My Girls!!!

As many of your know I was blessed to be a nanny to two amazing little girls (Grace and Natalie) for the last 2.5 years, but in June their family moved up to Northern California due to their Fathers new job. I was heartbroken when I heard the news that I would be loosing my girls, I felt like 2 days a week they were mine. I took them to gymnastics, swim class, ballet, Awanas, girl scouts and that's not even mentioning the fun stuff like the zoo, wild Animal Park, beach, shopping, the park and so much more!!! These little girls showed me so much love and they made me want to be a mommy more then ever before. The craziest part was a week after I found out they were moving I found out I was pregnant, it is true as one door closer another one opens!!!

It was been almost 3 months since I have seen them, but today I was blessed with many hugs, kisses, and belly rubs! They are in town visiting for the weekend and we met up to breakfast at one of my FAVORITE places in La Jolla, Brockton Villa...

It's amazing what a little fabric can do...

"It's beginning to look a lot like a nursery"

Yesterday the custom curtains for Zöe's nursery were delivered! These curtains will be the new covering/doors of Ian's new office... in the closet... in the nursery...

My poor husband was not only moved into the closet, but he is now surrounded by a whimsical display of green and pink! He knew my dream of my first child's nursery did not include a home office, but in our 2 bedroom condo there wasn't many options. Then one day I thought of moving the desk and office supplies into the closet where I could close the curtains anytime I didn't want to see the clutter (since everyone knows that desks=clutter)and he agreed to my idea. Ian was such a trooper and last week we moved everything into it's new small space and I could not be happier. 

My friend Kristine has a company doing custom drapings and she offered to make my curtains as a baby gift, but the real surprise was the amazing floor blanket and pillow for the rocking chair!!!

Kristine,thank-you so much they are perfect and I am so excited to see how they are pulling the room together! 

Ian's new office!

Hidden...

I cannot wait until she is here and laying on this blanket!

And playing with her toys!

She also re-upholstered this ottoman of mine(which had been in a zebra print fabric)it turned out so cute and will make the PERFECT toy box and extra seating in the nursery!!!

Re-purposing an old item makes it new, fresh, and up to date!

 Kristine Baker Designs

Her first shoot!

At 25 Weeks...

This baby has been in my thoughts and prayers longer then I can remember. I always dreamed of the day I would pee on that magical stick and 2 lines would appear, and boy oh boy did I pee on some sticks ( a years worth of sticks). This last year of trying was the longest year on my life, and then dealing with irregular periods after coming off of birth control and irregular hormone tests made it seem like maybe it wasn't in my cards. I know that a year of trying isn't long, but for someone that has ONLY wanted to be a Mother it seemed like an eternal punishment. I felt like I was a godly person who followed the rules and did her best to live by God's laws, so why wouldn't he give me a child? It wasn't until one Sunday at Church when our Pastor said, " We deserve NOTHING but Hell, but instead Jesus died for our sins so we could live" that I realized I didn't deserve or have the right to have a baby. If God decided to give me a child it would be a true blessing. That month I laid my desire at his feet, gave myself and my prayers to him, and even though I and my doctor thought it was impossible to get pregnant at that time since I had not had a period in months I CONCEIVED... My husband kept telling me that irregular hormones and a irregular menstrual cycle could not keep God from blessing us, well he was right and I know that little blessing will be our BIGGEST BLESSING Of ALL!

Mackenzie Rouse Photography... http://mackenzierousephotography.blogspot.com/

Why, Mushrooms from Toadstools?

I picked this title based on the quote by Katherine Mansfield  ...

"If only one could tell true love from false love as one can tell mushrooms from toadstools ", because I love Mushrooms and Toadstools and have used that as the running theme for my baby girls shower theme and nursery!

 The funny thing about this quote is that there is no difference between Mushrooms and Toadstools and I do not believe there is a difference between true love and false love. I believe love is love, just as a mushroom and a toadstool are the same, they just come in different types. This quote reminds me of the fact that with this new chapter of my life I will be learning a whole new kind of LOVE one that I never knew existed. The LOVE that I will have for Zöe will not be REAL love or FALSE love it will just be a different kind of love. 

 I love God, myself,my husband, my baby girl, my family, my friends,my dog,food,my home,my lifestyle,event planning,and shopping but I love them all in different ways and at different levels!

A Perfect Toadstool Style Baby Shower For My Little LADYBUG...

I asked for a "Toadstool" themed baby shower, but instead I got so much more...
Please take this journey through what I thought was only possible in my dreams!

The Entrance with Glass Baby Bottle Cocktails for Guests!

All for Zöe

At First Site...

The Table Settings

Sweets for our Sweet Guests!

Homemade desserts by my mom 

Drink Station

Box Lunches filled with...
A sandwich, chips, fruit, carrots, peanuts, and of course a wet wipe!

The white table was mine from when I was a child, and all the toys are 26 years vintage

Instead of games we did craft areas with personalized iron on onesies and critter painting!

Thank you to all my Friends and Family for the amazing gifts!

To my Mother and Best Friend, this day was a dream come true for the both of us and no words can express my thankfulness! I was so blessed and everything you did was PERFECT! Now the real joy will come when Zöe arrives in December, but that day was an amazing way to celebrate the little life that is growing inside me! 
I LOVE YOU and CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!
-XOXO,
Richelle and Zöe

P.S.- I would also like to thank my Aunt Karen and Uncle Frank for opening their beautiful home for the special day. Also those that helped my mom so I wouldn't have to... Laura, my mom said she could NEVER have done it without your help and creativity and thanks to Melanie and LeeAnn for also helping my mom with set-up!

Thanks to Mackenzie Rouse photography for capturing this very special day!

http://mackenzierousephotography.blogspot.com/

 LOVE you Gals