The "hope socks"

OK... Im taking you back a bit today.  :)

Im  a visual person.  I like to see it... feel it... touch it.  So when we were trying to get pregnant this time around I decided to needed something to remind me that it was GOING to happen.  So, when we did our first round, two years ago, I bought these little fuzzy socks.  I stuck a magnet on them and put them on my fridge.  I called them my hope socks.  :)  I looked at those little socks every day for almost two years.  

Then when we found out we were having a girl, I bought this little outfit and hung it in my closet. (I was already in a lot of pain on a daily basis at that point.)  To remind me that the pain was all going to be worth it for this sweet little spirit.

As I packed my bags for the hospital, this was the outfit I packed to bring her home in.  And when we finally got to bring Clara home, 12 days after she was born, I was in tears as I dressed her in this outfit. 

It was ALL worth it!

Newborn pictures

Life has been super crazy... As you can imagine... :). So I haven't been posting as much as I normally would with a sweet and super cute little newborn to blog about. But I'll try to make up for it a little bit since we have a little down time before we move to SD.

Here are the newborn pictures I promised a while ago. They aren't perfect... But all things considered I think I did a pretty good job. And she's such a cute little subject... How could I go wrong?

The House

I finally got the house ready to sell!  YAY!  I feel like I can breathe just a little now.  But now we need it to sell.  And fast.  Otherwise we are going to have to list it with an agent or rent it.  So if you hear of anyone looking to buy in the area let them know about our awesome house!  :)

Here is a link to a blog I started:
jeromeidhomeforsale.blogspot.com

Ch-ch-changes

Apparently... having a new baby isn't enough change for us.  So we have decided to move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

I know... South Dakota?!  

This has all happened really suddenly. James was offered a transfer to a new plant there with his company.  They flew us out there and the next day we had an offer we couldn't refuse.  Its continuing to happen quickly.  James flys out on Monday to start the job and the kids and I will follow memorial day weekend.

Im excited for this new opportunity.  James will have management of all the quality for the plant there.  Its a brand new facility (its actually not even finished yet).  Its super sad and scary to be leaving the friends who have become our family here, but we know that it is the right move for our family.  

The house is undergoing minor renovations to get it ready to put on the market, hopefully next week.  We are praying that it sells quickly and we can make a little money on it.  Glanbia will be paying movers to come and pack us up and move us and they will put us up on temporary housing for 3 months while we figure out where we want to live.  We havent really decided what we are going to do about all that.  Rent, buy an investment property, or buy a home.  Who knows.  Im just trying to take it one step at a time.  

Once again we are just walking out one step into the darkness, having faith the light will follow.  :)

Bathtub baptism

I went to check on Addy in the bath yesterday and there was toilet paper floating all over in the water. I asked her why there was toilet paper in her bath and she looked at me with very disappointed eyes and said...

"I was trying to make my Barbie a baptism dress but it kept falling apart."

How do I get mad at that???

Newborn Photography

I decided that this time around, I was going to buy a nice camera and take my own pictures.  I have been doing lots of research while on bedrest, and here is the first fruit of my labor!  It was really hard to get this by myself!  It required taking two different pictures and merging them into one.  Its rough.  But I like how it turned out.  :)  I just LOVE her kissable little lips!  More to come later!

Addy and the Police

Let me preface this post by saying that we don't want our children to be afraid of the police. We want them to know that they are the good guys. That being said. When my children don't want to put their seat belts on, I have no problems turning the car towards the police station. I figure if I ever have to make good on my threat, the police won't mind giving a good lecture on the importance of wearing your seatbelt.

So anyway...

James was driving home from Walmart tonight and had a headlight out. He was pulled over and when the officer came to the window... My daughter was quite indignant. With her arms crossed over her chest, and more attitude than you would think would fit in such a small body... This is how things went down

Addy: you can't arrest us! We are wearing our seatbelts!
Policeman: no, you're right I can't. I only arrest people doing bad things.
A: well I'm not doing anything bad... Right now.
P: that's good. Don't worry. I only arrest the bad guys.
A: well then!! Go find the bad guys!

There was more but this is the gist of it... And needless to say. James did not get a ticket. And now the nice officer can say he was told off by James Bonds daughter.