1st Game of the Season: FSU v Murray State

On Saturday, Mark and I drove up to Tallahassee at about 7AM. We had planned on driving up to Jacksonville on Friday night when he got home from work, but since it was 'the last day of the month' he left the office really late waiting on a contract to come in...

We got into Tallahassee around 2:00 and started tailgating. Saturday was extremely hot and being that it was a six o'clock game I was honestly fearing having to go into the stadium with the sun still being up.

 Since Mark and I were getting in late, Jared and Jacki brought all the food to the tailgate so that we could go straight there. They made me my own special cooler. I was cheered on while I chugged these babies... ;)

Jared, Phil, Mark, and Matt setting up...

Kappa Sigma bromance

 Love having Kendall, Erika, and Jacki with me every game day :) 

Overall, this was an extremely easy team to beat as the 1st game of the season usually is. FSU beat Murray State 69-3. Next week we will be playing another 'cupcake' game against Savannah State. We have to play another easy game [not by choice] but because West Virginia pulled out in the Spring leaving FSU to have to fill that spot with another available team. We will not be in Tallahassee for that game, nor will all of our friends. My mother and mother in law are hosting a baby shower for me and Mark is having a "Dudes & Diapers" Party thrown for him at a different location on that day before the game begins. 

I am so excited! After the baby shower festivities, we will all meet up to watch the FSU v Savannah State game at 6PM. 

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

Labor Day Weekend 2 years Ago...Our Wedding Weekend

I cannot believe that it is already Labor Day weekend! 2 years ago this weekend, Mark and I were getting married on the Floridian Princess! 

Labor Day weekend happened one week later 2 years ago...This is a little recap of our wedding weekend. 

On September 3rd, 2010

Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner at Blue Moon Fish Co. 

It is no secret that Mark and I love Blue Moon very much... Mark and one of the restaurant owners, Bryce, are buddies and Mark actually used to take care of Bryce's boat for while since Bryce lives out west and Mark had much faster access to the boat living out east. Bryce has always been great to us, and therefore, Blue Moon is like a 2nd home to us. 

Rewind to Dec. 26th 2009, Mark and I were living in Chicago together and had come down to Ft. Lauderdale for Christmas. The night after Christmas, Mark asked me if I wanted to go to "the moon" for some fresh seafood before we had to go back to Chicago. I never turn down down a Blue Moon dinner, so off we went.  That was the night Mark, with the help of the chefs and staff, proposed to me! 

Fast forward about 8 months...and our rehearsal dinner was on 9.3.10. Mark wanted a 3 day weekend for our wedding so Labor Day it was!

A Blue Moon Rehearsal Dinner with amazing food and an open bar (which my abuelo did not allow me to go near - I thanked him later)

My beautiful bridesmaids: Megan Nolan, Michelle Jones, Kelly McManus, Sarah Portuondo, Sarah Waldrup, and my Maid of Honor- Ali Venezia Baker

Then on Saturday, September 4th 2010 it was the Vega/McGuire Wedding Day!!!

Me and my Daddy about to walk down the aisle!

Our 1st dance (well, we actually had two back to back) 

 Mark dedicated these songs to me when we were much younger and from then on they were always "our songs."

The first was I Do by Mark Wills and the second was Amazed by Lonestar. 

 We loved this part...

Our beautiful nautical style cake make from 2 strawberry shortcake tiers and a key lime-raspberry tier. We wanted to keep a light, tropical feel for our cake. 

This was the end of the night when we made our 'Thank You' speeches to our families for making this weekend happen and our friends for being the greatest. Mark wrapped his up with thanking me and saying that he couldn't wait until I was the mother of our children one day. I lost it...started crying of course because I didn't expect him to say that. But by far a great moment to look back on now. 

Then fast forward to a year and a half later, Mark suggested that we start trying to have a baby. 

February was a lucky month apparently because we got pregnant right away!

Now here we are 2 years later, very happy and awaiting our little Ava Loren McGuire to be born!

I am blessed beyond belief to call Mark my husband, and to now be able to say that I will be the mother to our child!

I hope that everyone has a fun, safe, and long Labor Day weekend! Mark and I are getting on the road as soon as he gets home tonight from work. First stop, Jacksonville to stay the night with Jared & Jacki Roche. Then we are all off to Tallahassee in the morning for the season's 1st GAME DAY!!!!  

GO NOLES!

What Mark Gets To Look Forward To...

The Father-Daughter Bond

The other night Mark and I were talking about how he is going to be Ava's hero and how little girls look up to their fathers. Mark and I didn't grow up with our biological fathers living with us, but we do have a great relationship with them now. We both understand what a huge impact a father's role has on a child...and especially on little girls. 

I found these CUTE videos of little girls and their dads to show Mark when he got home from work and thought I'd share with you all. 

This could be what Mark & Ava watching the Seminoles in the future may look like this if Ron Cherry is the referee...

Cute baby girl twins see their dad get home from work...

This one (TOO FUNNY) is another set of twins hearing their dad's guitar. Maybe Ava will like Mark playing his drums...

And this little girl and her father have tons of videos now...love watching them and their bond. 

Or...Ava could pull one of these.... 

ha ha

Mark is so excited to meet his little girl just as much as I am. Each morning when he kisses me goodbye he lifts up the covers and kisses my belly to give Ava a kiss too.  He is already a great dad :-)

Congrats to All of The New & Expecting Families!

I just wanted to say a special CONGRATS to all the little families popping up everywhere! This past weekend we had 3 little boys come into this world! With that said, Mark and I have some people to say congrats to...

Congrats to the Chason Family! Clark Davis Chason, welcome to the world!

Congrats to the Bandi Family! Welcome, Peter Goodchild Bandi !

Congrats to the Eller Family! Baby Kole Eller is here!

Congrats to Elizabeth & Allan Camacho on welcoming their 2nd baby girl, Hailey Camacho. 

 Allan with his two girls, Avery and Hailey

Congrats to Justine Dew on the birth of her daughter Karlee!

 

little Karlee!

 Karina and Michael MacDougall holding their baby girl, Maya! Maya is now about 4 months old and as precious as can be. 

Karina (right) and Jessica (left) holding Maya and Maya's cousin. It was so great catching up with Karina and Jess this past weekend over Sunday brunch. 

Kristine and Mike Marseco are old pals from high school who are parents to baby Carter and now expecting a little girl! Kristine and I are both due in November!

A little Miss Marseco is on the way! 

Christine & Jared Mancil welcomed their daughter, Julia, after their 1st child, Carter!

 Carter is now a big brother!

Me & Ellice Martinez. We met through our husbands who worked together... Ellice and Jonathan are expecting a little girl in December! 

Mark and I are very excited to join you all in this new chapter of our lives. Enjoy this special time with your new bundles of joy! I apologize if I missed some families ( I will blame it on "pregnancy brain") 

D-I-Y Decor for Ava's Nursery

Hello! Yesterday & today were DO IT YOURSELF DECOR DAYS for me! Last Fall,  I was in some thrift store in Wilton Manors (a favorite pass time of mine) and came across this gorgeous set of old wooden frames. I loved the way they were carved and figured that one day I would have a nursery to put them into... well, TA-DAA...we are now expecting and getting her nursery ready! Time for my frames...at last!  

(Side note: I had sprayed them a gold paint when I first purchased them because I wanted to enjoy them before we decided to have a baby, but they came out the wrong color gold and I ended up holding off until now.)

Also, recently I was in Michael's craft store with my two little brothers in law. We were buying clay for a project that they wanted to do when I came across some plain wooden letters and ceramic birds. I picked those up thinking I could paint them and add those to the nursery as well. 

So here are they are: 

      BEFORE

Birds (2nd shelf) and letters (3rd shelf)

with some Indoor/Outdoor spray paint...

and some pretty fabric I found....

 AFTER

Ready to hang on the walls!

The "V" is actually a purple and the "A's" are blue - the lighting makes them look different

This was a plain white frame that I had in my room in college. With a little paint, it is now fit for Ava's nursery :)

On Monday, I was at my mother in law's house and she gave me this precious little ceramic heart shaped box that she made at Joe Picasso's for Ava! She made it pink and green so that it would match her nursery. I LOVE THIS LITTLE GIFT!!!! So personal and so special. Thanks, Debbie! <3

Well that's it for now, but I have a feeling I will be coming up with some more things to make our little girl.