A Long December

Although there are so many things to blog about as this Christmas season comes to a close, a big part of me wants my letter to Mrs. Buckalew to be the last entry for 2011. I want to thank everyone for their kind responses to the blog, Facebook messages, phone calls, and e-mails. I felt very loved and most of all, I didn't feel alone. It is safe to say that there are thousands of people mourning the death of this incredible family. It brought comfort to hear the messages filled with memories of the Buckalews and to be reminded of the way that Corinne lived in the moment and how she was all in. A good friend wrote to me, "I don't feel that anything like this happens for a reason, but I do feel that people change their lives for the better after a tragedy like this." I want to ring in the new year knowing that I am embracing life as she did, and as she would. I want to celebrate the small things and make the most of each day. I want to spend valuable time with family and friends and invest in each of them. People often overuse these phrases, and their tidbits of life advice can become cliche. But there is truth in each of them. My Dad wrote in an e-mail to me that they had a full life in a short amount of time. And now I truly believe that is what matters. A full life. That's what I'm after.

Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for 2012!

My Tribute to the Buckalews

(This is a heavier post. I feel like it's an appropriate outlet to express my grief. I hope you all don't mind.)

Dear Mrs. Buckalew,

Just last week, I was scanning your Facebook page and reminiscing about my summer days and nights spent at Cool Stream Farm with you and Jackson. I thought to myself how it's been quite some time since I've seen you, but how excited I would be the next time our paths crossed. I even imagined my future message to you telling you that I was engaged and how thrilled you would be for me. I had no idea I wouldn't get that chance. When Deirdre called me on Tuesday night, I knew something was wrong because of how late she was calling and because of her low and nervous voice. She began to cry and tried to tell me what was probably one of the hardest things she's ever had to say aloud. I rushed into the living room so that I could hear her more clearly and she repeated the most tragic news through her tears. She told me that your family had died in a plane crash that morning. All four of you. We cried together on the phone, sharing our disbelief and our heartbreak. Not the Buckalews. Not the most lively, giving, loving, kindhearted family out there. We eventually got off the phone, after many tears, shared feelings of how unreal it all seemed and how your family was the least deserving of this terrible tragedy. I made the mistake of scanning the internet, almost as if I needed confirmation that it really was true, and there you were. A beautiful picture of you and Meriwether, alongside a copy of this year's Christmas card with Meriwether and Jackson pictured in a sweet embrace. It had really happened. You were gone. Every time I say that, and now write it, I break down in tears. Because it just doesn't seem possible. Oh, how you all will be missed.

And these are the times when you wish you had taken the opportunity to share with someone what they meant to you, and I believe I did that as much as a high school and college student has the ability, or maturity, to... but not as an adult. So I will take this opportunity to share with you now...

You gave me confidence. You trusted me with your four month old baby. You continuously told me how great I was, and not just as a babysitter, but as a person. A teenager can't hear that enough. You didn't want to share me with your other friends looking for a babysitter, and deep down, I loved that. You wanted first dibs for Jackson. I loved the time I spent over there. I was the luckiest high school and college student ever. I enjoyed my job.

You invested in me. You didn't just let me in the door, show me where the emergency numbers and frozen chicken nuggets were located, and leave for the night. You let me in, talked to me while you got ready, asked me my opinion on your outfit, hugged Jackson a hundred times, asked me about school, my boyfriend, sports, you name it. You truly cared about me. You took a whole roll of pictures of just me and Jackson, and sent me a framed picture of the two of us to my college dorm room. I was so excited to receive that in the mail. When I visited NYC with my sister and cousin, you insisted that we spend a night in your uptown apartment, even though you were out of town. We felt like royalty that night. When I sent out letters to family and friends about my upcoming mission trip to London, you sent back a generous contribution along with a note that said, "So proud of you, J!" I will always remember that.

And I will always remember you sitting down on the living room floor with me and Jackson and telling me about your struggles with your first pregnancy. You told me that you wished and prayed that I would never have to go through something like that. And you told me your wish for me was to meet an awesome man and that you wanted all good things for me. It felt so good to have someone that I looked up to so much, wish that upon me.

You were full of life. You seemed to be the center of your family and friends. And it makes sense that you were. You were vibrant, creative, and compassionate. I talked about you all the time to my family and friends, and it was clear that you were one of my greater role models. You celebrated life and the people you loved. You and Jeff gave and gave and gave.

You loved your kids. They weren't spoiled, they were just loved well. The hardest thing in all of this is to imagine what the end was like for you guys. How scary it must have been. But what my family has reminded me of is that you all were together to comfort one another, and that you're all together now. I can picture you in the plane just covering Jackson and Meriwether, telling them you love them and not to worry.

Thank you for inviting me and my sister into your life. Thank you for being such an inspiration as a woman, mother, and friend. I hope to one day open up my door to a 17 year old girl looking for a summer job, and care for her the way that you cared for me and Deirdre.

We were lucky to have known you, and you will truly be missed.

Love Always,
Jaclyn

Raindrops on Roses

"There are worse things in life than having fun." ~Bill Harris

These are a few of my favorite things...

Joint vacations!

Celebrating small victories... even if just a quarter!

Awkward dance moves in a shallow pool at a high-class Vegas club...

The beach!

"I am woman, hear me roar" poses on the rocks of Coronado island..

Being comfortable enough to show your true colors...

And lucky for me, all of those favorite things were rolled into one unforgettable vacation.

Here's to the next one!

'Tis The Season

I fully intended to write a blog post or two in the spirit of Thanksgiving to share all that I'm thankful for, especially this year with my new and wonderful nephew. But blogger's block got the best of me, and I just didn't have the motivation to sit down and write. But here I am, back in action... for a little while, at least. And since I missed out on the opportunity to publicly share thanks in November, I am aware that there's never a time gratitude is not well received. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will be sharing a few of the things that I am thankful for and have made my heart glad this season.

This particular view of downtown Austin ~ I will always remember turning off of Oltorf onto South Congress for the very first time with my two sisters, bringing our two-day road trip from Virginia to a close. As we turned onto South Congress, this skyline was directly in front of us, and I remember letting out a gasp. Or maybe Nicole did. Needless to say, it was an exciting moment. I was beginning a new chapter in my life. And as hard as it is to be far away from home, family and friends, this view from South Congress brings me back to my initial adventure. To the craziest risk I've ever taken. And for that, I am thankful.

The relationships I have with my elderly residents ~ It amazes me how I am somehow able to communicate with a resident who speaks only Spanish through body language, laughter, charades, hugs, and very little knowledge of basic phrases. I found this note on my desk one morning from this particular resident, and I could not stop smiling. And not just because she spelled my name "Jackley", but because our language barrier ain't got nothin' on us. Except for when I'm trying to explain to her that it's not appropriate to sell bingo prizes she's won, winter coats, purses, bracelets she's made in arts and crafts, and personal items at our Arts and Crafts Bazaar.

Lessons from the wise ~ I often take for granted that I have the opportunity to learn so much about life, love, history, faith, and whatever else there is to learn, in my daily interactions with the residents. Their backgrounds are each unique, yet they have wound up in the very same place, but most likely under very different circumstances. Some are cognitively impaired but still able to walk, while others have lost mobility but still have complete control of their minds. No matter what their condition, each resident has a story. And if I were smart, I would take the time to listen to each one. I spent an hour or so on Thanksgiving day working on this "Bouquet of Thanks" with the residents who didn't go home with family, and in that one hour, I remembered how many simple things in life there are to be thankful for. Residents scribbled on their fall-colored leaves, "A safe place to live", "My sister", "Good food", "Laughter", "God", and so on.... my favorite was the resident's leaf below, which reads, "I am thankful for all.... people that love me. I love all people." And she really does.

This little guy ~ I never imagined how strong I could feel about a 7 lb baby, but seeing Nicole carry him for nine months, then bring him into the world with such grace, and lastly give me the opportunity to love him and support their family has been the greatest privilege. I cannot wait to hold the little bug at Christmas and I am already counting down the days!

And yes, I love him enough to post a picture of myself with three chins.

Best "Thank You" Note Ever

There is absolutely nothing I can say to lead up to this entry. The only background information you need to know is that the resident who gave this holiday "thank you" note to my administrator is the same resident who shared this craft idea with me.


I know it's tough to read. Let me translate for you...

"Thanks for all the "black" people who work here. Without you here, life in Rwanda might have been harder. I think you got some pretty good choices."

SAY WHAT?! This resident is not racist, mean, or close-minded. She is just a very, very odd person who has an unusual way of expressing her thoughts, or in this case, gratitude.

Oh, and did I mention that my administrator happens to be African American?

Ah, never a dull moment around here.

The Apple Of My Eye

Even though I've had this blog for almost two years, I am just now realizing how much I can benefit from the world of social media. Over the past month or so, through Pinterest, StumbleUpon, and other blogs, I have discovered (too) many recipes, DIY projects, and ideas for the home that I am anxious to try. It's incredible how much information is at our fingertips these days. I'm grateful for these resources as I'm trying to learn new skills and accomplish different things without breaking the bank. Without further ado, one of my somewhat successful attempts...

I rarely get creative in the kitchen. I'd venture to say that the most creative I've ever gotten with food is making "spider cookies" with my residents. Scary, huh?

In addition to rarely getting creative in the kitchen, it's even more rare that I make dessert. Unless I've signed up to make something for a bake sale or a birthday party, the only dessert you'll see me eating is frozen yogurt from one of our favorite fro-yo spots. But I wanted to mix it up on this particular November evening. I found a recipe for "Stuffed Apple Crisp" and couldn't pass it up when I saw that it called for oats, caramel, and apples. Mmm, yes please. I tend to look for recipes that require the least number of ingredients and the least number of detailed steps as possible. That being said, I had to step out of my comfort (lazy cook) zone for this one, considering the first two steps instructed me to core and gut the apples. But if I was going to do more than your average slice and bake Pillsbury cookies, I might as well go the distance, right?

And here it is... my variation of "Stuffed Apple Crisp":

I made sure to take a totally posed picture of the dessert before Firas and I chowed down, as any serious food blogger would do. That festive fall pumpkin just happened to be sitting by the corner of the plate, I swear.

Here's the recipe (which I found to be extremely confusing, not to mention annoying as the writer put a smiley face after each step that she found to be entertaining... I would remove them, but now I think it's rather funny):

Stuffed Apple Crisp

I love the smell of baked apples, cinnamon, oatmeal and caramel

To make them I cut out the insides of the apples,

and didn’t even worry if there were holes in the bottom of the apples.

I cored the apples first then took a knife with a thin blade about 6 inches long and cut about 1/4 inch inside the apple edge and then made slices from the center out to make the pieces manageable to get out. It only took a few minutes, looks harder than it was, really

I diced up the apple minus the core

added a cup of oatmeal,

a tablespoon butter,

two tablespoons brown sugar,

one teaspoon cinnamon

and 6 caramels I diced up (unwrapped of course)

Mixed it all together, then baked them at 350 for 20 minutes.

There you have it! A somewhat scattered recipe for "Stuffed Apple Crisp". This is why I had to make up my own variation, but as long as you use the same ingredients, you should be just fine. And if you're smart, unlike me, you'll have a big gallon of vanilla ice cream in your freezer just waiting to be scooped and placed on top of this delicious dessert. It really was the perfect nightcap for a crisp November evening (who am I kidding? It was probably 90 degrees in Texas that night). Enjoy!

Food Coma

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants."

~Kevin James

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

This Thanksgiving will look different than most... this is the second year in a row where I will be spending the holiday without crisp, cold weather, sisters, cousins, road trips, prank calls with "Barbie", Dad's turkey, reminiscent conversations and stories, Mom's stuffing, getting together with friends in Charlottesville the night before Thanksgiving, and the list goes on... but Nicole is in New York with Tony's family, Deirdre and my parents are in Maryland with Will's family, and I am here with all of my residents in Austin, Texas. Only 'til 3:00! And then I will be enjoying the holiday with Firas and his family. It is happening; we are growing up, carrying on old traditions and creating new ones. I have tried my best to recreate my Mom's stuffing and I may even convince Firas to make a prank call with me. I will still find the radio station that plays Christmas songs starting the day after Thanksgiving. And I will always refuse to wake up at 4 am for "Black Friday" shopping. But this year, instead of the classic turkey, we are giving "cajun fried turkey" a shot. No, I am not living in Louisiana and Firas' family is not featured on "Swamp People". It's something that Firas wanted to try, and who am I to kick and scream over wanting the traditional turkey dish for Thanksgiving? Okay, I did. But then I quickly realized that I couldn't recreate everything about my family's Thanksgiving holiday. I was never a fan of cranberry sauce, anyways. I feel thankful to have such wonderful memories of holidays with my family, and I am thankful for the opportunity to create new ones.

But let's get to what I'm missing MOST this Thanksgiving....



Although I wish I could be there to celebrate this little turkey's first Thanksgiving, I feel fortunate that I will be home for his first Christmas.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Forever on Thanksgiving day, the heart will find the pathway home."

~Wilbur D. Nesbit

Better Than Your Two Front Teeth

When I think about Christmas and finding the perfect gift for Firas, all I can think is, "How will I ever top this?"

Any ideas?

SPEC'Stacular Idea

I finally made it to Spec's wine tasting last week, and it definitely exceeded my expectations! I laughed as I pulled into the crowded parking lot, watching people swarm towards the lit up store, each one with wine glass in hand. It was like observing a herd of wino zombies. And I was quick to join the herd! Spec's offers a wine tasting on the first Tuesday of every month. If you bring your own wine glass, you receive 20 samples of wine for free. And not only that... but they offer an amazing selection of cheese, chips, crackers, sandwiches, and dessert. All for free! Excellent marketing... I walked away with three bottles of wine, along with most of the people in our group. My only complaint would be the wine-pourer at one station who clearly hated the world. Okay, maybe just her job. But she was a serious stick in the mud. When we approached her table, she was pouring the second of two wine samples for another group, unbeknownst to us unfortunately. As I extended my wine glass in her direction, she quickly snapped, "Would you like the FIRST wine before you try the SECOND?" Woah cowgirl. Sit me in time-out already. Another employee approached her about how crowded her table was and she (loudly enough for all to hear) commented, "If these people would act less like ANIMALS and form a line, I might be able to serve them quicker." I didn't know whether to be angry or scared. I was a little bit of both. She had a glass bottle in her hand, and all I had was a glass with two sips of white wine in it. But in all seriousness, Spec's needs to get a hold of that wino witch... because even if I had liked the wines she was serving, I would have refused to buy them just to make a stand. Take that!

Other than that one episode of poor customer service, the Spec's wine tasting was fantastic! The wines were delicious, and even more so at a discounted price that night. The food was a nice surprise as well... wine tasting is always a bit more enjoyable with cheese, crackers, and..... flan. Random, right? But definitely the best flan I have ever tasted.

I urge you to go to Spec's on the first Tuesday of next month.... and if you do decide to join the herd, I'll see you there!

When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie

In my opinion, an afternoon that includes pizza, eating outside, and Frank Sinatra is almost perfect. Firas, Susan (Firas's Mom), and I enjoyed one of these perfect afternoons at Coal Vines, a new pizza and wine bar, just a few weeks ago. The weather was ideal for a Sunday afternoon - jeans and a t-shirt kind of day. I knew that I loved it from the moment we walked in, as Frank Sinatra crooned "Fly Me to the Moon" throughout the restaurant and patio. I was also a fan of their decor.... red and black furniture, exposed brick, and countless bottles of wine lining their walls. And of course, their huge coal oven where they fired our delicious pizza. We opted to sit outside on the patio and for our pizza we chose the "White Special" - mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, sliced tomatoes, fresh garlic. Yum! A quick glance at our leftovers...

The pizza was thin, crust was perfect, and my favorite part.... how thin the tomatoes were sliced! Nothing more awkward than taking a bite out of pizza and not being able to bite through the freaking tomato, causing you to pull off the entire layer of cheese and toppings with just one bite. Am I the only one that this happens to? On top of the thin tomatoes, the prices were totally reasonable and it is a prime location for people-watching in downtown Austin.

I am aware that I look like an apprehensive, blue version of "Where's Waldo?" in this picture, but there was only one other taken... and it's even worse.

If you live in Austin (I also think they have restaurants in Dallas and Houston), I strongly suggest you check out Coal Vines. How can you go wrong with a slice (or two or three) of pizza and a glass (or two) of wine?

Yes, Dean Martin....that's Amore!

Apology Note

Dear Guy in the White SUV:

I'm sorry that you tailed me this morning in an area where I know police are lurking, preying on the people who are late to work and flying down the highway at 75 MPH in a 55. I feel awful that I was going only 60 MPH, forcing you to detach the front of your SUV from the back of my car and peel out into the other lane with such determination and speed... only to be greeted by flashing lights in your rearview mirror. And I'm sorry that I smiled as I watched it all go down.

Sincerely,
Jaclyn

Hope that your Friday didn't start off with sirens!

Will Bike for Pizza

Firas and I challenged ourselves to a lengthy Sunday afternoon bike ride, knowing that we would be rewarded with Salvation pizza once we reached our destination. When this Groupon hit our inboxes, we were quick to jump on it. I've been to Salvation twice before, and their pizza definitely makes the cut. As always, we waited until the last few days to use our Groupon... but we called before leaving to make sure that they were open on Sunday and would still be serving at 6 pm. They told us that they were open until 10, so we were on our way....

We rode from South Lamar to the 2nd street district of downtown, where we made a pit stop at Bar Chi's happy hour for a quick appetizer and beer. Call it halftime if you will. We continued on our ride through downtown, across UT campus, and finally to 34th street. At this point, I'm semi-exhausted. Sweating just a tad. We've just witnessed two cars have a nasty fender bender nearly seven feet from our bikes. But we know what lies ahead.... pizza and beer at Salvation. We traveled a short ways down 34th street, and pulled up to Salvation to find this pitiful note attached to their gate:

Are you serious?! We had just biked nearly ten miles in the September (think July for a normal state) heat, only to be greeted by this tragic handwritten note. We stared at it in disbelief for a good five minutes before we came to terms with the fact that we would not be enjoying Salvation pizza and beer on this particular Sunday evening. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Just kidding. Sort of. But in all seriousness, my "lower body" was ready for a break from the bike seat. Damn you, procastinators, for using your Groupon so late. We thought we were the only guilty ones...

I pulled Firas off the ground, wiped away his tears, and we made our way back toward UT campus. Lucky for us, they have about a million restaurant options. We first stopped in at Mellow Mushroom, a Charlottesville classic, but only ended up getting two tall-boy PBR's. We're classy like that. And I'm pretty sure they were $1.50 each... gotta love college specials. We ended up eating dinner at a little Greek joint, where we really enjoyed ourselves and our meal. Take THAT, Salvation Pizza.

The ride back was less exciting. And by less exciting, I mean that we tried to catch a bus home (don't judge) but right as we pulled up to the bus stop, a man swooped in front of us and placed his bike in one of the two racks in front of the bus. What a sweetheart. The next bus wasn't coming for another hour, and at this point we were ready to be home. We eventually made it back, and I must say that my "Wicked Witch of South Lamar" days are behind me, for the most part anyway. I might have made a few comments under my breath, but all in all, I'm becoming a better sport.

Let's hope for better luck next time. Or at least for better planning...

Welcome to the World, Charlie Hayes

People have always told me how exciting it is to have a niece or nephew, but it is one of those things you can't fully comprehend or appreciate until you have one to call your own. On September 27th, at 2:03 pm, I officially became Aunt Jaclyn... Aunt Jac.... Aunt Jax.... Aunt Jemima for all I care. I'm just excited to become an aunt! Charles Hayes Jones is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen, and I'm not being biased. He is near perfect. See for yourself... the many faces of Charlie Hayes.

And for one of the most special pictures of all -- Nana, Mom, Nicole, and Charlie -- Four Generations!

It is always good to be home, but having Charlie there with us made it the most exciting trip to date. I am so proud of Nicole for bringing him into this world with such strength and grace; I will spare the details of her labor, but just know that she is a champion. Seeing him for the first time when they picked me up from the airport, bundled up in his car seat between me and Nicole, I had no doubt that there is a God up above. He truly is a gift, and with Nicole and Tony as parents, Charlie is going to be very loved.

Out of the Desert, Into the Sun

Well this is definitely the longest I've ever gone without blogging. I guess I've been experiencing a similar drought to Texas. Only mine is a little less dangerous, I suppose.... it has just been a result of being preoccupied and not feeling the "itch" to blog. I've decided to care a little less about when to use a comma or a semicolon, and focus more on the material that makes up each post. I obviously didn't create this blog to be discovered by a publisher, but rather to keep friends and family posted on life here in Austin. I've been known to throw a funny story into the mix once in a while about one of my elderpals or a strange encounter that I may have had in this city that insists on "staying weird".

On that note, I will make a *cyber* (ha!) pinky promise to catch you up on the happenings of my life over the past two months or so.... most importantly, my new baby nephew who is the most perfect "bundell" of joy in the whole entire world. Along with my second (and better) ACL experience, our accidental 20 mile bike ride, my most delectable meals that I've enjoyed, and so on.

For now, I will leave you with a little fall treat from my residents. Some had no trouble using their imagination while painting pumpkins...

...while others just seemed a bit stuck. When I asked my football guy to sit with the group and paint a pumpkin, the conversation went a bit like this...

Me: "Ron, do you want to paint a pumpkin with us?"
Ron: "No, not really."
Me: "Well, give it a shot. We always enjoy your company!"
Ron: "I guess. What should I paint on it?"
Me: "Anything you want. You could write your initials, UT, maybe draw a longhorn..."
Ron: "Ok."
Me: "What colors would you like?"
Ron: "Red, white, and blue."

(10 minutes later = Finished Product = see below)

Me: "RWB....? OH, the R is red, the W is white, and the B is blue. Clever, Ron."
Ron, laughing: "Thanks."

(Fast forward 30 minutes later: I walk the pumpkin down to Ron's room after the paint has dried)

Me: "Here's your pumpkin!"
Ron, looks confused: "Great.... thanks! RWB.... what does that stand for?"

So Long Sweet Summer

so long sweet summer

i stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays

so long sweet summer

i fell into you, now you're gracefully falling away...

Even though it doesn't feel like fall here in Texas, I would still like to take the opportunity to make a toast to my favorite season. I must admit that I was very jealous when Deirdre told me that she was in jeans and a sweater this weekend while I was still sporting my summer dress. But whether fall arrives this week, next month, or in November, I will welcome it with open arms. Open arms that are hopefully covered in a cute cardigan.

So long sweet (and sweaty) summer... looking forward to a few of my favorite things...

Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt

Pumpkin Pie... Bread... Muffins... Pancakes...

Fall Coats, Sweaters, and Scarves

Halloween Costumes

Falling Leaves

The Final Countdown

In 10 days (give or take a couple, depending on the Nugget's plan).... I will be a first-time Aunt! But what's even more exciting is that my sister will be a Mom. As she was always meant to be. I must give her credit for being the calmest, most relaxed pregnant woman in the world. She has only complained about being tired and having swollen ankles, but I had to practically pry it out of her. She has handled her pregnancy with such grace, and I am so proud of her.

We had her baby shower in early August and I believe it will always be one of our family's most memorable days. Dad was there in spirit, of course. Mom had planned out and perfected every little detail for the shower -- cheesy, I know, but it was evident how much love had been poured into this celebration for Nicole and Nugget.

Deirdre and I spent the day before the shower running around DC and taking care of last minute details. Best part of the day, besides spending time with my family, was definitely picking up the cake. I was making my way over from the champagne to the bakery when Deirdre shot me a, "Oh my God, get over here and help me" look. I understood her panicked expression when I made it to the bakery counter. Written on the cake was, "Girl or Boy, Bundell of Joy!" Seriously? Bundell? That's not even an easy error to make. We're not the most assertive girls, but there was no way of getting around this slight confrontation. I spelled "bundle" for the employee.... twice.... and we finally walked away with our neon yellow cake for Nicole and her bundell of joy. And why, why, why did they feel the need to write "BABY" floating in what appears to be a cloud? Couldn't they at least have written "Nugget"?

There's nothing like coming together to celebrate something so exciting... the first grandbaby of the family. We enjoyed a delicious brunch, played a game of "Name That Baby Tune" (thanks to DJ Deirdre), and helped Nicole open up her mountain of thoughtful baby gifts. The sweetest gift of all was a surprise to all of us from my Mom. She had a christening gown made for the baby out of her own wedding dress. They will have the baby's initials monogrammed inside the dress, and the initials of future grandchildren will follow. It was such a meaningful gift and a keepsake that will always remain in the family.

I cannot wait to be home to celebrate and meet my first niece or nephew!

We love you Nicole, and you too Nugget!