Lately with Leon...

The last two weeks have been pretty hard on Leon.  He started to refuse to sleep in his crib - screamed and cried and was just plain terrified everytime I tried to put him in it.  He also has been extremely clingy.  He freaks out anytime I go into another room where he can't see me.  However, he is getting better everyday.  I've been working with him to try to get him to feel secure again.  Kyle also said a special prayer (aka a father's blessing to you LDS folks out there).  I feel like it did wonders.  He's still not 100% back to himself but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. 

We bought Leon a train table a few weeks ago.  He LOVES it.

 And a few days ago we bought Leon a big boy bed.  It was pretty obvious he was just DONE with the crib.  I was sleeping on the couch with him every night.  He loves his bed, but I still have to stay with him until he falls asleep right now, but I know it will get better with a little bit of time.  We had fun picking out his Thomas the Train sheets.  I can't believe my little boy is big enough for a twin bed.

Jumping on his new bed:

Our New Home

Well, we're moved!  I'm missing home like crazy this morning, so I thought maybe...just maybe, showing off our new house a bit might help.  And I know some of you have been asking to see photos.  These photos were taken while we were house hunting, so they don't show any of our stuff in them.  I'm going to wait to do that until we get a little more settled, throw some paint on the wall, and getting it looking more like us.  We're mostly unpacked, but we have lots of organizing, rearranging, painting, and all that other new home stuff to do.  Well, here you go:

The Outside:

I usually don't really care for brand new houses, but after spending the last two year fixing an old home up (and still having about 10 more years of work to do) just to have to leave it, I didn't want to put all that work into another one.

The Kitchen and Breakfast Area:

It's small, but has a pantry.  We now also have a fridge.  I also are going to replace those ugly vinyl floors soon - I can't stand them.  We turned the dining room into the office, so that large breakfast area will be the official dining area.  It's big, so we'll be able to fit a good sized table there.

The Living Room:

It looks a little dwarfed in this pic, but it's actually very big and roomy.  We have a lot of spare space.  This pic is taken from the kitchen, so everything is nice and open which I love.

There's also a 1/2 bath on the first floor.  The second floor has the master "suite" with nice bathroom, another bathroom for the kiddos, a rec area (which we're using for a toy room), a huge laundry room, and two more bedrooms.  We also have a full basement which we hope to finish if we're here long enough.  This house is big - much bigger than I'm used to.  However, it will be plenty of space for us for quite a while, if not forever, which is nice. 

Leon is adjusting well.  We bought him a train table when we got here (which he is keeping him occupied at this very moment) and absolutely loves.  He's been getting up early, around 5:30, most mornings which is not soooo wonderful for me.  He had been very clingy and worried around us, but now that all of his favorite things are out of boxes and we're getting settled he is doing so much better.  Kyle started work a few days ago and has been working hard, but he likes it so far. 

3 WEEKS?

Huh?  I just looked at the calendar.  We have only 3 weeks until we move?  Huh?  What?  OH MY GOODNESS.

Reality just hasn't set in.  I haven't done a single thing to really prepare for this move.  Well, that's not true.  We've almost sold our house, almost bought a house, and I've found an OBGYN down there.  But honestly, that's it! 

We're going to be gone in 3 weeks.  whoa.

eek.  I don't wanna go.  Please, don't make me!



Well, I guess I have to.  I've been so not wanting to think about this move, that I've consumed myself in doing other things.  I've had quite a few awesome photography sessions, I've sewed, I've slept and ate a lot.  I just don't want to deal with it.  But at the same time, I'm just so ready to have it all past us.  You know, to feel like I'm not waiting around anymore - to start life again.  I've had a bad attitude - the "what's the point, I've moving" and "who cares, I've moving" attitude.  I'm so torn about all of it. 

Anyway, I'll share a pic of my amazing little artist.  This is the first time finger painting.  More pics to come:

Some Special News

We have some special news:

Need a hint?  Read Leon's shirt!

Imagination

Today as I was getting the clothes sorted for doing the weeks laundry, Leon's imagination took flight.  After I filled up each basket, he preceded to scoot them into the living room where he lined them up one after the other.  I had no idea what he was doing until he got his little radio rocket flyer (which he loves) and put in front of the laundry baskets.  He looked at me and with a smile said "train! choo, choo."  I was amazed to see what his sweet little imagination thought up.  He loves trains and this is just a testament to how much.  I love seeing how his imagination is developing.  Yesterday, he got his cookie monster figurine out and tried feeding me cookies from it's little cookie jar.  Sometimes he acts like he is putting us to bed - laying a blanket over us and then gives us a kiss goodnight.  I love it and I hope it stays with him for a long time.

P.S.  Aren't his pajamas so cool?

Worn Out

Leon had a long day yesterday.  He spent the entire day at his Grandpa and Grandma Allen's playing with them and his cousins while Kyle and I went back down to Cincinnati in search for a house.  He didn't take a nap at all and didn't go to bed until about 9:00 last night.  Around noon today I was in the computer room, paying some bills, while Leon was out in the living room watching a show and munching on some food.  When I came out to check on him, I found him like this:

sleeping like a little angel. 

(p.s. photos taken with my little point and shoot canon)

First House Hunting Trip

About two weeks ago, we took a long weekend to go to Cincinnati for a house hunting trip.  We spread it over three days so we could feel like we were getting a little mini vacation and so Leon could come with us.  We looked at about 12 houses, explored the area, and did a lot of fun stuff as a family.

Leon and I around bed time in the hotel.  We're watching cartoons.

When Leon saw the carousel at the mall, he HAD to ride it.  He really loved it too!

We went to a lookout at the Cincinnati airport and watch the planes take off and come in.  Leon thought is really pretty cool for about 5 seconds and then proceeded to just run around and explore.

We also took Leon swimming in the hotel pool which is loved and was soooo mad when it was time to get out.  We all went to what our realtor calls "the cheap show".  It's a discount movie theatre that shows movies that are just about to be released to DVD.  We saw Tangled and loved it.  Leon did really well.  He enjoyed eating popcorn and watching cartoons on a really big "TV".

(P.S.  All photos taken with my point and shoot canon)