The Craigs: May 2012

Bye Bye Mel

This weekend I had to say goodbye to my friend Melanie. She has accepted a job in GERMANY and Sunday was her last day in Raleigh. Saturday night a group of her closest friends went to dinner at Buku in downtown Raleigh.

From Mel

I was proud of myself- I didn't cry. I think I'm still in denial and I think that's where I'll stay for a little longer. It hasn't registered that she won't be at the slumber party next weekend, that she'll miss Paisley's arrival and that she & I won't be taking pictures together or doing projects anymore. Most folks know the story of Melanie & myself but if you didn't here's how this chick entered my life.

From Mel

June 2011: Creative Camera I at Wake Tech. I had just finished my 1st photography class & needed to take another one. I also needed a photography buddy that was a girl. All the photographers that I knew were dudes and I wanted a friend to go on photo trips with. I prayed for about 3 months and then I sat next to Mel at our 2nd class in Creative Camera I. She & I hit it off immediately and I knew I wanted to be here friend. But she was more interesting in flirting with this guy. Luckily for me, he quit the class the next week and I had her ALL to myself.

From Mel

Our first photography trip together (outside the class) was to the Art Museum. We took pictures and talked for 2 hours. I shared my faith with her and she shared how she didn't believe the same thing. We agreed to disagree and I wondered if we would hang out again.

From Mel

I invited her to come to my house for the girls Slumber Party a few weeks after that. I had a hunch that she would take good pictures and I knew that I would be so busy with the girls that I wouldn't be able to get good shots. Sure enough, she took GREAT pictures and from then on she became my PERSONAL photographer.

From Mel

The BEST trip that we took was to the Carolina Balloon Festival. We spent ALL day long there and absolutely had a blast.

From Mel

Mel has also been very helpful in any and every project I've ever done. She took the pictures to help us make the BIG announcement at Christmas time.

From Mel

She's always willing to help and her creativity and super cool hand writing came in quite handy. She began taking the bi-weekly baby bump board pictures in January.

From Mel

And of course, who can forget the AMAZING maternity pictures that she took.

From Maternity Pictures

To say the girl is talented is an understatement! Her knack to see things that most people don't is truly amazing. She has always said that she's more of a landscape photographer but the pictures that she took of the kids at the baby party in April were AMAZING!

From Baby Party

Mel has not only been a photography buddy but in the last year has become one of my closest friends. It's hard to think that we've only been friends for a year and that she's leaving before our 1st anniversary in June.

From Baby Party

I've said this before on this blog but some friends are for seasons and some are for a reason. Even though the season of Mel & I in the same town has now come to an end, our friendship has and will not. I met Mel for a REASON! She was an answered prayer straight from Jesus (whether she believes that or not). God truly blessed me when He put Melanie Turenne in my life. There is no replacing her. She is one of a kind and has left a lasting impression on this girl.

From Mel

You will be truly missed. Todd & I love you so much and wish nothing but the BEST for you in this new adventure and new season of your life. And yes, we'll come and visit. Todd can't wait to go to BEER fest in Germany!

From Mel

We love you!
Todd, Candice & Paisley

Texas Part II

As promised I'm going back to Part II of our Texas trip. After Jonathan's graduation on Friday, we woke up Saturday morning and had a visit with my very good friends Reza & Homayra.

From Reza & Homayra

I met Reza in 2000 when I moved to College Station. I was in an Anthropology class and for extra credit, I signed up to have a conversation partner. So at our first meeting, Reza asked if we could do our meetings with his wife, Homayra. I agreed and a friendship with the 3 of us began. They didn't have any children at the time so they kinda adopted me, spoiled me and Homayra cooked Iranian food for me all the time. I love these people! Since then they have had TWIN GIRLS! I hadn't seen the girls since they were 6 months old. They're 5 today and cute as a button!!!! Here are some pictures from our very quick but wonderful visit.

The girls: Neeki

From Reza & Homayra

And Neeku

From Reza & Homayra

They had a great time playing Candyland with Momma T

From Reza & Homayra

And like every kid that I've ever met, they loved Momma T!

From Reza & Homayra

Neeki who is usually shy around strangers even let Momma T help her with some magnets.

From Reza & Homayra

This was the 1st time that Reza & Homayra met Todd.

From Reza & Homayra

And here's the whole gang!

From Reza & Homayra

It was a quick visit but it was SO wonderful to see this family. The literally were my family while I was in College Station and 4.5 years is WAY TOO LONG to go without seeing them.

Love you guys!
Candice

32 Weeks

Not much is new since last week. Just some weight gain & growth on the baby. Here are the pictures from this week.

From Baby Bump

How far along? 32 weeks (8 months)

Total weight gain? 22 lbs. I'm at the point where I should be gaining a pound each week & we are right on schedule- have gained 2 lbs since my last baby bump post. I'm SO thankful the weight seems to be going straight to the tummy!

Maternity Clothes? Of course.

Sleep? Didn't sleep good while we were in TX but I'm back home and doing good again.

Best moment of the week? Being home for Mother's day. We got to go to church with my mom & the sermon was all about mothers & by honoring them, we honor God. Don't think I have been home for a Mother's day since I left TX 9 years ago. It was very special.

Missing Anything? Feeling normal. Sorry but it just feels like I'm hosting an alien in my body.

Movement? Miss thing already has a personality. She really likes hanging out on the RIGHT side of my tummy and she likes wearing the right side out. It actually feels like I'm bruised internally so I tried to lay on my left side last week so she would move over. She was NOT having any of that. I swear that chick put her feet on my left side and stuck her head on my right. Todd & I both saw her head poking out on the right side of my belly. It was a HUGE bulge! Not only does she know what she likes but apparently she has a big head. If you love me, you'll pray for me. I've got a feeling she will be just like her momma- stubborn, strong willed & full of TX sassiness. Please pray. I'm afraid what they say about paybacks are true.

Food Craving? Not really. Getting tired of milk. Now I just want sno-cones which give me awful heartburn.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope

Gender? Sassy Texas lady

Labor Signs? I'm having Braxton hicks! Those started this week. Paisley thinks it's fun to punch me while I'm having my uterus tighten up and it hurts SO bad

Symptoms? Nothing new

Wedding rings on or off? Still off. Wore them to the TX baby shower and my fingers were tore up that afternoon

Happy or Moody? Happy with a side of emotional

Looking forward to? Getting to see my friend Mel as much as I can over the next week before she leaves for Germany. Very sad week for me.

Til next time,
Candice

Texas Part III: Baby Shower

I'm going to skip Part II of the Texas trip & bring you to the end. I promise to go back to Part II later but I just HAVE to show you pictures of the TEXAS BABY SHOWER now. You need 3 things to have a successful party- a theme, lots of detail & fun guests.

Theme: Sweet Pea (This is a name that Paisley picked up from my mom. I saw a Sweet Pea baby shower on Pinterest and sent it to my cousin & they rolled with it)
Details: You are about to see all the details
Fun Guests: Can't help but have fun guests when they're your very large CAJUN family.

So here goes. My Aunt Cil was the ring leader of the shower. I didn't realize she had so much going on during all this planning. They are in the process of rebuilding my MawMaw Schexnider's house that got destroyed by the hurricane and it was her 50th birthday on Monday. So needless to say, she's had a lot going on. My Aunt Tammy (who isn't my biological aunt but I have always called her Aunt Tammy my entire life and this confuses my husband because he can never keep straight if she's a Schexnider or not) also played a major part. Then my cousins Desi, Meagan & Jessica were all in charge of decorations. And all my other aunts helped out financially.

So the details...

Sweet pea cake (which was deelish!) and Sweet Pea cupcakes.