House Hunting...

As mentioned yesterday, Josh and I are officially house hunting again. We sold our house in Branson back at the end of August but we weren't in a hurry to buy another one right off the bat. We've been renting a house from a wonderful couple from our church, and it has been a great set up for this "in-between" phase. However, the couple may have the opportunity to sell this house - which is great news for them - but really puts the pressure on us. Chances are we will probably need to be out of here by March. That will be here in no time!

Part of me is really excited to start looking for a house again. I think it will be the final thing to make NWA really feel like home. We already LOVE it here, but I'm excited to have a place to call our own. But the other part of me is a little anxious because I want this next house to be one we can be in for A WHILE. Not just because I don't want to have to worry about selling another house, but because I am tired of moving! Here's why - Josh and I have moved SO many times in our 5 1/2 years of marriage. It's crazy. Check it out...

1. Lived in Josh's K-Life apartment in Harrison for a month (while he wrapped up K-Life)
2. Lived with the Neaville's (amazing Searcy family we consider our own!) for a month while our house was finished being built

3. Lived in our Searcy house for 2 years

4. Lived with the Neaville's again after our house sold before we moved to B-town (I told you they were amazing!)

5. Rented an apartment in Branson for 9 months while house hunting

6. Lived with the Grimmer's (good friends in Branson) for 3 weeks before heading to kamp (our lease was up but our house wasn't ready yet)

7. Lived in our Branson house for 2 years

8. Moved to Northwest Arkansas and lived with the Harris family (more great friends...thank you Lord for the people in our lives!) for 4 months until our house sold in Branson.

9. Currently renting a house in Springdale until we find one of our own!

Yep, count 'em. That's 9 moves in less than 6 years. And that's not counting the two summers we "moved" out to kamp for 3 months. It is true though - home really is where your family is. I can vouch for that! As long as I'm with Josh (and now Jake), I'll be at home. But needless to say, we are ready to be somewhere for a while.

We actually already started looking and have a house that we have our hearts set on. We are in the middle of that process so any prayers would be much appreciated. Now it's just a waiting game. We'll keep you updated.

Long Overdue Update...

So, yep it's been over one month since I last posted. I have such high hopes for this blogging thing and just can't seem to live up to them. Here's my excuse - my child only naps for 25-30 minutes at a time during the day. I'm not trying to complain and I know every mom out there is just thinking "Welcome to my world," but I'm still adjusting. Jake is a GREAT night sleeper so I wouldn't trade that, but when I only have a total of an hour and a half to myself during the day, laundry, dishes, and showering take priority over blogging. :) So anyways, onto the update.

We are all doing really well. Sad that tomorrow wraps up our Christmas break at my parents' house in Mtn. Home. Josh is so blessed in his job and was given this whole week off, so we took advantage of the time to spend with family. And to be honest, it's nice having the extra help. I'm sure it will be a bit of an adjustment going to back to 2 on 1 again after being here for a week.

Jake is doing so good. It seems like it was just a couple days ago that we were coming back from his 2-month check up (and I was planning to post about that) and here we are past his 3-month mark. I know these little tidbits and milestones about Jake may not interest everyone, but I want them for my own keepsake. So skip if you choose, but here are a few updates on the little guy...

• At his 2 month check up, he weighed just short of 14 lbs. He's in the 90th percentile. Yep, he's a good eater...never had to worry about that. :) (His height was 23.5 inches - the 50th percentile.) 
• During Thanksgiving break (actually at my parents), he started dropping another night feeding. I would feed him at about 7:30 each night and he would sleep until 3 or 4ish. Now he stretches even further on most nights. Last night he fed at 7:30 and didn't eat again until 6:15. (That was a first though.) It's amazing what 6 or 7 hours straight of sleep feels like again! Thanks buddy. Still hopeful that he'll get to that 12 hour mark soon! 
• Right after we got home from Thanksgiving, we finally moved him into his own room. I missed having him next to us, but we are sleeping much better! We definitely should have made that move sooner, but couldn't b/c we didn't have a crib. Seeing as we didn't even move into our own rent house until 5 days before he was born, his room wasn't exactly set up and ready. It's still not but we at least have a crib and a glider. We're getting there!
• It was also just after Thanksgiving (just past his 2 month mark), that he seemed to outgrow his colic. THANK YOU LORD for bringing that earlier than we expected. We had a lot of rough days the first couple months. He just could NOT be consoled. Felt like we tried everything and he would just scream. I've never felt so helpless. :( But it really did just shut off one day. 
• He smiles and laughs all the time now. And seriously, he has the sweetest (toothless) smile. He smiles with his whole face, and it absolutely never gets old. We are the classic obsessed parents.
• He loves the mirror, LOVES his changing table, and loves to be naked (which is why I think he loves his changing table.) 
• He gnaws, I mean GNAWS on his pacifier. Sometimes he'll actually suck on it, but rarely. I would be concerned that he's an early teether but he's been doing this since like week 4.
• And a few pics of our little man from the past few weeks...

 

As far as an update on Josh and I, not a lot to report on except that we are on the house hunt again. More on that tomorrow (I know, I know you don't believe that, but for real, tomorrow.)