Hello from KS!

Wow, I can't believe it's been two months since I posted...I have one word to explain it all..."hectic!"

So, you may want to know what have we been up to...hopefully this will shed some light:

• At the beginning of August, Matt and I got together with all of our friends in NC for a wonderful lunch to see everyone one more time before moving.  It was great to see everyone...but it was so hard saying bye. (That morning was also the day Matt and I found out I am pregnant...but we kept it a big secret!  It was just too early to share.)

the morning we found out!

• The next week, Matt and I traveled to Topeka to find our new home.  We ended up choosing a townhouse in the location we really wanted.  It has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and yes we have a full basement for all of your worst Wizard Of Oz nightmares. 

we live on the right

• After our home finding trip, I flew home to Charleston and Matt stayed to work in his new job for two weeks.  I had a rough flight home, since I already started getting morning sickness (translation=all day sickness).  That's also the longest Matt and I have been apart since we got married.  I had a very difficult time sleeping on my own!
• When I got back from KS, I worked my last week at MUSC.  I worked with approx. 20 women, and I truly miss them.  That week, they all treated me to lunch at California Dreaming and gave me two beautiful pictures.  One is of the beach and one is of the marsh by a local Charleston artist, Jim Booth.  In addition, I was given a collage of pictures of all the ladies in the office, and breakfast on my last day.  They were so sweet, and I was so sad to leave them.
• Also that week, my car decided it wasn't happy and quit running at a stop light on my way home.  The worst part, I had Toby in the back and it was terribly hot!!  He was such a trooper though, and thankfully I got it running again.  It was very inconvenient timing with Matt being gone and having to coordinate a ride to the garage.  Thankfully they got it fixed-thanks Walt for the recommendation!
• The second week, I went home to spend time with my family.  Unfortunately, I spent most of the week on the couch or in the bed resting.  My family took me out for my birthday, but I wasn't able to eat anything.  Thankfully, I did have some good days.  I got to help my sister set up her classroom for the new year, and celebrate my mom's 50th birthday with a riverboat cruise on the Henrietta around Wilmington.  (I also shared the exciting news with my family about the baby!  I will share more on this in my next blog.)

eating lunch on the Henrietta for my mom's 50th bday

• The following week, Matt and I both returned to Charleston.  That Monday, we had our first OB appointment and ultrasound to see our little one (who we call Shrimp).  It was so exciting to see our little Shrimp!

around 7 weeks (the baby is marked with the two "x's" from head to tail)

• The rest of the week, Matt wrapped up things with his old job and I sat (well laid) at home babysitting the movers while they packed the house and loaded our things on the truck.  I have never been so thankful not to have to pack our house!

our kitchen (and the rest of the house) was boxed to the ceiling

• That weekend, we stayed with Matt's Aunt and Uncle (and had no problems with the hurricane).  Matt's parents, sister, and brother-in-law came into town to see us before our final move.  This is when we told Matt's immediate family about the baby, but it was difficult keeping it from everyone else since I was so sick.  (Again, we felt it was still too early to share with everyone.)  It was hard saying bye to the family, especially to Papaw...I didn't expect alligator tears!
• Finally, on Sept. 1st we moved into our new home!  It's been a slow process getting everything settled, but we're getting there.  Matt had to do most of the work early on, but I've finally gotten my energy back and I've been able to help out.
• Other than settling the house, we've gone to a few festivals (Huff'n Puff Hot Air Balloon Festival, and Cider Days).  They were both a lot of fun.  We still haven't made any new friends, but we've started visiting churches.  Hopefully, we'll find a church soon and join a new small group.  We have truly missed our wonderful small group in Charleston, and know how important it is to get plugged in with a community.

Well, that pretty much wraps up August and September for us.  I'll be writing another blog (hopefully in the next week) on more details with the baby/pregnancy. 

Here are a few pictures taken on the road going from Topeka to Wamego (where Matt works)...the area is called the Flint Hills (these are not the best pics to give an accurate view, but they'll do).

Don't Forget Toby:


Toby has been busy as well...here is a picture of him watching the movers leave with all of our stuff on the truck.  I think he was a bit worried.  By the way, he did great on his flight out to KS for the final move.

We love and miss you all back in the Carolinas!