Change Is A Comin'

Ok, I admit it.  Having a kid makes life really busy really fast.  Blog posts have been severely lacking. I have tried (unsuccessfully) to get my wife to contribute every once in a while but she insists on using all of her creative juices to make crafts and clothes for Ady.  I think it takes all the humor and stamina she can muster just to put up with me every day.  But the winds of change have been blowing and here is what they have stirred up.

I will start work at an orthopedic company in Warsaw, IN on May 16th.  Didn't see it coming and I'm still not sure the full realization has actually hit me.  It means that we will be packing up the family, attempting to sell the house, and starting a new chapter of our lives in Northern Indiana.  I'm very excited about the new opportunity but it doesn't come without some trepidation.  The transition will be quick and it won't be easy but we know God will see us through. 

Leaving has brought on a whole host of emotion.  I didn't realize how attached I was to our house and how much I will miss the daily challenge of public accounting.  I'm sure I will be challenged in a corporate setting but it just won't be the same.  Now I will have to split time between Colts games and Bears games on Sunday afternoon and it won't be as easy to sell/use my season tickets or see a playoff game.  I'll also have to find a new slow pitch softball team.  Yes, I know all of those things are probably small potatoes but I'm the one writing so I get to say whatever I want.

In the end we are still very excited.  We will really miss all of our friends from church and Anderson but we know we have a great support system and can't wait to meet new friends up in Warsaw.  No matter how you slice it change is a comin' and we are going to see where it takes us.

Ady Update: She rolled over for the first time today.  Emily is nervous because that means mobility...but I'm pumped!

It's Been Two Weeks

Hard to believe it but it's been two weeks already.  Having no past experience in child rearing it's a little difficult for me to rate how it's going, so I'm going to say that it's going great.  Adylyn eats about every 3 hours but she seems to enjoy being awake and held during the 11pm-2am time slot.  So Adylyn and her dad are getting their money's worth out of the Netflix subscription.  Do you think infants can be traumatized at a young age by action movies or HBO miniseries?

Today was the first rough day.  It actually started last night when the Colts lost.  I could tell that Adylyn was pretty upset because she decided to scream for the remainder of the night and through the next morning.  After getting off her feeding schedule for a while she started back again this afternoon and has finally calmed down.  We think that it might actually be the Italian or dairy that Emily ate yesterday but I we will just have to evaluate it again in the future.

Next week should be a big test.  Work picks up pretty quickly for me (accounting busy season) so Emily will be at home with Adylyn for a long time during the day.  Thankfully our friends from church have set up meals for us.  If anyone would like to participate the link is on the top right of the page. 

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support.  The doctor says Adylyn isn't supposed to go out in public for six weeks (come on Doc!).  I think that's a little long (I want her to meet people!) but we can't take her out for now.  If she gets sick then we will have to explain to the doctor why we took her out.  I guess it's better safe than sorry. 

Do you have any tricks or tips you used when your kids were infants?  We'll take all the suggestions we can get.

Baby Stichter Pick'em - The Results

It's finally time to announce the results of Baby Stichter Pick'em.  Thank you to all of those who participated.  We fell about 62 entries short of my 100 entry goal but I'm just glad I don't have to give anyone a $100 gift card.  The winners are as follows and will receive a gift card of their choice in the mail this week.

Birthdate - Actual 12/25/10 10:22pm
Best Guess: Laura Feeney, 12/24/10 1:20am, 45:02 from actual
Runners Up: Kim Fox, Susanna Stichter

Weight - Actual 7.14lbs
Best Guess: Jamie Smith, 7.125lbs, 0.01lbs from actual
Runners Up: Lanette Nelson, Melissa Miller

Height - Actual 20.25"

Best Guess: Lanette Nelson, 20", 0.25" from actual

Runners Up: Esther Stichter, Sarah Stichter

Sidenote: Gentlemen, I think we should stick to only picking our noses because baby pick'em evidently isn't our thing.  The men didn't make the podium in a single category.  Admittedly there were more entries from women than men (20 women, 17 men), but at least one guess should have made the top three in at least one category.  Better luck next year....wait, not next year, I meant next time. Have to look out for those Freudian slips. 

You Want Pictures?

The Colts have won and life is slowing down a little (for now).  Emily is asleep in the hospital bed and has been recovering well.  I can't ask for a more beautiful wife or a more excellent mother for our children.  God has truly blessed us with baby Adylyn (ADD-a-lyn).  We have received an amazing Christmas gift and we are still praising God for His blessing. 

I keep hearing that the people want more pictures.  What a coincidence, I've taken a few (ok, maybe more than a few).  Here are some of my favorites.