On the prowl

We have been in College Station about three weeks now. The first week was spent mainly unpacking, getting things situated, and making sure everything worked properly. Ever since, I've been slightly bored. Strange, right? I mean, I know there is still a lot to do. My house still has a long way to go before it feels homey. But, with Jesse still working crazy hours and not being around to help me much, there is not much I can do on my own. Not to mention we still need to buy several main pieces of furniture, and thus don't really want to decorate until we find the main bones of the room, ya know?

So, Ryleigh and I have been bored. Work is slow. I'm restless. Ryleigh has played and played with her toys and has watched every movie we own probably ten times. She is restless. She always wants to play outside, but in this crazy heat, I really cannot let her until the evening hours. It has made for some long, lonely days.

I need to find some friends!! We try to go for at least one outing a day, even if it is just running to the store, just to get out of the house. And I find myself scanning the aisles, making eye contact with every Mom in there, smiling super big. I'll take Ryleigh to lunch at a "kids" place, such as Chick-fil-A or McDonalds, hoping to connect with another Mom while our toddlers run and play together. We have gone to the park several nights, and have met many different people from our neighborhood, again, through uninhibited instant friendship of our kids. While searching for a church home, I find my eyes searching each congregation looking for couples our age, wondering, "could they be our friends?"

I'm searching, doing everything I know how. For those of you who know me, this does not come easy. I'm not an initiator by nature. I'm not exactly shy...but I'm not super brave either. To strike up conversation with strangers is not something that falls in my comfort zone. I usually fall back on old reliable: ask about their kids! I guess it is easier to have the limelight on the kiddos than to actually look at the adults; because if I ask about them, then they will feel like they have to ask about me...and what if I'm really just not that interesting?

It is hard to find friends at this phase of life. Not just acquaintances (though even those are hard to come by right now), but real friends. Life is busy. Schedules conflict more and more. Making time for all of life's demands, raising a young family, having a job, keeping up with extended family, and sharing fellowship with friends, how do you do it? I think I thought I would not have time for it, and therefore would not miss the friendship part. I have learned in these two weeks how much I do miss it. Friends matter. And I need them.

So, even though it is hard to start over and muster up the courage to put myself out there, I'm going to do it. I want to find people. Friends to hang out with when our little ones need to play. Friends to go to lunch with when we need out of the house. Friends that come over to hang out in the evenings on our deck. Friends that we can connect with in a real and meaningful way. And though I know it won't happen overnight, I know it can happen- which gives me hope.

Wanna hear the kicker in all of this? I admitted to being on the prowl in all public locations, actively looking for people who might fit with my idea of a friend, right? So in my daily "flip book," called Power of a Praying Woman, this is what it said yesterday:

Don't leave your relationships to chance. Pray for godly people to come into your life with whom you can connect. Don't force relationships to happen, pray for them to happen. Then when they do, nurture them with prayer.

Hmm, perhaps God is asking me to once again hand this area of my life over to him? I'm going to start praying long and hard that He brings us some friends, and I know that when He does, they will be worth the wait.

Hmmm...food for thought

I was bored this morning and started looking up random things on the Internet. Do you ever do that? C'mon, I know you do.

My search started on reviews of a Christian book I just finished reading. For those interested, Rocking the Roles by Lewis & Hendricks was a great book, and one I would definitely recommend to anyone who is married, has been married, or wants to get married. It might be my new gift to all engaged couples I know.

Anyway, so after reading a few commentaries and reviews, I moved on. My new search led me to home decorating tips. Hmmm. Fun, but oh-so-much $$$!!

Next, I looked up Playhouse Disney's Fall schedule, wondering if Little Einsteins would be returning, since Ryleigh was thoroughly engrossed in one of their movies at the time.

Which led me to think about my show: Grey's Anatomy! We still do not have any kind of cable hooked up at our new house, and so I've been completely out-of-the-loop with all shows, news, you name it. It has been good, being productive, reading, playing on the floor with Ryleigh, etc, and to be honest, I have not missed it much. BUT, I also know that Grey's should be starting up again sometime in the Fall, and then I will definitely want to know what is going on!! (Yes, I am addicted and need help.)

Okay, so I'm on the Grey's website (the season premiere is Thursday, September 24, for those interested), and I see one of those online quizzes you can take to find out which character you are most like on the show. I was intrigued. Honestly, I don't know who I think I'm most like. There is not one clear cut personality on the show that I totally fit. So, I took the quiz to find out who they think I'm most like. This was my result:

You are Cristina!

Very few people have, or can understand, the sheer determination and drive that propels you, but you’re just as fiercely protective of your friends as you are of your own hopes and dreams. If they’re smart, your friends already know that. They also know that you’re more vulnerable than you seem and are only glad to offer a shoulder to cry on.
Hmmm, am I like Cristina? There are times in my life when I am very driven and focused. I do feel propelled to excel in certain areas of life, and can try to appear less-vulnerable on the outside than I really am. Of course, I am protective of my family and friends, and I think they all know that about me. So, am I Cristina?

In the show, she comes across calloused, cold, and unswerving in her beliefs. She is meticulous and controlling, never allowing for spontaneity or much humor. She is a good friend, one who speaks the truth in all circumstances, having no problem laying her thoughts out there for anyone/everyone to see.

Is that me? Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing? Should I have wanted to be Meredith, who is a dreamer, tends to bring chaos into her own life and has a hard time trusting people? Should I want to be Izzy, who is everyone's friend and seldom focuses on herself?

Food for thought, brought to you by Grey's Anatomy. See? Who says television cannot help us probe into ourselves and make us think?

Six

That is how many times Ryleigh got up last night, between 2:56 am and 4:13 am. Six times. Six times, I got up and walked her (sometimes chased her) back to her room.

What gives??

I do not understand. I really don't. I do not want to lock her in her room or anything rash, but seriously, how do I make her understand she cannot get out of bed at night, six times? I have tried the sweet, soothing Mom approach. I have tried the stern approach. I have tried the angry approach. Nothing is working!!! HELP! Any suggestions??

Confessions of a Rebellious Pregnant Woman

I'm not rebellious by nature. In fact, I probably missed out on a lot of fun growing up because I thought everything was against the rules...and I followed the rules to a T. And while it made for a "good" kid, it was also seen as boring, monotonous, and scared. Scared to step out of the box of comfort I had built for myself. It was as if I knew my life was boring, but by living with rules for myself, I also knew the exact outcome I could expect. So, rules it was!

When I was pregnant with Ryleigh, naturally, the rule book came out. All the do's and dont's of pregnancy literature governed my every move. If some all-knowing author said I should not clean my bathroom due to the strong smells of the chemicals, then my bathroom was going to get nice and dirty! I never missed a single prenatal vitamin. The rules said no medicine, thus living with an intense headache because I was terrified of what could happen by taking a Tylenol. And that headache I'm referencing? Yeah, that lasted about a week long when I stopped ALL forms of caffeine cold turkey. You get the picture.

What I have learned since Ryleigh is that life is fragile. No one is promised a healthy baby. And though I can control my circumstances to help aid with the health of my baby, nothing I do or don't do will guarantee a healthy baby. If it were really up to us, how would we explain to someone who did everything "right," why their baby was called home early? How could we justify healthy babies born to unfit families? God already knows this little one growing in my womb, and the number of days he will live in this world. Following the rules will not change that.

For all of you thinking, "Yes, BUT, God has entrusted you with this precious life, and it is your job to be wise and responsible, caring for it to the best of your ability..." I agree. And normally, if you really know me, you would know that is how I operate by nature. I am a perfectionist and a rule-follower! I do not take risks, and I strive to always give my 110%. Normally. Problem is, nothing about this pregnancy (and its timing) has been normal.

So back to the title of this post. I have been rebellious this pregnancy. Not necessarily intentionally rebellious, just slightly more laid back. Not so paranoid. And though some of my rebellious acts have been just pure selfishness, others have been driven by circumstance and not many options. Here are my confessions:

• I did NOT give up caffeine this pregnancy. At all. Most days I make an effort to cut back on how much I drink, but other days, I don't even think twice. I guess if I get a hyper child, I'll only have myself to blame. That being said, I was "good" with Ryleigh, and she is one of the most active kids ever. Go figure.
• I have skipped prenatal vitamins...intentionally. When I was going through the sick phase this pregnancy, it hurt more. Obviously, having another little one running around, I could not just be sick. So when I figured out that I felt less nauseous on the mornings after I would skip a vitamin...well, you get the picture. I will say that I would try to eat much more nutritiously on those days to make up for it, but still. Bad mommy.
• I'm a stomach sleeper. Apparently you are not supposed to do that, but sometimes you gotta sleep! Sure, it typically gets the baby kicking and moving around, trying to find a new comfortable spot in Mama's belly, but I don't always mind feeling his movements at the end of the day. If he gets really irritated with me, you know, kicking hard and aiming for ribs and other important organs, then I'll roll over and let him win. Such a nice Mama.
• During the move from Houston, I did way too much. Yes, I painted. I packed heavy boxes. I moved things around myself. I worked out in the insane heat and felt myself get light-headed, yet would not stop. I cleaned with strong chemicals. Yeah, it was rough. But, with Jesse being gone, some things had to get done. When I had help, I'd let them help me. However, there came a time when it was just me. And I had to do what I had to do. You will be proud to know that when it came to moving into our new house, I was good! I did not move any furniture or any boxes. I sat back and let others help. I did not clean with chemicals. I did not make the trips to the hot storage unit. I followed the rules. :)
• I took a bath. Hey- I had to try out the new jacuzzi tub and make sure it worked! And, man, did it feel good!
• I have painted. On a ladder. Yeah. Don't need to go into that.

Okay, so all of these things have thus far not affected me. Sure, there were days when I worked a little too hard and was really tired. But that happens anyway during pregnancy, so no worries.

Yesterday, I was dumb. I thought twice and went against my better judgement. And I paid the price. Ryleigh had been asking to play outside and "cut the grass," and I looked outside and realized the grass really did need to get cut. And at the time, it was early in the morning, I was wrapped in a blanket, cold, thinking, the warmth outside will feel good. (Pregnancy brain=Memory lapse as to the fact we live in Texas...it is not warm in August.)

So, we put on tank tops and shorts, and I put her toys on the driveway, blocked by my car, and got ready to examine our new yard and plan my attack. Yeah, the yard pretty much attacked me. Jesse had already told me how "spongy" it was, but I was not sure what he meant. Now I know. The lawn mower died 3 times on me, flooded with grass, leaving massive streaks in the yard, as if I was bailing hay. And though the grass was slightly tall, it was not that tall...Jesse has just mowed it last weekend, 4 days prior! I ended up having to pull out the rake and pick up extra grass from all over the yard. And the yard is not even at all. Dips in the yard, the house sitting slightly uphill...not cool. I'm used to having a pretty yard, with nice grass, where the biggest mistake I can make is to slightly scalp the edges if I'm not paying attention. Normally, when someone cuts the grass, the yard always looks better; maybe not nice, but better than how it started! Yeah, I did not feel that way yesterday. And it took me for-ev-er (to be pronounced like Squence in The Sandlot) to finish. Needless to say, I did not do the backyard. I was hot, frustrated, and exhausted by the time I was done.

When Jesse got home last night, he found me laying on the couch- sunburned, laying on an ice pack, with a bottle of Tylenol and a box of Bandaids sitting next to me. He cautiously walked over, kissed me, and said, "did you cut the grass?"

I just sighed.

He shook his head and said, "Honey, you do not need to do that! We're here together again, and I will handle that. It's not good for you!"

I started tearing up, exhausted and hurting and said, "I was trying to be nice and helpful."

He gave me a hug and said, "Thank you, babe. But, please don't do it again. What are our neighbors going to think when they see my 8-month pregnant wife out there pushing a lawn mower in this insane heat? What if you passed out? What if you really did hurt yourself? What if you started having contractions? Thank you for trying to help. Next time, just cook dinner. I like when you do that." Grin.

"Speaking of dinner," I said, "You're on your own tonight. I'm pooped."

Soooo YEAH. LONG story short, my rebelliousness caught up to me. I was stupid, and last night, I paid the price. Now it's back to the rule book for me. Well, at least most of the rules. I don't want to be considered a goody-too-shoes, or anything. :)

Life

Disclaimer: This post is going to be scattered.
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Update on sleeping situation.

I gave Ryleigh Benadryl last night. I did. Not the full dose, but some. And Jesse rough-housed with her for awhile before bed to get her nice and sleepy. And she slept, all night, in her bed, until 6:45 this morning. Thank you, Lord, I will take that!

Ryleigh is still in a mood, testing me at every turn, frustrating me to no end, throwing tantrums, throwing toys, hitting me, and being all-around not fun. I'm running out of options for discipline, and what works one day, does not work the next. Parenting is exhausting. I know, or at least I pray, that one day all of this discipline and frustration will be worth it, as demonstrated by her character. I can only pray. But in the meantime, it wears me out.

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. Proverbs 29:15
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We picked up our TV this weekend, from a friend's house who was keeping it for us, while the rest of our stuff was in storage. Still no cable or anything hooked up, but I did pull out the DVD player. We have been to Blockbuster twice and have been enjoying catching up on the movie scene. So far we have watched:

• Slumdog Millionaire
• Taken
• Seven Pounds
• Yes Man
• Marley and Me

I have to say, I have liked every single movie! Sure there are always some scenes which could easily have been avoided, but they are made in Hollywood. I would honestly recommend any of them to you! If you haven't watched a good movie lately, take your pick!

We have also watched our share of The Wiggles, Baby Einstein, Elmo, Veggie Tales, The Little Mermaid, and A Bug's Life. Apparently, for a 2-year-old, they never get old.

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I've been enjoying cooking again, trying more new recipes and bringing out some old favorites. Really since the end of May, we have eaten out more than I care to mention. Something about working on home projects, packing, moving, living out of suitcases, and having your kitchen stored away somewhere makes eating home-cooked meals kind of difficult. Granted, while I was staying at my parents, we had more regular meals. But Jesse has literally been eating out every meal since coming up to College Station. If I even mention grabbing a bite, he turns green. Haha.

Some of the new things I have tried have been Eggplant Parmesan (his Italian favorite), BBQ Brisket using my Grandad's original BBQ sauce recipe, and Herbed Chicken and Roasted Potatoes. Tonight I'm trying a spin-off of my favorite Chicken Enchiladas.

So far, everything has been really good. Jesse said the Eggplant Parmesan might be his new favorite recipe of mine, and he would not stop talking about how tasty the BBQ sauce was last night. Literally, he was licking the spoon and then re-dipping for "just one more" taste. :)

Ryleigh seems content to eat corn, green beans, rice, and fruit. As long as we have one of those staples with every meal, she eats. If not, she just picks. Hoping this is a phase...

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Along with movies, I have also pulled out the books. A quiet house can be too quiet, but it can also set the stage for a perfect reading situation. Some things I have been reading:

• Vanishing Acts by Jodi Piccoult: Love this author! I have read most of her books, and have not found one I didn't like. This book might not have been my absolute favorite, but it was still a good read.
• Rocking the Roles by Robert Lewis and William Hendricks: Jesse had bought this book for us a few anniversaries back, and we never got around to reading it together. So, now we have started. So far, I'm enjoying the perspective, explaining that the Biblical model for roles within marriage is not what we typically think. People normally think of either the Traditional model (think 1950's) or the Modern model (no roles, everything must be equal), and most associate the Traditional model with Biblical principles. This book explains that it is not true. We're still reading, but so far, so good.
• Baby name books...and websites...and suggestions from friends...still no news on that front. I honestly have not had a single name that I really liked. Yikes! Still hoping that some beautiful boy's name just falls in our lap.

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We met some neighbors! The next-door neighbors were out this weekend, and came over to introduce themselves. They have three girls, the youngest who is 3-years-old. She and Ryleigh got along right away, running and giggling together. They seemed very nice, and we look forward to getting to know them more.

Monday, I was half asleep during Ryleigh's nap, just out of the shower, no makeup, hair not done, and the door bell rang. It was another neighbor, bringing us a beautiful hanging basket and introducing herself. She and her husband are retirees from Ohio, who moved to College Station because their son lives here, and owns the Texas Roadhouse restaurant. (Yum!!) She was incredibly sweet.

Hooray for nice neighbors! Hopefully when it cools off some more, we can hang out outside and meet others.

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Okay, that's life in a nutshell. Hope it was not too scattered for ya... I did warn you. :)

Rough night

Since we have moved, Ryleigh has been slightly out-of-sorts when it comes to sleeping. I'm honestly not sure why. She is normally a pretty good sleeper, and as long as we stick to her sleep schedule, we have no issues.

Lately, she fights us when it is time to go to sleep, coming back out of room, crying, asking for more cuddles, etc. Originally, we thought perhaps it was just her adjusting to us again being a family of three-- most of her cuddle requests were at Daddy. Naturally, he was happy to oblige, missing his cuddle time with her as well. But now, we're worried she is getting into the habit.

More than that, she is waking up throughout the night, sometimes screaming, running across the house to our room. Again, at first, we thought perhaps she was nervous in her new room or just needed confirmation that we were still there. But when she would climb into bed with us, she would be wide awake. For at least an hour, sometimes more. And eventually, I would end up having to take her back to her room, where she would cry and beg to sleep in "Mommy's bed."

Last night she got up three times, starting at 2:45. The first time, I gently picked her up, carried her to her room, rocked her for awhile rubbing her back, and sweetly put her back to sleep. The second time, around 3:20, I walked her back, holding her hand, and told her that she had to stay in her room and sleep in her big girl bed until morning. The third time, at 3:40, I was mad. I told her to go straight to her room, and I just followed behind, making sure that she got in bed.

(On a side note, Mondays are Jesse's long day at work: 5:30am until about 7:00pm. Needless to say he was exhausted, and had taken a Benadryl to help with his allergies and get a good night's rest. So the whole time this is going on, he is sawing logs...)

So, after the third trip to Ryleigh's room, I got in bed, mad, and now wide awake. And yes, the baby had started kicking and rolling around, probably wondering what in the world was going on.

Well, within 5 minutes of getting into bed, I heard a really weird beep. Then again. And again. Being that this is a new house, we're still not used to all the little sounds we hear at night. I sat up, listening, agitated. When the beep did not stop, I got up to see what it was. I looked around, and it stopped. Of course. It made me slightly nervous, but whatever, I was tired, and just wanted to sleep! So, I got back into bed. And Jesse rolls over and says, "what was that?" I told him I had no idea, because it stopped on its own.

5 minutes later, it started again. And it was more frequent. We both sat straight up and headed for the door. Sure enough, it was the house alarm at the front door. And the "trouble" light was blinking. My heart started racing. Jesse and I do not have the alarm activated yet, but we did have cables run for activation last week when we ran our telephone/Internet lines. So, how can a disabled alarm be beeping "trouble?" We checked all around the house, turned on all outside lights, and came back to the alarm. I picked up the phone and the line was dead. Then I remembered some automated message I got from our phone provider (the same one who ran the line for the alarm) that there was going to be shutdown between the hours of 2am and 6am.

About that time, Ryleigh again came out of her room crying, and ran straight to Daddy. He just looked at me, both exhausted and frustrated, turned off the light, and we went back to our room. We all fell in bed around 4:10. Jesse's alarm went off at 4:30.

WOW. It was a long night.

I kind of wonder if Ryleigh knows that I'm going to need some preparation for the long nights that are to come when the baby arrives...perhaps she is just trying to help...I don't know. I do know that she cut some molars sometime over the past few weeks, which might have had something to do with her initially waking up. She also wakes up during nap time, needing to go potty. I'm thankful that she is learning, but man, I need her to take that nap!! Plus, she is a much nicer girl when she sleeps well; you can imagine how nice she has been these past couple of weeks...!!

Okay, I'm done venting now. I need a nap. Literally.

Welcome Madilynn Grace!

Madilynn Grace arrived last Thursday afternoon, after a speedy labor and delivery. She is a tiny thing, weighing only 6 lb 14 oz and measuring 18.5 in long.

Stacey said that labor and delivery was very smooth, and they were discharged within 24 hours. Nice! I'm sure they had a lot of family and friends this weekend to come meet the baby, and it truly took everything in me to not get in my car and go see them!

Ben and Stacey have been some of my best friends since high school. It seems we always hit major crossroads of life at the same time, which has been such a blessing to me. I love knowing that Stacey understand exactly what I'm thinking and feeling about a situation, because she's right there too. They are true friends in every sense of the word, and I'm so blessed to have them in my life.

We are so excited for you guys and your beautiful new addition. We'll continue to pray for a quick recovery for Mama, extra time for Daddy, and lots of love and attention for Gabbi. Miss Madilynn is precious, and we cannot wait to get there and meet her ourselves. We love you!

Yes, I shamelessly stole their pictures off Facebook to post on my blog... :) Aren't they the cutest family you ever saw??

6 years

Today is Jesse and my 6th anniversary. Six years ago, we pledged our lives together.

I don't remember much, to be honest, except through pictures. I know it was an incredibly emotional day for me, full of nerves, anxiousness, excitement, and powerful joy. The words we spoke to each other, barely audible to the rest of the audience, were sincere and heart-felt. There was passion and desire to strive towards an amazing marriage.

Those vows we repeated have been the basis of our life. Definitely not always easy to follow, but solid convictions in our hearts. The past six years have had ups and downs, joys and sorrows, as I'm certain the rest of our lives will also hold. I know this. I know that I vowed my life to Jesse, and him to me. I know that whatever might come, we will face it together. I know that God brought us together, and it is only because of Him that we will be able to make it together. I'm thankful for every positive aspect of my husband's character, and prayerful for every...well, not-so positive aspect. :) As I'm sure he is of me. We have grown individually and together over these past six years, and I'm curious to see what we look like as a couple in another six years from now.

I found pictures from our honeymoon on an old digital card when we were moving. We went to Colorado for a week, hanging out together, hiking through beautiful mountains, climbing up the sides of waterfalls, having picnics beside streams, fishing in quiet lakes. We enjoyed nature and spent time with only each other. It was a beautiful week, and looking back at these pictures makes me remember how young we were. Young, in love, and full of faith in each other. It was a special time, full of memories.

(If you notice, we don't have any pictures of us together from the entire week. We truly spent the week secluded from the rest of the world, therefore having no one else to take our picture. And we had not mastered the arm-outstretched pose yet...)

I love my husband. I'm thankful that God has blessed us with each other and the life we lead. I look forward to the future and the continuation of this road we have begun. Thank you Jesse for choosing me to be your wife, friend, lover, and life-partner. I can't imagine going through life with anyone but you. I love you.

I'm so impressed!

I had heard that if you wait until your little one is ready, that potty training is a breeze. But, all my prior experience (or stories I have heard from others) suggested otherwise. I was terrified to begin the process, because I just knew I would be in a never-ending cycle of cleaning up pee-pee and poo-poo all over the house...and I just don't do well with that.

Once again, little Miss Ryleigh has exceeded my expectations. More so than I even imagined possible. We literally started this potty training thing two-weeks ago. The first couple of days had a lot of the moments I was worried about; but luckily for me, my mom was there, and she did most of the clean up. (Yes, I'm still spoiled.) Ryleigh started learning the process though, and every day she did better and better.

Again, my expectations dropped during the move. I just assumed that she would be out-of-sorts and we would all be busy, and thus not the prime environment to focus on potty training. Well, she continued to tell us every time she needed to go to the potty- and sure enough, when she said she needed to go, she went! I'm not just talking about pee-pee here, folks. All of it. In the potty! Without prompting from us. She had one accident on move-in day, and I think it was because she was so excited to see her toys, which had been boxed up for six-weeks, she just did not want to stop playing long enough to go potty. Of course, she cried when it happened, and then it did not happen again.

Wednesday evening, we had our first outing in the big girl panties. It was impromptu, as I was late taking Jesse some clean clothes for a meeting that night, and literally had to throw Ryleigh in the car, panties and all...but she did it! She was in her car seat for almost 30 minutes with no problem. And, we were so rushed to get in the car, I did not have her go to the bathroom before she left. Pretty stinkin' impressive!!

I was going to title this post, "Potty Training=Success!" but after this morning, I decided against that title. My little stinker had two accidents this morning- one in a 20 minute car ride (after I had her go to the bathroom before we left, and asked her if I needed to put her in a diaper) and the other sitting in my bed.

In the car, she simply said, "Mommy, I go pee-pee in my car seat." I was like, What?? And sure enough, she had.

About an hour later, after getting home and giving her a shower, she was sitting in my bed watching a movie and I was straightening my hair. All of a sudden, "Mommy, I go pee-pee in your bed." This time I was not so calm.

I realize they call it potty training, because it is just that. It is not going to happen overnight, and there will be accidents along the way. I was shocked this morning because there was no apparent reason for them, and she did not seem upset by them, as she had previously when she had accidents. I made her go sit on the potty for awhile afterwards, and asked her why she did not put her pee-pee in the potty. Sure enough, she said "I sowwy, Mommy. I'm a bad girl."

I'm still beyond impressed. Two weeks, and only three accidents, if you do not count those first few days. This is the second big transition we have worked with Ryleigh on in three months (transition from crib to big girl bed), and both have been significantly easier than I anticipated.

So have hope, all you moms who have not yet experienced the transitions. It just might go easier than you think!

Baby Childs arrives tomorrow!!

Some of my best friends, Ben and Stacey, are expecting their second baby tomorrow! Stacey is about 39-weeks, and they are going to go ahead and induce in the morning, so that Ben gets some time to bond with the baby before school and football start going crazy.

I'm so excited! I feel like I'm not going to sleep tonight...I can't imagine how they must be feeling. I cannot wait to find out whether the newest family addition is a boy or a girl. Ryleigh cannot wait to meet "Gabbi's baby budda." (I guess she has cast her vote...I think it is a girl, but I really want it to be a boy so our boys can be best buds!)

Get some rest, and I'll be praying and waiting to hear tomorrow. Love ya!

30 weeks

As of today, I am 30-weeks along. Some days it feels like we just found out yesterday...others days, I look down at my growing belly and wonder how in the world it will continue to grow for 10 more weeks!! YIKES!

I drive back to Houston tomorrow for another doctor's visit. We have begun the bi-monthly visits, which get old after awhile, if I'm being honest. But, I am thankful that they keep such a close watch on the little one, and make sure that the pregnancy is progressing as normal. This pregnancy these appointments will be even more crucial, especially as the end draws closer, to make sure we know exactly what is going on with my body. I do not want to spontaneously go into labor in the middle of the night and have to make the drive to Houston!!

Baby Boy Shulse seems similar to his big sister in many ways. He loves to move around, kick, stretch, and frequently gets the hiccups. Of course, this mainly occurs when I lay down to go to sleep at night or when I'm driving in the car. I'm also quite certain, that again like Ryleigh, this little one will have a head full of hair, because my heartburn and acid reflux are every bit as irritating this go around. Tums are my friend.
Baby Boy already seems to love his big sister. I have noticed lately that when she is playing and squealing with laughter and enthusiasm, he starts kicking. It is as if he is saying, "I'm ready to play too, Ryleigh!" She seems equally excited about him; hugging and kissing my belly and saying hi to "baby budda." The first time she took a sticker and stuck it to my belly, saying, "one for baby budda," I almost cried. I have no doubt that these two will be a hand full for Mommy and Daday, but also a fun duo who love each other and are the best of friends.

Oh! Guess what else? I got the new nursery bedding today! I had ordered online last week; the first thing shipped to my new home address. It arrived today, and thankfully Jesse still liked it. (He has a habit of saying he likes something, and then once it gets home, no longer liking it so much.) We still have plenty of time to work on the nursery, but it was exciting nonetheless to get it today. And before you ask, yes, I promise to post pictures once the room is complete.

Speaking of pictures, you have all been twisting my arm for a belly shot. Well, my camera is broken, so I have not taken any belly shots since the belly became...well, a belly. AND, as an honest disclaimer, this picture was taken at 28 weeks, the day of Susan's wedding. It's the closest I can come up with.
That was the week that I noticed the biggest change in the belly. It grew pretty big that week. No telling if it was all the yummy food from the wedding, or what, but wow, I was blown away when I woke up every morning!! The growth has slowed down a bit now, but I'm still a nervous wreck about how much bigger it is going to get. This baby is growing straight out, not so much side to side, and I don't know how far my skin will stretch. I guess time will tell. Palmers Cocoa Butter is applied daily, and so far, so good. Again, time will tell!

So there ya have it. 30-weeks along, and still growing on schedule. We still have awhile to go, but something tells me that October 6 will get here before we know it!

Welcome to the blogging family!

After being the only one in the family to do this "blogging thing" for so long, my sisters are all finally on board! It is really a great thing for families and friends (as those of you who blog can testify), as a means for keeping in touch and sharing life with people who dont live close by.

My sisters and I are all spread out; except Julie and I, who though we will both live in College Station, will probably still lead very independent lives. With so much going on in each of our lives right now, this venue is an excellent resource for showing the details, the funny stories, the thoughts on life, and of course, the pictures!

So, please welcome my family to the blogging family!

• Susan
• Sarah
• Julie

Girls, I'm so excited and cannot wait to read and see more of your lives. Love y'all!

We're in

I'm actually surprised at how comfortable I feel already!

When I was packing up our house in Houston, it felt never-ending. There was always another room, another closet, another box left to pack.

We had a lot of help this weekend, getting moved in and unpacked, and I feel really good about where everything is! Sure, there are still rooms not finished and no deocrating has been done, per se, but that's okay. We are fully functional and that's all that matters.

My goal is to tackle one room every weekend (maybe not back-to-back weekends, we'll have to see how "over it" I get), fixing it up the way we want it.

Neverthless, we're in! And slowly but surely, we'll get settled and turn this house into our new home. I'll be sure to post pictures when it starts to come together.

(On a side note, my camera has been broken since May-- have you noticed the lack of pictures this summer? I have not had time to get it fixed or look into buying a new one!! Ahh! It's on my list as well.)

"I'll see ya at home!"

That is what I said to Jesse, as we both got into our cars and headed home this morning.

The morning was a whirlwind of trying to do a final walk-through (which did not end up happening), waiting for the new teller-in-training to get my cashier's check right, Jesse having issues at work, signing our lives away, handing over the money, and receiving the keys in return.

We officially have a home again!

We went over there to make sure everything was good, decide a paint color for the living area, and decide where we want what. Then I had to go to the bathroom (surprise, surprise), and realized there was no toilet paper! Ah!

So, we are back at the cottage, Jesse taking a shower and short nap while I pace anxiously. We will go get the paint when he wakes up and then head back over to begin. I'm super excited and ready to get going-- all in good time. This time, I will bring toilet paper!!! Haha!

Hooray! We made it! I'll be in touch next week once we are settled. :)

She's getting it...!

Ryleigh is doing so well with her potty training! She is able to stop herself if she accidentally begins before reaching the potty, and most of the time, she has told us when she needs to go and makes it right in time.

Knock on wood, but there were no pee-pee accidents at all Wednesday or Thursday! She's really doing it! And yes, she finally did it for me, which just made my day.

We still have awhile to go- obviously, I'm still putting her in diapers when we leave the house or when she is sleeping, and that might continue for awhile. But, already I'm saving diapers during the day, so I can't complain. AND, when we are out and she is in a diaper, she still tells me if she needs to go pee-pee, which is awesome. Wednesday we were running some errands and from the backseat she says, "Mommy! I go pee-pee in my car seat." HAHA! She knew that there was not much she could do about it, but wanted to let me know she was going. Hysterical.

Way to go, Ryleigh! Mommy is so proud of you!

Thanks, Mom for the help and encouragement- both to Ryleigh and me. Couldn't have (wouldn't have) done it without you!

"Couple more days..."

That is what I tell Ryleigh every time she asks about Daddy or College Station.

"We go see Daddy? College Station?"
"Ryleigh, when are we going to see Daddy?"
And she sighs, smiles, and says, "couple more days!"

I'll admit it- this summer has been hard. Packing. Moving. Having no home. Living out of suitcases. Driving up on the weekends, though still not to our own place. Not having all three of us under the same roof. Communicating mainly through a 15 minute phone call once a day.

NOT ideal.

And I am slightly (slightly=very) hormonal, meaning I need more right now. More time and affection and attention and help from my husband. And it simply has not been possible. You can only squeeze so much into a 2-day weekend.

But....there is a light at the end of the tunnel!! In a "couple more days," we will close on our new house. We move up there this weekend! I know the moving and settling might be slightly chaotic, but its chaos under one roof. Our family. Together. In our home.

I'm ready! Hurry up Friday!!!

It's on!!

Ryleigh has talked about the potty for awhile. She has told me when she has to go pee-pee or poo-poo, or when she wants her diaper changed. I knew it was time to start potty training, but with everything going on this summer, I was apprehensive to start. (Apprehensive=Lazy)

While we have been staying at my mom's house, and with her encouragement, we thought we would give it a go. We went and got Ryleigh some pretty big girl panties and a new potty for Gaga's house. We found books to read while sitting on the potty. And mom bought a bag of M&M's for Ryleigh's treat, should she decide to go in the potty.

So, last week, when Ryleigh woke up and had her breakfast, we changed her out of her diaper, had her sit on the potty (with no success), and then put on her big girl panties. We explained that she needed to run to the potty to go pee-pee or poo-poo. And then she was off to watch her movie, not listening to one thing we said.

Sure enough, a little bit later, she starts screaming and crying. We realize she has started to go pee-pee and does not like it one bit!! We run to the potty, but we're too late. This happens two or three more times that morning. Then later, she actually stops herself and finishes in the potty! Crying the whole time, saying "I'm a bad girl!!" (Mom and I were trying not to die laughing!!!)

One morning we looked in the potty, and there was already pee-pee in there. It had to be from the night before, though neither of us know when she did it. Miss Independent.

I'm trying not to get my feelings hurt that has not done it out-right for me yet...every time she has gone in the potty, she is with Gaga. But, hey, it doesn't matter how she learns, just so long as she is learning, right?

Now, we are still not there. But, I think some progress is being made. Yesterday morning, she wore her big girl panties all morning long, and did not have one accident! In fact, when I put her in her diaper to leave the house, she told us she had to go pee-pee, and ran for her potty. Again, she had started to go, and managed to stop herself and then finish in the potty! Pretty good!

I'm sure this will be a process, but how cool would it be to not have two kids in diapers?? Keep it up Ryleigh! You can do it!

Susan and Brent's wedding

My sister got married on 7-8-09. (Yes, those crazy kids got married on a Wednesday.) As you can see, it has taken me awhile to write a post about it. It has not been because I have been busy; I think I have been processing everything. The week was a whirlwind of fun events, and at first, I thought about giving a play-by-play commentary, but decided against it.

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I could tell you about the early morning flight up there: a new first in my life, as I was able to use those handy little sick throw-up bags, not once, but twice, on one trip!

I could tell you about the cold weather we felt immediately after getting off the plane.

I could tell you about the awesome limo that picked us up from the airport or the weird hotel room we stayed in.

I could tell you about the beautiful new pool Brent and Susan put in their backyard. About the fun and crazy pool party. How fun it was to be with all my sisters at one place. The yummy virgin strawberry daiquiri's the bartender made just for me. Ryleigh swimming in the cold pool until her lips turned blue.


I could tell you about the fun morning at the spa, feeling pampered by spa pedicures and manicures, relaxing with the girls.

I could tell you about the yummy Bridesmaid Luncheon at the cute little tea house. How Susan was so sweet and showered us with fun and special gifts. How I thought every girl dressed so cute and was so excited to be there with Susan.

I could tell you about the traffic getting to rehearsal across town. Apparently 5:00 traffic happens during the week, whether there is a wedding or not.

I could tell you about the bus ride, where Ryleigh kept yelling to the front of the bus, trying to get her Gaga's attention.

I could tell you about the crazy rehearsal, with Ryleigh running all over the place, and the coordinator trying to squeeze all 10 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen on the stage. How much fun the guys had joking around the whole time. How we all left, still not really knowing what was going to happen the next day.

I could tell you about how hungry we all were when we arrived at the rehearsal dinner. How delicious the food was- especially the appetizers. The nice atmosphere. The difficult and sentimental speeches given by Kori, Bradley, and myself. Ryleigh falling asleep in our booth. The excited bride and groom.


I could tell you about the late night lingerie shower, where we planned to eat dessert, but never did because everyone was still full from the late dinner. The fact that it was midnight before we even started the party! The funny (and wayyy TMI) games played. The laughs shared by all the girls. The fun and pretty lingerie Susan received.


I could tell you about the morning of the wedding- waking up to Susan being sick and needing medicine. All the girls loading up to go to the salon and get our hair done. Susan still sick. Coming back to the hotel to have makeup done and finish getting ready. Scarfing down Subway sandwiches. Susan still sick. Feeling big as a house. How beautiful the bridesmaids looked all done up. The relatively quiet ride to the church. Everyone praying Susan's stomach would calm down.


I could tell you about getting into our dresses at the church. Seeing the beautiful flowers. Watching as they finished decorating the church. Susan getting into her amazing dress and unbelievable veil. Taking the "girl" pictures before the wedding. Trying to get Ryleigh ready. Waiting for the ceremony to begin, and realizing that the bus full of most of the wedding guests had still not arrived.

I could tell you about gathering at the back of the church. Hearing the music begin. Ryleigh yelling "it's Baby Einstein, Mama!" The girls starting the parade inside the church. Ryleigh pitching an absolute fit, and me apologizing to Susan, thinking there was no way she would make it down that aisle. Walking down the aisle myself. Turning around to see that Ryleigh actually did make it down the aisle...

I could tell you about the minute Dad walked Susan into the church. The smiles on everyone's faces. Her face behind the veil. The quick hand off of Ryleigh to Jesse. Brent focusing only on Susan. Dad giving her away.



I could tell you about the sweat dripping off Brent's face, as the groomsmen continued to pass down Subway napkins for him to wipe his brow. The smile on Susan's face when she took Brent's hands. The giddiness we could all sense.


I could tell you about the ceremony. The laughter exchanged. The sand ceremony mix-up. The vows. The first kiss. The sheer joy when announced as husband and wife: Mr. and Mrs. Burns.
I could tell you about the Bride and Groom running through the rose petals. The pictures afterwards. Ryleigh running everywhere. The limo ride with the wedding party to the reception. The exhaustion from all the bridesmaids. The laughter and jokes from all the groomsmen.

I could tell you about the gorgeous reception. The tents. The flowers. The twinkle lights. The ice sculpture. The taste of the appetizers, as my stomach growled. The smile Jesse gave me when I walked into the room. The new relaxed state of the bride.

I could tell you about the grand entrance. Again, the announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Cutting the reversed Bride and Groom cakes.
I could tell you how happy everyone was at the party. Excited for Brent and Susan. Smiles everywhere. A tasty dinner. My daughter having a fit. Gorgeous people everywhere. Family and friends thrilled to share in the special day.

I could tell you about the first dance. Brent's classy and fun top hat. Susan's never-ceasing smile. Her dress swishing around the floor. The poofy party veil.

I could tell you about my emotional state. Watching Dad and Susan dance. Crying with Sarah and Julie in the bathroom. Dancing with my Dad. Watching the guys and girls "get down" on the dance floor. Laughing as Savannah stole the show, dancing in the middle of the group.

I could tell you about the fun band. Susan tossing the bouquet. Brent going after the garter. The fight to catch the garter (unheard of, right?) Getting tired. Feeling huge. Wishing Jesse was there with me. Hugging Susan and wishing she knew what I was thinking, since the words didn't come.

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There are several events I could tell you about.

But I don't want to do that. I want to share what I couldn't, when asked to give my speech at rehearsal dinner. Had I known I was supposed to speak, I would have been more prepared. I would have had a great speech, ready to go, though knowing me, still getting emotional.

Instead of event details, I want to share my heart and thoughts. So, Brent and Sus, here is what I would have (should have) said in my speech:

Brent, from the day my sister told me about you, I was nervous. Nervous because you were not anything like anyone else she liked. Nervous because she spoke about you in a serious and yet giddy way. When she told me about you, her smile seemed brighter. As you two continued dating, I saw her change. I watched her grow more dependent on you and the love you gave her. I could see her growing up and caring for someone else more than anyone else in the world. I recognized the signs. And I began to pray that you would love her as much as she loved you, so that I could learn to trust you with her heart. Now, five years later, I am so happy to be here and share in the joining of your hearts and lives. Thank you for caring for my sister. For loving her in a way that only you can. For building trust and relationship with my parents and family. We are excited to welcome you to the family, and I'm thankful to call you my brother.

Susan, the words still do not come easy for me. I try to tell you what you mean to me, but how do you describe the love you have for your sister? I am so proud of you. You might not always know what you want in life right away, but man, when you find it, you go for it! You are kind hearted and generous to everyone you meet. You give of yourself, of your time, your energy, your attention, without demanding it back in return. You love with your whole heart. You might be a twin by genetics, but there is no one quite like you. I have more memories than I can name, growing up with you down the hall. Happy times, frustrating times, laughter, and tears. And I think that is how it is supposed to be. The standard definition of a sister is, "a female who has common parents with another." But I dont necessarily agree. The definition I found that most suits what I think about with each of my sisters says, "Someone you can trust with your secrets; who will stand by you no matter what; who always loves and accepts you." I have been blessed to have three very different, but very special sisters in my life. Thank you for being such an intricate part of who I am. I love you more than I can say, and I am so excited that you have found your prince charming. I pray that as you and Brent begin your life together, you continue to dream big and make the most of this life. Tomorrow is your day, and I'm just thankful to be here to witness it and share in the joy of this momentous and life-changing occassion.

I love you both and wish you life's greatest blessings. Congratulations.

You should be proud of me

We are up in College Station for the weekend, and the club has a fabulous kiddie pool. I knew Ryleigh would love playing up there, but there was no way I was going to sit, fully clothed, sweating to death in this insane heat. So, last night, while Jesse was at a business meeting, Ryleigh and I went to Target, and I nonchalantly decided to check out the swimsuits.

(Interjection here, for those who don't know me real well. I hate swimsuits. With a strong passion. If I can get away with not wearing one all summer, I'm fine with it. In a normal year, I probably wear a swimsuit maybe 3 times. And I dread it every time.)

When I found out I was going to pregnant over the summer, I decided there was no way I would be swimming at all this year. Thus the reason for the fun sprinkler games and baby pool in our backyard- Ryleigh can splash and play, and I can wear my tank top and shorts, sitting next to a fan, where no one has to watch me sweat.

Anyway, I found a maternity swimsuit last night, and actually purchased it. Still, I figured once I put it on at home to show Jesse, I would talk myself back out of it and return it. Well, he liked it. And after Ryleigh saw it, all she talked about non-stop was going "simming."

So today, for my lunch break, I took Ryleigh up to the club pool- both of us dressed in swimsuits. Luckily, there were not many people there, mainly other mommies with their kiddos. Yes, I probably looked ridiculous and most definitely pregnant, but we had a good time and managed to stay cool. Perhaps my self-consciousness is slowly fading with age...and hormones.

I'm proud of me. :)

Officially closed

It's done! We went today, signed final papers, handed over the keys, and received the wire money transfer to our account. Village Hills is no longer our home.

I'm thankful to have it completely finished and "off my list," but it was sure final when we handed over the keys to the new owner.

We wish her well and hope she has as many sweet memories in the house as we did.

Goodbye Houston....hello College Station!

Still waiting

We were supposed to close on Monday.

Then we were supposed to close today.

Supposedly, now we are closing tomorrow.

Errrrr....I just want to get our checks, hand over the keys, and be done!!!

We better LOVE our new house...

.... 'cause I'm never moving again.

Hiccups and a nakie baby

This week has been insane. I could list out all the millions of things I have done, from packing up our entire house, to disconnecting our utilities, setting up forwarding addresses, finalizing sale stuff for closing next week, updating contracts on our new house due to inspection reports, moving Ryleigh and I to my parent's house for the month, while working and taking care of Miss Ryleigh....well, I think you get the idea. Slightly hectic. So you can imagine that little, if any emphasis has been placed on Ryleigh's clothing attire or the growing baby.

Tuesday, while I was working in the house, I noticed that Ryleigh had gotten quiet. Considering most of her toys were already packed, there was not much for her to get into but trouble, if you get my drift. So, I started calling her. No answer. I noticed that the door to the laundry room (where we are currently storing all the "baby stuff" was closed. I went inside to find Ryleigh completely stripped down, diaper included, playing with baby toys! And yes, for those concerned, she thought it would be fun to pee on the floor while diaper-free. Oh man. We are at that phase. Perfect time to potty train, except that I can't really start that until life slows down and we are in a stable location where she is not peeing everywhere!! Yikes. Not too excited about that, if I'm being honest. My girl sure loves being naked though, and I think I have seen her more without her clothes on this week, than with them on. Perhaps its this ridiculous heat? Or maybe I really do have a little nudist on my hands...

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Last night, I ran out of steam. I have been going strong all week long, and last night I was absolutely dead. The (maybe) 4 hours of sleep I got the night before might have had something to do with it... Anyway, so after going hard all day long and making the move to my parent's house, I got Ryleigh to bed and organized all my stuff in "my" room. Then I took a half of Benadryl and knocked myself out, desperate to get some rest.

So, about the time I crawl into bed, eyes barely open, the baby started moving. A lot. Pretty normal at night, but last night I just didn't feel like it. And then I noticed that the movements were very rhythmic...his first hiccups! We know that Ryleigh gets hiccups from me and apparently Baby Shulse shares the attribute as well. Haha.

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Okay, enough of an update for tonight. I'm exhausted.

The movers come bright and early Saturday morning, then I just have to clean, and we'll be done! We sign the papers (and receive the check!) Monday morning.

Until then....

Life in the fast lane

I have not posted in awhile. And life has changed. A LOT. I literally have not had 15 minutes to sit down and write about everything that has gone on. Partly, because I was afraid that if I wrote it down, I would somehow jinx it all. Haha.

There is so much I want to tell you. So sit back and get comfy. This is going to be a long one.

The day we found out we were having a baby boy (May 21), I was cooking dinner. Jesse's phone rang. The job he has been waiting for was available. You see, his brother is a partner in a golf course management company- a company which has recently purchased and manages Traditions Golf Club in College Station. For those of you non-Aggies who read this blog, Traditions is a very nice, exclusive golf course, and the home of the Texas A&M golf team. It is played by some of the elite Aggies, if-you-will, including university Presidents, head coaches, and big name former students (including George Bush, Sr, a few years ago, so we hear). So the golf course itself, was of course enticing for an Aggie. Not only that, but Jesse (and I) loved living in College Station when we were in school. It is kind of like a big city in a small town- everything you need, but friendly, warm people who love to love. We have always talked about moving back eventually. And suddenly an opportunity was on the table. The superintendent there gave his 2-weeks notice. So Jesse would not only be at Traditions, in College Station, but also getting a promotion to head superintendent. Life changed for us really quickly.

Jesse started interviewing the next day. The management company is based out of Houston, so first he met with another owner/partner in the company on Friday. The following day, Saturday, he drove up to College Station to meet with the Director of Golf. Sunday night, on Ryleigh's birthday, he received an official offer letter. And oh yeah, he had to be there in 10 days.

We had known that this job was a possibility in the future, but had no idea how quickly it would come about. So about a month prior, we had had a real estate agent come to the house and tell us her thoughts. We had a few new projects in mind and wanted to know if she thought they would help us, should we decide to sell in the near future. She told us what to do, and we kind of put it to the back-burner, waiting until we had more time.

Obviously, when the job situation happened so quickly, we had to jump to it and get our house on the market!! So, for one week, we worked night and day finalizing all the projects and fixing up our house. We re-did the master bathroom, staining the cabinets, putting in new decorative mirrors, changing the light fixtures and faucets, and of course, painting from top to bottom. We finished up all projects around the house, including all white trim, changing out all the door knobs (no more gold!), and updating all the electrical plugs. There was some trim work and paint that had to get done, and lots of organizing closets. We also purchased a new gas range so that we could officially claim "all new kitchen appliances." Some yard work and new flowers, and many sleepless nights later, we called in a maid service (my first time ever!!) and had them clean from top to bottom. As they were finishing up, the realtor arrived, we signed the paperwork, and the sign was officially in the front yard.

Our realtor asked me if I minded if the house showed right away (that night), to which I told her, "Please do anything you can to sell this house. Of course, I don't mind if you show it tonight! My husband has to be in College Station by the end of this week, I'm 5.5 months pregnant, and I need to be up there with him! If you could sell this house tonight, you'd be my new best friend!" So, I went to dinner with my mom and sister to "celebrate" putting the house on the market while someone was coming to look. After dinner, Ryleigh wanted to go to the park, so we stopped on the way in the neighborhood. A got another call, saying someone else wanted to see the house that night! Two showings...the first night, within hours of us putting it on the market! Fine by me! That evening we got a call from our realtor- both viewers had put in offers, of full price. WHAT?! What about this "horrible" market we have been hearing about? The next day, the two buyers went into a bidding war, and we eventually signed a contract with the one who was the strongest buyer. Within 24 hours, our house was sold.
We still had to deal with the scary periods- the inspection and the appraisal, both which had no major issues. We had to fix a few breakers on our breaker box from the inspection, but that's it. No big deal. Then the real crunch began. Jesse was already up in College Station, starting his new job, leaving Ryleigh and I here to deal with the rest of the move. My mom came several days last week, helping me pack up the major areas of the house, and Jesse came home this weekend to help with the garage and the attic. Needless to say, I'm living in a sea of boxes. Talk about chaotic!! We have to be out by this weekend, haul off all our stuff to a storage facility in College Station, and then close next Monday, June 29th.

It will be sad to leave our home. Not only was this our first house, our first big purchase together (huge purchase, I should say), but also we have had a lot of memories here these past 4 years. We have worked late into the night on projects, transforming our house into our home. We have had family and friends gather in the backyard or sit around our living room. We have spent countless hours laughing together, cuddling, talking about life, and sharing in some of our greatest moments as a couple. And of course, we brought Ryleigh home to this house, to her nursery, to her first "big girl bed." We have memories of her 1st movements, 1st food, 1st steps, 1st words...all in this house. But you know what? It's just that. A house. Four walls, some doors, a roof, and windows. What made this our home was us. Our family, our friends, our memories. And those will not go away simply because we change location.

And changing location, we are! When our house sold so stinkin' quickly, we realized right away that we would soon be without a place to live. Luckily, Jesse is able to live for free in the casitas on site at Traditions until we find a new home. Ryleigh and I have been going up on weekends to see him and we can stay with him. Originally, Jesse thought we could easily move up there and just stay with him once our house sold. Well, he lives like a nomad. He moves around, sometimes nightly, depending on what rooms are available. And the casitas are nice, so I constantly tell Ryleigh, "no- don't touch that!" The environment is not conducive to an active two year old.

So, we started thinking about what to do up there. We started looking around at areas, trying to find a neighborhood that we liked. The problem was that if we live in Bryan, you get a whole lot more bang for your buck, but the school districts are not as good and the neighborhoods are a little iffy- some are okay, but then right next door is not the best. We just did not feel comfortable there. We like College Station, but we clearly did not want to live in the heart of the city, amongst all the college students. Once we started moving to the outskirts of town, we found some beautiful, family neighborhoods. We fell in love! And then we saw a price tag.

I have not felt so discouraged in a long time. We are hard working people. We make an honest living. We have paid off our debt. We have excellent credit. And we just knew after seeing the price tag that there was no way we could afford to live there. I cried a lot that weekend.

The following week, while back in Houston, I started doing some online research and got in contact with a realtor up there. She helped me find some middle-of-the-road homes and we planned to see them the following weekend. I also met with a lender, who helped us get pre-approved for a home loan and helped me crunch a bunch of numbers, regarding cost of house = monthly mortgage payment. We were approved for a heck of a lot, which we knew we would be, because we have such outstanding credit and no debt. But we were worried about living outside of our means and having a huge monthly payment. So we started low.

The next weekend, we went to meet the realtor. She was probably in her 70's with a sidekick, also in her 70's. Both very sweet ladies, but not our type. We moved slow and saw some not-too-exciting property. The next day, we couldn't see anything because they could not get their key to work. We left discouraged and frustrated. We drove around on our own and if we liked a house, we called the listing agent. This one agent was literally everywhere. We figured she had to be good! So we called on a property we liked, and sure enough, it had already sold. But, we did get hooked up with her, and saw a few properties the next day. Unfortunately, we kept going higher and higher on our budget, and again got discouraged that we would never get into a house that we liked, in an area we liked, with good schools, for our price range. Jesse and I argued that night- him suggesting we consider renting property for awhile, saving up money and waiting to get what we really want. Of course, I did not like that idea. First off, in a college town, renting is the thing to do. So every rental property is pretty expensive and the leases are all 1-year minimum. No thank you. Not to mention, I am 6 months pregnant, and not wanting to unpack, only to repack again in awhile, with two babies at home!! No way. So we fought. And I again, cried the whole way home.

Last Monday, I called the lender and went into to meet with him. He was supposed to be on vacation, but he came in (in shorts and t-shirt) to meet with me. He said I sounded distressed on the phone, and he could tell I needed some assurance. So, we met. We re-crunched numbers on the higher priced homes, and he was able to show me that we could get into a home that cost more, while still maintaining our lower monthly payments. I almost cried again. He laughed at me. He told me that Jesse and I have some of the best credit he has ever seen for a couple our age and that he wished Jesse would come in and council all his clients because he loved our conservative attitude, despite the fact that we could afford so much. He said we were the perfect client for any lender- approved for more, but choosing to pay less to live within our means. It made me so proud of my husband all over again, for all his hard work and constantly reminding me that all the work (Elfa) was a means to an end. And it was- it got us out of debt and in a place where we could even consider buying a more expensive home in College Station.

SO, that brings us to this past week. (If you are still reading this, I'm most impressed!) The new realtor in College Station met with Jesse a couple of days, showing him close to 20 or so properties throughout the week. She would send a list to me, I would weed them out from there, and then they would go look at what was left on my list. Sure enough, Jesse found one he liked. We made plans to see it together again on Friday, when Ryleigh and I came up for the weekend. We went and looked at it together, and I liked it right away. It is a little bit larger than our current house, but not much. Frankly, it will fit us like a glove. The kitchen and living area felt a little small, so we went to a couple other houses that Jesse liked, though not as much. And I did not like them as much either. I asked if we could go back to the first house. We did. And then we went back to the realtor's house and wrote out an offer.

Yesterday and today have been the waiting game. But late this afternoon, right before Jesse had to head back to College Station for the week, we got the call. Our offer was accepted! Jesse went back tonight to sign the contract and pay the earnest money. We have to make it through inspection and the appraisal, but otherwise, the closing date is set for July 24.

We are excited and anxious. I'm so thankful that everything has worked out-- seriously the way things have more-or-less fallen in our lap has further confirmed that God wants us in College Station. Timing is perfect. We will have almost 2 months to "settle" before the baby arrives, and we made it into a nice home, in a nice neighborhood, with a great school district. Jesse loves his new job. I get to keep my current job, working from College Station and commuting when I need to come in for meetings. God is so good, and we recognize His hand and His blessings all over our life right now. It has been an insanely busy and stressful time, but again, all a blessing.

Want to see the cute house? I thought you might. Here are a few pictures I pulled from the MLS site.

The good news? The house does not require a single project. For those of you who have read this blog for awhile, you know that we have constantly worked projects since we moved into our house. We love the way they turned out, but I think Jesse is "over" it. With another baby on the way and a new job to focus on, we just will not have the time or energy to do anything major. Sure, we will do some painting according to preference, but no projects. Everything is great. It's beautiful. And it will soon become our new home.

Whew. I told you a lot has happened. As long as this post is, I cannot even begin to tell you how long the past month has been. We have not stopped. We're all exhausted and running on adrenaline I think. Once we close on our house next week and get all of our stuff into storage for the next month, I plan on hibernating for a few days. Then we get a week to go to Minnesota for my sister Susan's wedding (wahoo!), and when we come back, we close and start the move all over again. :)

Crazy, but good. Crazy, but good.

We'd appreciate your prayers, as we endure the exhaustion (physical, mental, and emotional) from all of this. Ryleigh has handled it all pretty well thus far, but I'm sure we will have more adjustments once we get settled again into a routine. Pray for Jesse, as he is working crazy hours trying to get things situated with his new job, while being away from his family. Pray that all the little details get worked out during the move and that we are able to successfully close on both houses, as planned. Pray that we all maintain the rest we need to handle the stress of the move. And mostly, pray for peace about all of the decisions and life changes we are experiencing. Thanks, friends!

We know God has a plan and we are pretty excited watching it all unfold. Can't wait to share more of our roller coaster with you in the weeks and months ahead!

My baby turned 2

Ryleigh turned two over Memorial Day weekend. Two. Years. Old. WOW.

I have so many thoughts and feelings about her being two, but truthfully cannot articulate them very well. In so many ways, it feels like she was only born yesterday. I look at her little cheeks, and still see my baby. Then, there are times like she has always been a part of our family, and I do not remember what life was like before her. Ryleigh is a part of us in a way that I never could have anticipated or understood before she came along. So to celebrate the day she entered our lives, we will always stop and remember how much blessing she brings to our lives.

This year we celebrated the night before her birthday and just had family over for hot dogs and cake. It was very low-key, but a fun night.

Little Miss was showing everyone "how Mommy sits" in the lounger. Ha!
Cute picture of Ryleigh with Aunt Julie

Hanging out in the backyard

The kids playing ball...the big kids, that is...Justin and Jesse :)

Time to sing and blow out candles! Ryleigh was a little apprehensive at first, holding onto Daddy, but then she enjoyed blowing out the candles, with a little help from her cousins.

Present-opening time!! Note to self for the future: don't open the "fun" presents first. Ryleigh was not really into opening presents, so Jesse brought her a big package, which happened to be a lawn mower that blows bubbles. Well, we could NOT get her to stop playing with her toy long enough to open any more presents- she simply was not interested in anything else! So, next time, we open clothes and such first, and then work our way up to the toys. She received tons of great clothes and fun toys, and no one can say that this little girl is not spoiled!!

Check out some of the toys:

Ryleigh "cuttin' a grass" wearing her "cool dude" sunglasses.

Learning how to use the scooter

Her first tricycle from Gaga and Grandaddy. Bell and all!

And just for fun (fun for all of you, not so much for me), here is a picture of the belly! Keep in mind that when you are squished on a toddler tricycle, things stick out more than normal, but still. The belly is definitely there, and now, being 23 weeks along (almost 6 months), I guess that is okay with me.

Happy 2nd birthday, baby girl. Mommy and Daddy love you more than we can say, and cannot imagine life without you! Thank you for all the memories these past two years, and we look forward to the next...oh, 50 years or so. We love you!