set to close

We're on the move! The home inspection went very well, and we are set to close on September 8. I feel like God has really had His hand in this entire opportunity for us. With this job opportunity for Bill to grow in his career, finding a home (by accident) right away in Tampa, and selling our home immediately here in Orlando, I feel like God is watching over us. I mean, we put our house on the market on a Thursday, the next day (Friday) we had our first interest, the following day (Sabbath) they put in an offer, and by Monday, we had signed the initial offer papers and were on our way to appraisal and inspection (not including that we had another offer that same weekend from different buyers, as well!). Then ... although the appraisal came in lower than we would have liked, it was still at a price with which we could afford to close ... and the inspection went through very well, too. We even found out that the people purchasing our home are currently living in the same duplexes that we lived in when we were buying this home almost 2 1/2 years ago! We were neighbors then!

We are super busy now! Billy starts his new job in Tampa tomorrow as the Assistant Vice President of Finance. He is excited (and I'm sure nervous). I will start painting some of Sissy Wally's furniture ... crib, dresser, bed-side table ... white tomorrow. I want them to be done being painted, so we can just move them into her room right away when we move down there. I will, also, be packing, packing, packing. I am going to take it one room at a time. I'll start with our master bedroom and bathroom ... and move through the house room by room. I have 3 1/2 weeks to pack ... and maybe a little less, since I'll probably spend a couple of nights a week down in Tampa with Billy. I am so thankful for Brian and Gwendy who have offered their guest bedroom to us when I come down for the next 3 weeks. We'll only be inconvenienced until Labor Day weekend ... then we close the Thursday after that and move down that day, so we'll have our own place with everything moved in by the time I'm 39 weeks! I am in the midst of picking out paint for Colton and Sissy Wally's rooms. I am struggling, because I want the same color in each room ... but I don't! I have a lot of figuring out to do--at least it's fun decision making. I'll fill you guys in when I figure out just what I want to paint them. I will, also, have to paint the kids' bathroom, guest bathroom, and guest room, but I think I can wait on those for a little while. I'm just in a hurry to get the kids' rooms done, so they can feel moved in and the paint fumes will be gone by the time they sleep in there.

I just have to post a picture of Colton. Billy brought home a hat from his Town Hall meetings. It was a Yacht or Cruise theme, so the hat is a sailor's hat. Colton LOVES it! He puts it on himself a lot and wants to wear it around everywhere. It's a little big on him, but he turns it inside out ... this way it stays on his head. I think it's pretty genius that he figured that out on his own! Anyway, he looks super cute in the hat, so I thought I'd share it with you.

home inspection

We had our home inspection this morning. I was nervous and anxious the whole time! We are pretty much selling this house "as-is", because of the terrible appraisal. I just hope these nice people still want our old house now! I know there aren't any really huge problems, but I feel nervous that they will just walk away. They have put money into two houses (inspection and appraisal) already and lost them both due to bad appraisals. So, I'm hoping for the pure feeling of wanting the house to go through finally and to just get into a new home, they will just deal with the little issues and forge ahead. We will see. By tomorrow, we should know if they plan on continuing this sale. One funny note ... these people are living in the same duplexes that we lived in when we bought this house! Funny, funny. Please pray for us! We need to get this house sold and moved on!

I'm a nervous wreck.

love for the new baby

Yesterday, Billy had his going away party at work. The people he works with are wonderful! I will miss them, too. Billy has really enjoyed his current job, and God has blessed him with some amazing people to work with. He has loved going to work these past two and half years ... which makes every day more of a joy. His co-workers are so nice that they gave us some gifts for Sissy Wally. Here's what she got:A cute outfit from Kimberly.Some adorable bath stuff including a princess duck from Michael and Amanda Maggard.Super cute onesies and jeans from the GAP from Andrea.Jammies, bibs, and girly teething toys from the CNO, Heather. She just had a baby girl (after having a boy, too) in April of this year.
Everyone was so nice ... they were even kind enough to get Colton a singing bear and crayons with a coloring book. Billy got a gift, too. What a sweet group of people! We will really miss them! Hopefully, God will allow Billy to work with some of them again someday.

I have been working on an outfit for Sissy Wally this week. I am making the outfit she will wear to my sister's wedding. So far, I have the onesie done.This is the front of the onesie. One of the "necklace" pieces is a vintage button I found.And this is the back of the onesie. I wasn't sure how the bow would turn out, but it looks pretty good, I think. I like how it looks like a real necklace.
I have started on the tutu, but it's boring. So, I took a break from that, and now, I am working on some bloomers. I bought tights already, and I will continue to look for the right shoes. Since she'll only be about 3 weeks old, I'm not so set on shoes, but we'll see if I can find some I like.

I had to capture this cute moment between Billy and Colton. Billy was reading a magazine, and Colton wanted to join in on the fun. How cute are they!?!Like Daddy like son.

I had another doctor's appointment today. I am 34 1/2 weeks along. I asked for another sonogram, and my doctor said that he could probably swing it ... he'd use that my previous baby was large, and they want to make sure this one is not showing the same signs as an excuse for another sonogram. Sounds good to me! I just wanted to see her one more time ... and to make sure she's a girl! She was moving around pretty well. The nurse said that when you find the heartbeat, the baby hears a buzzing sound that it's not used to and that's why it moves around and away so much. Anyway, she said the heartbeat was 138, and everything else seems to be good. Still no swelling ... which has been really great for me this time! Measuring well, and I'm looking forward to another sonogram next Wednesday.

Tomorrow, we have our home inspected. If all goes well ... which it should ... we'll just be waiting to close on September 8! I am looking forward to having this all over and done with. It will be nice to start getting everything packed up. I'll have about 3 1/2 weeks to get it done. I may not have to move it, but I'll have a big job packing and labeling ... and figuring out what to pack last--since we'll need to live on some of it until we move!

I'll leave you with something that Colton said today that cracked me up. He was standing next to me, and he said, "Alright, Colton ... let's get going!" Love that kid!

one more grandchild

I can't believe I haven't posted this until now ... I think I didn't want to tell before I was allowed to talk about it ... then time got away from me, and I'm just now realizing that I haven't announced that there will be another Heinrich grandchild coming this January!

It's not me! That would be impossible and creepy.

Brenda (Heinrich) and Gerson Araujo are expecting their first baby on January 31, 2012.The cute announcement that Brenda made.Baby boy or girl Araujo ... currently dubbed "minnow" by Brenda.

So, in the span of 12 months, Grandpa and Grandma Heinrich will go from having 1 grandchild to having 4 grandchildren! Baby Elle Eno was born on April 10, 2011 ... Sissy Wally Heinrich is due this September 19, 2011, and Baby Minnow Araujo will arrive sometime after the first of the year. Colton is excited, I'm sure, to have more kids around to play with at family holidays and reunions. He will probably miss all of the excessive attention, but I'm sure he'll also be happy to have cousins/sister to play with him.

Congratulations to the Araujo family! We can't wait to meet Minnow ... and to find out if baby is a boy or a girl!

to the beach ... one more time

We decided to spend the Sabbath at the Atlantic side of the beach one last time before we move to Tampa and enjoy the Gulf Coast more often. Our favorite beach, New Smyrna, did not let us down. It was a pretty hot day out there, but the water was SO nice! We spent most of our time in the water. Colton has become braver by each visit to the beach. He said over and over, "Here comes the wave!" Then he would run into the water to make sure he got splashed by it. He, also, likes to throw the shells back into the ocean, and so the ocean gives them back to him ... and it's a repeat process of fun. We ate lunch out at the beach, too. I packed egg salad sandwiches, cheese sticks, sliced green peppers, granola bars, peaches, water, and gummies. It was a good lunch! We enjoyed it, and because we spent most of the time in the water, it was a less sandy lunch than usual.Daddy & Colton headed straight for the water.The spectacular view on a hot summer's day. Colton bends down to play in the waves. He's loving it!Daddy and Colton play in the sand ... digging holes, no doubt.They stop for a smile.Yep, definitely hole digging! You can see Colton getting into it. This is before he ran right through the hole and face planted in the sand. I was there enjoying the sun and surf, as well. I tried to get a good picture of my belly getting sun, but it just looked like I had no clothes on. The belly is too big now ... it covers my bottoms while sitting. Does not make for a good picture.

When we got home, Colton took a small nap (he also napped most of the way home), and then we all swam in the pool for another hour or so. We had a fun Sabbath of cool dips in the ocean and the pool. I like to see Colton more and more excited to be swimming, splashing, jumping in, going under water, etc. He did not want to leave the beach. Every time I said, "Colton, let's go home." He'd say, "Here comes a wave!" And he'd head back out to sea. At home when it's time to go inside from the pool, he'll cry and beg to go swimming. It makes me happy to see he likes it so much. We had a really fun family day today, and I will miss New Smyrna. It makes me feel better that we will have plenty of ocean where we're going ... and pools ... and splash parks. I'm pretty sure we'll be fine!

Tonight, we'll probably go for a walk and then Colton will most likely crash ... he'll be so tired. I'm enjoying what little relaxing time we have left ... as I will be packing up the house by the end of the week, and moving, and doctor's appointments, and having this baby ... busy, busy, busy! Today, is relaxing and all about family. I am happy for that.

Happy Sabbath!

the good, the bad, and the ugly

The Good
I'll talk about the good news first. We are still in progress to sell our home and to close on September 8, 2011. That's good news, because we'll be closing on our new home in Tampa on August 31, and it will be great to have only one mortgage at a time. The buyers agreed to our new conditions, and that is a great thing ... because it saves us time from having to get more buyers through here who want to offer and going through all of that mess ... again! Saving time is a good thing.

The Bad
We did not get the appraisal we were hoping for on our current home. In fact, it was much less than we had hoped for. It seems God is teaching us a lesson through this ... and I guess not every part of this move is going to go as smoothly as it has been. Too bad for us ... because so far, we were doing pretty well. This throws a wrench into our plans ... a big, fat wrench.

The Ugly
Goodbye money! We have put a lot of time but mostly a lot of money into this house, and it has eaten it up and laughed at us. We are currently being mocked by the housing market, and although many, many Americans are facing this right now, it doesn't ease the pain of watching your hard-earned money earn you nothing in return except debt and a feeling of failure.

Which brings me to my next point ... you know what really grinds my gears? Appraisers. What is their job for anyway? When I want to sell something ... say, my car, I list it for a certain price ... like $10,000. If someone is willing to come in and pay me $10,000 or some negotiated price (i.e., $8,500) then we have a sale. They pay me--I give them the car. Done. When we want to sell our home, we list it at a price we think people will be willing to pay for it. When a negotiated price is reached, why, oh, why does someone come in and say ... "No, no! You're house isn't worth 'x' amount of dollars. You can only sell it for this low and inhumane price. Sorry for you, and your current mortgage. It is of no concern to me." This is why so many people have to short-sale or just choose to get foreclosed on ... low appraisals. I very much think this is a wasted job. If someone wants to pay that much for our house ... then let them! As long as their mortgage company thinks they can afford it and the monthly payments ... let's do it! That's what really gets me.

We are now looking on the bright side ... we are getting out of this mess and moving on in about a month. And, it could be worse ... really our house could be appraised for MUCH cheaper than it was, so we are lucky in a way ... even if it doesn't feel like it.

where, oh, where has my energy gone?

I don't know what is wrong with me! I have absolutely no energy this week. I feel like a terrible mother, because I'm exhausted all morning, and I am always looking forward to Colton's nap time ... that way I can nap a little to make it until about 9/9:30 at night before I crash out on Billy. I've just felt so blah these past few days. Ready to do nothing ... and simply okay with that. I hate this feeling!

On a good note, my dear friend, Stephanie Murrill, had her baby girl, McKinley Joy, this morning at 8:37 a.m.! She is 5 weeks early ... so she's a tiny one, but she's so cute! She weighed in at 5 lbs. 10 oz. and 18 inches in length. We are very happy for Steph, Mark, and Rosie as they have added a beautiful daughter/sister to their lovely family. Right now, she is in the Special Care Unit with a feeding tube, but they hope it won't last too long. Let's pray that they get to take their beautiful daughter home soon.McKinley Joy Murrill

And now ... a few cute pictures of Colton.Colton playing with the kitty at the house we are buying in Tampa. Oh, how he wishes we could have a cat! Family swim night ... Colton loves to kick his feet in the water with Daddy! He also loves to be thrown up in the air, down in the water. Little Cheeser! Last night, Billy helped Colton make a ramp and a road for his cars and trucks to speed down. Colton had a blast putting each one down the ramp over and over again!