The EL Baby Book

The Emily Ley Baby Book has finally arrived!! If you are like me, you have been stalking Emily's progress and announcements on Insta for the past couple months and have been waiting for today! It's a beautiful book, with the perfect amount of pages that will be so fun to have for many years to come. I just purchased one for our little Lyon Cub and I can't wait to get it in the mail! Hop over to EmilyLey.com to purchase yours today - or visit one of the many retail stores around the country that carry EL. 

Isn't it beautiful! I just love a great layout and a clean design.

Four

I saw this on Miss Dixie's blog last week and thought this would be a fun way to share a few personal things about me. I decided a long time ago that if I wanted to continue blogging it would be hard to really keep tabs on everything: personal life + home + food + baby... but I do try to do a litle bit of it all. Enjoy these tidbits below, if you want to learn me about me!

Four Nicknames

Pete, T-bone, T, Trace

Papa Sam can be credited with Pete.

Four Jobs I've Had

Sorority Consultant, Event Planner, Director of Communications, Chamber Executive Director

Four Movies I've Watched More Than Once

Pure Country, You've Got Mail, League of Their Own, Father of the Bride

Four Things In My Purse

Wallet, Lip Gloss, Crackers, Receipts

My brothers and I, circa 1987

Four Books I Would Recommend 

The All Girls Fill'in Station, The Help, Waking up in Dixie, Sparkly Green Earrings

Four Cars I've Driven

Jeep CJ7, Jeep Cherokee Sport, Expedition... a mustang that I had for the weekend. lol?

Four Places I've Visited

Antiqua, Key West, Jamaica, Arizona

Our honeymoon in Antigua.

The Biltmore in Arizona

Four Places To Visit On My Bucket List

The BVI's, Yellowstone, Martha's Vineyard, Ireland

Four Of My Favorite Foods

Chicken Salad, Fro-yo, Cheese & Crackers, Blackened Grouper

Four TV Shows I Watch

Parenthood {does it still count?}, Scandal, Heart of Dixie, Ellen

Four Things I'm Looking Forward To In 2015

Welcoming our Lyon Cub into the world in June, planting our garden, a summer home with my babe, and lots of trips and celebrations!

Weekending Away with my AOII's!

This weekend marks my last weekend of planned travel before the cub arrives in June and I must say, I'm a little bittersweet. First, let me start by saying what a fabulous weekend I had, and how much we have enjoyed the trips we have been able to take over the past few months. We are blessed with so many good friends and family, that we wanted to squeeze in all the trips before the Lyon cub got too close to arrival time. I still have a couple weeks yet until I really can't travel - but for comforts sake, I'm happy to be off the road.

This weekend I headed down to Raleigh and Elon, NC for Carolina Days with my AOII's. I really do have the best team anyone could ask for - and am so lucky to call each of these women my sisters!

On a side note, I have decided that Nerds are my new favorite fro-yo topping. A-maze! 

Our team out and about in Durham.

The beautiful flowers in full bloom on campus. 

On Saturday night, we played "our favorite things" where we each bring a $10 gift of one of our favorite things, and we essentially play dirty santa. I found an adorable Betsy Johnson scarf with roses for my gift. And I ended with with a bag full o' goodies from Janet - after stealing it from a sista, sorry Jenny Meade... I love ya! Lots of my favorite things as well. I mean, who does't love a box of brand new crayons? A 64-count at that.

The bag of sour patch kids got devoured on the ride home Sunday.

They also surprised me and "the cub" that evening with a wonderful happy - our Momma Roo! 

The lil cub is so lucky to have so many great AOII Aunties - he or she can't wait to meet you!

Sunday was Carolina Day, where over 200 AOII's gathered for a day full of sisterhood and fun.

I might have also gone a little crazy with my thank-you notes purchase, but I just could't pick which ones I wanted, so I got them all!

The cub and I have some thank-you's to get started on. That will be my project for the week! 

Happy Monday!

Rock-a-Bye Baby Lyons

Baby Lyons is one loved little cub! Last weekend we made the long trip to the coast, so Baby Lyons could be extra-spoiled with lots of goodies from all our family and friends. It was the perfect evening with wonderful company and lots of love.

The theme for the shower was based on Mother Goose and Golden Books, so everything was a play on a nursery rhyme - the decor, food, gifts, etc. My bestie and SIL went over and above with the decor, so prepare for picture overload!

I'm so in love with our door hanger and can't wait to pack it for the hospital!

 Boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails...

 Girls are made of sugar, and spice, and everything nice. 

What Baby Lyons is made of... 

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star cake

Humpty Dumpty Devilved Eggs, Three Blind Mice Cheese Tray, The Muffin Man Quiche

Gramma and GranDe

Auntie Amanda

Auntie Karen

Auntie Jen

Gramma and Grampa Lyons.... and our Bob! {eeekk!!}

GranDe and Papa Sam

....and the day wouldn't be complete without a little carrot picking from the garden.

And of course, golden eggs from Mother Goose for all the guests. 

Thanks for such a wonderful time. We are so very blessed and can't wait to welcome Baby Lyons in June!

Baby Lyons | Week 30

How far along? 30 weeks. Wow, how did that happen? I feel like I blinked and here we are 3/4 of the way through the pregnancy. 

Size of baby: A cucumber or butternut squash (17 in., 3 lb.) I don't know about you, but I've yet to find a cucumber that is 17 inches long. 

Gender: We will know in June! 

Weight Gain: Up a total of 23 pounds. At what point do we stop talking about this part? haha

Maternity Clothes: You betcha! Loving dresses, tanks and lots of workout clothes. Easter weekend was the perfect excuse to be super casual most all the time - just sitting around with my besties and catching up. I did buy a couple tanks and some capri tights from H&M that have certainly come in handy. 

Nursery: Is so sweet! I like to just sit in there and take it all in. The gold knobs came for the dresser {and while they still need a little adjusting/tightening] they are so perfect! The light fixture and dimmer have arrived, but are not installed yet - and the curtains came too. We started unpacking some shower gifts and organizing, which has been really fun. The little cub already has quite the book collection and lots of clothes, blankets and toys to get us started. 

Purchases: Auntie Lyns and Dot got the lil cub a couple things this weekend - a pack a swaddle blankets and a little monster named Pixie. She came from the Asheville open-air market. Look how cute! 

Movement: Love my early morning kicks. It seems like the cub has been very active at 5 a.m., and while being woken up that early isn't my favorite past time, I am enjoying the special quiet time with the cub. J even woke up one morning and got to feel a good strong kick. Starting to feel a little booty or feet up in my ribs, which means he or she is growing for sure! The movement is so much more noticeable these days and I love it. I know why people say they miss it once the baby comes. 

Symptoms: Started the week with a little head cold - runny nose, sore throat - ended it with a worse cold and lots of fluid in the ears. You can see my lina negra now and the belly button is starting to get more and more flat. The belly is certainly feeling heavier and making it harder to move around, but I do love it when it gets in the way. Reminds me that the cub is with me. Nose bleeds are still around on occasion.  Happy my legs and feet are doing pretty good and not too much swelling. My feet are certainly feeling the weight gain, but holding up ok. Feeling a pedi is in my near future. 

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good. Only up twice to potty and usually falling right back asleep. Noticing that I really need 8-9 hours a night to feel rested. Usually that doesn't happen, but I have squeezed in a few naps here and there. 

Workouts: Still getting in several walks, but having to pace myself. Also realizing how much just walking for work or around town takes out of me. It's much more of a workout than I ever imagined. 

Cravings: I haven't been able to live without chipped ice! Still loving fruits, yogurt, milk, cereal, cheese and crackers and he occasional bag of chips! 

What I Miss: Nothing at all. Life is really good for me and the babe right now. 

Best Moment This Week: Spending Easter weekend with my Mangos and their wonderful families. The lil cub got lots of loving from the aunties. On a side note, we had a not so great moment this week - my FIL has come down with a terrible bacterial infection and is really sick. If you are a follower, please send up an extra prayer for his recovery. We are taking it one day at a time and hoping his strength pulls him through. We know he can't wait to meet you, Baby Lyons!

Looking Forward To: Hopeful for some good news for my FIL and just for a good week ahead. 

Our Announcement | Weeks 5-12 | Weeks 13-16 | Week 17 | Week 18 

 Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 25 | Babymoon 

Week 26 | Week 27 | Weeks 28 & 29

Bbay Lyons | Weeks 28 and 29

How far along? 28 & 29 weeks

Size of baby: An eggplant and acorn squash (15.2-16.7 in., 2.5-3.8 lb.) 

Gender: We will know in June!

Weight Gain: Up a total of 20 pounds and starting to feel it! ha Belly is defiantly growing bigger every day.

Maternity Clothes: You bet! I can get away with some dresses, tops and skirts that aren't maternity, but they are getting snug. Invested in some maternity shorts and workout capri's last week - so worth it.

Nursery: Lots of progress! We have carpet, new blinds, the dresser is up and as of Monday - we have a crib and mattress!! It's starting to get real, y'all! haha We also ordered our light fixture, window treatments and knobs for the dresser. My sister-in-law went over and above for our shower on the coast {recap to come soon} last weekend and sent us home with a ton of options for décor. So excited to start decorating! Here is a sneak peak.

Purchases: I have been pretty good these past couple weeks, knowing we had a shower coming up I was able to contain my buying. I did pick up a couple pineapple hats for the little babe, but other than those - we kept our purchases to nursery items. Dresser pulls, light fixture and window treatments. Trying to stay practical. ...for now.

Movement: Lots of kicks! Sometimes so hard that it startles me... it's so fun. I love it! 

Symptoms: The last two weeks, I have been feeling pretty good. Had pretty good energy and overall feeling great. Over the past couple days, I have started to feel the belly growing and it's slowing me down a little. The babe is starting to push up into my ribs which is getting quite uncozy at times.

Sleep: Pretty good. Up once a night to pee and usually up early to eat. 

Workouts: Walks are getting shorter and harder, but still trying to get out.

Cravings: Frozen yogurt, grapes, pineapple, strawberries... nothing too crazy. 

What I Miss: Being able to put on shoes quickly... the belly is causing some challenges. :)

Best Moment This Week: Most defiantly our baby shower! My bestie, Ale, and my sister-in-law, Karen, put on an amazing shower for Baby Lyons. We made the long 13-hour trip down to the coast, but it was so worth it. We got to visit with family and friends and celebrate the soon-to-be-arrival of our little cub. Can't wait to share all the pictures soon!

Looking Forward To: Our weekend ahead in Asheville with my Mangos and their men/babies. We decided before Baby Lyons arrival and a couple cross-county moves for two other Mangos, that a "Man-gofest" was in order. Can't wait to see my girls and love on their little ones! 

Our Announcement | Weeks 5-12 | Weeks 13-16 | Week 17 | Week 18 

 Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 25 | Babymoon 

Week 26 | Week 27