Mompetitors

I saw this on a birth board I frequent. It is pretty cute. I think we have all met a "mompetitor" at some time or another. I even think I have been guilty of participating in "mompetition" occasionally...

We are building a house! ...well sort of...

We are in the process of building a house. The process is moving very slowly at the moment...but first a little background info.
Right now, we (family of 5) live in a tiny 2-bedroom house next door to Josh's parents. It was great for when we were "starting out" but now it is not working out so great.

A few years ago, we bought a beautiful 5-acre lot down the street. It half wooded and half field (or whatever you call that). It also has a gorgeous year-round running creek. We recently attempted to sell our lot because I wanted to move ASAP and didn't want to wait around to build. The lot wouldn't sell (grrrr...) so we decided to get started on the home building process.

So far we have pre-qualified for our construction loan, gotten our septic permit and bought our plans ( http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=3809 ). We have also found our builder/general contractor.

Now things have started to slow down. We have to get our driveway permit before we can go any further. Unfortunately, the current driveway is too steep. Josh and his dad have been attempting to grate it out but have run into several huge rocks. They tried busting them up with a sledge hammer but it didn't work. Now we have to rent a jackhammer attachment for the bobcat - geez!

The contractor is also working on the bids, which takes time. I am just anxious to get everything finished up so that we can get our loan and break ground. Honestly, the whole process makes me nervous and it seems that the longer it takes to get going, the more I worry. I just can't wait until we get to the actual house building portion of the house building process.

Sorry Jake and Owen...

It has recently come to my attention that I have done a terrible job keeping up with milestones for the boys.
Jacob had a speech evaluation yesterday. On the information form, you are asked to include developmental milestones. I thought I would be able to fill those in easily because I had his baby book with me. Not so - it became painfully apparent to me that there were a lot of blank spaces in that book. I had to guess and estimate several milestones.
Owen's baby book is even worse. I don't think I have entered ANYTHING in it. Eeeek! I am hoping that between facebook and my memory I can get caught up. I also took him for his 6 month portrait today. The bad thing is that he is 7 months old!
I don't understand why keeping up with these little things is so difficult for me. Abby's book has pages of acheivements - some which are even questionable as achievments! I used to take Abby for portraits on the day of her turning 3 months, 6 months, etc. **Sigh** My poor boys... I am just hoping that they won't care. After all, I have looked at my baby book often, but I know my brother has never really looked at his. Just to be on the safe side, I might make up some entries for the boys' books. Shhhh... just don't tell them. That doesn't make me a terrible mother does it? ;)

Things I Love about Tennessee

Tobacco Barns. I don't know what I like more - the smell of the smoke, the smoke drifting through the sunlight or the way it hangs in the hollows every evening. The only problem I have is explaining to Abby what tobacco is grown and used for. That is a little bit more complicated.