feels like home to me.

last week we went home to the states!!  i have been having bouts of home sickness so i was super pumped to go home and i know even jim was more than ready.  so, we took the 20ish hour trek home to see our loved ones.

the weekend started off with a shower for my friend jackie who is expecting a baby girl in june.  she looks so cute prego, and it was great to see all of my friends!!  i love and miss you all so much!

my friend jackie... isn't she cute???

saturday night most of my immediate family came over for dinner and a slumber party.  i was so happy to have my family around.  you don't realize how much you take your family for granted until you spend months thousands of miles apart.  

photo op of the night... hudson {my nephew} was absolutely infatuated with my dad playing the guitar and singing to him.  cutest thing EVER and such a special bond.

then on sunday we had a shower for my sister-in-law, lyndsay, who is due in july.  lots of babies coming soon!  tara, denise, pam and i threw the shower, although i can't take much credit for all the actual planning since i was in australia.  but these ladies did a fabulous job!!  i will post more details about our bows & bowties themed shower in the next post since all the details were adorable and i think it deserves it's own post.  

left to right:  me, hudson {my nephew - tara's son},
tara {my stepsister} and denise {my sister-in-law} = LOVE.

left to right:  me, hudson, tara and pam {my step-mom} = LOVE.

my new favorite man in my life!

look at that smile!!!  :)

yet another ADORABLE prego gal... this is lynz....
doesn't she look soooo cute?

all the gals in lynz's family.  left to right:  denise {lynz's mom},
tara, lynz, me, denise, pam, beth {lynz's stepmom}.

me and my grandma {this is my biological mom's mom} = LOVE.

the shower was great.  everything went off without a hitch.  thanks, again, to the 3 lovely planners {pam, denise and tara} who were so prepared!  plus, it was perfect because i got to see so many friends and family!

after the shower, i met up with jim and our friends jake and robyn for the florence & the machine concert.  jim and i listen to their CDs all the time on our way to work and the concert DID NOT disappoint... it was fabulous!!

jake and robyn who just got engaged... CONGRATS!

i think you know us.  :)

monday included some much overdue bonding time with that new man in my life - HUDSON!!  pam and i had the privilege of watching him all day.  with the exception of one diaper blow out and projectile vomit the day was perfect and hudson was all smiles and so much fun.

can't get enough of this sweet face!

this is hudson's dad, adam {my BIL and tara's husband}.

hilarious!!  he hated the flash on the camera.

the original girls in the family - and hudson.

then, on tuesday, i went up to jim's parents house in jacksonville, illinois, to spend time with them.  it was a very relaxing day spent getting some quality time with anne {jim's mom} while the boys were busy busy tearing down the garage for their bigger and better new garage COMING SOON.  we even broke out the photo albums to see jim as a little bambino... so cute!

we can't forget, phog.  got to see this wild man.
he has grown so much since we last saw him.

bella and phog saying hello... old pals!  

that night i spent a couple of hours with my good friend, liz... also prego!!!  surprise, surprise!  she, too, is due in june with a boy.  LOVE HER!

then, wednesday was my dad's birthday so my grandparents and i met him at work for lunch and then came over to my parent's house for dinner. a great day with a lot of quality time with my grandparents.

this is my grandma {bernell} and also my dad's mom (if you couldn't tell).

this is my grandma and grandpa {lou and gene} and also pam's parents.

this is my grandma and grandpa {june and bob} and my mom's parents.  

it was so great seeing my grandparents and visiting with them for the day. jim even got to join us for dinner.  we had a st. louis favorite - hodak's chicken and lots of yummy sides made by pam.  it was a great day.

then on thursday i got to spend a little more time with my good friend, jackie, and got to see her ADORABLE vintage chic baby room for her little one, elle.  then, i went to the casino for a few hours with pam and jim and then got my hair done.  i concluded thursday with some much needed time spent with my best friend, amanda.  SURPRISE - she is also prego!!!  she is due in august.  can you believe all the babies that will be born by the time we get back from australia?  i can't.

then came friday... dooms day fly home day.  we didn't fly out until 6pm so i spent the day with my dad and pam running some errands that i never got the chance to do earlier in the week.... i can't imagine why??  i was glad to have the day with them - especially my dad since i wasn't able to see as much of him throughout the week since he had to work.  we even got to see jake {my step-brother} one more time since he came to meet us for lunch at elephant bar.

before i close, i can't forget to mention my little baby, bella, who i have been missing terribly.  she quickly became my very welcome shadow while i was home.  it is so hard leaving her, but my parents are doing an absolutely fabulous job taking care of her and i know she loves spending time there so that makes it so much easier.  thanks, pam and dad!!!

it was a great week spent at home.   there weren't any HUGE happenings, but just being around everyone satisfied my need for family and friends in life. it was so great seeing everyone.  love and miss you all already.