The First Mother's Day

I love you sweet Gemma. Thank you for making me a momma. It has brought me more joy than I ever thought possible and more certainty in this vocation than any number of Pre-Cana classes could have prepped me for. I still do not feel prepared in any way, and every day is an adventure but you make me laugh and you make me smile, you also can make me cry and want to throw things but that probably isn't for a mother's day post huh?

I love these pictures from the hospital and your tiny claw like hands. I was so surprised by Joy and amazed at how God could open my heart in ways I never could comprehend, instantaneously. 

(We celebrated mother's day together last year too but I had no idea just what was coming!)

Washington, D.C.

As I already mentioned, we were in DC for my Spring Break. We drove down (disaster both ways but I don't remember the drive home because my husband is an angel and I slept through the whole thing). We had a crazy week looking at what felt like a billion homes and rush hour driving. But it also was a great week to reconnect with people who we love so much and make us so excited to move to my favorite city. Gemma is going to be such a city baby and she is already rocking it.  

Stop! Nana Time

 We went to DC for my spring break to find a place to call home and so I could get oriented with my new job. In order for all these things to happen we needed a bit of help, insert Nana. My mom oh so generously offered to stay in our Airbnb with us and watch Gem during the day. We also happened to be staying within blocks of the zoo. Gotta love a free zoo, something tells me that her reaction to the zoo will be more enthusiastic in the future...

 Nana is the best and poses photos, buys hats, and treats this girl to all the apple sauce her heart could desire. The spoiling starts young.

The Big Move

Pulling a Max Keeble and preparing for a big move. Swap out pranks for manic packing one handed and forget the ending of movie when the move gets called off and you've got yourself a comparison.

I have a job lined up at CUA and our family is preparing for the next chapter. It will be hard to leave New England and the first place we ever called home. These places and especially these people have come to mean the world and more to us and we will miss them terribly. But I am excited for this move (not the actual U-haul portion... get real!) and sharing the District with Tim and Gemma! Prepare yourself for weepy Boston goodbyes and excited DC explorations in the next month or so.

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa

After Easter this year Tim's parents made the cross country trek (via air plane naturally) to visit their grand baby. As Gemma's roommates this also meant Tim and I got to spend quality time with them, but let's be honest we know what the real motivation was.

I kid!

Tim had some crazy work commitments and they oh-so-generously offered to watch Gemma during the week so that we could survive it.

It was so good to see them and for Gemma to get some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa. 

She has grown so much and is so fun to be with right now. She gives smiles and happy squeals and will generally play with you. But physical touch is definitely not her love language because this girl wouldn't dare snuggle.

They had an eventful week of museums, fabric stores, tummy time and then some. It's always the best to have visitors when family lives thousands of miles away.