The Smoky Mountains!!

Me & Joe at the first pull-off near Chimneys

It really did get to 65 degrees, I was so fascinated it changed THIS much!

At Chimneys picnic area, beautiful creek and COLD water!!

At the TN/ NC border...I had no idea we were that close!

Yes...8 months pregnant and I made it to the top of Clingman's Dome...highest peak in TN 6650 elev.

View from the parking lot at the base of Clingman's Dome!

VBS break!!

Sorry all, this week I was scheduled to work full-time and it happens to be Vacation Bible School at our Church...I was helping with Crafts and the Kitchen this week...also Music! The theme is aviation this year.

Update:
Last week we found out we had a water leak so Joe and I worked on that until 2am last Friday night. We had holes dug all over our yard, and I was his other good hand so we were both in the mud! We got up early Saturday morning and took a spontaneous "babymoon"  (**like a honeymoon but pre-baby getaway!) to Gatlinburg, TN. It was our first time here so we went to the moonshine distillary (It fascinates me, how booze is made...im half way done with ky bourbon trail and I looooove visiting winerys!) because they are closed on Sundays and we walked around the "strip". We did splurge and check out Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge. That was fun, but overpriced. I, of course, have to go to every single horse attraction wherever I go. Our favorite part of the trip was Sunday when we just drove through the Smoky Mountains...we cannot wait to go back and possibly do the camping trip thing or do a family long weekend and rent a cabin and split the cost. Little Tessa will be here for that too!!! I cant wait until she gets here! The Smoky Mountains were so cool...literally...in Gatlinburg it was 90 degrees...when we got up in the mountains my thermometer read 65 degrees!!!

After our fun weekend we both had to work all week + VBS.

Yesterday we had our 34 week and 4 days baby doctor appointment. Everything is normal and perfect with both of us...just hurry up and wait I guess. Here is a picture of what Tessa should look like about now...

As for the wedding planning, I really like the ruffled bluish dress best...but the boots...I didnt like them so I sent them back! We got plenty of time though and a sweet baby girl to plan for first!

One year countdown!

Today I'm Thinking About Wedding planning...

Sometimes it takes me a little while to get motivated to start the wedding planning...but now that we are starting the count down (it will be in a year...est. wedding date to be June 22, 2013)
#1 I'm busy preparing for our babyTessa to arrive...understandably I'm more concerned about that at the given time.
#2 My first (short-term-6months?) marriage didnt take long to fail...so not that i think it will fail...again...its a little scary because it took 2 weeks for HIM to change and turn horrible last time (disclaimer**its not all his fault, I resisted to the changing attitude and that made things worse). I PRAY that wont happen...and I dont think it will. But, it makes me a little reluctant to begin the wedding planning process.
#3 Getting married these days...everything thats SUPPOSED to go into it is a little bit over-rated (in my opinion). Traditions are great, I love them and can't wait to start our family's traditions...BUT having to cater a meal to "x" amount of guests...the big white poofy dress-PLEASE! and what is wrong with pot-luck picnic style?? Mom standing up to signal everyone else to stand up in the congregation...getting given away...must I go on?

Not to sound negative about the whole thing or to crush someone's dreams with my opinion but Joe and I choose eachother. This is OUR day, and not to sound snotty or mean...its going to be done the way WE like it...whether its by the book or not :) not EVERYONE will be invited, not EVERYONE will be expected to show up (I live 600 miles away from my family)...its going to be a fun party with no meal. **i know we can just go to the JP...but we would like the preacher to marry us.

Last weekend, at the most wonderful baby shower thrown by my fiance's sisters, niece, and cousin...we talked about the past and if those things didnt happen, we wouldn't be who we are today.

I'm happy about who I am, what kind of man Joe has become, and our wagon before the horse (<3 Tessa!)  I think the challenges and experiences I've gone through have prepared me for this time in my life and for what is to come. I look forward to a lifetime with Joe, and I hope we have a house full of kids and a pasture full of horses!

MommaNikkiJo

getting on the wedding planning...i hope Joe doesn't see this...but I LOVE these dresses but can't decide which one I like better!!
option #1

option #2

option #3 (my original favorite, but i'm worried about the buttons and showing too much cleavage!!)

note: I already got the wedding shoes...they will be red-topped cowboy boots...totally awesome!!!



I need opinions!!!!