Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We got a lot of snow in Greensboro over the past weekend, about 5-6 inches......  I had to skip out on the sledding :( but the boys enjoyed playing in the snow.  We didn't leave the house until Sunday afternoon and did a little shopping.  We went to Chapel Hill on Sunday night and enjoyed the Moravian Love Feast Christmas Service with mom, Laura & Ed's parents at our church in Chapel Hill.  It's a beautiful sight.

Here's a few shots of Bailey at her favorite spot in the house...even more so when there is snow outside.  She can watch all the neighborhood kids sled down the huge hill behind our house.

So today I felt the first movement from our boy!  I was on the way home from work and he kicked me!  It is so fitting that he would do it while I was in the car seeing as how I spend at least 3 hours a day driving to and from work.  It was the most amazing thing to think that another human being was kicking me, from the inside!  I am so excited to experience more of these movements.

Christmas is only a week and a half away and I have so much shopping left to do...actually all of my shopping left to do.  I am excited for the holiday and can't wait to see all of our family!  Mom and I are planning to start on the nursery during the holiday break.  I am looking forward to putting it all together!

First of all Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!

We are excited to announce that we are having a boy!  The ultrasound tech finally got his legs just far enough apart to determine that he is a boy!  He was camera shy and had his hands covering his face at first.  Then after some poking and prodding to get his legs apart he started waving his hands at us and kicking his feet like he was jumping up and down on a trampoline!  At this point, we still didn't know the sex and both Ed and I thought...it's another boy for sure, the way he was bouncing around!  At the very end of the ultrasound he balled up his fist and stuck up his index finger giving the "No. 1" sign.  The ultrasound tech said his feet look really big and this made Ed happy....hope for height.  All else looks good! 

I took Ed to Balance Day Spa following the doctors appointment where we both had massages.  Ed had never had one before and I got a special prenatal massage so we really enjoyed that!  We called our mom's on 3 way and told them the news at the same time.  They were laughing and so excited we could hardly get a word in.  Then we went to pick up TJ from school so we could tell him.

We went to Brixx for Ed's birthday dinner and gave TJ a new pair of Sixty Plus Jordan's for basketball season.  Then we gave him a box with a pair of baby Sixty Plus Jordan's that  matched and let him figure it out.  He said he needed to take them out to get a closer look and then said "IT'S A BOY!!"  He was so excited!

Thank you for all of the well wishes and prayers!  Keep checking the blog for more updates!

Ed, Rachel & TJ

Ed & I went to the UNC/Michigan State game last night.  We had a great time and were very proud of the Heels!  On to the next challenge: Kentucky on Saturday!

We had an appointment yesterday and it was very brief.  My blood pressure was up just a little bit.  They said it was probably from me rushing around to get there (everyone knows I am never on time) although Ed always blames everything on my salt intake.  The doctor measured my belly and we listened to the heartbeat.  Then that was it!  After meeting with the office manager to talk insurance, we were outta there - less than 30 minutes!  Only 6 more days until we find out what we are having!

The ACC Championship game is Saturday at 8pm, my birthday is Sunday and Ed's is Monday so anyone wishing to celebrate with us is welcome to our house Saturday evening for a cookout!  We ask that everyone bring a dish and we hope to see you there!