Todd and I moved to Boise! This has been the first move of
my entire life where I haven’t sobbed upon leaving. The first move where I
haven’t doubted that it was the right thing, or that I wanted to do it. It’s
been the easiest move, emotionally and psychologically, that I’ve ever had and
for that I am grateful. I think the reason is twofold. The first is that I know
we will only have to be here for two years if we don’t like it, and secondly
because every good thing that could happen has happened easily and lets me know
that here is where we are supposed to be. I know we have been guided here and
we have been extremely blessed financially and otherwise. I think it’s a
wonderful mercy that on our first move to somewhere unknown as a couple and
with a child that I have been able to not only cope, but be happy about the
change. If you know me well, you know that I am deeply uncomfortable with
(most) change. I really don’t like when Todd rearranges the furniture, or puts
anything in my sight that I am not used to. When it comes to larger,
life-altering changes, I have a much more difficult and traumatic time. Moving
as a teenager, going to college, getting married, graduating from college
twice, moving to Wyoming, having a baby, etc., were all incredibly difficult
for me to accept and none of them happened calmly. I suppose I am just happy to
announce that God has made me feel so calm and blessed that I have remained
level-headed and excited throughout this move. I am also hoping that perhaps my
anxiety-ridden disposition is slowly melting away and leaving a much more
collected grownup in its place. We shall see.
Regina is nearly seven months old. Her personality has
changed a bit. While she can still be easy going and it is very easy to make
her laugh, she really prefers someone to be holding her. She hates being left
by herself and she hates being strapped into her car seat, though on the drive
here she slept nearly the entire time. She will smile and giggle all day so
long as she is in someone’s arms, or within someone’s reach. I love that she
loves me, but she is a little too attached for me to get much unpacking done
while she’s awake. She has finally learned to sit up on her own. When she sees
something she likes, or wants, she remembers it and where it was (i.e. my
shiny, red phone, my necklace, her dad’s face, etc.). She can recognize
patterns and anticipate what will happen next (i.e. playing peek-a-boo and
popping out from different sides). She loves help standing and if you hold her
hands she will walk around the entire house. She spends much more time sitting
and standing than on her tummy, so I have no idea when crawling will take
place. She throws herself out of her Bumbo chair and launched herself off my
bed a couple of nights ago. She has a very strong back, legs, and will. I love the time after her morning
feeding where I’m still pretty sleepy and she starts to babble and sing and
squawk and then reaches over to tap and grab my face. It’s really lovely to know how to care
for her. She feels comforted by my presence. I know holding her will make her
stop crying, I know rocking her will put her to sleep in my arms. She is so
sweet and pleasant. Her sleeping habits have changed a bit. She’s gone from
sleeping 7.5 hours back down to five. I think it has to do with being hungry in
the night. I try to feed her plenty during the day, but she is just so
interested in everything that is happening around her she gets very distracted
no matter if she’s nursing, or spoon-feeding.
I think she’s brave. She’s not afraid of anything, it seems.
She doesn’t mind loud noises (she loves fireworks and the vacuum doesn’t phase
her), she likes surprises, she likes other people, and she loves new objects,
textures, tastes, sounds, etc. We put her in a baby swimming contraption and
she just kicked her legs and moved herself around the pool. She loves other
children. I’ve never seen her smile, or laugh so easily as when a child talks
to her. So at least when one of her parents is nearby, she is fearless.
Todd is the most wonderful husband. He started work this
week and he begins school on Monday. I forgot how expensive textbooks are. And
furniture. I don’t understand how he can remain so calm when I’m about to
scream and fly off the handle. He can go to bed much later than he’d like, get
up in the middle of the night to put Reggie back to sleep, wake up early to go
to work, come home to play with Regina, make me dinner, compliment what I’ve
gotten done, give me adequate snuggles, change the baby, go to bed late again,
get up in the night again, and still smile. He never complains about his life,
or me, or our situation. He is such a good example and a sweet father and my
very best friend. It’s pretty amazing to have someone who is your twin, your
opposite, your comic relief, your support, your confident, AND who is
attractive.
I love it when he makes me laugh, but I really love it when I make him laugh and I love it when he calls me
“Hill.”
