Paint me a Birmingham

So I have to admit... I've been putting off blogging since our big move. For some reason the thought of forcing myself to write about a life changing event causing me some serious anxiety and unwanted extra emotion didn't sound the least bit appealing. However, now that it's all said and done, I couldn't be happier. WE couldn't be happier. Before I go further, here's a quick look at all that's happened in the last month since we packed up our things and said goodbye to Wheaton.

We put our wonderful little home up for rent, and found the perfect renters..

The moving company dropped off our boxes shortly after. And we played in them..

Then we actually put things in them (other than cute babies)..

Finally the moving truck arrived..

And we sadly had to say good-bye to our first home. 

As if we weren't already under enough stress moving, we thought running a half marathon in Toledo, OH (which is near Lauren's school and on the way to Birmingham) would be fun to add to the mix! Thank goodness for our lucky ladybug.

And we ran! My ridiculous athletic husband finished ahead of Lauren and I by about 30 seconds with barely any training. All three of us beat the two hour mark, and had a blast. Talk about a stress reliever! Following the race the three of us jumped in our car, said goodbye to my parents and Lauren, and headed to our new home in Birmingham. The movers arrived a few days later and we spent our first full week together as a family in nearly four months. We were back and forth between Illinois and Michigan for a week to tie up loose ends at our Winfield home, say goodbye to family and friends, and finish up Grace's last doctor, PT and OT appointments. We even snuck in a quick play date with Josh and Grace's BFF, Lyla Rose!

We've been back in Birmingham for over a week now and have been loving every second of it. Our home is the perfect next step for our little family and our neighborhood and location are a dream come true. We are about a half mile from an incredible downtown, steps from multiple parks, a quick drive from Somerset and the Detroit Zoo, and surrounded by families with young kids (and cute pups)! Not to mention a few towns away from our good friends, the Stowell's, who I anticipate spending many a sunny days with at Lifetime pool in the weeks to come.

Our first swing session at Barnum Park.

Home Sweet Home.

Today we celebrated my first Mother's day, and there are no words to describe my feelings waking up this morning other than blessed. Blessed to have such incredible, beautiful, selfless mother's and grandmother's in our lives who have paved the way for me and the example I want to set for Grace going forward. Blessed to have an amazing husband with a heart of gold...who appreciates, loves and supports me more than anyone else in this world and continually makes me feel like a superwoman day in and day out. Blessed to have a healthy, adorable little angel with more personality and smiles than any other baby on this planet, and who has provided me more joy and happiness than I ever could have imagined. Blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a mother, the most important and life-changing job in the world.

All dressed up for Mom!

The two loves of my life.. and Kingston of course :)

Best first Mother's Day a woman could ask for! Slept in while Dad got Grace fed and changed for the day, woke up to a new Keurig coffee maker all ready to give Mom her much needed caffeine boost, went to mass at Holy Name in Birmingham, ate brunch at a cute lil' hole in the wall place called Whistle Stop, took a long nap with my loves, went for a family run with a pit stop at Booth Park for Grace, grabbed a pizza, and got Grace all ready for bed only to find an adorable giraffe pandora charm in her hands... 

Zach's explanation for the charm being - Grace loves Sophie, "G" for Grace and giraffe, and giraffes have long goofy necks much like our torticollis cutie pie (which is doing much better I might add). Amazingly thoughtful husband and father? I'll say :) Not to mention I think we found our 1st birthday theme.....