Babymoon Blowing Rock, NC

This past weekend we went on a baby moon to Blowing Rock, NC. It was an awesome weekend. We both needed the time we got to spend away from everything going on and really focus on quality time together. Back in early February when we booked the trip we thought the mountains would be a good choice in early May because it would be cooler than the beach and at 31 weeks we weren't sure if I would enjoy extreme heat. If you live in North Carolina you know this is now a joke. It was actually about 30-45 the entire weekend so hot did not become a factor. I am very grateful the weather has been unusually cool as the furnace has arrived and I am comfortable if it is under 80 degrees.

Back to our weekend...we slept in Friday and took our time getting on the road. The drive is only supposed to be 2 or so hours long. We got on the road around 11:30, stopped for lunch at Chick-Fil-a in Wilkesboro and then got on the Blue Ridge Parkway to go into Blowing Rock. 

                 beautiful views along the parkway!

self portraits at it's best

Chris is so much better at the self portraits!

Friday was very laid back. We walked around Blowing Rock and found out that higher elevation and pregnancy made walking up hills fun. Blowing Rock is a cute little town with a fun main street to walk around. I saw the sign below and had to get a picture.

 Saturday we woke up to fog and rain. Not what we planned for but oh well. We had a fun day planned. Breakfast at the hotel,get snacks at the store, the Moses Cone Park and House (It was hiking in the lighter version for the pregnant), gem mining and putt golf. Back to the hotel and getting ready for dinner at 6. Our day was so much fun but not as we had planned. We went to the Moses Cone Park and walked around in the rain...which was not very fun. We did go in the house which was ok but not where we wanted to spend the day. 

We went hiking.

We decided to head to Boone and go gem mining and putt putt. We got to the gem mining place only to find that the manager hadn't shown up with the keys so they weren't open. Strike 2. We decided to not sit outside the gem mining place and went to Panera in Boone with half the town. After lunch we went back to gem mining and they were open. We were outside so it was a little cold, 35 and raining cold. but so much fun. 

Chris gem mining

Kristen gem mining...can you tell I'm cold? 

We had a great time and found a lot. My sweet hubby got me an AWESOME mother's day gift. He had a couple of the gems put into a necklace and earrings. We didn't find any gems with my or peanuts birthstone so we picked green to match his room. After gem mining the rain stopped so we went back to the park to walk around (putt putt was closed due to the weather). We walked around some and enjoyed the beautiful park. After the park we headed back to the hotel and walked around town before dinner.

We went to dinner at a delicious place called twigs. It was so good and a great time. We didn't take anu pictures at dinner but this is all dressed up. 

Self portraits!

timer not so good.

Good picture. Love Chris so much. He is a great husband and daddy. I am so blessed! 

Sunday we got up to more rain and dreary weather but our plan for the day worked with rain. We ate breakfast and headed for Linville to the Caverns. The drive to Linville was a little rough with rain and fog but Chris handled it like a pro. We had a great time going on a tour of the Caverns and walking around. 

the beginning of the tour. 

Chris in the Caverns!

 

the fire place

 

Attempt at a self portrait.

much better.

I have a ton of really bad picture of the caverns so I will spare you. From Linville we began the trek home in the rain. We had an awesome weekend! Thank you Grandma Johnson for the amazing weekend away as our Christmas gift.

 

 
    

30 and 31 weeks

I am so behind on these pictures and have been meaning to post them for a couple days  We are now almost 32 weeks so these are a little off:

31 weeks

31 weeks take two

32 weeks after dinner!

Baby Shower, Virginia trip and 28 weeks!!

I am a little behind on posting so here goes...a long post with lots of pictures. We are now officially into the third trimester. I can't believe we have 12+/- weeks to go before our peanut arrives. Reality is setting in and we are starting to nest and get organized. 

The first weekend in April we had a baby shower with the play group from Chapel Hill and Johnson family friends. The men played golf while the ladies baby showered and then we all had dinner together. We had a great time and were so blessed. 

I didn't take any pictures at the shower but here are some before. 

Delicious Cake.

26 weeks with Chris

With Laurie and Rebecca

the beautiful handmade blanket Rose made us (Rose works at UNC Hospital and has known the Johnson's since Chris was 2)

 This past weekend, Chris went to the beach with his dad and brother Ben for a fishing weekend and to watch the Masters. I decided this was a great weekend to drive up to Virginia and see Peter, Betsy, Sam and Marina and baby girl Rice #3 (in utero) prior to travel limitations and new babies arriving. So while Chris headed east, I headed north. I got to Virginia late Friday night only to be surprised by Karen opening the door. They surprised me and she flew in for the weekend and to pick up a car. We spent a lot of time outside, went to the park, walked, went to the zoo, spent a couple hours sitting around talking and laughing and just enjoying each other's company. We enjoyed the last two weekends and are excited to get some home projects done this weekend: the babies room and garage clean up to build our home gym. Some pictures from the zoo. I am going to have to get better pictures going forward.   

Sam and Karen at the zoo

Sam and I at the zoo

It was packed so Sam on shoulders worked well!

Seeing the lions!

Peter, Sam and Karen

25 weeks! 105 days to go...

Every week since November I get an email update on the size and development of our sweet peanut. I did a double take today because it said we only have approximately 105 days to go (this means next weeks update will be less than 100 days) . Crazy!! Peanut is also the size of a rutabaga. As with many of these vegetables/fruits I have no idea what a rutabaga is. See below a picture courtesy of www.babycenter.com.    

 

We have been reading up and gleaning every piece of advice about parenting and having a child I can find and saw this post http://www.cheetosforbreakfast.com/2013/03/a-letter-to-young-mothers.html?m=1. I love the honesty and challenge to me as a young mother.

25 weeks!

  

Carolina - Duke

This weekend Chris and I had a dream come true for basketball fans...we went to the Carolina (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill...for all my none local readers) - Duke basketball game. Even though the results weren't what we wanted it was still an awesome experience. The Dean dome was completely full and there were only a couple Duke blue shirts to be found. It was loud and the crowd was on fire. We even stayed until the end (well 30 seconds from the end). 
Below a couple pictures from this awesome date! Thank you Grandma Johnson for the tickets and all the Johnson's for letting us go this year. We had a great time and an awesome date. 

Warming up!

Carolina - Duke!

A sea of beautiful Carolina Blue!

So excited to be at the Dean Dome with my amazing hubby! 

23 weeks...and it was spring-like weather!