Happy (Early) Birthday Jimmy!

Presents galore...

Filet with gorgonzola cream sauce, homemade french fries and a big salad...

Chocolate cake to boot...

Charleston

Happy Hump Day! Now for a recap of our anniversary weekend in Charleston...

The weather was...terrible. Completely gray/overcast and cold - record lows. Not at all the warm, even sweltering at times, Charleston I know and love. Anyways, it was still very fun. The only real letdown was that we dragged our paddleboards all the way to Charleston thinking we'd get a good paddle in at Shem Creek, but Jimmy couldn't have paid me to get in a bathing suit. Anyways, the weekend included...

...a bottle of champagne courtesy of my mom (and Malloy & Mikey - our pups - per the card our resort included). 

...a great glass of wine at the Market Pavilion bar. We tried to do the rooftop bar but it was way too chilly!

...a great dinner at Husk - Charleston's best chef and best new restaurant 2011 and Bon Appetit Magazine's Best New Restaurant in America. To follow: Husk sign and exterior; amazing-don't-know-what-was-in-them-but-they-were-delicious rolls; the happy couple on our way out...

...after dinner drink at the Blind Tiger Pub.

...an attempt to eat breakfast at the newly expanded Hominy Grill but the line was too long.

...coffee and muffin and some window shopping on King St.

...incredible burger at Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island.

...appetizer and drinks at Coast.

...and, lastly, two more appetizers and a vegetable for the table at FIG. FIG was a really cool, low key place - Jimmy had had enough of my picture taking :)

So thankful for the weekend away with my Jimmy!

Happy Anniversary Jimmy!

Happy two years sweetheart! Here's to many, many more to come - each better than the last.

Post on our Charleston weekend to come. But first, one of my favorites from Sept. 19th 2009...

Weekend Getaway

Tomorrow afternoon Jimmy and I head to Charleston for an anniversary weekend getaway and I couldn't be more excited. I've been to Charleston for 3 bachelorette weekends (including my own) and a family friend's wedding, but never with Jimmy!

On the agenda:

1. Eating good
2. Paddleboarding Shem Creek
3. Sleeping in
4. Lots of walking and sightseeing
5. Let's be honest, maybe a cocktail or two...

Life is good!

Good Book Recommendation

Based on the "back cover" of this book, I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it was great story. Really makes me thankful for the bonds I share with family and friends...

NY Times synopsis, "On his 80th birthday, Alexander Bayliss walks through Myshkino, the Russian village that has been his home for 20 years. A British citizen falsely arrested for spying, Bayliss was reported dead to his family and spent 20 years in a gulag....(Bleeped because it will give away part of the story)... As he makes his way around the village, he thinks back to his time in prison and he recalls both its misery and the deep bonds he formed with his work group leader, Kirill. A promise to visit Kirill's daughter, Frosya, upon his release brought Bayliss to Myshkino, and Frosya's adoption of him as both surrogate father and son kept him there. He made a place for himself by teaching English to the village's schoolchildren and watched as they grew up in a Russia that gradually shook off its shackles. As we accompany Bayliss on a tour through his present and past, this meditative, unadorned novel, short-listed for the Booker Prize in 1998, raises questions about home, freedom and the meaning of a life that resonate long after the final page is turned.

Leichliter's Do Carolina Beach

Family friends from Ohio, Jan and Ric Leichliter, have been visiting my mom since last Wednesday. I know she's had a blast with them and it's been great getting to catch up with them myself...

Havanna's for drinks and live music

Happy Hour beach walk

Beach scenery

Wine tasting at Fortunate Glass downtown - Yes, please.

Connor's 2nd Day & Kaylie Finally Visits VA Beach

I've sadly never visited my siblings-in-law in VA Beach. It wasn't on purpose, it just never worked out. Sheesh, all Kelly had to do was carry my nephew for 40 weeks and birth him at 9lb 12oz a little sooner and I would have been there :)

Anyways, I was very excited to see where they lived and get out on the town... oh, and hold that adorable baby again too...

Boardwalk on the beach

Lunch at a great brewery

After lunch we went straight to the hospital. If my face doesn't say bliss, I don't know what does...

Then Saturday evening we rode bikes to get some local eats and drinks. While we waited for our table, we took in some (touristy) sites...

World meet Connor

Connor Michael Long - 9lbs 12 oz - born 9.2.11 at 10:55pm

This past weekend was an exciting time for all! We got the text Friday morning that Kelly was in labor. I begrudgingly went to work and had to stay past 5pm on a Friday for a meeting - the guy drove from Raleigh, so I couldn't blow him off!

Jimmy and I finally got to the hospital in VA Beach at a little before 10pm to Dan and Stefanie waiting for us in the parking garage with the news that Kelly was about to start pushing. Yes! Connor had the good sense to wait for his Aunt Kaylie and Uncle Jimmy to get there!

Marisol, Dan, Stefanie, Kevin, Jimmy, Preston, Mrs. and Mr. Long and I all anxiously waited in the waiting room until mommy, daddy and baby were ready for the parade of visitors! Holding a baby just a couple hours old was even more special than I thought it would be. We were all in 7th heaven. So proud of Kelly - and Spencer - for bringing Connor into this world with such courage and poise!