Great Minds Think Alike

For a good 6 months this picture has been the background on my computer.  I always said that I would marry a cowboy and this is about as close as I get!

Well, I randomly decided to change it to this picture as I was talking with a co-worker who is getting engaged and it made me all marriage-giddy.  Anyway, I was home the next day on Mike's computer and he had changed his background to the exact same picture.  Out of all the pictures we have, we both chose the exact same one and neither of us knew it.   I love it!  

Riverdance!

Last night Mike's Mom and I went to see Riverdance! It was such an awesome show and to top it off, we were on the very front row!  There was so much energy, amazing talent and great music.  Little Allie was dancing right along with them (goes along with my Mom's theory that somewhere in our heritage we have some Irish blood).  Being on the front row, we were able to take in their amazing footwork and appreciate how athletic they are.  I think it is amazing how they hold their upper bodies so straight and keep their mouths closed while performing such an amazing workout- their lungs have to be incredible!

It was an amazing experience and I would totally recommend anyone to go see them! 

This fiddle player was AMAZING!  He would look right out into the audience and have such fun facial expressions while playing this amazing song.  He even had the little sparkle in his eye that he just loved doing it.  

Baby Update!

Here we are at 34.5 weeks!  We had a check up on Tuesday and my belly was measuring in small (about 30 weeks).  We did an ultra-sound and she is just perfect!  She was measuring in at 4 lbs 11 oz and is right where she should be for 34 weeks.  No wonder I get heartburn so much, she must be standing straight up!  The Dr. was measuring her and then got down to the head and said, "Wow, she has a huge head!"  But, we Shaw children all had (and have) huge noggins so this was no surprise.  

Lately, she had been doing tricks like whenever I sit down, she also sits down on my bladder;  she is getting quite good at it now.  She also likes to kick her dad when he tries to listen to her heartbeat.  She is quite talented, that little one!

She also has a name now!  Through much collaboration, we have decided to name her.....

Allie Elizabeth Meldrum

*Subject to change :)

Top 10 of 2008

2008 was a great year in the Meldrum home, and to copy my parents, we have listed our top 10 of 2008, and it will only get better from here.  We have been so blessed and have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives daily and he has given us so much.  Now, the Top 10, in no particular order.

1.  Getting Pregnant!

This was by far the best part of 2008 and will have key part to play also in 2009!  We are so excited to start our family and 2008 was spent preparing for her to arrive!  We have beeen so blessed and have received many hand-me-down items to get us started.   We got a crib, changing table, car seat (brand new), and tons of clothes!  Thank you to all who have contributed to the little Meldrum room.  Now, only 7 weeks to go until she gets here!

2.  Crusin' the Carribbean!

We LOVED our cruise to the Western Carribbean with Steph and Brendon!  It was so fun to see so many places and not have to worry about what to eat, where to sleep, or our entertainment.  It was a great big vacation before starting our family!  Thanks Steph and Brendon for inviting us to join you!

3.  Thanksgiving in Utah!

This picture is actually what I would have loved to see while in Utah as I did not get to see any snow this year, but I did get to see lots of Family and enjoy some great food!  We were able to get out earlier than we thought and spent a whole week with my family.  We did miss seeing little Ben by 1 day, but we get to see lots of pictures! (This picture is outside my parent's house a week ago when they had 18" of snow!

Along with this is Tanner coming home from a mission and getting engaged all in 2008!  Congrats bud!

4.  Florida Football!

We had had our fair share of great football this year, ending perfectly with a national championship!  We have been in Florida for 3 years and have won 3 national titles: 2 in Football and 1 in Basketball.  It is great to be a Florida Gator!

5.  Poster Accepted

Mike did research with a professor over the summer and his research was published and was accepted at some annual Pharmacy conference (I don't remember the acronym) in Washington DC.   He gets to go at the end of March and present his poster and enjoy a couple of days in our Country's capitol!  

6.  Christmas 

This year we got to spend Christmas in Gainesville with Mike's family.  It was my first experience not having a cold Utah Christmas, but we still had a great time.  Mike's Dad was the picture taker and I need to get the photos from him, so this will have to do for now.  We got to play with Melanie for a whole week!  I think we did at least 1 puzzle every day and played some mad games of Uno-attack.  

7.  Girls Camp

This was a new and exciting experience for Mike, to be out camping for a week with a bunch of teenage girls and only one other priesthood holder.  I was not able to go to Girls Camp, but Mike was able to go and boy did he learn some new things including games like Little Sally walker, again and again and again!  Our ward camped at some springs so they just got to play all day long in the water.  Needless to say, I am sure this is not the last time Mike will attend Girls camp.  

8.  Seminary

This year I have had the privilage of teacing early-morning seminary to some awesome kids!  I have about 20 kids that come at 6:45 am to learn about the New Testament!  The church must be true if teenagers are willing to wake up that early voluntarily (with a little nudging from parents).  I have learned so much about the New Testament and my testimony of Christ and his church has grown so strong.  This has been the hardest calling I have ever had, but also the most rewarding.  

9.  Being Inducted into Rho Chi

Mike was in the top 10% of his class and as part of that, was inducted into Rho Chi, the honors society of the Pharmacy world.  I always knew I would marry a nerd! (a cute one at that!) 

10.  Mike Acing his Dad's Pharmacodynamics class!  

His Dad's class is known for being the tough class of the 2nd year and Mike passed with flying colors!

Eat at Satchels

For Christmas Eve Eve (23rd), we decided to head to Satchels, a Hippie Pizza restaurant that is the epitome of Gainesville!  When you drive up, you question whether it is a junk yard or a pizza place, but you realize by the amount of cars that it must be good (we had an hour's wait).  They didn't have any little light beepers to tell you when you table is ready so they just get your cell # and call you.  While you wait, you can peruse through "Lightnin' Salvage Enterprises" where you can find such awesome treasures such as: 

The Deluxe Bacon Wallet

A Multitude of Permanent collections  such as the annual Largest Pine Cone Contest, Windchimes, Combs, buttons, etc.

Albert Einstein Action Figures (not pictured: Jane Austin action figure)

And if you get bored in the store, you can make you way over to the lounge where there is always a live local band (mostly older people) and some cool water sculptures/features.

(It was colder and we forgot our coats, so we went along with the theme and used a blanket at dinner)

Speaking of dinner, we were seated at the most coveted spot, inside the VW van!  The van is one of the many spots outside on the patio of the restaurant and they have cleared it out and installed wooden benches and tables.  It was a little squishy (2 parties in the van for a total of 8 diners), but quite fun.  They have the most delicious salad and Pizza which they serve on random, non-matching plates that they probably get from Good will, along with the silverware. 

They keep the back and sliding doors open to serve through.

Needless to say, Satchels is always an adventure and if you happen to go, be sure to bring Cash as that is all they accept.  Gotta love Gville!