Connors 7 months!

It's amazing how each day seems to last forever...then all of a sudden your baby is 7 months old, trying to crawl, and explore the world around him! He weighed in last month for his six month check at 19lbs 10oz and 28 1/2 inches long. Preston thinks Connor is so much cooler now that he is playing with toys, he often runs up to Connor gives him a hug, says "little brother Connor," then rubs Connors head and says, "Connor so soft, be gentle." Its pretty cute. Preston is also saying his own prayers. The other night at dinner Preston's prayer went like this..."heavenly father, bless mommy, daddy, connor, preston, amen." Jim and I tried so hard not to giggle, it was so darn cute. Now when he counts to ten or can name everything in a book, he often says, "preston good job, so smart!" His vocabularly is growing, sometimes we are shocked at what he remembers and puts together...I don't think we realize how smart little children are, and how quickly they pick up on everything around them.


We finally got a different expression out of Connor on camera!


He is getting pretty good with his sippy cup.

Preston won that battle

So my question is this...does everyone else's children have a royal meltdown when getting a hair cut??? I can talk Preston into going into the bathroom for a haircut, and get all excited about it, but once I pull out the clippers...the screaming, yelling, and hysteria begins! Today for example I felt motivated to give him a hair cut, he is long overdue...his hair is in his eyes, half way covering his ears...you get the idea. Well I strip him down to his diaper, set him on the sink so as I cut his hair it falls in the sink, less to clean up...and all moms know how the hair gets everywhere! No matter what great plan you have to contain the hair it still manages to get everywhere, I swear I feel like I am still cleaning it up days after the haircut. Needless to say I put the attachment on the clippers and proceeded to cut the back first. After 5 minutes I had a sobbing, fighting, screaming, literally freaking out child, so I put him in the bathtub thinking ok, we got to get a grip...this is ridiculous. In the end Preston won, his hysteric screaming, totally freaked out Connor who was sitting in the doorway in his walker...completely content until the battle began. I thought are you kidding me??? I can't give a 2 yr old a haircut?? Well not today, 1 for Preston. So he looks pretty silly...from the back of his ears across from ear to ear is cut, and trimmed everything forward is still insanely long...its like a reverse mullet...oops. Jim guarentees he will finish it tonight, we will see how well he weathers the hysteria! I am betting Preston wins that one too.

Historic Homes

I LOVE Historic homes!

So here is one of my confessions....
It is true, I have a total obsession with real estate! Especially homes from 1880's-1930's. Growing up with my dad as a contractor, not only did he teach me everything from skip sheeting to framing, but also a great love for good craftsmanship. In my spare time I drive around looking at homes. It is really a problem. I love older homes, completely love them, nothing is more inspiring than a home that has all the original woodwork, hardware, built-ins, pocket doors, dual staircases, and stained glass. My favorites are the craftsman bungalows, and eastlake Victorians. I can look at them all day...they are awesome! I would love to own one and restore it, I get so excited going into a home that is 100+ years old to find it has all the original guts. Wainscoting 3/4 of the way up the walls in the dining room...built-in buffet...solid hardwood pocket doors... bookcases built-in around the living room fireplace...stained glass windows on either side of the fireplace...9 ft ceilings throughout...brass hardware...ornate brass radiators...so awesome!

1913 Prairie Style

9 ft ceilings, stained glass windows, hardwood floors, beautiful built-in bookcases, fireplace, and trim.
Love the built-in, now days you see all the original hardwood painted white, it is really unique to see it not painted. I love the wainscoting 3/4 of the way up the walls in the dining. I love the coffered ceilings and the dark woodwork.

The Wedding..

k, do you ever look at your wedding pics and think dang i have put on a few pounds, and man i look so young and wow jim looks dang hot no wonder i married him, lol. all of my siblings look totally different and so young, but it is so fun to look at old pics and laugh.


Left to Right:
Sean, Kevin, Me, Nikki, and David






Me and Jackie Glen (mission comp)
Left to Right: Jackie, Sean, (in the back Aaron & Barb Cox, Kathy Jacob)Kim, Kevin and Nikki.


Jim and his dad Gordon



Sean

Kevin



I think out of all the kids Kevin and David have changed the most, they actually look at our wedding pics and tell me how lame they are, they just don't appreciate their youth, yet! Although I do think Kevin has grown about a full foot, yes 12 inches since the wedding, we now call him Shrek. :) David will soon be in his own wedding pics...yup they haven't set the date yet but I am hearing roomers maybe this fall.

Keeping it real...heather this is for you!

I think I am a genuine person, what you see is what you get, there is no fake smile, and no bull. I don't like pretending my day is easy, my kids never cry, and some days I don't get a shower until after 8pm.
Often my mom calls to say hi, if there isn't a baby crying she often wonders if she called the right house. As we start our conversation she usually asks me how I am doing and what is new, to which I usually respond, "well I am not having anymore". She always laughs, but I assure her I am not kidding! lol. So on those days, no we aren't having anymore! I used to be one of those women who would go to others moms homes and think what the heck is so hard in keeping your house clean, toys picked up, laundry done, dishes done, house vacuumed, bathroom cleaned, toilet scrubbed, and having your home always ready for guests to stop in...then I had children...and now I know why all those things aren't always done, and aren't even on the priority list. If it doesn't get done before they get up or after they go to bed...well it will have to wait.
This was a really hard thing for me to get used to, then I realized I just can't do it all...I am sure many of you are thinking ok don't exaggerate but add 16-20 renters calling your phone, knocking at your door and endless emails regarding this or that and it does begin to be a very busy day, often completely exhausting day. I will vent about renters another day.
Not to mention I have a 6 month old that is extremely needy, I am talking about always wants to be held, rocked, sang to, hummed to, bounced, entertained, fed, talked to, tickled, interacted with, etc. If one of those things is not happening he is crying and I am not talking about a whine or whimper I am talking full on can't breathe wailing, and don't even consider putting him down to just hang out...yeah right! He has been a lot of work, but so much fun, those days when my house is quiet and connor is quiet...I feel like something is wrong. As he has gotten older he is growing out (cross my fingers) of being so needy, whew so I am finally gaining my sanity back slowly, and venturing out of the house. So this is my day in all its glory...luckily and not to be lovey dovey, but seriously Jim helps me so much, I notice I often look at the clock and count down the hours until he gets home to offer relief, its like playing tag, when he walks through the door he is it. YAHOOOWWWWEEEE!
On those days that are insane...when my baby won't stop crying, and renters won't stop griping about this or that, and my phone won't stop ringing...I just have to breathe and take it one hour at a time...sometimes more...sometimes less...but at least one day at a time! So for those moms out there that think they could lose their mind, go crazy, or seriously need a break soon...I completely understand and its totally normal...just breathe, smile, and think one day I will miss this!

Your Going To Miss This...Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins You're Gonna Miss This...

She was starin' out the window of that SUVComplainin' sayin' I can't wait to turn 18, She said I'll make my own money and I'll make my own roots, Mama put the car in park out there in front of the school and she kissed her head and said I was just like you

You're gonna miss this, You're gonna want this back, You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast, These are some good times, So take a good look around, You may not know it now, But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride, In her one bedroom apartment and her daddy stops by, He tells her it's a nice place, she says it'll do for now, Starts talkin' about babies and buyin' a house, Daddy shakes his face and says Baby just slow down

Cuz you're gonna miss this, You're gonna want this back, You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast, These are some good times so take a good look around, You may not know it now...but you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plummer workin' on the water heater, Dogs barkin,' phones ringin, ' one kid's cryin,' one kid's screamin', And she keeps apologizing, he says they don't bother me I got 2 babies of my own one's 36 one's 23 it's hard to believe

But you're gonna miss this, You're gonna want this back, You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast, These are some good times so take a good look around, You may not know it now, But you're gonna miss this, You're gonna miss this, Yeah, you're gonna miss this