Boy, Oh Boy

This past weekend was ALL about Baby Boy Murray and the prep for his arrival!  Saturday Matt & I attended an all day birthing class at Hinsdale Hospital; they call this 9-5 class the marathon course.  Although long, Matt and I did find the class to be very informative and we really enjoyed the tour of the delivery wing & mom and me wing of the hospital (hello, they have free smoothies for the new parents and Eisenstein Bagels for breakfast YUM).  Out of the 8 other couples attending the class 6 were having boys and 2 were planning on being surprised (yikes, I hope there are some girls around baby Murray's age....or High School won't be any fun for him).  

While we were attending class Mom, Dad & Mia were busy prepping for our baby shower!  "Ready to Pop" was the theme and the house was transformed with and decked out in baby blue.  Mia order the cutest sign ever to hang out front of the house, Mom picked out adorable invites/thank you's (and was an amazing host) and Claudine did a fabulous job with the center pieces (baby blankets and baby toys, love).  Speaking of love....I can honestly say we are so lucky to be loved by so many!  On Sunday morning the Baldo House was filled with friends and family that love us and baby Murray so much.  We were showered with many fabulous gifts and I think we now can say we are ready for this baby!  A big THANK YOU to Mom, Dad and Mia for throwing a wonderful celebration to us, Aunt Rose, Pat & Chickie for baking, Claudine for the center pieces and everyone else that traveled near and far to join in the celebration.   We can't wait for baby Murray's arrival and to be able to share all this love with him!

On a side note I have to thank my cousin Michele for giving baby Murray a very special gift; a baby blanket made out of the trim of her bridesmaid dress she wore at our wedding.  I don't shed a tear often but this gift had me all choked up and just thinking about it makes me teary eyed.  Matt & I plan to snuggle up with baby Murray in this blanket often ~Thanks Michele for such a thoughtful gift!

                       

Baby News: I'm 34 weeks pregnant and still feeling great!  I can't believe we only have 6 more weeks (41 days) to go (although I have a feeling we are going to have a September baby...not an October one).  Baby's kicks keep getting more powerful and Matt & I enjoy watching him move around in my belly when we sit down to relax each night.  The next few weeks will be spent putting baby paraphernalia together and washing all his new clothes and blankets. Oh, and narrowing down baby names.  I don't want to be those people they won't let leave the hospital because they still haven't settled on a name.

House News: Well, we have been doing lots of running around for this house the last few weeks!  We keep encountering hiccups here and there (now the house is without a frig and washer/dryer) but we continue to stick it out.... For some reason I feel as though we are going to be signing loan documents and having a baby around the same time.  We keep talking about walking away and moving on but we both know what a great house we will have in the long run.  I just hope we are making all the right decisions and everything turns out in the long run.

Happy 1 Year Anniverary to Us!

Matt and Jenn Highlights from Turning Point Productions on Vimeo.

I've decided to use this post to strictly reminisce on one of the best days of my life; our wedding day.  I can't believe just a year ago today (August 20th) Matt and I said "I Do." We celebrated with our closest friends and family and it is a day I will never forget.  The past year has been amazing and VERY eventful and we are truly so blessed.  We have the most amazing people in our lives and are so thankful for each and everyone of them (words can't describe how fortunate we are)!

Champagne Toast with my Bridesmaids  

Rock Chalk Jayhawk...KU!

Mr. & Mrs. Murray 

Mia, Jenn, Matt Megan & Mike

 It was fate that brought us together back in April of 2008 but it has been friendship, love, compassion, patience and fun that has kept us together!  We have so much to look forward to as we embark on our next journey...parenthood.  I couldn't ask for a better husband and best friend; I can't wait to share our love with our son.   

 Happy Anniversary to us & to many many more to come! 

 

My Growing Belly....8 Month Bump!

It seems like our weekends have been packed with dinners/brunches with friends, baby classes etc.  Staying busy sure has helped time fly by for us (our due date is just 55 days away).  When Matt & I realized we had absolutely no plans last weekend we decided it would be a good weekend to get away.  Matt, Mia, Marc and I drove up to Lake Geneva to spend some time with Uncle Neal & Aunt Rose and enjoy some fun in the sun.  The weekend was filled with lots and lots of food, boating & many loud Italians in one room.  Matt was able to get in a golf game and kick some butt on the golf course; overall a great weekend.  A big THANKS to Uncle Neal and Aunt Rose for allowing us to spend the weekend with them!

The boys cooling off....

Jenn & Mia enjoying a boat ride!

Baby News: My belly really has grown; it was like I woke up one morning and I was VERY pregnant!  Besides some minor aches and pains caused by the baby's positioning I am still feeling great (and very thankful for that).  Baby's kicks have gotten stronger which has allowed others (besides Matt) to feel him kick.  We attended a baby basics class a couple of weeks ago (which covered swaddling, infant car seat safety & essentials we will need for baby Murray); we have a few more classes scheduled between now and the little guy's arrival in efforts to prepare us for our new addition.  We haven't started "nesting" yet but I have a feeling that will begin immediately after the baby shower takes place!  Sleeping is getting a bit more challenging; apparently I need the entire bed to get comfy along with LOTS of pillows.  Rumor has it I have almost pushed Matt off the bed on several occasions (sorry babe). Many have asked about baby Murray's name....to date we haven't decided on one; we do however have a running list and plan on going to the hospital with a few or our favorites.  As the due date approaches I wonder more and more about who the baby is going to look like & which one of us he will take after.  We are just so excited to meet him!

First Load of Baby Laundry completed!

 House News: We have been told we will know about the house in LaGrange by the end of the week; seeing that it is Thursday Matt and I are fairly certain we are playing the waiting game again.  We plan to hold out a bit longer but we just aren't sure how much longer.  No bites on our place yet so we are still in limbo (which I think I'm handling fairly well with everything else we have going on).