Busy, Busy

We are super busy. Not a bad thing since we're 'patiently' waiting.

We closed on our house last week and have been (with LOTS of help!!) working steady to get it move-in ready. Popeye and his brother wired lights in the bedrooms upstairs since that's [ceiling lights] not something that's very common here. Most people use lamps for some reason.

My family, Popeye's Grandma and his aunt came and helped paint. We have almost the whole house done minus touch-ups!!! Popeye put in a new garbage disposal and waste basket in the cabinet, as well as put up our mailbox.

Amazing!!! I really didn't think we'd be able to accomplish all that.

We still have paint touch-ups, curtains to hang, and cleaning to do, and packing to finish BUT, I'm feeling good about what has happened already!

The move day is just a few days away. :O)

In the midst of all this we're patiently waiting for our little girl to arrive. She's due this week and we're excited to finally meet her. I tell people who ask, I'm very thankful we're on God's time table and not our own. I wouldn't be able to decide when would be best for her to make her appearance. God will decide when she shows up and whether or not that seems very convenient or not it will be the right time! (Don't get me wrong, we're still sorta praying she doesn't come the night before the move :)

Emmett is a little confused about the whole deal I think. His room is full of boxes and we're constantly going back and forth between the apt and the house. People keep coming so he's had lots of company (which he loves) but its unusual. He is loving the new house though. He has some toys there and he is a busy boy when we're there, running around and looking out all the windows. We're praying for a smooth transition after the move (and baby)!

I'll have to post pictures later. We have the camera packed up for the delivery so I keep forgetting to take it. I'll have to get photos from my family to post.

Thanks for the many prayers everyone has provided and hopefully we'll have more good news soon!!!!

~Olive

Unofficially, Officially Our New House

While we haven't closed on it yet, it reasons that its pretty much a done deal. We've gone through inspections and appraisals.... our realtor, lawyer, and Popeye overcoming some fun obstacles as we maneuver this new house market. Popeye has signed the final paperwork and we're now chugging along to a closing date. Yeah!

We're pretty excited about moving in and while the move is, of course, around the same time the baby is due it pretty much comes down to planning and a little flexible timing. Well, flexible until the fact that we have to be out of our apt. on a certain date (about that same time). We're so thankful the Lord worked all of this out. We've kind of sat back and just waited to see if He was going to open doors if they were going to shut and we'd pray about different options.

As it is, Emmett is going to love a basement to run around in, a fenced in backyard this summer, the playground just right down the walking path, and more space to play in general.

I'll update as we get the chance :O)

~Olive

Start of his Train Fascination??

If you can't tell I'm going through the video camera and clearing my card onto my computer. Anywho... I found this video and thought, this is probably where the love of trains started. I know he looks a little concerned but he actually had a good time. This coming year if we get to go back again, I know he's going to be alllllll about this train ride. What little boy can pass up a cool train!!

~Olive

Bubbles with Daddy

This is back tracking a bit but here's one of Emmett and Daddy playing with the bubble machine. Poor Popeye was trying to cook us supper and Emmett was determined that Daddy needed to play too! He loves his bubbles!!!

~Olive

Helping Daddy

This was right before Christmas. We had picked this up at a garage sale brand new and I had debated about weather or not this was really a toy Em would play with. After deciding we'd just try it out I was shocked at the work it was going to take to put it together...... in comes Daddy!!!!! And Emmett with his plastic tools to put the workbench together.

My handy men!!!


~Olive

Cake and Floating Icing

So here's my Emmett story of the week. :O) oh the anticipation :)

We had gotten a birthday cake for Popeye's brother who's birthday is the day after Christmas. There was quite a bit left and we brought it home, eating some here and there. I was back doing devotions one morning when I heard a squeal. (Most of you probably know where this is going :)

Yep, that's right. I go out to the kitchen to see a very excited little boy with a piece of cake in each hand and the rest of it upside down on our kitchen floor and his feet. He had icing down the front of his pants and on his shirt.

Well, he was delighted. Mommy wasn't so much. This icing was a butter cream icing and pretty oily stuff. I made him drop the cake and carried him back to the shower, plopping him in it before attempting to take off any clothes. Unfortunately, the bath was more of a reward than a punishment for his actions. I cleaned up the kitchen while he played in the bathtub. The Emmett's Mommy in me says he was probably eating the floating icing in the tub but I can't say for sure.

Sigh. I wish I had a double so I could have taken a picture despite all that.

Boy he keeps us hopping!

~Olive

To Start the Day Off 2.....

We went to the Doctor.


We came back from last weekend Christmas fun with a cough. Not a big deal, but I was watching it. What I realized last night at 6 pm (of course its after the Dr. is closed :) is that Emmett had puffy red eyes. Pink Eye.

I don't know how he got it but now he looks like one of those newborn kittens that have been played with too much.... well, not that bad. His eyes are still able to open.

Thankfully, we got medicine today so by tomorrow night when we arrive for our second weekend of Christmas fun we can be around people...... :O) Which is great because nothing really slows this kid down!


~Olive

To Start the Day Off......

We called poison control.

Ahhh, even in the busy rush of the holiday season there are some things that are normal. I still don't have poison control on speed dial yet but I'm definitely considering it.

I had just changed some diapers and was out putting together a Christmas card for someone at Popeye's work when I realized how quiet it had become. He had been tossing toys from a storage bin in his room so it was pretty obvious he was up to something. I walked in and saw the can of diaper supplies that I typically keep on the dresser, on the floor. I went through the apartment and just as I reached our bedroom, Emmett came walking out from behind a chair eating diaper rash cream.

sigh,.

I called poison control immediately, though I usually don't think he eats much of it before I find it but you never know...

For those of you who've never had to check, diaper creme (at least the Target brand) is relatively safe unless in extremely large doses. A little (because let's face it, it sounds just NASTY to eat a lot of that stuff), will just give your child a rather gross oily diaper later on. You should wipe the stuff out of their mouth and have them drink some water.


The rather funny part about the whole thing is guess what I found him doing about 5 hours later.......? yep, hiding behind the chair eating diaper rash creme again!. It got really put up this time!! But who really would eat it twice???

I'm considering putting him on that fear factor tv show at a young age since he apparently has no qualms with eating nasty stuff and no fear of much of anything. is that show even on anymore???

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and we'll be posting some fun videos / photos if I get around to it :)

~Olive

Last October with Cousins

So this video is from a birthday party in October but my sis-in-law sent it to me yesterday and I love it! These two were having such a blast! (This was before they got the lid off of the ice chest). For not seeing each other very often these two cousins got along famously!

~Olive

Hot!

Here is mommy's little copy cat. He learned *the hard way* awhile back that the oven is hot and so now, when I open it he stays back quite a distance a blows on it while I check on supper. Last night however, I was stirring the sweet potatoes and using the pot holders. This, I guess, was very inspiring. He then stood at the closed oven door and put the pot holders up to it. So far, he hasn't tried to open it....... oh dear.

~Olive

Escape Artist

So we think our little man has had a growing spurt. Things he can reach that he couldn't before includes the thermostat to the apt. and the lock to our front door.

We can't do much about the thermostat except check it when it seems awfully hot or cold in the apt but the door..... well, we HAD to do something about that. After a day of chasing after him in the cold because he had gotten out, was spanked, brought back inside, and still continued to do it, Popeye didn't waste any time in putting a chain lock high up.

Here he is trying to get out. The door opens just enough for him to see out but not enough he would even possibly squeeze through. As I've said before, we are CONTINUALLY childproofing!

:O) ~Olive

Civil War Reenactment

This past weekend was a busy one! We had family and friends visiting from IL and Missouri. We got to take time to do something just with us as a family though.... which doesn't get to happen too often with Popeye's weekend hours. There was a Civil War Reenactment about a 1/2 hour from us so away we went.

To be honest, we actually didn't get to see the reenactment. We got there pretty early and it was chilly so we walked around the 'camp' and listened to the various Generals talk about their lives and war strategies. Emmett got to play on some of the slides and play areas they had set up for kids too.

The funniest part of the day was, as usual, Emmett. There were horses there, of course, for the Calvary and Emmett was all about those horses..... from a distance. He yelled at them, 'baa-ed' at them, and downright talked their ear off. However, as soon as one of the soldiers rode over so Emmett could pet his horse, Emmett was not that brave at all. No touching anything of that size I guess.

He's sticking to the bunny rabbits that were there to pet..... much smaller animals :O)

~Olive

The Baby's name is {gasp}

We do have a name picked out!!! (and the baby's not due until Feb???!!!!) Shocking, I know. :O)


You won't get it out of us though. ;)

I was told most people are calling the baby Norah because they know I love the name so.
Unfortunately... the baby's name is not Norah but feel free to continue to call her that for the time being.

However, rest assured that the name we !agreed! upon is:
1) similarly cute
2) a little bit classic, like 'Emmett' is
3) actually shares something in common with one of you.... ;)

Now that I've hinted but not given a thing away!!! You'll have to patiently wait until Jan/Feb to find out ;)

~Olive

Emmett's Favorite Things

So I was thinking the other day that Emmett has his very favorite things.... toys and items that I know will come out sometime during the day. While he reminds me every now and then that I can't put some things into storage I'd like, his play is changing!!! That wonderful imagination of his is definitely headed towards 'action figures' and imagination games.We recently got Emmett some new rain boots as he's had a few growing spurt since Uncle Mike and Aunt Regenna got him his first pair (a size 5), we're now on size 7/8s. Emmett has a pretty good shoe fascination and these are his 'go-to' boots. Whenever I tell him to get his shoes, these are the ones he drags back to me.... this is really only a problem on Sunday mornings :0)

He actually plays with these more at his Grandpa and Grandma's house because I tend to keep these somewhat put up but he loves legos. Now, there is a catch. It can't be just legos but it has to be with lego people and wheeled lego..... DUPLO to be exact (all the 1 1/2 -5 ages ). Something about legos mixed with 'wheels' is a great combination for a little boy's budding imagination.
We have one ball in particular that Emmett brings to his daddy as soon as he gets home from work. I can't decide from watching them play if Emmett will love basketball or soccer but right now he tries his hand (and foot) and both. :)

Every morning we start out with Curious George cartoon episode and breakfast. It's on our tv about when he wakes up. He owns the original cartoon movie as well for long car trips but if any cartoon can keep him completely entertained it's this one. I don't mind as its based off a book and Popeye actually enjoys watching it too.

We actually own an older version of this that I found at a garage sale without any cars to it. I found some cars a while back at another garage sale for 25 cents so I picked them up to go with it. Although we don't have any people, he doesn't seem to mind. He loves playing with this thing and loves to run the elevator up and down.... also it has sound!!!

His uncle Josh and aunt Bethany found a fire engine that makes noise somewhere and picked it up for him. He is all about this firetruck toy!!!! He loves this thing. Not only does it make great noises that he LOVES to imitate but he can carry it around by the ladder.... super!!!

~Olive

Cousin Time

We got to keep Zoie for a few days this week and boy are these two growing up fast! While there's still the occasional toddler fights over toys, they definitely are playing together better and enjoy each others company more. Emmett is REALLY going to miss Zoie the rest of the week.... I have a feeling when he wakes up from his nap he's going to be looking for her (he's determined if he's up, she's got to be up playing too :) Thanks for coming to stay Zoie!!! We loved having you :)

~Olive

October Swim

Oh Emmett. Oh my little guy.

We went to a park/garden place near us with a children's play area. It had forts, slides, little water things, etc. spread out among a huge garden. We stopped at a little fountain thing that had a small cascading water fall. There were large stones the kids could take out of the water and throw back in as well as statue frogs that spit out water. Emmett LOVED it.

After us moms had enough of the water, we went to a fort thing that was right next to it. ..... Emmett wasn't really that interested in the fort. He found the kids' tunnel that led back to the water section. I thought he was right on the other side until I realized it was one of the other little girls we came with the other mom was talking to.

I headed back over to the water section but before I reached it, I heard crying. It was a familiar cry. I saw moms looking and saying, 'ahh, that little boy fell in.'

I rounded the turn and saw Emmett. Picking himself up on one of the waterfall levels, wet from head to toe, and crying. He had apparently tried to get some stones and fell in head first.

He was fine. Just very, very wet.

He wanted a hug or two and then down. He wasn't done with that water yet. There were still more rocks to throw and water to hit at.

Thankfully we brought extra clothes. :O)

Oh my little guy.

~Olive

Cleaning Trial Runs

So I was looking at a bunch of cute baby things I could make online and I ran across this blog. The pregnant mommy was talking about how she had switched awhile ago to 'natural' cleaning products so that she didn't have to worry about cleaning while pregnant and her kiddos around. That struck a cord. I'm not a fan of cleaning but I REALLY hate breathing in that potent smells and trying to keep Emmett out of the room while I do it. I can't clean EVERYTHING while he's taking his short naps. :) (Our apt. has really gone downhill since pregnancy because I don't feel safe cleaning it well.)

When I say natural, I'm not talking about cleaning products that are way overpriced and claim to be safe. I'm talking about the stuff you find in the kitchen. Even though I'm sure my mom used the age old vinegar, baking soda, etc. tricks, I feel like I grew up a generation that believes mostly in buying things such as Lysol Kitchen, Clorox, soft soap, etc. items. And that's the only way to clean.... or maybe its just me... either way...

Not anymore!! :O) My trial run was this morning in my kitchen. To my surprise and great joy, white vinegar, water, a lemon, and baking soda did the trick for everything (from cabinets, to microwave, counter tops, to grease stains!!). And Emmett got to help me wipe down the cabinets so he could be my big helper!!!

Tomorrow is the bathrooms so we'll see. They say it even works on soap scum but I'm a skeptic so I can't wait to find out.



Here's two great sites if anyone is interested :O)

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-cleaning-spring-cleaning-460303


~Olive


P.S. The bathroom cleaning trial went great too!!! I used toilet bowl cleaner just because we had some left to use but for the most part everything else was vinegar, baking soda, and water!!!! Emmett was, once again, my big helper!!!! I think he wished we had more toilets in our apt. uck!

Feast of the Hunter's Moon Influences

I wish I had some photos from the feast but we weren't there uber long due to a tired 1 1/2 yr old. We did have a nice time though. Me... it was all about the yummy and different food they had to offer. Popeye and Emmett... definitely all about the BIG guns (aka. canons). They set them off several times in a canon demonstration and they were loud!!! You could literally feel the ground vibrating underneath us.

So, was our son scared??? NO! He LOVED it! He must take after his daddy I think. He came home pointing his finger in the air going 'boom', 'boom'. Not only that but after the rifle demonstration he saw ONCE, he came back to my parents house to find the airsoft guns and was carrying them around the right way and making noises. Honestly. He picked all that up at one festival!!!

Now before you think he's getting influences at home too, I assure you Curious George has yet to have a gun in the show and Curious George is (most days) all I feel like we watch. Maybe the occasional Mickey Mouse Club or Dr. Seuss but I haven't seen booming canons in those either.

sigh. My little boy loves: dirt, legos, guns, hats, balls, and (my favorite) his daddy!!!

18 month photos

These may end up as Christmas photos if I can't get good ones as the weather gets colder but.... technically these are his 18 month photos :) Our little man is getting TOO big!!!!!

~Olive