michael's 34th birthday

for michael's birthday this year we decided to {finally} use a gift certficate he has had since his last birthday and make a weekend out of it.  so on saturday we drove down to mobile where we checked into the battle house hotel.  the hotel is in a great location so we just walked to lunch at the original wintzell's where michael got his oyster fix.  then we just checked out all the beautiful christmas decorations.

christmas tree at the hotel...

michael loves a good live oak lined drive {spring hill campus}....


we went on a great tour of oakleigh complete with a southern belle and all...


we then headed to dinner at true.  after dinner we wanted to go to the movies and definitely ended up at the wrong theater so we just went back to the hotel and watched taken 2 in the room.  on sunday we went to church and had lunch at felix's before heading to our next stop.

lucy buffett's horse barn loft on the way to point clear...





on our way to magnolia springs we had to stop in point clear to walk along the boardwalk.  such beautiful homes {and boathouses}...



we made it to our bed & breakfast....we love magnolia springs.  the only river route mail delivery left in the u.s...so quaint and everyone is so friendly.



loved our cute little room...

that night we had a great dinner with john allen and libbie at the wash house.  looking forward to their wedding in march!

for michael's actual birthday frances treated us to dinner at the red barn...

 

 it was a great weekend with lots of food and fun!

Baby L Update

here is a quick update of baby l.

17 week bump shot...{sorry for the up close and personal shot - only one i have}


michael made the trip up to birmingham for the big 20 week ultrasound.  we held our ground and didn't find out the sex.  everything looked good - measuring 3 days ahead.  hb was 138.  i had gained 5 pounds so far.  i think if i had to guess right now i would say boy...but we will have to wait and see!

22 week bump shot at the beach last week....

today i am 22w4d - over half way!  ha - still a longgg way to go!  feeling pretty good.  not really sleeping well and heartburn has just really started.  i cut my runs back when i found out i was pregnant since it was so hot - but still doing a 3 mile run/walk.  not sure how much longer i'll be able to run though!  no real cravings - just unhealthy stuff - but that's normal as i would pick french fries over a salad any day.  

i'll try and do better and posting updates!

thanksgiving 2012

major slacking on blogging.  will be catching up soon!  but anyways, for thanksgiving this year michael's parents rented a house at rosemary beach for the week.  we couldn't go down until wednesday afternoon - but we loved every second of it.  i started each morning with a walk around the neighborhood and shops.  something i should have carried back home with me.  {and sorry, most of these were taken with my phone}

the water was absolutely beautiful - so clear....

along my morning walk....

michael found his dream home and we had to go visit it a couple of times a day...not too shabby...

friday night was the big tree lighting ceremony...so fun with all the kids {crazy to think we will have and 8 month old next year!}...

michael and i were in heaven with all the yummy seafood and desserts...

frank and i at lunch at george's...sooo good.

before we left we were already on our computers searching for homes for next year and michael's parents went and toured one before leaving - so a plan is in the works!

good friday

well, some big changes are headed our way.  we are expecting!!!  i am 17 weeks today with the estimated due date of march 29, 2013 {good friday}.  we are very excited and feel very blessed!

so far:  i pretty much felt miserable from 6 - 12.5 weeks and lost four pounds by week 10.  at my 10 week appt they couldn't find the baby's heartbeat with the doppler so i went for an ultrasound.  all was well {hb was 171} and i was happy i got to actually see the baby...

we told my mom and roger by giving them my favorite book as a child {wacky wednesday} with a note inside.  for michael's, we gave his mom this bottle of wine...

now that i'm in the second trimester i feel like a new woman.  it's amazing - i don't even feel pregnant.  my last appt was the day we got back from our wild west trip {14w4d} and just knew i had gained 15 pounds from eating out every meal for 10 days straight.  i was up a pound from my original weight so that's not too bad.  and the baby's hb was 148.  {i know no one cares about these details!}.  it was funny - at that appt i also ran into an old college acquaintance and we both really didn't know what to say to each other given the setting we were in.  it was like you wanted to say something but really couldn't.  hopefully i'll see her at a future appt.

my next appt is the 20 week ultrasound.  we do not plan on finding out the sex.  right now i have no desire to know - i guess because i've always said i wouldn't find out.  {luckily michael was on board with that plan}.

haven't taken any baby bump pics yet - will post one soon.  right now i just look bloated! :)

anniversary trip

michael and i celebrated our anniversary in july by going to a nice dinner at highland's in birmingham.  i wish we could go more often than our current once a year pace.  it's definitely worth treating yourself!  by the time of our anniversary we had already booked our anniversary trip.  when we got married michael picked up a magazine {cowboys and indians} at the airport.  flipping through it there was this great article on the best road trip this guy had been on.  so that's what we're doing!

we fly out in the morning for salt lake city then start our 10 day road trip from there.  should be interesting!  my camera is packed and ready to go so i'll be sure to update when we return.

art barn

this summer was very relaxing {not much to post about}.  but we did go to atlanta for tripp {3} and mallory's {1} birthday party.  megan set everything up at the art barn in canton.  it was so much fun and perfect for all the kids.

megan had tons of goodies and food for everyone...

horrible picture of me....but had to get a picture with my goddaughter...

megan made sock horses for all the kids...

hatchet creek

michael and i decided on a low key memorial day weekend this year.  i met him in rockford on friday after work.  and on saturday we got up bright and early and headed out to kayak down hatchet creek.  it was beautiful and so peaceful.  the trip took about 8 hours so it was a pretty long day on the water.  the funniest part was at the very end of the trip we had to go through this redneck riviera of sorts.  plenty of tatts and natty light.

the cahaba lilies were still in bloom - they were so pretty...

on sunday we drove down to auburn just to check things out.  we've only been on gamedays the past several years so we never have time to just walk around.  it really isn't the same place from when we were there.  i can't get over how much things have changed.

all in all it was a great weekend and looking forward to the summer {if i can withstand this heat - i'm already miserable!}.

a derby party, a pig roast, and tkam

it seems like last weekend was a busy one for many people - us included.  on saturday we went to a kentucky derby party held at the home of william and mary quitman holmes... 

william and mary quitman....

michael and his fraternity big brother --- chad reams...

everyone gathered around the tv to watch the race...

after the race and several mint juleps we headed to newbern to the annual pig roast held by the auburn rural studio students.

 

on sunday a big group headed to monroeville for the to kill a mockingbird play. {thanks to marshall for the tickets!}.  michael and i have been to the play twice now.  it is a really great production put on by the community.  the first half of the play takes place outside the courthouse.

then everyone moves inside for the second half....

william, townsend, and john were selected as jury members.  john with the sheriff...