JUNE
Luke's Birthday...
Our main highlight was celebrating Luke's first birthday. It's hard to believe my baby's one (and at this point in time, almost a year and half at that!!!) and we wanted to do something special to commemorate his big day. Nick & I invited all of our extended family to join us for a BBQ at our house on the weekend closest to Luke's actual birthday (which fell on a weekday). I always found kids TV-show themes to be rather cheeseball, however, I made an exception to my own rule and went all out with Sesame Street Baby theme (Luke loves Sesame Street, particularly Elmo, due to the influx of special toys and books he received from his Mimi over several months time). We got a huge and yummy cake at Costco, grilled burgers and hotdogs, and some of our family pitched in and brought summer sides like homemade potato salad, fruit salad, coleslaw, etc. Not only was it a treat to have all our family over for Luke's birthday, but Nick & I commented afterward on how it was a real treat for us to be able to actually host having family over in general... simply because up until the point we bought our house, we did not live in a mutually convenient location (or a place big enough) to invite more than one or two people over. It took us four years, but we're finally in a season where we can be hospitable to more than a handful of people!!!
Not only were we thrilled to have so many people over, but we were counting our blessings that the weather held up. Of course, as luck would have it, it was absolutely beautiful the whole week leading up to the party. However, as the weekend was approaching, the forecast was predicting horrible storms to come in the day of Luke's party. We were bummed because it would make grilling a challenge (our deck is not roofed) and everyone would be confound to having to stay indoors. I felt like it was silly to pray for something so petty (considering all that goes on in the world), but for the days leading up to Luke's party we prayed every morning for good weather. Even the day before the party, the Weather Channel still predicted storms. So it was a huge surprise then when we woke up to sunshine that ended up staying with us all day long! I didn't consider it just a fluke, either. I felt for sure it was an answer to our prayers.
3+1=4
We were totally thrown for a loop when we found out we were expecting again. Ironically, I found out after running errands on Luke's birthday. How fitting to anticipate another birth on the day we're rejoicing over having Luke with us. We look forward to baby #2's arrival sometime around Valentines Day.
Rain, rain go away...
While God held off the rainstorms for Luke's birthday party, we were not exempt from getting showers later on in the week. In fact, the day after we had a torrential storm that opened our eyes to some major basement problems. We awoke one night to the sounds of gushing water; it happened to be when it was raining cats and dogs outside so we assumed it was outdoors. However, upon further investigation, we found out that the sound was acutally coming from our basement! When we first purchased the house, I guess you could say we had a partially finished basement. We later came to find out that the previous owners most likely threw up sheet rock and tin (yes, corrigated tin like they have on the walls at Chipotle) just to hide the cracks in the walls. Not the kind of surprise you look forward to having after you've purchased a home. Our basement's version of Ol' Faithful prompted us to make several calls to try to get everything under control. We actually had a company do structural work on the basement before we moved in that provided us with a 10 year warranty. Fixing the cracks was supposed to be part of the contract, however, it took over five visits throughout the last six months for them to get everything taken care of. Due to all the water damage, we ended up having to have mold specialists come in and treat the whole basement (they found it was pretty bad, despite the fact our home inspection showed no record of mold). It was pretty concerning having to tear the finished basement out ourselves, have mold treatment performed, and then later have to replace the furnace because of the mold... especially having a hubby with asthma, a little guy under foot, and with myself being pregnant. Thankfully, after several months everything is under control!
JULY
Lenexa Freedom Run
On the 4th of July I participated in my first ever 5K. For the last couple of years, my aunts, uncle, and cousins have competed in the Lenexa Freedom Run, namely in honor of my young cousin, Aaron Walters, who tragically passed away in 2007 of a heart condition. Aaron was known by many as an awesome cross country runner and his idea of fun was getting up to run at 7am on 4th of July for Lenexa's 5K. Since his passing, the family has done this race as a way to remember him by. In years past, we've lived out of town and had other plans, but this year I knew I wanted to be a part of something special with the family.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I showed up. I gained a whopping 60 pounds when pregnant with Luke and I was still working it off a year after. Jogging and me were an old has-been and I didn't bother training at all, since I planned on walking the whole thing (after all, I told myself, I'm doing this to honor my cousin, not break world records). It would have been to my advantage to know that around 1500 runners compete in the Lenexa Freedom Run! When I showed up, I had no expectations since I had never ran a race (or viewed one either). I felt ashamed to show up in my worn out tennis shoes and one of Nick's t-shirts (none of my own still fit since I was still working off baby weight) when I realized I was going to be around serious athletes. There were grandmas with bodies I'd kill to have, men in shorts way too short, and an array of high school running teams and corporately sponsored business execs in pretty spiffy gear. It didn't take long for me to feel out of place, however, somehow instead of feeling down about it, I started to get really excited. After paying a $20 entry fee and getting up as early as I did (I had to be there around 6am) I figured it was worth my time to at least jog as much as I could.
I ended up completing the 5K in around half an hour. While my time was certainly nothing to write home about, I left with a huge sense of accomplishment and a very sore shin! I got the bug and look forward to not only doing the Lenexa Freedom Run every year I can, but I also have found that I love to jog and hope to run my first 10K next year as well (obviously, a while after I've had baby #2!).
Break a leg... er, hip.
As soon as I got back home from the race, we got a call from Nick's mom asking for us to come help. That morning Bill & Julie, were biking a trail close to our house and Bill's biked hydroplaned on a sheet of wet asphalt. The result wasn't good. He was thrown off his bike and landed on his hip (that had been replaced a year ago, I should mention). Thankfully Julie had her phone to call us, because they were twenty miles away from where they parked their cars at the beginning of the trail head. We transported Bill to Shawnee Mission Medical Center where he was told that nothing broke and was released a few hours later. Bill's a tough guy and we knew something was majorly wrong when he couldn't walk and was almost reduced to tears just sitting. It ended up taking two more visits over the next four days before an X-ray specialist finally found the cause of his pain... his hip not only broke, but cracked through (I'm still not sure how they missed that the first two times!). An immediate total hip replacement was required within 24 hours time. Thankfully, after two months time he was back to walking and performing normal activities.
Hurray for besties!
I was thrilled when lifelong friend, Ashlie Oestreich, came to stay with us for a few days. Ashlie and I go back 20+ years but have only been able to get together a handful of times since we live a state away and have busy lives (in fact, of the four times we've seen each other in ten years, two of those occassions were our own weddings). We had a great time and I'm so thankful for those few friendships God has gifted me with that are like ours... you know, the type where you can pick up right where you left off in a conversation even if it's been years since you've last seen each other. It only added to our excitement that we're both expecting at the same time (she & her hubby with their first, due a month before ours). I wondered if Nick would feel out of place with two gabby, hormonal, and generally excited women in the house but he was very gracious and admitted to having a great time himself!
New HVAC = One Happy Momma
After months of getting estimates, we settled on a company for a new HVAC system. We thought we'd be able to hold off on such an expensive purchase for a while... that was until the rainstorm we got in June led to testing for mold that came up positive (and grossly enough, strongest in our furnace). That, and the fact, that just keeping the heat set on 50 degrees in March (before we moved in and were renovating... just so the pipes wouldn't freeze overnight) let to a $100+ heating bill. Ouch!
We didn't want to take chances and knew it would have needed replaced in a matter of time since the one that came with the house was the original. Once we started getting estimates, we found out it would also be advantageous to get our air conditioner replaced as well, since it would need replaced in a matter of years and be cheaper to install at the same time as the furnace.
There are still a thousand home improvement projects around here to do, but when I want to see something completed and new, I need look no further than our backyard (for the ac) or in the basement (furnace). You'd think they were jewelry with how happy I am over those big bulks of shiny bling!
AUGUST
Car Wreck
We started our August out in an interesting fashion. The first Monday of the month I found myself with a free morning (a gorgeous one at that) and decided to take Luke for a little outing (nothing fancy... just a trip to Lowes to look at the flowers and a visit to Petco so he could see the animals). We didn't quite make it very far, however, when I was hit while making a left hand turn at the intersection in front of Lowes. Thankfully, it was nothing more than a bad fender bender; Luke didn't even cry and ended up taking a nap when the police came to fill out a report. My biggest concern was if my seatbelt's locking caused any problems with the pregnancy. I ended up spending half the day at Olathe Medical's ER and thankfully, our minds were put at ease when they found everything to be fine.
The biggest stress came later when we found out that the other driver's ticket was revoked and I was later given one. While I felt certain at the scene that the kid (the other driver was 16) was going through my green light, I found myself unable to say with the same amount of confidence who's fault it was or not after 24 hours time (maybe I had a green yield light and not a green arrow?). Who's to say... but it made for a very not fun situation when we had to deal with insurance and being liable for the whole thing afterwards. Between dealing with agents, the ticket, and getting the car fixed, it took a good six weeks for everything to subside. Thankfully, it's all said and done with and the important thing is, everyone is okay.
Luke's New Friends
We were thrilled when we met our neighbors directly behind us and found out they had two little boys ages 2 and 1. Some time in August my neighbor Gayle invited me to bring Luke over for a playdate with her kiddos. The boys hit it off immediately and every week since we've arranged getting together, whether it be walking to the local park, going to Deanna Rose (an amazing- and free!- children's farmstead for those of you not around here), taking a picnic, etc. The boys momma, Gayle, has been a wealth of knowledge when it comes to baby safety (she and her husband have been uber creative in making their place kid friendly) and plus, I just think she's pretty awesome. Getting the kids together has been an excuse for some girl time for the mommas as well.
Baby Beat
Early in August, we got the privilege of hearing our baby's heart beat for the first time. I can't tell you how reassuring it was! After having a miscarriage I had set myself up emotionally for the very worst when I found out I was expecting again and it wasn't until we heard that little heart beat that I could breath easy (well, at least for a few weeks... then I wanted to hear it again just for confirmation!). Luke wasn't sure what to make of it when our midwife, Suzanne, starting pushing on my belly with the moniter wand. At first he was mad (I think he felt she was hurting me), but when he heard his little sibling's heart beat he immediately thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Family Time
One of the best parts about August was the opportunities we had to get together with our family as much as we did. Two Sundays of the month we met with all of Nick's extended family for dinner (one of those times at his grandparents for a swim party/BBQ, the other at Bravo's in Zona Rosa... yum!). I was also thrilled when it worked out for my brother Michael to join us for a few days before he made his trek back to California for his fall semester in college. Michael's school schedule is pretty gruelling and when he goes back home between semesters he usually works some rather intense hours on the pipeline to save up for another semester of college (he's been able to go to school debt free so far doing that, but it means he has absolutely no spare time!). What a treat when we got to have him over for a couple of days before he headed back to CA! Michael and Nick have a special brotherly bond (they did even when Nick & I were dating, which I just loved)... they both share the same affinity for sports, politics, theology, video games, and a good game of Risk (thank goodness, too, because that is so not my territory!). I was thrilled that they had an opportunity to spend some "man time" together since both had worked so hard over the summer and didn't have much time for social activities.
SEPTEMBER
Sweet Deals
After all the home renovations we've done, the expenses that come with a fender bender, and expecting another little one our finances didn't lend themselves to much free spending. I was thrilled then when I found out how incredibly AWESOME some of the consignment stores in our area are for getting great kids clothes. When I heard that our local Savers was having a complete 50% store merchandise sale on Labor Day, I was there in my most comfy tennies at store opening (7am!). Apparently I wasn't the only one looking for a good deal... there were already over 100 people there when I arrived! Bracing the crowds paid off and I got all of Luke fall/winter clothing for around $60. Several of the items still had the original tags on them and everything was name brand. I even lucked out in finding an LL Bean snow suit and a Land's End light jacket for fall/spring time use. A week later, a found Luke's big ticket Christmas item on Craigslist... a Learning Tower. I'd heard great thing about them on some websites before, but never considered getting one because of cost (they normally run close to $200). When I saw that a gal was selling hers for $40 on Craigslist, I jumped at it. My father in law was a dear and drove five hours round trip to pick it up.
Fall Festivities
I got some pointers on fun fall family activities from the KC Parent magazine and just about every weekend we made plans doing something out and about. Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Santa Caligon Days in Independence with Nick's parents. The next weekend, we went to Sar Ko Par Park for Lenexa's Spinach Days. The weekend after we had fun helping (and attending) Nick's stepdad's surprise 60th birthday; Nick was the videographer for the event while I played resident photographer. Finally the last weekend of September was one pampering, as I was treated by my parents to a restaurant of choice for my 25th birthday (I chose T-Rex at Legends and had a blast... you couldn't chose a better place to take a child and the looks on Luke's face were priceless). A few days later, Nick's parents treated us out to Cheesecake Factory (my absolute favorite!!!).
The verdict is in and it's a...
Perhaps the best birthday present of all came a few days early when we got to see our precious little one via sonogram. We found out that everything looked healthy and proportionate (make that very healthy... Itty Bitty sized up three weeks ahead in size, but they're still resuming the same due date). Best of all, we found out that we were having another little boy! We're just thrilled about the verdict... coming from a family with a thirteen year spread between oldest and youngest, I never got to experience that kind of closeness and I'm so eager to see the vibe between Luke and his younger brother (or, as Luke calls him, his baby "bubba"). After much consideration, we have chosen to name him Quinn Davis; Quinn meaning "wise and intelligent" and Davis being in honor of my paternal grandmother (it's her maiden name). Consequently, we found out that Davis means "beloved". Put the two together and essentially our child's name means, "Wise and wanted". It's our hope that he grows in wisdom and discernment, but there is know doubt he is already greatly wanted and beloved. We can't wait for Quinn's arrival, sometime around Valentines Day.
OCTOBER
October proved to be one of the most eventful months thus far in our year. We started the beginning of the month on a positive note... on the first Saturday, we took a day trip to the Louisburg Cider Mill Days. It was crowded beyond belief and every little thing cost money to do so we didn't end up staying long (just long enough to get fresh cider and cider donuts!). We ended up finding a local pumpkin patch on our way back to west that blew our minds... 35 plus acres of pumpkins, a kids play area, free hayrides, etc. Luke was in hog heaven as we toted him around in a big wooden wagon (they had several on the premises to wheel pumpkins around, though Luke found it was a pretty good mode of transportation for himself). The rest of our weekends were sprinkled with fun fall traditions as well... for the last four years, I've attended a function at my grandmother's church called Christmas in October. It's an awesome ladies breakfast, shopping experience, and conference where they set the tone for the holidays. In years past the conference reflected a combination of The View and Oprah's favorite things episode, as they'd have gals up on stage in different seasons of life conversing about fun Christmas activities and then it would segway into a cooking session or a crafts session. Between each topic, men in tuxes would come to each row and hand out free gifts to everyone attending the event. Needless to say, it's a lot of fun and it is the first thing that gets me in the mood for Christmas each year. This year's event was no exception. The following week, I went with my mother in law to the Junior League's Holiday Mart event at the Overland Park Convention Center. This is the third year I've attended and I'm always blown away by the amount of vendors and the cool specialty items that are for sale. We stocked up on jellies, decorations, and some great stocking stuffers for Luke.
The last weekend of the month was full with Halloween and a family day. Years before we were even expecting Luke, a co-worker showed me a picture of her grandson dressed as a Tom Arma skunk and it registered with me so much, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to make as my own child's first costume. Making the costume was a bit of a challenge, though, as Luke grew great guns in over a month's time (OVER 3 inches in four weeks). It required that a second costume be made because the first one was too small. It was well worth the extra effort as he looked absolutely adorable and received numerous compliments.
Friday afternoon (Halloween Eve) we took Luke out on a trick-or-treating practice run at his Mimi's workplace. It didn't take him long to figure out how the process worked! He ran from one cubicle to the next scouting out candy bowls! The little stinker figured he could use the cute factor to his advantage as he'd act all sweet and innocent... and then try to take extra pieces of candy out of the same bowl. How ornery!!!
On Halloween, we made several pit stops to show family his outfit. Midday, we met my Grandma Morehead at the Legends shopping area for lunch; we made it just in time for Luke to participate in the costume parade they were having in the square right outside the restaurant. The top 10 best costumes would receive prizes. I was convinced he was amongst the best dressed (not like I'm biased or anything, though!) and was pretty surprised that he wasn't called up as a top contender... if it's any consolation, he won first place in my eyes! ;) Later that evening, we drove up to Parkville where we attended Nick's cousin's family Halloween party. We knew a few family members would be there but were surprised to be amongst about 30 of their friends. It proved to be a very full house! We all took our kiddos around the block and ate ziti and lasagna back at their house.
These were all some of the positive highlights from our month. We were thrown a curve ball early on in the month of October when Nick was let go from his job due to the economy. We did not for see this happening and it was a big surprise to us both. Nick has applied for unemployment and continually applies for positions online. While this would be a stressful circumstance given any time, it only adds to it that unemployment rates are so high, it's the end of the year (when hiring is at it's lowest), and we're expecting Quinn within a matter of months.
It goes without mentioning that the respect I have for Nick has gone through the roof when it comes to how he's dealt with the situation. I am ever so proud of his discipline; he's gone to job fairs, networked with friends and family, and continues to apply to anything he finds online that he's qualified for. One of the biggest challenges is that most all companies prefer contact to strictly be electronic... whether it be e-mailing the HR manager, setting up a profile with a company account, what have you. Nick's tried to follow up by calling companies so that they can register his voice/name with the resumes he sends, though many places even specify that they do not want calls in regards to hiring. Talk about a challenge! We're praying that his resume gets into good hands and he receives a call back soon, but we would greatly appreciate your prayers as well. Having been down this road last year around the holidays, we had a little experience at this... however, Nick got a job within two weeks of being out of work. This time we're going on 5 weeks with no leads, a mortgage, and a baby on the way. Eeeek! Add to this, Murphy's law has been in order ever since he's been out of work. I started having major tooth pain which requires surgery tomorrow (I'll find out whether I'm getting a root canal done or something less invasive once they get into it), and our car is making funny noises which leads me to believe it's going to need to be taken to the shop. It's definitely a lot to handle at the moment... so again, we would so greatly appreciate your prayers.
So.... at this point in the game, I've pretty much updated you on everything from June-November. Phew!!! From now on bloggings will be more regular (and smaller since I'll have less to fill you in on!).
Our main highlight was celebrating Luke's first birthday. It's hard to believe my baby's one (and at this point in time, almost a year and half at that!!!) and we wanted to do something special to commemorate his big day. Nick & I invited all of our extended family to join us for a BBQ at our house on the weekend closest to Luke's actual birthday (which fell on a weekday). I always found kids TV-show themes to be rather cheeseball, however, I made an exception to my own rule and went all out with Sesame Street Baby theme (Luke loves Sesame Street, particularly Elmo, due to the influx of special toys and books he received from his Mimi over several months time). We got a huge and yummy cake at Costco, grilled burgers and hotdogs, and some of our family pitched in and brought summer sides like homemade potato salad, fruit salad, coleslaw, etc. Not only was it a treat to have all our family over for Luke's birthday, but Nick & I commented afterward on how it was a real treat for us to be able to actually host having family over in general... simply because up until the point we bought our house, we did not live in a mutually convenient location (or a place big enough) to invite more than one or two people over. It took us four years, but we're finally in a season where we can be hospitable to more than a handful of people!!!
Not only were we thrilled to have so many people over, but we were counting our blessings that the weather held up. Of course, as luck would have it, it was absolutely beautiful the whole week leading up to the party. However, as the weekend was approaching, the forecast was predicting horrible storms to come in the day of Luke's party. We were bummed because it would make grilling a challenge (our deck is not roofed) and everyone would be confound to having to stay indoors. I felt like it was silly to pray for something so petty (considering all that goes on in the world), but for the days leading up to Luke's party we prayed every morning for good weather. Even the day before the party, the Weather Channel still predicted storms. So it was a huge surprise then when we woke up to sunshine that ended up staying with us all day long! I didn't consider it just a fluke, either. I felt for sure it was an answer to our prayers.
3+1=4
We were totally thrown for a loop when we found out we were expecting again. Ironically, I found out after running errands on Luke's birthday. How fitting to anticipate another birth on the day we're rejoicing over having Luke with us. We look forward to baby #2's arrival sometime around Valentines Day.
Rain, rain go away...
While God held off the rainstorms for Luke's birthday party, we were not exempt from getting showers later on in the week. In fact, the day after we had a torrential storm that opened our eyes to some major basement problems. We awoke one night to the sounds of gushing water; it happened to be when it was raining cats and dogs outside so we assumed it was outdoors. However, upon further investigation, we found out that the sound was acutally coming from our basement! When we first purchased the house, I guess you could say we had a partially finished basement. We later came to find out that the previous owners most likely threw up sheet rock and tin (yes, corrigated tin like they have on the walls at Chipotle) just to hide the cracks in the walls. Not the kind of surprise you look forward to having after you've purchased a home. Our basement's version of Ol' Faithful prompted us to make several calls to try to get everything under control. We actually had a company do structural work on the basement before we moved in that provided us with a 10 year warranty. Fixing the cracks was supposed to be part of the contract, however, it took over five visits throughout the last six months for them to get everything taken care of. Due to all the water damage, we ended up having to have mold specialists come in and treat the whole basement (they found it was pretty bad, despite the fact our home inspection showed no record of mold). It was pretty concerning having to tear the finished basement out ourselves, have mold treatment performed, and then later have to replace the furnace because of the mold... especially having a hubby with asthma, a little guy under foot, and with myself being pregnant. Thankfully, after several months everything is under control!
JULY
Lenexa Freedom Run
On the 4th of July I participated in my first ever 5K. For the last couple of years, my aunts, uncle, and cousins have competed in the Lenexa Freedom Run, namely in honor of my young cousin, Aaron Walters, who tragically passed away in 2007 of a heart condition. Aaron was known by many as an awesome cross country runner and his idea of fun was getting up to run at 7am on 4th of July for Lenexa's 5K. Since his passing, the family has done this race as a way to remember him by. In years past, we've lived out of town and had other plans, but this year I knew I wanted to be a part of something special with the family.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I showed up. I gained a whopping 60 pounds when pregnant with Luke and I was still working it off a year after. Jogging and me were an old has-been and I didn't bother training at all, since I planned on walking the whole thing (after all, I told myself, I'm doing this to honor my cousin, not break world records). It would have been to my advantage to know that around 1500 runners compete in the Lenexa Freedom Run! When I showed up, I had no expectations since I had never ran a race (or viewed one either). I felt ashamed to show up in my worn out tennis shoes and one of Nick's t-shirts (none of my own still fit since I was still working off baby weight) when I realized I was going to be around serious athletes. There were grandmas with bodies I'd kill to have, men in shorts way too short, and an array of high school running teams and corporately sponsored business execs in pretty spiffy gear. It didn't take long for me to feel out of place, however, somehow instead of feeling down about it, I started to get really excited. After paying a $20 entry fee and getting up as early as I did (I had to be there around 6am) I figured it was worth my time to at least jog as much as I could.
I ended up completing the 5K in around half an hour. While my time was certainly nothing to write home about, I left with a huge sense of accomplishment and a very sore shin! I got the bug and look forward to not only doing the Lenexa Freedom Run every year I can, but I also have found that I love to jog and hope to run my first 10K next year as well (obviously, a while after I've had baby #2!).
Break a leg... er, hip.
As soon as I got back home from the race, we got a call from Nick's mom asking for us to come help. That morning Bill & Julie, were biking a trail close to our house and Bill's biked hydroplaned on a sheet of wet asphalt. The result wasn't good. He was thrown off his bike and landed on his hip (that had been replaced a year ago, I should mention). Thankfully Julie had her phone to call us, because they were twenty miles away from where they parked their cars at the beginning of the trail head. We transported Bill to Shawnee Mission Medical Center where he was told that nothing broke and was released a few hours later. Bill's a tough guy and we knew something was majorly wrong when he couldn't walk and was almost reduced to tears just sitting. It ended up taking two more visits over the next four days before an X-ray specialist finally found the cause of his pain... his hip not only broke, but cracked through (I'm still not sure how they missed that the first two times!). An immediate total hip replacement was required within 24 hours time. Thankfully, after two months time he was back to walking and performing normal activities.
Hurray for besties!
I was thrilled when lifelong friend, Ashlie Oestreich, came to stay with us for a few days. Ashlie and I go back 20+ years but have only been able to get together a handful of times since we live a state away and have busy lives (in fact, of the four times we've seen each other in ten years, two of those occassions were our own weddings). We had a great time and I'm so thankful for those few friendships God has gifted me with that are like ours... you know, the type where you can pick up right where you left off in a conversation even if it's been years since you've last seen each other. It only added to our excitement that we're both expecting at the same time (she & her hubby with their first, due a month before ours). I wondered if Nick would feel out of place with two gabby, hormonal, and generally excited women in the house but he was very gracious and admitted to having a great time himself!
New HVAC = One Happy Momma
After months of getting estimates, we settled on a company for a new HVAC system. We thought we'd be able to hold off on such an expensive purchase for a while... that was until the rainstorm we got in June led to testing for mold that came up positive (and grossly enough, strongest in our furnace). That, and the fact, that just keeping the heat set on 50 degrees in March (before we moved in and were renovating... just so the pipes wouldn't freeze overnight) let to a $100+ heating bill. Ouch!
We didn't want to take chances and knew it would have needed replaced in a matter of time since the one that came with the house was the original. Once we started getting estimates, we found out it would also be advantageous to get our air conditioner replaced as well, since it would need replaced in a matter of years and be cheaper to install at the same time as the furnace.
There are still a thousand home improvement projects around here to do, but when I want to see something completed and new, I need look no further than our backyard (for the ac) or in the basement (furnace). You'd think they were jewelry with how happy I am over those big bulks of shiny bling!
AUGUST
Car Wreck
We started our August out in an interesting fashion. The first Monday of the month I found myself with a free morning (a gorgeous one at that) and decided to take Luke for a little outing (nothing fancy... just a trip to Lowes to look at the flowers and a visit to Petco so he could see the animals). We didn't quite make it very far, however, when I was hit while making a left hand turn at the intersection in front of Lowes. Thankfully, it was nothing more than a bad fender bender; Luke didn't even cry and ended up taking a nap when the police came to fill out a report. My biggest concern was if my seatbelt's locking caused any problems with the pregnancy. I ended up spending half the day at Olathe Medical's ER and thankfully, our minds were put at ease when they found everything to be fine.
The biggest stress came later when we found out that the other driver's ticket was revoked and I was later given one. While I felt certain at the scene that the kid (the other driver was 16) was going through my green light, I found myself unable to say with the same amount of confidence who's fault it was or not after 24 hours time (maybe I had a green yield light and not a green arrow?). Who's to say... but it made for a very not fun situation when we had to deal with insurance and being liable for the whole thing afterwards. Between dealing with agents, the ticket, and getting the car fixed, it took a good six weeks for everything to subside. Thankfully, it's all said and done with and the important thing is, everyone is okay.
Luke's New Friends
We were thrilled when we met our neighbors directly behind us and found out they had two little boys ages 2 and 1. Some time in August my neighbor Gayle invited me to bring Luke over for a playdate with her kiddos. The boys hit it off immediately and every week since we've arranged getting together, whether it be walking to the local park, going to Deanna Rose (an amazing- and free!- children's farmstead for those of you not around here), taking a picnic, etc. The boys momma, Gayle, has been a wealth of knowledge when it comes to baby safety (she and her husband have been uber creative in making their place kid friendly) and plus, I just think she's pretty awesome. Getting the kids together has been an excuse for some girl time for the mommas as well.
Baby Beat
Early in August, we got the privilege of hearing our baby's heart beat for the first time. I can't tell you how reassuring it was! After having a miscarriage I had set myself up emotionally for the very worst when I found out I was expecting again and it wasn't until we heard that little heart beat that I could breath easy (well, at least for a few weeks... then I wanted to hear it again just for confirmation!). Luke wasn't sure what to make of it when our midwife, Suzanne, starting pushing on my belly with the moniter wand. At first he was mad (I think he felt she was hurting me), but when he heard his little sibling's heart beat he immediately thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Family Time
One of the best parts about August was the opportunities we had to get together with our family as much as we did. Two Sundays of the month we met with all of Nick's extended family for dinner (one of those times at his grandparents for a swim party/BBQ, the other at Bravo's in Zona Rosa... yum!). I was also thrilled when it worked out for my brother Michael to join us for a few days before he made his trek back to California for his fall semester in college. Michael's school schedule is pretty gruelling and when he goes back home between semesters he usually works some rather intense hours on the pipeline to save up for another semester of college (he's been able to go to school debt free so far doing that, but it means he has absolutely no spare time!). What a treat when we got to have him over for a couple of days before he headed back to CA! Michael and Nick have a special brotherly bond (they did even when Nick & I were dating, which I just loved)... they both share the same affinity for sports, politics, theology, video games, and a good game of Risk (thank goodness, too, because that is so not my territory!). I was thrilled that they had an opportunity to spend some "man time" together since both had worked so hard over the summer and didn't have much time for social activities.
SEPTEMBER
Sweet Deals
After all the home renovations we've done, the expenses that come with a fender bender, and expecting another little one our finances didn't lend themselves to much free spending. I was thrilled then when I found out how incredibly AWESOME some of the consignment stores in our area are for getting great kids clothes. When I heard that our local Savers was having a complete 50% store merchandise sale on Labor Day, I was there in my most comfy tennies at store opening (7am!). Apparently I wasn't the only one looking for a good deal... there were already over 100 people there when I arrived! Bracing the crowds paid off and I got all of Luke fall/winter clothing for around $60. Several of the items still had the original tags on them and everything was name brand. I even lucked out in finding an LL Bean snow suit and a Land's End light jacket for fall/spring time use. A week later, a found Luke's big ticket Christmas item on Craigslist... a Learning Tower. I'd heard great thing about them on some websites before, but never considered getting one because of cost (they normally run close to $200). When I saw that a gal was selling hers for $40 on Craigslist, I jumped at it. My father in law was a dear and drove five hours round trip to pick it up.
Fall Festivities
I got some pointers on fun fall family activities from the KC Parent magazine and just about every weekend we made plans doing something out and about. Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Santa Caligon Days in Independence with Nick's parents. The next weekend, we went to Sar Ko Par Park for Lenexa's Spinach Days. The weekend after we had fun helping (and attending) Nick's stepdad's surprise 60th birthday; Nick was the videographer for the event while I played resident photographer. Finally the last weekend of September was one pampering, as I was treated by my parents to a restaurant of choice for my 25th birthday (I chose T-Rex at Legends and had a blast... you couldn't chose a better place to take a child and the looks on Luke's face were priceless). A few days later, Nick's parents treated us out to Cheesecake Factory (my absolute favorite!!!).
The verdict is in and it's a...
Perhaps the best birthday present of all came a few days early when we got to see our precious little one via sonogram. We found out that everything looked healthy and proportionate (make that very healthy... Itty Bitty sized up three weeks ahead in size, but they're still resuming the same due date). Best of all, we found out that we were having another little boy! We're just thrilled about the verdict... coming from a family with a thirteen year spread between oldest and youngest, I never got to experience that kind of closeness and I'm so eager to see the vibe between Luke and his younger brother (or, as Luke calls him, his baby "bubba"). After much consideration, we have chosen to name him Quinn Davis; Quinn meaning "wise and intelligent" and Davis being in honor of my paternal grandmother (it's her maiden name). Consequently, we found out that Davis means "beloved". Put the two together and essentially our child's name means, "Wise and wanted". It's our hope that he grows in wisdom and discernment, but there is know doubt he is already greatly wanted and beloved. We can't wait for Quinn's arrival, sometime around Valentines Day.
OCTOBER
October proved to be one of the most eventful months thus far in our year. We started the beginning of the month on a positive note... on the first Saturday, we took a day trip to the Louisburg Cider Mill Days. It was crowded beyond belief and every little thing cost money to do so we didn't end up staying long (just long enough to get fresh cider and cider donuts!). We ended up finding a local pumpkin patch on our way back to west that blew our minds... 35 plus acres of pumpkins, a kids play area, free hayrides, etc. Luke was in hog heaven as we toted him around in a big wooden wagon (they had several on the premises to wheel pumpkins around, though Luke found it was a pretty good mode of transportation for himself). The rest of our weekends were sprinkled with fun fall traditions as well... for the last four years, I've attended a function at my grandmother's church called Christmas in October. It's an awesome ladies breakfast, shopping experience, and conference where they set the tone for the holidays. In years past the conference reflected a combination of The View and Oprah's favorite things episode, as they'd have gals up on stage in different seasons of life conversing about fun Christmas activities and then it would segway into a cooking session or a crafts session. Between each topic, men in tuxes would come to each row and hand out free gifts to everyone attending the event. Needless to say, it's a lot of fun and it is the first thing that gets me in the mood for Christmas each year. This year's event was no exception. The following week, I went with my mother in law to the Junior League's Holiday Mart event at the Overland Park Convention Center. This is the third year I've attended and I'm always blown away by the amount of vendors and the cool specialty items that are for sale. We stocked up on jellies, decorations, and some great stocking stuffers for Luke.
The last weekend of the month was full with Halloween and a family day. Years before we were even expecting Luke, a co-worker showed me a picture of her grandson dressed as a Tom Arma skunk and it registered with me so much, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to make as my own child's first costume. Making the costume was a bit of a challenge, though, as Luke grew great guns in over a month's time (OVER 3 inches in four weeks). It required that a second costume be made because the first one was too small. It was well worth the extra effort as he looked absolutely adorable and received numerous compliments.
Friday afternoon (Halloween Eve) we took Luke out on a trick-or-treating practice run at his Mimi's workplace. It didn't take him long to figure out how the process worked! He ran from one cubicle to the next scouting out candy bowls! The little stinker figured he could use the cute factor to his advantage as he'd act all sweet and innocent... and then try to take extra pieces of candy out of the same bowl. How ornery!!!
On Halloween, we made several pit stops to show family his outfit. Midday, we met my Grandma Morehead at the Legends shopping area for lunch; we made it just in time for Luke to participate in the costume parade they were having in the square right outside the restaurant. The top 10 best costumes would receive prizes. I was convinced he was amongst the best dressed (not like I'm biased or anything, though!) and was pretty surprised that he wasn't called up as a top contender... if it's any consolation, he won first place in my eyes! ;) Later that evening, we drove up to Parkville where we attended Nick's cousin's family Halloween party. We knew a few family members would be there but were surprised to be amongst about 30 of their friends. It proved to be a very full house! We all took our kiddos around the block and ate ziti and lasagna back at their house.
These were all some of the positive highlights from our month. We were thrown a curve ball early on in the month of October when Nick was let go from his job due to the economy. We did not for see this happening and it was a big surprise to us both. Nick has applied for unemployment and continually applies for positions online. While this would be a stressful circumstance given any time, it only adds to it that unemployment rates are so high, it's the end of the year (when hiring is at it's lowest), and we're expecting Quinn within a matter of months.
It goes without mentioning that the respect I have for Nick has gone through the roof when it comes to how he's dealt with the situation. I am ever so proud of his discipline; he's gone to job fairs, networked with friends and family, and continues to apply to anything he finds online that he's qualified for. One of the biggest challenges is that most all companies prefer contact to strictly be electronic... whether it be e-mailing the HR manager, setting up a profile with a company account, what have you. Nick's tried to follow up by calling companies so that they can register his voice/name with the resumes he sends, though many places even specify that they do not want calls in regards to hiring. Talk about a challenge! We're praying that his resume gets into good hands and he receives a call back soon, but we would greatly appreciate your prayers as well. Having been down this road last year around the holidays, we had a little experience at this... however, Nick got a job within two weeks of being out of work. This time we're going on 5 weeks with no leads, a mortgage, and a baby on the way. Eeeek! Add to this, Murphy's law has been in order ever since he's been out of work. I started having major tooth pain which requires surgery tomorrow (I'll find out whether I'm getting a root canal done or something less invasive once they get into it), and our car is making funny noises which leads me to believe it's going to need to be taken to the shop. It's definitely a lot to handle at the moment... so again, we would so greatly appreciate your prayers.
So.... at this point in the game, I've pretty much updated you on everything from June-November. Phew!!! From now on bloggings will be more regular (and smaller since I'll have less to fill you in on!).
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