Too fast

My sweet baby girl is 8 months old tomorrow.  It happened too fast, just like everyone said it would.

On Trusting God

Confession:  I've been fighting the idea of moving to NYC - arguing with Andrew, looking up apartments and homes in our budget in Connecticut and pouting that we could get so much more for our money here:  an eat in kitchen, a playroom, possibly even an extra bedroom for a studio.  I've been doing this all while feeling like God wants us in NYC. 

It was much like when I fought Him about starting my own business at this time.  "Really, God?  Now?  But we have a new baby.  We don't know where we're moving.  Now?"  And he showed and told me 'yes' in many ways.  So out of pure obedience to him, I took on my first event client and launched my event and photography business.  The vision He gave me of my future is the only thing that has kept me going.   But He has already brought me new clients, made it financially possible for me to upgrade my equipment, and just yesterday, given me a great mentor in the photography industry.  So why, why was I doubting Him about this move?  I don't know.  Especially because yesterday, He gave us another BIG sign that He needs us there.  Andrew received his official acceptance letter and with it came a merit-based scholarship.  A BIG one - like all of his tuition and fees for the first year.  We weren't expecting anything except maaaaybe a couple grand.  This is huge.  And I couldn't be more proud of Andrew.  It's been really scary to think about losing his income for two years and relying on our savings and my business income to get us by.  It was even scarier to think about the debt we would be walking away with. 

I still don't really want to go.  But I do want to follow Him and His ways.  While I'm afraid of us not finding a place to live, I know that if God wants us there, He will provide us a home.

 And so there's a good chance that this little cutie will be tawking (read:  NY accent) like a true New Yorker.

Check out those teeth!  Finally got a shot.  She was bouncing in her jumper, so it's blurry, but you can see them!

And yes, I did have to act like a crazy person to get the shot:

Decision Time

Andrew was accepted (yay!!) into one of his top schools of choice and we are planning a long awaited move.  We have been so blessed to be able to be in my parent's one bedroom apartment for this long, but we can't wait for this change.  I'm especially excited about the idea of Adalyn's crib not being at the foot of our bed.

The school is in New York City, so we are weighing our options in Manhattan and Brooklyn, or staying in Fairfield County and just moving a bit further south.  Manhattan would be the most convenient for Andrew, and Adalyn and I would get to see him more often.  And I could easily take the train into CT to see my clients and friends.  Brooklyn is a bit more affordable and would give us more space for the money and the option of bringing our Jeep along so I could just drive back into CT...or anywhere else I want to go.  Andrew would have just a 20-30 subway ride.

Where would I prefer to be?  Connecticut.  The hustle and bustle of NYC seemed awesome before I was married with a baby.  The idea of shuffling a toddler with a stroller through the subways of Manhattan is overwhelming.  And the size of the 2 bedroom apts we can afford aren't really much bigger than where we are now.  Not to mention that all of our friends are out here - and our church.  But the idea of living in NYC is a little exciting. And staying in CT would mean an hour and a half commute each day for Andrew.  He would miss even more precious moments than he does right now (his commute now is an hour each way).

Like Adalyn's first time in a swing (see the video in the previous post).

Or when she just sits in the grass and ponders the wonders of the world.

 Or tastes her first leaf.

Or calmly sits there while mommy puts ridiculous bunny booties on her feet. :)

"Really, Mom?"

Or when she crawls to get her bunny.  Yes, she's crawling...well, sometimes.  I'm not yet confident enough in her abilities to say that she is officially crawling.

And when she gets bored with one thing and onto another.

mmmm grass.

She still looks nothing like me.  Sigh.

Why yes, I did put bunny ears on her and tried to take her Easter picture.  I plan on taking the offical one later this week, but I need help.  She just kept ripping off the ears, chewing the basket, and breaking apart the plastic eggs.

Silly little bunny.

We're planning on going into NYC next weekend to look at apartments and really get an idea of where we could live.  I wish we could just pay a broker to do the looking for us, but that costs about $3,000, so we've got our work cut out for us.

First Time on a Swing!

Have I mentioned that I'm LOVING this early spring.  Didn't think we'd be doing this in March:

I'm fine.

Ultrasound was clear and probably just nursing related. 

Those Days

You know those days where everything seems to go so wrong that it's almost comical?  Well, yesterday was one of those days where you cry, laugh, scream and just feel relieved when it's finally time to go to bed.  It all started with an email related to work. The venue where we are planning to have the fundraising event suddenly decided to not only jump up the price per person, but also that they could no longer accomodate the date we had penciled in FOREVER ago.  So it was a morning of formally switching venues and all that comes along with that.

Then I was getting ready for a doctor's appointment.  I noticed a lump in my breast about 2 months ago, but I had been ignoring it because I thought it was probably related to nursing.  My mom convinced me to call my doctor about it on Friday and they squeezed me into an appointment yesterday at their office about 30 min. away.  The appointment was at 11:45am, so I was planning on leaving at 11.  The morning was busier than I anticipated, and I tried to reschedule the Dr.'s appointment, only to hear the nurse tell me how crucial is was that I come in as soon as possible. 

So, I was late, as usual these days, and was rushing to get in a quick shower.  [back story:  my back was KILLING me all weekend].  I started the shower and just as I bent down to take the last of my clothes off, the sharpest pain I have ever felt before dropped me to my knees.  I literally could not move, and I was cursing myself for not going to the bathroom right before.  I had to pee SOOO bad and hearing the shower run while I was stuck naked on floor almost resulted in an ummm...accident.  Thankfully, I had just put Adalyn in her jumper, so she was happy, but I had to army crawl Adalyn style to the coffee table to get my phone.  Andrew was going to have to come home.  He talked me into rolling on my back and standing up.  I managed to take a shower and get Adalyn in the car all while calling my chiropractor trying to get in.  Then, I lost service, realized I was lost myself, and just pulled off the side of the road to cry...mostly because of the back pain.  Then the gas light went on. 

I ended up at my Dr's office 15 min. late and then cursed about a million times as I lifted Adalyn and the stroller out of the Jeep, which I was sure wasn't going to start when I returned.

Dr. was concerned with the lump and asked about any family history of breast cancer.  My mom had about 7 lumps removed in her early 30's, but all were benign.  My Dr. set me up with an ultrasound appointment at 2:30 today and then she told me to call this breast oncologist to set up an appointment later in the week.  I honestly wasn't too worried yesterday.  I know a lot people who have had lumps, especially while nursing, and it turned out to be no more than a blocked duct.  But as it turns out, my Dr. was concerned enough to get me an appointment with the specialist today.  So, I'm going for my u/s today and then seeing the specialist at 3:30.  Really hoping it's nothing.  The Jeep did start and I made to the gas station.  And Andrew met me at home at 1pm, so I could lay on my back with ice and the Super Ibprofen they gave me when I had Adalyn.

Of course, my mind has gone to the worst now, and all I can think about was this Sunday, at the park with Andrew and Adalyn and how I didn't get a picture with her.  I rarely get pictures with her since I'm always the one with the camera.  Will she remember me if something happens?  Probably not this young.  See how my mind goes crazy?  I'm meditating on the peace I felt with our family this weekend and the fabulous early spring He has blessed us with.

The couch picture

Guess what slipped my mind again?  Yup, the 7 month couch picture.  So here she is at 7 1/2 months, taken last week.  I'm feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities lately - starting your own business is so hard!! - but I don't have a single regret.  Andrew has been more than supportive and there is no way I could have gotten through the last 2 weeks without him.  I took a day off yesterday...well, ok, I did have a photo session in the evening, but other than that it was much needed relaxation.  That, of course, has lead to a crazy busy Monday, so sorry this post is so short!

It's getting a lot more difficult to take. She will not sit still! 

Sometimes, she looks so serious.

Or so silly.  Check out that tongue!

And Jada is always a fun distraction.  Poor kitty.

This girl kills me with her cuteness.  It's hard to be mad at her when she is fussing over her teeth.  Poor baby, the left front one is trying to break through now.

She is having fun learning to crawl, but still struggles. 

My little leprechaun.

It Happened One Night

Ok, two nights to be exact.  Adalyn slept through the night again (sort of).  Allow me to explain. 

The last 2 weeks have been miserable sleep-wise.  Addy went from 9-11 hr stretches to nursing every 2-3 hours.  We decided we had enough Sunday evening and committed ourselves to a modified CIO.  I didn't think it was teething since she was perfectly happy during the day, nor was she showing any signs of possible separation anxiety.
Andrew graciously took the first night knowing that I wouldn't be able to handle it.  She woke up almost on cue at 11pm and Andrew let her cry for 5, 10, 20, and then 30 minutes while he kept going back to her crib, patting her back, whispering calming words, etc.  She woke up again around 2am, but that time it only took her 30 min. to go back down.
Last night was my turn.  And guess what?  She woke up at 3am and put herself back down 20 min. later with only a minute of crying.  I didn't even have to go to the crib to calm her down.  I heard her get her pacifier, put it back in her mouth and then fuss herself back to sleep. 
I had trouble falling back to sleep so I'm still dead tired, but I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

And to my surprise, she cut her first tooth last night!  Just the tip is showing now, so it's hard to get it on camera, but I'll share when I can.  I can't believe it.  While a part of me mourns the loss of her newborn-ness, an even bigger part of me is so joyful to see her growing up.  She really does have a personality now.  And she's so smart!  I love watching her pick things up out of her toy bin.  She knows how to empty it too  - and is thiiiiiiiis close to crawling to get it.  Oh, and her hair is getting long enough to put in a barette!

On a personal note, I finally got my website and Facebook page up and running.  It look FOREVER because well, technology is so not my thing, but it's finished for now.  The perfectionist in me will keep changing things, I'm sure, but I like it enough to share with friends.

I took Adalyn on a session I had with one of my new mom friends and her baby boy, Ethan.  These two were so adorable together.  I imagine their conversation would go like this:

Ethan:  "Mom, look! It's Adalyn!"
Adalyn:  thinking to herself. I want to eat that hat.

Ethan:  "Hey, Adalyn.  You look pretty today."
Adalyn:  "Thanks, Ethan.  I really like your hat."

Ethan:  "Thanks, babe.  I picked it up at The Children's Place."
Adalyn: " Let me see it."

Ethan:  "No, no, no, no, it's mine!"
Adalyn:  thinking to herself.  I will get that hat and eat it

Adalyn:  "Gimmeee that hat!"

Ethan:  "Hey, lady, I said it's mine!"

And they would tattletale to their mommies and mommies would take said hat.  :)

A few sentences

One of our readers asked us what our story was.  I guess I never really did an "About Us" page.  I'll get on that eventually.  For now, a few sentences...

We met at a bar named "Bar" on October 8, 2008.  Andrew was a conservative Republican from Texas, me- a liberal Democrat from Connecticut.

On January 16th, 2009,  Jesus met us somewhere in the middle and we had our first date.

Our family is the product of His Amazing Grace.

The end, and good night. :)

Hutchison Island, FL

Some of my happiest childhood memories come right from this place.  Even though I was raised in CT, I spent almost every summer down in my grandparent's condo.  And almost all of the memories I have of my Poppi are in Florida.....playing in the pool, sandcastles on the beach, breakfast on the terrace.  I've thought about bringing Adalyn down here since I was pregnant with her.  In fact, during my brief stint in FL in late 2010, I made the drive over from St. Petersburg to bring Nonni a picture of my 8 week ultrasound.  I immediately thought about all the memories I could make with my future child down at this place.  It was incredibly special to bring Adalyn down here.
 







So, we did all the things I used to do:

She was immediately put in a swimsuit.

And brought to the pool.

Nonni bought Adalyn a rubber ducky that she would not let go.

She swam with her Nonni.

She met the ocean. 

(perhaps a bit too abruptly...woops!).

She preferred the view from above.

But she LOVED the beach.

True to tradition, she had her breakfast on the terrace every morning.

And was up for the sunrise.

The best part of the trip was precious time with family.

She even got to meet her great uncles Kenny and Stevey.  I have soooo many awesome memories with by dad's brothers.  They'll  have her on a jet ski soon.

And she met her Aunti Twinkie and Uncle Charlie.

Andrew got to practice with my camera.  He's pretty good with it!

He even got all artistic on me.

We met up with some old friends (Hi Elaine and Bill!)  Thanks for capturing this shot:

Andrew and I also took Adalyn out to Conchy Joe's.  We could not wait for conch fritters!

It's across the intercoastal, so we get a nice view of the condo from there.

And it wouldn't be a trip to Hutchison Island without a visit to the 15th floor.

Just some more favorites (what I do without my camera?!) :

I want to go back to paradise.

Don't worry, we left our mark in the sand.

And I'll leave you with some baby babble.  She's gonna be a talker!