There was a point where I was getting caught up on this blog and now another whole month has gone by.
Since the last time I wrote so many things have happened that it would be a shame to forget them all - thank goodness for iphones and FB or no one would have any idea what was going on in our lives right now. Baby #2 is growing beautifully and we are hoping he will wait just a little bit longer before making his debut because we are trying to settle into our new home as quickly as possible. Conor's room is as done as it needs to be and the nursery, guest room (where my mom will stay), and our bedroom are between 50-85% there. Bathrooms are functional and the living areas are as done as they need to be (minus the clutter as we use them for staging areas). Conor has settled into the new house and calls it "me house" and has met many of the neighborhood children and developed a friendship with the 5 year old boy who lives next door.
Josh and I are both scrambling to get caught up on our jobs, finish the house, and spend special moments with Conor these last few days where he is our one and only.
My mom has spend a weekend and really helped to get the move-in ball rolling, friends have been amazing - coming to spend time with Conor each week so that I could get house projects done, and Josh's parents have helped with both playing with Conor and helping us lug things around the garage since my days of heavy lifting are over. We are truly thankful for the help!
Once we are more settled I promise a house tour :)
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
Monday, October 7, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Moving Update
Dear Conor,
You are a champion and while we certainly have had our moments (which I will detail below) you have really tolerated this transition better than I could have hoped for.
In hindsight, having you sleep in 3 different places in 4 days was certainly not ideal - though it was unpreventable given Auntie's wedding and then our need to get you out of the house for the movers. The first few nights at Grandpa's were terrible! You required a lot of nursing to get to sleep, you woke up several times a night crying and the first night (Tuesday night) you vomited, the second night (Wednesday night) you pooped through your jammies, and the third night (Thursday) you decided that sleep wasn't necessary and were awake for several hours in the wee hours of the morning. I know it was just you trying to understand why we were sleeping at Grandpa's house but spending the days at our house and our house was getting so empty! I was very thankful to have your Auntie here visiting - she really helped to keep you busy and calm while Mommy was trying to get everything ready for the big day.
As the nights went on you started sleeping better and getting more comfortable at Grandpa's house. You learned what you could touch and what you couldn't. Mommy learned what needed to be locked up and what could be left alone and what of Grandpa's just had to be moved until we are gone. We settled back into our regular routine and while you still were struggling to sleep more than 10 hours and you abandoned all naps - things were getting better.
The first weekend we lived in "the country" we went to a little village field day type activity where you got to pet a lot of baby animals - you had a lot of fun with the baby chicks and goats - but you did not love the miniature horses!
After visiting the animals we went down to the lake for some digging in the dirt and water play. You had fun splashing in the water once you felt comfortable with the sand under your toes. You were not so sure of it squishing between your toes!
When we got back to Grandpa's (which we have started calling home now) you played with your toys that Mom had put together for you with Daddy and Auntie while mom rested a little bit with baby Apple.
Auntie stayed for 2 weeks and we had so much fun with her. We went to Aquaboggin (a local smaller waterpark) and you and Daddy took her to the pottery place. Every morning when you woke up the first thing you did was look for "ya ya" or call her name throughout the house.
Some of the best times we had with "ya ya" were just hanging out in the yard or the house playing.
These were a special two weeks. Special because they triggered the start of a new beginning for our little family but also because the time you got to share with Auntie helped to mold the relationship you will have in the future.
As of today (August 5, 2013) you are sleeping better (6:30pm - 7:00am) though you still wake at 5:00am with a little cry; you now roll over and go back to sleep. You still are nursing to sleep and often need a little extra hug or rocking if you can't fall asleep after 10 minutes in your room, and because you are nursing you often have soggy diapers in the morning. But, despite all this I still think you have done an EXCELLENT job with this transition and I only hope that the next one is a little easier on you.
Hugs to my sweet baby boy!
xoxo
Mumma
You are a champion and while we certainly have had our moments (which I will detail below) you have really tolerated this transition better than I could have hoped for.
In hindsight, having you sleep in 3 different places in 4 days was certainly not ideal - though it was unpreventable given Auntie's wedding and then our need to get you out of the house for the movers. The first few nights at Grandpa's were terrible! You required a lot of nursing to get to sleep, you woke up several times a night crying and the first night (Tuesday night) you vomited, the second night (Wednesday night) you pooped through your jammies, and the third night (Thursday) you decided that sleep wasn't necessary and were awake for several hours in the wee hours of the morning. I know it was just you trying to understand why we were sleeping at Grandpa's house but spending the days at our house and our house was getting so empty! I was very thankful to have your Auntie here visiting - she really helped to keep you busy and calm while Mommy was trying to get everything ready for the big day.
As the nights went on you started sleeping better and getting more comfortable at Grandpa's house. You learned what you could touch and what you couldn't. Mommy learned what needed to be locked up and what could be left alone and what of Grandpa's just had to be moved until we are gone. We settled back into our regular routine and while you still were struggling to sleep more than 10 hours and you abandoned all naps - things were getting better.
The first weekend we lived in "the country" we went to a little village field day type activity where you got to pet a lot of baby animals - you had a lot of fun with the baby chicks and goats - but you did not love the miniature horses!
 |
| Chicks! |
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| Chicks Momma! |
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| Goats |
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| "Baaa" to the goats |
After visiting the animals we went down to the lake for some digging in the dirt and water play. You had fun splashing in the water once you felt comfortable with the sand under your toes. You were not so sure of it squishing between your toes!
When we got back to Grandpa's (which we have started calling home now) you played with your toys that Mom had put together for you with Daddy and Auntie while mom rested a little bit with baby Apple.
Auntie stayed for 2 weeks and we had so much fun with her. We went to Aquaboggin (a local smaller waterpark) and you and Daddy took her to the pottery place. Every morning when you woke up the first thing you did was look for "ya ya" or call her name throughout the house.
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| Wave Pool with Daddy 7.21.13 |
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| Waiting for Daddy and "Ya ya" to be done riding rides |
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| After swim snack |
Some of the best times we had with "ya ya" were just hanging out in the yard or the house playing.
 |
| Playing with Auntie 7.25.13 |
These were a special two weeks. Special because they triggered the start of a new beginning for our little family but also because the time you got to share with Auntie helped to mold the relationship you will have in the future.
As of today (August 5, 2013) you are sleeping better (6:30pm - 7:00am) though you still wake at 5:00am with a little cry; you now roll over and go back to sleep. You still are nursing to sleep and often need a little extra hug or rocking if you can't fall asleep after 10 minutes in your room, and because you are nursing you often have soggy diapers in the morning. But, despite all this I still think you have done an EXCELLENT job with this transition and I only hope that the next one is a little easier on you.
Hugs to my sweet baby boy!
xoxo
Mumma
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
House for Sale
For those that aren't aware - we are selling our house! When we moved in way back in 2005 the plan was never for us to be here this long. We were perhaps a little naive but our current home was a perfect commuting home for me to Portland while I was attending law school and wasn't too far from Josh's office and so despite knowing this is not the area we wanted our "forever" home to end up in we jumped in both feet and bought it.
Well, we all know what happened next......the housing market CRASHED and since we had bought at the prime market peak we were stuck and in a hole when I graduated in 2008 so we wiped away the tears and worked on making our "temporary house" a home. WE paved the driveway, upgraded all lighting fixtures, put on an AWESOME deck, and painted just about every wall in the house. Then we got pregnant with Conor and more work went into the house to shuffle things around in order to give him a place to call his own (bead board in his room, painting trim, repainting the walls, shelves in the bathroom installed and the loss of our guest room).
Well, the housing market is rebounding and as Apple is on it's way its time to try to say goodbye to our lovely home. If it weren't for my strong desire to be closer to my family and the highway (which makes impromptu visits easier) and the water I think Josh and I could be happy here (though the kids and our guests might be a little cramped). We are 40 minutes to the "city" the mountains, almost all the beaches in 2 counties. There are recreation trails and ponds and this is a up and coming community in which housing values are likely to double in the next 10 years as it becomes a mecca for families like ours (parents work in the Portland area but want to raise kids in a more rural setting). But alas, I want to move and so on the market she is.
Here's the link if you want to check it out or want to forward it to any friends looking for a GREAT home at a GREAT price in a GREAT location!
http://mreis.fusionmls.com/
HELP us sell our home!
xoxo
Erin
Well, we all know what happened next......the housing market CRASHED and since we had bought at the prime market peak we were stuck and in a hole when I graduated in 2008 so we wiped away the tears and worked on making our "temporary house" a home. WE paved the driveway, upgraded all lighting fixtures, put on an AWESOME deck, and painted just about every wall in the house. Then we got pregnant with Conor and more work went into the house to shuffle things around in order to give him a place to call his own (bead board in his room, painting trim, repainting the walls, shelves in the bathroom installed and the loss of our guest room).
Well, the housing market is rebounding and as Apple is on it's way its time to try to say goodbye to our lovely home. If it weren't for my strong desire to be closer to my family and the highway (which makes impromptu visits easier) and the water I think Josh and I could be happy here (though the kids and our guests might be a little cramped). We are 40 minutes to the "city" the mountains, almost all the beaches in 2 counties. There are recreation trails and ponds and this is a up and coming community in which housing values are likely to double in the next 10 years as it becomes a mecca for families like ours (parents work in the Portland area but want to raise kids in a more rural setting). But alas, I want to move and so on the market she is.
Here's the link if you want to check it out or want to forward it to any friends looking for a GREAT home at a GREAT price in a GREAT location!
http://mreis.fusionmls.com/
HELP us sell our home!
xoxo
Erin
Monday, October 1, 2012
Wagon Time & Deck Work
Dear Conor,
Pops was here for his monthly visit the weekend of September 16th and he came over to play with you for a little bit. You fell asleep shortly before he got here so he and I got to visit for a little while until you woke up. As you hadn't seen him in a few weeks and you certainly weren't used to seeing him in your home right after your nap you were a little nervous at first but once he took you on a wagon ride you were back to being best pals!
Pops ran with you up and down the driveway several times and you just loved it! You laughed and laughed until he stopped. Then Pops had a drink of water and you decided that you wanted some too so he shared.
Then it was time for one more trip up the driveway before Pops had to go. Then you and I went to watch your Daddy work on the deck for a few minutes before going in to make dinner.
Daddy has been working really hard on sanding the deck so that it can get ready for staining. You and Hunty and I have been stuck inside a lot while Daddy sands but it will all be worth it when we have a beautiful deck next year for us to picnic on!
xoxo
Mommy
Pops was here for his monthly visit the weekend of September 16th and he came over to play with you for a little bit. You fell asleep shortly before he got here so he and I got to visit for a little while until you woke up. As you hadn't seen him in a few weeks and you certainly weren't used to seeing him in your home right after your nap you were a little nervous at first but once he took you on a wagon ride you were back to being best pals!
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| Pops pulling you in the wagon |
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| Hunter watching closely |
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| Pops running with you and the wagon - you loved going fast |
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| and back up the driveway! |
Then it was time for one more trip up the driveway before Pops had to go. Then you and I went to watch your Daddy work on the deck for a few minutes before going in to make dinner.
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| Daddy working to sand the deck |
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| Before Sanding |
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| After Sanding |
xoxo
Mommy
Thursday, September 6, 2012
A Little Renovation
Sometimes you just need a change.....and sometimes there is a demand for change. So, when we got back from Story Land Josh and I decided that we needed to make more room in our living room for Conor to be able to crawl around and explore his home in a safe way.
We had always had a little space carved out for him in the living room but once he started crawling that space was simply too small and there were too many other things in the room that were making it hard for us to feel comfortable with giving him free reign.
So - out with the old and in with the new. The bench that was serving as our coffee table along with one end table were sent to live in the basement. The wingback chair had already been sent to Grandpa Tom's house before Conor arrived to make room for his swing so we moved the oversized chair from up against the short wall in the room to over where the wingback chair used to be (and where Conor's swing had been taking up residence - as he had outgrown the swing it is now living with Cousin Nolan). This allowed for the TV cabinet to be moved against the short wall and now we had a lot more space!
We layed down all of Conor's floor mats to give him a softer floor to crawl on and VOILA - a new living room that is safe for a crawling baby and gives him a lot of room to play while keeping him semi-contained to one area!
Josh and I really like this layout (as do both our babies). We had always thought about setting things up like this before but had always been a litlte gun shy about it...I guess babies really do change everything :)
-- Erin
We had always had a little space carved out for him in the living room but once he started crawling that space was simply too small and there were too many other things in the room that were making it hard for us to feel comfortable with giving him free reign.
So - out with the old and in with the new. The bench that was serving as our coffee table along with one end table were sent to live in the basement. The wingback chair had already been sent to Grandpa Tom's house before Conor arrived to make room for his swing so we moved the oversized chair from up against the short wall in the room to over where the wingback chair used to be (and where Conor's swing had been taking up residence - as he had outgrown the swing it is now living with Cousin Nolan). This allowed for the TV cabinet to be moved against the short wall and now we had a lot more space!
We layed down all of Conor's floor mats to give him a softer floor to crawl on and VOILA - a new living room that is safe for a crawling baby and gives him a lot of room to play while keeping him semi-contained to one area!
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| The view from the hallway (Conor is already checking things out) |
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| And the view from the front door. |
-- Erin
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