So overdue for an update

The one picture I took at Haloween. Just before heading out to the Harvest Festival and Trick or Treating. Hey, at least I got one!


I have been so very bad about pictures lately. I do mean to do better. Maybe if you all harp on me a bit more I'll do something about it. :)

I'll just go through and update person by person.
E is growing and growing, as one would expect a 14 month old to do. He can now climb just about anything, and gets immensly frustrated when things don't go his way. Talking seems to be the next big thing. In addition to "daddy" and "doggy", he now says "uh oh" "hi" "up" and some sort of mumble that sounds like all done. And he can shake his head very emphatically. I think he said "baba" for bottle yesterday too. This is the age when it is nice that they can start communicating more instead of just screaming. I keep trying to teach him to sign, but he is not the least bit interested. Bit stubborn this one!
The challenge with E lately has been nights. He wakes up a lot, often because he is wet. I just can't keep him dry at night. I tried a heavy wool cover with 2 large prefolds and a costco microfiber towell in the middle. Soaked by 2. I've gone to just the Huggies overnight diapers (yuck) and change them when he wakes around 2 or three. He got mad at the layers of cloth I was using because he couldn't roll around as much as he is used to. I'm trying to re-read the No Cry Sleep Solution so I can remember the techniques in there. He did do better last night, and I hope it's a trend. I really need some sleep!

G is growing fast too. He has gotten so tall just in the last little while. I really need to go through his dresser and get rid of the 489763 clothes that don't fit, but he keeps trying to put on. He knows he is getting bigger and has the cutest strut. He also keeps getting more and more handsome. I may have to lock him up in a few years to keep the girls at bay. We'll see. G is loving learning about letters and shapes. He refuses to learn colors though. It's not that he's color-blind at all, he just doesn't want to learn the names for the colors. Silly kid.
Oh, and as we've been working on getting the new house, everytime I say it's time to pick up or start putting anything away, he asks, "is it time to move?" And sounds so excited about it! G is my sweet helper kid. Everytime I start cooking, he pulls up a stool. Often he just gets pulled off it by E, but he sincerely wants to help.

M is so much a 10 year old boy. He wants to live on the computer. Now that he has Spore to play, it's even worse! He spent over 6 hours on the computer yesterday! I'm not sure today, but less, I think. I'm kinda hoping he gets it out of his system a bit. I'll cut him back on computer time next week for sure!
We are right back where we were with the homeschooling. I had tried to be more structured about it, but it makes us all such nasty people, it is poisonous! At least now he is reading like crazy. So I don't worry about it. I figure as long as he is reading a variety of books and showing interest in lots of things, we're fine. He's only 10 after all! And he does ask me all kinds of questions after reading a book. We look up geography info, chemistry, religions, you name it. I'm happy with that. Till my next panic anyway. LOL

I'm staying mostly sane through all of my kids antics. I do wonder about pregnancy hormones frequently. I do admit that sleep deprivation combined with said hormones is sometimes a very ugly business! I'm now at 15 weeks and feeling great as far as pregnancy symptoms go. I can feel the baby move now and then-no hard kicks, but bumps and rolls. I was very excited to start feeling that. It makes it more real. When it has been 10 years since my last pregnancy, the whole thing does seem pretty sureal. I am getting excited about the birth and getting to meet this newest family member. As far as being a mom to 4 kids, well, "I think I can" is my mantra. We'll do fine I'm sure.
We just finished up with Village Home and won't be going back next term. We still love Village, I just needed to find ways to cut a few extra $$ out of the spending. That's a quick way to do it. By the time we pay registration, then gas there and back and incidental expenses while up there, well it adds up. I'm also re-learning other frugal habits. Sad how good I was in college, and now--not so good. I think I'm making improvements though.
Of course, this is all because of the house. We just got word that the bank is reviewing the file and we "should" hear back soon. I don't know what soon means. But the sellers have signed their paperwork. So if the bank says yes, we can close right away. But then, that means paying 2 mortgages. We can do it, but it will be tight, obviously. My goal is to get that house ready, our stuff over there and this one spiffed up really fast. Then try to promote the heck out of our house.
Say, any of my readers want a cute house in a great neighborhood? I know a good one! There's even some homeschoolers in the neighborhood!
I've also taken some time to do some knitting. I need to get pictures taken, but I have finished a sweater for me, socks for G and a diaper soaker for E from some of the yarn J and I dyed. Next up is socks for M. Then I have socks to finish for me. No holiday knitting this year. I wasn't brave enough to commit to that, and now I'm glad I didn't!

C is still at the same job. They have announced voluntary cutbacks, but so far he seems to be in a relatively safe position. Hopefully it stays that way. He hasn't had much time to do his photography lately, which is a shame. Maybe I'll kick him out sometime this week or next to do that. I mean, if you want to sweetie! He is such an awesome man. Even though he has been tired too, he works hard to take care of us. He makes sure to spend time with the boys in the evenings, do dishes and help with housework, gives me back and foot rubs, and goes along with my crazy ideas. What a man. Sigh*Swoon

There is probably much more, but that will have to suffice for now. I'll try to take some pictures and post more regularly. Try being the operative word here.