Party On

Next month it will have been 36 months since we signed a contract on our land. As you probably know, we didn't close for 20 months then spent the last 16 months trying to accomplish our dream. We tried so hard to get appropriate plans- to get a timely turn around- to get bank approval. Every move we make seems to take 12x's longer than other people. Since we moved to Hendersonville 2 years ago they put up around 30 houses around our land. Why were they able to do that and we're still sitting here with raw land? Why has the bank still not completed their assessment in twice the timeframe stated? Whatever the reasons are for alllll the delays, I don't think it's going to happen. We would need to break ground early to mid July to get Eli at our desired school and it's like walking through mud. We put an offer in on a house. We'll probably continue to put offers in. I think it's safe to say we've given up. To be fair, I'm not sure that we were even p...

Anias is 17 months old! He's wild and crazy and fits right in. We just got home from Wyoming Monday night after a little 2 week jaunt of just us two. I'm still super unprepared for life. We haven't had groceries since I got home. I haven't done laundry, went shopping, or even unpacked. It's a little hectic right now, but it was worth it!  Anias: 17 Months Figuring out Zippers I say new words like… Uh oh, nuh uh, snack, grandma, papa, dad-dy, There he is!, yum, love you I have  17 teeth My favorite food is still eggs and blueberries My favorite toy is my toy Dyson or my trucks Some other things I did include… learning my body parts. I dance to Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes where I know every part (plus my belly). I've figured out doors and you know I'm running if my hands are in the air. I love dogs and like to feed not only Peanut Butter, but characters on tv and the iPad. I bring whatever clothes are nearby for mom to put on m...

Well I'm behind in my life so this is all about the babies! Anias: 14 Months old I say new words like…  “yuck", "please" I have   10    teeth My favorite food is blueberries My favorite toy is  my stuffed owl Some other things I did include… I make car noises (blow raspberries) when I push cars around. I shake my head no and yes a lot and turn on my baby monitor to pretend it's a phone. I take clothes out of the dryer and put them in the basket and I walk constantly. Mom can't remember the last time I crawled. I tease mom and brother. I like to almost give mom a bite of food then tear it away and laugh. I like to take brother's toys and run. I play chase every day and love to go down slides. I wait until the count of 3 and then throw myself down the slide. I like to hide in the curtains. I was curious George for Halloween while brother was the man with the yellow hat. I held my Halloween bucket all by myself! I went to my first pumpkin pat...

I might need to keep doing biweekly blogs just to keep my mind straight. Writing definitely helps me feel all zen, even if I'm the only one reading them. Here We Go Chemo Remember the little infographic about my dad? Well he fell here... in the terminal section. That doesn't mean he's going to die tomorrow (thank God!), but he's definitely more likely to die from cancer than old age. So that's not the most exciting news. The good news is there are still treatment options, and he's begun hormone therapy and will start chemo next week. Eli and I are going down to help (Eli is so excited to feed their dog) and enjoy their company in general. Modern medicine is so amazing and moving so quickly and I still feel hope that he will be around to meet my grandkids, but if you pray- pray for him please- and us. That's Hot It's that time of year again, the hot toy list is out! It's filled with robots and Teddy Ruxpin (ha!) and a bunch of seemingly real...

Anias is a year (and a week) old! We had so much fun at his party and I feel so blessed to be his mama. I would generally write a sappy, thoughtful bit here but I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. I hope you enjoy the picture overload regardless! I still have a whole set to do of him in his birthday chair. Eek! Anias: Week 52- 1 year old  Dad calls me the great escape artist because I'm always sneaking out of everything. I like to free fall on the couch and I laugh and laugh even though it terrifies mom. I stand on my rocking chair and shake it back and forth or maneuver it so I can knock down all the toy storage on the top shelf. I like to 'play basketball' by throwing balls into my bucket and I took 4 steps in a row! I had my 1 year checkup and I weighed 19 lbs 12 oz (24th percentile), was 30 inches tall (56th percentile) and my head is 18.5 inches in circumference (76th percentile). I continued the family tradition of being sick...

There's only 1 more week and 1 day until my baby is one! I'm preparing a big Noah's Ark themed birthday party and am so excited to celebrate Anias' first year! Week 50: I had my second ear infection and let everyone know it. I've been standing for longer periods of time, but I get upset when mom or dad tries to get me to walk. I will do it on my own time mom! I say mama, dadda, Anias, hi, this, and Josh. I like to sing and play with blocks. I constantly pull brother's hair and laugh when he says "ouch!". I like to destroy Eli's train tracks. I took my first TWO steps on 8/27. Week 51: I snatched mom's keys and tried to unlock the door to go for a walk. When I realized I was too short I threw a major fit. I also do my very best to open the baby gates on the stairs. I said ba-bye for the first time and will go "ahhhh" on demand and ask mom to go "ahh" too so I can check her teeth. I do my best to type on mom's ...

6am: wake up, snack, and play happily until brother wakes up and comes to see me. Hug brother then go downstairs and play while I wait for breakfast 7: eat eggs and banana bread waffles because it's Saturday! Mom makes pancakes or waffles every Saturday for us 8: nap 9: scavenging for dropped breakfast, getting out some toys, dance party 10: Go for a Target run where my family tests out potential birthday presents; go for a ride in my little red car 11: have lunch at Ricardo's, eat cheesy rice, a tomato, and most of a quesadilla; dance 12-2: nap 2: destroy the house finding the perfect toy, ride my motorcycle and push around some cardboard 3: cry, "help" mom clean out the cabinets 4: play pat a cake & bite mom; fall off my motorcycle and cry- it leaves a big bruise on my face Have a snack that makes me so happy I dance 5: eat dinner (macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, a mighty 4 pouch and a string cheese); go for a walk 6: watc...