Beach Adventure

This week, Emi and I snuck off for a quickie beach adventure. She has been telling me since the cruise (which yes, I still need to really blog about) that she "looooobs sand, mama". So, thinking the crowds would be gone and the water too cold for her to demand that I put on a bathing suit (shudder) and get into the ocean (bigger shudder), I pulled together a quick couple of days.

Silly me. The ocean would be too cold?

The good news, I only got wet up to my calves wading in now and then to join my girl. The better news - she had the TIME of her life. Worth everything to see that smile. Sadly, none of you will see that smile because she was playing SO hard and fast I could not keep up with her with the camera. But, at least I did get the camera out, and use it!

We ended up at beautiful Hunting Beach Island State Park. Lovely setting, just enough people (so they could ooh and awe at my girl), perfect weather.

Thinking we were just going to dig in the sand, I put Emi into a t-shirt and shorts. That lasted oh, about 13 seconds:

So, we trekked back to the car to get her suit. I told her she could sit in the shallow area and walk out to the little sand bar (a few feet). The rule was, if I called her name she had to stop, look and come back. And really, for the most part she did. Amazing, considering the pull of sand and water.

It seems we are raising a water girl. While she loved (beyond measure) splashing and dancing in the surf, digging and playing in the sand ... she also spent time just watching the water. She loved watching the gulls soar and dive for fish, laughed in delight at the seagulls and sand pipers when they were brave enough to get close to her. But really what entranced her, the waves. She just couldn't get enough of the waves.

Yes, I know there are a lot of pictures. I just couldn't pick a few. While I am not a great photographer, I just can't get enough pictures of our sweet girl. I did finally find my favorite. Okay, so there's more than one favorite!

Oh, and I lied. I did manage to get a few of those radiant smiles with the camera. While there aren't many smiles that made it to the camera, the day was filled with them.

As Emi grows, other trips will probably stick in her mind more. She may not remember this trip all. But that's okay, it is one that will always be held close to my heart. It wasn't the biggest or most elaborate of trips. Just a few days, doing nothing at all. Watching my girl run around having a blast.

Does it get any better than that? Not for me.

Many Thanks and Catching Up

To say I am behind in emails and blog posting would be an understatement. Typical of me I know, but as much as I miss blogging I am so loving spending time with Miss Emi these days (not that I didn't enjoy my days with her before, but three is SO fun!).

I did want to send out big thanks to everyone who left comments and emailed me with ideas for Chinese New Year activities. Sadly, inserting her into a classroom full of kids had Emi catching EVERY germ under the sun. The little gal that was rarely sick the last two years ... can't get well! She has missed more school the month of February than she attended (which frustrates her beyond reason - which I can attest to, since I have been at the receiving end of it!). She missed bringing treats for her birthday (not that she knew she missed it, thank goodness), missed her Valentine's Party at school and she missed the week that we were going to bring in activities and treats for Chinese New Year (heck, I never even got a chance to chat with the teachers about doing it!). Next year, I am hoping, we will be able to. And now, oh now!, I have so many ideas. Thank you, everyone!

Emi's language is bursting at the seams (finally, poor gal!) and she is just full of happiness and joy, simply brimming over. Oh sure, we are still having "Emi moments" as we call them, but they aren't over frustration in communication (or, to a lesser extent) as much as she wants it her way ... and her way now, thankyouverymuch! We are also, sadly, back to diapers. Not even pull-ups, diapers. NO PANTIES, is what I hear often, so I have completely backed off. She will still happily sit on the potty chair, and even chooses often to sit on "Mama's potty" instead of her own little one. But no panties. She and I have been talking about our upcoming trip next week and she says no diapers for that. Just panties and Dora panties (pull-ups). We shall see, but gosh it would be great to get rid of the diapers once and for all. But, we are trying to let her set the pace and not push so for now, diapers with the potty chair. Whatever works!

More often than not she wakes happy, spending her days extremely busily. She is attending a Mother's Morning Out program on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and on her off mornings we are doing "class time" (not to be confused with "school"). I have set up a little bookshelf in a corner of the great room with a few things for her to work on. She takes this work very seriously, and asks for it every morning.

Emi is still loving TV, with her fav right now being Chuggington, with her favorite being Pete. Emi, is still all about trains! She still loves Little Bear (thank goodness, LB is *my* fav, lol!), Little Einsteins (well, Rocket and June), Moose and Zee on NickJr, Kai-Lan (which she calls Ni Hao), Max and Ruby, with some Dora and Diego tossed in now and again. She also really loved UmiZoomi (on Disney, I think) until she discovered Chuggington. Now, that's really her first choice.

With the mild days we (typically) have here in SC (what a difference from Washington!), she and I are outside more and more. She has three little ride-on things, plus she's discovered the joys of sidewalk chalk! With the amount of rain we get here, she always has a fresh clean 'canvas' on the next nice day.

Speaking of South Carolina, I do think we are all settling in well here. It's been a change, a bigger change than I think Jeff and I were expecting, but a good one. We think we are here, if maybe not forever, for a good long while. We've learned, never say never, but I think we've had our fill of moving for many years. Add to the fact that (almost) everyone we love and hold dear is within driving distance. That's a far cry difference than while in NM and WA where NO ONE was in driving distance. We will take it!

I am SO behind in posting pictures. I have a ton to post, so as I have time expect to see heavy picture-laden posts with few words.

Here's a few for now ('cause we all know, it's all about the cute!).

Enjoying a rare, very mild!, January evening. Danger Girl still lives here!

Bullets and a Break

Yeah, I'm behind. So very behind. But, if you could see this place -literally covered in boxes- it would be understood. I'd take pic's but at this point there is no way to get them from the camera to the computer. Oh, and the computer .... is a shared laptop at the moment.

Here's what's being going on, in cheat form:

• Finally (after much delay), closed on the house on November 19th
• Actually got possession of the house (and the keys) mid-day on the 20th
• My folks had driven down from Michigan (on the 17th - the day we were *supposed* to close) to help with the move out from the temp apartment and painting
• Painting started three minutes after unlocking the front door
• (Yeah, new house - already completely painted, but I was too cheap to pay the exorbitant $$$$ the builder wanted to change paint colors on two room. So, we - or rather dad with taping help from mom - painted. I Emi wrangled. Tell me who had the easier job? Emi wanted to HELP!)
• New bed was delivered the afternoon of the 21st
• We 'camped' in our new house with the new bed, Emi's tent and a coffee maker that evening
• And never really moved back to the apartment (that I hated, and still do)
• Painting finished the 21st
• My folks left the 22nd, so they could host Thanksgiving dinner at their house (1.5 day drive - quick bake and cook, got everything done in time!)
• We continued to move things over from the apartment Sunday and Monday
• Tuesday our household goods arrived {main shipment of about a gazillion boxes, our furniture and Emi's toys (let's get real, THE most important of the stuff)}
• The rest of the week was spent finding stuff, unpacking and trying to decide where to put everything
• Needless to say, it still seems like we have a gazillion boxes - and I've unpacked a ton!
• Thanksgiving, Emi and I went back to the apartment (we had it through Friday, even though we weren't technically there - more like in and out, getting our stuff and cleaning)
• We watched the Macy's parade (she loved it!) and then Jeff picked us up to go to lunch/dinner
• Yes, we went out - I couldn't find a thing in which to make Thanksgiving dinner IN! Next year I will do better. Promise.
• And that leads us to this week: more unpacking, more putting away, more finding treasures almost forgotten
• Emi has loved and exclaimed over finding her things in boxes
• Hers were the first to be opened!
• This is the LAST time we are moving - no, really, I mean it this time
• I love our house - I love it even more than our apartment in Japan (which was my fav home up to this point)
• As soon as Jeff has the office set up, and all the computers hooked up and such I will have to take a photo tour of our house, boxes and all
• Until then, happy blogging my friends
• Back, probably after the first of the year - unless I get this place pulled together before then (don't hold your breath!)

Oh, here are a few (really bad) photos I took of the house with the BlackBerry while they were still building it, but mostly finished. Yikes, they are back. Feel free to look away.

(1) The great room, fireplace, door to Emi and Max's new domain (aka: the backyard)
(2) The light over the dining room table, no reason for the pic except that I love love love this light

(3) My second most fav thing in the house, and the light that had me completely changing
all the other lighting I had already chosen. Yeah, the gal at the lighting place
must have loved me - but so worth it. Love it. (Task light over the kitchen sink.)
(4) My most fav thing in the house (the kidlet, not the tub - although the tub rocks also)
(Note: I am pretty fond of Jeff too!)


(5) Kitchen looking to eat-in area
(6) Kitchen (sans appliances) looking to formal dining room that we turned
into Emi's second fav spot in the house (after the backyard): her playroom


More pics coming, hopefully soon. Stay tuned!

The House Hunt

(Note: I started this post back on October 9th, and never got around to finishing it. I am going to post this now, but at some point, re-date it to the 9th so it can be in order.)



Yes, I know I haven't finished blogging about our trip East. But I've been busy ... house hunting! After many days (and two very patient Realtors), Emi and I found our house. Whew. I have to say, she's been a champ through all this. I wish I had more pictures of her seeing houses but well, I was busy looking - very carefully - at the houses too. She really got into it. Inspecting closets, bathrooms, the kitchens. She really inspected things like other children's toys! We went back and forth, older or brand spankin' new. I had it narrowed down to just two, finally, when I just needed to jump and make the decision. So, I hope it's the right one ......

Front of the house ~~ Emi running around in the backyard
Both still need sod, the backyard needs the fence

Now the real decisions begin. I need to pick out paint colors, carpeting, hardwoods, and (probably) many other things. I am excited about it, but a bit nervous too. I've never done something like this before. We are hoping to be in the house by Thanksgiving, but more realistically, we have been told that it will be more like the end of November. But, I am holding out for earlier, we need to get OUT of this rental apartment. It's just really tiny, and both Emi and Max need to be outside more than we can get them there.

P.S. Jeff did have a say in the houses. With the new job keeping him hopping he only looked at a couple, but he trusts me (yikes, no pressure!) and knows I will find the best house I can for our family. He also said "if you are happy with whatever you find, I will be too". Oh melt my heart. There's many reasons he's such a keeper, comments like that one are WAY up on the list.

Toddler Road Tripping

Fifteen short days from today we head out (oh gosh). Seven days of driving, two (very short) days of rest with our friends in Memphis and then another day and a half to South Carolina. That will work if Emi cooperates and allows us to make more than the required 300 miles per day (we are hoping for 360-380). Yes, I know most folks try for more miles of driving in a day (hi mom!) but 300 is what we have to do per the travel rules for Jeff's job so that's what we are aiming at. If we do indeed hit those extra 60-80 miles (per day) we can stop for two days of relaxing, being pampered and doing some laundry.

So, in order to make all that time cooped up in a car seat doable, we needed to come up with a plan. I was chatting with the gal from Why Do We Even Have That Lever? (bonus points to those that know the movie she is referencing ... love that movie!). She is planning a trip across Canada with her two little ones (twenty months and four years), and we were discussing what to do with our kids to keep them happy (and quiet). We each decided to post about what we thought about, and get more idea from our readers. So, dear readers, please feel free to chime in! (BTW, here is a link to her post, there are some great ideas there!)

At the time of departure, Emi will be 31 months. A very rambunctious, never sit still, 31 months. Oh my. That said, she LOVES to watch movies/dvr'd tv (which is the only tv she watches as I am terribly fussy). We have the portable dvd player than my mom gave to Emi way back when (thanks mom, it's been a life saver!) and quite a few movies, tv episodes on dvd's, etc.

My plan is taking along the following:

• Movies/TV on DvD's (see below)
  
• Sticker/Activity Books (*)
  
• Colorforms Travel Books (*)
  
• Lacing Beads (in a baggie)
• Crayons and blank paper books (Emi is more into her own thing, regular coloring books just sit unused - these may only be used if one of us is sitting in back with her, something that we have planned each day towards the end of the day - when she's had it with riding in the car)
  
• A selection of Little People in a baggie (her fav group -horses, a couple of people, a dog, etc- that she uses to play Cinderella)
• A couple of stuffed animals (Most likely: Bear and MeiMei, as they are her fav's right now. However, we are bringing ALL of Emi's bedtime friends - packed in the trunk. We are going to suggest to her each morning to pick out one or two, ideally, to ride with in the car. This is something that always happens when we leave the house - we ask "who's going with?" Emi then chooses one animal or doll to go to Target, the grocery store, whatever.)
  
• Travel Snack tray (to make playing much easier)
• It is my plan (if I have time) to get some books on CD from the library (or downloads if I am really lucky) and add them to my Fuze (sorta like an iPod, without the Apple attitude). Emi is just barely getting the concept of listening without seeing a movie playing. Hence why it's not high on my list, also, it's a headphones only activity and we just don't do a lot of headphones for her.)
  
• A new special 'trip' stuffed animal - a unicorn that will meet her for the first time, sitting in her car seat on the first day of the drive

For the times where we get out of the car for breaks, we are bringing a ball and a new little pull-along zebra. She loves to walk Max, but Max isn't so sure that's a good thing. So, we are hoping that she will walk her zebra while one of us walks Max. Also, we are going to use the zebra as a non-food bribe to get back into the car. Basically tell her that if she gets back in the car when it's time without fussing, she will be able to walk zebra again the next time. Emi does very well with these kinds of things, mainly as we hold firm. I have only had to with-hold something once, and she's never forgotten. (We also plan to bring a little timer, set it for however long we want to stop. When the timer goes off it's time to get back in the car. This is something else that works well with Emi, and something she deals with better than one of us telling her.)


Movies/TV: The list includes (but not limited to):

• Cinderella I and II (her most fav's right now - she uses her Little People to play the Bippity-Boppity-Boo part over and over and over ... so darned cute!
  
• (BTW, the III was too scary for her, it's been set aside)
• Tinker Bell, Robin Hood, Charlotte's Web (the original version), and The Rescuers (a personal fav)
• Sesame Street (old time, not the new Elmo infested episodes)
• Curious George, Frankin, Little Bear
• Word World, Brainy Baby, Baby Genius and Leap Frog
• Dragon Tales, Maisy and Kai-Lan (we are also thinking of picking up the new one, wrapping it and using it as needed for desperate times)
  
• Kipper; Pocoyo and Oswald
• Tigger and Pooh (and the original Adventures of Pooh)
• Little Einsteins, etc etc etc

I really wanted to have a very good selection of stuff, mainly as Jeff and I will be listening to a lot of these. We are not big fans of putting head phones on Emi (now and again is fine, all the time is not). With my hearing issues, we are probably a bit more weirded out about head phones than most.
*BTW, I linked to our most fav's but there as so many of each to choose from.

*Note: In addition to the new Kai-lan dvd, some of the things from the above list (colorforms, books, etc) are going to be wrapped and handed out as needed. I also have a couple of Little People tubes that she hasn't seen yet, to add to the wrapped stuff. We have a trip (flying) planned to Canada for a very special wedding at the end of October. Anything we don't need from this list, we most likely will take with us for the plane.

The House

Thank you for all the kind comments and emails. We are pretty excited about this move, and the job Jeff will have will be a bit more interesting - which is always a good thing.

We placed the house on the market last Monday, had two showings on Tuesday, and first thing Wednesday morning had a call from our awesome Realtor ... there was a bid on our house!
Oh. My. Gosh.


Breathe, Kiy. Breathe.


Once I got myself together I quickly called Jeff and we decided to accept the offer. Just like that, we sold our house. In today's market that's not something to sneeze at.

And just like that I no longer have to worry about keeping a toddler home neat and polished. Wow. We were so worried that it wouldn't sell quickly (at all?) and we were leaving here regardless. We are so lucky, and have been quite lucky every time we've sold a house. But then, we aren't greedy and don't try to squeeze the last few dollars for our homes. We listen to our Realtors, price it as they suggest and sell pretty quickly.

Our departure date is set (September 13th) and for anyone (else) counting the days, that is 39 very short days away. We have lots to do in a very short time. We do not, however, have to pack! Sweet! We *think* the packers are coming Sept 8-9-10, leaving us the 11th and 12th for closing on the house, cleaning and general scurrying around. Should be fun, if a bit crazy.

Jeff already has our temporary quarters all lined up for Aiken, and our temp living arrangements here for that week are set so that two things off the to do list. So, that's the news so far on the house.

Getting excited about the drive! (Well, I am. Not so sure about Jeff, I know Max isn't, and Emi has no clue. She just knows there's lots going on and she's sure it's all about her!


P.S. For those that know me well, I am not usually big on n*ked baby pictures. However, the day our Realtors came by to put up the sign we had just come in from playing outside (in the icky, sticky hot) and I had just popped Emi out of the bath. We were watching out the window, but she HAD to be part of it. I was afraid they'd be done before I got some clothes on her. She was so cute with the sign, they had to take pictures - and here's the one they sent me. Too darned cute! (The second photo is the best one - even though there isn't a sweet little cherub in the photo. Under Contract .... whoooohooo!)

Goodbye, Hello

The time has, finally, come that I feel safe in sharing our news. I've alluded to this a couple of times when I thought the time was quite near, not meaning to dangle. I've had emails and comments asking (1) if I am pregnant (it would seriously take an act of God), (2) are we adopting again (nope, Emi was our first and last, and really ... how could perfection be duplicated -- no pressure Emi, lol!), and (3) well, there is no three - those were the guesses.

What actually is happening is that we are moving. To South Carolina (anyone out there in Aiken, SC or Augusta, GA area? if so, drop me a line?!).

We have lived here two years and while we love it, we've come to realize that this is the wrong side of the States for us. Everyone we love is on the other side. Just to visit a grandparent takes at least a day of flying, and visiting friends is an annual thing, at best. We decided last summer that we needed to make a move. Jeff sent off applications and in February he was offered a job. And then, things started to drag out. I won't bore with the back and forth, but last week he finally got the official paperwork he had been waiting on. We can list the house (yikes, oh joy) and start the process of moving.

Jeff is still with the federal government, so while it's a job change, to them it's not. The really nice thing about this is that they move you (oh yeah, baby!). There is absolutely no way we would have moved so often if we had had to pack and move ourselves. The packers are due the week of September 7th, and we will be hitting the road on September 13th.

Hitting the road? Why yes, we were told that we were going to be driving. From Washington to South Carolina.

Yep, you read that right ... driving. Jeff, me, Emi (who will be 31 months) and Max (14 years and six pounds of car-hating Yorkie) in a really small car. Yeah, trip of a lifetime. Funny enough, I am looking forward to the drive. I think it will be fun, as long as we keep a sense of humor and realize that there will be good days and not-so-good days. We have a plan in place, but also know that we will have to punt from time to time. Emi and Max both can only take so long in a car. That is actually a good thing, as it will force Jeff and I to get out and walk around every couple of hours - something we are not good about doing for ourselves.

More details as we have them, just wanted to share our exciting news with everyone!