celebrating the bump

In the whirlwind of last week, Sarah and Doug made their final visit home until Christmas. It was the last time for me to see Sarah pregnant. As I dropped them at the airport in the darkness of Monday morning, I said, "Next time I see you two, you'll officially be parents!" I was feeling bittersweet today, wishing I would have taken a picture of Sarah and me together while she was here. But like every trip, there were things to do, people to see and not much time to just be. The thought never crossed my mind to pose for a photo with my beautifully pregnant sister. Instead I am the photographer in these pictures.

Aunt Sarah and Morgan playing



Forget the smiling sunshine... Morgan shows Aunt Sarah and Uncle Doug how chalk is really done.

An early gift from Joel and Kelsey. How appropriate!

Sarah strikes a pose during her baby shower

Fool proof swaddling

Pondering...

As Sarah opened each gift, the giver pulled a question from an assortment of baby-related inquiries. Here she contemplates an answer.

I had a great time planning the festivities, and enjoyed being back in my element for a few hours on Sunday afternoon. Here's some of the planning details up close.

(Obviously, I've taken some safety measures in the photo below.)

more chalk

a rainbow, a promise

The view from our sidewalk on Saturday evening.



And God said [to Noah], "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Genesis 9:12-15

chalk-aholic

Momma tells Morgan that throwing chalk is unacceptable,

that she knows better, and that it's time to clean up.

The result is a full-on, sit-down, wail and shout tantrum:

our grass is greener

Happy anniversary. Love you to pieces.

on sale now!

I want a house like I want that clearance side table from Target that sits on the back end-cap of the aisle. It's deeply discounted and waiting for just the right person to come along. The red sticker makes it so very tempting and yet, I restrain myself, knowing it's not the right time.

There's a two-story colonial that I've been eyeing ever since I saw the For Sale By Owner signs popping up on the street corners last month. It's just three streets over from ours and sits at the end of a cul-de-sac on a very quiet, very beautiful street. The yard is pie-shaped, very large and backs up to a wooded lot. The backyard alone makes me drool. I imagine it's like every other colonial in the area: four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a living room plus a family room, an eat-in kitchen plus a formal dining room, a basement and two-car garage.

On that same street today was an estate sale. Morgan and I stopped. While browsing the stacks of aluminum pans and glass dishware in the back of the garage, I learned that the estate sale home sold for $5000 less than what we paid for our cozy brick ranch four years ago. The estate sale home is eight houses down from my current dream home and is an exact replica. I asked one of the family members today if they knew the asking price of my dream home. They did. It's only $20,000 more.

Four years ago, my dream home was $80,000 to $100,000 out of our price range. Today it's only $20,000. Oh it hurts. It's like the red clearance sticker, calling out to me. I don't want to pass up the sale, I don't know if or when another deal will come around again. Someone else might come along before we're ready and beat me to it.

But it's not the right time. We're not in a position to move, nor do we NEED to move. There's just something about rock-bottom prices that are so hard to resist. Why do I even look?

"Be still and know that I am God."
Pslam 46:10

the deck

"Did you blog the deck yet?"

Scott worked hard to salvage our old deck. It was worn and needed protection from the elements. So after powerwashing and cleaning, he spent lots of time staining each and every slat of the fence and floor. A couple hands chipped in here and there, but the majority of the work was completed by Scott. Like the insulation in the attic, this is a job he hopes to never do again. Not sure that's possible. Here's the photos.

catch!

First attempt






Getting better





Open your eyes!

changes for the better

A week ago today Scott started his new job. He bid the banking industry a fond farewell, and is now a federal employee, working with contracts and the like. For six weeks, he'll be training with 21 others to not only understand his new position, but what it means, exactly, to be employed by the big boys.

Our lives have already been impacted by Daddy's new job. Our income will be less, but our quality of life? So. Much. More. Scott is home before 5:00 almost every night. We are able to eat dinner and clean up the kitchen long before 6:00 ever rolls around. And in that hour before Morgan's bedtime, we actually have time to go for walks, take bike rides, play outside and enjoy the evening. Scott is now free every Saturday morning, too (unlike at the bank, where every other weekend, he was committed for at least four hours). On his first Saturday home we were biking by 8:30am!

Morgan's been more accepting of everything summer has to offer, modifying her ideals about sun, sand and water. She has actually started enjoying her pool, and will play for 15 minutes with a smile before asking to get out. We've even gotten her to walk in the grass barefoot for a few yards. And I have to divert Morgan's attention when there are errands to be run - as soon as she spots her grocery cart in the garage, she wants nothing to do with going on a car ride and everything to do with pushing that cart!

Here's some snapshots from the past week... our relaxing, yet productive, quality week...

Morgan helps Daddy check tire pressure.

Our early morning bike ride on Saturday.

Last Day with Great-Grandma N.

So the pool is pretty fun after all.

The infamous grocery cart.

Need your cement cut? Morgan's your girl.

Six more weeks of summer?

Morgan is intrigued when seeing her shadow for the first time.