Oh what a week

Chase has decided that sleeping during the day is not essential... mommy disagrees. For anyone that has been around a baby, you know they usually win. Enter our week. I haven't figured out why exactly he won't sleep... gas, sleeping with one arm out of the swaddler, sheer will to not miss anything... I am still guessing. I am leaning towards very bad gas but I am running out of remedies. I have 2 more tricks to employ... wish me luck.

About the space bags... I have mixed feelings about them. Yes, they do compress the clothing and I would imagine that in the long run, there is some space saving happening. However, I bought 2 'medium' size (rather small if you ask me ;~) bags for $10 and I barely made a dent in Chase's newborn clothing. So by my calculations... yeah, this could cost A LOT. On the scale of should I invest... it tips to no. The space saving is not enough to off set the cost of the bags. I happen to have some plastic storage bins that will do just fine to keep our clothes and blankets safe from harm.

So Adam found this fantastic program online where you can put in the dimensions of your home, pick the furniture you have and start rearranging... without all the dragging around of the real stuff. We have been using it to decide what furniture we are going to keep in the cottage and what is going to the basement. While doing that, we figured out that we are going from 1200 sq. ft. to 400 sq. ft... now that is some extreme downsizing. On a positive note, this will definitely teach us how to live with less! We are making plans to start packing and purging this weekend!

Why am I doing this? So I can stay home for moments like this...

Once the landlord knows...

it's official.

We will be moving on Aug 23 and vacating the apartment by Sept 1. Our landlord came over to fix something and we went ahead and let him know.  He has been so great to us over the past 2.5 years... we wanted to give him a decent heads up.  Plus we just know there is no way we can stay here.  We sat down and really looked at our budget and while we do have choices, the best one is absolutely to move to Hagerstown.  

To be precise... moving in with Adam's parents in Hagerstown.  Yep... you heard correctly... moving back in with the parents.  I have now done this twice (and I wasn't sorry the first time!) It is quite strange to be teetering on the edge of 30 and moving in with my husbands parents but we have thought long and hard about this and it really is the best move for us.  We will be living in the cottage hideaway which has 1 bedroom, living room and a small kitchen.  Please don't ask, I am not sure where everything will go... (mostly in their basement! HA!) but I am sure that Adam and I can make it work ;~) 

We are doing this for a few big reasons... 1. so I can remain a stay at home mom.  As well as being my career choice, I believe whole-heartedly in what I do and it is what is best for our family.  2. financial reasons... more than just not having the second income, Adam and I are hell bent dedicated to paying off one of his 2 student loans before we buy a house.  It is half the $$ of the other loan but the payments are twice as much because of the percentage.  It would free us up so much in the future to knock it out now.  We are BIG believers in the Dave Ramsey way of life and are trying to live by his motto "Live like no one else today so you can live like no one else tomorrow." 3.  family... I am very excited about the prospect of Chase really getting to know his Grandma and Grandpa and I know they are extremely excited to have him right next door!  

I have already begun the process of purging again.  Everywhere I look, I think "do we really need that?"  Most of it is a yes since we have done this a multitude of times but I still find stuff here and there to give away.  Just recently I ransacked my wardrobe and sent half of it out the door!  Oh, and I made the leap to try these and I am now a believer.  I will be re-evaluating how I pack up blankets, Chase's clothes and our off season clothes!  (Christine, have you tried yours yet???)

For those of you in the area (and if any of you others would like to fly in) I think we will be doing a little "We're outta here" shindig at our house in the near future!!

My husband is famous!

So about 3 weeks ago Verizon sold over 12,000 unpublished Hagerstown numbers to a phone book company which promptly published them. Since this happened in Hagerstown Adam was immediately aware and has been a part of the proceedings ever since. He has been tracking Verizon's movements (they were brought before the Public Service Commission and told to come up with something better than a $25 credit and the offer to change their number). He also set up his law firms site with a contact form for those affected. He was interviewed at the PSC which aired on the local stations in Hagerstown and he has also been interviewed by a couple different newspapers (including the Herald-Mail which most people in Hagerstown read!)

I don't mean to sound excited about Verizon selling these numbers because it isn't at all exciting. For some of the people affected, it is downright scary. I think of the police officers that have put people away, lawyers and judges that have prosecuted and sentenced criminals, women that have been hiding to avoid an abusive spouse. The list could go on forever. I am sad for everyone that feels exposed because of this. What I am happy about is the fact that my husband is part of the solution. He is directly connected to these people and really wants to see justice done for them. Also, this is why he became a lawyer in the first place... to fight for the 'little man'... those that might not have a voice otherwise.

If you are interested here are some of the articles and write ups about the situation.

Consumerist
Your4State
Adam's Blog
Herald Mail

Anyway, I just thought I would brag on my husband for a few!

Exponentially Harder

My job just got much much harder... Chase is now crawling! And with a purpose might I add. He sets his sights on something and there is no stopping him. He is particularly fond of the remote, mommy's cell phone and the coffee table. He has been hinting towards his for a few weeks now but he took his first actual movements forward on Sunday (Father's Day!)

I don't think it will be too long before he is pulling himself up on the furniture. He already has the look in his eyes... he just needs the leg power ;~)

I love each new thing he does.... each new object he discovers... each new milestone he reaches. This is what I was meant to do... tough times and all... I love my life.

Happy Father's Day

A special Happy First Father's Day to Adam!









We love you so much!

Also Happy Father's Day to Paul, Joe and Pete! We love you guys and hope that you had a wonderful day!

Mother's Day Present

Kim put pictures from our photo shoot on her blog! Check them out!

Ahhh, the haps

First and foremost... thank you so much for all the advice. I really appreciate your thoughts and words of encouragement. I think I will eventually reach out to them, at least via letter but probably not for sometime. Heck, crafting that letter will take long enough ;~) I will share if and when I write and send it!

On to the rest of the news in our world... We have decided to move to Hagerstown! There are many good reasons why but I will just touch on a few... the rent is ridiculously cheaper, we can actually buy a house (when we are ready), I can remain a stay at home mom easier and we have family there (re: free babysitting right MIL!) Those are just the key points... there are a million small good reasons too. I have been tied to this area for a long time but most of my ties are gone and the ones that remain can stretch to Hagerstown ;~)

Adam would continue to work for the same law firm and commute 3 days a week and work from home the other 2. Eventually he will start a Hagerstown branch of the firm. Even with the added gas mileage (and yes, we did calculate the erroneously high prices) we would be saving money. Which comes in handy since student loans are coming due again soon and we aren't entirely sure how we will cover them.

We are looking at an Oct 1 move date but it is definitely not set in stone. We are taking it slow and trying to really grasp the Lord's plan for us. We have been praying about it every night since we hatched this crazy plan. So far, we have not been let down!

Adam and I have toyed with the idea of selling my Jeep to buy a less expensive fuel efficient SUV... However, we never really gave it much serious thought. Enter my brilliant husband who last night got the idea that we sell his Honda Accord and buy a more fuel efficient (and 4 door!) Honda Civic. He started doing the math and it was amazing how much money we would save in gas mileage alone... all contributing more towards those pesky student loans! We are extremely excited at this prospect and will be listing our car tonight. We are now also seriously considering selling my Jeep for a F.E. SUV. Please pray as we start to make some weighty decisions!

Other random news... we have stepped down from hosting bible study on Thursdays. It got to be too difficult to host and deal with Chase. Honestly, I spent most of my time paying attention to Chase and not the study (shocking, I know) ... and Adam would be paying attention to me to be sure I didn't need any help. Chase is usually the only baby there so he really stands out and so does his talking... and the boy can seriously talk. As Danielle put it "Once Chase found his voice, he made it heard." Plus we try to have a bedtime pattern for him which falls right in the middle of the study and you can forget trying to have Chase sleep with 10 adults conversing on the other side of the wall... he hates to be left out! All that and the fact that we are moving soon led us to make this decision.

Lastly, we are heading to Hagerstown this weekend (think of the gas mileage we will save driving to Hagerstown all the time! Seriously, we go at least once a month, sometimes more!) It is Adam's first Father's Day and I am so excited to celebrate it. I hope that I can make it as special as he made Mother's Day for me! Speaking of which, we had our session with Kim Flores and got the proofs back! Now we just have to decide on our absolute favorites!

In closing I will leave you with a short video of a very happy water baby ;~)

Forgiveness vs. Olive Branch

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was thinking about reaching out to some family that I haven't spoken to in quite some time... over 6 years to be exact. There are a few things holding me back so I thought I would put pen to paper and see what I come up with... well at least fingers to keyboard.

Thought 1. Why do I feel the need to reach out to them? I think it stems from having Chase and not having a lot of family to offer him. Don't get me wrong... I have my dad and his girlfriend and I am so glad that God blessed me with them. I also have my moms cousin Winnie who I have come to have a relationship with ever since our NY trip. Other than that though, I am out. No one else. I am an only child. My mom had one sister and she has 3 daughters (the aforementioned family that I am currently not speaking to). Now my grandmother was 1 of 9 and my grandfather was 1 of 10 so I am sure I have a smattering of cousins, aunts, uncles and other bloodlines but none that are close enough to actually be the family I am looking for. Another reason for reaching out... I have fond memories of our families spending time together... we vacationed together, spent Christmas' together... you know, family stuff. Another reason... with my keen interweb skills I found out that one of my cousins had a daughter and C2 and C3 live together in Maine. Curiosity is a driving force because I am dying to know which cousin had the baby.

2. Why haven't I reached out to them yet? This is an easy one... if it were just a fight that my mom had with Auntie and C1 then I am sure this wouldn't even be an issue. I get it... sisters fight, families fight. However, Auntie and C1 crossed a line when C1 left this message on 4.22.02 "Message is for [my mom]. You are dead in my eyes and I never want to talk to you again. I want nothing to do with you. As far as I'm concerned, you're dead. You died today, goodbye." That message has kept me from reaching out to Auntie, C1, C2 and C3. Now let me clarify here... I do NOT harbor resentment or hate them in any way shape or form. Pattie O* once said "Hate doesn't know who it's directed at." and I believe that to be true. I do my best not to have hate and negativity in my world because it plays out in all other relationships. I forgave them along time ago for their words... Mainly because I feel sorry for them. I can't imagine what it is to have that kind of hatred and misery in your life. I feel for them because they don't know the warm embrace of Jesus. To me, that makes all the difference in the world. That being said, I hurt for the way those words affected my mom. Some of her only family wishing death on her, which she had cheated for 17 years at that point. I know how alone it made her feel and my heart aches because nothing can be said or done to take that away. To that end, I wonder why I would want to subject myself to the possibility of this hatred spewing at me, God forbid I do something they didn't like (perhaps write about it on a blog ;~). Why would I want to invite that into my life? It is the same reason I don't reach out to my birth father... why risk the rejection and hurt which has so clearly been demonstrated.

So my quandary.... when does forgiveness end? As a Christian should I keep going and extend the olive branch or have I met my obligation? Do I need to try to mend this relationship? I am struggling to think (or find) a specific verse that has to do with going to the person who wronged you... I have the idea of it in my mind but would love to find it in the bible so I could really think and study on it.

Ironically I check this blog frequently and she posted this the other day. Her post got me thinking again and spurred me to finish this entry.

I am really just trying to sort out my thoughts and feelings about this mess but I am open to advice and comments. I will always listen to what you have to say... However, don't be surprised if I do my own thing ;~)

*Pattie O is an AA speaker that I listen to time and time again. I can never hear her story often enough. Even if you aren't an alcoholic, the messages and stories are so moving, sometimes it can't help but change you.

The Townley's brought over a surprise for Chase yesterday... check out his new T-shirt!

Oh the horror

Chase just let out a cry so I went to go check on him. He has bad gas so this is a nightly occurrence. He isn't actually awake so much as just in pain because he needs to pass gas. So I put the paci in his mouth (sucking motion helps push the gas out) and I lifted his legs as if he were sitting. That definitely helped and he calmed down pretty quickly. I was just finishing putting his legs back down when underneath me went racing a centipede type thing with a zillion legs. They are common around here and if you think I don't like them during the day, try 1:15 in the darkness. I almost jumped into Chase's crib with him.

I actually thought long and hard about waking Adam to come help me but then I remembered he has actual work to do tomorrow. I mean court and filing things so I let him sleep. I did don a pair of his slippers and wielded one of his tennis shoes... to which I bravely hit the piece of clothing it had stopped to check out, thereby forcing it to run in the other direction. To which I smashed him to smitherines... Ugh, I get the willies thinking about it.

I am mother hear me roar! That is one bug who won't be spending time in my son's room anymore... well at least after tomorrow morning. I didn't actually pick up the deadness... there are somethings that can wait for a husband ;~)

Weekend Pictures

We spent time in the H-town this past weekend... here are a few pictures.

Chase rocking the shorty robe!

Swinging in Grandma's rope swing!

My boys!

What happens when mommy lays down for a nap. Poor Riley... the world was so much different before Chase came along ;~)

My little Maryland boy ;~)