Some of the Last Pieces

If our move to San Antonio were a 100-piece puzzle, we just placed 98 and 99. The picture is almost complete.

Yep, I'm back to work and Evan's in daycare for the very first time!

I was lucky enough to be invited back to Deacon Recruiting (I worked for them a short time just before we moved to MD three years ago) as a Recruiter/HR Coordinator on a part-time schedule. The 17th seemed so far away...and then there it was!

A few weeks ago I did some driving around and stopping in prospective daycare centers for Evan. I found one that was new and shiny with all the bells and whistles (and price tag to go with it) but was more content with the smaller, family owned, seem-to-love-them-like-their-own center just a few miles further. Last week I brought Evan in a couple of times to play for about an hour so that he was accustomed to the teachers and kids before leaving him for 9 hours on Monday.

We must've looked like newbies dropping off their 6 week old! Scott followed us to the daycare Monday morning, video camera in tow. I carried Evan's blanket, pillow and woobie along with a list of "tidbits" I thought of the night before when I could not sleep. You know, things like, "he's never drank from a real cup all by himself" - since they don't allow sippy cups - and "he's never slept on a mat on the floor". I, of course, got a little teary as I left him in the room and turned to leave. Scott was sure to get that on camera!

I called to check on him as soon as I got to work and was reassured he was doing fine. Later in the day his teacher called me to again let me know his morning went really well. I was really relieved.

And that big smile when I picked him up...it washed away all my apprehension. I know he's going to learn all sorts of new things, new words and meet new friends...it's so hard to let go, even just this tiny bit!

So, off to find that last puzzle piece...a new gym. The hardest part of all to fit back into place....

The night before our big day....cannot resist that sweet face!

Ms. Rachel's Comments on Evan's Morning

Too Close to Two

Little man of mine, you're growing way too fast. Everyone says this happens; in the blink of an eye your baby is all grown up. I knew better, though. With my impatient nature I figured I'd always be looking more forward to the next milestone, never minding leaving the past behind. I was wrong. I look at you everyday and want to just freeze-frame your little face, your smile, your sweet mannerisms, your chuckle...all of it.

Everyday you do something different and new. Just yesterday you said "keys". That may not sound like much but considering you've barely talked at all and, unprompted you repeated me when I said, "Where are Mommy's keys?"...I am here to tell you it was something!

As if that weren't enough, later that same afternoon I check in on you watching Sesame Street and hear you repeat Cookie Monster by saying, "cookie". Two words in one day?? I couldn't wait for your Daddy to get home so we could show him! We practiced over and over all day.

For a while now you've also been saying "peez" while signing it at the same time...honestly I could watch you do this all day because it's just that cute. You point to your eyes individually and say, "eye", "eye"...and then repeat it pointing to Mommy or Daddy's eyes.

You're inserting your little personality into everything you do. Lately when you've been playing and something drops to the floor or happens unexpectedly you exclaim, "Aw, man!". In some of those same situations you smack your hands to your face in annoyance. Ever the drama-seeker!

The boundless energy continues. Your new favorites are spinning in circles until you fall over, jumping from one rug to another with both feet, doing front rolls, and hopping on one foot. I won't say you've completely mastered that one but when we prompt you to do it and demonstrate it for you, you try your hardest to imitate us. It actually looks more like you kicking with one foot while adding a little bounce but you really think you're hopping and we're not telling you any different!

While I thought I would wait until your actual birthday to talk about all your newest adventures I decided today, on your 23-month birthday to record just a glimpse. At the rate you're growing and changing I can only imagine what new things you'll do in the next month that I'll be able to share.

You're almost there, big boy, an actual two year old...but you're forever my baby boy.

All my love to you...

New Do

We all know I prefer short hair. I've decided many times through the years to "grow it out" but the minute it gets stuck in the collar of my shirt I renege. So, when I came across a 30% off coupon from the salon I went to before I moved, I decided to go short again.

I knew my old stylist was no longer there so I asked for someone who was great with short hair, highlights and cut well with a razor. The next week I was sitting in Lorenzo's chair. I showed him a picture of a rather boring, been there-done that, short bob but then started talking about layers and texture and having something "fun and easy". This must be where the communication failed. Granted, what he described to me sounded great and I was super-excited. However, what I left with was some seriously short hair; probably the shortest I've ever had.

Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome cut. He knew what he was doing...too bad I didn't! I went back a week later for highlights and watched him style it again. To hear Lorenzo tell it, I was styling it to be "too clean" hence the cut was losing its "sheek". Uh, ok. That's stylist talk for, "you're styling it to be a mommy cut when it's SO much cuter than that!" So, I took his tips and my new cut is finally growing on me, no pun intended. Hey, at least it's cool in this god-forsaken heat!

Mi Casa

We were pleasantly surprised to find the old house in really good condition after being left for three years. We've had two families rent from us in that time and, relatively speaking, they took care of the place. As I've mentioned we did have a few things done before moving in; the inside was completely re-painted and carpeted and a plumbing leak fixed. We've since found some minor things that have needed attention; broken window blinds and an overgrown flower bed to name a couple. We tackle a few projects at a time...

Here are some recent pictures...

The exterior front from the street...

The entry way; taken from the hallway leading to the kitchen

The dining room; taken from the living room

The living room; taken from the kitchen

The entry; walking into the front door

Looking down on the entry from the stairs

The kitchen

My flower bed that I planted ALL BY MYSELF! We'll see if I can keep it alive!

Evan's Antics

Blooming where he's planted, Evan is certainly adjusting to his new home. So far we've had a couple play dates with new friends...

Jack (5 yrs), Evan (2 yrs) and Davis (1 yr)

Spent some time in the backyard playing in the splashpad (likely against watering restrictions!)...

...and brought the outside toys in on those days when it's just too hot to be outside! Here's Evan using his "new" Cozy Coupe (thanks, Melissa!) as a jungle gym!

Home Sweet Home

We're finally feeling settled...finally.

It took a while to get here. When we arrived on the 12th we walked into our house of no carpet and almost immediately started cleaning. That day we also checked into our hotel; where we would be for the next TEN nights.

Usually Scott gets to take off about a week to get everything in order before heading back to work. This time, however, he had to attend a conference the week we arrived. So, Evan and I were left to fill our days and evenings at the hotel. You can imagine a toddler in a hotel room for several hours is not a good combination. Most days we ran errands in the morning and made it to the house for nap time so that I could continue cleaning. Melissa was kind enough to let us borrow her Pack and Play so that I didn't have to lug mine around everyday and Evan slept soundly in the master bedroom closet. Hey, it was the darkest room with air conditioning. Funny that, once I had his room darkening curtains hung and could nap him in his room, he still walked to the closet when I told him it was time for nap. Poor baby!

So the carpet was installed that first week as well. I immediately knew something wasn't right but decided it was just the fact that I had only been looking at a sample and now that ALL the carpet was laid it looked different. At first I noticed it was simply a color issue. I thought I had chosen something more gray/taupe. What I got was more tan/brown...and with orange-y specks. Not completely terrible, but definitely not what I chose - AND SIGNED FOR ON THE JOB PROPOSAL. That Saturday we were in Home Depot for a myriad of other things (who knew moving BACK into your old house could be so expensive?!?) and I held my breath as I walked to the flooring department. Looking at what I thought I was getting I knew the carpet I received was not the same thing; in color AND quality. I begrudgingly told Scott and the uphill battle began. The following Monday night we met with our contractor and told him of our findings. Sadly, he could not answer for the mistake. He offered no apology, admitted no wrong-doing and spoke of no possible solutions. When pressed for the exact specifications of the carpet he put in my house, he could give me none. When asked if it was at least a carpet by the same manufacturer, he stated, "It should be." HUH??? I was irate at this point. In the middle of all our questions he actually left the house to make a phone call, came back to the door and said, "Sue me!" It was like a bad dream.

Since then we have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (of which he is an A+ Member) but the contractor failed to respond to it in the alotted two weeks. Scott's working with the legal office on base in an effort to seek advice on the matter. We could end up in small claims court over the issue but are trying all other avenues first.

Sadly, one of the biggest lessons we learned is that you cannot be completely trusting of people doing work on your house. Someway somehow, I feel we should have been even more involved. But, the contractor was actually the referral of a friend and we looked him up and found his BBB memership and rating; how could we go wrong?

So that was the biggest drama of moving in. By the following Wednesday we were done with our ten nights in a hotel (and, sadly, nighly dinner and wine service!) and were sleeping in our house. Without our things, mind you. That Friday the big moving truck arrived and, luckily, so did ALL of our things. Sweet Melissa watched Evan most of the day while Scott and I received our things and started unpacking. We were manic in our unpacking; every box was unpacked and put away by Sunday night. My parents arrived Monday and spent the entire week helping us get settled. Scott and my dad tackled the big projects while my mom and I watched Evan and did a little shopping. The two of us did get a burst of energy on Friday morning and dug up every over-grown, hadn't-been-trimmed-in-three-years bush in my flower bed...much to Scott's chagrin. That project wasn't on "the list", you see.

The parents left last Saturday and we've continued settling in since then. Evan and I tried out a new gym on Monday. I received and accepted a job offer by Tuesday. Things are rolling right along.

We have about two more weeks of fun before I head back to work and Evan to "school". Wish us luck!