Home Sweet Home..at last!

Brutus and Sweet Pea are finding their sunbathing spot

I love my new backyard!

Daddy needs to fix up my swing set ;)

Can't go anywhere without my balloon!

-Ok...so this is going to be a quick update because I am exhausted! We closed on our new home 7/19 and spent the first night here on 7/20. We have been unpacking and unloading the POD all last week. I would say we are almost completely unpacked except for the basement stuff which is not on the top of my list (out of sight...out of mind). Brooks has not skipped a beat and does not seem to miss the old house. I don't blame him, he has a lot more room to run around both inside and outside. He has already met a few of the other neighbor kids and was trying to hold their hands. SOO cute! Brutus and Sweet Pea seem to be doing slightly better than I expected. However, they keep going to the door when we leave as if to ask, "when are we going home?". But, they have found their sun spot and sleeping spots. I think they will be just fine and are already waiting by the back door to go out and explore. Freedom for them!! As for me, I am going crazy with all the things I want to paint and fix up. I plan to start in the family room and kitchen first. The cabinets are a little outdated and there is a lot of wood. I plan to paint them an off white/cream color. All the rooms need painted as well. I am just overwhelmed with all I want to do and how I am going to do it with a 19 month old! I guess it all takes time. Josh on the other hand can't wait to get his hands on the yard. The swing set weeds just got cut down and sprayed. He just cut the grass for the first time and has been watering. He has ideas for irrigation system, future garden, a few more trees, fixing the fence gate, cleaning up swing set....get the picture? The house needed a new roof (sellers had to pay for it) and that is going up soon. So, as you can see....we are busy with house stuff and it is so tiring...but exciting!!! We just said the other night that it is starting to feel like home....home sweet home!

-Oh yeah.....on top of all of this Brooks turned 19 months! He continues to make us laugh and smile all the time....as well as pull our hair out at times ;) He is getting really good at understanding consequences and following through with them. "If you hit the dogs with the tractor, then we will take it away." Also, when he wants something RIGHT NOW, I'll say something like, "first we change your diaper and then you can go outside". He will calm down and participate. Now....it is not always so "peachy" as we are still getting many fall aparts, but overall it is getting better. He says funny things like "I don't know", "one more", "danger" and is understanding counting, colors and spelling. Ok....I know it is a little far fetched and "rote", but he will say "2" after I say "1" and fills in the "R", "O", when I spell his name. He even tries to say his name "Bru". Today I caught him playing with a yellow tape measure (yep, we just happen to have one laying around) and he said, "yellow". It did not register at first, but then I realized the tape measure was in deed yellow. Crazy! Maybe a coincidence, but I'm taking it!

-Ok....so my short blog just turned into a long one. Oh well, I needed a break from all this house stuff. Also, just wanted to wish "Pops" Blackmore a speedy recovery from his 2nd knee replacement!!! Thinking of you!!!

Chatterbox

-Ok...so I am awful at this video upload thing. I have to use our small camera to take videos because the blog won't accept the HD ones from my camcorder (thus the poor quality). I also can't figure out how to turn the video clip upright....so just turn your computer ;) Sorry!

-Finally caught a little bit of our chatterbox being silly. He is talking all the time, but often needs interpretation by mommy for strangers....but he is getting his needs met and trying to say everything. Again not always so clear...but good effort!

-He has this crazy viral rash pop up last Saturday on his body and it is just now getting better. It itched him a little, but nothing too bad. He just looked miserable. Poor Bubba!

-We are getting ready for "go" time this Saturday!!! We plan to move most furniture into a "POD" system then the rest of the boxes into a u-haul on Monday. Yes...we are trying to save a little bit of money by doing it ourselves. We may be regretting it by Wednesday, but right now we seem to have it all under control....is there such a thing?!?! I must say this whole moving thing has been pretty intense and frustrating at times. We are so excited, but still so sad. We keep saying, "last monday, last tuesday"....etc.

Our little helper

Hanging out at the Cool Creek Concert Series

Can you see me??

"I got it Daddy"

-This weekend was jam packed....literally. We packed up some more boxes and moved them to the basement. We now have a basement and garage filled with boxes and unneeded furniture. Brooks thought it was cool to play in the boxes and to help move them. He kept saying, "OH NO, all done?" He was confused as to why his bookcase and pictures were gone from his room. I am having some mixed emotions about moving. I know it is what we all need, but I am so sad. This home is all Brooks and the dogs know. I hope it will be an easy transition for them. There are so many emotions wrapped up into this home...so many "firsts". My heart aches just thinking about them all. But, ultimately change is good and also inevitable. There is going to be so many more "firsts" and memories to create in this new home.

-We were able to take a break Friday night and went to a local concert. Brooks had a BLAST! He was running up and down the side area saying "hi" to everyone, dancing, and trying to play football with the big boys. He was drenched in sweat but he did not seem to mind. I wish I had that much energy!

Firecracker...Boom, Boom, Boom!!!

"Oh Cool"!!

"Pops" Blackmore got me this

ride on tractor and firecracker balloon!!!

Thanks "Pops"!

My one minute of "chill" time with mommy

Watching fireworks with my family

"Isn't it SO cool daddy?"

My first ear of corn...yum yum!

"Sweet Dad's" corn is the best in Indy!

Beating up on BruBru again

(this is what Brooks likes to do to the dogs when I am not watching....ride them!) Poor dogs.

I was trying to get him to say his new phrase, "where's da ball, get da ball". I guess he picked that up from us. It took me awhile to figure out what he was saying...then it all made sense. I'll try to get it on video another time.

-Happy 4th of July!! We had a wonderful weekend. It started Friday when "Pops" Blackmore came to visit with his bulldog, Kap'em. Brooks was greeted with a firecracker balloon...he LOVED it and is still taking it EVERYWHERE with him! By the end of the weekend he was saying "firecracker". We had a few cookouts, went to a festival, played in the sprinkler, took a few walks, went to the farmers market, and set off some fireworks at Aunt Tammy and Uncle Brian's home. Brooks was shaking at first when watching the fireworks and kept saying, "all done?". Then (as the sleepiness set in) he was loving them. He would say "oh cool!" and "firecracker". The last few days he has actually been saying, "firecracker...boom, boom, boom". It cracks me up!

-Brooks ate his first ear of corn. He wanted to be a big boy and do it himself. He LOVED it. It was just the cutest. Nothing beats fresh corn from the farmers market! Well....maybe fresh tomatoes ;) I just love the summer time food. Fresh veggies, fruit, specialty tea, bread, dips, etc. scream out "SUMMER TIME".

-Brooks has been better this week as far as being crabby...thank goodness! But, boy does he like to test the waters. He has been hitting the dogs (and me) and throwing everything. He is everywhere and rarely likes the sit and play unless it's to read a book. He is trying to adjust to one nap a day (yes...he would prefer to take 2 naps still) and for some reason now sleeps less for the one nap. It has been frustrating, but I have not been consistent with it. If he seems tired earlier, I revert back to 2 naps. Oh well...it will happen eventually. Those short naps only make it for a long evening. Just when you think you have it all figured out.....ha!....it changes.