No More "Black Thumb of Death"

That's right people of blog land. You read that title correctly! After losing tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon, and cucumbers to ground hogs, raccoons, birds and squirrels, I have finally grown a fruit! I planted a dwarf peach tree 2 years ago just after we moved into the house. The advertisement said it would produce fruit the 2nd year so I have been scouting out the branches of my little tree with little hope (need I say more?). Then I saw it! I have a peach!! Yes, it's just one so I won't be making any pies, but a success no less! 2 years of land cultivation failures are in the past! Here is my proof!!

My peach tree

sweet success!

The varmint protection plan

A Ballerina Perhaps?

Baby Emma is a wild child! I tried to capture some of her moves on tape and despite my better judgement I'm posting it for you all to see (around 4 seconds). **Viewer Discretion advised, nakey preggo belly coming your way** What can I say. I have no shame :)

23 week belly shot

Here I am in all my glory at 23 weeks. Emma continues to grow! She is getting very busy in there and mostly at night when I'm trying to sleep. I'm hoping she will change her night owl ways before her big arrival! I'm starting to feel some of the aches and pains such as sore back and swollen throbbing feet that are associated with the weight gain (sorry no specifics available on the weight gain:). I spent my Macy's birthday gift card (thanks to Dan's mom!) on Dr. Scholl's flip-flops. I walked straight past the shiny new cute shoes gleaming with their narrow soles, thin straps, shiny buckles and 3 inch heals... and bought my grandma shoes with pride! All kidding about my rhinosaurus pancake feet aside, I LOVE being pregnant. I love my belly, I love feeling the baby move and everything else that comes with this journey.

We have a name!

Our baby girl will be named

Half Baked!

Wow! I am past the half-way mark already. I now have more pregancy weeks behind me than I do ahead. Baby girl is growing big and strong or at least her kicks are! I am so thankful for this gift! I feel like the luckiest girl on earth! My husband isn't so bad either :)

Mother's Day Weekend in Gatlinburg

Mother's day weekend marked our first trip to the Gatlinburg, TN and the smokey mountains. It was great surprise vacation masterminded by Dan. We went with our buddies the Maxfields. Thanks to Heidi for find the great cabin. While we were there we braved the treacherous roads (and driveway), hit up the local outlets, play hillbilly miniature golf, visited the little shops in Gatlinburg, went for a hike were we saw a black bear and two cubs, and ate at Calhoon's Best Ribs in America (YUM!). Our cabin was beautiful complete with a fully stocked kitchen, hot tub and pool table. We did a lot of cooking there including a yummy curry dish, our very first French dip sandwiches and key lime pie by Heidi, and baked french toast and cinnamon rolls by moi. It was such a great trip!!! Here are some photos of our fun filled weekend! Thanks again to the best husband on the planet!

Views of the cabin

the dangerous driveway

Views of the Smokeys

Maxfield's on the way to Hillbilly golf

to Dan's dismay the outhouse was just a prop..

view of falls on our hike

Baby Riggs is a ......

GIRL!!!!!!!

We had our "big" ultrasound on Friday and everything is looking great. The baby is measuring perfectly normal. We feel like the luckiest people on earth and continue to thank God for this wonderful blessing!

bAbY's fAcE

bAbY's HeArT bEaT

bAbY wAvInG "HI"

fLeXi bAbY (leg straight up in front of face)

bAbY iN 3D