Friday, May 28, 2010

Moving...Stress...Moving...

Well, as most of you know, we had a offer on our house a day and a half after putting it on the market. Jeff was leaving for training on May 2nd for 2 months and we had to be out of our house by May 27th. The weeks flew by and before I knew it, it was time for the movers to come. We had a few things already put away in storage (things we may need before we find a house, things for the baby and things that couldn't be replaced if the movers destroyed it.) I had pretty much packed our clothes, emptied all the dressers and closets before the movers came. Two guys showed up on the 24th and 25th to pack everything and on the 26th the "BIG" movers came. I tried my best to clean what I could around the movers (and Brooke!). Luckily on Monday and Wednesday, my sister had Brooke most of the day so I could clean! A lady in music class gave me the name of a wonderful lady who came and helped me as the BIG movers were clearing the house completely. I had pretty much cleaned all the appliances in the kitchen, my shower and Brooke's bathroom which was a huge help come cleaning day. Talk about exhausted, mentally and physically the entire week!! I'm sure being almost 7 months pregnant helped too! As I pulled out of the driveway, I thought I better get one last picture of the outside of our house. That's when my emotions took over!!! July would have been 4 years in that house. I planned my wedding from that house. I got married and came home to that house. I had the most beautiful baby girl and brought her home from the hospital to that house!! How could I not get emotional! I thought that was the last time I would go inside that house. Of course something came up the next morning before closing and I had to run back to change the garage code and leave it all over again. Closing went well I guess. It took a little over an hour to complete. It felt weird handing my house keys over to someone else!!! Little did I know, the next day, I had to pick up some mail and show the new homeowner a few things in the house. It was weird seeing someone else's stuff in the house. It even smelled different already!! I think Brooke was a little confused too!
All that being said, I'm glad it's all over and I can rest for a day or so....between my sister's house and my parent's house. I am officially staying with my sister, but a few nights I was too exhausted to leave my parent's house, so Brooke and I just borrowed my brother's bed. My plans are to head to Ft. Lauderdale around the 11th to stay with Jeff's parent's and then head back up here as Jeff finishes his training abroad. We hope to go house hunting when he gets back and then head to the mountains for the Gritter Reunion. We are still in limbo about where to have our baby boy. Apparently, Jeff has to report for more training at the beginning of August for 3 weeks or go after I have the baby. I don't like the thought of being in Florida alone with Brooke and going into labor without Jeff. I also don't want to be alone with 2 babies if he goes afterwards. Did I mention how much I loving moving?????



Here is Brooke's beautiful wall before I had to take the letters down and patch the nail holes!

Boy was it hard to pull everything off the wall!! I loved her room!!!

No letters!!! :(

She has the cutest little butt!! I took this picture thinking this was her last bath in our house but I ended up staying one more night.

This was her last bath in our house. Poor thing had no toys to play with. She didn't seem to mind though. The cup worked well!


Brooke's room empty with the holes patched up. So depressing!!! The new owner is painting the room a dull beige and brown color!!


My empty living room after we finished cleaning.

My dad coming down the stairs after unscrewing a fishing rod holder hidden in the closet.

Mom was a little upset too about the house being sold. She said she wanted Dad to buy our house for her! lol

Our bedrooms looked tiny without our furniture in it!

Mom and Dad hanging out in the kitchen right before we left.

Farewell to our home!!! I hope the new owners take good care of it!!!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Music Class

I finally decided to take a few pictures of Brooke during Music Class. This was our 7th class of 8 this session. Our last session was 13 classes long. There aren't many classes/activities for kids her age so when I found these classes, I was excited. She absolutely loves going to music class! Each session they gave us a CD with all the songs they interact to in class and we listen to them in the car. These CD's have turned into her favorite music in the car. They are great for calming her down when she's had enough of her car seat. Unfortunately since we are moving, we cannot sign up for the next session. I know she will miss all of the friends she has made!!


Brooke trying to get to the A & D bells.

Dancing/crawling/walking to the music....there were kids ranging from 4 months to about 3 years old so some could dance and other just crawled (like Brooke!)


Playing with the colorful scarves.

Brooke was a bit of a scarf hog!!



Where is Brooke?



Brooke and Michael


Brooke playing "footsie" with Michael

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Brooke's First Strawberry Patch


As you can see, I got left in the dust by all the anxious strawberry pickers!!! Brooke fell asleep a few minutes before we got there, but as soon as she heard her cousin's voices, she was wide awake laughing and ready to pick!!

Kalyn, Naya (my cousin), Shelby, Gavin and my sister filling up their buckets.

My barefoot child (my Mom ran off with her before I could get her shoes on!) in awe over the strawberry in her bucket.

Grandma holding Brooke, who looks like she is hunting strawberries for her basket.

Brooke and Mommy trying to find the biggest, juiciest looking strawberries.

Brooke showing Grandma the strawberries she picked herself.

Gavin running over to show us his big bucket of strawberries. He was so proud!!!

The kids taking bites of their strawberries that are grown pesticide-free.

Brooke still checking out her strawberries. She would put one back and pick up another one to examine.

Surprisingly, Brooke never tried to take a bite out of any strawberries.

My sister, the kids and myself were done picking strawberries and were ready for ice cream, but Grandma was making sure she didn't leave any strawberries unpicked!

She took time out of her strawberry picking to smile for a picture!!


Brooke loved her bucket of strawberries and was very upset when they weighed them and didn't give her the bucket back. We only picked 2 lbs so they put ours in a plastic container. Everyone else got to keep their buckets!!

Taking a break on the porch for some homemade ice cream. Brooke was trying to get into everyone else's buckets since hers was taken!

Walking around with Grandma.


Friday, May 7, 2010

"Swimming" at home

I finally got to break out our new pool. I bought this pool at the base in the fall for less than $2 on clearance. We fill it up in the morning and after her morning nap and some lunch, it's the perfect temperature. If I wasn't so big these days, I'd get in!



Brooke smiling as I took a picture "for Daddy" on my phone to email to him while he's away.

Brooke starting her standing game.

Brooke actually sitting in the water!

Our big girl standing by herself. She's turned into quite the show-off!

My baby in her "itsy, bitsy, tinie winie, polka dot bikini"

Brooke trying to keep her balance.

She likes to pick grass and try to eat it while swimming.

Brooke keeping her eye on Dutch.


Good thing you can't smell his breath!

Grandma showed up right as we were trying out our new snow cone machine.

Brooke couldn't get enough!



We even had Grandma hooked! She wants her own snow cone machine!

Brooke and Grandma