Another BIG Move and more...

So I promised pictures from last summer, and well, life got very busy after having a second baby and has not slowed down much!  But here I am finally updating everyone with news and pictures...   Pictures first because most of you know you want to see some cute kids, right?


Spring Break in Florida, April 2011

 


Spring Break in Florida, April 2011

 







 





 

  



 

 



Hannah and Cousin Jason
Spring Break in Florida, April 2011

  

Mother's Day 2011







 

 

    

Fort in St. Augustine, April 2011


   

Spring Break in Florida, April 2011





Spring Break in Florida, April 2011



Spring Break in Florida, April 2011

 

Spring Break in Florida, April 2011



 

Spring Break in Florida, April 2011



In Mommy's Old Baby Dress, May 2011









Spring Break in Florida, April 2011



Thanksgiving 2010



I've sat down to work on this blog several times, but I just didn't have enough time, so I apologize!  Here's the news in brief:

Another "Big" Move

• From:  Somerset, KY (where we've resided with Daddy's parents since April 2010)
• To:  Mount Vernon, OH
• Why?:  Daddy got a new job at his "dream" school... Mount Vernon Nazarene University, locally called "The Naz"
• How long?:  Maybe permanently, we can dream, right?  Definitely not another short-term move.
• When?:  Daddy's already there.  Mommy and the girls will move up after we get our things sorted and packed, hopefully

Daddy

• 1 month now in his new IT position at MVNU
• Staying in "transitional" housing on campus
• LOVES his new position!
• Has made several new friends in Mount Vernon
• Attending New Life Nazarene
• Still teaching online courses for Somerset Community College
• Looking forward to teaching courses at MVNU down the road, perhaps this fall

Mommy

• Just finished her last week watching Kathryn, 3 months, while her mommy and daddy work
• Is doing some contracting work for Focus on the Family, helping them as they transition to a new tool
• Mentally ready for the BIG move, but hasn't tackled packing

Hannah

• Is unofficially 3!  She was born on Leap Day, so her first official b-day is Feb 29, 2012
• Has grown soooo much!  34 1/2 inches tall, 26 pound at her 3-year checkup
• Currently knows 6 Bible verses, we're working on the 7th
• Her vocabulary and knowledge have grown by leaps and bounds
• Knows her ABCs, can write several
• Can count to 20 and can count the number of objects
• Working on telling time
• Knows her colors, many objects and animals
• Knows LOTS and LOTS of signs (American Sign Language)
• Says her own prayers (they're really cute!)
• Helps with chores (dishes, laundry, trash, watering plants)
• Rides her tricycle
• Is almost completely potty trained.  She has suddenly decided she want to potty train and does good except that she still wakes up wet because she's gone in her sleep

Kaitlyn

• 9 months, 27 inches, 18 pounds 3.9 ounces
• Like her big sister, had GERD (GastroEsophogeal Reflux Disease, aka Reflux)
• Had poor weight gain
• Was on Prevacid until March, then on Nexium
• Nexium is awesome! 
• She went from soaking several burp cloths and bibs daily to just a few to rarely spitting up
• Gained 4 pounds in about 6 weeks after starting Nexium
• Now is reflux-free!
• Crawls, officially as of last night! 
• Stands, almost by herself
• Walks some when you hold her hands 

Christmas 2010 Letter

So Josh worked really hard on our Christmas 2010 letter, and I'm finally doing something with it, so enjoy!

Well here we are again, another year gone by, life advancing steadily with no pause in sight. This is especially true for the Cunningham Family. We’ve witness a lot of major changes in the last year, most for the good, only some for the bad.


Along with the new-year last year, we received news that Jacqui was once again pregnant. Imagine our joy when we had already unwrapped our presents for the year only to be visited once more with a gift of new life. 9-ish months later and here you go…we welcome the newest addition to the Cunningham family; Kaitlyn Joy. She was born on August 31st and weighed 9.575lbs and measured 21.5in long. Once again the labor was short and both Mom and baby pulled through without any lasting problems.

We have had a good couple of months with this new bundle of joy. Just experiencing her smiles for the first time have made any frustration with crying (all Daddy) or sleeplessness (all Mommy) worthwhile. Even Hannah has enjoyed having a new little sister in the house, and has taken on the responsibility of “Official Plugger” in which she gives Kaitlyn her pacifier if/when she needs it. She takes this role very seriously and makes sure to explain when she does and doesn’t want the pacifier.

Speaking of Hannah, she has had an illustrious year. Between figuring out the English language, developing her own sense of self, and memorizing her first bible verse (1 Thess 5:16 – Be Joyful Always), she has been very busy. Not only have we been witness to our own personalities in Hannah like a mirror, we are finding completely independent attitudes, passions, and desires. Needless to say, it has been hectic.

After graduating from the Seminary, Josh began looking for available job openings. Since his call into ministry is in education, he began looking for work in colleges in/near our home. Thanks to a recurring personal contact (thanks Dad) who keeps finding jobs and opening doors for him, Josh was able to begin teaching Comparative Religion classes at Somerset Community College. This has been his passion ever since. In April, as he was completing his first semester teaching, a position at the college to help establish an IT Help Desk opened up that he jumped at. Though initially believed to be a very temporary position, to help the school out with this new IT venture, it has turned into a full-time temporary position that Josh has grown to enjoy. We are still hoping something that will include benefits will emerge, and Josh has gone and interviewed for a few positions, but as of now, nothing seems to be opening up to him.

In response to the slow economy, we moved into Josh’s parents’ house in Somerset. Since Josh works both his full-time IT job, and his teaching position in Somerset anyway, and since Jacqui is completely mobile as a consultant for Focus on the Family, the easiest (and cheapest) option was to intrude upon the good-natured Cunningham family, and take over the room Phyllis (Brenda’s Mother) recently left available. The time spent with multiple families in one location is not new to us, and as with any close relationship, frustration and encroachment can ensue. Thankfully we have learned through previous relationships how to be amicable and even diplomatic in voicing our concerns.

(Josh) I’ve thought a lot about relationships this year. When we moved to Somerset I began spending a lot of time with our associate pastor as well as other members of our church here, and in light of building new relationships, I began re-evaluating what I believe. I’ve come to the realization that the purpose of all life is relationship. We aren’t here merely to worship God; if we were His love would mean less. We aren’t merely here to obey God; if we were He would not love us but would rule over us with an iron fist. We aren’t merely here to love God; if we were, the affection we have for others would be idolatry. Instead, a triune God, who is relationship in His very being, created mankind to love and be loved by, and by extension to love each other and be loved by each other. The world has a basic understanding of this concept when they speak of the “Christmas spirit” which draws us together and strengthens our relationships with love, but it is Charles Dickens who so perfectly illustrates the depth and breadth of the need for relationship in his story “A Christmas Carol.” In this story we not only see that life is made up of relationship (both horizontally and vertically), but even more importantly that a life of selfishness will lead to an eternity of loneliness. You see, God is love, and as love, He will love us enough to allow us to do as we like. If we want to focus on ourselves (our looks, fashion, piety, humility, what we can get out of life) He will let us do so. Ultimately though that means we must spend eternity alone and independent (which is truly Hell). C.S. Lewis said that “In the end, either we will tell God ‘Thy will be done’ or He will tell us “Thy will be done’.”

Remember this Christmas season that life is not about what you can get out of it, but what you can give out of it. That is why it is so much more blessed to give than to receive. For it is in the giving that we can become less self-focused (sinful), and more Christ-like (Matt 20:28). We pray that Jesus who Himself lived a life of service, would create in all of us a servant’s heart, passionate for intimacy with all mankind.

We love you all. With all the support, kindness, understanding, and even overlooking poor parenting (by Josh) we recognize you are already living God’s call on your life. We hope and pray this coming year will be greater by far than the year before, and that God will create within you a yearning to deepen your knowledge of and relationship with Him.

Special Delivery...

On August 31st at 1:00 p.m. at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, Kaitlyn Joy Cunningham joined our family, nine days earlier than expected. She was 8 lbs 5.75 oz and 20 in. Due to much bruising, she became jaundiced during the second day, causing her hosptial stay to be extended an additional 5 days. Although Mommy was discharged after the second night, the hospital allowed her to remain in the room for free until Kaitlyn was released. On Labor Day, Kaitlyn was finally discharged, and we were finally all home. To see pictures taken by the hospital photographer, click here:

http://www.our365.com/NewbornPortraits/BabyDetail.aspx?birthid=71652cf2-00e9-4440-952c-a1693e1428d9&babyid=79d2558e-cdf2-4354-90e8-8365afc581a2

We have discovered that Kaitlyn has Mommy's dimples too! Since being home, we have been trying to catch up on sleep and find a rhythm that works for our lives. So far, all that seems to be happening is eating and sleeping for both Mommy and Kaitlyn, but life will eventually return to normal.

The family paparazzi was present the day Kaitlyn was born and those pictures are posted on Facebook, both Mommy and Daddy were tagged in many of them so if you're friends with us then you can see those pics. As for us, we've taken a few and here's some of those...

A few hours old...

One day old...

Ten Days Old...

Fifteen Days Old...

Hannah loves being a big sister and is always willing to lend a helping hand. She's not shown any signs of jealousy and rather is very proud to to have Kaitlyn in the family. She loves showing off her little sister. We weren't sure if she really understand that we were going to e having a baby, but we were proven wrong. She enjoys giving Kaitlyn hugs and kisses, and is eagerly awaiting the day when Kaitlyn will really be able to play with her.

Daddy is readily adjusting to life with three dimpled girls, and enjoys spending free time with them. He greatly helps Mommy out by taking care of Hannah if she wakes during the night. He loves cuddling with Kaitlyn and Hannah whenever the opportunity affords itself.

Mommy is doing great now that Kaitlyn is here. She had been in poor health this summer due to having breathing (due to asthma) and blood pressure troubles, plus catching Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease which turned into sinus and ear infections. The last week before Kaitlyn was born, she had headaches in addition to the blood pressure fluctuations, which led to the doctors deciding to induce. Since the delivery, the headaches have gone away and the blood pressure fluctuations have ceased. She's lost a total of 30 pounds since the start of the pregnancy; during the first half of the pregnancy, she lost 18, then regained 15 by the end, and since delivery has lost 27 more.

For those who are interested in the details of the labor and delivery: So the morning of the 31st, she was admitted to the hospital and given a low dose of pitocin (starts contractions). We discovered that contractions were already happening before being given the pitocin but they just weren't noticeable. The normal dosage of pitocin is about 30 units, the most they used was 8 as her natural pitocin kicked in, by the time of delivery they were only giving 4 units. So after about three and a half hours of noticeable contractions, including less than a half-hour of pushing, Kaitlyn was here. No pain meds during the labor and delivery, and only a few doses of ibuprofin since.

Just for comparison purposes, here's a picture of Mommy when she was a newborn:

News and pictures from the rest of the summer will be coming soon!