Surprise Shower

For the last few days Lauren has been coughing and it got a little worse yesterday. She feels fine and is playing, but on the way to work I moved her already scheduled doctor's appointment from Tuesday to yesterday morning just in case. I had to have her to the doctor by 8:40 a.m. so I went to work for about an hour then left to take her to the doctor. What I didn't know was that my office had planned a surprise baby shower for that afternoon and they all became slightly concerned that I might have to take Lauren home (I think there was a sense of relief when I got back to the office two hours later).

At lunch time they lured me into the conference room, which was decorated with baby boy balloons, cake and a whole spread of food. We had sweet and sour meatballs, hot wings, a vege tray, fruit kabobs, potato salad, homemade salsa, mini roll-up sandwiches and a couple of desserts. After lunch I opened presents and baby brudder once again racked up on gifts. He got lots of clothes in sizes varying from 3 to 9 months -- including a super cute Alabama sweatsuit. He also got a blanket with his initials embroidered on it, a piggy bank, some diapers and wipes. Here are a couple of pictures of all of his presents. You can click on the pictures and they will enlarge.

Lauren even got a present.

I think baby brudder has plenty of stuff now and we're pretty much set for his arrival in the next 2 and half weeks. Oh, and Lauren's cough is fine. The doctor said she is congested, but it's all in her head and sinus cavities, not her lungs or chest. She got some Benadryl and Robitussin and should be fine in a few days.

Halloween 2009

Lauren has been dressing up for Halloween ever since she was born, but she had never been trick-or-treating because we knew she wouldn't really get it. So this year we decided to take her. However, that plan was almost cancelled because Patrick was going to a conference out of town over Halloween weekend. Then his conference got cancelled and he ended up having to visit a client at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville instead so we got to spend Halloween in Birmingham. Here are a few pictures of her in her bumble bee costume at Birmingham Botanical Gardens...

After the photo shoot, her highness requested to stay in her costume during nap time so the bumble took a nap and after she woke up she practiced trick-or-treating with Uncle Jeff. He stood behind the pantry door and Lauren would knock on the door. When Jeff opened it she was coached to say trick-or-treat, which she usually got, but she kept forgetting to say "thank you" after receiving candy. So they continued to practice. Jeff threw her off once by asking "what are you?" and she looked up as serious as can be and said "Lauren."

Later on me, Patrick and Jeff took her out to test her skills. We started with the next door neighbors...

However, despite all of her practicing Lauren froze at the door. After she got the candy though, she quickly learned to perform.

After going to about eight or so houses we headed back to eat dinner and check out her loot...

... and learn important life skills from Dadda, like how to TP the living room.

Furnny story, she had to go potty later and the toilet paper was missing. I told her Dadda didn't put it back and she told me, "Dadda didn't put it back? You gunna pop his mouth." Not sure where she gets that... :)

We ended the night by surprising Maw Maw and Paw Paw.

Bebe got to choose all the candy she wanted because Maw Maw is easily impressed by her cuteness.

After we left Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house we had to head back to Columbus because Patrick had to go out of town early the next morning. So the bumble bee changed into her jammies and slept all the way home.