Baby Maryn~

Our sweet neighbors put up a sign for us~

Our baby girl was to arrive on or around March 30, but she surprised us with her presence on March 14 at 1:52 a.m.  To say we weren't quite ready would be an understatement.  Little Maryn decided to arrive the Saturday before spring break!  It was quick and a whirlwind, and she was absolutely perfect!

Maryn Grace Darby

Maryn weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces, and she was 18.75 inches long.  She was our most petite baby, but she was a trooper from the beginning.

 We were incredibly blessed by our neighbor and work villages who helped us throughout the week and really rallied around us to support our family in the transition.  I'm certain I have never felt more loved than I did the week after we had Maryn.  It is indescribable all of the generosity that was poured out to our family in the few weeks after her birth.  Our blessings are many, and we are loving this sweet little person God put in our care.

She is now 5 weeks old, and I feel like I have a handle on my life again. Rowan and Isla adore little Maryn, and they are both tremendous helpers!

Here are a few pictures from her early days~

So tiny and so amazing~

Rowan, Isla, and Maryn

So precious holding her for the first time~

Proud big sister~

She loves her Maryn~

Grandpa meeting the little girl~

Grandma came too~

Going home at 32 hours old~

Grammy came to cuddle~

Poppy too!

Our sweet neighbor, Sheri!

Maryn has been so alert from the beginning~

She loves to be held~

Aunt Reesa came too~

We've got a routine down now, and I am thoroughly enjoying our quiet days at home.  There is nothing more innocent and sweet than a newborn, and I feel blessed to experience this joy again!

 

Goals Update-April~

Gosh, it seems like a lifetime has passed since I've blogged.  Life has been busy here, but we don't have any complaints.  My hope is to update the blog with all of the great Darby happenings in the next three weeks-that's when I return to work from maternity leave!

1. Pay off Alex's undergraduate loan by October 1, 2015
We had 100% of the loan to go on January 1.  As of right now, we are down to 93% 76% of the loan left.  I've started hitting this with gazelle intensity as Dave Ramsey would say.  We've still got a long ways to go, though, to get it done by October 1!

2. Establish a will
Nothing else to report here.  

3. Read the Bible in 2 years
I've started back up where I left off last year.  I'm working on reading ahead, so when I return to work I can give myself some grace.  I feel pretty good on where I am with this goal right now.

4. Go on 1 family vacation
Our travel planner found us a great option in Breckenridge, Colorado.  We booked and paid for the trip earlier this week, so it looks like we will be Colorado bound in June!  Rowan is excited for the mountains, and I'm excited for the change of scenery.  We ended up going with 7 days and 6 nights.  We are either going to be really ready to be home or we will be really rested;-)  I highly recommend the travel planner option.  She was great, did all of the research, did the paperwork to reserve our condo, and will fix any issues we have while there.  I think Big Al might be onto something with vacation planning.

5. Have a baby
We had a baby!!!  She came 2.5 weeks early, so we were a little unprepared, but she is great!  She is worthy of a post all of her own;-)