Pressing On: April 2013

Can you guess which city is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country? According to the US Census Bureau's March 14th report it's Midland, TX. Yep, Midland. Surprised? Dry, dusty and dirt devils galore...but you shouldn't judge Midland by it's surface... it's really what's below the surface that's bringing the crowds out West...OIL...and lots of it.

If you're trying to buy a house in Midland, you'd absolutely believe it's the fastest growing city around. I've spent the last several weeks checking my email every 5 minutes on the look out for MLS notifications to alert me to a new house hitting the market. This scenario occurred a few times a week...open MLS email...looks like it has potential. Quick text to our realtor- We're interested! Response text: It's already under contract-in less than a few hours from hitting the market. Our realtor continued to remind us that every day is a new day in real estate, and that God's timing is always the best. So true, but why is it so hard to rest in that truth during the wait? At 4pm on March 19th ( my birthday!), I received a very promising MLS email. I texted our realtor 5 minutes later. It was available. Sent Zach the info. An hour and half later we made our offer. And we were not alone. Later that night we made our "best offer" and then waited. That night our sweet friends, Jake and Laura, came over and stayed with Avery so Zach and I could go out to dinner for my birthday. It was so nice to have a night out! Zach drove out to Midland the next day to see the house and to work. Thankfully he really liked the house in person. Later that day we found out our offer was accepted! So we're still in the wait to close. And of course we don't want to get too excited because we know it's not done til we close, but we're hopefully. And thankful for the way we see God providing. Of course, this crazy growth has made house hunting a true hunt, but for Zach's practice this is great news. The growth continues to encourage Zach of a need for pediatric dental services out there- one that he is ready to meet! And so God willing, should all this proceed to closing, we'll be moving...soon! It's hard to believe that it really might happen. I'm really looking forward to us being together in one place...and being in that one place for longer than 12 months. Much like the growth out in Midland being driven by what's below the surface, we look expectantly with excitement for what unrealized (to us) purposes and plans God has for us in Midland "below the surface" as well.

The Avery update:

We had her 9 month appt last week...here are her stats:

17 lbs, 2 oz
29 inches long

She's had four upper teeth break through this month- earning each one with a long fussy night (or two).

Rolling! At last, Avery rolled over from her back to her tummy. Her motivation? A laptop. We placed one just out of reach on the ground and she rolled over to get to it like it was no big thing.

Lots of vocalizations- dada, bababa, mama...you get the idea

Feeding her self finger foods

Avery loves looking at books and wants to turn the pages herself

Bye, bye is emerging

Not crawling yet, but she's pushing herself backward when on her tummy

Sleeping: its been up and down, but getting better! She's down taking both naps in her crib and last night she slept for 9 hrs consecutively!!!

Her favorite books are Good Dog Carl, and really anything with animal noises.

Her favorite toy is anything that she can shake and make noise with...and anything she can type on. :)

She loves to laugh...especially at her daddy making funny faces or when he tickles her.