Much Needed Visit From Mom and Sister

    I dropped my mom and sister, Hayley, off at the airport yesterday and after spending an amazing week with them, I was so sad to see them go (which, honestly, might have been a first!).  The old saying is really hitting me hard since their departure: "You never know what you have until it's gone." It's not like they're really gone... but living so far away from my friends and family in Portland has made me realize how wonderful I really had it out there.  I know we'll be back someday- I can't imagine raising a family anywhere else- but I just hope that everything works out and that it's sooner rather than later.

    We didn't do too much while they were here... As I heard Hayley tell one of her friends, we "spent a lot of time driving." I'm getting to that point in my pregnancy where I'm really tired and just about ready to get this show on the road.  Mom mostly "pitter-pattered" around the house- cleaning, cooking and making sure that we have all the final essentials that we need (ie. carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, decorative wreath for the door and rosemary plant to make the house smell festive), while Hayley and I just hung out and made each other laugh. Really, we all spent a lot of time laughing together and that was my favorite part about having them here.  I think my other favorite part of the trip was Tuesday night when our friend, Ben, and Bubba's brother,  Adam, came over and we all played "Cranium."  I just love having so much commotion in the house- it reminds me of growing up. Adam is an awesome brother-in-law and he will be an amazing uncle... we all decided that he fits in perfectly with our family (and so does Bubba's sister, Amber), so we really got lucky when we got Bubba- we got three for the price of one!

     Mom and Hayley also came to my big 34-week ultrasound, which didn't turn out to be all that exciting. He's getting so big these days (a little more than 5lbs) that it's hard to see much of him.   Plus, he was being difficult and moving around all over the place so our impatient ultrasound tech couldn't even get us a good picture.  I do love seeing him up on the flat screen TV- even if it is just his head, belly or one leg at a time and I'm so happy and thankful to know that everything looks perfect and healthy (my daily prayer!).

   I also want to mention that in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for so many wonderful things in my life: My wonderful husband-to-be, who is not only my best friend, but the only man in the world I would ever want to share the experience of raising a family together.  I am so excited for this next adventure and I'm not scared because I know if anyone out there can do this right, it's us. We are the perfect team.  Our sweet and silly puppy, Nolan, who has so far, not only been the baby in the family, but the best baby ever. My adoring and supportive parents, my little sister (who is my soulmate), my extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins- we are closer than any other family and my life wouldn't be complete without them. My unbelievably loyal best friends- Kimberly, Kristen, Kelsey and Hilary... we have all been through so much together and I have known them all for more than half my life and so much of who I am is because of them. My many other amazing friends who I have shared some of the best times of my life with- I have been truly blessed to be surrounded by such phenomenal people and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. I am thankful for my health and my happiness... and of course, I am thankful to be a UO DUCK!

P.s. I just read this quote and it really hits home... hope it brings some answers to your life as well!       

"May you trust in God that you are exactly 

where you are meant to be."