the house is painted..

What started out as what we thought would be a couple weekends of work turned into a whole summer of painting the house!  This whole painting a house thing was a new concept to both of us, and I think we much prefer vinyl siding to wood for any future house purchases.

All that to say, I am so thankful for Clay's hours upon hours of scraping, priming and painting!  Unfortunately (or fortunately), being pregnant stopped me from climbing any ladders so I'm afraid I wasn't much help..except for keeping Levi occupied and the workers fed.

These are very tall ladders..so thankful for no ladder falls.

Using the contraption that Clay and a friend built to be able to use a ladder on the slanted roof..

Every time he thought it would be a small section of scraping, the paint would just keep coming off (as displayed here).  The areas that were scraped down to bare wood had to be primed and then given two coats of color.

Levi really wanted to help where he could :)

Thankfully, aside from a couple of rotten window sills that needs replaced (blah!), the painting is done!  

House Updating

Well, we are still alive.  It's been quite a while since posting, but we have a summer snapshots post coming up that will review all of summer in one post!

But first, a little house update.  Mom and Dad came out to visit in May, just a couple weeks after Aunt Kari came out.  We felt loved.  

We really weren't working the whole time, but we did manage to get our master bathroom updated! Also, we had recently purchased new appliances for the kitchen and Grandpa was able to help get our microwave hung (after moving around the cabinets a bit..).

I think if you would ask either Clay or myself, we would tell you that this isn't the house we had planned on moving into, this isn't the city we had planned on starting our family in, and these aren't the job situations that we thought we would have upon graduating.  However, the Lord has been so faithful to us over and over - and we are so thankful that His ways are not our own ways.  

The more we grow as a family, the more focused I am on making sure our house is a home and a place of refuge to our little family of 3 1/2 people and those who we invite in.  I know that paint and pillows and furniture don't make a home, but it sure helps.  I am so thankful that we have been able (with A LOT of help from others) to do things to this house that make it more of our home.  It's tough being far from family, but having a home we not only like and feel comfortable in, but that we feel reflects us as a family, makes our journey out here just a little bit easier.

With that being said, a couple before and after pictures of our master bathroom vanity:

..and one with the lights out to see some details:

This may be too much information, but I keep our vanity clean now :).  I find that I have a really hard time being motivated to keep something clean if I don't like the way it looks.  If I enjoy a space or room or counter top, then I am much more likely to clean it on a regular basis so it looks nice!

Also, as mentioned previously, we recently purchased a new refrigerator, microwave, and oven.  The fridge and oven were already in place before Mom and Dad came out, but the microwave needed hung.  Although this probably wasn't completely necessary, I have a father who loves me and was willing to raise the cabinets above the microwave an inch or two for more space between the oven and microwave.  You can have your own opinion, but I personally find this inch or two to be a very vast space.

Before and after pictures of the appliances:

Levi's attempt at hanging the towel back up that he pulls down:

He makes me laugh :)

Once again, we had a nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa - and Levi of course loved all the extra attention he got.  

Levi and his new car that showed up with Grandma and Grandpa:

Thanks again for making the trip out and helping us once again on the house!

Auntie K1

Wowww - last time I blogged Levi was in a fur hat.  We've now had days where the air conditioning could be used.  Oh well.

Aunt Kari came to visit us at the beginning of May - and this time we definitely did more exciting things than going to WalMart :).  Minus the fact I got her arrival time wrong, the visit started out great.  Levi instantly warmed up to her and this book snuggling on the couch was not prompted:

Kari got in on a Tuesday and that night we had Taco Tuesday with a game night featuring Seven Wonders.  Kari was the one who originally taught Clay and I how to play Seven Wonders so it was only appropriate that she got to join for our traditional Seven Wonders group: Clay, me, Levi by monitor, Whitney, and Jacob.  Also, because it was the day after Cinco de Mayo, we decided that mustaches needed to be worn for our Taco Tuesday night:

(I apparently was overly tired that evening, but for the sake of the blog, I will post anyway).

After a thrilling evening of tacos and Seven Wonders, we awoke refreshed and ready to hike the waterfalls in Ithaca!  We had a garage sale a week or two prior to Kari coming and Clay was trying to sell everything possible (like dishes I currently use or clothes I currently wear) - including this hiking baby carrier.  One lady offered $7 less than I had it priced.  I declined.  So, Levi had a nice little seat for our hike:

Actually, I have to give a shout out to Kari and Clay here - that carrier could use a few adjustments and isn't the most comfortable thing for the wearer.  I sported Levi for approximately 10 minutes and they switched back and forth for the rest of our hiking :)

 And then we did even more hiking nearby the next day:

Thursday evening we headed to Destiny USA (what a name).  Of all the options, we decided on this strategic game thing called 5 Wits.  Right now the location in Syracuse hosts two game options - I'm sure I'm getting this wrong, but ours was something like figuring out and stopping a missile or two from going off.  This included (but was not limited to) sneaking into a building through a laser grid, figuring out a code to gain (or stop?) power, and pressing specific buttons when prompted.  As odd as my description sounds, it was entertaining and even Levi went through with us.  I think we will always remember passing Levi through the laser grid so we didn't set off any sensors.  We were a little bummed with our score (Rabenhorst perfectionists coming out?), but the workers assured us that it was good and higher than most:

That evening we had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and then played some games at Dave and Busters - a really fun ending to her trip!

Kari, we are so appreciative of you coming out!  We don't get a lot of visitors up here in the North Country and it means a lot that you came out to see us!  Thanks for the help with Levi, cooking, dishes, and of course puppy chow :).  We love you!!

We're ready..

After 130 inches of snow (so far), going through colds and ear infections and ongoing runny noses, and endless games inside, we are so ready for Spring.  We have a little boy who can't wait to get outside and run around.

In the meantime though, we are still having fun inside.  Levi has turned into quite the little helper..or at least tries to be a helper :).  He loves to bring us our shoes.  Anytime I let him, he wants to stir whatever I am cooking.  He recently started emptying the silverware out of the dishwasher unprompted.  

When we had his 15 month check up, we found out he grew two inches since his one year appointment; that growth is definitely showing itself.  He seems to be able to reach almost everything on the table and counter tops.  Just tonight he snagged two pancakes off the table while we were cooking and washing dishes and he was entertaining himself.  We've learned that just about nothing is safe on the table anymore.

Here's to hoping Spring comes quickly!!

Checking In..

Just a little check in here..

About a month ago we decided it really was time for Levi to get a little hair cut.  His bangs (do guys have bangs?) were falling in his eyes unless they were brushed to the side.  I had cut off his curls in the back several months earlier but now a trim was needed all over.

So, off to Snip-its we went.  Snip-its specializes in children's cuts and had more bright colors going on than Levi had seen in his little life.  

Anyway, to make a long-story short, the hair cut didn't go too well.  Because it makes me sad, I'll only include two pictures from the experience: 

As soon as she sprayed his hair to start cutting, it went downhill fast.  And now the time has come where his hair is almost in his eyes again, and this time yours truly will be giving it a try..

On a side note, I know its only been a few weeks since this, and maybe its the longer hair in the first picture, but gosh he looks a lot younger than he does now :(.  I often tell him he can't grow anymore, he can't lose his soft, fine hair, and he can't lose his baby smell.  Apparently its not working very well.

Subject change: have you been watching Syracuse basketball?  In case you haven't, we're (yes, I'm claiming them) ranked #1 and the last two games have literally come down to the last shot.  In case you haven't followed college basketball at all (because that is generally me), Syracuse is one of two undefeated teams - which has made these last two games even more of a nail biter than usual.  I consider myself somewhat of a poser fan but I suppose after living here for over four years, we have endured the winters long enough to claim them as our team.

Well, we had the opportunity to go to the game last weekend through work.  They got tickets to the press box and little Levi was due for his first Orange experience.  The poor kid didn't know so many people even existed in the world.  It was pretty loud, even in the box, and he did great.  

Here's to hoping we actually see those 40 degree forecasted temperatures this week!! We're ready for Spring!!

One Year - Some Sap and a Party

My little baby boy is a year.  Our sweet little baby who brings so much joy and so many smiles has been with us for over a year now!  

Can I just say, no one tells you!! No one tells you what its like to have a kid, and even if they did, I wouldn't have understood listened.  No one tells you that your life changes drastically from the time that labor starts to the arrival of a beautiful baby.  

When I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with Levi, I remember one of my friends saying something like "We need to chat and get it all out because you're going to have a baby soon and won't have any time!"  My response?  "What do you mean? I'll have more time once the baby comes.  I'll be at home not working anymore!"

 But its not just about the time - or the lack of.  And honestly, Levi is a fairly "easy" baby.  I can't complain about not having time because with just him, I have time. It's the rest.  

It's the way everything in life suddenly becomes different.  It's the love that is so strong you don't know if your heart is going to literally break inside of you.  Or, the feelings so intense that you think they may become a tangible object that can sit on a shelf.  It's the fear, demanding your faith in God grow to a new capacity, knowing that He loves best if or when that time comes.  It's that you can't even go somewhere alone (hello new found freedom in the grocery store) without thinking of him or wondering what he's doing.  

But, its incredible.  It's one of my greatest joys in life.
   
Levi has taught me so much.  From the smiles that he gives absolute strangers to the snuggles he gives after a long day, he reminds me how much joy there is to be found in life.  When circumstances are so confusing or answers seem so far away, he shows me a picture of childlike faith.  

And he is our little one year old.  He is full of smiles.  He loves splashing in the bathtub.  He eats like a teenager (ok, probably a stretch but I literally do not know where he puts all of his food).  He dances to music.  He snuggles his stuffed animals.  He plays with any size ball for endless amounts of fun. He giggles when he finds your belly button. 

Just before he turned 13 months, he took a few steps on his own, and has recently started climbing.  The stairs he mastered long ago but now its boxes or ledges or anything that can make him higher.  He makes me laugh on a regular basis and we generally truly enjoy our days.  I often tell people we are having a lot of fun with Levi right now - this season with him is good!

On a side note, we celebrated his first birthday with a Mustache Bash.  It was fun for us to plan his party and celebrate him.  Both sets of grandparents were able to come and a few friends came over.  What a loved little boy we have!

He loved his cake!

Celebrating with our little man!

Cupcakes and party table set up!

Monthly pictures - so fun to look back and see :)

Grandparents picture!

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for us and with us as we raise this little boy!  Keep them coming because I think this is just the beginning :)

11 and 12 Months!

Well, Levi is obviously not 10 months old anymore.  Clearly I'm behind.

Some things from the last two (!) months.  

He finally got his first tooth at eleven months old..on top.  As of now, he has one tooth on top and one tooth on bottom.  We affectionately refer to him as Snaggletooth, and he resembles a jack o lantern.  As of yesterday, his second top tooth has popped through.

(11 months)

He loves to clap as soon as someone else starts clapping or someone tells him "good job" or "yay."  I find this adorable and love his chub little hands.

(11 months)

He continues to stand on his own and has gotten pretty fast at crawling but chooses not to walk.  I think the most he has taken on his own is three steps.

(11 months)

 

He needs a haircut.  I cut off his curls prior to his one year pictures.  We wanted him to look like a little boy and the curls needed to go.  I don't regret it, but I do enjoy when the back starts to curl some days.  His whole head of hair has now grown to the point that he needs an all-over hair cut.  The front falls into his eyes if we don't keep it brushed to the side.

(11 months)

He has turned snuggly on us.  I didn't see it coming.  Don't get me wrong, I love love love it, but I thought the snuggles were gone.  Somewhere right around his birthday, he decided he liked laying his head on Mom's shoulder.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

(11 months)

We've entered into somewhat of an attached phase.  This also came right around his birthday.  Its generally not too bad as he is still able to be distracted.  However, there are certain times he only wants mom.  I usually wouldn't have it any other way.

(12 months) 

He's growing.  Mostly just taller.  He eats tons (if Mom and Dad don't cut him off) but he hasn't gained much weight.  One of his favorite activities is escaping from Mom and visiting Dad in his office.  Here he finds the printer which he used to be just tall enough to reach the on/off button (Dad doesn't enjoy this but Mom does as she knows he is safe and occupied with minimal supervision while not being able to see him).  We also have to make sure things left on the table are pushed away from the edge as he can easily reach up and over, but can't see over.  I one time found him sucking on a banana peel he had pulled off the edge.  Thankfully I learned early and no plates or glasses have been grabbed.

(12 months)

He understands.  He knows what he is supposed to play with and what he is not.  He now has a mischievous look where he looks at one of his parents before doing something he knows he's not supposed to.  This is encouraging to know that consistency is paying off, but definitely a reminder of what is to come.

(12 months)

He loves the vacuum.  Its funny.  He follows me around while I vacuum and if the vacuum is turned off, he knows he's not allowed to touch it (ours tips over easily).  You should see the wonder he has while staring at it and trying so hard to leave it alone.

(12 months)

He continues to love people..especially in the grocery store or one of my favorites, Hobby Lobby.  We made a lot of trips to Hobby Lobby prior to his birthday party and we are now friends with most of the cashiers.  

(12 months)

Boy do we love him!