Life of Riley

I haven't given much of an update on Charles since we've been in transition. He is doing great. I think he understands that this is his home now. We've been to so many places, it's nice for him to have his own room and his own toys. He is coming up on 20 months, and I can't believe it. He is such a sweetie, but definitely testing the discipline limits these days. I think I was warned this would happen. Right before you are about to have Baby #2, your sweet, innocent angel suddenly shows his independence and defiance. I can't blame him with so many changes in his life. We have learned all about time out, and I've thought about the dreaded next step of spankings - isn't this supposed to happen at 2 or 3? With all that being said, he has grown so much lately - he says please and thank you whenever he wants something, hands out huge kisses and bear hugs and absolutely loves the beach including the wet sand and waves. The biggest change I was so proud of was moving to his "big boy" bed without many hiccups. He hasn't fallen out as of yet and only gotten out of his bed twice which is a no-no to do without mommy or daddy. I'm afraid of the biggest change this about to come - a new baby sister...we'll keep praying for that time that he will be just as excited to meet her as we are.

Jacob starts work tomorrow - back to the real world - it's been so nice to have him home with us. He's excited about starting and I'm sure a little anxious. They put him on an easy rotation with the anticipation of upcoming baby so he'll just coast right in. We have been finishing up on our house touches - painting, hanging drapes and pictures, yard work, etc. It definitely feels like our house, and we love it.

I can't believe we only have about a month until Frances arrives. I am now down to my weekly visits at the OB. They found an arrhythmia in her heart that they are monitoring. So now I go two times a week to the doctor to have ultrasounds and non-stress tests. They say it is usually something babies grow out of and just a tiny percentage that it could be a structural issue. So, please pray that it is nothing serious. I can't help but to worry, but God is in control. I wish I could have her, make sure she's alright, and put her back in my tummy to bake a while longer. I hope to post more soon and more regularly....at least until baby arrives!

We've Arrived!

It has been way too long since I've posted, but it's also been way too long since we have been settled in one house as a family. We closed on our new home in C-town last week, and I have a huge honey-do list for Jacob. It's always different when you walk into a house that is now empty and see its bare bones. You quickly realize how a new coat of paint, new knobs and nice summer cleaning is needed to spruce a place.

Unpacking is a little harder to do this time around with a curious toddler and being 34 weeks pregnant. Thankfully Jacob and his brother came a few days ahead of Charles and me to unload all the major furniture and get started on the painting. We're also redoing the kitchen - I've never had such nice stainless steel appliances!

Even with the long list of projects, we have quickly grown to love our new neighborhood and C-Town. One neighbor likened our neighborhood to Mayberry. So many people have come by welcome us. Two neighbors even brought us dinner and fresh produce. One guy invited Jacob over to poker night, and there's a Bunco night for the girls too. I've never been a part of community like this before. Seeing all this in action has really put community on my heart lately - what are our roles as believers and how can I be involved?

We went to a great church and will go back next Sunday. We would love to find one quickly because it is so much more difficult to church shop with Charles. I hate taking him from one nursery to another week after week, and I certainly don't want to be still looking in a year. Hopefully we will find a church home before Frances arrives.

We've managed to squeeze in some fun things for Charles. We've checked out the beach - he is not fond of the water, but loves the tide pools and sand. Today we visited the aquarium. Nothing like the ATL one, but it's a great way to get out of the heat. And we've been downtown numerous times just to walk around.

All in all, we have felt an overwhelming sense of belonging here - from our house and neighborhood to churches and things to do, we feel like we are home.

Roadies

Sorry it has been so long since we have updated our blog, but we have been quite the busy bees around here. Between pulling my back, packing, moving and now traveling from house to house, we haven't had much computer time.

About one week before our big move from Birmingham I pulled my back - I'm sure it was a combination of lifting a healthy 28 pound boy and furiously packing until 11 o'clock at night. Jacob's mother was so sweet to come in town and was a tremendous help. She was instrumental to my healing, and I had some really special time with her as well.

The following week my dad came in town to help Jacob load up two pods (great idea by the way) to put our stuff in storage for the next month until we close on our new house in Charleston. My dad was such a huge help as well, and it was nice to catch up on his life overseas.

Since then, Charles and I have been roadies traveling to my mom's house and back to Birmingham so we could spend time with Jacob who is staying at his cousins' house. They have three wonderful children who love on Charles and have lots of fun toys to entertain him. This weekend we head to the lake for Memorial Day. After that, we are off to Atlanta to visit Jacob's sister and my friends. Our last stop will be in Augusta to visit Jacob's parents and other sibs.

Jacob finishes his chief year on May 30th - hard to believe he has finished four years of medicine at UAB. I think he is ready to get on with the final phase of residency. I so proud of him and cannot wait to see what the next four years of cardiology bring.

We close on our house in Charleston on June 5th. We found a great 1960's house in a fabulous neighborhood full of families and nice walking streets lined with trees. The inspection turned out to uncover a few major problems, but we are getting two new bathrooms and hardwoods out of it, so we cannot complain.

I am in my third trimester - starting to feel tired again - in need of many naps. I guess I should take them while I can! Charles is doing great with the transition considering he has been shifted from one place to another; we still have half our move left before we are settled. He has been fun to travel with, and I've enjoyed being able to spend so much time with him since I don't have a house to clean or errands to run. He has really grown over the past few months - new words every day, lots of independence and a huge understanding of what we are saying. If your think about it, please pray for our transition - I know it will be difficult on him when we move houses and when baby Frances arrives at the end of July. I'll post in a few weeks when we get settled.

NOLA

This past weekend Jacob and I were able to get away a few days to spend some time together in New Orleans. He had conference there for past and present internal medicine chiefs. Basically, they put us up in this swanky hotel and fed us delicious food all weekend - who could say no to that?! We slept in a few days, strolled around downtown New Orleans, and visited with old friends. Did I mention there was a pirate convention there too? It was so nice to get away from the the stress of selling and buying houses and to get excited about all the new adventures we are about to have. We left Charles with Nana and her friend from Thursday to Sunday - super hard to leave him, but quickly realized how much Jacob and I needed this alone time as well as Charles having this bonding time with his grandmother. Thank you mom so much for taking care of him! Not really sure when our next vacation get away will be with the addition of a baby girl soon, so it was greatly appreciated.

Bye Home Sweet Home

Well, our season here in B'ham is coming to a close, and it is so great to have our house sold! We tried the "for sale by owner" thing for one month then I got nervous thinking about two mortgages with a new baby, so we decided to call our agent who helped us find this house four years ago. Within three weeks of listing it, we had not one, but two offers on the same day which is very helpful with negotiating - such a blessing! We officially closed last Friday and are now renters until May 9th - we have a ton of packing to do in a little under three weeks, but it will get done, right? After that, Jacob will be living in his sweet cousins' basement for 3 weeks until the end of May to finish out his final year at UAB. Charles and I will be gypsies for that time, but it will be nice to visit friends and families for a few weeks before settling in Charleston in June. We are in the midst of buying a house in Charleston, but please pray that everything follows through - we still have to work through inspection and closing, but I think God has the perfect house waiting for us.

23 Weeks and Counting

Ask and you shall receive - baby bump pictures that is. I remember with Charles that I took one every month to document my growing tummy...I think this is the first one I have taken this time around. I need to get better, but this pregnancy is going by way too fast. This picture is from a shower that my sweet friends had for me yesterday. I loved getting all these little pink delicate things for Baby T2 and catching up with friends.

Fire Trucks!

This past Tuesday we went to the fire station for a little tour. Charles is so fascinated by trucks, planes and cars these days, I was sure he would be so into it. He looked at the truck a few times, but was more interested in running around and trying to get past the firemen who were blocking his way to the street. A nice fireman tried to sit him up in the truck, but he would have nothing to do with it - he screamed and cried and carried on, so I figured it was not a good time to get a photo op. Here are a few pics, and he loves to wear his hat and new crocs around the house. Please disregard the Christmas pj's!