Quick trip to Knoxville

Emily and Benjamin will be welcoming John Thomas Griffith into the world soon! John Thomas will be carrying on the Griffith name. Pa had four sisters, and between my Dad and Tom, Tom had the only boy. So with Benjamin's first, we're happy the Griffith name will carry on. :-) The shower was Sunday, August 1st. I told Aunt Vickie we would be going, and we were looking forward to it.

Friday night, Doug started feeling sick. :( Saturday he slept most of the day. He had a major migrane, nausea and a fever. I can count on only one hand the number of times I've seen Doug so sick in his life. He was REALLY sick when Liam was born. He was almost as sick last weekend. So he rested and we were really hoping to make it to Benjamin and Emily's shower. Sunday morning he woke up, still not feeling well, but he finally decided we could go if I drove the three hours there. We ran into some traffic on the way there, so we were late, but we DID get to see Benjamin, Emily, Uncle Tom and Aunt Vickie. The shower was beautiful and Emily looked great. I'm sure with this heat, she's ready to have John Thomas.

They received so many beautiful gifts! Benjamin's Grandma (Vickie's Mom) made some beautiful blankets and burp cloths. Another woman at their church congregation also crocheted a beautiful white blanket. She mentioned that she wanted to learn how to crochet and had previously tried, but gave up. She mentioned that the family meant so much to her that she really wanted to make a blanket, and reattempted trying. It turned out beautifully. And I thought her comments spoke volumes as to how highly she regarded the Griffith family. Very sweet.

It was a VERY quick trip. I really wish we could've spent longer there, but with Doug not feeling 100%, it was probably best that it was a quick trip. Uncle Tom looked great after his recent surgery. He mentioned he tires more easily, but was standing easily for quite some time. His surgery was only 1 1/2 weeks ago, though, so I thought he looked incredible! The kids, Doug and Uncle Tom went out to the playground while I watched Emily open gifts. Benjamin was the photographer for the event. Due to the summer heat, the kids didn't spend too long outside and soon came indoors. They went to a kids' classroom downstairs, where they were in HEAVEN. Ava immediately played with all things pink. Liam ventured toward fire trucks and cars. Liam was a motor mouth when downstairs, but seemed to clam up as soon as Aunt Vickie, Benjamin and Emily came downstairs. Stagefright, I guess. :-)

Can't wait to see this baby's sweet face in the coming months!

Peace, love and all things blue,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam