Oct 19, 2011

Ho Ho Ho!

I have the coolest/craziest family. It's officially Christmas in the Markle family and every hall has been decked at my parent's home. Today I baked cookies with Meghan (sister), Maya (niece), and Kohen (nephew). Each year my family exchanges baked goods at Christmas time. Everyone gets to go home with 10+ types of cookies in their basket. This is Mark's ideal situation and single-handedly guarantees the success of my marriage for years to come. This year I am bringing White Chocolate, Macadamia, Cranberry Cookies and Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. I'll post the recipes for both after I learn whether or not people like them.

Later this evening my mom and I decorated the Christmas tree. It was the greatest hour of Toto's life. After learning just how easily she can climb and play in the tree, we were forced to avoid any breakable ornaments but it still turned out pretty cute, huh?

Oct 17, 2011

Do not be deceived

This kitten is only sweet while sleeping. I'm officially in GA and have been busy playing with the menagerie at my parent's house. They have an adorable new puppy, Tuffy, and a new satanic kitten, Toto. I'm the biggest cat lover I know and I can't stand this thing. It bites, growls, hisses, and then seems disappointed when you won't pet it. The worst is that it comes to you under false pretenses purring begging for love only to attack you moments later. Tuffy, on the other hand, is so darn cute. Except when he pees on me. That's not so cute.

It feels good to be here but it's never felt more obvious to me that this is no longer home. Maybe it's that my parents moved away from my childhood home or maybe it's just because DC has, over time, become the place I hang my hat. I like to think that Mark is home and whenever we are together, no matter the city or country, we will be home. Here's to hoping this theory holds water in Addis...

Farewell, DC

Today was my last morning waking up in the house we have worked relentlessly to make a home. It's sad, thrilling, and anxiety-inducing all at once. Mark and I met in DC, fell in love in DC, planted roots here, built our careers here and learned that we were becoming parents here. It's a tough place to say goodbye to.

I'm headed down to GA to spend quality time with family before our departure to Addis. This Friday, Mark and I will learn if our baby is a boy or a girl and we will then spend our weekend celebrating Christmas in October with my extended family. It's overwhelming how blessed we are to have a family with such a sacrificial love for us.

Oct 12, 2011

I will skip that line, please.

I've got two diplomatic passports in hand stamped with two visas for Ethiopia!! It's all going to come together after all!

Oh Federal Government...

How you frustrate me so. We are now headed out to Addis on November 8th!

If you're ever trying to move your pet abroad, it's worth noting that they need their vaccines updated and microchipped no less than 21 days prior to your departure, the rabies vaccine must be given after microchipping even if they don't need it, and they need a preflight exam and international health certificate given no MORE than 10 days prior to departure. You may have to drive to the nearest USDA office and have them authenticate that certificate in that time period as well. Whew.

Oct 6, 2011

Sweet Boy

My nephew Kohen is primarily concerned with running around at the speed of light, jumping on things, playing "Good Knight, Bad Knight," and insects but every once in a while he does something that simply takes your breath away.

Two weeks ago Kohen went to school and made a necklace for his Uncle Mark. He came out of school and his teacher said, "I'm not sure who this Uncle Mark is but Kohen was very specific in his request to make a necklace for him today." Gotta love that Montessori education! Mark loves the necklace and Kohen, too. He's a special boy who has grown from a wildly untamable little boy to a wild boy with manners and the kindest heart. I know it has a lot to do with the hearts of my sister, Meghan, and her husband, Jeff, rubbing off on him. His spirit is infectious.

Nursery Planning

It is becoming clear that a nursery in Addis won't quite look like a nursery in the US, but we are excited to give it a whirl. We've picked out our fabric from Calico Corners called Dahlia. It's a modern floral but gender neutral in color. Now we are headed into home depot. I want to paint the crib the same shade of turquoise on the fabric. Fun, right?

Tonight we head to Texas for a family gathering with the Harlan clan. Mark's family hasn't all been together since our wedding so I would be lying if I wasn't a little excited that our move is another excuse to make everyone spend a little QT together.

Oct 5, 2011

Growing pains

At first it hurt to button my pants

Then it hurt to zip them

Then the Bellaband (that everyone swears by) rolls up revealing my unzipped pants.
At work.

Then the Bellaband digs in to my stomach under my lungs, adding to my acid reflux.

Then I spend date night with my husband spitting up into a cup during our movie.

Then I went to the tailor and had my maternity jeans hemmed.

Now I can keep my food down, but every time I step my pants fall down.
At work.

On the upside, our little bean is growing like a mad (wo)man. (S)he is a large plum these days and actually looks like a human on an ultrasound. I went to see Courageous with Mark last night. If you haven't seen it, I think it's a pretty cool movie to watch with your spouse. The acting is terrible. The message is amazing. It spawned a lot of great conversation between us about what kind of parents we want to be and how we want to go about sharing our faith with the new guy/gal. Of course, now we have given ourselves homework assignments (such nerds) that I am going to have to work hard to make time for given the great need for packing and pant pulling in my life. Seriously, if I could have those minutes back...who am I kidding? I'd probably waste them on Pinterest.