Lame Agents, Bare Behinds, and a Heat Wave (Part One)

            We made it.  We’re here…in our new home…finally.  Oh, and our air conditioning is working.

            Say, what?  Oh, I see you missed that headline.  Let’s start at the beginning.

            Everything went pretty smoothly the whole while our house was being built—minus the fact that they forgot one of the windows that we paid extra for and were going to put our tile in our dining room down crooked, but yah, whatever, we got that taken care of without too much drama.

            Even our walk-through went well.  Charming’s dad, through a stroke of genius, suggested we film it.  Which we did and in the two weeks since we have referred to it numerous times since.  But a few days after that was when it started to get bumpy.

            But, I need to step back again briefly.  We originally were meeting with Mark Smith at Frost Mortgage here in Albuquerque. We LOVED him!  He was fantastic!  He made our buying a house possible through his know-how, even though Charming was self-employed for six months last year.  He knows his stuff!  Anyway, we just adored him, but at some point we got transferred to another person.  A lady who is here in town, I am guessing because she was closer and Mark Smith is so awesome he was needed elsewhere.  Well, she was not as wonderful as Mark, not even close.  She never told us what was going on and always informed us of things last minute.  And later we realized her secretary did most of her job anyway.  Yah, she’s one of those people.

            Anyway, we call her a few days before the walk-through to see what the deal is and why we haven’t heard anything about closing.  She tells us they are planning for the twelfth.  We are excited—knowing we have given them everything they wanted and the literal hour they asked for it.  No messing around or procrastinating.  We were on top of things.  So let’s see…the walk-through was Thursday the 7^th and closing was supposed to be Tuesday the 12^th.  So Friday (at 5:50pm, of course) the secretary calls us and tells us that they had us fill out one of the forms wrong and we need proof of employment from Dish Network before 11 on Monday.  Wow, thanks lady. 

So we are frustrated, mad and worried all weekend wondering if we can even get that that fast.  We know Dish Network and they are jerks to their employees…we don’t even want to know how mean they are to their ex-employees.  Ugh.

So first thing Monday Charming calls them…only to find out that it’s even HARDER to get proof of employment that we had figured.  You have to go through this email address and it can take at least 5 days.  So we are mad.  Mad that the lady told us to fill out the form wrong, mad that Dish can still torture us even though we quit them.  So we email, and hope they get back to us in not too long.

Days roll by…days and days…Wednesday we hear back…oh, sorry, “Please advise.”  What does that even mean.  At least use the word correctly.  So we send them some extra info, and figure we have to wait at least two more days.  Friday the 15^th in the morning, the secretary calls us…the lady (notice I am omitting her name to be nice) called and hounded Dish, accusing them of breakings some equal employment act.  So they eventually send the proof over and it goes to underwriting.  The lady tells us we could maybe close that day. We don’t.  So she says Monday.  We don’t.  Finally Tuesday we close…and it’s a breeze because we have everything prepared.  And the house is ours! Nothing can go wrong…well, except for that we can’t move until Friday cause of Charming’s bizarre work schedule. But wait!  TCharming goes to work and finds out that by some rare occurrence his schedule was changed (in six months they have only changed his schedule one other time) that we can move Wednesday!

So we wear ourselves (and my dad and brother and mom out) the next day packing and moving.  We move in, finally pick up Ralphie and take him to our new home.  Guess what.  The air conditioning isn’t working.

To be continued (because that is probably enough reading for right now huh?)

A Word of Advice to Mothers and Mothers-to-Be....

A word of advice...and I mean it as kind as possible.  I am in no way pointing fingers or trying to be insulting or anything.  Please read this ENTIRE post before you decide to respond, you might miss the whole point otherwise and think I am being judgmental or rude.  I am not.
I have made some of the same mistake I am about to talk about in the past....but experience has taught me much.  And I'd like to help others to not make the same, hurtful mistakes.

Pregnancy is hard. Duh.
Motherhood is hard. Also duh.

But here's the thing.  People need to stop being so negative and complaining about it in harsh ways.  I understand the need to vent...totally understand, I don't very often vent, but more often than not I really need to...here's the key though.  Present it thoughtfully, respectfully, or with humor.  Otherwise you might be really hurting people who are already hurting.

What do I mean?  Are you thinking I'm just crazy?

Well, I have a friend who can't have children.  She would make a fabulous mother.  She is so kind, beautiful, and sweet and wants children so much, but can't have them.  It just breaks my heart.  What makes my heart ache even more is where I see on facebook or blogs people complaining about being pregnant or about their children.  Oh, that just hurts my soul.  And what about those who have or are suffering miscarriage?  Or months and months of trying for a baby? And I don't mean all of the comments about children and pregnancy...I just mean certain ones phrased without thought.

Example (and I hear this all the time.) "I am sooooo done being pregnant."  Yes, pregnancy is hard.  I think everyone knows that. But do you know what? Some ladies would LOVE to be almost done with a pregnancy and about to have a baby any second, so just be glad you are able to be pregnant and have a baby.  Why don't we try something like this instead... "I can't wait until this baby gets here!"  See what I mean?  Almost means the same thing but with a good twist.  Doesn't hurt anyone.  And instead brightens peoples day with the thought that a cute baby's birth is right around the corner.

Or those people who turn EVERY status into a "you're pregnant, aren't you?" status.  Hey, what if that person can't get pregnant or is going through a miscarriage?  Do you think that is really helpful or funny?  If you look at miscarriage statistics...most people suffer at least one.  So, let's think...before commenting and not make "you must be pregnant" jokes.  Because most often people don't go around announcing miscarriages or months and months of trying to get pregnant....so you might not know how it will bother or make them sad :-(

And motherhood...oh so hard...I only have one child and it's hard, so I can't imagine having more children.  Sometimes I see these status posts about people's children and it just makes me want to cry.  Those poor children...their parents keep having kids and yet apparently (from what I gather at their status updates) hate being parents...wow, that makes a lot of sense. When really I think all it is is lack of thought before writing their status.  I can't think of a good example, I really don't see this as often as pregnancy related ones, but I have seen a few in the past that just make me cringe.  If someone read that who couldn't have kids, oh, I just can't imagine the pain that would cause them...knowing someone who seems to hate motherhood so much can have kids but they can't.  Or if years down the road (with the addition of Facebook Timeline and all) your child reads that negative post?  I doubt that's going to buoy them up or make them feel loved and wanted.

As I said earlier, I'm not perfect. But I think if you look at my facebook account 99% of my posts are positive and not negative--especially where motherhood or pregnancy is concerned.  I really don't ever even think to post something derogatory, but on the few occasions I was in a bad mood or tired or felt like venting I thought it out first.  My mom always says that more people will be drawn to you and like you if you lead a positive life (or a positive blog or facebook account in this case).  So my point?  I guess, be someone who spreads joy and positiveness on facebook, not someone who complains constantly and negatively about the blessings they are so lucky to have.

Ok, I'll get off my soap box now.

An Experience to Avoid

Aw, yesterday was lovely--believe it or not, knowing the day before we got a few inches of snow!  We were able to have tons of fun and spend lots of time outside!  Heaven!

We started off the morning by heading to Park Day at a big park here in town, met up with some other ladies in the ward.  It was a lot of fun, Ralphie was super cute.  At one point I was swinging all the kids (including Ralphie) on the tire swing and they all started singing together…but their own song. Adorable.

However, something bad happened too…I was talking to a friend, Iwalani, and looked away from Ralphie for no more than a minute (I had been watching him like a hawk, but he was playing with little Cadence so I figured he would stay near her and close)…but next thing we know they are MISSING!  And this park is pretty big…and backs a VERY busy four lane highway!!  So I started searching for him…some of us went one way, the others the other way.  For some weird reason I was insanely calm…even though he was missing and minutes were passing and I still wasn’t finding him…I wasn’t freaking out!  Whether I was just in shock or something was telling me that he was ok I don’t know, but I stayed calm…even when my mind kept thinking all these horrible things that could happen to him!  

Finally from the other side of the park someone yelled, “They are over here!”  So I ran over…they were all the way across this big soccer field by the gate and high way splashing in puddles.  Oh, I was so glad I found him!  Of course I tried to tell him to never leave or run off and always stay where he can see Mommy…but you know I am sure none of it made sense or sunk in.  So…I am saying some serious prayers of thanks you today!  

However, I don't know what to do!  I literally watch him like a hawk...sometimes it seems more so than the other parents watch their kids.  Are their kids just older and smarter?  Or is Ralphie just curious and/or belligerent?  How am I supposed to bring him to the park and enjoy it if I literally can't take my eyes off him?  Anyone have any suggestions or ideas??

Later Charming and I took him to another little park we like to visit and attempted to fly the kite…it worked briefly…then we watched Ralphie drive his car along the brick wall for a bit and were about to leave when a few people in our ward showed up…who had a dog…which Ralphie chased for about 15 minutes non-stop…he almost followed it out of our site about three times so we had to chase him down and make him come back.  Ugh!  I have no idea what I am going to do with him!  Please...share your ideas!

Disney...As a Child

So as a child I grew up watching Disney movies, shows etc. As I am sure most of you did. But here is one of those "Sandy Blond Moments" you are probably beginning to know so well. Well, you know the famous Disney signature seen on everything Disney? This:

Well, as soon as I was old enough to begin to decipher cursive I remember trying to figure out why they used a backwards cursive "G" for the beginning of Disney. It wasn't until I was much older (I think a teenager) that I realized it was in fact a cursive "D"--which obviously made so much more sense to me! DUH! What a blond I am! Sadly, to this day I still see a backwards G until I concentrate REALLY hard while looking at it!

So...when is the next baby due?

So...when is the next baby due?

Yah, I have the same reaction as you.

WHAT??  Do I look fat?

The answer is no, but people assume that since Baby L is 1.5 I should be having another soon.

Well, that is not the plan.  We are not even trying til at least January, maybe later.

"But why?  Ralphie is so cute and beautiful!"  We get asked...generally by those with two or more kids all under the age of 3 or 4.

Let me start by saying, that is great that that works for you (which in my opinion sometimes it doesn't but people do it anyway) but it isn't for us.

Unless of course it's an accident, but so far we haven't run into those.

"But why not?"

Well, let me explain once and for all.

First of all, I strongly believe in each child getting their own "baby time".  I think it is so important to development.  If you have a 1 year old and another baby is born...well, there goes that first child's baby time. And as far as I am concerned the first part of the toddler years still counts and "baby time".  My mother did this.  We were all far enough apart that we got out baby time, but were still close enough to play and be friends.  That is what Charming and I want.

Second of all, to be the best mom I can be which is constantly my goal, I know myself well enough to know that I could not handle my kids if they were less that 2.5 years apart.  Too much crying, lol.

We also want Ralphie potty trained or at least almost potty trained by the time the next one comes.  Two kids in diapers is too many diapers!  Both financially and physically haha!

So...we want out kids to be 2.5-3 years apart.  Now, who is to say that there won't be an accident, or an incident of twins (it's not in our family (unless you go back like 3 generations or so, but you never know), or that it will take us a long time to get pregnant and then they are too far apart.  There really is no telling, but we can try out best to plan for whats best for us and our kids.

And so I hope that answers everyone's constant question.   So to that end...remember to vote for us!