Friday Favorites: Big News Edition!!!

Happy Friday everyone! As usual, I am linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for some Friday Favorites!

I am doing something a little different for my Friday Favorites today because I have some big news to share with y'all...

WE ARE MOVING BACK TO TEXAS!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!! Specifically, the Dallas/Fort Worth area! I have been dying trying to keep the news inside, but we wanted to wait to tell everyone until it all became official. We have known for a couple of weeks now, and initially we were just going to tell our families and a few friends, but of course word got around, and I'm so excited to finally share the news with all of you!

I have been ready to go back to Texas for awhile now, but I feel like Johnathon didn't really hop on board until we went back to the states on vacation last Fall. It was so great being home and seeing both of our families, and now that we have Hadley, it made being so far away really hard. We decided at the start of the year that we would really start actively trying to return home, and it took until the end of April for us to get the good news that Johnathon had a job opportunity that would take us back to the states!

If I had to pick one word to describe the year so far it would be PATIENCE. I feel like God has been screaming that word down to me throughout this entire process. I am the kind of person who, once I decide I want to do something, I want to do it right then, so to have to wait around for God's timing to mirror my own has been humbling to say the least. I thoroughly believe God uses every situation we are in to speak to us, and to teach us, and even though I HATE waiting, I have learned to lean heavily on God and his timing and not my own understanding, and for that lesson alone I am grateful.

As for our move back....here are some details. We are flying out from Kwaj June 3rd, passing through Honolulu, then San Fransisco, then home to Austin on June 4th. We will spend some time with my parents and sister there before heading up to the DFW area.

This may or may not be our first stop once we get to Austin! Amen?!

We got rid of A LOT of stuff before moving out to Kwaj. We sold both of our cars, got rid of our cell phones, packed our furniture in storage because we couldn't take it with us, and moved out of our rental home. Because of this, we are going to have to hit the ground running when we get back, and I am so thankful that we have great friends and family back in the states to help us get resettled!

We are looking at several suburbs around the DFW area in which to move, but we haven't decided on a specific one yet. I feel like just when I sell myself on settling in one area, I will see a house or talk to someone about another area and my mind will completely change! A lot will depend on where I end up working, and I trust that God will place us exactly where he wants us to be! 

Johnathon and I rented a home before we moved to Kwaj, so this will make us first time home buyers!  This is easily the most exciting and scary part of moving back for us. I feel like Johnathon and I have always lived somewhere temporary (apartments, rental homes, army housing on Kwaj), so we are both looking forward to picking out our home, making it our own, and finally feeling settled in one place!

Even though my heart has been emotionally in Texas for awhile now, there are still no words for how hard it is going to be leaving Kwaj. Being so far from home really bonds you to the people out here, and we have made some truly amazing friends who I will miss more than I can possibly say. This little island is where our baby spent the first year of her life. It takes a village to raise a child, and I am so thankful for everyone in our "island village" who have loved Hadley like their own, and helped us navigate all the joys and pitfalls that come with the first year of parenthood. That is why this island will always have a part of our hearts. 

I take comfort in the fact that many of our friends out here are also from the DFW area, so I know that I will get to see them again! Several of our friends who used to live out here are already back in DFW and elsewhere around the states, and it will be so great to be close to them again! 

We are so excited for our new adventure, and can't wait for next month to get here. In the mean time we are packing, cleaning, and organizing like crazy as we try and get ready for the movers to pack up our stuff for Texas! These next couple of months are going to be BANANAS, and I ask for your prayers for a safe and smooth journey back to the states! Texas...we're comin' for ya! :)

Hadley Kate: 15 Months

I promised myself and Johnathon that I wouldn't be "THAT mom" that kept doing monthly baby updates after Hadley Kate turned the big 0-1, but she is changing so much day to day that I felt like she deserved an update!

First off, Hadley LOVES to explore. She's always been adventurous, but now that she is walking/running, she is always on the go and wanting to check out each and every new sight and sound. Her walking has improved dramatically, but she still takes a spill from time to time...

Even though she likes to do everything herself, she always has her escort along to make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble...
 

 
And to make sure that she doesn't flirt with the boys too much...

As much as she likes to be independent, she still likes her safety net of mom and dad. She will run to the playscape at the beach, but always waits for me before climbing to the top. She also likes to run  to the very edge of the yard, look back to see if I'm watching, then stick one foot in the street to test her limits. She definitely likes to push the boundaries of what's acceptable, but she is pretty good about not straying too far...yet. :)

Hadley is still a big fan of her food, but her teething means that we will have a week or two of great eating, followed by a week of hit or miss meals. Some days she will only want soft foods, other days she wants goldfish and nothing else. Go figure. Our current favorites are blueberries, meatballs, goldfish, squash, zucchini, sausage links, green beans, lunch meat, and cheese. Her previously favored breakfast of cheesy scrambled eggs is still breakfast non grata, but she has definitely come around on pancakes and banana muffins. 

Speaking of teething...we had a two week respite from teething, and now we are on to molars. All of them. At one time. In case you are counting, Hadley just got her 7th tooth in three months. Shoot me now.

Hadley's hair has really come in over the last month or two. She definitely still has a mullet situation going on, but at least it's thickening up in the front so the effect isn't quite as intense. I can get her hair in a ponytail, it just takes an act of God (or multiple viewings of the Tiger Boo Youtube video) for her to let me do it! 

Her hair is so long it now flips up in the back! EEEKKK the cuteness!

The biggest change in my opinion has got to be Hadley's affection level. She has never been a cuddly baby. This isn't to say that we don't get hugs and kisses, but they can be hard to come by and she has never been one to be rocked or held for long periods of time. Then one day in early April, I was sitting on the ground with her while a movie was on, and she crawled in my lap and stayed there for about 10 minutes while I rubbed her back!!! I couldn't believe it. This has occurred multiple times since then, so I don't think it was a fluke. She must have finally gotten wise to the fact that mom and dad's lap is a cool place to be...or that she gets back rubs every time she laps up which, if we're being honest, is probably the reason she's there. Either way...I'll take it!

She has also started giving kisses out to everyone and everything. The primary recipient of said kisses is Sadie who gets multiple kisses on the nose in rapid fire succession. Unfortunately, these kisses are not met with unbridled enthusiasm on Sadie's end, but I think she prefers it to getting whacked on the nose like she used to!

Finally, Hadley is once again a champion sleeper! Our transition to one nap a day, plus the addition of a blanket and stuffed animal have really seemed to reinforce Hadster's status as a rockstar sleeper. She is now waking up around 9 or 9:30am, naps around 12:30/1pm, and wakes up around 3pm. Bedtime is anywhere between 7:30 and 8pm depending on how tired she is. I cannot complain one bit about her sleep habits, and I am so thankful that God gave me a child that loves to sleep!! AMEN!

That's Hadley 15 month edition, I feel like I always wrap up these recaps by saying how fast time flies, but it really does. She seems like less of a baby and more of a toddler every day, and we love seeing her personality grow and develop! She is definitely keeping us on our toes, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Tasty Tuesday: Cinco de Mayo Edition

Happy Tuesday everyone! In honor of Cinco de Mayo this week, Deanna and I thought it would be fun to share a healthy(ish) and delicious appetizer/drink combo to help you get your fiesta on! Ole!

Avocado Hummus… or “Hummole”

Ingredients

1 (15 oz) can chick peas, well drained and rinsed

2 medium ripe avocados, cored and peeled

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 ½ Tbsp. tahini

3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (about 1 small lime)

1 clove garlic, peeled

1 tsp. Himalayan pink salt and freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp. cumin

1/8 tsp. cardamom, optional* (I love the taste)

Dashes of dried dill weed

Dashes of oregano

Dashes of basil

1 small vine tomato, cubed and gutted of seeds, divided use

Red pepper flakes, optional for topping

Directions

Pulse chick peas, olive oil, tahini, lime juice, and garlic in a food processor until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Season with salt, pepper, spices and peeled avocado and pulse mixture until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes longer. 

Transfer to serving bowl and fold in ¾ of the diced tomato.

Serve topped remaining tomato and red pepper flakes and your favorite dip chip, pita bread or veggies.

It's common knowledge that you cannot properly celebrate Cinco de Mayo without a pinata Mexican mumu sombrero booze, so here is Deanna's Tropical Martini to help you get your ebrio on!

Tropical Martini

Ingredients- makes 2 servings

1 shot Peach Schnapps

1 shot Honeycrisp Apple Skyy Vodka, or another flavored vodka

2 shots 100% Pineapple Juice

1 shot coconut water

1 strawberry, sliced lengthwise, to garnish both

2 lime slices, for garnish

Directions

Add schnapps, vodka, pineapple juice, coconut water and ice into a shaker cup and shake to combine.

Pour evenly between two martini glasses.

Place strawberry and lime on rim for garnish.

Enjoy!

Happy Drinko de Mayo everyone!