Move, Maternity Pics, Matt visits

Well as most of you know, Matt, Noah, and I are transitioning to Florida. Right now, Noah and I are living with my sister and her husband Matt in Fleming Island which is just south of Jacksonville. Matt is living with very hospitable friends in Gaineville. My mom and gramma are trading off taking care of our dog, Sandy. Noah and I left Waverly on Monday around 1pm. We made it to Medina, TN around midnight to stay with my cousin Angie and her daughter Isabella. Angie is also due to have a baby in Sept around the 23rd. Sadly I did not take any pictures while I was there, but Noah had fun playing in the pool and jumping on the trampoline. Angie and I had fun catching up on everything. Wednesday morning Noah and I headed out to make our trek to Florida. We made it to Amy's about 10pm. Brilei and Noah were so excited to see each other. I am so proud of how Brilei has adopted Noah into her space and allowed him to play with her toys and has really been a great cousin to Noah. We still have no idea how long this arrangement will end up being and I cannot imagine what Noah and Brilei are going to feel like once we do have our own place again. Presslei has gotten in on some of the cousin action too! One of the favorites is Noah and Brilei taking turns pushing Presslei in her little Radio Flyer cart. She smiles from ear to ear. We are so blessed to have Matt, Amy, Brilei and Presslei in our lives!

Before we left Iowa, Matt and my mom made the overnight haul to Iowa to help me tie up some loose ends. Matt and his grampa Neil cut a huge limb out of one of the trees in the back yard and really spruced it up. Mom pulled lots of weeds and helped with cleaning. Noah had a great time spending time with "Baga" and Daddy while they were in town. Once again I did not get any pictures of their trip up, however we did manage to squeeze in maternity pictures between my surprise birthday party Melissa and Hannah threw for me on Thursday night, my new product box opening party on Saturday night, church, bridal shower, and family goodbyes on Sunday. I also had a Pampered Chef Open House and Moving Sale on Tuesday night that was AWESOME! Needless to say, my last week in Iowa was full of lots of people especially great friends and family that we already miss dearly. We also are really going to miss our Church. The relationships, discipleship and fellowship we felt from that body of believers was unparallel to anything I have ever had in the Body of Christ before. It was unique in the intergenerational relationships that were built and something that I hope to be a part of again in the near future. I know we were in Iowa specifically for my personal growth in my relationship with Christ and I would not trade my time there for anything! It is always really hard to leave the known and go to the unknown. For the past 7 years of Matt and my marriage we have moved our residence 4 times (5 if you count where we are at right now and hopefully will be 6 by the end of this year). However, I truly hope we can stay wherever we end up for several years. It will be really nice to be settled. Have some rest time. Have an idea of where we will be, who we are and what we are called to do. Until then, we will trust that God has a plan for us and that it is to prosper and not to harm.

We plan to welcome a new baby in about 4 weeks. I am living about an hour and fifteen minutes from the hospital that I will deliver in, my sister works overnight as a nurse (my ride to Gainesville) and my husband is also an hour and 15 away. So with that said, I am trusting that God will prolong my labor enough to make it to where I need to be, with who I would like to have there. I know he will protect and keep me through this process and it will all be for His glory.

Matt is making his visits on the weekends. This is our first weekend back together. It is nice to have his love and affection around. Noah has done such a great job of adjusting to this transition. Please continue to pray for him through all of this. Also pray that we fit into the daily life of the Suralis-Smith household and are a blessing to them during our stay here.

Enjoy some maternity pictures in the mean time!

Not for the faint of heart

Well nothing too graphic...the video is a little dark, but it is of my bare stomach and the baby that is in there jumping (literally). Thought Matt might like to see it. There are 2 really noticable kicks in the video. Don't mind the dramatic Tom & Jerry music playing in the background.
My friend Katie wanted to see a belly picture of me...well this is as close as it comes right now. I'll have to see if Noah can get a good profile shot of me.

My friend Kiara, 3rd of July

Noah has recently become really good friends with Kiara. One day they were over and Noah drew his first self portrait on the magnadoodle. Kiara drew craziness.

Noah's favorite shirt. He would wear it everyday if I would let him...

Kiara's Drawing

Noah's Protrait

On the 3rd of July, we celebrated the 4th.

We first watched the parade with Pam and Dave, ten Hoeve's and Deb, Deb, Dennis and crew. Pam also has pictures of this, so I will try to get them loaded on here one day...

We also went to a Jersey farm Grand Opening with P&D and had a wonderful lunch.
Noah rode in the tractor for a few rows of bailing hay. That evening we watched the fireworks with Kiara and had a wonderful time hanging out with friends.

Preschool, VBS, playing in the rain!

Well many other things have happened since I last posted or maybe even the post before that. So, I am going to put the highlights in and if you want more details call me :)

VBS at Open Bible

Playing in the rain...

keeping dry under the umbrella...Thanks to Katie for previously posting about her and Isaac playing in the rain!

Slip-n-slide with Daddy the day before our last day of preschool. It needed to be tested ;)

Last day of Preschool. Noah, Lindee and Wesley. Unfortunatly, Madyson was unable to be there!

The other day...

Well, Noah and I have been adjusting to life around here without Matt. For those of you who haven't heard an update from us recently, Matt took a job in the radiology department at the University of Florida. He has been in FL for a week and a half now. For now it still seems like Matt is working nights and we just haven't seen much of him. Noah definitely misses his daddy and often gets teary-eyed when telling Matt goodbye on the phone. God blessed my little boy with a spirit of compassion and he is easily moved to tears. He will definitely make a great husband and father someday because he is so in tune with peoples needs and emotions.

Our house is still on the market and we are waiting on God's timing. Sometimes we really wish things would hurry up, but know there is a reason and when it happens, it will be perfect. Since the house is on the market, we are definitely trying to keep the lawn up to make sure everything looks nice...Matt's grandfather came over and mowed for me the other day. What a blessing to have done! Thanks Grampa Neil!


Another part of the story, which needs some background information for those of you who have never lived in Waverly. Our garbage goes out once a week on Monday. Every time you put garbage out, you have to attach a sticker which you can buy at the grocery or convenient store for $1.25. We are big recyclers, so our trash can only gets full about once every 3-4 weeks at which time we pay the extra $1.25 (we already have a monthly trash bill) to put out the can. Not such a good idea in the summer evidently...The other morning, Noah went out in the garage to get food for Sandy. After putting her food cup away he came back in and exclaimed, "Mom, there are slugs all over the trash can!" As soon as he said it, I knew that they were not slugs, but maggots. YUCK!!! So, even though my can was not full, the garbage went out this Tuesday (because of the holiday). When Grampa Neil came over to mow, Gramma Mavis came too! Noah really wanted to help clean out the incredibly nasty trash can with Gramma. So after his nap, Gramma and Noah cleaned out the stench and the worms. I have decided that Mavis must love me because anyone who didn't, DEFINITELY WOULD NOT have done what she did. Thanks Gramma Mavis! Needless to say, I will be putting the trash out on a weekly basis now. No more maggots for this mama.

The day Neil and Mavis were over, we had a scheduled showing. Once all the chores were done, Neil treated us all to Dairy Queen. Noah had a red, white and blue star. Neil had a peanut buster parfait and Mavis and I split a banana split. The buy one, get one coupon I had was definitely a good one. After we finished our ice cream, Noah made a new friend...


Noah's blue lips, proof of his ice cream treat!

I thought the butterfly was dying at first, but after it hung around so long and could actually fly better each time it tried to fly, we decided that it must have just hatched from its cocoon. What a neat experience to have such a beautiful creature hang around for such a long time. Noah even shared his butterfly experience with 6 other kids at Dairy Queen. He is such a good sharer: a skill that should come in handy with his new big brother roll to come.