Hello from beautiful NC

Well folks, we made it!  We've been here in Charlotte for almost 3 weeks now, hard to believe time has gone by this quickly.  It took us that first week to really get settled in, drive around our south part of town getting to know the streets, and start plugging in to community groups and find a church.  But we've made great progress!

We started our trip up on Good Friday.  Not the most ideal time to be making a move, but with Dave's end date at his clinic in Orlando and start date in North Carolina, we really only had Easter weekend as opportunity for traveling.  The entire trip from Orlando to Charlotte was about 11 hours I think.  Plenty of stops along the way as baby was pushing on my bladder.. Dave didn't like that part so much "Um...Dave, don't get mad (because this is the third time in two hours), but I have to go..again."  "Now?"  "Yeah, like, NOW.  Next place we see, okay?!!"  Good times, good times.

We split our trip into two days, drove about 8 hours to Augusta, Georgia to see Dave's brother Eric and family.  Were able to spend the night with them and part of Saturday morning.  So great to see them again -- I think it had been two years!  Their girls are getting so big, blossoming into little beauties!  On Saturday, we drove the remaining 3 hours straight up to Charlotte.  Beautiful drive as we entered South Carolina and into North Carolina.  We missed the trees!!!!  Let me say, Orlando (Florida in general) just didn't feel like home without the trees!  NC really reminds us of the UP, just a little bit warmer.  And we like that.  ;)

We stopped at Daytona Beach on the drive up to Augusta.

It was beautiful!

For these first few months, we'll be renting a room from a woman just to help us save a little cash as Dave begins his business.  We arrived and met her, got moved in (it only took us a half hour to get all our stuff moved from our car and put away in our room, ha!), then took a drive around the main part of town looking for natural grocery store options.  Unfortunately there aren't many co-ops here, one thing we miss most from Minneapolis.  There is also, surprisingly, no Whole Foods here!  We were shocked!  There is an Earth Fare, which is a small scale Whole Foods.  We'll be seeking out local organic grass fed farmers soon though.  It's been a while since we had some quality meat products, and Dave is sure missing his chicken and beef!  But Earth Fare will do for now.

Now, what else?  Well, probably the most exciting news is that Dave started his practice pretty much immediately after we moved.  As of today, he's about 3 weeks in.  We had Easter Sunday to relax, settle in, and celebrate all the good things God has done for us.  Then, Monday morning we were at the grindstone.  So far everything is going great.  My job is more of the networking stuff from home, setting up local events and community outreach for Dave.  And he's been doing everything else.  That's what I just love about Dave, he's able to go out and get it done.  He's doing awesome and he is SO happy to finally be living his dream.  I am so proud of him.  He is really in his element and already making a mark in Charlotte.  More news to come on this adventure I'm sure!  :)

I must share a sort of funny story about the apartment we're renting a room in.  The woman has a cat, but Dave and I are both very allergic.  She agreed to give the cat away the week before we moved in, since he was a mostly outdoor cat anyway, she wouldn't know the difference.  The only time she let him in was at bedtime.  So, we said "deal."  The apartment is a great opportunity and the rent was too good of a deal to pass up.  So we began our trip up from Orlando.  Well, we were about 2 hours from arriving at her apartment, and she texted us to say she came home from work to find her BOY cat had given birth to five kittens!!!  haha, for a few minutes we didn't know how to react.  We ended up laughing about it. I mean, how hilarious that for a couple years since she got the cat she thought it was a boy.  What a surprise that must have been to come home to!  Wanted to share a few pictures of the absolutely adorable little ones.  It just stinks for us as we're putting up with the cats in the apartment all this time until they're old enough to be given away.  Counting down the days (and so are my sinuses!), but until then we definitely enjoy their cuteness.

Five adorable kittens with mom.  Four grey & white, one black.

They just can't keep away from Dave!

They love to climb on him, but their little claws don't retract yet and get stuck in his mesh pants or shorts.

Precious!  Wish you could hear their "mews."

And, I think that's about it for now.  Oh, a little baby update..  Dave got to feel baby Schwartz kick for the first time tonight!  Very exciting moment.  He's such a proud daddy!!  Everything is going great, he/she is growing by the day.  I told Dave earlier that today was the first time my belly has gotten in my way.  But, I love it, wouldn't have it any other way.  Being pregnant is a really fun experience, such a blessing.  One more week and I'll post my monthly belly pic.  Right now it's looking like a little basketball.  I'm feeling great, just a little tired mid-day which requires (as I tell Dave, hehe) me to nap for an hour or two.  I actually felt it pretty bad this past weekend while we were out at an all-day event both Saturday and Sunday.  No nap either days, and man was I struggling!  So whenever I can get in a few extra zzzz's, it's a good day.

More in a week!