So for all of our regular Opp Knockers, you've probably noticed that the material on our blog lately has been a little out of the ordinary: no more Hot Topic Tuesdays or regular updates of stuff we have going on in our busy lives. Instead, you got a lot of comedy and maybe a few motivational items. Surely if you know us well you could tell that Mr. Whitaker took over the blog for the past 2 months. Well thanks to some technical difficulties and time restraints, I wasn't able to do any updating, but no worries people: I'm back! And boy do I have a lot to catch everyone up on....so brace yourselves, this could potentially become a novel of a blog entry....


May 8-15
First was our vacation to Turks and Caicos. Brent posted a few pictures taken by our very talented friend, Jimmy Moncrief whose wife has her own photography business and he's not too shabby himself - most notably entering the world of adventure sports photography. (pretty impressive if you ask me!)
T&C was fabulous: we had a quick 3 hour flight from Nashville to Miami, then another 1 1/2 hour flight to the island. Once we arrived and got through customs, we headed to our resort which turned out to be fabulous! We were really fortunate to have our bestest friends and travel companions go along for the ride (granted it didn't take much to "drag" them along- especially since they were celebrating their 7 year wedding anniversary). We had complimentary bicycles at the resort which made for great transportation around the island going to different parts of the beach, exploring hotels (even when we weren't really supposed to) and being able to do some snorkeling around an amazing coral reef. Our mornings were spent sleeping in, eating breakfast in our condo, then hitting the beach, hang out all day doing a lot of nothing, go out for dinner every night, then stay up late playing spades every single night (girls won by the way just about every time). We ate some fantastic food in amazing restaurants and overall enjoyed a beautiful island, extremely nice people and great quality time with our greatest friends. It was definitely a babymoon to remember and one I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone who's ever considered T&C. Check out the album to the right for all our vacation pics!

Memorial Day
We are finally somewhat settled in our new house and so excited that our friends and family want to come see us! You never realize how much you need extra bedrooms until you've lived in a 2 bedroom apartment for 1 year. My sister and her family came to stay for Memorial Day weekend and we had a WONDERFUL time. It was the first time they had all ever spent the night with us which was a real treat. We started the weekend off on Saturday by going to a bunch of garage sales. That might not sound like fun to some people, but Jen loves it and so do we. Brent even gave Tre a little lesson in bargaining and he ended up getting a cool computer accessory for a great deal. (Brent was proud needless to say!) Saturday night Brian and Bronson made the drive from Chattanooga which lead to a lot of fun on Sunday: we hit the flea market in downtown Nashville then walked around in bicentennial park and the Farmer's Market. Sunday we had some amazing ribs and yummy food shared with Brad and Casey. Monday wrapped up the weekend by a visit to the Nashville zoo. If you've never been - it is a great zoo!! We were all very impressed with the animals and how HUGE the zoo is; maybe it's because I grew up only going to the Warner Park Zoo in Chattanooga and always feeling sorry for all those pitiful animals who looked like they were on their last leg...I dunno...
Anyway, I think Memorial Day was definitely the most eventful for all of us - we packed in as much family fun as we could! We had a great time and as always I loved being with my niece and nephews, sister and brother-in-law - I couldn't ask for a better sister and her family is just an added bonus. Be sure to check out all the fun pics in the album on the right.

The month of June has continued to be a busy one for us, but for all good reasons!
We were just in Chattanooga about 2 weeks ago for three fabulous events: a surprise birthday limo ride for my best friend, Brittany; my first baby shower and my niece Brittany's first dance recital. (Yes, sometimes confusing to have 2 Brittany's, but let's hope friend Brittany isn't at her first dance recital and niece Brittany isn't getting a limo ride at 10 years old...)

Friday night was one of those nights that could have been crazy: trying to meet up with your best friend but only communicating with her through a friend you had only met once. But it all worked out beautifully: we got off the exit ramp from I-24, I called Brittany's friend and literally we pulled up right behind the limo. I jumped out at a red light and hopped into the party-train...I mean limo.
It was a great rolling party - Jimmy had arranged for Brittany's really good friends from their small group at church to get together and surprised her with a limo ride around Chattanooga on her birthday. It was a great Brittany-style party, with plenty of laughing, MORE than enough sillyness and just good old fashion fun. (it also helped that it was Riverbend which made for a LOT of fun yelling at people some crazy stuff!)

Saturday morning I had my first baby shower hosted by some of my mom's closest friends that I have known just about all my life. The week preceding the shower, I had really had that "oh my goodness, I'm having a baby" week. That might sound crazy, but I've decided that's just my personality. I was the same way when we moved to Nashville - everyone around me was anxious about my move, but it didn't really hit me until the day I actually drove out of Chattanooga heading to Nashville.
Anyway, the shower was so much fun! I remember at my wedding showers being extremely nervous about opening gifts, but it wasn't that way at this one. It was a lot of fun - it was mostly my family and of course good family friends, so it was a great setting. I got a lot of really great things, including the AMAZING cake my mom made: both the cake-cake and the diaper cake. Oh yeah and for all of you wanting to see "belly" pics, there are some good ones in these pics. Of course that was 2 weeks ago, and the belly has definitely grown. Check out more pictures to the album in the right...

Saturday wrapped up with a great dance performance by my niece. It definitely brought back a flood of memories walking into the Tivoli theater with all the dancers - surprisingly, Jen and I used to do dance and all of our recitals were at the Tivoli as well. Jen definitely was wrapped in nostalgia watching her own daughter get ready to do her recital on the same stage.
This was Brittany's first year doing hip-hop and she did great!! Their group was definitely the most unique (the entire theme of the recital was Under the Sea with the Little Mermaid theme - so lots of ballerina, tu tus and the like) as they were straight up hip-hop. They all had knee length plaid shorts and red shirts, black tennis shoes and crazy hair and make up. Their song was hip-hop (of course) and they had some really cool moves.
I have a few pics, but our camera is horrible inside (of course does anyone have a good camera for inside and dark?) Anyway, she did a great job and it was even fun to watch all the cute little 4 and 5 year olds in their tutus dancing around like goldfish and crabs.



The following week, Brent surprised me with a date night to the Grand Ole Opry. It was soooo much fun! As much as it might sound like an "old fart" event it was really neat. There is so much history and tradition involved that it's great to get to go see what it's all about! The current location of the opry is not the original; in fact it used to be at the Ryman Auditorium, so to maintain all that tradition, there is a big circle in the middle of the Opry stage of flooring taken from the original Ryman. It's those kind of quirky characteristics that make it a very unique experience. Kind of like Graceland: you want to go, it might be expensive, but it's well worth it! We were entertained by a wide variety of country music artists, but the "big hit" for the night was Josh Turner. He was fantastic! Plus I kind of forgot what HUNK he is - not sure if it's his physical appearance or his amazing voice. Very good looking dude!!! Anyway, the Opry was a blast and I would HIGHLY recommend it for anyone planning a trip to Nashville who's never been. It was great fun.

This past weekend we celebrated Brent's birthday! I can't believe it's been another year since his birthday and of course that meant the WHOLE weekend was all about him. Saturday night we went out to dinner and I gave him his present which was iPod speakers. I know I know - we're a little behind, but we finally got really good speakers and he LOVES them. (like how I say "we") Funny thing is that I ordered them online, they were on our front porch when we got back from Chattanooga, but Brent never saw them. I convinced him to go through the garage and I'd go through the front door and help him unload all the shower stuff. So I RAN to the door, grabbed the box and ran as fast as my little pregnant booty would allow....The whole time he was still trying to get through the garage :) he he he
Sunday was his "big" gift as we spent the afternoon with our Nashville friends the Parsons and were SOOOOOO excited that the Moncriefs make the trek as well. It probably helped that we had scored tickets to the CMA Festival (not the awards) and all 6 of us went to the concerts. We had an absolute blast of course! We started by eating at the Gerst House, which is supposedly a Nashville notable - it's a German restaurant right in the parking lot of LP Field (part of why we ate there = free parking). After a great meal and hang time, we headed to LP field to enjoy the amazing concert with Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich and Cowboy Troy (not sure where Big is), Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Kenny Chesney! It was phenomenal. We had a wonderful time and even though it was REALLY late when it was over, we all said it was worth the groggy-ness on Monday morning.
All to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENT!"
I have the best husband in the world and I don't have to use my blog as a way for all of you to know that. If you're reading this, then more than likely you know both of us (some more him than me) and know what an amazing man I have for a husband! He treats me like gold and I couldn't have asked for a better gift, because God tells us that our spouse is our gift from Him. I hope you all have marriages that you can truly see your spouse as a gift!

So yeah, we've been busy... :)
And lots of people have asked about the baby on the way. Of course I'm still pregnant. We finally decided on a name: Gabriella Paige and we'll call her Gabbie. It's official since I announced it on the blog I guess. It's funny how everyone asks, "how are you feeling?" and of course the comments about being pregnant until the END of August... I know people: it's going to be hot!! (tomorrow it's supposed to be 97 degrees here with a heat index of 105; so yeah, I know it's FREAKING hot) Thankfully we have air conditioning and I told Brent that I am taking on the mentality of a hippo: when they are outside, they are in the water. Thankfully we have air conditioning and Brent freezes, but doesn't complain.
I'm 30 weeks this week so 10 weeks to go, which is crazy to me. It seems like time has flown, but I keep hearing that these last few weeks will be the longest. I have had a fabulous pregnancy and am extremely fortunate to that. It's definitely in the air (I'm not saying water because I am SO sick of hearing it) I work with 2 other girls who are due the same week as me, I found out I have 2 REALLY good friends both due in November and another due at the first of the year. Baby boom??? Possibly.....Gabbie will definitely have a whole lotta friends.

Other than that, I guess I'm done...now I'm all caught up and you'll hopefully see regular posts of our world and what's going on it in. Oh I have made some more cakes and I posted those pics in the cake album.