Random News.

AJ is in the dining room watching Mater so I have a few minutes to update my blog. This is just a random post so I'll remember some of the cool things AJ is doing right now. We still have not sold the first house, albeit, we have had showings out the wazoo. Getting financed at this point is a trick for some. Everyone so far has liked the house. A few have not liked the nieghborhood, but for the most part, the problem is not with the house. I have picked up a few more hourse. I'm doing 11p-7a and 7p-7a on Fri and Sat night. That way Jason is still home with AJ and we do not have to worry with day care. We're very blessed to be in the position we are in. The new house is coming along. Slowly but surely we're getting it decorated. The main thing I want to do is paint but we're waiting on that until we sell the first house. This house is just so much bigger that we are actually going to hire painters to do the foyer. If we did it we would have to worry with scafolding and everything else. I've got a color consultant coming to the house on Tuesday. I figured if I'm going to paint this house, I better do it right. It would be more expensive if I picked the wrong shades/hues and had to go right back over and do it again. I'd just as soon do it right and make sure the colors blend correctly. It's exciting but it would be even more so if that first house would sell.
AJ is amazing me every day. He is very good with his manners. Covers his mouth when he coughs, says "scuse me" when he burps or toots. We're still working on the potty training thing. He's pooped in the potty 3 times but I think it freaks him out. After he does something good on the potty, it takes a miracle to get him to get back on. We were watching the show "John and Kate plus 8" one night and they showed the boys potty training at 3 years old. AJ kept saying, "babies poo-poo in the potty" He kept saying it and you could tell he was thinking about it. About an hour later he grabbed my hand, took me upstairs and he pee-peed in the potty. Hasn't done it since, but he did it that night. I am currently looking for a potty video.
He is counting to 5. He says "thank you mommy" "thank you daddy" routinely. He uses 'please' appropriately. "juice pease mommy, truck pease mommy" His newest kick is the movie "Cars". That movie plays from sun up to sun down. Even if he's not watching it, the sound has to be on. He loves his Bible class. He routinely sings "Mi Mi went walking, to see the world God has made" He's very social, interacts well with others when I can find people for him to interact with. I think I'm going to try a mommy group this Thursday. We'll see. We found a perfect church with many kids his age, but then they all got bumped to the two year class. AJ doesn't turn two until May so now he's all alone with a 6mo old. Not much interaction there. It's very frustrating in that aspect.
He is still sleeping well for the most part. He sleeps in his double bed with Mickey mouse and puppy dog. Many nights we have to take his trucks and place them on a pillow so they are with him through the night. We read a book and then we read our prayer book. He says 'Amen', closes his eyes, cuddles up and goes right to sleep. Many nights it's not an issue. The only time it's an issue is when he gets too tired. We also have a really neat lullaby music CD from his Uncle Matt and Aunt Claudia. Just last night I forgot to hit play and he rolled over closed his eyes, rolled back over and said "music pease mommy" I had to get up and turn it on for him. It's very soothing.
He sits at the table and makes sure we say grace. He folds his hands and listens to his daddy pray and promptly ends with "Amen".
He knows the words to his favorite songs and sings them with all the passion he can muster. He can't pronounce all the words but he sings right along with them. He loves his "Go Fish" CD. The main song we listen to over and over again is "I like to sing, sing, cause I've got the joy < repeat x2 > I've got the joy of the Lord in my heart" We listen to that one song in the kitchen over, and over, and over and over and over....well you get the point. He also likes country music.
He just broke every one of the 4 incisor teeth at the SAME time. Motrin has been our friend. He'll come to me and say "Motin mommy, Motin" It's too cute. I've had to work with Jason as far as medicating the baby goes. Jason saw AJ chewing on his fingers one night and "just thought he was being weird" I had to explain to him that when babies teeth, it tends to hurt so they do stuff that massages the gums. Give him some medicine to help him out because he doesn't understand to tell you "Hey dad, this hurts a little, care to help me out a bit" Since then, Jason has done better ;0)
He is full of personality. Head strong. Stubborn. He's throwing his little tempers. He cracks me up when he throws him self on the floor, very dramatically I might add, puts his head on his hands and fake cries. It's a trip. It's very hard not to lose composure while disciplining.
He loves his peanut M&M's (thanks again to daddy), Love his cookies (ok, that's my fault)
He helps me out all the time with cleaning and cooking. He throws things in the trash for me and helps me sweep the floors. He really wants to help vacuum but he's still a little too small for that task.
Well, as soon as I got started I think a bomb went off in little man's diaper. Time for the dreaded diaper changes. I shall update and post pics at a later date.

Happy New Year!!! 2008

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long. We are currently on dial-up Internet vs. high speed. I HATE it. We will be switching back to high-speed as soon as we sell the second house. Yes, we have been in the new house a little over a month and still have not sold the other house. Ouch. I tell ya, I'm not sure how people get along without faith in God because I tend to get a wee bit nervous even knowing God is going to take care of me. Seeing two mortgages come out of the bank account at the first of the month can make your heart palpitate a wee bit. Please keep this in your prayers.
We are officially in the new house. It took a while to get used to it but we are turning this house into a home. We all had a wonderful Christmas. I have a feeling the year 2008 is going to be a GREAT one!!! AJ is now sleeping in his big boy bed and I am happy to report is sleeping through the night. Jason and I finally moved him out of our bed. He has his double bed decorated with balls of course. He is completely weened. He nursed for 18 months. He seems to have transitioned well. Anyway, I will be posting many, many, many pictures and stories as soon as the high speed is re-established.m I seriously can't handle dial up. As many of you know, one of my weaknesses is my serious lack of patience. ((((snicker)))) Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well. Love you guys. Shannon

It's gonna be a while

We had the walk through for the house. It looks fantastic!! It's so exciting. We then travelled home for Thaksgiving and had a BLAST!!! I was finally allowed to go Black Friday shopping with my Mom and Aunt. I am officially now part of the Ya Ya sisterhood!!! The trip home was heart wrenching as usual. We are now back home and steady packing, cleaning, preparing, you name it, we're doing it. There's so much to do now. I've got pics to post but it's gonna be a while until we're settled enough for me to actually sit down and download. I pray you all have a blessed holiday!!! I'll be back soon!!!

Aggravating but not Devastating.....

Jason and I spent a wonderful Saturday and Sunday with his brother and his wife. Matt and Claudia graced us with wonderful company and delicious food. We spent all day visiting War Memorial hospital, where Matt works, and gallivanting around downtown Springfield MD. We walked all around the outside mall there. Went to a REALLY crowded grocery store and learned how the "city people" do it. Today we went to a really awesome park about 2 minutes away from their apartment complex. It had the coolest park equipment. AJ really loved kicking around in the leaves with his Aunt Claudia or "Audia" as he says it. (I SO wish I had taken the camera!!!) AJ didn't even want "da da" to catch him when he went down the slide, he kept yelling for "Matt, Matt" Only Matt could catch him. Matt played the guitar for AJ so he could boogie down, and Audia played endless hours of "ball" with her new found admirer. AJ was very gracious with his hugs for those two. AJ had a really good time, as did Jason and I. We really appreciate Matt and Claudia opening up their home so we could visit. How great to be able to spend time with family.

THEN, Jason decided that before we went home, he would drive by the new house. OK, no problem. We drove by the front of it and it looks like they've put top-soil on the yard. Looks like they've cleaned up a bit. Still need to stain the brick on the outside and do the landscaping. Then we drove by the side of the house. As we proceeded to drive by something caught my eye. Looked like a splash of something on the side of the house that dripped all the way to the ground. Jason and I were praying it was mud but......it wasn't. It is stain or paint of some kind. Whom ever splashed it, splashed it about 1/3 of the way up the side of the house and it dripped all the way to the ground. Jason got out of the van to check it out and yes, it is permanent. Jason drove up to where our Realtor Tyler works and I went in to speak to him. He has been so wonderful to us. I went in smiling and asked him if he'd seen the house. He said yeah, wasn't it exciting. I responded with a yes, except for the large splash of paint running down the side of the house. Apparently this happened last night or today because he wasn't aware of it yet. He assured me that they are going to take care of it. He was adamant for me to "not freak out" they would fix it, whether that means a little paint thinner to get it off, or replacing the siding" As the header states, it's aggravating but not devastating. To be honest, I did not and am not freaking out about it. I know Tyler will get it fixed and that's that. We have our final walk through in 2 days and we're going to closing in 9. Can you believe it??? This house is just about packed up. I'm going to tackle the bathrooms for the next couple of days and then we're on to the Holiday's!!! I can not believe Nov. is almost gone already. When we have our walk through I'll be sure to take some pics and post em so you guys can see.

Almost Time!!!

My best friend Kisha was up for the weekend for our annual Christmas shopping trip to Hagerstown, MD. On our way home I figured I'd swing by the new house to see if any progress had been made. I went up to the windows on the porch and guess what!!!!! The house was lit up like a Christmas tree!!!! All of the light fixtures are in. The outside ones as well as the inside ones!! The carpet is in. The stairway is in. I even could see the toilet and the sink in the downstairs bathroom. (Yes, Kisha has already informed me that we need to buy GOOD window shades for that particular room) It is so pretty. I can't believe we have our final walk-through in 9 days. Nov. 21. I just can't believe it's really coming to an end.
Seriously though, the closer it gets, the more weirded out I get. It's so exciting in one way and so sad in another. The house we're in now is the house I made a home for my family. We worked so hard to get this place into what we wanted it to be. So much time, effort, money. It's the first house we owned as a married couple. It's the first house I brought my first child into. It's the house that AJ rolled over for the first time, smiled for the first time, took his first steps. It's a house full of memories. I am the person that could stay in the same house for 50 years and feel perfectly fulfilled. I am the big Oak tree that grows strong firm roots. Jason comes from a band of gypsies. They build and sell houses for a hobby. I know that as a wife of a Christian husband, I have to have faith that God is leading Jason to do what is best for our family. It's so hard to let go of that control though. I pray that a life of packing up and leaving is not what we're in for. I absolutely despise packing and moving everything. Jason has always used that phrase that I like to "sit on my egg" Well, I guess I do. I just have so many emotions right now. I can be laughing one minute and crying the next. I dunno, guess I'm weird like that. It's so neat to be able to drive by the new house, but after we look at it, we come home. If I could ask that you all keep us in your prayers. Especially me, that I listen to what God is saying and see what He is doing for our family. Pray that I keep finding the joy instead of the sadness that seems overwhelming at times. I'm still very homesick for VA so I know that doesn't help things. Anyway, I rambled more than I intended to. It helps to talk it out I guess. Thanks guys.

Bruise of many colors

This update is for my mother. She asks me everyday how my bruise is looking and let me tell ya, this thing is the bruise of many colors. It's nasty lookin. There is still a lump under the skin. Even AJ looks at it and says "ouch" It was so funny the first time he did it. I don't ever recall pointing at one of AJ's many boo-boos and declaring it an official "ouchie". This thing just looks so bad he deemed it an ouchie all by himself. He pointed at it, looked at me and said "ouch". He'll even "kiss it and make it better" (I heart him)
I'm scared to death to run in the house any more. When I run around the bed I have flashbacks that make me sweat! Pee-wee football is not for the faint of heart!!!!! I'm tougher than a tonka truck though, so I guess it will be OK eventually.

Multiple Updates

The house is almost done!!! We went through it about a week ago and they had all the appliances in, cabinets, counters, sinks, floors (except for the carpet). All of it's in. They only thing they didn't have in was the carpet and the stair rails. We peaked in the window last Sunday and the stair rails are in too. They still have to put the gutters up. I can't believe we close in less than 4 weeks. It seemed like forever ago we bought the land. Here's the pic of the house on the outside. I didn't get to take any pics of the inside Sunday because they have locked the doors and our realtor didn't have keys to it yet. Oh well, maybe this weekend. I L.O.V.E. the front porch. Can't you just see the garland with Christmas lights covering the railing??? I'm getting so excited!!!


These pics are mainly for my mother. I called her yesterday in tears because a friendly game of football with my 17mo old ended in this HUGE hematoma on my leg. AJ loves to sit on my bed and throw the football while mama chases the ball yelling "Go go go!! Run Run Run!!!" Well, my dorky, clumsy self ran straight into the chest I have at the end of the bed. It's only been there for 4 years, but I managed to forget about it yesterday and run straight into it. I did a flip over it and landed on my knees. I have never wanted to curse so bad in my life, but something about a toddler in your face saying "mama, mama, mama" tends to keep you from spouting pure filth out of your mouth. It was one of those "just rock back and forth" moments. Just a few hours later, the lump on my leg was so big, you could feel it through my pants. This morning, it hurts to walk. Here are the beautiful pics of my pee-wee football battle scar.(roll eyes)



On a happier note, my 17mo old pooped in the potty Sunday night. He has been looking at me and hitting his diaper saying "poo-poo" for a while now. Sunday he did it but he hadn't actually gone yet. I picked him up, ran to the bathroom with Jason in tow and we sat in the bathroom for about 20minutes trying to get AJ to poop. He was running around the bathroom diaperless. Jason demonstrated twice how to sit on the baby potty and finally AJ followed suite. Unfortunately the first log hit the floor. He was standing on the leg of the walker and before I knew it....plop. I real quick scooped him up and put him on the potty and he proceeded to poop another log.. IN THE POTTY!!!!! We did dances, we high fived, we called G.G., Oma and Opa. Twice since then he has said "Poo-Poo" and in my Olympic style sprint to get my son to the bathroom so we can rip off his pants, undo snaps, and finally take of the diaper, AJ will sit on the pot, gave me a high five and get back up. (roll eyes). Yesterday, he said "poo poo" and went before we could actually get to the bathroom. He hasn't gone today but I've been on Poo alert. We did have one of those false alarms today. Makes for fun stories though. His newest thing you ask?? Froggy has to pee and poo in the potty. Jason taught him these wonderful sound effects and now froggy gets to be privy to them.Here's a pic of froggy tonight in all his glory.