Surprise!

There have been many things in the last two weeks here. The most important one is that on Friday, November 20, Matt took me out for a "pre-birthday date." I know I should have been suspicious but I just went along with it and did whatever. We went to Chick-fil-A (YUM!) and once we ordered our food, we went to get a seat and low and behold!!! My parents were sitting in the booth!!!!! They drove down from Grand Rapids to surprise me for my birthday! I was so excited I started crying. I had seen my mom a couple weeks before but I hadn't seen Dad since we moved here two months ago. He immediately took Madelyn out of her car seat and played with her throughout dinner. Saturday, the five of us went to the Georgia aquarium and then walked around downtown for a little bit. (notice we're all wearing "Michigan" stuff - that was the day of the Michigan vs Ohio State game. Matt was recording it so we could go the aquarium. Even Madelyn had on her cute Michigan onsie!)


Dad playing with his granddaughter while waiting to get into the aquarium. He was so excited to see Madelyn!


Sunday we went to church and then out to dinner for my birthday (this was my actual birthday). We had dinner at Sweet tomatoes, a salad, pasta and soup buffet. My parents went, along with Matt's dad, step mom, siblings and our good friend, Joel. We went back to the house for cake and ice cream and sat around and played games for a little bit. Unfortunately they had to leave the next morning since dad had to work on Tuesday.

Thursday was Thanksgiving, Madelyn's first. We had a delicious dinner, followed by lots of yummy desserts and turkey induced comas. My inlaws and Matt and I decided we wanted to go shopping today, Black Friday. We went to one store at Midnight (After being up all day) and it sucked!!! I felt like I was with a herd of cattle being shoved in to the stalls. Anyway, we got home around 1:30 am and then I went to bed with Mady. Matt stayed up all night and went to Target at 4, ready for the doors to open at 5am. We really wanted to get a digital camera, since ours got broken at my cousin Racheal's house when I was up north for her wedding. We succeded! He got the camera and then went to Home Depot to get a pre-lit Christmas tree. Now, if you know me at all, I am NOT a fan of having a fake tree. As a kid, my mom would put up her fake tree in the living room and I would make them go get a real one and put it in the basement to put my ornaments on it. So for me to get a fake tree was a huge deal. Matt and I thought that since we would be in Michigan for a week over Christmas, it would be better to get a fake tree this year and plus we don't know where we will be for next year (a new house, new apartment?). So, today we put the tree up and tomorrow I will finish decorating the tree and puttin gup other decorations to get our "apartment" to look like home and cozy and ready for Christmas!
The next two pictures were taken at my cousin's wedding while I was up from Georgia.



Mom, Madelyn and I waiting in the nursery for the ceremony to startMom put Mady in the leaves in her back yard for some cute pictures. I did not add the fake leaves so she wouldn't eat the dirty ones.... they were just for added color :)

What a cutie!!!!! I'm not biased at all :)

new milestones

It's been an interesting few days for us, that's for sure. Last Wednesday, Madelyn and I flew to Grand Rapids so I could be in a wedding that Saturday. She did great on the plane! Everyone thought she was so cute and loved to talk to people. She slept for a good portion of the first flight, from Atlanta to Milwaukee, then slept the entire way from Milwaukee to Grand Rapids, even if it is only a 20 minute flight :) Wednesday evening we had dinner with Matt's family and then I saw some friends from church. Thursday was another travel day, going to Indiana for the wedding, but not before stopping at the outlet mall! Mom bought a cute dress for Mady to wear to the wedding that actually matched us! We arrived at my aunt's house and just relaxed for a little bit before I headed out with Racheal and the girls for the "bachelorette party" dinner. Unfortunately, Mady wouldn't take a bottle from my mom so she battled with her until I got home. Friday consisted of decorating the church and Mady not sleeping ALL day!!!! She got up at 7 am and didn't go to bed until about 10 pm! Only a 1 hour nap in between, when we went back to the house to get ready for the rehearsal! Poor kid! Poor mom for having to watch her again and she still wouldn't take a bottle! Anyway, the wedding was Saturday and I must say, I'm glad it's all over! No more drama! We headed home and noticed..... Mady got her first tooth!!!!!! One broke through on the bottom and a second one is well on it's way! She did great traveling back to Georgia yesterday! She went in her exersaucer last night too and loved it. The downside is that she's too short and can't touch the bottom! Oh well....

Well, I guess that's it. I will have to post pics later since my camera broke and I have to wait for my mom to email them!

quick update

Just wanted to show a few pictures. My little girl is growing up so fast. Next Wednesday, her and I will be flying to Michigan to see our family and I am in my cousin's wedding. It should be a good time to see family and catch up with a few friends.My sweet baby girl. We went shopping for the day and she did so well in her car seat. She's so cute!


She likes to sit and help daddy work! It's nice having him work from home!



She likes to play on the floor with her toys... generally she is in a happy mood too!

time sure flies

One year ago today, I found out my dream of being a mommy was going to come true. I think I took about 7 pregnancy tests over the weekend to be sure (I took the first one, which was positive, went to the dr. and he said it was negative.... took some more over the next couple days, they were positive and then went back to the dr and it was a BIG positive!!!) I can't believe my precious baby girl is 3 1/2 months old already. She's getting so big. She rolled over (from back to tummy) for the first time on 10/09/09 and has also been starting to eat cereal for the last 3 nights before bed. Then just this morning, she went from back to tummy to back again, all in the same direction! She's too cute (will post pics once I find my camera cord!)

We seem to be settling in here. It's been 3 weeks now since we arrived and started unpacking. I will say I miss home and my friends and family, especially in the fall. I LOVE fall in Michigan. All the pretty colors on the trees, going to apple orchards and going on hay rides, picking apples and drinking apple cider. Yeah, I miss it (but I like Georgia too - had 70+ degrees last week) I am very excited to go back to Michigan in a few weeks. I fly out on Nov. 4 and come back on the 9th, so a nice little vacation for me and Madelyn. It will be nice to see some friends, as well as a lot of my family.

the big move

We've made it! Matt, Mady, my dad and myself all arrived here in Acworth, Georgia (near Atlanta) around 7:30 Friday night. Mady did so well!!! We left Hudsonville (me in a blurry of tears) around 6:30 Thursday night and stayed with one of my best friend's in Indianapolis that night. We didn't get there until almost midnight and then went to bed. We were up and ready to hit the road around 8 am, but first I got to meet Rebekah's sweet new baby boy, Jackson. He was born two weeks after Madelyn. He's adorable!!! I held him for a few minutes and snuggled with him before getting in the car and making the rest of our trip. We were so thankful that God protected us that evening as there have been some crazy things going on in her neighborhood lately (just ask me if you want to know). Our truck was safe and sound in the Miejer parking lot around the corner too!!! We didn't unload much on Friday, just ate dinner and hung around for a little bit before going to bed. Saturday was a busy day with unloading the truck, finding a place to put all the boxes and still making it to church that night. Mady went into the nursery, her first time ever! She did pretty well until the workers had to come get me since she was hungry. Sunday came and I will admit it was the hardest day yet. I'm tearing up even as I think about it. I had to say goodbye to my dad and watch him leave for the airport. I know I am probably the worst daughter ever for not going with him to the airport but I just couldn't do it. I thought saying goodbye in our driveway to my mom was bad enough and I just couldn't go through it again with my dad. So we said goodbye in the house and I cried as he pulled out of the driveway.
Once he left, I fed Mady and went back to bed for a little bit. The rest of the day was spent unpacking boxes and just vegging out. By Monday, the basement looked like a little piece of home, with pictures hung up, our clothes put away and Mady sleeping in her crib.
I'm still applying for jobs, but right now I am enjoying the time with Mady, as she is already growing up so fast. God has truely blessed us with a beautiful little girl.
Matt will start working next Monday for his dad. They were ever so sweet to give us this week to relax and unpack and get things settled and attempt to get our bearings. He is also workign with the marching band that two of his brothers are in. His dad spoke with the band director and he wanted to met Matt so before the rehearsal on Monday, Matt went and talked with the band director and when he didn't get home until almost 7, I knew it was a good sign. He went back to rehearsal yesterday and will also go the rest of this week. I think he's in it for the rest of the season, and will most likely work with them again next year if possible.

I'll leave you with a few pictures of our family, taken a week before we moved. Once I find the camera and camera cord, I'll post pictures of our place here.

bittersweet feelings

Yesterday we had a "going away" party/open house at my parents place. We had quite a few people come to see us before the big move and we really enjoyed getting to see everyone. I only cried once, when Nicole was leaving. Otherwise, things went really well. Some things were said to my mom that were quite hurtful and not expected but she got through it and we had a good day.

Today and the rest of the week is packing overhaul! We have a lot to pack up and only a few days to do it. The big rental truck comes on Wednesday and then have to load up! One of our friends offered to come help us with that so hopefully we can get everything loaded before dad gets out of work on Thursday and we head out. The plan is to load up, leave Thursday around 4:30pm and stop in Indianapolis at my friend Rebekah's house. I can't wait to see her!!!!!! I haven't seen her since my baby shower in May and we've both had babies since then! Friday we will finish the trip and arrive in Acworth, Georgia! (if you need my new address, please let me know). So if I'm not on here or a little bit, please know I'm not ignoring you but just really busy!!!!

All for now!

changes

Madelyn is officially two months old today!!! I can't believe it's gone that fast! She had her two month check up today and all is well. She is now 11 lbs, 6 oz and 22 inches long! What a great baby! That's the 75th percentile in both height and weight. Doctor says she looks good and is nice and healthy.
Her poor leg after getting three shots (two in the left leg and 1 in the right)

This is the only way she would calm down for us after getting home from the doctor. Poor peanut. She did so well!


In other news, I might as well come out and say it.... we're moving to Georgia. Matt was offered a job at his dad's company and accepted the position. We leave at the end of September, so about 4 weeks left! We're very excited about moving, but also very sad. We're excited for a new start in a new city and to be out on our own (in a little bit... first we're living with his dad and step mom) but it's hard to move away from family. All of my family, except my mom's mom, lives here for the most part. Matt's mom's side of the family is mostly here too. We told them about the move yesterday and Saturday and for the most part, they took it well. I understand it's going to be hard to see us leave and it's sad, but please trust me, it's just as hard if not harder on us. We understand what we're doing and realize that we're taking Madelyn away from a lot of her family but we truly feel this is God's will for us. We have spent the last 3 months praying about this and talking about this and feel this is where we are being lead at this time. It's so hard on us, because of Mady but also because most of our friends are here. My best friend since 7th grade is here and I hated having to tell her that we're leaving. I basically broke down in bed last night at the realization of all that was happening. We made the decision about a week ago and then things have been moving so fast I didn't really have time to think about it until after everyones comments last night. I'm leaving some of my best friends, all of my family, our beautiful new house, our wonderful church, a great job and town I grew up in for what? A chance to make a new life, that's what. Matt has a great opportunity to work for his dad, actually just having a job since March, and do something that he likes and is good at. We can be a part of his siblings lives (his brothers are both in marching band in high school) and getting to spend time with his family that we don't get to see that often. This is so hard but we are so excited for this new beginning and please know we are only a 2 hour plane ride, or 12 hour car ride away. We would love visitors and of course we will be back a lot to visit a place I will always call home.