Home Improvements

It's been awhile since my last post, mainly because we have been so busy working around the house. We are finally completing all of the projects we've wanted to do since we bought the house 6 years ago. That means: completely updated and re-tiled bathroom, painted trim, repaint bedroom, new kitchen counters, paint the kitchen, random yard work (including replanting grass)... and that's just the beginning. It's been a lot of work, but items are finally being crossed off the list for good!

The irony is that the projects will be finished just in time to put our house on the market. We are going to try to sell fsbo and see if anyone is interested. Of course, everyone wants to know where we are moving and why now in the midst of a down market. And the reality is we don't know where we are moving. We have been tossing around the idea for awhile, and then the other day at church, the pastor was talking about faith as an action... how faith is more than just believing, it's acting out that belief. He ended with the question, "What step of faith do you feel like God is asking you to take?" As we left, Patrick and I shared our thoughts on this question, and it turns out we both felt like God was calling us to put our house on the market. It was very random that we would have both come up with this idea at the same time, and we both feel strongly like it's what we are supposed to do. So, despite the long list of reasons it doesn't make sense right now, we are going to put our house up for sale. Though it's stressful, overwhelming and a little frightening to have no idea what the future holds, we know Who holds us. We are both so excited to see where God leads us from here.

On a totally different note, I have some great video of A that I'm going to try to post. I've never posted video on blogspot before, so it may take awhile for me to figure it out. But, you can sit in suspense waiting anxiously to see a really cute movie.

Busy Week

I didn't realize it's been so long since I updated. We've had a really busy week with something going on every night. But it's been a fun week. Here are a few highlights:

-We went to a small group Bible study on Tuesday. A stayed with a babysitter at the house next door with a few other kids. I think he finally realized what he's missing as he watched DVDs, played a video game with a SmartCycle, and spent 1 1/2 in a playroom the size or our living room chocked full of every toy imaginable. I think he passed up the oreos, though, which made me happy.

-I had a doctor's appt... the baby is doing well and getting big. It was fun to hear the heartbeat again, though I had no doubt the baby was doing fine since I'm getting kicked a whole lot more often these days.

-We had dinner out at a nice steak house with my family. A did well staying entertained, though he hasn't mastered the inside voice yet. Though I wouldn't let him have any chocolate cake for dessert, he did enjoy some whipped cream, which he couldn't eat fast enough. He just inhaled every bite and then looked up for more.

-We went to the high school's homecoming parade on Friday. It started with a lot of tears as the marching band scared A. I guess it was too loud. But, the parade ended on a great note with a fire truck, ambulance and police car. He spent the rest of the night making fire truck sounds.

-A had a sleepover at his grandma and nonno's house. I guess I can't speak in past tense as he's still there. P and I went to Cirque du Soleil (however you spell that). It was quite a spectacular show! The strength, flexibility and pure guts of these people was amazing. It was a great time, and great company.

P's now off playing in a hockey game, and I'm on my way to bed. I am looking forward to a morning where I will have to set my alarm to make it to church on time. Sleeping in is one of the best gifts a parent of little kids can receive. I can't wait!

Bonfire

We went to a church potluck dinner/bonfire tonight, and it was so cute to see A interact with other kids. He showed no fear and just jumped in with a group of kids about his age and started playing with them. I am learning to step into a new role as more of a supervisor than a playmate. At home, I am still A's number one friend, but when other kids are around, he becomes so much more independent. I can watch from a distance (unless he's attempting some superman-type feat). It's freeing, that's for sure! I can actually carry on a conversation with another adult with few distractions, but I am still glad that he needs his momma. I'm not ready for him to be completely independent yet. I am learning to savor each moment of cuddling and each time he comes running to show his momma something. This truly is a fun age... a good balance of neediness and independence.

Here are a few more...

Daddy teaching his son how to log onto espn.com


He dumped all his blocks on the floor and insisted on wearing the plastic container as a hat all night long! It was hilarious!

A few pics from this week

He insisted on wearing these sunglasses all afternoon


Playing in the sand with neighbors


We took out his car seat to move some big objects, but I guess A wanted to go for a ride


Sweet smile


Mommy and A playing with the camera

Two things I love...

I will miss the days when A could do these two things:

1. squat down like this when he is intently looking at something. It is such a cute baby thing, and I love watching him do that. Maybe I'm just jealous because my pregnant body could never do that without falling over!

2. wear footy pajamas. They are just too cute. He looks so cuddly.

Fire House and Miami Spirit

This past weekend, we headed out for a walk, and P had the great idea of walking by the fire station. We stood outside for five minutes or so just staring at the engines inside, and A was so excited! Then, two firemen came out and offered to show A the trucks! They have no idea how much they made his day!! We spent probably 20 min. walking through the fire station and looking at the trucks. They showed A secret compartments where they store stuff on the trucks, let him try on a fire hat (with some help because they are heavy!), showed him their uniforms, turned the lights on for him to watch, and even gave him a plastic fire hat and a sticker badge. I think it may be the highlight of A's short life!



Today, A came up to me carrying a Miami shirt that I had tried on earlier (and decided to forego since my big old belly was hanging out!). He successfully communicated to me that he wanted to wear it, so I put it on for him. He was hysterical running around the house in that huge shirt and somehow managed to not get hurt in the process! Thought I'd share some pics of him! Go Redhawks!