Saying goodbye to last week

It's been a difficult week. 

Our house is for sale and there is one family that has looked at it twice. Per their Realtor, they are very interested...in ours and two others. They are supposedly making a decision by this weekend, but here it is, Saturday night and no news. We had another showing scheduled for today so I busted my butt cleaning the house while trying to occupy a whiny, clingy baby. Jake was snow blowing the driveway and fixing a broken closet door at 11:00 last night after he got out of work. All to prepare for today. Come to find out, the potential buyers did a drive by days ago and decided there weren't enough trees on the property. Thanks for the heads up.

I'm starting a new job at the hospital. Two twelve hour night shifts a week. I've been psyching myself out for this. It will be worth it. I won't be completely exhausted (sleep deprivation is the highest form of torture for me). Monday, my supervisor called to go over the training schedule. All of the correspondence thus far failed to mention the 40 hours a week for 5 weeks training schedule. Cue tears. That's bad news for this mama who has a hard time being away from her baby. Not to mention, no childcare. Thank God for my mom who is always there when I need her and a husband who writes his own schedule. (If you think of it, please pray that my family makes it through the next 5 weeks happy and healthy.)

Our oven broke...about 8 months ago. We've been surviving with a stove top and a crockpot. We found a good deal so got a new one this week, ya know, since we are trying to sell our house and all, but it doesn't work. Our wiring is wack. Cue an electrician. And we scratched the kitchen floor bringing it in. 

Our washer broke this week. Like, began leaking and wreaking. The inside was completely fried. Had to buy one of those too.

Cash has been sick for one week now. He's snotty and congested and has a bark of a cough. Sleeping has been rough, although we've kept his head elevated and tried to keep him as comfortable as possible. After a trip to the pediatrician, it is indeed just a virus and must pass on its own. Sigh. 

Have I mentioned that this is the worst winter so far that I can remember? Forget the Polar Vortex, I'm talking apocalyptic conditions. I've left the house twice in a week. I got stuck pulling up to our mailbox and my car sat there till Jake got home at 10 pm. Don't bother sending me any mail because I won't get it till Spring. The next day my dad got stuck in our driveway for 2 hours. (In my car. Add snow tires to the list of things I need.) Jake came home early to help dig the car out then gave our drive a good blow. The very next night he pulls in about 10:30 pm and gets his full size truck stuck, while in 4 wheel drive. The drift was so high he couldn't get his door open so he had to climb out the window. We.Need.To.Move.South.

I've vented about our hellish week in hopes of now leaving it all behind and starting fresh. I'm vowing to dress in a more positive demeanor so my boys don't have to deal with crabby patty anymore:)

//Getting ready to leave the house for only the 2nd time this week!//

8 Months Old

We've reached the eight month mark! He's such a happy boy, that's why the photo of him crying makes me laugh. He was mad because I took the fox out of his mouth for the picture. I know, it looks like he just lost his best friend. I suppose that is the equivalent at eight months old. 

Stats: Cash weighs 25.5 lbs.

He's not crawling yet but he definitely wants to! He gets in this awesome leap frog position and thinks about it, then either falls flat on his belly or rocks back onto his butt. He is getting closer though.

He is a great eater; Likes all fruits and veggies (minus peas and sometimes black beans).

His sleep is all over the place. Two nights ago, he slept 9 hours straight, waking up to eat at 5:00, then falling back asleep till 8:00 am. Last night he woke up 3 times. We just never know!

He has a great personality; So smiley and friendly. And he has certainly found his voice. He likes to yell really loud, especially when I'm on the phone. They learn quickly don't they?:)

A Weekend for Family

Cash finally met his Great Grandma over the weekend. Their introduction was long overdue. I hope he gets to spend more time with her in the future. He also met some of my aunts, uncles and cousins for the first time. And he sure was a trooper; being passed around with a smile on his face.

There's the new leap frog position:)

Mr. Big Stuff

When did he get so big? Mr Big Stuff is trying to figure out this whole crawling thing that Mama and Daddy keep talking about (and demonstrating for him). He is interested in getting around but just unsure and maybe a little afraid to take the plunge. He's also been eating like a champ; toast, pasta, beans, chicken, etc. We are currently working on his pincer grip since he holds everything in his fist still and becomes frustrated when it.just.won't.go.in.his.mouth! 

Off to entertain my boy....

2013 Recap

In January, I was pregnant (and more than half of the way there!)

We took a walk down memory lane and started chronicling our past rental houses.

In February, I made it to 28 weeks and blogged about 2 more of our houses.

My baby shower was in March and so was our Maternity shoot!

In April, I was considered full term and was just about OVER being pregnant!

We finished the nursery the first of  May and Cash was born on the 22nd! (Which I posted about in June once we got our bearings!)

In July we had some fun on the water!

In August, Cash started getting interested in toys and took over our house!

In September we spent a weekend at the cabin and had fun with family and friends and Auntie came to visit.

In October we spent our first night away from Cash celebrating Jake's birthday with a wine tour!

In November Chunkamonk went on his first ever plane ride to Colorado and he turned six months old! 

In December there was a little baby photo shoot and Cash experienced his first Christmas!

So long, 2013!

//See previous recaps//

2012

2011

Renew

Our word for 2014 is Renew.

There's something about the new year that makes people want to better themselves, start again. I guess I'm one of those people. 2013 was a hard year for us in a lot of ways, but isn't it funny how in the midst of hardships God grants the greatest blessings? Cash Lawrence is more than Jake and I ever could have asked or prayed for. 

With 2013 behind us, we are walking in to this next year with renewed spirits and renewed determination to make some changes. Some really big, some really small.

*Sell our house

*Possible job change and/or relocation

*Want less and do more

*Save more money

*Drink more water

And for kicks: Cook more and Exercise. 
(Those of you that know me, stop laughing.)

A Tardy Christmas 2013 Post

We had a merry Christmas and hope everyone else did too. Cash was introduced to gift wrap and some new toys, which he thinks are pretty cool. He came down with a fever on Christmas day and we ended up having a rough couple of days with a sick baby but he's better now!

Stay tuned for a 2013 Recap!