Waiting!!!!!!!

Epidural is in...monitor shows big contractions...but she is feeling no pain. Does she have legs? Well, we can see them but she can't feel them. Doc Cassady is watching closely...and all is well. We are getting excited. Miss Emma is calling all the shots....just like she will the rest of their lives! Update from Gabby....future grandmother on the Russell side.

In LABOR!

Labor update! We were supposed to come to the hospital at 7:30 this morning....but they said no....wait. We fretted...and fumed....took a nap....went to breakfast at McDonalds. Then...the call. "Do you want to have your baby today?" YOU BET....and off we went. We are now at Mercy and in labor! Labor is going well......lots of laughing and cutting up so far....but just asked for the epideral! Charles is not the doc on call.....but he is definitely in doc mode with a touch of daddy! He is excited! We are excited....the Cassady's are on their way. Jim and Greg are on their way....YEA! Stay tuned for updates.....Emma will soon be here!

Our cousin Taylor...

My husband, Charles has several first cousins on his mom's side of the family. Family get togethers with the Cassady's are usually full of lots of laughter, lots of food, lots of games, and lots of hilarious memories. The Shaw kids belong to Aunt Molly and Uncle Les. You've got Jessica, Taylor, Samantha, and Parker. They are great! So fun to be around and they have such a great heart for the Lord. Anyway, Taylor is currently a student at OU and I swear everytime I see him he looks a little more like Charles everyday. They also have similar personalities but Taylor has the dancing skills that Charles wishes he had. :) So, my mother-in-law calls me yesterday and says Taylor has a new post on YouTube and to check it out. I have added it to the right side of my blog so be sure and check it out. (He is lip singing to Taylor Swift.) That kid cracks me up!!!

Beautiful Wedding!

I am posting a little out of order but I wanted to make sure and post some pics of the Purdy wedding. Charles' best friend from medical school is Aaron Purdy. He was married last month and it was beautiful! He and Samantha married at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine, Tx and it was stunning! Here are some pictures of the day. Congratulations Purdy!

The next day at the cowboy game! They won!!

Chri-stache Party

This year my husband was invited to a Chri-stache Party. It is a Christmas party and the way you get in is by having a mustache and a toy for Toys for Tots. Charles and his co-workers all worked for a week or more growing out their facial hair to create the perfect look. They all dressed in seventies outfits and all I have to say is WOW! Charles looked so hilarious and like he stepped off a movie set. I fixed his hair and well... I will let the pictures speak for themselves. :)

Creepy!!

This is Charles the next day at work... still with the mustache and chops in tact.

Uses for a Belly Bump!

Well, I am huge! My belly is growing at an alarming rate now and I am pretty much miserable. (not that I am complaining) :) I can't bend over, I can't see my feet, shaving my legs is impossible, I waddle everywhere I go and I am having a really hard time finding any clothes that fit. (besides sweats) My cousin Jenny called me yesterday (she is also 9 months pregnant) and we are both having what her Dr. calls irritable contractions. She said the reason they call them irritable contractions is because you are very irritable while they exist. I would have to agree with that statement!! But in spite of all that I have discovered a really wonderful and exciting use for the belly... I went out to eat with some friends the other night and discovered it makes a wonderful table. I can set all kinds of things on it and they don't move an inch! It is like having a lap table attached at all times and I love it! This is a great use for the belly that no one tells you about! No more reaching... just set it on the belly! (at least for the next few weeks!)

Weekend for Emma

Well, this past weekend was the much anticipated painting of the baby room and moving in of furniture! My mom (Gabby to her grandchildren) is a great artist and she spent all day Saturday and a few hours on Sunday painting murals on Emma's walls. My Dad (PopPop to his grandchildren) took furniture from my grandmothers home along with the baby bed I had as a child and refinished it to create adorable furniture! Up until this weekend I have been totally scattered and unorganized with everything involving baby. But mom and dad swooped in and really pulled it all together for us! I am so blessed and grateful to both of my parents for taking their time and lots of energy to help us create a beautiful room for Emma. They are such giving and wonderful people and there will never be enough words to say Thank you! I love you both very much!!!

Also this Sunday was my baby shower at our church, Memorial Rd. My hostesses were awsome! The invitation was adorable, the decorations were perfect (on the table was a christmas tree with different little owls as ornaments), the food was delicious, and the travel system they gave me was really needed and generous. Amy- I love the book you made me also! God is good and the friendships he has placed in my life through this church mean the world to me and have helped me through some rough moments in my life! For this I am forever grateful. Thank you girls!! It was perfect! (Hostesses: Gwen Antwine, Amy Carnagey, Tiffany Gulledge, Rachel Hamilton, Beth Hall, Jana Hornbuckle, Brooklyn Lovett, Beverly North, Joanne North, Andrea Rieger, April Williams, and Michelle Young)

Baby Shower in Lewisville

Last weekend I had a baby shower in Lewisville, Tx. My sister has been in Colorado since August and I have been so sad she won't be around until the baby is born. She will call me and have me hold the phone to my belly so Emma will know who she is when she comes out and we have both been going through withdraws from not being near each other. Knowing this, my parents decided to surprise me and fly Amy in for the weekend!! I was at home Friday night and all of the sudden Amy walks in!! It was awsome! So, we were able to spend the weekend together and she was able to attend the shower. My friends threw it for me and it was so special! They really outdid themselves!!! The food was wonderful, the decor was so sweet and I was surrounded by my friends and family... what could be more perfect? Here are a few pictures of the day!

Delicious Pumpkin Bread!

My Nana sent me this recipe a few weeks ago... I made it last week and it is delicious!! You can make it with or without the glaze. Easy and quick bread to make for the holidays! ENJOY!!

Nana's Pumpkin Bread

from the kitchen of Laquita Lucas

2/3 cup shortening 1 t cinnamon

3 1/3 cups sugar 1 t cloves

4 eggs 1 cup chopped nuts

16 oz can of pumpkin

2/3 cup water

3 1/3 cups flour

2 t baking soda

1 1/2 t salt

1/2 t baking powder

Mix shortening and sugar in large bowl. Add eggs, pumpkin, and water. Blend in flour, soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves. Stir in nuts.

Bake until toothpick in center comes out clean. (about 1 hour and 10 mins @ 300 degrees)

Glaze: In small bowl with fork mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup undiluted orange juice concentrate, and 1/8 t ground allspice until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bread. Makes 1/2 cup glaze.

Seeing Emma in 3-D!

Yesterday we had a 3-D ultrasound done. It was something Charles did not want to do but he agreed and is now glad he did. :) We had a 15 min session and were able to see so clearly this sweet little baby we will get to hold in a few short months! We decided she has my nose and cheeks and definitely has the Cassady lips. I think she will have big beautiful eyes like the Cassady side as well. She loves to have her hands by her face and enjoys chewing on her toes and hands. It was a very cool experience and made it very real for us both. How can anyone not believe in God and his goodness after seeing something like that? It is truly amazing!!

First Baby Shower for Emma Grace Cassady

We had our first baby shower this weekend for Emma Grace... (yes that is officially the babies name!) It was a couples shower hosted by some friends in the residency program with Charles. We had a great time and Charles' brother and sisters were able to come up for the event as well! Thanks Anny, Kristi, Joie and Som for making it a special night! Here are a few pics of the evening and some gifts we received.