2013: a look back

Wow. 2013 has been one of the most incredible years ever. The theme of our marriage has not stopped. Still lots of traveling and moving this year, but we are at least settled for a while.

This year started with us in Nigeria. After an unsettling event, we began to question if we were in the right place for us. We returned to the states to have Chandler, not knowing what we should do. After much prayer, conversation, and reflection, we decided to look for other positions in our organization that were in a less tumultuous place. We settled on Benin and then focused on our baby coming!



Chandler was born March 13. The day that forever changed us. There are small details of the day I may forget, but for the most part I can remember everything. Trey tells me that I've already forgotten about the pain of the contractions. I mean, they weren't that bad, right?! I was determined to have her on the 13th, though, because I thought it would be a cool birthday - 3.13.13 - cool, right?!

Two and a half months later we boarded our plane to Benin. We landing in French speaking Africa and already felt a peace. It was very different than Nigeria. Still a very lost area, just a different kind. We immediately jumped into language study and worked on getting our house ready to move in. With in two weeks we were moved in and doing full time language study.


Shortly after our arrival, we headed to Kenya for a retreat. The time with other workers from our organization was amazing. And the weather was absolutely wonderful on top of the mountain! Seriously, it was freezing at night. Chandler slept in footie pajama's, two swaddling blankets, a fleece blanket, and a hat! After the retreat was over we had the opportunity to go on a Safari! Once in a lifetime opportunity. I encourage anyone who EVER has the opportunity to go on a safari - jump on it. Seriously, incredible. And we didn't even see all the animals.

We made it back to Benin and back into French study. We were able to help with a few volunteer teams here. That gave us great insight in to Benin and the people here. We also got to do the touristy things with them and had the chance to visit Ganvie for the first time. We got introduced to Frances early on in our arrival to Benin. We also met her family. Her uncle has become a good friend of ours and through him Trey had the opportunity to share the gospel with his friend and see a new believer. We also had a volunteer team come from Hiland Park Baptist to do a pastor's training. It was nice to have friends visit.

In August, I experienced my first time driving in Africa. Seriously, that's a feat worthy of mentioning in the yearly post. In October, we took a trip to Ghana for a short break. We really enjoyed our time with friends. In November, we celebrated Thanksgiving at the American Ambassador's house! It's as close to America as we could get. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, football, and ate turkey & ham and other American classics made by guests.

December started with us preparing to come to the states for Christmas. We headed to Florida and had a great time with family & friends. The whole time we were back and forth between Panama City & Pensacola. We celebrated the marriage of one of my best friends, Michelle (and Jeremy), at the end of December in Dothan. Then, Trey's birthday on December 29th. New Year's Even was simple since we had a sick kiddo, but she quickly got over that.

This year really has been incredible. We are so thankful for the opportunities the Lord has provided us with this year. We are so thankful for your support, prayers, and encouragement as we strive to do what we have been called to.

Chandler Renee - 10 months

Finally, caught up. 10 months. This happened so quickly. Watching a child grow is truly an amazing thing. I thank God daily for allowing us to be a part of Chandler's life. I am also amazed at how He has designed us to grow. Seriously.

Most of this month was spent in America. She celebrated her first Christmas and New Year's! She got to see so many family and friends that she had not seen in months. And she did great with all of it. In Africa, she never meets a stranger. I was afraid, though, after so much travel and lack of sleep and transition she wouldn't do well in America. After an 8 hour car ride, 6 hour plane ride, 8 hour layover, 9 hour plane ride, and another 5 hour car ride we arrived at Trey's parents house. One of my biggest fears was that she would cry when she saw them because of exhaustion. She proved us wrong and jumped right in, at midnight, and started playing with them! It took a few days to adjust to the time difference, but her grandparents and great grandparents didn't mind getting up with her at 5 a.m. and letting us sleep :) We spent the first few days in Panama City, then drove to Pensacola for a week, and back to Panama City for a wedding in Dothan. Then Trey headed to California for the National Championship game and me & Chandler went back to Pensacola. Every car ride she did great! Like I said last month... she's so flexible. Since we got back to Benin, it only took a day or two to adjust to the time difference. We are SO thankful!

Rigo was right. She was saving her second tooth for America! Within a few days of arriving, her second tooth cut through. And we could see her top teeth start moving in. She cut her first top tooth the day she turned 10 months old! This month was much like the first time she rolled over. Chandler took her first steps on Christmas Eve!! And then didn't take anymore. Once we got back to Benin, she got her courage back and began taking more steps. She's showed off for everyone here. We wanted her to get as much baby socialization as possible so she went to Mother's Day Out and the nursery every chance she could. She also loved playing with her cousin, Owen, even though sometimes he wasn't too fond of her taking his toys :) Along, with her first steps she got her first real runny nose from the cold weather and a bought with RSV at the very end of our trip. She kicked it quickly, thankfully, and got a clear check up from the doctor just before we left.

We took her for her 9 month well baby check up when we first got there. She weighed 17 pounds 7 ounces, 26.25 inches long, and her head is 18 inches around. She's thinned out since she started crawling and seems to be a shorty. Not sure where she gets that from! But we do love our petite little girl.

Chandler Renee - 9 months

Chandler turned 9 months right after we got back to the states for vacation. This meant I was a really bad mom and I didn't get her official 9 month pictures, but of course, I have plenty of other pictures.

This month Chandler celebrated her first Thanksgiving!! We were supposed to get together with some other American's at our supervisors house, but after Barbara battling with sickness, we weren't able to. We decided to accept an invitation to attend a dinner at the American Ambassador's house! I mean, can't say we've done that before. They had really good meat, which is hard to find here. Ham & turkey. However, Chandler only had veggies I brought from home. Sorry, kid. She enjoyed it, though! There was so much going on and so many other kids to watch. We also visited our house-helper's home. She was great with his daughters (he has 8!), and really loved the oldest. 

The best part about this month was that Chandler decided to take a bottle!!!! I have no idea why all of the sudden. We had been leaving a sippy cup with our babysitter while we went to language. She wouldn't usually drink much from it, but it was enough to keep her happy/distracted after she got up from her nap until I got home. One day I was fixing the sippy cup, gave it to her, and the "no-leak" cup started leaking. Her other cup was dirty and she was screaming for it. I quickly put it in a bottle thinking it's worth a shot... she downed it!! This made things so much easier. The babysitter began giving her a bottle every day and we gave her one in the morning as well. It had to be a God thing. Her taking a bottle meant we could have some free time and her grandparents could watch her whenever they wanted while we were home. 

This month our One-Tooth-Wonder lives on! Rigo, our house-helper, keeps saying she's saving the second for America. She decided to grow attached to a particular toy this month. She doesn't drag it around with her, but it comforts her when she's sleepy and fussy. She can be upset and you pick her up trying to calm her down, and that works, sort of. But if you pick her up and give her the bunny, she's silent :) This helped on our trip home! Bunny helped her stay calm for most of the trip. She began cheering on her Noles this month & playing ball with daddy. I think he's pretty happy about both of these things! The biggest thing that happened this month was traveling to America. She hadn't done that trip since she was 2.5 months old! It was very different this time, but all-in-all we can't complain. We've got a very flexible baby.

Chandler Renee - 8 months

I'm playing catch up and finally posting Chandler's monthly update. Sometimes 2 months can seem like such a short time, but when I try to think back to what Chandler was doing just two months ago, it seems like a lifetime! Time really does go faster the older you get. Enjoy it while you're young, kids.

Chandler turned 8 months on November 13th. After having some... well, we'll call it "tummy issues, " for at least 2 months, we finally solved the problem. However, those issues never slowed her down. She continued to get into EVERYTHING! I know, people always tell you that, but until you experience it, you can't understand. Not to mention, it blows my mind how she can find the smallest speck of something on the ground, pick it up, and put it in her mouth... but then give food a dirty look. ha! This month she got better and better at pulling up on things. She began to stand alone for a few seconds, but not often. She still only had 1 tooth at 8 months... our little "One-Tooth-Wonder."

We were finally able to get her room ready for her to sleep in. After all of our traveling, unpacking, and flat out busyness, she moved into her own room. With that came sleeping through the night again!! We were thrilled for this. She hadn't done that since we came to Africa, when she was an incredible sleeper before. We also got her on a good bedtime routine, that I think helped with her sleep.

This month Chandler went to Ganvie for the second time. She did great when we went into a local family's home... for a minute. Then when she was fussy, she wanted our tour guide to hold her. She really liked him. She also experienced her first solar eclipse... sort of. She wore sunglasses and a hat while we tried to look at it with makeshift glasses. She also traveled to Bohicon (a little further north in Benin) for the first time and did her first photo bomb. And how can I forget her first Halloween. Even though we had no where to trick-or-treat, we dressed her up and went to the expat grocery store :)