No snapshot from today...

Hey Gals!

I apologize...no snapshot for today...I really need to be better about remembering to take my camera with me!!!

But I did want to update you on a couple things! First, I took Max to his 6 week weight-check after his 6 month appointment, and he has gained over 3 pounds!!! Yay! What a huge answer to prayer! So he was 12 pounds, 8 ounces at his 6 month, and now he is 15 pounds, 10 ounces! Plus, it's such great affirmation for me to know that I made the right decision in switching to formula. He is CLEARLY so much better off :) And, this was good for me to go through, because I thought months ago that I should maybe switch him to formula - I had this feeling like I didn't have enough milk, but just kept thinking I should keep trying to breastfeed him, since that's what the doctor said. But, I should have trusted my instincts. I know it's not a huge deal, and I am not down on myself for not switching him sooner - it's just a good lesson to remember that I am his mother, NOT the doctor, and that there will be times when I need to do what I think is best - I need to trust God's leading and my own instincts to take care of Max and do what's best for him. Sorry to ramble! It was just a huge realization/lesson for me - probably my first big one since being a mom.

And, my parents are here! I think Darla talked about this in a past email/blog - they have an apartment in MN, and an apartment here (actually here in Briarwood, too), and they also have a 2 storage units here in town, which hold some extra furniture and all of my dad's huge tools from his workshop. They close on the MN house on March 4th, and are thinking about building a little place here, and then keeping the apartment in MN. It's weird to think of the house in MN being empty. We lived there our whole lives! They've had that house for 31 years. Brian sent me a picture-text showing an empty room, and it was weird! But also partly weird because I know it hasn't sunk in yet - since I'm down here, I haven't seen the house empty. I think it won't really hit me until I go back to MN, and I don't go "home". That will be so weird, and sad.

Speaking of MN, do we want to get some summer vacation dates on the calendar? Lo mentioned it a bit ago, and I think that's a great idea! Chrissie - with your due date at the end of August, probably earlier in the summer is better for you? The only time I can't do it is June 7-12 (conference), and August 7th (Kelli's wedding!). But middle-end of June is open, and so is July. Maldiz, do you have lots of youth group trips/activities?

Finally, yesterday evening we finalized selections for the next MAHE (masters in higher ed) cohort for the fall! It's been a CRAZY few weeks, work-wise. I work part time, and it is supposed to work out that I work an average of 15 hours a week during the school year, but I bet I've put 50 hours in the last couple of weeks - just trying to squeeze stuff in during Max's naps, late at night, and on the weekends - i don't usually do that, but it's just been busy with trying to make these admissions decisions - but so fun, and such a privilege/honor/blessing to be able to be part of making these decisions and meeting these amazing people! It's also really cool to meet these individuals, and then start to piece together in my mind what this next cohort is going to look like as a group. SO amazing to see God's handiwork early on - like he totally knows who he's going to put in the program, and it's amazing to see it start to form.

So anyway, those are just a few things that have happened recently, and I just wanted to share! Sorry I don't have a pic, and sorry this is so long - I'll get a picture up tomorrow :)

Love,
Kelly