Hank’s Weekend With the Ladies…

Last weekend my little Henry and I ventured over to Indianapolis for the weekend for some very special celebrating.  He helped me spend the weekend honoring two of my dear college girlfriends (and loyal LIFOP readers) Meredith and Angela who are getting hitched in August and September respectively.

Brides-To-Be…Ang & Mere!

Now on a normal basis any 34 week-old in utero baby might be askin’ his Mama to take it easy and stay off her feet so close to his arrival date, but once Henry found out that I’d be hanging out with this group of smokin’ hot ladies-he knew he had to make an exception.  (He may be young…but Henry knows when to turn on the charm already.  He spent all weekend kicking like crazy so that all of his soon-to-be-honorary-aunts could feel him move in my belly.  He’s such a ham.)

I can not tell you how wonderful it was to spend the weekend with so many of my nearest and dearest girlfriends that I don’t get to see hardly enough.  After college we spread out all over the country and these days it seems like it takes an engagement, wedding, shower, bachelorette party, or baby to bring us all together!  Our weekends spent together may be few and far between, but when we all reunite, we haven’t missed a beat-and this weekend was no exception.

On Friday night we spent the evening having a serious catch-up session…we gabbed about everything going on in each other’s lives…wedding plans, work drama, love lives, grad school, nursery decor, proposal stories, etc.  You ladies out there know what I mean when I say there was no shortage of topics to be covered!

On Saturday, the festivities got a little less “G-Rated” as we headed to the hotel to properly honor our bachelorettes.  I must say, I was glad Henry spent the night celebrating with us in utero.  I’m hoping that some of the presents that were exchanged are items he does not see with his innocent little eyes until they are worn by his wife on their honeymoon.  A mom can dream right?

Anyways, here are a few photos from the evening.  Like I said, Henry was one lucky little dude to be surrounded by such a beautiful group of ladies…

Aunt Abby & Mama Perks…rockin’ the black & white look 🙂

Mama Perks & Aunt Ang!

Group Shot as we headed out on the town!

*This shot (while highly unflattering) is proof for Henry that his Mama still knows how to get down on the dance floor!

He was rockin’ to the beat with all the ladies all. night. long.

While we stayed out way past my bedtime, it was SO worth the swollen feet I had by the end of the night to help celebrate two wonderful ladies.  I am so excited for both of them to begin their lives with their hubbies so that some day they’ll have “little Henry’s” running around so we can have playdates!

Sunday the festivities continued…but we switched the celebration from brides to babies!  The girls were so sweet to host a baby shower for me since we were all together!  It was so nice to be surrounded by their love and support as we toasted to Henry.  Sercretly-I think they are all glad to watch me venture down pregnancy/mommyhood lane first so that I can share all the in’s and out’s with them…the good (feeling the baby move and falling in love so hard with a person you don’t even know)…the bad (morning sickness and back pains)…and the ugly (maternity wardrobe nightmares and hair growing on parts of your body you never hoped for-even in the pre-pubescent stage of your life.)

Once again, my little guy was spoiled with all kinds of goodies…here are a few shots from the lovely affair:

Henry’s first diaper cake!  If you look closely…the cupcakes spell out his name!

Belly Shot @ 34 weeks!

Honorary Aunts-to-Be…(looking good even after a long night of dancing!)

Henry surrounded by the ladies!

Thank you to each of you who made this such a special weekend.  It will probably be my last official “girl’s weekend” before Henry arrives, and it was certainly one for the books!  I love each of you dearly and can’t wait for you to meet my little one.

Stay tuned this week because I’ll be catching y’all up on nursery developments, my 763rd trip to Babies R Us, and all the other adventures Daddy Perks and I have had as we round 3rd base and head home for Henry!

Monkey See…Monkey Do

Henry is one lucky little man.  And I’m not just saying that because I’m his momma 🙂

On Sunday evening, another wonderful shower was hosted in honor of Henry’s arrival.  Together, my belly and I spent the evening being spoiled by some of  my dearest friends in the world.  Not to mention, Henry scored some serious loot.  And the best part is…he gave me permission to brag about it on LIFOP.

First off, I must brag about the incredible job that the hostesses with the mostest did!

Brande, Myself, Kristin

I can’t say enough good things about these two ladies… they made sure everything from the invitations to every last shower detail were a barrel of monkey fun!

Check out some of intricate details…

So creative!

A delicious monkey cake & bottles as flower vases…

Monkeys in Barrel!

The fabulous sign we’ll use to announce Henry’s arrival when we take him home!

They even left room to add his height and weight at the bottom 🙂

We played a game called “Guess the Celebrity Baby!”

Kristin had her Mom make bibs and onsies for Colin’s two favorite football teams in the world.

Henry is now fully equipped with all the Penn State and Pittsburgh gear a baby boy could ask for 🙂

There was a “make-your-own-onsie” station out on the deck!

So like I said…these ladies had it all covered!  It meant so much to me that they were so thoughtful to include so many fun monkey details.   Have I mentioned we’re screwed if this kid doesn’t like monkeys?  I mean seriously…if Henry has some strange case of  “maimouphobia” (yes I did look up the scientific term for a “fear of monkeys”) then he will literally be scared of his own room and many of his newly acquired possessions.

Speaking of which…check out some of the goodies he received…

His very first “wooby.”  It even had his name embroidered on it!

Yes-you are seeing those correctly.  Henry is the proud owner of his very first Jordans.

(Ash if you’re reading this…tell Jason he’s got these to look forward to!)

And you thought Monkeys were only brown…

Adorable framed art to help decorate the nursery!

Henry’s 1st Halloween Costume!

Daddy Perks showed up towards the end of the shower to check out all the goodies and perform his fatherly duty of carrying everything out to the car!  Here’s a shot of us!

We are so incredibly grateful for all the love and support we have from our loved ones as we get ready for the arrival of our little Henry.  We can’t wait for him to meet you all!

7. more. weeks.  (OR LESS!)

Henry’s 2nd Shower…

This past weekend Henry and I had the pleasure of celebrating his impending arrival with some wonderful women-a group of women who will undoubtedly be spoiling my little monkey for many years to come.  I thought I’d share a few pictures from the lovely event…

Nana Shubs, Mama Perks, Mimi Pat

My mom(s) were the lovely hostesses for this event.  They did a fabulous job (as they always do when hosting a soiree for any occasion.)  Here are a few details…

The Yummy Eats.

The DELICIOUS Cake.

A Few of Henry’s Gifts…

Here are a couple shots of me opening all of Henry’s goodies…

It was so great to spend time with so many women that I look up to…some even travelling from out-of-state.  Here’s one last shot of my cousin Meredith & I…and the ADORABLE stuffed monkey that will definitely have a special spot in Henry’s nursery.

Thank you SO much to each of you who were a part of this special day.  I am so blessed to have each of you in my life and can’t wait for you to meet my little one.