MOVING Right Along

I'm sitting in a lawn chair in my empty family room at 3:30 in the morning as I type this post. Am I crazy? I guess! I fell asleep putting the kids to bed. Allison woke me at 2:30 and after taking care of her, I had to get off of the air mattress. My mouth felt gross because I fell asleep without brushing my teeth, I was wearing the same sweaty clothes that I wore to our Sunday School get together at the park, and my keys were still my pocket. I felt hungry, but there was nothing good to eat in my empty house, so I decided to jump on the computer and check something really quick. Really quick? Was I kidding myself?!

Monday and Tuesday we had movers packing and loading everything that we put into storage. We're moving to Montgomery, Alabama and we're downsizing...our house is half the size of our current home. {Since we're renting out our Oklahoma home, we didn't want to rent anything expensive in Alabama in case something goes wrong with our tenants here. We want to be able to pay both our mortgage and our rent.} So the storage part went Monday and Tuesday. Then, Thursday and Friday {yesterday}, we packed and loaded everything else. The movers didn't show up on Friday until 4:30 in the afternoon. We were supposed to be at the park for a farewell picnic with our Sunday School class at 6. I was so sad for Jason because he had to miss the entire thing!

I've tried taking a few picture throughout the week, but it wasn't easy. I haven't have my camera accessible because I didn't want to leave it out while people were in and out of the house. I've missed a lot of cute photo opportunities, but I guess that's how it goes. Here is what I did get:

These two are so in love with each other. They already bicker sometimes, but you should see their eyes light up when they see each other after a time of separation {like nap time}.

My dad flew in last Sunday to help me because Jason had to work all week. He has been a HUGE help! He's run errands for me {Praise Him for that!}, cleaned up my backyard, clipped down tree branches, wiped down shutters, cleaned my kitchen tons of times, helped with the kids, picked up food, and had a great big listening ear for his little girl.

When we moved from Germany, he was with us. When we moved into this house, he was with us. And he's with us now as we move out of this house 13 months later. I think this will have to be a moving tradition. {Jason and I feel so bad because things are kind of stressful during moving time and that's when he spends the most time with us. I'm thinking the Lord knows that we really need him..and his prayers and his calming presence.}

The other night, I realized that I haven't gotten any pictures of him while he's been here. Before he arrived, I said I would take photos because I missed a lot of funny ones during the last two moves...like the one when he was completely covered in luggage, bags and boxes in the front seat of our car when we left our house in Germany. {Jason and I still laugh about that.} Here's the only one I've got...so far:

And that was a rare one because Allison generally won't let him hold her. She is super attached to us right now.

Before the last of our things left yesterday, Alli and Jackson had fun in my trunk:

Allison's first red carpet:

She's walking all over the place! I can't believe I haven't captured any of it on camera. I will do that today after I go back to sleep and wake up again! My air mattress awaits me...

She Thinks She's Big Timing It

She thinks she's a big girl now!

I think it'll be short-lived though. I didn't realize that the recommendation for facing forward is now two years. Since we're moving and putting half of our stuff in storage, I took her out of her infant seat because I don't want to take it with us...she'll outgrow it before too long. I didn't think about rear-facing this car seat because I was so excited for her to face forward like Jackson. I guess Jason and I will have to talk about this one! She looks so happy, doesn't she?!

The packers are here today and they are such a blessing. My dad and I prayed for them this morning {my dad is here helping me while Jason is at work} and God answered with a VERY sweet packing crew.

I gave Allison a frozen banana at lunch - it's like a popsicle to her. She loved it but it wasn't satiating her fast enough, so I cut it up and gave it to her on a fork. She kept trying to grab the fork so I handed it to her and she put it in her mouth. She didn't get the banana on the first try. I told her to, "Mmmm" - my sound effect for "close your mouth and then pull the fork out." She did it and successfully fed herself the rest of the banana {I, of course, stabbed the banana}.

She says 'Momma' and 'Dada' and is starting to say 'more' and 'drink'. She also has her own special language that sounds just like 'giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle.' {With the i sounding like an Italian i.} We love her!

Now, I need to rescue the boxes and used tape rolls from her...

A Growing Mowing Partnership

Summer 2008

Summer 2009

Summer 2010

It's been a beautiful thing!

11 Months and Scooter Pro

My baby girl is 11 months old today. We're one month away from her first birthday. I can't believe it! I haven't posted monthly milestones like I had hoped because life has been too busy for me, but I do have a few minutes tonight to share a couple of things.

She took her first steps on Tuesday!! We were so excited. She was opening the bathroom drawer. She stood in front of it and pushed against it. It closed partly and she wanted to grab it again, so she took two steps forward to reach it. When I saw her do that, I took her into the family room to see if she would walk to me. I also set up the video camera so that Jason could see when he got home from work. She took several steps toward me. I think the most she took was five. That evening and every day since, she walks a little bit more. She's really excited about it too! I love to watch her look at me and smile whenever she lets go of something and tries to walk. She is my happy girl!

We took some pictures today...to commemorate 11 months and her newfound skill:

"Uh...not yet."

For Jackson's third birthday, my parents got him a three-wheeled scooter. He LOVES it! He loves anything with wheels - his car, his truck, his bicycle, his tricycle, his scooter, etc. Our neighbors have two children that are 7 and 10. They both have two-wheeled Razors {kick scooters}. They are an extremely gracious family and the kids let Jackson use their scooters, which gives him intense pleasure because "they have two wheels and not three" and the footboard "is not so big." Usually, he just pushes it around, but today, he actually rode it with one foot on and the other foot off the ground. Then, I asked him if he could try putting both feet on the scooter. He didn't think he could but he tried, and would you believe it, he did it! I was impressed. It's so fun to watch kids develop and learn new skills. He rode that scooter all day and evening. Lainey, thanks so much for your kindness! Jackson was in heaven!!

We started the day lifting the foot off the ground:

He always exits as if he's laying down his "dirt bike":

He can do it! He surprised himself with both feet on the scooter and being able to balance.

I think we may be taking the training wheels off of his bike soon!

Jackson, I am so happy for you! You worked so hard and your persistence paid off. I have the best time watching all of your cool tricks. I love you so much!