I love Fall!!!

This is absolutely Tom's and my favorite time of year. The air is so fresh and the chilly breeze feels so good. We get to spend so much more time outside and even the yard work is enjoyable when it's nice outside. The rain has settled down here for the most part and it has been sunny skies in the low 70's during the day dropping down to the 40's at night. We have had our windows open for several days now and it is just great. The dogs are getting more exercise; they hardly want to come in the house anymore. Hopefully this weather will last and the rain will hold off and when Tom gets back from Mississippi we will have some time to spend outside at night by the fire. Soon it will be the right kind of weather to start a fire in the fire place.

24 Week Belly

She's getting bigger!!!

Everyone that saw me had not seen me since I was only 16 weeks and not really showing, so everyone was suprised to see how big my belly was getting. I am definately starting to feel more pregnant now. She is moving all the time and it feels like little muscle spasms in my lower belly. She has even started nestling up in either side and I can feel her head or her but pushing up against my side so I rub her until she moves. It is so neat. A couple of nights I have even been able to see my stomach jumping around like she's having a little party in there. The coolest thing is that she is most active when Tom is talking to me. She's already a daddy's girl!!

Coming back home...

Saturday night we stayed up kind of late, at least for me. Drew and Kendra came over to the hotel to hang out with us and watch the Iowa game and they stayed util after 10. The beds at the hotel were so comfy! I slept really good Saturday night and got to sleep in a little bit on Sunday. After we got up and ate breakfast we packed up our stuff and headed out to Target and BabiesRus so that Mom and Dad could help me start my baby registry. I was looking at the "Registry Check-Lists" last week and got completely overwhelmed with everything they say you "need". So I thought it would be best to have someone that's been through this before help me out with figuring out what I really do need. They were a really big help. There are still some things that I will have to add but we got a great start and I am definatley more prepared now.

After the registry fun we met Alan and Cate for lunch at the MaidRite and then it was time to head home.


Mom, Dad and me after eating lunch at the MaidRite.

It was a long drive home last night but definately worth the trip. I most likely will not be traveling anymore through the rest of my pregnancy. I am sure Tom will not have the patience for how many times I need to stop to pee and stretch. Hopefully I can get some people to get down here to visit me, especially since we will be stuck here for the holidays.

Mandy's Wedding

Tom left for Mississippi for Reserve "stuff" last Tuesday and was gone all week. Mandy Coyle got married on Saturday and I really wanted to go to the wedding so I could see all the Coyles and also see all my family too. I decided to make the 6 1/2 hour drive by myself because I figured it would be the last time I would be able to make it that far by myself before the baby gets here. I had a football game Friday night so I had to leave really early in the morning on Saturday. Luckily our neighboor girl, Sarah, was able to come over and watch the dogs for us during the day on Saturday and we hired a puppy sitter, a girl I work with, to come spend the night with them Saturday night. I made it to the hotel in Peoria with only 10 minutes to spare to change to make it to the wedding on time. The wedding and reception was beautiful. Kim and Mandy did a great job organizing and planning the wedding.


Tom walking Mandy down the isle. I can't believe I used to baby sit her, now she's married!!

Me and my Joey. Doesn't he look so handsome in his tux! I really miss him :(

The family got to meet Alan's girlfriend, Cate. We've heard so much about her, it was nice to finally get a chance to meet her. They are so cute together. They make a great couple. Hopefully she will get Alan to come visit us down here in TN.

The family, minus Kimmy, but she was there in spirit :) It's not too often that we all get together as a family and actually spend time together. It was really weird being back in Brimfield where we grew up. Almost everything is still the same. We drove by our old house and it was like we never left. Hopefully some day we will all live at least a day trip away from each other so we can do this more often.