The whole truth…

Several months ago, I mentioned to G that it would be fun to mark his thirtieth birthday with a tour of the Okefenokee swamp. Growing up in Waycross, Georgia, he had spent most of his life learning and exploring the Okefenokee, but the tour would allow us an opportunity to spend three nights canoeing and camping in remote areas that many have never seen. While the conditions were not ideal (think, canoeing up to 13 miles a day and sleeping on platforms surrounded by gators and bugs), I thought the experience would be memorable to say the least. By mid November, the plans were set. G’s mom had also decided to embark on the journey and Papa Joe and Meme had graciously offered to take care of sweet Mary Reese.

Fast forward to the week of G’s birthday (Nov 18). Without getting into too many details, I had been having irregular menstrual periods and decided to visit my gynecologist in hopes that he would once again prescribe the progesterone pill to start my period. After a quick urine test, it was obvious why I was late again. I was pregnant! At the time, G was in New York for the week on business. I made up my mind that I would do my best to keep it a secret and surprise him upon his return home. That lasted all of two hours.

Since we were very early on, we decided to just tell the family. The news was especially exciting because my sister and I would be pregnant at the same time and due within 2-3 weeks of each other. As the big news sunk in and my waist started to expand, it was obvious that this was not my year to experience the Okefenokee swamp. Instead, G and his mom would brave the three day trip and Mary Reese would get to spend some quality time with her grandparents while I caught up on some things around the house.

While we’re on the truth, I can tell you that I’m only around 7 or 8 weeks, which is still very early on. I can also tell you that I am already showing and am very close to unpacking my maternity clothes. Our next sonogram is planned for Monday so we should find out our official due date then.

And finally, I can tell you that I barley managed to survive the week without G and sweet MR. And barley got them unpacked before we were in the car again, headed to Waycross. I’ll post pics later in the week of our trip, but for now, here are a few pics of my number one girl!

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MR got to sit on the big mans lap last Wednesday.

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Consulting over this years Christmas list

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mr cmas santa

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Random, but worthy….Thanks to Gran C, MR has been broken of her “Bobbi-C” (pacifier) for the last 4 months and in a “big girl bed” for the last 2. The transition was much easier than expected. We’re praying that another grandparent will step up and get this child potty trained before the arrival of baby 2!

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Posted in doctor visits, family, mary reese, memories, milestones | 8 Comments

Thanksgiving round two

Four nights without my sweet baby girl has not been easy. Mama always said that idle hands are the devil’s workshop. She was right. I didn’t accomplish half of what I set forth to do with my free time.

The highlight of today was a milkshake from Chick-fil-A, a solo ride around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, and a holiday marathon on Lifetime. Because I desperately need to accomplish something on my list, I’ve returned to my old trusty blog. Im still playing catch-up from Thanksgiving…

After our trip to Trinity Oaks farm, we were back in the car again for Thanksgiving round two. This time we were headed to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a few days of sight seeing and adventure. We enjoyed the scenery and food, as well as the time we got to spend with Aunt B and Danny.

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Heading to Cades Cove

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A trip to the fair

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Walking to the indoor waterpark

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We arrived back in Atlanta on Thanksgiving day to a home-cooked meal by Uncle B. He pulled out all of the stops including sweet potato souffle, squash casserole, fresh green beans, and a delicious homemade pecan pie. Saturday was spent in Athens with Gran C. The trip also included MR’s first dining experience at the Varsity. And Sunday was spent decorating the house for Christmas.

There. Just in time. I hear yet another Lifetime movie coming on. This one stars Meredith Baxter. She really is the queen of Lifetime.

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Posted in family, mary reese, memories, places | 2 Comments

Thanksgiving round one

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Two Thanksgiving gatherings, four days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and tons of holiday orders from Petey Pie’s means that I am way behind on my blog. And 789 pictures means that I have a serious problem tyring to capture it all.

Thanksgiving round one began in Eastman, Ga at Trinity Oaks farm on the weekend before Thanksgiving. We usually spend Thanksgiving day with the Eastman Harrell’s, gathered around a formal dining room, but this year we decided to do things a little different. We traded in the matching place settings, silver, and crystal for wooden picnic tables amongst a pasture of horses and a canopy of trees. The boys fished and played football, while the cousins took turns riding Uncle Dan’s big green tractor and feeding the farm animals. The day could not have been more perfect! We look forward to many more family gatherings at Trinity Oaks and the traditions that follow!

Stay tuned for Thanksgiving round two. MR and G are headed to Waycross later this afternoon for four days and I’ve decided to stay behind to catch up on Christmas shopping, Petey Pie’s and of course, my much neglected blog.

Trinity Oaks Farm Eastman, Georgia

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Cousins playing Checkers

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farm mr giggle

Cousin Boss Man

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Big Daddy and Gran C

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farm football

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Birthday’s and busy days

On Sunday, G celebrated his 30th bday on a plane ride to New York for business.  It wasn’t quite what I mind for his big day, but we made the best of it. Over the weekend, we enjoyed  a dinner for three at Pappadeaux’s and a ride on the Pink Pig. A box of icecream Snickers replaced the usual freshly baked cake. The older I get, the more I realize that less is in fact more…

G flies in late tonight and we’re off to Eatsman tomorrow morning for an early Harrell Thanksgiving at Trinity Oaks farm. With full bellies, we will spend Sunday driving up to Gatlinburg for a few days of rest and sightseeing with Danny and Aunt B. So much going on and so much to look forward to! God is good and we are thankful for His many blessings!

Date-night birthday celebration at Pappadeaux’s

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The first of many rides this holiday season on the Pink Pig

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pink pig

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Yard work with MR

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Posted in family, mary reese, memories, places | 1 Comment

Brayden’s barnyard bash

It was my kind of party…

three precious kids were wearing Petey Pie’s,

 

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bday emery petey pies

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a group of docile farm animals served as the babysitters,

 

bday babysitter

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 a huge table of food meant that supper was already served,

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bday cupcakes

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there was live music,

bday music

 

lots of laughter and fun,

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and so much to celebrate!

Happy second birthday, Big Papa! We love you!

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Posted in Petey Pie's, mary reese, memories | 2 Comments

Trick-a-Treat

We decorated for the occasion (on a shoe string budget)…

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halloween porch

A make you feel good, easy project for just $5…buy a straw wreath at your local craft store, wrap sections of grosgrain ribbon around it, and add seasonal embellishments.

haloween wreath

Another easy project… purchase an apple basket from the crafts store; cover it with felt and decorate with fabric, ric rac, and scrapes of ribbon.

halloween bucket

halloween dining room

carved a pumpkin under the watchful eye of sweet MR,

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baked goodies for the cousins,

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attended a Halloween party,

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dressed up as a fairy princess,

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trick or treated for the very first time,

haloween knock

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and had lots and lots of fun at the neighborhood fall festival.

halloween fall festival

halloween

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Unfortunately, we did most of this without G. He’s on day 7 of the Swine Flu. Send those prayers our way and pray that MR escapes this nasty bug!

Posted in Petey Pie's, family, mary reese, memories, pray | 4 Comments

We took on the day

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Saturday was one of those rare mornings where everything feel in place. The day started early. Real early. Like many in Atlanta, we were anxious to take advantage of the free H1N1 vaccines offered by our local health department.

Around 5 am that morning, G headed out to wait in line. Thanks to his effort, he was fifth in line when MR and I arrived an hour later. Doors opened at 7 am and we were in and out in about 45 minutes. 

MR got both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. I got a seasonal as well. Neither of us cried so we celebrated with a breakfast for three at a local cafe and a trip to the nearby fall festival.

After lunch, we packed the car and headed to the North Georgia mountains to spend the night with Meme and Papa. This was MR’s very first trip to North Georgia and though we were by no means roughing it, I think we have a little mountain girl on our hands. For one solid day, there was no talk about her bracelets, purse, makeup, or credit card. Instead, our time was spent exploring the woods, playing in the leaves, and picking flowers.

This picture was taken around 6:30 am Saturday morning. The line nearly tripled when we exited an hour and a half later.

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Fall Festival

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mt slide

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MR’s first trip to the North Georgia Mountains

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mt joe mr

mt g carly

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Thirty feels pretty good

Our original plan was to leave these two behind for a few days of rest and relaxation at the beach.

sadie mr

But, when MR overheard what we were up to, she immediately ran to her room, grabbed her swimmies and bathing suit, and exclaimed, “Reese’s ready”.

Needless to say, she won. Thanks to Julie and Bill, Sadie got to spend the weekend with Reagan. All in all, it was a win win for everyone involved.

Our time spent in Fernandina was fabulous. Friday’s temperatures allowed MR and I to spend the majority of the day on the beach. And a cold front on Saturday was the perfect incentive to finish up a few more holiday shirts for Petey Pie’s Christmas line. Fort Clinch provided an awesome landscape for the photo shoot.

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mr waves

mr mom

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Petey Pie’s Christmas line will be out soon…here’s a sneak peak of what’s to come! I’ll be adding a few holdiay shirts for boys as well, so please check my etsy shop often!

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cmas collection girls

We said goodbye to the beach on Sunday, but not before spending a little time with Danny. She was kind enough to make the ride down to join us for lunch. A big thank you to my sweet husband for making the weekend so memorable!

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Posted in Petey Pie's, mary reese, memories, places | 4 Comments