4 months.

Columbia.

We got to Columbia on Saturday.  We had a ton of help loading up everything and once we got to our house.  We barely fit everything in to our moving truck, both of our cars and a Suburban.  The house looks amazing and we feel so lucky to have a new home to live in.  It poured once we moved everything inside and there was a rainbow once it was over.

On Father's Day Charlie decided to roll over for the first time.  She wakes herself up in the middle of the night now because she moves onto her stomach or gets her legs stuck into the crib bars.

We are getting to know the area and trying to find our favorite places to eat, drink, and shop.  We love it so far!

Bittersweet.

That is the word that we have been using when anyone asks how we feel about moving.  We love Des Moines, love our neighbors, and love being close to our friends and family.  We will miss it!

Graduation Ceremony, Friends, and Family.

On Friday Broadlawns had a graduation ceremony for the 3rd year and transitional residents.  It was a nice dinner and ceremony with all of the couples and their families.  We didn't get the memo about not bringing children so Charlie was the only kid there.  She got passed around quite a bit and everyone loved her shoes from Grandma Barb.  We ended up at Court Ave for drinks afterwards.  Everyone couldn't believe that we brought Charlie, but she mostly slept while we were out and closed the bar down.  A girl after my own heart!

Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market with Julie and Steve.  We needed to get more Peach Rhubarb smoothies and Sweet N Hot almonds before we left Des Moines.  My CF girls came to Des Moines Saturday night to hang out with me before we move.  Lindsey, Angie, Mahlet, Erin, Emily, and I sat outside all night and laughed.  I forget how good it feels to be around these girls.  I love being a mom but it is also great to be out with friends talking about bad reality tv shows, music, and significant others.  Erin's boyfriend Steve was kind enough to let us all be at his house as loud and annoying as we can be.

Charlie and I drove Julie back to CF on Sunday.  Molly met us and we hung out on the deck for the afternoon.  My mom and I stayed up until 1:30 talking and drinking wine.  It is definitely something I will miss!

New things with Charlie:  she can grab onto her toes (which is impressive since I have never been able to) and she loves to stand up and look at everyone.  I think she might skip sitting and go straight into standing and walking.

Last week.

We have about one week left at Broadlawns and are trying to take advantage of every minute that we have in Des Moines.  We have gone to Peace Tree Brewery, Snookies, and grill outs.  Charlie got to meet John and Cindy Purdue.  John married Paul and I and it was great to catch up with them.  We are lucky to have so many fun and caring people in our lives!  The farmers market and Zoo Brew are on the list of things we need to do.  I have packed up most of our place so we can just enjoy ourselves now.  Here are some pics of Charlie.  She had a couple of firsts this week: skinny jeans, swinging at the playground, and a keg.  I was almost in tears from laughing as I tried to pull her jeans on.  I think they are going to have to be retired.

Family Week and Beer Mile.

On Sunday Paul organized a Beer Mile for the residents at Broadlawns.  There was a great turnout and everyone showed up in costumes.  Scott came down from Minneapolis to run.  It was a beautiful day and we all spent the afternoon outside.  Charlie fell asleep on a blanket for a couple of hours in her diaper.  Broadlawns has a few baby pools and a large bouncy slide that everyone used.

This last week has been busy trying to see all of our family before we head down to Missouri.  Julie, Kris, Robin and Laura came to Des Moines on Monday to meet Charlie.  Great Aunt Barb came on Tuesday to visit.  Charlie and I had a girl's day with Grandma, Great Grandma, and Great Great Aunt Audrey in Des Moines on Wednesday.  We went to Bravo for lunch and then to Jordan Creek for some shopping.  Today we went out to lunch with Grandma Julie, Great Aunt Rhonda, Great Aunt Becky, and cousin Samantha at Hickory Park in Ames.  We are definitely going to miss having our families close when we move.