Me and Jaely

My poor cat

I know, two posts in one day. . . crazy

So, i got home today and was walking to the back of the house when i heard constant meowing. Ugly was on our bed sleeping, so i decided it must be the other cat. The meow seemed to be coming from the guest room. . . only behind closed doors. Just recently, i started closing the door because i washed the blanket and Ugly (aka drooly) likes to sleep on the blanket and drool. I wanted it fresh and clean for our baby guests. I opened the door and there was Abby, the cute and proper cat. I felt terrible. Guilt overcame me. She came right to me wanting pets. I thought for sure she would give me the cold shoulder, but she just wanted some loving. After some major pets, i inspected the room. Abby is so proper. She cannot stand a mess, and thankfully she didn't want to go where she would cause a mess. After much sniffing and looking, i congratulated her for her properness, in spite of the situation. About 10 minutes later she did make her way downstairs to use her bathroom. Poor cat. I can tell she did sleep on the blanket. . . not because of drool, but because of cat hair. And it WAS so clean.

I then sat and looked at my lunch box and school bag. Where will i put my beautiful vera school bag? Do i clean it out of all of the paper clips, markers, pens, sticky notes, etc, or do i just put it away for a year and some months? It was weird to leave today. My last days normally consist of crazy kids, cleaning up the room, packing things away, cleaning out lockers. Not just walking away after i locked the door. Strange.

Strange

It is so weird. I just packed my lunch for the last time. After years of packing a lunch day after day, today is the last day for a long time. I made sure it was a good one . . . mashed potatoes and yogurt and a banana. Yum. Last night i corrected papers for the last time for a long time. Things are definitely going to be different, but so good. I am so excited about this new journey. I wake up wondering if today will be the day that our life will change. I still have a feeling she will be late, but she has surprised us once before. When we found out we were pregnant with her, i was certain we weren't pregnant because i thought i got my period. Turned out to just be spotting and that was the beginning of her life. She gave us the best surprise ever. Maybe that is her plan again. Maybe she is just so comfy and snuggly that she is content to stay in there. Any way, we will meet her soon. After 9 months and years of waiting, what is another week, really?!

Well, i am on my way to work. No reason to get there super early. . . i am ready for a sub at any time. Our phones are charged. Gas is in both cars. The car seat is ready. My bags are in the car. We have our phone list. We are ready for you Gertie!!!

Sunny Days

I love the sunshine. I love how we don't have to turn one light on in our home when it is sunny. It just pours in. The cats find the sunniest spot and nap for awhile as each and every whisker and long hair is illuminated. Much better than yesterday's snow. Today, i am going to clean. . . again. And do laundry. I just don't want to sit around all day. TJ has grades due soon, so the built-in is put on hold. Since there is really no chance for the dresser being finished before Gertie and visitors come and check out her room, there isn't as much pressure. I keep telling myself that she has everything she needs, it is me that wants EVERYTHING ready. She doesn't need a window seat. I just want the storage and a place to put all the pillows i made. It makes no difference to her. A changing table would be nice, but almost any surface, including the floor will work.

We got an awesome gift in the mail. It is an exersaucer. Only we searched the box, and we have no idea who it came from. Anyone going to claim it, so they can get a proper thank you note and we can tell Gertie when she gets older who it is from?

Right now the cats are smooshed together in the brightest ray of sunshine pouring through our front door. They look so content.

What to do, what to do?

Keven Wright, the guy that built our house called us today to let us know that the subdivision that was being built behind us isn't working out. In fact, he was telling us that we could buy the land directly behind us. He found this out through the developer (which he has purchased some land from) and wanted the people that bought his homes to know that this was an option for them. Right now for 0$ down we could get a 5 year balloon at 3.5% at about $135.00 a month. The land is going for about $28,000. In a week, the land will be advertised to the rest of the public and the interest rate will be at %7.5 through a bank. Anyone could buy it and build whatever kind of house they would like. The property already has a gas line and a paved road access. If we bought it, that would mean we would add about an acre onto our current acre and guarantee that no one would build behind us. He also said that the referral rate for his two houses that are for sale in the sub have doubled. . . now they are $1000.00 a piece. Anyone looking for a house!?? Homeowners of a house he built in the sub were so excited. They bought both lots on either side of them. Instead of having neighbors, they got much more land.

We have some questions and a lot to think about. Obviously this is huge, since we are cutting our income in half. . . hmmmmm.

She's Back. . .

I just drove my car home from the shop. After paying three car payments on it, driving without heated seats, knowing TJ is driving the scary truck, and missing my ipod plug in, i am so so so glad to drive it home today.

Life has been crazy busy since i last wrote. I have been working 12 hour days, coming home and trying to get ready for Gertie. In fact, life since last friday as been nonstop (except for my two totally relaxing baths that i took).
We went out of town for a my last shower last weekend. It was absolutely fabulous to see my cousins, aunts and uncle.


Then, instead of staying at gail's and getting up real early on Sunday to finish up getting things we needed for Gertie in Grand Rapids, TJ surprised me with a one night stay at the

Marriot on the river in G.R. That way we could sleep in. But, the best part was that it had a huge tub (big enough for a pregnant big girl). I took a bath at night and a bath in the morning before we left. He also got a king sized bed with extra pillows, so i could prop myself up. He liked the big screen TV. It was a wonderful end to a great weekend. Then after sleeping in and taking a bath, we headed to Babies R Us to get the remaining things that we needed. We have to go back and get the glider that we bought because it wouldn't fit in the intrigue. . . we needed the vue, of course.

The rest of the week was full of report cards, parent teacher conferences, meetings, planning and correcting papers. I lived at school this week. It was actually pretty disgusting. . . but only six more days of being there.

Tomorrow, i plan on cleaning. I hope i have the energy. We do want to go pick up the glider. . . that might suck all the energy out of me though. I am tired.

I just got home. . .

For a friday, getting home at 7 is super late for me, especially when i didn't do my normal sleep an hour later on Fridays until 6:15. Instead, i woke up at my normal monday thru thursday time of 5:15. I just have so much to do. Report cards are due monday and parent teacher conferences are tuesday. Plus, because i was getting ready for all that, i am not really planned for next week. Before i could work on report cards i had to grade two big projects. Yikes! I am tired. We are going out of town this weekend for my last shower. I was planning on doing laundry tonight so i wouldn't have to when we got back sunday afternoon, but i just don't think i have it in me. I am looking forward to the shower tomorrow and seeing family that i haven't seen in ages. Of course, my mom will be greatly missed and thought of often. . . The shower for a friend that i went to yesterday was a painful reminder of what my mom would have been like. Her mom was so excited and sat next to her while she opened presents. It was neat to see.

The girl that is due four days after me was told by her doctor to stop working. The girl that is due 6 days after me is dilated to a 1. Ang, who is due 10 days after me, was having some pretty painful contractions the other night. These are reminders that we are indeed close!