Family catch-up

Perhaps our biggest news right now is that we just closed on our house!! It had been for sale since last March and we had been making two mortgages since this past September. Man is that a relief!! We had prayed so much about it and I think both Brandon and I had faith that it would eventually sell; however, we were beginning to question just how long we were going to have to wait on it. The story of selling our house is a long one and I'll spare you all the boring details, but basically we had a contract on the house since this past October but due to different reasons with the buyer's loan restrictions, something always stood in the way of that closing date. Well, no more! We signed the papers Tuesday and no longer own two houses (and two mortgages!). We feel very blessed to be in our new home which we moved in to back in September. We had to do some work to the old house before it sold and each time we went back Lawson would inform us that he did not want to go back to his old house--he liked his new one.

Lawson is now four and just seems he gets smarter and sweeter every day. He is now going to pre-school two days a week and has just blown me away with all that he has learned already. He makes me smile daily and while he's never been the most affectionate child, that is certainly changing--especially when it comes to me and his dad. I've struggled with Lawson at times as he is a very strong willed child and a very loud child. :) We work on things daily and I've learned that the things that I think are so bad at the time turn out to not be as big a deal as I make them be at times. Lawson is shaping up to be a very good and protective big brother. It certainly was not always like that. Matter of fact, it is just recently that they have begun to peacefully co-exist. :) But we are learning manners and that a "please" will get you much farther than screaming will! Actually screaming gets you nowhere in our house but time out.

Jagger is two and hates it every day Lawson goes to pre-school. Sometimes I think it's just because he has no one to pester. He seems to be the typical little brother--does anything he can to get a rise out of his big brother. Jagger is fearless! I cannot think of one thing that he is afraid of. Animals? Certainly not! Heights? Certainly not! The number one? Maybe. He knows when I start to count that if I make it to three he's in big trouble so he usually shapes up pretty quickly after the number one. Ha. We have three short term goals for Jagger. Two have already been accomplished. The first was to get him out of the crib and into a "big boy bed". We decided the transition might be a little easier if we put one full bed in the boys' room and let them share. The first two nights they were so excited and we heard talking and giggling up until around 11:00, I think. However, each following night gets a little easier. And they are closer because of it. The second goal was to get rid of the passy. Mom took the boys to Greenfield for the night last weekend and they only had one passy and it got lost. Tough way to break him I suppose but it worked. He did ask for it last night as he climbed into bed but when I reminded him it was lost he laughed and said "Oh, yeah." We are now one day away from being a whole week without the beloved "passy". Our third goal is the potty. Seems like our Mount Everest. Lawson was TOUGH to train so I'm preparing for the worst again. Jagger is already making some strides but is nowhere consistent. We're still working, though and won't give up until our goal is met.

Brandon and I are doing very well. I feel that he deserves a post all to himself, though so maybe tomorrow.

Until next time...