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.

Meeting Jerry

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything but life has kept me really busy!! I was in New Orleans this past week for work and had a run in with a celebrity! It was a first for me and I was star struck to say the least. I was eating dinner with some people from my team at Bourbon House grill (great food by the way) when I looked up and Jerry O'Connell was walking my direction. (you know the chubby kid on Stand By Me who finds the dead body) :) Anyway, I was so excited to see someone famous out in public I wasn't sure what to do with myself! My friend Deena decided on the way out of the restaurant she would ask him for a picture and let me just tell you he was so nice!! He stood up and shook our hands, asked me when my baby was due and proceeded to tell me about his wife (Rebecca Romijn Stamos) being pregnant with twins. Then he looked at me, touched my stomach and said I looked very pretty and he wished me the best of luck with my pregnancy! It was a wonderful moment! :)

Baby's Room

I found this bedding at Pottery Barn Kids and I love it!! Baby Girl's (yes, that is her name because we cannot agree on anything!) room is going to be painted by my sweet mother. She is going to take the trees off the bedding and paint them on the walls. I think it will be so fun and cute!! I will post pictures of the room before and after when she has finished. Oh, and if you have suggestions for names please share... we have none at this time. :)

My sweet prayer group

This is a picture of my sweet prayer group. (Rachel, Brooklyn, and Andrea) We started this group about 10 months ago and it has been a HUGE blessing in my life. God placed these girls in my life at just the perfect time and I am so grateful to them for their encouragement, support and constant prayer. It is amazing to have a group like this and see the prayers going up each week and then to see them answered in all kinds of ways! We are on hold for a bit because Rachel's husband has been deployed with the Air Force and she is out of town for a few months. I am looking forward to the day we meet again with new requests to share. I love you girls!!