Valencia, Spain

Daniel spent the past month in Valencia, Spain with a fellowship from the European Union at the Polytechnic University of Valencia as part of the Transatlantic Partnership for Excellence in Engineering.  The next series of blog posts will contain information from his trip.  I hope you enjoy them.  He also made a weekend trip to Porto, Portugal and went to Rome and Barcelona when I joined him for the last week.

The City of Arts and Sciences:






Torres de Serranos (Serrano Towers - gate of the medieval city wall):


Beautiful city street:


Central Market:

Happy Holidays!

Visit with Baby Jaxon

7lbs, 1oz 19.5" long (baby Jaxon that is!)

Cousins!

On our way to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, we stopped off in Charlotte to visit our new nephew who was born on Monday, November 22.  Baby Jaxon is quite the cutie although it is strange to have a nephew.  Guess that is how the rest of the family felt when Sophia was born! :-)  Sophia behaved herself and only tried to poke out his eyes once.  It was good to see everyone even if it was for only an hour.  We look forward to seeing my side of the family for Christmas.

First Tooth

Mommy and Sophia on our new couch (Thanks Margaret!!)

Trying to sneak a peek at the tooth

Right in the middle of her lower jaw.

2010-2011 NC State Recreation Guide

We made page 20 of NC State's 2010-2011 Recreation Guide!  I think this was from several years ago from one of the group fitness classes right after the new wing of the gym opened.

2010-2011 NCSU Recreation Guide

Everday Heroes - Union Observer Article from July 10, 2005

Posted on Sun, Jul. 10, 2005 in the Union Observer

Everyday Heroes

Rachel Chilcot

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Community volunteer

MOTTO: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." (Also one of her dad's favorite sayings.)

AGE: 21.

HOMETOWN: Orlando, Fla.; has lived in Weddington for about 16 years, but is currently living in Raleigh as a student.

HER WORK: Volunteers for Meals On Wheels in the Raleigh area every  Wednesday and received the Ellen Brewer Community Service award this year for her work with the non-profit group; previously volunteered at a local center for developmental disabilities; while working toward her Bachelor of Science degree in foods and nutrition at Meredith College (which she earned in May) she participated in the MeredithReads literacy programs and served as president of the Campus Activities Board and the Meredith Recreation Association; recipient of the Sophie Lanneau Silver Leaf and Gold Leaf awards for leadership; also has served in various other capacities in various organizations, including the Meredith Nutrition and Wellness Association; helped start a literacy program in Belize during a spring break trip; currently taking classes to earn a registered dietitian license.

WHY SHE DOES IT: She became involved with Meals On Wheels through one of her instructors and says her clients have become her adopted grandparents. "If you saw the smiles on their faces when you come to bring them their meal, you realize that you are wanted there because they love having visitors. This isn't lunch for most of them. It is contact with someone that they can share their story and life with. They are the most amazing people."

WHAT OTHERS SAY: "She's compassionate, she's caring, insightful, intuitive. She truly is what I would want a student to be who is leaving academics and going into practice."

-- Dr. Susan Fisher of the Didactic Program in Dietetics.

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WHO'S YOUR HERO?

Know of someone who should be spotlighted as a Union Observer Everyday Hero? Please tell us who and why and give us a way to get in touch with you. Call us at (704) 289-6576, fax (704) 289-4669 or e-mail unionobs@charlotteobserver.com. Our mailing address: Everyday Heroes Union Observer 132 S. Main St. Monroe, NC 28112

Nanny & Mommy Pictures with Sophia

Sophia with Julie

Sophia in the way of Mommy eating lunch

Baby Book Information

Daniel Jonathan 
October 1, 1983 at 2:41 PM
8 lbs 4 oz, 21 inches
at Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, GA

Memorable Firsts:
Smile - October 5, 1983
Time to Recognize Mother - October 11, 1983
Laugh - December 27, 1983
Thing Reached For - Rattle on Decmeber 30, 1983
Sit Up Alone - February 13, 1984
Turned Over - February 25, 1984
Haircut - March 26, 1984
Began to Crawl - April 15, 1984
Tooth Appeared (Actually 2 Teeth) - April 22, 1984
Word - "Mama" on July 4, 1984
Step - August 9, 1984
Chickenpox - April, 1990
Lost Tooth - July 30, 1990 ($5 from Tooth Fairy)

Favorite Things (1990):
Art
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Batman
G.I. Joe
Chopping Wood
Playing in the Creek
Taking Care of Julie
Playing With Amy
Giving Gifts to People


Rachel Marie
August 27, 1983 at 9:35 PM
6 lbs 14.5 oz, 18 inches
at Florida Hospital, Orlando, FL

Memorable Firsts;
Home - 459 Henkel Circle, Winter Park, FL
Laugh - October 15, 1983
Turned Over - October 20, 1983
Steps - June 17, 1984

Belly Pic

39 weeks pregnant on Saturday!  Had a doctor's appointment this morning and everything seems fine.  The baby's heatbeat was 140 and she's in position for delivery.  Let the waiting game begin!

Pictures in March of Daniel & Rachel - 2004 & 2010

Daniel & Rachel [March 2004 (Left) and March 2010 (Right)]

2nd Bathroom

Our neighbor brought over some flowers!

Daniel the tile man (the tape is to hold the spacers in place & the tile)

Yesterday after he threw in the towel--looking good!

Well it finally feels like spring and I've been doing some spring cleaning! Daniel is working feverishly on the guest bathroom, and I'm trying to get the baby room halfway completed. I'm 38 weeks pregnant and starting to get a little uncomfortable. It's difficult to move around at night and flip over--but I only have a few more weeks. Since we are done with baby showers, we went to Babies R Us today and grabbed a stroller with our giftcards. We also went to target and got some other things that I knew I needed but didn't register for. I think for now we're fully stocked on just about everything we'll need but diapers. I decided not to cloth diaper until she could fit into the all-in-one diapers I already bought--which is at about 12 pounds. I'll still use disposable diapers when we're traveling or when someone is taking care of her (except her daycare which does cloth diapers) unless they want to try it! The hospital bag is mostly packed, car seat is installed and in the car, and the diaper bag is finally all packed. I'm feeling more ready, but I don't think anyone can be quite ready for how this little person is going to completely change our lives. We're looking forward to seeing family when they come to see the baby which could be any day now! Will post a belly picture soon.

Maternity Pictures by Joy Lyn Photography

Joy took our maternity pictures a few weeks ago in downtown Raleigh. They turned out great because she's so talented! I even squeezed my rings on for the occassion...that hasn't happened in about 4 months!


Rachel and Daniel Raleigh Maternity

Rachel's New Job - Director of Child Nutrition

Via WTSB Radio:

School Board Announces Personnel Changes


The Johnston County Board of Education approved several personnel changes during their monthly meeting on Tuesday. Rachel Findley was named Director of Child Nutrition, replacing Beth Taylor who retired in December.

Baby Shower 1/24/10 and Snow 1/30/10

Christian, Rachel, & Monica-College Friends

My best friend of 20 years, Sarah (who flew down from NY)


Mom and Me

MC Girls and fabulous hostesses!

Jessie, Victoria, Me, Margaret, and Elizabeth

Welcome baby!

We had our second baby shower last weekend. Margaret hosted it last weekend at her house and it was lovely. The food was great (thanks to some careful planning and the supper club girls!) and my mom made a very yummy cake. We got plenty of bath time necessities which will come in handy when she gets here. Hopefully by then we'll have a functioning second bathroom. Joy came to the baby shower and brought along her camera, that's why we don't have any pictures of her! That's where all these beautiful pictures came from (www.joylynphotography.com). She's fab in case you didn't know. All in all, it was a really great shower. Thanks Margaret for all your hard work!!

SNOW!

Daniel has been working on the house lately (as usual). He's working on the second bathroom quite feverishly. We ordered our tile for that bathroom and for the foyer last weekend. It was supposed to come in this weekend but I bet all the snow/ice held everything up. We won't have the "tile guy" to come over and help out till the weekend of Feb 20. A co-worker of Daniel's is going to come over and help since he's done many tile projects before. We just have to make sure we have all the supplies. Luckily we won't have to worry about using that bathroom for a while. After the tile is in, we'll have to order the granite for the vanity--then we might just have a working bathroom. It's the little things in life right? We'll post pictures of the progression sometime this week!

School Pictures - Fashion Faux Pas

Rachel in 5th (with pink headband) and 6th (with white hair tie) grade at Wesley Chapel Elementary and Sun Valley Middle School

Daniel in 5th (with black undershirt), 6th (with white undershirt), and 7th (no undershirt) grade at Robbinsville Elementary and Middle School

Does every kid wear the same shirt for multiple years of school pictures?  Does this happen on purpose?

Rachel and Daniel both committed this fashion faux pas, but was it on purpose?


Also of note, Daniel wore an Atlanta Braves shirt in 8th grade (below), making it 4 years in a row with Atlanta Braves shirts for school picture day.

28 Weeks Pregnant!

Well, I am 28 weeks pregnant today. Feeling really good still--just tired from the chaotic work week. Went to the doctor yesterday and they said everything looks good. I talked them into not letting me come back for 4 more weeks (I should be going every 2 at this point) with the promise that if ANYTHING happened, I'd call. Well, with much hesitation he said yes and I went on my merry way, happy that I didn't have to go back there for 4 more weeks. Sweet victory! They said she was "very active." You don't have to tell me. She lives inside my belly which is constantly lopsided or moving around.

Daniel got home last night and has been working on the hardwoods ever since. I took a video of some eggs he found under the shed. 23 eggs in fact! Apparently some of the "girls" have taken a liking to laying under the shed instead of in their nesting boxes. We'll fix that by keeping them cooped up all day tomorrow, which will force them to lay in their boxes.

Happy New Year!

Rachel's Baby and School Pictures

Click here to view these pictures larger

Just Stuff

Wanted to just check in with everyone and say hello. We are a little over 20 weeks pregnant so I'm halfway there! Daniel and I are looking forward to finding out who it is kicking me and we'll find out the sex of the baby on Tuesday, Nov 17. We are VERY excited and we are going to post what it is so if you do not want to know what we're having, then do not check the blog on Tuesday or else you'll find out (or facebook!). So that is your spoiler alert! Most symptoms are pretty much gone. No more nausea and not having any heartburn. This stage is going by well and I hope it stays that way. I'm actually starting to look pregnant instead of looking like I've eaten way too much food lately. I've gained about 8 pounds so far which is right on track. I don't really have a big appetite but I am hungry more often than usual.

We're both ready to start the holiday season and start traveling around all over. We have already picked out and are getting our holiday cards printed to work on over Thanksgiving break. We really need to schedule a workday in the house to get some things done before the baby comes so we may be asking some of you for assistance. Hope everyone is doing well and we get to see lots of you soon!

JCS Child Nutrition is Awarded National USDA Recognition for Food Safety

JCS Child Nutrition is Awarded National USDA Recognition for Food Safety
Monday, November 9th, 2009

The Child Nutrition Program for Johnston County Schools is the recipient of a national USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) award, one of 15 awarded in the southeastern region. North Carolina received five of the fifteen awards granted.

The award received by Johnston County Schools Child Nutrition Services is for Food Safety. This is North Carolina's first Food Safety Award. Johnston County Schools has received two honorable mentions in the past, but this year was awarded the big prize.

Photo: Mr. Patrick Jacobs, Chief Operations Officer; Rachel Findley, Child Nutrition Supervisor for Johnston County Schools; Dana Edwards, Child Nutrition Supervisor for Johnston County Schools; Beth Taylor, Director of Child Nutrition for Johnston County Schools; Dr. Janie Thornton, USDA Undersecretary for Foods and Nutrition