Easter Update

Batches Busyness

Happy Easter! Spring has sprung here in Michigan, and I (Kimberly) am always its biggest fan. I miss the sunshine during the long winters, and love to soak up the sun with my afternoon tea and my Bible during the girls’ naps these days. A lot has happened in our lives over the last year++, and I’m finally getting around to writing about it all!

2009 Highlights:

• On March 10^th we welcomed Noelle Elizabeth, four days “late” and two days after her sister’s 2^nd birthday.
• We tried all sorts of home childcare arrangements for a few months as Kimberly went back to work part-time: flying granny/cousin/sister nannies, babysitters, Kimberly took Noelle with her to work until she got mobile, then decided to stay home full-time with the girls.
• Last summer had highs and lows – splashing around with Archer’s family in late July at the Lake, and then mourning the death of my grandfather (Papa) in Dallas in August.
• We joined a new small group at our church (our old one disbanded a couple of years ago) and have appreciated the close-relationships we’ve been able build with the other families.
• Due to water/mold issues in our duplex, we moved again – to a duplex a few blocks from our old house.  We love being in our “old” neighborhood again!
• We hosted our first Thanksgiving dinner here in Ann Arbor for Archer’s folks and some good neighbors: wild turkey and too many pies!
• White Christmas in Texas!

2010:

• January road trip from Dallas back to Michigan with Aunt Melissa!  She learned what we meant when we said “Noelle doesn’t like her carseat.”  It’s a long trek made even longer!
• Back to running! We signed up for a half marathon in June, so we’ve gotten back into a real running schedule, which feels great!
• March birthdays! Lily is now 3 years old, and Noelle celebrated #1. They both enjoyed presents, hands-on museum stimulation, and chocolate cake.

Lily

Lily is growing up into a sensitive, thoughtful little girl. She loves story time at the library, playing with her friends, reading books, dancing, and “dancing dresses.” She loves to try new things and wants to be independent, but she is quite cautious! It is so fun to watch her grow and process the world out loud as she learns!

Noelle

Noelle is a cheerful, passionate little girl, who adores her big sister. Noelle especially loves baths, and will make a beeline for the bathroom any time she gets the opportunity. Noelle is a climber – not yet walking – she likes to climb up the stairs, stools, couches, anywhere, to get what she wants. She also loves talking on the phone. Her first word was “hi!”, and she’ll talk your ear off with “hi!’s” until she finds the “hang up” button. 

Kimberly

I’m loving being home with my babies! I’ve begun to think more proactively about learning goals for Lily, and I’ve had some amazing times of just watching where her imagination leads her! I get to go regularly to our church’s Moms & Tots program, which has been a huge blessing of fellowship with other moms, not to mention a few moments of peace and prayer. I am also pursuing a doula (birth/postpartum attendant) certification. I have become increasingly fascinated by women’s experiences and health in childbirth, and am interested in becoming more useful to new mothers in this process. All in all, I am doing great – feeling the best I’ve felt in a long time, and excited about my role in our family’s life.

Archer

Archer is hoping to complete his PhD this year! He’s been working feverishly on his dissertation, and still finds time to work as a consultant for other UM graduate student instructors, helping them improve their teaching skills and giving them new strategies.  He’s also had some encouraging progress in his hunt for life-after-grad-school: hoping to work in industry or government helping scientists build software to manage large amounts of scientific data. So we’re very curious to see just what job God will provide and where in the country that will be. Archer is an amazing Dad: he and the girls have a blast playing with toys or games, and reading, reading, and reading some more. He also works in Lily’s Sunday School class once-a-month, and he’s a toddler magnet!

BabyBatch#3 – Due ?? By Adoption

We are hoping to adopt!  We have been approved by a local adoption agency to adopt a US-born infant. We have been interested in adopting children since we first discussed having kids, and we think we’re ready to have our third child by adoption! We have not yet been “linked” with any particular baby, so we are now waiting expectantly for the child whose birthmother desires him or her to be adopted into our family as our son or daughter.  

Loads of pictures, updates, etc. can be found at batchesbusyness.blogspot.com