Thanksgiving...and the name is out!

We were lucky to have the opportunity to get away for Thanksgiving and stay in a beautiful house in Highlands, NC.

This is the house where we stayed
It was so perfectly decorated!
Joel was my personal chef for the trip and kept me stuffed! He made french toast, lobster tails and filet mignon!
The outdoors were just as beautiful as inside...there were trails and landscaping all throughout the backyard, which led down to a stream that flows behind the house.
We watched movies, football, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and played a couple of hands of cards...it was just nice to get away from home and enjoy some real down time. We also took the world's windiest road to Franklin, NC to see Quantum of Solace on Thanksgiving Day. It was a nice "private showing" as we were the only ones there!
On Friday, we went into town to get lunch and do some shopping along main street. I was looking forward to trying out Nick's restaurant, but when we arrived it appeared that they were not open. Someone in the parking lot informed us that Nick had passed away that morning...we were very sad as Nick was a legend in Highlands, his restaurant having been open for over 30 years. Saturday was a gloomy day, so we packed up and headed home a little earlier than we had planned.

And now what you've all been waiting for...................Ace's real name will be.....................................

Nathaniel Joel "Nate" Penny

We think it's perfect....just like he will be, of course!

24 Weeks and Nursery Progress

I've come to terms with the fact that I will never be as good at updating the blog as Sharla! She is right on time with the weekly updates, but I'm more of a bi-weekly girl. :-)

So here's 24 weeks! I'm really showing now...so if co-workers (that work outside of the office, but happen to come by), church members or even just people out (so far a grocery cashier, a cashier at Moe's, and a waitress at a lunch place by work) didn't know yet, they do now! I don't think I've ever been asked "how are you feeling?" so much in my entire life! I am feeling generally well and am trying not to complain too much (Joel might have a different take on this) since I know the 3rd trimester will be especially uncomfortable.


I have also told my managers that I won't be returning and they were very supportive of my decision...I really couldn't have asked for it to have gone any better. 3 months and counting until I will be working at home.

Joel is working very hard on Ace's room--He has ripped out the carpet, put up the beadboard and is now working on painting. Here are some progress shots--the beadboard will be white and the top will be blue.

We're looking forward to a mini-vacation in Highlands, NC for Thanksgiving. We are going to drive up Wednesday afternoon/evening and come back on Saturday. I'll definitely have pictures from our trip!

Sammy- aka The Ladies Man

Now that it's colder, we're getting good use out of the gas logs that we scored for cheap at the end of Winter last year. Sammy really seems to like them, but his lying by the fire makes me think that he'd be a lot happier if he had a lady friend to join him. When Joel was taking these pictures all I could imagine was how they looked like they should be profile photos on doggie-match.com and how Sammy's profile would read...enjoys sleeping all day, rawhide bones and short walks around the neighborhood.

Sorry Sammy, I think I'm destined to be the only lady in your life :-)

22 Weeks

Everything is still going well. We had a doctors appointment last week and met the other doctor in the practice. We liked her just as much as the first one, so that was good. I'll go back at 26 weeks and have the dreaded glucose test..blah!

We (by we I mean Joel) have started working on the nursery and we are going to register at Babies R Us today. We'll also mark "go to a rock concert" off of the things to do before the baby arrives checklist at the Coldplay concert tonight.

Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for the announcement of Ace's real name...:-)

Nursery Inspiration

We're starting to gather things for Ace's room--including some good deals. We got a changing table from craiglist and a glider at a consignment sale for $30 each. TJ Maxx has been a good place to find some nautical accessories. Joel will being working soon on the paint and beadboard that we are going to put at the bottom. I can't wait because I'm dying to get in there to arrange everything!

NYC

I'm too tired right now to post the details of the weekend...but mom wants to see pictures...Us in Central Park

Our Hosts: Ben & MollyPumpkin carvings at Chelsea Market

Joel & Ben at the battery
Inside the battery's fort (classic Joel w/cannon pic)
The mastadon freaked Ben outMe, Ace and a big turtle!

A little behind....

Here's the 20 weeks belly pic--halfway done!