Busy as a beaver!

I apologize for the lack of updating, picture-posting and story-telling. And returning messages. Boo on me :( But hooray! ... Christmas is in full swing despite the economy's attempts to curtail it. Ha. Take that financial crisis. It's a "home-did" holiday and we wouldn't have it any other way.


Meet Beaufort's newest firefighter

Jimmy got a new job. His dream job. He is now a career firefighter with the Burton Fire Department. Great job, great benefits, great co-workers. More than 50 people applied for the job. Only a handful passed the exhaustive physical testing and daunting written exams. Even fewer passed the rounds of interviews. It was down to two candidates. What made them pick Jimmy? He is the only one who stood around after he was done with the physical skills test cheering on the other candidates, who were vying for his job. The chiefs noticed this and thought he was something else. I couldn't agree more.

Hewwo, wittle baby

Baby's just hanging out. I can feel him/her move a little. However, the outside world can't feel it yet. Soon enough Baby will be kicking up a storm, I'm sure. We won't find out the sex until Jan. 14, so stay tuned. I promise to post some pics of my belly soon, which still is quite little. I have only gained a few pounds. My pants are getting tight. I'm feeling better. Less nausea, more energy.

Running with bells on our shoes

I placed second in my age group (20-24) in the Jingle Jingle 5k run Saturday on Hilton Head. Jimmy and I both finished at 24:38, which is not that impressive; however, when you take into account I'm four months pregnant, it's a nice little accomplishment. Jimmy did beat me though -- for the first time ever. We had a fun little race to the finish there. I almost got him. We finished tenths of a second apart. Way to go, baby.

A visit from Emma!

My Emma came to visit! She stopped in Beaufort and spent the weekend with us en route home to Tennesee from Florida, where she is working. It was fun, just hanging out like old times. We cooked good food, made cookies and explored a very cold, gray and wintery Hunting Island looking for birds and other wildlife. Emma gave me a cool book for a Christmas gift, which I will post about when I start reading.

Deck the halls

I'm almost done with Christmas cards. Yea, they are going to be late. I see nothing wrong with that. I am extending Christmas. Who says it needs to all be over December 26? Heh. So keep checking the mailbox. I've managed to get all my Christmas-gift-making/painting done and just need to wrap! My favorite part! (Seriously, I love wrapping.)

Headin' out West

Emma, my brother Brian and I are going out to Aspen, Colo., from Jan. 6 to Jan. 11 to visit Jennifer, Ashley, Nate and Bryan -- and Jennifer and Nate's pups! So we will get to see lots of snow and spread some cheer out West. I can't wait. It's my first trip out there! And Jennifer, Emma and I haven't been together since ... I don't even know when. Too long.

So there's that! Lots of exciting things going on here! I'll leave you with our Christmas greeting photo. Smile! And happy holidays, Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year to everyone!!

Lalala.