A Working Weekend with the Rusts

My parents and sister came to visit this past weekend. To show our appreciation of the time and gas they spent on driving down here, we put them to work. (In our defense, they volunteered to come help with baby-related preparations).

We worked all day Friday and Saturday on projects centered around the new housemate Victoria and I are getting in November. We painted the nursery, installed crown moulding in the nursery, assembled the baby's crib and dresser, and cleaned and re-sealed the deck (nothing says "Welcome Home, Newborn" like a water-tight deck).

It wasn't all work and no play, though. We enjoyed some dining out, a trip to the Smithfield outlet stores, and we took in the new release, Mama Mia. I plan on drawing on some of the ABBA songs still stuck in my head from that movie when I have to sing my little one to sleep some day. "You are the Sleeping Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen (months)..."

Many thanks to Mom, Dad, and Anno for the visit and all the help!

We Love Bald Head!

Bald Head Island is a magical little place off of the coast of North Carolina. A ferry ride is the only way to access the island, and cars are strictly prohibited. Transportation options on the island include golf carts, bicycles, or walking! There are no hotels on the island, and it has remained a very natural environment. Matt and I absolutely love the seclusion that all of these factors provide, and we are spoiled rotten by some good friends of ours whose parents have a beach house on the island. They have invited us to stay with them each summer that we have lived in NC, and we took our annual trip last weekend. This year's trip did not disappoint-- We enjoyed long days on the beach, grilling, and Mario Kart on the Nintendo Wii! We are trying to enjoy these trips as much as possible this summer. Life (and trips) will be much different with a little one around next summer!

Thanks for a great weekend, Peter and Bradleigh!

Our baby lost her name!

Matt and I are quite traumatized that our baby girl recently lost her name. The name had 2 fatal flaws:

1. First initial C with last name Rust spells "crust"
2. Meaning of name is "lame, hobbled, disabled"

We just couldn't place those burdens on our little one! Now, we are very sad that we don't know what to call her. We are starting from square one and are open to suggestions!