80's Party...

The 80's party was a huge success! We had a great time as you can see in some of the pictures below:

The pink and blue decorations added to our 80's vibe.

Our friend Karen and her daughter came as "The Madonna Twins." If we were giving an award for best costume, they would have won!

Some of the teachers we work with...

Liz's costume was simple, yet perfectly appropriate!

Colleen and Michelle play Pac Man beside all of the 80's candy: Fun Dip, Nerds, Pixy Stix, Jolly Ranchers, and Ring Pops.

Ghostly Happenings...

The pictures below were all taken on the same day (Saturday...). I thought it was quite strange to wake up to the word "HI" on the wall. Somehow the sun just happened to line up with our blinds in the exact right way and whispered a ghostly salutation across our bedroom wall. Later, when Liz was showering, a mysterious figure appeared on the mirror. Liz had just cleaned the mirror the previous evening and there wasn't anything there until the mirror fogged up from the shower. It slowly disappeared without a trace. Spooky, huh? And it's not even October yet!

I flipped this picture to make it easier to read the message. This happened on the same day that I took the pictures below. Someone must really want to talk to us! (It looks as though they are friendly...)

Apparition view #1. I know the picture isn't great, but hopefully you can see the strange shape on the mirror. 

2nd Trimester...

We hit the 2nd Trimester today and there's good news: In the last four days, Liz has only thrown up once! (Knock wood for luck...) We hope this is the beginning of the end of the nausea and vomiting. School starts next week and the whole vomiting thing is not very convenient.

Apparition view 2 from the side. 

Another Year...

Happy Birthday to me
I'm aging quickly
Pretty soon I'll be 40,
Happy Birthday to me...

Though for now, I'm holding at 35, but telling people 29.

Also, in case you're wondering about the sudden appearance of the 23rd Psalm: The weblog keeps a count of every posting I make. The 23rd Psalm is the six hundred and sixty-sixth place and I didn't want to take any chances.

Another View...

We also got this view...from the side. I didn't think it looked like much when we were first given the picture, but then I turned it upside down and saw the profile. Also, we saw the legs when Cletus (the fetus) was moving and a huge foot floated past as well. (Huge being a relative term...it was probably only a few millimeters but looked giant next to the body.) Cletus moved the entire time, though it's still too early for Liz to feel it. We went to the OB/GYN today and tried to listen to the heartbeat, but it was still too early. We go back in a month and should be able to hear it then. Note: the baby is only being called "Cletus" until birth, after which, if the grandmothers get their way, it will be known as "Barbara Terry."

Go And See This MOVIE!!!

It was FANTASTIC! Samuel L. Jackson is AWESOME!!!

The Baby Blog has been updated...

The Baby's Blog has been updated: CLICK HERE!

New Sonogram Pictures

We had another ultrasound today and the pictures are below! It's starting to look like a baby now, and during the sonogram, it moved several times and waved its arms and legs as if it were startled. The heart rate was 154 beats per minute. We're almost done with the first trimester and Liz is looking forward to the disappearance of the nausea. We've moved from constant nausea to the "Throw and Go" stage and now are moving into a new stage called, "Bowls or Bags, don't leave home without them." The nausea isn't as bad anymore but the vomiting seems to be getting worse. We see the doctor again on Monday and hopefully he'll have some input on what she should do.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
— King James Version

The End of an Era...

The two smokestacks at Fieldcrest Cannon were taken down last Thursday. Kelli Moser sent the bottom few pictures of the demolition that were taken by her friend, Kimberly Stewart. The first couple of pictures were taken last summer. I'm glad Liz and I took a moment to take the pictures. I know I should be happy for all the positive changes for Kannapolis, but I can't help but feel a little more homesick than usual right now.

Picture #1 from last summer. 

Picture #2 from last summer. 

Picture #3 from last summer. 

Final moments... 

The first one begins to topple. 

The last one falls. 

Isn't it curious how just three minutes can change a horizon and end a moment in history? 

Mom, Dad, and Paula Deen

During their vacation in July, Mom and Dad visited Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah - "The Lady and Sons." It was crowded and they weren't able to eat inside but they got takeout and ate in the car. Dad took some pictures inside the restaurant specifically for Barb, who would drop everything and move to Georgia and live with Paula Deen if she asked her to. From the pictures, the food looks pretty good. However, I do have one concern. Are there many luaus in Georgia? If so, then my father's attire is OK. Not great, but OK. Unfortunately, I doubt the existence of the Georgia Luau which makes me wonder how in the world my mother let him leave the hotel in that shirt. I can only guess that she was blinded by its blueness and unable to render an appropriate clothing decision. Hopefully she came to her senses later and has since burned the shirt. If not, well, then there's no time like the present...somebody find the lighter fluid and matches and do what must be done.

MASTER!

I am finally a Master of something! I finished my Master's Degree today, finally! It's been a year and a half of complaining, writing, anxiety, Tequila, reading, disagreements, and being chauffered, but I AM DONE! I have a Master's of English degree which means that I'm supposed to stop saying "Y'all" and "Ain't" but I don't see it really happening. I've been in college off and on since 1989 - I should be a doctor by now, but I'll take what I can get!

Throw and Go!

A lot of the nausea is starting to fade, but the vomiting is still around. However, we've reached a stage that we like to call "Throw and Go!" This is where Liz throws up real quick and we just resume whatever it is we were doing. This stage is much more convenient! We have another ultrasound scheduled for next week, along with a test for spina bifida. As soon as we get the new picture we'll post it!

Otherwise...there's not much going on right now except the complete avoidance of all poultry products and an increased affinity for Dairy Queen.

Stay tuned for more!

Siobhan's Visit...

We had Siobhan over this weekend while Maureen went to a wedding in Pennsylvania. Of course, she was a good girl and has started talking up a storm! She's doing this "fake smile" when she eats now and had a couple of moments of not wanting to take a nap. Other than that, she was just cute and even behaved when we went out to eat at Dave and Buster's! (Where she "won" a stuffed fish that, if I calculated correctly, only cost about $45--I guess I have a better idea of what my parents went through when we all went to Chuck E. Cheese's when we were little. Though, in all fairness, they had three kids and we were only dealing with one!) Here are some pictures: