A busy but slow week

This is mainly just another update post. Since last post we have done a lot. We never made it to the zoo with MIL (she bailed) but took the kids swimming instead and they loved it. We also went to the Frog Excursion which was really fun. The kids found many bugs, a frog, and a snake! Well the park ranger found the snake lol and held it firmly (even got bit in the process) and it was all very exciting. Also roasting marshmallows before the excursion was a lot of fun too.

This past weekend was pretty busy. Saturday my mom came to visit and we went to the World's Largest Baby Shower. It was really nice and wonderful spending the time with my mom and celebrating E together. Hubby was sweet enough to watch the kids for the day, so it was just Mom and I for the event and we got to go out to supper afterward. Sunday we went to the Georgia Renaissance Festival with a couple friends from playgroup which was awesome. Hubby and I used to go to these when we were in high school and hadn't been in awhile (this was also the kids' first faire). It was a lot of fun, though very hot and huge compared to some of the ones we've been too. The kids had a great time though and I was the only one to get sun burnt lol.

On another exciting note, I am past 24 weeks now! This is an awesome pregnancy milestone since it indicates viability, though I couldn't imagine this little girl making her appearance any time soon and hope she stays in as long as possible :) She's been moving like crazy and doing flips. The other night she came close to outdoing her big brother on the title "my roughest child on movements" lol. A lot of this intensity of her movements is because she's going back in forth between vertex and transverse positions and definitely isn't in a consistent birthing position yet. Hopefully she'll make her choice soon on position (and it will be the right one lol) as she runs out of as much space to play in there. I had my 24 week appointment Monday, and all news is good, she looks perfect, I'm measuring on target, iron is amazing :), and no GD (which I haven't had ever but still was nervous with my sweet tooth this pregnancy).

This week seems to be going by slowly though it's already Wednesday. This weekend we will be going to NC for SIL's graduation and probably headed home on Memorial day. I am not really excited about driving up or seeing MIL that much but it will be nice to see Hubby's grandparents and some other family while we're up. Wish us luck that it's a calm and happy weekend :)

Speaking of MIL, we had another real estate development since last post. We actually found the perfect place for all of us. It was big, close to campus, perfect layout, and we were getting an awesome deal on it. Well in the midst of negotiations MIL brought up the need for household rules so everyone would get along and the kids would have a consistent environment. Thinking she meant this as a two way street I mentioned the one rule hubby and I were very passionate about: No smoking in the house. It really irritates hubby's breathing, makes me sick, and we don't want it around the kids. Well this pushed her over the edge (interesting since I'd had so many other issues with her that were bigger that we got over) and she decided off that it wouldn't work after all. It was good I guess we stopped the process before it went too far, but definitely irritating and disappointing at that point. Also MIL went to alienate us a little more after this by not telling her Real Estate agent! So 5 days later I got an email asking if I could get MIL in touch with the agent to tell her what was up since she gave no notice to anyone but us it seems (insert eye roll). Anyway, that's over now.

So our new plan is now we're looking at places on our own and if the perfect place, for our family, arises we'll be moving and take it as God showing us it's meant to be. If that place doesn't come up then we will just continue to make our current place work, which though smaller than we'd like, is still nice and better than a lot of people have.

We have so many blessings in our lives! Despite stressful points, our joyous moments are much more often. God has definitely given us so much to be grateful for :) Currently I need to get back to playing with a couple of my blessings :) Hope you all have a great rest of the week and Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Just a Friday Update

Wow this week has flown by. We've been really busy which I'm sure is the main reason.

Hubby did great in exams etc. last week and this was our week off before Summer classes begin. His Summer schedule should be a bit more lax so he'll have more off time but we'll see. The main task he must work on is arranging a job/internship for Fall.

So we've been looking at schedules, job markets, and general life factors and though hubby is only 3 courses (easily done in one semester) away from his degree and therefore should be done in August we were planning on staying here through December after E arrives to move, finish, etc. Now it looks like with internship (you must still have classes left in your degree to take most of them) that it may be better to stay till next Spring.

I am so ready to get out of the city but I do have friends here and many things that would make it worthwhile for us to stay a little longer. And hubby getting the extra work experience is always good. One thing is for sure though that if we stay longer we cannot stay in our current apartment....comfortably. So we've been looking at new places. Our options are bigger Apartment, townhome/condo, rental house, or (since my MIL has cut ties with her resort she managed in some unexpected turns of event) to rent a large house with an In-law suite and us all move in together for a year or so.....I'm not 100% on the last option. Hubby and I agreed the house would have to be perfect for that situation and there would have to be alot of ground rules but the potential help would be nice when E arrives. The other issue is though that MIL promised help when C and J arrived and after that and honestly never came through so not sure if I want to be disappointed/annoyed again. I also know I can do this on my own of course but I'm not against a couple extra hands and eyes so I can take a bath by myself or go to the store when hubby isn't home those first few weeks lol. But once again it will depend on the place so we don't drive each other insane and the rules set as to what help we actually need and want etc. She is planning on this being her sort of U.S. home base in between visiting her other two kids so she won't be there all the time....but maybe a bit much for comfort.

So anyway a lot of this week was spent house hunting. Nothing has been perfect yet but we are still planning a couple more viewings tomorrow. We've all agreed though if nothing works we shouldn't force it so most likely if those aren't it we'll just be renting a new place on our own and she'll find a small apartment or place nearby during visits in the Fall. I feel like home hunting is pretty stressful at this point either way but I am potentially looking forward to the many opportunities of places opened up by just looking for a place for our family (if that makes sense).

Other fun stuff of this past week or so. Saturday I went on a MNO (Mom's Night Out) with the other Playgroup moms, on Mother's Day Eve. We went to eat then to a coffee and dessert Cafe that had a gorgeous outdoor patio and the most amazing Cheesecake. Argh now that I'm thinking about it I'm craving a slice. It was wonderful to have a Ladies night though and to talk with everyone without the kids running in between us lol. I really had a wonderful time and hope to have another MNO with them in the next few months :) It's sad though throughout this year 3 families from Playgroup are moving for new jobs (one of the biggest issues with a playgroup with college students) but we will be making the most of the time we have. And I'm doubtful we'll be as active in the group come September no matter when we move. I am hoping to get more involved in our church playgroup in the next few months and make many more friends there as well, as I mentioned last post I believe :).

Sunday I had a wonderful perfect Mother's Day! We went to eat at a super yummy restaurant and then walked to Piedmont Park. It was a gorgeous day and the kids had a wonderful time. We went to two playgrounds there and just enjoyed the weather and surroundings. C has asked everyday since to go back lol. Also hubby cleaned the night before as another gift to me :P
When we got home Mother's Day evening I got an extra special gift and so did hubby, when E put on a show for him lol and he could feel her dancing :). C and J have both felt and seen her move several times, but every time hubby puts his hand on my tummy she'll calm down so he's missed the major stuff. I'm wondering if this is a sign he'll always be able to calm her. But she made up for that calm streak for Daddy that night. It was wonderful timing and so sweet!

Monday we had a Doctor's appointment, went to hubby's favorite wood shop and some other fun interesting places nearby lol, and went out for dinner with the MIL to celebrate Mother's Day with her. Yay for Olive Garden :P Tuesday we met the playgroup at another Park (to C's delight :)) lol. And one of the little boys seems to have a little crush on her. It was so adorable. He said "I want to play with C_______ " and came up grabbed her hand and was leading her around and talking up a storm about the slide, swings, etc. lol. This did not please another little girl who has a crush on him who ran up later and grabbed his other hand and tried to lead him off lol. This was the same little girl who was not in the best of moods at the previous playgroup BBQ. Oh the playground drama lol! Either way though the other little boy stuck by C and said she was his friend too, whether the other little girl liked that or not. It was hilarious to watch but I'd rather her avoid any similar drama till at least the teen years lol. J had a wonderful time too, mainly because two dogs showed up. They were bigger than him and I thought he'd be scared of them but instead he was chasing them around trying to hug them lol. I really wish the kids could have a dog after watching them play but with E arriving too I'd rather wait until they're all a bit older and Mommy has more time for a dog aka a furry child added to the mix :P

Wednesday was all about Real Estate and the search. Unfortunately that went a lot later than planned and we got home Super late so Thursday became more of a wind down day (though we were supposed to go to a farm Strawberry picking). We're hoping to go to the farm next week instead since they're open all Summer.

Today's plans are a trip to the Zoo with MIL (in an hour or so actually) and a late night Frog Excursion/Campfire Fun Night with Playgroup. It should be fun and I will have to clear out my camera so I can take some pics. I haven't uploaded to FB in a while and will try and catch up a little maybe. Tomorrow will be more real estate visits and who knows what else.

Like I said we've had a very busy week and I didn't include a lot of stuff lol. We've made the most of it though and had a lot of fun overall. And now I need to go get ready to go do more.

I hope all you Moms had a wonderful Mother's Day and everyone had a great week too! And here's wishing you all wonderful weekends as well! And wishing you lots of blessings!
L

May! And 21 weeks :)

So far May has been great and looks to be a fun and stressful month at times.

Yesterday we went to a playgroup BBQ/going away party and though we'll miss the family that is leaving it was still wonderful to spend the day in a backyard with lots of friends, parents and kids, and good food too. Everyone was in a good mood it seemed (except for one little girl who stayed up a little late the night before, not mine though lol). We've missed a couple previous playgroup parties and a lot of meetings have been canceled for bad weather and colds the past couple months so it was so nice to have everyone together again. Yesterday the weather was nice though cloudy and humid, the shade was wonderful and I still managed to get a little sun burnt (though hubby said that's a sign of having a good time :) ). I'm looking forward to the future meet-ups with our friends in the next few months. It is sad though since all the fathers are GT students there will be a lot of going away events this year as well, including eventually ours. But it's wonderful that we've made these friends and the kids have too :). When we got home C got to see a couple pics another parent took at the party and was naming the kids and saying "That's ____ She's my friend! And that's ____ he's my friend too!" It just melted my heart :)

On playgroups this is the main one we attend right now and most of the kids are 4+ though C fits in perfectly despite being not yet 3, and J follows along enjoying himself as well. Also there are a couple younger siblings J's age so it works really well for us. We were in a smaller group as well last fall with kids mainly J's age but they've mostly already moved away and we did more just playground meet-ups. Recently we joined another group through the church we're attending now (which we were introduced to by my doula) and I hope to attend many more of those meetings and events soon as well and make some new family friends as well.

Pregnancy is going well and E is moving more and more recently. I did have another couple nightmares the last couple nights but nothing too bad. The hormones do make things more crazy in dreams though for sure. Our 20 week ultrasound Friday before last went wonderfully, E is perfect though a little camera shy when it comes to 3d lol. Our Doctor's appointment the following Monday went well though there was definitely a long wait. Hubby got to go with me to this one (probably the only one he'll get to come for due to his schedule) thanks to my mom watching the kids. And even though the wait wasn't fun I loved having the time with him.

Last week was stressful because it was Dead week (the last week of classes and the week before exams). Hubby had a lot of big projects due but he blew them out of the park :) He did amazing and impressed everyone so much. I'm so proud of him :) This week is exams and he feels fairly prepared though I'm sure he'll have some days of studying as well and a little stress through each one.

Another development we are currently looking for a new place. We'd like a bigger place with maybe a little bit of a commute and are looking at Gated Apartment communities and rental houses. Our rent will be increasing here in July and it makes sense if we can get more for the same amount of money then we should. We are currently looking at a 6 month lease (since hubby is going to take some extra classes so we'll probably be leaving the city in December instead of July as previously planned) but this could change depending on what we can find. We really don't want to move while I'm pregnant and have to find a new doctor etc. so that's the current plan. If hubby can find an internship in town though we may stay longer not sure at this point.

The rest of the month will be pretty busy with hubby's exams this week, moving hopefully, going to NC for SIL's graduation, and other events along the way. We're hoping to go pick Strawberries with our church playgroup the week following exams :)

Everyday even when stressed I keep thinking how much God has blessed my family. I am so happy and excited right now for all the rest of this year has in store :) Wishing your families many blessings!
L