Craziness:)

Hello, everyone!
Once again I have been negligent in updating the blog ...things seem to always get busier! The past few weeks have been very full- whether it be of seeing friends, eating good food, filling out paperwork or doctor schtuff, the schedule just doesn't stop.
I finally am feeling close to ready to have this baby- not that I haven't wanted to be done with the pregnancy for awhile, but more that I have finally finished some things I felt I needed to get done before the baby arrived. To name a few:
-all paperwork for grad school -related stuff
-taxes (always fun!!!)
-apartment apps
-bios, pics, plane tickets taken care of for Bray's opera stints
-washed car seat, organized what baby clothes I have for Madeline
-haircut/highlights ( 0f course the most important on the list:)
Bray has been working like a madman...he takes any extra hours he can get at the coffee shop,and then when he's not working, he goes and does voice stuff! Although it's tiring, I know it'll pay off, and it's encouraging to see him so motivated and working so hard!
Another piece of good news regarding the voice, is we just found out that Bray was awarded a fellowship award for Santa Barbara. In other words, he will receive travel reimbursement and payment at the end of the summer- very few students are given this for this program, and their reasoning behind the choice of recipients are that they have 'outstanding professional potential' in the opera field. We thank God for all these blessings in the past few months regarding Bray's career- it has truly been encouraging, humbling and exciting!
As far as baby goes, everything seems to be ready, so now it's a matter of timing! We are signing an apartment lease on Friday, so we should be able to move this weekend if we choose to! It has been good that we have been at my parents' house till now, though...my dad had foot surgery on Thursday, and then had a reaction to the medication on Friday! Thankfully,my mom and sister and I were at home when it happened, so we called the ambulance, and he had to be hospitalized for 24 hours. No serious results were found, so he got off that medication, and is slowly but surely on the road to recovery. Please pray that he can go back to work soon...and that the discomfort will subside!
I think that sums it up for now...I finally am focusing on the arrival of this baby, so we shall be sure to fill you in as the day approaches! Love to you all!
Here are a few pics:
Here is Hobbes swinging like a big boy...he only fell twice, and didn't cry...at the park near my house where I grew up!
Trying to take a cute Sunday pic for G.g. and Bop (Bray's parents)...but food was more interesting.:(
Here is a self-portrait of Charity and I at the circus the weekend before I left...miss you Schmenke!
The 2 little boys, crowding G.G....they both had to sit on her lap at the circus!:)
Once again, trying to get a Sunday pic of the cousins...this is the best we could do! It's still pretty cute, though.
Almost got it!
Taking off from Monroe...goodbye to the fam!

Moscow at last!!!

Hello, everyone!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update! I shall try to fill you in from where I left off last time, but it seems like so much has been going on, I don't know where to start! I believe I told you that Hobbes and I were flying up March 5 out of Jackson, and that Bray would be leaving from Monroe, driving the Uhaul all the way to Moscow by himself! After Bray got back from Memphis, where he had competed in the Midsouth Regionals of the National Metropolitan Opera Competitions, and placed 3rd!!!, he was rewarded by getting to drive some more! Wendy and Charity were kind enough to take me to the airport, and it was hard to say goodbye! Hobbes did fairly well on the plane rides, although he had to sit on what's left of his pregnant mother's lap for the entirety of the last 2 legs of the trip. When we reached Spokane, however, he had had enough. There were 2 other babies screaming their heads off in the airport, and Hobbes decided to be the 3rd. On top of that, the airline lost our luggage, including Hobbes' carseat! So, we had to stop by a store to get PJs, etc, and then finally reached Moscow late that night. I must say, traveling by yourself with a toddler is not that fun!:)
Anyhow, Bray decided to be kind of crazy, and on the 1st day, drove all the way past Denver, CO. Thus, he made it from Monroe to Moscow, ~40 hours, in 2 long days. He got in at 3 in the morning on Wednesday, and to welcome him home, a Moscow policeman decided to pull him over for 'pulling out in front of him.' Luckily, he did not get a ticket, but we found the irony humorous.(after some sleep, that is)
My Grandma Garfield had been planning a visit this week, and so we surprised her by not telling her we'd be here. As you can see from the 2 pics, she and Hobbes have taken very well to each other.:) Bray has started back to work at Bucer's, I have already had a successful doctor's appointment, we have seen almost all of our friends at least once, and we are on the waiting list for 2 apartments we love!!! The bad news is that Hobbes decided to catch a stomach flu bug on Saturday, and has been ill all through to today. He took a turn for the better at about 10 tonight, so pray that he recovers completely, and that no one else gets it!
Other than that, we are just trying to complete paperwork for singing contracts, last minute grad school details, insurance, apartments....what doesn't have paperwork nowadays? We truly miss all of our friends and family we left behind, but we promise to send pics of the soon to come baby girl!!! I can't believe she'll be here in 4 weeks! Wow, time has flown!
We love you all, and shall put up more pics as time allows!