Time Passing

We went to Maymont Park last week, which was beautiful.  But it was cold and windy so we didn't stay outside.  We took Elaine in to the nature center to see some wildlife.

Not a whole lot has happened since the last post, but for my own future enjoyment I wanted to write more about my time with Elaine and her wonderful quirks.

• Our first morning here she looked at me first thing and said "I want food."  Then ran out into the hallway, stopped, looked around and asked "Oh! Where's the kitchen?"
• She loves being out in the yard, opening acorns, looking for worms (thanks a lot mom mom - my back and my ankles thank you for teaching her that).  I showed her the root sprouting out of an acorn and she said "Root! Root root for the home, team..." which I had just taught her a few days earlier.  She also loves being chased, sweeping leaves, and telling Daddy "Ooh! Daddy! Parking lot." with a hand up when he gets close to the street.  We get the mail together every day and put her feet in sometimes to mail her off.
• She is in a phase that she thinks every picture and illustration is looking at her, which she does not like.  I hope this passes quickly.
• When I came home from my church group this week, I heard Daddy putting her to bed.  I wasn't going to go in to disturb them, until I heard a sleepy, sweet voice say "I don't want Mommy leave without me." When I ran in, she said "Mommy at church.  Don't leave without me Mommy.  Mommy's hands cold."  And she held onto my fingers.
• Speaking of bedtime...she is a pro at the cute tricks - "Daddy don't leave.  Stay with me Daddy."  "I want Mommy to hold me.  Little bit?"  This week was the first night she got out of bed and walked into the hallway, saying "I wanna see you Mommy" (repeated a half dozen times).  Then when were in bed later, she woke up crying again and ran into our room.  She melted into my arms and I couldn't send her back...
• She is firm in expressing "I not need" - her coat, nap, diaper change, etc.  "My body not need rest."
• When Daddy comes home, he gets a big smile and "I waiting for you, Daddy."
• Of course she loves copying us in the kitchen - doing dishes, making coffee, toasting waffles, playing with the spices, sweeping, and on and on.
• It is so easy to make her laugh.  She loves physical play, such as being pushed around the wood floors, buried in the leaves, flipped upside down, and running with us in the yard.
• Today she dropped our owl timer, then said she needed two hands and delicately picked it up and handled it with such care. She scooted around the vent between the window and table so she didn't step on the grate.
• So far I'm getting 1 1/2 - 2 hour or longer naps out of her.  I hope that lasts after the baby comes!
• Her reaction to baby brother is pretty much just "Stay in there baby brother. Don't come out." And I can't figure out what her objection is, exactly.

Meet me In Virginia

Our little family is now in Virginia!  We have been praying for a new job for Mike, interviewing as far as Oklahoma (that is how desperate we were), that would bring us together as a family again.   This has been an answer to our prayers, and more.  God is so amazingly generous.

Since Elaine was born (two years ago), Mike has been traveling probably 75%+ of the time--and that's counting the weekends.  In the latest months he was away Monday (or sometimes Sunday) through Friday with no weeks off, leaving us both exhausted.  I felt like a single (PREGNANT) mom that was bringing home an old fling on the weekends, except instead of being as restful and romantic as that sounds, we crammed in every responsibility we could.  Mike's life was never-ending travel and being separated from his home and loved ones. 

Anyway, we were here in time to get some Trick-or-treaters, although we didn't have the joy of forcing our toddler into a costume that she hated.  I don't think she minded just eating a piece or two of our own candy without having to work for it.  Then she turned the BIG TWO YEARS.  I still have guilt for not doing anything for it - we had only been here for three days, she is lucky she got hot food!  She's also lucky she has wonderful family who sent her gifts here ahead of time.  I switched to a basic phone (talk/text) before I got here, and Mike and I both turned in our work computers, so I was completely unplugged for about a week.  You know, it was pretty nice, and I've gotten used to not having the internet at my finger tips 24/7.

Her tea set has been a favorite, but all her birthday gifts
still get daily use.

Mike's new job is going very well, but of course he is still settling in and learning his role.  So far, he likes all the people, the company is super busy, and he seems to be making a great impression.  Being a stay-at-home mom...there are just no words.  It's not for everyone and I know more challenges will come with time, but this is my calling and it is more fulfilling for me than I could ever have imagined.  Elaine and I have been spending a lot of time at our new Church and it is a wonderful community.  We're already having a couple over for football and dinner on Sunday; they are ahead of us by a number of years, but the wife has offered to be on call to watch Elaine when the baby comes.  I.e. they're our new best friends!  And I was invited to a women's group tonight, which I am looking forward to.

Monday I turned 37 weeks.  That's four weeks or less to go!  We had some inconveniences with insurance and getting me into the doctor, but I will have my first appointment here with a midwife group on Friday.  We will be birthing at a local hospital with the midwife attending, God willing.  I feel very healthy and fairly unstressed about everything.  What people can't understand is that the obstacles we face together here in our new home seem like nothing compared to what we were looking at if we didn't move.  God has been providing every step of the way, He will take care of us to the end.

I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving!  We are hoping to join the Dardens in their new house, -they said they didn't mind me having the baby in their brand new bathtub (kidding).  Christmas is a standing invitation to have Mike's family stay with us, since we won't be ready to travel by then. The holidays should be especially interesting this year, waiting to see when Baby makes his entrance.