Brunchin' for Baby

Yesterday our friends, the Creggers, had a brunch to celebrate Baby Charlie. A few of our friends came over and we had a great time catching up and letting all of our little ones play together. Everyone was so sweet, too, and stocked us up on diapers and some cute little baby outfits. Laurie had some delicious food like mini chicken and waffles, quiche bites, fruit kabobs, and little hashbrown bites. We all ate until we couldn't and enjoyed the company. After the shower we came home and unpacked all of our goodies and started washing baby clothes. We relaxed the rest of the evening and today I was in clean mode.

I went Thanksgiving grocery shopping with my mom and when I got home we sanitized bottles, made Chex mix and some dinner. I've put up all of the new clothes for the baby and gotten everything ready in our bags. I'm thoroughly exhausted.

This week marks 35 weeks pregnant so we're almost there. Tomorrow starts my weekly appointments and I'll no longer be traveling long distances for work. I think we're all ready to meet the baby and get this show on the road. Today when I was working on cleaning bottles, Luke asked me if we were going to the doctor today (meaning that the baby was coming). I told him not today, but it won't be too much longer.

This week as we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are so thankful for our immediate and extended family, our friends, all of our blessings and the generosity of others. We're excited for some time off this week and starting the holiday celebrations. Next week, we look to get our Christmas tree!

Super moon over Candler

For Christmas Eve... :) after the baby is here!

Time to sanitize!

And make Chex mix... I'm like a little old lady. I can't stand up to cook.

Yeehaw

Early November

Well... we survived the elections. I'm glad that there are no more candidate t.v. commercials on and while it wasn't the outcome I expected, it is what it is and we continue on.

This weekend, we went and visited with Dillon's family. I turn 34 weeks pregnant tomorrow and my doctor told me that at 35 weeks I need to stay close to home and no more traveling (that includes for work). That put us directly on the week of Thanksgiving. We decided to head up the mountain to celebrate a combined Thanksgiving and Christmas (as on Christmas we will have a fresh newborn).   We took our Christmas gifts for everyone and enjoyed a good meal with Dillon's mom and Russ. Pappaw Eddie let Luke go ahead and open his Christmas now instead of waiting until December and Luke was VERY excited to get his Batman/Superman play set that he has wanted for months now. We came back around lunchtime yesterday and tried to get some things organized around the house. The laundry is just uncontrollable at our house now and I don't know if it's because we have more or we're just ignoring it. HA!

Today, my dad had knee replacement surgery and will be in the hospital until Wednesday or Thursday. He started his physical therapy today, less than 8 hours after surgery, and will go to the gym at the hospital tomorrow to continue rehab. It's probably going to be a rough go of it for a few weeks for him (and my mom) so we're trying to help out as much as we can.

I am slowing down tremendously, too. At almost 8 months pregnant, my stomach is pretty huge. Dillon took a picture of me on Saturday and I said, I think that shirt makes me look really big and Dillon said "I don't think it's the shirt" :-| It really is all belly, but I'm having trouble finding shirts to fit over it. Medium shirts aren't even coming over the belly, so the people at work may be surprised to see me in Dillon's tee shirts soon. Like I said, tomorrow marks 34 weeks so if she comes at 38 weeks like Luke did, we've got a short 4 weeks ahead of us. If we have to wait to be induced it will be right at 5 more weeks. Wooo... For now, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and maybe trying to score some Black Friday deals and getting our tree up. A few more things to complete before the baby is here!

Dillon's mom cooks a delicious meal!

This is the one I was talking about. Whoa there... 

Luke opening up his Christmas gift from Pappaw. He was so excited.

And after all that, Luke plays with the box. Ha! 

Puzzles with Glen on a quick stop by.

We had fun with Gran! 

Action shot!

Trick or Treating, Race Day, and Exhaustion

I knew that October and November would be this way and I don't know if it makes things better or worse. In one way the extreme busy-ness takes my mind off what is coming down the road but I don't know if I would rather just be more relaxed. Anyways, it is what it is and October is done and now we're into November and it's something like 45 day until Baby Charlotte arrives.

Monday evening we took Luke to my mom and dad's neighborhood to trick-or-treat. They had sent out an email to their neighbors saying if you were welcoming trick-or-treaters to your house to turn on your front porch light. We went to several houses and it was a great place to walk around, although I think Luke may have been the only kid who participated. If you're looking for some place to go next year, I'd recommend going there. It was quiet and everyone was happy to share candy. Luke had a great time and loved wearing his costume.

This weekend marked Asheville's first annual Zero Prostate Cancer Awareness 5K, one that our offices have been preparing for since last year. This was the 5K that I traveled to San Antonio for last January and we've been busy getting ready for it since then. If you've ever planned a 5K, you'll know the effort that goes into it and add in the fundraising, it could be a full time job! Thankfully, we had a great team who worked well together and yesterday's event was very successful for a first year race. We had 158 participants and raised around $45,000 with lots of fun activities. It was a fun morning and I was glad that things had run so smoothly, but I was glad to get home yesterday afternoon. We were at the park at 6:30 yesterday morning and I was on my feet for almost 7 hours. I thought I would die before I got home. My back was killing me and Luke and I laid down for a nap as soon as we got home. When I got up from my nap, I could hardly walk. After relaxing some more and an epsom salt bath I felt much better. Today was a little better, but I'm still not sure I'm fully recuperated.

Luke also had his first sleepover at Ma & Peepaw's house on Friday night. We had to get up so early we thought it would be good practice for December to stay with them. He got to stay up late (9:30!) and watch a movie and eat popcorn. Saturday morning, they fixed a huge breakfast for him and then brought him out to the race.

Now that the race is finished I'm in the final stretch before my maternity leave. Everything that I haven't done while getting ready for the 5K is on my plate and I've got about 5 weeks before induction date and have about 25 business days until I'm out. I still haven't sanitized bottles and I bought all kinds of stuff last week that we needed that's scattered about the house. I just now started packing my hospital bag but right now all I have is Charlotte's clothes and a nightgown for me. Add in that we'll be out of town some weekends and have Thanksgiving coming up followed by Christmas celebrations,  I'm feeling very unprepared.

But, it will be what it will be. She has a place to sleep and her clothes are at least washed. I'm 33 weeks pregnant on Tuesday. Luke came at 38 weeks and induction is planned for 39 so it's down to the wire. What a crazy whirlwind, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Luke in his super hero cape

Part of our planning committee, a few of our doctors and a Zero rep!

The start of the kid's dash with Mr. Moon from the Tourists! Luke is to the far left...

Going out to trick or treat!

Ma and peepaw's Halloween basket!

My mom and dad's sweet neighbors, Dot & Larry. They always say hi to Luke and gave him some extra goodies on Monday.

arobatics

Me after the race... I went straight for my pj's. 

Emma poses in good lighting

The leaves are still pretty here... the view out our back window.

Lola enjoys the weather

We were up at 6 AM this morning due to the time change and this is what happens when you wash all your laundry through the week (weeks?) and don't put it away. Ugh. That was a fun task today. Luke at least had fun jumping in it.