Barreling Toward Parenthood

{It's almost time!}

{37 weeks}

[Note: So, I started this post a week ago, and as per usual, I got distracted... As I write this now, it is Baby Cusi's birthday! Sleep was fitful at best, and I'm just killing time until it's time to leave for the hospital. My thoughts on the these final moments of pregnancy are here.]

The past two months have been a whirlwind of baby preparations. The holidays and our birthdays kept us busy and distracted, but ever since New Years came and went, it feels like we've been barreling full speed ahead into new parenthood. 

On the second weekend in January, Kelsey and Brandy flew in to celebrate Baby Cusi's impending arrival...

We met up in LA and then drove straight to Coronado since my mom and sisters had planned the most lovely shower - straight from my Pinterest dreams really. 

The shower had a travel theme and everyone was asked to bring a book, so I mean...they get me. 

They put together a delicious menu with food from around the world - spanakopita, chicken satay, quiche, caprese salad, and of course, sweet treats (which, apparently, are the only foods I took pictures of).

Everyone took onesie decorating very seriously...

 Especially Kelsey.

It was a wonderful day - Baby and I felt very loved!

{completed onesies and the beginning of Cusimini's book collection}

The next weekend, Barbara threw me a Wells Bring Hope shower - we're pretty lucky, this babe and I!

With all the parties out of the way, it was time to get down to business... There were classes that involved a selection of terrifying dolls.

 

 

There was reading.

There was lots of nesting. 

Tom put together the crib (and the dresser, and the shelf).

I did some crafting...

And eventually, we had a lovely place for Baby Cusi to come home to...

Christmas!!!

What? I was six months behind on the wedding; a six week delay on Christmas blogging should be viewed as an unqualified success. 

So....the day after Tom and I got back from Florida Christmas, we headed down to my parents' for San Diego Christmas, which for those not in the know, was on December 27th this year. My brother and Erin had arrived on the 26th, so it was one of those all-too-rare weekends when my family is all together in one room.

Not only did I get to spend real, live, in-person time with Mike and Erin, but I also got to hang out with a puppy, which as we all know, makes everything that much better.

{Coya}

{I'm confused by Tom's expression... but I mean, really. How cute is that puppy?}

We did Secret Santa this year, and Michael got Buckley this totally rad hipster giraffe t-shirt.

{Remember how I said he was weird in all the best ways? Case in point.}

Mo got all the ladies matching bracelets.

{faith, hope, and love}

My dad was very excited to surprise my brother with Chargers tickets.

{They had a great time despite some hail and a near miss with a vomitous fan who was seated behind them.}

I had ordered Michael a Chargers shirt for the occasion, but it was late to arrive so I had to improvise.

After some present opening, we broke for a trip to the movies. The guys were having a hard time generating the appropriate level of enthusiasm for the planned viewing of Les Miserables, so we split up. The boys got their Tarantino on at Django Unchained while us girls bawled our eyes out at Jean Valjean's noble struggle. [Side note: Is Jean Valjean not the best character? Ever? Sigh. I love him. And the music. Oh, the music... I know every word. I found myself mouthing the lyrics to just about every song...Castle on a Cloud being the obvious exception. Baby Cosette is kind of a whiner.]

After the movies, it was beer tasting time. Apparently, this is becoming a holiday tradition.

{Coya obviously can't hang.}

After a delicious dinner (popovers, mmmmm!), I broke out Cards Against Humanity, a Christmas gift from Tom and my new favorite game. It's like the adult version of Apples to Apples, and some of the cards are pretty x-rated. We censored a few for my mom's benefit, but after the beer tasting and the wine with dinner, everyone was feeling pretty loose.  

Still, we don't mess around when it comes to games....serious decision making (and more wine, naturally) going on here.

The prompt on this round was, "What gets better with age?"

{I don't remember which card won, but I really hope that it was "Home video of Oprah sobbing into a Lean Cuisine."}

I'm not sure how long we played (an hour? two?), but there was a lot of laughing. Like tears streaming, can't catch your breath laughing... Playing this game (and hearing my mom say things like "Harry Potter erotica") - probably my favorite memory of San Diego Christmas '12.

Lastly, just because I love it so much, here is a series of Meghan with Lucy, the biggest lapdog of all time, and a jealous Coya. Just over a month ago, Meghan left for Haiti to spend six months teaching a school in Port au Prince because she's a badass with a heart of gold. Seriously, I'm so proud of her, but I miss her face so for now, I have to get my Midgey dose from pictures of these.

Mo Gets Married

Six months ago today, my sister married her best friend and the all-around nicest guy I have ever met. Seriously, Buckley is deep down in his bones kind. And upbeat. I like him quite a lot. Plus, he's weird in all the best ways, just like Mo.

{photo by True Photography}

The wedding was beautiful and so much fun, and I have no idea why it has taken me so long to post about it, but once it was months past, it seemed appropriate to prepare this recap in honor of their half-year anniversary. Since I was in the wedding, my photographic documentation has some big holes, but Mo and Jon had amazing photographers from True Photography and I had to restrain myself from posting every single one of their images. Here goes.

There were, of course, plenty of pre-wedding festivities...

There were mani-pedis, obviously.

There was a bonfire and a beautiful full moon.

There was a lot of laughing.  

{Mo's oldest friend, Caroline, with my sisters}

 
And eating.

{The rehearsal dinner in my parents' backyard}

 And posing.

{The bride and groom, the bridal party, and my parents}

{My mom, her siblings, and Miss Lucy}

There was softball.

{Buckley's Uncle Tony}

And an epic scrapbook finished at the eleventh hour by the aforementioned Caroline.

On the big day itself, there was primping and picture taking.

And lots and lots of flowers.

Now for an overload of True Photography's photos.

{One of our bridesmaid gifts were these adorable robes from Plum Pretty Sugar}

{The Shackford sisters right before we helped Mo into her dress}

Not surprisingly, Maureen looked absolutely stunning.

Mo hit it out of the park with gifts for my parents. She gave my mom a bracelet that was inscribed, "You showed me what true love looks like," and she had my dad in tears with his handkerchief.

He got her back later with his toast...

But I'm skipping ahead... There was a beautiful ceremony that inexplicably involved several stuffed animals. Tragically, I cannot find any pictures of the stuffed animal portion of the event.

 I really love this one.

Then there was a trolley ride and some amazing photo ops.

Then it was party time at Torrey Pines.

Mo and my dad pulled off a father-daughter dance remix, which was expertly choreographed by Meghan. I Hope You Dance segued into Shipping Off to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys, at which point Mo and Dad donned Red Sox hats. From there it was Crank That by the inimitable Soulja Boy followed by Usher's Yeah!. I wish I had video, but you'll just have to use your imagination. It was next level.

And then, there was the photobooth, which was...amazing. I think my dad enjoyed it more than anyone. He definitely got his money's worth...

{So, so much laughing}

{That one on the left features Tom with fellow groomsman, Nader. Nader is also now Tom's dentist. So there's that.}

{The middle strip features my parents and their oldest friends from Vermont. The guy in the giant pink sunglasses and jester's hat? My pediatrician. So there's that too.}

And one last shot of the happy couple...

Now, six months and one unbearably adorable puppy later, these two make marriage look good. Love you guys!