The Oft Unsung Member of Team Huntley

In the past two weeks:
-A realtor reported a gas leak in our Austin home
-The fire department showed up to check said leak 15 minutes before an open house
-Our A/C units were completely destroyed at our Austin home
-We learned that vacant home insurance policies don't cover theft, so we now have to purchase 2 new A/C units
-I developed a severe sinus infection
-Because of said sinus infection, my eardrum ruptured 4 times Tuesday night
-I have spent countless hours talking to claims adjustors, insurance agents, police officers, fire department workers, gas company employees, air conditioning repairmen, and doctors (while not being able to hear out of one ear)

In the past two weeks, I have been:
-tired
-sad
-frustrated
-tired
-in pain
-cranky
-tired
-hormonal
-depressed
-tired

In the past two weeks, Chris has:
-cooked basically every meal
-taken Red to school
-picked Red up from school
-picked up my prescriptions
-done all the grocery shopping
-given Red her bath every night
-put Red to bed nearly every night
-given countless foot rubs
-given countless massages
-rearranged work to be with me when I needed him
-done it all without complaint, without being asked, without hesitating

I thought I loved you as much as possible on this day. I had no idea...

Maternity 2010

We just got the proofs back from our maternity session...so excited that Baby Girl is almost here!
Haven't blogged too much about this pregnancy and I'm not sure why. It's definitely not from a lack of excitement and it's not because we've done this before...I think we've just had so much going on that I get distracted and feel like I can't dedicate the time to document everything properly.
So before we look at some pictures, let's do a little recap of this pregnancy!

What may be surprising to some of you is to learn how long it took to make this a reality. We got pregnant with Delilah very quickly and were so in love with her that we actually started trying for #2 very soon...like 6 months after she was born. But God didn't agree with our timeline, so we didn't actually get pregnant until 15 months later. With all the changes we've had recently, I now know why everything happened the way it did, and I'm thankful.
Like my first, this pregnancy has been very easy. Not one day of nausea, and very few other symptoms. No swelling, no heartburn...just fatigue and hunger. I'm always hungry! :) I gained 54 pounds total with Delilah, and so far have only gained 40 with this one, so I don't think I'll get to 54 again.
This little girl has been EXTREMELY active in my tummy. I first felt her at 14 weeks and haven't stopped since...lots of rolls, kicks, jabs, and hiccups.
People say the 2nd pregnancy isn't as big a deal, but I think that's a little misleading. I think it's just that perspective has changed. When I was pregnant with Delilah, it was such a momentous occasion, and I needed everyone else to think it was momentous, too. This pregnancy is just as exciting for me, but I don't need for everyone else to feel the same way. It's enough for me to know the enormity of the occasion, and to just sit quietly with it by myself if I have, too. Not that friends and family haven't been showering us with love and attention...it's just that I don't need it the way I did the first time around.
I've spent the last 4 months terrified of how I will be able to juggle 2 kids. I've been much more nervous than I was before Delilah got here. But I've felt a lot more at peace in the last few days, so perhaps that means she's about to arrive?!
We feel so blessed to be adding to our family. The thought of another precious newborn to smell is heavenly and the image of our two little girls running and giggling together as they grow up is incredible.
I've reached the point now that one friend described as "the quiet solitude" that comes at the end of pregnancy. The point where you start to feel very introverted and alone (with no negative connotation), because you know you are fast approaching that point where it will just be you that can do the work. In spite of husbands and doctors and family, no one can join you in labor. I feel like I've even started to pull away from Red ever so slightly and I know she can sense it because she's been more cuddly than ever. Right now, it's just me and my baby and we are a unit...not too much else exists at this point.
I can't wait to meet her.

Let's Go to the Zoo!

Delilah has never been to the zoo b/c the Austin one isn't all that great. So we surprised her yesterday and took her to the wonderful Houston Zoo. We kept telling her all morning that we had a surprise for her, and when we got there she cried, "AAaaallllll the animals!!!!!!!!!!" Despite a lack of Delilah's favorite animal, the hippo, we had a fantastic morning...and we only got through about a third of the zoo.

Let's go!

First exhibit..."Can I climb in and pet them, Mommy?"
Looking with Daddy

Red was really sad that there were no hippos; monkeys were the only acceptable substitute.

About to give Daddy a kiss

At one point Delilah asked to stop and "take a breather, Mommy?" We cuddled on the bench and sang songs. Right before she hopped down again, Chris snapped this pic. I am SO PREGNANT!!!! :) I think walking the zoo was definitely more tiring for me than for Delilah...but oh-so-worth-it.

There is also a petting zoo and Delilah helped brush the goats. At one point she just curled up with one like she does with Runyon. The other kids were amazed by her bravery. :)

Worn Out.

Can't wait to go back...we all had so much fun!!

Wordless Wednesdays: Bubbles with Pop Pop

A Lesson From My Daughter

We are now officially Houstonians again. My emotions have been all over the place, but as we packed up our house on Tello Path, the reigning emotion was definitely nostalgia. All those firsts to say good bye to, and packing up Delilah's room was certainly the hardest. I don't know how one room can be filled with so many memories in less than 3 years. We packed her room while she was gone, so when she got home, I was very careful to try to prepare her. I let her know that her room was empty, but that we still had all her stuff and that moving to a new room was going to be a big fun adventure. When she walked in the door to her empty room, I expected many tears, or at least a confused look. But what did my precious daughter do?...

She twirled.

Crazy, giant twirls with arms spread out as far as they could go.

She took one look at all that open space and didn't see what was missing, she saw what was now possible.

She is so beautiful.

I Will Miss You Most of All...

Dear Laura,

Thank you for being my kindred spirit. We were both searching for that friend who would 'get it' and then we found each other. I have loved our impromptu lunches, our gossip sessions (I know, we're terrible), our reviews of the Real Housewives, our love of So You Think You Can Dance, the advice you've given me, the advice you've asked me for, our sewing attempts, our ability to laugh at ourselves & each other, and the complete and total knowledge that we are there for each other, no matter what the time or occasion. We love each other's daughters as our own, and my heart breaks that Red will no longer be able to see Miss Laura & 'Kinley on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. Pulling out of your driveway yesterday was heart-wrenching b/c I know it won't be the last time, but it will never be the same. The Huntleys already miss The Bighams.

So much love to you,

Rach

It's My Party and I Can Cry if I Want To

This week has been a bittersweet one full of emotional goodbyes, reflections, disappointments, excitement, and everything in between. I wish I could write more, but to be honest I'm just too tired. So here are some pictures from the lovely going away party/baby shower that some dear friends threw for me. We have all been part of a play group for the last year and a half, and we have watched our babies grow into toddlers and then grow into little kids, while sharing tears, joys, troubles, and everything that moms should share. I will miss this weekly group SO MUCH and am a little nervous about not having such a circle when I get to Houston.

The party was lovely...and I definitely cried my share of tears. And Delilah ate her share of cupcakes. And graham crackers. And strawberries.

I could not find the charger for my camera, so these pics were all taken by Laura, whose house we were at. I promise that if I had been taking the pics, I wouldn't have focused so much on myself and Red!!! :)

Sweet Lisa & Franciell, with their children Avery & Drake

Helping Mama open presents

I will miss you and your sweet spirit so much, Lisa

"Look at my pile of graham crackers!!"

Reading books with her friend, Noah

Posing in a doll's pack & play. She saw Laura pick up the camera, plopped in, turned her head, and said, "Cheese!"

Goodbye, Austin. This is hurting more than I thought it would...