Quick Update

Well had some time this week with my nieces & nephew. Jacob loved it...he loved being around other children and was pretty good. At the top there is Samantha (our god daughter), then Joey ( love his curls), then Ashley (Jacobs 2nd mommy) and the Jacob & I.

So our little guy is not up completely walking but he is taking 4- 5 steps then on his bottom he goes. But you should see him getting around holding on to furniture or anything really. Hes a wild man!

Jacob now gives kisses..the tend to be wet ones...he loves swimming. We got to the beach here in 4 weeks...South Carolina..thanks god I need a vacation from work.

Our new life....

Well Friday was our 5yr anniversary as you can see I got 2 dozen beautiful roses. Michael surprised me with them after work. He kidnapped my Costco card and stopped and got them on way home. Then this Wednesday the 8th we will be together for 9 yrs...Seems like just yesterday we met. And now finally our best dream has come true we have a son.. A Family. Our new life..its wonderful. We spend days playing, playing and more playing. My parents watched Jacob Saturday and he come home Sunday. We were to go to the movies but... Michael's ended up with the cold Jacob and I just got over. So instead we pick up a nice dinner & rented movies. We offered to pick up Jacob so they did not have to watch him...But they refused to give him back till the next day. he has them under his spell...

Saturday morning.. while Michael was a t work I had to work 4 hours. I HATE working Saturdays. This is to be my time with Jacob. Then I went to a neighborhood yard sale 60 houses... Got some nice stuff clothes for Jacob .50 - 1.00 a piece. Also got him this toy above..that he loved at my friends house (she spent 35.00 for it Christmas)..I got it for .25 cents.

I went over to ask the lady if she had the blocks to go with it..she said no...just take it for .75 cents.. Now it was 5.00. I went to say something again and she says .25 cents I said OK I will take it. As you can see he loves it. I got my nieces 4 shirts to share between them for .25 each. Nice stuff gap/ old navy/ children place. Got a brand new Makasa frame for 3.00.

I was looking for a shade tent for vacation on the beach for Jacob... anyway... things are going great Jacob is doing awesome. He has and is a true blessing. I thank god all the time...

1st steps

Exciting news.... Jacob took his very 1st step!
So yesterday evening Michael, Mary (my sis, Jakes Aunt), Jacob & I were hanging out in the living room. Music came on a commercial and Jacob started dancing ( not holding onto anything as usual) then just took a step looked at us unaware he did it, then stood there and down on his butt he went. It was so exciting..we tried to get him to do it again... but one time was the deal.
So well will have to keep a close eye on him when he is standing so we can get a picture to post.

So we looked at the house again... Michael said no.. to much $$$ for it having no garage and not a nice yard.. hilly. SAD such a beautiful house. So found another house for sale by owner.. nice flat 1 acre yard. In a small neighborhood, which there are other foreign adopted children. (from what we were told) Smaller and needs a little TLC...Paint, new carpet. But its in Zelienople where we want to be. I go back n fourth I like it but is it big enough. Then I feel greedy... there people in the world who would die to have a house... like in Vietnam 1 family consisting of mother, father, children, & grand parents live in same home...usually a small home.

Why is it as an American we feel that we need to have bigger to be considered better. I told Michael the other night I like the house in Zelie cause it is where we want to be. We could play in the back yard ...ball, catch, and the kids could grow close to our families. I do not want a house just so I have something nicer / better than my friends.. Its about family.

Anyway... we went to Grove city outlets..all summer clothes were 2.99 @ the children's place... got Jacob some shorts w/belts.. he is so little 6-9 months are to big unless belted. And some nice shirts...say life guard in training, Surfs up, etc
Also got some osh gosh sweatshirts for 3.99... for the little guy...

Well better go back to work...had to tell about his 1st step.. what an awesome little guy

A little bit of everything

Hello! Well house searching continues. Here is the house we went and saw yesterday...Beautiful..not where we wanted it to be but closer. All remodeled in side and out. Except the basement..which has some dampness..that's where my concern comes in. So if you know anything on dampness in basement let me hear your comments.

Of course when we bought our house now there was dampness but we had it water shield. Life time warranty. So maybe that is what we will need to do.

Also no garage... bummer! Maybe we can build one.

But I want to include pic's of some of the house..I love it!

Here is Michael, Jacob & I at horse trading days in Zelienople. No there is no trading of horses... Just food, crafts, live music, petting zoo, horse back rides,Roses 3 for $1.00.. I got a dozen from Jacob. And bumping into people you have not seen for a long time.

We are all doing well except for a cold Jacob picked up he is so stuffed up in the nose..and let just say trying to use the nose plunger..is awful! He screams and cries. I feel bad...

then guess who gets it me but worse my throat is swollen, ear ache, nose stuffed, and my head feels like its 20 lbs. I had to call off work today so I could sleep and rest. I just could not go into the office feeling like this. And then share my germs with every one else.

Well better go make my cup of tea

What a month!!!

Its been a while since I have posted... Lets just say it has been absolutely crazy here. My mom was in the hospital for a week. She is doing alot better. But still is not allowed to babysit. So Pap has taken over for time being. No complaints..He is awesome with our Son...his grandson Jacob. He gets down on the floor (even with a bad knee & a metal plate in the other leg) plays, teaches him songs, claps his hands... and they have started to watch the Doodle Bops everyday @ 9:30. Their adorable together... I could cry when I see them together (happy tears).

On top of that we were filing papers to bid on another house that was on sale since Feb 6, 2007... and we were the last couple to see it 3 times since April. And Guess WHAT..... Some else placed a bid higher. Can you believe it!!! I am really starting to think God is trying to give us a sign.

So I have continued the search and am beyond disappointed & just plain old sick & tired of looking at Crap Holes. Then I question myself why move out of my beautiful home into a crap hole.
So yesterday I tore the whole upstairs apart scrubbed all the carpets let them dry... and put everything back. Today I did the 1st floor...let them dry and put everything back on top of working 8 hrs.

We had our July 4th party on the 7th... 45 people showed largest show ever.. there was about 15 kids... they had a ball. They swam in our little pool, threw water balloons, and all that good stuff.

Also a friend from high school has located me & we have spent some time together doing family activies. Its nice I did not realize how much I missed some of my high school friends.

Jacob had his 9month check up.. he is 16 lbs 2 oz, 27 1/4 inches long... and doctor said he was happy & healthy. And definitely knew his mommy & daddy. Doctor said he was a little under weight but he has been crawling since 6months and pulling himself up since 6 1/2 months. So he is more active then normal babies.

Over all he is doing great.. He is so cute ... so funny. I wish I knew how to upload video for you to see some of the little movie clips I have taken of him laughing... most adorable laugh ever...

Well here are some pic's I will try to update more often.

birthday wishes...

So the other day was Michael's birthday... So Jacob & I surprised him with a cake when he came home from work. And of course I got pic's. I want to post it since there are not many pic's of Michael & Jacob. If I take one its either Jacob has funny look or I am not to happy with pic...so here you go

Also Jacob in his play pen..

pictures.....

ok... well there are several pictures here... One is of Donna Jacobs Aunt from Michael's side at our nieces wedding. He looked so handsome in his suit.
Then Jacob Playing in the laundry basket... He was so funny!
Ok we took him to the Zelienople pool.... he loved it...but not for 1st 5 mins.
Then Jacob & I at my family reunion... Michael was at work.
My nieces Ashley, Sam & Jacob on a wagon ride... he loved it see him waving.
Also here is him grab his number & alphabet flash cards.. we go through pretty much every night.

Well things are going good... He has been a little fussy the past few days.. I have had my hands full when Michael has been at work. I do not know if it is more teeth. Or just the heat...
He just wants me constantly so finally at 10pm I am running around making extra bottles, cleaning up all the toys, loading/ unloading dish washer, washing bottles. Laundry..etc...
Now Michael does help as much as he can. And usually its laundry so no complaints here. Well back to work... I only get a 15 minutes break this afternoon.
Hope all is well with everyone.

Time for girl...

Well as you all know Jacob has and is truly made our life great. We love waking up to his beautiful smiling face every morning and knowing he is ours. We enjoy playing, teaching, reading, and showing him off (as any proud parent would). So we have decided that about this time next year we will be starting the adoption process again... this time for a girl! We figure if we wait till next year Jacob will be about 2 1/2 years old by the time it will be completed. As we all know Adoption takes time...We learned that... But I wanted to share the news..
This will probably not be from the same country..maybe Guatemala or the Philippines...we are really Not sure yet. More details to come when we get closer to the adoption. There can be adoption rules & countries change. But thats all I got for today... will add updated pic's soon

Jacobs on the move...Almost

Well as you all know if you've been reading Jacob has been and is ready to get up and take off. He crawls like a maniac, pushes his little trucks all over the floor, walks around in his walker, and since he has been able to pull himself up as of 6 1/2 months... He is slowly attempting to want to walk on his own. He inches the couch.
Not true walking yet... Like I said an attempt.
But even then crawling.... he's into EVERYTHING!!! Favorite thing is the TV Stand... Some interesting stuff there if TV's on. So I bought him these new sesame street DVD's New beginnings. He seems to like them.
Every night I been going through his ABC/ # flash cards. And he loves it! He seems eager to learn. I know your thinking hes a baby... well when he looks at something you can see the wheels turning in his mind trying to figure out how it works or what it is. He's awesome!!
Oh he's now starting to say HEY! he does it to get your attention. Its funny... if you look at him after he yells he smiles or giggles. What a silly goose!
He is at grandma /pap's house today...he spent the night..it went well. I had to clean the house ( it was clean)for the TV guy to come take pic's for TV for selling it. So I had to do weird stuff polish pretty much everything with Windex to look shiny. House looks great! Today we go to look at another house in Zelienople for a 2nd time... and thing about it over the weekend..we will see! I think Michael is unsure about it.
So yesterday I received an email about 7 fields in cranberry, PA... that a child was almost abducted. The person cut the window screen and entered the home & was talking to the young child. Scary... but the mom heard a noise and came down and the guy ran out and disappeared on foot.
See I always close the window in Jacobs room..if he napping or its bedtime cause you just can not trust people. But when I saw this I am glad I do close it and any others that are accessible. Some times I thought I was to paranoid..Guess not!

Well I better get back to work break time is over...

pictures & updates

ok... So I have been asked several times this week where are the updated pictures... so here they are!!! I am trying to keep as much as I can but working 40 hours, looking for a house, trying to sell a house, Plus occasionally driving my mom home after babysitting is VERY time consuming.

Jacob is doing well.. I little cranky the last few days( not to bad) but he has 2 bottom front teeth coming in. He will not let me look at them but he proudly shows grandma. Little stinker!

Well lets explain some of the pictures... some are just him being cute... like thats so hard to do!

One is from walmart he was riding the horse carosel and pappy had to hold and chase it while I took pictures ( yes I'm one of those mothers who take my camera eveywhere) 1 picture is him holding his bottle himself... mommy is so proud of him.

so house hunting continues.. we had our open house today.. couple interested couples.. we will see.

better go

Going crazy here!!!

So the last few days have been insane here... Michael is still sick but is on the right path of getting rid of his cold. So this weekend we ( dad, sister, & I... and my mom baby sat & watched us) had to cut the grass, weed, & trim bushes. We planted a new pink dog wood tree where we got the huge pine tree removed from. We planted flowers, laid down mulch, painted the porches ( my dad did those), and also pulled out all the deck furniture. Then on top of all this I cleaned the entire house top to bottom... which my house is always clean very clean...but it had to be perfect all the real estate agents from the area were coming to look. They do this to houses just placed on the market.
They loved our house. They said it looked small from the out side but was huge inside especially the family room in the basement. They loved the storage, the fact it has 4 bedrooms & 3 full baths. And the loved the hard wood floors. Guess you could say we were hoping for a large family. Still could happen.. I have faith god will help us with that!
But anyway... I went to look at a few more houses... I am really getting discouraged... I looked at this house today list for 165,000.00 I walked in looked in bathroom ( which toilet said do not flush having issues with the well), look at the old wood panelling in living room with 60's carpet, and then the kitchen..And said I have seen enough. The realtor said how about upstairs.. I said I will stay here and pretend like I saw it.. The owner was out working on his tractor. 165,000.00 needs a new roof, furnace, siding, and obviously a new well or something. Need about 40 trees removed... not trees worth any $$$. I told the realtor I will give him 30... he goes 130,000.00 I said 30,000.00
People must be high when they come up with some of these prices....
See I love my house I am not going to give it up for some old fixer upper.. My house it not perfect it has things that could be remodeled...such as my master bath w/ the pink tub, sink, toilet... But its still in great shape..just pink is not me... Any one that knows me knows that.

Well to the important stuff Jacob is doing awesome... he is developing such a little personality... He loves Simon and Simon loves him. He is into everything! And he started this thing when he goes to sleep he pinches you... not to happy about that... Got to put a stop to that. It hurts... Michael and him are so funny together... They jibber jabber back and fourth and play its very cute...
Today he had a empty water bottle sword fight with pap... it was so funny! Well I better go will post pictures tomorrow.

Well I guess we got our answer...

Well its been a little crazy here..so we put our house up for sale so that the owners of the home we liked would take us serious as a bidder and well some one offered more than the asking price. Who offers more than the asking price!!! Are they idiots... as I said to Michael some rich person with nothing better to do. It was horrible I spent about 1/2 hr crying I really liked it. And it has taken us so long to find a place... As usual Michael was comforting me. And my parents said it just was not in the cards.. and Michael's mom said its not worth crying over... But I think it was I just hoped and prayed so much that we would get it and was really disappointed with the out come.. And I really hate when everyone says oh theres a reason, or its not in the cards, or blah blah blah. I have heard that so much lately.. with trying to get pregnant and all that stuff. I mean do people really think that.. So if your hit by lighting..was that in your cards.. well if it was that's a bad hand of cards.
Our house is still for sale as of last night and we are still looking in Zelienople but like I said to the Realtor I will not settle for just anything... And even if someone makes an offer we like for ours unless I have a house the answer is NO. Bet he loves me.
Why do house have to cost so much? No wonder there are so many people homeless or losing their homes. Prices on everything (houses, gas, food, water, electric) is just crazy!! I always get calls for organizations wanting donations (cancer, studies, others) and I feel so bad saying No but how can you donate when most of your money is spoken for. Hopefully things will get better in our economy soon... after the next election.
Anyway I'm tired & have a head ache and need to prepare myself mentally to be in the office tomorrow. Being trained on something new.

To move or not to move

So Michael & I have been looking in Zelienople(in town) for a house. Prices are little more than what we want to pay. If we were to buy a house there there would not be a possibility for part time for me. Just full time.

So I ask myself is it more important to raise my son in an environment in which I really like (love) or just one I am OK with? Zelienople is a beautiful town where everyone knows one another, its where I grew up (but in the country), town has little stores, the park is just a walk away, the pool, the ball fields, and the elementary school. Its like Mayberry.

where we live now the school is next to a major highway...literally next to the highway! People are not so friendly... our next door neighbors (older couple) do not even talk to us..we've tried to wave. My parents say they must be set in their ways. Any time we go to either of our families house we must go through or long way around Cranberry. And for those of you who live or know of Cranberry its a thorn in every ones side. To many stores, traffic, & homes. And the driving skills of these people are insane. Not necessarily the people who live there but the people who drive there to shop.

But I LOVE MY HOUSE...Its beautiful!! It looks small from outside but its huge 4 bedrooms, kitchen, Liv rm, dining rm, 3 full baths, laundry room, huge finished basement, storage room, detached garage with up stairs storage room. We were hoping to have a big family!!! feel free to comment..give me your thoughts..please

So tonight we are eating dinner marinated pork, corn on Cobb, and mash potatoes. Jacob tried a dab of potatoes... from then on every time I took a bite he would fuss like you would not believe till I gave him another dab. He was so cute... then Simon felt as if he should get something...but hes on a doggy diet so no human food allowed.

Well better go...

pic's Jacob & grandma chilling at my nephews b-day party. Simon... and our house.

Its that time of year...Yard selling

So went yard selling this Saturday morning. Got some good deals. I got Jacob this V-tech crawl ball I wanted to get at the store for 19.00 but found it at yard sale for 2.00 looked brand new. Grandpa bought him 5 tonka & other kind of trucks for 5.00. Got a new rug for in bath room for .25 cents...can you believe that! Also I got my nieces new dress shoes that were still in box worn once for .50 cents each. I got a 2 shelf metal book case from ikea for 2.00. And Jacob to brand new summer outfits for .50 each still had tags on them.
Last night we went out to dinner at the Olive garden for mothers day with Michael's mom. It was nice. Jacob did very well...hardly fussed and if he did all you had to do was give him his toy or you cloth napkin.
Jacob gave my mom the necklace we bought her with all of her grand children's stones on it. For a boy it the charm was shaped like boy with the birth stone as the body. And the girl birth stone was in shape of triangle to signify a dress. Very cute!
Jacob is doing pretty good...only thing is he is having constipation issues...seems like every other day...
I have been giving him apple or apple prune juice daily (Gerber) and or some jarred baby prunes. But I feel like it should not be a constant habit of doing this...any ideas anyone. Not really what I wanted to talk about... poop but hey ... When hes got to go he's got to go and Its just not happening so easy ..and it worries me.
So Jacob has been saying mom & dadda ...mom first and now dad & dadda.... But now he says dadda alot!
I must be mush~ Oh well I know its easier for him to say dadda. He is pulling himself up in a standing position. Cute story... The other night he grabbed a hold of laundry basket as I was folding and pull himself up..for the 1st time...looked at me smile then toppled over into the full clothes basket.. he was giggling! It was so adorable! Now he goes in his walker and slowly walks around. Can you believe that ...hes just 7 months as of the other day. He is so eager to learn, to go, to anything. We are so in trouble...he is gonna be zooming around here so soon..how scary!
Well duty calls or shall I say Jacob.

A special happy mothers day to Jena & Elizabeth...

Back to Work tomorrow...

Well as you all know I will have to return back to work of course. I work from home but still have to go in 1 time every 2 weeks & and if they need my assistance. Tomorrow starts all the fun. Grandma & pap will be baby sitting which is great.. cause they are awesome with Jacob. My mom & dad are head over heals for the little guy as we are to. Its hard not to fall in love with him..Just look at him. And he is such a sweetheart!
I have to say I am not to excited to go back since I was really enjoying being a full time mom. But bills need paid & I have to admit we have already started to talk about adopting a baby girl. NO specifics yet..( like from where) but I do know it will not be for at least 6mth to a year before we would begin the process. I believe in giving time to each individual child. Its to hard back to back. So we will see.
Any way Jacob is doing well. He is back in his crib. While Michael has been working Jacob & I have been hanging with pap & ma. We went up to the Grove City Outlets on Thursday. Alot of good sales. I got a bunch of summer clothes for 4.99 or less alot were 2.50 @ Carters. Also got him so sleepers there for 3.00 for next winter. At Childrens Place I got him abunch of winter clothes...turtle necks, sweaters, sweater vest, cord's & button downs for 1.99. And at Osh Gosh got some summer stuff for my newphew B-day yesterday. for 4.99 or less. (Jena you would have been in heaven)

Here are some pic's I promised Jena I would post some new ones....