Chick-fil-A at Northport FSU

Blake took a trip to Northport and got pictures of our unit. It is coming along pretty fast! Here we go....

Time Invested

This is my last week at Village Mall. There was a time when I thought it would be easy to leave with such an amazing opportunity ahead. Don't get me wrong, I do not regret this decision at all. However, Blake and I have invested so much time and energy in this unit and in these team members. I don't know if I can "turn off" my feeling of responsibility to the crew and the unit itself. It is amazing to think that we will be starting all over.
It doesn't help that I have so many loose ends to still tie up and the Interim Manager won't be here until a week after my contract is officially terminated. This store runs so smoothly that they really don't need us. I regret that I didn't take more time off while I wasn't needed because now I feel like our lives are about to be taken over. I am excited about having a baby and I am excited about opening a new unit. But I admit that I am worried about "Blake and me" time. Is it selfish to feel protective of that? Neither one of us are all that love able when we are sleep-deprived. And sleep-deprived we will be! We should have traveled more (but we couldn't afford it) ha. Now we need to pray that God will send us Chick-fil-A team members with a serving spirit and hopefully some CFA experience! This will make life all the easier.

What is my body saying....

So, I'm not usually one to overreact to medical things. I actually probably wait too long sometimes to take action. But I have called the doctor everyday for the past 3 days. I'm sure I have become very annoying. I am constantly having cramps like menstrual cramps. I have had several contractions, but not close together for an extended period of time. Although, I did have 3 in 20 minutes one time. And I have some spotting going on, which makes me wonder if little Gracie is trying to break out.
I am due in 6 weeks and 5 days and really need to hold out for another 3 weeks at least. I would love to see Gracie and have my body back, but I would feel much better if she could just hang in there a good bit longer.
Not to mention, we have now packed up her whole nursery and it is in a storage unit or my garage. Now my concerns about where I will deliver is a whole different story! I am going to be at my OB up through my 36th week. Then I will be moving and visiting another doctor starting at 37 weeks. I admit that this increases some of my apprehensions about labor. Health Insurance adds a bit of a problem to the situation as well. I just hope we can figure everything out.
Don't get me wrong, I am super excited about moving and opening a new unit! And I am super excited about having a baby. I am a little curious as to how it will play out. Opening this new unit will require Blake to work close to 60 hours a week, and me to work more than I am use to at the moment. I am want to breastfeed and I don't know how I'll make that work. I am praying God will bless us with a really capable nanny to make this transition all the easier. I just don't want Gracie to think anyone else is her mommy.

Overwhelming

We have quite a bit to do these next few weeks. We have to have the whole house packed loaded into a UHaul in 2 weeks and 4 days. Normally, this would seem pretty doable, however, Blake and I are still working full-time and I am not that useful. Yesterday I had all sorts of pains, cramps, and contractions. I rested a lot more than usual but it is impossible to ask me to rest when there is so much to do. Blake is doing it all on his own. My parents have come and helped me pack twice now, and they are super helpful. I come from a family of hard workers!! Although, no one can get as much done in a day as my Blake can. He has been absolutely amazing! He has handled the purchasing of a house, selling of a house, acquiring a ridiculously good loan, arranged for a flooring specialist to get into the house we are buying, home inspections, home repairs, and so much more! Meanwhile, I have been working on the opening of our new restaurant and preparing to leave Village Mall. This has been tough. I am sad to leave my crew.
Of the 2 weeks and 4 days, we are also being pulled out a bit. Blake has to travel with me because I'm so far along in my pregnancy. Jun 2, we have a meeting in Northport about the Grand Opening. I am excited about this! Then we will spend 2-3 days that week with an Operator Coach to talk about the difference in a mall and FSU. I would also love to take a couple of days to go to the lake and relax. This may be our last chance for a getaway for a long long time!
We also have to get Ashley and Jason's house sold, packed, a new one bought, and them moved up there to help! We are so lucky that they have decided to move with us! They will both be such a blessing to us. They are our best friends and such awesome representatives of Chick-fil-A.

Courtney Lane

We made an offer on this adorable house in Northport and it was accepted! Now we just have to close on the 2 houses and make the big move. I am really excited about this house. It is 4 bedroom, 2.5 baths, and 2286 square feet. I am super excited about the massive...I mean MASSIVE master bedroom and whirlpool tub!

Blake's biggest priority was finding a house with a yard that is big enough for a workshop. He loves to have a place to disappear and build things. This yard is big and has a great covered back porch. Winston and ChaCha wont know what to do with all of the room back there! Now I need to upgrade our furniture. We will certainly wait a while but our crappy stuff will make this pretty home so sad. Until then we will make due with the couch with the hole in covered by a slip cover :-)

Odd Sight

I woke up this morning and saw a step ladder on my front porch. That is strange because it wasn't there last night. Blake was up at 5:45am and gone by 6:00am this morning. Was someone stealing my light bulb and leaving behind a ladder? I wish I had a camera here for my blogging, but its in Blake's Car. I am hoping to get a nice one of my own for my bithday but we shall see!

Why I might kill my husband....

So I have threatened to take Blake's bike away from him for many reasons. (or should I say his 5 bikes) The main reason is because he never answers the phone while he rides....for hours...and I told him that I will have a baby soon and he would feel really bad if he missed it. I actually had a dream that after Gracie was born, I had to put a bike outfit on her to go meet her daddy.

Anywho, he got hit by a car while riding his bike yesterday. He now thinks he broke a rib. Let me explain why I want to kill him. In the next 3 weeks, we will close on our house, try and buy another one, pack and move, and start working on setting up our new unit. Have I mentioned that I am large and can barely bend over to pack? Not to mention I'm not allowed to lift a box. Then we will be having a baby and opening a new busy free-standing unit. Freak me out! I think it takes about 2 months to heal a broken rib and this will be our busiest 2 months in history! Does anyone have a garage I can hide his bikes in?

Gracie Susan Gill

Gracie has nice long legs. According to my book, she should be about 4 pounds now.

I just realized that I never posted any of Gracie's ultrasound pictures. These were taken when I was 26 weeks, which was about 6 weeks ago. She has my nose! And some big lips. haha Hopefully a big smile like her daddy.

This is her cute little hand up by her face.

Sausage Fingers

Just a note...my fingers are like little fat sausages. I cant even type or text well because they are so tough to control. Not to mention, they hurt when I bend them. My feet look like I broke them because they are so massive! None of my shoes fit...even my flip-flops are tight. WHAT in the world? Do not fear, my black slip-resistent shoes for crews still fit. Joy. Black tennis shoes go with everything.
What to do? Cut back sodium...I'm not sure what has more sodium. Drink more water. Put my feet up...yeah right.
Blake and I are heading to Montgomery today to spend some time in dad's EastChase unit. This will be good for us to learn how to do a big breakfast, a busy drive-thru, massive prep. It has been 4.5 years since I was a manager there so I need a refresher. I am excited and Blake is already in uniform. I guess I better go shower!

We are Moving!

We received a phone call less than 4 weeks ago that a Chick-fil-A Free-Standing Unit was being built in Northport, AL (just north of Tuscaloosa) and they had not selected an Operator. I overnighted my application to the Home Office and the circus began! We had several scheduled visits from Business Consultants to taste all of our food and meet our team and ask me loads of questions. Then we also had some unannounced visits (some while I was there and some while I wasn't.) Blake was awesome throughout the process, making sure that the team was working as hard as ever. He kept everyone happy and on task. They really love him.

We got a phone call Thursday night that we had been selected!! Thank goodness, because I don't think my nerves could go through that again.

This new unit opens July 23, just a couple of weeks after Gracie is born! It will be an exhausting couple of weeks but at least Blake and I make a perfect team. We can juggle work, home, and fun pretty nicely. We will certainly need all the support we can get.

Grand Opening our own Free-Stander in Alabama is our dream come true! We will be able to truly spread our wings and operate a family business. Now we just need to hire between 70-80 employees in time to train and open in July!

On the road...alone

So I'm heading to Peachtree City today for an IT Advisory Panel Meeting for the next 2 days. I must admit that I find IT very boring and Blake did my homework for me only Computer Class in college. Hopefully they need input from someone like me because I'm sure a few other Operators out there feel the same way.
My friend Courtney's water broke this morning and she is 23 weeks pregnant. It has totally turned things upside down and I can't stop crying and praying about it. Please keep Baby Nate and Courtney in your prayers this week. I believe they are in God's hands but the feeling of helplessness is overwhelming I'm sure. She has had a tough pregnancy and it makes you wonder why? Why are some so hard? And then you watch these shows like "I didn't know I was pregnant." What idiots! I mean are you kidding me???
I better go get ready. My toes need painting but I don't think I can reach them.

Gracie Update

We went to the Doctor today for our checkup. We are going every other week these days. He said that she is measuring perfectly and that I seem to be doing great. Her heartbeat was 142 beats per mintue and she kicked lady who was listening to the heart. Fiesty one already!
I am going out of town for an Operator IT Advisory Panel for 2 days this week, and then in 2 weeks I'll be in Atlanta for a Recipe for Service Workshop. He said there was no problem with me traveling right now. That made me feel good.
Hopefully I'll have some super exciting news later this week. Until then, please pray for my nerves. :-) They will be affected no matter the outcome!