some welcome changes

We have been so very lucky to have had Billy's parents with us for the past week and a half. Billy's Mom and Dad helped us move everything down to Tampa, unload, and fix up the house. It was so nice to have family in town! They were a HUGE help, and we really couldn't have done it without them.

It was great to have Billy's Mom here for an extra amount of time. Billy's Dad had to leave us on Sunday night, but his Mom stayed until this evening. She was a really huge help all week. She helped unpack, clean up, played with Colton, sewed some and painted. We are blessed to have such good family.

Here are some of the things we accomplished this week. There's so much more, but I don't want to take pictures of my drawers that I filled up or my closet, etc. Some things you'll just have to imagine how nice they look!Colton's room all put together. All that's missing is his rocking chair, but I have to put it in Sissy Wally's room until I can find something better for her room. Then I will put the rocker back into Cole's room.Sissy Wally's room. I have to find decor to put on the walls. I already know what will go above her crib, but since it involves her name ... I have to wait until she's born, because we're keeping the name a secret. I, also, have to move the rocker into the room from the family room. I will do that soon. But I got a lot unpacked, washed, and put away. She can sleep in here, at least ... and have her diaper changed!Laundry room paint before ... doesn't it look SO orange!?! It's a bit overwhelming.After! Doesn't it look SO much better!?! Mom H did a great job painting. This is the paint from our old house that was in a small hallway. I like it better in the laundry room. Looks clean and bright.

Colton had a lot of fun with Grandma and Grandpa. On Sabbath, I made pumpkin pie, because Dad H loves it ... and I missed his birthday party this month. Colton really enjoyed that Grandpa always shared his pie with him. Grandma played and read with Colton every day. They had a great time together! Grandma took Colton to the park and water park a couple of times.Just playing at the park with Grandma Heinrich. Having a great time!

I really appreciated having someone to distract Colton while I unpacked. It really makes a difference. Whatever I'm trying to do, Colton is the antithesis of my work ... so having Grandma and Grandpa here to distract him was so helpful! One evening at dinner, Colton said, "I have two milks!" And this is what we saw:He's drinking milk from one cup and water from the other at one time.

I'm excited that Billy will be bringing my Mom here in just a few hours. He's picking her up from the airport right now! It was sad to see Grandpa and Grandma Heinrich go home, but at least I won't be alone ... with my Mom here for two weeks, I'll have tons of help! I can't wait to see my Mom!

Tomorrow, we'll spend the day in Orlando. I want to take her to Park Ave to shop and have lunch. Then we'll stop by Sweet! by Good Golly Miss Molly to get some cupcakes on our way home. I figure, since the baby is happy as a lark in her little home, she won't be coming anytime soon in the next 24 hours ... and if she does, I'll already be in Orlando, so that will be better!

On a different note ... Sissy Wally is kicking me to death tonight! She is really moving around. Maybe that means she's getting in place to come out. Now that we are moved, and my Mom is here ... I'm ready for her to come (I think). I went to the doctor today ... heartbeat 137 (it took 10 minutes to find it! she was moving and covering it up!) ... no change ... hasn't dropped ... cervix is the same. I will start to try all of my old wives tales to induce labor ... because the doc can't do it with a VBAC. Oh, well ... she seems happy in there ... I'm just getting anxious, because I don't want my Mom's visit to be half over or more before she comes. I need her help!

Well, my Mom's flight has landed ... Billy is waiting for her at baggage claim ... and I'm going to put my feet up for a while. Sounds like a good deal!

39 weeks ... and not wanting to wear pants!

So, I didn't make it to 39 weeks with Colton. We had him induced at 38 weeks to try to have a traditional delivery (and still ended up with a c-section). I have had great luck with swollen feet/ankles this whole pregnancy ... until we moved last Thursday. It seems since Thursday, I have been fighting the swelling. Every morning starts out right ... and by mid-morning, I see the swelling begin. I try to combat it by sitting down with my feet up, but let's face it ... I have TONS to do. Sitting with my feet up is very hard for me to do right now. So, by the evening, my big old feet are baaaaaaack! I dislike this very much. I know that I am super lucky to only be having this issue my "last" week of pregnancy, but it still burns my buttons. Plus, I feel the start of my circulation being cut off by my pants. Even my most comfy pants are cutting into the underpart of my belly, and I find that life is much better, if I could just lose the pants! I guess I'll have to wear more dresses this week. Technically, if you could tell your baby what to do, this would be my last week of pregnancy. Truthfully, I have no idea when that will be. Could be tomorrow ... could be in a week ... could be in two weeks. But I am starting to get annoyed. When I get down on the ground to put together a crib or kneel down to give Colton a bath at the tub ... I am finding that it is difficult to get up again, or it is uncomfortable to be on the ground in the first place. Again, I am super lucky that I am finding this difficulty so late in my pregnancy, but here it is--and it is so frustrating with so much going and and lots to do around the house. Oh, well ... it's not like I'll have more time once the baby is born. And depending on whether or not I have a c-section, I may not have better or improved mobility for weeks after the birth, so I should be thankful for where I am at right now. Hindsight is always 20/20 ... and I'll miss the "freedom" I have right now, I'm sure.39 weeks and still cookin'

I'm very excited!!!! My mom will be here in Tampa on Thursday night! That's only 4 days away. It will be fun to have her here to help me out and to watch Colton. I am lucky to have Billy's mom here now until my mom comes. It's great to have family that supports you and is willing to help out. I hope to take my mom to Orlando on Friday, if the baby isn't here yet. I have some things I wanted to do with her before we moved from there, but we just never got the chance. Plus, if the baby comes while we're up there ... no big deal. That would probably be ideal!

This weekend, we had a great time with Billy's parents. On Sabbath, we went to church in Zephyrhills. It was kind of far away for us to go regularly, but it was nice to visit a new church. The people were very friendly. Then we went on a long walk ... which probably wasn't very long at all, but it felt long to me! Plus, it was SUPER hot and humid on Saturday evening. Then I noticed something at the front door. Apparently it had been there since Friday ... Mom and Dad H and Billy's sisters got us a double stroller! It is just what we wanted and needed! I am so thankful. I put it together as soon as I saw it. It is perfect, I think. I guess I won't really know until I use it, but it is the one I had researched and decided to buy.A view from the side ... right now it's set up for a baby seat, but there is another seat like the one in the front when the baby gets bigger.Colton's chair ... it has a baby insert that I have to remove. And, he can lay down, if he wants to.The baby faces me when I push it. The cool part is when she can fit into the bigger chair, they can face each other, both look forward, or both look backward. Or she can still face me and Colton can face out, if I want that.
We finished the day with a fun game of Acquire. I totally wasn't paying attention at the beginning of the game, so I lost terribly. But it was still a fun time.

Sunday was a busy, busy day! We put together Sissy Wally's crib, cleaned off some black marks around the base boards and in Sissy's room, ran some errands, cleaned up some of the garage, bought a new (to us) washer and dryer and installed it, and went to see some family in Land'o'Lakes. Colton has been sleeping really well because of all of our activity. But he has entered his terrible twos for sure. I think it hasn't helped that everything is different and new ... we've been so busy that he hasn't had any regular, boring days where he plays and gets all kinds of attention ... and people have been here constantly. He just throws regular fits ... and it's driving me nuts! I know that all kids go through this, but it's hard when your own sweet, baby boy turns into a monster here and there. It's a little spirit crushing ... then he'll cuddle you on his way to bed, and you forget about all of the crying, running away, not listening, etc. Because you see that glimpse of the kid you know your child really is peek through and say, "I love you, Mommy!" What a rough ride this age is right now. I guess each stage has it's "good" and "bad".

This week, we have lots to do and lots of projects. I want to work on getting our master bedroom cleaned up, as right now, we have no space in our bathroom ... due to an excess amount of boxes living in there. I, also, want to get the kids' rooms put together as best as possible, and I want to get the bookshelves in the living room installed and books placed on there and out of the boxes. Of course, there are a million little things here and there, as well. But I am confident we'll get things in order soon enough. Just have to make time to put my feet up throughout the day.

Just wanted to throw some pics of Colton in this blog. While I was packing up in Orlando to move, I would play music on the computer for Colton to listen to while he played. Thanks to Billy and his iPad videos for Colton, he couldn't understand why the computer wasn't showing him videos along with his music. So, he climbed on on the chair several times to "punch" the computer so the video would show. (He says, "Punch it, punch it!" When he plays with the iPad or something that actually responds to touch ... unlike the computer.) Cole isn't much of a climber, but I guess when he wants something ... so this is his first time up on the chairs on his own accord. Too cute!Naughty little "punch it" chair climber.

all moved in ... well ... the boxes are all in tampa

Yesterday was a big day! We said goodbye to Orlando as our hometown, and we closed on the first home we ever owned. It was a great feeling to pack up the whole house and get things headed down to Tampa. Billy's parents drove everything down for us while we went to closing on the house. However, it was a sad feeling to know that we wouldn't be going back ever again. There are a lot of memories for us in that house. It was the first home either of us has ever owned. We had our first baby in that house (well, not in it, technically). We had Colton's first birthday there. I learned how to be a decent electrician and plumber in that house. I became a master painter. We learned how to lay tile. We owned our first swimming pool ... and all of the hazards that come along with that. It was a good home, and it served us well for the time we spent there. I will miss it tremendously. Our neighbors were good ones, too. I will miss our walking trail ... and I will really miss running on that trail when I can get back out there after baby #2. I am thankful for new beginnings and the new opportunities present to us here in Tampa, but I will not forget the good memories made in our first family home.

Since getting to Tampa, it has been a whirlwind of activity. We unpacked plenty last night ... and still there is so much to do! We couldn't get moved into the areas with carpets, because we decided to get them cleaned today. So, that made it kind of difficult to put anything in those rooms. The carpet is pretty wet ... they said wait 2 to 3 hours to walk on it and 4 to 6 hours to put furniture on it. Well ... over 8 hours later, it needs to dry overnight! We have all of our fans on high-speed. It should be good by morning. We had the DirecTV guy out here and the internet man. We even had our pest control man here (even though the previous owners had them here a week and a half ago). Lots of in and out all morning, but at least we have everything set to go as far as installations go. Since the carpet is wet, we can't set any furniture up ... but it does give me a chance to relax a little bit ... and get some emailing done. I have to contact a few people and send them our HUD statements from each closing to get things activated or cancelled. Seems like there is always something to do ... including heading to the grocery store to stock up our house, so we don't have to eat out everyday anymore!

Colton knows where his room is ... when you ask him, "Where's Colton's room?" He runs and points into his bedroom. I need to get his room set up, so he feels like it's really his. I think he gets a little scared in there right now, because he doesn't have any of his things in there, yet. We'll have to wait until the carpet dries, but I'm sure he'll feel even better once we have moved his stuff in there.

We have enjoyed having Billy's parents here. They have been so helpful with moving! We couldn't have done it without Billy's family. His parents, Brenda, and his cousin, Caleb. They really helped us get things packed in the truck, and his parents were essential in getting the truck down to Tampa and unloaded.

I am exhausted. I didn't even have to move very many things, but what I did move ... and standing all day ... and driving here and there ... and dealing with people ... and watching Colton. I am ready for the Sabbath, but I am so thankful that all of our house closings went well. We made it down to Tampa for good, and we're all doing well. Still no baby ... but that's okay, I'm too tired for the baby to be here, yet.

Happy Sabbath!

no pregnant woman in her 9th month should be allowed to make decisions

I think this is a good rule to live by. Hormones are flying here and there ... up and down. Sometimes you feel one way ... and a second later, you feel completely opposite. You cry at tacky commercials; you bawl at movies; you break down while reading books and Hallmark cards. It's a hormone fiesta party inside, and your common sense is not invited. Yet, there I was ... at the salon ... making decisions--all willy nilly.

It began last Christmas when the little girl I used to watch, Mei Mei, and her family gave me a gift certificate to a salon and spa. I went in May to get my hair cut ... and it was such a great price ... and a good cut, too. However, they gave me a hard time about my certificate not being in their system, etc. So, I ended up with more $$ on my certificate that I started with. I haven't had a chance to go back since ... and now we're moving. My good friend, Gina, offered to watch Colton today while I took advantage of the salon. I decided to get some highlights ... and I went back and forth about getting my hair cut. I tend to make drastic decisions when I start to get annoyed with my hair. I wanted to even out some of the length which definitely needed to be trimmed up and blended in with the next longest layer. But then ... my sister is getting married in October, and I am supposed to have my hair in an up-do. Ay, ay, ay! I decide just the highlights. The next thing I know, I'm asking my stylist her opinion and asking her to blend the layers together. As she carefully cuts--so as not to get too short--I think this is not going how I imagined. I really imagined a much shorter cut ... so I say ... GO FOR IT! Cut it off and blend it shorter. In the back of my head, I wonder what I will think later. But I can't hold the words back ... they flow out of my mouth like honey. Now, don't get me wrong; my hair isn't short ... it's a medium style ... but it's shorter than it was. I like it a lot, but ask me that again in a week or so ... because that's what us pregnant women do--change our minds an infinite number of times!This last picture, I wanted to show the highlights ... since they are more underneath than on-top.

On a plus note: Starbucks has their fall flavors out! I stopped to get a Decaf-Pumpkin Pie Spice Latte. It was more than delicious! Then I saw that their new flavor this season is Salted Carmel Mocha. I will have to try that one, too! This is the only way it feels like fall for me here in Florida. It's hot as Hades outside ... and a humid train wreck. Everyone else is taking pictures of their thermostats or weather.com sites ... and "fall" has finally come upon them. Meanwhile, we Floridians will feel like it's the dead of summer for 3 more months (if we're lucky). So, I delight in the small fall-like treats that make me realize, indeed, it really is a new season.

38 weeks and on the move

I spent this past weekend hitting the milestone of 38 weeks pregnant ... and I did it all by myself. It wasn't really as much of a pity party as that first sentence sounded. It was actually a really nice weekend. And there were no baby scares through any of it, so that made it even better!38 weeks ... and multiple effects to show the growth.

On Friday evening, I dropped Colton off at the airport with Billy to head to Minnesota for Dad H's 60th birthday party weekend. A lot of people said to me, "How could he go on vacation when you're 38 weeks pregnant!?!" But you have to understand that this weekend was planned and set aside before I even got pregnant. At first, I was really sad that he was taking Colton, too. But then I realized ... after having another kid any day now, I may never get a weekend alone ... by myself ... no kids ... no husband ... just me until my kids are all grown up. I decided to embrace it and enjoy it. I had a great weekend! I got a lot accomplished and even got a little relaxing done, as well. I even got my toes done for the arrival of Sissy Wally. They are pretty much a pink replica of what I did when I had Colton. Here are both pictures.This is my pedicure from 2009 when I had Colton.This is my Sissy Wally pedicure from 2011 ... just more girly.

Sabbath was a beautiful day here in Orlando. I really took advantage of the peace of Sabbath and relaxed. I even got a 2 hour nap! It was wonderful!

Gina came over on Sunday morning around 9:00 a.m., and we drove down to Tampa. We spent the whole day painting the kids' rooms. I never would have been able to finish both rooms without her. She was a tremendous help, and I am so thankful for her friendship! It made the day so much better having someone to talk to while I drove and painted. We worked pretty hard for about 8 hours and finished ... even with the littlest light possible. Colton's room has no light kit in the fan. I have no idea why that happens so much here in Florida, but most rooms don't have central lighting. I guess they just assume you will have a lamp or something. Well, we didn't ... so it was a mess and a race to get that room painted before we lost all of the light. I think the rooms turned out really well. I had to paint a lot of pink paint over the bright blue paint that was in Sissy Wally's room. It took two cuts and three rolls! But it looks great now ... and VERY pink. A girl will definitely be living there ... I'll have to decorate using the other colors in the bedding, so the pink doesn't get more carried away than it already is. Colton's blue room is the same as our guest room here in Orlando. I, originally, wanted to paint Sissy Wally's room this color, but I didn't want to have two rooms the same color--for whatever reason. So, some of my friends helped me pick out the pink. But the blue in Colton's room looks so much better than the original blue that was in there ... mostly because it matches his bedding better! See for yourself ...Sissy Wally's room before we painted it. It was an electric blue!Sissy Wally's room after we painted it. Now, it's an electric pink!Colton's room before we painted it. It's a light blue, but it's just a bit brighter than the end result.Colton's blue room after we painted it a lighter blue.

This weekend, I, also, packed up most of the house (just a few sprinklings here and there left in the house ... and I will tackle the garage today).Some of my packing progress. You'll notice I mostly have banana boxes ... that's all Publix (our grocery store seems to have out back of their store for free. Oh, well ... they are working just fine.)

I painted some more furniture, too. After we painted Colton's room the light blue, I realized that his bookshelves were that same light blue. In our home here in Orlando, his walls were brown and green, so the blue was perfect. Now that his walls are blue, I decided to repaint the bookshelves the green color. I think they look great!I couldn't find any before pictures of the shelves, but just imagine them the same color as his room pictures shown above.

And through all of this, I even read an entire book! I decided that I wanted to see the movie coming out "The Help". Then I thought, I'd sure like to read the book first. So, this weekend, I read the book The Help. It was wonderful! I recommend it to anyone.

I must get back to work packing and putting one more coat of paint on those bookshelves. Plus ... I think Colton may be ready for lunch!

proud owners of two homes in two cities ... and neither is a vacation home ... yikes!

We did it! We finally closed on our new home on Tampa ... technically, Wesley Chapel (a suburb to the north-east of Tampa). It feels good to have one half of our housing issues completed. Billy said that he feels a huge weight lifted off of his shoulders. I can tell ... the past two nights, he has slept pretty well. Before Wednesday night and for the past month and a half, Billy has been going to bed way past midnight, and he's up by 7:00 a.m. ... if he can even sleep that long! I know he's been stressed with starting a new job, buying a house, and selling our current home--oh, and a new baby on the way! I knew that as things wrapped up with the houses, and once he was in his job for a little while, he'd start feeling better. I love that we have our new home in Tampa ... I very much dislike living in two separate homes ... an hour and a half away from each other! Commuting has been so difficult, but we are moving closer and closer to the other close date. I am so thankful for that ... and I feel a little pressured with the packing, but I think I'll be pretty much done by Monday night. My friend, Gina, is going to help me paint on Sunday down in Tampa, so I feel less stressed about having to do it all by myself. Billy and I spent most of yesterday and today changing our address on everything we could think of! It's hard to remember all of the places that have your address info. I will be excited for one week from today ... when we are preparing for the Sabbath in our new home ... with only one home in our names ... all our stuff moved to Tampa ... and another big weight off of our shoulders! Here's to Thursday--when we finally close on our Orlando home.Mommy and Colton (and Sissy Wally) in front of our new home!The whole family in front of our new home on closing day.Billy and me in front of our second home together. House #2 ... officially bought together as a family this time (instead of just a married couple). Two kids in tow.Billy poses next to our "for sale" sign ... which really should be taken down now.Daddy and Colton waving to the camera from our front porch.The two boys together for a nice photo op.

On our first night in the house, we went to play in the park across from our subdivision. Colton had a blast on the slides, as usual. I think it's going to be great having the park/water park/pools/clubhouse so close to our home. Just a walk across the main road, and we're there! Look how much fun Colton is having already!Having a blast on the slides with Daddy, as usual. He just LOVES to slide!

Today, Billy and Colton flew off to Minnesota for Billy's Dad's 60th birthday party weekend. I really miss them, but it's, also, nice having this weekend to myself. I don't know if I've ever been alone overnight without Billy or Colton. Plus, I don't know when I'll have a quiet weekend to myself ever again! Ha, ha! I'm excited to relax a little bit. I'm even going to get a pedicure ... if I have the time.

I have been working hard on painting furniture this past week, too. Here's some of what I have completed ... or started on. I have nearly completed my painting projects as far as furniture goes for a little while. I am glad to be on the home stretch of these projects. I painted some of Sissy Wally's room this week. It's going to look so girly!Before front/top of dresser/changing table.After front/top of dresser/changing table.Before side of dresser/changing table.After side of dresser/changing table.Side-table before.After side-table.

Well, I'm off to take a shower and relax. I don't even know what to do with myself without my boys around. I guess I'll relish in the quiet and relax while I can ... because after Sabbath ... I'm a work-a-holic until we move!