Though there have been only a few days where it actually felt like Spring, another month has passed on by! This month was filled with a couple big events for Amanda - Remodeled Home Tour and a Conference in KC for 3 days/3nights for work, MOPS, and Bridal Shower planning and hostessing for Courtney. Jeff had work-of course, Sunday school teaching, our church small group, taking his concealed carry weapon class(which Amanda went to as well - for "moral support" and knowledge of the topic), handling the kids while Amanda was out of town - yes, what a guy!! He took two days off work and had the two kids all alone from Wednesday evening through Saturday afternoon, and he and both kids survived. Logistically it was a little difficult since I am still nursing Kalum, but it worked out and I really enjoyed the trip, learned a lot and, though I love them so much, time away from the kids. :) Since my Dad is on the Board for the chapter, we rode together and it was good to have some time to talk in the car and between meeting times.
Unfortunately while we in KC we got news that Grandpa Pennell was having some medical issues following a fall he had in the last month or so. They had to go in an relieve pressure on his brain and everything sounded very serious very quickly. Since they are out of town, it was hard to know exactly what was going on. We were definitely praying for the best possible outcome for him, since he is 93 and still going strong! In the end, it seems they were able to accomplish their goal with his surgery and after a scare with some seizures, he has been in rehab and will be heading home soon. My Dad even headed out there to visit and did some work on their home (adding hand-rails etc) to make it safer. We hope that he will recover quickly and be able to come to Omaha in June for Courtney's wedding!
Jeff had a potential job opportunity come up this month, despite not really looking for anything else. He interviewed with a Sprinkler company out of Lincoln that is smaller and has the potential for great opportunities for him, along with keeping his priorities in the order that he wants them to be. We actually both ended up going to have dinner with the owner and his wife to get a feel for the company and what would be expected, etc. It went well and after much consideration, negotiation and deliberation, Jeff gave his two week notice at Continental. It will be bittersweet to leave, but he feels it will be the best move at this time. The only downside will be the commute, but really 45 minutes isn't all that bad considering what some people have to drive every day. It will allow him some decompression time (which we're really hoping he'll need less of on this new position). His first day is May 6th, so we're just praying and hoping that the transition will be as smooth as possible for everyone involved!
Samara's milestone/moments for April:
- Driving home one evening, she saw a cloud that was shaped like a shark. She said it was following us, then when we said Daddy was driving our car safely away, she said, "Thank you for saving me."
- Okay - forget talking in sentences, this girl can talk in paragraphs! And they go from sun-up to sun-down (and then she talks in her sleep) :)
- She is nearly potty-trained during the day, but sometimes if there is too much fun going on she still forgets until it's too late - example - She is out helping Jeff wash the truck, when she runs over and crouches on the sidewalk. I see a puddle forming under her on the concrete. I told her Samara come on inside, we need to clean you up, why didn't you just say you had to go potty, etc. Jeff asks how I knew she peed her pants since she was all wet from playing in the wash water and I point to the puddle.. He laughs out loud. Later that day Samara recounted the event as, "I crooked down on the sidewalk, then there was a puddle. Daddy saw it and he laughed, he thought it was funny!" We'll have to work on Daddy's poker-face I guess...
- When playing in her toy kitchen, she all of a sudden said "I gotta get my ipads!" She grabbed her hot pads and took whatever was cooking in the oven right out. Lol-the things kids of this age say that never would have been said even 5 years ago!
- We have officially entered the WHY? phase - oh, Lord, please give me patience...
- Says "open meal" for oatmeal
- April 25th - first night with no pull-up. It's been up and down, depending on the night, but at least she is aware when she's wet and she'll figure it out...just have to do more loads of laundry until she does.
- The night of the shower in Breda, we ended up just having her stay over at Grandpa and Grandma Derby's since it was late and she was already sleeping. At 2:30AM, Grandma woke up to a strange noise coming from the floor where Samara was sleeping. After talking to her, Grandma found out the noise was Samara "snorting like Grandpa", awake and imitating his snoring . :) Grandpa apparently also woke a couple times to her saying "Stop it!" because his snoring didn't cease.
- April 6th - first time at the park!
- April 8th - started sitting up unassisted
- Survived three days and nights without Mommy - our first real separation
- Mid-April - found his feet and won't let go!
- April 27th - first trip out-of-state - we went to Breda, IA for a couples shower that Nick's parents threw for them in his home town.
- For the most part, he is all-smiles! Happy baby boy.
