On The Move -- Anxious to Settle!

It's been a busy couple months, but we're now beginning to feel settled into our house in Virginia Beach...well when the outside siding is finished and pictures are hung it will be better:)

We started the summer off with Daniel's dive school graduation and a big family reunion where we announced the upcoming arrival of Baby Lutz in December. We were 11 weeks pregnant when we shared the news so we had time to think of a good way to announce it! As suggested by a friend, Daniel typed up one of his typical itineraries for the weekend and the announcement was printed there. As we passed around the itinerary at the dinner table, it was fun to watch the quick reactions of some and slow reactions of others as they read through and saw the news. The first to catch on were my cousin Tara and my Mom. Everyone else quickly picked up on the excitement. My mother-in-law who had already been in town with us was surprised and I thought for sure she had a suspicion (especially when I threw up dinner the night before!). It made for a fun weekend of celebration for Daniel for his accomplishments in more than just school:-)

As soon as everyone was out the door Sunday morning, the packing fury began. Of course, you always think you can accomplish more in an allotted amount of time. We thought our packup from Panama City would be quite simple, but with a U-haul whose lights were out and a sick wife, Daniel had a lot of the weight on his shoulders. We finally left Panama City Monday evening and since we had already made hotel reservations in Savannah, GA, knew the night was going to be a long one. Daniel drive my car with the U-haul and we settled in for a long ride. We arrived to our hotel room about 3am that night and slept until we woke up. We made it into VA Beach around 7pm Tuesday evening and I was beyond exhausted. We took care of a few things here and then headed up for a couple days of R&R in Cape Cod.

We spent a few days at a lovely B&B near Hyannis Port. Even though the weather was a bit gray, we enjoyed the scenery and food on Cape Cod. Our B&B offered a three course breakfast every morning prepared by the owner, a professional chef. Normally breakfast doesn't do much for me, but at 13 weeks pregant I was starving all the time! Daniel and I enjoyed some long bike rides (which was difficult with a growing belly!), some walks, a train ride along the coast, watching a local triathlon and a sunset cruise (which wasn't so sunny with the incoming rain) through the Harbor and to the Kennedy compound.

After our weekend, we headed back south to Newport, RI, where Daniel had a two week class to attend. I stayed a few days and hung out before flying to Jacksonville for a beach week with family. While Daniel enjoyed beautiful cool weather in Newport, my family suffocated in a FL heatwave...even the ocean brought no relief!

By the end of June, we were officially tired of suitcases and arrived back to VA Beach to move back into our house here. The first order of business was to paint the spare room, which will be our son's room. It was a very bold blue and at the time we weren't sure it was a boy and wanted to go with a more neutral color. Daniel spent hours painting and doing house repairs before our shipment was supposed to arrive. I couldn't have been more excited to see our bed, couches, and my dishes!! It had been a long six months and I had forgotten how much our possessions made home feel more pleasant.

We are getting close to finishing some major house projects...having a baby on the way makes you feel pressured in a good way:-) Our house has been resided this week and Daniel's brother Samuel has been here the last two weeks rebuilding our fence, hanging curtains, changing out light fixtures, and fixing our two jetskis who never want to work. I do what I can, but my naptimes on the couch are becoming more and more necessary.

We have jumped back into the church we met and married at here and are enjoying a Bible Study with other couples on Thursday evenings. This fall I am hoping to join a ladies Bible Study, do some more projects around the house (like scrapbook organization and more blogging!) and also begin making a nursery for our little boy. I have also made friends with other Navy wives who are expecting and enjoy prenatal yoga classes and walking with them. I am very ready for the weather to turn cooler and the leaves to change. It feels like it's been perpetual summer since we arrived to Panama City in January.

The fall time will likely fly by with a trip to Houston in September to visit family and have baby showers, a family vacation/celebration in San Diego in October to Michael's SEAL/Buds graduation, and we plan to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Tennessee. And, December should bring a baby!!