A Time to Reflect

This time last year we closed a chapter in our lives as we pulled out of our driveway on Peyton Drive on a crisp Sunday morning leaving behind a completely empty house that we had made our home. As difficult as it was for me to be so far from my family during our years in Colorado, I would never in a million years change it for anything. Tears welled in my eyes as the garage door slowly shut knowing that the life we knew and had become familiar and comfortable with would never be the same. Change was on the horizon, lots of change.

We knew our new life in Indiana would begin with adjustments. Ryan had a brand new job that he started Monday morning at 8am, just 4 hours after arriving in Indiana. Can't say we didn't hit the ground running! We had a baby arriving in 8 weeks for whom we were barely prepared materialistically, let alone mentally. All of our possessions arrived at my parents house via the ABF moving truck only to find out while unloading that most of our (very new) furniture had severe gashes and scrapes in the woodwork. We discovered this just hours after receiving the news that our house in Colorado wasn't sold after all because the buyers lied about their income. The stress continues. A semi truck ran into the side of Ryan's new to us car a couple weeks later. Thank God he was o.k. My sister moved in with my parents and us, which made for a tension filled atmosphere at times. During these times I could feel the stress piling higher and higher in my chest. I missed my husband. He had some very long 12-15 hour work days as he was getting himself accustomed to his new job. And to top it off we had to put the family dog to sleep, and I was dealing with a bang cut from hell. Depsite some amazing blessings (like our son!)our life hit a rough patch, and I think it has taken about a year to adjust!

We are happy and thankful to be near family once again, but man we had to jump over some major hurdles during the transition. I knew the moves (CO to my parents, my parents to our house), Ryan's new job, our new baby would be stressful but I really had no idea just the toll it would take. Whew!

To everything there is a season....I am really thankful that season is O.V.E.R. I am thankful for our new home, great neighbors, my part time job that I just love, living in the same city as my parents, getting to see family more than just every few months, autumn in Indiana, Daren and Angela and Zach and Beth moving back to the midwest from CO as well, the lush green grass, the colors of all the different flowers and plants, the familiarity of Indiana, our new church, a happy and healthy baby boy, a too good to be true husband who I don't deserve (I married way out of my league!), and a God who proves over and over he hasn't forgotten about me when I thought he did.

See You in September

I absolutely love this time of year. Brisk mornings, sweatshirts and jeans, the glow of dusk, the anticipation of fall. The beginning of September is also special to me because it's when Ryan and I began dating 9 years ago! I always get butterflies in my stomach when I think back to that time. Despite the fact that Ryan wasn't full of conversation during our first dinner date, (I think he was really nervous!) later on that evening we talked and talked and talked. Even though we were just getting to know each other, there was a familiarity between us and chemistry that words cannot describe. Hands down I knew he was the one for me by the end of our first date. Nine years later he still gives me butterflies and makes my heart go pitter-pat.

We took a day trip to Ball State's campus on our wedding anniversary this past June. Here are a couple pics:

Posing outside the building where we met

North Quad building where we met in Religious Studies 101 class

New Trick

This is what I found when I went to get Derek from his afternoon nap.

...and it begins...

The Ninth Month

Derek had his 9 month wellness check up a couple days ago. We are happy to report that we have a healthy baby boy! Derek is growing consistently. He weighs 20 lbs. (45th percentile), is 28.25" in length (50th percentile), and his head circumference is 17.25" (15th percentile). The nurse practitioner said, "Oh, he just has a small head doesn't he.....doesn't surprise me.....both Dad's and Mom's heads are small." Huh? Oh well.

Last week Ryan and I noticed an upper tooth poking through Derek's gums. Two days later it was gone and hasn't been back since. Strange. Despite the lack of teeth, we have been advised to go ahead and start him on table foods. Table foods? Are you kidding me? I am scared to death that he is going to choke. And then there's that debate on whether he is going to remain vegetarian like me or become a meat eater like his Dad. While I'm on this soapbox, does it just floor anyone else that once a baby is weaned from human breast milk the pediatrician wants him to drink cow's milk?!

Here is Derek reacting to his first experience with blueberries. I think they were a little on the tart side.

Happy Birthday, Gary!

Ryan's Mom and Dad came to visit at the end of last week. It just so happened they were here on Gary's 61st Birthday! (Hope I don't get in trouble for revealing his age.) ;) We were able to have dinner out with them as well as Ryan's Uncle Jeff and Aunt Glennda. We had a great time. I made him a chocolate chip/toffee bar cookie cake. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. We had a fun couple of days with them, and we're thankful we were able to celebrate Gary's birthday in person this year! Happy Birthday!