Settling in.

We've officially left the old house. Unfortunately, we still own it until friday so all the nerves aren't gone yet. Base housing is working out ok so far. G and I can walk to the playground in 2 minutes (luckily we can't see it out the front door or G would want to be out there all the time). And I can't wait for the pool to open next month. We'll be able to walk there, too! Josh had to be at work at 7 this morning and he left the house at 6:55...awesome!!!! Usually that would require a 6:20 leave time.

I'm still unpacking and organizing but we ate all our meals a home yesterday for the first time since last Tuesday. Even I get sick of fast food. Today, G put a rock in time out at the playground. Not sure why but she usually tells things "don't bite your friends!". She also got wood chips stuck to her behind and let me know that "I got chipmunks on mine bottom!"

Home.

As many of you know, "home" is a weird word when you or your spouse is in the military. J and I are lucky in the fact that our parents live in the houses we grew up in so that always gives some stability. But, this house, this concrete, brick, and wooden structure that we currently live in has been "home" for 2 years, 7 months, and and 21 days. The longest we've every lived somewhere in our 7 1/2 year marriage.

I like our house. It's comfortable, the colors are pretty, we have a good yard for a 2 year old, but it's by no means my dream home. Yet as we face our big move next week (more about that after I'm done lamenting), I find myself becoming pretty emotional about packing up. This is where I brought home my baby!!! This is her "home." She's great at adapting...she didn't bat an eye when we stayed in a one-room apartment in Montgomery for 5 weeks. She never hesitates to make a 3 week trip to Boo-ah's with stays at Sissy's mixed in. But, I am so concerned about uprooting her that I am getting weepy and crazy. I think I know that the baby is going to be such a big change that I feel guilty that she has to do both at the same time. And who knows how this will effect our progress with potty training! Yikes!

Anyway, we are blessed to have sold our house. Don't get too excited. We are LOSING money. We will be delivering a check on the day of closing (depressing). So its not like we're unique in the current market, we're just financially able right now to suck it up. We just didn't want to deal with the hassle of renting it out, then trying to fix it back up and sell it in a few years.

Anywho, we're moving on base for the next 5 months. That, too, is a blessing. We'll have 3 bedrooms, G and I will be able to walk to the playground (2 different ones actually), the swimming pool, and J will be home in 3-5 minutes instead of 30-50 after work. Also, we should save a little $$ since the utilities are included.

But still, I'm feeling a little sad. Plus we have to pack and move all our stuff ourselves!!!! We are not used to this and its going to stink. No ifs, ands, or buts about that. I hope our friends (who said they would help, I want to name them so they'd feel super-guilty if they back out) are up for the challenge because my big ole' belly isn't going to be a whole lot of good in the heavy lifting department. Did I mention that the new place has 2 floors...

Also, the stress of being unsure that closing will actually happen is killing me. I feel so helpless because it is all in the hands of the buyer at this point. What if we move on base next week then closing gets postponed and we have to pay another month of our mortgage! OR, what if it falls through all together!!! AHHHHHHH!!! I am stressed to the max.

Last but not least, Sonic will no longer be a quick trip down the road. I'll have to go out of my way for a root beer with awesome ice and an chili-cheese coney. :-(

Bummer.

Yesterday we had our first "poo" accident of potty training. We officially started on Wednesday, March 31 and we had made some SERIOUS progress. The following Wednesday she went all on her own two different times and came to tell me and show me what she'd done. Thursday we went to a ballgame and she told me she needed to go twice during the game... then she actually went! I was pretty excited. Then Saturday everything about going potty was suddenly "skaiwy" (scary). Hmmm. Today was a bit of a challenge as well. Maybe tomorrow I need to go back to the "are you clean and dry?" comments every 20 minutes to get her back in gear. Wish me luck.

Sorry if this was TMI.

Easter Day!

We had a wonderful Easter day. We went to sunrise service (and Maddie went to the potty at church! Yay!) and had brunch at church. Maddie also did an Easter egg hunt there.

She was the first one out the door!

Making one last round in case there are still any sneaky eggies.

Then we headed home, had our own egg hunt, and "forced" an early nap so we could go to a crawfish boil at Dawg and Kristi's. It was a beautiful day so Maddie didn't understand why she couldn't swim in their pool, especially since the doggies were!

On the hunt at home...the girl has eagle eyes! She can spot an eggie a mile away!

I love the feeling of knowing that things are new again. Not only is spring really showing us all of the beauty that God has created for us but we're also reminded of the new life we have been given through Jesus Christ and to that I say "Amen!"

Easter Eggies!

The G has gotten to dye Easter "eggies" twice already. We did it at my parents' house (with 12 different colors and 2 dozen eggs!), then here today on a MUCH smaller scale. Notice that she's in the buff during both dyeing escapades (I think you can figure out why :-). But, there is a BIG change. In the first set (from last week) she's wearing a pull-up, now, she's wearing BIG GIRL panties. We're on day 3 and while she's not "potty trained" we're doing OK. I think she might be sick of M&Ms by the time this is all over though!

At Boo! and Papa's!

Here at home.