Week 1 = DONE!!

This past week has flown by!  As much as we miss Nick like crazy, it doesn't feel as though he's deployed (yet. :-P)  In the days since leaving Indy, we have successfully filled every wakeful period to the max preparing for the closing of our old home, organizing our new home and playdates!

I found out a couple of days after our counter offer was accepted that the buyers of our old home had asked for early occupancy.  We didn't hesitate in saying ABSOLUTELY!  With a letter of commitment from the buyers' lender in hand, Emmy, Hannah and I have been moving my glassware and fine china by the carload.  I would say that, aside from my hubs and our wonderful man friends, my Highlander and laundry basket have been MVPs for this move.  The movers are coming Tuesday morning to transport the remaining pieces of furniture, so that the buyers can move in on Wednesday!  I am so excited to finally finish putting the new house together, and to get the "rent" check for the month!  Everybody wins!

Since saying goodbye to Nick, my girls have been super troopers.  Emmy knows that Daddy is on a trip, and there have been only a few occasions around dinnertime, when the dogs are barking, that she asks if Daddy is home from work.  She has been able to talk to Nick a few times on the phone, and lights up at the sound of his voice.  Hannah is completely perplexed by the phone, but has responded to Nick with big Hannah smiles.

I am grateful that Emmy has been my helper since Nick left, and has, for the most part, kept her tantrums to a minimum.  (As an aside, I hijacked Hannah's 6 month check up to grill Dr. Seawell about parenting a two year old; come to find out, smart children are very tantrum-prone, which is what I am going to choose to believe! HA! :-P)  To be honest, tantrums usually begin when Emmy is trying to help in the way that she sees fit and I am not going along with her plan.  For instance, when we hear Hannah wake up from her nap, Emmy says, "Mama, I get her.  You stay here."  At which time I think to myself, "How are you going to get her out of her crib?"  And then I say, "Thank you Emmy, you go check on her and I'll be right up."  As soon as I start climbing the stairs the tantrum starts, "But Mama, I GET HER!!"  Oy vey!  Back to my originally point, though.  Emmy has been "super helpful Emmy" but without the tantrums over the past week! HOORAY!

Hannah has been...Well....Hannah.  Happy, adaptable, patient, Hannah.

Sleep has been hard to come by between the teething, toddler bed-transition, dogs on high-alert, and a gnarly midnight storm.  It's pretty amazing, though, how God gives you reserves.  I'm in trouble if I sit down, but, my caffeinated tea has never been far from reach...

We are big supporters of Chick-Fil-A.  I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that it's name was one of Emmy's first "strings of words."  Not because she eats an exorbitant amount of fast food, but because it serves as the meeting place for her friends and their mommies each week.  We also stand by them because one of the families in our church group owns/operates one here in town.  They are incredibly kind-hearted, hardworking people.  The young wife, a breast cancer survivor, endures horrific chemo treatments every three weeks in an effort to remain in remission.  Their plate is over-flowing and their faith is absolutely inspirational; I get goosebumps just thinking about it.  I couldn't stomach the idea of anyone negatively impacting their livelihood over political issues.  So, we waited for 45 minutes to go through their drive-through, and devoured our chicken and waffle fry dinner on Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.