Ellen

Can you say Hale? (below)

I know, some people are thinking I've gone overboard, but can you really post too many pictures of that cute face?

Apartment

Unless something goes horribly wrong with our background check, we'll be moving into this apartment on the 14th. I'm really excited because our two scouts (Kim and Char) loved it, and since it's 1000 sq. ft., it's nice and big. There's a pool, spa, gym, 2 weeks free rent & $250 moving expenses paid. I love the layout--I really like that the bedrooms are away from the entry, and that it has lots of storage.

Changes

So, in case you were wondering, this is what runs through my head in the middle of the night when I'm feeding Ellen. Feel free to skip this post if you were not wondering.

We're about to enter into a new "chapter" in our lives, and that is exactly what it feels like. Because we're essentially going BACK to where we were before. But there have been five years of progress and changes, so it's not really "back". When Jon left for Basic, we were engaged...I left to marry him. We've had five years of marriage and two kids. The Budds have moved to Oregon and added kids 2 and 3. The Ubels moved to Portland and had a kid. The Huwes got married. The Mundens got married. Aaron & Alison got married. Matt & Annie got married. Jan passed away. There have been numerous job changes. There have been changes at the churches that we each attended before we left (new pastors, new names). So while we do feel like we're going back home, it's to a different "back".
OUR life is going to look a lot different, too. Right now our "world" all takes place in about a 5-mile radius. Have I ever mentioned that my school is NEXT DOOR to our church/Jon's work? Or that the church where Emily attended daycare was one block down the same street as school/church? Or that my OB and our pediatrician are in the same building, which is attached to the hospital where both girls were born? And that hospital is across the street from Target, and next to Starbucks (is there anything more you could possibly need?). Nearly all of our friends are within this radius, too. Our "big trips" to south Shreveport for Olive Garden or Sam's Club or whatever take a whopping 20 minutes. When we move to Portland, our apartment is about 20 minutes from my school, and from the two churches we went to (we'll choose one, but we're giving both a chance). Our friends are all 20ish minutes away. There will be more driving. It will take more time to do things. Granted, I am still by a Target and Starbucks (again, what else do I really need?), but I have a feeling that the other things I frequent will take a bit more time. When I lived in Portland before, I used to drive ALL THE TIME, and it never bothered me. But I was single, and had my cool silver Honda Civic EX with the 6-disc changer and the sunroof (okay, so in Oregon it was more of a cloudroof). Now I've got two kids to consider and the cost of gas. I won't be able to make a "quick trip" most of the time. Things will be different.

The Secret

Thanks in part to a friend of mine, I think I have discovered the secret to not being woken up by Emily in the night. My friend suggested putting a baby gate in her door (rather than ours, which we did for a while when I thought the labs were waking her up). I tried this and on night one she still wailed for us--although when it was around 6am, she did go back and just play in her room/fall back asleep. This was the morning that Jon and I slept in until almost 9!!! I'm definitely okay with her entertaining herself in the mornings. But that didn't solve the problem of the crying in the middle of the night. I decided that what she was usually asking for was juice--she can find all of her other important items (pacifier, duck, duck blanket, baby, books, whatever else she might want to pile in there), but she never seems to be able to find her cup, which often rolls under the bed or is buried beneath the other stuff. So I went in after she fell asleep, filled the cup with water, and balanced it on the gate. At 3am when I got up to feed Ellen, the cup was gone, but I hadn't been disturbed. I felt like I was hunting a wild animal... So I found it again, and once again perched it on the gate. When I got up at 6:30 to feed Ellen again (after the initial 7 hours, she can't wait as long to eat again), the cup was once again missing. So I repeated my steps. This has worked for four nights in a row, and this morning the cup was only missing at the 3am feeding. Hooray!!

Child Protective Services

Last night when Emily was "helping" me with dinner, she burned her thumb. She wasn't as safe as I thought. She did get an impressive blister, though.

And if that weren't enough, this morning she fell and smacked her head into the coffee table, putting that nice mark on her cheek.
When CPS comes, they'll also see her favorite blue toenails that Daphne gave her last week.

Aquarium

Now that we're getting ready to sell it, Emily is really interested in the aquarium, and wants to feed the fish (singular) every day.

The after-party

Emily loved the water at church, but there wasn't really any for her size. We don't want to buy a pool two weeks before we move, so I improvised with a tote in the front yard when we got home.
Ellen was more excited about all of this.



We had to bring out some "pool" toys

Crawfish Boil 2008

The bouncer was a BIG hit (as always)
Ellen was really, really excited about the whole thing
There was free cotton candy & snow cones (along with the crawfish, hot dogs & hamburgers)
Face painting (she was SO still)


She really wanted to go on the water slide, but when she finally did, she cried when she got to th bottom. I think it surprised her. I keep forgetting that I can't videotape sideways. You still get the idea.

Playing

We played a lot inside today, because it was TOO HOT outside. Emily found the potatoes again, and loves playing with them (thanks, Larisa)
Ellen was afraid of my crazy camera-happiness
Emily made sock handsShe also "smiled" for the camera (couldn't have Ellen doing all of the smiling)
Gave Ellen some kisses
Kronk decided to come in and join the fun
Then he laid down because all of that walking wore him out.But he did take some time to check Ellen outEmily wanted to put on the dog socks and her butterfly sandals--Jimmie is influencing her from thousands of miles away! I told her that it was okay today since we weren't going anywhere, but we don't usually get to wear socks and sandals.
Emily read some books to Kronk (as long as he stayed awake, anyway)

This is the book that Emily has memorized (me, too). I was trying to get her to quote it, but it didn't come off on the video quite as I had imagined.

Ellen's smiles

I love, love, love her smiles!

LDOS

This "last day of school" wasn't met with nearly as much glee as in years past, nor with the joy of April 4th. I guess that coming back to classes ranging from 5-11 students for three days doesn't build up enough stress.

I signed the contract for Success High School in Woodburn. HOORAY!

I hate prescription deductibles

So the cream for Emily's mystery rash cost $105. Holy cow. I can't wait for better insurance.

Wow.

Are all two-year-olds bipolar? Are the terms basically synonymous?

Cooking with Mom

I confess...I let Emily do some things that are a little "old" for her. But I couldn't resist, and she helped me make dinner. It was a taco/enchilada soup that I made using a couple of recipes. While there were safety hazards, I'm sure, I'd like to point out that the burner is NOT on under the pot that she's stirring.
Mixing, mixing, mixing...
Sometimes she missed when she dumped in her assigned items. Oops.
I couldn't resist posting this--she has an infection/rash at the top of her crack, and at the doctor's office today they gave her antibiotics and told us to let her go diaperless whenever possible to let it dry out. Her bum is just sooo cute!

Back to the park

After all of the bad weather, we finally made it back to the park. Cindy--LOVE the outfit, even if it is a bit big.
We practiced making faces. This is scared.
Happy
Trying to be scared
Sad
It doesn't look that fast, but she was running and basically launching herself one-handed down the curvy slide.