Getting Ready for Grier

Joe informed me last week he is tired of waiting...he wants Grier here NOW! Well, I can't agree more, but I want her to be nice and healthy which means waiting another 10 weeks. In the mean time, I have been trying to prepare for the arrival of sweet Grier! Hmmmm...what does this mean?

First lets start with the physical aspect...I've been sleeping on as much as possible and enjoying one lazy day a week to do whatever I want! As of this week I can tell my sleeping is starting to suffer. I have the hardest time getting comfortable in bed (poor Joe) I toss and turn multiple times before I'm able to relax. During the night I get up several of times to use the restroom, when I say several I mean on average 4 or 5. Between 4:45 a.m and when Joe's alarm sounds I usually lie awake and think about things that need to be done before Grier arrives. Once Joe heads to work I can usually snooze for a little while longer!

Another chore I have is to prepare a few dinners for me and Joe after Grier's birth. My sister shared the fact that I'll probably be exhausted for about 2 weeks after Grier arrives which means I'll need about 14 dinners on hand. Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE to cook and not so much on picking up fast food. While I was up one night I decided to make a list of dinners I could prepare ahead of time. I made this list the next morning and plan on starting my food preparation next week. I figured in the next 10 weeks I could make 1 or 2 of the dinners each week. I know all of this sounds like I have absolutely lost my mind, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure those first few weeks with a newborn go as easy as possible for the 3 of us!

We go Saturday for maternity pictures/Christmas pictures! We are knocking out 2 birds with 1 stone and we are going to use a maternity picture as our Christmas card picture this year. I'm so thankful Tori is able to do these for us on our visit to Manchester this weekend. I have been looking all over for Christmas cards (one of my favorite things to do) and decided to use a local (Columbus, GA) stationery boutique. Bonnie (co-owner) has become a friend of mine over the past few years and I know she will do a fabulous job! I can't wait to pick the picture so she can get started!! Along with cards comes the Christmas card list, luckily I have lots of addresses already and this hasn't been too time consuming.

Registering is also on my to-do list hopefully before Grier arrives :-) I have been doing lots of research and relying on friends to help me with what all I need and the best and safest of everything. Thanks to everyone that has responded to my annoying text, phone calls, and emails as I TRY and turn my life baby-friendly!

The next few weeks we are busy bees! We are so excited to head to Manchester Friday for Chandler's 3rd birthday! I cannot believe my little Bernice is 3! I'm going to do a blog about his birthday and how much I have enjoyed him these past 3 years once I have some pictures from this weekend. We are also preparing for Biloxi, Baby Showers, Thanksgiving, and Christmas...whooo!

Thankfully, I started Christmas shopping a few weeks ago. In fact, I am getting ready to finish up the shopping, but I still waiting on some items to come in and I have to wrap. Most of my Christmas shopping has been done on-line which has saved me lots of time from running from one store to another.

Oh, if I forgot to mention...I am now going to the doctor every 2 weeks! Yes, it is already that time! I have gained 6 lbs and Grier is growing (so is my bump) like a weed! She is busy tossing, turning, stretching, and what feels like bouncing up and down at times! This past weekend she began to let me know when she was tired of me sitting too long by giving me a little nudge in the ribs. Of course, she already rules the roost because I will pretty much do anything to keep her happy and Joe will pretty much do anything to keep me happy so it's a chain reaction!

Even though life seems hectic Joe and I still take time each day to appreciate and rely on each other for strength and guidance, I'm so lucky to have married my best friend and to have Joe as we prepare for parenthood together!

Rainy Week In Fleming

I feel like it has been raining for weeks in Fleming, but really its only been a few days! This is what we've been doing to pass the time during these rainy days... Joe had to run to South Carolina one afternoon for work so I rode with him. It was dark when we arrived at the plant and everything was lite up. I'm not even sure what kind of plant it was, but it was neat seeing the inside of such a big production.

We've been spending LOTS of our afternoons here, in the woods. Surprisingly, Joe doesn't even hunt that much, but because he is a perfectionist, he wants things ready for everyone else! He has been making comments about me going hunting with him, but we all know that there is nothing appealing to me about that! Relationships are give and take, he does things with me that I know he wouldn't normally do so I'm not going to say never, but its not on my "things to do wish list"

Joe claims he's never had breakfast in bed. I couldn't sleep one morning so he got french toast and bacon in bed. If I'm not mistaking, he has commented on wanting french toast ever morning since! I'm more of a pancake person and on Mother's Day this year Joe made his first EVER batch of pancakes for me to eat in bed!

Sigsbee has been lazy this week. She LOVES to run and ride on the Ranger so this rain has really cramped her style!

With the rain has been cool mornings so I've been able to open the doors going out on the screen porch. Tyson, isn't much of an outside dog so he likes the fact he can enjoy the outside while being in.

All this rainy weather is driving me crazy so I did something bizarre! Yep, I chopped off my hair and went brown!! I don't like taking pictures of myself, but this transformation called for a picture. I was assured that the color on it will wash out some and my natural blond highlights will come through, also, I think this is darker than my natural color so it should lighten up ( I can already tell it's lighter than in this picture). I don't know how long it will stay like this, but I actually like it for now and it is so much easier to fix!

What You've All Been Waiting For...

Grier Gill

We have FINALLY decided on a name for our sweet baby girl, Grier! We weren't going to reveal the name until we had a full name, but we just couldn't wait any longer. It only took us 27 weeks to decide on Grier, but we both love the name! One of my dear friends that I met through Joe sent me a list of names that she had considered when she was pregnant with her two daughters and Grier was one of them. It was taking Joe so long to decided so I decided to make a list of names I liked to see if any matched up and as you can guess Grier was a match. It has been so exciting to finally have a name to call her. We haven't decided on a full name yet, but we know we want to do a family name (I have a few ideas in mind).

The nursery is finally coming together! Last week my bedding and drapes arrived so of course Joe spent Saturday morning hanging the drapes and putting together the crib. From the pictures you can't really tell but the pattern is an antique rabbit.

The crib bedding is Matteo Bambino in loomstate (appears oatmeal). I wanted something gender neutral that I could use with our next child no matter the gender. I'm in love with the look of the bedding, pictures don't do the bedding justice. The fabric is linen and has a ruffle and the top of the bumper and the crib skirt is trimmed with the same ruffle.






The brass crib was in Joe's nursery! In case you haven't been able to tell, I love vintage, antique, or old if you prefer. We still need to do a little polishing to the crib, but I'm in love with the look!

Doing What We Do

Joe had to go to Interstate Paper in Riceboro to work this week and sent me this picture. I wish I had the video clip he took because the rainbow was a complete semi-circle! I loved Joe working at Interstate because we were able to meet for lunch at one of our favorite places, Pizza Peddler!

Just a short time after Joe sent me the rainbow this was the view at our house!

We had a great weekend at home! Friday, we went to the cabin to celebrate Jay's 22nd birthday! Most of Saturday we worked at the house, the crib bedding and drapes cam in last week so Joe hung the drapes and put together the crib (blog coming soon on nursery and Baby Gill) and Saturday night we had dinner with the Kirks and the Promans. After dinner we built a camp fire and made smores!

Baby Bump!! Only 12 weeks left, I can't believe it!

We love having great friends as our neighbors!

SuNsHiNe!!

This weekend was beautiful! We were able to spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday enjoying the sunshine. Sadly, I don't have any pictures to share, but I'll try and do better from here on out.

When Joe got home from work we took off in the jeep and cruised around the Gill farm. We tend to do this on Fridays when we don't have somewhere we have to be. It's a great time for just the two of us to enjoy each others company.

Saturday morning Joe and Billy Kirk took off early to fish in a benefit tournament at Shellman Bluff. My wonderful friend (and Billy's wife) Lori and their daughter Emma came over and we were able to sit by the pool all day while the guys fished. Later that afternoon we headed down the Shellman to meet the guys for a low country boil. The tournament had a great turnout! Whenever Joe and I are invited to a benefit we try and make it, it always seems to make us feel great seeing people helping others.

We skipped church on Sunday and headed to the beach with Lori, Billy, Emma, and Matthew Tucker. I felt guilty being in town and not making it to church so Lori gave us a Bible study in the car, thanks Lori! At St. Catherine's Island we were able to sit, relax, and enjoy the day with the Varnadoes.

I feel so lucky that God continues to bless me everyday! I am able to enjoy life with a man I adore, I'm making new life long friends, and He continues to allow the sunshine to shine down on each us!

Birthday Week!

I'm a little late posting this blog, but I guess better late than never. I feel like I have been very busy lately and I actually have been, but I don't know what I've been busy doing! So, here it is, a post about my birthday week. Mr. Moe and Mrs. Gay took the family to eat at the Chart House in Savannah for my birthday. The Chart House is one of Joe's favorite restuarants in Savannah and overlooks the river. We had a fabulous dinner and enjoyed being downtown at sunset.

This was one of my birthday gifts from Joe. He had the pool re-done and they finished just in time for my birthday and for cooler weather! Joe got in one night and I attempted to swim with him, but it was a little chilly. Even if we're unable to swim we have been enjoying sitting on the screened in porch and seeing this!

There is a story behind this bed...I went to New York for the first time at Christmas when I was around 13 years old. I remember going into a store and seeing a four post bed and fell in love with it. I had written down the brand and name of the bed and held on to it for all these years. A few months ago, I was sofa shopping and found this fabulous bed which resembles the bed I saw in New York. I kept a picture of the bed on my phone and referred back to it often. I guess Joe picked up on all my hints because the day before my birthday Joe suprised me and told me he had ordered the bed!

Friday, we went to Manchester to spend the weekend. Joe and I attended the Manchester football game to watch my brother coach and to see some of my favorite people!

On Saturday, Tanner and Joe had a plan. For Tanner's birthday Whitney had turned their porch into an outdoor living area. The porch is great, but I have to say the best part are the 2 swing beds! Joe and Tanner held down the swing beds and watched football all day Saturday...they even had my mom deliver lunch to them! (This is not an actual picture of the swings)
Saturday night a group of us went to Luke's Pub for dinner. It was so nice to see some of my friends while I was home. I truly have some of the most amazing friends that always keep me entertained.

Sunday lunch was at my parent's house. This is where I found Joe after lunch. Notice, he is the only adult with the 4 munchkins. He LOVES them as if they were his children and they all LOVE their Uncle Joe. In fact, Lanier has learned to call and text Joe by herself (yes, she is only 4) so he receives frequent phone calls from Lanier and Chandler just checking in. It's amazing how fast they grow up!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

We had intentions of heading to the lake for Labor Day weekend, but decided we would head to Manchester the following weeekend for my birthday. Joe and I both love the water and knew we wouldn't be satisfied staying at home so we packed up and headed to the coast. We are so blessed not only to have vacation homes, but that the coast is only 30 minutes away!On Friday I met Natalee Miles at her parent's (Sid and Lana) home for lunch. Sid and Lana practically raised me and I love the fact that they only live a few houses down from the coast house; it is like having a little piece of home with me. I had to post a picture of their adorable house!


Mr. Moe and I met Mrs. Gay at the Shellman Bluff Home Décor Store to look at a dresser for Baby Gill’s nursery. Mrs. Gay and I had been eyeing the dresser for weeks now so Captain bought this for their first grand-daughter to enjoy! This is an after picture of the dresser, we had the lady who painted the dresser change the color of the bows; they are now the same color as the nursery walls.

Joe got to the Bluff just in time to gas up the boat and get it into the water for the long weekend. JT’s was calling our names so after the boat was in the water we headed out for pizza.



Saturday morning we were up and at’em early. Joe and I had breakfast at Clyde’s and did some running around before heading off to Skipper’s Restaurant by boat. We took a crew with us to Darien to eat: Mrs. Gay, Mr. Moe, Mrs. Gayle (Joe’s grandmother), Mr. Ronald (Joe’s grandfather), Logan and Layne (Joe’s cousins) all joined us along with the Hendrix (Paula, Mark, Aidan, and Jack) in their boat. We had a great lunch at Skipper’s and had fun looking around at the shops in Darien.

Shrimp boats docked in Darien.

Sunday Joe and I decided to head to St. Catherine’s to see some friends. St. Catherine’s is a private island only accessable by boat so we were able to enjoy another beautiful day in the boat. It is so relaxing to be on the water without a care in the world!

Monday we lounged before heading back to Fleming. Joe needed to do some things at the farm so Mrs. Gay and I took off to Savannah for some shopping. Baby Gill got some new outfits and I was able to find a few things for the house.

It’s always nice to have relaxing weekends doing whatever we want to do! I can’t wait for this weekend to hopefully see some of my favorite people!

Can't wait to love on all these little munchkins!!

The Tillery's are always so much fun, we are sad we aren't able to see them more, but excited to see them this weekend!

And hopefully I'll get to see some of these fun girls! I love living in Fleming and meeting new friends, but I really miss all my sweet friends!