April & May!

Well, we are still not quite in our home. We stayed at a hotel for a week, and when we tried to extend for another five days, we were told they were oversold already by several rooms. SO...we are back with my parents. They are very generous to allow us to come in and out of their home. I know every time we leave my mom cleans and puts up non childproof decorations, and before she knows it we're back! They are always welcoming, and we are very grateful!

The House...

is moving along! Belfor is doing all of our repair work, and they have been great to work with thus far. It's a headache dealing with our mortgage company again (they have to endorse structural repair check, etc.) especially since we still haven't received our second disbursement of money from our original 203K loan yet. However, they are two separate issues, and we are making progress on both. The house is coming back together, and Belfor has worked quickly to repair our bathrooms. They already have the flood cuts replaced, the walls painted, our new guest bathroom tub installed, our back bathroom bath tub and toilet wall framed and painted, so their next step will be tile! Everything has been picked out, again, though, so hopefully the vanities and tile will look great! The last step will be the carpet, and then Belfor has a professional cleaning service come and clean the home (it's a good thing because dust has gathered everywhere), and they will also shampoo carpets. Then, we get to move in!! Until the next issue at least.

Aric...

is growing more every day. He is over 14 pounds, and is such an active little guy. Aric is notorious for making laughing sounds and shrieks while he crawls around the house (or hotel room). He just has the innate quality of being happy! At seven months he began standing! It's so funny to see him stand up in the middle of a room and clap for himself. We may have totally missed the blissful moment on baby life when they sit and play with toys without crawling into everything, but I think we will reap the benefits when he starts walking and can be more independent. He jabbers constantly, and his two tooth smile is to die for. I just feel like he has become even more beautiful the older he gets. What a handsome little man. Aric does NOT like to be snuggled, however. He will fall asleep as I rock him and feed him a bottle, but will wake up soon after if I don't put him down in his crib or pack n' play. He LOVES to be held, but does not want to snuggle to my chest or even take naps with me. Though he knows Mommy and Daddy, he is very good about going to other people (very different from sister who was born with major stranger anxiety). He prefers Sissy though, and watches for her constantly. His eyes light up in the morning when she comes to greet him (until she tries to ride on his back or hugs him until it becomes more of a choke hold). We are just so in love with our little man.

Avery...


is adjusting to gypsy life! She has cried every night since we left the hotel, because she LOVED feeling like she was on vacation. The hotel pool, buffet breakfasts, ice bucket trips, and running in the lobby, were enough to entertain her for the week. We had quite a few people down to swim with us while we were there, so she is having a hard time adjusting back to yet another living quarters. We even went on a zoo trip with Stephanie, Bella, Sydney, and Kelly while we were there.
Avery continues to say the funniest things...
Though she is ridiculously tough (will fall of the bed, land on her neck, and just get up), she cannot stand blood. If she cuts herself, the world has totally ended. While we were at the hotel she nicked her toe on the cement. While she was staring, mortified at the blood on her foot, she cried, "Daddy, don't chop it off!" Days later the heel of my foot cracked open, and Avery, in a very nurturing mommy voice said, "Oh, mommy. Don't worry. We'll fix it...I'll get my tools. Daddy won't chop it off, I promise." She is too fun! Often I feel like I'm talking to a mini adult.