Babies, Babies Everywhere

This past weekend, we got to see our college friends, Corey and Jenny, at their Nashville baby shower! Even though they live in Alabama, they have enough friends in Music City, that they were willing to come here for a shower instead of asking all of us to go down there. Very nice of them, huh? It was great to get to visit with them and other old friends we don't see very often (even though we all live here...).

I just love pregnant bellies! Look how stinking cute she (and Ashley) are!!

Speaking of Pregnant bellies... Here are a few of my other pregnant friends (a few, not nearly all). This is a picture of Emily, Brittany, and EmJ that was taken about two weeks ago. Can you believe Emily is still pregnant?? Well, not for long! She was due on the 1st of May, and they are inducing her right now!! Tomorrow, I'll have little baby pictures to brag about!!! Yahoo!!!

Speaking of bragging about baby pictures... My work friend, Jennifer, gave birth to her baby girl last Thursday night (4 minutes away from being Friday morning)! Of course, we girls had to go visit her on our lunch break! Oh, she's just adorable. I could have held her forever....

Oh my goodness, I'm totally surrounded by babies, and I love it! More and more of them are starting to come out of the belly. Finally! I've been whining about how selfish these mommies are being, never letting me hold them at all for 10 whole months!!

Yay for Moms!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mamas out there! Especially all you brand new mommies and soon-to-be moms. Mothers make the world go 'round, and you all definitely deserve a big day of recognition. Thanks for all the unconditional love, willing sacrifices, kissed boo-boo's, life lessons, and help with homework. You girls seriously rock.

Also, I want to give a little love to all of the women out there who have either lost a child or are having difficulty getting pregnant. I know Mother's Day must be especially hard for you, in particular. Please know that I am praying for you, specifically, today. Always remember, God is Good. I know that's easy to say, but it's true. He has a plan. Never lose hope or faith.

Thank you, Lord, for our moms!

Yummy in my Tummy

There's really nothing better than warm, gooey brownies, dripping with fudgey icing, topped with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream and a tall glass of milk. Dee-lish.

It's Friday! Do you have big plans for the weekend? Do you plan on treating yourself to a little something gooey? Whatever you do, hope you love it!

Typical Nashville

How does Music City handle a crisis? Well, they write and sing a country song about it, of course!



This is why I love this town so much. Long live the Country Music Capital!

The Nashville Flood of '10

This is just devastating. It's surreal. I can't believe there is this kind of destruction and disaster in my own town. It breaks my heart. I can't stop looking at pictures and videos of it all.

Before you start to worry, Brad and I are fine, as are our friends. Actually, when we woke up Saturday morning, we simply enjoyed the rainy, lazy day with some delicious breakfast and cuddling on the couch. We didn't realize the enormity of the situation until we turned on the news and saw this: 

This is literally the exit that I use to get onto the interstate every day on my way to work. I couldn't believe it. Completely unrecognizable. It blew my mind. It continued to get worse and worse throughout the day. A little later, you couldn't even see the cars, the semis were stuck as well, and buildings were floating down the road!

All of this, this devastation, in Nashville. At home. What in the world?? Something of this magnitude has never happened here. The depth of these waters was completely unfathomable before now. Nobody saw it coming.

Of course, the boys had to ignore the Mayor's warnings to "stay indoors and off the streets," to go check it out for themselves. However, they couldn't venture out too far due to the many flooded streets and road blockages. We were pretty much deadlocked without anywhere to go. (At least, when we were shut up in our home, we had easily accessible friends to help alleviate the cabin fever. And, for once, we were praying that Emily did not go into labor! The Lord listened to that prayer, and we're still patiently waiting for her to arrive.) 

This is the part that especially breaks my heart. If you know Nashville, you know of the Opryland  Hotel. If you  know me, you know how much I love the Opryland Hotel. I absolutely adore it. I really feel like it's the best place on Earth. So calm and peaceful and romantic and wonderful and beautiful... Actually, it was an experience in this building, surrounded by a giant group of fellow Christians, when I was 12 years old that made me want to move to Nashville, in the first place. Now look.  :(

Many people were so greatly affected by these unprecedented rains and flooding. Some even lost their homes completely. I can't begin to imagine... Please join me as we cover everyone in prayer along with the continued effort to restore Music City.

One of These Things is not Like the Others

Here are me and the Emilys last night after our weekly cook out. This could very well be the last picture taken with both Emilys pregnant. Em J isn't due until the beginning of September, but Emily is officially down to "0" on her Charlie Countdown. This time next year, we'll have two little girls joining our Hill Ridge cook outs. But this time next week, we'll have a newborn to hold and love on. Oh, I can't wait. Bring on the babies!

There Goes the Neighborhood

So, we're officially taking over. We totally own this place. From the street, it looks like a nice, friendly subdivision, that Mt. View Community. But if you go to the end of the neighborhood and turn onto Hill Ridge Drive, the last street on the right, you'll enter into our territory. We call it the Hill Ridge Hood. There are 5 houses on this street. The first one doesn't really count, because it's on the corner. The second one is currently empty and up for sale/rent. Then there's our house. Directly across from us is Charles and Emily. Next door to them is Kris and Emily. After that, the street dead ends. The 3 of us together (technically 6 of us, but you know, 3 couples) are completely taking over the street.

I never imagined that we would love this set up so much, but we totally do. It's awesome. We seriously wake up and can't believe that this is our real life. We're always in our front yards hanging out with each other. It all started when the boys began helping each other with the landscaping. Then we just realized how great it was to be spending time in our "common area" - the street. Nobody ever drives by; there's no reason to come that far on the street unless you're coming to one of our houses. So, pretty much, we own it.

What are boys going to do when they have both sides of an entire end of a street to themselves? Well purchase and set up a basketball goal, of course. We wondered how long it would take until they got a group toy, and it was apparently barely one month. They even drew free throw lines and 3 point lines with sidewalk chalk. (I think after the last rain, they replaced it with an "around the world" setup.) We girls sit out there and cheer for our husbands as they dunk on the lowered hoop and play "street ball," mercilessly fouling each other. A few times, basketball has turned into a full-contact sport with body checks and tackling people out of bounds. When there's no grown-up around to enforce rules, I guess the boys can play as scrappy as they'd like.

Since we practically own the street, we've begun cooking out on the sidewalk all the time. Everybody brings their own meat and we share baked beans and potato salad and drinks. The beverage of choice is most definitely the red kool-ade Kris graciously provides. (Seriously, we're kids.) We've been known to grill steaks, pork chops, even salmon, but my all-time favorite will always be hamburgers and (Nathan's brand) hot dogs. Yum. I could do it every single weekend. In fact, we basically do. We have cooked out in the street every weekend in April. And if the rain holds out tonight, we'll round out an entire month with some more summer festivities around the grill. My fingers are crossed.

One of the best things about living so close to your best friends, is that you can always act like kids and goof off and never have to worry about keeping your cool-guy image. You should have seen the pandemonium erupt when the ice cream guy drove by. Complete chaos, I tell ya. I hope we never grow up...

See that BobCat we're posing with? That's kind of a good example to tie the weekly cook outs and the random, child-like activities together. There's this place in town called Art Pancake's Rent-All. Since we moved in, the boys have concocted extravagant schemes involving Mr. Pancake. They've discussed renting cherry pickers to simply race down the street. They've considered renting a bounce house, because "hey, why not?" They've planned to rent a little train ride to wind tracks around our houses and see how fast we can ride the train around before we get sick. Seriously, Art Pancake is brought up so often, that the girls have literally counted how many times he's mentioned in any given conversation. He has become an honorary member of the Hill Ridge Crew.

Well, I'm somewhat obsessed with awesome CraigsList deals (as evidenced by all the great finds residing in our home, right now) and have been scouring the ads to find a good picnic table for our area. If we're going to be having weekly cookouts and random pizza parties in the street, we need a better method for gathering than hauling card tables and camping chairs outside all the time. Luckily, we have that empty lot next to us that is completely surrounded by our three houses and is too small to ever build upon. It's the perfect area for us to commandeer as our very own common ground. If only there wasn't that eyesore of a rock pile that was dumped there years ago by the builders, smack dab in the middle of the lot. Well, needless to say, I found a smoking hot deal for a picnic table, and it was the perfect opportunity to finally, officially introduce Art Pancake to the Hill Ridge Crew. And this is what you get when you combine his Rent-All with our Hood...

They decided to relocate the rocks to the end of the road where it abruptly stops. It not only adds some uniformity and closure to the street, but it also serves as a blockage to keep the basketball from rolling into the woods. Win-win.

You would have thought that it was Christmas morning by how excited the boys were to operate heavy machinery. Brad wisely advised that they all wear boots so they look legit when they meet the famous Art Pancake and so he would take them seriously. (After all, "this is just the beginning of a long lasting, very important relationship. They want to leave the right impression.") Notice the only boots Charles had available. Nashville. Love it.

They each took turns playing with their big boy toy. Look how cute they are.

They were very productive. It's amazing what 3 big kids can do when they have a big machine and no grown up around to tell them to be careful. Charles even transferred some of the dirt behind his fence to the empty lot in an effort to level both areas out. Brad picked up the super cheap picnic table today. I can't wait to get it in place and initiate it with a hot dog, some potato chips, and red kool-ade.

Oh, and just because Emily is 10 months pregnant (Did you know that 40 weeks is really 10 months? Why do they always only say 9??), that doesn't mean that we didn't take advantage of the terrific photo op that was the BobCat!

Can you believe this is our life? Living with your best friends is the best situation ever. In the whole world. For real, it's like we're on a movie. Nobody has it this good. I can't believe how blessed we are.

Bee-tee-double-you, if you want to look at tons more pictures of the boys being boys, check out the Hill Ridge Crew Photo Album. I bet you'll laugh.

Birthday #26

Well, it turns out that I didn't get my only birthday wish, but I did get to come home yesterday to this great sight!

Brad (with a little help from one of our neighbor-bf's) rung in my 26th year with a little sidewalk chalk. Needless to say, I didn't pull the car into the driveway. And even without an early Charlie delivery, I pretty much had the best birthday ever in the history of ever. Let me tell you all about it.

This past Saturday, I noticed Brad rummaging through my clothes in the closet when I got out of the shower. I said, "Uhh, what are you doing?" He shrugged his shoulders and casually stated, "Packing." Confused, I asked, "Packing for what??" To which he matter-of-factly replied, "Our trip." Oh, duh. Our trip. Of course. I should have known... "What trip? Our trip to where??" Nope, he'd have none of it. He told me to go blow dry my hair and put on my makeup and he'd have an outfit picked out for me when I was ready.

I must brag on him a bit. Brad is a pretty remarkable packer for a boy. He not only packed my outfit for the drive, but three outfits total, each complete with matching shoes and jewelry. I noticed there was a dress in that dufflebag, saw that he loaded a suit up, and got very excited. What in the world did he have up his sleeve!?

We got in the car and headed East. I had no idea where we were going. Gatlinburg? Down to Atlanta? No clue. After an hour and a half of terrific conversation (I always love road trips, because the long drives are the perfect setting for great discussion.), we pulled off of I-24 at Chattanooga and into the Stone Fort Inn. It was this beautiful, romantic, sweet, cozy, 100-year-old (celebrating this year) Bed & Breakfast. It was perfect. We were escorted to our room, where we changed into our "Evening Attire" and headed out to our 7:30 dinner reservations.

We enjoyed a non-intentional tour of Chattanooga, river side as we tried to locate our destination. After a few wrong turns and a few "What in the world?? This road doesn't go left!"'s, we safely arrived at the Back Inn Cafe, which has been voted both the Restaurant with the Best View and the Most Romantic Restaurant in Chattanooga. They were completely right about the view. We were located in a room that hung over the river and had walls of glass. It was gorgeous. They were alsos right about the romance. They had white linen tablecloths and food options that we had never heard of before. It was perfect.

After our romantic birthday dinner, we went back to our suite with a bottle of wine, bubble bath, and oreos. (Yes, we're that mature.) Brad and I have never relaxed in a bubble bath before, even though multiple friends of ours have boasted about how wonderful they are. Well, with such a great jacuzzi tub available, it was the perfect opportunity to try it out for ourselves.

And they were so right. After we figured out how to use the bubbles, that is. I was apparently overeager and poured too much bubble bath into the water. (It was only a quarter of the bottle!) Once we turned the jets on, the bubbles raised above the rim of the tub and up to our chins. There was literally 8 inches of water and over 2 solid feet of bubbles. It was hilarious. We had to drain the water, squish all the suds with the extendable shower nozzle and start all over, without adding more bubble liquid this time. However, once we got that all figured out, we continued the best evening ever. The window was cracked so we could hear the rain falling, jazz was playing on the radio, the sweet glasses of wine perfectly complimented the scrumptious oreos, and the conversation was absolutely irreplaceable. We sat in there, simply enjoying each other's undivided attention for over two hours, until we got completely pruney. It was perfect.

In the morning, we woke up to the smell of bacon wafting upstairs from the kitchn. Yum. The Bed & Breakfast definitely held up to the second portion of it's title. What a great place to stay.

 

After we were filled with breakfast, Brad surprised me with tickets to the Tennessee Aquarium! Oh, I have always wanted to go to an aquarium. I was so stinking excited! I was like a little kid in there, dragging him from exhibit to exhibit, pressing my face up against the glass, ooh'ing and aah'ing over the otters, penguins, jellyfish, stingrays, giant fish, colorful fish, even sharks! We got to touch some fish and stingrays, and even were surrounded by butterflies in the butterfly garden! (Is there anything more romantic?) It was such a great experience, and one that I loved sharing with my husband. There's just something about him holding my hand, kissing the top of my head, and putting his arms around me in public that makes me get all googly inside. Having fun like kids, and being mushy at the same time, is what our love is all about. It was perfect.

We have some good friends from college, David and Stacy, that live in Chattanooga, now. While we were in town, we took the opportunity to have some lunch together. We had lots of fun visiting and catching up with old friends. It was great icing on the cake of our birthday trip.

But while we were waiting for them to pick us up, we goofed off by the river. I mean, duh. what else?

It was pretty much the best birthday ever. I would even venture to claim that it was one of the best weekends Brad and I have ever spent together. We totally needed it. With our hectic lives, crazy schedules, and busy social calendars, we rarely get to spend uninterrupted time together. We had tons of fun, hours and hours of incredible conversation, and lots of butterflies (real kind, and tummy kind). It was perfect.

I'm so blessed to have such a terrific, thoughtful, loving, sneaky, funny, romantic, sensitive, caring, plotting, hand-holding, head-kissing, picture-posing, wonderful husband. I can't even begin to imagine my life without him.

Thanks for loving me so much and for surprising me with such a great birthday, honey! I love you more than I'll ever be able to express! XOXO

My Only Birthday Wish

My best friend, Emily, is still pregnant. Her baby girl, Charlie Joy, is due to arrive this Saturday. But is it too much to ask for Emily to let her come today, on my birthday? I know it's a little early, but honestly, it's the least she can do, right? I mean, it is all that I'm asking for this year...

Oh, I can't wait to meet Charlie! We are all (literally) counting down the days! None more so than soon-to-be Mama. Even though I'll miss her adorable pregnant waddle, and she'll miss being able to feel Charlie kicking in her tummy, I think Emily just may be even more anxious to meet her little girl than I am! Impossible!

Lots of prayers for you and Charles as you prepare for birth, and parenthood!! Love you, Em!!

Behind the Busy Season

Here's what you've missed over the last couple of months while I was busy with Tax Season. Join me as we fast forward through the most recent events:

Some of my girlfriends celebrated our 2nd Annual Girls' Night Out, complete with dinner at Red Robin's and a movie. (However, this year, we decided to leave out the falling down the theater steps. Thank goodness.) We got together and watched Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It was pretty awesome. I'm generally a little skeptical of Tim Burton, just because he's so strange, but this movie was incredible. The visual effects were stunning. So many times, I caught myself thinking, "How in the world did they pull that off??" Oh yeah, and the entire cast (especially Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter) are wonderful. If you still haven't seen it, I totally recommend it.

Over Easter weekend, we had a nice visit from some Metcalfs. Even though I had to work the whole time, they kept quite busy with Easter Egg Hunts and visits to the park. The boys (including Clinton) worked on our new Tahoe to get some things working, while Rachel "picked flower (dandelions) for her wedding." Seriously, these kids are the cutest things I've ever seen! It was awesome to get to hang out with (and show off our new house to) TJ & Jennie and their family, my dad, and also my brother Richard, whom I honestly don't believe I've legitimately visited with for years now. Why have we never been in the same place at the same time?? I am so thankful for some new memories together.

In addition to some time spend with my family in Nashville, we spent some time with Brad's family back up in Indiana. His dad turned the big 5-0 this month, and his (crazy) family planned an extensive surprise birthday party to celebrate the momentous occasion. It was fully equipped with black balloons, black roses, age-appropriate toilettries, various t-shirts with his head photo-shopped onto his multiple characterizations, a "Truth Or Lie about Don Mehaffey" game, and some hilariously embarrassing stories of him growing up. All of the adorable pictures of him as a child didn't sway anyone away from viciously making fun of him in front of everybody. It was awesome. His siblings did a great job planning and organizing, and his sons did a decent job stalling him while we executed the plan. I do believe this is one birthday that Don won't soon forget. Oh wait, he's old now. There's a good chance he already doesn't remember any of it. It's a good thing we took some pictures...

And that's what you missed during Busy Season. Sorry it was such a quick recap, but I had to get caught up ASAP, so I could move on forward. I can't wait to show you what all we've done with our house!!