Moving On

We are all moved.  I mopped the kitchen floor one last time and we turned in the keys to our Baltimore habitation.  

It wasn't too sad.  I had said my goodbyes and, honestly, was a bit too tired to feel much other than relief that it was over.   (And a sense of extreme gratitude to the angelic individuals that helped us out.  We wouldn't have made it without them.)

Now to unpack and find my life.  I'm sure I put it in a box somewhere...

Later I have some pictures Gina and I took on a final walk around the area.  A few of our favorite spots.  AND some pictures of our new home...for all the family out there wondering.  It's superb.

140 BPM

I've been thinking a lot the past few days about the little

heartbeat

we heard for the first time together on Friday.  

It sounded beautiful and strong.

I'm reminded of it every time I feel the baby flutter.  More and more flutters every day.

I am getting excited and really looking forward to seeing my littlest one again in a few short weeks.

Keep on growing tiny bean!

Charm City

Oh, leaving.  

While I'm excited to start fresh somewhere it is so sad to have to say goodbye to Baltimore and our sweet little city spot.  I'll miss the awesome food that's only steps away.  The walks to parks, taking a different route each time.  All the dog walkers who are so kind and stop to let Owen admire their puppies.  Access to the fish and bubbles at the aquarium.  School (yikes...did I already say that!)  Close friends.  Awesome neighbors.  City life.

Owen was so tiny when we moved in.  It was almost exactly a year ago.  He was just 4.5 months when we first moved in.  I was worried about moving here, pretty sure that we'd get mugged.  But it's been wonderful - the perfect city experience and such a great place for Owen to experience all those amazing milestones.  Sitting up, first teeth, first food, walking, falling, first words, first birthday.  It has been a packed year.

We found a beautiful little place, just perfect for our little family, out in the shady suburbs.   It's the exact opposite of where we are now, quiet, semi-secluded, full of nature, suburban.  A great place for this next stage.  We'll be steps away from a swimming pool and a great playground with plenty of baby swings and very little competition for them!   We'll take walks through the forest and by the lake watching squirrels,  instead of down the city sidewalks counting trucks.  

And through it all God remains ever faithful.  This past year has exceeded any and all of our expectations.  I'm sure the next one will too.  So, as always, I expect the unexpected where God is involved and am never disappointed.

Hopefully I can throw together a little tribute week to Baltimore this week.

Check back for some of our favorite spots and memories.

Chesapeake Beach!

Gina, Owen and I found a little beach on the Chesapeake Bay last week.  It was a perfect day to spend in the sun.  

Owen wasn't a big fan of the water at first - but by the end he was having a blast splashing Gina.

But mostly he liked digging up the sand and watering it with his little green can.

And throwing shells in the surf.

Can't wait to visit the 'real' ocean sometime this summer.

Just something cool.

How awesome is this window display.  It's all little  rolls of fabric.  

I'd love to do something like this for Owen's room.   

Effortless Beauty

Emily is an amazing woman.

What you see here is the culmination, the celebration, of all that she has accomplished this year. It is easy to say that I am unbelievably proud of my wife.

But there's a lot that you don't see here...

What you don't see is her incredible focus and energy...

Her battling through morning (heck, all-day) sickness for the past few weeks...

Her cramming in studying, lectures and paper-writing in the briefest of moments when Owen takes a nap...

Her internship at the International Rescue Committee that earned her accolades...

Her excellent papers...

Her constant and consistent growth spiritually...

Her unflagging prayer...

Her patient love for Owen and me...

Her never-complaining, never-flagging, never-quitting attitude...

And beyond a little eye-tick, she's no worse for wear!

Emily, her name means "industrious"

If you ask her, she hasn't always been a big fan of this (the meaning, she likes her name)

But if you look at this past year, it's easy to see how appropriate this really is.

Today, I found a better meaning for Emily:

To strive or excel

Of all the people I know in this life, Emily exemplifies this. And the thing about Emily is that she makes all this excellence look effortless. To this day, I still don't know how she does it.

Even though we've been married for nearly 10 years now, she never ceases to amaze me or show me something new about herself. I am so incredibly thankful that God gave her to me.

The Bible actually wrote about Emily... check it out!

I love you, Emily, and I'm so proud of you!