Here

Gaithersburg is different. It's busier, older, and has far more 7 elevens and Starbucks than are necessary, but we're enjoying it. It all feels like a vacation right now. Adam is home all day every day and we're eating fish sticks or Panera. There's a lot of work, but it's not dull setting things up. It really doesn't feel real yet. Each morning I wake up and think, "We'll be going home (to Charlotte) in a few days." But we won't, will we?

I'm sure reality will begin to sink-in on Sunday morning when I go to a strange (and huge!) church building and where the preacher isn't Mickey, and nobody wants to see how much Eva has grown, and Taylor won't run up to me with his bobbley, eagle-flapping hug. Then, afterwards, we won't be going over to Mom and Dad's for dinner and history movie watching, we'll go back to our little apartment and it will just be our little clan.

Yep, it's going to be different for a while, even a little sad, but that strange, huge church building still houses God's people who, because of His Son's death, are redeemed, just like me. And we're all called to the same good purpose; serving Him. And I know that, because of The Cross, I can love these people and learn and grow along with them. Doesn't the Gospel make things so nice and simple? We love, because He started it by loving us first.

I miss my CrossWay church family and my kinfolks (yeah, that's what i'm callin' ya'll Hawkcrew now), but I know you all are praying for us and I know God has carried us here to G-burg for a glorious Cause. His Cause, the Gospel. It's an honor to obey and be a part... and it is so worth it.

But who will Patch tell his week's adventures to now???

P.S. We love our condo! Video tour to come...

My Eva is 3 Months!

We're getting settled here in Maryland and it's been fun but oh, so busy! Which is why I am late posting about Evangeline's 3 months day. 

Yes, she's getting so big and so funny these days! Latest accomplishments include: attempting to fit whole fist in mouth, screaming for joy (or is it for attention?), and making friends with our bird Bargeory. It's true. She's quite taken with the cockatiel and even prefers to watch her over playing with Mommy or Daddy at times. Oh well, 'glad we found a babysitter that Eva likes,' is all I can say. (wink) 

Packing Up

What We've Been Up To...

It's a busy season in Campbellstown as we get ready to pull out on Monday for Maryland. (this may be my last post before moving) Much to do and not a lot of time to do it in! I've been tempted to be (and have been!) overwhelmed by it all. Plus, Eva and Mommy have colds. Mine isn't bad at all, but poor baby, she is so stuffy sometimes and is waking up at night now. Arrg. The most comforting thing though, is that God wants us on this road and in this season of craziness right now and so He's providing the grace for it. And I see and feel it! There's always time and energy for what He calls me to and I'm a happy child in His good care. 

And Adam and I are so in love with (each other! smooch! oh, wait... focus, Emily.) our little Bean. She is a pure delight. Even when she has her stinky/ cranky/ pouty moments there's nobody like our Eva to make us laugh and praise God. What a miracle she is! A beautiful, contagiously joyful miracle. 

She is a good baby. She's been healthy up until now and only crying when there was something wrong. She got into her routine in 3 days and was sleeping through the night in 4. What a blessing! Scheduling is sweet. Then vacation and sickness came and she's back to her 4am need-mommy time. I'm waiting for her to get better and waiting until we get settled in MD before reminding her that she knows how to sleep though the night. In the meantime, I don't mind our little mid-night meetings. She's always so happy to see me. She flails around and snorts and snuffles excitedly (because of her cold). Boy, does she hate her nose drops tho! (She's glad for them a moment later when she can breathe again.)

Evangeline is 12 + pounds and getting her healthy chunkiness. She's definitely got some Hawkins' baby cheeks. Don't you love 'em!? Sometimes it looks like she's tired of holding them up and so she just gives up and sits there "blobbing-out." It's the funniest thing. I'll have to get a picture of it sometime.  

Here's what Eva's been doing lately:

"I tried a new bow."

And I've been trying to sit up a lot recently, 

especially in my pram, see? So, Mom said it was time to meet my booster seat. 

At first it was scary...

... then it was fun ...

... but then it was scary again.

Mom let me use her neck pillow on the floor. It's squishytastic.

I'm pretty good at holding myself up though.

See?

I also have been helping Mom with the laundry. 

You see this towel? I wrestled him down so Mom could fold him.

 He ain't goin' nowhere!

Ok, I'm tired. Mom are you done taking pictures of me? 

Can we snuggle now? I think I want blankie and nap.

 

Four Generations

Grandma Hawkins meets Eva (and teaches her about shopping!)

June 2008

Grandmamma and Granddaddy Stotts meet Eva

(and teach her which hand is the rigth hand to use and how to give "sugar")

May 2008
God has blessed me with such a wonderful family that loves me and my little girl and the Lord. I'm so grateful that Eva gets to grow up with them!

Vacationing at Surfside

Hello all!

We just got back this week from our super-fun first ever family vacation! Here's what we did...

We wore our favorite hats...

Hit the batting cages... This is me.This is me missing the ball. (though i did get a piece of most of them.)

This is the sign that Adam wanted be to put on the next photo... This is Adam. These are his mad skills.

This is us getting some ice cream.

Adam got a large. I got a small.
(That's Huckleberry deliciousness right there) We tried the pool...

...but not too much.

We went for a night-time beach walk...
...and tried the ocean.
It was warm!
What a blessing to get away as a family! God is good to us.

Calling All Mommies

Here is a site that has really helpful "cheat-sheets" for safe bottles, passys, teethers, lotions, etc for you and baby. We can't protect Baby from every little thing, that's God's job, but it is helpful to know that we can buy one kind of bottle over another that may be better for her.

http://safemama.com/2007/11/22/bpa-free-bottle-and-sippy-cup-cheat-sheet/

Funny Faces

Well, this week, finds the Campbell "mini-clan" vacationing in Surfside Beach, SC. We're staying at my uncle George's condo a mile from the beach. (you guys rock, sue and george! love you!) 

There's lots to do at here, we're very near Myrtle Beach, but one of our favorite things to do on vacation is nothing. Then, after doing some of that, we rent movies, order pizza, and sleep. We do have big plans tho. There are the batting cages to hit, bowling lanes to master, the Boardwalk to wander on, the carnival to see, and shopping to do. And don't forget the BEACH! We'll see what the baby girl lets us do. So far, we made it to the beach yesterday, but it didn't last long. Some little someone, decided that she hated her sunhat and wanted her nap... but she refused to sleep on the beach of course. Too exciting! We also realized we need a beach umbrella. So, Mommy, Daddy and Whiney-face headed back to he condo. Here's some pictures of "family time."

Though usually quite expressive, when it was "silly faces time" Eva decided she would only wear her cuteness face. go figure.

Daddy makes Little Girl laugh.

He loves his "Eva-Shady."

"That's enough, Daddy. Go get your shirt on."

Tonight: Outback Steakhouse

Tomorrow: Breakfast at the Golden Egg

Later: THE WORLD! (ok, a bit ambitious.) 

Promised Pictures

Once again, ladies and few gentlemen, my ever expressive Eva...

"Uh, Mama, ya got a little something stuck in your nose there..."

Blowing bubbles

"You're not going to drop that camera on me now, are you?"

"So, let me get this straight..."

"Yeeeah, Boooy!"

A Post from Eva

hi guys this is eva. mom's really busy rigth now, so she hasn't been posting, but she loves you all and so do i... i think. well, i don't really think a lot actually, so i don't know. (i don't know a lot of stuff yet.) but i probably love you all. anyway, i'm 2 months now! mom took a lot of pictures of me the other day... it was dizzying! she'll share them with you guys soon.

love probably, eva