Rain & Rocks

It's been raining most of the day today.  And I've been very happy.  I don't know that I can explain it adequately, but there's something about a steady rain that makes me joyous.  Today I cleaned up the house quickly as soon as I woke up (only because an agent from the property leasing company we are going to use to find renters for this house was on his way over), so the rest of the day I enjoyed a picked-up, cozy house.  That combined with a rainy day is just about as perfect a setting as I can imagine.  Emerson was also at preschool, so the noise level was reduced significantly.  Just Jax and Mommy at home, watching the rain fall outside. 

On the way home from picking Em up from preschool, I found myself looking for ditches on the side of the road.  Why, you ask?  Well, when I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do on a rainy day was put my rain gear on, have my sister do the same, and we would walk down the dirt road by our house.  Along the way we would carefully watch the ditches and clear away any large rocks that were impeding the flow of the water.  Looking back on it, I think it was all my strange idea and she just went along with it.  There was something cleansing and right to me about moving the rocks to make a better path.  I think I was as natural-born cleaner even back then.  I'm sure there's something much deeper and spiritually representative I should be taking from this memory, but to me on the drive home, I just enjoyed remembering the rainy days from my childhood and moving the rocks with my sister. 

Jax the talker

Jax is 19 months now and has developed quite a little vocabulary.  Nowhere near what Emerson had at this age, but everyone is saying it's early for a boy.  For instance, this morning Emerson got out of bed an hour early again... dang you, Daylight Savings Time... she got in bed with us, and we listened to Jax in the monitor.  The following came out of his mouth in one fell swoop:  "Momma??? Da-Da??? Sissy?  Football?  Bah-ket-ball?  Bat?  Baseball?  Ehh-pain (airplane)? Ooooooh.... U!"  He then proceeded to count to 10 in his funny little way.  It was as if he was pulling out all the stops to get someone, anyone, to come get him out of his crib. 

Thankfully he's picking up on his manners, saying 'peeth' and 'gink-you' along with 'aow-bee' when I make him repeat 'obey.'  His two-word combos are slowly making their way out, my favorite being 'gink-you, Momma' when I hand him something important like his sippy cup.  Alas, the 'NO!' while shaking his head violently side to side is also here to stay, I'm afraid.  I'm holding out hope that Hayden won't be strong-willed because frankly I'm exhausted trying to 'gently bend and mold' the wills of my first two.  Okay, some days it's closer to 'breaking and overpowering,' but I'm trying to find balance between the two.  I just refuse to let them win a battle.  And that's hard work.  Especially when all I feel like doing nowadays is finding the nearest bed or couch, taking the pressure off my sciatic nerve, and closing my eyes for just a little snooze.  Never seems to happen! 

On another note, our friends Lauren and Mark in California had their 2nd baby, a little boy named Judah Ryan.  He's just about the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on.  Now they just need to move their butts back to Oklahoma so our kids can play together.  Here's the handsome little guy:

Big News

So we bought a house today. 

We looked at four last Tuesday night with our friend and realtor Deana, and the last one we saw was the one we wanted.  To our advantage it was bank-owned, so our low offer didn't offend some sweet little couple!  After only a couple of counter offers, they accepted our final offer today!  I'm still kind of reeling and trying to process everything.  We have inspections to fall into place, of course, so I'm cautiously optimistic.  Looks like if all goes well we'll be moving right after Christmas.  Maybe my large pregnant belly will get me out of packing boxes.  Hardy-har. 

Beautiful Turnbulls!

I just have to share these pictures.  My brother & sis-in-law, Jace & Liz, and their kiddos Parker, Addison & Vance, just had a fantastic photo shoot done.  Makes me miss them so stinkin' much I can't stand it.

Videos

This first video is about a month old, and it's crazy how much Jax has changed.  He loves hiding in Daddy's shirts. 



Emerson playing her harmonica we brought back from Branson, also about a month ago.  Love her wild post-nap hair. 



Also, you've gotta read BooMama's post today... so good.  http://boomama.net/2010/11/02/let-sleeping-southern-belles-lie/

Fun Christmas download

The Money-Saving Queen has a link on her blog today for a free Veggie Tales Christmas CD download through Amazon. Here it is:

http://www.moneysavingqueen.com/2010/11/free-veggietales-download-on-amazon-com.html


I just saved it to a CD and am looking forward to rockin' out in the car with the kids. After Thanksgiving, of course. I'm not THAT eager for Christmas music.

Had lunch today with my dear friend Kyna who is having her 3rd baby and girl next Tuesday. We've been pregnant with all 3 of our babies together, and I cannot WAIT to meet this new one next week. Lexi and Paisley are two of the cutest girls on the planet, and I have no doubt baby sister will fit right in.