A Little Des Moines Overnight "Vacay"

Okay, so this wasn't really a true "vacation"- we stayed one night and left before naps the next day- but it was still crammed full of friends, family and laughs.  My dear friend Lindsey and I decided to make the best use of my time off while I'm job searching and take our kiddos up to Des Moines (about 3 hours from Kansas City) with our kiddos to visit our friend Katie and her kids.  Lindsey has Sofia (2 1/2) and Henry (10 months) and Katie has Jack (2) and Wilson (4 months.)  With Caroline, we had FIVE kiddos under 3 sleeping under one roof (are you surprised Katie's husband stayed at his parents to allow us a girls night, ha!)  In addition, Chris's sister Courtney stopped by with her husband and three kids to see us (Riley, 5 years; Walker, almost 3; Maggie, 19 months.)

Jack, Wilson & Caroline

Caroline, Riley & Jack (Riley's biggest fan all night)

It's amazing we got them in one spot for a group shot.  Mind you, it only lasted about 10 seconds and Wilson's face is a little blocked!  Clockwise from left: Walker, Caroline, Riley, Jack, Maggie, Sofia and Henry

Sweet Maggie

Jack and Sofia playing in the barn

Ireland brothers: Jack and Wilson

It was a madhouse, and Caroline tuckered out early.  I realized how little noise Caroline is used to being the only child right now, and she was a little shell shocked from all the noise and kiddos getting in her personal space.  Although when we had ALL EIGHT kids running around it was a little overstimulating for all of us!  I am so excited to have her be around kids more often in Kansas City so it becomes a little less overwhelming to her . . . we're hoping she won't be the only child in our house forever (don't get any ideas, she won't be getting siblings anytime too soon!)

Not So Sure About This Stuff!

Caroline had her first taste of solids on Sunday- rice cereal- and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it.  Since our initial try she has started really enjoying it.  We'll probably try to add in some tastes of veggies next week!

5 Months Young!

Our happy girl is getting so big!  She loves to eat and is turning into quite the chunky monkey.  She is giggling and "talking" more than ever.  Caroline is also quite the observer.  We notice when she meets new people or in a new place, she is usually really quiet while she first looks around and takes it all in.  We've got to get one of her giggle fits on video- they're the best.  However, Mommy and Daddy acting like complete idiots is usually the catalyst for one of these.   We're not sure if we're prepared to show you how pathetic we get just for a giggle from our peanut.

We're all in Kansas City now and it still feels a little surreal.  We are living with my parents until we find a place here.  We will be renting our home in Arizona for now, not wanting to sell in this market.  We hope Gigi and G-Daddy can handle 2 adults, 2 dogs and a baby for a month or two!

Videos!

Chris started his job and Kansas City on Monday and it is going great so far.  I am finishing up work this Friday and promptly flying out with Caroline and my mom to our new home- Kansas City.

It's been crazy packing and moving the last few weeks, so the blog has been the first thing to suffer.  Caroline is babbling a TON and continues to be so fun!  She is now rolling over- it felt like she took forever to start.  I know she needed a little extra time because she was a preemie, but she has finally got the hang of it instead of just falling over.  This probably was a blessing with all the chaos of moving . . . Caroline being mobile with the amount of stuff we had all over our house could have been trouble! 

She will now try to hold her bottle and can occasionally do it for a few minutes by her self.  She's babbling a ton- we got a little on video, but it's hard to catch her because she gets distracted by the camera!  She is doing tons of consonant and vowel sounds and blowing raspberries at us.  We are starting solids next week, so I'm sure we'll have some fun videos of that.

 Rolling Over

Moving Details!

We are so proud of Chris!  He graduated from ASU's engineering school on Friday, December 17, and by Monday he was getting flown to Kansas City to interview with a well-respected engineering firm, Burns and McDonnell.  Although he was told at his interview he would not hear back until after the new year, Chris got a phone call two days later offering him a position.

Our heads have been spinning with so many things to think about these last weeks: the housing market in Phoenix is awful and we will have to rent our house (and likely rent in KC as well), I have a great job and set-up for a working mom, we love our friends and family here, the weather, etc!  In the end, we decided it was the best decision for our family to take the jump.  We will be scrambling these next few weeks packing up our house and getting details taken care of.  We are so sad to leave our life in AZ, but we know there are many things to look forward to, including being closer to family in friend in the Midwest and a wonderful opportunity for Chris.

We know Arizona will always have a place in our hearts and we will definitely make a point to get back often.  How can we not with such wonderful family and friends we will miss so much?!

Kansas City here we come!

Caroline is getting ready for the cold . . . we didn't get the best timing on our move.  We are leaving great 60 and 70 degree weather for the cold and and snow!

4 month Appointment

Caroline's doctor was impressed with her gains at her check-up.  She is now in the 75th percentile for height and weight and the 50th percentile for head circumference.

Weight: 14 lbs. 7 oz.
Height: 24 3/4 inches
Head Circumference: 16 1/4 inches

For a baby who was a month premature she has done so well!  She is doing great at tummy time, grasping toys and is cooing, smiling and laughing a ton.  She has rolled over a few times, but hasn't quite figured out how to make it happen again- we're hoping with all the tummy time we do, she'll get it soon!  She continues to be a great napper and sleeper since she started sleeping through the night at 2 1/2 months. 

Caroline, loves watching her dad make funny faces or making funny voices, and he can usually get a giggle out of her better than anyone. She has really become quite the cuddler and she has started getting in the habit of snuggling up with mom for a little catnap shortly after I get home from work- it may only be for a few minutes or even a whole hour.  Either way, after a full day at work, it's definitely my favorite part of the day.

I may be feeling a little sappy right now, but it still amazes me how lucky we are.  There's been a lot going on since Chris graduated and been on the job hunt (details to follow soon.)  Even with all the stress and chaos in our life right now, I see her sweet little face and I really am given a big reality check- life just doesn't get much better than this.  So blessed.

Four Months Young!

Ju

Time keeps flying by! Our smiley, bright-eyed little cuddle-bug is as sweet as ever.  We our so lucky to have such a happy girl. 

The Giggles

We've been slacking on taking videos of our sweet Caroline, but we finally caught a fun one.  Caroline really got the giggles tonight when I was playing with her (please ignore me in the clip . . . these days I am will to act like a complete idiot in any attempt to make her laugh or smile!)  We only caught the end of her giggle fit . . . she was doing it back and forth for a couple minutes before we started taping.  She's continues to be more and more fun! 

Very Merry!

We had a great Christmas this year in Arizona.  Caroline has definitely been the best gift we've ever had and celebrating her first Christmas was so special.  We celebrated Christmas Eve at Chris's parents' condo in Scottsdale with his brother John's family- Holly, Keely, Kelsey and Johnnie ("Bubby.")  We had a great dinner and fun playing games with the kids and opening gifts.  Caroline was down with her first cold and went to bed a little early, but she still got in her Christmas dress and had fun watching the kids before she tuckered out.  We missed my family a ton, but there will be many more Christmases for Caroline to enjoy with them in the years to come!

Daddy Graduates!

This pic is right after a full meal (in case you can't tell!)

Chris graduated from his engineering program at ASU yesterday, and we had a little party with family and friends to celebrate.  He was so excited and surprised that his older sister Courtney and her olderst daughter, Riley, came in from Des Moines to celebrate with us.  He already has a big interview on Monday!  We're crossing our fingers that he gets a great job that he loves!

Ho Ho Ho

Look at just how much I've grown!

Three months young!

It's hard to believe our little nugget is three months old!  This past month she has really started to come alive.  She is smiling, almost giggles at times, and cooing a ton.  She is able to push up and hold her head with much more control during tummy time (although she has decided it's not her favorite activity and will let us know!)  Caroline moves like crazy, and although she hasn't purposefully done it yet, rolling over seems to be coming soon.  She is able to hold on to toys put in her hands and she seems like she's almost ready to start reaching for toys.  One of the best new developments for mommy is that she is SLEEPING THROUGH NIGHT!  She now goes to bed between 7:30 and 8pm, we then feed her at 11pm (trying to do it without waking her) and she will usually sleep until 6:45 or 7am.  It's been great to get some consecutive hours of sleep back, especially now that I've been working full-time!

Working full-time continues to be hard, but just because I'm away from my sweet girl all day.   I definitely value the time I have with Caroline when I get home and on the weekends.  My mom, Caroline's Gigi, has been in town the last three weeks to watch Caroline while I work, which has made working much easier.  We were so lucky to have her and sad to see her go!

Next up, we are so proud of Chris and his graduation from Engineering school next week.  His family will be in town for the occasion and celebration and they will be staying in town for the holidays (although we will miss his sister Courtney and her family this year.)  We have much to celebrate and be thankful for this year!

Godsey Family Pics!

 Our little peanut already looks a lot like her daddy!

 Gigi and G-daddy with all the grandkids!

 I know she will be idolizing Ella very soon!

 Caroline with her sweet cousins

 Aunt Becky and Uncle Mark with Ella (almost 3) and Charlie (5 months)

Baptism

 Godparents John (Chris's brother) and Becky (Patti's sister) with us and Caroline

Caroline was baptized at St. Andrew's church in Chandler, AZ this Sunday, 11/28.  We were so lucky to have Chris's brother John as her godfather and my sister Becky as her godmother.  Her baptismal gown was made from my mom's wedding dress and her little bonnet was from Aunt Becky.  Although Chris's parents and sister's family weren't able to be in town.  John and Holly and their kids and my whole family were there for it.  She was such a good baby throughout mass and the Baptism (where 7 other babies and children were baptized too.)  The only time she really got upset for a minute was when the cool water touched her head.

Videos!

Smiling for Dad . . . Chris hates how he sounds on this video, but it's the only time we caught some smiles on camera!  Hopefully he'll forgive me for posting this- I couldn't edit his voice out!

Thanksgiving Pics!

We had a great Thanksgiving.  We had dinner at my house with my parents, my sister Becky and her husband Mark and their two kids- Ella (2 1/2) and Charlie (4 1/2 months) and my brother Tom.  After dinner, we went to Chris's brother John's house for dessert.  Ella loved playing with John and Holly's kids Keely, Kelsey and Johnnie. 

 Caroline with us and most of her cousins (from left): Keely, Kelsey, Ella, Charlie and Johnnie (we're missing Chris's sister's kids- Riley, Walker and Maggie)

 Ella has been so sweet with Caroline!  She loved helping us and baby talking to her.  I thought she would be "over" babies after already having a baby brother, but she was definitely excited to see Caroline.