Getting Ready

I've started packing my bag for the hospital. No one talks about the daddy needing a bag for the hospital, but Ryan is going to need some pj pants if he spends the night. He'll also need a lot of snacks.

I've also been making a huge to-do list of things that need to be done before the baby comes. I'm trying to stock up on groceries. Hopefully, I'll be able to put some meals in the freezer, too. My mom already brought us dinner last night- no baby yet, she just knew we were both working all day! I've trained at two different Edward Jones offices. It is a very difficult job, but I'm learning a lot and have been meeting a lot of people.

We had our lamaze class this past weekend. Ryan is really excited and is coaching me in getting ready for labor! He has all kinds of exercises for me to do- some of them are exercises for runners that he thinks will help strengthen me! He is very supportive and will be a great dad!

Any August Birthdays????

We want to compile a list of August birthdays to see if Molly hits any of them right on the dot. Let us know if you have an August birthday! Here's what we have so far.
8/20 Heidi
8/21 Nolan (Molly's second cousin)
8/23 Tim (Molly's uncle)

New Home

On Saturday, Ryan and I moved into the home we'll be in until November. It is a very nice house in a beautiful neighborhood. The neighborhood has great roads for running. The house also has Direct TV- a new thing for us. I've already started trying to do some of the workouts on FitTV and watching birth stories on Discovery Health Channel. It's so fun, although the birth videos are scary!

We closed on our house in OH last week Thursday. Praise God for His faithful provision! We are still trusting Him for a fantastic teaching job for Ryan. This is his last week of classes. Next week he'll be working a lot of hours at the Cowgirl Museum. Poor Ryan has no legal picture id. In TX when you apply for a new driver's license, they take your previous one. He has no other picture id. This caused a lot of trouble last week on his birthday when he first tried to take his final teacher certification test and when we tried to get some papers notarized for our closing. He couldn't do either. Thankfully my mom's friend is a notary and took care of the papers for us! He's been without picture id for two weeks. Hopefully it arrives soon!

This morning I was reading in Mark and read the parable of the soils. I love the part about the good soil. I'm praying that this would be true of our baby and successive generations in our family: "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." I want to be a fruit-bearer and wish that for our family and friends, too.

The pastor at church this morning told a physics joke. He said that the optimist says that the glass is half full, while the pessimist calls the glass half empty. The physicist sees it a little differently: There is a short cylinder filled with a colorless, odorless gas atop a short cylinder of the same diameter filled with a colorless, odorless liquid. The physicist would say that the glass is completely full.

Tomorrow is Ryan's 30th birthday. We are going to dinner with my parents tonight to celebrate. I won't see him much tomorrow. He starts his second class tomorrow. It goes for a week, and then the following week he takes his last class. In the afternoon, he is going to take his PPR test, which is the last test he needs to take to be certified to teach. He should do pretty well.

Tomorrow evening I have my audition at Kaplan. It got rescheduled. I've decided to teach a lesson on either "How to make your house more green" or "How to save $100 in a month". After teaching for several years, a 5 minute lesson seems like nothing. I've also applied to work on call at Edward Jones Investments. It would be like substitute teaching, but I would fill in for the front desk receptionist at any of their offices. I've pretty much been hired, but just need to do the fingerprint background check. I will then do 24 hours of training, and then I can put my name on the on call roster for any offices within driving distance. There are a lot around here- three in just the small town nearest where we're living.

We will also close on our house this week! The title company is going to e-mail us all of the forms to sign. We'll then sign them, have them notarized, fax them back, and wait for the money to be wired to our bank account!

Baby Molly is doing well. She is very active. Her heart rate was 135 bpm this past week at my check up. She'll be here in about 45 days! We can't wait to meet her! Ryan has been especially eager lately.

Culture Shock

They do things a little differently here in Texas. Driving down Veal Station Road earlier this week, I passed the garbage collector. He was driving a beaten up old pick up truck with a big metal cage on the back. He was just throwing the bags of trash into the cage on the bed of the truck. In Kettering, everyone leaves their neat little waste management trash cans next to the garage. In perfect harmony the waste management mini-carts drive up to the cans and transport the trash to the larger trash truck waiting on the street.

Albertson's is a really nice grocery store here. However, I looked all over and discovered that they don't have any fresh mozzarella. I'm used to Trader Joe's; I think they had about six different kinds from which to choose! At the Super Walmart, there are forty varieties of tortillas, but only one type of pita bread. I'm sure the suburbs have more options but not the little towns out here.

Ryan went to get a Texas car registration and driver's license. Altogether the cost was about $250! There is a mandatory vehicle inspection in addition to the title fee, registration, and driver's license; however we were not anticipating the $90 new resident fee. We'll be holding off for a few months before we take care of my car! My dad gets frustrated by the laws in this state that really tax the little person. The oil moguls and natural gas companies have legislation in their favor that keep their costs low. There is drilling for natural gas all over down here. The gas companies pay very little to the local municipalities although the heavy truck traffic really tears up the roads.

I guess the cheap avocados make up for it all. :)

Cowgirl Up

Ryan has a new job working weekends at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Who would have thought that a city guy from the midwest would get a job working there? He's just doing general security which means that he is mostly responsible for telling people not to take pictures. He'll get more tasks after he learns more about the facilities. It is a great job because as a history buff he loves museums.

I met with a doula this morning. We'll probably hire her to help out during my labor and delivery. She is not medical personnel, but is available for emotional support. She knows different massage and breathing techniques. She can also give suggestions of different positions to help ease labor pain. She'll be a good support for Ryan, too. She can help him understand what I'm going through and how he can help.

Here's a pic of me taken this afternoon. Right now I'm 32 weeks pregnant. I've been putting on a lot of weight staying here at my parents. There is always a lot of good food around...
My Dad made this awesome dollhouse shelf for Molly! It is so cute! She already has a lot of books and stuffed animals that will fill most of it!

House Sold

We have an offer on our house! We received an offer on Monday and made a counter offer yesterday which the buyers accepted! The inspection will be next Wednesday. Ryan and I went out for Mexican food tonight to celebrate. In Texas there is no shortage of bbq, Mexican food, sweet tea, or steak.

Here are some recent pix:

Do you remember the children's story about the country mouse and city mouse? Well, this is a picture of the country cat and city cat. Buddy (black and white) is my parents' outdoor kitty. Kit Kat is on the left.

Chris and Ryan before they left with the moving truck. No, that is not a beer in Chris' hand. He did have Dr. Pepper and tortilla chips for breakfast. (This was Memorial Day morning so I guess it wasn't too recent.)

On the Job Trail

I'm looking for some part-time work for the summer. I just applied online to a local temp service. I've also applied to Kaplan and Sylvan to do some teaching. I have an "audition" at Kaplan next week in which I have to present a five minute "how to" lesson on something non-academic. I'm not sure what I'll choose... how to foster a good relationship with your inlaws, how to register at Babies R Us, how to create the perfect Greek salad... Any ideas?

My mom and I were discussing the diversity of the various jobs I've held. I'm not sure that it is a good thing that I've had so many jobs. Here they are, in semi-chronological order:
-Babysitter-Asparagus Cutter-Server at Olga's Kitchen-Tool and Die worker (yuck! only 2 days)-Grocery Store Cashier-Residence Hall front desk worker-fast food worker at Carl's Jr-American Spoon Foods in Traverse City-Substitute Teacher-Physics Lab Instructor-Rock Quarry Scale House Operator (I loved this job!)-Temp job registering Law students at Cooley Law School-High School Teacher-Home bound teacher-Athletes in Action- mystery shopper-summer school teacher- GAP-Bath and Body Works- Physics Instructor at University-Online test grader-Tutor

Please add a comment with some of the unique jobs you've had. I'd love to hear about them. I'll hopefully update again soon. We had some technical difficulties earlier in the week, but the internet is up and running now.

Definitely a Girl

At my ultrasound on Wednesday, the tech told me that the baby is definitely a girl. I'm thankful for the confirmation because I wasn't too convinced the last time! She estimated her weight to be 2 lb 11 oz and the due date to be 8/18. It was so fun to see her moving around and to see her heart beating! I also saw her face- can't wait to meet her!

She's been moving around in my belly a lot! After I woke up this morning, I just watched her deform my belly with her motion. My brother's dog Max was barking really loud right in front of me yesterday, and she didn't move at all. However, last week at church, she got really busy during the sermon. She was moving the whole time- our pastor can be pretty loud!

I'm off to go for a slow, steady jog- while I'm still able to do it!

Trust When I Can't See

A song I heard on the radio this morning had these lyrics, "I will go where You lead; I will trust when I can't see; this is my offering." God is leading us to this next place in our lives, but we can't see a lot of the future. So, we will trust when we can't see.

Ryan, Chris, and Kit Kat arrived at my parents' last night after 20 hours of driving! I'm so thankful to them for not only driving, but enduring a serenade by a loud cat for most of the drive! Our friends also helped us pack the truck on Saturday. It took less than 85 minutes to get the whole truck loaded- AMAZING! We've been blessed in many ways!

At home

The house where Ryan and I lived the last 20 months is no longer home. We will no longer have friends to visit or be together there as a family. However, tonight I'm at home. I'm staying with my friend Angela. Her two little boys are in bed, and she is out running an errand. Her husband is at work. My heart is content. I know and love this family. People are what makes a place home.

After Ryan and his friend Chris left with the moving truck this morning, I washed all of the laminate floors throughout our house. The walls have been washed, and the lawn is trimmed. It looks like a pleasant place to live. However, the lump in my throat reminds me that I am not at home. I'm alone in that place. And so I gratefully accept invitations to stay with others... so I can be home.

I'm very thankful that even in that empty house I have gentle kicks from my baby within reminding me that she's there. In the silence and emptiness, I was aware of the Lord's presence much more clearly than normal. I hope that in my times alone there, I will grow more in love with my baby and my God.

In the last couple days, my appreciation for a home with loved ones has grown considerably. I'm looking forward to many nights in the next two weeks spent in the homes of friends. I want to enjoy their presence and companionship as I wait in this season of transition.

Melancholy

The reality of our move has been hitting me more and more. We are trying to work out the details of moving our possessions next week and then Kit Kat and I travelling with my dad a couple weeks later. I need to survive with the barest of necessities because I won't have much room in my car for anything besides the cat, my dad, and me.

Last night Ryan and I were sitting in the backyard after dusk. He had just mowed the lawn, and the evening was beautiful. I was suddenly very sad to leave. We had sold some of our possessions in the garage sale- nothing too important to us, but a couple things we kind of liked. I think that as a woman it is especially meaningful to have a place to call home. (Especially a pregnant woman that wants to be nesting!) In addition, it is a reminder that life passes quickly, and another chapter in our lives was coming to an end.

On September 11, 2005, our last moving day, everyone had already left, and I stayed behind to do some final cleaning at our house in Lansing. I remember crying as I looked at our first home with the beautiful hardwood for the last time. We can never go back to the way things were then.

Ryan and I took our honeymoon a couple months after our wedding. The night before our honeymoon we spent the night at my parents' house in Monroe. That was the last time I would be there. They were moving shortly after that time. I cried as we left to go to the airport. Unfortunately for Ryan I cried throughout that day and a couple successive days. I would not return to the home of my childhood. Things would really be different from that time on. However, I love visiting my parents at their home in Texas. It feels like home to me, probably more than the place in Monroe would feel now. That's good because we'll be staying there for a month!

So, we are trusting God for another place to call home. I look forward to the days when I can tell our children about how God provided for us in this crazy time. I also look forward to the days when we will be home forever with the Lord. For now, I'll smile through my tears.

Spring Shower

These are all of the beautiful ladies that were at my first baby shower last Saturday! They really blessed me! I can't wait to use all of the gifts with our baby. I'm especially excited about the Baby Bjorn.

We had a garage sale this morning. We made a lot of money- enough for two fill-ups at the gas station! That's a big deal nowadays. It is always amazing the things for which people will pay money. It feels really good to get rid of stuff. We had our sale from 7-2 and then we packed up the remainder, and I was home from dropping it off at the thrift store by 3. Now, I'm off to join Ryan for a nap, and then we have to get ready for our open house tomorrow. Now that we've gotten rid of a lot of stuff, we mostly need to clean.

Belly pix @ 25 weeks

I'm noticeably pregnant now, especially when I wear maternity clothes. Not very many strangers have asked about my pregnancy, but my students and friends comment on my belly quite often! They say that I'm really starting to get big and to show.

By the way, Kit Kat is doing great! (Ryan thought he should get a little press.) He (Kit Kat) loves to lay out in the shade. He's getting ready for the baby! I also ordered some tranquilizers from the vet for our 20-something drive to Texas. That will be fun- being serenaded by Kit Kat the WHOLE WAY!

Here's our schedule for moving:
Pack the truck in Ohio - May 26-27
Ryan and his friend Chris drive to Texas - May 28-29
Arrive and unload truck - May 29-30
Ryan and Chris party in Austin - June 1-2
Emily's showers in MI - June 2-3
Ryan begins class - June 4
Last exam in Emily's classes - June 7
Emily and Kit Kat drive to TX - June 8ish

Pray for us! We need it! Please also pray for a job for Ryan. He's finding lots of jobs for which to apply, but we need someone to notice his resume and qualifications out of the other applicants!

This and that

This is a picture of Kim and I this morning at 6:20 am! She ran the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati and did awesome (4:30!). It is so fun to have her (and Toonsis her cat) visit. I'm trying to convince her to run a marathon in Dallas next December.

I only have four more weeks of teaching left (plus a week of final exams). I normally don't count down to the end (at least not with any of the quarters this year), but my big lecture class is a challenge, so it will be nice when that is done. It just takes so much more preparation to teach a class like that. I much prefer to teach smaller classes that can be more interactive and hands-on. I'm not complaining, however. I have a fantastic job.

Ryan passed his Texes test for social studies teaching. He did great. He needed 240 out of 300 and he scored 259.