Friday, November 27, 2009

Holy Daze

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to everyone!

And Happy Wow-the-stuff-didn't-fit-in-the-trailer-so-now-what-do-we-do? weekend to us!

The house is packed, except for the kitchen. The kitchen was supposed to drive away with Stephan's parents this morning, but, it's the above-hyphenated holiday weekend, so it didn't make it. After packing like crazy for the last week I collapsed in a heap with Sawyer today to watch movies and NOT look at the empty house I'm living in for the next two weeks.

Well, not quite empty.

Here's a poll to celebrate the weekend....


Monday, November 23, 2009

Bye-Polar

Stephan keeps repeating that we are blessed to love two places as much as we do. It's very hard to leave, but it's wonderful to look forward to moving back to Chicago. Packing each box brings us closer to family, but further from the friends who have become closer than family in Montana. Needless to say, there's been a lot of crying. We have only a few more weeks here, and every moment is precious to us.

Happy/Sad
Excited/Depressed


I remember how emotional I was when we moved here... things didn't go according to anyone's plan. For fun I tried to find a good blog post from 3 years ago as a reference, and I came up with this one that again sent me into tears. But they are happy tears for the moment. I hope Melanie doesn't mind me reposting it:

Only in Montana…

…can major home repair be put on hold because of a cow giving birth.

…can tourists watch 12 foot tall fake bulls peeing.

…can a town multiply in size because of a fair.

…tight blue jeans, denim shirt, cowboy boots and hat are the top fashion.

…can you get two alcoholic drinks for under $5.

…there are more cows then people…3 to 1.

…can you buy a house.

…you need heaters for you car so it doesn’t get too cold at night.

…can you learn everyone’s name in your town.

…is liquor still regulated by the state.

…you can find 3 bars, but 12 churches.

…may your car actually be more expensive then your house.

…are the sweaters that your mother gave to Salvation Army 10 years ago are still in fashion.

…can you buy a house that comes with a chicken coop.

…can you call up Illinois Department of Big Jerks and get hung-up on and then call up Montana and talk to someone nice and then realize Montana, with all it quarks and laid back nature, might be exactly were you need to be at this point in your life. That people might be way different then where you came from, but they are very welcoming. You realize that this is going to be your home for a while so might as well start acting like it is home. You come to the conclusion that your life has been thrown up side down and that, even though you don’t have all your underwear or the shampoo and conditioner you would usually use, you are truly a survivor. Although there have been tears, you’ve wiped them away and have carried on. Suddenly a feeling comes over you. No longer a feeling of sadness or self-pity, but strength that you did it. And then the Dora the Explorer song runs through your head as you gently close your eyes and go to sleep.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Out Laws Out, In Laws In

Stephan's parents are on their way to meet their newest grandchild. My dad just emailed me a few of the photos he took last week when they were visiting.

This photo is my favorite of the bunch, and actually is one of my favorites of all time. Enjoy!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

First Grandparents' Visit

They're here! Grandmama and Grandpappy made it to Plevna yesterday and the snuggles have multiplied ever since then. Photos:



Friday, November 13, 2009

Week 3 & Good Luck Stephan


Stephan leaves tomorrow for Chicago to interview with three different hospitals. It's amazing that Sawyer's been with us for two full weeks already- at times it seems like a lifetime, and other times it feels like just yesterday I was in the hospital all confused and naked.

So here's wishing Stephan luck (University of Chicago on Monday and Northwestern Memorial & Loyola University on Tuesday) and my parents a safe trip out here!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

A Brief Commercial

You all know we have two dogs right?

I thought so. Anyhow, we adopted them with the help of the Chicago Canine Rescue Foundation. CCRF is participating in a shelter fund-raising contest and it was so easy I figured I'd repost the link. Melanie forwarded it to me, so I'm totally blaming her if I start getting crazy puppy-spam.

If you want to help (no money involved) you can click the link here and off you go!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Sawyer James FAQ: How did you pick his name?

Stephan and I had a list of boys' names ready, but our favorite was always Sawyer James. James was easy, since it's my dad and brother's name. Sawyer was a name that Stephan came up with while on a solo camping trip. As he was driving from Billings to Yellowstone National Forest he saw a sign advertising Sawyer, Montana. He jotted that name down next to the others, and it turned out to be our favorite.

Sawyer, Montana was a stagecoach stop many years ago. It doesn't exist as a town now, so it's a little difficult to find much information about it. But that's the story!

Check out the hospital's baby website to see his official stats.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Bear Fan

No training required.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

24 Hours in Montana

The following took place between 9am Friday morning, and 9am Saturday morning....












Thursday, November 5, 2009

End of Week 1

My dad always says a picture is worth 1,000 words. So here's my 3K for the day...



Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Overheard: "Does this mean we're new parents?"

Him: What do they call the first page of a fax?

Me: What do you mean?

Him: A cover letter? Cover page?

Me: Oh, it's a .... cover... uh... page? Not a cover letter...

[2 minutes & 1 Google search later]

Me: Cover SHEET!!

Him: YES! Good job!

Day 4 & 5 Photos

So that whole rant I wrote a few weeks ago about this not being a "Mommy Blog"... ? Yeah. Just ignore that. Here are more photos. Caption them as you see fit.