The big move

We made our second (and most official, final) move at the end of February. We'd spent a month in Midland before returning to Dallas to spend 5 nights in our Dallas home before it officially sold. It was so strange to come 'home!'...I think it must have been a little confusing to Colton. We spent five, fun-filled days with friends. It was very refreshing to be with friends and spend a few more nights at "home!" My dad came up to help us, and I'm not quite sure what our time in Dallas would have looked like if he wasn't there to help! He spent a lot of time helping with Colton and helping with tons of stuff around the house.

The movers showed up one day and wrapped, boxed, and packaged all of our belongings. They worked fast, and before we knew it Colton's blanket (an essential component to naps and nighttime) had been packed away, along with Sadie's pacis and lovies. AHHHHHHH! Fortunately, our sweet two year old chose just that day to listen to reason (hadn't happenend before or since) and very calmly went to bed that night and the next two without 'wuh-wuh'. And, we finally found a paci for Sadie and her substitute lovie was a burp cloth. :) They've become so flexible and for that we are grateful!

I just loved that Colton and Sadie joined us for the trip back to Dallas. Colton got to see so many friends and spend lots of time with his precious Mia! I know he misses his Dallas friends, but we've already got a playdate set up for this week with two new friends here - hooray! But, it was also very chaotic having a crawling baby and busy two year old in the house during the packing and moving. We were all feeling pretty stressed trying to keep kids out of the way (and safe).

Here are some pictures detailing our trip to Dallas and back to Midland for the move into the new house!

We arrived in Dallas late on a Friday night and rushed over to say hi to Mia Saturday morning. Colton gave her a big hug when he saw her. We walked to her house one day and took her to our favorite park down the street.

We also went to the zoo (I know, I know, - we'd live there if we could!). We had so many friends join us - it was so fun to see such sweet, familiar faces. I loved seeing all of our precious playgroup friends!

Brooks, Colton, and Harper

I had the bright idea of bringing our single jogging stroller and having Colton sit on the front, but he DID NOT like my game plan. He had a rough time at the zoo, until...

we found the water! Then, happy Colton emerged and he spent a lot of time splashing and getting wet....and....

holding hands with Mia!
So sweet!

Jake, Mia, and Colton

Colton and Ford

We met friends at Fuddruckers one night for an early dinner...it was a very fun, memorable evening - we got to see so many friends! I loved every second of it.

Chatting with Janey - she loves to tell you all kinds of stories

Sadie with Leo B - she loved him! (we do too!)
The kids wandered around playing games (or pretending to). Colton and David had a first - C walked up to his daddy and asked point blank for money to play games. David's pretty sure that will be the first of many times he asks him for money!

Sophie and Jackson 'sharing' a drink

Sweet Kennedy!

Fun girlfriends!

Hope and Colton eating cookies

Jen and itty-bitty baby Joshua...love this girl and am sad that I won't get to see Joshua as much as I saw his big brother and sister grow up. :(

Bill, David, and Leo

More friends...(I took lots of pictures!)

Sadie was passed around all night.

Colton and his friend Greer - love this picture. :) They are so cute!

Aunt Linde (not really his aunt) helping Colton with his shoes

Colton in the drivers seat of the very, very big moving van! He loved sitting around watching the guys tear down beds and pack up boxes. He'd sit at the edge of the room with his hands in his lap just watching them, asking "what are the men doing" and "what's happening?" We talked a lot about what was going on and about our new house in Midland, so we think he understood all the changes.

Bare walls in our new home...

The Grandpas putting together Colton's bunkbeds...Colton was their little helper in his way-too- small leopard Halloween costume from 2 years ago. This first picture shows Sadie and Colton's room when we first moved in...it was one large room (notice the two ceiling fans). They spent a week and a half like this, then we had a wall put up. :) Sleeping in the same room wasn't so easy with two transitioning kids that were both sick!

The Grandmas taking care of Sadie - on one of their RARE breaks from unloading box after box after box. I cannot imagine having done this move without the help of family. Grateful for our parents who have servant's hearts to truly pitch in and help in every way.

A little fun on the dolly

We were so busy moving in and unpacking that I didn't take many pictures. Hopefully we'll have a chance to corral the kids, and clean the house to take pictures of it looking nice and neat. That lasts a mere 5 seconds with Colton underfoot (but, I wouldn't change it for anything!). :)

Our girl is growing up!

Sadie is almost one! Where has this year gone? I can't believe she's 10 1/2 months old. I did a much better job of posting during Colton's first year, so I thought Sadie deserved her own little post to celebrate being 10 months old.

Sadie, you are such a doll. I can't get over how sweet and precious you are. It's the first thing I tell others about you - about how calm, sweet, smiley, and plain adorable my little Sadie is. I've recently been praying that you'll stay just this sweet! (wishful thinking!)

Your daddy and I just love, love, love you. You have such a precious disposition and are almost always smiling. What a gift you are to us! You are so playful! You just soak up playtime with your family. It takes a lot to get you to laugh, but you love to just sit around and smile. You laugh a lot at your big brother and mommy and daddy when we do silly things. You've become very inquisitive and enjoy getting into all kinds of things...tupperware cabinet, magazines, craft box, Colton's collection of plastic coins and googly eyes.

Laughing at your brother

I love your sweet, quiet little giggle

You are so content and love to be around others. You love to be held, so anytime Nana and Pops are in town or BoPa and Lizzy are around you get lots of extra attention.

At 10 months you are quite the crawler. You love to crawl down the hall and pull up on everything in sight. You often crawl up to me and pull up on my legs with your big blue eyes pleading to be picked up. How can I resist?

Not sure that I think you and Colton look a lot alike...

This is Colton at 10ish months...such a blondie with LOTS of teeth!

And Sadie at 10 months....blue eyes, but darker than your brother's and darker hair and skin

You babble and talk a lot, but we can't quite understand you just yet. :) We just nod our heads and respond to your jibber jabber. There are times you just talk, and talk, and talk. Its pretty cute! If you think we're not listening you increase your volume and get REALLY loud! I think I've heard you try to say: all done, bye bye, and bottle. You definitely say dada and mama a lot!

You have 8 teeth now! Two more have just popped through the surface.

You love to watch your brother and find out what he's up to. He's starting to get pretty annoyed with you grabbing his toys and books, but I keep telling him you love him and just want to spend time with him. He loves you and kisses and hugs you often. He thinks its so funny when I tell you "no" or "don't touch". Boy does it make him smile to hear his little sister being reprimanded! I think he's been waiting for that day for a long time! Unfortunately, as soon as I tell you no he immediately runs over to do the thing I'm asking you not to do, laughing the whole time!

You've gotten pretty sassy lately - when I use my "no Sadie" tone of voice you start shaking your head and waving your hand at me. But, you've done a great job listening and usually obey - except in the bathtub...you always want to stand up - over and over I have to ask you to sit back down. You don't like it when Colton takes a toy away from you and typically give him an earful. He quickly replaces the toy he took from you with something else he thinks will be just as appealing - what a nice brother!

You go through phases of stranger anxiety or only wanting to be with mommy, and lately you've been in a mommy phase. You've had lots of colds this year (we're assuming because you've got a two year old brother). You sleep wonderfully most nights, but if you are stuffed up you wake up a couple of times a night upset. Those make for long nights because you usually want to get up and play once you see me. We love that a paci and lovey can calm you down almost anytime. On a good night you'll go to bed around 7:45 and wake around 7:00. You were such a trooper moving from crib to pack-n-play during our big move. I think you enjoyed sleeping in the cozy little apartment closet, but it seems you're getting used to your new bedroom.

You snuggle with mommy in bed for the first feeding of the day, then take 3 bottles throughout the day. You LOVE to eat. You eat everything we put in front of you. I remember when your brother was this good of an eater! You really like toast, blueberries, yogurt, any pureed baby foods, waffles, and goldfish. You had your first taste of chocolate the other day when your brother gave you a chocolate covered raisin. You loved it!

You are a big girl! I think you weigh a little over 20 pounds now. You typically wear 12 month clothes. I can't remember how long you were at your 9 month appointment and I have no idea where the paperwork is in this mess we call home. I think you were tall, maybe 90%.

We love you sweet girl. We can't wait to watch you grow up- we plan to treasure every minute. We pray that we are parents that lead you well and teach you about our loving God. Let's postpone you turning one for a few more months, ok?! :)