Adventures in (newly)Wedville

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Bright Horizon

Over the past almost 3 years Adam has been looking for a job; a career job. He’s worked continuously since he was laid off in 2010, but he’s never been happy with the work/pay/positions. We were lucky though. He was working sometimes 2-3 jobs. He’s been to multiple interviews and so many looked promising, but in the end, none worked out. Yes he’s been exhausted and frustrated, but we've gotten though it and knew that in time God would lay out our plan.
Now he’s got two opportunities. Both of which could propel his career and both of which interest him. And he’s going to do them both.
The first is a Management training program with Delaware North (the company he works for at the Forum). This opportunity has the potential to get us out of Florida…our longtime goal. DN is in 65% of all the arenas in the country, so with this training he’d be able to apply or even get transferred where there’s a need. The program is 10 months (originally it was 6 wks) He will spend time in each of the departments; retail, suites, concessions, restaurant… etc learning the ropes. He isn't guaranteed a position when he’s finished, but chances are there will be openings as they are considering adding an assistant GM to every venue. This is a full-time paid training, so it will be nice to have steady money coming in every week for the next 10 months. Even if nothing comes of this he will still have this training he can put on his resume.
The second opportunity is with his old boss from Gulf Coast Displays; not the boss that “laid him off” the boss that sold the company. His 5 year non-compete is up and he’s starting a new trade show display company and he wants Adam with him. Adam will be helping him start it up, but doesn't have to put in any equity except time and sweat, so the risk to us financially is nill. They have started getting the office ready and purchased computers yesterday. Adam will work when he can between his training. And if he does end up getting a job out of state next year he could continue to work on sales and such from home ala a “branch” office. The company is Osprey Exhibits and they are both excited and eager to get it up and running. I may even be doing some graphic work for them!
So the future looks bright. My husband has been diligent over the last 3 years to provide for us any way he can and it’s finally paid off. He is so happy to be done with the furniture company and to focus on his careers. I’m proud of him and his determination and drive. He will be working a lot over the next year, there maybe days we don’t see him, but in the end, hopefully it will all work out.
Thank you for your prayers, your support, your referrals and recommendations. He appreciated everything and we’re so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family.
PS Charlie is wonderful happy and good.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

3 Months

Charlie is now 3 months old. It still feels like she’s been with us forever and should be walking by now! Despite the feeling of time moving slowly she IS getting so big. Adam took her to be weighed this week and she’s 12lbs 11 oz and 24” long! On Sunday we took her to Penny's for her 3 month portaits; the photos in this post are from that.

So what is she doing? well, she’s sleeping though the night…in her crib. We put her in her crib at 9 weeks. And she’s been sleeping 8-10 hours since 7 weeks. She’s rolling over to side from her back. Sometimes she inadvertently grabs objects and doesn’t let got. Sitting up is a lot more fun than tummy time. Getting out of the bath is not fun. But if that’s the only screaming she does, we’ll take it.

All in all she is a great baby. my mom is still wondering how I got so lucky, since i was a pain in the a** baby for her :) I say she takes after her daddy. My mom has been with us since the beginning of February. She leaves on Saturday and Russ arrives that evening. We’re so lucky we are able to keep her out of daycare until she’s 5 months. But I must say I'm going to be a wreck leaving her when the time comes. Family is one thing…but a stranger!?!? yikes!

We are enjoying every minute we have with her and are looking forward to the next stage. It’s hard to believe that she’ll be able to start eating food soon!
Big girl!

She looks EXACTLY like I did at this age in this picture. However if you turn your head, she looks nothing like me…weird. Mostly she resembles Adam.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

What’s in her name?

I realize that I never explained where Charlie’s name came from and how we decided on it.
Charlize:
Long before I met Adam I decided that if I had a girl someday I would name her Charlie. Charlie was my grandpa Hamel’s name. I never got to meet him. He died in October of 1977 and I didn't show up until December of 1978.

But my mother would tell me stories about him and how sweet he was to her or how he and my grandma met. I grew up knowing only of his spirit. So for some odd reason I thought it would make a cute little girls name. That was my plan.
Then I met Adam.
He wouldn't even discuss names until we were pregnant. Then not until we knew what it was. Then we lost the first baby. But the name still stayed on the top of my list. I never let the name drop. I basically informed him that if we had a girl that would be her name. He would gave me a hard time about it…but eventually I think he started to come around and admitted that he liked it. When I got pregnant the 2nd time I brought it up again…and we started talking about if it WAS a girl that we should give her a proper female name, with every intention of calling her Charlie. I liked Charlotte. Adam didn't see how you’d get Charlie from Charlotte and being from NC he wasn't budging. He liked Charlize. It wasn't my favorite, since the only Charlize I’d heard of is an actress; Charlize Theron. But I guess I couldn't win them all. Then we found out we were having a girl. In my mind she was already my Charlie girl. Ironically I don’t think we discussed names much after finding out she was a she…Then I left vacation with Adam following a few days behind. We were excited to share the news of a GIRL, but hadn’t really discussed the final name.
When Adam finally arrived and we decided we couldn’t keep it in any longer we announced the sex to my parents. It was later while Adam was napping that my dad asked if we had discussed names. I told him we had, but hadn't recently. Later my mom asked the same thing, Adam was around, I looked at him and said “have we? Is that it?” He nodded “If that’s what you like” So I turned to my mom and said “Her name is Charlize Linda” That was the first time I had said it aloud. With just a look of our eyes in my parents kitchen we had named our daughter. My mother thought it was such a beautiful name and I started to think so to. It wasn't until I told her that we would be calling her Charlie that she started to cry.

Linda:
My middle name is Marie. My grandmas name is Marie. My Aunts name is Marie. It’s kind of a family name. So as all girls do when they pick out “Dream Names” they always choose a middle. Mine was Charlie Marie (both my grandparents)

Then I met Adam.

He had never given much thought to his future children's names, but early on he said that if he ever had a little girl he’d want to name her Linda. He would ask his dad first, but that he wanted to honor his mother. Linda Young passed away from breast cancer when Adam was 11 years old.
As much as I wanted to honor his request I told him that I just couldn't see a little girl with such an adult name, but that I liked Linda for a middle name. He agreed and from then on it was known that whatever we named our first born daughter, her middle name would be Linda.

So there you have it, the story behind the name Charlize “Charlie” Linda Young. We like it and even if it is a little unconventional we’re sure that everyone will soon realize there isn't a more perfect name for our little peanut.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Final bump

*Now that I’m back at work…and sit at a PC all day.. I have time to finish up all I had hoped I would do while being home with a new born*

Here is the culmination of our “Bump Watch 2012” photos.

This last picture was taken 2 days before Charlie arrived. I was 39 weeks.

Looking back now, it’s hard to believe my belly was every that big.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Charlie’s Room

It has been two months now since Charlie has entered our life. We have slowly gotten the hang of things and are falling more in love with our little sweetie every day. I have only a few days until I go back to work. Part of me is ready, but a growing part of me is not. I asked Adam what it’s like to be gone at work all day away from her; he said “It sucks, I miss her like crazy”. Great. Monday is going to be tough.

Right now Ms. C is chilling in her crib. So i thought it would be a good time to finally reveal her room since it’s pretty much finished. As you recall it was our guestroom/office back in August.

Then I was put on bed rest and it was my “work room” all while it was being prepped for our little girl.

Adam did a lot of the work I did the designing. (as it should be ;)

Ok, enough talk, here is her finished room:

Adam painstakingly did that mural while I sat in bed calling off dimensions from my AutoCAD drawing. It is a design by Frank Lloyd Wright from the Storer House. Adam also built the floating shelves in the corner, which we realized we needed after seeing how much stuff this little girl had. My mother sewed the beautiful curtains. I did the bed skirt and the pillows. Everything else, we bought or was given to us.

Yes, we still have room for guests :) I spy a baby…

(before the shelves)

The big question…does Charlie like it?

Yes! She loves her mobile, she loves rocking in her chair and staring up at the Ikea light, getting her diaper changed is her favorite thing and just the other day she discovered the pink elephants. Happy baby, happy parents. We are blessed.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Alive and well

I have been busy the last few weeks and haven't had a chance to post. Getting the computer is difficult. But i just wanted to say that i am now the proud mother to a baby girl.
Charlize Linda born December 4th @1pm. She was 6lbs 11oz and 19.25" long.

We were shocked at how small she was considering how tall we both are.
Our stay in the hospital was nice, we went in Tuesday Morning and were home Friday by 1. Everyone at St. Josephs Womens hospital was wonderful and very helpful.

My parents were here for her birth as well as my friend Stephanie. My father went home the following Monday and Tuesday (a week after her birth) Adam's dad came for a visit. My mom will stay here through the new year and then come back when i go back to work.

We have adjusted well and are slowly getting used to having a 3rd family member. The dogs seem not that interested and more lost, but they're very good towards her and haven't caused any trouble.

This weekend we'll head south for our family Christmas on Marco Island. It will be nice to see my brothers and cousins and aunt and uncle. Hopefully Ms. Charlie will adapt to the location change and let us have a restful vacation.

If i don't get back to the blog for a while, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy New year!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

3rd Year in Pictures

um so I totally forgot to do this this year. WTF? maybe I was too busy thinking about this baby!! For our 2nd anniversary Adam bought me a camera, so I was able to take pictures more freely…Lets see how well I did.
September 2011
2nd Anniversary