O Fall, Where Art Thou?

Dear Fall weather,
Are you on hiatus this year? Did you decide that we South Carolinians need more summer than usual? Did you and Spring get together and say, let's just skip being mild and go straight to the extremes? Because, as much as I love 80 degree weather in October, it would be nice for you to show your face around here now and then.

Just sayin'.

Love, a pregnant woman who would appreaciate a break

Fall colors

This past weekend Claire and I headed up to Asheville to see my parents and enjoy cooler temperatures :) It was absolutely gorgeous and we took advantage of the fall weather. We went to a pumpkin patch to let Claire explore, dad bought a fire pit and we roasted s'mores, we had a photo shoot in the front yard, and of course, Claire tried to eat all the leaves! I also dragged dad and James along on a run or two. Nothing like running in East Asheville in the fall! It was a great, relaxing weekend.

Covenant Homecoming

This past weekend, we headed up the mountain to Covenant for homecoming - the first one we've gone to since graduation. It was weird walking around campus not knowing anyone. My little bro James is there and apparently he's quite popular :) He introduced everyone to me. My, how the roles have changed! 
Anyway, it was great catching up with old roommates and friends. Claire and I stayed with my bff Carolann and Cole stayed with his buddy Chris. Fun stuff! 

Back at CC with a baby! Who'd have thunk it?!?

Showing Claire around her future college :)

Night out with Jordan, Chris, James, and Ashley. (No, Chris didn't wet his pants - that's Cole's shadow!)

Me with old friends - Sarah Jane, Jess, Carolann, and Sarah

The joy of Claire

Confessions of a Mud Runner

Dear Mud Run,
I would just like to thank you for showing me how incredibly weak I am and then rubbing my face in it. I mean hey, I knew I wasn't Wonder Woman or anything, but I must admit that I smugly thought I was doin' pretty good for having just recovered from baby #1 and already being pregnant with baby #2. You however, showed me how mistaken that assumption was. You got me covered in mud within minutes, you left me breathless after the first mile, you tore up my knees on the low crawl, you left my pride on the ground at the parallel logs, my husband had to practically carry me through the over-under logs, and best of all, the whole world got a great look at my mud-covered, spandex-clad rear end on the high wall. So thank you, Mud Run. My pride is sufficiently checked.


Oh and P.S. I still have mud under my fingernails.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu...

Gotta love the Sound of Music :)

Anyway, this week we say goodbye to our friends in ministry, the Spencers :( They are leaving us for a cold, faraway, ungodly place called.... WISCONSIN! Haha, just kidding. They are actually going to pastor a growing church up in the capitol city, Madison, and are very excited about their new ministry opportunity. We will miss y'all (heavy emphasis on the "y'all") but pray that the Lord richly blesses your ministry up north!

Some pics of our going away dinner with the staff:

Baby News!

Yes, the word on facebook and among your friends is true - I'm PREGNANT!!! Baby number two will be here sometime mid-April!
And yes, it is a surprise to us as well. But a great one! Claire can't wait to be a big sister!

Bring on the mud!

Yes, I am proud to announce that I am in for a muddy good time on September 25th! Thanks to brotha Ryan (who may be halfway across the world but never fails to get us off our rears) most of this crazy Nickell family will be running 4.2 miles through mud holes, over walls, across trenches, under obstacles, and across ravines.
And surprise, surprise! Guess who will join us? The other half of this crazy family, my little bros! Yep, Sam and James will be sloshing through the mud along with Ryan, Cole, Julia, and me. We like to make these things a family affair.

And yes, I cannot wait for this part ;-)

New haircut and Claire's 7th month stats

I finally did something with my long, nasty-wavy, post-pregnancy hair. Hormones sure did a number on my previously perfect hair. I woke up one morning and suddenly had waves... but not the good kind. The kind that crinkle at your scalp and then die out halfway down. The kind that make it look like you have bed head everyday. The kind that make straightening a necessity. Ugh. So I chopped about 5-6 inches off and added side bangs. 

Ta-da!

In other news, Claire is now 7 months old. And man! that girl loves the water :)

Her 7 month stats:
~Weighs about 14.5 lbs.
~Height - 26 inches as far as I can tell.
~As previously mentioned, she LOVES the water!
~Is sitting up completely on her own.
~Took her first crawl steps last week! But doesn't go far.
~Plays rather than naps in her crib now that she can move on her own.
~Wants to "taste" everything!
~Has a new smile where she winkles up her nose :)


I can't believe my baby is so old!!!

Baptism Pictures!

The whole Nickell/Marshall gang!

"What is happening to me?"

Pastor Mike - thank you for baptizing our baby!

Our little family :)