We're now counting the hours until we become a family of four! Less than 24 hours from now, we will have a new addition to our family. We are definitely getting anxious and are excited to learn if Claire will have a little brother or sister! It's also been a little bit emotional, knowing that Claire isn't going to be the baby anymore. She is so precious to us that we often wonder how we can be blessed having another one. We know that she will be a loving and protective big sister. Today, Claire and mom have been busy trying to get everything organized and make sure we have all that we need to bring a new baby home. This afternoon will consist of one final run through cleaning the house and hopefully a volleyball game with popcorn tonight as a special treat for Claire. We'll add pictures and news to the website as soon as things settle down--keep checking back!
Once again, it's been some time since I've updated the site! Being closer to most of our family and seeing them on a weekly basis, I have found it more difficult making it a priority to keep this site updated. Here's the whirlwind of the latest going on's in our life. I promise to post more pictures soon...
We are now settled in Atlantic, Iowa. Much has happened in the last few months...we can hardly believe arrival of the baby is just a week away. Claire celebrated her 2nd birthday, which is so hard to believe! It's amazing how much she's developed--now speaking in nearly complete sentences, telling us what she needs and yes, sometimes even talking back to us! She remembers nearly everything, which can be scary, too.
Since June, we moved from VA to Des Moines, Iowa and then to Atlantic, David is officially an attorney, as he passed the Iowa Bar exam and was sworn in. After all this excitement, we've been able to concentrate a little more on the new baby coming. We can't believe everything that has happened since June!
We're adjusting to life in a small town and making new friends, which has been good for Claire. I am loving every second of being home with her, although I am getting a little nervous about what changes will come with the new baby. Claire has been such a big help as I have gotten bigger and increasingly more tired! She's managed to keep me moving which has helped to ward off the weight gain and swelling. Fourtunately, this has been an easy pregnancy and I have felt great for the most part. I have a feeling Claire will be a wonderful big sister, and such a great help. We can tell that she loves the baby already as she is always asking to 'see' the baby and giving my belly hugs and kisses. Her prediction as to whether it's a baby brother or sister seems to change every day...as for David and I, we aren't making ANY predictions this time around.
Today is our last appointment with the doctor as the c-section is scheduled for next Wednesday, October 17 at 12 p.m. It has been such a blessing taking Claire to these appointments with me. She has been able to hear the baby's heartbeat each week and be a part of the whole experience.
That's the latest from here...we'll post more soon.
This is the big weekend...we will make the trek back to Iowa!! We are anxious to reunite with David. The last week has been full of packing the last of our things, getting details in order for the move, training my replacement at work, and fun times with friends here in VA. We have had barbeque's and good bye parties, spent time at the beach and went the the Strawberry Festival for the second year. Virginia has been good to us, and it will be sad to leave, but we are looking forward to the next chapter back in Iowa! Hopefully, I'll have more time to update this site as I will be a full-time wife & mommy. I am looking forward to spending time with Claire and enjoying the new baby as he/she grows. Love to all--see you soon!
Claire got to hear the baby's heartbeat yesterday! I am now 17 weeks and Claire came to my last appointment, and was able to hear the baby's heart. She stopped in her tracks when she heard it, and was in awe. The doctor asked if it was her baby brother or sister, and Claire shook her head and said 'uh-huh'. Throughout the day when I asked her what the baby's heart says, she said 'boom-boom'. Even if she doesn't remember it years from now, I thought it was special!
Daddy did it! He graduated on Saturday, May 5 and headed back to Iowa first thing Sunday morning. We miss him, the house is quiet and empty, but in just a few days (17 to be exact), we will be making our way back. Claire has been adjusting to all the changes, and I haven't enjoyed being a single parent, but thankfully, it is short-term. Claire knows and I believe understands that her daddy is in Iowa and that we will go see him soon. She asks for him a few times every day and even insisted that we set a place at the table for him the other day! It has been a lot of transition, but she is coping well!
Things are coming together--David graduates with his MA & JD next weekend (May 5), he's getting through his final exams now. I know he is looking forward to the next season of life and is ready to be done with school. Sunday after graduation, David and Grandpa Ed will make the long trek back to Iowa with a 17 foot moving truck towing the car! Claire and I will be roughing it on an air mattress & pack-n-play for the next few weeks. My last day of work is June 1 and then Grandma Diane & Grandpa Gary will come out to get us! We will be living in Des Moines for the summer with Grandma Diane & Grandpa Gary while David prepares for the Bar exam. It will be a summer full of family and catching up on lost time. We are so excited for all that is to come and truly blessed that the Lord has gone before us and made the way!
Being that this is our last few weeks in Virginia, we are finding ourselves doing a lot of fun things that we haven't taken advantage of since we have been here. Claire's Godmother, Lisa Marie got her tickets to the Children's Museum for Christmas, two weeks ago we made the trip to Portsmouth to see what there was to see. Claire loved the bubbles and the bus the best. Daddy liked the big purple chair. It was great fun to climb and crawl around and see things from a child's perspective. While Grandpa Gary was here, we took a trip down to the Boardwalk. We walked a total of 50 blocks (Claire was in the stroller of course) and ate at a restuarant on the oceanfront. We also made probably our last time to the big mall in Norfolk, MacArthur center. There is still so much to see and do before we leave here!
We had a special visitor last week--Grandpa Gary was in the area (Washington DC) for work and decided to come down for the end of the week and weekend. Claire had a great time showing grandpa all her new tricks; her colors, animal sounds, dressing herself, etc. I know they had a great time together. Next week we will have more visitors--Grandpa Ed, Grandma Nicki, Great-Grandma Kathy & Great Uncle Arlen will all be in town for daddy's graduation!!
Well...we have made a lot of progress with the move back to Iowa. The biggest news, is that Claire will be a big sister in October. The due date is October 24. I have been feeling great (besides a little tired)--Claire definitely is keeping me on my toes! We're excited to be returning to Iowa for this one and that I will have some good one on one time with Claire before the new baby comes along. I guess I need to soon start a new website with the latest updates on this pregnancy...
We made it safely back to VA after our whirlwind trip to Iowa. It was a crazy 72 hours; flight delays, ear infections, lost rings, wedding dresses, grandparents, Super Bowl, and it goes on and on. Claire was a little angel despite the travel mishaps and spending a night in the Atlanta and Omaha airports! She had so much fun helping her aunt Ashley find her wedding dress and got plenty of hugs and kisses from grandma's and grandpa's! The best news of all, is that daddy got a job back in Iowa, so we will be moving back! There are a lot of details to sort out--but we are excited!
It has been a rough winter so far---I think we have been in contact with nearly every illness there is! Claire is feeling much better, but now the babysitter is closed for two days due to strep throat. I look forward to being home with Claire and having extra time together...when she's healthy! Last week, we saw some snow flakes fall from the sky-although they didn't stay on the ground. It is definitely cold here...Claire doesn't know what to think about bundling up yet. Little does she know, it's colder in Iowa!
As you can tell from the pictures...Claire LOVES hats! She doesn't go too far with out them. It can be a stocking hat in the summer or a sun hat in the winter--it makes no difference to her!
Is it possible that it is almost February already? And Claire is 18 months old? That's 1 1/2...we have just blinked and here we have a little girl, hardly a baby anymore! We celebrated her big day after church last Sunday by going to IHOP for all you can eat pancakes--Claire loved it! Each day continues to bring new words, new expressions, emotions and growth. Life can't get much better than getting a hug, kiss and 'ALOVEI' (or I LOVE YOU) from your precious child every day. We will be making an express trip back to Iowa-next weekend. David has a few interviews in Atlantic and Harlan, Iowa. Unfortunately, it will be all 'business', but we'll definitely find time to spend with the grandparents. We are praying and hoping that a door opens up--the time has come to put down roots and settle somewhere. This trip will be Claire's 6th trip on an airplane--and probably the last one that won't cost us!
Happy New Year! We survived the trip to and from Iowa safely and successfully. Claire was a little angel during the four total days in the car (not including the trips back and forth from grandparents houses)! The trip didn't take as long as we were thinking because she was so good and content for most of the ride! We enjoyed our time back 'home' and celebrating Christmas with family, although it went way too fast. Claire got so many beautiful and special gifts and loved opening and enjoying one gift at a time. We think her grandparents, aunts and uncles truly enjoyed the time with her as well-it seems she changes every time they see her!
We had a friend take family Christmas pictures for us--they turned out good, for the most part! Claire was ready to go, go, go...which made it a little challenging, but we still had plenty to choose from. Tomorrow we head out making our trek back to Iowa. We will be stopping over in Cincinatti, which will be a good 1/2 way point. It will likely be a little longer than usual, with a few extra stops, but it will all be worth it. Claire is so excited to see her grandparents and aunts and uncles. We're sure they're even more excited to see her. Merry Christmas to all!
We decorated our house for Christmas and put up the tree! Claire was such a great help--we don't know what we would do without her. She LOVES the lights, and can't wait for us to turn them on every night.
Claire dressed in red at the babysitter this week, they had Christmas pictures taken. We are getting our family pictures taken next weekend for our Chritsmas cards. Dad is spending a lot of time at the library, preparing for exams.
It is getting much colder outside, good thing Grandma sent a winter coat. We will be driving back to Iowa in just a couple of weeks--we can't wait!
Thanksgiving has come and gone! We can hardly believe that last year, Claire was having rice cereal for the first time. This year it was turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie! Claire loved all of it. Mom and dad loved the long weekend at home with Claire, too.
We had company from Iowa come and visit us! It was wonderful having Anne & Justin Wright spend the weekend with us. We went to the oceanfront and briefly saw the waves...it was really cold out. We traveled to the Eastern Shore of Virginia where we went to some neat shops and had lunch in Cape Charles. To get there, we had to take a 20 mile bridge--it was cold, but we got some good pictures of the Chesapeake Bay. Claire would have ran into the water, if we would let her! On Saturday night we went to Norfolk and went out to dinner. That night was a big parade, too. Claire had the best view in the house....on dad's shoulders! We had a wonderful time---and hope to have more visitors soon!
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