We're Moving!!

So I tried to have it all...I wanted to be an amazing wife, a full-time employee, a stellar Mom-to-be, a super cool cat Mom, and a blogger (who doesn't).   In fact I loved the blogger role so much that I got a little crazy and started 2 of them.  This one, the McGee McBlog, intended to be full of personal updates.  And the Mommy McBlog, intended to be geared towards the Mom audience.

But somethings gotta give, and I just can't be SuperWoman.

Let's be real, my prego bump could never squeeze into this tight spandex outfit

So the McGee McBlog has been merged with Mommy McBlog and I'm moving all my updates and posts there.   The merger is a good thing.  It's the equivalent of Disney merging with Pixar; Wendy's fries meeting with a Frosty; Carol Brady marrying Mike Brady.  (Perhaps I'll go back to 2 blogs someday but for now I need to simplify my life, especially with a Beanette on the way).

Moving Day for McGee McBlog

But please calm down... No panicking or rioting please.  If you haven't tuned into the Mommy McBlog yet, it's not too late...  You can still jump on the bandwagon!!

I promise that I'll still include many pictures, lousy attempts at humor, and random ridiculousness.  In fact, I'm drumming up a corny little post right now about our birth class trilogy and it will include all of the above.  So stay tuned for the post this week on the Mommy McBlog.

So now the question you must all be asking... How do I get to Mommy McBlog?!?!

It's quite simple because Mommy McBlog even has it's very own domain.  It is MommyMcBlog.com.
Yep, it's that easy!!  Just click and go.  If you missed it the first time, its MommyMcBlog.com.

AND, there's more to it (no I won't add in a free snuggie), but you can also Like Mommy McBlog on Facebook and follow more updates and comments there.  Click HERE, Like it, and make my day that much better. 

Hope to see you all soon at Mommy McBlog.  We'll be throwing a blog-warming party shortly complete with tours of the new pad, hots dogs, cold beer and even free balloons for the kiddos. 

Thanks for following and see you soon! 

Much McBlogging love,

Erin

Picture of the Week *32 Weeks*

For the picture of the week I thought I should do a Bump Update aka Bumpdate!

Well, here she is...  Not me, Beanette (she's not able to be in a picture without me, so you get me by default).  Then Lexi heard that we were taking a picture of the cutest little girl in the house and she jumped in too.   

Beanette is growing and growing (aka I am growing and growing, eek) and getting closer to her big arrival day. 


32 Weeks!

Up Close 32 Weeks, whoa! 
Apparently the camera does add 10(ish) lbs    :)

I've been getting all kinds of questions from friends and family so I thought I'd do my best to answer them all in one post.  Here goes...

The Good: Mostly everything!  I have really loved being pregnant.  It's been pretty cool to feel her move around and know that there is a little girl in my belly.  She kicks the most in the morning and late afternoon.  I think I even felt her hiccup the other day.  So cute!

The Bad:  Other than a few regular trips to the chiropractor for some back pains, I've been feeling really good still.  Let's hope it continues.

The Ugly:  My sausage feet.  They don't hurt but they some nights they get quite puffy.  Gotta love Denny for being an amazing hubby and making me foot baths with Epsom Salt.  :)

Heaven!

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The Name:  Still a secret (mainly because we still have not decided on it).  You can keep asking us, but we won't say a word until she's here.

The Heat:  Still not bothering me, but I get asked all the time if it does.  Luckily, I'm fine with it.

The Prep:  Maybe I'm biased but her room is looking SO cute!!!  Some days I sit in there and get teary imagining the first time we get to bring her in there and all the nights we will read her books and rock her to sleep.  Just a few more projects to go and I think her room will be totally Beanette ready.  I'll post lots of photos once it is complete.

The Waiting:  We've had a lot of people ask us if we are ready to meet her.  Honestly, I don't mind being pregnant and we are enjoying these last few months with the two of us.  We would love to meet her if she surprises us in September.  If not, we are fine waiting for a little October baby.

Nesting:  Yes, Yes and Yes!  I'm getting a little nuts with the organizing, but I guess it's all part of the fun.

Cravings:  I haven't had too many crazy cravings during the pregnancy, but I definitely won't turn down a Popsicle or ice cream.  I also have been loving those neon gummy worms.  Perhaps Beanette will glow when she arrives?

Yum! 

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So stay tuned and we'll keep you all posted during the next few weeks as the countdown continues to parenthood!   



Picture of the Week *803 Day*

Friday was One of my favorite days of the year!

August 3rd, AKA 8/03!

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803 was the house number of my grandparents for over 60 years!!  Their little house on Sullivan Street was the location of some of my favorite childhood memories.  To this day I still miss the magic of 803 and I often think about how much I would love to go back for just one more visit with Grandma and Grandpa.

So in honor of 8.03 day, some fun Quilty pictures to walk down memory lane...





Q Family Reunion (1985 I think)
Melissa and I were the kiddos in the front wearing sandals with socks



This picture was taken in front of the tree in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard (they are seated in the middle).  They both got very dressed up for these occasions.  Grandma always looked so pretty and Grandpa always looked very handsome. 

This was the original 803 number on the light pole in front of Grandma and Grandpa's house! 
This did not make it to the new owners when we sold the house (sorry new owners).  The numbers are currently spending some time with the Q's in PA.

Just a few phrases of memories that took place at 803!  The stories behind these phrases would fill at least 10 blogs, but each mean so much to our family.

It's an understatement to say that Melissa and I had a great childhood.  And being a few blocks from Grandma and Grandpa had a huge part of this.  They were so special to us! 

One of my favorite memories with Grandma and Grandpa was eating popcorn along with a huge glass of Country Time lemonade.   Such a small thing  at the time but looking back we had so many great conversations over this late-night snack.  I haven't had a chance to enjoy my lemonade and popcorn yet in honor of 803 day but I have big plans to have some this week. 

Hope you all have a great week, and maybe even take a few minutes and enjoy a stroll down memory lane. 

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Good-Bye to Hospitality

Today was the day; my final day as a hotel employee! 
Very bittersweet.  I can't leave the last 7 years of my life without a little ode to hospitality and events.  It is where I met some of my best friends and had some of the most fun times.  So without sharing too much incriminating information, here are

My Top 5 Most Memorable Moments of Hospitality

(Drum roll please)

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#5 - While working as an events planner for 84 Lumber Company, I was responsible for planning the Annual Ten Year recognition Weekend at Nemacolin Woodlands.  The crazy 4-day affair  in 2006 started with about 25 broken awards, which had to be re-made and re-shipped from Chicago in 48 hours, but the craziest part of the weekend came as I was leaving.  I was finally on my way home after barely sleeping for the four-day affair when I got a call that the 84 Lumber beaver head was missing.  (I can't make this stuff up).  It had been wrapped in a trash bag to be shipped back to the office and it was inadvertently thrown away.  I had the pleasure of digging through the trash for hours but never recovered that darn beaver head.  RIP 84 Lumber Beaver Head! 

#4 - It was very fun to come in contact with famous people while working in hospitality.  I saw Nicole Richie (barely) eating lunch, greeted NHL & NFL teams, booked rooms for Tommy Lee and Motley Crue and watched Keanu Reeves during his morning smoke break. 

#3 - Lots of fun travel!   Over the past seven years I've been able to travel to NYC a few times, Phoenix, Chicago, LA, Boston, San Diego, Dallas, Toronto, Albany, Saratoga Springs and lots of other places.    Saratoga Spring never failed to be the most exciting -- Enjoy Saratoga Springs, Always have Excedrin from the next morning.   

#2 - A highlight reel of my time in hotels would not be complete without a recap of some crazy MOD memories that included:  trying to have a rational conversation with wasted Long Island cops (not on duty fortunately) at 4 AM, dealing with guests that pee their pants in public, calling the cops on abusive husbands and handling a hooker that claimed she was assaulted by "clients"!  And you wonder why people in hospitality tend to drink a lot.

#1 - The A-M-A-Z-I-N-G People!!!!  I had great co-workers that are now my great friends!   It wasn't a day at office without morning bagel breaks, covering co-workers walls with birthing pool ads, turkey bowling, co-workers that wear Shape-ups, and even a bomb threat.  But I think that one of my favorite nights had to be when the Hyatt girls took me out for a "few" drinks before Denny and I tied the know.  Yikes, I'm not sure how 1 drink led to 10+ drinks, but it was a super fun night.com!

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Cheers to the next chapter in life.  If I meet half the amazing people as I have met in the last seven, I'll be one lucky lady!

Baby McGee Shower ~Pictures of the Week~

Last Sunday Denny and I attended the most AMAZING shower for our little girl!! 

Our Moms, Melissa and Sara worked really hard to make it perfect, and it was!  

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It's hard to find the words to begin thanking everyone that made it so special.  Beanette is one lucky little girl!

The decorations were gorgeous, and the room was beautiful!  Sara and Melissa even had a Price is Right game complete with music and props.  So cute!

Here are some of the pictures show exactly how cute everything was!  It went so fast that I didn't get to take any pictures but luckily a lot of our friends and family shared pictures.  Thanks to those who sent these our way. 



Adorable invite (with Beanette's picture on it).  Everyone brought a book to help grow our little girl's library!

The shower was held in a room called the Mama Q room at Caffe Capri, so perfect!

Super cute banner 
~Welcome Little Lady!~



A~M~A~Z~I~N~G Desserts!!   The dark ones were Peanut Butter Cup.  Beanette loved them!

Dad with the adorable drawing her did for Beanette's room.  It was such a great surprise!

  ~~~  Some of our Wonderful guests!!  ~~~

            

Sara & Kelly, the best Aunties ever!

Jenn and Fynan even made it to the shower from Germany!!

  ~~~  The Proud Grandmas!  ~~~

Aunt Kathy, BJ and Soon-to-be Grandma McGee

Melissa, me and Nana-to-be

~~  We were so lucky to get so many wonderful gifts for Beanette, and Denny helped me to open everything.  He is very excited for his little girl.  ~~ 

Proud Dad!

  ~~~  Some After Pictures   ~~~

Just a few snapshots of Beanette's room with some of her wonderful gifts!  More pics to come as we finish her nursery.

Poor girl has nothing to wear!

 She has so many cozy places to nap, lots of blankets for snuggling, and tons of stuffed animals!   Can't wait to read her all these books too!

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We can't thank all of our friends and family from Ohio and Pa enough for all you did to make us feel so loved!!  We can't wait to make the trip to visit everyone once she arrives!!

Olympic Fever!

I. Love. The Olympics!

I think the Olympics are one of the most exciting times to be an American and get swept up in the competition, the intensity and the passion of the athletes and the countries they represent.  I love hearing their stories of how they made it, and the adversity they overcame to be at the games. 

As kids, Melissa and I used to follow the Olympics like it was our jobs.  I'm sure if you look hard enough at my parents house, you'll find VHS tapes of all the opening ceremonies during the 80's.  When the games started, Melissa and I cut out all the newspaper articles about the Olympics, followed the medal counts each day and even made giant Olympic scrapbooks featuring every magazine article from the entire summer (I can't lie, we were kind of losers). 

We loved all the sports, but especially gymnastics.  I spent many summer afternoons sprinting down the vault runway (aka the dining room into the living room) and then vaulting over the square pink ottoman we had in the living room (the couch was mint colored with pink flowers and the coordinating ottoman was pink -- needless to say, it was the 80's) pretending that I was about to bring home gold. 

When I finished vaulting practice, I spent my free time writing letters to Kim Zmeskal (she was way cooler than Shannon Miller because she didn't wear ugly hair puffs). 

Kim - My childhood hero!

Shannon - Kim's not-as-cool teammate based solely on the hair puff
(although she was clearly 100% cooler than me, the girl vaulting off the ottoman)

When we weren't busy watching the Olympics or writing to the stars, we participated in backyard Olympics at our friend Julie's house!  We had tons of competitions including the cartwheel competition, swimming, broomstick throwing (aka the javelin) and relays.  

During the last time the summer Olympics were taking place, I traded in the vault runway and instead ran down the aisle to marry Denny.  We didn't plan to get married during the Olympic festivities, but it kind of adds to the magic of the games. 

This year I won't be vaulting or running down the aisle but I'll gladly take my seat as a spectator and sport my red & blue.  The opening ceremony kicks off in just a few hours!! 

Go Team USA!!

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Cha Cha Changes

It's been an exciting few months in the McGee house to say the least, and the changes continue.

Let me start at the beginning...

Four years ago Denny and I were getting ready for our Big Day and I was also making plans in my mind for another big endeavor, grad school!  I had been in the hospitality and events industry at that time for about 3 years and I was starting to wonder what opportunities existed outside of the world of Heads in Beds. 

Denny and I said I Do in August, and in November we said I Do to grad school.  It was half the excitement of our wedding and twice the cost so I'm not sure what we were thinking (perhaps we were still drunk off Balashi beer from our honeymoon in Aruba). 
<><>

Y-U-M!!

Denny and I pushed each other through the program one class at a time.  Finally after 2 1/2 years of very little sleep, gallons of coffee, hours of work and 4 Gigs of my jump drive, we graduated, celebrated and returned to normal life aka sleeping more than 4 hours a night.

Double Hooray!

Since then this little piece of me has still been wondering what else is out there.  Not that I haven't loved my time working with some amazing people in the crazy hospitality world, but I been full of curiosity.  I felt like Columbus wondering if the world really was round.  I just had to find out!

So, I did.  And in just a few days I'll say good-bye to the hospitality world after almost 7 years.

I am SO thrilled to announce that I accepted a Business Development role at the UB Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.  It wasn't necessarily on my To Do while 6 months pregnant, but I have come to find out that life rarely listens to any one's game plan.  And when opportunity Knocks - you open the door, invite it in and serve it iced tea.

I have worked with the UB CEL team in the past, and I am joining an amazing team!  They have been 100% supportive (and informed) about Beanette from Day 1, which makes one more change during this time of my life way less stressful.   The really rewarding part of my new role is that my work at UB will help local business leaders grow their entrepreneurial spirit and ultimately help business in Buffalo thrive. 

I'm really happy and I feel like I found my little place in life.  So here's to another change in one of the most exciting years of our life!  Oh, and go Bulls!

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PS  I'm not the only pregnant woman taking on a new role.  Yahoo recently hired a new CEO due with a Baby Boy this October.  Cheers to brave women trying to have it all while in maternity pants.  To weigh in on this from a Mommy point of view, click here!

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Picture of the Week ~Happy Birthday Lex~

(Editor's note:  It's technically my Sunday so this post is not a day late, but I'm sorry for being a bloggie slacker.  More posts to come this week including updates about Beanette's amazing shower)

Now onto a very important picture of the week...

The little kitty cat that turned Denny and I into Crazy Cat People turned 6 today!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEXI GIRL!!

She is growing up so fast!  Seems like just yesterday we were enrolling her at kittygarten!

Birthday Girl when she was just a few weeks old!

When we thought about getting a pet in the fall of 2006 we took a trip to the SPCA with no intention to bring anything home... then we saw a sweet little kitty struggling to even jump 3 inches from the upper shelf to the lower shelf of her cage.  She was so cute and tiny we could not leave her.  The next thing we knew, we were new kitty parents to Lexi!!

During her first few months, she was so tiny that she would fit inside my heels, and we were constantly worrying about losing her.  She once spent a few minutes in the fridge after sneaking in while we unloaded groceries.  Luckily we realized it in no time, and found her on the beer shelf, chilled but unharmed.

Little Lex has been quite the little entertainer over the past few years!  She is always there to greet us when we get home and is an excellent cuddler.  

For her Big Birthday today she celebrated with a Fancy Feast breakfast buffet.  She rocked out to her favorite songs, Bringin Lexi Back (the other kitties don't know how to act) and I'm Lexi and I Know It!  She had a nap and then watched out the window for her boyfriend kitty, Bazooka Joe.  It was a pretty good day for her! 

Happy Birthday Lexi!  Six years ago today I would never imagine that I would spend my night blogging about a cat, but your cute little 7-lb self sure has worked your Lexi magic and turned us into your #1 Fans!!    XOXO

Lex meeting Santa Claws for her 1st Christmas

Naptime in her tent

Lex is a great secret keeper... not letting the cat out of the bag

A Day in the Life of Beanette

Despite having never met my daughter, I've become very familiar with her daily schedule.  I'll have to confirm this with her when she arrives but here are my thoughts on her daily activities

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5:30 AM 
Beanette wake up call because her big sister Lexi is dancing on my head for her morning Fancy Feast buffet.  Beanette can't wait to meet her sister, kicks me in excitement and sends me to the bathroom.

6:00 AM
I'm pretty sure she is back to bed by this time, she apparently takes after us and likes to sleep late. 

8:30 AM
Wide awake and ready for another Bring your Daughter to Work Day.  She grows brain cells (250 per minute) while I try to make my way through morning e-mails.  I'm not sure where she gets her ambition.

11:00 AM
Beanette kick boxing lessons.  It appears that she is going to have a really strong core by the time she is born.  I make trips #11-25 to the ladies room.

1:00 PM
More napping.   She seems to do this during much of the afternoon gearing up for a fun evening of activities

7:00 PM
Beanette playtime!!  I'm quite certain that this is how my bladder looks to her:

I can't blame her for being excited.  I would want to bounce too!

10:00 PM

She's been jumping and kicking for a few hours now and finally seems to be tuckered out! 

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Sweet Dreams Beanette, can't wait until we really get to tuck you in bed!

Picture of the Week ~Mommy McBlog~

Guess what??  I have a little announcement to make...


Our family if growing (no, it's not Beanette just yet), it's the birth of my dream project!

Welcome to the world, Mommy McBlog!!!

Hello World!  Picture of the Week!

For years writing has been my favorite way to express myself.  I remember feeling more comfortable writing papers in high school than speaking to people.  And thank goodness for the creation of Instant Messenger in college or noone would ever know who I really am. 

I've been loving the fun of writing the McGee McBlog and I keep wondering if I could somehow make it have more mass appeal... Soooo after much thought and even more brainstorming of ideas to Denny, Melissa, Lexi and any person or any cat that will listen, I've decided to merge my love of writing with the hilariousness of pregnancy and mommyhood (I'm sure trying to handle a 7-lb baby will have it's share of crazy moments).  Thus, the idea of the Mommy McBlog was born. 

And after a downloaded book about blogging on my kindle and the purchase of the domain, MommyMcBlog.com, I think I'm ready to be a blogger. 

So, if you are a Mommy, if you know a Mommy, or if you just want to support a blogger wanna-be, click here, follow the blog, or like the blog on Facebok!! 

Thanks friends!  Have a great week!

Jingle All the Way to the Weekend!

It's Friday, the weather is beautiful and Pandora is playing... Christmas music, hmm?!?

Normally this annoys me like no other.  C'mon Pandora!  If you are brilliant enough to figure out my favorite songs how do you not know it is currently summertime?  

Today seems different though.  Today Christmas songs are actually putting me in an extra good mood.  I'm not ready for Santa to visit, and I'm definitely not ready to get out the winter clothes.  (Heck, my summer clothes barely fit!  Imagine me trying to squeeze into turtleneck sweaters right now... Hello Jaws of Life!)

But today Christmas music makes me really excited for what our holidays will entail this year!!  A cute little girl all dressed up in adorable red and green dresses with matching tights (thanks Auntie Melissa for her outfit)... a new stocking on the mantle... lots of toys under the tree.  Beanette probably won't know or care much about the holidays but it is still really fun to think about all the new meaning the holidays will have with a cute baby girl in our lives. 

This will be the ninth Christmas Denny and I will spend together and I'm pretty sure it will be one of the best yet.  Now if only we could figure out her name so Santa can be sure to add her to the Nice List!

Happy Friday to all,

and to all a good weekend!!



Simpler Times!

Who hasn't wished they could move back to a simpler time??

Perhaps a time when the kids didn't spend dinnertime staring at their DS...
Perhaps a time when families spent their Sunday afternoons going for drives in the country, singing songs and enjoying together time...
Or perhaps a time when Mom, Dad and the kiddos all huddled around the TV to watch wholesome family programs on the boob tube...


Who doesn't Love Lucy?  I know I do!

The All-American Family enjoying happy times

___________________

Anxious to rekindle this special time with your kids?   Denny and I have the solution for you...

 Introducing the coolest TV east of the Mississippi. 

• Works (sometimes)
• Flat (ish) screen
• LCD (Large, Cumbersome and Definitely heavy)
• Doubles as a ledge for picture frames and/or table to set your beverages (coasters encouraged)
• Comes with attached cord

Denny and I feel that we have been fortunate enough to spend six years with this beautiful television but we don't want Beanette growing up spoiled so we have decided it is time to share our wealth with others.  Yes, this bad boy is going on the market. 

The TV is currently in our garage waiting to go to its next loving home (please do not spend all night sleeping in the driveway waiting for us to open the door in the morning). 

We are accepting bids starting at -$10.  Yes, we will pay YOU for taking it away!  If interested, please call or stop by.  All interested applicants will be evaluated and a thorough background check will be completed. 

In no time at all you too can be enjoying America's great technological advances with your loved ones!!  But be warned, we will not be held responsible for your kids becoming spoiled by the finer luxuries in life.

Picture of the Week ~Cravings~

 ~~  Happy Weekend everyone!  ~~

I hope you are enjoying these lazy days of summer.

For the picture of the week I thought I would focus on the one thing I'd been craving for the past few weeks...

Y-U-M!!

I can't get enough of Popsicles lately (in particular the orange, lime and grape ones).  They are cold, flavorful and delicious.  I've always loved ice cream so maybe Beanette has inherited my love of cold treats during the summer. 

If this makes you hungry, feel free to stop on over.  I bought the 100 popsicle value pack lately and I'm glad to share, especially if you like cherry or blue raspberry. 

Have a great Sunday and enjoy this gorgeous weather!