Thanksgiving Weekend 2008

Tuesday - Nathan and I left for Jackson, TN.

Wednesday - Mama took me shopping for maternity clothes (thanks, Mama)!! Later that afternnon, Nathan and I went to a couple parks in the Jackson area. It was a beautiful day so we wanted to take advantage of it. Our first stop was Chickasaw State Park.






Then, we went to Pinson Mounds which is an old Indian burial ground.

You can't really tell in this picture, but we were able to get really close to some deer which was pretty cool.

Thursday - That morning, we drove to Covington, TN with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Wrights (my dad's side of the family). As always, there was LOTS of good food. It was another beautiful day in west TN so we spent most of the afternoon outside.
Nathan and I drove to Jackson in separate cars because he had to work on Friday. So, after our trip to Covington, Nathan had to head back to Louisville. =(
The rest of us stayed in Jackson to celebrate the holiday with the Gregorys (my mom's side of the family). Since we all fill up during the day, we just have snacks/desserts. As we do every year, we played Bingo. Daddy Bill is the caller and we play for prizes. It's like Dirty Santa where you can steal someone else's prize when you win. In years past kids have left crying because mean uncles (I won't mention any names) have stolen their prizes but this year was pretty calm.

Friday - Early that afternoon I went to Jonie's house to pick a few things for THE BABY!!! =) She was gracious enough to give us a baby bed and pack-n-play. It is officially time to start the baby room!!!!
Later that day my brother-in-law drove my mom, sister, neices and I around Jackson so we could do a little shopping. When we got home that night we ordered SUSHI!! I miss Sakura when I am in Louisville because I haven't found a sushi restaurant quite like it so I love going home for sushi night!

Saturday - I came back to Louisville just in time to see Phillip Fulmer coach his last game as the head coach of the Vols.

It was a great weekend!! I am definitely thankful for such a great, loving family!


Meg

Baby Update

WE HEARD BABY MOORE'S HEARTBEAT THIS MORNING! According to Nathan, it sounded like we were trying to pick up a football game on AM radio...hahahaha! We had our 11-week appointment first thing this morning and we were told everything looks good. It was GREAT to hear the little heartbeat and know that we are right on schedule with everything. We go back the Monday after Christmas for our 16-week appointment.

Right now...
Fingernails and toenails are forming
The brain is continuing to develop
Vocal cords are beginning to grow
Kidneys are beginning to function
Ears are forming completely
Facial developments are continuing
Reflexes are developing

HOW AMAZING!

Meg

Thanksgiving with the Moores

Nathan and I spent this past weekend in Nathan's hometown of Calera, AL. It was a quick trip (as it normally is) but we had a great time. We arrived in Calera late Friday night and stayed until mid-afternoon on Sunday.
Saturday was a very relaxing day which I am very thankful for. It was needed!
On Saturday evening, Nathan's parents provided a FEAST for Thanksgiving dinner. We had fried turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and more and more and more. It was so yummy (thanks Daddy Walter and Mama Carol)! =)
We were able to go to Nathan's home church on Sunday morning then we ate lunch with his parents before watching a little football and heading back to Louisville.

Oh, and I got to see Daisy!! She remembers me when I go over there which just blesses my little heart! =)


Meg

Happy Birthday, Nathan

Nathan's birthday was last Thursday (November 20th). Unlike myself, Nathan is not a big birthday party-er. In fact, I can remember his first birthday in Louisville in 2005. A group of us were hanging out at someone's apartment and Nathan decided to let people know it was his birthday...yeah, just like that! =)

The past couple years I have tried to make it special...well, in 2006 we weren't really dating so I didn't take the initiative but last year I had a little surprise get together at his favorite restaurant, Famous Dave's.

This year I had a surprise party at our apartment. Since it was a surprise, I didn't have time to make a birthday cake. So, instead, I made A MOUND of his favorite cookie (no-bake chocolate oatmeal) and put a couple candles on top! =)



He was surprised and it was a good excuse to have people over and celebrate.


Meg

CONGRATS to Cassie & Cody

This past Saturday night one of my best friends got engaged! Cassie and I met in the fall of 1998 and have been great friends ever since. Her fiance, Cody, planned a scavenger hunt around Louisville which ended in the PROPOSAL!! Afterwards, they came back to Cassie's apartment where lots of friends were there to surprise her with hugs, words of congrats and see the ring (of course)! Good luck with the plans, you two! Love you and I will do whatever to help! Looking forward to April 2009!





Meg

God is "knitting away"

I haven't been sick since the 7th grade...seriously! Yeah, that was 16 years ago! I was trying out for the Hawkins Middle School basketball team and I had to leave try-outs because I got sick. I don't even remember what it's like to be that sick. Ugh...and I don't want to be reminded!

My mom used to say, "What are you gonna do when you get pregnant and you have morning sickness?" Well, what if I don't have morning sickness?! =) Luckily, I have somehow avoided the nausea that comes with pregnancy. I have been extremely sleepy/fatigued and I have had some food "issues" (for one, I can't stand cutting up chicken), but I would much rather take naps and modify dinner recipes than stay locked up in the bathroom. Ugh.

We go back to the doctor on the 25th for an ultrasound/checkup. I am about 9 1/2 weeks pregnant and I am still so AMAZED at all that is going on. As my friend, Shawnda, says, "God is knitting away." So true and so awesome!!

• Fingers and toes are becoming distinct


• Muscles are developing enough for his/her first movements


• Ears and upper lip are forming


• Vital organs are beginning to work together

In the meantime, Nathan and I are preparing to transform our office space into the baby room. I am excited about the organization to come but I can't say that Nathan is near as excited as I am! hahahahaha!

Meg

First Ultrasound

This past Saturday morning, Nathan and I lead a volunteer group at A Woman's Choice Resource Center (http://www.awomanschoice.org/) in downtown Louisville. AWC is a non-profit organization that assists women that are abortion minded, post-abortive, or seeking counseling and/or assistance. They offer free pregnancy testing, maternity clothes and infant clothing/supplies. It's a great ministry that our church supports financially and with numerous volunteers.

Located across the street from AWC is an abortion clinic. We started our morning prayer walking and lifting up those abortion-minded women in prayer. Half of us walked the block around the center while the other half watched women walk into the abortion clinic. They prayed that those women would choose to turn around and walk across the street to AWC to seek counseling.

We spent the rest of the morning organizing the donations closet. Several people from our group brought donations so we sorted those then started on donations that had been brought in by other individuals/volunteer groups. There was SO much stuff to sort through but we did get a lot done and hopefully it was beneficial to the staff and clients at AWC.

Ok, so what does our first ultrasound have to do with this????? Well, there is a doctor that is on staff at AWC. He is actually an OBGYN, pastor, and seminary professor of mine. He happened to be in the office on Saturday. I introduced him to Nathan since they had never met before and went on to tell him that we were expecting our first baby in June. He was so excited for us and offered us an ultrasound! What a blessing!

We were able to see the "bean" which was amazing to see. It's our little miracle!

Dr. Cutrer let us know that everything looks great. In order to hear the heartbeat I am supposed to have a full bladder and it was only 1/2 full. When we go in for our ultrasound with our doctor in 3-weeks Dr. Cutrer said we will be able to see the baby and hear a really good heartbeat. It was a very encouraging experience for me just to confirm that everything is right on track!


Meg

Baby Shower and Friends

My friend, Mona, and I hosted a baby shower for our good friend, Sally. We had a great time planning, organizing and cooking. I was so excited to find out that the majority of our invite list was coming and that a lot of those people were friends from out of town that I had not seen in MONTHS! It was great to be together for this special occassion.

A baby shower with lots of food! =)

Beth and Mariah's little girl, Maddie

Baby shower games...they were drawing a baby on their paper plates and then Sally judged who had the "prettiest baby"

Ginger and Mariah

Gina and Cassie

Gannon (Mona's little boy) and Maddie (Mariah's little girl)

Gannon Dolan...what a cutie!

We all chipped in and got Sally a car seat. This is actually just an empty box that Mona had. We collected the money and we are going to let her pick out her own car seat. We just wanted her to have something to open.

Sally's "Louisville friends" - Caroline, me, Beth, Cassie, Ginger, Mariah, Sally, Mona, Gina

Sally's "UK friends" - Grace, Caroline, Kristy, Sally, Gina, Whitney, Catherine

Sally and Gina are both due in December -- how cute are they?! =)

I had a great time spending the afternoon with friends that I don't see on a regular basis. I am SO thankful for Sally's friendship and this is the least I could do to show her how much I appreciate her! Love you, Sally Wally! =)

Meg