And It's Done

(our actual sold sign this time)

We did it! We closed on our house today. Officially. The papers are signed and the keys have been handed over. What a good feeling.

And we finished moving everything out last Saturday...after a haphazard week of living with piles of boxes and without most of our furniture. The house is completely empty now, and I have to admit that I got a little teary walking one last time through the rooms we've come to know so well. It was a good home and I'm going to miss it.

Now we have our things scattered between a U-store, Bryan's parent's house, my parent's house, and our suitcases. Our life is probably going to continue to feel a little disorganized for a while (can't wait to move all over again in a couple of months), but it will be fun staying with friends and family for a bit.

Here is a glimpse of some of the moving chaos from the weekend.

Poppy was completely bored by the whole moving business

Our superhero moving crew (plus mom, Andria, and Kait).

One last family photo in front of our first home.

Goodbye House.

One Month

Our little Poppyseed is one month old already! Oh my...I don't think I want her growing up so fast!

Recent Accomplishments:

+ Smiling at us when she's awake, not just in her sleep

+ Spitting up in surprising amounts

+ Being delightfully grumpy for no explainable reason (particularly after dinner)

+ Drinking from a bottle with her daddy

+ Insisting on holding her head up on her own...I don't think she knows she's a baby yet

+ Sleeping five hours at night (unfortunately she has not decided to make this a habit)

+ Getting decidedly round and chubby

+ Making her mom and dad very happy!

Big Deal!

We have an exciting new addition to our front yard (besides the tomato worm that obliterated our bountiful harvest).

I'm talking about this much-anticipated sight...

In the three months we had the house on the market, we only had ONE offer. But I guess you only need one.

We passed inspection and appraisal (phew), so it looks like we're all set for moving out on Saturday and closing on Monday. The timing is a little crazy with a new baby, but we are so excited and thankful. We really weren't sure how this was going to work out, but everything seems to be coming together.

Now we can start to really look forward to our new townhome. They've already started framing, and construction is scheduled to finish in December (good Christmas present). So what are we going to do until then?

"Um...mom...dad..."

That's right. We're moving back in with my parents for a couple months. I'm pretty excited. I think it sounds like fun. And they seem to be OK with it too. Maybe Poppy helped sweeten the deal.

Here's our new little family of three in front of our new little lot two days after Poppy was born. Happy day. Can't wait until it's "home" for real.

First Photo Shoots

My sister Andria and my mom did a fabulous job on Poppy's first two photo shoots. Andria especially had to put up with all my crazy picture ideas and did her best to make them turn out like I had imagined in my head. We definitely didn't make it easy on her.

Thank you to both of you guys. I love having talented photographers in the family!

There were so many good shots but here are a few of my favorites...ones that make me smile really big. (I tried to pick some that weren't on their blogs)

By Mimi (my mom...DeLisa Photography):

By Aunt Andria (Francis Nora Photography):

Meeting Poppy

What an experience...

Labor was the hardest thing I've ever been through, but also the most amazing and the most beautiful. It brought me closer to Poppy, to Bryan, and to God. And so I am thankful for every hour of that day.

I'll always remember the unexplainable sense of joy and peace I felt, even through the toughest moments.

I'm also so thankful for the support I had from our family and from my husband. My sisters and mom were there with me through it all (lots of walking, massaging, and encouraging), and Bryan was absolutely perfect. I don't know where I would have been without them, and I almost cry every time I think about that day and what they helped me get through. I am so lucky to have people like this in my life.

And now we have Poppy.

Our hearts are very full.