Well, this year we stayed home for Thanksgiving as we didn’t want to travel so late in my pregnancy.  We normally head out to Hot Springs, AR to spend the holiday with Dave’s family, but this year we stayed home.  My parents were actually able to come join us.  My mom helped me prepare a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  We enjoyed the wknd with them as we were also able to go to the Flea Market.  We always find something to buy!  We also enjoyed the decent weather we had and took a few walks around the neighborhood.  And we got to go to Opry Land Hotel to see all the pretty lights.  It's a yearly tradition to go over there and see the decorations and lights they put up.  

It was great visiting with my parents and getting to spend time with them.  It’s probably our last visit with them as a married couple without children.  Next time they come visit they will be meeting our little girl.  So exciting to think about it.  The day is approaching quickly and we couldn't be more thrilled.  Just keep trying to imagine what life will be like and smile.

This Thanksgiving we are especially thankful for the miracle of life.  We are thankful for a healthy pregnancy and the little girl growing in my tummy that we absolutely cannot wait to meet.  We are thankful for our marriage and all the love we share.  We are thankful to get to grow our family and extend our love into our children's lives.  We are thankful for our family and friends who have supported and prayed for us throughout this journey.  We are thankful for our home and food on our table.  We are thankful for our jobs and health.  We are thankful for our God who loves us and blesses us immensely in ways we do not even know and for his forgiveness and grace he gives to us daily.  

We had yet another l baby shower here in Tennessee.  I had several friends come together to put on a beautiful shower.  Thanks to Nicole Caton, Kelly German, Chanel Ferdelman, Kristin Ferguson, Amy Ward, Jill Shell, and Emily Humbert .  And also to my mom and sister for helping out too!  They really did a wonderful job and we feel so blessed by their friendships and the lovely day they made it to be for us.   

Many of our friends from church and work came to celebrate with us as well as some neighbors.  It was great to have so many people come to celebrate our little miracle with us.  It’s not even about the gifts, it’s simply coming together to recognize the beautiful gift God has given to us and praising him for allowing us to experience this.  I know I say it over and over again, but the journey that got us here reminds me that it is a gift and not to take it for granted. 

The shower included eating good food, playing some fun games including measuring my baby bump.  Apparently many of my friends think I’m bigger than I really am-lol.  It’s hard to measure by just looking- I understandJ.  We then opened the many presents we were showered with.  So incredibly overwhelmed by the love that surrounded us today.  We are extremely blessed by the friendships here and all the love, support, and prayers we have received from so many who have journeyed with us.

My sister Renee surprised me and flew into Nashville for the shower as well.  I had NO idea she was coming as she showed up to my clinic on Friday to surprise me.  I have to say I’m not the easiest person to surprise but her and my parents totally pulled it off.  It topped the wknd off to have her and my mom here to get to share in the shower festivities as well.  I couldn’t have asked for a better wknd and shower to celebrate with everyone.   It was the last shower before Avery comes, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  

So, we have been doing house projects since we moved in almost 3 years ago now.  We’ve loved our new home and adding some wonderful upgrades to it.  Our latest and probably last project before Avery arrives was the kitchen backsplash.  We had talked about doing this for quite some time but it kept getting pushed behind other projects.  Well, this wknd we finally decided to move forward with it and get it done before our little girl arrives.  Dave did a great job and we are happy with the results. It definitely adds some style to our kitchen.  It’s fun to be getting stuff done before she comes as we know we will want to spend most of our time with her once she arrives.