January- Edsel surprised me with a Babymoon to NYC. We saw lots shows, Wicked was our favorite, went to the Statue of Liberty, ate lots of food and got to catch up with some great friends while in the city. We have also been thinking about what life after graduation has for us. Edsel has applied to CPE programs in FL, NC and KY. Our goal is get a chaplain position while Edsel continues towards ordination and to be near family.
February- I rested for baby bakers arrival when at home, school was busy completing all the annual meetings in preparation for my maternity leave. Edsel was in his last semester of Div. School. As you all know Edsel has a love for coffee. A Starbucks opened up around the corner from the house so he got a job there to bring in little extra income. This also gave him a job throughout the summer after graduation.
March- every week the doctors told us the baby could arrive any day even though she wasn't due until April. so with every twinge and tingle it sparked new energy to get some baby supplies together. Edsel was getting more and more excited about graduation approaching and nervous because the baby could arrive any minute - so he worked very hard on papers. All the future grandparents made a visit up to me looking very plump and hoping that baby baker would make her arrival.
April- any day, yeah right! she was 10 days late so they induced me-ahhhh. Things progress much quicker than anyone expected and after being induced she arrived at 8:40 PM on the 16th. Madison Oaks Baker 7pounds 15ounces. Edsel was in the last few days of classes and had finals to look forward to while Madison spent her first days at home. Thanks to family and friends we had hot meals and lots support to help us get rest and spend time with Madison. Edsel has a few choices to make in deciding which residency to accept, but we think that KY may be our new home.
May - Edsel graduates from Duke Divinity School. After 3 years of working his tail off reading and writing more than he ever thought he could, he walked down Duke Chapel and received his Masters in Divinity. Now we have to plan our move to KY. So how to get 3 cars, a house full of stuff, a new baby, and a dog to KY when you don't have house? You start making trips every few weeks and take a few things with you each time. Thankfully we had wonderful support in Durham who watched Madison as we packed up her first home all around her, more wonderful friends in KY who took Dacie into their home for over a month as we made the move, and family that we could stay with while we looked for new home. We found a townhouse and settled on a closing date. We have found a wonderful church and look forward to getting to know more people.
June - take a vacation? Yep right in the middle of trying to move we packed up the truck and drove to Iowa. Madison was 12 weeks old and an amazing traveler. We knew that this could be the last time for awhile that we would have the time to make trip like this. Edsel wouldn't start working until September and I didn't have to back to Durham Public Schools until July. We took Madison to see all of my side of the family in Iowa and we visited friends along the way in KY, OH, IL
July - I went back work and Edsel ran daddy daycare. We closed on our new home, loaded the moving truck and hopped on plane to FL for the leg of the Madison Tour. We hadn't been in FL for over a year and half. We got to see so many friends and spend a little time on beach.
August - We are now KY residents. I started working as Curriculum Specialist at a local church school and Edsel reopened Daddy daycare. By the end month we realized that we wanted to change things and I resigned from working to stay at home with Madison. We had I guess what would be little scare with Madison. She was diagnosed with Failure To Thrive. She has had trouble gaining weight from the very beginning but now the doctors are concerned. Edsel and I, however, feel like she is fine. She is merely taking after the smaller folks in the family, rather than Edsel and me. But of course we followed the doctors advice and treatment. FEED HER - FEED HER - FEED HER We went every few days for weight checks and she gained a ounce or two each time, making the doctors happy. They ran some tests and they all came back negative. They referred us to genetics but that won't happen until February. So we continued to FEED HER - FEED HER - FEED HER.
September - Edsel started working at University of Kentucky Hospital as a Chaplain Resident. He hass also returned to working at Starbucks up street. It has been an amazing blessing to all of us to have this time with Madison and watch her grow each day. We are still going every week for weight checks and she continues to gain. She is still way below the charts but the doctors are happy with the progress.
October - Edsel is very busy between the hospital and Starbucks. He gets free coffee each week so a little caffeine keeps us going. Madison and I are staying busy at home, going to the quilting ministry at the church and sing alongs at the library. Her Grandma made a visit up to babysit while Edsel & I scooted to NC for a friends' wedding. Madison got to have her first Un-birthday Party (you'll have to check your Alice in Wonderland book for the details of Un-birthdays). Madison is still gaining weight and we have started solids.
November - Madison was baptized. We had a wonderful day shared by family and friends. Her Papaw and Mamaw came up and were able to stay for the month. It's great to be retired. They loved spending time w/ Madison. This was a big month for firsts: 2 bottom teeth and crawling. We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with Edsel and Sherry before they left. Madison loved playing with the christmas paper. Madison loves to eat her fruits and veggies. She is up to 12# 12oz.
December - Madison is pulling herself up "walking" around everything. We are preparing for our first Christmas in KY and with Madison. Her Pops and Granny are due up any day to celebrate the holiday. Boy are they in for a surprise.
In closing having Madison has opened our eyes to many new things and reprioritizing life. We thank God for all the blessings He has given us this year. We think about our family and friends who have had a more difficult year with health and difficult choices and we pray that they feel God's presence with them.
grace and peace to all,
dawn, edsel & madison
1 comment:
beautiful letter and pics! i love checking for updates and seeing more pics of the cutie! (btw after you post 5 pics just click on the add image button again and you can add more :o) only thing is your last pics added are the first ones posted so you may need to rearrange them once posted, unless you think backwards and post the last ones first!!! thanks for blogging, I love it!
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