A long road traveled...

Well we made it to Texas. It was almost an 1100 mile trek and even though it took about 22 hours to complete it didn't seem all too long. We had a 26ft Uhaul, our F150 towing Zach's 1963 F100 and then our Expedition. I drove the Expedition most of the way with the two kids. We started the trip off slow as our plan was to leave by 3pm, but that quickly turned into about 3:45 which wasn't all that bad. We stopped at the gas station to fill up before getting on the interstate and something prompted Zach's dad and brother to look under the hood of the Uhaul. They discovered that there was no cap on the coolant. So we drove across the street to the auto parts store and needed the make/model of the Uhaul to get the correct cap. The Uhaul service helpline was useless so we had to make our best guess based on what we saw in the Uhaul. Somehow this slowed us down by about an hour.
We got on the interstate right about when rush hour started and within 45 minutes Levi was screaming his head off and Chloe had dumped a brand new bag of pretzels on the floor of the Expedition so I decided I would pull off and feed both of them and then catch up with the rest of the caravan on the first planned stop. This dinner was crazy. We stopped at McDonald's and they didn't have any available high chairs so while I was feeding Levi Chloe had free range in the booth. She sat nicely in her seat and ate a few pieces of her cheeseburger then realized that I was preoccupied with feeding Levi so she decided to put on a show. She first started by just standing in the booth and looking out the window, then she got bored and decided to sit on the table, then a few minutes later she wanted to just get up and down off of the booth seat, and then finally for her grand finale she climbed on the table and stood up and started dancing. She thought it was funny and I was overwhelmed and just could imagine what everyone else was thinking...can't this lady get control of her child. I did  my best and finally loaded everyone in the vehicle and took off down the road. The rest of the trip was smooth sailing. We left late in the afternoon so the kids would sleep most of the way. This worked for the most part. Chloe actually was getting a bit upset and then she found one of Levi's pacifiers. Normally I would not let her have it, but in this case I was okay with the fact that she had one of his 7 pacifiers that were in the car because it kept her occupied and entertained rather than fussing and bored. Chloe did have a hard time staying asleep as she would fall asleep and then when her head would fall down it would wake her up or if the sun hit her face it would wake her up. She did good though. When we finally made it to Zach's parents house when his mom opened Chloe's door it was like a flood of snacks came pouring out. Chloe had spilled the entire bag of pretzels along with some cereal and crackers. It was very comical.
We all slept really good that night and the kids have had no issue getting adjusted to the time change as we are now two hours different than what we were in Phoenix. We have tried to get adjusted and settled in a bit while we temporarily stay with Zach's parents. Most of our stuff is in storage and Zach has only had to go about every day to get something out that we needed or to put something back that we didn't need. My vacation finally is ending since I have been off of work since the end of March. I will be going back to work on Monday while Zach stays home with the kids for awhile...back to the real world I guess. We will continue to keep the updates coming as we go through this transition time.

Chloe and Allie on a bike ride with Sabrina and the boys while Zach and I packed

Driving away

Having a "picnic" at our first gas stop

Chloe sleeping on the long road with her doggie and pacifer

Dinner at Texas Roadhouse for Grumpy's (Steve) birthday. Chloe was too cool to take her shades off.

Zach getting Chloe ready to "earn her keep" by diving to the bottom of the pool to clean it. (Just kidding she was just interested in the snorkel gear, no need to call CPS)

Chloe found a new "house" the dog crate

Again trying to earn her keep by mowing the grass with Zach. It was her first time on a riding lawn mower.

Trying to get a family picture on Father's day...trying is the key word

Levi with his Great Nana (Zach's grandma)...we told her she could just be called Nana, but she kept slipping in the "great".

Whirlwind of Events

Well it has been a crazy few months with the new baby, but even crazier few weeks. The Batsche clan is moving out of Arizona! It has been a shock to everyone and a little bit to us as well. After a lot of discussion we have decided to move to Texas. I never never never thought that we would end up in Texas, but that is what is happening.
Let me start from the beginning. In July/August of last year Zach and I had been discussing and debating moving out of Arizona and moving someplace a little closer to family. We love being in Arizona with my sister and her family and we love the weather in Arizona, but there were a lot of cons to Arizona. Zach and I are midwest people. We like the change of seasons and the midwest feel of living. More importantly to the small petty things that we like we realized that we wanted our children to grow up around grandparents and more extended family. Again, we had my sister and her family and Chloe loves to play with her cousin Allie who is just about 6 months older than her, but we still really wanted to be around grandparents. We started talking out the pros and cons of Texas and Indiana as our families don't live in the same state so we would have to choose one side or the other. Of course I was rooting for Indiana and Zach Texas because that is what we were accustomed to, but it wasn't about us anymore. The move would be about our family and children.
After we made the decision that we wanted to move we soon found out we were expecting Levi so we put the move on the back burner as we didn't want to move until after the baby was born. Once Levi was born we again started to look. We again discussed which would be a better place to live for our family, and again we found that either Indiana or Texas would be a great place for us and that there were pros and cons to both places. We decided that it was time to put it in someone else's hands. We started applying for jobs in both places and prayed about it and just said we would take the path where the doors were opened. We didn't want to pick favorites or sides of the family we just wanted to go where God had opened doors for us.
I had dreams of living back in Indiana and having my kids grow up with my friends' kids and my favorite house that I lived in growing up was for sale. So in my mind it was clearly a sign that we were going to Indiana. I had already moved back to Indiana in my mind and was picturing my life back in a familiar place. A place with great family, friends, food and churches galore. I never once had dreams about living in Texas because I didn't know Texas and I was more comfortable with the idea of Indiana, but it was quickly realized that there were more opportunities for us in Texas. Zach had multiple interviews and I had options as well, but we were only getting positive feedback from Texas. This was a hard pill for me to swallow and I really had to just take a leap of faith that it will all work out how it is suppose to work out. Not being in control is a hard concept for me, but I knew that I could only push and hope so much and then I would have to give up control for the rest.
On May 31st we were offered a position in Dallas and we would need to start the job June 25th. This didn't give us much time to get everything ready. As soon as we found out we called our realtor and put the house on the market to start the process of getting the house sold and got boxes and started packing. We had a garage sale to get rid of some items we didn't want to pack and take with us. Zach's dad and two brothers are coming out to help us drive out to Texas. All the plans quickly started coming together and we will be making our way to Texas in just a few days!
When we moved out to Arizona five years ago we moved out for the two of us and didn't really think far into the future and whether or not we would want to raise our children in Arizona. We just loved Arizona and moved for the two of us. Now that we are a family of four we have to do what is best for our family. It hasn't been the easiest few weeks. There have been a range and rush of emotions. We are excited, scared, nervous, sad and everything in-between. I'm excited for the change and to explore a new state, but extremely sad to leave my sister and her family. She is my best friend and even though I know that won't change it is still sad and something that I can't really even think about without tears. I'm sad that my parents will have all three of their children in distant states. I'm sad that Chloe and Allie won't have their weekly play dates anymore. But I know that I have to look at the big picture and even though this move brings a lot changes to our relationships the change is necessary and hopefully after a short period of time we won't remember what it was like before we lived in Texas as this will be our new normal and we will continue our relationships in a new way.
There have already been many tears shed and I'm sure there will be many more. I'm hoping that the more I tell myself this is what is best and these are the doors that were opened for us then I will start to really believe it myself. So when you think about us the next few months just remember to say a little prayer for us as I know that the next few months will bring big changes and new challenges for us.

Photo Update

Levi is doing really well and sleeping anywhere between 8-11 hours each night and napping during the day. He is right on track for his growth and starting to smile a lot, laugh a little and coo and baby talk. He smiles much more and easier than Chloe when she was this age. He is a happy baby! Chloe is still doing good with him. My mom is in town and there is a little bit of jealousy showing. She sometimes doesn't like when mom talks to Levi and not her and then one morning my mom was holding Levi and Chloe came over and put her hands under his armpits and said "off". Other than that we haven't really had many issues with her and her brother. Levi really likes to watch her and he smiles big at her all the time. I think he is pretty fond of his sister just like she is of him.

Happy Boy!

Trying to get a picture with the kids on Mother's Day...didn't work out so good.

I just love the facial expression on Levi while his sister is trying to sit next to him.

Chloe and her cousins (Allie, Wes & Calvin) at Allie's birthday dinner

Another great picture of Levi's face while his sister is hanging all over him.

Chloe likes to ride the dogs like a horse and luckily Buster is a willing participant...sometimes.

5 Weeks Flown By

Well it has been 5 weeks since Levi was born. I can't believe it has already been that long. We went to the doctor today and he now weighs 9lbs 14.5 oz and is 22 inches long. He is doing a little better with his strider while he eats, but we still hear it. The doctor said that it will get better with time, but it could be years before it is all the way gone. His visit was nothing but good news. He is in the 50th percentile for height, weight and head size. He is starting to smile when we smile at him and he has been sleeping between 7 and 10 hours a night for the past week, which is definitely nice for us!

Chloe is still doing really well with him. There hasn't been any huge jealousy issues and she just loves to help out with him. She thinks that he needs a pacifier at all times and if he doesn't have one she tries to look for where he dropped it, even if he never had one in the first place. She likes to push him in the swing and is always curious as to what he is doing and where he is at. She does get a bit ornery and if she tries to give him his pacifier and he doesn't take it then she takes it and puts it in her mouth, if Levi is in the swing she likes to try and climb in too, and when we stop feeding him and put the bottle down to burp him then she likes to try and sneak away with the bottle. She doesn't drink out of it, but she likes to run off with it for some reason. She also gets this look in her eyes of mischief as she will go and do something that she knows she is not suppose to when we are feeding him because she knows are hands are full.

Chloe is now 18 months old and she is on the go. She loves loves loves to be outside and wants to be outside all the time. We have a little gazebo over her water table and little play set with a slide and swing, but in 100 degrees it is still pretty hot! She is talking and mimicking everything that we are doing. It is really funny, but sometimes it is hard to keep a straight face when we are trying to discipline her while she is mimicking us. She is definitely the little ham and she knows it. She has a small baby doll and Peter Pan stuffed doll that she carries around and pretends like it is her baby. She will put them in the swing and push them down the slide, burp them, put them to bed, and give them a "bath" in her water table. Its really cute to see how motherly she is becoming.

Zach's parents came out for a quick visit to meet Levi and to see Chloe. We had a great visit. Chloe loved having her "Mimi" (Grammie) and "Pup Pup" (Grumpy) to play with. We went out to Westgate one day and spent a lot of time relaxing outside in the back yard while Chloe played. By the end of the trip Levi was giving out some smiles so I'm guessing he liked having them around as well.

Now that Zach is back to work and I'm on my own for most of the day 4 days a week it has definitely been different. It isn't too bad, but there have been a few days when Levi decides he doesn't want to nap so I am constantly going upstairs and back downstairs and back up again to try to get him to sleep. I curse those stairs at least once a day. Note to anyone with small children and wanting to buy a house. DON'T BUY WITH STAIRS! I do try to get the kids out on a walk everyday so that way we all get out of the house, but with the temps rising it is getting a little more difficult. We did go out the other day and we were caught in a dust storm. All the sudden the skies turned dark and the wind picked up and dust was EVERYWHERE! Levi was completely covered by the stroller shade so he didn't know what was going on, but Chloe and I were not. I tried to pick a route back to the house that the dust wouldn't be blowing in Chloe's face, but I couldn't find a route that was entirely safe so there were parts where I was pulling the stroller rather than pushing so that way I could keep the dust out of her face. It was no fun, but we made it and only I had dust in my hair and teeth. The kids were clean.

I'm sure this next month will be full of change as Levi seems to change daily and I'm sure Chloe will find new dance moves as she loves to dance all the time! Enjoy the LOADS of pics from the last few weeks.

First attempt at a family photo

Second attempt at a family photo...we will get it one of these days

"Pup Pup" and "Mimi" swinging Chloe

Playing at the Neighborhood Park

"Pup Pup" and Chloe relaxing at Westgate in-between water time

Levi big eyed while listening to Uncle Jeremy talk to him

Trying to get Chloe to lay next to Levi for a pic

Getting Back to Normal

After having almost a month off with Zach, he has gone back to work. The last week we had together we tried to get out and do some fun family things before he had to go back to the real world. We took a trip to the zoo, went to Westgate, and just hung out around the house as a family getting to know Levi. The man on man defense (one parent per child) is now going to be more of a zone defense now that Zach is back to work. Hopefully sanity will stay over our house!
Below are some of the pics from our family week.

Chloe playing w/Levi

Chloe & Zach looking at the Tiger at the zoo

Chloe & Zach playing in the water at Westgate

Chloe playing

Chloe giving Levi his pacifier

Levi "smiling"

Belated Easter

Levi was still in the NICU on Easter and even though Chloe doesn't really understand Easter I still felt guilty not doing anything real special with her. She did go over to her cousins' house for a quick egg hunt, but she didn't really care too much about it from what I was told. So we celebrated Easter a week late. Which is kind of nice because if you get Easter things after Easter they are all on sale! Below are some of the pictures from the day. Enjoy!

Chloe decorating candy eggs

Chloe looking in her Easter "basket"

Levi just chilling on his first "Easter"

Chloe playing with her water table that she got for Easter

Chloe taking a water break

Past few weeks

Chloe enjoying some DQ ice cream. She is a strawberry lover like her mother. She did not want her dad's chocolate ice cream sundae.

Chloe being silly shaking her water and ice

Trying to get a picture of Chloe winking (mommy was too slow with the camera) while at Subway enjoying lunch after taking our first family walk, Levi included.

Chloe wearing her crazy socks for and picnic at Westgate

Chloe in her new Shades (thanks to Mamaw) and new shirt/dress (thanks to cousin Sydney)

The past few weeks have been challenging at times starting with the crazy man trying to get in and then Levi in the NICU, our A/C breaking and finally bringing home Levi, but they have also been some of the best family bonding times as well. My parents were in town over my Dad's spring break which luckily happened to fall right when I was due so both my parents were able to be here. My parents got here the Wednesday before my due date and since I didn't deliver until the Thursday after my due date we had a full week of spending time with my parents as well as my sister and her family and a few of my dad's friends/old high school teachers of mine for that week. We went to the park, baseball spring training games and bike rides among other things. I should say that by bike ride I mean everyone else rode bikes while I followed in my sister's golf cart. I was 40 weeks pregnant there was no way I would be getting on a bike.

We were also able to spend some good quality time with Chloe since Zach was off as well. I was/am so paranoid that Chloe will feel left out and I want to make sure that she doesn't feel like she is any less special now that she has a brother who needs more hands on care than she does.

While we were going to doctors appointments, our hospital stay and the frequent visits back to the hospital for feeding Levi while he was still in the NICU Chloe was with my parents. She got a lot of quality time with her Mamaw and Papaw as well as her cousins. Chloe has always been a Mamaw's girl, but it was definitely intensified. Even when we were home she would often prefer Mamaw to change her diaper or Mamaw to help her with her toys. She would look and ask for Mamaw and Papaw. It was really nice to know how smitten she was with her grandparents and vice verse. It was definitely reassuring to know that we were leaving her in great hands while we were tending to Levi. We can't thank them enough for helping out and my mom for staying until Levi came home from the hospital even after Daisy ate my mom's hamburger one afternoon and ran out of the house with Buster on both my parents.

In the next few weeks Zach's parents will be in time and I'm sure Chloe will be just as smitten and just as big of a ham when they are here too. She was such a ham for my parents. Chloe is in that fun stage where she is talking a lot more and mimicking everything. I can't wait for the next few months to unfold and all the family time we will get together.