The Final Selection

I spent over an hour narrowing down my favorites of Shutterfly.com's many, many holiday cards. When I finally chose one, I spent an equal amount of time selecting the pictures to feature on it (with some help from Tim, of course.) But I'm so happy with the end result, especially considering they were a gift from Shutterly (a $104 value!). I can't wait for them to get here, and I also can't wait to send them out! What a wonderful experience!

Charlotte's First Christmas

is coming up, so naturally I'd like to document it with as many photos as possible. One thing that is really important to me is to send out a photo Christmas card. Since she's so new (and wonderful), and changing and growing so quickly, I want everyone we love to be able to have a picture of her, and this is the best possible way to make that happen. So, with the help of Shutterfly.com, this years Christmas cards should be amazing! Here are some of my favorites:


I love the bright colors and simple styling of this one. It's sweet and festive.

This one feels so modern to me, and it can have multiple photos on it.

Again, I love the modern feel of this one, that it can have three pictures, and the colorful lettering.
Some possible card worthy shots from our days in the snow:

Having a snow ball fight with her grandpa (while blowing bubbles, a favorite past time of hers.)

Snuggling with me to keep warm,

And getting squishy smooches from her mommy and daddy.

Right now, Shutterfly has a promotion for 50 free holiday cards (what more could a new mom want?) All you have to do is blog about it! Simple enough. I'm thrilled that at a time when so many people are strapped for cash and are having to do away with certain non-essentials (for us, one of those things was going to have to be Christmas cards, actually), this wonderful company is making it possible for us to share with our friends and family. Thank you Shutterfly!See here for details.

Smiles

Is there anything better than baby grins? I submit that there is not!

My Baby Shower

My amazing friend Laura threw me the worlds most beautiful baby shower. Everything was color coordinated and custom picked to match the branch and berry paper Laura found. She even had her dad handmake this lollipop tree.

All the desserts were carefully selected to match...and they were delicious!

Most everything at the shower was handmade...Laura made a memory book that matched the invitations. All the girls wrote a memory they had with their mom for me to draw inspiration from. We also made the poms to hang among the streamers (Laura knows my motto is "It's not a party without streamers".) All the door prizes were also hand made...stamped tea towels, cards, jewelry, jams...they were awesome.

We had an amazing time...playing non traditional games, catching up with friends, and of course opening mountains of baby items!

It was the best party ever. Thanks Laura! We love you! (Also, most of these pictures are ones she took, as well as all of the ones on the previous post)

Where Have I Been?

To the two of you who still check this, you may be wondering where I've been. Here's your answer:

Charlotte Ellenor Fulton

Born September 29th 2010, 7:52 am

6 pounds, 14 ounces

19 inches

I've been learning to be a mom...and there is a lot to learn. We just love her, and it already seems impossible that we ever lived without her. If I succeed at updating here more often, there will be TONS of pictures, believe me. But first, I want to show you the amazing shower I was thrown just before she arrived.

Dreaming...

Now that I'm so advanced in my pregnancy (15 days to go!), I'm starting to day dream about things I can do after the baby comes. I've been letting Tim know the meals I'd like to eat so he can make sure he knows how to make them. :)

I miss egg yolk. Like you wouldn't believe. I had no idea this would be the item that I wanted the most, but I have made Tim swear that the first meal I have will be a perfectly poached egg on toast with asparagus, prosciutto and feta cheese. My mouth is watering. Yum.
I'm also missing my clothes. Maternity clothes were fun for awhile, but how many times can you wear the same 5 outfits before you are just plain bored?

I'm most looking forward to wearing:

My suede boots! Yes, they fit, but walking with any extra height is an extremely dangerous game when 1) you're clumsy to start with; and 2) you're pregnant

My leather motorcycle jacket...so pretty, so soft, so small...
My favorite jeans ever.
My pretty detailed tops.

As well as so many others...oh clothes (and egg yolk). How I miss you.
(All the clothes are of the recently deceased Martin + Osa variety. Hence, no links.)

Dear Blog,

Since this is about the time of year I start craving Christmas (this year is no exception, I'm sipping cinnamonny chai tea as we "speak", I'm wondering what this little lady should wear for her Christmas debut...we may have to have wardrobe changes throughout the day. Here's a few options found at Carters:
How adorable would she be opening her first ever Christmas presents (or, to be more accurate, sleeping through us opening her first ever Christmas presents) in this little ditty?And traveling to Papa's house as a prettier version of St. Nick?
Just look at the feet on these...we do tend to celebrate on both Christmas Eve and Christmas...this could work.And, of course, I already have a few tid bits:
Cause every little girl needs some Christmas underclothes. It's just how it is.

T Minus 21 Days

Three weeks from right now, our little girl will be here. Due to some minor complications, she's unable to turn her little body over, so she's stuck in a breach position. As a result, we're having a C-section on the 29th...sooner than we expected, causing a little bit of panic, but I'm sure we'll manage to get everything ready on time. How crazy to think that in exactly three weeks, we'll have our little girl, we'll know what she looks like, we'll announce her name, she'll be meeting her family...wow.

Any tips for what to pack for the hospital, or must haves for when we get home a few days later?

A Shower

On Sunday, some of the wonderful women I grew up under threw me a shower. It was such a great time to spend time with these women who knew and loved my mom so well, and who watched me grow up and helped shape who I am.

Although Debbie couldn't be there, she sent a prayer that she wrote for Tim, me and the little one to come.

Lord Jesus, we bring before you your precious child, Erin and her new little baby girl. What a wonderful and amazing miracle this is. We know that you have knit this little one together, and you already know every hair that will be on her head, the color of her eyes, the tilt of her chin. You know her hopes and dreams, her gifts and talents, her strengths and weaknesses. You have formed her amazing little personality to your precise specifications (which Erin and Tim might need some reminding of as the years go by).

Lord, Thank you for the awesome gift you are about to place in Erin and Tim's hands. May you give them the strength, love, wisdom, joy, peace and sense of humor that they will need as they raise this little one in your magnificent love and faithfulness.

We place this precious baby girl in your hands knowing that you will never leave her, that you will be beside her all the days of her life. Thank you for this promise from your word.

And Lord, I want to thank you for Erin's loving mom, Ellen, who was such a great role model for a mother that faithfully loved, nurtured, guided, and taught your promises to her children. Thank you for the friend she was to all of us and the way she touched each one of us in her unique way. If possible, let her know how much we love her and miss her, and will be seeking her again one day.

I pray as her friends, we will take seriously the task of encouraging and loving her daughter Erin, her son-in-law Tim and this new little life that is about to come into the world.

Thank you for the blessing of new life.

In your name we pray, Amen.

What an amazing start to a wonderful day. I am so grateful for these wonderful women.

What an amazing day. I am so thankful for these godly women in my life.