It's official!

It is official, we are no longer Memphians. Although Ella Catherine and I moved to Nashville in July and Matt followed in August, technically we were still Memphis residents as we still had our house at 1382 Glen Oaks Dr. As of a week ago, Friday March 20th, we are no longer owners of 1382 Glen Oaks Dr. YAY!!!! It was a long and sometimes stressful process selling our home and we are very happy to have that Chapter behind us. It frees us up mentally and especially financially to concentrate on our life here in Nashville and of the upcoming arrival of our second child. Thank you to all our family and friends who have been so supportive during these last 8 months. We couldn't have done it without your words of encouragement and prayers.

A quick update on Baby #2. I had a check-up this week and baby #2 is right on track. His/her heartbeat was strong. He/she was moving around and showing off for the doctor. :) My stomach is getting bigger by the day but according to the doctor is measuring right on track. So, in 7 weeks and 2 days (give or take a few) we will have a new little member of our family. I don't know who is more excited about it, Matt and I or Ella Catherine. Let's just hope her enthusiasm continues once the baby is born and it is not a scenario where the build up was more exciting than the actual event.

Memphis trip/good times with good friends

I am trying to catch up with my posts. Last weekend Matt, Ella Catherine and I went to Memphis. I drove over Friday morning and spent the majority of the day sorting through the remainder of our things there and pricing them for a moving sale the next morning. A BIG thank you goes out to John, Debbie, Michael and Katie Lynch for moving everything down from our attic. This was a HUGE help!! It saved a pregnant lady many trips up and down the stairs and she is VERY grateful. Matt and Ella Catherine drove in Friday Evening. Matt and I were very skeptical that the sale would be productive as the weather was not the best in Memphis last weekend. The weather man has predicted rain. Of course, weather men are not always right. In fact, it is the one job I know of that you can be wrong the majority of the time and still keep your job. But I digress. It was sprinkling early that morning(5am) but by the time the sale started it was no longer raining, just cold and dreary. It did not stop the avid garage sale goer and we had a great turnout. We got rid of a lot of stuff and what we couldn't sell, we took to goodwill.
Mimi watched Ella Catherine for us so we could concentrate on the sale. A Big thank you to Mimi.
Saturday evening we had an adult night out with old friends. Matt and I forgot our camera in Nashville, but if you go to the Cole's blog link on our blog you can see some pictures. It was sooo great to see everyone and spend time catching up. We even managed to have some adult conversations in addition to talking toddler and baby talk. We LOVE Nashville but We miss our friends greatly and always enjoy seeing them again.
Sunday we packed up the remainder of our things from 1382 Glen Oaks Dr and then headed over to Roger and Sarah Ella Cole's house for a play date and to watch the SEC basketball championship. As a nice surprise, the Thomas family was there too! So, we got to spend time with some of our other dear friends. As always, Ella Catherine was a little shy at first but warmed up and enjoyed playing with the Airey and Campbell Cole's toys tremendously. She was completely taken with Campbell. She couldn't get enough of him. She kept hugging and kissing him and holding his hands. She would bring him toys and try to make him smile.
My parents brought her a book about babies and being an older sibling for her birthday. She wants to read it daily and always says "I hold the baby", "I help wash the baby" and "Ella's sister". I keep asking what about a brother and she says "no sister". So, we might have to work through that one, but all in all I think she will be a good big sister. It makes me even more excited about our new little one due in a little over 8 weeks. I can't wait to see them interact. I know there will be some adjustments but if last weekend was any indication, she will be a little momma and help me take care of the baby.

Two is twice as nice!

So, I am VERY late in getting this posted on our blog. We have had a busy few weeks. Ella Catherine turned two on 3/5/09. We decided just to have a family birthday celebration. Her birthday was on a Thursday this year. I made and decorated some sugar cookies for her to take to school. She had a little celebration with her classmates and teacher. That night my parents, Nana and Pop, came to town and we celebrated by a dinner out after opening some presents. Aunt Katie and Mimi came to town Friday and then Grandpa, Grams, uncle Michael and Uncle Christopher came in on Saturday for the actual birthday party. We celebrated with hamburgers and hotdogs and an Elmo cake (made by yours truly). Ella Catherine had a ball and so did we! She was so excited to have all her favorite people at our house at once. She was wound up tight that day and I didn't think we would ever get her to bed. She woke up the next day asking for everyone to see who was still in town. She was very sad to see everyone leave, but has enjoyed all her birthday gifts tremendously. I have pre-birthday party pictures posted below but will add some from the party very soon.

She went last week to the doctor for her 2 year old check-up and her last round of shots until kindergarden. She is a very tall girl for her age. Dr. Haraf was very pleased with how well behaved she was and gave her a treat at the end of the visit. Matt's mom came in town for the day and so Mimi spoiled her a little after the MD visit by letting her watch her Elmo video multiple times.

The Birthday girl the morning of her birthday before she left for schoolDaddy and the Birthday girl before school
Taking George for a spin in her new wheels

So excited opening her presents. My mom made her the cutest Elmo card and she loved it!

Her baby doll and carriage from Nana and Pop
Opening her Curious George present.
The Elmo Cake

SNOW FUN!!! Mabye?

We have been teased in Nashville all winter with snow. However, on the rare occasions that it actually has snowed, the ground has been too warm for it to accumulate. So, when we woke up Sunday morning to the ground dusted with snow we were excited. It wasn't the 10inches that our former home received but it was better than nothing. Not only did it accumulate, but it happened on a weekend so I could actually enjoy it (In the Medical world, there is no such thing as a snow day. People are still sick and in the hospital and they still need caregivers). I'll have to admit some of my excitement was that Ella Catherine would finally get to wear her little snow pants and snow boots. She was equally excited as we were getting dressed and bundled. She was ready to go play ball in the snow. However, that excitement quickly faded the moment she stepped outside. In her defense, it was 7 degrees outside with the windchill, BRRRRR. We actually ended up spending more time getting everyone outfitted for the snow than actually outside in the snow. But she looked cute! :)

Getting dressed in my snow duds to go play ball outside.

Looking so cute decked out in my snow gear!!

Let's go! So ready to play ball in the snow.

Can we go inside now?