Bump...

Can you see the baby bump?  Six months and we are beginning to really see the baby belly. Baby Cole is moving all the time and we are excited for his arrival.  I am feeling great and loving this stage.  Will and I are working on getting the baby room ready - so fun.  

What's in a Name?!

Will's Aunt Deb and cousin Haley offered to help us decide on a name for the boy.  These probably won't make much sense to most of you, as they are references to Brewers past and present.  Needless to say we are still debating :)  Hope you enjoy a good laugh!

Name: Tennessee Wilson Brewer
Explanation: If we cant have the city knoxville, we'll take the whole state.
Honoree: Tennessee Williams, the author

Name: Fort Knocks Brewer
Explanation: Ok, really its first born, first serve with a twist.
Honoree: The tennessee volunteers that went to war.

Name: Less Dan Brewer
Explanation: Buckwheat trying to say "less than".
Honoree: Grandfather Dan and Great grandfather

Name: Phil Her Up Brewer
Explanation: Because he was born during the oil crisis when gas was high.
Honoree: Grandmother Phyllis

Name: Jimmie Joe Bob Brewer
Explanation: Every southern born and bred boy needs a good redneck name.
Honoree: Great great grandmother Jimmie Grace Nutt Brewer and Great Grandfather Joseph Wilson

Name: Barack-ifer Brewer
Explanation: In honor of the president elect.
Honoree: Barack Obama and Mother Jennifer

Name: Will Dread Brewer
Explanation: For a rock and roll kid with cool dreadlocks with a wild side.
Honoree: Father Will and Great Grandmother Mildred

And Haley's Favorite:

Name: Will.I.Am Dean Brewer
Explanation: For the future rap artist in the family
Honoree: Great Grandmother Brewer Willadean

THE BIG REVEAL...

Well, after much speculation, we finally learned today that we’ll be having a…

BOY!!!! We can’t believe it!! We were (as were most of you who voted) convinced it was a girl, but we were wrong. Cousin Royce will now have someone to team up with against all the girls. :) Of course, this is Will’s family’s first grandchild, so truly a special time for all of us indeed. Thanks for your prayers, well wishes, and for playing our voting game!

Cast your vote...

Stay tuned...one week from today, we will (hopefully) find out the gender of Baby Brewer!  Until then, cast your vote on whether you think it's a boy or girl - the poll is up at the top, on the right.  

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think!

A Nephew!

It has been an exciting week. We have a nephew!  This is the first baby boy....a great addition to our 3 lovely nieces. Can you tell we are a very proud aunt and uncle!?!  Congrats Amber, Jason, Riley, and Jancey.

SURPRISE!!!

This is Will checking in for Jennifer. We hope your Labor Day weekend has been a rejuvenating time of fellowship with friends and family! Jennifer and I shared this Labor Day weekend with my family in Knoxville, then came back to Chattanooga to watch football and celebrate the following big news:


Your eyes, in fact, are not deceiving you: that is Baby Brewer…scheduled to make his or her debut on or before April 1!! Though this news caught us slightly off guard, we are thrilled nonetheless and pray God’s blessings on our developing little one. Jen has been a little sick during these past few weeks, but thankfully I have not had to make a 2 a.m. run to the store for pickles and ice cream—yet.

Jen, you continue to amaze me with your strength, encouragement, dedication, and love, and I couldn’t have picked a more wonderful woman to be the mother of my children. I love you very much.

Nana's 85th Birthday Surprise

Nana turned 85 on Tuesday, August 19th.   She was so surprised!  Many of her family and friends met at The Warehouse 5957 to celebrate.  We had pizza, old fashioned vanilla and cherry cokes, popcorn, and banana splits.  This was all accompanied by lots of entertainment - kareoke, singing, and comedy.  It was a blast.  Will refers to the Warehouse as "Cracker Barrel on steriods."  They are collectors of all kind of memorabilia.  You might even get your own pic with Elvis if you are lucky.  See what you think....

Holden Beach: Our 21st Year

This year marks our 21st year of making the trek to Holden Beach, North Carolina, with my family and some of our closest family friends.  We've done it since I was young and it has become something we look so forward to every year.  This year was especially neat because it was Will's first time to experience all 23 of us (24 with the addition of Amber's little BOY who will arrive in October!) in two beach houses!  There is always some sort of chaos going on, especially with all the little ones.  Unfortunately, Bear couldn't make the trip this year and we've missed having him.

This year we also started a new tradition of having professional beach pictures made.  This pic was my favorite of all of us, and the photographer got some really good shots of the little girls.  Below are some other great ones he got.  I love our growing family!

Wedding Pictures

View the proofs at http://www.aliciahendersonphotography.com

Honeymooning in Maui

We spent 9 days in Maui! It was a fabulous week and simply BEAUTIFUL! 

Check out the pics...

Will and Jen - first day in Maui.

Sunrise at the Haleakala Crater (volcano) at 5 am.

Helicopter Ride around Maui and Molokai

Don't I look like a Hawaiian here?!

The BIG Day

The BIG Day finally arrived.... May 25th!  It was a great weekend with friends and family!

Mexican Margarita (Virgin!) Fiesta!

Well, the weekends keep rolling closer and closer to our big day, and we haven't stopped partying yet! Last night we enjoyed a Mexican-themed shindig thrown by my terrific sister and brother-in-law, Amber and Jason, complete with sombreros and fake mustaches!

Brad and Ashley came all the way from Memphis for this one, and Drew and Allison drove over from Knoxville.  We are so blessed with great friends and family.  Cha cha CHA!

Partying On...

This is the party month! We had a great party in Knoxville and then one in the 'Nooga the past two weekends. We have been showered with presents, blessings, and prayers. We are indeed loved. Take a look at the "new family" photos. :)

Shower Time

It's the Wedding Shower Season.....
On Sunday we had a fabulous shower at Laurel. The gifts and outpouring of love were overwhelming. I could tell the Brewer family is definitely loved by their church family! Thanks to all who have given us support and encouragement. God continues to bless us through all of your friendships.

Still Alive

Hello blogger friends! Whew, what a crazy year this has been so far! And its only going to get...crazier. I wanted to drop a line to let everyone know I'm still around...

Will and I are inside the two month countdown for the wedding with some kind of activity every weekend until then! We are both more than ready to live in the same town and for life to settle down a bit. I have been traveling most of the month of March, and poor Will has been enduring repeated questioning as to why we haven't been seen together lately...I guess we are going to have to make sure to keep up appearances!!!

In addition to getting ready for the wedding, other 'Nooga happenings include a teaching conference in St. Louis, a quick spring break trip to Florida with my mom, Amber and the girls, followed by a visit by Ash, Brad, and Lydia and also Bear. It was great to have the whole family together again, if only for a brief couple of days. I always enjoy seeing the little girls (Riley, Jancey and Lydia) getting dressed up for Easter. Brad and Ash will be moving to Chattanooga this summer once Brad graduates from Dental school, and I'm excited that we'll all be in the same city again. Bear is off to Alaska this summer to hunt and try to find time to fit in his dental internship!

Please keep Will and me in your prayers during this busy time. Happy Spring, y'all!

All you ever wanted to know about me and more....

I recently got this email and thought my blogger friends would enjoy. Happy reading!!!!

1. What is your occupation? Academic Coordinator at Boyd Buchanan School (my alma mater), and I also teach AP calculus. I admit that I am quite the math nerd!

2. What color are your socks right now? None - I love to go bare foot in the house (ignore the dog hair!)

3. What are you listening to right now? "Love Note" by Big Silver - Isaac Alexander's band and dog's whining (it is muddy and they are outside and in the kitchen - I have Will's 2 and Taz - 3 DOGS!!! Help)

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Amber's homemade chicken pot pie at her house - went to play with the girls last night - and of course I am drinking my coffee this a.m.

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Of course, I can do anything!

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? pink - I have been feeling very girly lately

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Will - my fiance - he calls me every morning :)

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? YES! One of my dearest friends - (hey college "roomie" - luv u)

9. How old are you today? 33..."thirty, flirty and thriving" (have you seen the movie "Thirteen going on Thirty"?!?)

10. Favorite Drink? Coffee with real creamer and Diet Dr. Pepper

11. What is your favorite sport to watch? UT football and Will is trying to convert me to college basketball

12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Me?! Are you trying to say that I am not a natural blonde!!??

13. Pets? Taz, the most lovable weimeraner and 2 step-dogs, Gracie a boxer and Channing , a chocolate lab - am I crazy or what?! We're working our way up to 'The Brady Bunch' level!!

14. Favorite food? Pizza and ice cream (a moment on the lips - forever on the hips)

15. Last movie you watched? 27 Dresses - I am soaking in all the wedding movies I can :)

16. Favorite Day of the year? I predict that it will be May 25th - the day I begin the rest of my life with my love

17. What do you do to vent anger? Run my mouth - this is not my best trait, and cry

18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies - I have the sports car and the Barbie house - even played with my mom's Ken and Barbie

19. What is your favorite,spring or fall? fall, I love football season and the colors in the trees

20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs - the big bear hug kind

21 Cherry or Blueberry? Blueberry (Chera-Lyn's cobbler is the best!)

22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes - who wouldn't want to ?!?

23. Who is most likely to respond? please all - this was fun to do :0

24. Who is least likely to respond? my mom - it is too long :)

26. When was the last time you cried? This is a regular thing for me - about once a month.....

27. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes, shoes, and shoes... (and probably a little dog hair)

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Amber, my sis, known her my entire life

29. Who is the friend you have had the shortest that you are sending this to? Haylee

30. Favorite smells? coffee brewing, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, the smell of your house after mop and clean the bathroom really well, Jancey right after bath time when she nuzzles up to you

31. What inspires you? God, Riley quoting scripture - WOW- she is amazing, Will's constant encouragement, Mom and Dad saying they believe in me and "you will be OK", the "aha!" moments I have with my students, encouragement from my colleagues

32. What are you afraid of? Divorce and Satan, enough said.

33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese with lots of ketchup and mustard, Chilli's has the best

34. Favorite car? I LOVE my Honda Pilot....but my dream car would be a a mini van - JK

35. Favorite cat breed? no thanks - I definitely am a DOG lover!!!

36. Number of keys on your key ring? Tons - At least a dozen - all that responsibility!!!

37. How many years at your current job? 3 and counting

38. Favorite day of the week? Saturday - I get to spend the entire day with WIll

39. How many states have you lived in? 3: TN, AR, KY

40. Do you think you're funny? Sure - why not....I am lots of fun to hang out with!!

Hope this was as fun for you to read as it was for me to answer... Jen

Four Months and Counting...

Four months and counting or...3 months and some days as Will likes to think of it! We are keeping the roads between the 'Nooga and Knoxvegas hot as we finalize the wedding plans and prepare for the upcoming summer.
Oh, and if anyone needs a house in Knoxville, I know where they can find the cutest little place on the west side of town....

Holidays and Silly Faces

This Christmas was so much fun. Will and I spend the time off together traveling back and forth between Chattanooga and Knoxville...this is the story of our lives right now.
The fun began with an outing to Rock City to see the lights. I believe this needs to become a yearly Christmas tradition. We had a wild Christmas Eve morning with the Whites and the 3 princesses (Riley, Jancey, and Lydia). The girls were so much fun with the toys and the presents. Then it was off to Knoxville to enjoy the traditional tomale dinner at the Brewers. It was our first Christmas together at the Brewers...they even gave me my own stocking for the occasion! We went to the lake and got to spend time with Harry and Elaine. I also got to meet Will's groupies at the famous "Mafia night" at the Wrights and then we were off to North Carolina with the Lou Lous (my Louisville friends).

Even though we were both exhausted from the traveling, I can say this was an incredible holiday. Thank you family and friends for sharing in this exciting time and blessing me with much laughter and love.