Christmas Things

So this is one of my new favorite Christmas songs. I love Third Day and I love Christmas music and this song is the perfect marriage of those two things. Hope you enjoy.

I also really appreciated this blog post written by Lynne Hybels. She talks about what matters and what doesn't matter during this busy and sometimes crazy time of the year.

I have already started working on my New Year's Resolutions. I would like to learn to sew so that I can make this quilt from this blog.

Where have I been that I just discovered Anna Maria Horner?

Anyways, Merry Christmas to you all!

The Beach

I am way behind on the blog, but here are some pics from our beach trip last month. We had such a good time. We walked on the beach, ate, shopped, played with Andrew, ate some more, repeat. James brought a hammock with him and his dad liked it so much, he ordered one and had it shipped to the beach house. We attempted to take some family Christmas pics and Andrew was a pretty good sport. We had great food at  Dewey Destin, Stinky's Fish Camp, The Donut Hole, The Red Bar, Boondock's, and Goat Feathers. We celebrated my birthday at Stinky's Fish Camp and the piece of Key Lime Pie you see above was a slice of heaven. I LOVE a good graham cracker crust! Thanksgiving pics to come soon!

The Graduate

I know what you're thinking, "You're husband graduated in MAY!". That's correct; he did graduate in May. But his graduation may/may not have been overshadowed by the birth of a child. I would have blogged about his graduation at the time, but we were both in the fog that accompanies becoming parents. So I decided to blog about it now. In a 9 day period we became a family of three, James graduated, and we moved to Nashville. I wouldn't recommend anyone trying that. Becoming parents and graduating are blogworthy. For the sake of our marriage, the move is not discussed :). 

This picture was taken early on Friday morning before Convocation, which is the hooding ceremony for the medical students. Andrew slept about 3 hours Thursday night and James and I slept less than that. Poor James probably wouldn't remember the day at all if we had not taken pictures!

Here are James and his parents, Sara and Sam, after Convocation.

And my parents...

And all of the Parnell crew after Convocation.

Sweet, seven day old little Andrew in his daddy's hood. My sister, Meggie was sweet enough to keep him so that I could attend convocation.

I am so proud of James and his hard work over the past four years, and the work he continues to do in an ER near you!

Cereal

Andrew versus Cereal from James Parnell on Vimeo.

Lately

On September 27th, James started the first of two ICU rotations for his intern year. This is not really that fun for any member of our family as it involves many more hours at the hospital than working in the Emergency Department. So in order to give ourselves something to look forward to, we planned a trip to Grayton Beach for November.

No one will come back with a tan, but there will be no hospital shifts and lots of good seafood and family time. And there will be two grandparents to help take care of and spoil the Little Mister. It's a win for everyone :). 

Speaking of little Andrew, he has a new favorite toy: Sophie the Giraffe. Anything he can get his hands on goes straight to his mouth these days, but he was having a hard time getting his teethers into his mouth. I had heard about Sophie, so yesterday we set out to find her. The lady at the store said "Sophie is like catnip for babies." A little weird for a comparison I thought, but Andrew does love her.  

James also has a new toy...

And people- if you are considering a Kindle, you should definitely spend the extra $50 and get the 3G wireless. It is a one-time fee for 3G wireless. Unfortunately James' timing on purchasing this was bad because of his new found devotion to the ICU where he worked 78 hours during the first week. I'm sure he will enjoy it much more in a couple of weeks and especially at the beach. 

Now onto important things like UT football. To say this season has been a disapointment so far would be an understatement, but I can't say I'm surprised. I feel like most reasonable UT fans were expecting this. But I have high hopes for this man and the things he will accomplish while in Knoxville. I would also like to know what hair products he uses as it seems there is never a hair out of place.

Also I have been reading this book...

I first read an excerpt on Donald Miller's blog and then borrowed my sister's copy. I would definitely recommend it.

New Andrew pics coming soon! 

Hallelujah, it's fall!

We are really enjoying watching Andrew grow. He is smiling so much these days and giving us a few giggles every now and then. One of his newer tricks is squealing. He practiced this last week during the sermon at church and consequently won himself a debut in the nursery this week. I don't want to bore you people with the details of the daily life of a 3 month old, but James and I think he's pretty awesome. He will gnaw on anything he can get to his mouth, including, but not limited to burp cloths, blankets, James' arm, and his favorite items- his hands. Lately, he excels at having awful diapers (and therefore diaper changes) in restaurants such as Mediterranean Cuisine, El Mariachi, and Marche (gasp). The one at Marche was actually a going away present for his Aunt Caroline that she didn't have the pleasure of changing. And let me tell you, there is nothing less hipster than changing your kid's diaper in the trendy Five Points area of East Nashville in the backseat of the car. In the rain. I will be telling all his future girlfriends that story when he's allowed to date at age 21. 

Andrew and I made a trip to Ripley with my parents and Meggie a couple of weeks ago to visit my grandparents. Andrew complained about not getting enough attention from all his relatives while we were there, so I'm not sure when we'll go back :). Here he is with his cousin Libby making one of the sweetest faces I've ever seen.

Currently my only "job" is to take care of Andrew and hang out with James when he isn't working. Some days I miss working, and some days it's all I can do to take care of the sweet little boy and make sure James has clean scrubs for his next shift. And I'm more thankful now than I have been since the day we married to have an understanding husband as I guess he can sometimes see the look of exhaustion in my eyes when he gets home from a 10 hour shift and I have nothing to show for my day except a sleeping baby. I feel like things will get a little easier to manage the older Andrew gets and I know God's timing will be perfect as to when and where I return to work. 

Happy fall to everyone!

Sweet Caroline

So I just got home from a going away party that my sister's friends are throwing her tonight. She is leaving Friday for Mexico where she will be working for Baja Missions for the next eleven months. She will be translating for groups that come to do work for the churches and reaching out specifically to the women in those congregations. I know she has been dreaming about this for YEARS and I feel certain that God has prepared her for this adventure. And as happy as I am for her, I still can't stop the tears from rolling down my face. The longest I have ever gone without seeing her was for the semester she studied abroad in Costa Rica...and that was long enough! Enough being sad though. I look forward to her blogging about her adventure and skyping with her as much as possible! Caroline, I am so excited for you and I know that you will be a blessing in the lives of many on this journey. 

                                     

Number Three

James and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary last night (a day early). We had dinner at P.F. Chang's and then a little Maggie Moo's. The last year has truly been a whirlwind...finding out we would be growing to a family of three, James interviewing at what felt like a hundred places, finding out we were moving back to Nashville, welcoming sweet Andrew, James graduating medical school, actually moving back to Nashville, and James starting residency. There is no one else I would want to share this journey with and we are both so thankful for God's faithfulness and love for us every step of the way. Here's to many more anniversary dates! 

Crib Play Time

We have discovered that Andrew loves to play in his crib alone. He loves to stare and talk with his giraffe and Rex (the green dinosaur from Toy Story). This has become a regular morning and afternoon experience for him in which is talks with, swats at, hugs on, pats, and strokes his new friends. If you have a spare 3 minutes, and you think my kid is cute - you might enjoy the video below.

Crib Play Time from James Parnell on Vimeo.

A few things I miss…

While I am happy most days to be back in Nashville, it has been an adjustment. Here are a few things I have been missing about Memphis.

Muddy’s Bake Shop… Big surprise I’m sure. When we went to Memphis a couple weeks ago we went by and bought a few treats to bring home. They were individually wrapped (very carefully I might add) before being placed in the freezer for what James likes to call figurative rainy days.

Walks on the River…the closest river is now greater than 100 yards from my door and it definitely does not have a 2 mile trail alongside it.

Jerry’s Snowcones…I could really go for a small grape…like now.

Friends at work…and my jobs for that matter. I am slowly beginning the job search, but have already convinced myself that the people I will work for and with will not be as much as fun as the ones I worked with in Memphis.

Med School Friends…we are already planning a reunion.

And just so this isn’t all negative, I have lots of things to be thankful for here: James’ job, being so close to family and the Nashville friends we have missed over the past 3 years, and many other things. And here is a picture of sweet Andrew. He really is growing too fast!

Very Busy

Aw, the blogosphere. Sorry we have neglected you. Things have been very busy since the baby was born, graudation, the move and trying to get used to having a little one around.

If you have a desire to see what happened in out lifes the last four weeks, you can. There are over 450 pictures posted here. Hope you enjoy. We'll be back blogging soon!

Hello Andrew. So good to meet you.

James Andrew Parnell, Jr. graced us with his presence May 21, 2010 at 3:14 pm. He is a happy, handsome, wide-eyed little boy who likes to be called Andrew. Both he and mom are doing great!

He was begging to say "hi", so I told him I'd insert this picture. If you'd like to say hi in person, we are at Methodist Germantown Women's Pavilion until at least tomorrow - maybe Monday.

Thanks for all your prayers, love, texts, calls, and encouragement. We are truly blessed with an incredible group of friends and family in Memphis. Andrew will soon get to meet all these wonderful people and that is very exciting to us.

Uncontrolled Hilarity and Cupcakes

I must direct you to a video that Muddy's Bake Shop just posted. You know Elizabeth and I love Muddy's and cupcakes. You also probably know I have a love for uncontrolled hilarity. See below.

And just for the record, I googled "hilarity" to make sure I spelled and used it correctly. And then I googled "uncontrolled". "Uncontrolled hilarity" defined into more English is "great merriment without discipline or governance". I believe that is what is going on here.

And for those of you that love the musical background on our blog, it has been disabled for this post. Its hard to watch a video with sound with Earth, Wind, and Fire bringing the funk in the background.

Earth, Wind, and Fire

We have lived in Memphis now nearly 3 years and have never really had the desire to go to the Beale Street Music Festival, mostly because it always rains, you stand in mud up to your ankles, the pot smokers outnumber the cigarette smokers, and you are forced to press your sweaty body against the decay of Western Society.



Well this year I heard that Earth, Wind, and Fire was coming. I happen to really like them (much to James' confusion - he believes I was born in the wrong musical era). Last year I added them to my short, but growing bucket list. James, being the super husband that he is, found us some 1 day passes for Sunday. James spent hours counseling me about the fact that we may have to stand in a downpour, whatever footwear we wore would have to be disposed of, and that if we had tickets - we would be going. He also threatened to deliver Andrew himself in the mud and rain should I go into labor at the Festival. I had a really great time and I think James had an okay time :).He was a good sport at least to take his 37 week pregnant wife to a concert. And, it didn't rain on Sunday!

Showers for Andrew

Some super sweet and generous friends and family have hosted some awesome baby showers for us over the past few weeks. They have all been really special and James and I feel blessed to have so many friends and family members that are excited to meet Andrew and be a part of his life. I have not been the best at taking pictures at all of them, but I wanted to share a few that I had.

Side by Side shower at Katie's. Love those Muddy's cupcakes and diaper cake by Anna.

Diaper cake by Erin at my Nashville shower.

Sweet friends- Jenny and Caroline.

This was Tiffany's 1st try at fondant...cutest baby shower cake I've ever seen!

Tennessee Tuesday

I recently found another Memphis Gem. No, its not a new flavor at Muddy's Bake Shop (although there is always something new to try). On Tuesdays with a Tennessee Driver's License you get in free after 2 PM at the Memphis Zoo. I've been twice in the last three weeks to enjoy the animals. I would've been batting a thousand, but one day I showed up without my ID. I know, all you have to do is show up with your ID, and I left the house with my ID laying on the kitchen counter.

The Polar Bear peeking through the "sniffing hole" at us.

Old Man. Check out that face.

Young Man with bottle some lowlife threw in. He filled it up with water from the pond and was drinking out of it.

Love that petting zoo.

The Rhino we got to ride.

Tennessee Tuesday proves to be another of Memphis' gems. I often say that Memphis gets a "bad rap" and isn't as terrible as people make it out to be. Let Tennessee Tuesday at the Memphis Zoo represent one of the reasons that this is true.

Recently my accompaniment to the Zoo has been Craig Wright and Brandon Lokey. I plan to go each Tuesday until Andrew comes, and maybe take him although I'm not sure what kind of zoonoses he might catch. Who's coming with me next week?

"That jacket dun' drawn up on ya'..."

I have another memory to record because I almost lost it. A few weeks ago, I went with Craig Wright, Elizabeth's Dad, and Elizabeth's Uncle to St. Louis to watch the BasketVols play in the Elite Eight.

We made the 5 hour drive without tickets, knowing we could scalp some there. We did eventually find tickets and enjoyed the game, but that's not the memory I need to record - as the BasketVols in the Elite Eight will not soon be a fleeting memory.

As we hit the streets in search for tickets, St. Louis was covered with a light drizzle. The scalpers were ignoring the theories of Adam Smith asking for excessive amounts of green stuff for their tickets. Since no one was buying, they decided to make fun of one of their potential customers.

Enter Orange Jacket. I bought you at a thrift store in Knoxville. You were too small for me then. You are too small for me now. But you were only $5. And you look great with jeans. I can dress you up or down. As a classy UT fan, I can wear you over an white Oxford shirt. As a more focused fan, I can wear you over any of my non-orange colored UT shirts. You have ticket stubs in your pockets from games many moons ago. You, Orange Jacket, are my friend.

Orange Jacket In St. Louis watching BasketVols, dressed down with Black Tee.

Orange Jacket with Smokey before UT v. Arkansas game in 2007. Again dressed down with gray UT Tee.

Orange Jacket dressed up with white Oxford shirt before UT v. LSU 2006.

Enter Disgruntled Scalpers. From the scalpers I received the following heckles: "Did Pat Summit let you borrow her jacket?" Followed by, "Hey big guy, your little brother called, he wants his jacket back." Made complete with, "You better get outta the rain, that jacket dun' drawn up on ya'."

I considered retiring the Orange Jacket. But that would be a win for them. And I love that Orange Jacket.

And when I bought a pair of lower level seats for $106 below face value - I decided that I got the last laugh, in my Orange Jacket.

Writing Memories

Have you ever heard of this? People that write down every memory that ever arose within their brains? I think I read it in a book somewhere.

I pride myself on having the ability to remember things, often of little significance per my lovely wife, that happened years ago and for fleeting moments. I decided that I didn't want to start writing them all down, but Elizabeth suggested blogging them. After a few days of thought, this will be the first such blog. She may regret this.

I remember the first night I met Josh Stites. While sitting in Elizabeth's apartment with Jenny Dalton and others at the "Royal Arms of Love", Mr. Josh Stites entered my life. And the thing I can remember best about that night was that he had just picked up some new suits and one FINE pair of shoes.

Shoes that could set a dance floor on fire.

Shoes that could make a man.

Shoes that Jenny would die if he wore in public.

And that night, I met Josh for the first time and immediately associated him with what I thought was a pretty snazzy pair of shoes. To which I thought, "If this guy can pull off those shoes- he's gotta be a great guy".

Last Friday night, Elizabeth and I visited with Jenny and Josh at their house and before we got there, Josh put on those shoes. Josh, you looked and still look great in those shoes. Don't let people throw hatemakers at them. And in our future months and years in Nashville, I hope to see those shoes often.

Not the actual shoe.

"The envelope please..."

Ask me what the best week of my life is recently? I'll probably tell you Match Week. Not only was it an exciting time to find out where we would spend the next era of our life, but it was a week filled with good friends, family, and lots of fun times.

Pre-Match Breakfast.

On Monday, March15, 2010, I found out that I had matched in Emergency Medicine. I like to think of this as the day that I confirmed that I had actually inputted my rank list correctly and certified it. I had in fact done that leaving me in wait for 3 more days.

Thursday, March 18th was Match Day. UT's festivities were held at the beautiful Pink Palace in Memphis on a gorgeous day. Our friends had planned to all open our envelopes together, but my friends couldn't stand the wait. That might have been because I was in the slowest line ever to get my envelope and thought the Class of 2011 might match before I received mine. The time finally arrived for me to open my envelope...

I was very excited to have received my first choice and to be back in Nashville to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We are looking forward to reuniting with many old friends and being near our families.

Booton is always good for an embrace after a big moment.

Kelsey matched in Nashville too!

The proud family.

Jay matched in Derm. Genius.

Muddy's Bake Shop had a nice surprise for us.

Craig will be down the road in Jackson.

The Lipscomb EM boys. Booton and Lokey are headed to Birmingham.

The week was capped off by Caduceus Ball on Saturday night, annual celebration of the M4 class, at the Cadre Building in Memphis. We all had a great time celebrating the end of Match Week and spending time together. Not to mention the fun we had watching a lot of future doctors tear up the dance floor.

The Lipscomb crowd plus Gavin (who should have come to Lipscomb).

Liz and I at the Ball.

All said, Match Week was by far the best week of medical school and produced many memories. I am so excited and blessed to have matched at Vanderbilt and look forward to my training there.

The move to Nashville will be May 31st - looking for volunteers to unload the truck. And we're still looking for a place to live. We'll be house and rental shopping, but if you have a house that you need someone to live in or elderly acquaintances that need an MD to live in their guest house - let me send you my CV! We appreciate everyone's help in giving us any leads to help us find our new home!