Halloween

Last year Todd and I did not get a pumpkin because we were just returning from our honeymoon in Ireland. This year we were hesitant and waited until the last day because we weren’t sure if we would be at the hospital giving birth to Jayden. So since Jayden has decided to come late, we went out today and bought our first pumpkin. It was a team effort when it came to carving it. I designed most of it and Todd carved it out. Todd wanted to do something special, so he carved out the mouth with Jayden’s initials! Can’t believe that next year Jayden will be helping Daddy get out all of the yucky innards and I can stay clean!

40 Weeks

Well today is the day and nothing has happened! Jayden is sending us a memo that he is just not ready to come out yet! And to think that I was going to be early…hah!  I read that about half of all pregnancies last longer than 40 weeks. I should have known I would have fallen into this statistic!

Maternity Pictures

As my due date was approaching, I started to freak out that we did not have any maternity pictures. I hadn’t even taken one picture of Todd and I with my prego belly! What was I going to show Jayden when he got older? (Lol, I’m sure it wasn’t as big a deal as I was making it out to be.) So I did the only thing I could do….I called my best friend Lindsey- AKA Our Engagement Photographer! She came to the rescue and took such beautiful pictures. I will cherish them forever.  Here is a sneak peak……

39 Weeks

It’s amazing looking back and realizing how much my tummy has grown! I’m 39 weeks today and I’m counting down until I can hold my baby in my arms! We have spoken to our pediatrician and the last possible day we can expect Jayden is November 3^rd.  She has scheduled an induction at 4:00 AM if Jayden decides he does not want to come out on his own. I’m already 2 centimeters dilated, so most of us think I will be having him before that anyway. Keep your fingers crossed and as Todd would say “Your toes too!”.

Anniversary

A year ago today I married the man of my dreams. This year has flown by with nothing but exciting adventures and celebrations. It was a year of monumental “Firsts”, from expecting our first child to buying our first home. We have truly been blessed and I couldn’t have imagined a more ideal fairytale beginning.

When Todd and I got married, we chose to write our entire ceremony. Fortunately we had an amazing officiant who worked with us! (Thanks Uncle Pat!) On this special day, I would like to share with you my favorite part of our ceremony: The Blessing of the Hands. 

Officiant (Uncle Pat): We would like to take a moment to bless the hands of Todd and Heather.  For it is through the hands that we demonstrate our love and commitment to one another.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you.

They are being held by yours on your wedding day as you two promise to love each other for the rest of your lives. 

These are also the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future and share your inner most dreams and secrets together.

These are the very hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief threatens to overwhelm you. 

The hands that you hold are the same hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These too are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are also the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another.  Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace.  May Todd and Heather see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name, Amen.                                          

I love you Todd Michael Shappard!

Fairytale Wedding

As little girls, we grow up envisioning what our wedding will be like.  We think about the colors, food, flowers and bridesmaids. We dream about marrying our prince charming. I am extremely fortunate to have found my prince charming and in one week it will be our first wedding anniversary. 

Todd would have preferred getting married in the court house, but he gave me what every woman dreams of, a fairytale wedding! I remember the day as if it was yesterday. It was breathtaking and better than anything I could have imagined.

I would like to share some of my treasured memories with you…….

Shappard Baby Shower

Since the Shappard family is so large, the women decided to throw us a co-ed shower.  Sherry and Randy hosted such a beautiful shower. The whole family came and it was so wonderful sharing this experience with Todd. I adored how the whole theme was based upon our nursery decor: Eli the Elephant. Angie had invitations designed off of the PBK Elephant and Sherry had the elephant on our cake with a line from Todd’s poem. (So memorable!)

I never thought I would say this, but we had such a blast playing games! Sherry had a list of scrambled baby items that we had to solve. Somehow Marc won that game. (Watch out Sherry and Randy….he’s ready for a babe!) Then Sherry thought it would be hilarious to watch us all drink out of bottles to see who would be the first to finish. I think we all got more water on our shirts than in our mouths!

What a day! Here are a few of my favorite shots……