THE SHOHEN'S: February 2013

I figured I'd take a few minutes to write in the midst of chaos. It has been absolute insanity around here lately. Since we have decided to move and put our house up for sale, it means getting the house ready to go on the market. We had a stager come in to tell us what needed to be done (most of if stuff I already knew and/or have wanted to do since we moved in). So this is "hell week" where there is total chaos--we have people here at the house everyday doing projects in 4 rooms--we are painting our cabinets in the kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms, (which again, I've wanted to do for forever), painting our kitchen and master bathroom more neutral, changing out knobs and fixtures, putting in new front door handle, emptying out closets, removing and rearranging furniture to make everything look as spacious as possible. We are trying to get it on the market by the end of the week, so it's been non stop. Not to mention everything is out of it's normal place and either in the dining room or garage, and there's a layer of powder all along our downstairs floor from sanding a wall, which is a blast with two little babies...so we're either out of the house or confined to the bonus room and their bedrooms when we're home. Ahh. I am never one to wish time away since I know how special it is, but I have to say that I can't wait until this week is over. Once it's over it'll still be kind of busy with people in and out to show the house, but at least it will be in order and we can pace ourselves with the packing.

Life is just feeling totally out of control right now between the pig stye, not knowing where anything is, as well as so many unknowns about the future--here we are packing up all our stuff and we don't even know where we will be living--what town, what house, etc. I don't know what job I will find. It's very humbling and I'm just trying on a daily basis to "let go and let God", and just trusting in his plan and praying for peace through all of this.

Although a lot of stuff being done to the house are things I wanted to do, it's actually helping me separate from the house. The second I took down all of our pictures, and made some changes that I wouldn't have made if we stayed, it no longer felt like my home. In a way it's good because it's been hard. I am definitely going through a grieving period, and the thought of leaving my home was hard. But I think it'll be easier leaving it now that it's different than when I lived here.

One thing I am so thankful for is having two amazing children who are so happy, content and resilient. They just go with the flow and are smiling and happy through it all. I've been trying to keep things as normal and fun as I can during the day--for instance today we went to Chuck-e-cheese and then for a lunch/playdate with Christi, Katie and Eli Wagner so that we could stay out of the house as much as possible--powder and paint fumes aren't too good to be around too much.

I am also trying to come up with a "bucket list" of things I'd like to do and/or do again before we leave. For instance, Ashley goes to "school" one day a week. On our ride there we pass and ice cream place and Ashley is always pointing to the "ice cream cones" on the outside of the building. I told her one day we'll stop there on the way home. So this week we did. Chuck-e-cheese is on Ashley's bucket list all the time, so we are going there a few times, etc. I'd like to make some fun memories still.

As far as quick updates....
Emily is going to be 3 months old in just 3 days. I can't believe how fast time is flying, and how big my baby is getting. She is an absolute sweetheart! Her smile just melts my heart every time. In fact as crazy as things are right now, she helps to center me and remind me to slow down and enjoy her, and her smile can turn my sad or overwhelmed feelings right off and replace them with joy.

She is such a GOOD baby. She's always so happy and so sweet. She is always talking up a storm, cooing, and blowing bubbles. I've officially nicknamed her. I call Ashley my little monkey, and now I call Emily my little sweetheart or my little kangaroo. She kick kick kicks all day long.

Emily has also learned to not only grab at things, but brings them up and into her mouth now. She also loves to stick her thumb and/or fist into her mouth a lot.

Another thing I am happy to report is that she is already sleeping through the night about 90% of the time. She started here and there at two months, but for the last couple of weeks she's been sleeping pretty consistently through the night. She'll typically go to sleep somewhere between 10-11:15 ish, then she'll sleep anywhere from 7:30-8:30ish.

She is also getting on more of a routine now. She'll be up for about an hour after waking up, then she'll typically go back to sleep for a couple hours. Then she's on and off throughout the day with naps.

She has also been doing this cute thing where she'll be eating, then she looks up at me and smiles, and sometimes even pulls away to give me a smile.

Ashley has been amazing through all of this too. She's such a happy go lucky kinda kid. I love her confidence too. We just went to her friend Eli's 4th birthday party over the weekend. There were quite a few people there, a majority of them being "older" 4 year olds, and she just walks around and does this little confident "dance" as she goes. She was pulling around some kids in a wagon, and she goes right up to others to play. I love that about her and hope she never loses it.

She still loves watching her movies at home sometimes--her list has expanded from the Polar Express and Nemo to also Cinderella, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Charlottes Web, etc.

Her vocabulary is ever-growing. She loves to play all sorts of toys from puzzles, legos, babies, doctor, art projects, dress up, helping clean, cook, with Emily, etc.
She hasn't been into books as much lately, but we still try to read every night.

She's also been enjoying taking showers like a big girl. It's kinda cool since it's easier for us too.