A Unique Wedding Gift

So for those who know me, you know a lot of changes have been going on right now around this household. We got married in October, had a phenomenal honeymoon, found out we were expecting right before Christmas, had our house hit by a tornado, went on a fabulous babymoon and had a dear cousin murdered. Crazy ups and down right?!? Well in the midst of preparing for the baby we enlisted the help of some talented girls and friends of Henry to re-vamp our office to double as an office/guest bedroom before baby Coraline arrives. While going through all the stuff to determine what needs to be kept and what has been held onto for so long and REALLY needs to be trash I found a unique wedding gift that brought tears to my eyes.

My sister gave me this heartfelt gift the day of our wedding. Whether it was her idea or someone else's I have no idea, but all I can say is this was the best idea ever. She sent out a message/email/text to everyone close to us and asked them to write a letter to me. She then compiled all the letters and put them into a hard bound book with an engagement photo on the front of the book.

Reading these letters only reminded me why I love not only Henry, but my friends and family so very much. Their kind, heartfelt words mean the world to me, especially in such a hard time right now with the murder of my cousin being only a week old, our house still in disarray from the tornado, and Henry working out of town. I attached just a few of the letters below.

To those who wrote the letters listed below, I hope you do not mind me sharing such personal letters. If it bothers you or you wish to keep them private, please do not hesitate to let me know and I will gladly take them down. 

I love you all more than words will ever express!

The first page of the book

Mother-in-law

Henry's Aunt

Sister-in-law Part 1

Sister-in-law Part 2

Bridesmaid Lauryn

Bridesmaid Danni Part 1

Bridesmaid Danni Part 2

Bridesmaid Riki

Maid of Honor, Seester Stefanie

Guess who folded this nifty letter?

The best of them all! The sweetest letter from my husband that literally made me cry.
I am truly blessed to be married to such a wonderful, loving guy. 

My sister included this in the back once she was finished at the rehearsal dinner. It was an amazing speech that had almost everyone in tears, including each other. Especially the part about Henry including us as a package deal and not trying to keep us apart. I don't think anyone can comprehend the meaning of this to myself and my sister, and Henry just did it naturally.

Maid of Honor Speech Part 1

Maid of Honor Speech Part 2

Baby Shower Gift

So I recently attended a dear friend's baby shower. I must say, I am terrible at picking out gifts. You know everything they registered for is something they truly want, but you don't want to show up with just that one tiny gift, even if it did cost $70. I noticed she had registered for various bath items of different brands and decided I would make my own little "Baby Bath Basket".

I figured this way she could get all the brands, try them out, and then could buy more of the one she liked most later. With how messy baby's can get, I am sure she will use this up in no time.

Contents:

1) Two Burp Cloths

2) Hooded Disney Princess Bath Towel

3) Mustela No Rinse Cleansing Fluid (Rave reviews from moms! Diaper Bag must have)

4) BabyGanics Essential Kit - Hiney Helper Diaper Rash Cream, Healin Groovy Protective Ointment, Smooth Moves Fragrance Free Daily Lotion, Foamin Fun Shampoo & Body Wash, Thick N Kleen Newborn Baby Wipes, OXO Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser

5) Johnson & Johnson On The Go Essentials Kit - Baby Bedtime Bath & Lotion, Desitin Diaper Rash Cream (which per a geriatrics nurse, Desitin BURNS, so I wouldn't recommend using it on your baby),  Baby shampoo, Baby Head-to-Toe Wash, Baby Bubble Bath & Wash, Baby Lotion

6) Baby Magic Rub A Dub Fun Tub - Gentle Baby lotion, Hair & Body wash, Calming baby bath, Rubber Duckie Bath Pouf 

7) $7 Walmart Basket

It turned out really cute and very handy. She has travel size items for the diaper bag, full size for the home and various brands for testing out to her (and baby's) liking. 

Everything was purchased through BabiesRUs and they were having a buy two bath products get the 3rd free, so #6 was free! Overall the total basket cost me around $65, with the burp cloths being the most expensive item. 

Alana

XoXo