The New Adventure Begins

It's a bit of a bittersweet time for us right now as we begin this new chapter in our life. I am very anxious to be with Ev longer than a weekend again, but am sad to leave family, friends and everything else about 'The Show Me State" we have loved. It's been a short, but good time in Missouri. We bought our first home and had little Jaycee here. I've had a few 'moments' this week (packing makes the move very real), and I go into Jaycee mode. I lay like her and stop all productive things I could be doing. We didn't expect to move this quickly, but am extremely grateful for the career opportunities Ev has in store. So, onward and upward to Portland we go! Ev and his dad drive the UHaul out this weekend, and Jaycee and I fly out Tuesday.

Miss Jaycee Happenings- She is such a trooper when we go places. Last night Kailey had her 8th grade promotion in the 100 degree gym with no AC, and Jaycee just hung out with grandpa in the back, didn't fuss at all. She will not sleep on her back anymore, which at first I absolutely hated, but I am getting less paranoid about it. I love that she will see something she wants, get very excited, and go for it with all her might. Such a determined little thing! She has been eating rice cereal, which is a real treat. Even though it is a messy process, she looks adorable covered in it. I just love watching her learn and explore new things. I was telling my brother last night that even with the lack of sleep or poopy diapers, when she first sees me when she wakes up and gives me a huge smile, that makes it all well worth it! I feel so blessed to be her mom! I just love that little girl to pieces!

We had a little photo shoot with my fam now that Jaycee had joined the Chapman Clan.

Whit's Birthday

As you may already know, May 17th is Whitney's birthday. What you may not know is a few things I will discuss in this blog. I don't want to go down the sappy, smoochie, love love, alley that some bloggers do (you know exactly who you are). I will, however, share a few things with you that I do love about Whit and some of life's events that happened this year.

This year a lot has changed for us, in fact it has probably been the biggest year of Whit's life. I would say the main reason for that is because she transformed from career woman to being a mother. I have to tell you Whit, you do have the prettiest baby girl I have ever seen! You are a great mother to our beautiful baby girl. Also you did some pretty cool things for the first time during this year of your life; march madness, epidural, time our for women, truly experienced mothers day, blessed baby Jaycee, fired a real estate agent (which was not pretty nor would I recommend it), put on the nativity at church, helped put up Christmas lights, had a baby shower, went on a Branson-wide scavenger hunt, went to a St Louis Cardinals game, experienced most corners of MO (STL mainly), entered a walk-a-thon in Danville California, sent your husband off to the fathers/son campout with three adopted boys for the weekend, oh and did I mention you went through labor and had a baby!!!!

Anyway babe you truly are the best. Here are just a few reasons why:

- You're the only wife I know that encourages her husband to participate in a different city league team for Tues, Wed and Thurs night.

- You are an 11, on the 1-10 scale of beautiful women.

- You make me laugh all the time.

- You laugh at my lame jokes (you know the ones that are so lame, that only maybe Les would laugh at, yeah those ones).

- You encourage me in my career dealing with funerals.

- You're the lowest maintenance, high maintenance of the low maintenance wives in the world.

- You go to Wal-mart and buy $41 worth of groceries, you have $40 in cash, you use your $40 in cash, then charge $1 to your credit card.

- Your redneck accent is awesome and should really shake things up out here in Portland.

- You make some awesome enchiladas, chicken-n-a-roll, chicken devon, poppyseed bread, chip dip, little smokies and a number of killer crock-pots.

- Your milk is obviously very high quality considering our baby is off the charts in the weight department and she is healthier than Tony Horton.

Love you, and have a great weekend get-a-way lined up if you ever join me out here!