Becoming the Browns: The MOTHER Lode

Oops we did it again. We waited 4 months between blogs. Oh well...

Out with the old and in with the new! That statement will probably never mean as much to us as it does this year. Because we are becoming a party of three (or four at dog-friendly establishments). Joseph and I found out in October that we will be expecting our first child this spring! Due May 13, 2013, our sweet BOY will be making his debut into the lowcountry, and we could not be more thrilled. More to come on that in our next post...

The very first image of our son...ignore the whole 7 week dating thing. Yours truly was a *little* off with my dates. You're looking at our tiny tot at about 11 weeks.

So four months have ~~gone~~ flown by and we have tried our hand at running for office, learning botox, packing in as many road trips as humanly possible, and making the most of our last holidays sans children.

Saying goodbye to summer.

We bid the long warm days of summer adeu with a last boat ride with our friends, the Hagamans, who spent the summer living in Savannah.

Penny swears the safest seat in the house is the one under dad's leg.

College buddies Lance and Joseph

Pele Hagaman in the driver's seat

Dinner at Bella Bonna Yacht Club...a must visit if you're in Savannah!

And welcoming back the fall.

With our final wedding of the year...Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Costigan!

And a quick trip home to Spartanburg (wouldn't be another one of these until Thanksgiving).

Earlier sunsets.

The start of another semester.

And the continuation of Navy Reserve weekends.

We tried out some of the latest trends.

This one's gone to the dogs!

And enjoyed yearly favorites at the Bluffton Seafood and Arts Festival.

And we rejoiced in the return of FOOTBALL.

Vote for Brown!

I think everyone that knows my husband knows that he is a political junkie. We wake up to CNN Today every morning and fall asleep to the melodic sounds of CSPAN each night. His high school superlative would have been "Most Likely to Become President" if they had done that sort of thing (wait, I think they did and he got "Best Legs"....also true). Joseph is passionate about his community and serving others, which is one of the things I love most about him. So when the opportunity arose this fall to run for a local office as a republican in a highly democratic county, he accepted the tap on the shoulder enthusiastically. And so began our 2 month stent as campaigners...

The official newspaper picture

We spent the better part of September and October at a variety of events for the republican candidates. Here is a montage in our race for the County Council seat:

Beginning with the BBQ fundraiser at picturesque Maureen Plantation

Penny was the proud mascot during much of the campaign

Grannies and their friends make the best supporters!

Like a boss

The Gopher Hill Festival Parade

Penny approved

Just about the only time Joseph lets me drive a motorized vehicle when he's around

We saw a familiar face in the crowd! ;)

My girl was a huge hit

The republicans, unfortunately, were not this time around. Locally or nationally for that matter. We may have lost the race, but we learned a lot. We'll get 'em next time!

Voting day 2012

Learning curve.

Joseph has managed to put a few more dental tricks up his sleeve over the last few months, including learning botox on a trip to Atlanta this past September. I was one happy guinea pig, er I mean, wife!

Sadly, in the time between getting my botox in September and writing this post, my wrinkles are back in almost all their glory.

My learning curve this fall consisted of going to clinical. Twice a week. Every week. LAST SEMESTER starts this month, and I'm so excited I'll be finito in May!

Road trips.

With trips to Atlanta, Athens, and Spartanburg, we were in the car A LOT this fall.

We hit the ATL in September for Joseph's botox class. And true to form, I fit in as many non-dental activities as possible. Like finding all the good spots to eat.

Disclaimer: there will be a lot of food pictures from here on out. Hey, I'm pregnant.

And the local attractions.

Awesome Turner Field in Atlanta

We hung out with family, old friends, best friends, and even met some new ones.

First visit with Jaclyn after her big move back to GA!

Our new friends came with some perks, even if they were Georgia Tech alums.

VIPs on Turner Field!

We saw the whole fam-damily before we left Atlanta for Athens the next day.

Laird/Welch/Brown/Sikoa boys

Joseph was a good sport and tagged along with me to a few Georgia games this year. I'll get two Josephs to go with next year!

House divided

Go Dawgs!

I ventured back to Athens for homecoming the next month with my cousin Edward and his wife Keller.

My favorite tailgate buddies, Baxter and Owen

Jac and I between the hedges

Fruity pebbles donut from Athens' Ike and Jane's! Ok, ok another picture of food but how often do you see one of these?!

And the final home game of the season on Thanksgiving weekend, Georgia versus Georgia Tech.

Hanging out in the hotel motel

Last bridge pic of 2012!

Season's greetings.

We spent Thanksgiving apart since my job in the NICU means I work some part of the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's holidays. I was fortunate enough to get Christmas off in its entirety this year. There is no place like home for the holidays!

Joseph insisted on getting a tree as tall as the ceiling this year.

It was a beautiful pain to put up and take down, but there is nothing like a live frasier fir at Christmas.

Ahh, the return of Chick-fil-A's peppermint chocolate chip milkshake. Baby Joseph and I enjoyed a few of these treats during the holidays.

And Penny enjoyed some sugar free gum she found in my work bag. Which bought her a long visit to the vets. If your dog should ever indulge in this sweet, be sure there is no xylitol in the ingredients. This can be really toxic to doggies!

Sorry mom...

We spent a rare evening out on the town at The Heritage Gala in downtown Savannah supporting the Cathedral where my aunt and uncle were married. It's getting a lot harder to find clothes that fit these days!

17 weeks

Joseph's twin sister with her children in tow made the long trip from TN to Hilton Head to celebrate his mom's side of the family Christmas in mid-December. They have gotten so big!

Bennett and her American doll look-alike

Big boy Harrison

Penny got her Christmas list all ready for Santa as we packed up for Spartanburg.

And then we went home. :)

Who needs mistletoe when these pups are so kissable?

Stockings hung by the chimney with care

Treats!

Mom, dad and I toured "Sparkle City" aglow with Christmas lights on the eve of the eve. It's our second time doing this trolley tour and has quickly become a family favorite.