I have found my love!

And it's the beat-up crock pot that Cal gave me after he discovered Rochelle's was better. It may be a little greasy, small, and not have the temperature dial anymore, but I made the BEST pot roast on Friday and I AM HOOKED! Gone are the days of rushing home from work, throwing a haphazard dinner together, and then running back out the door with our plates in hand. From now on, I will come home to a hot dinner just waiting to be taken out of the pot. Hmmm... the posibilities are endless!

Watch it!!

I love how protective family is. Now that I'm pregnant, they think I'm made of glass and are always telling me to be careful! "You're carrying precious cargo" they say. When I considered doing a sprint triathlon (no expectations, I'm pregnant right???), my mom and grandfather thought I'd lost my mind and weren't easy until I promised to give it up. My dad is constantly getting on to me for lifting things and Cole even gets worried when I get too into group games. I was playing spoons over the summer with my very-aggressive-spoon-playing cousins and every time I lunged for a spoon, I could hear Cole saying, "Julia, Julia, Julia! Please be careful!" :) I love it!

However, no one beats my cousin Sarah Parker! She was one of the first people I told and she is not only super super excited to be an aunt, but she is like a watchdog for my physical well-being. I was with her at a high school football game over the weekend and several times I almost got mowed-over by guys not looking where they were going. But before they could stomp on me, Sarah Parker would yell "Watch it!" and grab me to safety! Then she would proceed to give them a scathing death look! She also kept asking me if I was okay standing up, if I needed to sit down, and if I was hungry or thirsty. It was great :) I love how protective she is in taking care of her prego cousin!


Don't worry, she's not going to eat the baby! She's just crazy excited!

Fall Days! and other things :)

The weather has finally turned cool here!!! And by cool I mean less than 80 degrees :) It's been a wonderful 65-75 for the past few days and I am relishing it! You Asheville friends can't imagine how wonderful it is to walk outside to get the mail without breaking into a sweat.
And speaking of Asheville, I've been especially homesick thinking of the Fall leaves and the colorful mountains! I know of no other city that has such a beautiful fall scene. I want to drive home this weekend and go on a hike or a run or something!
And speaking of running and hiking, this time last year I was training for a half marathon. Hard to imagine considering I can't run a mile right now. I think baby Nickell is taking over my body and using my blood and oxygen entirely for herself!
And speaking of baby Nickell - she finally has a name! That is... if she really is a girl. If a boy pops out I suppose we'll have to apologize for all the pink and purple. Anyway, we've decided on Claire Ann Nickell. Claire has been a favorite of mine since I was born and Ann is a family name on Cole's side. Woo hoo!