I don't know how to really describe what it has been like since we moved back. On one hand it feels like we never left Texas... Almost like we just woke up from a really long daydream and are back to reality. Life has not really changed since we left 2 years ago... except that most of our friends now have babies! But as far as DALLAS goes... it feels like home. And I don't know how to explain it, but France seems like a blur... like... Did we really do that?!??!
I have also switched straight back into social butterfly mode. It is hilarious because I tell people that ever since we landed, I haven't SHUT UP! I've been making up for the fact that I've been quiet and haven't spoken much over the past 2 years because of the language barrier... Now I'm making friends with the checkout lady at Target and the person in line next to me at Kroger. It is hilarious. I thought that chatty part of me had died out a little bit, but she's back and more talkative than ever!
A surprise... I miss France. My heart misses it. I miss the beauty. I miss the people. I miss the simplicity of life and the pace of life. I will strive my hardest to try and strike a balance between the 2 extremes of tiny town France and BIG city Dallas. I still haven't found the balance because we've been going 100 mph since we arrived. I need to draw social boundaries as to how many times per week we go out, spend money, or meet up with friends. I think once the novelty of us being back wears off, life should start to slow down.
Something amazing... CHURCH. I haven't been to church in 2 years (Aside from watching podcasts on our TV in France). I was at Gateway on Sunday, the sermon was incredible, and I don't know why but I just cried and cried all through worship. It just felt SO RIGHT to be back, worshipping, and surrounded by such amazing fellowship. I was craving this for 2 full years and this was a huge reason we wanted to move back... We want Stella to grow up experiencing THIS kind of church.
So those are my ramblings about the transition back to the US so far. Logan is still looking for jobs and I have now finished launching my Rodan + Fields business and even signed on 2 business partners! We are SO blessed to already have a paycheck coming in every month through this gig... It takes off so much pressure for Logan to find a job right away. Now he can find the RIGHT job and not just take the FIRST job offered to him.
Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. Feels good to be home.
Instead of throwing your typical "Baby Shower," we decided to throw Kent & Nicki a "Baby PARTY" - It was a casual, fun, laid-back, cookout complete with an AMAZING photo booth (thanks to the delightfully talented Natalie Jagers), corn-hole in the back, wonderful BBQ sandwiches, and beer in a baby pool... NATURALLY :) It was one of the more fun baby showers I've ever attended and I think our decorations pulled together wonderfully! We went with oranges and blues, since they are doing a SURPRISE gender... June 2nd can't get here soon enough! I can't WAIT to meet that lil' one! Here are a few pics from the evening... The "Betting Board" - Name, Boy or Girl, and Birthday Guesses :)
AND ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! Natalie put together this stop-motion video from all the pictures that were taken that night in the photo booth... it turned out SO SO cute!
Kent and Nicki- We hope you had fun at your party! We wanted to make it EXTRA special for two of our best and dearest friends! I can't wait to watch you guys become parents and join us in the incredible journey... We can figure it out together! (AKA: Make it up as we go!!! haha)
Where does the time go??!?! In some ways this has felt like a LONG month and in other ways it feels like it flew by! When Stella turned 3 months old, we were still in France taking pictures in our little log cabin and SO MUCH has changed since then. Stella has adjusted really well and is getting more and more fun and interactive each day... we just love her!
What has she been up to this month?
TALKING TALKING TALKING...we call them "bird calls" and she gets louder and more and more chatty when you talk back with her. It is so cute!
Always moving... we say "Stella, why you so BUSY?!?!?" - She is constantly lifting her arms up and down and pumping her legs out and in... whether she's in your lap, lying down, or in a chair. She's always "BUSY."
You HATE being hot. (Welcome to Texas, darlin'... this is JUST THE BEGINNING!!!) Because of this we typically strip you down naked and you are much happier.
She has re-learned how to roll over! It took her a few weeks to figure it out since she has gained so much weight playing catch up! She almost can roll over from her back to her tummy now too.
She doesn't despise tummy time anymore. She tries her hardest to inch forward and use her legs and can lift her head up really high!
Grabbing those feet ALL the time. When she's trying to go to sleep, when she's on her play mat, or getting her diaper changed.
Everything goes into her mouth, hands, toys, everything...and lots of drool these days... think she's getting some "teefers" in!
She is on the verge of sitting up.. she LOVES her Bumbo because it allows her to without falling over...but you can just tell she's ready for that independence- I think it will happen pretty soon!
We have started to read you books and you really do pay attention and listen. Gigi does this every night once she gets home from school.
She gets fussy sometimes throughout the day, but typically a frozen toy will make her happy. This is why we think it could be teething? I apparently cut my first tooth at 4 months so its possible!
It is sad that this is progress, but her HAIR has started coming in... To most, she probably still looks bald, but she's got LOTS of hair compared to last month :)
The "My Little Lamb" chair is pure MAGIC! This sucker is the best babysitter while Mommy showers and helps rock her to sleep for her nap time!
You love any and everything that is REALLY soft! You just love to rub your face all over it! It is so funny :)
Just this past week you started breaking out of your swaddle so we have worked you into your Halo sleep sack and you do really well with it!
When she's on her back she lifts her neck and legs up (work those abs girl) - we call it "crunches" time and we help her sit up, lie her back down, and do it again until she gets worn out! She also LOVE standing up with our help. Girl has got some STRONG legs!!!
Sometimes you can hold onto your bottle... You typically prefer to hold our fingers and help US feed you your bottle, but occasionally you will grab hold of it and feed yourself!
You actually interact with your toys now! Its so fun to watch you learn to engage with the world around you.
She is smiling on command now. She smiles at Logan and I because she recognizes us, it is no longer a reflex and there is no better feeling in the world!
Nicknames: Pumpkin, Stella-bug, Doodle bug, Little one
Stats: We don't go to the pediatrician until May 30th because in the US you have to wait 6 weeks between vaccinations and Stella had some last month at her 3 month appointment in France. I can't wait to find out though because I think she's doubled in size haha! I think our pediatrician is going to be great- I just worry about all the metric conversion and translating...but I am sure it will be fine. Stay tuned..
Your FIRSTS this month:
First trip to Paris
First (International/ or ANY) Flight
First time to Texas/ The United States
First time to meet Aunt Katy
First time to meet extended family and you LOVE cousin Laine! She calls you "Tetta" First pedicure with Mommy First road trip to Austin Attended your first baby shower First Wedding & Rehearsal Dinner First trip to Target! (Is this how you put the seat in the cart?!??! Seems like a waste of space to me...) First picnic at the Arboretum First of MANY play date with other babies (Em, Libby, Hatch, Lola, Porter) First trip to "Big Church" First of MANY "Happy Hours" Our FIRST Mother's Day :) First visit to Gigi's school! (And hopefully the only time you'll be called into the principal's office :) ) Schedule: You are eating 6 ounces every 3.5 hours. We were able to gradually switch over from French to American formula with no difficulty. The transition was SO seamless, we are wondering if the French brand was actually a private label of the American brand we use, Provolac to Similac. Who knows? We don't have a strict schedule at this point and our goal is to really get some predictable naps every morning and afternoon...right now you "cat nap" but rarely have any hour+ stretches! You wake up around 7:30am and going to sleep around 8:45 or 9pm. You will occasionally wake up around 5:30 or 6am but will drink a bottle and then fall back asleep for 3 hours so we actually get to sleep in a bit longer on those days! You had about 2 weeks right after we moved back that you were not a great sleeper - we think that was due to jet lag AND the 4 month sleep regression that happens to babies. We are over that hump now though and it wasn't too bad! Overall this has been the busiest, craziest, most stressful, and FUN month we have had with you! I am looking forward to getting into a schedule and routine now that the dust has settled a bit. WE LOVE YOU STELLA BUG!!! You are truly the sunshine of our day :)
