While We Were Apart

Nathan and I had to spend two weeks apart this month, as it wasn't recommended that I fly after 30 weeks and Nathan had some job things to wrap up in the South, including a job interview in Florida. I left the camera with him so that he could take lots of pictures of our potential future home state. To his credit, he did take a few good ones, but only after I admonished him for taking only the following two pictures one day.

A raccoon. Cool.

A take-out restaurant called Takee Outee. I wonder what kind of food they serve...

During our time apart he also went up to North Carolina to where his grandparents used to own a cabin.

And this is a stereotypical American sight: a big truck, a state flag, and a McDonald's.

When Nathan came back my family and I went to the beach.

See? We're reunited.

And then the camera ran out of juice. Gah!

More pictures coming soon. I have been trying to nest and get ready for the baby to come, but I think I waited a bit too long... or I have unrealistic expectations of what I can get done in a day. I get so tired so easily! Thankfully in our house we will have a ratio of adults to children of 4:1 so he won't be neglected when he gets here.

Kirby Time

These are our friends, Gary and Heather Kirby. We were buddies from church in Atlanta, but then they moved to Greenville, South Carolina, and we moved to England. When we got back to the South, we decided to meet them halfway in Commerce, which is a small town with a giant outlet mall and a colossal American flag. When we saw it, Nathan and I put our hands over our hearts and sang some patriotic songs.

Cracker Barrel sounded best, since we were on healthy diets (right?!). Nathan asked the waitress which was healthier, brown or white gravy. She said, "Probably brown." He said, "I'll have white." Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cheese grits, biscuits...

I went for the chicken and dumplings, mac and cheese, and green beans.

And then we rocked out on the porch for a few hours just talking away.

We miss these guys so much.

We love you Kirbys, Cracker Barrel, and America.

The Best Shopping Experience Ever

Nathan hates shopping. I generally dislike it. I really hate shopping for him together because he is usually a big baby about being too hot, clothes costing too much money, and trying things on. That's why we bring the big guns, a.k.a. our dear friend Mary Lou, when we need professional shopping help. Mary Lou knows menswear like nobody's business, and she keeps Nathan on his best behavior.

Three and a half years ago, we went to Jos. A. Bank, a men's clothing store, with some hefty gift cards to spend from very generous church members in Atlanta. I think they were sick of seeing their youth pastor in cargo shorts. The economy was going down the tubes and everything was on crazy-sale, so it seemed like a great time to buy some big boy clothes. While there we were entertained/helped by Philip. He was very Southern and stinking hilarious.

He asked Nathan what he did for a living while taking his measurements.

"I'm a pastor."

"Put your arms down."

"I can't. That's just the way they are."

"You must be Pentecostal if you can't keep your arms down. You see, I'm Baptist. I like to eat... Your waist is a 36."

"I don't want to be a 36! I want to be a 34. I can squeeze into a 34."

"Um hm. One church social and you'll be out of them pants."

Fast forward a few years and a few beers later, and we were back at Jos. A. Bank to spend the remainder of our gift card with Mary Lou. Philip was still there, and when I saw him I couldn't wait to start the mental filming for this post.

Philip took Nathan's measurements again, but Nathan was busy cracking jokes about his recent increase in size and how he was going to lose weight.

"Can you just hold still a minute?! A 36 waist is going to be too tight. You need a 38."

"What?! I swear, I'm going on a diet!"

"We've had this conversation before."

Mary Lou, Philip, and I kept throwing clothes into the dressing room for him to try on: trousers, polos, a sport coat, dress shirts, etc." I'm not the hugest fan of pleats, so I tossed Nathan some flat front khakis to try on. He came out looking like he was trying hard to fit into them.

Philip was aghast. "You can't put that butt in plain front pants! He needs pleats! And what size are those? If he refuses to try on the 38s I'm getting him the 36s with the expandable waist. The man's got to breathe!"

Meanwhile, Mary Lou went to the belt section because Nathan needed a black one. The 38-inch belt looked silly-snug. She took it back over. Philip walked by her and said, "If you get him a 40-inch belt he'll whip YOU with it."

Nathan was in major distress. "I will starve myself before I have to buy 38-inch pants, and I'm sure as heck NOT buying a 40-inch belt."

Philip's response? "Well, you can fast for the Lord, but anorexia ain't in the Bible."

Basically, gems like these were bantered back and forth for over an hour of shopping. We ended up buying some great stuff on Labor Day sale for Nathan and managed to laugh the entire time.

We highly recommend shopping with Philip at Jos. A. Bank at the Dawsonville outlets. It's worth the drive for the discounts and the amazing service. The man knows what he's talking about, and he is highly entertaining. Tell him Nathan, Nicole, and Mary Lou sent you! :)

Southern Food Goodness

Continuing on the theme of Southern food and why Americans are fat, Nathan and I spent a night in the North Georgia mountains with some dear friends, and we got some barbecue on the way home. It was gooood.

So good I didn't even get a picture of our pork sandwiches, coleslaw, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese. We were busy watching Hell's Kitchen on the TV.

This was just outside the restaurant though... Happy Hawg!

And then today we saw this lady eating fried chicken legs in her car on the freeway. It was about 11 a.m.

Little Mikey likes Southern food. Pickles and banana pudding are his faves. He does lots of happy dancing when I eat them. :)

A Beautiful, Blessed Baby Shower

Nathan and I were really, really blessed by some wonderful friends in Atlanta who threw us a gift card open house baby shower. It was wonderful. We caught up with a lot of friends who stopped by, ate lots of yummy, diabetic-friendly foods, and just enjoyed being loved.

Beverly, Anne, Paulette, Mary Lou, Anwhitney, Laura, and Julie hosted it for us. Thank you so much, ladies!

This is Laura's youngest son, Peter. He's so darling.

Mary Lou is putting her famous peach pie (made with Splenda, just for me) on the table. It was quite a spread!

Apple slices with chicken salad and pecans

A colorful veggie tray

Fruit salad galore

Cheeses and dips and whatnot. That artichoke and spinach dip in the back changed my life.

Yummy cupcakes with little blue safety pins

A close up

Friends enjoying the food... I asked Nathan to take pictures for the rest of the afternoon of people who came. He actually forgot but did a photo blitz the last five minutes of our time there. 

Thanks to everyone who came and spoiled us with love and generous gift cards for little Michael. We are so grateful and feel so blessed to have you in our lives!

Adventures in Chattanooga

Nathan and I took a little day trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to explore some more local cuisine and walk around the town. It's such a darling place. I would love to live there. It's Southern, it's on a river, it has lots of culture, and it's not too big and not too small. Anyway, we had a great time. 

We started out eating, of course. Nathan is really excited about his burger. That basket of fries and onion rings is the small. I can hear our English friends thinking, "This is why Americans are so fat."

And I don't disagree with you. This is the small burger.

Next to the restaurant is the longest walking bridge in the country.

There were lots of people exercising and one person asked if we were trying to walk the baby out. Uh, not yet, folks.

A few architectural features from the bridge

Smiling before a huge, HUGE storm hit and we got soaked by the fattest rain drops I've ever seen. Nathan practically carried me and we ran (well, kind of) across half the bridge. I haven't moved that fast in a long time, and I thought my insides were going to fall out! 

We dried off in an ice cream shop and then drove up to Lookout Mountain to check out the view of Chattanooga from above. I love this picture of us.

And this one of the three of us.

Chattanooga is a great place to visit if you ever get the chance. We were only there for the afternoon, but I highly recommend it. 

A Strong Taste of the Deep South

Nathan and I were blessed to be able to take a little road trip to see some family in the great state of Mississippi. I'd never been there before, but it lived up to every expectation I ever had: frienly people, great food, and a lot of Southern pride. 

We stopped first at Cousin Vance's house, and I couldn't get enough of the stereotypical Southern touches all over the house: sports equipment, camouflage, patriotic gear, and lots and lots of guns. Our English friend, Sam, who is somewhat awkwardly obsessed with Mississippi would have loved it, so I took lots of pictures.

The first group of photos is from a 14-year-old's bedroom.

Yes, that's a gun next to his alarm clock.

Cousin Vance is the sheriff.

This old photo is just classic.

The family office decor

In the garage

Wellies, American style

Every home needs human-shaped targets.

Cousin Vance by his patrol car

Ahhh... a hammock

He also made this bottle tree. There were a few of these I saw over the weekend.

He also made this arrow and the bell.

Porch swing and fan, Southern essentials

Nathan's aunts: Charlotte, Shirley, and Nancy

They made an amazing dinner, complete with green beans cooked in brown sugar and bacon.

We stumbled across this story in a town square nearby. This man was practically Rambo. Read below.

Click on the picture to make the text bigger. It's worth reading.

Bye bye Mississippi! It was an adventure, for sure!