Singin' in the Rain

It became painfully obvious that we've been in a drought in the south when it finally started raining and Shannon ran outside to play in it like it was the only snow of the year.

Why are we buying a bed?

Shannon's newest place to relax (under the dresser)

Refrigerator Rolls

Steve’s childhood is filled with memories of homemade refrigerator rolls. When he does cook, 9 out of 10 times, it’s these rolls. Since he was released from the Bishopric this week, he’s had a little more time to try and pass this tradition onto Shannon.

Baby Shower

THE GRUWELL GIRLS

“Junior” will be dressed to the nines since my insanely busy friends (Lara, Deseret and Allyson) threw me a baby shower this past week. It's overwhelming how generous my branch is and has been to my family. I again want to thank everyone one who came and who have been so supportive. I received adorable clothes, many things that I needed (Kate – thanks for the pee pee tee pee), as well as some specialty keepsake items (silver spoons, peter rabbit dining set, blessing outfit).THE PEE PEE PEE TEE

I was able to have all my sisters in town for the event. Melanie needs a shout out for crafting a haute couture baby wipes container with matching burp clothes. MELANIE'S CREATIVE SIDE, WATCH OUT MARTHA STEWART!

Allyson, the only person I know who can run 9 miles, mow the lawn, bake cinnamon rolls from scratch and make a coffee cake with blueberries she picked herself, hosted my baby shower, then immediately left town for her first vacation in years, all before 2 pm. Did I mention that she’s also the Relief Society President and her husband’s in his residency? This lady’s a machine!SUPER ALLYSON AND MELISSA

PS. My doctor says I'm getting ready to go and probably won't make it to my induction date of Aug 10th! Yeah!

Movin' On

We get inquiries all the time as to our housing situation. “Are you guys going to buy a house”…a reasonable question considering the amount of time we’ve been at my parents. Let me lend a little insight into our madness. It all started July of 2007…
We’d been looking at houses but kept feeling like it wasn’t the right time. This made NO sense considering the housing market was in our favor. Shannon and I went to Utah at the beginning of July to take Lindsey out to college. After returning home Steve and I were outside working on a project when he shared some insight he’d gained while we were gone.
First revelation…he thought we should have another baby. Nothing earth shattering; we’d been talking about it for a while.
Second revelation…he needed to quit his current job and take one that we’d been considering. Again, nothing I couldn’t accept.
Third and final revelation…the reason he needed to take the new job was to have the time to study and prep for returning to school to get his Master’s of Health Administration. Let the crying being! “What! Go back to school? You promised me we were done! How many degrees do you need behind you name?” You get the idea of what was running through my mind.
So for the past year Steve has been quietly taking the GMAT, completing an independent study accounting class (in addition to working full time and being in the bishopric), and being one of the first accepted into a top 10 MHA school. We’re heading to Birmingham (yet another city I’ve lived in but never thought I’d return to). Since we can do nothing without adding a little chaos to the picture, I’m due August 14th, which happens to be the same day as Steve’s first class. Now, Shannon was due the day of a tax final and blessed us by coming a little early, so we hoping for the same from Junior. I’m whispering “July 29th” to him daily and am planning on a routine of long walks and Mexican food starting at 37 weeks.
As much as this derails me 20 year plan, I cannot deny the divine inspiration and help that has been given to us. I’ve learned to not say where I want to settle because the Lord has lead us to some random places, and they’ve all been exactly where we needed to be.

Our 4th of July

With the 4th of July holiday, Steve had some time to get things more organized for our move…i.e. find housing and pack some junk, but we also had quality family time (long overdue). We went to the Aquarium solely to play in the water pools, rode the carousel, and had a daddy daughter date at Pump It Up.
When Rachael Ray came to Chattanooga for $40 A Day, she went to a place called Aretha Frankenstein’s. How was it that I had lived in Chattanooga mostly since I was 7 and never heard of this place? Steve got wind that they served huge pancakes and has been asking to go for years. Since it is a hole in the wall (we drove by it and didn’t see it the first time), you have to go on odd hours to avoid a wait. We went on a Wednesday at 10am and still waited for a while.
Since it was full inside, we sat on the porch...which was fortunate because this is how Shannon entertained herself.

The pancakes were huge, fluffy, and amazing.
Since we waited so long for the pancakes, we added another plate of 100% unhealthy eats…yum!

Shannon’s a year older now and finally LOVED the water fountains at Coolidge Park.
I’m really going to miss Chattanooga. Luckily it’s only 2.5 hours from Birmingham.

Name that BABY!

Several people have asked about names for “Junior”. Steve and I have ideas about the first name and nothing for the middle. So, we open to suggestions.The other day Shannon saw me walking down the stairs. Next thing I know she’s got her hands on her hips, sticking her belly out, and waddling around making fun of me. Here’s her latest imitation.