Preparing to leave and GO... again

Well here it is.... our last month in Iowa before returning to Duhok. It was a whirlwind with lots of things to do, people to see, and holiday celebrations to be had. It was great and stressful all at the same time. I just read that moving is probably one of the most stressful things in life. Well since Andy and I have been married, we have moved 7 times in 6 years! And yes, it's stressful for us too. But it's becoming our normal I guess. So we moved out of Iowa City in the middle of December saying good-bye to lots of amazing, and I mean AMAZING friends!

  

Our last weeks in Iowa City weren't all good-byes. We enjoyed some yummy American food

 

Had an overnight Christmas Vacay at Williamsburg "water-park"

 

Fun times with our House Church

 

Went on some double-dates with no kiddos with the Baums, Nellys, and Goodies. Super fun!

Here's our roommates that we had for 6 months. Truly one of the amazing blessings God provided for us while we were back: Our living situation! Grace Community Church hooked us up with the G. St. House, then allowed us to live in community with these Rock Stars! Ahhh... We'll miss you guys sooooo much!

 Zander enjoyed his last couple of nights in his room playing with all his toys before we started packing them up. 

 

Then we loaded this truck and our minivan with all our possessions to take it to a storage unit where it will sit for at least 6 months. Bye-Bye G. St. I hope we can meet again this summer :)

And then, in a way, we were "homeless".... Yes we were staying with our family but honestly there were so many emotions/changes of not having our own space (see below).

We spent the week visiting family for the holidays

Celebrating Zephie's 1st Christmas

Seeing Santa for the first time.

Getting lots of cool things to take to Kurdistan that we can't get there (English books, DVD's for kids, games, puzzles, etc.) 

Enjoyed playing outside a lot since there wasn't any snow yet.  Something that Zander LOVED to do was go on my parents swingset and sing loudly and beautifully "Jesus Loves Me" It's awesome!

 Zander also had some great QT with his cousin Dax.

"This old man, he played one, he played knick-knack..." singing on Grandma and Grumpa's new merry-go-round.

and the new "Playhouse" under construction

Zephie with Auntie Katie

Auntie Alice got both her nephews and her niece something that will remind them of her.... Cowboy boots!

Cowboy models in training... or should I say potty-training!

Andy and I got to enjoy a fun date-night before we left too. Out to eat and a 3D movie!

Zander finished up his "Traveling Advent Calender"

Zephie with Aunt Jenn

Zephie says "Opa stole my Christmas hat"

Made some Christmas Cookies at Oma's

Ate some Christmas Cookies at Oma's

Family pic with the Bishop's.... TAKE 12 :)

So there you have our last couple of weeks in Iowa in pictures (lots of them)  It was a super busy time finalizing last minute leaving the country stuff, packing, paying bills, sending Christmas cards, packing, talking lots of hours with insurance reps, packing, etc.  Did I mention re-packing? :)
As you can see we are SO BLESSED to have loving family and so many supporters in Iowa.  We couldn't do it otherwise.
January 4th we left Iowa to move once again. To our new home in Duhok, Iraq. 

Zander is 2 and a half+

As usual.... a tad late. I started this a few weeks ago and just now finished after a few delays with Christmas, and moving to Kurdistan (more on these later- hopefully) Without any more excuses...

To my Sweet Zander Man!  I love watching you grow and change especially after your baby sister has been born. You are truly a compassionate little dude. Love you buddy xoxo

Here's some snap shots of our two and a half year old- Zander Man

He is an awesome Big Bro!

 

His favorite toys... CARS.  He's going to miss this ramp.

 This boy can SING... just like Daddy! His favorites are "Jesus Loves Me", "God is So Good", and the "ABC's"

Also like his daddy... orderly! He loves to line up anything!

Now his Mommyish-side... Artzy! His new craze... STICKERS!


He also loves to paint.  This is his first picture of a person.  He drew it with his bathtub markers and said, "This is my man" What a stud!

I had to put these in here... His favorite pair of shoes that he outgrew. SO many memories in these suckers!  I was having a total MOM moment... I just couldn't throw these away even though he outgrew them and they had a hole in them. So instead I just took this picture :) I love how much he felt like he could do ANYTHING in these. 

Love you sweet boy!

Zephie is 1 Month!

I can't believe how fast this past month has gone!  We have only been a family of four for such a short time yet it's already hard to imagine life any different.  Although it was..... so much different.  We have transitioned, although not always smoothly. We are doing it... by God's grace, and the blessings of SO many other families who have brought us meals to enjoy. What an amazing gift. Seriously! I'm so thankful!

She is really a great baby! Super content during the day. But she desides that makes our life too easy so she develops this 10pm-12am awake/crying period(!!!) Which has made my afternoons look like this: 

  

and daddy's evenings look like this:

 

Most days we try to get out of the house: Walks on nice days, library visits, grocery/shopping runs. Zander still doesn't like to see "his" stroller being borrowed! 

Overall, he is an AMAZING BIG BRO! Gives her like a zillion kisses a day.

He also throws away dirty diapers, gets the wipes, and helps put in her paci, which sometimes she just doesn't want to take. 

We have also enjoyed lots of company:

Like the night we came home from the hospital, my family including Cuz Dax. I know buddy, a GIRL! Ewwwww... trust me....You'll grow to love her!

Uncle Al and Aunt Jenn, with Jenn's family for Zephie's first ever basketball game. 

HOLIDAYS: In one month of life, Zephie was also able to experience TWO holidays. The first-Halloween. Because I had a rough day, Zephie and I stayed home. But daddy and Tigger got to go out for Zander's first trick-or-treating experience. When they got home all 4 of us walked around our block, which was fun too, but Zephie didn't get any candy this year ;o).

Then Thanksgiving!



 In complete awesomeness Shileny style.... Thanksgiving in the Woods! Yes, please! Thank you God for a beautiful day, so my sweetheart wasn't cold. And Thanks G'ma Boopsie for making sure she would stay warm with the tent/heater :)

Our first "long" car ride (only 2 hours) and thanks for VHS videos, it was actually really fun, because Zephie slept entire time and Andy and I got some good talk time. 

We were able to do some other special things during Zephie's first month!

Zephie's Dedication: We realize what a gift from God Zephie is to our family. So we wanted to have her dedicated. The kids put on their cute-ness for the day!

Zephie was the youngest of all the little youngsters that were dedicated and prayed for

Both sets of Grandparents were able to come which was really special too!

and our roomies, The Goodriches also had their daughter, Lenora dedicated on the same day! So we had a joint dedication party!



Speaking of parties..... Zephie particpated in her first Birthday Mustache party.  Happy 60th Uncle Rod!!



Zephie has already been to 3 basketball games. Although they were all in Carver, she will get to go to Hilton next week for the ISU/Iowa game!



She also had to apply for her passport, asap. So here's her passport photo that will last her until she's 5. Do you think she will change by then?!?

The last week she has not only developed more chunky legs, but also getting so much stronger holding her head up. Way to go, Sis!



Here's a couple 1 month photos of our "Sweets"

Thanks to Auntie Katie and Alice for the monthly onsie pack that you will see each month so we can document how she is changing! 

ps- I'm LOV'N the girly things! I mean seriously- tights, bows, hot pink, leopard print! So FUN!