WE.ARE.IN.!!!!!
More to come, with pictures, of course.
But we made it to closing, they gave us the keys, and everything we own is inside our new house. YEAHAYAYAYHAYAYEAH!!!!
May 30, 2009
May 11, 2009
And then there was 30 ...
So I have waited one whole week to publicly acknowledge/discuss the fact that I have (gracefully ? ;-) entered the 30s-club with most of my friends. This last year I have noticed many of the gals I went to school with having little facebook comments popping up on my homepage or blogs about their impending birthdays. It has been humorous to see how each one relates to the "big" birthday in different ways. Some of us have approached it with serious fear and dread, while others seem to be excited about the new decade and its possibilities. I think maybe it depends in many ways on what is going on in your life currently. For those who are married and starting to have children, I think it is almost positive to reach a new level of "maturity"--at least in the eyes of others. (In my profession, being in my 20s still has always made me feel/treated so young and unexperienced) For those who are still waiting for their prince charming and/or their time to have children, I know it may feel like the clock is ticking faster than preferred and may be an unwelcomed sign of time passing. I think it just depends on how happy and content we are with where we are in our life. For those who have always been very athletically inclined, or for those who have always been conscientious of their youthful looks, I think the number hangs over our heads reminding us that our bodies are starting their downhill spiral. For me, that realization happened 2 years ago when I gave birth to my son! And my body hasn't been in good shape since I quit playing soccer after college. So the NUMBER of 30 doesn't mark a change in my outlook on my physique, just yet, anyway. We'll see how that metabolism changes! I have several friends who have started getting in BETTER shape since college, who are preparing for running half or full marathons right now, and for those girls, I stand up and applaude you. But from the SIDELINES. I need a goal of some sort myself, but running is NOT something for me to get excited about!
It also makes me laugh about how all kinds of people treat their birthdays differently. I know of people who announce their coming birthdays months ahead of time, reminding family and friends with a daily countdown and posting gift suggestions thruout the house and car. Some expect and love a big party with as many people possible to help them celebrate themselves. I'm not really sure what drives this type of person. I DO find them interesting...But I'll keep mum from more comments at this point. Then there's the OPPOSITE extreme, those who don't want ANY fuss to be done on account of them---who would just as soon spend a quiet day doing something they enjoy and having no acknowledgment that another birthday has come and gone. I tend to fall pretty severely on THIS end of the spectrum--although I've never (yet) wished to spend my birthday in total solitude or denial, I would just as rather it pass quietly with only a handful of people realizing it has come around. Cards in the mail from family are nice, cards from old friends who actually remember is maybe even nicer (because history shows they don't usually know, or bother). I do enjoy to have my husband do some sweet, thoughtful things for me, like surprise me with a good movie or concert or show I would like to see, and a thoughtful gift of something I need or would like but haven't even thought of lately myself...those things are nice. My dad used to always take us out to breakfast for our birthday, which is a tradition we haven't been able to do lately and I really miss. I would rather go out for breakfast than dinner!
Anyways, I know most of you reading this probably fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes too. I realized this year that how people prefer to spend their birthdays tells ALOT about their personalities and temperment, doesn't it? There's those who like the attention and are party people--sanguines, extroverted, like to be in the spot light, thrive on other's energy......versus those more intraverted types who prefer to be behind the scenes, spending time with just a few close friends or significant other. And I'm WONDERING what type my son, Noah will be as he gets older, since he LOVES birthdays right now and is ALL ABOUT CAKE and PRESENTS!!! GREAaaaT. Is that just "kids"? Or do I have an extrovert-making-a-countdown on my hands?
My birthday was last Sunday, and I actually, surprisingly, had a really nice day/weekend. As I mentioned, I don't like to have any fuss made over me at all, outside of my husband and close family. Well, Matt treated me Sat. to a nice evening out--chick flick movie and dinner at a Studio Grill (where you get to eat dinner IN the movie theater--cool idea.) Then we wrapped up the night with delicious pieces of pie at a cool little 24-hour pie diner he heard about. A definite new favorite. Well, so Saturday was GOOD. Then he let me go most of the day Sun. with only one public announcement--up stairs with the youth. Not bad. (I hate Sunday birthdays!) Chipotle for lunch---GREAT. When only a small handful of our Life Group was able to make it that evening to our regularly scheduled Life Group meeting, I thought I had made it out unscathed. But alas, as the door bell rang around 7:30p and they casually asked me to "see who it is", my face flushed, the blood pressure skyrocketed and I realized I had not made it out alive yet. At the door was of course another 20 or so friends from church, mostly youth staffers and a few younger gals/families with a huge cake, with my pic plastered on the top (from my freshman year of high school) aFIRE with 30 candles and 5 or 6 camera flashes going off in my face. I think there might have been a "surprise" yell in there somewhere too. And our hostess pulled out a spread of food Matt had brought over the day before, and a slide show of pictures from my life played in the background...
Thanks, Matt. Really. I know you thought you "owed me", but we are more than even.
I really appreciate everyone who came out to support me and celebrate. My hubby is a sweetie and I hear he had been planning this for a long while. It didn't turn out quite as he would have liked--many people were out of town or couldn't come for one reason or another *thank you GOD!*. But I do want to say how much he means to me and I know his intentions were to love on me and make me feel special.
It's just that...you REALLY shouldn't have!
Now that the worse part is OVER-the whole obligatory celebration and embarrassing thing---I am totally okay with being 30. As I mentioned, in teaching I have always felt in some ways looked down on for my lack of years in a profession that expects you only get better the older you get. (In most cases, that's true....but I know some older teachers who are synical CRANKS!). But more importantly, I am really looking forward to what this year and the next few have in store for me and my family. We look forward to our time here in Houston, possibly getting settled in our first purchased house soon, hopefully having more children, hoping for new additions to our extended families, and just feeling content with many things about my life---relationally, spiritually, etc. I am loving watching Noah grow and am enjoying being a mother more than ever. I've been working to be a better wife lately and this summer marks 7 years of wedded bliss for us. So despite the fact that the last 6 months have been the most stressful ones of my entire life, we are learning and growing and feeling stronger together and hopeful of the future.
So, 30 and fabulous, here I come. Now I just have to get my grown-up-lady hair-do on.
Maybe.
It also makes me laugh about how all kinds of people treat their birthdays differently. I know of people who announce their coming birthdays months ahead of time, reminding family and friends with a daily countdown and posting gift suggestions thruout the house and car. Some expect and love a big party with as many people possible to help them celebrate themselves. I'm not really sure what drives this type of person. I DO find them interesting...But I'll keep mum from more comments at this point. Then there's the OPPOSITE extreme, those who don't want ANY fuss to be done on account of them---who would just as soon spend a quiet day doing something they enjoy and having no acknowledgment that another birthday has come and gone. I tend to fall pretty severely on THIS end of the spectrum--although I've never (yet) wished to spend my birthday in total solitude or denial, I would just as rather it pass quietly with only a handful of people realizing it has come around. Cards in the mail from family are nice, cards from old friends who actually remember is maybe even nicer (because history shows they don't usually know, or bother). I do enjoy to have my husband do some sweet, thoughtful things for me, like surprise me with a good movie or concert or show I would like to see, and a thoughtful gift of something I need or would like but haven't even thought of lately myself...those things are nice. My dad used to always take us out to breakfast for our birthday, which is a tradition we haven't been able to do lately and I really miss. I would rather go out for breakfast than dinner!
Anyways, I know most of you reading this probably fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes too. I realized this year that how people prefer to spend their birthdays tells ALOT about their personalities and temperment, doesn't it? There's those who like the attention and are party people--sanguines, extroverted, like to be in the spot light, thrive on other's energy......versus those more intraverted types who prefer to be behind the scenes, spending time with just a few close friends or significant other. And I'm WONDERING what type my son, Noah will be as he gets older, since he LOVES birthdays right now and is ALL ABOUT CAKE and PRESENTS!!! GREAaaaT. Is that just "kids"? Or do I have an extrovert-making-a-countdown on my hands?
My birthday was last Sunday, and I actually, surprisingly, had a really nice day/weekend. As I mentioned, I don't like to have any fuss made over me at all, outside of my husband and close family. Well, Matt treated me Sat. to a nice evening out--chick flick movie and dinner at a Studio Grill (where you get to eat dinner IN the movie theater--cool idea.) Then we wrapped up the night with delicious pieces of pie at a cool little 24-hour pie diner he heard about. A definite new favorite. Well, so Saturday was GOOD. Then he let me go most of the day Sun. with only one public announcement--up stairs with the youth. Not bad. (I hate Sunday birthdays!) Chipotle for lunch---GREAT. When only a small handful of our Life Group was able to make it that evening to our regularly scheduled Life Group meeting, I thought I had made it out unscathed. But alas, as the door bell rang around 7:30p and they casually asked me to "see who it is", my face flushed, the blood pressure skyrocketed and I realized I had not made it out alive yet. At the door was of course another 20 or so friends from church, mostly youth staffers and a few younger gals/families with a huge cake, with my pic plastered on the top (from my freshman year of high school) aFIRE with 30 candles and 5 or 6 camera flashes going off in my face. I think there might have been a "surprise" yell in there somewhere too. And our hostess pulled out a spread of food Matt had brought over the day before, and a slide show of pictures from my life played in the background...
Thanks, Matt. Really. I know you thought you "owed me", but we are more than even.
I really appreciate everyone who came out to support me and celebrate. My hubby is a sweetie and I hear he had been planning this for a long while. It didn't turn out quite as he would have liked--many people were out of town or couldn't come for one reason or another *thank you GOD!*. But I do want to say how much he means to me and I know his intentions were to love on me and make me feel special.
It's just that...you REALLY shouldn't have!
Now that the worse part is OVER-the whole obligatory celebration and embarrassing thing---I am totally okay with being 30. As I mentioned, in teaching I have always felt in some ways looked down on for my lack of years in a profession that expects you only get better the older you get. (In most cases, that's true....but I know some older teachers who are synical CRANKS!). But more importantly, I am really looking forward to what this year and the next few have in store for me and my family. We look forward to our time here in Houston, possibly getting settled in our first purchased house soon, hopefully having more children, hoping for new additions to our extended families, and just feeling content with many things about my life---relationally, spiritually, etc. I am loving watching Noah grow and am enjoying being a mother more than ever. I've been working to be a better wife lately and this summer marks 7 years of wedded bliss for us. So despite the fact that the last 6 months have been the most stressful ones of my entire life, we are learning and growing and feeling stronger together and hopeful of the future.
So, 30 and fabulous, here I come. Now I just have to get my grown-up-lady hair-do on.
Maybe.
May 01, 2009
Happy May Day/Family News
Happy May Day to all of you.
Several new things to bring to you today.
Noah LOVES graham crackers right now. He cannot get enough of them.
Noah's feeling 100% better from this time last week, and has been over his fever for several days completely. He's still taking his antibiotic, and I'm still concerned it will really wipe out the infections. I need to schedule that appointment.
Noah has *started* potty training. I just want to record this moment in time, because SO FAR it's very cute and so very funny. I know that will likely soon change to be excruciatingly frustrating and "the death of me", so that's why I want to share how I'm feeling now before I forget. I have decided to make an attempt at what some might see as a different approach to potty training--letting Noah run diaperless during the day--hey, we're still in the apartment and have ALREADY run havok on this carpet in 4 months!--and also encouraging him to use the regular ol' big toilet to learn on. I read from several sources lately that this can help by not teaching MORE habits you'll eventually have to break them from as well...we're still fighting to get the paci away from him permanently, so I'm all about skipping the middle steps if possible. Matt bought him a little plastic potty when N had just barely turned one (wishful thinking! He had heard somewhere online lately that you could potty train a very young baby, and I nearly laughed out loud when he brought that thing home.) So we have it when we want it. I think I'm going to let him sit on it in front of the t.v. during his morning cartoon, until we can get a little bit of bodily function control under way---but my goal is to not rely on it completely. I want him to learn to be comfortable with the big one. He's big enough and strong enough to hold himself up, it's just a matter of being patient and staying there long enough! If Matt would let me, I'd post a pic of Noah hanging on to the big toilet, huge cheesy smile, but I know he would not approve. So maybe I'll work on that one. ANYway, Noah is really excited so far about the TRYING to go to the bathroom on the toilet. He climbs up and gets all set and then makes the FUNNIEST noises and faces, and then says, "Done!" And runs to the freezer to get his "pop" (half an icee pop--his reward for successful pottying.) Um, not quite, kid. Good effort tho. Maybe I need to get a smaller reward system for his whole-hearted attempts, but the popcicles seem to be a huge incentive. He's had 3 amazingly coincidental peeing episodes in the toilet, very small of course, but still...I'm going to say it's a start. Because you have to start somewhere, right? UPDATE: While I was preparing this for final posting, (working on the bottom) We had a REAL potty experience! Beginning to end! (Well, minus the first little tinkle that happened on my foot while Noah was telling me he needed to pee--I love motherhood;-) Here's the proof!
Well, the afterproof.
Next news....last night after volleyball, I looked down at my hand while taking a shower and realized one of my side diamonds from my wedding ring is missing. (insert terrible swear word here). I'm soooo frustrated. Must have happened at the gym. I don't remember any particular time, but I know it was within the last few hours. I guess the insurance money we have saved by not paying for insurance on it the last 6 years will pay for it. Cause we're just rolling in savings right now!
Matt is at District Assembly again today. Yesterday, we ran into some old friends who ALSO met at Golden Bell the first summer when we did, which was almost 11 years ago! They look exactly, exactly the same. They live in San Antonio. Carrie, can you guess who? So now we "knew" 3 couples who live here in TX, before we moved here.
And finally...
Only the faithful find this one out!
We have all but received our copy of the accepted bid/contract for a house--yes, a NEW house I have not mentioned yet. The one we saw on Monday and Tues. and have been working on this week. We are somewhat anxious to get paperwork into our hands, but we have the oral word from our realtor that the sellers have accepted our offer and the contract has been ammended with the new agreed-on price and we should be going in to put our earnest money down today or tomorrow. What a perfect birthday present for me! I want the paperwork completed completely--and in a box, with a big bow on it, though. Matt and I will head out tomorrow night to go to dinner and see a movie of my choice, and I hope we can officially celebrate together. It has been a long process and I am sooo ready for a final word on it.
Several new things to bring to you today.
Noah LOVES graham crackers right now. He cannot get enough of them.
Noah's feeling 100% better from this time last week, and has been over his fever for several days completely. He's still taking his antibiotic, and I'm still concerned it will really wipe out the infections. I need to schedule that appointment.
Noah has *started* potty training. I just want to record this moment in time, because SO FAR it's very cute and so very funny. I know that will likely soon change to be excruciatingly frustrating and "the death of me", so that's why I want to share how I'm feeling now before I forget. I have decided to make an attempt at what some might see as a different approach to potty training--letting Noah run diaperless during the day--hey, we're still in the apartment and have ALREADY run havok on this carpet in 4 months!--and also encouraging him to use the regular ol' big toilet to learn on. I read from several sources lately that this can help by not teaching MORE habits you'll eventually have to break them from as well...we're still fighting to get the paci away from him permanently, so I'm all about skipping the middle steps if possible. Matt bought him a little plastic potty when N had just barely turned one (wishful thinking! He had heard somewhere online lately that you could potty train a very young baby, and I nearly laughed out loud when he brought that thing home.) So we have it when we want it. I think I'm going to let him sit on it in front of the t.v. during his morning cartoon, until we can get a little bit of bodily function control under way---but my goal is to not rely on it completely. I want him to learn to be comfortable with the big one. He's big enough and strong enough to hold himself up, it's just a matter of being patient and staying there long enough! If Matt would let me, I'd post a pic of Noah hanging on to the big toilet, huge cheesy smile, but I know he would not approve. So maybe I'll work on that one. ANYway, Noah is really excited so far about the TRYING to go to the bathroom on the toilet. He climbs up and gets all set and then makes the FUNNIEST noises and faces, and then says, "Done!" And runs to the freezer to get his "pop" (half an icee pop--his reward for successful pottying.) Um, not quite, kid. Good effort tho. Maybe I need to get a smaller reward system for his whole-hearted attempts, but the popcicles seem to be a huge incentive. He's had 3 amazingly coincidental peeing episodes in the toilet, very small of course, but still...I'm going to say it's a start. Because you have to start somewhere, right? UPDATE: While I was preparing this for final posting, (working on the bottom) We had a REAL potty experience! Beginning to end! (Well, minus the first little tinkle that happened on my foot while Noah was telling me he needed to pee--I love motherhood;-) Here's the proof!
Well, the afterproof.Next news....last night after volleyball, I looked down at my hand while taking a shower and realized one of my side diamonds from my wedding ring is missing. (insert terrible swear word here). I'm soooo frustrated. Must have happened at the gym. I don't remember any particular time, but I know it was within the last few hours. I guess the insurance money we have saved by not paying for insurance on it the last 6 years will pay for it. Cause we're just rolling in savings right now!
Matt is at District Assembly again today. Yesterday, we ran into some old friends who ALSO met at Golden Bell the first summer when we did, which was almost 11 years ago! They look exactly, exactly the same. They live in San Antonio. Carrie, can you guess who? So now we "knew" 3 couples who live here in TX, before we moved here.
And finally...
Only the faithful find this one out!
We have all but received our copy of the accepted bid/contract for a house--yes, a NEW house I have not mentioned yet. The one we saw on Monday and Tues. and have been working on this week. We are somewhat anxious to get paperwork into our hands, but we have the oral word from our realtor that the sellers have accepted our offer and the contract has been ammended with the new agreed-on price and we should be going in to put our earnest money down today or tomorrow. What a perfect birthday present for me! I want the paperwork completed completely--and in a box, with a big bow on it, though. Matt and I will head out tomorrow night to go to dinner and see a movie of my choice, and I hope we can officially celebrate together. It has been a long process and I am sooo ready for a final word on it.
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