just catching up...

it doesn't seem like we've been THAT busy the last few weeks, yet I'm extremely tired and cannot remember most of the last ten days or so (i guess that could be partly due to the pregnancy!)... so here's a hodge podge of what we've been up to.

the last couple days, i've been able to get a LOT done around the house--mostly just normal chores that have been neglected due to pregnancy and general sickness. it's amazing how much more peaceful a clean house is! I must admit, though, the reason for the house being clean isn't just because i'm finally getting into the whole "worker at home" routine; it's mainly due to the fact that we had a meeting set up with a realtor tonight and i wanted the house to look decent. most of the foreclosures are off the market, so that helps. it's weird thinking that we might not be at this address for much longer. our goal is to have the house on the market by the end of June. it will be nice to have ALL debts taken care of except for approx. 10K before we head overseas. we are still looking over quite a few options regarding china, but we're definitely both still leaning in that direction. the research and decision making will become much more serious when we have the house off our shoulders.

well, i think we've successfully lost Emerson's morning nap. I try to hold off afternoon nap until 1:00 and by then she's MORE than ready for it. it seems to go better when we leave the house for a mini-outing just to break up the morning and get a change of scenery. today, i was cleaning/organizing her room after lunch and she pulled a blanket off the shelf, laid down on her floor, and said "mama, nigh' nigh'"... i took that as a sign she was ready to take her nap. the only downside to this is that her afternoon nap isn't really much longer. she still wakes up after about an hour and a half, and then cries herself back to sleep and i get another 30 min of peace or so. because she's not sleeping as long during the day, i've been able to get ALL my MT stuff done in the morning before she wakes up (at least the past few days) as she sleeps in til 9 or so.

emma also has a few new tricks up her sleeve. she is saying all sorts of new words: turtle, sorry, read (i hear this ALL day--read and up! up! up!), book, animal, "monkey noises". she also likes to fist bump/pound. it's pretty funny because once she starts, she HAS to pound everyone in the room--no one gets left out. and last but not least, every night before bed she HAS to say good night to belle, without fail. and right now the coolest new trick, i think, is counting! who knew that a toddler not quite 1-1/2 could count to FIVE! (i'll try to get it on video and post it soon) i'm sure there are more, but i'm super forgetful lately and i need to ask john, but he's out back in the dark working.

due to the fact that i've been up and about working on the house throughout the day, it's been taking its toll on this pregnant lady's body. many days, my back and hips are spent by the time john gets home--at least i have a tidy house to show for it (for now). currently, my loving husband has sentenced me to the couch to relax while he is out working on the yard. what a guy!

before i let this post get too long, i quick last thing. we got a free photobook from shutterfly.com and john and i came up with an ABC book for emma. here's the rough draft anyway:

Click here to view this photo book larger