Someone's Growing Up

Maddox took a fall on the tile floor today and got a little goose egg on the side of his head.

He thought the word "goose egg" was hilarious. This morning, he also thought that pointing out everyone's awkwardness in Publix  was very, very funny.

"Mom, that man doesn't have hair!"
"Mom, that lady can't walk!"
"Mom, I don't like that lady. I'm gonna poop on that lady."

When "shhh" doesn't work, you pull out the distraction card:
"Hey, Maddox, what color is that?!" (not working)
"Um, Maddox, are you excited about your birthday?" (he gets louder)
"Hey...hey...pick out a snack! Anything!"

Ah, fun times.

By the way, my little Maddox is turning THREE tomorrow. I can't believe it. Nana and Ninny are flying into town and yep, it's going to be one happy day.

First birthday                                                               Second birthday (buzz haircut!)

 Almost third birthday ♥

And not to leave out Jude's big moment: he took TEN steps today! Pretty soon, he'll be running next to big brother.

Regret...and Someone Gets a Mustang

I hate that feeling when you know you made the wrong decision, it's too late to change it and so you must suck it up and move on. But...that is hard for me to do (the move on part). I am strong-willed and persistent. Surely I can turn the wrong into right and go back to what it used to be?

And "the what it used to be" would be our old house on base. I have whined a lot about this, but I just can't stand that feeling of regret. I guess everyone makes some really bad decisions at some point in their life...it's a part of growing up, learning and letting go. And yes, my last post wasn't a lie! I do love this house, just not as much as the old one.

I miss the little garden I worked so hard on and so, so many other things. Out of all the houses we have lived in, that one was probably at the bottom of the "nice" list and yet I was more attached to it than any other. Funny how the concept of home works sometimes.

Maddox got his birthday present early. It's so much bigger than I thought it would be and it scares me to death. Of course, it's his dream come true. Thanks to all the grandparents who made it happen! 

House Love?

The house is growing on me. The boys have adjusted to the change and finally, so have I. The nostalgia for the old house is still there, but it isn't ruling my emotions anymore. It's embarrassing - I cried over that house every day. I missed the big yard full of dirt, the dingy white walls, the security of being on base, the community feel, even the little geckos that invaded my house on a daily basis. I would remember Maddox riding his 4wheeler in that yard and then the bawling would start and I would wail, "I miss my old house! I miss the neighborhood!" And Maddox would tell me, "Mommy, don't cry! Be a big boy!"

Well, I am being a big boy, and moving on.

I drank too much of Moe's "Southern Tea" lastnight and it had me wired until 2 am. I was moving chairs, computers, desks...like a woman Conan.

This is good news. It means I am liking my new house enough to decorate it.

Andrew is temporarily on midshift and since he sleeps during the day, it has been quite a challenge to keep the boys quiet. It's impossible, really, but I try to keep the screaming to a minimum. Maddox is the screamer and Jude is everything else: the mischief maker, the climber, the pooper (he has learned how to take off his diaper and the other morning I got quite a surprise when I walked into his room).

So...things with us Therrells are busy and always changing - just the usual. It has made me realize, though, that you can always step up and find strength to adjust to a new situation, whether it's Andrew working all night and me being here alone or moving into a strange house full of challenges.

I've had to shift my attitude a lot lately, but it's helped to turn the situation around. And now that the boxes are gone, it's time to turn all attention to: MADDOX'S 3RD BDAY PARTY. It's going to be cute (you'll see) and the best part: family is coming!

Thought these balloons were red, but...they're pink. 

Enjoying the best part of our new house: a private backyard! 

Edamame and Toddler Pee

I have learned two important lessons these last two days:

1. Edamame (ed-uh-mom-ay) is yummy, but...you don't put the whole soy bean shell in your mouth. Very bad idea. I chewed it for about five minutes and tried not to choke. There was no way I was spitting that thing into my cloth napkin among twenty women who very likely knew the correct way to eat it (which is, by the way, bite the tip off and suck out the beans). Good thing I am a quick learner.

2. Always bring a change of clothes when you work in the church nursery. Now, I always bring my kids extra clothes, but come on, I am a grown up. One outfit is just fine. But ... no. It's not. There is nothing quite like having your shorts soaked by a random toddler who is bawling in your lap, "I miss my mommy!" Good thing I have kids and am used to getting peed and pooped on. This is how much it bothered me: after church, I went out to eat and then bought balloons for Maddox's party. Pee doesn't stop me.

Oh, how is the new house you ask? Well, the dishwasher is leaking again, I have headaches everyday and basically - this house hates me. The feeling is mutual. We might actually have lied when we said this was our last move. In a year, I might be ready to flee this place...or I might fall in love with it. Time will tell!

 At the park                               

Getting close to bedtime 

Where is Jude?

The Worst is Over

We are never ever moving again. That is, until the military gives us PCS orders and THEY move us. Yes, we said that the last time we moved, but this time we mean it. We really, really do!

Nightmare would be an understatement. Andrew's moving buddy fell through and his work couldn't spare anyone, so...Andrew moved all 4,000 pounds of our belongings by himself. I should have snapped a picture of him moving the couch and my gigantic dining table (Conan?), but I was probably trying to keep my 2 rambunctious boys out of the way and I was probably just a tad stressed. Just a tad. Thank God our neighbor saw Andrew and came over to help him move the rest of the stuff out of our old house. That sped things up a bit. By nightfall, we were exhausted, the boys were cranky, Maddox's bed broke, I had no idea where anything was...you get the idea.

Day 2: Andrew had to return to work. Jude's crib fell apart, our dishwasher leaked water all over the kitchen floor, our cabinet knob came off, our dryer receptacle popped out the wall, our cable didn't work, the shower rod fell on my head (twice)...let's just stop there. Let's not even talk about how I cried and cried about how I missed my old house and neighborhood...or about how I boiled some noodles on high on my stove and the eye wouldn't turn off (it finally did, by the way). I just knew the house was going to burn down.

Ok, let's breathe.

The weekend came, the problems (well, the big ones) got fixed, I unpacked many boxes (only 4 to go!), I got in a break (coffee, girl time and thrift shops, oh yea), and we discovered that having a privacy fenced backyard is pretty awesome. The boys had a blast in their little pool, we all enjoyed a strawberry banana smoothie and as Andrew said, "Hey, I can pee in my backyard now!"

It's the little things in life, I suppose.