DC-versary

Yesterday marked one calendar year since our move from Carolina to our nation's Capital. Just look at our sweet baby during the move-in this time last year...

I don't really know where this post is going, but I'm feeling reminiscent and sentimental because it has been a very eventful year to say the least. Anniversaries like this certainly shed light on the ups and downs of life. It would be easy to focus on the "downs" because there have been many... the loss of three family members, a very scary hospitalization, LOTS of illness in our family of three, and a recent surgery....just to name a few. However, the lessons learned and outpouring of love of grace by others and our God overpower all of that to me.

Truth be told, Jeff and I were both quite shocked when we found out we were moving here. Jeff participated in the national urologic oncology fellowship match in 2010~so a computer algorithm basically let us know we would be moving to DC a year later in order for Jeff to complete his training at the National Cancer Institute. DC was high on our list simply because of the prestige and career opportunity for Jeff. However, it was far(ther) away from both of our families and the cost of living here is astronomical. So it wasn't our perfect plan....but it was God's. It's neat to look back over the past year and think of all of the experiences and people He has brought into our life simply because we moved to DC. We are so grateful for the meaningful friendships, amazing church, and endless opportunities here~as well as the tough lessons God is teaching us, specifically regarding finances and waiting.

The crazy thing is that we only have 2 years left here. Time is ticking and it's ticking quickly. There is still SO much we've yet to experience here in this great city (did you know that DC has 200,000 Ethiopian residents~the largest population in the US...so much of Judah's culture here!)....so it's time to get "crack-a-lackin'" as my niece would say. Jeff and I have a date night this weekend, so I think it's the perfect time to make our "DC Bucket List." Here's to residents masked as tourists until 2014!

Judah this week at one of our favorite summer DC spots..Georgetown waterfront park....love this view of him running full speed with the Kennedy Center in the background

Lazy Summertime

Knock. Knock. Anybody home?! Oh, we're home alright! Not doing much of anything....but not really by choice. I recently had gynecologic surgery. I won't bore you with the details but overall, the surgery went well and my prognosis is good. However, recovery has been a BEAR! I'm still very sore and getting around much like a turtle. The worst is that I can't lift anything over 10 pounds....my heart ACHES every time Judah asks me to hold him/pick him up. I miss it so. I still get snuggles, though :-)

We are VERY thankful for KK and Grandma for visiting DC and helping out. Judah is getting lots of LOVE. Speaking of love, have I mentioned lately how much I love this man?

Yep, that's my sweet husband in the bathtub with Judah a few nights ago. Grandma got Judah some squirt guns and it was Jeff's idea to hop right in and have a water war. Judah thought this was the best thing since sliced bread (and he LOVES bread). He's still talking about it and will randomly look at me and say "Daddy in bath with Judah" and start cracking up.

Elmo and Cookie became targets :-)

Jeff really is the best Daddy ever. I really wish we could have celebrated him more on Father's Day (especially considering last year), but this is really what went down.

Look familiar?

In some ways, these lazy summer days have been a blessing. Mommy is catching up on rest/sleep and just enjoying "vegging out" most of the time....and watching way too many episodes of House Hunters and Ellen.  And Judah is spending precious time with his grandmothers. Thanking God for family, health, and happiness :-)

Play Dough

Toddlers eat play dough. Which is why I've been waiting to present it to Judah. I was planning on making  J's first play dough, but he recently received some as a gift so I let him explore a few weeks ago. Can you tell he gets excited about new toys?! 

The kit included lots of fun "tools." 

We made grass.

We cut "rocks." 

And we made animals. 

The monkey was definitely his favorite. Here you can see him re-enacting "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." :-)

Look closely and you'll see our lil' purple monkey stuck on the crib as Judah does his "monkey dance." 

And yes, the monkey eventually ended up in the bed :-)

Oh, and we also had strawberry ice cream. 

don't worry, we just "pretended." 

And Judah performed a concert with his "microphone." Love his imagination :-)

Yay! for Play Dough and another rainy-day activity!