MORGAN TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS

Morgan has been "testing" himself lately. He would let go of the couch, take a step and that was it. Today he actually took steps, not just one but like 5 or 6. AND I managed to get it on video. He did it once and I was amazed. I put him back where he started, got my camera and he did it even further. I am so excited! Whenever I figure out how to get video off my camera and put it on here I will. I just had to share our news with everyone!!!

Snow, snow and more snow

We got snow the last few days and it is just the right amount of snow! It started on Monday evening and then continued off and on through Tuesday night. We didn't have a real good accumulation in the yard until more into yesterday evening. Last night after Morgan went to bed I took Mason outside to play. It was around 10:15 at night and yes I know it is a little late to be out playing in the snow but earlier when Morgan slept there wasn't really enough and this was our next shot. So out we went. It was fun and if anyone heard us out there they must have thought I was a very irresponsible parent letting my almost three year old playing outside when he clearly should have been in bed. But we only stayed out for about 15 minutes and he had a blast. It's not something we've ever done before and I hope these little things he will remember and cherish from his childhood. Here are some pics from our late night play date!

New year, new routines

We've been back now for about a week and a half, yet it seems so much longer. The day after we got back we jumped right back into our life here and added a few changes. I started watching my neighbors little girl. She is two months old and I have her until about 2:45-3:00 when her mom gets out of school. I can honestly say now that I know what it would be like to have three children. Only with Hayden, she goes home at night. It was an adjustment at first and we are still adjusting. Having an infant around is nice though. It really shows me that Morgan is now longer a "baby". At 10 months old he resembles his older brother than the two month old infant we share most of our days with. He sits on the floor and plays with Mason. He "cruises" all around the furniture and I am just waiting day-to-day for him to take his first steps. He still likes to cuddle, but mainly only when he is tired or cranky (and that is only when he is hungry or tired). The time goes by so fast and I realize that in no time I will have a toddler and a preschooler on my hands. The boys are growing up so fast, it makes me wonder where all the time went. Mason is talking up a storm. Has little conversations with me all the time. He loves talking on the phone to those who can't be here with us. He talked to Mike today and I think he was blown away at the fact that he was indeed talking to the little boy he left in November. The little boy who was barely putting three words together. Mason also likes to talk to my Mom. He asks where Grandma is and sometimes I will call her and he will just take the phone and actually talk to her. It's amazing how my babies are turning into little boys. I know I still have a ways with Morgan (and Mason really) but if time continues to go this fast they're going to be teenagers in what seems like a week. All I can do is cherish each day I have and welcome the change in them that happens daily...sometimes hourly.
Another thing that has changed is I started going to the gym. It is a part of my daily routine. It is not an option, it is something I must do. I have been living unhealthy for far too long and I owe it to my kids, my family and of course myself too get myself healthy to be around for them in the future. Now I'm not saying that I am at a point where my health is in jeopardy...yet. If I continue to live as I do, then it will come to that. No one who gets a sickness caused by poor diet and lack of exercise gets that way overnight. It very well could have started in their teens, twenties, etc. I do want to lose weight, but mainly I need to get healthy. I am trying to educate myself on ways to live a healthier lifestyle. I am trying to do this for my whole family. I want to be able to prepare healthy meals and teach my children how to eat and treat their bodies properly with correct diet and exercise. I'm not saying they won't ever get to do the "kid" food, but it will be a treat and not something that occurs on a daily basis. I know that being healthy is more than just food, but my kids are very active naturally and right now this is where I need to start to get myself going to be able to get my energy level up to be able to keep up with them. I am taking baby steps but am confident I will be able to do this for myself and family. I think this has just turned into a motivational bit for myself, but hey I need that every once and a while too!

In house news, well there is none. Still no offers, and no showings since our last open house. Our last open house was Sunday. I know that really isn't that long ago, but when it's your house that's selling...it's a very long time! :)

Mike is doing well. I talked to him for the first time on the phone in over two weeks. He is able to e-mail more frequently though. I hear from him that way daily. It is nice to hear from him often and think it is neat to have our "conversations" saved in a sort of way. We are both excited for his return which is still further off than we have already endured. Please pray that him and all our soldiers are kept safe and return home to their families once their deployment is up.

It's a new year...maybe I'll update more often this year

Well, we finally made it back from Oregon. We ended up staying a week longer because Mason had an ear infection and we wanted to be sure he was fine before driving back. Despite the "Arctic Blast" and being stuck inside for over a week we had a great time. The weather cleared up and we were able to do some visiting. The boys had a great time and I think they are really going to love living there. While we were home I found a house that we are interested in. I wasn't sure how Mike would like it, but I e-mailed him pictures and he likes it as well. Now only if this house would sell. The house is a four bedroom tri-level and is right down the street from my parents. Now, I know a lot of people probably try to avoid living right next to their parents, but I think it would be great and I know it would be great for the kids. Mason is absolutely obsessed with his Grandma and Grandpa and has asked about them everyday, numerous times a day since we got home. He would be in heaven living that close. But, I am not getting my hopes up because our house here hasn't even sold yet. We haven't even had any offers. But hey, it's alright to look right? Speaking of our house, we recently reduced our price and are trying to have as many open houses as we can. The house has been on the marked since October and we have had a lot of showings, so we are hoping that a price change will be a positive step towards getting an offer and getting this place sold!

For those of you wondering about Mike, I hear from him a few times a week via e-mail. He seems to be doing well and misses everyone very much. He is excited to get the deployment over with (which is still a long way off) and can't wait to be back. I think he has his "down" moments, but I think they all do. Morgan just cut three more teeth for a whopping grand total of 7 and is on the verge of walking. I know Mike hates that he is missing so much of Morgan's life with so much happening in the first year. Mason is also talking a lot more and is turning into such an awesome little boy. He is so fun to be around and I know Mike hates to be missing this too. We try to stay positive and up beat and just make sure that he knows that we miss him just as much as he is missing us. Please keep him in your thoughts as I am sure he will appreciate it.