Dominating DC!

I’m excited to be in Denver today and can’t wait to celebrate Shannon & Mike’s wedding this weekend, but it’s always a little sad for me to leave DC.  It’s one of my favorite cities and for some reason, it just feels like home.  That being said, I am so thankful for the sweet time we were able to share with so many dear friends over the past week. Here are some highlights that I haven’t already posted about:

Friday night Nats game with Connor, Tom & MargaretIMG_1966IMG_1956IMG_2055

Saturday morning White House Garden Tour with Emily & Kern.  So beautiful!

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Bo Obama.  nbd

Bo Obama. nbd

Monday dinner with dear CHBC friends, Jess & TJ, Becca & Steven and Alex & Nathan.

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Tuesday night pizza with the original bombshelter crew (Laine & Emily!), at the bombshelter.   DSC_0232 DSC_0242

General beauty in DC — cherry blossom season is the best!IMG_2018IMG_2021IMG_2019

There were so many other fun, special moments that I didn’t get on camera (dinner with Paige, lunch with John & Shaunna, Eastern Market with Connor & Tara!), but big thank yous to everyone who made time to get together with us.  Hopefully we’ll be back soon!

25 Weeks

25 weeksHow far along: 25 weeks & 2 days
Baby updates: Baby Harper is weighing 1.5-2 lbs now and is over a foot long.  He’s starting to beef up a little and apparently he is also growing hair and opening his little eyes! Weird!
Mamma updates: This has been a great week for me.  I still need a good night’s sleep but generally I am feeling great during the day.
Things I miss: We went out with friends to Lauriol Plaza and I definitely missed enjoying their amazing frozen margaritas!

Friends!!

Friends at Lauriol Plaza

Cravings: I’ve been having serious cravings for ice cream and oreo milkshakes this week.
Weight: +?.  I’m living out of hotels right now and haven’t gotten to weigh myself so I’m not sure.  However, I can report that I’m wearing almost exclusively maternity clothes and that the belly continues to “grow by the second,” as Michael says.  I like it but also get a little scared when I think about the fact that it will only continue to grow for almost 3 1/2 more months!
Best moments of the week:  It has been great to be back in DC with Michael.  It’s the city where we met and fell in love and just holds so many fun memories for us.  Further, we have been so blessed by all of the friends who we have gotten to see here as well.  More on our time in DC soon, but in the meantime, here are a couple of quick highlights!

The prettiest time of year in DC

The prettiest time of year in DC

Night 1 in DC, reunited with my old roomies, Laine & Emily!

Night 1 in DC, reunited with my old roomies, Laine & Emily!

GULC campus

GULC campus

Fun in the Carolinas

As I pack my bags to head to Chicago tomorrow morning (for a quick work trip), I wanted to recap some of the fun moments that I haven’t already posted about from my time in South Carolina.

Easter brunch with family at Great Uncle Johnny & Aunt Sharon’s.DSC_0122DSC_0118DSC_0148DSC_0102

Charleston Starbucks date with Bess & Mary Carol.  Look at those eyes!IMG_1984

Cheering for my mom (and watching her dominate) at her tennis match!  DSC_0005DSC_0010Shopping for Baby Harper with his daddy.  PS – Anyone have any tips on baby carriers?IMG_2027IMG_2028Visiting the newlyweds, Meredith & Andrew Flandry, in Chapel Hill.IMG_1994photo

Spending time with my treasured friend, CyrusCy

Sad to be leaving South Carolina!  It’s been such a wonderful trip!
Next stops: Chicago for the weekend, DC for the following week, then Denver for Shannon & Mike’s wedding and finally, back home to Brazil!

Baby Shower in Columbia, SC

Last week my mom’s dear friend, Jane Suggs, and my cousin, Dolores Long, threw a beautiful baby shower for Baby Harper and me.  Jane hosted the shower in her gorgeous home and they served a delicious dinner to a group of about 30 ladies which included a mix of family and friends from across the state.  I was so touched by everyone who came and the generosity and love of our friends and family.  It’s such a blessing to be so strongly supported during a time like this.

The amazing set-up and decor including the beautifully done diaper cake.DSC_0002DSC_0013DSC_0003DSC_0004

My sweet, pretty mama!  I hope I’m like her!DSC_0026Friends & family!DSC_0035DSC_0029DSC_0023DSC_0030DSC_0041DSC_0036 I swear Amanda gets prettier AND sweeter every time I see her. DSC_0025

Jane giving the loveliest toast and blessing. DSC_0033Time for gifts!  I was thankful to have my precious cousin Margaret beside me, helping me get through them all!

My grandmother, Nan, crocheted the edges of this sweet blanket.DSC_0061

Absolutely in love with the blanket, sweater and booties that my Aunt Sheryl knit!

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So excited for our diaper bag!DSC_0055

Huge thank you to my shower hostesses, Dolores and Jane!  It was such a gorgeous and special night and a memory that I will treasure! DSC_0080

Surprise Shower for Baby Harper!

As I was getting ready for my baby shower tonight, I realized that I still hadn’t posted on the surprise baby shower that was thrown for me in Charleston!  So, before I head off tonight I wanted to at least post some pictures.

The story, as it was told to me, was that my dear friends Meredith (who was getting married in Charleston) and Elizabeth were talking, when Meredith said that it was a shame that she wouldn’t be able to celebrate me while I was pregnant, as the only time we knew that we would be around each other was her wedding weekend.  Elizabeth’s response was, “Well, if you want to do it and can find an hour or so, I’ll make it happen.”  (If you know her, then you know this is a very Elizabeth response.)  Meredith found about an hour and a half in between her rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (seriously) and said that they could do it at her parent’s house.  So, Elizabeth reached out to my mom and started coordinating everything.  My mom told them that if they wanted to do it, then it would have to be a surprise because there is no way I would agree to having a baby shower on Meredith’s wedding weekend (and she was absolutely right).  However, they were determined so they kept it a surprise, and on Friday March 15, Elizabeth showed up to Meredith’s house while we were all at the rehearsal and started setting up the amazing display of cupcakes, food and snacks, the whole lemonade set-up with mason jars & straws, the banner, and a copy of “Oh the places you’ll go” that all of the party guests signed!  She is kind of amazing.

When I walked in I was not only shocked but also totally confused, as having a baby shower was clearly the last thing on my mind.  I mean, here I am, Meredith’s Matron of Honor, trying to totally focus all of my energy and attention on her as we are coming home from a wonderful wedding rehearsal, about to rest and then get ready for the rehearsal dinner that night, and I walk into a room full of my family and friends and a banner that says, “Baby Boy Harper!”  It was definitely a shock.

OK – enough back-story.  Here are some pictures!

"Oh the places you'll go" adorable / delicious cupcakes!

“Oh the places you’ll go” adorable / delicious cupcakes!

Beautiful and yummy food!

Beautiful and yummy food!

Lemonade in mason jars with cute straws!

Lemonade in mason jars with cute straws!

Mary Carol Fortune.  What a little cutie.

Mary Carol Fortune. What a little cutie.

Walking in - totally confused.

Walking in – totally surprised and confused.

My amazing friends assuring me that it was in fact a surprise shower for Baby H!

My amazing friends assuring me that it was in fact a surprise shower for Baby H!

Sweet Augusta Clare entertaining the crowd.

Sweet Augusta Clare entertaining the crowd.

H burp cloth sent all the way from Kelli K Mayfield!

H burp cloth sent all the way from Kelli K Mayfield!

Baby Harper getting his first Clemson gear from Nanny & Papa Fincher

Baby Harper getting his first Clemson gear from Nanny & Papa Fincher

Michael calling in on Facetime, maybe even more confused than I was when I first walked in.

Michael called on Facetime and I think he may have been even more confused than I was when I first walked in.

Showing Michael the beautiful onesie that his sweet mama had sent for the occasion.

Showing Michael the beautiful onesie that his sweet mama had sent for the occasion.

Daddy!

Daddy!

Wofford girls!

Wofford girls!

Hudson cousins!

Hudson cousins!

It was such a blast, and honestly I still can’t believe it happened.  Thank you to everyone who came out to be there, to Meredith and her mom, Susan, for being so incredibly generous and hospitable with you home and you precious time during a weekend that was so special, and a huge thank you to Elizabeth for all that you did and for making it happen!  I can’t believe how blessed I am to have such kind and caring friends.  Amazing!!

21 Weeks

Week 21How far along: 21 weeks & 1 day
Baby updates: Baby Harper is around 9 inches long – about the size of a spaghetti squash or a large carrot – and I’m definitely feeling him move around more!
Mamma updates: Still getting used to how my body is changing (I mean, having a spaghetti squash in there is no small thing!) but feeling great.
Things I miss: During a week full of celebrations, it would have been nice to have a celebratory glass or two of champagne.  🙂
Cravings: Cereal and cake.
Weight: +9.  I think I’m basically on track now so thankful for that.
Best moments of the week: Such an incredible past week it’s hard to sum it up!
It started with my amazing birthday celebrations!
Then, I flew home to South Carolina and went straight to Charleston to celebrate the wedding of my best girlfriend Meredith to her best friend, Andrew, and it was just a magical weekend.  I will do a full post on it soon, but it was totally picture perfect.

Andrew & Meredith.  Could they be any cuter?

Andrew & Meredith. Could they be any cuter?

Oh, and did I mention that while we were in Charleston to celebrate Meredith, my girlfriends threw me a surprise baby shower?!  More on this to come, but seriously. Ridiculous / amazing.DSC_0021

Sugar & Sparkle: Turning 26

My friend Emily sent me the sweetest birthday card, wishing me a day full of sugar and sparkle, and I felt that it was just the perfect way to describe what was a wonderful birthday.

If it was up to me, I’d probably never tell anyone that it was my birthday and would just continue on with daily life, however my husband is big into birthdays and always makes sure that I am fully celebrated, and this year was no exception.

Although my birthday was on Tuesday, it all started on Sunday when Michael threw me a little surprise birthday lunch.  We had guests in town so we had been planning on going to lunch with them that afternoon, so I wasn’t suspicions of anything until we walked into the restaurant and I saw a table full of our friends saying “Happy Birthday!”  Since I’m going to be away from São Paulo for the next few weeks, it was especially fun getting to see everyone one last time.  Thanks to everyone who came out for it!  So fun!IMG_1952

Then, since I am having a short week here, Michael decided to go ahead and send the most enormous bouquet of flowers to my office on Monday so that I would be able to enjoy them a little longer.  They may have been slightly over-the-top 🙂 but they made my day and as I walked home from work with them, people on the street offered me “parabens” (“congratulations”).DSC_0112

On Tuesday, my birthday, I was woken up with a delicious breakfast in bed — smoothie, coffee and a freshly baked bacon/egg/cheese/pao de queijo souffle of sorts.  Yum!  Michael had also written me the sweetest card that talked about how, in one sense, this was my last birthday just the two of us, and in another, it was my first birthday as the three of us, so he wanted it to be special.  Then he gave me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings!!  He had worked with our jeweler in the US and had his parents bring them down for him when they visited last month.  Not only do I absolutely love the earrings – obviously – but I am always amazed at how thoughtful he is and how he always goes the extra mile to surprise me and make me feel special.IMG_1959

Tuesday afternoon, Michael met me for lunch at a fun, tasty French restaurant, L’amitié, where he had called in advance to reserve the best table.IMG_1968When I got back to the office, my sweet coworkers had a cake for me and all sang the fun Brazilian version of “Happy Birthday to You” which is much more fun and animated than the US version.  Then that evening, Michael brought home the veggie sushi that I had been craving and we sat on the couch and watched the Bachelor, After the Final Rose.  We had planned to watch the finale but for some reason it hadn’t come onto iTunes yet and I just couldn’t wait, so we went straight into After the Final Rose.  (Plus, now I have an hour and a half of solid entertainment for my flight home tonight.  Even knowing the ending, I will still be on the edge of my seat.)

Anyway, it was the perfect day and the perfect week and I just feel so incredibly blessed to have a husband who is beyond perfect for me.  Michael – thank you for making me feel so celebrated!!  Also, thanks to all of my friends and family for the sweet, thoughtful cards, emails and messages.  So far, 26 seems pretty awesome.