Our First Five Weeks

 

This move is unlike anything I've done in my life. I've always moved for school or a job and that instantly brings some connection to the places I've settled. Mark has his classmates and I'm trying to find connection for myself and Alice. I've never known less about my home state than I do about Maryland. I'm not sure what's nearby, cultural norms, weather patterns, sports teams and more. People here in Maryland ask where we're from and I'm not sure what to say anymore. There will always be sweet home Alabama for me but it's been a decade since I lived there. In the seven years I've known Mark we've lived in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and now Maryland. I sometimes wonder how we got here and remember it's like most of our moves--God opened the door. I believe this move is the right thing for our family and fully support Mark's decision to pursue his Masters of Real Estate Development at the University of Maryland.

We've attended Good Hope Presbyterian Church for the last three weeks. I've never met more welcoming, hospitable people in my life. We like the preaching, Sunday School seems good, and the women there have opened there arms and included on their Wednesday morning stroll/playground time with their children and even a birthday party. I bet they don't even realize what a gift it is to have like-minded people to interact with as we learn our way in this new life.

We're fortunate to have visitors from Boston, Atlanta and Nashville coming to visit during the month of October. It's a great excuse to explore our area with friends and family while enjoying their company. I sometimes feel like our blog has turned into those baby-centric blogs I used to roll my eyes at in the past. We love Alice and she's the most constant thing in our lives right now. Hopefully we haven't run anybody off by posting too many pictures of her. Mark and I both really love our girl and look forward to the young lady she'll become. For now it's fun enjoying these moments as a sweet baby girl.

Alice is 3 Months Old

A Glimpse of Our Home

I'm so glad to feel like there is nothing else to do in Alice's room. This past week I made her bedskirt, painted her changing table white, and got pictures on the walls. It's tiny but so is she and I'm not worried about it.

Our bedroom is a good size and we'll pass it off to visitors so they won't be crammed in with the crib. We seem to get a smaller place with every move. Our hope is to have a house again one day so we keep some of the furniture with the expectation it will have a room of its own one day. Keep scrolling down for a big laugh. . .we have THREE dressers living on the wall opposite our bed. They're there to stay and filled with clothes we've accumulated in different weather zones. I can tell marriage has changed me because this would've made me NUTS in my earlier years :)

Friday fun at the National Zoo

We're looking for more fun adventure in Baltimore, DC and in between. Please leave a comment if you've got any recommendations on places to eat, shop, hike, explore or otherwise enjoy. Thanks!

Alice is growing like a weed. She's also been rolling from her belly to her back for over a week. 

We're fortunate to have such a great zoo that's free for an afternoon adventure.

We don't have to go to the zoo for Mark and Alice to have a good time together.

proud Auntie Em & Uncle Mark

Mark and I are excited to welcome our nephew Henry Price Stegall to the world. He was born yesterday (9/8/10) in San Francisco. Henry and Jenny are doing well and his sister and brothers are so glad to have him here! We look forward to meeting him soon.

Sweet Home Alabama

Mark and I both think our visit to Atlanta, Union Springs, Lake Martin, Gadsden, and Birmingham was the best visit we've had with family in years. We packed a lot in to 6 days but had a GREAT time. Alice met my grandmothers and they think she's the greatest. We agree!

I sent an email to my large family and some friends to join us at Taziki's for dinner on Tuesday if they were available. I was really honored that so many folks joined us! It felt like our wedding reception as we went from friend to friend to catch up while constantly wishing for more time to enjoy the great people we loved in the room. As you can see from the pictures Alice is not the only new addition to the family. We enjoyed seeing everyone. Thanks for coming!

Laura & Elizabeth Ann (3/19) with Alice & Emalee

with Shannon -- we'll be back in April for her wedding, yeah!

Mama Ann getting some sugar from Alice

Evelyn and Aubrey showering their love

my grandmother Emalee

Stegall family 

Jack, Randa & Edward Graves

more Graves family: Jeff, Andy, Renee with us

cousins: George & Brittany, baby Julia with Jessica & Zach, Alice with me & Mark, Mama Ann

Hillary with Adelaide (July 13), Emalee with Alice (June 27), and Jessica with Julia (June 7).  We cousins were born within 18 months of each other and our babies within 6 weeks. It's a fun family!

Holmes sweet Holmes

Mark and I have enjoyed our adventures in New England over the past years' summer holidays but always felt a pull to be back with family at Lake Martin for Memorial Day, July 4 & Labor Day. This year we finally made it back to enjoy cool mornings and warm days on the lake. The water was warm and felt especially relaxing to me since I haven't been swimming since before Alice was born. Alice got to spend precious time in the arms of her grandparents and great-Aunt while her parents enjoyed the water.

sunrise on Lake Martin

Hulen, Abby, Mark, Oliver & Alice enjoying the peaceful morning 

Hugh, Alex and Abby on the kayak

Mark on the wakeboard 

Aunt Gail, Amelia's sister, sweet hostess at the lake

with cousin Len & Tara at the lake

Granddad Holmes -- notice that Alice and Mark both play with their hair the same way :)

Four generations of Holmes

Oh Atlanta

Mark and I flew South for Labor Day to introduce Alice to her cousins, great-grandparents and other family. Mark's brother and wife were so gracious to host us in Atlanta and have the entire family for dinner. Cousin Virginia was so excited that she rushed to school so she could "get it over with" to hurry home and meet Alice Katherine. She did really well on the plane so traveling doesn't seem so daunting in the future. We even got to have breakfast with our friends who will have twins born in their family before we make it down for our next visit. It was such a treat to spend time with them!

first flight: BWI to ATL

John and cousin William admire Alice

A little morning snuggle before school with Aunt E and cousin V

Amelia checking out how much Alice has grown since her last visit.  Most folks think Alice really looks like a Holmes.

cousin story time

after brunch with Rick & Esta--their twins will be Alice's friends after they arrive in November

Sweet days with family

Mark, Alice and I are in Georgia & Alabama this long weekend so Alice can meet some folks who love her already.  Today Alice took her first dip in the pool with cousins in Gadsden. We'll have lots more to report once we're back home in Maryland. What a sweet, sweet time with family and friends.