Somewhere Over the Rainbow...

It's been awhile since I gave an update on "the house." For weeks the outside has appeared "done" while the inner-workings have been coming together one at a time. Every time someone asks when the house will be done I just roll my eyes. Mostly because building a house is like waiting for adoption - you just don't know "when." Funny how this experience of "patience" is repeating itself. The answer to the question is always "a few weeks." It was 4 weeks on Labor Day. 4 weeks later it was 4 more weeks. So I'm not going to give a "date" because no one really knows. Suffice to say, holiday decorations SHOULD be going up in the new house.

A little more than a week ago we were hit with a bad storm...only it left the most beautiful rainbow that seemed to be spanning the horizon from the front yard to the back yard. This is just a reminder that God's promises are true. His word never fails. His love is unnending. He IS faithful!

Pummy-ummy-umpkin

Happy Birthday, Nana! We had a great day celebrating mom's/nana's birthday at the Pumpkin Patch. Complete with bouncing air pillow that E couldn't get enough of, a legit corn maze that we - well, let's just say it was difficult - got lost in, a hayride to the pumpkin patch, the petting zoo and lots of wide open spaces to run...it's safe to say that E loves the pumpkin patch!

Johnny "Eli" Appleseed

Last week Elijah learned about Johnny Appleseed, apples and apple trees. This week was a field trip to the orchard. He, of course, loved it. Running up and down the groves, picking up as many apples as he could hold in his hands, and chowing down on almost the same amount (or at least a bite of each one he grabbed).

Going Green

No, I am not on a "green" save-the-planet kick. (Although, with energy efficient appliances and 40 watt bulbs being the max you can put in a light fixture, I'm learning the government is forcing any new home to fit that bill.) But it certainly stands out being the only "green" house - literally - in the neighborhood of 250 homes in Russell Springs. The Cypress siding is being accented by Rustic Edge (textured taupe) shakes on the eaves. This will be complimented by cedar posts on the front porch with layered stone to tie it all together. The shutters will be a dark brown and the front door - I'm not sure yet. There's white trim on the green. I couldn't picture it but now that I see it, it's a nice finishing touch.

Drywall started going up and they were even hard at work Saturday. They're saying about 6 weeks.

What a difference a month makes. The house progress includes:

- Roof. Check
- Electrical. Check
- Plumbing. Check
- Brick. Check

Insulation starts (and may finish today). Dry wall will be next (10-14 solid days, we're told), siding should also start this week (it will be the only green house in the neighborhood!) and the floors and finishing touches are after that.

In the world of a 3 year old, this construction site is a glorified playground. Dirt and rocks and sand abound. He's usually covered from head to toe. He's a boy. Let him be. Hose him off before he goes in the house then scrub him down! :)

His sleep patterns have been quite elusive, waking up at all hours of the morning - usually 1-4 am are his favorite times. Conversations include - after 2 hours of battling - "Mommy, I'm frustrated with you." REALLY?! You're frustrated with ME?!

Another time I had to open the blind and show him the moon and stars were still out and that it wasn't time to wake up. The next time he woke up he looked for himself outside then asked "Why is Mr. Golden Sun not up? Tell him to wake up!"

He has been "promoted" to the preschool for Sunday school and has become quite the little social butterfly (Don't know where he gets that from). He greets all the other children and isn't one to cry when dropped off, rather yells from the classroom, "Bye! See ya later when you come and get me!" Okay, E...have fun! :)

Potty Training Update

E finally earned his new green car after going # 2 in the potty. There was cheering & celebrating where I may have yelled "Yay! You went poop in the potty & got the green car!" 5 minutes later Jackson (the dog) goes outside and E yells, "YAY! Jackson went poop and gets the green car!"

Take your pick...

July 16 - the slab is done











July 20 - the framing has begun











July 22 - I haven't even gotten an updated picture of the plywood now enclosing the first floor framing!

It's going up quickly and the estimated timeframe is 3 months, so near the end of September a new house may be completed.

I admit that there are moments where a new house and a new floor plan are exciting...but I also admit (no, I'm not complaining) that this is all extremely overwhelming. Because we didn't "choose" this - we didn't seek out to build a new house - and now because things are moving so rapidly, decisions are having to be sped up as well. I didn't research. I didn't shop around. I didn't explore options. I don't have an idea of what I want. I have no clue at all.

Nor was I prepared for the gazillion decisions that must be made. I'm not kidding. Here's your choice of garage door - it comes in 3 colors with 18 different window options. Then decide if you want hinges or not, and if you choose hinges, what finish will they be?

There are 10 different interior door options but don't forget you have to also choose the hardware - and there are 180 choices of doorknobs. WHAT?! 180 doorknobs to choose from? Who knew what oil brushed bronze was before this week? Not this girl. But now it is the "to die for" decision that could make or break my hardware budget. Sheesh.

Don't even get me started on the kitchen appliances - an argument that has yet to be settled. Do they all need to be the same brand or should we go with each one that Consumer Reports rates as the best? I have my own opinion...

I know this is supposed to be fun - remember, I'm not complaining - but I really couldn't even tell you what the doors or door knobs looked like in the previous house. I think there were panels - I don't know if it was 4 or 6 - and the door knobs might have been silver but beyond that, I'm just not sure.

Oh, and I also found out this week that a kitchen faucet - sink not included - can cost $800. Um, that was an easy decision. No thank you.

Somewhere in the midst of all the decisions is a Sovereign God who reminds me that the hairs on my head are numbered. Praise God He's building my mansion in heaven for me because there's no way I could choose between gold plated or pearl! :)

Beach Bum

Ahhh...the Jersey Shore. No, not the show. Thankfully there were no Snooki sightings this year. It's the beach house owned by my sister's in laws who are gracious enough to let us have a girls week every year at Seaside Park. It's quiet, quaint, sandy and sunny and the sound of the ocean that is blissful enough to quite possibly take away most any worry. At least for a 3 year old.

He couldn't get enough of the sand. He loved the "carnival" aka Boardwalk - except for the scary truck ride that whipped him around too quickly. "Mommy, that scary ride scared me?" Yes baby, mommy's sorry. He was burying his face in Jimmy's shoulder (Jimmy is my sister's 3.5 year old nephew who spends the week as E's playmate and the only "official" boys allowed)!

Potty training hit an all-time high - starting on the 7 hour drive up - where he refused to go in his diaper and we had to pull over each time h needed to go. I wouldn't ordinarily complain... We also started with the aversion to toilets, still, but that has since dissipated and I'm proud to report he's nearly "got it"!

It was a great week of sun and sand and E's excursions included crabbing - so fun! A small fish he found in the ocean - and promptly dissected - ewww! Collecting shells and building sand castles and SMASHING them in total boy style. Ahhh what fun! Thanks Cathey for letting us come for the week!

Potty Training 101

If I know one thing about my son it's the fact that no matter what it is he's going to do it when it's HIS idea. (I have NO IDEA where he gets this from - remember he IS adopted! wink wink)

He didn't walk until he was 17.5 months old. We had been to specialists and orthopedics trying to figure out what was wrong with his feet. He could do it - he just wouldn't. Why? Because it wasn't his idea yet. Once he took off - he was OFF! Not walking. Running.

He was barely talking at 18 months old when the pediatrician expressed concern that he needed to show extreme progress by his 2 year appointment. I bought ABC's, videos, books, flash cards - you name it - and worked on speak 'n say games. And sure enough - right around 2 years old, he decided to not speak words but full blown sentences. Of course.

Without fail, he stayed true to himself in the process to move to a big boy bed. I tried at his 2nd birthday with a miserable attempt to force him into bed. Several more tries during the following months proved just as unsuccessful. Until at 2.5 he proudly announced one night, "I sleep in big boy bed." Uh...okay. And with that, he was in the big boy bed. He has never once gotten up on his own.

I know that potty training is not that he CAN'T do it, but purely that he WON'T. (My mother is reading this and laughing because she knows what goes around comes around.) Without doubt, it's a battle of wills. So I'm biding my time and trying to remain consistent...

Last week was the first week we saw progress - thanks to his wonderful babysitter - who kept him in big boy pants most of the week. She lives in a private wooded area where they play outside all day long. The other two boys are fully potty trained. I've learned that when you're outside playing and you're a boy you don't go inside for a potty break. You just pick the closest tree. Oh. Okay. Is that how that works?

Somehow my son - now determined NOT to go in the potty - will go outside. Folks, the front yard of Addie way has two small trees. Dare we call them twigs having only been planted a few years ago. So naturally it was already pushing the limits to let him run around in nothing but his Lightning McQueen big boy pants. I mean, hey, it was Independence Day and he was definitely boasting some independence. But I'm sure some of the neighbors would still choke at the thought of the inappropriateness of my parenting. The good (and bad) news is he didn't have an accident all day (until 7:30 p.m. but we don't need to discuss that mess). So apparently potty training is working...as long as there's grass around!

It wasn't that big of a deal until I looked over and saw my nude little boy with Lightning McQueen around his ankles while he sprung a leak in the front yard. Only then to hear the 8 year old girl across the street yell "He's peeing in the yard!" You've got 3 brothers, sweetie. You'll be okay.

We haven't gotten there yet and I know we won't as long as it's only my idea. As soon as HE decides (and once we can actually us the potty instead of the closest natural element) we'll be potty trained!