Little update

Midterms are over, and I'm still carrying As in all of my classes, which is a huge relief! I've got my courses planned for the next semester. I have to take a placement test this afternoon to see if I can get in to one of the classes, so fingers crossed for that!

All the kids are doing great. Torah and Doodle just finished 8 weeks of gymnastics classes and had a blast. Doodle doesn't want to continue with gymnastics, but Torah does. Dahdoo can do a somersault all by herself and is almost able to do a bridge by herself, so come January we'll sign Torah and Dahdoo up for gymnastics again and Doodle will start karate two nights a week. She's been wanting to do karate for about 2 1/2 years now, so it's about time! She's been so patient about it. I can't wait to see how much she learns!

Jax is about a week behind Dahdoo in learning new skills. With the exception of potty-training (why did that one have to be the exception?!) he learns things about a week after she does. He too can do a somersault all by himself, so maybe he'll be starting gymnastics next winter? Right now he would only be able to attend a mommy-and-me class, but since mommy is in school during the day next semester (night classes are kicking our collective butts) that's not gonna be feasible.

Dahdoo and Jax will be entering preschool in January. I'm a little sad about it, because I've had so much fun getting to be home with them for the last 2 1/2 years, but honestly I'm really excited for them. They're both like sponges and learn so much just by being exposed to new things that I think they'll really have a great time at school. Plus, it gives me uninterrupted study time which is going to be crucial as my courses get more complex. This semester was "easy" in comparison to what's down the road for me!

B's new job is going really well. He seems to really enjoy it, and thankfully the recession hasn't seemed to hit his job market, a fact for which we are eternally grateful.

And we're moving! It's official this time. We've put in the deposit, have the counter-signed lease, and are moving in to our new home on 11/30. It can't come soon enough, as I sit here in a frigid living room that I can't weatherize because we'd have to take it all down in 4 weeks. This house, the older it's gotten (we've been here two years) has turned in to somewhat of a lemon. The windows don't close all the way unless you slam them, there are drafts from EVERY door and window in the house, the paint dissolves when you try and clean the walls...it's just a mess. Our new house is only 9 years old, and has hardwood floors, a huge back deck, 5BR, 3BA, a full basement (which we'll finish after we buy the house) a single garage, almost 3/4 acre yard with swingset and fence, and an outbuilding that is wired for cable, phone and electricity and will be B's home office. There have been many days where he could have come home to work but didn't have a quiet place to go so he ended up sitting at Panera Bread for several hours. Now he can come home! The best part is that we'll only be about 4 miles from B's x, so we'll be able to see Torah and Doodle more (now it'll be 50/50!) and be there should anything happen and his x needs help with the girls.









In a sad turn of events, please keep our church family in your thoughts for a while. We lost a teenager this weekend, who didn't think he had anyone to care for him. His mother is absolutely devastated and it has rocked our church community to the core. His funeral is tomorrow. Jacob, you will be sorely missed and were deeply loved. RIP, sweet boy.

Still here, still busy.

I'm back in school in the pre-nursing program, and have classes three nights a week, plus one class online. It's a lot, but it's going really well. I'm taking 4 classes this semester, and will be taking at least 4 pretty much from here on out. The immediate goal is to get my RN, then transfer to a four year university for my BSN. After that, who knows?

B got a new job in June which has taken some adjusting on all of our parts, as it's farther away and longer hours, but he really likes it so it's all worth it.

Tora and Doodle are in gymnastics classes for this 8 week session (running through October)and seem to enjoy it. Doodle really likes it, but I think Tora is just in it for something to do. Which is fine, of course, but I think we'll try and focus her energies elsewhere. Neither of them have really found their niche as of yet. No big deal.

Dahdoo is a ball of energy and a ton of fun. She's got a really fun personality and loves to make jokes, talk in funny voices, make goofy faces, pretty much anything to get a smile or giggle out of one of us. She's also potty training which is very exciting! She just decided last week all of a sudden to go for it, and we've only been through about 2 pullups and one diaper (nighttime) a day, so not too shabby. We're not adamant about it, just letting her take the lead, but she did make a point to let me know while we were out shopping the other day that she needed to go, so that's a very good sign.

Jax is awesome. He's running and climbing and talking and laughing and playing baseball (swing!) and generally just a joy to be around. We're in a good spot with all the kids at the moment which is cool.

Haven't signed the lease yet, but pretty sure we've got a new house. More details later, but as of right now we're moving the weekend before Thanksgiving. Yikes!

A Time to Wean

For a multitude of reasons, Jax is weaning.

It's a bittersweet time for me. On one hand, I'm sad to see the last vestiges of his baby days disappear. He's my last baby, and I've cherished the special relationship that we've been able to have. Any time he's hurt, or sad, or overwhelmed, nursing has been his go-to method to re-center himself, and I've been happy to provide that for him. Nursing has enabled us to bond so securely and enabled him to be very independent. I'm eternally grateful for that. I'll miss having that special time with him, and I'll miss having a very easy way to calm him down no matter what.

On the other hand, he hasn't nursed more than twice a day in months. He's slowed down considerably, is eating a wide variety of foods, and I know that nutritionally, he'd be fine. If he was still nursing a dozen times a day, I wouldn't even consider letting this natural weaning happen, but as it is, he's no longer using nursing as a nutritional supply but instead is just using it for comfort. He hasn't night nursed in almost four months, and during the day he'll only nurse once or twice if I don't offer.

Daddy is able to put him to bed, and I know he enjoys getting to have that special time with our little man.

So this is it. My baby boy is growing up, and I have to let that happen. I'm really sad, because let's face it, I'm never going to get to be pregnant again, so this is it. I'm also excited though to watch him grow up in to even more of a little boy. It just goes by way too quickly.

It's been a wonderful 14 months. Here's to the next chapter in our relationship!

Or not...

The family that was going to take our house decided to hold out for something in their kids' school district (which is only a mile away, but I digress) and the house we were going to move in to has been taken by another family.

So we're in flux. Our house is being mentioned, but so far no one else has come to look at it. Stuck in a holding pattern now.

Our New Home

Pretty, huh?

We got it! We move in two weeks. YIKES!!

We're gonna start a slow move process next week. We should get the keys Monday and I can start hauling van loads of boxes down there so that when we do the big move on 4/5 we'll just have to get the furniture out.

It's a 4BR, 2 1/2BA Colonial with a 2 car garage. The house sits on 2+ acres and has a finished attic over the garage which is accessible through what will be Tora and Doodle's room, so they've got a playroom all their own. That'll also be the guest room when friends and family come to visit, and we'll put the trundle bed in there. The space is big enough to hold all the kids' toys, their easel and play kitchen set, a TV area with their chairs, and a reading nook with their bookcases. It's amazing. The master bedroom has its own bathroom and his and hers closets. We've got an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, formal living room, and family room with a huge fireplace and beautiful mantel. The fireplace has heating vents built in to the sides and top which means that when we have a fire going we can close the doors and the heat will still get in to the room, but none of the ash! The fireplace can be cleaned through a grate in the back, which is in the garage. We've also got a partial basement (extends below the main portion of the house...the brick part in the picture) which is finished and also has a root cellar under the garage, and exterior access. There are flower beds around the exterior of the house which need some TLC, but already have a few bushes which should readily come back to life. We've got real tile in the kitchen (not laminate) and gorgeous black marble countertops, and brand new appliances. The laundry room is upstairs with all the bedrooms which will make it much easier for all the kids to keep their rooms clean. It's tough for a 5yo to remember to bring her dirty clothes all the way downstairs every day.

The best part of this whole scenario is that the house is lease-to-own, which means that we'll really never have to move. It's only 15 minutes from our church and the stores we regularly shop at, is one block from the river, has tennis courts and a pool a half block away in the neighborhood, and will cut our commute to and from Tora and Doodle's school in half.

We are feeling so incredibly blessed throughout this whole experience.

Wish us luck!

I must remember

I must remember that soon, my children will not want me to tuck them in, and to treasure every snuggle and snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug blanket job.

I must remember that they will only be small for a short while.

I must remember that soon, my baby will not want to nurse.

I must remember that soon my baby will stop falling asleep on my chest, and I will miss having the ability to smell his sweet head and listen to his baby snore.

I must remember that soon my children will stop looking to me for guidance when they try new activities.

I must remember that very soon, my baby boy will be running away from me instead of clinging desperately to me.

I must remember that hugs and kisses from my toddler girl are hard won, and every one is like a precious gift from above.

I must remember that the long, sleepless nights spent consoling my teething babies will enable them to be strong, independent, and confident in our love.

I must remember that before we know it, our children will be grown and gone, and we will have all the free time we need to do all the things we want.

I must remember that they will only be small for a short time.

I must remember how deeply blessed I am to have such a wonderful, kind, gentle, loving family.

I must remember to never take one single moment for granted.

Boring boring

Well, not really. :)

We've been busy busy busy. Trying to get the house ready to show so that we can theoretically move. Our lease isn't up until December, but if we can find someone to rent our house, then we can transfer our lease to another property run by the same management company we're with now. They have several houses that would suit our family much better. This house has been fine, but it's technically a three bedroom, so Tora and Doodle are sharing a room, Dahdoo is in the mini spare room over the garage, and Jax is in the office which means that B has no decompression time in the evenings. Jax goes to bed between 7 and 8 now, which means B can't get in "his" room after that.

So, we're looking for a 4BR with a basement so that we can put the playroom and all of the girls art supplies and games downstairs. In a perfect world, we'd like a 5BR, but we're not holding our breath. There's one house that the rental agency has right now that fits the 5BR bill, so I'm working as furiously as possible to get the house ready to show ASAP. Wish us luck!