We moved!

Warning: I am tired. I just reread this blog and noticed many instances of poor syntax. I am really too tired to fix these parts, but I am too embarrassed to do nothing. So this is something. You are warned!

It is time for a blog update. We now live in Utah. Surprise! It has been a craaaazy couple weeks, but for those who do not yet know the story, here it is:

About a month or so ago, Abe and I wrote down our life dream. It included, among other things, living in Salt Lake. We didn't know how that would happen, but we thought that maybe, if we were lucky, Abe could get a job transfer in a couple of years.

Fast forward to Thursday, June 23 of this year. I was cooking in the kitchen loving my little Chicago home. In the middle of my peaceful thoughts, I got a call from Abe. He told me he'd been trying to call me all day (I am very bad about answering my phone), and that he hoped it was okay with me that he had pretty much accepted a position in Salt Lake and was flying out to NYC immediately to interview with his company CEO to make everything formal.

I asked him when we were supposed to move and found out that Abe's new position started on July 1st. We had one week to pack up, get our condo ready to sell, and move.

It was a little stressful.

Thank goodness for Abe's family! They just happened to be in town that week, so I had help. I really don't think I could have done it alone, especially with Lydia. But there were so many heroes who came to our rescue. Abe's brothers, my brother, Abe's stepmom, uncle and cousin all pitched in when they were in town. Huge thank yous to all of them! And then the day before our flight to Utah, Abe and I worked from 3am to 1pm to finish everything up.

It was hard to say goodbye to friends in Chicago/Evanston, and I don't know if we'll go back anytime soon. I grew up there, and so it felt very odd thinking that by the time I get back there, things might have really changed. But who knows? Maybe we'll visit sooner than we think. My grandma lives in Springfield, and we really want to visit her, so we'll just have to see how everything plays out.

And now we are in Utah living happily ever after. No, really, it is wonderful to have so many friends and family members everywhere. And I love having so many babysitters!! Before I told Abe we weren't ever going to do anything without Lydia because I am super scared of leaving Lydia with anyone besides family. Since we didn't really have any family in Chicago (except when Clark was in town), we never ever left Lydia. Now we can theoretically go on dates again, assuming Abe is ever home.

He travels 1500 miles a week in his new job. I don't think I'm exaggerating, but I wouldn't know because I can't actually ask Abe if I'm exaggerating since  he is on a work trip. Ugh. That is the only part of this that I don't really like. I hate being apart so much! But, thankfully, I have lovely people around to distract me. For example, today I took a beautiful walk in City Creek Canyon with my mom and Lydia. I can see my mom all the time now! It is rather heavenly.

We are currently living with his dad and stepmom until we move into a house Abe's mom is renting to us. I am grateful to his mom for being so sweet, moving out and giving us such an amazing deal on her house, but I can't lie--I love not having to be alone during Abe's trips right about now. His dad and stepmom have been so fun, and I love visiting with them and watching them interact with Lydia. I keep wanting to throw myself pity parties about how much Abe has to be away, but it is hard to do that when I get to hang out with Tom and Suzanne. Suzanne calls Tom the "baby whisperer" because Lydia adores him. When we are at our wits' end trying to calm her down, all Tom has to do is pick her up, and she's a calm happy baby again. It's amazing! I don't know what I'll do when I have to calm her down all by myself again.

Oh, and that brings me to my next subject: Lydia. She is a trooper for holding up under all this change, but lately she's had a couple very out of character meltdowns. I think it is all the change and the fact that I started supplementing with formula during all the craziness of the move. There was just no way I could keep up with pure breastfeeding. I know that formula is fine for some babies, but it isn't really good for Lydia. She gets really constipated, gassy and fussy on it, and so starting yesterday I completely stopped supplementing. So now instead of going to bed like I am dying to do, I will pump a ton first. The fun never ends! More next time...