I have some before shots of the bathroom and hallway that I have included below.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
And the Painting/Fixin' Begins!
Ok so last night Ryan started on the tile work in our shower. This morning he was able to start the tile only to find that the box of tile we bought a month ago has 12 broken tiles in it! So instead of getting the bathroom tile done he's now having to take an hour to go return and get new tile. But hey that's what this stuff is all about right? My dad came this morning and cut in the hallway by the girls rooms which will save a lot of time. He will be back tomorrow afternoon too.
I have some before shots of the bathroom and hallway that I have included below.
I have some before shots of the bathroom and hallway that I have included below.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Day 1- Designing to Sell Our House
It was something that we figured would be inevitable one day even when we first built our house. But at the same time while living here I always thought it was a long way off. But now its here. Its time to think about selling our house and getting a bigger one. We are out-growing our house and are feeling the growing pains. We want to have another kid at some point in the next year or 2 so we would need at least 1 more bedroom and more storage. Right now no place to put clothes and toys that the kids grow out of. So last week we started looking around Spring Hill for houses. We kind of have an idea of what we want but a lot of things have to fall into place before we can make it happen. First off we have been consulting God for wisdom in how best to go about this. We know we need more space but we don't want to get carried away and get in over our head with things that we "want" but don't necessarily need.
Some things in our favor are the low interest rates. We can get a lot more house for not much more than we are paying now on our house simply because the interest rates are lower. However, the opposite side is that means we may not get out of our house what we would need to when we sell it so we can have a down payment on the next one. Another thing in our favor is that Ryan is working close to home and will hopefully be around more as a result so we can start getting our house ready to sell.
So today I went and picked some paint colors at home depot so we can paint our Great Room, Entry, and upstairs hallway. We will also be re-painting our master bathroom a nice neutral. We figured not everyone would like our purple we have on the walls now. Then I went and got some bathroom accessories to match on clearance/sale at Target - in the event after we paint that we would be showing it I'd like to have nice matching soap pumps- towels- rugs etc- which we do not have right now. Something I always thought wasn't a priority because nobody sees our bathroom. Well now people will want to go in and out of it so I am going to make it look nice.
We won't start painting til after the first of November until our new church building is done. This would mean Ryan would be free on the weekend and we could hopefully knock it out in a Fri, Sat, Sun.- weekend project with the help of family- and sending the girls to Gram-ee's over the weekend. But until we can paint Ryan started today on power washing our deck so that it looks like we have a cedar deck again! Its amazing what a little water pressure will do to 5 1/2 year old wood that has been sitting outside. Then we will be sealing it or staining it soon.
We also will be storing a lot of stuff so as to make the house not look so full and cluttered. And I know that toys should not be visible if at all possible when showing. This will be difficult because I stay at home and toys are out ALL day long. But we are hoping that with a couple open houses that maybe we can narrow the window of when I would have to show it. I would need plenty of notice before showing so I can clean!
We plan to start off selling it FOR SALE BY OWNER and seeing what happens. Then our next option is to do a trade with a builder that we like and see what price we can come to on the house we want to build. We'll see. We will just trust God that if this is supposed to happen that He will lay it all out for us and open doors where we need them. We figure what's the harm in trying? The stuff we do to our house will only make it nicer and were things we had planned on doing at some point and in a way now they are ACTUALLY getting done!
So stay tuned for updates on our Design-to-Sell our house! Its exciting but at the same time I feel totally at the mercy of what God would have us to do. We want to be good stewards for what he has blessed us with. Ultimately I would like for this next house to be "it" for us and that we could grow old in it and not have to move again.
Some things in our favor are the low interest rates. We can get a lot more house for not much more than we are paying now on our house simply because the interest rates are lower. However, the opposite side is that means we may not get out of our house what we would need to when we sell it so we can have a down payment on the next one. Another thing in our favor is that Ryan is working close to home and will hopefully be around more as a result so we can start getting our house ready to sell.
So today I went and picked some paint colors at home depot so we can paint our Great Room, Entry, and upstairs hallway. We will also be re-painting our master bathroom a nice neutral. We figured not everyone would like our purple we have on the walls now. Then I went and got some bathroom accessories to match on clearance/sale at Target - in the event after we paint that we would be showing it I'd like to have nice matching soap pumps- towels- rugs etc- which we do not have right now. Something I always thought wasn't a priority because nobody sees our bathroom. Well now people will want to go in and out of it so I am going to make it look nice.
We won't start painting til after the first of November until our new church building is done. This would mean Ryan would be free on the weekend and we could hopefully knock it out in a Fri, Sat, Sun.- weekend project with the help of family- and sending the girls to Gram-ee's over the weekend. But until we can paint Ryan started today on power washing our deck so that it looks like we have a cedar deck again! Its amazing what a little water pressure will do to 5 1/2 year old wood that has been sitting outside. Then we will be sealing it or staining it soon.
We also will be storing a lot of stuff so as to make the house not look so full and cluttered. And I know that toys should not be visible if at all possible when showing. This will be difficult because I stay at home and toys are out ALL day long. But we are hoping that with a couple open houses that maybe we can narrow the window of when I would have to show it. I would need plenty of notice before showing so I can clean!
We plan to start off selling it FOR SALE BY OWNER and seeing what happens. Then our next option is to do a trade with a builder that we like and see what price we can come to on the house we want to build. We'll see. We will just trust God that if this is supposed to happen that He will lay it all out for us and open doors where we need them. We figure what's the harm in trying? The stuff we do to our house will only make it nicer and were things we had planned on doing at some point and in a way now they are ACTUALLY getting done!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Could this be the day????
So I almost hesitate to even write about this because I fear it will all come back. With regards to potty training these last 4 months. I hope that today was a HUGE milestone for Lily. Let me first start with if you don't like to read about pee pee and poopy please just stop reading now. I've learned that since becoming a Mommy its inevitable that you will talk about peeing or pooping with regards to your children on a daily basis. It almost always comes into the conversation. Its simply a part of being a parent. That being said. Lily has been pee pee trained (for the most part) for the last month or so with the exception of going when we are away from home. Which she is getting better at as of this past week. For the first couple months she has gone really good at home and at places she's familiar like Grandparents' houses. Only recently, as in the last week or 2, has she gone when we are away from the house like the Doctor's office, Target, and Church. Not for lack of throwing a fit mind you. It finally took her doctor telling me that she's past the point of it being "up to her" to learn and train. She's (Lily) where she knows what she's doing and is the one in control. Dr. Ray said that WE need to be the ones in control now and to turn her little fits and "I don't need/want to go potty Mommy" into--No you are going potty and you are going here right now. Now don't get me wrong please, in the beginning this is not the way to approach potty training. My doctor only suggested this because she's past the point of the early training and is now into the stage where she could develop bad habits that we need to end now. So she suggested that instead of letting her "get away with" not having to go potty by yelling and telling me she doesn't need to go when I KNOW she needs to. So we'd just let her tell us that and we'd stop making her go. So she's learned that this works with Mommy and Daddy. She thinks all I have to do is throw a fit and they won't make me go. Then she just would wet her pants. So Dr. Ray suggested the next time we are out that if she acts like she needs to go that we need to MAKE her go by giving her 2 choices. One, if she can go potty where we are on her portable Dora potty seat, or two, she can put a diaper back on. Lily now does not like diapers and is VERY fond of her princess and various big girl pants so I knew that would work. After talking to Dr. Ray about it, Lily immediately wanted to go potty so, much to my surprise, she went in the potty at the Dr's office! I was so stunned and proud! She got to pick from one of the big stickers and they sent me home with some that I could use to give her when she would go while we are out somewhere other than home. I am so glad she didn't fight me. Then last weekend we were at Target and she had to go. I am so thankful they had a family restroom at this Target because I knew she'd be crawling under the door at a regular one. She screamed and cried at first, but I just kept telling her its just like the doctors office and that I had a sticker waiting for her. So I held her on the potty while she cried and we counted to 30. (another thing I've started doing when she says she doesn't need to go, but I want her to at least try). She almost ALWAYS goes by the time I get to 15 and she forgets she's upset because she starts counting with me. So when she went in the potty I started clapping as I finished counting and I told her how proud I was of her. By now she was excited and happy she went! We washed our hands and she ran out the door yelling that she had gone potty. That night she wanted to wear the Dora sticker (from the doctor) on her jammies to bed too. It was great!
Then this past Sunday I got her to go at Church in between services. Course she cried again but didn't fight me near as bad and didn't crawl under the stall. The counting worked again this time. I have found that creating things that are familiar to her has helped. By counting she forgets where she's at and now has a "routine" we do when we are out. I was so proud of her!
Now Monday I thought we hit a big milestone, but it ended up being one step forward two steps back. She pooped in the potty at home after telling me she needed to go but then later on she pooped her pants while in her room for her nap. I was so excited that Monday would be THE day....which is why I hesitate to say that TODAY is the day but, I feel if I have high expectations for her maybe that will help.
Last night I went to Target and bought Lily 2 packs of princess big girl pants. 7 Repunzel (tangled) and 7 Little Mermaid. Two kinds she does not have already. I decided that each time she'd go poopy on the potty I'd let her pick a new pair of princess pants to wear. So today we were at my friend Steph's house playing with her kids outside and Lily comes to me in the middle of playing to tell me that she needs to go potty....that she needed to go POOPY!!! She RARELY if EVER has told me this especially while in the middle of PLAYING, while OUTSIDE, at SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE!!! And she went! She was excited about it too! I was still in shock. So I showed her the new princess pants and told her that she could pick one of them each time she pooped in the potty. She was pretty excited about this. I am hoping and praying that TODAY is the day that she decides to only put her poopy in the potty and not in her pants. I feel like we've tried everything. From buying her toys in the beginning when she pooped the very first time in the potty, to giving her 2 stickers and 2 pieces of candy, to giving her cookies w/ sprinkles on them, to now the princess pants. I have learned so patience so much through all of this. Whoever said girls were easier to train has not worked with Lily, my VERY smart and independent little girl. I pray that Charlee is easier and that Lily will train her. I've often joked that Charlee would end up training Lily because at times I have feared that she would never get it that she would never go away from home and that I would always have to carry extra underwear and pants with me everywhere we went. But I am seeing hope now. Seeing a light at the end of this 4 month long tunnel. My goal is to have her going poopy in the potty and going places other than home before we leave for San Diego in 2 months. That is my prayer. I give it to God because only He can help me through this and give me the patience to endure the clean-up. To God be the Glory.
Then this past Sunday I got her to go at Church in between services. Course she cried again but didn't fight me near as bad and didn't crawl under the stall. The counting worked again this time. I have found that creating things that are familiar to her has helped. By counting she forgets where she's at and now has a "routine" we do when we are out. I was so proud of her!
Now Monday I thought we hit a big milestone, but it ended up being one step forward two steps back. She pooped in the potty at home after telling me she needed to go but then later on she pooped her pants while in her room for her nap. I was so excited that Monday would be THE day....which is why I hesitate to say that TODAY is the day but, I feel if I have high expectations for her maybe that will help.
Last night I went to Target and bought Lily 2 packs of princess big girl pants. 7 Repunzel (tangled) and 7 Little Mermaid. Two kinds she does not have already. I decided that each time she'd go poopy on the potty I'd let her pick a new pair of princess pants to wear. So today we were at my friend Steph's house playing with her kids outside and Lily comes to me in the middle of playing to tell me that she needs to go potty....that she needed to go POOPY!!! She RARELY if EVER has told me this especially while in the middle of PLAYING, while OUTSIDE, at SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE!!! And she went! She was excited about it too! I was still in shock. So I showed her the new princess pants and told her that she could pick one of them each time she pooped in the potty. She was pretty excited about this. I am hoping and praying that TODAY is the day that she decides to only put her poopy in the potty and not in her pants. I feel like we've tried everything. From buying her toys in the beginning when she pooped the very first time in the potty, to giving her 2 stickers and 2 pieces of candy, to giving her cookies w/ sprinkles on them, to now the princess pants. I have learned so patience so much through all of this. Whoever said girls were easier to train has not worked with Lily, my VERY smart and independent little girl. I pray that Charlee is easier and that Lily will train her. I've often joked that Charlee would end up training Lily because at times I have feared that she would never get it that she would never go away from home and that I would always have to carry extra underwear and pants with me everywhere we went. But I am seeing hope now. Seeing a light at the end of this 4 month long tunnel. My goal is to have her going poopy in the potty and going places other than home before we leave for San Diego in 2 months. That is my prayer. I give it to God because only He can help me through this and give me the patience to endure the clean-up. To God be the Glory.
Monday, February 28, 2011
I'd like to remember this
There are so many things that Lily says now that I tell myself, "I need to write that down because I'd like to remember that", but then I don't. I think its because I am terrible at at writing stuff down, but I think I can blog it when I hear things so I am going to try to do that more now.
Lily after falling and "hurting" herself:
Daddy: "are you hurt what did you hurt?"
Lily: " my princess jamies "
Lily after falling out of her high chair when climbing out:
Daddy: "what did you hurt?"
Lily: "my chair"
This is all I can think of for now. 'Til next time. I hope I have more of these because she is just so funny these days.
Lily after falling and "hurting" herself:
Daddy: "are you hurt what did you hurt?"
Lily: " my princess jamies "
Lily after falling out of her high chair when climbing out:
Daddy: "what did you hurt?"
Lily: "my chair"
This is all I can think of for now. 'Til next time. I hope I have more of these because she is just so funny these days.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Potty Training, God is Good!
WOW it has been awhile since I have updated my blog!
I will try to make this quick.
Last Monday January 17th we started potty training Lily because she said she wanted to go potty and she actually went on it!!! This has never happened! She had sat on it numerous times and never went. So I let her have candy and we made a big deal about it. From that point on we said no more diapers! So we started using training underwear and pull-ups during sleepy time. She went one more time on Monday but then Tuesday she wasn't as successful because I wasn't able to be home with her all day because I had to work. Then Wednesday was just awful! She pooped in her underwear after we had been sitting on the potty for over an hour. I felt like we spent all day in the potty and she only went once. In addition to this frustration I was feeling bad because I felt I had been neglecting Charlee. Spending hours in the bathroom meant leaving her in the bouncer and only really interacting with her when I nurse and feed her. When I got Lily down for her nap I was rocking Charlee just bawling about to give up when I felt overcome and I started to pray. I prayed out-loud to God in tears just pleading for wisdom and patience to follow through with training her and to not give up on her. I was determined to not go back to diapers, but I realized I could not be patient with her in my own strength. I needed God's help for that. Because as most people or maybe just Ryan know I am not very patient when it comes to stuff like this. I wanted her to just get it. She is SOOOOOO smart and I knew she could do it, but after Wednesday I was really questioning whether she was ready. Thursday morning went ok but starting Thursday night into Friday she really started doing better. Friday she pooped in the potty!!! I was so excited and shocked at the same time! I figured it would be awhile before she was ready to do that. But she did. So Friday when Ryan got off work we went to Target and bought her some dresses that went with her Belle Beauty and the Beast doll. We left he house for over an hour and Lily stayed dry the whole time. We were so proud of her. Saturday went well and Ryan got a chance to work with Lily. I think it was important for him to be with her so she could be just as comfortable going with him as she was with me. If there's one thing we've learned about Lily she is very much about routine and sources of comfort. Anything out of her daily routine just throws her off. I feel that consistency and staying home has been key in this process. And most of all PATIENCE and WISDOM to not give up on her. BELIEVING in her. And it has paid off so far. God is so good! I definitely felt his presence this past weekend as I had more patience with her than I have had in a long time. I know God was working and I felt the prayers working. Lily has done so well in only a week! Today she has already started telling me she needs to go and then she actually does!
God is so good....God is so good....God is so good... He's so good to me!
I will try to make this quick.
Last Monday January 17th we started potty training Lily because she said she wanted to go potty and she actually went on it!!! This has never happened! She had sat on it numerous times and never went. So I let her have candy and we made a big deal about it. From that point on we said no more diapers! So we started using training underwear and pull-ups during sleepy time. She went one more time on Monday but then Tuesday she wasn't as successful because I wasn't able to be home with her all day because I had to work. Then Wednesday was just awful! She pooped in her underwear after we had been sitting on the potty for over an hour. I felt like we spent all day in the potty and she only went once. In addition to this frustration I was feeling bad because I felt I had been neglecting Charlee. Spending hours in the bathroom meant leaving her in the bouncer and only really interacting with her when I nurse and feed her. When I got Lily down for her nap I was rocking Charlee just bawling about to give up when I felt overcome and I started to pray. I prayed out-loud to God in tears just pleading for wisdom and patience to follow through with training her and to not give up on her. I was determined to not go back to diapers, but I realized I could not be patient with her in my own strength. I needed God's help for that. Because as most people or maybe just Ryan know I am not very patient when it comes to stuff like this. I wanted her to just get it. She is SOOOOOO smart and I knew she could do it, but after Wednesday I was really questioning whether she was ready. Thursday morning went ok but starting Thursday night into Friday she really started doing better. Friday she pooped in the potty!!! I was so excited and shocked at the same time! I figured it would be awhile before she was ready to do that. But she did. So Friday when Ryan got off work we went to Target and bought her some dresses that went with her Belle Beauty and the Beast doll. We left he house for over an hour and Lily stayed dry the whole time. We were so proud of her. Saturday went well and Ryan got a chance to work with Lily. I think it was important for him to be with her so she could be just as comfortable going with him as she was with me. If there's one thing we've learned about Lily she is very much about routine and sources of comfort. Anything out of her daily routine just throws her off. I feel that consistency and staying home has been key in this process. And most of all PATIENCE and WISDOM to not give up on her. BELIEVING in her. And it has paid off so far. God is so good! I definitely felt his presence this past weekend as I had more patience with her than I have had in a long time. I know God was working and I felt the prayers working. Lily has done so well in only a week! Today she has already started telling me she needs to go and then she actually does!
God is so good....God is so good....God is so good... He's so good to me!
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