Cousin Meeting Cousins

NOW, the pictures of my kids meeting Ford.  They were pretty excited.  They've known and understood what was happening and couldn't wait to meet him in person!

BUT, before we get to those, I'm going to answer a few questions that have come my way.  My striped dress and boots - dress from TJ Maxx, the belt came with it.  I just threw a navy cardigan on with it.  The boots are from (I'm a little embarrassed to admit I even go in this store!) Wet Seal.  I don't know why I *need* so many boots, but somehow I manage to wear them all a lot!

Also, as far as camera settings and lenses with all these pictures.  I mainly used my 17-50 f/2.8 lens.  The room was small and I needed that wide angle.  I had my ISO up pretty high.  Anywhere from 500 to 800 to compensate for no flash.  If I used my flash the ISO was between 100 and 200.  And my shutter was pretty slow.  Anywhere between 1/30 and 1/100 - depending on the ISO.  I used the pop up flash on just a handful of pictures.  I used my 50mm 1.8 for some close up face pictures.  I kept the aperture around f/2.0 - f/2.2 to keep all his face in focus.  The ISO was around 320 and shutter speed still kinda slow - 1/30 to 1/50. 


Ok, onto the cousin pictures.  

Rhodes didn't know what to think.  But he's been replaced as the baby in the family!

Doesn't Lillian look funny with NO bow?  Well, Robert dressed her.  Or she dressed her self and he didn't think about putting one in.  But he did great with taking the kids most of the day so I could be up at the hospital!

First unofficial pictures of all FIVE grandkids!

Lillian was SOOOOOO excited to be able to hold him.  She keeps talking about her baby cousin and how she's going to teach him how to snuggle.  (Which is her version of sniffing her blanket) ?#$@!

Landon did great too!

And Robert did the classic Heisman trophy pose. 

Of course, I couldn't stay gone long.  I skipped church and went back up there Sunday morning with Olivia to do a little work on my Aunt skills.  Think I'm gonna fit right into this title.  :)

Tour of Ford's Nursery

Lacey is still in the decorating and organizing stage of Ford's nursery.  I went over there to help her go through clothes and give her some input on what she NEEDS and what she may want to return for other things.  There are only so many baby towels he needs!  You know, that type of stuff. 

I snapped a few pictures while I was there.

Here is looking in from the doorway.  Lots of things still need to be hung and the mattress has yet to be put in the crib. 

So if anybody is curious, the bedding and curtains are from www.laylagrace.com.  The crib is Pottery Barn.  She is also getting a gliding chair and carpet....should be arriving soon.  And the chandelier is from At Home.  She thinks it's an Aiden Grey. 



Below is a headboard  that Lacey upholstered herself with pewter velvet fabric.  She covered the bench herself.  AND she painted the painting.  Did I mention I have one crafty sister??

Here is one of the chest of drawers.  She had this for the longest time and hated it.  So she stripped it,  painted and glazed it.  Our grandfather built a (removable) railing to go on top and it will be the changing table.  She has yet to put a pad in.   :-)

Here is the area to the left of the crib.  Another smaller chest of drawers that she painted and glazed.  On top are miscellaneous items.  She plans to hang pictures of her and Mac and the picture with a bunch of old pictures is Mac's great grandfather...the original Donald Russell.  (Correct me if I'm wrong here Lacey!)

On either side of the crib, our grandfather Poppop built some custom shelves!

Here is what Ford will wear home from the hospital!

So sweet...I love all detail!

It was fun just going through baby things.  Making lists of what she needs, labeling drawers, making return piles.  I'm glad we did, because we realized she needed baby hangers!  You just forget about some of the little things. 

I also went through my stuff and pulled out all of the tiny little outfits that I borrowed from my mom that my little brother wore!  Happy to pass them onto Ford. 

So that is the beginning.  Hopefully everything else will come together and I can post more pictures when it's done. 

She will have 9 weeks left come Wednesday.  Or 2 months from Thursday.  Which is the 21st!  WOW, can't believe it's so soon.  Things are really winding down now!!

Due September 2011: Showering Ford!

Lacey had her baby shower last night.  Ford is one blessed little baby already!  Lacey and Ford received some GREAT things! 

The hostesses did a great job.  All the details were amazing!  So was the food!!

There was a table with Lacey and Mac's baby pictures and a tree you wrote a little "wish" for Ford and then hang it on the tree.

There were "mom"jitos for the preggers, and other delightful things to sip on as well!

All of her sweet friends!!!

Lacey's 27 week baby bump!

She's in the third trimester now!  The countdown is ON!!!

This Auntie's Got New Baby Nephew!

Here are some more pics from the Gender Reveal Party!!!  Mom has a blue and pink ribbon from all my kiddos, so she decorated the door with them!

Rayne, Mac's sister, brought a cake!!!  YUM!

Mac pretty much came in and started setting up the game!

We all took turns!  I would say it took roughly 20 minutes.  A long 20 minutes! ;-)

This is Mac doing the last few matches saying, "It's a BOY!  It's gotta be a BOY!!!"

Lacey's ultrasound nurse did a GREAT job!  She picked out the "boy" symbol and taped it to the inside of the envelope that included the "i'm a boy" pics! ;-)

We decided to eat the girl section of the cake!

I HAVE A NEPHEW!!!!!!!!!!

And the official 18w 1d belly bump pic...I threw myself in there too.  It's funny, in the background, you see a wedding pic of mine, Lacey's Portico magazine cover, a baby pic of Olivia and family pic of my family when Lilian was like 8 weeks old.  ;-)

Another random little fact, Lacey and play Words with Friends on our iphone and ipad.  The night before she found out, I played the word "ford".  And then nagged her about all the words she's been playing that I've never heard of.  (Lallands? Kora? Ain? Avo?  comeon...)  And she made the comment, is it a sign?!?  Because Ford is one of the names up for grabs for the baby.  He will likely be a IV named after his daddy.  Anyways, thinking back she was RIGHT!