New job, new life in Austin!

One week ago today Chris got great news! Job news! After five months of job searching, at least a hundred job applications, and twelve interviews Chris got two job offers, one in Houston and the other in Austin. After much prayer, deliberation and more prayer we felt led to take the job in Austin! YAY, YAY, YAY!!! I'm still pinching myself! I have dreamed about living this close to my family for years. I can't tell you how incredibly excited and blessed I am! I'll actually be able to pick up the phone, call my sisters and meet them for coffee!

Chris will start his new job early January. We hope to have a home to move into sometime in February, but we shall see. In the meantime we'll continue to stay with my parents (thanks mom & dad). Thank you to those of you who have so faithfully prayed for and encouraged Chris through this process. He really needed y'all! We're so thankful for the wonderful family and friends who have surrounded us through this transition from Canada to Texas. A very special thanks to my parents and brothers for letting us cruise in and take over their house with toys, stinky diapers, piles of laundry, crying in the night, spit up on the carpet, spit up on the couch, spit up on y'all... it just goes on and on. Y'all have been so gracious, flexible, supportive, encouraging, fun, helpful, generous... oh, I could go on and on. I can tell you right now, it's going to be very hard to transition back to being the three of us. For right now I'd better wrap this up with a shout out to the man of the hour: Way to go Chris... I am soooo proud of you for persevering! Love you!!

Celebrating Chris' new job over BBQ!

November... where did you go?!

Stryder is such a good eater! He never misses a meal!!

Loves the spoon:o)

Just ate his breakfast... such a happy little camper!

Modeling his new hat and gloves from his Aunt Laura

We visited my dear sweet friend Summer and her fam... this is her daughter Jesslyn

Just want to kiss this face!!!

Stryder's Uncle Nathan won this cow for him, so sweet of him! Mommy is hoping this is as close as we get to ever owning animals... just being honest:o)

Seven months?! How the heck did that happen?! Love our little man!!

And everything goes in the mouth

October (in a nut shell)

LOOOOOVE those eyes!

We made new friends! Brenna Macleod and Stryder Man!!

I finally got to see my kindred spirit, Katie, after a long year apart! It was a short visit but much needed!

Loves his tootsies! 

Look who's sitting up on his very own! 

Who made you so cutie patootie?!

Look at my 2 toofies!

Love my little man!

Pumpkin carving party!

Annie, Nathan, Joel and Chris

Look at that adorable little dragon... 

Trick-or-treat!!!

Growing, and growing, and growing, and...

Stryder and his new friend, Emma Grace... so sweet!

Daddy and Stryder chillin on a rare cool evening!

I love my Nona!!

So big and strong!

August

Stryder celebrating daddy's birthday too!

Chris turned 30!!

Stryder is growing like crazy! 

Nona couldn't resist buying this outfit

It's hard getting a smile out of him sometimes

I turned 31!

Can hardly believe Stryder is already 4 months old!

My handsome men in their ties!

Johnny Cash, Aunt Nannie and Stryder

So Stryder's Aunt Nannie (we came up with this name after much debate over what Stryder should call my youngest sister Annie. Aunt Anne, Aunt Annie and Auntie Anne just didn't work) loves Johnny Cash and wanted to play a song for Stryder and as you can see he loved it! He even joined in with his own little solo!!



Newborn Photo Shoot

The same photographer who took my maternity photos asked if she could take newborn pictures once I had Stryder to build her newborn portfolio. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture priceless pictures of Stryder when he was so fresh and brand new (he is 9 days old in these pictures). It wasn't an easy photo shoot (it was hot from the heaters we had blasting to keep Stryder warm, he wet through at least one blanket, he woke up multiple times as we tried posing him) but it sure was memorable and memories are for a lifetime!

Recent Texas Happenings

Chris arrived safe and sound with all our belongings... many thanks to our brother-in-law John Starke who caravaned with Chris in our Sequoia!

This is my youngest sister Annie in front of her adorable itsy bitsy cabin she'll be renting while she attends grad school at Texas State University in San Marcos

Like Father, like son... I swear we didn't pose this

Stryder's first time in a swimming pool!

I love these jammies on him!!

Love his MANY expressions

Chris and John... they're good at sharing

Chris & I got to go out on a date to one of our favorite restaurants that we hadn't been to in a LONG time

To all our Canadian friends: this is me trying to tempt you into coming to see us, hot rolls and cinnamon butter!

Stryder has recently found his hands and LOVES looking at them as he attempts to put them to his mouth. Very cute to watch, especially when his eyes cross as his fists get close to his face

I asked my sister if she wanted to see the pics of Stryder in his new Bumbo chair clothed or unclothed and she voted for both... so these are for Aunt Laura

Stryder is smiling more and more... love this little man!

Papa and Stryder... bonding!

Stryder getting his feet wet in the pool Nona bought for him