February Happenings

Jamie and I have had an excited week.  It began on Sunday when we decided to drive around looking at lots and houses for sale.  We've been talking for awhile (almost a year) about putting our house up for sale and either building or buying.  We have a great house, but it's 1 story (with main living area upstairs) and has a full basement with what we always intended to be our playroom downstairs, as well as an extra bedroom/bath, another, smaller den, a storage room, the garage and laundry room.  With Noah's disabilities, its not practical to have a two story and we don't utilize the downstairs AT ALL (other than for doing laundry and storage).  I can't park in the garage because it's hard to get both kids up and down the stairs (and if I were to leave one and load them up one at a time, Noah gets upset and cries thinking he's been left).  We have a huge backyard but to get there, you have to go off the deck down a flight of stairs.  So again, it's hard to get both kids down the stairs by myself to play outside.  Anyways, after driving around looking at what real estate was available, Jamie expressed that he would really rather build, especially since his dad is a builder and we could do it for just a little over cost.  We actually found a lot that we both LOVE and bought it 3 days later.  Excited is an understatement!  The lot is close to an acre in a neighborhood right on Cypress Creek.  We've bought right across the street from Jamie's parent's lot so it'll be alot of fun when they build their house in a few years because they are RIGHT on the creek and plan to have a pool as well.  At first, I thought, there is no way living on a creek is for me.  I think snakes and overgrown trees but I was surprised at how beautiful it is out there.  The creek is clean and so serene looking.  The boys will love it!  It's like being in the country but just being a couple of minutes from downtown Florence.  We've wasted no time, spending the last few days going through house plans and have picked one that we both love.  However, we won't begin building until we sell our house and who knows how long that will take.  I'm really praying that it will sell pretty quickly because currently, one of our rental homes is vacant and my in-law's old house is vacant so we'd have a couple of options for where we could live while we are building.  So now here's my plug, if you know anyone interested in a 3600 sq foot 4bdrm/3bath house (with extra large bedrooms) located on 3 lots in Edgemont Subd. and centrally located in Florence, then send them our way!  Great price and completely renovated just 3 years ago (new roof, a/c, appliances, carpet, ceramic tile, hardwood, etc).

We've also had a celebrity spotting right here in our own hometown! Earlier in the week, I was driving to Jamie's office and passed a house in downtown that was being renovated and THOUGHT I saw John Paul White, one half of the country/folk music duo The Civil Wars, standing in the front yard.  A few days later, I was at the office again when he drove past me and Jamie.  It was definitely him!  We now know that he owns a house right across the street and few down from Jamie's office.  Pretty cool!  I couldn't help but think how just a few days prior he was rubbing elbows with some of the greatest musicians and now I'm passing him as he's driving through downtown Florence.   

On Wednesday, Collier turned 16 months old.  Some things he is doing now is pointing to certain body parts on command, such as belly, belly button and nose.  We are working on others but those of the ones he gets consistently. He loves to raise our shirts up to find our belly buttons!  He also recognizes and points to objects when we ask him where certain things are, such as puppy dog, ball, lights, diaper.  For some crazy reason, he began doing this little move where he arches his back and sticks his belly out and pats it... it's so funny! One new phrase he's picked up is "top it" (stop it). He mainly uses it when he's repeating me, but he will tell Noah to "top it."  When I tell him its time for a diaper change, he'll come get in front of me and lay down on the floor so I can change him.  He can now run and that's the pace he uses whenever he's going anywhere.  He dances by doing the 'flashdance' dance (kind of like stomping in place really quickly.) He does this whenever he gets excited or is listening to music.  He is technologically-saavy! He loves iPads, iPhones (and knows how to use them), phones, remote controls, laptops, etc. We are dealing with a quick temper these days and he gets MAD when he's told no or we take something away from him. He cries when someone leaves (especially when daddy leaves for work) and he says "hi" or "hey" no less than 30 times a day.  When he walks with me into school to pick up Noah, he says "hey" to every single person we pass in the halls.  He is currently cutting THREE teeth. One bottom molar and 2 lateral incisors (one on top, one on bottom).  Poor thing has been in some pain this week and fussy at times.  This will make a grand total of 8 teeth.  He is beginning to feed himself using a spoon but has some trouble getting the food ON the spoon, however he gets mad when I try to help.  Makes for interesting meal times! I've found that it works to give him a spoon to use/play with and I have a spoon that I feed him with at the same time.  I trimmed his hair for the 2nd time (the first time being in December). The back grows so quickly and curls (which I think is cute) however, his hair is still short on top so it looks rather mullet-y.  Jamie had been begging me to cut it and I finally complied.  I must admit, it looks MUCH better but those sweet little curls are gone.  He's gotten much more loving and will open his arms WIDE and come running towards me.  It melts my heart.  He loves giving hugs and kisses and he likes to bring me "presents." While playing outside yesterday, he brought me quite the leaf collection.  He still a sweet little doll and we love him dearly!

 House For Sale!

Great deck overlooking the backyard, as well as the 1/2 basketball court

Very large backyard and situated on 3 lots 

My little mullet man pre-hair trim 

Had to document those curls! And I don't have an after photo because he wouldn't sit still

Our new lot on Creekside Drive

Don't Stop Believin'

pictures courtesy of Rock of Ages

Jamie and I had the pleasure of joining a group of friends from our Sunday School class and making the trip to Huntsville for dinner and our first broadway musical experience. We rode with our good friends Melissa and Stuart and met everyone at PF Changs for dinner.  Following dinner, all of the girls headed off on a mad dash to do some quick shopping before we had to leave for the show. 

We made it just as it was starting and from the very beginning it was a full out 80's party with unbelievable live music of all my favorite 80's songs, crazy costumes in bright colors and teased hair, incredible dancing and hilarious dialogue.  This was my first broadway musical and it was so fun and energetic it was more like a concert!  My feet didn't quit tapping the entire time and I would have been standing up with my fist in the air, had I not gotten some strange looks for doing so (but to be honest, I'm pretty sure the rest of the crowd was itching to get up and dance as well).  Set on LA's Sunset Strip, ROA tells the story of Drew, a boy from south Detriot, and Sherrie, a small town girl, both in LA to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love.  Cue Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."  And don't think that there weren't plenty of audience members waving their lighters in the air.  Rock of Ages is a 2 hour celebration of all things 80's. And the grand finale brought everyone out of their seats with the entire cast on stage singing and dancing and wrapping the show up with an incredible guitar solo.  It set the bar for my next Broadway musical incredibly high and I had a rockin' good time!

We Don't Do Dishes

The Supper Club ladies and I had our monthly get together this weekend.  Most supper clubs are for women (or couples) to host and cook dinner for one another at their own home, however we are a very non-traditional group... we chose different area restaurants and go out to dinner.  I mean, who wants to go to all the trouble of cleaning house, preparing dinner, hosting (finding a sitter), then cleaning up, when you can go out and have someone else do all the work, while you simply enjoy the food, company and conversation?

This month's restaurant of choice was City Hardware, Florence's newest restaurant in downtown.  The menu was filled with delicious looking entrees, appetizers and sushi.  Thank goodness that Florence finally has a restaurant that varies from the norm.  And while I ordered the filet and wedge salad, which was A-MAZING, everything I sampled from the other's plates was delicious as well.  Unfortunately, I don't think this newly opened restaurant was prepared for a party of 9 because the service was lacking and we were there for 3 hours.  However, I must say enjoying dinner with the girls, regardless of how long it takes, is a nice treat every once in a while!

And while the girls were out, the guys played Daddy Daycare at our house.  Walker and Collier had a blast playing together, so much so that they stayed up WAAAY past their bedtimes!  Noah on the otherhand, doesn't mess around when it comes to sleep.  At 7 he went to his room and crawled right up in the bed, covered himself with his blanket and shut his eyes.  Sweet little boy.

Tara, Jenna, Lauren, Me, Erika, Kimberly (with baby Houghston),

Amy (with baby B), Sarah Beth and Danette



Happy Valentine's Day to You!

Okay, I'll admit, I like to be pampered and treated special on the annual day of LOVE.  What girl doesn't enjoy gifts, special gestures, and some one on one with their sweetie?  Some people think Valentine's Day is an over-rated, Hallmark generated 'holiday' but I enjoy it... and I guess I can blame it on my dad.  See, living in a house with 3 girls, he always made sure to make us all feel very special on Valentine's Day and would suprise us each with a gift, as well as candy and a card.  I specifically remember Valentine's Day my 8th grade year (1994?) and my dad surprised me with an awesome, red Tommy Hilfiger sweater.  I was SO excited to get to wear the sweater I had been dying to have, to my best friend's birthday party that weekend.  The party was a girl/boy party and then all of us girls spent the night.  Ahhh, memories! :)

Jamie and I had our Valentine's date night this past Saturday.  We went to see The Vow (which I thought was cute but not as great as I thought it would be! However, it was based on a true story... who knew?!) and stuffed our bellies with popcorn and twizzlers.  Following the movie, we had coffee and desserts at the Marriott.  On actual V-day, Jamie came home from work with some goodies for all of us and we ordered take out -- sushi for us and chicken tenders for the boys.  My parents came by for a visit to bring the boys their gifts.  It was a perfect Valentines night and I'm quite the lucky girl to have not 1, but 3 adorable and sweet Valentines to spend the day with!

 Valentine's Decor

 "Will you be mine?"

Decked out in our red for V-day

My surprise necklace from Jamie

And no, there isn't a picture of Jamie, even though it's a Valentine post.  Although, he would probably prefer it that way.  He's not a big fan of picture time so I guess that's one gift to him... he was exempt from having to take pictures. :)  I hope you all had a very Happy Valentine's Day with the ones you love!

iPhone Photos

My dad received his 2nd stem cell transplant on January 6th so he and mom have been in Nashville.  Me and the boys went up this weekend for our second visit since they've been gone.  Dad is doing well, despite the normal symptoms that accompany the transplant.  He's lost quite a bit of weight since he has no appetite and he's very weak and tired but hasn't had the setbacks that he had back in August with the first transplant.  He has had a pretty bad cough, which any minor thing can turn into something scary when your immune system is wiped out.  They ran several tests to determine the cause of the cough but thankfully, everything came back normal. 

On Monday, we had unseasonably warm temperatures, so while Noah was at PT, Collier and I visited the park.  He loved every minute of it.  I can tell we are going to have a lot of fun together playing outside once spring arrives!

And here some pictures of my handsome big boy ready for church on Sunday, fresh with a new haircut.  I know I'm partial, but he really did look so cute! 

And lastly, a picture of my youngest with his newest obsession.  Technology.  He likes to stay very connected.  I do not condone this behavior but he always manages to find our iPhones and well, he hit the jackpot, getting his hands on both Jamie's iPhone and my iPad.  I snapped a picture before I took them both away (in which a bit of temper tantrum ensued.)