Thursday, February 28, 2013

Carnival Birthday to Carnival Cruise


Abby’s first birthday has come and gone.  My lucky girl actually had 3 birthday parties. One on her actual birthday at Chuck E. Cheese, one at Grandpa and Nene’s house and one at the Little Gym of Katy. My mom insisted on throwing Abby her own birthday bash which made for a crazy action packed day. We left Durham at 7am on Sat. Feb 16 and arrived to Houston around noon. We then had the birthday party at my mom’s from 2-5pm and then my carnival themed party for Abby at the Little Gym from 530-7pm. Poor girl was exhausted by the end of the day!
 
The Invitation to Abby's party
My Ishan Princess in her coral beads


Abby with her nene, mommy and big aunties

Circle Time at the Little Gym

Abby and her bff Chiza

Abby and daddy on the skywalk

Abby and mommy on the skywalk

Big shout out to my line sister, Sparkle (in the right corner) and my little sister, Ehinor for coming to my rescue and helping set up the party room for Abby's birthday. I love you girls!
I loved Abby's cake pictured in the middle of the dessert table. It was made by a sweet Venezulean lady in Pearland who has amazing prices! $200 cheaper than I was quoted by other cake bakers!!

Abby and her smash cake
My mom wanted a picture with Abby. Abby on the other hand wasn't having it!

Cousins! Ekata, Kelechi, Chinenye and Adesuwa (Abby's native name)
Mommy Forum Mommies.
The next morning Jonathon and I kissed baby girl good bye and headed off to Galveston for a week long cruise for my good friend Beth’s destination wedding. I had never cruised before so I was a little nervous because of what happened on the Carnival Triumph, but God was in control and everything went smoothly! We were on the Carnival Magic and cruised to Jamaica (Montego Bay), Grand Cayman Island and Mexico (Cozumel). I am now a big fan of cruises because they are fun and so affordable!

Good Hope Estates in Jamaica

At the pier in Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island
Beth’s wedding was on the beach of Cozumel and it was absolutely beautiful. I wish her and her new husband nothing but wedded bliss! It was fun cruising the Caribbean with the Kinsolving Clique (my college friends who I met freshman year at UT in the Kinsolving Dormitory for Women). Seems like the only time we get to see each other these days is when one of us gets married!

The girls at Beth's wedding in Cozumel
Beth and I. May God bless your union!!
While I did enjoy the alone time with hubby on the ship and the fun in the sun time with the Kinsolving Clique, I missed Abby terribly. It cost $1.99/minute to call the USA from the ship so I spent a small fortune calling home every day to check on her. Per my mom’s report she adjusted very quickly and had a good time hanging out with her grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and Mama Rose.  Now that we are back to the daily grind in NC, I am looking forward to the next couple of months with Mama Rose here to help us!

17 comments:

  1. Awww, Abby! She looks precious in that first outfit! So cute. Ok, she looks beautiful in every outfit :)

    What a blessed little girl. She is love! Looks like a great first birthday party(ies)!

    We went to Montego Bay on our honeymoon and we loved it. Glad that you had a great time and that you had a good cruise experience. I've never gone on a cruise before. Hopefully one day.

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    1. Montego Bay is lovely! I bet you had an awesome honeymoon. You and Sean should definitely try a cruise. I can totally see yall cruising the Caribbean with style!

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  2. We took the same cruise, on the Magic , last year and had an incredible time, so I'm glad that your experience was the same! Abby's birthday looked like a ton of fun, and she looked absolutely adorable!

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    1. It is an awesome ship isn't it? I loved it. Would you take your girls on a cruise? We are thinking of doing the Disney Cruise when Abby is about 3...

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  3. With all the activities of the day, I think she was a good sport. And she is super adorable

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    1. She definitely had sensory overload. She went from our quiet 3 person household existence in Durham to my loud, full of people household in Houston. Culture shock for poor Abby!

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  4. Aww what a birthday extravaganza! I love the picture of her hugging her bff

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    1. Abby is a hugger. She always wants to hug other babies!

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  5. Sounds like Abby had a fun filled day. The cake looks amazing, yey for awesome deals.

    I'd love to go on a cruise, my hubby though isn't so keen, for the past year or so he asks once in a while if I'm sure. (figures crossed for a surprise).

    Looks like you and Hubby had a lovely time, despite missing Abby. You ladies looked lovely, hope u have more reunions other than at wedding :)

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    1. Here's to hoping the hubs surprises you with a cruise sometime soon!

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  6. Welcome back Amy. Abby's party looks like it was so much fun, I just love that pic of you and Abby jumping - priceless. Those coral beads look just like the outfit you wore for your wedding, so pretty. Oh and I love that pic of the mommy forum, all those babies, ahhhhh. That's love right there. I want to go on a cruise so badly, hopefully soon. Looks like you guys had a great time.

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    1. We did have a great time. I want to move back to Houston so badly. Family and friends really make life worthwhile. Abby would have so many little friends! Houston is baby central these days ;)

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  7. Oh wow I can't believe a year has come and gone...happy bday to Abby! And the cruise looked like a total blast!

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  8. I can't just believe Abby is already a year. my my my, she such lucky little girl, three parties for her first birthday :). she is going to love parties :)!

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  9. I loved Abby's outfit in the coral beads. I still can't believe she is one already. The cruise looked like a lot of fun, glad you had some alone time to relax.

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  10. Abby's party looks like so much fun. Well planned. Don't you just love grandmothers. I chuckled when I read that your mother insisted on throwing a birthday party for her. Sounds like something my mum would do too. She is a real Ishan princess with all those beads! Looking beautiful in that outfit. Congratulations to you & your hubby on Abby's 1st year! Wishing your family many more years in love, health, peace, and all good things.

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  11. Wow... Abby's party looked amazing! Lucky girl to have such a loving family...and three parties!! hehe. Glad you and the hubs were able to take a week long vacay and enjoy yourselves and your friend's wedding! Pictures are gorgeous!

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