Pressing On: May 2013

Maybe someday I'll actually post on time...Can I use the moving card as an excuse for my tardiness? So we've moved to Midland. Officially. We closed on our house a day after Avery turned 10 months. We are so thankful for a successful and problem free closing. And then we turned right back around and drove to Temple, Waco, and Fort Worth before making our way back out to Midland. Why? First Temple- to see our beloved Hensons- and MEET their boys Luke and Noah. The Hensons are back in the states from Peru for several weeks, and we were absolutely thrilled we got to see them- for a WHOLE afternoon. It had been a year and half since the last time I had seen Kristen, in Peru actually,- and that was before Luke and Noah were even on the radar- our radar at least. Both Zach and I agreed that even though much time had passed, after being with them for just a bit- it seemed like we had just seen them a few days ago. It was a joy to meet their sweet boys and have them meet Avery. I could go on and on...maybe it will suffice to say we loved being with them- it does our heart good for sure, and we look forward to the next visit soon. Now on to Waco to see Zach's dad, Aunt Janey and Greg and Grandma Dot. We always enjoy getting to see them and appreciate their hospitality. Onward to Fort Worth where Zach work another few days, and I picked up my mom from the airport in Dallas and we drove on back to Midland with Avery. Zach's mom graciously hosted us that night and then we were on our way the next morning to Midland. A few days later Zach, my mom, Avery and I jumped back in the car and headed to San Antonio. We still had half of our belongings there in storage so we were going to retrieve those and put all this moving to rest. Zach ended up flying back to Fort Worth to work for a few days and then flew back to SA in time to pick up the moving truck and drive it on back to Midland. While Zach was at work, I got to do fun things in San Antonio like hang out with the Powells, who kindly hosted us during our San Antonio stay. It was so great to get to be with Danielle and see a more grown up little Luke. Avery even got to sit in Luke's power wheels with him. So fun. I also got to meet Genevieve's new little bundle Landon. SO sweet. And of course we got to see Aunt Sal Pal and Jonathan! And then back to Midland we went. My mom was such a champ, entertaining Avery the whole way- songs, books- without her Avery and I both probably would have melted down somewhere between Big Lake and Ozona. Where's that you ask? Exactly.

It was bittersweet to leave Fort Worth for sure. Fort Worth has been such a good place for us. It was a place where we first really jumped into our adventures in parenthood, where we ate Fuzzy's tacos and peanut butter chocolate cake from McKinley's, where we enjoyed being closer to Dallas and seeing friends there more often, where we heard great gospel filled teaching at Fort Worth Presbyterian and were loved on by the body of Christ there, where we went to a "real" cowboy rodeo, where we enjoyed the botanic gardens with cool folks like the Smiths, where we took great walks in some neat Fort Worth neighborhoods (and coveted the homes) and on the Trinity Trail with Avery in her BOB stroller, where we lived way too close to Braums, where we were encouraged and challenged by a sincere and raw small group at FWPCA, where we experienced the joy of living in an apartment with a baby who often liked to test out her lungs anywhere between 1-4 am, where I was blessed by a women's and mom's ministry at FWPCA and last but certainly not least, where we got to live so close to our dear friends, Jake and Laura, who cared for us so well (and continue to care for us)- and loved not just us, but abundantly loved Avery. Fort Worth, you will be missed.

Here Avery's 10 month update:

I'm not sure how much she weighs now but she's moved up to size 3 diapers so it's safe to say she's growing

Loves to clap, especially to patty cake

Loves looking at books and turning the pages herself

Is up on her hands and knees rocking but not venturing to crawl just yet

Loves to eat...sweet potatoes, avocado, oatmeal, apples, pears, mango, squash, spinach...

Continues to babble and screech and scream (happily most of the time)

Likes the swings at the park

Is really interested in other babies and kiddos

Loves to smile and laugh

Actually has slept through the night (8pm-8am) a few times