New Name

Taking a new name is going to be very difficult at first but millions do it everyday so it will just take some getting used to. The thing I dread the most is calling and changing my name for credit cards, banks, drivers license, insurance, social security, etc. And I really dread the change at work with email and phone calls. Some of you may not know but my last name will be Rogers. Is that great or what!?!?!!?!? I love Stooksbury but you have no idea how great it's going to be to say Rogers and not be called Stocksbury, Stockberry, Stuburg, etc. It's pretty simple, Rogers, R-O-G (no D) - E-R-S. YES! And you may ask, are you going to hyphenate? - Heck no! Are you kidding me!?!?! Would you? I will be Mrs. Katie Stooksbury Rogers. Mark and I were talking about this a few months ago and he could not believe I was keeping my last name and ditching the middle name. He didn't know that's what people do. This is his first time at this marriage thing, ya know. :) He just doesn't have a clue. Although, he has been so helpful and supportive in all the planning, he is the greatest! I just have to explain things sometimes. :) I cannot wait to marry him!

Wedding Update

We have been going full force with the wedding plans. We are pretty much just waiting on the day to get here. Here are a few things we have checked OFF the list!

1. The location has been chosen for both the ceremony and reception, we have also selected the cake design (tasting to follow), flower bouquets, centerpieces, dinner menu, ceremony decorations, linens, invitations.


2. Booked the photographer and booked engagement and bridal sessions.


3. Bridesmaids dresses have been chosen and ordered (set to arrive before Thanksgiving).


4. My gown has been ordered, set to arrive mid-November, with bridal portraits to follow.


5. We have purchased our wedding bands.


6. The preacher has been booked, counseling to start after the new year.


7. Shower dates have been set. We will register in January, giving time to get all that Christmas stuff out of the way.


8. Mothers dresses have been purchased.


9. Drew is sitting up (right on schedule to be walking by April :) )

There are still some things to complete but again, the bulk is done and we are enjoying this time and anxiously waiting on the day!

Well, as I mentioned in a previous blog, we did have our engagement pictures taken and we did NOT choose Bell Buckle, TN. We did however have them taken at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro. This was the exact setting we were looking for, outdoors, creek, greenery, rocks, trees, etc. Click on this link then click on Katie and Mark for a slideshow preview of some of the pictures taken. I am still waiting on my digital negatives to post some others but this will give you an idea. We absolutely love them and had such a great experience with our photographer. Mark was really dreading this session and we got in the car afterwards and he said "Ya know, that wasn't bad at all. Not at all what I expected." Whew, what a relief. :) We know the wedding day will be just as great and even better.

On the Go!

The past few weeks Mark and I have been going non-stop. We had our engagement pictures taken a couple of weeks ago then I left for Baltimore and Mark left for California. After that week, we spent Saturday together and then I left again for Phoenix/Tucson and Mark when to Chicago. We finally are back in Tennessee and it is so good to be home! I love to travel but traveling back-to-back so much would definitely get to me very quick (traveling for work, not leisure, of course). I don't know how our sales guys do it. This is our busiest time at work and I'm still trying to catch up from being out. I hate having my inbox so full of things to follow-up on. I am loving fall, although I really haven't been here to enjoy it. I love the changing leaves and the cool weather. And I CANNOT believe it's already October! I have tried to keep up with other blogs, now I just need to work on updating my own. :) Have a great day!

Bell Buckle, TN

For the past few weeks Mark and I have been looking for the perfect spot for our engagement pictures. Our photographer suggested Bell Buckle, TN. So we took the short drive to check it out. We didn't choose this spot for our pictures but we still had fun and it definitely has a lot of character.

They have the cutest shops, a cafe and ice cream parlor!

My man!

Tennessee Sunset

Tuesday night Mark and I went to Cedar Creek Park in Mt. Juliet where his parents have been camping. We had dinner and a very nice lazy night, enjoying the cool fall weather, looking at the lake, listening to the geese and tree frogs and watching the sun set. I was able to capture these gorgeous pictures, I had to share.

Family Weekend

We had such a nice weekend at home watching football (sad that we lost, but we still support our Vols), celebrating Casey's birthday and having fun with Drew. I have been so spoiled to spend time with Drew two weekends in a row, but I have loved every bit of it. Mark didn't get to go, he was stuck in Nashville with NO gas. That's an entirely different story so I will just leave it at that. Anyway, Drew stayed with us on Friday night and I love my 10pm feedings I have with him. He is such a cheeseball and I got to see BOTH of his teeth. But bless his heart, he had a rough day on Saturday, we are sure it was his gums. He would suck on my finger and just press it down on his gums. He loved a wet washcloth in his mouth and he was a little fussy. He just didn't feel good, but boy is he sweet! He is so funny, he just talks, smiles and laughs. The funniest thing was when we put him in his bouncer. He was a little tired when we put him in it but he still entertained us.

The funniest thing is watching his feet, it looks like he is dancing.

V-O-L-S Go Vols Go

It's football time in Tennessee. This past weekend Mark and I took his nephew, David, to his first UT game, Tennessee vs. UAB. We had a great time but it sure was HOT! It did not feel like football weather at all but by golly it is! Friday night we drove down and stayed with mom and dad then headed to Knoxville early Saturday morning. We were all dressed in our orange and ready to cheer on the Vols. Drew stayed with mom and dad Friday night too and we dressed him for the game too. I can't wait to take him to his first game. How fun!

Since we got in late on Friday night I figured I had missed Drew until Saturday morning. But we arrived just in time for me to feed him. I feel like I have not seen him in forever! He is so long! I fed him and we rocked, just had our cuddle time. Then I went to put him back to bed and he looked up at me and gave me THE biggest grin! I just cracked up! So since he was awake, I had to start talking to him. So then he got roused up and we talked for a good 20 - 30 minutes. He is so happy! Well he finally got calmed down and went to sleep. I was so glad I had that time with him. Saturday morning, he woke up and I fed him and he played with Mark and David while I finished getting ready. He is such a happy, talkative and busy baby. He is going ALL the time. I captured this little video while he was playing on my bed. Drew bug I can't wait to see you again this weekend! Love you!