April Showers brings MANY Opportunities!

I have been opportunistic in April! There is a new job on my horizon which I think will provide less stress, less drive time, and better compensation. It is a bit hard to leave the position which I have worked so hard in, but I know I am leaving the old work place in much better shape than when I started. I know that certainly there is more to do but I have no confidence that my efforts will yield success.

We have removed a concrete pad on the south end of the house! It was a bit of an eyesore and think a nice path bordered by flowers, fruiting plants, and a garden will serve us much better. Mindy's dad and brother brought an electric jack hammer and the three of us took turns annoying the neighbors! A lot of fun but I kept thinking that I was glad I went to college so I don't have to use one every day! But I did feel manly and there was some Tim Allen style grunting. Our hope is for a pretty basic garden to start. Tomatoes, squash, and the like. Maybe some strawberries and blueberries?!?! Also, on the north of our shed where the previous owners had a trampoline and LOTS of mulch we have cleared the mulch, tilled the earth and started some grass. It's very shady with the line of cedar trees blocking the sun sometime after 2pm everyday. Also, the yard seems to grow chickweed, dandelions and moles, so we've been fighting chemical warfare. I think we're winning, albeit slowly.

Moe received a "grooming" on a warm evening recently and acts like he is much cooler. There was a pile of hair in the yard which we hoped the birds would use for nesting material, but it just looks like some poor furry creature was eaten. Speaking of birds, we saw our first Oriole on the oriole feeder this morning! He would dip his body to sip out of the feeder exposing an orange underside. Now, if we could get some hummingbirds the transition to Spring would feel complete!

Our friends came over recently with their two boys and I decided to set up my tent which I had been hauling around since college. The boys had a great time with it and made me want to go backpacking and camping. So I thought I would take an evening this week as I am between jobs and camp out at Mindy's family farmstead next to the fishing pond and enjoy a campfire and gaze at the stars. Might not get a chance, stupid rain. I hope Oliver and I can go when he gets a little older. But it wouldn't hurt to practice now! I miss being outdoors and the simplicity of being away from the house and city.

My father and I hung our wood project last night. It is a large wall mounted cabinet with sliding doors for organizing one's shop. We've been working on it for several months and it will be very useful! I have learned a lot about woodworking and think this might be a good hobby for me. As always, just need a little more money and a little more time. Next project is built-in book shelves for Oliver's bedroom. We took measurements last night and drew up a rough plan. I also got to use my laser rangefinder - awesome, if I do say so myself!

Mindy and baby Oliver have been doing well. Oliver is very active and I've felt him moving on several occasions. We continue to collect items for his room. A special thanks to the RP staff for throwing us a baby shower. We felt very special to be honored by Mindy's coworkers. Mindy seems to grow everyday and some new shirts were in order, badly! I can't believe how soon Oliver will be here and so we've been working on sleeping in and building a reserve of patience.

That's about it for April. I'm pretty sure May will be just as exciting with starting a new job, Mindy going to Summer break and efforts to get the garden and Oliver's bedroom ready! Looking forward to a couple of Royal's victories, maybe a Sporting KC game, and lots of time with friends and family! BTW Mindy will be looking forward to Yankee victories.......

20 Weeks!!

I'm so excited to tell you that we have officially made it to the half way point!  There were many many times in those early few weeks where I was so sick and so emotional I didn't think I would make it or do it.  Well, as all my friends and family have told us, you will make it and you will soon forget how horrible it was.  I still remember those early days but they are fading fast!

I'm also so excited to tell you that I have finally started to feel little flutters!!!  It is so cool and so weird at the same time.  I feel him the most late at night right before I go to sleep.  It is probably because that seems to be the only time in my day where I can actually sit, relax and be aware.  One minute it's on the left and then he's on the right.  I'm like what is going on in there, it is time for bed not a party.  Then I'm reminded by James and the voices in the back of my head that ask me, "maybe Oliver will be a night owl just like you??"  As I ponder this question most nights, wondering if that will be the case, it scares me just a bit to think of the parties Oliver and I will have in the middle of the night when we are suppose to be asleep :)  Because as you all know I am a night owl but I do love my sleep!!!  I will have to keep you posted on this part of our story....

I can't wait for the time when James can feel him move!  Oliver is definitely getting bigger (as am I) and he is getting stronger so I'm sure it won't be long before he makes his way to the surface so James can feel him!

On a totally different front, I'm so happy that all our extended family and friends in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area are safe after the scary tornadoes that happened down there early this week.  We love you all and are so glad that you are okay!!!

Last, in case you are not on facebook and have not heard, I only have 33 more days with this class....I'm so looking forward to getting some time off, relaxing, and "nesting"

Love to you all and a very Happy Easter!