Father's Day and Moving

We finally had to bite the bullet and rent a Budget truck to get all of our stuff moved to our new place in Olathe. It was NOT a pretty expense, but a necessary one all the same.


A few weeks ago when we were living apart I came up to Olathe for the weekend and we were able to find a nice 2bd, 1bth duplex to rent. Shaun had seen it earlier that week and really like it, so we checked it out Saturday when I got here. The landlord's are super sweet, and they really liked Shaun from the get-go, and knew they wanted us to move in. They even saved the place for us and didn't show anyone else until I was able to see it and we could decide.

Shaun and I went to lunch and talked it over, and discussed how we both had a really good feeling with the landlord's, the location, and the property itself. We knew that was our new home. Here it is. Our new home...

The weekend we moved also happened to be Father's Day weekend. We celebrated Shaun's first (unofficial) Father's Day, and it was so fun! Before we left Manhattan we stopped at his parent's house to wish Doug a Happy Father's Day, and I was able to get a picture of Shaun and his dad together on Shaun's first Father's day (below). We gave Doug a card from the two of us along with a little treat can I made with Ashlee the day before. It was "A Pop Top for a Top Pop" filled with a bunch of sugar-free goodies for him. We also gave him a card to "Grandpa" from Hampton saying "I can't wait to meet you," and Doug was just tickled to get it. He's such a good grandpa to little Charlie, and he will be to our Hampton too!

After visiting with them for a bit, we headed back to Olathe with the big moving truck. Ashlee and I were able to convince my dad to come up to KC to spend Father's Day so he wouldn't have to spend it alone, (My mom and brother are in Idaho/Utah for the summer with my other sisters, but dad had to stay in Wichita for work) and we were all (Ashlee, Jared, Dad, Shaun and I) going out to dinner as soon as Shaun and I got back. Since we were in a hurry to get back we, of course, got stuck in Topeka traffic for over an hour because of an accident holding everyone up... figures.

We finally arrived and everyone was kind enough to wait for us before going in to be seated at a thai restaurant called "Hot Basil." It was super good! Afterwards we all went back to our place and we got a little help unloading about half of the rental truck so we had a bed to sleep on. Thank you!

The next day (Father's Day) Shaun and I went to our new ward for the first time, and dad went with Ashlee's family to hers so he could be with the grandkids (can you blame him?). The Relief Society sisters had made cookies and put them in bags of four for each of the fathers, and handed them out after sacrament meeting. Shaun walked up to one of them and said "my kid is still in fetus form, do I get one?" HAHA! I about died! They told him yes, of course, but it was so funny! They were yummy cookies! Shaun gave me two of his four since I am carrying his fetus. What a thoughtful guy! haha.

Anyway, we got home from church at 2:30ish and rested a bit. Everyone was coming over for dinner at 4:00... I mean 5:00 (right Ash?!), so we wanted to get a nap in before then. After resting I gave Shaun a Father's Day card for the Dad-to-Be, and a present. A pop top can (like Doug's) with his favorite goodies and a couple of fishing lours in it, and a t-shirt that says "New Dad 2011." He loved it all, and wore the shirt all day. Every time he wears it he insists it says "#1 Dad," but that will come later on. =)

We were going to make a nice pot roast for dinner, but woke up Sunday morning and realized the crock pot was over at Heather's house (Shaun's sister) where we had been storing a bunch of stuff for the move, and we didn't have time to go get it or we'd be late for church. We ended up having burgers, fries/tator tots, and mixed veggies instead. It wasn't any spectacular meal, unfortunately, but everyone understood since nothing had been unpacked yet, and it was good too!

After dinner we gave my dad Father's Day cards--one from Shaun and I, and one from Hampton. Ashlee gave him a shirt from her and Hailee that had all 4 grandkids's hand prints on it. He's such a softy! He teared up (as we knew he would), but insisted later that he had something in his eyes... right... =)

All-in-all it was a great Father's Day/Moving weekend.

Nesting...(both of us)

Shaun and I are so excited for the day (5 1/2 weeks from now) when we'll get to finally call ourselves PARENTS! I can't wait to hold this little bundle of joy in my arms (instead of my ribs... ouch!), and to kiss his little hands and cheeks! I know it's been almost 8 months now, but it's just starting to set in that we're going to have a baby in a few short weeks. The time has flown by, and I just pray that I'll be ready when he comes.

I'm not scared at all, just extremely nervous. Shaun swears he's just excited and not scared or nervous or anything else, but I think he's just saying that for show. The Lord is entrusting us with one of His children. He is giving us the opportunity to be parents and to raise this little one (and all that follow) in righteousness. It's quite a chore, and a blessing.

Shaun is getting more and more excited about being a DADDY! He keeps talking about all the things he's going to do with little Hamp, and my heart melts each time he brings it up. He may not know much about babies now, but I know he's going to be a pro at fatherhood. He's such a great man, and a great husband already--what better person to be a father and example for our children to look up to?! I can't wait to see him hold his son for the first time in that delivery room in a few short weeks! It's going to be such a special and emotional time for us all.

Long needed update...

Where to begin?

So much has happened over the past month. It's been exciting, overwhelming, happy, sad, stressful, and just plain CRAZY!

Shaun started his job May 23, 2011--just 10 days after graduation. While it was/is a huge blessing that he was able to start so soon after graduation, it was also very hard on us both. I had to finish some things up in Manhattan--work, packing, etc--while he was staying at his sister's house in Olathe starting his new job. We lived apart for about 4 weeks. We talked on the phone multiple times a day, and saw each other on the weekends--just like when we were dating, but it was still hard. I honestly don't know how military spouses do it! It was hard enough for us emotionally to be apart for a work week and still get to talk so much! Maybe it was harder for me because I had just started my third trimester and was a little more emotional, I don't know, but I couldn't imagine if Shaun had to go halfway across the world for an entire year or more! My hat goes off to those women (and men) and children who deal with deployments time and time again. Especially those in circumstances where the mother (or father) basically becomes a single parent each time this happens!

Anyway, my last day of work was Tuesday, June 14, 2011. I had mixed feelings about leaving, but new it was time to move on with life. My work had a luncheon and surprised me with a cake the day before, and my boss gave a little thank you speech. I'm pretty sure he got a little teary-eyed when telling me how much he appreciated my hard work and that they were going to miss me. (Even if he denies it, I'm going to pretend that's what happened to make myself feel better.) So, here I sit... I am officially UNEMPLOYED! It's really weird not having a job. I've worked since I was 14 years old, and I'm not sure what to do with myself half of the time now that I don't have to get up and go to work at any certain time, but I have to admit that a part of me really likes it. I have time to get things setup at our new place, and to make it a home. More important, Shaun and I are TOGETHER, and we have time to get the nursery setup and get ready for Hampton to come.

REAL jobs (and paychecks) are REALLY NICE!!! Did you know that?
Shaun is enjoying his new position as a Quality Engineer at Torotel Products, and his bosses seem to already be very impressed with him. He's able to go work out as he wants after work, and still be home by 5:00 or 6:00 each night instead of on campus until 2 or 3:00am like he used to do everyday. We can spend our evenings together like we never before were able to. We may not do anything exciting half of the time, but we're together, and that's what matters.

My days are now spent sleeping in (not too late), running errands, setting up the house (NESTING!!!), resting (much needed at this point in my pregnancy), cleaning (I make sure to stay away from dangerous chemicals, don't worry), going to the library for hours on end (we don't have internet yet--guess where I am right now), spending time with Ashlee (my oldest sister who lives only 15 minutes away) and her kids, and pretty much doing whatever else I want... for now. I get bored and lonely at times, but I try to enjoy every minute of free time I get because I know that's soon going to end.