A Davies Baby...

Well..I can finally take a breather. My recent focus at work has been 2 enormous applications for funding for a couple of affordable projects we are attempting to get off the ground. I think (though I’m sure some email or frantic call will destroy this illusion) that I have all the documents, reports, blood, sweat and 1st born children the applications require. I write this knowing I still have about 27 hours until the deadline for some crisis to emerge. Right now, I am letting my brain decompress a bit with this update.

The best and brightest news in my world is that my amazing sister is pregnant! Yay! We have an ultrasound to confirm and everything. We are about 3 months apart and I can’t wait for our little ones to play together. She has been awfully sick (boy do I remember those days) and I keep telling her it’s a good sign, but who wants to hear that when you feel severely hungover 24 hours a day! Here is the 1st pic of baby Davies….

They will be home is just a couple of weeks and we can’t wait to have them back safe and sound!

I’m starting to conceptualize our little boy’s room and have a few ideas…

Think dark gray walls and pops of white…

Or

Who knows….Chris insists we still need to actually confirm it’s a boy. We went yesterday for the ultrasound, but they were nearly 2 hours behind schedule and my funding applications were calling so…we’ll find out Thursday.

So, our lives of late…

We had a crazy weekend away for gourmet club. There were tears, drunken blackouts, arm wrestling, a cage fighter and so much more! We also had a yummy (I hope) rustic dinner and great company. As a disclaimer, some (though certainly not all) of the shenanigans were only witnessed at the local bar, not engaged in by gourmet groupies!

We celebrated my mom’s birthday with a quick overnight visit to her favorite place on earth - Huntington (of course). As always, we had a great time playing cards eating and visiting! I feel so blessed to be able to spend so much time with family!

Two weekends ago, my mom, Aunt Jean and I hosted a 50s housewife inspired bridal shower for my adorable cousin Natalie.

We had such fun planning and the shower was a hit! We played identify the weird 50s food (just a paper handout, we didn’t force anyone to taste any jellied meat) and a super fun cocktail game I came up with. We filled 5 paper grocery bags with the ingredients for typical 50s cocktails, wrote the name of the cocktail on the front of the bag and let the teams go wild. The team to make the cocktail most appealing to the bride won.

All the teams did such a fantastic job, but the mint fizz prevailed!

Me with all the cocktails ready to present to the bride

After the games we sat down to a very 50s lunch. On the menu – Appetizers – pigs in a blanket with curried ketchup ( a HUGE hit), stuffed celery, onion dip and chips and deviled eggs.

Lunch – cherry jello with cherries and walnuts, curried chicken sandwiches, BLTs, chopped olive and cream cheese sandwiches and fruit kabobs!

We had tons of champagne and fruit punch and coconut cupcakes for dessert (complete with little brides and grooms).  We got to use all our vintage tablecloths and our antique saucer champagne glasses! Here are a few pics of the decor...

What a fun party!

Chris and I leave Friday for our 11 day vacation extravaganza! My parents have Haley and I know we’ll miss her terribly, but am so excited to have a getaway with my hubbie! Until our return….

A union, several reunions and a baby boy!

Oh my, what a wonderful and chaotic couple of weeks it has been! This is one of those posts where I have to look back at the pictures to remember where we’ve been. Loads of memories and fun to share…but first I have to say….oh boy…it’s a BOY! Or so we think! Chris and I opted to do the new ultra fancy ultrasound test that gages the likelihood of downs. A bit of peace of mind and a chance to perhaps know the gender…I couldn’t pass it up. So, a few gallons of water, a very full bladder and several slides of the ultrasound machine wand and the doctor and technician agreed – a boy. They can’t be 100% at such an early date of course, but they were pretty convinced. Most importantly, it appears the baby is healthy with a very low chance of downs (and apparently a bit of a show off with the private parts)! We are thrilled and a bit shocked (what am I going to do with a boy)! We’ve decided on Keegan Michael as the name if the gender guess sticks. Now, what to do about decorating his room….

Here are a few pictures of the previous ultrasound appointment where Haley wore her Big Sister shirt my cousin made for her. So adorable!

Early on in the month we made the trip up to the Bay to visit with the Comstocks. We weren’t going to see them for awhile, due to everyone’s incredibly busy schedules, and wanted to check out the finished addition and spend a little quality time. Great home cooked dinners, a bit of shopping and lots of catching up. What a weekend!

Shopping for candy with grandma

Haley and I were able to sneak away for a bit on Saturday to meet up with the Palmas. I’ve been such a bad friend lately and hadn’t even met their newest addition. We caught up at the Danville farmers market and dished over fresh peach popsicles. It was so good to see them again and I need to be better about making time when we are up North! Good to see you Palmas!

The following Friday, Haley and I invited ourselves over to the Patricios for a playdate. Ashley, ever the consummate hostess, made a fantastic lunch and we all got some pool time. Taylor and Peyton are such wonderful girls! Miss Taylor was especially adorable with Miss Haley, holding her hand and taking her around the house, showing her toys and even helping her jump off the side of the pool. We are so lucky to have such great friends! Apparently, the water park is next on the playdate agenda. Can’t wait!

Two weekends ago we headed to Pebble Beach to meet up with the long lost Davies of Florida. We were rendezvousing for the Basila/Prosperi wedding that Saturday and decided to make a long weekend of it. The Davies seniors kindly let us bunk and the family house on 17 mile and provided Haley sitting services! We had such an amazing time! There were lots of fantastic meals, loads of drinks (for everyone else :( ), Haley’s first trip to the beach thanks to Kip and Julie, and to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The wedding was gorgeous and fantastic! The best part was getting to see Lane and Curtis and know we’d have them back soon!

Uncle TurTur get Haley ready for a walk

All of the Davies/Comstock/Conways out for a meal!

Margo and Paul...so pretty!

It was a quick turnaround from Pebble Beach as the annual Richardson Reunion began that following Sunday. Haley and I headed up the hill to the Shaver cabins on Monday and spent a week playing endless hands of Pinochle, eating to our hearts delight and enjoying the chaos that is our family. We had a family softball game,

The cheering section

The winning team

swam in the lake,

I forgot to pack a suit for Miss Priss

stuffed wedding invitations and even had a complimentary yoga session with the best yoga instructor in Fresno (thanks Katie)! We were in the Ever cabin with all my cousins and their children. I’ve mentioned before that we have 5 children under three. It was a bit insane…diapers and wipes, cheerios and goldfish, peanut butter and jelly and more plastic toys then you could possible imagine people travel with! We had such a ball and Haley loved playing with her cousins…especially Nathan. Nathan will be 3 at the end of the year and Haley just followed him around the entire time. It was pretty adorable!

Haley wanted to be shirtless like Nathan

A kiss for Mr. Noah

We have a busy week and then are so looking forward to our Gourmet Group getaway weekend! Chris and I are hosting and can’t wait to spend time with some of our favorite friends! Until next time….