Oh wow, that sounds so weird to say/type. Makes me feel like I'm officially grown up. (as if paying taxes, phone bills, car insurance, getting married, 401Ks and moving across the country wasn't "grown up" enough).
This transition has brought a few emotions, as you might imagine.
Sadness: It is always hard for me to face changes in my life...although I must admit it does get easier and easier as time passes and more changes come my way. And the sadness of being done at work is focused again around relationships. I was finally building some good ones and will miss seeing some of those faces daily. Not to mention, I did have some great kiddos I worked with and some of them I will probably never see again. But I have plans to get together with coworkers, and will keep trusting those kids into the capable hands of our Father.
Gratefulness: I am so so thankful for the job I have had. I loved it. It fit me well, and I actually felt like I was impacting little lives, even if in some seemingly insignificant ways. I am grateful I get to stay home with Bambino this fall. I know not everyone gets that opportunity, and some are fine without it, but it is something I have always wanted to do. That being said...
Trepidation: I really have no idea what this fall will hold for us in so many different ways. Obviously there will be some financial adjustments, as we are cutting out one whole income. Sometimes that makes me nervous, just because it is new and unknown...and life gets expensive. Winter is also not the season where I thrive, and the thought of newborn, staying home all day, and all those new and delightful hormone adjustments I hear about...well it kind of sounds overwhelming at times. Thankfully I have a good support network, and a super encouraging husband and the grace of a totally understanding God on my side. So my trepidation is followed by....
Contentment: I really am happy and content in this stage of life. Sure there are days I wish Bambino would just be here. I wish I were living closer to my family. I wish we owned our own home where we will put down roots. But those don't always linger. And even though they will always be in the back of my brain as things to look forward to, I am content in this season. Pregnancy is going well...I am healthy and so is Bambino. The summer is starting out well...and it IS the season where I thrive...so I am looking forward to that.
So all in all, life is good. God is good. New chapters are good.
On to the pictures =)
Ben brought home some beautiful flowers that were trials at his work (which means we don't have to pay for them) and he planted them all and set them up around the outside of the house. Although I'm not a green-thumb, I sure do appreciate flowers around!
He also built these beautiful garden boxes! They are made out of cedar (which prevents them from rotting) and he just sort of made them using his logical, creative mind!
This is when they were first planted, so they look a bit sparse.
It includes: peppers, peas, tomatoes, beans, cilantro, basil, cucumbers, ground cherries, beets and thyme!
Progressed Belly Bump pic!
I think I was 22 weeks (4.5 months)...just past the halfway mark!
please excuse the wet, awkward looking hair...I choose the worst moments for pictures!
This is Sierra. At the vet. Looking cool as a cucumber. Do not be fooled. She hated it. Normally she never has a problem. But for some reason she was so nervous. Taking her temperature (done with a thermometer up the rear) about did her in. The vet said that being by me was probably contributing to the anxiety so she suggested they take her to another room.
A few minutes later I hear a lot of thumps, people struggling and a few growls.
10-15 minutes pass and the vet comes back in and said that she is sorry but they had to use a muzzle and a "helping hand" because she growled when they tried to take her temperature. Basically they held her down and made it happen. Which I am totally fine with, whatever you gotta do. But it made me chuckle a little. She was all nervous telling me about it, I could tell she thought I might be mad. But hey, the dog isn't to blame. If someone tried to stick something up my butt that I was unfamiliar with, I would probably growl too. Just saying.
She got over it pretty quick too.
I love these pictures. This is a Kindergarten class I worked with at the end of the year at Field Day. Look how cute they are lined up to do the three-legged race!!
...and this is what happens when they actually do the three-legged race!
We have been having a lot of rain here (at least it is a lot in my book...I am from a desert after all). But with the rain comes these beauties.
Oh, and fyi, I am praying for rain in California...every time we get a downpour here, I pray you all get it there!
Another baby bump picture! And yes, the wide stance is pretty normal these days...and won't be going away any time soon, I imagine. And yes, our bathroom tiles are really a strange color, but they ARE clean, I promise.
We celebrated the first birthday of one sweet little girl last weekend! This is Ben being the awesome kid-loving partier I know him to be. Such a goon, but I love him.
Here is Noelle digging into her cake. She pretty much just wanted to eat the frosting.
And then have a thumb suck afterwards.
Ben introducing 4-square to the next generation.
The kids I nanny for are members at the YMCA, and they have a beautiful pool. We spend warm afternoons here...and it is quite peaceful and lovely!
Meg and Maria came into town for a wedding that they were in. We got to celebrate Maria's 6th birthday while they were here!
Our quickly growing bounty! That was last week, and already it is almost completely filled in with green today!
it has been a little warm and humid the past few weeks and we don't have air conditioning. The dog got smart and decided to forego her bed (the black spot in the left of the picture by the white curtain) and mainly sleeps on the hard wood floor.
I got home from work and she went right over to corner to put herself in time-out. She had gotten into a cupboard, only pulled out the baking soda, carried it carefully to the living room and set it down. Didn't chew it, didn't spill it...At least she knows being in the cupboards is naughty!
First Caprese with our basil. Our tomatoes weren't quite ripe enough, so I had to buy those. Still...nothing like fresh-picked basil.
For Father's Day yesterday, we went to Harriet Island band shell to listen to the Minneapolis Philharmonic Orchestra and have a picnic. This is one thing I love about Minnesota. They sure know how to make summer splendid. They do outdoor events really really well. It was a lot of fun.
Well that is it for now. Next time you hear from me, I will be in...Europe!!
I have decided to commit to writing a little something and posting a few pictures every few days, or as I get good wifi access. This is not only for your benefit, but I was encouraged that it will help me remember pieces of the journey later on as well!
So keep checking in!
Au Revoir! (Oooh, now I can actually use that piece of French for reals!)
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