Moving

 Our preparations to leave Little Rock ‘behind’ are becoming a little more solid. As I was driving today, it hit me like a ton of bricks….we leave in a little over THREE weeks! That’s less than one month. How did it sneak up on me like this?(Zane looks surprised, too.)

After having our house on the market for six months, probably ~20 showings, and zero offers, we’re taking a different route. Apparently, with the market this horrible, people are scared to buy….which means there are tons of renters out there! So, we’re exploring the option of a long-term lease on our house. If this works out, we’ll still be putting equity into our home, and could possibly move back into it when we come back! So I’m not really saying good-bye to the house, it’s more of a “see ya later!”Matt took a quick trip to Madison last weekend to find us a place to live. He got there on Friday afternoon and left Saturday afternoon. Twenty-four hours to find the place we’ll be eating, sleeping, bringing home a new baby, raising two kids, snuggled close under blankets during the coldest winters we’ve ever experience, and spending time as a family for the next three years. Kinda scary that I will be moving to a place that I’ve never stepped foot in. He did find a place (that I love in pictures) and we should know this afternoon if it’s ours or not. Fingers crossed!

Our tentative move date is June 20th. Scheduling movers….still on the to-do list.

I still haven’t taken the MPJE, but I am registered and have study cards! That counts for something, right?? And I have a job! (As long as I take this stoooopid test and pass…) Maybe Z will let me take his ‘banket’ to the test. I bet it’s good luck.Childcare is our other BIG to-do, but I’m not even gonna think about it until we get there. I just want my boy to be happy and taken care of.In the meantime, I look forward to seeing family and spending time with our friends before we leave. Friends like these two sweet boys :)

And their goofy daddies.

When I see this picture, I can hear his laugh. I have a feeling that laugh is going to be what gets me through those first few weeks in ‘Sconsin. And Kaye Kaye, I promise to be a better blogger, upload lots of videos, and Skype!

            

Sugar & Spice orSnakes & Snails?

 It’s a Girl!!

Last Monday night we went to the hospital with Lindsey and she did a quick ultrasound. She let us know pretty quickly that she thought she was getting a NIECE!!!

We got further confirmation today at my doctor’s appointment. The ultrasound picture above is proof. If you look to the left, those are two legs, booty on the right, and nothing “growing” in between.

Matt was thrilled that it’s a girl, Zane looked at us like we were crazy, and I was excited that she looked like she was sleeping very soundly. That’s what I’ve been asking for: a healthy, happy, sleeper! We tried and tried to get her to move around, but she looked pretty comfy, all curled up in a ball with her foot above her head.

Here’s the best face shot we could get. Now, let the name debates begin!

Baby #2, 15 Weeks

 

Maybe it’s time that I write about baby #2?!  That’s right, 15 weeks and no hiding the baby bump. Although I can still button my regular pants, it’s much more comfy to just jump into the stretchy pants and enjoy their, well…their stretchiness!

Although we have a lot on our plates right now, Matt and I agree that we are excited about baby #2. What we don’t agree on is baby names. He says mine are either ‘weird’ or boy names that I’m trying to use for a girl. I won’t mention that his favorite girl name is actually a boy name. (Oops, I guess I just did.) His rationale? “But it’s a better boy name.” Huh? Or we agree on the name, but not the spelling. So for now, we refer to this unnamed child as “Peggy Sue”.  Poor little peanut.

I don’t think Zane cares whether he gets a brother or a sister, as long as it’s of the sheep variety.So far, this pregnancy has seemed easier than the first. I have only been sick a handful of times. Pretty sure I was sick every.single.day with Zane.  Funny sickness-related story: One morning Zane was in the bathtub and I was ‘hugging’ the toilet. Zane started filling his mouth with water, spitting it in the tub, and saying, “Mama, Ane sick, toooooo!”  No, no you’re not. You’re making fun of me and that’s not very nice.

My only other pregnancy ache/pain so far is round ligament pain. Basically, anytime I get up too fast or, heaven forbid, try to roll over in bed, this incredibly sharp pain shoots through my lower abdomen. One night I woke up screaming in pain. Once I caught my breath and explained what was going on, my sympathetic husband said, “That’ll teach you to roll over.” Thanks, hon.

For some reason, I’ve turned into a great big ole clutz. Last Thursday I fell down the front steps of our house. Long story that starts with me, Zane, a ride-on car, and some steps. Ends with me having two skinned up palms, a skinned knee, and a bruised leg. Oh, and a laughing husband (like I said, sympathetic). Then on Monday night I fell out of my Tahoe. This one starts with a sleeping baby in a carseat and clean (aka SLICK) running boards and ends with a bruised shin and hip, and me busting my bottom in the garage. Don’t worry, Z was still sleeping away, safely in his carseat.

Monday night my great sis-in-law did an ultrasound for us. I have my next appointment on Wednesday, and if nothing has changed, I’ll announce whether we’re cooking up some ‘sugar & spice’ or ‘snakes & snails’.

 I’ll end with a random (but great) picture of Zane & his “E”.

Zane-isms

 

Now that Zane has finally started talking, he has his own little language. Here’s a dictionary of sorts.

Ane: Zane

Ha-ha: paci

Eye-hi’s: glasses (as in eyeglasses or sunglasses)

Fuh-fuh: Tractor

Shoo-shoo: Choo-choo train

She-she: Paisley (our dog)

He-He: Henry (Lindsey’s dog)

Ewwww-ahhhhs: Hugs (Because he always says this while giving a big hug)

If asked what my name is, he says, “Ane’s Mama Shura” and Matt is “Ane’s Dada Att”. He wakes up from his naps yelling, “Ane’s Mama, Ane’s Mama”….so as not to be confused with anyone else’s mom that might be here?

The other day we were strolling out the door--scratch that--making a mad dash out the door, grabbing purse, coffee, Z’s clothes, paci, sippy cup, etc and headed to Conway.  Me: Oh, here’s your chocolate milk. Z: Ooooh, sank you, Mama.  You hold Ane’s ha-ha? (Translation: Oh, thank you, Mama. Will you hold Zane’s paci?)

Another favorite….We were outside and could hear sirens. They sounded like they were getting closer and closer. Me: Those sirens sound like they’re coming to our house, Zane. I hope we didn’t break the law. Zane: I dinn’t bwake waw! (I didn’t break the law.)  I think this is so funny, because he has no idea what “the law” is, he just knew HE didn’t break it!

He’s a very sweet, cuddly boy. He gives great kisses and “ewwww-ahhhhs”. I’ve got him trained pretty well. I just say, “You know what Mama needs?” and he gives me a big kiss!

After many discussions about the baby-in-mommy’s-tummy, he still doesn’t get it. Whenever I ask, “Where’s Mama’s baby?” He point at himself (always his cheek) and says, “Wight dare” (Right there). Aaaaannnd, technically he’s right. He’ll always be mama’s baby! “Dare” has about three syllables. Poor kid is definitely going to be speaking a different language to the people we meet in Wisconsin!