24 Weeks

Well here we are in all our glory at 24 weeks.  Actually this was taken on the first day of 25 weeks but I’m still going to count it for my 24 week photo shoot.  :)

I’ve been feeling really good although I’m quickly realizing that getting up off the couch is only going to get harder as the weeks go by.  But other than a few minor adjustments in the movement area all is well.

Nacho is moving around even more and Lucas even felt his first kicks a few weeks ago!  He was quite upset that Nacho was kicking him but he is slowly getting over it.

Not much more to say other than things seem to be going well and I know these next 15 weeks will go by so quickly.  Let me know if you have any dying questions and I’ll be happy to write another post all about Nacho.  :)

-Shannon

P.S.  Note to self:  Wait for nice days outside to take belly shots.  There is no good place inside.

Falling for NYC

This past Sunday Lucas I decided to head into the city after church.  Earlier in the week Lucas looked at the forecast and saw that the rain was going to go away and a bright fall day would be surrounding us by Sunday.  Turns out the forecast was right and with perfect 60 degree weather we headed into the city.

We didn’t have much on the agenda besides enjoying the day together.  First we headed over to the library so Lucas could take some pictures of the woodwork in the study areas.  He already has dreams for his study in the new house although his dreams might have to be a little less intricate than the NYC library.

From there we headed up 5th Ave and I snapped a few shots of St. Patrick’s Cathedral…

Our destination was Serendipity on 60th & 3rd and as we headed that way we passed the Friar’s Club.  Lucas got really excited when we saw this place although I had no idea why he was so excited.

*10 bonus points to the person who can guess why Lucas was excited about it  :)

As we were walking along we also stumbled upon a movie being filmed!  We were coming up to Park Avenue and as we tried to cross the street they asked us to stay back because they were getting ready to shoot a stunt.  After a few minutes of waiting we finally heard “Action!” and a black SUV started driving the wrong way down the street with a man laying on top of the car.  It was pretty exciting for the 10 seconds that it lasted. :)

Finally we made our way to Serendipity where we were going to enjoy some frozen hot chocolate.  I had never been there before but Lucas thought I would like it.  We had decided that we would put up with a wait of 30 minutes but no more.  When we got there Lucas stepped inside and found out the wait was an hour to an hour and a half…on a Sunday afternoon around 3:00!  Ugh!  So no frozen hot chocolate.  But thankfully just down the street was another place I’ve been wanting to go to…Dylan’s Candy Bar!

With some candy in tow, we headed to the park to enjoy the fall colors.  We sat on a bench and enjoyed our candy.

After the park we headed down to Little Italy for dinner.  Lucas picked the restaurant which once we stepped inside was set up kind of like cafeteria style seating.  We were hoping for something a little more private.  After a quick attitude check for me we settled in to enjoy some fine Italian.  We were enjoying our meal when one of the staff turned on a karaoke machine and started singing along!  Granted she was singing Little Italy type songs…”When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that’s amore”…but it was ridiculously loud and she wasn’t that great.  We ended up just laughing about it and chalking it up to another experience in NYC.

Some after dinner strolling finished out the evening.  We hopped on the train and were home by 8:30.  It was a great day in NYC and I can’t wait until Christmas when we head back to enjoy the holidays with just the two of us.  Until then…bye, bye NYC.

-Shannon

Halloween Cookies

I’ll admit it…I rarely bake.  It just isn’t something that I ever think to do.  Plus Lucas actually enjoys making pies, crisps, breads, etc. so I figure I should just leave the baking to him.  However, with Nacho’s continued need for sweets I decided to make some cookies last week.

I knew I had some Halloween sprinkles that were just begging to be used and we had some cookie dough in the fridge.  Now I’m sure you’re thinking, “Shannon, you didn’t really make anything if you just put them in the oven”.  And you would be right except for the fact that I made homemade frosting!  Not icing but frosting.  Meaning boil together flour and milk and then add it to a mixture of butter, sugar and vanilla and…voila…frosting!  It was the best thing I’ve made in a long time and thankfully there was plenty of frosting left over for me to nibble on.  So feast your eyes on some yummy halloween cookies…

P.S. – I don’t really think these are that amazing or anything…I was just excited about cookies.  :)

-Shannon

Thoroughly Showered

After enjoying my baby shower we brought all the stuff back to our hotel suite and began the daunting task of packing it all.  First we had to show my dad each and every item :) and then I got to work packing it away.  On my flight to MO I didn’t check any bags and lightly packed my carry-on.  I also packed an extra duffle bag for my return flight.  So on the way back to NJ I packed my roller carry-on to the brim and then filled the duffle bag with all sorts of other stuff.  I ended up only having to check one bag and left only the bouncy seat with my parents to send at a later date.  There were a few other items I left with my parents since they fell under the category of cute but not necessary for the first 3 months of Nacho’s life.

Of course I had to showcase all the goods so here they are…

We have the feeding section…

The bath/toiletry section…

Gotta love the Burt’s Bees…

A sweet baby book my parents bought for Nacho…

The clothing section…

Lucas even went to our neighborhood clothes swap while I was gone and picked up lots of great clothes and a manly diaper bag!

The diapering section…

We plan to use cloth gDiapers once we move back to Missouri and don’t have to pay per load for laundry.  I was thrilled to receive our first little gPant and cloth inserts!  Seriously one of the best presents ever!  :)

My diaper bag my parents bought me when they visited this summer…I think we might be going with a green and brown theme…

And now we move on to the gear section…

A surprise gift in the mail from my cousin Nate and his wife Haila…I also have a sling I plan to use a bit but I’m sure the carrier will come in handy especially for daddy carrying times.

We already had a car seat from when our friends Ryan & Vanya visited with little Ciara but now Nacho will be nice and bundled for a February arrival…

And our stroller!

My parents bought this for us when they visited this summer but at the shower they outfitted with Bob with a warm and fuzzy liner and a double cup holder attachment.  Pretty soon the Bob will be worth more than our car.  :)

What a wonderful treat to be showered by friends and family.  It definitely helps to feel a little more prepared for Nacho’s arrival although I know our world will inevitably be turned upside-down when this little one arrives…and we can’t wait!

-Shannon

Shower Time!

The whole reason for my trip home to Missouri was for a baby shower!  My parents flew me back and my friend Mandi, Aunt Shirley and Mom put the shower all together.  I couldn’t wait to see some Missouri friends and to enjoy an afternoon together.  Of course I wish I could have had an entire afternoon with each person but I’m thankful for the time I had.

Mandi made all the wonderfully delicious food…shrimp wontons, crab dip, chicken salad sandwiches, shortbread cookies and tuxedo brownies…

And the beautiful cake…we went with a green and brown theme…

Party favors/prayer candles…a wonderful idea picked up from friends in Vancouver…when they hear I’m in labor they’ll light the candle and pray…

My mom with one of the prizes…green and brown chocolates!

Kristy, Emily w/ Hunter on her lap, Julianne, Hannah & Olivia…

Mandi & Jennifer (who is due 2 weeks before me!)

Bonnie (Lucas’ mom), my Mom & Angie (sister-in-law)…

After food and mingling it was time for some games.  First we played a guess the baby food game…

Jennifer & Jess sniffing it out…

Our other game was hilarious.  When Mandi and Jesse visited us recently, Jesse filmed Lucas answering some questions about babies and fatherhood.  Lucas’ answers were not the most serious but they were funny.  :)  I might try to post the video on here sometime but for now you’ll just have to enjoy the screenshot…

After the games it was time for presents…

Hunter decided to help me with them…

Quick story behind this next picture…first of all I’m bawling my eyes out and that is why I’m hiding behind the frame.  :)  My mom made this when she was pregnant with me.  She has now passed it on to her first grandchild and wrote a little note to the baby on the back.  I was really hoping she would pass this down to me and it was so touching to read her note and to remember what the stitching says…I still have it memorized after all the years of seeing it…

“Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, for babies grow up we’ve learned to our sorrow, so quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep, I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep”

Once the cry fest was over we took a group picture…Back Row Standing L-R: Aunt Shirley, Kristy (friend from church), Alexandra (friend from church), Jennifer (friend from college), Mom, Angie (sister-in-law), Emily w/ Hunter (friend from church), Mandi (friend from high school & college), Bonnie (mother-in-law), Abby due Nov. 22! (married Lucas’ best friend and now friend of mine)  Front Row Sitting L-R: Cindy w/ Lena (high school Pom coach and now friend), Jess (friend from grade school on), Julianne (friend from church)

And finally me with all the hostesses…Mom, Aunt Shirley and Mandi…

Besides enjoying the wonderful shower, I also enjoyed staying in Springfield the entire time.  Normally when I visit MO I end up going to West Plains where my parents now live.  But my mom and dad splurged a little and we got a 2 bedroom suite at a Marriot.  My mom and I got into town on Thursday and then my dad came up on Friday evening.  In between some shopping with Mandi on Friday and getting ready for the shower we enjoyed lots of yummy food…Steak N’ Shake, Pasta Express and even Nakatos on Friday night.  And I was able to see all of my family minus my sister in Boston!

It was such a great trip and I’m so thankful for all the love and support!

-Shannon

Home

One of the highlights on my trip to Missouri was seeing our house in person.  I had only seen picture after picture so it was so nice to finally put it all together.  My mom and I left Kansas City early Thursday morning and made the 2 hour drive to Boonville.  I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful surroundings and the changing leaves.  We made our way to the house and I stared in awe as we pulled up…

I think this will be a wonderful street to live on with all the old trees and sidewalks…

Through the front doors we entered the house…

This picture of the living room is actually a little backwards…if you were entering the house you would come through the front door and then turn left to enter through the door in the bottom left corner of this picture…

This shot is looking from the kitchen at the back of the house through the dining room and into the living room…

I couldn’t help but take another shot of the nursery…

There are two rooms in this shape, one of the bottom floor and one of the top floor.  We plan to eventually make the room on the top floor our master bedroom.  I just love the windows…

And of course I couldn’t help taking more pictures of the kitchen.  I am so excited about this kitchen!

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This original built-in is just of the other side of door frame into the kitchen.  I love it and I’m so glad it has stayed around through all the years…

After our time at the house my mom and I headed down to the local Dairy Queen to enjoy some lunch.  Sitting in DQ it hit me that I’m actually going to live here.  And it made me realize I also need to enjoy our remaining time in Princeton.  It’s easy for me to look forward to what is to come but in the process of doing that I might miss out on the great things that surround me here in NJ.  So this weekend Lucas and I are going to head into NYC for a nice Sunday afternoon trip and then I’m reminded that right now we live 45 minutes from NYC and in Boonville we’ll live 45 minutes from outlet malls.  I pray I enjoy both.  :)

-Shannon

Eli Warren Endicott

When I visited Missouri last week, the first thing I did was go and see this little guy…

He was celebrating his 3 month birthday and thankfully I was there for the festivities.  Ok so there weren’t any festivities but we did have some fun.

He is getting really strong and can hold his little head up for awhile…

I thought this little expression was pretty funny…

Eli- It was great to finally meet you and next time we see each other you will have a new cousin to play with!

Love, Aunt Shannon

Fall Colors

Well these pictures aren’t quite as grand as the ones taken around Princeton but I get to look at this view everyday from my window.  I’ve loved seeing these grace our porch.

Right now I’m actually in Missouri enjoying my time here.  I’ll have plenty of updating to do when I return to Princeton but for now enjoy the mums…

-Shannon

Princeton in the Fall

This past Saturday we spent part of the afternoon wandering around Princeton’s campus taking pictures.  We thought more of the trees were turning but realized we might have to wait a few more weeks.  However, we were still able to find some great shots…

And of course Nacho enjoyed the day as well…especially the hot chocolate that followed.  :)

-Shannon

A Place to Rest Your Head

Everyone needs a place to rest their head and with the upcoming arrival of little Nacho we debated what to do in our little apartment.  With a move to Missouri only three months into the little one’s life, we didn’t want to get anything too substantial for our time in Princeton.  Plus we needed something that could be multi-functional.  We were thrilled when we came across a wonderful Pack n’ Play with bassinet and changing table.  We placed it on our registry but we’re preparing to buy it ourselves since it was a big ticket item.

About a week ago I came home from work to find a large box from Target.com by our door.  As I looked at it I realized it was our Pack n’ Play!  I didn’t know who it was from but as I opened it I saw it was from my sister, Megan!  I couldn’t believe it!!!  I immediately set it all up and have now begun to make a space for Nacho is our apartment.  We’ve decided to use our dining room area as a little nursery and to push the dining room table into the living room.  It all makes sense in the space and I can’t wait to add little touches to the new “baby room”.

I love the new addition to our space and who wouldn’t want to sleep here…

Off of the changing table is a little organization section and I couldn’t help but stock it with some diapers and what few toiletries I already have…

Sometimes I look over at it and realize that soon enough there will be a little one laying there.  I can’t wait for that day…

Thanks Aunt Megan!  :)

-Shannon