What an Adventure!

April 11, 2013 our adventure to Texas became very real. The packers showed up on our front doorstep in Marietta around 9:30 a.m. and literally took over our home. Thankfully my wonderful mother was there to take FC to a nearby hotel for the day; she needed to be nowhere near all that chaos! Our home was packed in less than 8 hours! My brother, Matt, drove over from Huntsville to be John's traveling buddy and "spotter" for the long 850++ mile drive to Texas. Friday morning we all awoke tired from all the preparation and excitement, but beyond ready to get the trip started. John and Matt hitched the Green Machine to the back of John's U-Haul and loaded up all of our unpackable/unmovable items - including Annie and Murphy. As usual, Murphy was thrilled to be on another road trip and Annie was ready for it to be over!

By the grace of God, all of our issues the cropped up over the two days of packing and loading were fairly resolved by Friday night. Our friends and neighbors stepped in to help me in John's absence several times over the course of the day - I really couldn't have done it without them! Saturday was a bittersweet day spent with my mom and FC. We ate lunch one last time at our favorite French patisserie on the square in Marietta and then headed off to our hotel near the airport. Mom saw FC and I off at the airport early the next morning and then my mommy autopilot kicked in. FC and I seamlessly made it through security (Pretty funny and reassuring to see how quickly people jumped in to help a big pregnant woman and her 11 month old!). We easily navigated our way to our gate. It helps that I have a child who LOVES to people watch. She is my "nosey Nadine" and I just love her to bits. FC had a blast cruising the terminal and saying hello to EVERYONE. She had a fantastic flight - thanks to much prayer, rotating bags of new toys and gadgets, and two big cookies that Mommy managed to make last for over an hour.

We are now trying to get settled into our new life here. We are currently in a very tiny one bedroom apartment (less than 650 square feet) and after a little self-advocating John was able to secure us a 2 bedroom just one street over. Felicity and I both have met our new doctors. Her and I are interviewing a new babysitter for her this week and are having a good time learning the "lay of the land".

Our home in Marietta went to settlement this week (Praise the LORD!) and the process towards home purchase in Texas is moving smoothly. We are schedule to go to settlement the end of May, but won't be moving until June 15 thanks to some unfortunate leasing terms in our agreement with the corporate housing.

Please be praying for us! Pray that my doctor can provide Baby Boy and I with the care that we need. Pray for FC as we move, yet again. I think it will be fine, but I think I am more weary of the transitions than anyone else. Pray for John and I - we are doing well with all the stress, but I also know that our relationship is somewhere the Devil likes to play. Finally, pray for friends! I am hoping to meet with a mommy group at church next week.

Mommy's little helper - She is so much fun these days! And super active....whew!

The cars rode with all of our home goods on the big truck. Kinda wild!

FC had fun following the movers around - and climbing the mountains of moving blankets.

Despite our grossness, I couldn't resist a picture to mark this stage in our adventure - knowing what was happening at this point in the day I am amazed by the genuine smiles on John and I's face.

FC was very concerned about her puppies (or dah's as she calls them).

One of Mommy's little tricks to keep baby content - straws!