Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety-Six

The Goodbye - See Ya Never - First Home

My job yesterday was to help Mommy finish moving and cleaning.

And of course to give her some company while Daddy was in Port St. Lucie pitching against the Mets.

So that's what I did.

And by 3 o'clock, we were all finished.

Ta da! Adios Apartment #7! You were a nice place to call my first home, but I'm sorta already over you. You make Mommy tired with all the stairs she has to climb - while holding me - to get to you, so thanks for the good times, but we're outta here! 

Oh, and Dada threw again yesterday.

I think he threw 5 innings, gave up 3 hits and one run. I can't remember if he walked anyone or  struck anyone out (and now he's asleep so I can't ask him!), but he said he felt good!! He also faced Uncle Kyle! Auntie Sue got a picture of it and I'm guessing that she'll put it on her blog soon (livinghappyjoyousandfree.blogspot.com)!! GO COUGS!  

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety-Five

The Help has Arrived!

I woke up yesterday overwhelmed and almost in tears.

With Adam's schedule and my uh...newborn...packing and attempting to move was a battle we were badly losing. Like, not close. But I planned on gritting my teeth anyways and somehow finding a way to get it all moved out by the 31st at noon by myself because I don't know how to ask for help. Bad, terrible, awful habit. But c'mon, let's be real...I had no chance. There was no way I could've done it alone. And somehow, my friends just knew. 

Sue came down from Port St. Lucie - 16 weeks pregnant - and got her hands dirty in our moving mess (while on her vacation)...and not but a few minutes later, I received another call from Erika - also 16 weeks pregnant - and before I knew it, 15 people (including another pregnant - 39 weeks - friend of mine) were bustling in and out of my house with all our things! By the time 7:00PM rolled around, almost our entire house was cleared out and taken to storage. Praise God!! It was a blessing and an answered prayer beyond anything I could've asked for yesterday and I am humbled by the love and grace of our church family. 

Thank you, friends, for spending your Sunday afternoon serving my family without hesitation. We couldn't have done it without your selflessness, encouragement, help, and support. 

We love you!! 

Millie enjoying our new (very temporary) home.

SHE IS JUST TOO CUTE!!

So get this (another hugely answered prayer):

When we signed our lease in September, we agreed on a move-out date of March 31...because in EVERY Spring Training prior, that's when camp broke. This year, not so fast sucka. We didn't realize it until February...but 2015 Spring Training would be extended A WEEK and wouldn't break until the 4th or 5th of April. Ha! Of COURSE that would happen! So, we were out a home for at least 4 days with plans to stay at a hotel...with a newborn. Uh. 

But(!!!), our across-the-hall neighbors found out about our pickle and offered their entire condo to us...fully furnished...for free!! Praise the Lord!!

We've met so many incredible and thoughtful people while on this baseball journey and can't even begin to describe the gratitude overflowing in our hearts for the endless support we've been given. Every year, there's always a sort of panic that wells up inside me in the anticipation and uncertainty of where we'll be next. But continually, year after year, God's shown himself faithful and provided for us in ways we couldn't have even dared to imagine. 

We serve a GREAT God.

Thank you again, to any and all our friends and family who've helped us navigate these past few months. Whether it be delivered meals, a kind word, cleaning house, holding Millie, driving Adam, sending gifts, packing bins, moving furniture - we're SO grateful. You're all such a blessing to us. We love you!!

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety-Four

The Packing of Apartment #7

Packing is maybe my least favorite thing. Well, besides moving. That's really my least favorite thing. Put them together and I just want to cry. Scream. Throw things. Shoot things. Add a newborn into the mix and you can imagine my feelings. The only thing keeping me even remotely close to sane is her cutest little face and the snuggles I get in between the mindless moving of stupid piles all over the place. Millie, let's make Daddy buy us a house so we only halfway have to do this every six months! Deal!

Thanks for being such a trooper, Little One.

It's crazy around here and I think you can maybe tell. But you've been such a good girl to us. Yesterday, while I packed and Daddy worked, you slept and slept. It might've been the most you've slept in...well, a long time. 

I'm always saying this, but you really are the best!

Thank you for helping us out so much!

In other news...

Great Grandma Chris got Amelia her very first Easter basket!

She LOVED it! And by she, I really mean I. Ha! 

SO many GOOD goodies in there!

Thank you GG!! 

We'll call you tomorrow and tell you how thankful we are - sorry we didn't do it yesterday (or today yet, but we moved basically our whole condo this evening, so we've been a lot busy. Uh.), but I promise we'll call tomorrow!!! We love you!

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy-One

The Bed Rest Life

We sleep.

We drink.

We cuddle.

We sleep.

We play.

We sleep.

We stare.

We sleep.

We smile.

We eat.

We potty.

We sleep.

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy

The Days are Already Going by too Fast

She came out in the water, so to the water we returned yesterday!

After five days, Millie's hair (so much hair!!!) was starting to shine, so we decided it was time for her very first bath. Turns out, Mom and Dad's novice experience was exposed and Amelia didn't much appreciate it. We couldn't figure out the water temperature and we misplaced the sink plug, so the poor girl was shivering the whole time. Her bath turned out to be more of a water wipe down - no soap - but at least she's clean!

My heart exploding.

_________________________________________

All cleaned up, it was time for the chiropractor!

Dr. Matlock gave her her first adjustment only an hour after she was born. It was incredible. And now she's hooked for life.

THANK YOU LUCAS!!

Millie loves you!

___________________________________________

Adam is traveling to Fort Meyers tomorrow (Friday) for a game against the Braves. 

He's not sure he'll pitch, but if they need him, he'll be there!

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven

The Baby/Mama Checkup and HUGE Reveal!

Yesterday was quite the day...

First, Baby Girl got checked at home by our midwife. 

She's doing fantastic!! So healthy and strong! 

Then I got checked by our midwife.

It was Day 2 of bed rest and considering everything that just happened, I am doing great!

Elizabeth said that Baby looked a little jaundiced though...so she ordered some Vitamin D for our Girl...sunshine style! Daddy, Mom, and Dan took her outside to catch some rays (I couldn't go since I'm on bedrest...so sad) and she LOVED every second of it. Seems to have taken after Mama, this One!!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY...

We finally decided on Baby Girl's name last night!!!

Meet, unofficially officially (we still hadn't signed the birth certificate as of yesterday):

AMELIA LYNN CONLEY!!!!

Millie, for short!!

WE LOVE YOU AMELIA! 

You are just the sweetest, most gentle and precious girl EVER.

We are so far beyond blessed to call you Daughter.

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty-Four

The(re's) No Crying in the Kitchen!

When Papa cooks, he does it right. Y'all better take notes. Pizza cutter, goggles, rolled up paper towels...that's how you cut an onion, people. Can't wait for him to teach our Little!

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty-One

The UPS Man Might as Well Make up a Bed Here

You're definitely expecting a child when this is the resulting leftovers from just this week's deliveries. 

That's 12 boxes total.

Safe to say, I think we're just about ready stuff-wise for this little girl?

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Forty-Two

The Best Daddy Around

Baby prepping:

It's takes one organizer and one patient garbage man.

Holy smokes, I think we're almost ready for this girl!

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty-Four

The 4Moms Breeze

*GASP*

Baby Girl's (portable) crib is here!

And wanting to get immediately used to having it right next to the bed, Adam and I just had to set it up. Well, actually, it was mostly just me that wanted it set up four weeks early and so Daddy did what Mommy wanted...and now it sits at the bottom of our King, awaiting it's precious treasure to fill the empty space. Ah!!! I can't believe this is actually happening! She'll be here any day...errrr...week!

Oh, and quite obviously, Adam and I decided against a traditional baby crib. And the traditional nursery room. And the traditional...well...everything else. It seemed nonsensical given the kind of nomadic life we'll be living these next 8 months, so we decided against a nursery, stocked up on sturdy travel gear, and went with a kind of pack 'n play that's been highly regarded in the baseball community - the 4Mom's Breeze. Compared to all the other ones I looked at and asked about, this one seemed to fit our lifestyle best. It's brainless to set up. Brainless to pack up. It's big. But it's compact. It's not obnoxiously heavy. And well, it's really nice to look at. Plus, it's black. So, if she happens to have a messy blowout of an accident (who, MY Little Lady? No...), the sludge should camouflage itself nicely into the fabric. Ha! This is a thinking mom right here. Haven't lost all my brains...yet. 

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-Three

The Pillow Pile

Tired Dad

Pregnant Mom

+ Dilapidated couch

Our best remedy

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixteen

The Only Way I Know How

I'm 33 weeks, 5 days pregnant, and yes, I still find a way to wiggle into my sink to do my makeup! 13 years of doing it the same exact way every day is too much conditioning to change my routine now...even though I can barely fit anymore! So if you remember, you can be praying that I don't fall out on accident! Ha!

Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Nine

The Nesting's Begun

The Grinch has overcome my usual Christmas cheer.

It's only barely been a week since the 25th and I'm over it. Freaked out. Done. Anxious. Get this mess away from me. In our entire married life (hey, that's four Christmases, people), I've always insisted on leaving our tree up until...at least February. Yeah. Adam hates it. But my nostrils are the boss and they say the tree stays - it smells too good to throw away so soon.

Not this time.

Nu uh.

Every time I looked at the tree, at the decorations, at the cramped space that comes with the Holidays, I felt panicked. Stressed. And these feelings weren't going away. So yesterday - with an unbeatable view from my vantage point - Adam took away our tree while I boxed up the rest. And finally, my anxiety has diminished. 

I'm pretty sure I'm experiencing what they call "nesting." I'd never heard of it before a month ago...but truth is: it's totally real. Baby Girl is coming soon and it's time to make sure everything is in it's appropriate place before she arrives. Whoa. We're having a kid!

Day One Thousand One Hundred and Seventy-Two

The Fire Alarm Requirement

When you live in a condominium in South Florida during an ear-splitting, complex-wide fire alarm, you have absolutely zero choice but to flee the deafening sounds until the fire department arrives to turn it off. I've never, in 27 years, felt such an achingly loud noise. It was absolutely miserable...and Babe didn't like it either. With soaking wet hair, in pajamas, and without time to rescue any of our things in case there actually was a fire, we fled to the truck and waited for the familiar sound of a siren. We never did discover what triggered the entire condominium complex's fire alarm system...but...at least now we know it works.

...now...back to my wet hair, pajama wearing, Amazon scouring, tired feeling, lame kind of day.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve to us.  

Day One Thousand One Hundred and Thirty-Two

The Boys are Making Things Official

Adam officially started his offseason before-bed-weight-gaining diet.

A total of one thousand extra calories.

And Scott officially became part of the Conley Pumpkin family.

A total of one Oregon Duck loving Uncles added to the mix.

Day One Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-Nine

The Hot (Tub) House

Upside-down sleepers.

 Fact: that's where the ceiling fan's strongest air blows.

Yeah, people. It's that hot in this condo.

So hot, in fact, that I dried my soaking wet hair with a box fan yesterday.

86 degrees. 100 percent humidity.

Rub a dub dub, Kendall's house is a (hot) tub.

The temperature  finally cooled down to a brisk 84 degrees (how that's considered a victory, I have no words for) after Adam and Scott installed a borrowed stand-alone AC unit from Sondra and Dennis' daughter. Ahhhh. Thank you!!!! But for the sake of my sanity, the baby's health, and Adam's face, I hope I don't end up finding a way to break this one…like I did on Day 352 . God, give me patience and a thankful heart.

Day One Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-Eight

The No Good, Very Bad Day

Woke up to this yesterday.

Not a good start.

Not good at all.

AC compressor: busted.

How does this always happen to us?

(For real…time for our own home, Adam…!!!)

Went to the doctor and saw our midwife.

Love her.

Heard our baby's heart rate.

It was in the 140s.

Good stuff. Healthy LittleCon.

But then I was recommended a bunch of vaccinations I ought to get.

I've not been entirely convinced my entire pregnancy that I wanted any vaccinations, but I hadn't yet researched why I felt that way. Just a premonition, I guess. So, I denied the shots and went home to research. I spent a good portion of the day digging through information, and what I found made my day a whole lot worse (and no, it had nothing to do with Autism). 

And finally, what broke the camel's back...

…was when Adam….

…forced me to mutilate his mullet.

It's all gone now.

Capping off a bad, bad day. 

I mean, yeah, his mullet wasn't looking it's best. Clearly. It was butchered in Spokane and Adam's not liked it since. But I still liked it. And now I don't have any long hair left to comb through. Waaaah! He's still so handsome though. So at least I had something to smile about.

Day One Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-Four

The Eyes That Would't Stay Open

Scott: the perfect definition of yesterday's exhaustion.

We're home. We're healthy. And we have a new roomie!

Life is good.

Day One Thousand and Ninety-Eight

The Seventh Apartment/Condo

Welome to our home!

It's only taken me a month to get these photos up (sorry Grama), but alas, Condo Seven greets you with a smile. 

(Note my new dressage lanterns sitting on the table...which Adam surprised me with for our anniversary. I wasn't expecting these beauties, but I love 'em! Thanks hon! So fancy!)

And also note all the bins we haven't unpacked…and the hot dude in the kitchen, who came with the condo! Score!

Aaaand, Baby Conley's room. 

Which apparently, Daddy hasn't come to grips with yet.

To me, it looks an awful lot like a man room, Adaaaam...

Of course, the kitchen…which is probably the smallest room in the house. Why the builders decided it this way, we'll never know. But I guess it's sorta romantic tripping all over your hubby while preparing a meal. I don't complain.

And by far, my favorite thing about our new home…our new picture framed picture! Hey Baby C! You're looking real cute these days (thanks Brandi)! The card is a nice touch too (thanks for thinking of us Suey!)…we are pretty great I guess.  *Mischievous face* 

SO excited about this home and all the life-changing memories that await us here!