Home Stretch

Crib is empty and waiting! Car seat is installed in the car and was inspected by a kind fireman. Bags are sort of packed for the hospital. Nursery is close to being ready. Things are looking good!

I've got a few odds and ends like video tapes, snacks, and certain medicines that I still need to get but for the most part we've done our jobs. I still need somewhere for the baby to sleep when we bring her home from the hospital - don't have a bassinet or pack n' play - but if it gets down to the wire, I think my parents still have Brianna's old pack n' play.

I really can't wrap my mind around being in the last month and the fact that she could come any time now. I'm not itching to get her out of me like people assume. I feel good in general, don't walk like a pregnant lady (thank you Brett!!!), and can breathe easily because she's dropped. Oh what a mentally and emotionally weird month this will be!

Kate Virginia

Carolyn and me in our last month of pregnancy together: On Sunday she had their baby girl, Kate Virginia Vernon! We got to visit them in the hospital shortly afterwards. Carmen and Kate got to kick their feet around together:

She's so precious and tiny!

Our Parents

This past weekend we got to spend fun times with both of our parents. On Friday night we joined my mom and dad for a trip to Old Town Warrenton to shop at our friend's furniture store and have a small wine tasting. We walked down the street and had dinner together at a little restaurant and then stopped for extremely delicious ice cream on the way back home. We really enjoyed ourselves and love getting to be with my family. Mom and Dad, you all are so good to us!

On Sunday, Michael's parents decided to come to church with us. It was so great to have family in our church and to have them meet some of our friends. They took us out to lunch afterwards where we got to catch up some more and just be together. Bill and Lissa, thank you for blessing us with lunch and family time!

Michael and I are loving having our families close to us. Not many people our age get to be around their families but we are so thankful for it. We love you parents!

House Tour

We've lived in our new home for just over 4 months now. It's taken a long while to settle in. We just hung a few pictures for the first time this week and you'll see how much more needs to be done. Painting, decorating, and new furniture is still needed but as we all know that takes lots of time and money so we're doing the best we can. Here's a quick photo tour:

View from the front door
Kitchen
Kitchen/Dining
Looking back into the family room. Behind the couch is Carmen's "play area." I'll show you more on that later.
2nd level rec room/office/ whatever you call it
2nd floor hallway Guest room in progress (I'll show nursery pics once it's finished.)

Hall Bath waiting for a complete make-over

Master Suite level, to the right is our "sitting room"
Looking into the Master (notice our little wine bar on the right!)

Master Bath

We have a lot more to figure out decorating-wise. It's hard to pick colors for the walls when I don't quite have a clear vision of what I want to do with it. But it's a lot of fun and the good part is that we are settled here for a while!

Fiesta de Uhls

Sunday afternoon Brad and Amanda hosted a lovely party honoring our sweet baby girl's arrival. Amanda had a delicious Mexican themed spread and colorful, fun decorations ready to celebrate. Our friends were so generous and showered us with a handmade dress (by Jenn Boggs!), Diapers, a bright yellow onesie ( I love yellow!) with a bunny blanket, and a fabulous Maclaren umbrella stroller. Can't thank you all enough! Spending time with you all was our favorite part. It felt like the old days as if we had never moved.

I love this picture because of pregnant Mich holding the baby boy on top of her belly.The stunning Mrs. Wooten
Jenn, you can play with our hair anytime!Brett, the baby lover, with the most handsome Kevin Sauer:

Little Friends

The beautiful Michelle and baby Abigail:They'd be best friends if we lived closer. But hey, they can still be best friends! We love you Drago family!

Dancing not so good for the feet

Proof that I was at the wedding this weekend:

The only 2 pictures I took because I was working hard and making sure everything went smoothly. And it did! Justin and Kathryn are happily married now. She looked more beautiful than ever and Justin was so handsome. Their wedding was a blast and I danced more at this reception than I have in a long time. Everyone was dancing - how could I not? Amanda said it best, "It's like church turned into a dance party." Pastors, deacons, elders dancing everywhere you looked! Too much fun.

That's probably a large part of the reason why my ankles and feet have swollen to the size of my grandfathers. When we got home on Sunday night, it took me a while to look down and see why my feet were tingling so much. They were HUGE. It freaked me out a bit and so I showed Michael and it freaked him out too. I'm nearing the end of pregnancy friends. I cannot believe it. In the next week, Michael and I have to pack our hospital bags and get the car seat installed and inspected. Oh, and finish the nursery.