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Nana's report on the Kids Exchange sale in Raleigh!

Keeping Busy

We've had a fun and busy week. I forgot to mention that last Friday night (or actually early Saturday morning) we hosted our friends Ben and Molly during an unexpected layover in Atlanta. They were trying to make it to NYC from Raleigh, but due to canceled flights and bad weather they had to route through Atlanta to make it there. We were glad to have them and even more excited to hear about their recent engagement! I forgot to take a picture in the 7 hours they were here, sad.

The Pennys got in on Saturday afternoon and the spoiling began! I get spoiled when they visit too because I don't really have to lift a finger. Meals are made, diapers are changed and laundry is done for me! I did have some time to clean out my closet which I had really been wanting to do. We made trips to Ikea and Costco. We had fun cheering on Nate in what we hoped would be him rolling over for the first time. He almost has it, but seems to enjoy only going from his back to his side just fine. Here is what else he's been up to-

Watching Wimbeldon

Testing out the high chair at Ikea

Learning to nap without the swaddle

And just hanging out with Sammy!

Nate was loved on....

all week by family and new friends!

He had his first trip to the bowling alley....
and to Build A Bear
Met the Surles

and Uncle Dion

and Great Grandmother "Mimi" Cornett

Such a lucky (and spoiled) boy!

Alan and Tabatha Penny

Part 3 of the trip was to celebrate Joel's brother's wedding. Alan and Tabatha had a great ceremony and reception at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs. They will be living near D.C. and we hope to maybe visit them next summer! It was a great time for Nate to meet more of the Penny family as well.

Wrapping up 2008!

Be prepared for a mega-post here!

December was a super busy month for us...preparing for Christmas, parties, wrapping up the year at work, us both being sick for a week and trying to get Nate's room ready!

We had a great trip home for Christmas and were even surprised with a baby shower after opening presents at Joel's parents house.I was able to fulfill my craving for Crazy Fire at lunch with Nelson, Rachel and Adam and we hit a few of our favorite NC dining establishments--Smithfields BBQ and Cook Out. We also got to see Ben & Molly, Rex & Liz and Melissa...always good to catch up with our HCHS buddies.

We returned home on Sunday and have enjoyed this past week sleeping in, relaxing, working on Nate's room, and watching How I Met Your Mother on DVD (thanks Megan!) We went out to dinner on New Year's Eve to California Dreaming, one of our favorite restaurants.

This week I have also been battling a hive-like rash that has mysteriously broken out over half of my body. So, slathering Benedryl cream all over and daily oatmeal baths have been part of my routine this week. I went to the doctor on Tuesday to have her look at it and she said it is just something that can happen to some pregnant women... Thankfully I feel like it is getting better and will hopefully not have to resort to more intense medicine, since it may not go away completely until after I deliver. Here is the 30 weeks belly picture, you can see a little bit of the remaining rash on my hand.

Labor Day Announcement!

We're having a baby!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but when I'm keeping a secret it's hard for me to talk about anything else! You can catch up on what's been going on so far with some posts I just posted.

We made the trip home to tell our families this weekend (under the guise of attending the Campbell football game)--it was a fun surprise to deliver!

"To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord" ~ 2 Corinthians 5:8

KINSTON - Mattie Lee Bryant Penny, 85, of Kinston, passed away on Sunday July 8, 2007, at her residence. Mattie was a retired telephone operator, a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, member of the Pioneer Club and an ICOR volunteer. Graveside services will be held at 12:00 noon, July 14, 2007, at Pinelawn Memorial Park with Pastor Mike Creekmore officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2007, at Edwards Funeral Home. Survivors include her sons, Robert Elton Penny of Stockholm, Sweden and Donald Norris Penny and wife Joanne, of Buies Creek, N.C., daughter Jo Lee Penny of Kinston, sister Ruth Ballard of Peachland, N.C. and seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to her church, Immanuel Baptist Church, 712 Airport Road, Kinston, NC 28504. Funeral arrangements by Edwards Funeral Home.

We made it to NC and back safely for Grandma Penny's funeral. It was a nice service and many people said how much she would have enjoyed seeing everyone--but we know she did see all of us there. I was amazed at how many of her former co-workers from the telephone company came, since she retired over twenty years ago. She was loved by many friends and family, but she was ready to go home to be with her Lord. She was the sweetest lady, who was always in a good mood even if she was sick or feeling bad. She always wanted to make you feel at home and wouldn't let you get away without trying a piece of cake or pie that she had prepared. She will surely be missed.

Joel and his Grandma at our wedding

A trip to the castle

The Pennys were here at the beginning of the week, working on getting Lauren an apartment in Atlanta for when she comes to McAfee seminary in August. Joel took Monday and Tuesday to take them around to apartments, the farmers market and IKEA. On Tuesday night, we took a trip to the Medieval Times castle to see the show and have dinner. It was a fun experience to eat dinner with no utensils and watch the horses and knights. If only one of us had remembered a camera, this would be a much more interesting post!

Tomorrow we're driving up to Chapel Hill for Nelson and Rachel's wedding and then back to Concord to hang with the Bradleys for the weekend. Yay!

Megan & Dion's visit

My sister, Megan, and her boyfriend, Dion, came for a quick visit this past Thursday through Saturday. It was a fun and action packed trip!

We kicked it off with a trip to Turner Field on Thursday night to see the Braves play the Cubs. We had awesome seats that were eight rows behind home plate. The Braves didn't win--but Dion is a Cubs fan...so he was happy.

Soriano getting ready to bat for the Cubs.





Francoeur up to bat--it was "Francoeour night" at the ballpark and we got free #7 tee shirts.


On Friday, we drove back down to Atlanta to go to the Georgia Aquarium. We stopped for lunch at The Varsity--an Atlanta tradition and had some great chili dogs!

Megan and me in front of the entrance to the river exhibit.

Megan and Dion at the tropical reef exhibit.

A sea turtle at the Georgia Explorer exhibit. One of the famous whale sharks that is in the world's largest tank. It is really amazing!

After the aquarium we had dinner at Krystal, since they don't have any in Raleigh, and went to see Knocked Up, which was really funny. Thanks for coming to visit--we had a great time!