December 1st Eve

I can't believe that tomorrow is the first day of December....where has the time gone. Lilly will be celebrating her 8 month birthday...she might even be crawling by then. She has been doing a lot of rocking on all fours, and is just on the verge on movement. It will be so different when she can move, because I can't just put her down and get some things done. Oh, well they grow up so fast, so I better enjoy every moment I can!!

Tomorrow was suppose to be my drop date for starting to workout and eating better (or at least not as many desserts), but I have this damn cough. I have had it now for 3 weeks, and it's time to do something about it. I have been putting off going to see the doctor because I thought I would just get better and with nursing there is not much that I can take. Plus, we don't really have a "family doctor" so I have to make some calls tomorrow. I am still going to try to cut back on desserts....did I mention that Lilly wants to eat whatever we are eating so it's time to cut back on anything that is not good for Lilly (or me either).

Beach Family Photos

Although I was able to take some really good photos of my engaged friends, Matt and Carole, we hired someone to come out and take some photos of the family on the beach. Images by Rodger meet us at Fort Macon and took some really cute photos of the Hoover/Family. It was fun to be out there with everyone and let everyone have some input on the photos and poses! Last night we all attended the 2nd Annual Holly House Oyster Roast, with some of my high school friends. Gosh, I miss those girls...it's amazing how people you have known your whole life, even when you spend time apart, you can pickup where you left off. Mr. Clark (one of the dad's) told me how he found it amusing that I was outside chatting with the girls, sipping some bourbon apple cider, listening to the baby monitor to make sure Lilly was ok in the back room of the house. I might be the ONLY one of my high school group who is married and has a baby, but I'm always up for a chance to party (so long as I can be in bed before midnight-in case Lilly decides to wake up early). We also got to celebrate the engagement of Candi and Parker....so romantic....he proposed 6 years to the day that they met!! I hope everyone had/has the chance to visit with some really good people over the holiday!! Here's to my girls Candi, Carole, Meredyth, and MEW! Thanks for the party!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well, Lilly got to celebrate her first Thanksgiving, and I think she really enjoyed it. We started the day with a Turkey Trot with some locals. For years now, a group has been meeting to run at 7:30am on Thanksgiving Day with everyone having to bring canned goods to donate to our local food bank. I think this morning there were 20+ people up bright and early to run...even though it was only 30 degrees. Then we showered up and headed to my folks house for an "all-american" breakfast with bacon, and eggs. It was super good!! Then it was home to get ready for Thanksgiving dinner...fried turkey, homemade cranberry sauce (thanks mom), a pecan green bean casserole, these sweet potato cups, and of course pie both pumpkin, and pecan (thanks for those too mom). It was really good food, and really great company. Then we completed the night with movie, Fred Claus, and reading Aunt Ann's bibles (the sale fliers) trying to decide if we need to get up early and get anything. As of right now, Lilly is back asleep after being up at 4am with sore teeth, and Fitz is out in search of a great deal on a washer and dryer, and I am missing my spin class and swim at the local gym. Oh, well on missing the workouts....December 1st seems like a better day to start anyhow! Wishing everyone a great holiday weekend with family and friends!

The Frenzy that is Pre-Thanksgiving

So things around here have been busy, but not really alot to report. Last week we were happy to have a visit from Aunt Chrissie and cousin Julia. Julia is almost exactly one year old then Lilly, so it was interesting to see what we are in for over the next few months. We managed a trip to the Aquarium, Fort Macon, the beach twice, a photo shoot of the cousins, and just hanging out. we had to adjust to the different schedules of the girls...somedays it seemed that we lost the whole morning with waking up times and naps. All in all a great time!!

Then on Saturday, I tried my hand at selling all the tutu's I have made....and it went pretty well. I made back my booth fee and then some...and now have gotten a request over email!! YEAH!! Fitz has been traveling like a crazy man...and I am looking forward to him coming home tonight. We have all been battleing a case of the cold weather crud, runnie noses, cough, and just feeling yuck! Fitz got over it first, and now Lilly and I are taking our turn. It's amazing to me how my level of patience decreases as I feel worse. And to top that "crud" off, I think Lilly is teething. She keeps pulling on her ear, and biting anything in sight. At her doctors visit on Tuesday, she did not have an ear infection, but did have some fluid in her her (that she had been pulling on) so he thought it might be related to her teeth. She seems to have bulges in her gum in the back of her mouth...maybe she's getting in her molars?! Who knows...I just hope we all feel better soon.

Today my little bro graduates from Dive school in PCB, FL. My folks made the 13+ hour trip down there to help him pack out, and they should start heading back today. We are looking forward to spending sometime with Uncle Bobby before he heads to.....Hawaii!! He is one of the chosen few who will be stationed in HI for 3 years!! I can't wait to go visit him!! BUT I will enjoy this time we get before he heads off. YEAH for Bob-O!

Next week we are planning a mad dash up to PA for Thanksgiving, things have not really been the same up there since my Pappy passed away in 2006, but with Lilly in tow we are hoping to revive some of the spirit. I am hoping to get a 4 generations photo of my Zanny, my Mom, me and Lilly....crazy to think that!!

Well, with Lilly napping I am going to turn on Fit TV and try to workout a bit!!

More of My Lilly!

Lilly is trying her hardest to be mobile these days, but so far we only do some standing, forward leaning, and jumping. We are in a busy time for the Fitz's with a visit from Aunt Chrissie, and cousin Julia (their first meeting) starting tomorrow, then on Saturday I have the Art Fest to show my tutu's off (and perhaps make some money back). Then next week both Fitz and my parents are out of town, and when they all return to the MHC, my baby bro will be visiting for approximately 2 weeks.....GOSH.....so much going on. Wish me luck this weekend, and photos of all the goings-on will be up as things happen. Happy Tuesday!

These are a few of her favorite things...

If you have been around me recently, you would have heard me singing the song "Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music, to Lilly. For some reason this song calms Lilly down, so I seem to sing it alot. Here are two videos of Lilly doing two of the things she loves to do right now; tearing up magazines, and jumping in her jumper!! She is getting very strong, and loves to be standing and/or jumping!! Enjoy!!

Halloween Weekend!

We started our trek to Asheville on Thursday (after Fitz voted early) with an overnight stop in the Raleigh area. We got to visit with our good friend Meg and her kids and actually her parents in the early afternoon. It is always nice to have Lilly interact with other babies, and Grace seems to really like Lilly so that is cute to watch. Then we got to get in a good laugh watching Grace jump in the jumper-roo. Since she is 2 years old, she really understands how to jump in the jumper...just take my word for it....it was hysterical. Then we headed to Durham to have a tri group reunion with "chard, Mel, EP, Dustin, Jonathon, and Craig. It was great to see everyone and catch up!! I miss those folks!! Then on Friday we started our drive to Asheville, and made it there by 3:30pm. We got to take the kiddos trick or treating around the Saft's neighborhood. Little Keagan was a red dragon, he was super cute and really liked getting candy from everyone. He kept trying to go into their houses. We did lots of exercise on Saturday, outside of course, so we could enjoy the fall colors. It was amazing to see how out of hill running shape we are....there is nothing like going from 8ft above sea level to the mountains to NC to make you feel bad. We got to do a really nice hike up to 6,000+ feet. Lilly did great, but it would have been much easier had she fit in the backpack (next time). We got to drive on the blue ridge parkway and see some spectacular views of Biltmore, Looking Glass, and just all the colors. Nature is simply amazing!! We started out drive back to Raleigh on Sunday, with a visit to see the newest addition to the Brooks family, Leah Rose. She was very alert, and beautiful!! I can't wait to watch her grow. Fitz and Mr. Dugan got to take in the hockey game at RBC, while the ladies had pizza and watched tv at home. We finally made it home on Monday, and it was nice to be back!! Although, it was a long trip, we did find that Lilly is good for car trips.....so long as she gets breaks every 3 hours or so!