It's been a long time my friend

Once again I have proven that I would be a starving artist if I relied on the blogging to pay the bills. Fortunately I have a fantastic 8-5 job that help keeps food on the table. It has been 3 weeks and I have many updates and more exciting things to share. I want to share as much as possible but I am not sure if I can keep the order straight on when these events occurred.

Great news! Our house in Augusta is finally on the market. All I can say is WOW, thank you God that the preparation/clean up/staging phase is over. Chili and I are exhausted from all the work we have had to do. Do you want to know the sad part? We actually paid someone to do most the work for us, but it doesn't matter, we're still exhausted. Mostly we are tired because we were chasing a 2 1/2 year old around while trying to declutter and clean, and then there were the times we were cleaning the spit up and dirty diapers from Jackson in between the mopping and dusting. Nonetheless, we are ready to go to market now and our house looks great. So, if any of you have any friends that are interested in purchasing a 2-story, 4 bedroom house in Columbia County, I have the perfect place for them!

The construction will begin on our new home next week too. They are still promising a Christmas delivery date. We have now picked out all of our colors, tile, countertops, and anything else the builder can try to upsell us on. I still have to pinch myself that we are able to do something like this. I was just telling my mom tonight that even though it is extra work to build, it is such a great kind of "stress."

Meanwhile, in between the working and finding a permanent place to live, I have been exposed to what is commonly referred to as the Terrible Two's. I truly love Hamilton in a way I never thought possible but somedays can be a little harder than others. Take for instance this picture I have below, he looks so sweet and innocent, like a young boy just trying to be a Georgia fan like his Daddy. Yet this same child screamed and kicked his through the Stride Rite store because he refused to try on any shoes that didn't look like his favorite pair of Crocs he wears everyday.

I know we'll get through this like all parents eventually do but somedays I do have to wonder...

Then there is my sweet Butterball Jackson. I can see why Pediatricians refer to a 6 month old as the "honeymoon period" during life with a baby. He is rolling over, sitting up (ok, not very much, but I'm still proud) and he's babbling so much I can't help but wonder what he's saying. Today Chili took him for his 6 month checkup. He weighed around 19 lbs and is perfectly average for his age. As his mother I know he is so much more than average. He's such an incredible blessing and has brought immense joy to my life in such a short amount of time. How many people do you know kick and squeal with delight everytime you walk into a room? It's the greatest feeling in the world. This picture I took is him modeling his new monogrammed towel that his Aunt Melissa handmade for him. He's so snuggly...does he have any idea much I want to pinch those cheeks all the time?


Lastly I would like to give an update on the Weight Watchers. Yes, I actually lost 7 pounds the first 3 weeks! However, then my birthday happened, and it was one cake slice that led to another and then the special dinner out, and before I knew it I had gained back 2. So this week I am trying to get back on track but tomorrow is Chili's birthday so I really going to try hard to control myself. At least I know that it will work if I stick to it. And as I have been reminding myself over and over again for the last several months, I just have to take it a day at a time.

Do I really need to pack all these things?

I am getting ready for my business trip tonight and I think my Mommy Packing Skills have now crossed over into my work life. I will only be gone for 2 days yet I find myself packing extra things "just in case."

Meanwhile, we finally confirmed that a contractor will be at our house in Augusta this Saturday to complete the last bit of work we need done before we can list our home. I am so relieved...let's just hope he was worth the wait. Today I also received a call that we get to go pick out all the flooring selections for the house we are building. Oh fun! Now, the only thing I am dreading is the fact that the lady said it will take 2 hours to go through all the choices and I can't help but think how in the world I am going to drag a 2 yr old and a 6 month old to something like that. I see a potential disaster in my future but nonetheless I think it's really cool we'll be able to have that kind of input in our new home.

Speaking of which, here is a picture of our lot where we are building:


I will continue to post new pics as we make progress with the home.

I am looking forward to filling our new home with lots of memories. I am ecstatic that this could possibly be the place that Hamilton and Jackson will always look back on and say "this is where I grew up."

And while I am posting new pictures, here are a couple of new ones Hamilton & Jackson:

Surprise

Today was a great start to the week. Jackson woke up unusually early around 6am and I decided I wanted to get up to feed him and spend a few minutes alone, just the two of us. After he finished eating he just sat there cooing and smiling while he snuggled with me. I didn't want it to end but he became tired again and of course I had to get ready for work.

So then I had another nice surprise early in the morning. I think my scale finally came to "room temperature" (see yesterday's blog if you think I am making this up.) It turns out I lost 3 pounds this week-I couldn't believe it. I was so relieved to see my hard work pay off. It gave me the motivation to keep going with the Weight Watchers this week and stop beating myself up for a little while.

Meanwhile I had a busy,full day at work but Mondays are generally hectic so this is nothing unusual. Meanwhile, Chili took the boys to the pool today and he did quite a bit of work around the apartment. I was thinking today at work (and bragging just a little) about how supportive Chili has been through this whole process of moving. I am not sure our family could have remained as strong and stable if it weren't for his steadiness. Keep in mind that I am writing all of this while enjoying tonight's episode of The Bachelor Pad so I am feeling especially romantic :)

As I bring this day to a close I am hoping tomorrow will start off as special as it did today. I hope everyone reading this has a great week...

Lots to catch up on...

So tonight I wind down another week, a week where I feel like I was able to mark a few items off my never-ending To-Do list. Rather than bore you with all the details, I thought I would make a bullet list of the highlights (and a few lowlights) from this week:

1.Jackson is rolling over and getting stronger by the day

2.Hamilton taught his toy Woody a lesson in discipline-he put Woody in Time Out because apparently Woody wasn't cooperating with the bubble machine they were playing with.

3.We are officially under contract! The construction on our new home will begin Mid-September and supposedly we will be moved in by Christmas(I will believe that when I see it for myself.)

4.Chili had his resume completely revamped. He is working with a recruiting company Electrolux hired for Spouses of employees that were transfered. He will officially begin his job search here in Charlotte this week.

5.We all were able to find a place to get our haircut. Chili and Hamilton found an old-fashioned Barber Shop while I chose to have a cut/highlight job at a more contemporary place, shall we say. This is actually a really big deal for me. I was
dreading finding a new hair stylist in Charlotte but I can't believe I hit the jackpot my first time out!

6.I completed my first week of Weight Watchers and let's just say it did not have the result I was hoping it would have.

Allright, I can not let the last bullet point go without doing a little bit of explaining. I am sure some of you might be curious how I could have failed during my first week trying Weight Watchers. There is actually a slight bit of drama to report and I might have a tiny defense. First of all, I left my scale in Augusta and this is the scale that I originally weighed myself on last Sunday when I began the program. Today I went to Target to buy a new scale for the apartment here in Charlotte because I actually couldn't wait to weigh myself in-I thought for sure I had lost weight this week! Anyways, I get the scale home and I step on it, and I couldn't believe my eyes when it said I had gained a pound. Of course I spent all day beating myself up, wondering where I went wrong, I researched the web-site to find "support" but nothing could cheer me up. Then I happened to notice the directions to the scale and how to calibrate it and apparently I can not read too well. First of all, I kid you not, it says you have to let the scale come to room temperature. Then you have to step on, step off, step on again and then do something else with it. Well my gosh, who wants to go through all of that for an $8 analog scale from Target? Needless to say, I do not think it's set correctly so I am just going to pretend that it's off and I lost at least a pound.

This week will also be my first business trip since last October. I will be in Chicago for 3 days/2 nights. I am looking forward to it because I will finally be able to meet some of the associates I talk with at Sears-plus I have the added benefit of starting the process of picking out the appliances I will be choosing for our new home (which I am sure is the main reason Electrolux is sending me up there, right?) While I am gone Chili will be taking care of the boys and helping us get our house ready to finally go on the market in Augusta.

I do have a few more items that I would like to discuss but I am afraid I will have to reserve it for another blog another time. I am ready to call it a week and get rested for what lies ahead. I hope everyone reading this has a great week, I know I will!

Giving it all I have got!

I started off the week in the usual Mach 1-Hair on Fire fashion which seems to have become the norm in my life these days. Meanwhile Chili stayed back in Augusta for the day with Hamilton & Jackson so he could accomplish a few items on his To-Do list. Everyone at home seems to have had a fun,productive day.

But today at work I felt like making a sign to wear around my neck that said "I am doing the best I can." I think I just started off the day doubting my ability to handle what I knew was waiting on me, and it seemed to go downhill from there. Since wearing a sign wouldn't be the most mature way to handle an obstacle, I decided to work late, analyze my mistakes and not stop until I had accomplished what I set out to do this morning. As a result, I pulled up in the driveway at 7:30pm and was just completely worn out. Chili and the kids pulled up at the same time since they were returning from Augusta so I didn't have any time to rest-I had to make the most of what little time was left in the evening.

I was feeling a little guilty and frustrated with myself-wondering how I am going to find the energy to keep up this schedule. Surely there is an easier way to balance family and work? By asking that I truly am open to suggestions, by the way. But then once I saw Hamilton, Jackson and Chili, it was amazing how much life was put back into these weary bones. Hamilton couldn't run to see me quickly enough to give me a hug and Jackson was thrilled when I gave him his bottle. We ended up having a great hour together before they both had to go to sleep. Now they're sleeping so peacefully and getting the rest they need. I know I've done the best that I can today.

Is it really already August 8th?

It's a good thing that I am not trying to earn a living by writing a blog and selling advertising for it on a daily basis-as you can see I haven't exactly kept up with my blog this past week like I wanted. It was one of those weeks where you look back and wonder how it passed by so quickly. I had intended each night to try to post something but the time kept slipping away.

I would say this week was very successful and I feel as if I actually accomplished a few items. First of all, the family had a great week up here in Charlotte. Jackson and Hamilton are adjusting quite nicely and continuing to sleep very well(which makes for a very happy Mommy and Daddy.)We put a contract on a house in Charlotte and we are waiting to hear back whether or not the Builder accepted our offer. The house is in the neighborhood I've written about previously. We are so excited and I am already picking out paint colors and curtains in my head even though everyone knows you shouldn't do that until you have closed on the property. Meanwhile, we drove back to Augusta this weekend and continued to rearrange furniture at our old house, purge 3 years worth of paper, throw away junk (most of which was Chili's) and clean until we couldn't clean any more. I drove back to Charlotte this evening where I proceeded to go grocery shopping, do laundry, plan my menus for the week and wash clothes. Now I feel as if I need toothpicks to hold my eyelids open.

The highlight of the weekend was our amazing friend Joye called and asked us to drop the boys off so she could babysit and Chili and I could actually relax for a few hours. That was such a nice surprise and she has no idea how much we needed a break. So after we sped out of her driveway we went to visit our friends Guy & Jill in the hospital so we could see their precious newborn son Jack Bowen. Then we went out to an actual grownup dinner at a place we like called TakoSushi. Oh, and all you parents out there will know exactly what I mean when I tell you that I had to pace myself at dinner. I am so used to cutting up chicken, picking the Sippy Cup off the floor and keeping a supply of crayons handy that sometimes I forget how to eat like a normal person and slow down to enjoy my food.

One last thing that I did this weekend is I finally joined Weight Watchers online. I was hesitant to post that but then I thought I might be more motivated to keep track of my progress if I tell the whole world about it. So today is Day 1 and I have lost 0 pounds- that's it, I'm giving up. I am just kidding! I really want to see this through. No worries, I will not post one of those disgusting Before and After Bikini shots like you see on the diet pill commercials. So here I go again, maybe this time it'll be different.

So please say a prayer for us with the house and all the other things we have up in the air right now. I am about to call it a night and gear up for another week of Coleman Craziness.

A Secret Confession

I have to admit that I am beginning to make myself tired by discussing everything that is going on here-not to say I don't enjoy sharing, but sometimes I feel like all I talk about these days with everyone is the Big Move. Since my last blog on Wednesday I have been going 100 miles an hour trying to accomplish everything on my To-Do List. The goods news is Chili and I have narrowed down the lot we would like to build on here in Charlotte (actually the town is Huntersville.) We are trying to finalize the different options we would like. As we were sitting there in the office of the builder, I couldn't help but feel so thankful to "have" to make a decision about which colors we wanted, lighting fixtures, etc. It seems surreal that we are up here trying to establish ourselves in a town that once seemed so far away to me.

Nonetheless, while it is a great pleasure to do those types of things, I still had to go back to Augusta this weekend to continue to prep our current home to be put on the market. I know what you are thinking-it's so very HGTV of me to prep and stage the house. Unfortunately for me there wasn't a TV crew, Carpenter and Perfectly Proportioned Designer there to help me out. No, it was just me and Mama (and my little Jackson who decided to start teething this weekend.) So in between dosing J with Tylenol, organizing the closets and cleaning out the cabinets, I managed to squeeze in shopping for accessories which made for a little more fun.

Meanwhile Hamilton and Chili went to visit our friends JP and Jen in Greensboro. We are so excited because now we only live a little over an hour from them. They had a huge cookout, played golf and just had a fantastic time. The added bonus was that Chili's sister Katherine and Brother-In-Law Brown came over for a visit too. They brought their new baby Millie whom Hamilton just went crazy over. I was so sad that I missed all of them this weekend but I couldn't put off going to Augusta any longer.

Lastly, I also have to admit that I am squeezing this blog in before I settle down to watch the shocking Season Finale of the Bachelorette. I am sure it is to be the most dramatic rose ceremony ever so I have to watch the drama unfold as it happens. I actually do have work that I brought home with me to complete tonight but as the evening goes on I am becoming less and less inspired. Oh well, I'll just add my work to my To-Do list tomorrow!