can for storage in this room now. Can't wait to really complete the room with a couple babies in a few months!

Happy Birthday Grammy

We had such a great time with Grammy this past week. We went to PF Changs for her Birthday and had such a wonderful visit the whole time.

It's The Time For The Season Of Visitors and Showers!

We had our first two showers and our first two guests this past weekend. We had so much fun with Jennifer and Maya visiting. We also had a great time at the showers.

Mario is so in love with Maya

Maya helping put together one of the shower gifts

Our first shower hosted by Amy. This cake was equally one of the cutest and yummiest I've ever encountered!

Maya was the official present-opener-helper

Later that evening we posed for pictures at my Mom's house. Here's me with my Mom and Jennifer...

...And of me and Matt...

Still waiting for my Mom to send me pictures from our second shower. It was a great couple's shower hosted by The Tietze's and The Warner's. This is the only pic I have of that evening so far. Everything here was so cute with baby boy and baby girl decorations, baby boy and baby girl drink swizzle sticks/lollipops, cupcakes, etc. Hopefully I can show off more from it soon.

We couldn't be more excited about the fun times ahead and for all our visitors this month. Jennifer and Maya came first and now my Grammy is here visiting us through next week. We'll make sure she has a good birthday tomorrow with some pedicures and lunch already on the agenda. Matt's parents are coming to visit in a couple weeks and we've got some more family and friends coming soon after. Adding to our July are our final two baby showers. Love it! In the meantime, Matt is having a blast putting together all our gear we're receiving for the babies.

Above, he has his 2 best buddies for "assistance". I believe Maya is serenading him with Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at this moment. Below, he loved the challenge of assembling the Pack n Play for the first time. I'm serious when I say "loved the challenge". He even had fun taking it all down and putting it all back in the bag perfectly. I don't think I will ever "love the challenge" of this particular assembly, and I can guarantee I will never fit it all back in the bag properly. But I do very much LOVE this Pack N Play!