OPA! Celebrating Life Before Becoming "Mom"

On Tuesday, I will officially leave my twenties and start a new decade. Kind of fitting, considering Kyle and I will start a new era of our own soon. On Saturday night, Kyle and I went out with some friends to celebrate my birthday, as well as a couple of other good friends who turn 30 in August. We went to dinner at Taverna Plaka - a Greek restaurant where yelling "Opa!" and belly dancing is just part of the total exprience. Another part of the experience is for the birthday girls to dance on the table while everyone sings "Happy Birthday" to them. My good friends know that historically I've enjoyed the attention and wouldn't have hesistated to hop on that table to be serenaded. At 8.5 months pregnant, however, I wasn't sure it was a good idea. But, my good friend, Brianna convinced me to get up on that table. At first I felt kind of silly, but am really glad that I joined in on the celebration. With a watchful eye and hand on my back, Kyle made sure there were some pictures to commemorate the last weekend in my twenties, and the last birthday before becoming "mom".

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate - especially the girls that shared their birthday celebration!

With Brianna...on the table...

James doing his table dance. He always provides us with great entertainment.

Good friends...James, me, Kyle and Brianna.

With Kyle, who has made this birthday super special. I am fortunate to have such a wonderful husband.

With the other birthday girls....Heidi, Brianna, me and Melissa. I'm also fortunate to have their friendship. Next year, ladies, the celebration is ON...until Baby Long needs to go down for bed. :)

Getting Ready for Baby

After we returned from Florida, Kyle and I tackled the nursery. We still have some work to do, but we are moving along quite nicely.

My friend, Catherine, made this diaper wreath for Baby Long. It will hang on the nursery door until we start needing those diapers.

This is the glider. Long story about the glider...if you look closely enough, you can see a tear on the top corner and on the arm. It fell out of the delivery truck en route to our house!

Baby Long's crib from P-Daddy and Nana Long.


The changing station and dresser.

Our neighbor thinks the nursery is lookin' good!

Babymoon?

I recently read that a couple will often take one last vacation together before the arrival of a new baby, and it's called a "babymoon". While I don't know if it qualifies as a babymoon, Kyle and I just returned from a week-long vacation to North Miami Beach with my family. My grandparents started going to the Golden Strand - the place we stayed - about 40 years ago, and this year, 13 family members spent a week on the beach at the Golden Strand. We had a great time and thank my parents for a wonderful trip! Grandma and Grandpa couldn't join us, but they were definitely with us in spirit.

Kyle and I on the beach at dusk.

My dad and mom with the lights of downtown Miami behind them. We ate at a restaurant on Biscayne Bay.


My brother, Jonathan, and I with my mom on a balcony in the condo.

The pool deck with the ocean in the background. On the left is Christopher, my cousin's son, and Kyle and my cousin, Kelly, are behind him.

The view from the condo.


My mom, Peggy, and her sister, Jill, in the pool, with their matching hats. They come to the Golden Strand together in January every year, and occasionally my mom will join Jill in July.

Celebrating Red, White & Blue

This is our second Fourth of July in Atlanta, and we've already established traditions! Kyle and I attended the Hosch Family Fourth of July party during the day and then went to the neighborhood party at the Wyatt's house in the evening. It was a great day full of wonderful food, good friends and a spectacular fireworks show. Below are some pictures from our low-key, but fun, weekend.

Baby Long's future best friend. Special K, as I like to call him, was born in February.


With our host, Amber, who is about eight weeks behind me in her pregnancy. She is carrying Baby Long's future girlfriend!

Kyle and Erin after Kyle and his friend, Eric, dominated Corn Hole. I think they went undefeated all day!

These pictures are too cute not to include. Our "boys" Brooks and Gavin enjoyed some yard time playing ball. For those of you who know Gavin, you know that he isn't the most outgoing dog. Lately, he's wanted to go for walks and he loves to play with the ball in the backyard. It's like having a whole new dog! We're so happy he's coming out of his shell.

Long Time, No Post

My lack of blogging definitely isn't intentional. Life has just gotten busy. I can only imagine that it's going to get busier in September! Kyle, Brooks, Gavin and I are busy getting ready for Baby Long's arrival. I'm officially in the third trimester. We have a little over 10 weeks before the expected "d-day". The biggest help in getting ready for baby was our second shower. Thanks to our hosts and everybody who came and to celebrate our new addition. Some pictures are posted below. You'll notice that Baby Long and I are definitely growing.

The Geiser Family! Kyle's Aunt Carolyn and his grandmother, MeMaw came in town to join us at the shower. From the left is Carolyn, Erin, Kyle's Mom, Pat, and MeMaw. MeMaw and Carolyn supplied the baby with his high chair. I've been told it will stay clean until Baby Long's first feeding.

Here I am with the best shower hosts! From the left is Kyle's sister, Kristen, Erin, Jamie and Lisa. Jamie and I have known each other since we were eight. And, Lisa and I have been friends since my first year of high school. I'm really fortunate to have such a wonderful sister-in-law and two long-time, amazing friends.



Here I am opening gifts. You can see from the packages that everyone was so generous. I guess it's true that everybody loves a baby! In the picture, I am holding up a precious little onesie with dogs on it, compliments of my Dad's cousin, Mary Jo, her daughter, Lisa, and Lisa's daughter, Anne.

This gift is from my grandmother. Unfortuantely, she couldn't join us, but wanted to make sure that Baby Long received this sippy cup. It's great - the cup part comes out and is washable. Easy use for the silver sippy cup!

And, last, but certainly not least, the cake! In case you can't see it, it says, "Born to Be a Wildcat". Well done, Kristen and Pat. Thank you! It just dawned on me that I've posted a picture of the cake from both showers. My mother is a huge cake person. Maybe I'm a little more like her than I originally thought.... :)

In Good Company

Kyle and I made a quick trip home to Kentucky this weekend. Saturday evening, my friends from college and I hosted a baby shower for our good friend, Ann. Baby Boy Long will be in good company because Ann and her husband, Alan, are expecting a boy in August. On Sunday morning, the girls hosted a brunch for Kyle and me. Baby Boy Long got some wonderful gifts, including some things I'll learn how to use (the Boppy and Bumbo) and super cute clothes, including seersucker overalls. If that doesn't scream, "I'm Kyle Long's kid", I don't know what does. Coincidentally, my dad is also a big fan of seersucker, and he's requested a family photo of all of the boys in seersucker. Look for that photo in a future post...

With the girls at Ann's shower: Me, Zoe, Catherine, Alison, Ann, Beth & Lynsie

With the girls at our brunch: Zoe, Alison, Me, Ann, Lynsie, Catherine & Beth

The wonderful cake from our brunch. The blue things are baby booties. There were really good!

With Kyle's Dad, Paul, Kyle, Me, my Mom, Peggy, and my Dad, Lawson

My, How We've Grown!

I apologize to my "fans" (aka Erin Ruwe) for not making a post for more than a month. It's been busy! The most exciting news is that Kyle and I found out we're having a boy! Several people have asked what we're going to name him. That's "to be determined" because we haven't agreed on the right name yet. I have my favorites, and Kyle has promised me he'll create a list of his. Right now, I'm worried Baby Boy Long will leave the hospital as Baby Boy Long. Since we've shared all of his ultrasound pics with you, here's the latest at 18 weeks - about three weeks ago. The picture of me is my corresponding belly at 18 weeks.