The move is over!

We're in the new house!!! I wouldn't say that we're exactly settled but we're getting there. We all love the new place and are so glad the move is over. It was a very stressful week but we'll start the new year relaxing on the couch in our new home.

Christmas this year was very hectic of coarse. Honestly, it just seemed to come and go before any of us were ready. Luckily, Miley is still young enough that we can basically skip Christmas without protest. Next year will be a different story, we bought Christmas decorations and a fake tree so we'll go all out next season. This year we went to my parents' for Christmas Eve and opened gifts. The next morning, we left to get ready for Stephen's family. They arrived Christmas night, spent all day Friday with us, then left early Saturday morning. It was a nice visit but very short. Miley loved all the attention from everyone. Stephen's uncles got Miley a pink pony on wheels for Christmas and Timothy and Daniel (Stephen's brothers) would push her all over the house. She LOVED it, I told Stephen that Miley needs an older brother to play with her since she loves to play with older boys (oy vay). Hopefully, we'll all get to together again soon for a longer visit.

For tonight, I imagine it will be the same as last year. The three of us asleep by 10 but hopefully this year Miley won't wake up every 3 hours. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year.

Here are the photos of the move and the new house I promised:

Moving Truck



The House



The Living Room


The Kitchen-Before and After



Miley's Room-Before and After




Miley's Bathroom


Our Bedroom-Before (After will have to wait until we finish unpacking)

Moving Day

Well after 5 brutal months and a few setbacks (closing moved the LAST minute), we close and move into the new house today!!!!! Just in time for Christmas and to say we're anxious is an understatement. Stephen and Miley are asleep upstairs but I'm restless at 4:46 am. The plan of attack is to take Miley to daycare and for us to do as much as humanly possible so we can enjoy a nice, relaxing holiday in our new home. Miley of coarse doesn't know what's going on but she's excited nonetheless since all the furniture from upstairs has been downstairs for her to play with.

Now that the worst is almost over, we can finally focus on the season. I can't believe Christmas is in 2 days! Miley's second Christmas already, time goes so super fast. Stephen is really excited because this year he has to build something while Miley's asleep in bed. This milestone marks the beginning of the years of Santa. We're also getting company, Stephen's parents, sisters, minus one :(, and brothers are coming on Christmas night. Only Stephen's mom has had the pleasure of meeting little miss Miley so we're all excited about this visit.

Since I never seem to have time to blog except when every ones asleep, let's talk about what Miley's been up too. This weekend she has started a new saying....drum roll......"Get down". She says this when she wants up, not sure why but she'll tell you "Get down" then reach for you. If I correct her and ask "Up" she just laughs like "umm... yeah mom that's what I just said". Stephen tried to teach her self-defense because she got bite 3 out of 5 days last week. The first time, she tried to share her favorite thumb apparently it didn't go well. The last times she was bitten on her right arm at the elbow. She didn't quite get the "punch them in the face if someone bites you" but it was amusing to watch. This weekend we went to Bellingrath Gardens to see the over 2 million Christmas lights with a friend from work and her son. Miley and Christopher (he's 7) really get along and he taught her to high-five. Also this weekend Miley started to drool again. We're not talking a little drool either, we're talking fountain here. She takes it all in stride and blows raspberries with her water works. It's cute and makes me laugh but I know what's coming.....more TEETHING!

Oh before I wrap this up because it's turning into a novel. Miley's Mimi taught her how to blow her nose! That's right she is a big girl now and she learned in one day. I think she may just be the next Einstein but I may be a little bias.

Dancing Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Miley with hair

Miley at 7 months with an updo


Everyday hair

I'm getting my haircut tomorrow and wanted to try some virtual looks but I don't have a photo on my work computer. So I used Miley, I think she looks pretty darn cute with hair :). I think Stephen and I may have our hands full! Does this classify as cruel and unusually punishment?

Miley vs Santa

Well we went to see mall Santa last night and it went about how I expected. While we waited in line Miley was looking at the fake snow and Christmas trees, trying desperastely to ditch us and run to the shoe store. Then it was her turn...she ran up the ramp giggling that she had escaped my clutches and then she saw him. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared. I tried to walk her up but she won't budge. I finally picked her up (Stephen didn't want to be the bad guy) and set her on his lap. She screamed so Santa (we found out later that Stephen works with him) gave her a candy cane. She stopped crying long enough to take the photo but if you look hard enough you can still see the terror. I think Santa was more than annonyed. I guess Miley won't be getting anything this year ;).

Stressed

Once again I've been a really bad blogger. I'm sorry everybody but I have an excuse. Work has been really stressful lately, I have more work (which isn't a bad thing in times like this) then I have time to do it. We close on the new house on December 19!!!!! So for the last week I've been on the phone with the mortgage company, insurance, utilities, and the builder. Miley also spiked a very high temperature of 102.7 last Thursday so we rushed her to the doctor. She has an ear infection again but is doing SO much better. She even slept through the night last night for the first time in 2 weeks. Christmas is also fastly approahing so we're trying to shop on a tight budget. Everything we own minus 2 bowls, plates, cups, and 1 week of clothing is packed in boxes. I've been laying in bed at night thinking about all the things we have to do and how I really need to blog something so everyone knows we're alive.

So anyway, last week at the doctor's appointment Miley weighed 21 lbs 4 oz, that's almost a pound in 4 weeks!!! I think she may have had too much turkey or Christmas tree cakes. Also starting last week, Miley is completely weaned. It was a very tough road but we made it 13.5 months! Sorry but I had to toot my own horn because it wasn't always easy but we did it and I feel very proud and accomplished. If you would have told me 2 years ago that I'd be this excited about breastfeeding, I would have said you're crazy.

In other news, we'll be in the new house next week!!!!! Stephen and I are BEYOND excited. After 5 years of renting, we'll finally have a place we can call ours. We have so many ideas for the new house and just can't wait to move in and get settled. Miley's new room will be Tinkerbell fairies and pigs of coarse. Odd combo I know but the pigs are so cute and the fairies are girly ;) We all are going to love it there, the neighorhood is new and quiet and everyone lives out that way. The only downside is a longer commute but we'll take it. Neither one of us works in areas we would want to live.

Future posts....Miley's going to see Santa Claus. I have no doubt it will not go well so look for that post. Miley will soon be leaving the Birds and moving to the next class up. They sleep in cots! I would love to see how that's going to work.