The goings on

We finally feel settled in. After numerous trips to Target, Costco, and Ikea, we have our place in some kind of order. We now have Maryland licences and licence plates (although we didn't get the style that we wanted.) The worst part? Buying all new condiments. There are so many trips to the grocery store that I had to make because I didn't have ingredients that I usually don't have to think about buying.

This is our now finished living room complete with new desk (and a high chair!) Christmas came early from my parents. The middle mirror was the only casualty in our move, but we decided to still use it anyway in our somewhat artistic manner. We are not superstitious so no bad luck for us. I'm glad it worked out because I really don't know how to decorate, especially without

money.

We have now had two visitors so far.

My friend Laura came for a weekend from Princeton. We went to our first DC visit and decided that we like DC very much and are excited to see all that there is. So far, the Jefferson Memorial is our favorite.

My parents also came and saw us. Jack and I took a trip with my parents to the Carolinas, leaving Chris by his lonesome. I meant to take the pictures from my parents cameras but did not so I have no pictures of the trip. We went to the outer banks of North Carolina, played at Myrtle beach, saw where the Wright brothers made the first flight, experienced a swamp (also where parts of the Patriot and the Notebook were filmed), and hung out in Charleston, South Carolina.

As far as Jack, he is doing well. He still sleeps great (except in front of company so I don't know if anyone believes it). Jack is also getting good at eating rice cereal.

He is now wearing cloth diapers,

but not at night. It isn't because he wets a lot at night, he doesn't, but the cloth diapers don't seem to let his skin dry and we can't use diaper rash cream with them, so nightime is time for his skin to breath and recover. But the cloth diapers seem to be working out well. Jack can also sit! He seems to like it very much and we do to. Jack is also now quite the talker. Most of the time he is babbling away. Usually I encourage this, but not in church. He doesn't take a pacifier so there is no way to keep him from saying what he wants.

Jack has also become a frequent bather and takes a bath every night before bed. He likes to cry before it is time to eat his last meal because he is hungry and so tired, so the baths are a nice distraction for everyone. He has a blast. Our bathtub is possibly and original to the house, it is

very deep, so it is hard to hold on to Jack from the outside, so I sit on a step stool inside the tube, secure Jack with my feet and let him play with his toys and splash in the water.

Jack also has a new hobby.

School is going well for Chris. He is a TA for some labs, so he doesn't enjoy the grading very much. That and homework keep him busy, but he is still able to leave sometime for his family, which we appreciate very much.

I'm adjusting to being a stay at home mom. I'm weird and actually like being busy; I almost crave stress. So I'm having a little bit of a hard time being home all day. I would love for something to work out with a job or going back to school, but we really don't see how it would work with Jack and our tight budget. I know that I will never regret being able to raise my children, and I know it is best for them. My career and/or school ambitions will just have to wait for their own due time.

More to come...someday we will be regular at this!