Where we've landed

Okay, so...we made it to America!

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but we have seen most of you guys in the meantime. Where to start...well...we surprised the Georgia clan by arriving a couple of days early. The picture above is our first picture with sweet baby Caleb who greeted us as soon as we walked in the door. He is a handsome, cute, sometimes smelly little addition to our family and he is dearly, preciously, fiercely loved by his uncle and aunt.

Just to update you, we:

• spent three amazing weeks with our family in Georgia
• flew to Texas, interviewed and built relationships with the church there
• spent a lovely weekend with the newlywed group up at the lake
• accepted the job in Texas!!
• packed up all of Anlee's belongings
• road-tripped to Spring Lake, NC to visit the Griffin family  :)
• drove 14 hours to Chicago to visit the Grant family (and picked up Bronchitis) 
• drove 11 hours to Fargo to visit the world's greatest roommate - Natters!
• drove 12 hours to Mt. Rushmore and Rapid City to visit a friend from Korea
• drove 13 hours to Bozeman, MT to stay at the most lovely B&B in the world! Last date with the sweet hubby before...
• driving 13 hours to CAMANO ISLAND, WA to spend three sweet weeks with the Washington Family! 

So, the big announcement is: We are moving to TEXAS!

We will be new residents of Midland, Texas on October 29, 2011! And new members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church!!! God has/is really blessing us in sending us to Midland.  

more pictures to come!

It's a .......

 BABY BOY!!!!! YAY! Another baby boy will be joining our ever growing family this November. Ashleigh and Whit found out today that the future Long Baby is Knox Whitly Long! Now, the fun can begin! Derek and I (mostly I) are planning to surprise our sweet nephews with ... I'm not sure yet. I'm planning on something highly fashionable for Baby Knox and a hand sewn Pooh Bear for Baby Caleb. Oh GOSH! The great part of this is that I WILL BE THERE for Baby Knox!  Whit is already planning to buy Knox his first set of six-month golf clubs. Ashleigh has picked out Burberry overalls and I'm planning...to cry when I meet the little guy! Here are some amazing photos of the happy family from the annual beach trip. (I had a lot of fun editing the photos, taking out a tent on the beach, some random shoes on the boardwalk and softening the overall look...can someone please send me to photography school! THANK YOU!)

BABY CALEB!!!

HE IS HERE! 

The little guy decided to join us hours after his Aunt Anlee's birthday! 

Mom had the world's easiest labor. She didn't feel any contractions. 

Labor was less than 4 hours. 

Healthy. 

Precious.

Blessed!

Can't wait to meet him!

Baby Caleb

Baby Caleb's crib...

Just like his dad, in love with Pooh!

Letters to my nephew

My sweet little baby nephew is getting ready to join us. He's reaching his due date and I'm reaching ecstatic! Caleb, named after Joshua's first hand man in the OT (Josh is my brother/the dad), has no idea how loved he already is. Right now, Christ is with him in the "secret place" (Psalm 139). This little guy was known by God before the womb (Jeremiah 1:4).  AND he is known by his Aunty Anlee.

While D and I were abroad, I kept thinking about baby Caleb and what he will be like, how he will laugh, if he will terrorize future siblings like his dad...(my older brother). Whatever he is like, I love him!

So, I'm writing Baby Caleb letters. He's soon to get his first postcard from an MIA aunt. I won't be there the day he is born, but I plan on being there for the rest of his life. ....

Dear Baby Caleb, I love you so much. Can't wait to meet you!            Love, Aunt Leelee and Uncle D