Homecoming

This past week, Jared, Karis and I traveled back home to Tennessee to see family and to look for housing in Chattanooga where we will be moving for my medical residency starting in June.  This was also Karis' first trip to TN, even though she is genetically southern :)  Karis basically slept during the entire airport/plane experience to Nashville and then again to Philly at the end of the week.  As soon as we made it to the baggage claim in the Nashville Airport, she was whisked away by "BB and Bop" (my parents).  We then made a dinner stop at the home of Aunt Lo, Uncle Kev, Cousin Andrew, and Ginger the dog.  This was the first time Andrew (almost 2 years old) got to meet Karis.  We assumed at his age there would be jealousy since he is not used to sharing attention within our immediate family, but he surprised us!  The family has been talking to him about his new cousin and showing him pictures since she has been born.  When he finally me her that night, he would just look at her, gently touch her and giggle.  It was no time before he was pointing to his lap and saying "Andu's lap!  Andu's lap!"  He not only wanted to hold her, but he wanted to show her his toys, and anytime he went outside last week, he wanted "Livy" to go with him.  (When I was pregnant with Karis, Andrew had trouble pronouncing Karis, so when we got him to say her middle name Olivia, he said "Livy" and it just stuck.)    

Karis was also able to spend time with some of my extended family too, some she had already met and others she got to meet for the first time.  In other words, there was a lot of cuddling and no shortage of kisses!  In fact, in addition to visits from Aunt Pam, her kids, and Gome, we were able to go to my Uncle Ted and Aunt Marina's house to share their family night with them, feasting on BBQ and smoked chicken from the Slick Pig (which I always think is called the Stuck Pig, but I guess Slick Pig is ever so slightly more appetizing).  All four of the "first litter" girls were there along with all four of our babies.  Seems like yesterday when we four girls were the ones playing house, and now we live it every day...only Ashley is not Kelly Kapowski like she ALWAYS was when we played house!  Those were the days, huh, Ash?

Jared and I met with our realtor Tuesday morning to start looking at houses after several weeks of narrowing things down online.  We saw several houses in the Chattanooga area, but ended up loving the very first one we saw which seemed to meet all of our preferences.  By lunchtime of that first day, we had given our realtor the go ahead to start making negotiations with the builder.  We left Chattanooga that day with a new address... mission accomplished!  

For more pics of our new place, use this link

 

[caption id="attachment_171" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Karis remembers her "Auntsin Lynz""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_172" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Karis cuddling with Aunt Pammy"][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_162" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bonding with Bop at 6 AM"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_163" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Karis loves sleeping against BB's fleece PJs- she thinks she's still in bed!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_164" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Andrew with his Livy"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_165" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Andrew reminiscent of his bouncer days"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_166" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Our new house!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_167" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Back view"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_168" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Karis meets "Auntsin Ash""][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_169" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Ethan and Eli's Papa Ted = Jungle gym"][/caption]