Emerald Isle (Part 1)...

This is our last week vacation at the beach without a little one...next year we will be chasing her around on the sand. We've really enjoyed relaxing and getting our tan on. The company, food and sun has been absolutely wonderful. Today its raining so it gave me a chance to play catch up on my Thank You's & blogs. Hoping tomorrow (our last full day) is sunny!!

Tom in his usual spot....reading in his beach chair.


Our friend's Stephanie & Tom's little girl Ava enjoying playing in the sand...

PSU vs Notre Dame (oops forgot to post)...

WE ARE........ PENN STATE!!

(It was REALLY HOT....can you tell!?!)

Tom & I went up to Penn State for the big PSU vs Notre Dame football game a few weeks ago, and I totally forgot to blog about it ;-( We had an absolute blast wearing our blue/white, yelling "WE ARE...PENN STATE" and watching PSU kick some butt! Unfortunately I did not get to go into the game, but Tom & the guys had a great time! The girls went to the Elks to watch the game and were so pumped up after the game we decided to go downtown. Georgia had a brilliant idea to drive through downtown yelling "WE ARE" to all the fans. She even had me beeping my horn as she yelled it. Mind you I was driving her husbands Chevy Silverado truck, and my mom & Carol were in the backseat. The Cafe' was the best place as Georgia leaned almost her whole body out of the truck to yell, too funny! On Sunday we finished up the weekend with seeing our old neighbors, the Nastase's. I absolutely love them and was so excited to meet Laura's precious little girls Olivia and Emily.

The craziest tailgate I've seen in a long time.... check out the DJ stand on top of the RV. Compared to ours we were very tame.

Grilling shrimp in a whole new way....interesting.

Winnie's Big Show...

Today Tom & I were blessed to see our little girl, and wow is she adorable (maybe I'm partial). I tried to prep her before going in for the big show but she still covered up her little face with her hands and feet (yes feet). A few times she did give us a full view of those beautiful eyes and mouth. She already has some hair and we are wondering if it will be red....

We are absolutely in love with her and can't wait to meet her in 11weeks (or so). Oh, did I tell you she weighs 3lbs 6oz and is measuring a week early....may be a Thanksgiving baby after all.

Please keep us in prayer as we find her a daycare, we visited 5 centers this week and have a big decision to make very soon.

Check out those little feet...

Keeping up with the Chicago Jones'...

We had a blast this past weekend visiting the Chicago Jones', Kim & Jeff. They are the perfect tour guides, as we had them going everywhere! On Friday night we went out to dinner, enjoying the cool weather outside....and got to meet some of their Indiana classmates (one of them was playing in the band that night for a charity next door). On Saturday Kim and I started out the day walking down to the local farmers market, boy was I jealous that this was SO close and every Sat from May till Oct!! I picked up two green tomatoes, and boy were they yummy in BLTs on Monday night! After the farmers market we headed downtown Chicago for the CSI exhibit at the Science & Industry Museum. For a few hours we were working to solve a crime...what a change from we all do every day (Jenn- I'm sure you would've laughed at us, since you do this everyday!!). Did anyone know that there is a coal mine underneath the museum? We didn't know either until we took the tour, and found out at the end that it was real (dumb us!!). Made us really think of those men who were stuck in the mines the last week or so...crazy to think about! Next we drove downtown to find a good Chicago pizza shop....can I say YUM!! Of course we had to walk off the pizza so we jotted down Michigan Ave (shopping mecca) and went to the top of the John Hancock building. What a view...from the women's bathroom, haha!! Seriously though, instead of bothering others while they drink/eat, the best view is from the women's bathroom (thats where the attached pics came from). Sat night Kim made us a very yummy meal and we just laid back (my ankles needed to be propped up from all the walking). Sunday we took the Loop and Red line down to Chicago to meet Shelley for brunch. Kim, Shelley and I were all co-workers at IBM back in the day so again we had a reunion, living up the memories and updates on all our past co-workers.

As we flew home on Sunday we both were so happy that we traveled out to see our dear friends Kim & Jeff.... nice to get these travels in before our little one comes soon!! Thanks again Kim & Jeff for being the perfect hosts and touring us all over your area!! Can't wait to see you again soon!!

Family baby shower....

This past weekend Tom & I traveled to Pennsylvania for our first baby shower, thrown by our amazing family. As we packed the truck on Friday the butterflies started to flutter in my tummy (or maybe it was Winnie)...I was so excited to see our family & friends who we see every few months (and some over a year ago)! On Saturday my mom, Aunt Mary Ann & Georgia finished the final touches on the food and picked up the cake. Georgia had an argument with the cake lady when she mispelled Congratulations...seriously...she put a D in for the first T. The lady even went to the back of the bakery complaining that "that lady" (Georgia) was telling her to change the D to a T...can't believe that nobody told her she was wrong?!? The rest of the family & friends starting showing up around 1pm and we got the party started! Throughout the next few hours I just took everything in...the food was delicious, the love was indescribable, and we were so very blessed with some amazing gifts for our little girl!! We felt so loved that our family threw such a nice shower for us and some drove over 3 hours to be with us!

This is all becoming so real that she will be here in 14 weeks....wow...

Prego girls...

Tonight the prego girls had a dinner out to talk baby & celebrate the upcoming births.... We are all due within a month of each other, crazy!! So fun to hear how everyone is preparing for their little ones and compare how we are carrying. Loved seeing all the girls and can't wait to get together in Oct some time, and play dates to come!!!

This isn't the most flattering picture but shows of our bellies!

Left to right:
Merritt-- Bronwyn due Nov. 28
Amy-- Baby V due Oct. 31
Courtney-- Samuel due Nov. 10
Jenna-- Taylor due Nov. 30

Progress is being made....

Its been over a week, I know, I know....

Well, the Jones' have been hard at work. This past weekend (& weeknights) Tom ripped up the guest bathroom floor and started laying tile, all while suffering a head cold. I on the other hand went shopping for all the showers, weddings and birthdays we have in the next few months...and there are a LOT!! Unfortunately, this week has been pretty crazy at work, really hoping and praying next week is better and I lose this darn cold.

Here is the progression of the bathroom....the finished project will be posted soon...hopefully after this weekend ;-)

Our cats on the other hand are just lounging around while we are getting all our "to do's" done....

So glad we got the glass front door , they love it!! Their little friends come by to visit too...and of course its entertaining to see them swat at bugs outside.