Snow Day

We had a snow day today. We got a couple of inches, enough to make it an inside afternoon, my girl is not a big fan of the cold.

Anyway, we made sugar cookies (actually sugar bricks but anything with icing and sprinkles is great!). This was our first baking adventure together. Much fun!!

Now, if the cookies only tasted as good as they look. We will have to work on that...

23 Weeks

I can't believe that I am 23 weeks pregnant already! That is craziness! I am going to be chasing this child around before I know it. I love this part of pregnancy. I am definitely looking pregnant, the baby is moving all the time and I still feel good. These are the weeks to enjoy.

So, here is a picture of one of the only times in my life when I will be showing off how big my belly is and trying to make it look bigger!!

Little Red???

Yesterday I innocently bought Natalie the book "Little Red Riding Hood." I hadn't read the book in a long time but remembered it from my childhood. I certainly did not remember that the wolf ATE grandma and poor Little Red. I also did not remember that the woodsman KILLED the wolf and took grandma and Little Red out of his stomach. Oh my goodness!! Wow!! Of course Natalie loved the book and wanted to read it again and again.

So, if you haven't read Little Red to your children yet, DON'T!!

Some updates

It has been a while...
We had a great Thanksgiving! We spent the long weekend in Windsor with Kim's family. On Thursday we all went outside to play in the front yard, so wholesome I thought I was on "Leave It To Beaver." We ate so much yummy Mama Askew cooking I found myself feeling sick. Kim got to play on the family farm with his brother and dad. Natalie and I got good time with Kim's mom, Caitlyn, Carson and Aunt Lesley. A classic family Thanksgiving!!

When we got home on Sunday, after Natalie brushed her teeth she sweetly asked me "Mommie, where is Gigi (her name for my Grammie)?" She asked me out of the blue. I was floored. I instantly teared up. I looked at her and replied, with my chin quivering "Gigi is with Jesus." I was prepared for a longer discussion but her next question was "Where are Chief and Fran (my other grandparents)?" "Chief and Fran are in Florida." Simple answers and that was the end of it. She did ask me to make "that funny face again" (my trying hard not to cry and talk at the same time face) and gave me a big kiss. Sweet girl.

We are all doing well, after a long day. I was on the way to take Natalie to the doctor and got in a little fender-bender. I rear-ended someone. I was stopped at a stoplight, Natalie asked me a question, I got distracted and took my foot off the brake. Not so smart. I freaked out. I was such a girl!! I actually forgot that I was pregnant for the first three minutes after the bump and then freaked out. Natalie was fine, I felt fine but what about my poor baby inside, yikes. I went to the hospital. They monitored the baby, everything looked fine so I went home. Natalie was a champ and thankfully Sarah was able to watch her while Kim took me to the hospital. Not a fun day! But praise God we are all ok.

I those are all the major updates/reports that need to be made. I need to blog more often so that I don't get so behind and feel so overwhelmed!

It's Official!

We're going to be North Carolinians!! We are moving back to Winston.

My Grammie

My Grammie (mom's mom) passed away yesterday. She was 92 years old and lived a long, full life.

At her best my Gram was a sweet, sweet little muffin of a lady. She was never more than 5 feet tall. I think I got my height from her. About five years ago dementia started to rob her of her mind and personality but I know that my sweet Gram was always inside.

Some things that I remember about my Gram:

• There was always dessert at her house, usually ice cream or Jell-O (in single serving dishes). As I child, I loved this.
• There were always olives at her house and if she knew that my brothers and I were coming she bought an extra jar. Yum! We love olives!!
• There was always "good New Jersey cheese" at her house.
• She loved naps.
• She was very into her "stories." (soap operas)
• She went to the grocery store every day!! That was her outing.
• She loved, loved, loved animals. I often joked with my mom that she loved animals more than people and on some level, who can blame her.
• She was a dancer.
• She and my Pop-Pop were married for well over 50 years. They were a great example of love, unconditional love. I have a picture of them from about 5 years ago, at Christmas and she is sitting in his lap. I hope that at 87 years old I am sitting in Kim's lap.

I have this strange feeling of sadness, especially for my mom and her brother and sisters (I can't imagine being here without a mom), but I also know that Gram is much better. For the past four months of her life she did not get out of bed. I know that is not how she wanted to live. She is much better. It is hard to be sad when someone has been blessed with 92 years, four children, 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren (almost 6) and a long, happy marriage.

She died in her room, in her house with her cat, my aunt and two of my cousins with her. I know that my mom, her bother and other sister wish that they could have been with her. It was time. She is in a better place.

Love you, Grammie.

Natalie Quote

Mommie, are you getting bigger?

One of the best days of the year!

Regular season starts today!!

I am so hyped!!

The last time Carolina won the national championship, I had a baby. With any luck, I will have a baby for this year's championship. I'm just saying...

Go Tarheels!!

It's a....

GIRL!!!!!

She looked great on the ultrasound today. She is growing well and we saw all the vital organs. We are so excited. Another little girl, a little sweet pea.

Sweet sounds

Natalie laughing gleefully as she plays with her Mimi and Papa.

Where have I been?

I have been meaning to sit down and blog since we got home on Friday, but it hasn't happened...I have thought several times, that random thought should be on the blog but I haven't gotten around to it.

We had a great trip. Johnson City was wonderful. Better than we imagined that it would be. We thought that we would go there and find reasons not to live there. Well, that didn't happen. We loved it. It was so peaceful and beautiful there. All of the people that we met were so warm and welcoming. The men that Kim would be working with seemed like great men. We left feeling confused and overwhelmed and like we could see ourselves living there.

Our next stop was Winston, home in so many ways. The only place we lived as a married couple. Where many of our dearest friends are. Where much of my heart still is. We were welcomed back with open arms. Had a great time trick-or-treating with friends. We had some great conversations about what our future would hold with people who genuinely care about us. Kim was reunited with his old co-workers and had a great time with them.

We hope to make a decision in the next week or so as to what we will do. It is a very exciting time. We are blessed to be given these opportunities. Kim has worked really hard to be able to have choices and we are thankful.

So, here are my random thoughts:

• To travel with a child, you have to be flexible, or everyone will be miserable.
• Do you remember when daylight savings time meant an extra hour of sleep, not worry about adjusting sleep schedules?
• My girl is growing up way to fast!
• A friend in Winston called me "a vision on loveliness" and meant it, she sees a me I don't see all the time. I miss her.
• Our family is blessed to have dear, dear friends.
• In reality, Natalie went trick-or-treating for me. I have eaten way more of her candy than she has.
• I am glad that I have finally caught up on my work and have the time to blog.

Away we go

Tomorrow morning we leave on an almost week long journey of job interviews. Our first stop will be in Johnson City, TN and after a few days there we will go to Winston-Salem. We are so excited to get some time together as a family and start thinking about the next phase in our life. A bonus of the trip, we get to celebrate Halloween with our dear friends. Natalie is so excited.

We will let you know how the trip goes. Until Friday.....

Baby/Belly Up-date

It guess this is a good thing, but time seems to be flying. I can't believe that I am already 17 weeks pregnant. I had a doctor's appointment today, which, at this stage is pretty uneventful. Pee in a cup, get your blood pressure checked (mine is a little high again but I am telling you that I have major anxiety at the doctor's office. if they would take my blood pressure after I got the hear the baby's heartbeat, it would be much better), step on the scale, measure your belly and then the moment you have been waiting for. You get to hear 30 seconds of reassure that everything is OK. You get to hear the heartbeat of your baby. Amazing!! Since I am feeling no sure baby movements yet I am living to hear the heartbeat of reassurance. I am ready for this kiddo to be kicking me and let me know he/she is in there!

We have an ultrasound scheduled for the 12th of November. If the kiddo is cooperating, we will find out if it is a boy or a girl that day!! Crazy, in 2 1/2 weeks we will know the gender of our baby. Then we will know if the name will be @#$%@ or $%^&#$. Yes, I think we already have names picked out. A little premature, I know.

Pumpkin Carvin'

After a lovely morning of hanging out at home and enjoying being a whole family, we headed to get some pumpkins to carve.

Why is Natalie wearing a 4th of July shirt? Because it is still 80 degrees!!

This was the only time Natalie touched the inside of the pumpkin. It totally grossed her out!!

Checkin' out Daddy's work in the pumpkin. He's got some skills!

One of the finished products. Kim was very proud of himself!

Natalie did not enjoy the carving process but thought that the jack-o-lanterns were fun.

Reality Check

As we were wandering through Chapel Hill yesterday I was realizing that I am looking old, unhip and certainly wouldn't pass as a traditional student anymore. Not that I was really ever "hip." Anyway, this reality was hit home when I remember that I was walking around with an Elmo potty seat in my backpack. Wow! Times have changed.

On a positive note, Natalie used the potty seat successfully, so my efforts were not in vain.

Great Day

Our trip to Chapel Hill yesterday was better than I dreamed it could be, except for the fact that we lost...

Highlights of the day:

• Being in Chapel Hill
• Watching Natalie get a Tarheel painted on her face
• Being in Chapel Hill
• Watching Natalie get a high-five from BUTCH DAVIS!!
• Being in Chapel Hill
• Experiencing and pageantry of college football and improved football atmosphere in Chapel Hill
• Watching Natalie join in the "TAR-HEEL" chant
• Being with my hubby for a whole day
• Being in Chapel Hill

I could bore you with the details of the day but I will leave it with that. It was great!! As we were leaving the game Natalie said, "I don't want to go home! I want to watch the Tarheels more!!"

In My Mind...

Yes, I'm goin' to Carolina.

Actually, for real, I am. Tomorrow, Kim, Natalie and I are headed to Chapel Hill for the game. I am so excited!! A fall afternoon in Chapel Hill and all the pageantry of college football, my girl experiencing Chapel Hill. I am so excited!!

To add to the excitement tonight Kim and I are watching "Late Night with Roy." Yep, we paid the 9.95 to be able to watch it. Hey, it's cheaper than the movies and I might stay awake.

Go Heels!!

Cox Farm

Fun times at Cox Farm with friends.

Lots of fun slides

Yummy apples

Kettle Corn

Farm animals

Pumpkins

Hay rides

Watch out!

They just opened a new Panera in our neighborhood that I can walk to. Bet they weren't counting on the preggo that loves carbs!!!

Picnic

Today Natalie and I had a picnic lunch with our friends. Natalie loves to have picnic lunches and eat outside. I guess we needed to take advantage of, what will hopefully be, one of the last really warm days of the season. Picnics, such a simple thing that make my girl so happy!