We're Homeowners!

We closed on our first house today...finally!

We are both so excited. Our final walkthrough was at 1100 and then our closing was at 1230. Closing lasted a lot longer than normal because our lender made a mistake on our settlement statement; but, we weren't too upset about it because we had to pay a lot less than what we had originally thought. Yay for that!

Jackson was amazing! He played with cars and trucks almost the entire time we were waiting and signing papers. He loves our realtor and she was very gracious to give him attention when he needed it. After closing, we went two streets over to set up our utilities and then finally ate lunch at 4:30. That's why I say that Jackson was so amazing - no lunch until 4:30 plus no nap. He did great!

When we got to the house, Jackson helped Jason unlock the front door, and Jason carried me over the threshold. We have a lot to do before we can move in. The house needs quite a bit of TLC both inside and out, but the finished product is going to look fantastic. I can't believe we finally made it to closing day and now we have the keys to our first home! Thank You, Lord!

My Take on Television

This afternoon, Jackson was watching a home video while I prepared his lunch. He was watching a clip of himself and Jason in Germany. He was laughing and giggling. Then I heard him say, "Dada. Dada. Dada! Dada! Dada! When are you coming home to our apartment? Dada! Dada! Dada! Dada! Dada! I want to touch your shirt, Dada. Dada. Dada. Dada! Dada! Talk to me, Dada. Dada! Dada!"

It was so precious, but don't you think toddlers have a hard time distinguishing between reality and what's on television?

My 1st Niece!

We left Georgia at 1620 CST. I hadn't talked to Meredith or Ryan since 1330, so I assumed things were progressing rapidly. Waiting and wondering was so difficult. We stopped for dinner around 1830. My parents called to see if I'd heard anything and I told them no. They decided to call the hospital and the nurse told them that Meredith was pushing. When my mom called to tell me, I just started sobbing. I wanted to be there so badly. It was so hard for me to imagine her pushing without knowing how she was doing. Her friend was taking photos and videos for them. I have to admit that I wanted to be that friend. I have waited my whole life for my sisters to have their babies. Two of Melissa's boys were born while I lived overseas and the other was born when Jackson was 5 weeks old. I missed all three of their births and did not want it to happen again.

Shortly after I talked to my mom, Meredith's friend called me to say that Madalyn had just been born. I couldn't believe it. I started to cry again. At 1833, Madalyn Suzanne Sauer entered the world at 9 pounds and 7 ounces and 22 inches long with a head full of dark brown hair. My sister was doing great, and after months of preparing for a birth without medication, she had achieved her heart's desire. I desperately wanted to talk to her, but I knew from experience that she was busy with far too many important things (like holding her newborn daughter) and did not need to be talking to me.

My emotions were in a fragile state. I had been waiting all afternoon to hear additional news on my sister. The restaurant was extremely slow and now I was going to have to wait to get to Arkansas. I felt like I couldn't wait on one more thing and reality was sinking in - I was not there to help my sister. I was impatient with Jason and Jackson, which upset me more, and finally my emotions needed some release. I sobbed while Jason pumped our gas and then called my mom to sob to her. Goodness, I don't know what was wrong with me! I put on Jason's ipod and listened to Watermark and Shane & Shane for hours. All of that time singing to/about the Lord helped me tremendously.

Meredith called me around 2200. I was thrilled to talk to her, and our conversation gave me a boost of adrenaline that kept me going for a couple more hours. We arrived in Arkansas just before 0400 on Friday. I slept for a few hours and then woke with too much anxiety to sleep anymore. I was ready to shower and get to the hospital to see my sister. I got ready while Jace and Jackson slept and then ran out the door just after they woke up. I was so excited. I could hardly keep it all in. I felt like my heart was going to explode with joy.

When I saw their family of three, I couldn't believe it. Ryan was so precious holding his new daughter. Like any amazing daddy, he was so tender and attentive. Meredith looked different to me. She was a mom! She had labored for 12 hours and had an amazing reward. I enjoyed my time with the three of them. Ryan told me funny stories about the labor and we looked at tons of pictures. We had a great time looking at Madalyn and thinking about who she resembled. At first glance, she looked so much like Ryan. But after studying her a little closer, I could really see Meredith in her. We knew she'd look different in 24 hours and really different in a couple of weeks, but it was fun to talk about.

My parents arrived at 1230 while I was out grabbing lunch for everyone and picking up Jason and Jackson. I had hoped my dad remembered his pin. After Jackson was born, he wore a pin that said, "I am the Father of a Truly Amazing Daughter." He had just had a colonoscopy the day of Madalyn's birth, so I wasn't sure if he would remember to bring it. Of course he did!

It was wonderful seeing my parents. Jackson was thrilled to see them and they were delighted when they saw him. If Melissa's family and Ronald and Christy had been there, it would have been perfect. I wished so much that they could have been there with us. After my parents saw Madalyn, they said that she looked a lot like my father's mother's baby pictures. We all agreed, and after hearing them say that, I couldn't stop seeing my grandmother in her.

My parents brought Jackson (and Madalyn) Easter bags. They both got bunnies that sing "Jesus Loves Me" and Jackson got a few treats that he was thrilled about. She told him that we'd help him ration them out.

My dad, Papa, holding his first granddaughter and wearing his pin:

This is the only photo that I got of Jason with his first niece. Pretty pathetic! He's barely in the photograph, but that tender hand is the same one that rubbed our newborn's head almost 2.5 years ago.

Jackson was fascinated with "baby Madalyn." He wanted to see her and hold her. If she moved from one person to another, he'd ask, "Where's baby Madalyn?" My mom held her so that he could see her up close. He was very interested in finding her hands and feet.

He wanted to be on the bed near Meredith, but we were hesitant to let him because she was healing from a bad tear. When Meredith was preparing to nurse Madalyn, he asked, "May I sit up here with Aunt Meredith, please?" She let him and he was ecsatic. Again, he wanted to find her hands and then he didn't understand why she wouldn't open them. He was gentle and tender with her. I can't imagine what he's going to be like with his sister.

Will you look at that precious face?! I wish I had baby photos of Ryan, Meredith and my grandmother to compare.

My mom holding her first granddaughter!

Me holding my first niece (and her first girl cousin)!

Sisters!

My mom and her baby girl:

Meredith's doctor wanted her to stay one more night in the hospital. She had a lot of swelling after pushing out her nearly 9.5 pounder, and the doctor wanted to see a little more improvement before allowing her to go home. That evening, I helped her with a sitz bath and then lowered her bed so that she could lay on her side. (Helping her with anything and everything was such a treat for me.) Once she was in bed, I could see the tension leaving her body. She desperately needed to lay flat and to get a good night's sleep.

The next morning, I woke early to shower in case she called and needed anything. I was so glad that I did because just after my shower, Meredith called to ask if I would come up and help her shower. I was thrilled to serve her. When I got there, I noticed a drastic improvement from the night before. She was a different person. I was so happy for her. She showered and ate some breakfast. Then, we walked around the postpartum area of the hospital while Madalyn slept and Ryan tried to sleep. Mer stretched her stiff muscles and then I rubbed her back. Shortly after, the doctor and nurse came in, asked her if she wanted to go home, and gave her the thumbs up to leave when she was ready. They walked out and as soon as the door shut, Meredith said, "Ryan, get up. We're going home!" She couldn't wait to be in her own home.

The Sauer family of three dressed and ready to leave the hospital:

Madalyn safe and secure for her first trip in a car:

Right outside the hospital:

Taking home baby:

Jackson was so excited when we arrived. Once we were all inside, he asked, "May I hold baby Madalyn?" He repeated himself several times because we hadn't given him an answer. He got on the couch and said, "I'm ready to hold baby Madalyn." Then, he took of his sandals (because he knows he can't wear them on the couch) and said, "I'm ready. I'm ready to hold baby Madalyn." It was so precious. Meredith sat down next to him and helped him hold her. He was so happy. Again, he checked her over for hands and feet. He couldn't see her right hand because it was under the blanket and he was very troubled about where it was. We showed him and her fist was tightly clinched. He kept telling her, "Open it. Open it. Don't do it like that." Meredith showed him how to put his finger near hers so that she would clasp it. He was all smiles! A door shutting startled her and she started to cry. I told him to give her a kiss and whenever he put his face next to hers, she stopped crying. He was so pleased and then he asked me, "She's not going to do that anymore?" It was so adorable.

The rain was coming, so we headed outside to get a photo of their new family in front of a 7 foot stork that their friends put in their front yard:

Grammie, Jackson and Papa:

Playing with Grammie's umbrella next to Uncle Ryan's truck, which he loved:

We left Arkansas shortly after they got home because I felt there would be too much commotion in their house if we stayed. I wanted them to have some peace and quiet, which is impossible with a toddler around. While I was changing Jackson's diaper just before we left, I told him that when his baby sister comes out, he can hold her a whole bunch. His eyes widened, he looked at me, and then he asked, "And I can stand up and hold her?!" He is going to be such a helper when our daughter arrives.

Lord, thank You for a wonderful weekend and the opportunity to see half of my family in Arkansas. I am so blessed!

A Trip Through the South

Jason had another conference, but this time it was in Georgia. The timing wasn't the greatest with our closing date quickly approaching, but we couldn't bypass the time together and the opportunity to travel through the southern states...for free!

The drive from Oklahoma City to Warner Robins, Georgia is about 15 hours. Since Meredith and Ryan live in Arkansas, we decided to spend the weekend with them and then make the second-half of our trip. We were hoping that sweet Madalyn would make her grand appearance while we were there, but she opted to stay in the warmth of her Mommy's womb. I have to admit that it was VERY disappointing for me...and for Meredith.

Right before Jackson was born, Ryan and Meredith came to stay with us over Thanksgiving. I went into labor two days after they left. It was sad for me to be so far from family at such a joyous time. I really wanted her to be there when he was born, but it didn't work out that way. We were hoping that the same thing wouldn't happen this time. Mer is 7 hours from Houston and almost that much from me in OKC. When you've dreamed your whole life of sharing the birth of your child with your family, it's difficult to accept that you'll most likely be doing it without any of them there. I hoped this time would be different and I found it difficult to accept the Lord's timing. In our minds, a birth over Easter weekend was perfect. We could all be together and my parents could come up and share the occasion with us. For some reason, the Lord did not allow it to happen that way.

Our time in Georgia was scheduled to last for two weeks, but they cut the conference short and we are leaving tomorrow. As I type this, I am praying for Meredith to spontaneously go into labor. If she doesn't, then she has a scheduled induction for 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. You can read the details of their decision on her blog. Even though I won't be there for the birth, I will get to see their new family of three on Friday. I am so thankful for this and can hardly wait to be there. My parents are also driving up from Houston, so we'll get to see them as well. (Jason and I could really use a dose of my parents right now!)

So let me backtrack to last weekend. We got to Ryan and Meredith's late Friday night. On the way, we dipped into Texas and I got to see bluebonnets for the first time in 8 years! I couldn't resist the stop even though we were eager to get to Arkansas.

He didn't like something that touched him:

He wasn't very enthusiastic about sitting still. Once I got the photos of him and Jason, it was nearly impossible to get another.

Now, this is what a little boy calls fun. Running up and down the hill:

25 weeks pregnant with out baby girl:

Saturday, we had a great lunch at a cafe in Ryan and Meredith's town. I ate chicken salad on a croissant and it was DELICIOUS! Later, I got an unsweetened blueberry muffin from their small health food store. I enjoyed that treat while Ryan, Meredith and I walked around the park...hoping to encourage labor to come along...and Jason and Jackson played at the playground.

Sunday, we went to church to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. The service was wonderful and we really enjoyed attending their church and meeting some of their friends. After church, we prepared lunch while it stormed outside. The weather was suited more for Good Friday than Resurrection Sunday. I have to be honest and say that my mind was more on Meredith having her baby than on the holiday. That is shameful, but true. Although I know that average gestation for first-time moms is 41 and 1/7 weeks, I was hoping that Meredith wouldn't be in that group.

It was so nice to spend quality time with Ryan and Meredith. Typically, we see each other when we're all in Houston. As wonderful as it is for us to all be together, there is never enough time to have one-on-one with each person. Being at there house gave us lots of time to spend together without any other distractions. (Well, except for being distracted by the hope of Meredith going into labor!)

I have been terrible about taking pictures lately. I had to get at least one photo of me and Meredith with our daughters in our bellies. Before we left Monday morning, I woke her up for one quick photo. She was very gracious to allow me to post this picture. I know that I wouldn't be as gracious if I had just rolled out of bed! Here we are with my parents first granddaughters!

Girl cousins in the womb:

Monday, we drove from Arkansas to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and finally Georgia. Jackson was awesome! He is such a traveling trooper. We made one wrong turn right at the beginning of our drive that put us almost 2 hours behind. That was a real stinker and it was my fault. I was the navigator. I was talking to my mom about something upsetting when we made the turn. Then, I was telling Jason all about it and never paid attention to what road we were on. When we arrived into a small town, I didn't recognize any of the signs. I knew something was wrong. I thought we were in Louisiana, but we were actually in Arkansas! In all fairness to me, the directions were very misleading and there was construction where we made the turn. That didn't make for a happy girl, but food, a good cry, and a little nap finally lifted my spirits.

We're on the road again tomorrow. We've decided to leave tomorrow evening and drive through the night so that we can get there as soon as possible. We want to avoid traffic and we'd rather not waste a whole day in the car. I've packed our bags and we are ready to go. As I type this, Jason and Jackson are out eating and shopping. I stayed back at the hotel to catch up on my blog, journal, and have some time to myself. I don't like missing out on time with them, especially when we're traveling, but I'm never going to catch up if I don't. Now, I'm hoping to hop on the treadmill for about 30 minutes. Until next time...

A Little More Utah and Colorado Springs

We have been extremely busy ever since we returned from our 17-day trip through Colorado and Utah. There has been so much stuff to do with the house. We close on the 27th of this month. We are redoing several things in the home, so we have a lot of things that need to be scheduled to begin the day after closing. We want everything done before we get our furniture delivered from storage in Virginia, which is why we need to get started as soon as we close. We can't wait to sleep in our bed and get our home settled.

I still have some photos that I want to post from our last week in Utah and our time in Colorado Springs with the Madrids. I mentioned in my previous post that I took Jackson to the Children's Museum in Downtown Salt Lake City. Our day started rough. We've officially entered the SUPER tantrum stage, and I must admit that it wears on me after a while. Thankfully, our afternoon was much better than our morning and we had a fantastic time at the museum.

Of all of the things that the museum offered, Jackson was the most excited about riding in this car. I would introduce him to new things, but he always wanted to go back and find this car. He loves these Little Tikes cars.

Dressing up in fireman apparel:

These clothes came off rather quickly. He told me, "I don't like this."

Experimenting at the water station:

Climbing:

Finally, something with a steering wheel:

Grocery shopping for produce:

Jackson has been pointing out gas stations since we lived in Germany. He loves anything that has to do with a car or truck. They had a real gas pump at the museum and a car that the kids could gas up. Jackson LOVED putting gas in the car and enjoyed telling me how to do it. Now, he wants to help us put gas in our cars every time we fill up.

He waited patiently for this tractor for at least 45 minutes. He was thrilled to ride on it.

We signed up for a storybook reading of Dr. Seuss and a craft. He would not wear his project - a hat that he painted - but I did catch him in his smock.

He thought the blue sand was much more fun than the craft:

There was a big area with balls and tubes. The children can put balls into various tubes and watch there path. Jackson would fill his bucket with balls, carry it up the stairs, and then put them inside this tube that shot the balls up and over his head.

Before we left, we had to make one last trip to ride the police car. This time, he found a tool kit so that he could work on his car.

We left Utah the next evening to get ahead of the winter storm that was blowing across the Rockies. We spent three wonderful days with the Madrids before we headed back to Oklahoma. I didn't realize that my camera batteries were both low, so the only pictures I took while in Colorado were in the snow in front of their house. We didn't get one picture of our two families together. I was so bummed.

Steve, Zach, and Jason took Jackson outside to play in the snow. After Steve went back inside, Jason and Zach decided that they were going to make a ton of snowballs, ask Steve to come outside, and then nail him once he opened the door. I got in on their little plot and called for everyone to come outside and watch Jackson in the snow. Steve was way to clever for that. He went out the back door, gathered some snow balls for himself, and then ran around the garage to surprise attack them. Well, Zach knows his dad well. When Steve didn't come right outside, he figured his dad was up to something, so he told Jason to watch the side of the garage. The sun was on their side and they could see Steve's shadow just before he made it to the end of the garage. Here are some photos of the fight:

Getting ready:

Outsmarting Steve and getting ready at both sides of the garage:

The fun begins:

Jackson even got in on the fun:

Making his own snowball:

Clearing the driveway:

So excited to help:

Steve and Michelle, thank you so much for letting us stay with you on both ends of our trip. What a blessing it was to see you both as well as Danielle, Zach and Tricia. We can't wait until next time!

We had a fantastic trip and we are so thankful for the opportunity to see more of the country. On our drive, we drove through Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, and into Utah. Jackson had a few restless moments, which should be expected from a toddler strapped to his seat, but overall, he was amazing. It's too bad that gone are the days of folding down the seats and making pallets in the back. That sure did make traveling a lot more fun for children.