It's ANOTHER girl! :)

So we've found out that Anne Bradley is going to be a big sister to a little sister! :) We are so excited! We've decided her name is going to be Margaret Stuart Watkinson and we will be calling her Molly Stuart. Bring on the monogramming! Molly Stuart already has her Little Giraffe blanket and 2 blankies in PINK! :)

Dining Room: start!

I forgot to add this and I'll take better pictures later since this doesn't show the room in it's full glory! This was set up for Anne Bradley's first birthday party back in September. Note in the NEW HOUSE post from below (the real estate listing pictures), our lovely dining room was a serious shade of NAVY BLUE, and I am all about blue but it was so harsh and needed to be brightened up! :)

Dream home attempt...

My home will one day look like this... I am doing my best to get it there with what I already have, while gathering the small accessories as I go! This was from the Better Homes and Gardens Special Publication: New Home, "Revisiting the Cape" article from Fall 2007. Mom kept her magazine copy for me that I regularly keep in my purse all sorts of dog-earred! I just found a link to the article online: http://www.maryleblanc.com/images/New-Home.pdf

I already have my white denim fabric for my family room couches, just need the tax return for the slipcovers... HA! I am also attempting my to get my hubs painting these gorgeous shades of gray throughout my downstairs. I figured that round 2 of pregnancy would have him helping the paint but while he's busy at the CAA Men's Basketball tournament with his Dad and brother, I may be heading to Ace Hardware to get the Low VOC Benjamin Moore Paint and start on the kitchen! (If I start it, he'll be obliged to complete it!) :)

PS- you professional bloggers... I can't figure out how to save the images from a pdf to my computer to post on here! Any suggestions would be lovely!

PIGGY TAILS...

I just couldn't resist these pig tails... my baby is turning into a little girl!

Trying again... :)

Trying again to start blogging if I can find the time! :) We are pleased to announce that Anne Bradley is going to be a big sister in September! My due date is September 27, but we are thinking the baby will be here 1-2 weeks early! SO VERY EXCITED to add yet ANOTHER adventure to this household! We (I) have purchased our newest (and one of the only) items we are hoping to buy for the arrival of Baby #2... a new stroller! We've gotten another Baby Jogger and love the brand so much! This time we've purchased the City Select that can be a single or in our new case, a DOUBLE! It's pretty awesome...

I also had to purchase the infant insert for my Ergo Baby Carrier! I can't believe I ever liked the Bjorn... after wearing an Ergo... you'll be a believer, too!

Also, for Christmas, Santa brought me the older version of Anne Bradley's crib bedding from Serena and Lily... I am hoping the crib to bed transition (that will occur before Baby#2 will be smoother with matching?!) Wishful thinking, I presume! HA! But the Caroline Bedding is AS adorable as the Kate Crib Bedding! Thank you, Serena and Lily, for keeping my angel cakes precious!

Our New Home... from Grayland (in RIC) to Maylands (in Raleigh)! :)

front of home

the foyer

the kitchen

the family room

the living room

the dining room

downstairs master

upstairs bedroom #1

upstairs bedroom #2

upstairs bedroom #3 (upstairs master)

backyard

storage shed


We are so excited to move into our new home on May 21st, 2010. We will keep you updated with pictures when we get our own furniture in it! :)

Turning over a new (blog) leaf...

September 4, 2009
April 22, 1010... almost 8 months old... where did the time go?

Obviously the adventures of Anne Bradley's arrival stopped somewhere close to... well, her arrival! Much has gone on since my last August 3rd, 2009 post. Hatteras ended up being a blast... at 38 weeks pregnant, wallowing around in the shorebreak was about AWESOME... But alas, I went into Bellevue Elementary on September 1st, Anne Bradley's due date... and she never arrived! I had my classroom all set up for the longterm substitute though and eagerly awaited for the little Miss to arrive...

She never came. So we scheduled an induction for September 4, 2009 and once we arrived at the hospital, my little turkey had flipped for the last time and ended up being head-down and I had a surprise C-section. That's where this blog came to an end...

So... We moved from our house in Richmond on Nov. 2nd into Brad's Mom's attic while we awaited our next move... we sought out houses to buy in Richmond, yet were awaiting something even better! We got the call on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving that Brad was being offered the position in Raleigh, NC and we jumped on the opportunity! Needless to say, a LOT of praying went up about what to do... I immediately vacated my 5th grade Bellevue teaching position the week before maternity leave was over, packed the rest of Geri's attic/our makeshift home, and by the last week in December, we had set up temporary camp in a townhouse in a great location in Raleigh. Here is where I'll restart this blog! :)

Hatteras 2008

I have decided to upload some pics from our Hatteras 2008 trip which was next week (last year) we took of the family... First of all, I am wondering, WILL I EVER LOOK LIKE THAT AGAIN?! My pics this year are going to be of me 37 weeks pregnant ready to pop out my sweet little girl... maybe no bathing suit pics this year?!? :)

I have my 36 week appointment this afternoon at 4:00PM which will pretty much be the deciding factor if I can even PARTICIPATE in the annual family trip to Hatteras... I REALLY NEED A VACATION as this will be my last NOT CHASING A CHILD!! :) Not sure whether it will even be relaxing for me or not, but... I am praying I get to go... it all is determined by Anne Bradley's positioning... she has been head up (breech position) now for a while and seems pretty darn content to stay that way... If she remains that way, I'll not be able to go into labor, with her feet down, that far away from my doctor here in RIC! I NEED PRAYERS this afternoon as I reminisce over these pictures from last year's wonderful vacation! :)

Our house is FOR SALE

Our house is on the market... (Smart decision at 36 weeks pregnant, yes?) Please visit http://www.2927grayland.com/ and check it out!! :)

New baby items! :)

Jenn Graves got me the cutest nursing cover ever... I LOVE IT! :) This pattern is precious and I can't wait to use it with my little angel baby...

We have Anne Bradley's bassinet, from a few posts ago (Pottery Barn kids preciousness), set up in our bedroom for her to sleep in when she arrives... and since I am not a huge fan of MASSIVE (ugly patterned) Pack n' Plays to be set up in our living room for naptime downstairs, we've gone the way of Rattle and Roll's Moses baskets... Blakley has a green and blue precious one for Charlie and I've done the pink and green for Anne Bradley! :) It comes with a wonderful rocker stand as well! :) If you Richmonders haven't been to Rattle & Roll yet on Huguenot Road, across from the Lilly store... well GET THERE ASAP! :)

Instead of a pack n' play... we've opted for this lightweight travel crib from Phil & Ted's. I was interested in the Baby Bjorn one, but this has the side flaps that open up, plus a top mesh flap that zips as well (PERFECT for keeping out mosquitos!).

preggo mcpregs.

This pic was taken on June 17th when I was 29.5 weeks... I'll be 31 weeks tomorrow!! 9 more until Anne Bradley gets here! WOW... time is flying and I am kicking myself HARD in the rump for signing up for 2nd grade summer school, NOT even at Bellevue... HEINOUS. This 3rd trimester makes for a TIRED me! We are BOTH growing like weeds...

Anne Bradley's room

So, Daddy has finally finished painting Anne Bradley's room! :) I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT!! Those of you that have never been to Richmond, some of the old fan homes, one of which we live in, have tiny "3rd bedrooms" that are called trunk rooms! To ensure that guests still have a welcome place to call home when they visit the Watkinsons, we kept the guest room and turned the trunk room into Annie B's (as her Daddy calls her) little room. I adore how it turned out! THANK YOU GRAMMIE for the Serena and Lily "Kate" bedding surprise! :) It looks adorable. We are awaiting the mirror over the dresser (that Daddy Brad also painted and picked out the knobs for...) I feel as though I am READY for this munchkin to get here ASAP!

A quick one...

Getting ready to head to a family reunion/Memorial Service for the Gawthrop side (Mom's side) of the family in Huntington, WV. The clothing options are getting smaller and smaller... Anyway, really looking forward to seeing the family!!!



On another note... To go with the white pique' bedding for the white Pottery Barn Kids bassinet for Anne Bradley, I found the most precious website that had white pique' decorative pillows that could be monogrammed. Since all is white in her bassinet, I embellished a tad on her little pillow... LOVE IT!!
I couldn't resist!!! :) not sure why the lighting was so bad, but took the pic with my camera phone, so that could be it! I LOVE how precious her name looks on the pillow! Don't have the rest of the bedding in her bassinet yet, but threw the pillow in for good measure... Brad and I are getting so excited and so ready for the baby shower (at least I am!).


MOST OF ALL, I AM READY FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO END... what a bunch we had in the 5th grade this year! Ready to see them graduate to 6th grade FOR SURE! Wish everyone a wonderful summer! Will update this later when we get more pics of this reunion weekend!

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Today, Brad and I celebrate our two year anniversary... close to the time we were actually going to TRY to become parents!! God had other plans... Not only do we get to celebrate two years of wedded bliss, I have my 24 week check up for Anne Bradley and we'll get to hear her sweet heart beat! I can't wait! Brad surprised me with flowers and a sweet card for Mother's Day (to-be) on our crazy packed Mother's Day weekend! He's so good to me! Mom (and Dad) surprised me with a more girly nursery bedding, though I had resigned to the fact that my baby girl was going to be in the Navy and white pique bedding from Pottery Barn Kids that is absolutely precious... ALAS... That has been put into the basement for my little boy to-be someday... Mom found the most precious bedding to surprise me with! I think some of you have it from what I recall... though of course my Mother picked it because it reminded her of a Sweet Briar baby... I LOVE IT! :) It's the Serena & Lily bedding in pink & green damask, called the Kate bedding. I AM SO EXCITED! It's super girly... We are adding beadboard/wainscotting to the walls in her nursery and are painting the walls the pink that is in the bedding (we had already bought the paint for the navy and pale pink room that Anne Bradley was going to have!)

Her Daddy is in the process of painting her dresser white and did a fabulous job of picking out the knobs for her new dresser from Anthropologie!

It's going to be so cute! :) Nice job Daddy to be! :)

Lastly for today, Brad and I are celebrating our anniversary at The Boathouse at Sunday Park. It's out in Midlothian, but REALLY delicious and has a gorgeous large deck overlooking a lake!

Let's play tag! :)

Let's play TAG!
I've never been tagged before, but thanks to Miss Shirley, here goes:
1. Current obsession: My in utero precious baby girl, Anne Bradley!
2.Namesake: My dad named me Courtney. I don't like it, but am glad Dad got to name me. (too cheerleaderish for me) no offense cheerleaders, but it's too 80's for me!) Anne came from my Aunt Lucianne and my Mom's best friend, Ann.
3. Favorite Dinner: summertime, not pregnant: A gorgonzola turkey burger on the grill, fresh grilled white corn on the cob, and my spinach and goat cheese salad, with a glass of pinot grigio. pregnant: anything I don't have to cook! Steinhilber's butterflied-fan tail shrimp.
4. Favorite brand of jeans: I am loving my Paige maternity jeans. (my one splurge!)
5.Favorite tea flavor: I don't like tea. Unless I'm not pregnant and it's in Firefly!
6. Favorite owned jewelry: My engagement ring and wedding band. My diamond earrings handed down from Mom and Dad on my wedding day, my pearl and diamond bracelet from Dad for my wedding day. My Roberto Coin diamond cross necklace. It's so dainty and petite! I LOVE IT!
7.Favorite TV show: American Idol, Dancing with the Stars. I am not into getting hooked on shows that I may have to miss!! BUT I LOVE 24! :)
8. Listening to: a silent classroom. My children have been rude and disrespectful to each other so we aren't talking this afternoon since we can't be kind to one another.
9. Bathroom cabinet holds: toothpaste, contact solution, jewelry cleaner, lotions
10. Childhood dream: To be an obstetrician.
11.If I could go anywhere in the next hour, I would ... go sit on the beach somewhere.
12.Person I want to meet: My granddad who died when Mom was 17
13.Five-Year-Plan: We'll be working on child #2 by that point... New house, definitely! I love ours that we own, but in Carytown in RIC, it's a tad sketchy and I want good schools for my babies! Move back to the beach?? :)
14. Today is special because: I feel my baby kicking me :)
15. Where I blog: At school during silent time :) or at home on the couch!
16. My perfect day: Sleeping in. (what's that?) Driving down to the beach to lay out all day with Brad, walk on the beach with B, watch the sunset, head out to a good meal at Chick's, have an ice cold one, and sit out on someone's deck with good friends and talk, laugh, and listen to good music. :)

Baby Girl! :)

And the fun begins... Our little Baby Girl! :) 3-D profile... Looking right with her little hand in front of her face... beautiful princess! :)

Forgot the Bassinet...

I have no idea how I forgot to add the bassinet that Baby Watkinson gets spoiled in... we got the white one with ALL WHITE pique' bedding... SO PRECIOUS... It's already set up in our bedroom!

snuggly items

My little angel will have this precious bunny buddy blankie with love from Grammie and Gearnie to cuddle with forever... :) Bunnies by the Bay makes these... I am VERY much into white for both boy or girl at this point for some reason...

And of course because I didn't know Grammie and Gearnie were spoiling my angel baby... I already bought this precious Baby Gund huggy buddy. I AM CURRENTLY WANTING EVERYTHING I SEE WITH WHITE LAMBS... I think they are the sweetest things ever...

I also got the Baby this Little Giraffe blanket in white (of course) and the travel size blankie in white as well... fortunately my mother spoiled us girls a while back with the Barefoot Dreams (same company) bathrobes... so I won't be tugging my baby's blanket away from him/her. :)

I am also (thanks Mom) very into organic clothing for the baby... These baby gowns from Under the Nile are precious... they look very "baby" to me... and I love all three classic colors!!

I also ADORE classic baby clothing... seersucker, bubble suits, gorgeous Christening gowns, rompers... BABIES ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE BABIES!! NOT MINI-MILEY CYRUS'S!! UGH! :)

Anyway this little bubble suit couldn't be cuter for my late summer baby... :)

monogrammed items...

Debating on wall art... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=23290133&ga_search_query=wall+monograms&ga_search_type=tag_title&ga_page=6&min=&max=&order=

I am loving this one I found on Etsy... has the best color options as well... shows the green I would like (key lime) if I get a boy and choose green with the navy and it also showcases the pale blue I like if it's a boy... Ice blue. Of course the pale pink showcases well, too!! :)

I also think these wall letters are precious... But since Baby W is in the "trunk" room that the fan houses have, they may take up too much space! Especially since our girl name options are both double names: Anne Bradley and Lucy Carter.

We are still debating boy names... Brad told me he would think about it when we find out what the baby is... I feel as though I may be harassing him a bit about this issue... :)

We will definitely be placing a cross in this baby's room... We want Baby to feel Jesus's comfort at all times... :) We've been praying for this baby daily... (and Mommy and Daddy, too!) Of course I'll have to see if they can incorporate NAVY for those small green dots.

I love the handmade rag rugs... this is a precious pale blue one if I have a little man... :) There isn't much space in the baby's room so a tiny round or oval shape will suffice! :)