Circle of Life

I decided it would probably be a good idea to do a blog update before everything that is happening this week. We ended 2013 in Utah by celebrating Christmas here with Brendan's parents. This was the first Christmas that I did not go back to MN, it was different but we had a great time here. The Sunday prior to Christmas Tommy and Brandy came over and we had our family Christmas that night. We had such a good time between dinner, opening gifts and playing some games. That was the first time I had celebrated on a different day and it was actually very fun. We still had a wonderful Christmas eve and day just much more relaxing and laid back. Christmas day dinner we had our friends the Mays and Sara come over for dinner, it was good to celebrate with everyone.

The day after Christmas started with a bang as I took a fall on the ice walking into work. The fall itself was not terrible but since I was 36 weeks pregnant I did have to go into the hospital and be monitored for a few hours. Everything was fine but since then pregnancy/labor symptoms have been moving along much faster.

For New Years we dressed up the bump as the times square ball in sparkles and headed over to the Mays. It was a good time we played games, ate appetizers and us preggo ladies (my fabulous friend Sara is preggo as well) watched everyone else drink. Welcome to 30 years old! Honestly, I am ok with this stage in life, I have had many New Years Eve that I am so thankful that Facebook and iPhones were not in existence.

I titled this post the circle of life because I know January brings so much excitement to our lives but like life there is a true circle and season for everything. Earlier this week my Aunt Carol passed away in MN. It was bittersweet to see her pass but her true love, my Uncle Darrell, had passed away this last August so it was comforting to know that she was finally united with him. I also found out today that my "adopted" Grandmother Eldoris passed away today. She is my cousin Adam's grandma but she has always been a grandmother to me and someone very special. She had been sick for some time,  I will miss her genuine grace, kindness and sweet notes that always said "feel my love for you". She was a very bright light in this world and truly the kind of woman I only hope I can be like someday.

This last weekend was our last weekend not being parents. My doctor is planning on inducing me this Wednesday January 15th. Both of our Moms are flying into town Tuesday night and hopefully on Wednesday we will finally become parents and welcome this little boy into the world. A true circle of life. My doctor is inducing me because she needs ACL surgery that friday and will be out for a few weeks, I don' t want to switch doctors and she is very conservative so if she feels we will be ready to go, I am confident it is a good decision. In the mean time I am not feeling very good. I have been so blessed up to this point having a very easy pregnancy but these final days are taking their toll. My usual tricks for yoga, exercise are just not working. I guess a positive attitude is one thing I can control. Prayers are appreciated for a healthy, safe labor and delivery for our little family.

We also had a big surprise this week when my sweet ladies of my knitting group at church threw me a surprise shower this last Monday night. Funny enough Brendan finally got to attend a shower, we went early to meet with the deacon for the future baptism of baby boy. Afterwards I took Brendan by to say Hi to everyone and we were shocked when they had a whole baby shower put together for me. They had a yummy, reeses cake, cider, punch and a really cute diaper cake. It was so sweet and we were so shocked. Beyond spoiled for this little boy!

Hopefully next time I'm posting here it will be all about our next step in life in welcoming our little boy to the world. We can't wait!

Love,
Alyssa, Brendan and soon to be third member of the White family

Adventure Nursery

In effort not to "baby bomb" Facebook, Brendan and I decided awhile back we would try to keep most of the little man stuff to the blog. We figured this either gives people the option to click the link and see it if they are interested otherwise we don't want to be the obsessed my child is amazing post a million pictures on Facebook couple.
We finally finished the nursery a few weeks back and are excited to share all the fun details. Early on we decided to do an antique, adventure is out there type theme. It came together so much more then our expectations. Enjoy!

This is the view from the door, we took our hideous mauve room and painted it a grey/blue and a hunter green accent wall. Most of the furniture is a dark espresso wood color. 

Some cool details is this is our canoe bookshelf. The shower Aunt Laura threw me had a book theme so we were able to fill this in nicely. The bike trunk is filled with toys for the little guy. 

Family is very important to Brendan and I so we were lucky enough to get a photo mobile for a shower gift, I recently got all the photos on it to show the little man. We also picked up this sweet map at Homegoods that matches the theme of the room.

This corner has the rocking chair, we didn't want a glider but more a chair we might use elsewhere around the house afterwards. We got lucky and got the last one of these at Buy Buy baby before they discontinued them. Bren also hung the airplanes in the corner and the cool magnet map that was used as shower decorations.

This is the changing table, we just used a regular dresser and added a changing pad. The baskets above have all the goods needed for changing the man. The shelf above that has a train, sailboat, a big ship, a globe and a car. These were decorations from the showers again.

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The handsome Daddy to be!

This is the paddle above the book shelf, it has a Wild jersey for our favorite hockey team, a painting my Godmother made us and a "up" onsies that my Brother Ross drew.

Also right after Thanksgiving we did maternity photos. We had Darren from Darren Solomon Photography come out to our house to do the photos, they turned out awesome. Continuing with our UP adventure theme we got a huge bouquet of balloons we included too. Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

We are excited for our first Christmas in Utah! 

Love,

Brendan, Alyssa and Baby White

MN Baby Shower and Thanksgiving

8 weeks to go until Baby Boy White! I cannot believe how little that amount of time is and how fast it will go with all the holiday excitement coming up. November has been a wonderful month, we went home to MN for an absolutely, lovely shower our Aunt Laura threw for me. It was an amazing day that I didn't want to end. Seeing so many family in friends in one place was such a gift in itself. Then the shower was like nothing I had seen or been to before they went all out in the decorations, food and the whole thing. We are so lucky and spoiled. I have included some pictures from that day below. So many of our wonderful friends and family were so generous and thoughtful with their gifts as well. It was a great trip to MN.

As you can see from the pictures it was another amazing shower. Today is black friday yesterday was Thanksgiving and we did our usual tradition and ran a turkey day 5k and Thanksgiving with our awesome friends. I ran/walked the turkey day 5k in under 45 minutes which I was really proud of. 

Today we will up our Christmas decorations and just relax. Love this time of year. Coming soon on the next blog, maternity photos and photos of the nursery almost completed!

Love,

Brendan, Alyssa and Baby White

Utah Baby shower, Halloween and Beer Brewing

It seems like a great, snuggly morning to update our blog. Its snowing and blustery outside and with the clocks finally changing a nice morning to sleep in late. Our lovely little old man puppy got in on the action too!

October was a great month, my lovely friends Sara and Erin threw me a wonderful baby shower here in Utah with my friends. Both my Moms and my Dad flew into town for the weekend. The shower was so cute they went with our adventure nursery theme and had such cute details like the aviator bear made from burp rags and bottle brush. I wanted to include some pictures as well. Enjoy!

This year we ended up not having any type of costume party and we were too lazy to throw one ourselves. Instead the Monday before Halloween we had friends over and we had chili and carved pumpkins. It was really fun and might end up becoming a tradition too. Here are some pictures from that evening.

November is looking to be a busy and great month as well. We will be flying to MN soon for our baby shower there with friends and family, this little boy is very spoiled already. We have felt so blessed with all the love from family and friends. Both of us have busy work months and are looking forward to the usual turkey day 5k and Thanksgiving with friends here. I am officially third trimester and baby boy is doing great. My tummy keeps moving out and its crazy how quickly time is going. Brendan has picked up a new hobby of brewing beer to make the time go a little quicker as well. Here is a picture of him and Andy working on their second batch. 

Until the next blog....

Love,

Alyssa, Brendan and Baby White