I'm Officially...

Excited, Confused, Stressed, Overwhelmed, Nervous, A Run-Down Mom, Scared, Exhausted, Sad, Happy, A Seller, A Buyer, A Builder, Feeling Very Pregnant & Back to Blogging.

Before you all say it, I'll beat you to the punch-It has been way too long since I've updated my blog. I realize I have missed out on a few months of documenting happenings with our family, vacations, new job experiences, birthdays, our anniversary, our home building process, and my ever growing tummy. My number one reason for not posting and commenting on blogs has been time and priorities. I always struggle with cute, creative titles and admit my typing speed isn't what it used to be. I found myself sitting down in the morning to start a post, and having to stop several times throughout the day to finish it and sometimes not publishing my post until night. This wasn't a big deal when Greg wasn't around, but when he began private practice back in August he has spent most evenings home. Before that, he was gone several nights a weeks late and a few nights each week were spent sleeping at the hospital. This gave me more "me time" and this is when I would catch up blogging. After our long journey through school, residency, and a fellowship I've realized when he is around I would rather be chatting with him or watching one of our favorite shows, than spending our evenings home together, but seperated.

I hope all of you will bare with me as I try and catch my blog up on the happenings of us and not get bored with me and my life.

The sign out front of our house.

*We have Officially put our house on the market, and have had quite a few showings given the time of year. This has made it somewhat difficult for me. I have never been a clean or clutter freak. My home usually appears clean, but after living in our 1500 square foot house for six years, our girls continuing to grow at faster than wanted pace, we have accumulated our fair share of STUFF. I have spent the last few months decluttering, packing up clothes and toys that we probably should donate, but have chosen to keep for Maryn and our soon to be other "M". We never realized how much stuff we had until we started unloading our attic, closets, and filling a storage unit and our garage almost to their capacity.

Our front door.

Since putting our for sale sign outside, I have become somewhat neuortic about the house staying clean. I've found myself up earlier in the morning and later at night doing laundry so that we never have dirty or clean clothes out for others to see or smell. I think I've forgotten how to cook. I've cooked very few meals at home, fearing I would be in the middle of preparing something and the phone ring and have to leave in a matter of minutes so a stranger can come look at our home. I get up each morning exercise, straighten the house, turn on all of the lights, gather anything I may need for the day and hop into the car and head out. This sometimes means I leave around 8:00 am and not return until after school, and a few times not until after dance, swim , and or dinner. I have felt somewhat like a prisoner, but a bit backwards. I've always been the type to get cabin fever and need to leave home every day or I get stir crazy. This past week I found myself driving around in tears because I wanted to just go home, and plop my pregnant self on the couch and not move. We have heard back from two interested buyers so hopefully living out of my car will come to and end soon.


*We signed the contract to build our new home the 1st of February. When we did this we were told we should expect to move in, in August. With many delays, some from weather, some from foundation issues, and others from who knows what, it is now December and we still don't have an offical closing date. I knew building a home took time and patience, but I'm beginning to wonder if I should just wait until after I have the baby in January to move in. But, I may be kidding myself thinking that is even my choice. It may take them until mid-January to finish the house.

Several people, including Jenny, have been asking for photos of our home. I've been a bit shy about revealing our home, for fear of judgement and fear of strangers(not you blogger strangers, but the freaks out there) knowing where I'm building and where I will someday live. The home we chose to build has nearly three times the square footage we do now, but it didn't look GINORMOUS from the street, At least to us anyway. After choosing the floorplan and lot we then were told they had to redraw the blueprints to make the house work for the lot. Needless to say, it doesn't camoflouge how many square feet we have, and it actually looks bigger than it really is. This was the thing I didn't want to happen. I'm posting a picture of the model home we chose so when I finally get the nerve to post OUR home you can compare it.

The model home we chose. We chose different brick and stone than this one,

but the floor plan is the is essientially the same. The front elevation is a bit different on ours.

The model home kitchen.

*I'm officially 32 weeks and a few days pregnant. I wish it were true, what Jenny said about me being 8 1/2 months along. I have 7 1/2 weeks to go, unless I get induced early, or our fourth little girl follows after her sisters and arrives anywhere from 10 days to 26 days early. I wouldn't mind either of these options. Unlike what everyone tells me, I'm feeling very big. I've never shown early, but when I do start showing my tummy grows considerably every day. I'm feeling good other than being uncomfortable especially after eating and while sleeping. I still have worries about our sweet baby being healthy. I've cried many tears and said many prayers asking for peace to know that everything is fine. We are getting excited to meet her and feeling the pressure to finalize our name choice. We've decided to not break tradition and name her something that starts with the letter M, like her sisters. We think we have narrowed it down to either Megan( and call her Meg) or Mallory. I wanted to name Maryn, Meg but opted to let Greg choose her name. Now that he has told me it is my decision, I'm thinking I need to see her first. What do you think?

My 32 week tummy

Here is to a new month hopefully full of better and more frequent updates from me.