7 months and 4 days old!

Now that our computer is home again, I can (hopefully) get back to some regular blogging.

Yes, the title is correct! We've hit the 7 month mark! Wow! I know I keep repeating myself, but time really does fly by! I don't suppose there's too much to report right now. The house is still for sale...we've had a number of showings, but all we need is one buyer! Nick's last day at The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati is tomorrow, Sept. 26! And, his first day at Flying Horse Farms is Oct. 1. Stella and I are trying to figure what we'll do and where we'll go so that we're not sitting at home, sad that Nick is gone. So, we've been throwing around ideas about a road trip to Indy, sleepovers at "Aunt" Gail's house (if Mike is out of town) and maybe even a trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa Freeman! With all of these plans, I'm sure we won't get lonely. We'll miss Nick of course. Our first desire is to be with him, but if we have to wait for our house to sell, we'll do the next best thing and spend weekdays with friends and family!

Here's some new pictures of our little one. She sure isn't that little anymore!

We love tub time...especially in the big tub now!!!

See, I can "swim!"

Watch out Paris Hilton...I know fashion too!

If you look close, you can see my two bottom teeth!!

Proud Big Sister...

That's me, that I'm referring to...I am the very proud, big sister!
I just have to "toot my brother's horn" for a second and share some of the cool things that he's been up to lately. He's in L.A. and is basically tearing up the town! But seriously, he's involved in a ton of things that are extremely impressive to me. He was recently cast in a production of Hamlet and in a production of Clue (see photo):

He's Professor Plum with the REVOLVER!

And, he was in San Francisco last week to host/orchestrate/organize an opening event at Barney's! Check out the amazing set-up:

I have no idea what is involved in putting one of these events on, but he always makes it seem as if it's a piece of cake. (I have a hard enough time having two couples over for dinner!)

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some of the great photos and amazing things that Jimmy's been up to lately.

***Jim, if you read this...there are still people asking me if you wrote an "Oscars email" this year! People are requesting that you start that up again!***

Amazing friends...

Ok, so as we've been scrambling to get so many things done, we've had little time to ourselves or with our friends over the past couple of weeks. Because of this, I was beginning to feel a bit disconnected and lonely. Nothing major...but, just sick of the house, sick of only talking about our house and really missing quality time with Nick and with our friends. Well, I'm certain that God heard my prayers, because recently we've experienced great generousity from our friends and for that, I am so thankful!
On Thursday, Mike and Gail realized they had a free night and volunteered to come over to watch Stella so that Nick and I could have a much overdue night-out together. It was wonderful! To have people that we love and trust take care of our daughter gives us such peace of mind while we're out and allows us to truly relax since we don't have to worry about the care she's receiving. Not only did we have a nice night out, but Nick went to an extra effort to plan something to make sure that my mind could really be off of the move and all the details associcated with it. So, he sent me away for a pedicure! Yea! Then, he took me out for dinner and to a comedy show. It was a great distraction and a much needed escape from the day to day routine lately.
Then, our neighbors and friends, Josh and Betsy have allowed us the use of their home (across the street...whether they are there or not) while we have showings at our house so that Stella and I don't have to go far for someone to come in for only 15-20 minutes. Oh and there's, Chase who is coming over next week to spend an evening with Stella so that Nick and I can get some more stuff done. Katie was in the neighborhood yesterday and stopped by to visit! She joined Stella and I on a walk to the park for some fun on the swings.
And now, I'm sitting here, blogging at Mike and Gail's house (and they're out of town) while Stella is asleep in their guest room. So far we have two showings today and so do our friends Josh and Betsy (at the same time as us)...so, we have access to another home to "escape" to.
My pity party of lonliness has quickly ended as I've been wonderfully overwhelmed at how loved we really are and how giving the people in our lives are. All of this has made me more aware of how difficult it is going to be once we really leave Cincinnati. I've been so busy getting ready to go, I haven't really had time to think about actually leaving. When I get the chance to stop and think about it, I'm sad. I'm really going to miss so many people here who play such important roles in our lives. Good thing they won't be too far away!

The POD is gone!

Well, our house is officially "on the market" so feel free to come running to make an offer!

Seriously though, we not in any hurry to leave Cincinnati, but we really don't want to draw this process out either. And boy, what a process it's been. Things are sort of settling down now that we've gotten the house in shape for showings, but wow! it was a big project! As you can see...we filled the POD. There is a queen size bed, 2 8-foot tall bookcases, 2 leather reclining chairs, a coffee table, end table, another bookshelf, a dresser, and I'm pretty sure a partridge in a pear tree as well! Nick created this high-tech spider web system guaranteeing me that nothing would shift from the spot where we placed it:

As for our sweet Stella...she has been pretty amazing during all of this. It's been a challenge to pack as she is super interested in plastic bags and electrical cords and outlets (yes, we have toys...apparently they're not as much fun). Anyway, updates on her: she has a tooth! On the bottom, in the center, on the right. I haven't been able to get a photo yet, but once I do, I'll be sure to post it.

Last weekend we got mini escape from the chaos at our house to attend Lauren and Patrick's wonderfully beautiful wedding in Hudson, OH. Lucky for us that is close to Chagrin Falls where Stella's cousins live! So, while Nick and I had a night out with friends, she got to hang out with Jim, Ben, Tom and Mike and her Aunt Kim and Uncle Jon as well. It was a lot of fun for all of us. Those pictures to come soon!

This weekend Nick is headed to Columbus again to do some house-hunting. I'm letting him do the "weed-out" process so that I can come in for the final decision! We're having a lot of fun. We are a bit stressed and are very exhausted and look forward to returning to our "normal" routine sometime sooner than later. Please keep us in your prayers as this is an exciting yet challenging time for our family.

See what I can do now?

Yes, that's right...I have pulled myself up into a standing position! Watch out world...here I come!!
(Good thing my mom and dad have lowered the crib as far as it can go so that I can only reach the top rail when mom puts it down before she picks me up.)
~Stella

So much to say...

Well, to echo Nick's remark about Stella's 6 month check-up, yes, the MD did say that she was a bit "advanced" developmentally. What that means for us is that she's going to be getting into things a lot sooner and we will be challenged by her a bit earlier as well. These are those times as parents when we need continued prayer support. She's wonderful and we're doing great...but we definitely can't do it all alone. ;)
Specifics about her check-up: she now weighs in at 16 pounds, 6.5 ounces and is 26.5 inches long. This means she's in the 75th percentile for height and 50th for weight...continuing my dream stature of tall and slender. ha ha ha Stella still is toothless, though she eats as if she's training for the Olympics...and she loves everything that she eats. Favorite right now: B-A-N-A-N-A-S! (sorry, I couldn't help myself)


So, let's see...we've been busy around here. Not only have we been preparing for a move to Columbus. We have been packing ever since Nick accepted the job! We want our house to "show well" in this icky housing market. So, we're going above and beyond to clear out furniture and clutter so that we can "stage" it appropriately. I feel as if I have a little handle on what we're doing since I love watching HGTV and all the design shows about how to sell a house, a what a house is worth, etc...


Even though we were surrounded by boxes...we were blessed by a visit from Katie and Avery on Friday (8/31)! They drove all the way from Indianapolis to visit with us for just a couple of hours. It was great fun to have the girls together again. Avery is getting bigger and faster and more beautiful each time we see her. It still amazes me what happens and changes during the first few years of life. Here's hoping they will grow to be great friends!


Then, on Sunday I got to escape from all of the packing for a few hours to celebrate Christy's bridal shower! It was wonderful to be with her and all her friends and family as she prepares for her wedding day! When I got home it was amazing what Nick was able to accomplish here by himself with Stella! She must have been a great help to him!

When it boils down to it...all we've been doing is packing. Even when I'm not packing, I'm thinking about packing. (this is a much welcomed break, by the way) Labor Day, we packed, yesterday we packed, today I have been packing...I think we're taking a break soon. No seriously...the next big adventure is a road trip to Chagrin Falls/Hudson, Ohio this weekend!! Yes, we really are going out of town...we have a wedding to celebrate! Not only do we get to attend Lauren and Patrick's wedding, but we get to visit Stella's Aunt Kim, Uncle Jon and all the cousins!! We can't wait. I am certain a little escape from "packing central" will be good for all of us. Once we get back, the plan is to put our house on the market on either Monday or Tuesday.


Here's some fun around the house photos:

Wake up, Daddy!!

A visit from Avery (unfortunately it's difficult to capture both girls smiling at the same time)

Post shower with Dad

We’re Headin’ to “The ’Bus!”

I’ve been long overdue for a blog entry, so I figure news like this should make up for lost time…

Last Monday I officially accepted a position for a new job in Columbus, Ohio! I never would have thought that Columbus would be where we ended up next, but I’m thrilled about the opportunity. For those of you who don't know, Liz and I met at a camp down in Florida called Boggy Creek (www.boggycreek.org), which is part of the “Hole in the Wall Camp Association” (http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/). For this new job I will be part of the initial team (I'm employee #3) to help build another one of these camps....the one in Columbus will be called “Flying Horse Farms” (www.flyinghorsefarms.org).

For the past week Liz and I have been a little overwhelmed with all that is going to happen in the next few months. First priority is getting the house ready to put on the market and hopefully get it sold ASAP. We have a “POD” sitting in front of our house and have spent the last four days filling that. It’s amazing how much “stuff” we have collected in the last few years. The concrete steps in front of our house need to get fixed in the next couple of days, we're having the house cleaned on Friday and ideally it goes on the market by next Tuesday.

THEN, we have to find a house in Columbus, finish packing our home, move into a new house, etc. Somewhere in there I will stop working with the Boys & Girls Clubs and start with Flying Horse Farms (October 1 is my official start date).

Liz is an amazing wife and I could not have done any of this without her. Since day one she has been supportive of me and this opportunity. We know very little about Columbus, so if you have any advice for us or want to connect us with your fun cousin or old college friend, we would greatly appreciate it.

More important than all of this is our wonderful daughter, Stella. She had her six month check-up on Friday and the doctor confirmed what I have been saying all along; “she is excelling in all areas and is developing well ahead of her peers.” I like to refer to her as “advanced.”

We’ll do our best to keep you posted during this wild ride over the next few months. And when I say “we” I really mean Liz, because let’s be honest…she is much better at this blog thing than I am.