Wordless Wednesday- Summer Fun

~Nicole

Happy 10th Birthday Blake!

Ten years old! How did THAT happen? Seems like yesterday you were just a three year old. You think since you hit double digits that you are an adult all of a sudden. In such a hurry to grow up!

Blowing out the candles!!

Lucas and Brooklyn waiting patiently for a slice of cake. Lucas had an allergic reaction earlier in the day and his eye actually looked ten times better at this point. It had swollen completely shut. No, we have no clue what set it off.

Papa and all his grandbabies.

Daddy and his two son-in-laws.

Poor Blake. His birthday was actually on June 10th. This month we have had the chicken pox, a death in the family, Blake being at his moms, and have been out of town for a week. We finally got around to a birthday party. Poor fella. He was pretty understanding. Especially when he got a ton of money for his birthday! He hit the jackpot!

~Nicole

Country Chic Bridal Shower

I am going to admit that this took place last September. My sister got married in October. I just realized that I had not yet shared this. I meant to, I guess I just forgot? My sister is pretty simple and a little bit country, so we knew what we had to try and go for. The above picture is at the entrance of the porch. We had the shower on my Grammy's back porch to go along with the theme. I think it worked perfect for our theme myself. She made the picture you see above. She has made all of her granddaughters one that have been married so far (mine is hanging in our hall). It is the wedding invitation. So pretty...

There is a gazebo at the very end of the porch. I made a wishing tree to place at the gift table and we decided this was where everyone would put the gifts. I found an old dead branch from a brush pile in my mom and dad's yard and lightly sprayed it with white paint. Not enough to cover it completely. Got a cheap pot and Home Depot and some styrofoam and BOOM! You have a wishing tree. I did have to use a little hot glue to make it stand completely upright.

This monogram was on their wedding invitations. I took it and cut out small cards for people to write on. You know, well wishes, advice, etc. I then punched a hole in each and tied some fishing line through.

On the tree I hung ornaments of the happy couple. I picked some of their engagement pictures and made them black and white. After doing that I used the monogram once again for the opposite side of the ornaments. I used black and red paper and place a photo and monogram on each side. I then proceeded to punch a hole and tie some fishing line through. So easy! The crystals were found at Hobby Lobby in the mini Christmas tree section. I think they added just the right look!

My Grammy made this as well. It now hangs in my sister's house. Once again some engagement pictures. Simple things are so cute!

I found some tissue paper at Hobby Lobby I knew would be perfect for this. I just bunched it and pinned it to some styrofoam balls. Then I hot glued some fishing line to it and we hung these above the food table.

I had some old burlap sacks (several of them) that I could not bring myself to get rid of. Maybe this is why. I made this banner out of them. She loved this more than anything I think!

We also hung this above the food table.

My pawpaw had some old corn stalks he said I could have. I found some large sunflowers at Michaels and tied it together. We tied one of these to each post.

These were the favors. We roasted pecans with brown sugar (and something else, don't shoot me I hate nuts and didn't even try and remember the recipe). We put a scoop in each mason jar and added some gerber daisy fabric to the top. Then we tied a straw bow around each. People raved about them!

Of course at a country bridal shower, you have to drink out of mason jars! We purchased these pails and added ice and tea and water. Everyone in the south loves sweet tea! I painted them just for a little extra. We have used these at several showers and events since. They are asking for them to use at my baby shower next month.

We knew we would not have enough chairs, so we used bails of straw and old quilts. The more mismatched the better! After the shower me, my sister, and my cousins used the straw and corn stalks to decorate our yards for fall. Win-win.

Cute sign my mom purchased for the wedding. We put it at the entrance too.

Fake pumpkins and mums...

We just alternated the straw bails and the chairs.

I think it all came together just right!

I am linking too:

Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge
SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors
Sunday Showcase @ Under The Table and Dreaming
Sunday Scoop @ I Heart Naptime
DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff
Tip Me Tuesday @ The Tip Junkie

Beach Portraits

We just got home from the beach on Saturday. I took over 500 pictures while there. Needless to say, there will be several posts of just beach pictures. This post, I wanted to focus on the portraits we tried to take...

I wanted some type of maternity photos with Paisley. I lacked in that department when I was pregnant with Lucas. (I try and tell myself that was because I was BEYOND miserable with him).

This is the kind of smile I get from Blake and it irritates the fire out of me! Any tips on making them give a half way REAL smile??

He did much better in this one. :) This pregnancy has been much easier on me. So I decided to go for it. We always do a family photo at the beach one evening anyway. My awesome hubby got me a Nikon for my birthday/ Valentine's Day so we just used it. Figured I would save the money and I have booked a wonderful photographer to come over and do some beautiful newborn shots of Miss Priss. My mom took these.

My sweet boy had chicken pox that went away about a week before we left. That, plus his eczema and all around bad skin (plus allergies) developed into impetigo. He has had this several times before, but this time it got so bad it spread. And fast. We went to the emergency room the next morning and it cleared up within two days with an oral antibiotic. Thank goodness.

Blurry on this one. I want to try and sharpen it somehow because I think it is SO sweet. We were losing light. Fast. So we came back another night in a change of clothes.

My favorite of Cag and I.

Cag took the last one. He is so proud of it. A church had put the cross on the beach and had an Easter sunrise service. How beautiful. It was a perfect photo opportunity...

30 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:30 weeks
Size of baby: Paisley is the size of a squash.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: At my Dr. appointment a week and a half ago, it was 14 lbs. Scared to know now since we have been on vacation.

Maternity Clothes: Oh yeah.

Gender: It's a Girl! Paisley Nicole Chappell

Movement: She stretches, rolls, and kicks all the time. Sometimes it hurts.

Sleep: Better now. For a while she moved every night from 11-2 or 3.

What I miss: Being able to pick Lucas up. :(

Cravings: Honestly, nothing in particular. Whatever hits me at the moment.

Symptoms: Leg cramps at night. Slight swelling (nothing at all like it was at Lucas). Back pain.

Best Moment this week: Noticing the nesting has kicked in!

Paisley's Nursery: Part One

So I am a little late starting this, but you know how life is. We started Paisley's nursery a couple of weeks ago. My husband managed to get all of this done in 24 hours. He painted, put up the furniture, and hung her chandelier. Such a trooper... (or maybe he was tired of hearing me nag)??

This is her wall color. It is called Fairest of the All and it is a Disney color. I wanted something very light, so I could use brighter things around the room. I don't know if it is the names or what, but I love to look at Disney paint. Lucas' nursery was Bippity Boppity Blue...

Lucas started with the jealousy. Once he realized we were on a mission and that this was about another child and not him, he started showing out. Cagney being the wonderful daddy he is, grabbed him and made him feel like the biggest helper ever. He was fine after that!

Proud daddy. I think it might be starting to hit him here that he is going to have a daughter, and not another son.

My sister helped him move all of the furniture out of storage since I couldn't do it obviously. Isn't she a great aunt?

The bedding!!
I am in love with it. It is Pottery Barn Kids and the name is Petite Paisley nursery bedding.

So happy to have this done. I still need to wash the sheets. I just had to put it all together though. I couldn't resist. I am in full blown nesting mode now, so watch out!!

Daddy picked this out for his baby girl. No kidding, this was one hundred percent his idea. I have to say, it pulls the entire room together already. He is going to be so wonderful with her.

I will post more updates as we go!

Happy Father's Day 2011

Happy Father's Day to the wonderful and caring man I get to call my husband!

He is almost a daddy of three and I could not have picked a better man to be the father of my children. He is truly amazing in every way and I am so thankful every day that we have him. He does so much for us and we appreciate him ten times more then he will ever realize. I love you so much Cagney!

Blake has always been a daddy's boy.

Lucas will tell you that this is his hero!

God blessed me more than ever when he brought you into my life.

In two months we will add a little girl into the mix and I just know he will be amazing with her as well. No doubt in my mind. He is going to be wrapped.

I also want to thank MY daddy for always being there for me. He has been all of my life. I love you daddy, more than you know!

Thank you for being such an amazing PawPaw to my boys.

I am so lucky to have these two men in my life.

Nicole