4 months later...

4 months after my blog vomit, look how God is tying things up for me in the questions department:


*Are y'all going to be in Fresno next year? No. We are moving back to the D/FW area mid-August. Michael's internship is done, and I've resigned from my teaching position here.

*How many job prospects does Michael have in Fort Worth? He's applied for many and has 3 interviews this week.

*Will you be teaching next fall? The time to accept a job is getting smaller...this is a big step of faith for us that God will provide an income for our family without me teaching full-time. I am planning on only teaching Owen and June this fall, so until I am shown otherwise, no.

*If you do, who will watch the baby? And Owen? Crossing that bridge if we need to come to it later.

*If you move, when will you be moving?
Last date in our Fresno apartment is Aug. 16th...then the cross-country drive. We actually don't know WHERE we will be moving yet. Hopefully, that will emerge this week when we are in town.

*If you don't work, how will you afford to stay home if Michael is just starting out? Prayer and perhaps 2 jobs at once for Michael. Older friends will remember my teaching/tutoring/PartyLite days if they begin to feel sorry for Michael. He can do it.

*How much will those student loans be when he's done? Let's just say those payments will be a monthly feature in our lives for years to come. And I praise God for them because they made Michael's vocation possible.

*Really, you still have the red truck...selling it anytime soon? No sale soon...you'll have to fight your temptation to covet once again! Ha! In fact, it's getting some repair work done today in preparation for another year of service. My heart is longing for bigger vehicle, but nostalgia and finances say "it's an oldie, but a goodie." Pray "travel mercies" over it as we come home.

*What date will Michael be defending his dissertation? Hey, it's done!!!! It's receiving its final edit before printing this week, in fact. Then it can make itself useful by propping up a wobbly kitchen table or sit on a shelf as a reminder of our journey. ;)

*Will you be going to his graduation June 13th if the baby is due June 9th? Isn't God faithful down to the details. June was born June 2nd, so we got to go (you saw pics, right?).

*What if Michael doesn't pass his licensure exam this summer? Turns out, he has a year to do it and can work under a provisional license. This is a HUGE burden lifted. Now, he just has to study and prepare (in his spare time, right). With family closer to us, it should be easier to have set aside some time to study without Owen and I feeling all alone on the weekend.

*What are you doing for Owen's birthday April 8th? Wow, I was really worried when I wrote this, wasn't I? We had some families from church over (SUPER low key) and went to Disneyland a month later.

*When will you be posting pictures of Owen on your blog next? This question is a constant from the family. But since they'll be seeing Owen on our visit to Fort Worth this week, I'll be posting pictures for the Fresno folks who might(?) be missing us.

*When will be your last day of work before taking maternity leave? I took off 4 weeks before June's due date (hoping that the lack of teenager stressors would help turn the baby out of a breech position). That didn't work but 3 weeks later, she came. I am thankful for every spare minute I had to relax before blooming into a family of 4.

*What will you name the baby? June Lightfoot Arnold.

*Is it a boy or a girl? One benefit of a breech baby: you find out the gender quickly and then can push some more with that new tidbit to tide you over until you hold your baby. "It's a girl! And if you want to see her, you better keep pushing." LOL.

So, have I learned my lesson? Well, I have a new list of questions, but I'm trying to do better about giving them over to the One who has sustained us so far.

Thank you, blog friends, for lifting us up the past few months. When I've been a doubter, worrier, and full of anxieties, you've reminded me to let go. That being said, a big week coming up for us as we interview for a position with "Apartment Life" ministries and Michael interviews for counseling positions.

AND, most importantly, June's first time in Texas. A big hair bow is probably waiting at the airport with her name on it already. :)

As the Master Oogway says in Kung-Fu Panda "The past is history, the future is a mystery, and today is a gift...that's why they call it the present." So, I'm off to enjoy it (and remind myself to limit my viewing of full-length animated films).

Catching up on Family Pictures

Quick update: doing better with the whole 2 kids thing. Thanks for all your support!


June sends greetings!


Our good buddy Joe came to Fresno for a day (next time longer, eh?). Michael and Joe had a man-date to see Transformers 2 and get some bromance hours before we move back to Texas. But we also know he wanted to see his little "niece".

June and Joe...


Remember Owen and Joe? Remember our old plaid couch? I miss Joe (and the couch).
Here's June in her first ruffle britches. (I think it's so funny how all the girls' clothes have ruffles on the rear. She appears concerned.)

She has a tendency to look serious, just like Owen, with her expressive eyebrows.

But she's starting to smile at Owen. (and he LOVES it!)

Out and about at the park on Michael's lunch break. Owen and I are conflicting on our sports loyalties...he's got his Fresno Grizzlies on and I'm sporting the Cowboys. June has the "ragdoll" neck. I always feel badly about that, but I guess she's relaxed, no?


Owen with his "stank-face" playing Guitar Hero. He's mastered the green button. There should be a name for that level.

Forgot this pic of June and Bert. He's a mush for babies.


Oh, I forgot last time:
Here's Owen at the Dodger's game. Oh, Michael and I look so young! (Especially compared to our most recent pics at the Grizzlies' game)

One Year in Fresno

The July 4th weekend reminded us that we had spent a full year in Fresno. We went to the Fresno Grizzlies (AAA team for the Giants) on July 5th, exactly like we did last year (comparison pics to follow). On the way home, Michael and I were commenting on what a difference a year makes. Last year we were a family of 3 just arriving in town. This year, a family of 4 preparing to leave town. Who knows what the Lord has prepared for us this next year? But for now, we enjoy each day.



Pregame cuddles (June is like "enough, dude!")

Our seats at Chukchansi Park

Zoned out in '08


Zoned Out in '09
Meeting Parker in '08

Reunited in '09



Our friends Rae and Bert came to town from LA for the weekend. After a batch of homemade ice cream, we hit the park.


Bert doing his "Weekend at Bernie's" impression. Come to think of it, June is doing her's too in the sling.

Auntie Rae...one of the only people Owen does not practice "out of sight, out of mind" with...he asks about her and Bert often when we don't see them



Bert and Michael taking a break from movie trivia and impressions to smile for the camera. June is bored with it, but they really are pretty good.
This was Bert's first baseball game in 30 years!!!!! (is that un-American??) Too bad the Grizzlies lost.

Aah, humility...

Our friend and pastor Matt was kind enough to send me a Facebook message asking how I was doing adjusting from working outside the home to life at home with a 4 year old and a newborn.

When I first read the message earlier in the week, I thought "well, I am a stay-at-home mom every summer, so this is not TOTALLY new to me", but I hadn't replied yet because I was busy with my parents being here.

Today, after they returned back to Texas and I was alone with a napless Owen and appropriately needy baby June, I thought "Lord, you didn't need to humble me so quickly!" It was brutal, and I left this pathetic "COME HOME NOW" message on Michael's voicemail at work.

So, to answer his question, I'll be trying to find a rhythm for the next couple of weeks. Since I'm guessing he's not the only one who's been concerned on my behalf, I'm putting it out there:

Advice?
Ideas?
Amusing stories to let me know that I'm not alone?

Make me laugh so I don't cry, please.

How does Owen like June?

For those who have asked how Owen is adjusting to his new sister, this video is for you.



Short transcript:
"I get to touch her" song
"Pillow" song
"Gummi Bear" song

Not had the "Gummi Bear" song in your head yet? Count your blessings. Listen at your own risk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=astISOttCQ0

"Chub Chub" and "O", the Big Bro

Owen's nickname for June: "Chub-chub". What she lacks in hair, she makes up for in delicious cheek fat!


Cheeky little monkey!

Mom got this shirt for Owen and he refused to wear it while she was here. But now that she's gone, he wears it with a big grin. It's like he could sense how much joy it would bring her and he took pleasure in denying her. Why do we (and by we I mean Owen and I) do that to people?

Owen gearing up for our Father's Day walk 'n' ride.


(Much time elapsed since leaving for our walk)

Michael and Owen on our Father's Day walk. I have taken this picture from the rear for several reasons:

#1 It was the world's longest walk and I was bringing up the rear. Where's the bike, you ask? see #2

#2 Owen was beet red and sobbing because he was exhausted (long abandoning his bike because his tushie hurt from such a long ride). I had the bike balanced on top of the stroller, pushing June while Michael tried to be Coach to Owen's Rocky. After that encouragement failed, Owen ended up riding the very narrow foot rest on the front of the stroller for the last mile home. And, yes, for the record, I did lobby for the sit-n-stand stroller for 2, but someone (who shall remain nameless) said that Owen was old enough not to need a stroller. "We never walk for long enough for him to NEED to ride in the stroller, Natalie. He can always ride his bike."

#3 I had forgotten how much Michael's and Owen's noggins look the same. Amazing that Owen might ever actually be even near how tall his daddy is. On many fronts, if he's half the man Michael is, I'll be pleased.

Snapshots of the Week

Neglected first-born needed a popsicle...now we're happy. :)

Michael and Owen at Sequoia (poor child had an accident on the way up and had to walk the park commando in 50 degree weather and then threw up on the S-curves on the way down the mountain...came home looking like a ragamuffin)


Grammie and June


Yes, I love my grandparents

Pee-Paw and June

Worn out (actually, this is what she looks like for 20 hours a day)

First frilly outfit...just wait 'til your Sushi comes back, little sister!

Owen picked out the skirt for her. So odd to me to see a newborn in a skirt (like a boy baby in a tie), but I better get used to it, no?


My kiddos. Of the 4 hours she's awake, 3.5 of them are spent being kissed on, held, and talked to by Owen. The other 30 minutes are usually Owen in a time-out for practically jumping on top of her or dive bombing me while I'm nursing her. Hey, he's still a rowdy preschooler, so I'm trying to be patient.