So much has happened since our happy graduation weekend. Here is a quick overview:
Why Jenn Began Eating Like a Lumberjack and then Entered into a Season of Hibernation
Immediately following graduation, the reality of our upcoming move and transition into residency began to sink in; slowly but surely. We were beginning to feel the weight of what it would mean to leave our friends and community that we grew to love so deeply over the last four years. So we went away for a weekend to Mississippi with our friends and had a great time. Since I had been feeling a little fatigued and had been out-eating Jon at meals, I decided to pack some extra supplies. I'm so glad I did because while we were there we discovered that there was a very tiny and exciting reason for the changes in sleep habits and appetite:
Two lines on a test strip translated: the newest baby Pagan! This image was taken after we moved to WI, when the baby looked less like a poppy seed and more like a baby. He/she is set to make his/her debut at the end of January!
[Aside: I should give props where props are due: our sister-in-law Kelly called it a week or two before-hand. We had all been out to dinner and *most of us* were uncomfortably full. She caught me at home less than ten minutes after we left the restaurant, eating a post-dinner snack... Our exchange sounded something like this:
Kelly: "Are you eating a bowl of cereal?!"
Jenn (with full-mouth guilt expression): "Yefs..."
Kelly: "How can you still be hungry?"
Jenn (still with mouth full): "I felp like I needed a snack... I don't know, I've just been really hungry lately."
Kelly: "...You're totally pregnant."]
When we returned home, it wasn't long before I downshifted into first trimester Jenn; a Jenn who subsists mainly on carbohydrates and ginger ale and takes naps on her lunch break at work. As he did with our last move, Jon was a champ and took on the lion's share of packing up our home and getting things ready for our big move. He may or may not have accused me of planning my pregnancies around major life events (like moving) so that I can avoid heavy lifting, guilt-free. You may recall our last move.
We've been looking forward to this baby--more to come in January.
Pack It Up, Pack It In...
No moving story would be complete without a House of Pain reference.
Do you know what happens when you attempt to pack up the lives of three people over four years into a Rav 4 and a U-Haul trailer? You have to wedge your toddler into his carseat that is wedged between the fluffy down comforter and a laundry basket full of stuffed animals. Like sardines, I tell you, but we made it work!
Even though Jon (and Keith and Tim! Thank you all!) did the loading, I think he'd agree that saying goodbye to our friends and family was the harder task, by far.
We did our best to say proper goodbyes to everyone. We had one last dinner at the Hill's house, where the kids played, we took pictures and I ended up doing the classic Jenn cry-in-front-of-your-friends-while-trying-to-explain-your-emotions-in-a-comically-high-pitched-voice thing.
And the next morning, we did our special family goodbye to the house like we do whenever we leave a home that we've made memories in. We took more pictures, took one last look at our home and then we climbed into the car and drove away.
It was a very emotional trip.
Goodbye, Arkansas. Hello, Wisconsin.
We did our best to say proper goodbyes to everyone. We had one last dinner at the Hill's house, where the kids played, we took pictures and I ended up doing the classic Jenn cry-in-front-of-your-friends-while-trying-to-explain-your-emotions-in-a-comically-high-pitched-voice thing.
And the next morning, we did our special family goodbye to the house like we do whenever we leave a home that we've made memories in. We took more pictures, took one last look at our home and then we climbed into the car and drove away.
It was a very emotional trip.
Goodbye, Arkansas. Hello, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin: where the badgers are discontent because their only clothing options are stripy muscle sweaters.
Our trip to our new home took us 14 hours over two days. The drive was beautiful and David traveled like a champ (thank you, iPad).
It's taken time, but we're getting settled in. Since we live in resident housing just minutes (walking distance) from the hospital, we've been pleasantly surprised by the wonderful community of resident families that live nearby--not to mention Jon's super quick 'commute' time to work. The city also has lots of fun (inexpensive!) things to do with children and families, so David and I have been doing some serious playing and exploring.
I may dedicate another post to explaining the adjustment process/adaptation to residency life in a completely new part of the country, but for now, please know that we feel like we will have a good year here.
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers:)
