Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break started early for us on Monday and we have the rest of the week and the weekend to celebrate the Holiday.  So far we've spent a ton of quality time together hanging out, watching way too much tv and playing with the duplos all.day.long.

It's been so nice for Noah to have both parents around and he cant get enough of both of us; always going back and forth.

We've been outside here and there during the warm days trying to enjoy this crazy snowy weather and exploring the outdoors.  Our dance parties have been major and lots of laughing has been heard across the whole house.

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! We'll be eating lots of turkey and my new recipe for French Silk Pie which I taste tasted while making it and it's going to be super delish!

Weather Problems

This winter is cramping our house building for sure.  The hold up we had with the permit before the digging started pushed us back three weeks and that's proving to be the worst ever.  Since the snow decided to come early this year the contractors have had to find time between the snow and the low temps to put down the concrete.  We stopped by last week and this is all we had.  Nothing had changed this weekend either.  What should have taken a week could now take all winter if this snow doesn't let up!

But while the house just sits we've been busy picking things out still hoping for a little miracle. 

Oct 8 (Day 1) - We signed our contract and everything is official!
Oct 9 (Day 2) - Expected ground breaking - delay with permit.
Oct 14 (Day 7) - Pick out front door, interior doors, house molding, door knobs, and decking and siding.
Oct 15 (Day 8) - Fireplace
Oct 21 (Day 14) - Faucets, sinks, shower heads, toilets.  Also garage door.
Oct 23 (Day 16) - Cabinetry for the whole house - knobs and handles
Nov 5 (Day 29) - Ground breaking - hole digging and laying some foundation.
Nov 13 (Day 37) - Outside brick
Nov 18 (Day 42) - Cabinet place again - Changed our minds of the kitchen cabinets!
Nov 19 (Day 43) - Chose lighting, sort of because that was pretty hard. Still have to finalize some choices.

We changed our minds on the kitchen cabinets and went from the picture on the left to the one on the right.
 

The left one had some details on the edges and a grey glaze in the grooves which looked great and I was super sold on it in the store.   But the more I thought about it the more I went back to the simple shaker door that I've always wanted.  So why did I choose the first option to begin with?   We went back to the store and looked at both options and since Jeff liked the second option better and I was torn we just went with the second.  I am so less stressed thinking about it that I know it was the right decision. 

Lighting was tougher than I immagined.  When we went to the store our designer pointed us in the direction of the builder basics and then if we didn't like those we could choose from the rest of the store or online.  Well since they didn't carry everything in the store we spend a ton of time looking online and in the books to mix and match from the lighting we did like.  I think the problem with this appointment is I really didn't know what I wanted.  I had so many ideas I didn't know where to start.  They easy things were picked like hallways and closet lights and the hard stuff, like the kitchen lights and pendants and still a work in progress.
So far these are my favorite lights.  But what dining room chandelier do you choose if I pick that pendant for my island?!   Any ideas and super welcome!

November Snow

I went blog silent for over a week and it wasn't even planned!  Life just takes over sometimes and blogging took a back seat. I was home all last week with Noah as Jeff went to Arizona to watch my sister compete in her first Ironman. Which by the way did great, finishing in just over thirteen hours.  Can you imagine working out for that long?!  If you remember Jeff also did an Ironman a couple of years back and it. is. tough!  And while he enjoyed the warm Arizona weather, Noah and I got blasted with this crazy November snow.... and I tried to make Jeff proud by keeping the driveway as clear as possible.   I gave up once his flight was cancelled on Monday.

Noah was a great helper out in the snow pushing the shovel around and I got the driveway as clear as possible.  It's always such a downer though when you finish the driveway and where you started is already an inch full of snow.  *Sigh* These pictures were just the beginning as I woke up to over a foot of snow for the rest of the weekend and the start of this week!

By the time Jeff got home Tuesday morning I was already going batty spending so much time with Noah and having nothing to do.  What do stay at home moms do all day?  The house was spotless, the laundry done... I just didn't know what to do with myself anymore.  I was very happy to see Jeff and finally have someone else to do some shoveling!  Now I'm finally back to work and getting back to the swing of things.  Or at least until next week because we're off all week for Thanksgiving break and then for two weeks for Christmas!  Better enjoy my work days while I can!

Finally, I'll leave you with the little cutie shoveling some snow. =)

Starting of a House

What a nice weekend it is when you get to spend it with your family.  Jeff and I finally had a complete day off work together and it was great!  Life is so much easier and peaceful with two parents around the house.
Saturday though it was mostly just Noah and I and we had a much needed Target and yogurt date.  No whining at Target for almost two hours was like heaven for me as I strolled up and down the isles looking and every-single-thing.  By the time we got done with our yogurt and got home is was time for nap number two and just like that the day flew by.

Sunday we stopped by the house to see the progress of the first three days of construction.  Not a lot going on.  Just the beginning of the foundation but a huge deal considering it's supposed to snow this week.  They better get a move on today and tomorrow!

Oct 8 (Day 1) - We signed our contract and everything is official!
Oct 9 (Day 2) - Expected ground breaking - delay with permit.
Oct 14 (Day 7) - Pick out front door, interior doors, house molding, door knobs, and decking and siding.
Oct 15 (Day 8) - Fireplace
Oct 21 (Day 14) - Faucets, sinks, shower heads, toilets.  Also garage door.
Oct 23 (Day 16) - Cabinetry for the whole house - knobs and handles
Nov 5 (Day 29) - Ground breaking - hole digging and laying some foundation.

Seventeen Months

Time just flies now.  Things are happening so quickly as this little boy gets bigger and bigger.  I've finally gotten to the point where I look forward to spending time with Noah (for the most part at least). I miss him when I'm at work and look at pictures of him on my phone all day.  He's such an outgoing person, and is running around the house constantly.  He's very curious and opens all the cupboards and takes everything out and inspects and tries new things out every day.  My favorite part is just how smart he is.  Watching him figure out how things work, and what he can and can't do.  Pushing the limits for sure.  Especially when he knows he's pushing them and looks back at you with a little grin just to see if he can push a little more.

I'm still anxious to go to the doctor next month as I'm pretty sure his speech is behind now for sure. I will say though in the last couple of days there have been sounds I've never heard before and more enunciation of words. I'm sure it's nothing that wont sort itself out, but none the less worrisome.

• Stats: Size 4 Diapers | Finishing the fours and Fives at night | 2T clothing
• Size: 29.5lbs
• New Abilities: Nothing really "new".  Getting better at moving objects around/handling objects. Can climb furniture pretty good.  A couple more inches and he'll be everywhere.  We now have to move things back from the edges of the counters as he's tall enough to reach.
• New Words: Nothing new this month.
• Sleep: Sleeping consistently from 7:30pm to 7:30am. Naps twice during the day. A morning, an afternoon.  And here we are still at two naps.  We always think he'll switch to one for a couple of  days and he goes right back.  Not that I'm complaining.  Time change went great as usual. We put him down a little later the night of, and he woke up 45 mins earlier than new time  but 15 mins later than old time.  The next day we put him down at normal bed time and he woke up at normal awake.  This kid is a champ sleeper and I'm very lucky.
• Mom Check-In: Slow at work is nice for the blog. I've been able to relax and plan things ahead of time.  I've loved taking pictures of Noah with my new iphone so that's been fun.  The house has been a nice addition for our lives and we've enjoyed making decisions.  I'm looking forward for the house itself to be done (March ish?) so I can do lots of decorating and shopping. Looking ahead I feel pretty good about the upcoming holidays and much less stressed with how Noah will handle them.  I'm actually looking forward for them much more this year and I'm excited for Noah to really be able to experience Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Fall Staples for Mom and Son

I know at least here, winter is knocking on our door.  You can just feel winter with the chill of the air and the necessary flannel sheets on your bed.  But not so fast because although it's coming quick, Fall is still the best season and I'm not ready to let it go.  Or at least Falls' great fashion. Everyone needs a good pair of corduroy pants and a cozy scarf.  And don't forget the duck books that finally came back in style.  My grandma has been rocking those for as long as I remember.

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight

Football, Cooking and Family Days

I'm loving these days lately when Noah loves his mom so much.  The cuddling has finally arrived and there is no stopping in sight.  We went down to my moms house for Halloween and although slightly annoying I couldn't walk more than two feet away from Noah it was also super nice to be wanted.  I will soak these days in as long as I can.

The weather was so cold this weekend we had very little trick or treaters and lots of candy left over which I suppose is yummy but terrible for healthy weekend eating.  Noah went to the door each time and said "Hiiiiii!" in the highest pitched voice every single time. His little hand waiving up and down.  And then would run right back to momma. =)

Sunday was such a good family day.  Lots of football watching, relaxing and cooking going on around the house.  We made a great meal of pork tenderloin and the best little sweet potato cakes that were perfect for Noah too. I love the days I can cook for hours.  I hate the cleaning, but the cooking is so relaxing.

And it's back to another busy work week for us but I'm looking forward to ground breaking on the house.  For sure this Wednesday. We got a nice night out planned with some friends on Thursday too, so lots to look forward to!