WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!

It is official.  We are finally homeowners!!!!!  For those of you that know our story and have been through this journey with us, I will try to spare some of the details.  However, we have been searching for a home since I found out I was pregnant with Eli, so we have been searching for about 1.5 years now.  Austin is a crazy market.  When houses would come up for sale, Derek and I would have to leave work right away to go see the house and put an offer on it right then and there.  The lowest amount of bids we went against on a home was 8 offers, and the highest was 22 offers for one house - ridiculous! We were always told that we came close, or we were their first "backup", but we always lost to cash investors.  Clearly Money Talks - so annoying for us!  I even sent in heartfelt letters to every seller with pictures of us and my pregnant belly to hopefully gain some sympathy points.

We came close a 2 months before Eli was born.  I told Derek this was our last house that we are looking at before Eli is born.  Somebody FINALLY accepted our offer, but we backed out after we received the inspection.  It was just something we could not take on with a new baby.  It was a total bummer, but we knew we were doing the right thing.  It turns out, had we of gone with that house, the closing date was on Eli's birthday - God clearly knew what was going to happen :)

Fast forward 9 months later to present day, we were actually looking in our current neighborhood to lease a house. That same day our home came on the market and we thought we would just go ahead and take a chance.  At this point, I had already given up on the house idea and was in a "whatever" state of mind.  Seth. our realtor called us the next day and told us we were under contract.  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT - THEY CHOSE US OVER OTHER OFFERS (and we were not the highest).  Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!  God is so good, and his timing is impeccable!  This is the absolute perfect house, and we love every bit of it.  Built in 2006, one story 3/2 with a playroom for Eli, open concept, community parks and pool down the street, and 4 miles of greenbelt around us for Derek to ride. Practically has everything we were looking for.

This process has been a MAJOR learning experience.  Definitely frustrating at times when we thought it wasn't going our way, but that's the thing ... it's not our way and it's not our plan.  When Derek and I did the Daniel Fast, this was my focus and prayer - where do You want us for Your will? I was even frustrated then when I still didn't have a clear answer ... but look at us now, 1 month later and we are home owners!!!!!!  We are so thankful and grateful for everything.  The sellers live in our neighborhood and have already been helpful with all of the little tips.  Once again, God is good, God is kind, and we are so thankful and thrilled.

More pictures of the house to come.  We are moving in a few weeks, so yall come and visit - plenty of room for everybody!!

 My matching boys on closing day!

 CLOSING!!!

 Our amazing realtor, Seth.  We did it -- Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HAVING A GARAGE!!!!  This garage alone is worth a million dollars.  No more throwing Eli on my hip, while carrying my bags, or groceries, in a parking garage and then down a mile long hallway.  Once again, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HAVING A GARAGE!!

 Picnic on the living room floor.  Eli loved the acoustics in an empty room.  He was all about singing and being vocal to hear his echo.

 My handy men at Lowe's!

 Decorating and Furniture shopping is exhausting.  I loved it though -- We just all need to stick with what we do best :)

A screen shot of our house.  More pics to come - stayed tuned.  Easter weekend our move in date!

9.5 Months

I know, I know -  I am so far behind.  I almost missed Eli's 9 month stats, and he is an only Child!!  I didn't even take a picture with his 9 month sign - goodness gracious!!  Oh well, we will make due for right now, and make sure we are all set up for 10 months .... oh gosh ... 10 months!

1) 16lbs - gained 4 lbs since his 7 mo check up.  Still 5%
2) 26.25 inches - 5%
3) Head is still in the 80%
4) Almost crawling.  He does more of an army crawl with just his arms.  But he manages to scoot around.
5) Just learned how to sit up on his own.  He will be on his belly, and push his arms up slowly but surely, and his legs are in the split position.
6) Saying DaDa, GaGa, BaBa
7) He is the Music Man! Without knowing our musical background, his daycare teachers and Sunday school teachers commented on his musicality and his voice dictation when he is talking - very song like.  I of course love this, and who would of thought?!?!
8) Loves our cat Siennna.  (Not sure is Sienna feels the same way).  Everytime she comes in the room, he stops what he is doing, screams sometimes, and wants to try to get her.  He will whipser "Ki-Ca-" for Kitty Cat.
9) Learning how to chew.  We are trying to transition to real foods.  If anybody has any suggestions for easy foods, let me know.  So far he likes, scrambled eggs, avocado, sweet potatoes, puffs, yogurt bites.  We have tried pears, bananas, watermelon, regular potatoes, but he is not so into those right now, even though he likes them pureed.
10) Loves his Truck book - Thank you Poppi!
11) Holding his bottle
12) Starting to move bottle and nursing around his main meals.  He eats 3 meals a day with a morning and afternoon snack.

 Look at this goofy grin!!

 I love getting pictures from his teachers!

 

 Eli has graduated to the Big Kid Table!!  He looks so proud of himself in this picture.  That smile is infectious!

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I think this picture is hilarious and sweet.  Just chilling and taking his time eating his little snacks.  Love this!

My Little Music Man

 Those eyes!! 

 TRUCKS!! You seriously have to hide this book from him, and read this last.  If you start with this book, you will read it 10 times and he will not pay attention to any other one.

 My big boy!

February/March

Oh my gosh - what happened to my blog?!?!  Time has completely gotten away from me.  Here is February and March up to date.  I promise, everything else moving forward will be more organized .... well maybe :)

 Swings!!  One of the only sunny and warm days this past month.

 RAR!!  Thank you Ali and Ryder for introducing me to these Hallmark zip up costumes!!  He was our little valentines day bear.  Just wait until Easter :)

 My Boys!  The shorts and tank was clearly before the winter storms and rain

 Kristin's baby shower

 Mom drve through on Valentine's day, and then headed to Fredricksburg for Bunny's 60th birthday.  Eli and I drove out there to meet up with them during the day, but I didn't plan on Eli getting sick and teething hard.  Good thing Bunny is the Essential Oils Queen and brought him Clove.  This was a life saver.  Thank you so much Miss Bunny and thank you for letting us crash your birthday!

 The magic touch!  Eli was fussy all day, and Bunny was able to get him to go to sleep.  Love this moment :)

 Uncle Shua is in town!!!!!  Joshua and Derek are best friends.  For those of you who don't know, Derek met Joshua on his first day living in Austin on the bus ride to ACL.  They parted ways at the festival, only to find each other sitting beside each other on the way home.  What are the odds.  Joshua recently moved to Chicago, so we are happy when he has to come down and visit clients for work.

When Joshua and Derek were roommates they had a standing weekly date night they called "NightCrawlers" (the name came from an Always Sunny episode).  So it was only fitting that they had their little bromance evening ... except one minor detail... We were all out of diapers.  Their Uber driver was nice enought to take them to HEB on their way home, and then of course they thought donuts were a proper way to end the evening. I love everything about this text message and stream of pictures.  I think the upside down diapers box really pull it all together. 

 I took Eli grocery shopping with me for the first time.  He actually loved it!  I was more nervous than he was.  I know people do this all the time, but call me crazy, I like my hour grocery shopping to myself.  It's kind of therapeutic to me, and I actually like doing it.  But I loved having my little helper with me.

 Still loves his books!!

Poor Eli - this actually hurts my eyes!  He was so sick off on on throughout the month.  We now having everything under control.  He had pink eye, a massive cough, ear infection and just all around crud coming out everywhere!  The doctor gave us eye drops and amoxicillian (sp?).  We tried everything they gave us for a week and really no difference.  Finally, I resorted back to our trusty oils.  For one day, I was religiously rubbing him down with lavender for his eyes, and RC for his cough, and we made our own ear drops (thank you ali) from garlic and olive oil.  Eli was a new baby boy the very next day.  Before he was just limp in my arms, and now we had our happy and dancing baby boy back.  It was amazing!!  Sometimes it gets so bad that you think nothing will help this, and I started second guessing everything that we do for ourselves and running towards medicine. The scenario really made me a believer again in our oils.  The only difference is that you have to put them on every 1-2 hours for the max effect and we had them diffusing in every room. 

Info on oils for babies and the Ear medicine remedy - Thank you Ali and Lindsay :)

http://lindsayleighbentley.com/2015/02/24/essential-oils-for-babies/

http://lindsayleighbentley.com/?s=ear+infection

 Since we went to the doctor a few times this past month, Eli became obsessed with the aquarium.  I think Eli would love membership to the Austin Aquarium for his birthday.  (Hint Hint grandparents :)

 Dede is in town!! Wayne had a minor procedure in Austin, so we were happy to visit with DeDe while she waited.  It was so much fun to play and catch up!

 Poppi!!  Eli loves giving head bumps right now ... we call it brain power :)

 Ali and the kiddos came down for spring break.  We met at Rosies after work for a 4:30 dinner.  It was a whirlwind, but fun to be with everybody.

Who doesn't love a SELFIE