A successful move is almost complete! We moved in to my mom's house this weekend. Thank you Mom and Paul for taking the three of us in - what a blessing to have such a wonderful place provided for us during this season of life. We are truly grateful.
Also, a giant thank you to my sissy Bri for helping me pack books, and to Nic's parents and my dad and his cousin Shaun for helping us pack and haul everything else. We hired movers to get the big furniture out on Friday, we hauled our clothes that night, then between the 5 of us had the rest of our stuff packed and moved in just 5 hours on Saturday. Wow!
We have unpacked all but a few things that we'll finish up this week. Nic is a work horse when it comes to unpacking - a trait I've always greatly appreciated, but even more so now while I'm 34 weeks pregnant and not too helpful in the lifting, bending, and all-around stamina categories. At several points over the last two days you would have found me "helping" Nic unpack by sitting down somewhere, watching and pointing, designating what goes where and approving throw-aways. If it weren't for him and it were all up to me, whether I were pregnant or not, I'm pretty confident that I would NEVER get fully unpacked. He keeps me truckin'. He's a good match!
Speaking of working - Nic has been at Starbucks since the beginning of the year. He's doing a great job and got placed with a manager who is eager to help him develop within the company. He's very thankful for the opportunity to work, acknowledging that before being unemployed, he took for granted to some degree what a privilege it is to get up in the morning (sometimes middle of the night) and go to work and be able to provide for his family with a little sweat and some coffee stains to show for it. I'm thankful too, and proud of him.
As for me, I'm slowing down in the working world - just filling in according to need at a couple dental/orthodontic offices in Vancouver. We are humbly grateful to be receiving help from the state via the Oregon Health Plan and WIC since the timing aligned with my pregnancy and Nic's season of unemployment. Between that and being able to live with my mom and Paul for a while, we hope to be able to pay off some debt, save up some cash, and not have to sacrifice what we both value so much - my ability to be a full-time mom and wife and focus my energies at home. I'm falling more and more in love with the little one growing inside me as he kicks and rolls and stretches, even though sometimes I yelp from a sharp jab to my hip as he seems to think he can stretch his legs out all the way. Hiccups occur multiple times a day, his, not mine, and in fact he's got them right now. Feels similar to a muscle twitch you get in your butt or thigh or eye-lash. I just love it! :-) On the downside, sleep is getting more difficult to find and hang on to, the acid reflux has intensified, and back-ache sets in off and on throughout the day and night. Thankfully, I am allowed to take pepcid twice a day now which takes the edge off the reflux. Back-ache I can hope will subside once he's born. As for trouble sleeping - I'm trying to just accept it since I'll never again resume the sleep habits I have been allowed to in the pre-parent era of my life, right? At least I'll for sure not be able to any time soon after the baby's born...
The baby, as we call him in public, -might- have a name. One name seems to have made it's way to the top of our list based on our criteria in no particular order: sound, rhythm, popularity (preferably less rather than more), association (does the name remind you of that kid who ate his boogers in the 2nd grade?), and meaning. But we're still keeping it top secret because it's fun for us, so you'll just have to wait and see! :-). Baby showers are coming up and the nesting urge is kicking in. Before we know it he'll be here and our lives will never be the same. Wow.
Until next time,
Sarah
for the Sirianni Family
