Weekend Recap: Celebrations

Finally getting to my weekend recap!  This past weekend was so busy, it flew by so quickly.  I feel like I blinked and it was Monday.

Friday we took off from work to head down to Philadelphia for my friend from college, Troy's wedding.  As always, the drive took way longer than it should have.  We arrived just in time to get ready/dressed and head to the shuttle.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful and it was so good to see some of my college friends.  We had lots of fun reminicing and celebrating the happy couple.

The ceremony took place with a really pretty view of the city in the background.  

The wedding programs were so adorable!  They had lots of cute details and little touches all throughout the wedding.  She definitely spent some time on Pinterest!!

Hannah stayed with my mom and her Aunt Emily!  My aunts and cousins came to visit and they had a little girl's night (plus AJ)!

Here is a picture they sent me in the afternoon.

Saturday morning we headed back from Philly.  After another long drive we got home in time to rest briefly and then get ready again for a celebration dinner for Alise.  We went to a really great dinner at a new restaurant in town.

For being out so close to her bedtime with very little napping that day, Hannah was such a good girl!  She loves to be out!  She also had her very first restaurant spill (first of many if she is anything like her mommy!)  She was sitting on my lap and somehow knocked over my water.  I guess I shouldn't have been surprised she reaches and tries to touch everything.  I put a piece of pretzel in my plate and her little hand was on it faster than I could catch it!!

Sunday we were planning on a productive day but Michael got a migraine first thing in the morning and before I knew it, it was 7PM and I was still in my pajamas and nothing on our list got done.

I only managed to take one picture.  Hannah was in her bumbo watching a little TV in the morning while Michael rested.

I did manage to get some great video of Hannah on Friday morning before we left for the wedding of her jumping and doing a lot of "talking."  It was the most noise I have ever heard her make.  Unfortunately it is still sitting on our camera, so hope to share some of that soon.  I will work on getting some pictures of all the new things she is doing.  She is dying to be on the move.  She has started to go backwards and it is just a matter of time before she figures out how to go forwards (and then Michael turns into a baby proofing crazy person!)

McGrath Family Photos

I shared a picture of Hannah on Friday from our McGrath family photos that we received back from the photographer last week and I wanted to share some more of my favorites from the day of Hannah and our beautiful nieces and handsome nephews.  We took the pictures back in the end of June.  It was such a fun time to be together - although getting 10 kids to cooperate and look at the camera was not easy!  It caused for some very silly antics from the adults.  I wish we had photos of what was going on behind the camera!!

(All of the pictures are by Rachel from Sugarshots Photography, she is super patient and awesome!)

Here are my favorites of just Hannah.

These are my favorite group shots with just the kids.

Now with Grandma and Grandpa.

It is so surreal for me to see Hannah in these pictures.  Back when Michael and I first started dating, and I would stalk his Facebook pictures, I remember seeing pictures of a big beautiful family on the beach.  I later learned that they take a family trip every summer to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and at the end of the trip they take a family picture on the beach.  So cute!  The first summer we were dating Michael invited me on the trip and I got to be in the picture.  We weren't dating very long at the time but I remember how special it felt to feel like a part of the family.

My first OBX trip in 2009.  The kids have grown up so much!!

Now seeing Hannah in pictures with her cousins and grandparents (the very same people from the Facebook photos just over 5 years ago) is so crazy.  I was so close to my cousins growing up and I am glad that Hannah has so many McGrath cousins, since it will probably be awhile before she has any cousins on my side.  The thought of her running around one day and playing with them makes me so happy.  She is so lucky to get to be a part of such a loving and close family (we both are!).

Weekend Recap: Friends, Food and Family

The weekend kicked off on Friday night with what we like to call "Ladies Night"!  It has been so long since I have seen some of my work besties (unfortunately, we all don't work together anymore) and we had a blast, as usual!  We got together for a night full of snacking, drinking, more snacking, lots of laughing (seriously what was that smell!?), some adventures and a sleepover on Vanessa's boat.  I was all sorts of exhausted the next day, but it was totally worth it!  Love and miss you girls!!

Sunset from the boat.

Pretty sure that I had half of these!  

 

The night wouldn't be complete without a group selfie.  

A sleepover with the girls for me, meant some serious Daddy and Hannah time going on at home.  Michael had his first night alone with Hannah and he did awesome!  I definitely see a Daddy's girl in our future.  No panicked phone calls or texts and I came home to an extremely happy baby, the night was a huge success!  Here are some of the pictures that Michael sent me to give me my Hannah fix for the night!

She is determined to bite the head off of that duck!  

It is so hard to leave Hannah for the night, especially since I am back at work and have so much less time with her.  I try and remember that a happy mommy means a happy baby, and a night full of lots of laughs and relaxing with my girlfriends definitely makes me happy!

Saturday was all about making baby food for Hannah.  More on the details on that tomorrow.  We spent LOTS of time at Whole Foods and in the kitchen but Hannah managed to enjoy herself doing both!

Paci smiles are the funniest!

Determined to get her little hands on those peaches!

After all the baby food making, it was only appropriate to make some adult food.  I made pasta with bacon and corn for dinner.  It was delicious and I highly recommend it, but I would not use a whole pound of pasta if I made it again because there was not enough sauce to coat the pasta. 

We ended the night with Michael washing almost every dish we own and me getting some serious laughs out of Hannah while pretending to sneeze (ahhh-choo!).  

Sunday we headed up to visit with Michael's parents and Hannah got to spend time with Grandma, Grandpa and some of her aunts, uncles and cousins!  

So excited to see everyone!

Hannah loves her some Kyle!

Practicing her sitting up.  She is getting so close!

As usual, it flew by way too quickly, but it was a great weekend.

Fourth of July Weekend

Fourth of July weekend brought lots of first for Hannah, which means LOTS of pictures!  Her first fourth of July, her first time having baby cereal and her first time "swimming."

Thursday I was able to leave work early and even though the weather was crappy, it was nice to enjoy some time with Hannah.

Later, Aunt Emily came over to play and practice sitting up with Hannah.

Friday morning Hannah got her first taste of baby cereal.  Thanks for the adorable bib, Kristin!

Not so sure she likes it!

She was DONE with the cereal and just wanted her bottle.  We tried again after she finished her bottle  but she was still not having it, so we let her play with the spoon!

After a serious bath for Hannah it was time for some BBQ fun!  Our BBQ got moved indoors because of the weather but we still had a great time.

Fun with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins

Saturday we relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  We set up Hannah's baby pool and she got to rock her Fourth of July bathing suit!  

Not so sure about this whole pool thing.

Getting ready to go in.

She loved it!!

Her fan club came to watch!

 I die every time over that smile!!  She can't wait to "swim" again!

Aunt Emily came over and we practiced eating some more and then relaxed outside before bed.

Sunday was a nice day of relaxing as a family and cleaning before we had to go reality (work) on Monday.  We had a little after bath photo shoot, Hannah perfected her cereal eating and we enjoyed being together.