The Graduates...Again

This post makes me VERY happy!! Chap has been working so hard, ever since we got married three years ago, to earn his second degree…of PLS (Survey Degree). He’s been doing all this while working full time for an engineer firm in Charlotte. Needless to say these first three years, we’ve seen very little of each other during the week. He usually doesn’t get home from class till 9:00 pm most nights, just in time for me to feed him and us to go to bed!! I am thrilled to finally be able to enjoy my husband now a little more during the week…and maybe have some mac & cheese waiting on me when I get home from Challenger?? =)

Last weekend we had a little graduation celebration for him and Justin, a great friend of ours who also graduated with an architect degree. I think he might have picked the wrong major…he’s quite crafty, as you can see, with the Photoshop. Maybe a little side business is in his future?? If not graphic design, then maybe a hobby in karate??

Aren't those hilarious?? They had a little photoshoot over at the Smith's the night before the party and Justin had these displayed at the entrance on Friday...they were a hit!

This was the wives trying to get husbands to cut the cake 'bride and groom' style. They didn't love this idea so much.

Congrats guys, I'm so proud of you!!

A Gift from Gramps & Update

So the baby got its first gift from Gramps this week! My dad, the ever loving Harley man, sent Baby Rollings some lovely Harley bibs this week in the mail. Chap and I loved opening the package from ‘Gramps and Gigi’ that was addressed to ‘Little Spit’ (thank you Normie for that name =). When I called to thank my dad for the bibs, he said, “Well, even though mom told me I had to wait to buy things for the baby till closer to the due date, I went ahead and got them anyway.” Ha! If you saw my earlier post regarding mine and my mom’s shopping spree, you’d understand why that one’s funny! Thank you Gramps, we LOVED getting something in the mail from you for the baby, very exciting!

UPDATE:

We had a doctor’s appointment this week, good news: we got to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time! We had seen the heartbeat, but actually hearing it was pretty amazing. My sister-in-law, Krissee, gave us her Doppler device to use so every day since the doctor’s appointment I’ve been rushing home from school to listen to my baby’s heartbeat! It’s my new favorite thing to do!! It ranges between 170-180 bph which is pretty fast I’ve learned.

Not so good news; I’ve already gained 12 lbs. and I’m not even out of my first trimester yet!! I almost panicked when I saw the scale at the doctor’s office…NOT used to seeing numbers in THAT range, but the nurse assured me it was accurate. I guess that’s what I get for eating almost every second of the day. =)

I haven’t been sick really, but I think that’s only because of my overeating habit to compensate for the nausea. I get pretty sleepy in the afternoon’s…but my fourth graders don’t let that effect our days =) I’m still working out almost every day, just not as much running as I’m used to. I’m thanking my lucky stars for how well things have been going so far, and hopeful it continues... minus the speedy weight gain of course.

A Date with Dave!

Some of you might recall my slight bitterness last year when Chap was invited by our brother-in-law, Daniel, to attend the Dave Mathews concert...in the 6th row. Well, bitterness is GONE! This year I got the invite...and so did my brother!! We had a blast, and I literally teared up when we sat in our seats because I have never sat any better than lawn seats at concerts. Chap kept making me turn around to 'see all the people who had worse seats than us'....which was everyone =)

Best part...The Warehouse fan club that Daniel belongs to, called him a few days before the show to ask him if he'd like to bring a guest to the 'meet and greet' with Dave before the concert. Ummmm...you can say this has been Chap's fantasy for years. He has quite the man crush on Dave, he's acutally the reason Chap picked up the guitar to learn to play (and sing), so this was pretty big time for him! He didn't sleep the first night he found out about the big news...this made me laugh.

Chap and Daniel meeting Dave!

Sidenote: They each got to bring back two items...Chap had a small banner made of some lyrics for the baby's room for Dave to sign. We'll matte and frame this later =)

Chap actually drew this picture several years ago. This is the second item he had signed...Dave had to be flattered, it's an amazing drawing.

Normie couldn't stand it, after learning that Chap and Daniel were going to meet Dave, he pulled some major shinanigans at the concert two days before in Raleigh, NC to get backstage and meet Dave himself. Let's just say that some false identities might have been assumed (thank you Jill and Chris!!) So this picture is actually two days before our concert in Raleigh. I award it 'most likely to be BFF' photo =)

Even though I might not have met Dave, I had an amazing night...and I'm still hoping maybe he saw me?? I think we made eye contact a couple times that night =) Thank you, Daniel, for the invite...I hope the guilt trip this past year wasn't too intense. And thank you for making one of my husband's wishes come true!! =)

And the 'neutral' shopping begins!

Roxanne and I always enjoy our shopping trips to Gaffney any chance we get, but now we have a whole new reason to shop!! I think we've both been waiting a long time for this opportunity so we might have gone a little overboard (Dad, I promise I tried to keep her under control, but she was rather relentless.)

Since Chap wasn't able to come on the baby's first shopping spree (I don't think he's losing any sleep over that one), I laid out all the 'neutral' items on his couch like it was Christmas morning =)

Mom (and Dad), thank you so much for the amazing day! I couldn't have imagined my first baby's shopping spree being any more fun =)

Three Years

Well, we've made it through another year. This year has probably revealed more to me about our marriage than any other. Overcoming some of the challenges we faced this past year has shown me a new side of our relationship that I am very appreciative for!! Even through the tough times there isn't really anyone that can cheer me up quite like my husband can.

Chap, I appreciate your honesty, humor, and compassion throughout our marriage. Thank you for not trying to beat me up this past year, I am sure I gave you plenty of reason to =) I'm SO looking forward to year #4 with you and all new experiences it brings our way! I'm sure they won't all be pretty, but we'll get through them together! Love you!!

Telling Our Families

Yes, I know that you are all probably OVER my 'pregnancy news'...so I apologize for yet ANOTHER post about it, but after waiting as long as I have to get to this point, I'm going to procceed as though you're all as excited as I am =)

Going to Greenville was great! Telling my parents was every bit as exciting as I had imagined it would be. My amazing brother arranged the whole surprise by telling my parents that him and his girlfriend were coming over for dinner. They were a little confused...and excited when Chap and I showed up in the back of his car with balloons, a cake, and some baby news!

Ever since last Christmas I knew exactly how we would tell Chap's family the big news. When Krissee was pregnant with the twins, Rollings informed us that 'babies come from Happy Meals...they are the prize in the bottom of the box!' Oh...if ONLY it were that easy!! =) So, Krissee and Daniel planned a dinner for the family and we showed up with some Happy Meals! The prize in the box was a pacifier with a note to Rollings and Mary Cline from their new cousin. Keesha was the first one to catch on...but everyone was excited, as you can see =)

We are so glad Aunt Susie was able to be there!

The next morning Chap had Smith and Addison bouncing on the air mattress like it was a bouncy fun house =). We can't WAIT for your cousin to get here, Smith and Addison!!


Alright, alright...I will TRY to post some other things now besides this pregnancy and how excited I am, but I can make no gaurantees!!

Surprise Shower...

Telling our friends great! Chap and I had already planned a dinner that evening, so when we found out we were pregnant, we decided to turn the dinner party into a "fake baby shower" for ourselves! When the friends walked in and came in the kitchen they looked a little puzzled...we'd ask, "Where the heck are our gifts?? We are FINALLY having a baby??!! Ha!

Thank you, friends, sharing this excitement with us and for supporting us through this journey! We are forever grateful for having such amazing people surrounding us!! (ps...boys were present, they just thought the card game in the garage was a little more exciting than the baby news...)