I am so glad my kids have all been sleepers. (I am probably jinxing myself with the fourth here.) Kaitlyn still naps 2-3 hours and is fairly flexible about where. The nursery shares a wall with her room so it’s been really convenient to have her nap in various places so Wade can continue to work in the afternoons. She has napped in our bathroom and here in the playroom. Thankfully Kaitlyn is also on the small size and still fits in the pack ‘n play!
Grafton – North
Wade really started tackling the nursery this week. It’s a tiny tiny room, but should be perfect for a crib and changing table. It is one of the few rooms in the house with carpet so we ripped it out today hoping there was hardwood underneath. It turns out to have a large section of plywood right inside the door and the rest pretty old floors. Wade is going to attempt to find some reclaimed wood to match the existing floor and if all else fails, lay hardwood on top.
I also found an old chest I want to use as a changing table and my awesome husband is working to paint it black for me.
Three months till baby is due to arrive.
I asked Teague and Kaitlyn to put their smoothie cups in the dishwasher. I guess I got what I asked for…
We have loved having the new Alexa Show. It does all kinds of things the original did not. However, the best part is the video chat! Alex was ecstatic when Riley got one too.
Today Kaitlyn decided to experiment with superheroes instead of princesses.
The boys started school today (and Kaitlyn was quite perturbed that she didn’t). Then we had some park playing and ice cream when everybody got home!
Today was “Meet the Teacher” for both boys. We started with Teague at his school. (Crazy thing about our town – or maybe New England – there are two elementary schools. K and 1st are in one building. 2nd to 6th are in another building.) Teague’s class has five tables and each table has a different option for seating. They get to try them all out and then pick what they like best – regular chair, bouncy ball, wobble stool, floor, and …) Alex’s school is literally 6 houses down the street but thankfully the bus will pick him up on the way. His school also starts an hour before Teague’s and getting him to school would be tricky if I had to take/walk him.
It turns out this house was not designed for riding toys indoors. Every single doorway has a significant threshold. Kaitlyn spent more time carrying her ladybug from room to room than riding.
Kaitlyn prefers her cars lined up neatly thank you very much.
Wade and I have missed small town life. Tonight we loaded up the wagon and walked a few blocks to the Concert on the Commons. Music outdoors. Picnic dinner. Kids running and play.
My little bakers are at it again.
Kaitlyn is now reading Minecraft books. I may have to break down and figure out how to play.
I took a picture every month while I was pregnant with Kaitlyn. That hasn’t happened with this pregnancy at all. Here’s what 24 weeks looks like with baby number 4.
Those are pre-baby jeans, but the last pair I can wear and not for much longer.
Wade and I finally got our coat hooks hung last night. Today I pulled out all the coats and backpacks to put on the hooks. When I turned around, Madison had instead decided to use all the soft materials as a pillow.
This may be one of my favorite stories from this summer. Alex has had a little bit of trouble adjusting to a new city and house. Sometimes that manifests in throwing things that he shouldn’t. Today he got mad and threw a nerf gun at the wall. It actually put a small divot in the wall and removed some paint. After he calmed down, we talked and I showed him the result of his anger. Later in the day, I walked by to see that he had “fixed” the imperfection in my wall.
Kaitlyn wants to do everything I do – but without help. She will always take a grilled cheese for lunch, if allowed, but now wants to fix it all by herself.
I miss central air. I can’t wait till the window units are put up for the season. That being said, we all enjoy the cool air they provide!
Alex has been working hard at the few jobs we linked to possibly getting a new dog (next year). He knows he has to show responsibility and a good attitude for a long time. The constant puppy discussion is almost worth it for the empty trash/recycling and pool cleaning he does without complaint.
Because how do you dress for a trip to the park?
The kids have been all about building forts since we moved in the new house. Forts in the living room, their bedrooms, and the kitchen. Today they wanted to eat in a fort and it sounded like a great idea to me.
Teague got new oven mitts for Easter and is just now trying them out.
(It was hard to find child-sized that were actually insulated!)
Madison will happily follow me into the pool but otherwise she is content to stay on the deck. Today I was under the water taking pictures quite a bit and realized Madison was in the water looking for me. I tried to photograph her, but it turns out it’s tricky to get an underwater picture of a dog (who doesn’t put her face under).
Teague loves monkey and he can often be found in the crook of his arm. I never want to forget how he tries to do everything with monkey in place. Today he’s attempting to unload the dishwasher without putting monkey down.
Kaitlyn must have known I was planning to take the changing pad out of her room this week. She has been using it all morning for her dolls.
(The only reason it ended up in her room after the move was to give it a safe home while we unpack and work on the nursery.)
Wade has always been very anti-pools (and probably would still prefer if we didn’t have one). However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much fun he has in the pool with the kids. We often swim after Kaitlyn’s nap so we are in the pool when Wade gets home from work. He’ll run upstairs to change and then join us for a little bit before we all start thinking about dinner.
These days pretty much anything goes. We can’t find the TiVo or the DVD player, but we found my computer. A movie with lunch while Mom keeps working on boxes.
We’ve had a lot of crazy mail delivery due to the move, forwarding mail, setting up mail, etc. Kaitlyn has loved getting belated birthday cards and gifts (that should have reached her well before we moved). Today she got a card from B and Mary. I knew she was carrying it around but I was shocked when I went in to check on her later and she was hugging the card in her sleep. I never saw the card in her room or how she got it in her bed.
Because, really, who doesn’t get this excited for cinnamon toast?
Reggie spent about 10 days with one of Wade’s co-workers while we were moving and getting settled. He’s been home a few days and doesn’t seem to be handling the heat very well. Our house doesn’t have air conditioning and the window AC units we have from previous houses haven’t arrived yet (there is a second truck of things arriving in a week or so). Wade took him to the local vet hospital and is trying to get some fluids into him.
The boys had a blast seeing who could jump the furthest into the pool today.
Madison finally decided to join in the swimming today!
We are still rather unsettled so the extent of our holiday celebrating was an afternoon in the pool. We played and invited a few neighbors over and generally had a relaxing day.
Kaitlyn turns 3 today. I’m still a little bit in shock, but she’s been ready for her birthday for months (and months and months). The minute she walked in the door she ran to see her “pink” cake. We had a quick dinner and then we had presents and cake.
We signed all the papers yesterday. Today we arrived at the house all ready to start unpacking. A few hours later than expected, our truck showed up and the fun started.
Spoiler – This has been the worst move from start to finish. Don’t use Arpin – not that we were given a choice with our relocation benefits.
We have a hectic few weeks but that seems to go hand-in-hand with moving. I drove the kids all down to Paducah on Tuesday (6/20). Wednesday morning (6/21), Judy and Jerry arrived early to take Kaitlyn with them to Memphis. She’ll stay until Sunday (6/25). I am spending a few days in Paducah with my Mom and the boys. Then on Saturday morning (6/24) I am taking an early flight to Chicago. Wade will pick me up at the airport and we will immediately start a two day drive to Boston (with the dog and cat). My Dad will get the boys on Saturday evening (6/24) and then take them to Memphis on Sunday (6/25). He’ll pick Kaitlyn up and bring her back to his house for the night. On Monday (6/26), my Mom gets Kaitlyn and will have her all week. Judy and Jerry are driving the boys to Paducah on Friday afternoon (6/30). Wade is flying to Paducah on Friday evening (6/30). Saturday morning (7/1), Wade, Judy, and the kids will begin a two day drive to Boston. (I was rather adamant they had to make it by Sunday so I could see Kaitlyn on her real birthday.)
Did that make sense to everyone? It will be a miracle if everyone ends up where they are supposed to on any given day! While I am in Paducah, Wade is in Barrington overseeing the movers. From what I have heard so far, it is going to be a challenging move. I requested pictures of the house with boxes and he was nice enough to help.
We were out of town for Leah’s birthday party, but we were happy to celebrate the real day at the beach.
Trying to buy a house in Boston has been challenging. The market is insanely hot and houses often sell the same day they are listed with 6-9 offers (above asking). I have made one trip up to see houses, but we knew realistically Wade was going to have to buy a house I hadn’t been able to see in person. He found one a few weeks ago and the owners were nice enough to open up their house tomorrow for the kids and I to see it. We are currently on the road and should make it by tonight, but here are the listing pictures of our new house in Grafton.