Home

After a trip to the park today the boys fell asleep in the backseat.  The park is only 5 minutes from our house and I'm a firm believer in not waking sleeping children, so I just kept driving.  I was facing the mountains and decided to just turn on my "favorites" playlist and head towards the beauty around me.  I got lost in the gorgeous scenery, some good music and my thoughts.

Pretty gorgeous right?  All of these were taken from my car in about a 15 mile stretch.  Pretty much the most beautiful place I have ever lived. Yet....I find myself wanting to move home.

Let me back up a little bit.  I have been interviewing for pretty much a dream job in Oklahoma with pretty much a dream company.  I was drooling as they went over their benefits.  This all started a month or two ago when I was missing home more than normal and I signed on to the career section of this company to see if they had anything.  Really expecting them not to.  And then they did.  And each line on the job description was a perfect match for my background.  So I just applied.  Fast forward a month and they called for a phone screen.  They literally had over 100 applicants and I made it through...even being out of state.  Then there is a video interview.  It goes well.  They go over benefits and relocation. Now I'm waiting for the next step.  But I have been warned that they historically have a very long interview process.  Because right when you are about to possibly uproot you like to wait..right?

So, why would I want to move back to Oklahoma you are wondering?  I don't understand it.  My husband definately does not understand it.  I haven't lived in OK for over seven years.  I moved to the Dallas area for a job. Met my husband and the Air Force took us to Dayton, OH.  Then the San Francisco Bay area in CA.  Then a job for my husband in the Seattle area in WA.  We have seen and been to some amazing, beautiful places, but there is a hole in me.  As much as we love a new community or make new friends or love our new jobs in new states....there is a hole in me.

With the job glimmering in the horizon, I reached out to a few friends.  Housing, schools, commutes...all these adult things you wonder about when you have kids were going through my mind.  Friends that I haven't talked to in years were eager to help.  No questions, no awkard conversations catching up....we just picked up right where we left off. 

See, there is something about the people from Oklahoma that others don't get.  I have these amazing friends and family.  They aren't amazing as in talented or famous or anything like that, but they are amazing in their hearts.  They are my people.  I keep in touch with about 50% of my high school classmates.  Who can say that?  I want my boys to grow up with their grandparents like I did.  I want my boys to grow up with my friends' kids.  I want my boys to go to the same places I did when growing up.  I get jealous when people post online that they are at my favorite spots.  I almost cry when I hear someone goes to lunch with my grandmother.

Say I get an offer.  Say I take it.  Do I expect my life to be some amazing, drastic change? No. It will be a simple life.  Do I expect to see the family and friends I so desperately miss every day?  No.  But they will be there when we have time. It probably won't be something that others from the outside would look in and think how amazing it must be to live there.  But I'll be complete.  I'll be home.

home

 After a trip to the park today the boys fell asleep in the backseat.  The park is only 5 minutes from our house and I'm a firm believer in not waking sleeping children, so I just kept driving.  I was facing the mountains and decided to just turn on my "favorites" playlist and head towards the beauty around me.  I got lost in the gorgeous scenery, some good music and my thoughts.

Pretty gorgeous right?  All of these were taken from my car in about a 15 mile stretch.  Pretty much the most beautiful place I have ever lived. Yet....I find myself wanting to move home.

Let me back up a little bit.  I have been interviewing for pretty much a dream job in Oklahoma with pretty much a dream company.  I was drooling as they went over their benefits.  This all started a month or two ago when I was missing home more than normal and I signed on to the career section of this company to see if they had anything.  Really expecting them not to.  And then they did.  And each line on the job description was a perfect match for my background.  So I just applied.  Fast forward a month and they called for a phone screen.  They literally had over 100 applicants and I made it through...even being out of state.  Then there is a video interview.  It goes well.  They go over benefits and relocation. Now I'm waiting for the next step.  But I have been warned that they historically have a very long interview process.  Because right when you are about to possibly uproot you like to wait..right?

So, why would I want to move back to Oklahoma you are wondering?  I don't understand it.  My husband definitely does not understand it.  I haven't lived in OK for over seven years.  I moved to the Dallas area for a job. Met my husband and the Air Force took us to Dayton, OH.  Then the San Francisco Bay area in CA.  Then a job for my husband in the Seattle area in WA.  We have seen and been to some amazing, beautiful places, but there is a hole in me.  As much as we love a new community or make new friends or love our new jobs in new states....there is a hole in me.

With the job glimmering in the horizon, I reached out to a few friends.  Housing, schools, commutes...all these adult things you wonder about when you have kids were going through my mind.  Friends that I haven't talked to in years were eager to help.  No questions, no awkard conversations catching up....we just picked up right where we left off. 

See, there is something about the people from Oklahoma that others don't get.  I have these amazing friends and family.  They aren't amazing as in talented or famous or anything like that, but they are amazing in their hearts.  They are my people.  I keep in touch with about 50% of my high school classmates.  Who can say that?  I want my boys to grow up with their grandparents like I did.  I want my boys to grow up with my friends' kids.  I want my boys to go to the same places I did when growing up.  I get jealous when people post online that they are at my favorite spots.  I almost cry when I hear someone goes to lunch with my grandmother.

Say I get an offer.  Say I take it.  Do I expect my life to be some amazing, drastic change? No. It will be a simple life.  Do I expect to see the family and friends I so desperately miss every day?  No.  But they will be there when we have time. It probably won't be something that others from the outside would look in and think how amazing it must be to live there.  But I'll be complete.  I'll be home.

Nolan - 8 Months

Nolan, eight months feels way to close to one year old.  It's unreal how fast time has flown by.  For some reason this month you feel so much older.  Probably because you are into everything.  And eating everything.  And playing with everything.  Needless to say it is very hard for momma and daddy to sit down these days.

You have perfected the crawl and follow us from room to room.  You pull up and coast along the furniture and will take steps when we hold your hand. The best way to get a laugh from you is to pretend to eat your hands or feet.  Instead of peek-a-boo behind the hands, you go crazy if I look away and then turn around and look at your really quickly with a funny face.  Of course you are quite the jokester yourself.  Every morning when Huston is drinking from his sippy cup, you reach over and knock it out of his hands.  Every morning. 

Now that you can crawl, you have found your brothers toys and I don't think you will ever go back to baby toys.  Clearly superheros taste better than teething rings.  You go nuts over balloons and balls and love to slap your hands up and down on anything that will move.

You are still nursing but you love real food too.  You will eat anything and everything.  The only thing  you ever turned away was a popsicle and I'm not sure if it was the cold or the sour but your face was priceless.  You have four little teeth now so you can bite into anything and if we don't watch closely, you steal food from your brother.  We may or may not have caught you eating a chicken nugget the other day.


popsicle

Sleeping is still a struggle with you.  You do not like sleeping for longer than a few hours and you prefer it be right on my lap.  You are doing better, but we still have a long way to go.  You are making it for a few hours in your crib at night but still not much of a napper during the day, you'd prefer 10 catnaps over a nice long one.  Since you end up in our bed by 3-4am each night you have started a new routine with dad in the mornings.  He gets up and gets ready in the bathroom off of our bedroom and once you hear him up, you pop your head up and coo at him til he looks at you.  Then you reward him with the cutest smile ever.  And you repeat those steps over and over til he comes and picks you up.

You love your big brother so much and want to follow him everywhere.  Half of the time he loves this, the other not so much.  You were so excited the first time you got to ride in the shopping cart with him.

The most exciting thing this month was our trip to California.  You logged your first airline miles and were so good on the plane.  You loved all of the attention from your family and made a fast friend in Nama's dog, Fred.  So close in fact that you even shared his food.  Several times.

Best buds

We took you to the beach (you went at one month but it was cold) and you wasted no time getting down and dirty in the sand.

We also spent a lot of time in Nama's pool and you are definitely a water baby.

We stayed through the Fourth of July and went to the parade and you absolutely loved the fireworks display and stayed up for the whole show.

It was a great month and I am so blessed to be able to stay home with you during these early months.  Watching you grow and learn and become so close to your big brother brings me so much happiness.  I love you and your sweet and laid back nature.  Even though I don't want you to grow up too quickly, I can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Huston - June 2013

Huston, as I sat down to write your monthly blog I couldn't help but realize you WILL BE FOUR IN TWO MONTHS!  You are getting so tall and thin and your vocabulary amazes me daily.  You got a pair of size 11 shoes the other day.  You moved to a booster seat.  You mastered the "big slide" at Play Kitsap.  You had real conversations with your Great Grandparents when they visited.  It's all too much for me....but it's also very fun to see this "big boy" you are becoming.

Play Kitsap

Dinner with Great Grandpa Dave

Walking with Great Grandpa Dave

You are a quirky big boy though.  You hate to wear shoes, if we make you then they will be off the minute you get in the car....even for a 5 minute trip.  When we pick you up from Child Watch at the Y or MOPS you have talked them into letting you take them off.  You have hoarder tendencies.  Example:  A TMNT insert with examples of other toys available for purchase are NOT trash, they part of your toy.  And if we throw them away, you will find them.  Unless we sneak them out to the big trash outside when you are sleeping.  And then you will ask me where they went in repeat mode.  You know at a glance how many angry birds or cars or blocks you have and can tell us which one is missing.  I'm thinking Vegas may be in our future when you are of age......

You have reached the age to where you bring me rocks and sticks and weeds as presents.    Me kissing an "owie" in the exact spot it was injured is a instant cure for pain.  You are obsessed with caterpillars, worms and butterflies, but are terrified of "horrible creepy bugs".  You also found out that if you step on a caterpillar "jelly" comes out and gets on your shoe and that is "so gross".  And you hunt monsters.  And go "adventuring".

 

Monster Hunter

Although you are still very much a momma's boy, you go into hyper drive when dad gets home from work.  You attack when we walks through the door and worm our yway into his lap or back or legs every chance you get.  And if he is holding your baby brother all bets are off and you will get between them.

One of your absolute favorite things to do is to dance for an audience.  You want to FaceTime Auntie Katie and Auntie Dawn Dawn daily to show them your new "moves".  Your routine typically consists of a combination of breakdance, ninja, thai chi (your words) with a little stripper in there.  I have no idea where you come up with them but it is definitely unique!

Disney has a new show "Henry Hugglemonster" and you lovvvvvve it.  When you are way too wired up I can put you in front of a show or two to get you to relax.  It is one of the few shows that doesn't wind you up more.  You are still all about your TMNTs, angry birds and Wreck it Ralph.

You have a love/hate relationship with your little brother.  You went a week calling him "that baby".  Mostly you call him "Yolan".  You love to make him laugh and get excited when he crawls or pulls up, but you also love to steal his food and play so rough that you knock him over.

I still get a kick out of your Hustonisms and never know what you are going to say next.

It's never just trash, it's "trash garbage".
"I can't know how" (your cop-out)
"That doesn't sound like a good deal." (when I ask you to do something)
"No catcalls." (when naked)

Dad taught you the phrase "Want some cheese with that whine?"  Your take is "You want some cheeeese with that little wine?"

You love to say grace before (and multiple times during) our meals and will not let us forget.  There is nothing cuter than seeing an almost 4 year old say, "Praise God, Hallelujah!"

You are such an amazing boy and we have so much fun. I think with Nolan being mobile now you
are getting ready to have a new playmate and things are going to start getting crazy around here!

Heart of Glass

My boys surprised me with something on my bucket list for Mother's Day....a Glass Blowing class!  This is something I have wanted to do for quite awhile and I had the best time.  What was even better was that the place was kid friendly and let everyone come along and watch.

Huston helping pick out the style

Huston helping chose colors

My color scheme (the multicolored sprinkles at the bottom were H's addition

Heating up the glass

Shaping

Picked up colors

Shaping

Adding in the design

Blowing

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Best Mother's Day ever

Side

Side

Side

Bottom

It was an amazing experience and a perfect day.  Afterwards since we were in the "big city" (Tacoma) we went and ate at Chipotle, bought me some new shirts and spent some time with my boys.  Doug gets big Daddy points for A) remembering I wanted to do it and setting it all up and B) making the day perfect.

Being a momma is a wonderful thing daily but I sure had a nice day celebrating it!

Nolan - 7 months

Nolan what a joy you are!  You are the happiest baby ever.  Hands down.  The only time you are fussy is if we try to clean your nose, you have been sitting in poop for awhile or you get bored in the car.  And you recover from all of those things very quickly once we take care of them.  When you got your six month shots you cried out and were laughing again by the time the nurse got the band-aid's on.  At that same appointment the doctor asked me if you'd been feeling ok.  She kept listening to your lungs and checking your ears and said, "I can't not treat this, he's got an infection."  We had no clue you were sick, you had not been fussy at all.  So, you got your first antibiotics for ten days.  This of course didn't help with the whole poop situation, but you handled it all like a champ.

In the last month you have had so many changes....changes I'm not ready for.  You went from scooting to army crawl to up on all fours crawl in a matter of days and are now fully mobile.  You got two more teeth, totaling three and more are bulging.  You are eating anything and everything we give you (applesauce, baby yogurt, rice cereal, peaches, sweet potatoes, watermelon, mum-mums, puffs, graham crackers and little bites of anything else we'll let you taste).  You slap your hands up and down.  And you are finding your voice by babbling and squealing.  You say something pretty close to da-da and I swear you say thank you when I hand you something.  Probably not, but it sure sounds like it.

You got to go to your first A's baseball game when they came to Seattle to play the Mariners.  This is a huge first in our family and you did Daddy proud.  You decked out in your A's gear and squealed and had a blast.  The ball girls were even flirting with you.

Now that you can move around, you are playing with lots of toys but your favorites right now are your red block, Huston's foam swords, a musical mariachi and a bath hungry caterpillar that makes a great teething toy.

One of my favorite things is watching you and your brother in the backseat.  You strain so hard to see what he's doing.  And when he looks at you smile this adorable smile and you two will laugh.  If you get bored back there he will sing to you or and you a toy and that's all it takes.  You love your big brother and are always aware where he is.

Did I mention your adorable smile?  Everyone does.  And you do this little half smirk smile that gives me a hint of the type of boy you are going to grow into.  Your hair is growing in and you are getting long and lean.  People are saying you look like my side of the family and your Papa Lowery.  And my oh my, are you ticklish!  I do it often because it causes the most incredible laugh.

Daddy, Huston and I love you so much and this past 7 months has flown by.  I can't even express how much you have completed our family and can't wait to see what the next month brings!

Huston - May 2013

 

Island Lake Park

Huston, another month has passed and you are still changing so much I have to keep a list going so I won't forget things to include in your blog.  The picture above is from one of our recent trips to the park....you are park obsessed.  Luckily we have quite a few amazing ones in the area to visit.  This one is Island Lake Park and we were able to walk around the lake and you found a love for skipping rocks, inchworms and contemplating what the fish are doing.

Our typical day begins with you getting up, asking for a waffle and while I cook it you go in your room and pick out your own outfit and get dressed.  I give you your vitamin and you tell me how strong it is going to make you.  You then immediately want to know the agenda....."What's something fun planned today?"  I either tell you MOPS, community center or free day and then you list off everything you would like to do and who you would like to see.  I think you might be getting a little spoiled with all the fun things we get to do on a daily.  But I love that you don't want to just stay in and watch TV, so we go for it.  If we don't have a set plan, it is usually the park or exploring some of our new attractions.  And you always want a flower cookie from Panera.

Silverdale Waterfront Park with Fairyn

Digging for treasure

Always an action shot to take

Castle Park

Castle Park

Wildcat Lake

Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

Sharks with Mason

Feeding birds

Slides at zoo



Tigers

Unfortunately your love for baths has gone in the option direction of your love for being outside.  We now have to talk you into taking them and Daddy had to get creative....now he finds animals hiding in your hair that he has to get out.  You think this is hysterical and he can usually get you washed.  If I'm the one doing it you just play the control freak..."It's a teeny bit too hot, I like it just warm."  "It's a little too much water."  "Don't get soap in my eyes, just my boogers."

You have found the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I hoped we'd skip this step, but no luck.  It is cute hearing you say their names though.  You also like Rescuebots, Imagination Movers and Doc McStuffins.  You are also starting to show more and more interest in non animated shows.  Some of your favorites are How It's Made, The Voice, Big Bang Theory and you like to watch baseball and antique car auctions with Daddy.  You even suggested we get a '67 Chevy Impala to drive to Nama's house.  Dream big kid, dream big.

Getting packages in the mail is the best thing ever to you.  Every day you ask if we are expecting one and if one actually comes, you get more tickled with the box than what is inside.  You do like to be fair though and every now and then will say it's about time Nolan gets a package.  You are really proud of your big brother role and you try to take care of him and will give us commands if you think he's upset, "Give him a toy, give him boobie, sing him song".  You thing he is pretty funny and he things you are pretty funny so we have lots of gigglefests over nothing at all.  I love it.

I think you might have a little bit of an engineer's brain.  You will get toys out and try to figure out things to do with them.  The other day I walked into the living room and you had the string of the yo-yo tied to the knob on the entertainment center and pulled across the room to the ottoman and had blocks and other toys hanging in the string.  You love to build with blocks and play your angry bird games too.

You get very frustrated when you can't figure something out and will throw and yell at it.  If you don't want to do something or you can't figure it out you whine, "I can't no how."  But then if I keep making you try you will look at me with such pride "I did it all by myself!"  You drive us a little nuts with just screaming this high pitch sound out of the blue and throwing stuff in the air to watch it fall.  If you do get in trouble, you will go in your room and talk to yourself in a fake crying voice, "Daddy won't let me throw my bird.....Momma spanked my bottom.....I'm sitting in my room.....etc, etc, etc."  I promise I don't laugh at all.  Maybe a little.  You also really want to tease and your little comebacks are so awkward.  I don't laugh at those either.  Promise :)

Daddy is teaching you so many fun things.  This is great bonding for you two...much embarrassment to me when you blurt them out in public.  Some regulars are: "Get in the kitchen woman, make me a sandwich!"  "Shhhh, men are talking."  "Watch it you brute."  "Silence, you monkey."  "What the heck?"  "Ohhhhh gosh."

Even though you can drive us nuts, you will do something cute 10 minutes later.  We are really proud of you and the little man you are becoming.  xoxox