We Own Our First Home!

WE CLOSED TODAY ON OUR FIRST HOME!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!

Everything went very smoothly at the closing, lawyers and all. We ended up not having to come out with any more money down-what a relief! We met the seller and she was very nice and told us all the dish about our new neighbors.

The team of Double K and Double J are going out on Monday to clean and get ready for the move. We have movers loading and unloading on the 12th.

When we go out on Monday, we will take some pictures to put on the website so everyone can see the "before". Give us some time and a lot of paint and you will see some amazing "after" pictures soon!

We still can't believe we are moving back to Conyers-1 mile from the Thompsons and 2 miles from the Millers! Only 3 miles from the monastery though, we may need the solitude!

A Vacation 5 miles away

Yesterday, Justin and I went to old town Roswell for a "mini vacation". We started off at Krispey Kreme (mmmmmm....) and then walked the streets and toured the antique stores and art galleries. There were some really nice paintings that we enjoyed, and some of the antiques were amazing! Justin liked a framed poster of the "Rat Pack" which was signed as well....going for $700. They even had money printed from the Civil War, and in great condition.

We were there about two hours and still didn't visit every store. And speaking of stores, almost every owner had their dog there with them....I guess that is fun for them but what if I didn't like dogs? I will be back for Christmas shopping soon with all the fun boutiques and unique gifts to buy!

Pistachio's a future boxer

So, for the past two weeks I have been feeling Pistachio "squiggle and squirm" when I lay down to go to bed or rest. It's a little weird, feels like bugs or worms in my tummy. Some days, I think he might have a future on the Olympic gymnastics team!

Well, last night he showed me that his true calling might be kick-boxing! I was laying in bed, feeling the usual squiggles and BAM!!! He kicked me so hard I jumped! And then, he kicked a few more times, so hard that it scared me and I about hit the roof! I don't know what was going on in there, maybe he didn't like dinner, maybe he was trying to get out?!? I don't know!

Of course, Justin didn't know what was going on-and as expected as soon as he put his hand on my stomach Pistachio acted like nothing was going on and was silent. Already playing the "innocent" game I see!

Footsies and Blankies

My mom and I went shopping at a HUGE baby sale this past Thursday. There is NOTHING more fun than shopping for baby clothes!

Our little Pistachio is going to look so cute in his onesies and footsies...at least for the few weeks he will fit in them! Some of the clothes are so small, it's hard to imagine a baby could fit in them. We got shirts with frogs, fish, turtles, etc. Too cute!

I hear that you change outfits three times a day in the beginning....so I was glad to get a head start! I thought that dressing a little boy might not be as fun as a little girl but I was wrong! They have some really cute stuff!

I just can't wait to see him in them! And let's not even talk about the towels with hoods that look like animals!

Did I ever mention that we decided to name him Chasen Ford Miller?!?!

Wedding Gifts that BOUNCE!

This story is one for the books.....

Two weeks ago I had a charge of $200 come out of my banking account. When I called the bank to find out what was going on, they said that a check from The Academy for Mathematics & English (my former employer) could not be cleared. They had been trying to clear it since November but there were never any funds. OK, I couldn't recall why my employer had written me a check for $200 and he couldn't either so I waited.

Well, yesterday I got the returned check in the mail and get this-It was from the Canadian head office, and it was their WEDDING GIFT to Justin and me! They had given us the check back in the fall for our wedding...AND IT BOUNCED!!!!

I find this both hilarious and disturbing. Who does that? It's worse than getting no gift at all! Because if you think of it, Justin and I spent the $200 last year when we thought the check had gone through, and then it was taken back this month. So it's not like we didn't receive a gift, we actually LOST money, because we wouldn't have spent it if we didn't have it!

One more act by the Canadians which just reinforces my theory that we should go to war...

Nature Boy Strikes Again!

Justin and I found a Trout Hatchery today up in Cumming, GA. They get trout the size of "fingerlings" (sounds like a snack) and raise them there for a year and then release the trout into the Chattahoochee river and in the North Georgia streams. They had three types of trout there, all in different sizes. Trout are such pretty fish!

It was really neat, plus they had a fishing pond and trails. We visited a Salmon Hatchery in Seattle, very similar. The difference is that trout "moms" don't have to die to get their eggs, they just give them a big hug and squeeze them out!

Of course, Justin (aka Nature Boy) saw a big bunny on the trails, I was too slow. He said I was a trail anchor......and I don't think he means I'm supportive!

I married Nature Boy!

Since Justin and I have a lot of free time on our hands these days, we have been hitting the hiking trails. There are several trails in our area near the Chattahoochee and other small creeks and ponds. Through these walks, I have discovered an amazing trait in Justin-he is Nature Boy! He should have been a wildlife ranger!

We both enjoy these hikes because of the great weather and the exercise, but Justin gets so excited about the wildlife. He is the first to spot a red-headed woodpecker, hawks, turtles, etc. and every chance he gets he heads down to the water to turn over rocks in hopes of spotting a crayfish! He's so cute-like a little boy playing in the woods!

Yesterday we even spotted a beaver-that was random, and speaking of random Justin discovered two raccoons mating in the trees behind our apartment! What are the chances of that?!? Those little critters went at it for an hour or more, the female looked a tad bored though!

We even found a great park down the street that had rescued birds of prey-hawks, owls, vultures, and even a bald eagle! And, they had the biggest beaver in the world-don't ask!
Justin is truly an outdoor man and we have a lot of fun on our hikes. I hope we can find trails just as nice in our new residence.

BOY OH BOY!

Pistachio is a little boy! We just found out this morning, and he was not shy about letting it all hang out! Ultrasound went well, he has a head and all the organs needed-plus the extra one! Check out the picture, see his arm up top? He's waiving! Our little Pistachio has such nice manners, and at only 20 weeks! Actually, he is more likely hitting me and trying to make himself some more room in there, but we will pretend he's waiving! Justin is such a proud papa-telling everyone that he's having a baby boy. Now all we have to do is find a name! We are having such a hard time with names-any suggestions?

We also have found a home and are working forward with that. It's in Conyers 1-2 minutes from the proud grandparents. If all goes smoothly, we should be moving in on April 3rd!