Let there be LIGHT!!!

Finally!  We!  Have!  Electricity!

Today, I enjoyed the ceiling fans for the first time, and not only is there light in our house, but there is light at the end of that oh-so-long tunnel.

Hopefully, air conditioning is next.

Send up some good thoughts for us.  That last bought of rain infiltrated our fortress.  I'm trying to look at the bright side ... no carpet was installed, etc., but it's difficult and incredibly unnerving.  It was a LOT of water and I'm feeling a little vulnerable.

-Carmen

Adventures in Potty Training

I have waited in dread for the day we would officially take that leap into serious potty training.

I must say it has gone 100 times smoother than I ever anticipated.

For Holden all it took was "big kid underpants" featuring his favorite characters.  He has been diaper free (except for sleeping) for two weeks.  He hasn't had even one "accident" this entire week!  I think that is pretty impressive for a little boy who NEVER seemed bothered to sit in a wet/dirty diaper.

Holden (a lot like his mother) responds well when expectations and steps are outlined up front.  It becomes a sort of game or challenge.

My goal was to have him using a potty full time by his third birthday.  We are 3 and a half months away so I'd call that a "success!"


-Carmen

Swim, Anyone?

Ain't she purdy?

Calgon and I have standing reservations.

-Carmen

House Updates

Moving date has been pushed back twice in the last week.  Didn't see that coming! (Snarky sarcasm fully intended.)

I almost finished staining the island yesterday ... minus a second coat on the newly added column and sealing the whole thing.  I am very happy with the color now.

Jordan tiled the shower and grouted the whole bathroom.

Note the lack of lip at the shower entrance and that the tile flows right into the shower.  We did this for several reasons, but like most of the choices for the house it is because I HaTe cleaning.  I love a spotless house, but despise that I will spend hours and hours of my week making sure this happens.  So..... the tile and grout are purposely "dirt" color and I can  just mop right into the shower with no threshold or door to collect gunk.

Also, when I'm "seasoned," a.k.a. OLD, I can shuffle right in, no muss, no fuss.  The bathtub on the other hand may require the assistance of a lift .... even today ... in my most nimble of states (more on the tub later.)

The walls will be marble and installed this week, along with kitchen counters.

Other than that we are still waiting on the electrician to cooperate, the gas guy to come out and do his thing, which will then make way for the A/C guy.

It would be nice to turn some lights on.

Harping and hounding .... hounding and harping.

-Carmen

Carmen en la Casa

So here is some stuff to look at from the house..... (phone pics, not too bad ... not too great.)

His majesty's porcelain throne ....

One of my bigger projects ... (the color is still off, but I'm getting close.)

And the long awaited handle ... Apparently, when you select a giant door you must purchase a special handle.  The kind of handle that only specialty hardware shops order and charge a small fortune for.  Much searching and impatient waiting paid off with a great looking handle at a great price ....

Funny side note about the handle .... the store manager that sold me the handle made the mistake of telling me it would arrive in 9 - 10 days.

For the next 5 weeks, I called him every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. to ask him if my handle had made it in.

This week, I gave up.  He assured me many times he would call me when it came in.  At 10:38 on Tuesday, he called me to say it would be in Friday.

He was almost as excited as I was!  "So, should I call you on Friday?" I asked.

"NO, No ... no ... you don't have to call me.  Someone will call you.  Your purchase order is up on the wall where everyone can see it, with a BIG note on it that says to "CALL CARMEN!" as soon as the handle comes in," he said.

"So you're saying not to call, then?"

-Carmen

Amidst Feeling Bummed

At the cusp of a tremendous life changing event, anxious anticipation chokes the breath out of you.  Every pore drips, your heart sprints and flutters, and your stomach now resides in your throat ..... your troubled thoughts and dreams are crowded with checklists and worry ...

the journey

has been interesting ...

... so

ready for it to end.

Miss my husband most of all.

"two ships passing ..... " and all that.

-Carmen

Hi, All!

I've been having computer woes (among other woes.)  Hope to be on track soon.

A few highlights:

--Cooper is now 9 months old, and crawling (thank you very much!)
--We have a deadline to move into the house (though we will be living in a construction zone,)
--And it has recently come to my attention that one accustom to modern plumbing facilities must become "creative" when finding herself without said conveniences during a mad dash to make her house habitable.

Paints a lovely picture, doesn't it?

-Carmen

And Everybody says.......

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Happy 8 Months Cooper!

It's so hard being around this kid .... and keeping a straight face! Cooper is seriously the happiest kid ever.  He squeals, plays and laughs like he is on a mission.  Such a sweetie.

Cooper now assumes crawling position and scoots across the floor on his knees.  He is not fond of sitting on his bottom and likes to stand while balancing his palms on the sofa.

Cooper says "momma," "dada," and "hi."

Big brother Holden has given up the battle and decided his "baby Coops [Cooper]" is not so bad.  He actually asked if could play "toys" with "Coops" this morning.

Love love love these boys.

-Carmen

Lazy Day

-Carmen

Checking In

I hope to have house stuff posted soon, but in the meantime ... check out the most gorgeous nephew on the planet......

-Carmen

Sick in the Summer...

... is such a bummer.

Holden and I have both been down and out with strep throat for many many days.

You can hear the kids playing at the pool outside of Holden's window.  He keeps begging to go swimming.

It's 94 degrees outside, but feels like February in here.

Sigh.

-Carmen

Happy 7 Months Cooper!

Our nugget is such a sweet little guy.  He is happy just to BE.  Cooper smiles a lot, and seems very strong for his pint size.

He rolls around on the floor and pretends he is flying while teetering on his tummy with arms and legs outstretched.

Cooper says "momma" and knows his name.  He loves to play with his toys and is really just an easy-going kid that loves laughing at his brother and sitting in daddy's lap.

It's amazing to see his personality develop ... and so different from his brother's.  Both are sweet kids, just very different.

Cooper is now wearing 3 - 6 month clothes and has itty bitty feet and ankles.  He looks like a doll.  We love nibbling on his toes-so-tiny ... they can't possibly be real or serve a purpose.

-Carmen

My Mother's Day Gift

VOTE Carmen!

Like this photo?  I sure do.

Our new friend Sarah Duckworth has a maternity photo of yours truly in a contest.  A FREE canvas goes to the winner!  Help me decorate the new house :-)

Click and Vote Carmen
Canvas Contest


Vote on every computer and phone you have and please pass on to friends and family.

Voting ends Sunday, May 2, 5 pm.

Vote once per day every day until then on all of your digital devices.

Thank you!!!!

XOXOXOX
Carmen

What Happy Looks Like

Siding. Windows. Doors.

-Carmen

H's Friend Alex

So Holden has come home everyday from school talking about his friend Alex.  They play hide and seek.  They play at the "park" (playground).  They both like to paint with green paint.

I mentioned to his teacher today that Holden sure likes playing with his buddy Alex.  She pointed to Alex and said, "Alex IS fun."

I was looking past the curly headed mocha baby girl for a chubby scoop of vanilla boy .... that wasn't there.

Alex is a girl?!?  Holden has a girlfriend?!?  This cannot be.

So, like any good mother I prodded H not-so-subtly at dinner.

"Is Alex your friend at school?"  Holden grinned, his eyes lit up and he nodded yes.

"Is Alex pretty?"  Holden Cheshired it this time accompanied with a giggle. His eyes got bigger and he nodded his head even harder.

Good God.  Holden is in love.

Hate and Love in one week.  This may be more than this momma can take.

(-: Carmen :-)

The Sound of my Heart Breaking

He finally said it.  The words I have waited for in dread.  The 3 syllables that send any mommy into a swirling, teeth clenching, eyebrow furrowing pit of despair.

I

hate

you.


Holden said this to his sweet aunt Sara this evening.  I realize he has no clue how gut wrenching those words are, but it is still so ugly.

My little angel turns out to be human.

)-: Carmen :-(
  

We have Siding!

The remaining trusses have been put in, the roof has been decked, the back porch has been covered and siding is going on.

Yea!!!!

Isn't it dreamy?

-Carmen