30 weeks, a shower, and a baby!

I am now 30 weeks along in my pregnancy!  I am not sure why, but this seems like a milestone.  Just 10 more weeks until my due date, and HOPEFULLY I get to meet my baby boy. (Note to baby: Feel free to come a little early if you need to, but I would really prefer to have an October baby than a November baby.  Can you make that happen for mommy?  Thank you.) I can't say that this pregnancy has flown by, because honestly, I feel like I have pregnant forever.  But, I hope that these next ten weeks (or LESS- no more) go by quickly.  I am so ready to hold and cuddle my baby.

This week has been a great one.  On Thursday, Baby DuRant's cousin was born, Caroline Fawcett DuRant!

We drove down to Charleston on Saturday to meet her.  She is absolutely beautiful and so sweet.  I was in heaven holding a newborn and thinking about how I will have my own baby in just a couple months.  We were so pleasantly surprised that she was a SHE.  We were afraid that the family was soon going to be taken over by boys.  I am glad we added a little girl to the mix :).

 Little angel

This week was also extra special, because today I had my second baby shower hosted by my friends.  It was so much fun, and we racked up on lots of good stuff.  I have the BEST friends by far and am so thankful for all of them. 

 Me with the hostesses!  These 4 girls have all been my best friends since elementary and middle school.  It is hard to believe that we are now grown up, and they are hosting a baby shower for me!

 Me and Annie!  I used to babysit for Annie and her two little brothers.  She was also the flower girl in my wedding.  I love her to pieces.  It is crazy to think that she will probably baby sit for my little boy one day.

Baby DuRant getting lots of love from all of his "aunts".  Can I just say that I have the most beautiful friends?  I can't say enough how thankful I am for each and everyone of you!

I forgot to take a picture of the gifts at the shower before I opened them, so I put them all on display when I got home.  I think this little boy is SET.

The nursery is so close to being finished!  I have had so much fun decorating and online shopping.  (Paul asked the UPS man if there was a way to cut off shipments to our house- whoops).  It is so awesome to be able to shop without even leaving the house, genius.  I am waiting on a few finishing touches and then I will post pictures.  Thanks again to everyone who came to my shower.  We are so blessed :).

Life as I Imagined It

I just celebrated my 24th birthday this past weekend.  It was a pretty low key birthday, but nice to just be able to relax and do nothing really.  Paul asked me if I felt 24, and I told him no honestly, I feel atleast 28.  I feel like I am a little beyond my years.  But, this is exactly the life that I imagined and dreamed of growing up.  I know some may think 24 is awfully young to be having a baby, but the timing is just right in our lives.  I always dreamed I would go to college, have a blast (which I did), meet my husband while in college (which I did), get engaged by my senior year (which technically I had already graduated, but I graduated a semester early so that still counts), get married to the man of my dreams in Charleston (check), and have a baby, preferably a boy first, after being married about 2 years (check, check).  I am so blessed beyond belief with where life has led me. 

I am trying to really enjoy these last few months of just the two of us as a couple before we welcome our precious baby boy into the world.  Some days I just can't wait any longer for him to be here, and other days I have anxiety about how much life is going to change when he gets here.  But, I am ready for the challenge of parenthood, and I can't wait to see Paul as a daddy.

Like I said, my birthday was pretty low key, but we still did a little celebrating (it's not nearly as fun without wine).  My brother was in town the weekend before my birthday, and we went to Charleston to see my mom.  So, her and Tom took us out to dinner at Red Drum.  It was delicious.  Paul took me to Garibaldi's on my actual birthday, and the next day I had dinner with my girlfriends. 

 Dustin and I at dinner

 Tom, my mom, Dustin, me, and Paul

 Me and my love

 My brother played golf with my dad and stepmom on Sunday morning, so Paul and I decided to soak up some sun on the beach.  (I will spare you the beached whale photo of me in my beach chair.)

I also just celebrated a milestone in my pregnancy.  We have entered the 3rd trimester!  Here I am at 28 weeks.  Life is good :).

Happy birthday Rooster!

Happy birthday to our first baby who we love so very much, Riley (also known as rooster, wookie roo, monkey bear, dookie rumsfeld...)  He brings so much joy to our lives, and I am so thankful for him.  I can't believe our fur baby is 4 years old!