Farewell Fort Worth

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

1st Easter

Avery loves her aunts!

Checking out her Daddy's new office in Midland

Relaxing in the ducky tub

How big is Avery?

This is what happens when a marker is mistakenly left on the floor

Making her play mat into a tent

Fun seeing the Ellis fam in Waco

Good times at the Dallas arboretum

Walks with Laura

Sitting on the front porch with Gammy

A surprise visit from Avery's grandparents...we like it when they have layovers at DFW!

10 months!

Avery and Noah

Loved seeing the Hensons!

Aunt Sal Pal

Crazy sleeper

A quick sit with Luke on his power wheels

 Danielle and I meeting baby Landon and seeing his momma Genevieve

Loved getting to see these dental students in SA- miss them!

We miss Avery's grandmama and are so thankful for her help during the move!

Marching into Spring

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.

Avery's gammy is so funny

Reading at the park

Swinging at our favorite Tillery park!

Annual girls weekend (sadly sans genevieve)...love being with these girls

Tacos with Laura and Jake!

Kicking back on Zach's mack

Typing...endless fun

10 and 2- perfect position

Lunch date with Peter and Amy!

Is this comfortable?!

Getting ready for the Easter Egg hunt on TCU's campus

Excited about all those eggs!

Going through her eggs

At the egg hunt with Aunt Laura

Happy 9 months!

Avery goes to the Rodeo

February was filled with some fun events...We spent a Sunday in Dallas getting to see several great friends.  We took Avery to the Fort Worth stock show and rodeo- this event is definitely for the true cowboy.  Avery had a good time seeing all the animals- but we have to admit she might have been more mesmerized with the ceiling fans.  We all took a trip out to Midland and Andrews with Zach over the week of Valentine's.  On the 14th we had a romantic mexican dinner in Andrews with Avery and split a pint of Bluebell's Happy Tracks. (Have you tried this new flavor?...it is amazing!)  Zach continues to be encouraged by the growth of the practice in Andrews as well as the growth and construction in Midland, making traveling weekly worth it.  We're looking at making the move out to Midland, hopefully in the next 2-3 months.  If we could just find a house!  We've looked at several houses in Midland...the market there is crazy.  Many houses sell the same day they come on the market...if they already haven't sold before they even come up on MLS.  We're found ourselves discouraged by this several times and have to keep reminding each other that God knows we need a place to live and He'll provide.
Avery continues to be a joy.  She's overall happy, smiley, vocalizing, playful...Nighttimes are still a struggle...we continue to try different things...I'll be sure to post when I find the "secret" (although I'm beginning to realize there probably isn't one.)

Here's what Avery's been up to this month:

Attempting to push up to hands and knees position ( the PT in me is sooo ready for her to crawl, however the housekeeper in me is soooo not ready...let the childproofing begin...)

Banging two toys together, one in each hand

Starting sitting in the shopping cart...this has made grocery shopping a fun new adventure

Babbling...lots and loudly

Took her first of many swings in the park swings

Favorite song: Six Little Ducks has nudged Turkey Tom out of the top spot

Favorite toys: Sophie, her rings, her piano...but really she is most entertained by things like empty plastic water bottles, shiny granola bar wrappers, anything paper....and her all-time favorite is the iphone, especially looking at photos of herself

Favorite game: dropping toys from her high chair and watching Zach and I pick them up

Her two bottom teeth are much more visible now

Happy 8 months!

Hanging out at her dad's office in Andrews, TX

Cowgirl Avery- at the Fort Worth Rodeo

Not so sure about the petting zoo at the rodeo

Rodeo girl

Sunday Fun day with Luke!

Attempting the sippy cup

Fun at the grocery store

Modeling the sweet smocked dress from her great Grandma Dot

Swinging

Bundled for a walk

Getting ready to go to the park

A photo of just Zach and me?..that's weird

Valentine's date with Zach to the park

Happy Valentine's Day!

Showing off her teeth