Four Months

Little Man is 4 months old today. He weighed in at 14lbs and 2oz at his doctor's visit on Thursday - seems that, despite his acting otherwise, he is not actually starving following every nap! Homeboy is well fed and happy.

Hear that, Andrew? We're four months old now, practically grown!

This is why I often call him 'Turtle'

Such a happy boy! We're so grateful!

Tears

I've had lots of tears lately, between the childcare issue and the dogs there has been plenty to bring on the waterworks.

We've not found the right fit for a nanny yet, but we're still looking and trying very hard. Grammie isn't complaining about her duties, but I do wonder when Paco is going to pipe up and ask for his wife back...

The search continues and we're doing our best to trust in God's perfect plan. We know that He knows who we need, sometimes we just act like we forgot and get a little wrapped up in making it happen on our time. And by 'we' I mostly mean 'me.'

Now, the dogs. Hamilton is still very sick and we've had to come to a very difficult decision regarding him and his health. We're not putting him down, but we are going to find a new home for Rutledge.

Unfortunately for us, Rutledge is an extremely large (I'd say the single largest) source of stress for Hamilton and in his condition, stress = sickness. If we were talking about Hamilton just being annoyed and grumpy, well, he'd have to get over it, but with Addisons, Hamilton being stressed means that he doesn't eat, won't take his meds, gets dehydrated, has accidents, gets eye infections, looses fur, and has ungodly gastro-intestinal issues. So you see our problem. If we keep both dogs, Hamilton's life will be short and miserable.

The good news is that I've heard from a handful of families who think Rutledge would be a fantastic fit for them! While it is heartbreaking and I often have cried while talking to these families, it does make me happy to imagine Rutledge living in a house with 3 or 4 kids running around and loving on him! In our house, Rutledge is often being fussed at for bothering Hamilton, and that isn't fair to him because he is a puppy and he just wants to play and be loved! We'll be sad to see him go, but I know he will have a better situation in a house where he gets to be happy and rambunctious, that is until his basset switch flips and he just sleeps all day.

So, there have been and will likely be lots more tears around here, but we're doing our best to keep chugging along and seeking God's will for our lives, and even our pets' lives. I keep reminding myself that this isn't just about us 'losing' a pet, this is about a family getting a pet that they will love for years to come.

I'll keep you posted on our decision with Rutledge, and of course on Hamilton and his condition.

Grammie to the Rescue

Fun and interesting day here at Camp W. I'll start at the beginning...

Frank and I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the house-sized debt that now looms over us (thanks, law school) and we've been handling that stress in a not-so-great-or-faithful fashion. BUT, we do know that we're doing it wrong and we are working hard to do it right, so at least there is that. Pastor King seemed to have gotten the memo from the Big Guy and delivered a sermon that shot straight into our hearts and minds (thanks, Big Guy).

As we emerged from the weekend of money-stress, feeling hopeful and much more faithful, our nanny quit. <insert sound of schreeching tires> Well, quit is a strong word that implies that she didn't like us or vice versa, which isn't true. Her family is simply going through a rough patch and it became clear that she needed to go back to work full-time as a nurse to help out more with finances. Bummer for all involved.

This makes me think back to the handful of times that our housing situation has been a big giant question mark, back to the handful of times when I oh-so-fabulously-failed at trusting in my God to provide for us in a way well beyond my hopes, dreams, or prayers. I don't like to remember those lessons because usually when I'm thinking about those lessons it is because I'm learning them AGAIN. Well, guess what - it is Monday and my nanny just quit.

I will admit that I have been a little panicy all day. I've resorted to brainstorming ways to fix this all by myself, like winning the lottery, starting a buisness that requires no capital, running away to live as a subsistance farmer (wait, that was Frank's plan and I didn't like the sound of "farming"). I have also had moments of ernest and honest prayer.

Lord, I know that you will provide for us but sometimes I panic anyway. Please take away my panic, take away my need to panic, and take away the incessant need for me to try to fix everything when I know darn well that only you can fix everything.

I do think He used my panic a little though - after getting the word from our nanny (whom I'm really going to miss, we were all starting to really love her) I called my husband in as calm a way as I know how and told him what was up and that my inclination was to call my mom. Hi, I'm 8 years old.

No really! I happened to know that my mom was both willing and able to come to our rescue this week, so I sent up the Grammie signal (this is a complicated procedure wherein I call her house, wait for the machine to pick up, then start talking to her because there is a 75% chance she is home and just didn't answer before the machine got it).

So, it is Grammie to the Rescue tonight! And I even remembered to thank all of the right people for being able to make that call (Grammie, Paco, and the Big Guy).

Little Man doesn't know it, and wouldn't even if I told him 100 times, but he is in for some awesome Grammie-time! Even in the midst of this chaos, I know we are being blessed

Nursery

Not sure what it looked like last time I posted, and I'm too lazy/busy to check back in the blog so here is (another) nursery update post!

The only things left are the final curtain panel for one window (seriously JoAnn's, how hard is it to order yellow gingham...) and attaching the bed skirt.

View from the door

The rocker and changing table switched places so that the diaper genie and hamper could be within arms reach of the changing table

Rockin' crib with the rockin' bumpers and the rockin' monogram that Frank selected and applied. I love how this turned out!

An Anniversary of Sorts

Five years ago, I blinked.

Frank and I had been dating for a little while, but as we were both fresh out of other relationships we were keeping it as casual as possible. After an embarrassingly short period of time, I caved and asked Frank if he would be my boyfriend.

I cringed typing that because I feel so dorky.

I guess it is ok though, because things seem to have worked out for us. And besides, a year after that Frank caved and bought an engagement ring (something he swore he never wanted to do, at least not a diamond).

There are times when I cannot believe that it was only 5 years ago that we became an official couple, then at other times I can't remember what it was like before we were together.

Thanks for the last 5 years, Frank, and for agreeing to be my boyfriend!

Three Months (and a day)

I was a little busy this week, what with coming home from vacation on Sunday and then going back to work for the first time on Tuesday, so please forgive this post's tardiness. I promise the pictures were taken on 6/30, I just didn't get around to posting them...

Three months old! How is this happening so quickly?!?

I'm how old? Wow, three months - that is big time! Look at me holding my head up all cool like a big kid!

Ooh! Andrew the Elephant! I'm going to practice my dexterity by smacking you in the head and repeatedly trying to grab hold of your ears.

I'm sorry I hit you, Andrew. I didn't mean to, I was just trying to learn to grab. Next month I'll be better at it, I promise!