Haywood's Happenings: Christmas Break: Part 1

Brandon and I have been very busy during this first week of Christmas break. I thought it was going by fast, but then when I tried to think back to a week from today it seems like forever ago. I'm not complaining though. We have lots of relaxing and preparing to do. Oh yeah, Brandon saved up a lot of vacation days, so he's been off with me too.
Here are some highlights...

1.) Cor's Shower
Chelsea and Caitlin (Corie's sisters) Jen and I threw Cor her first baby shower. The shower featured a pink and black zebra theme with lots of yummy food and treats. The shower was at my house, so it took lots of prep, but hosting fun events is my favorite thing to do. Being 35 weeks pregnant makes things a little more difficult, but my co-hosts and Brandon were a huge help! I think I'm getting this baby shower thing down... I love it... who's having a baby next, so I can do it again. My new personal photographer, Sylvia, came and snapped some pics so Cor could have some memories of her special day.

Cute Invitation

28 weeks and 35 weeks in the same dress

Jen's famous cake balls

Cute Cupcakes

Diaper Cake by Katie

Food Table

Table as you enter the shower

Me and Mom


The Lovely Hostesses

2.) The Birthday of our King: Christmas
Brandon and I were able to divide our time fairly evenly between our families this year. On Christmas Eve we went to the early children mass at 4 with my parents. Even though we were there early, it was still rather difficult to find a seat. My mom and I enjoyed the mass and think it will be perfect for Madelyn next year. We'll have to have a new tradition for a few years to accommodate our new baby girl. Then we went to the annual Christmas Eve gathering at Brandon's MeMa and PePa's house. His entire family gets together on Christmas Eve to do a Chinese gift exchange, share their favorite Christmas treats, and gather as a family.
This year was the first year we spent Christmas morning with just the two of us and it will be the last.

Our Family Stockings

Once we got going we went to my parents for lunch and exchange gifts. This year was the latest we have ever opened presents and after lunch.


Tree at Mom and Dad's

My Nanny Mary gave me and Madelyn her first Cabbage Patch doll. These were a big deal when I was a little girl. I had several of them and I even visited the Cabbage Patch hospital in Atlanta, GA when I was younger. She even came with a birth certificate and Mary named her Madelyn Paige.

Maddy's First Baby Doll

My brother and I gave my mom her very first Coach purse. She was very surprised and excited! Thanks to the great outlet mall, we were able to pull it off.

Mom and her new purse

After spending part of the day with my family we went to Brandon's parents' to hang out and exchange gifts with his family. We have Shane, our nephew, an

Art Supply box and some early readers. He loves to color, draw, and create things.

3.) Preparing for Madelyn

I've been trying to get the most out of our time off to prepare for baby Madelyn. I should have taken a picture of her room last weekend and then what it looks like now. There was stuff everywhere on the floor of her room. I finally feel like it is coming together. There is still decorating to do and small details to focus on, but we've gotten a lot accomplished. I washed all of her newborn clothes, mittens, and hats. I also started preparing lots of lists. Not really sure if I am "nesting" yet. I feel like this is what I am suppose to be doing, so that we can take care of our little bundle of joy. My lists are a little compulsive... a list of what we need for her room, a list of what I need for the hospital, a list of what to pack for her, a list of what to pack for me... I'm sure I missing some lists. I've also organized her drawers... I spent a good amount at The Container Store today, Brandon didn't understand at first. Once we got home and I put everything away in her drawers and he saw that it calmed me down a bit, he understood. Here is a sneak peak of what her room currently looks like... keep in mind I'm not finished.