Yay for Monday!

Was only up three-ish times before 8:30am. I can live with that. For now.

Woke up this morning, fed Emery, then we headed to the exercise room. Emery chilled on her blanket a few feet away from the treadmill I was on. She laid there fascinated for 30 minutes just watching my legs move back and forth. Next, we came home and she had a little nap while I showered, ate breakfast, and read my scriptures. Next, I fed her and loaded her up in the car seat for a grocery trip. I took the Baby Bjorn to the grocery store (loaned to me by a friend), and grocery shopping was so much more fun! It was nice not to have to lug Emery's car seat in to the store, put it in the cart, almost crash into everything ('cause I can't see over the top of the seat), and have her get upset halfway through shopping. Instead I could be close to her the whole time and still have two hands free! Oh wonderful invention.

At home, we cleaned up a bit, started dinner, and then rested together for 45 minutes ("together" because she wouldn't sleep unless I held her). Now Emery is down for a nap, dinner is made for the husband when he gets home, and soon Emery and I will head off for a bit of babysitting this evening for a family in our ward. Once we get home, we'll get to see Pete finally(!) and have a nice family home evening together.

I'm tired, but it's been a good day.
And I'm going to sleep well tonight! (drawing on the power of positive thinking, you know).

Letter to Emery---15 weeks

Dear Emery,

You are almost 4 months old!
Oh how your life has changed since I last wrote.
We moved to Georgia; you have your own room and bathroom (probably the only time in your life that will happen...too bad you're too young to appreciate it!), fun pools to play in, a nice ward with lots of friends your age, and many new things to get used to (like spiders. and giant crunchy centipedes. shudder.)

Your dad and I think you just get cuter and cuter and more fun as you grow older---it's so exciting to watch you learn new things. For example, you've been rolling from your tummy to your back for quite a few weeks now...I think it's your way of getting out of doing tummy time :). On the day before Father's Day, you laughed for the first time! Here's how it happened: you were on the couch and me and your dad were rearranging our furniture for the bajillionth time and your dad started waving his arms up and down like a crazy person at you and apparently you thought it was pretty funny. How fitting that your first laugh was at your dad...I think there will be many more laughs in the future that stem from him. We haven't replicated your laugh again, but we've come close and we'll keep trying!

Outside near the pool on a hot day

You love to grab onto things these days---you bat your hands at toys and are fascinated by bright colors and people. You are always trying to sit up too (probably because we often keep you semi-propped up to help with the reflux). You are a pro now at holding your head steady and recently got to experience the Bumbo! You seem so tiny in it to me, but you like it pretty well.

You also love using your leg muscles to stand up. It's so funny to watch you wobble back and forth on unsteady muscles as we support you by your arms. This past week, I took you to the pool! You looked adorable in your swimsuit, too bad I didn't really get any pictures. We'll get some soon though. Some of my favorite times are when we just "talk" together. I'll be holding you and all of a sudden you just stare real intently at me and start making all kinds of baby noises. When I respond back, you get a big smile on your face and start talking again. It's so cute! On Father's Day, you had a special surprise for your dad. Kind of. You had a little blow out while he was holding you :) But it's okay. He was a good sport and let me take a picture. I love the expressions on your faces.

It's fun for me and you to spend our days together! Hopefully we start getting more sleep soon and have the energy to go on more adventures. We are still working on unpacking and getting settled. It's been a slow process, but is coming along. Well, I feel like there is lots more I could tell you---guess I'll save it for a couple weeks later. Though you take a lot of time and energy, your dad and I love having you in our family! I am learning so many new things as a mother and am excited to keep watching you grow and develop.

Love,

Mom

Reality

Today is National Pajama Day!
Didn't you know?
Probably not.

Because I just declared it this morning.

In other words...this morning I decided to wear PJ's, watch movies, listen to music, and play with my baby all day. Because when I average five hours of sleep per night in one to two hour chunks for weeks on end and my naps are curiously elusive (I can't nap. Ever. I am a zombie.), there's just only so much I can do. I've been trying hard the past couple weeks to get The Big 5 in (and have royally failed...especially in the exercise aspect), plus try to unpack, get settled, clean my house, and be a big girl and find my way around Atlanta.

Confessions:
Last night's dinner is still not quite cleaned up (gross. I know).
Tonight's is looking grim to nonexistent.
My sleep deprivation headache is especially potent today.
Emery still eats terribly, poor girl. But she's cute and we're friends alllll daaay loooong.
Because Pete is in school all day. Everyday.

The End.

Three Dads

I'm late.
But better late than never.
Here's a little tribute to three dads in my life:

My dad...

Growing up, I was definitely a daddy's girl. Making popcorn together, camping, fishing, playing games...these are all good memories I have with my dad. He has always encouraged me, pushed me to do my best, and supported me in my endeavors--even when it wasn't convenient for him. If I could I would buy him boats, 4-wheelers, pick-up trucks...all the things he would probably be able to buy for himself if he hadn't decided to have 6 kids instead :) Thanks for the sacrifices you make for our family! Thanks for your teaching and your example that I continue to enjoy today.


My hubby... 

Watching Pete become a father has been such a wonderful thing. From the moment our little Emery was born, I feel as though a new happiness, a new light entered his eyes. I recall a doctor or nurse (can't remember which...I was heftily drugged at the time) at Emery's delivery remark how happy and excited Pete was when Ems was born. While being parents is challenging, I can see how the sacrifices and time that Pete gives to Emery only makes him love our daughter more. He is always reminding me what a sweet spirit she has and how special she is. I love how he helps me maintain this perspective through difficult times.


My father-in-law...

"Gramps" with Emery (don't mind her showin' off her tummy) :)

His gentle, spiritual nature is something I admire and wish I possessed. He is always checking up on how I'm doing, encouraging me in the things I do, even calling me during difficult times or to congratulate me on things like graduating from college (and this is no small feat considering he has 11 kids of his own to keep him busy). From the time Pete and I were dating, my father-in-law has made me feel so welcome in the Hoyt family. I am  inspired by his optimism and his ability to love everyone.

Oh how I love these three men! 

My life is so enriched by them.

Georgia

I really love Atlanta.
The minute I stepped out of the airport, however, I knew the humidity was going to take some getting used to. It's been in the high 90's each day we've been here.
I've basically learned that the heat isn't too bad...as long as you stay inside :).

There's also two pools in our apartment complex that we have definitely been taking advantage of. I just bought Emery a swimsuit so she will be able to do more than just dip her toes in the water or sit in her car seat in the shade. The air smells delicious here---sultry and hot with an occasional breeze of sweet magnolia. Everything is so green! It reminds me of Washington in that way...except here it's a hot, happy green instead of a gloomy, overcast green. I really think both kinds are beautiful though. I am also loving having a 2-bedroom apartment. I keep being amazed as I unpack each box and actually find a place for everything! So wonderful. A not-so-awesome thing I am learning about Georgia is the bugs. We've had more bugs/spiders in our apartment in the week we've been here than in the two years we lived in our Utah apartment. It's not too bad though and the maintenance people at our apartment complex do a really good job at spraying and keeping the places nice.

Things we've been doing so far include...

-having fun with Brian and Ashley until they left for Washington

-mad Craigslisting (got a couch, love seat, pillows, 2 end tables, coffee table, dining room table, 4 chairs, place mats, washer, and dryer all in ONE day. And for VERY cheap too.)

-finding familiar things (like Costco, Ikea, etc.)

-lots of unpacking (almost done! Just a few more boxes to go I think.)

-driving to church (which takes 20 minutes! crazy.)

-taking a little tour of Emory University 

-having lunch, dinner, and pool dates with the super nice people in our ward

-hanging up hooks, buying a vacuum, and otherwise making our little apartment a home :)

-trying to spend time together before Pete starts school

It's amazing how much effort it takes to get settled! I feel like it will probably take another 2 months before I have everything hung up and organized. It's good that between Emery and getting unpacked, I will have lots to do while Pete is slaving away studying. 

Here's a few pics...

smelling the magnolias

Brian and Ashley with Emery

Uncle Brian and Emery

Walking around the apartment complex

Magnolia

so green!

Moving Day

Who would've guessed I'd be so sad to leave Provo?!

My emotions didn't leave anything out, that's for sure. I shed tears at the Hendricks the night before moving day, then as I packed, then when my parents left, then when Pete's parents left, then as the U-Haul trailer left, and of course, when finally Pete and Emery and I left.

My parents, the Hendricks, and Pete's family all helped out so much. I'd still be packing in Provo if it weren't for their hard work boxing up and cleaning up our apartment. Brian and Ashley were kind enough to actually drive the car pulling the U-Haul trailer all the way from Provo to our apartment in Atlanta. Not only that, but when they picked us up from the airport in Atlanta, they had already unloaded all of our stuff into our apartment. Seriously. Can you see why I get emotional having to be so far away from such awesome people? Pete and I are so grateful for all the help from our family; we couldn't have made this move without them.

Maybe I'm too sentimental, but moving to Atlanta meant more to me than just leaving Provo. It meant leaving behind lots of family members within driving distance, leaving the place where Pete and I fell in love, the first apartment that we brought our little baby home to. I just kept thinking of how a wonderful chapter of our lives was ending. However, I realize a new and exciting one is about to begin---complete with new challenges and adventures. It was right for us to come to Georgia, and I know we are going to grow so much as a family. 

Here's some pictures from moving day...

This is one of my favorite pics. Emery and Grandpa J spent the morning together. She was so sweet and just let him hold her and play with her. She must've known it would be the last time for a little while. 

At one point during the packing craziness, I set Emery down alone in an almost empty room so that I could  help pack in another room. A while later she started fussing a little bit. Luckily, Hannah, Eli, and Asher went to play with her. I came into the room to find her happy and babbling with the cute Hendricks kids. I was glad they were keeping her company! Look at Eli and Emery about to touch pinky fingers together...I didn't even see that at the time I took the picture. So cute!

Emery and Hannah Z. 

Baby Blessing

Since the Hoyts were in Utah for Eric and Lauren's wedding, we decided to have Emery's baby blessing that same week (on May 28th). My family was able to drive down from Nyssa as well. I'm convinced that one of the best feelings on earth is having both of your families together in one place at the same time--I'm so grateful to those who were able to come and missed those that couldn't make it! We specially chose the Hendricks house as the place we wanted to have Emery blessed at because we have such good memories that span clear back to our dating days of eating dinner and visiting the awesome Hendricks family, playing the piano and singing hymns, babysitting the kids, going swimming, and the list could go on. They are so wonderful and we're glad they graciously let us fill up their house with people and have Emery's special day there.

My mom and I picked out fabric together back in April when I went to Nyssa, and then she made Emery a beautiful dress and headband...

Even more beautiful were the words in Emery's blessing and the Spirit felt during it. She is one loved little girl!

some of the kiddos

Asher and Nate---bonding through Star Wars

The "goodbye party" the day after the blessing. 

the chaos brought on by the "uncles."

The Wedding

I am so happy that we were in Utah for Eric and Lauren's wedding! They were sealed in the Oquirrh Mountain temple on May 27th and the day was beautiful. In addition to the weather, It was so wonderful to have most all of the Hoyts down in Utah for the event. I'm so glad we got to see them before we left for Georgia.

Love this cake! Love the couple even more :)

The night before the wedding, there was a family dinner in Salt Lake. From the window of the "Harmony Room," where we were eating in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, we could see the tall spires of the Salt Lake temple. We ate and listened to little speeches about Eric and Lauren by their parents. Sadly, Emery was a little grumpy and I had to miss some of the words to hold her outside. Then it was time to feed her, and my places to nurse her were a bit limited. I ended up just feeding her in the handicapped bathroom (Emery just does better with no noise and no cover...hence the bathroom, k? Don't judge.) As I sat on the bathroom floor trying to get my sweet little girl to EAT (much harder than it sounds), I daydreamed about her growing up someday and thought of how badly I want her to make choices all through her life that will lead her to the temple, just as Eric and Lauren did. And someday when she is grown and marrying the man of her dreams in the temple, I will remember all these sitting-on-the-bathroom-floor (or in the car...or on the couch...or somewhere else alone) infant days and
it will

all.

be.

worth it.

These are the types of things I have to think to maintain my perspective. Am I crazy? So be it. It keeps me sane.

Love this little girl!

I am so happy for Eric and Lauren---they are a wonderful couple and are going to do great things together! Pete and I are sad to miss their reception in Washington. What a fun time together :)

Ashley and I at the reception.

  

In A Nutshell

I’ve got about 10 blog posts worth of words brewing in me right now, but considering the current state of my life (sitting in my living room in Atlanta, using a cooler as a computer desk, surrounded by boxes), just a little one will have to suffice for now.

Our last days in Provo went by in a blur of wedding, baby blessing, family pictures, saying goodbye to all our family, and packing/cleaning. Emery did pretty well on the plane ride…which is impressive considering the flight from Denver to Atlanta where I sat trying to breastfeed, sandwiched in the middle seat between two large women who refused to switch Pete seats so he could sit by me. Considering my claustrophobia and Emery’s refusal to nurse even in ideal settings, I’d say we did pretty well. Emery's two fussy sessions caused my silent seat partners to merely turn up the sound on their headphones and continue staring out the window.

And now we’re here. 

Georgia is beautiful and we love our apartment!

We're just trying to unpack, organize, purchase furniture, grocery shop, and familiarize ourselves with the area.

More posts and pictures on all that's been going on to come later.