A Baby Boy!

Message at 1AM from my neighbor and friend, Jessica  

Congrats to the new mommy and daddy!!!!!!

Christian Alexander was born today at 8:39 am (7.3 lbs 19 3/4 in).

For those of you who recall my recent blog post about my two friends having their baby showers on the same day, this is Jessica, the first one that I attended that day. 

Jessica is my friend that I met when I moved to Pompano with my mom. After my mom and step father divorced entering my freshman year of high school, my mom and I moved from our house in Ft. Lauderdale to a condo in Pompano Beach. Jessica's mother's friend saw me moving in with my mother (Mark was there helping too.) 

Sarah (Jessica's mother's friend) quickly started freaking me out with a million questions to find out if I would be a good influence on Jessica or if I was some sort of a trouble-maker teen. I suppose since I was Jessica's new neighbor, she had her concerns. Well I like to think I turned out to be a decent influence... ;) haha 

 See?! 

13 years later, I turned that Jessica into green loving mama! Woohoo! Haha.

 (I stalked your Facebook pictures for some material, Jess.)

Daily green smoothies and a new organic lover. 

Jess even came with me to two events that taught us about natural parenting and how to eat/live healthier. 

The second event we attended was to listen to the author and well known pediatrician, Dr. Sears, speak.

(Sidenote to explain the photo below:  During the talk he explained that he doesn't take artificial vitamins and such but that he takes one supplement along with his organic diet to stay healthy- an all natural/organic veggie/fruit supplant called Juice Plus.) Jessica went ahead and purchased her 4 month supply. :)

You should see our texts... Full of excitement over all things healthy hahaha We are such nerds (and proud of it!) 

...Or when I make trips to Whole Foods and pick up her probiotics for her with a big smile on my face :) 

Jessica, aside from the healthy stuff, I want you to know that I am so incredibly proud of you already.

You told me from the beginning that you enjoyed watching my pregnancy with Ava and how happy I was throughout the entire pregnancy. I was so happy to see that you followed suit and embraced your pregnancy from the moment you found out that you and Mike were expecting.  You haven't complained once but focused on the positive things instead like I told you. You ate well and exercised to stay feeling great, read books that would support your decisions in raising a healthy baby, took safety classes, etc. 

You and I have spoken a lot about how important it is to focus on the positive and not the negative. Much too often we hear parents complaining about the bad pregnancy symptoms rather than speak about the fact that it is amazing that their body is growing a baby! Pregnancy goes by too quickly so it is important to cherish it rather than to groan your way thorough it...and you did just that! 

It was wonderful watching you embrace it and take care of your growing baby the right way.  

I love watching you interact with Ava and know that you will be such an amazing mother yourself.  I cannot wait to meet that beautiful baby boy. 

Congrats to you and Mike.  

Christian is very lucky to have you both as parents and you are as well to have him choose you to be his forever. 

(Remember, I am right around the corner and will be there at a moment's notice if you need me to cook, clean, or hold that precious baby while you nap or take a shower. These first few weeks can be a rough adjustment. Just know that we are here for you if you need ANYTHING. You will be great, mama!) 

XO

Christina

The Annual McGuire Christmas Card + BIG News

Hope everyone is having a very Happy Holiday Season! 

Front 

Back

This is our 4th year and Shutterfly is clearly our favorite when making Christmas cards! (They were so patient, helpful, and sped up my shipment even though I was the one who made a typo. Thank you to them! You have a loyal customer for years to come. 

Here is a link to see our 3 last Christmas cards: Annual McGuire Christmas Cards

AND THE BIG NEWS.....

One of our VERY FAVORITE FAMILIES has welcomed a new member of their family into the world today! 

My beautiful friend and fellow Kappa Sigma wife, MaryAnn, gave birth to Joseph Walker Bush today! 

He is 7 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long. 

Joseph with her proud, big brother Jackson! 

 MaryAnn, you look gorgeous!

Isn't he so adorable?! I think he is our National Championship good luck charm! 

Congrats, Bush Family! 

XO

Christina 

Celebrating Baby Koval

Well, I keep typing and erasing my words because I don't know where to begin this post. There is so much I want to say about my friend, Ashley - the mama to be. 

There is also so much that I want to say about our friendship with her that I feel like I can't accurately express it all....

In a nutshell: 

Ashley is my childhood best friend. Since 6th grade, she is someone that knows me so well.

 She knows my husband equally as well since it was always the 3 of us together when we were younger.  Because of that, I consider her more like a sister. 

You know how there are people that you just "click" with? That just get you from the very beginning... That is my Ashley. It doesn't matter how long we have gone without speaking, which circle of friends we were in during high school, that we attended different colleges, or that we now live in different states. She is the one I call when I want to talk about something and know that she will completely understand how I feel. She knows me that well and knows how I feel/react to situations. 

Through it all, we still have a strong bond and know that the other one is there at all times. 

I'll wrap it up here because this is about Baby Koval! 

Ashley and her husband, Joey, are expecting their first child, Roman, on March 20th, 2014. 

Ashley's mother, Patty,  hosted the baby shower yesterday at their beautiful home in Ft. Lauderdale. Ashley flew in from Texas to be with all of the close women in her life. 

Here are some pictures I took:

Enjoy! 

Thankful for her loyal friendship 

I made baby Roman a bow tie onesie because I know he will be a gentleman 

Ashley and her bridesmaids

Ashley's mother wrote a beautiful poem that brought us all to tears. 

Ashley's beautiful Sister in law and niece. 

Riley! 

Practicing :) haha. 

 I had a great time celebrating with you, Ashley.
Your mom did an amazing job and I know she is so happy for you to experience the love of a mother. I will never forget that poem that she wrote and read to you. It was incredible. It brought me (and everyone else at the shower!)  to tears as I listened and thought of Ava growing up as she described her beautiful memories as your mother for the last 27 years. 

 Motherhood with rock your world and turn it upside down but it will also give you a kind of love that you did not even realize existed. I am thrilled for you and Joey to begin this chapter of your life as proud parents. You are going to be an amazing (and very funny) mother. 

You already know how much a loved and miss being pregnant... I wish you a very healthy and memorable rest of your pregnancy. It is a very special time in your life that you will look back on and appreciate the fact that you got to experience growing a life inside of you. 

Enjoy it to the fullest because it goes by so quickly. 

Love you, friend. 

XO

Christina 

Baby Mora + Baby McFarland {Two Beautiful Baby Showers in 1 day!}

On Saturday, I attended baby showers for two of my good friends. The first was for Jessica. She and I met when I moved to Pompano Beach with my mother in 9th grade. She and I are 1 year apart and our birthdays are 10 days apart. We became work out buddies and, today, she shares my interests in eating non processed foods and doing things as natural as possible. I am living vicariously through her in her hopes to have an all natural delivery with her baby boy, Christian Alexander Mora. I find myself wanting to teach/warn/ prepare her for experiences that I had and wish that I could redo. I wish her a beautiful and natural delivery. I could not be happier for her and her husband-to-be, Mike! 

Here are some photos from her fun "Monkey themed" shower. Christian's nursery is adorable! It is tan and green, monkey themed as well. They all did such a great job with the decor. 

Here are some photos from there special day: 

And then I was off to Chelsea + Steve's Baby Shower. Chelsea is the reason I met my husband over 17 years ago. She and Mark lived on the same street and waa-laa... I met my future husband when I was about 8 or 9. 

Chelsea met and married an amazing man, Steve. As I was taking a million photos at their baby shower, I really was able to see how well they interact, laugh, and share these moments together. They make a beautiful couple. I know they will make amazing parents. 

Here are some photos from their special day: 

I had to wear my garnet and gold Tory's for game day - Go Noles!  (Janey and her gold flats had the right idea too! And of course, we let the mama to be in with her close to "garnet" toe nails. haha 

Well, there you have it. Two beautiful baby showers and two beautiful baby boys that are on their way. 

Jessica and Chelsea, you two are going to be the greatest mothers. Both of you are already so maternal, smart, and loving women. Enjoy these precious moments of feeling those baby boys move inside of you (you will miss that!)

I love you both and thank you for letting me be there with you both on your very special day. 

XO

Christina