Rainy Friday

It's been pouring in Charlotte for days. Ok, maybe just two days, but still. I think I have rain induced depression. All I want to do is hide in bed. However, we have a big weekend...We put the house on the market on Wednesday because we're moving to Baltimore, Maryland. Commence crying now.




Aubrey was promoted within ATD and this is a great opportunity for his career but really sad for us personally. We desperately don't want to leave Charlotte. We have great friends, live close to both sets of parents and I love my job.



Thankfully, I've been granted permission to work from home in Baltimore so we won't be forced to go down to one income. I mean, it's kind of impossible to interview for jobs pregnant....

Aubrey leaves for his new role on Tuesday after my ultrasound. I'm not sure when I'll see him again because our Fall is so busy. Hopefully he can fly down to meet me at the beach week after next. I'm tentatively planning to fly to Baltimore the weekend of Halloween so we can house hunt and figure out where we're going to live and where Newton will go to "school."



So many changes, so little time. :(



This weekend we're headed up to Richmond for a baby shower. That should be a lot of fun!



Check out what arrived in the mail today. Ok, maybe she sent it a long time ago, but I just got it because we are HORRIBLE about checking our mail.

Crystal, my BFF from college, sent me the most adorable gown and hat and sweetest smelling lotion. Soooo adorable. I totally teared up when I opened it. I can't wait to get settled in Baltimore and wash all of these sweet things we're getting.

We'll I'm off to put on my galoshes and walk Molly....

Game Day

So last Thursday Aubrey's beloved Mississippi State played a football game against some other team- LSU maybe??? Because we live too far away from his Alumni Group's hang out, I made him his favorite dip. Not great for the waistline or cholestrol numbers, but he loves it all the same. And yes, that crock pot is as old as I am. No use throwing it away if it still works, right?

As a surprise to me, Aubrey also brought home these beautiful flowers.

Sooo beautiful!!

Cookie Monster

Apparently Miss Carson Cannon Segrest is going to make an early appearance into this wonderful world of ours. I am soooo excited for Lee, Brant and Big Sister Ava!

Lee might be induced tomorrow which means Auntie Ryan is on call all weekend to run to Greenville at a moment's notice. That also means I need to post about the shower I co-hosted for her BEFORE Carson arrives. EEK!

I originally planned on making Cowboy Cookies this weekend to give to the sweet ladies who are throwing us the baby shower next weekend.

Well, it will be difficult to make Cowboy Cookies while holding Carson or playing with Ava. So I logged on to work really early this morning and did a couple of projects and then made the dough. In case you're wondering, here's what four batches of Cowboy Cookies looks like.

Well of course I'm not going to make and bake all the cookies today. I have to work people. So I Food Saver-ed the batter and now I can make one bag of cookies per weeknight next week so they're all made for the shower next Saturday. And yes, I will be Food Saver-ing the baked cookies too. Stale cookies are the worst!
Ahh, Cowboy Cookies. A token of my childhood. No, I will not be posting the recipe. It's a secret family recipe. Well, kind of. A long, long time ago (circa 1983), my mother was at a Clemson football game. As she was walking through the tailgate lot to go to the restroom (TMI?), she noticed a platter of delicious looking cookies. She complimented the strangers on their beautiful baked goods and a lady offered her one.

After sampling her first-ever Cowboy Cookie, she was hooked! She asked for the recipe and the kind lady said she would mail it to her. Low and behold, six months later the recipe arrived in the mail. The McNamara/Giles Family has been making these cookies for tailgates, holidays and beach trips for the past 28 years.

My million dollar idea is to somehow sell the cookies. Yes, they're that good. Jealous you aren't getting any? Throw me a shower and I'll make you some cookies. Just teasing!!

And now, some random photos for Becky. You're welcome.

Where Mom made us park at Buy Buy Baby this past weekend.

I don't know why but it seemed really embarassing. Maybe because I don't think I'm showing.... I don't know. I just think she didn't want to walk far. Glad I can be of service in that regard.

Check out this pic of Molly Monster. I've been trying to drink my morning coffee (half decaf) out of a straw to prevent my teeth from staining- especially since I can't bleach them while pregnant. Well Molly thought she would help...

As much trouble as she causes me, I do love that little face. She is the sweetest thing.

And lastly, a teaser to the hightly anticipated diaper bag reveal....

Whatever could it be?? Stay tuned for the actual bag...

15 weeks, 6 days

Well, I'm almost to the four month mark. It's really hard to believe that in less than six months, Baby Swinson will be here!!

We ordered the crib and the changing table this weekend and the mattress arrived today!! Some sweet friends of Aubrey's parents bought us the mattress. My mom ironically bought us a crib sheet this weekend so at least we have the crib all set (well, minus the bedding)...

Now. Where to put this stuff? Hmm... we definitely need a bigger house.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and it took the doctor about 10 seconds longer than I thought it should to find the heartbeat. Needless to say, I about had an anxiety attack on the table. I did hear a weird whooshing sound on his little device. When I asked what it was, he said the baby was kicking. Awwww..... isn't that cute?

Two weeks until we know what Baby Swinson is. Aubrey and my mother are certain it's a girl. Because of this, I'm certain it's a boy. Now, I have no feelings or inclinations that it's a boy, but just because they're soooo "sure," I have to disagree.

We'll see who's right!

15 weeks, 2 days

Well, it's been a crazy week for us.

Last Wednesday, Aubrey and I went to the scary Buy Buy Baby to register for all of our baby gear. Based on the size of the store, I think this should have taken us 4 hours. However, because we had done lots of research- including asking some of my brilliant "mom" friends what their favorite baby gear was- it only took us about an hour and a half.

Needless to say, Newton Swinson will be set for their first week of life if we get everything on the registry. I am a little obsessed with checking it daily for updates. I LOVE seeing what our amazing family and friends purchase for him/her.

Speaking of him/her, we'll officially find out what Newton REALLY is on September 27 at 11 a.m. I have to go to the Women's Institute (perinatologist) for a high risk anatomy screening. I am really nervous. Nervous about his/her general health and also to finally know what it is. It's kind of magical not knowing and I do feel a bit of pressure to produce a certain grandchild that can wear smocked dresses and big hairbows.

Newton attended his/her first Clemson football game last Saturday. Of course, I didn't take any pictures... It was nice and "cool" at the tailgate but as soon as we went into the game, I thought I was going to die from heat exhaustion. We had a good time but I think I might wait until October to go back. Maybe....

We finally ordered the crib last night!! Woohoo. It said it would ship in 3 -4 weeks so we expect it by the end of September, beginning of October. I hope to have the office/nursery cleared out by then so we'll have a place to put it. The nursery's closet is slowly starting to fill up with packs of diapers and other random baby things that people give us- so nice!!

I can't wait to purchase the changing table/dresser so we have a place to put some of this stuff!! We're going to a children's furniture store in Greenville this weekend that all my Greenville friends swear by so we'll see what we find... my plan is to purchase all the nursery stuff before the holidays so we can financially and emotionally enjoy those. Then, in January, we'll see what we're still missing from a gear perspective and stock up on the rest. Whew!!