So we’ve closed on the house & have been moving over slowly from the apartment. We have till the end of July to be out of the apartment so we are taking our time — makes for a pretty nice move all things considered.

Just a few pictures - photos of the inside if the house will come as we get stuff put away - no need for photos if boxes and crap!

Swing Time Fun

Dinner with Daddy

I know this isn’t the best picture — what with the back lighting and all — but I love it … they were sitting cross legged - face to face both in jeans and no shirt eating ribs off of BJ’s lap … it was so sweet!

Happy Easter to you and yours.

We enjoyed a little indoor living room egg “hunt” with the Lentil today … much fun … and generally just had a nice lazy stay at home Sunday.  Enjoy the photos!

The Lentil would, of course, like to thank all who added to her piggy this Easter!

A Little Lentil Attitude!

Budding Audiophile

All her eggs back in her basket …

Playing with a car from one of her eggs …

Today was a very busy day.  We started off with an Easter Egg Hunt at a ‘local’ park … then the Lentil crashed in the car while BJ & I ate lunch in the car in the parking lot of Whole Foods (so she could sleep).  We then hit a Party City so that BJ could pick up some stuff he needed for work.  The Lentil woke up we met him in there for a diaper change … and she picked out a toy softball.  Then we met up with our Realtor to look at a few more houses.  Then we hit a local restaurant for beverages while we wrote an offer on the house we looked at yesterday afternoon after work.  So enjoy the photos!

On our way to the Egg Hunt

and yes I am aware that it’s not Valentine’s Day … I’ve been waiting for a day warm enough for her to wear these psychedelic pants!

Of course we arrive early to park … luckily there is a playground … and the Lentil’s favorite — a swing!

And of course a slide — yes she did go face down & head first … one time!

I’m not sure exactly how any of us felt about this bouncy “see saw” like thing.

I had purchased the Lentil a very nice basket for her eggs … and then left it at home the morning of the hunt.  Luckily one of the crafts was to make and decorate a paper basket — BJ did the cutting, folding, stapling, and taping.  The Lentil did the decorating …

The Lentil is clearly ready to get on with the egg hunting and insists that the eggs are that way

(actually she was pointing at a dog — but the first makes a better story) 

Mom & Dad are # 1

(actually she was pointing at an airplane … but hey! can’t blame me for trying!)

Ah ha!  I have found an egg!

Let me pick it up and put it in my basket!

The Lentil’s basket full of eggs … and yes although she had not had any prior experience with Easter Eggs — she was very possessive of them … they were hers!

This particular park also had a petting zoo with the egg hunt.  The Lentil got to pet a pony.

And a goat!

The Lentil then fell fast asleep in the car … it was an exhausting morning!

After lunch and a nap and a little shopping we headed up to meet our Realtor … we were early again … so we found a playground … and fun ensued for the Lentil …

We put in an offer on Saturday on a new house.  Found out we were in a multiple offer situation and put in a revised offer on the house on Sunday.

We found out last night that our offer was the ‘winning’ offer and we are just waiting on the paperwork to make it officially under contract.

Of course we are now a bit gun shy and will wait on the appraisal and inspection before really feeling comfortable … but for now we have the house.

It’s more than we intended to pay … but it’s in a much nicer area than we were originally looking … we didn’t think we could afford this area … with a FANTASTIC backyard … very functional & nice kitchen … and an open floor plan. 

I did not take any photos so I ‘borrowed’ the pics below off the mls listing until I go back and take my own photos (probably at the inspection)!

so … a muted Yippee!

Backyard

Kitchen

The Lentil is growing up so very very quickly … she is such a big girl now … and yet just this morning while we were waking her up — there was that flash of a moment when we saw the same stretch and face that she had as a newborn … being a parent is such an amazing and wonderful wild ride!

Going back a while ago …. when we had our parent teacher conference with the Lentil’s daycare teacher … we discussed talking - words & signs.  Ms. K has repeatedly told us that she’s never seen a child take to the signs like our Lentil has … and that she thought that when the Lentil starts talking it will be in sentences … a combination of the Lentil’s intense observation of the world around her and the way that she likes to get things right …. LOL … not that BJ or I were ever ‘worried’ about the lack of “talking”  per se …. just all good things to hear.

But, I am finally ready to say that the Lentil has her first true word … after the syllabic dada & mama …. and the “dat” (for that) … she now says ball (quite clearly) and has for at least a week or so … very consistently … now in less than that short time period we have heard her say: car, read, & truck.  In fact she has said “read dat” … we know she’s just moments away from adding new ones - and this is going to be a crazy amazing time as she learns to make her mouth and lips and tongue move around the crazy sounds to make words …

She’s already amazing with signs & can communicate very well … she is also learning what sounds animals make — she’s been making the bear sound for months — but she’s crazy about bears so that is no surprise.

Anyway — I know that all children go through this amazing stage — but we are so proud of her and her big girl words.

She is also very big about doing everything herself … hence the pictures of her putting on her hat and shoes — now she wants to put on her pants herself too … it’s adorable.

—- Potty Talk Below —-

We are also working on “potty learning” and are having limited success … she does quite well with peeing when she’s not too busy/excited … pooping on the other had is not going so well …. she’s even having some success at school … and we are so proud of her for this as well … but there is no pressure … she is still young and this will come in time!

Today we co-hosted a Welcome Baby party for our good friends A & P and their little one L.

We were supposed to throw a baby shower for them, but the week of the shower … Little L decided to make an early appearance … so our party was delayed and to the delight of all the guests we celebrated Little L’s arrival with him there.

The other host held the party at her house … which was good b/c our apartment doesn’t have near the space her house does!

The Lentil had a wonderful time … especially with the wrapping paper, stairs, and wooden floors!

The happy new family … Congrats A & P and Welcome L!

Just a few things to catch you all up on.

1.  We will not be buying the lovely house with the park across the street and the castle in the Lentil’s bedroom.  We had issues … the sale was canceled … both buyers and sellers are accepting & agreeable to breaking the contract … it’s for the best … but it means starting over …

… So we will be out house hunting tomorrow with our Realtor … fingers crossed … we’ll be looking at 18 houses.

2.  Things are obviously crazy here … I have total insanity at work … Brad has been traveling quite a bit … we’re working on the Lentil’s bedtime routine … Daylight Savings “Spring Forward” did not work well with the Lentil.  We’ve all been under and over the weather with head colds, ear infections, pink eye, and the dog’s UTI.

Add in the insanity of trying to buy a house, deal with BJ’s “Wendy’s Dollars” Job’s relocation group, the mortgage specialist at our credit union, etc. etc. etc. == well things are just crazy and busy here … I hope you can all understand.

Add to all of that — I am having some issues with photos and my laptop … which we are working on solving … so eventually all of the pictures I’ve been taking will show up on the blog … just not exactly sure when …

3.  You may have noticed that the photos recently have been a little — well different from normal.  I discovered that Word-press has an App for the IPhone that allows me to blog from it … Well let’s just say that that is the only reason I’ve really been able to post anything lately!  So thank you Word-press and thank you IPhone …

So. I believe that’s all I have to catch you up on for right now .. Hope all of you are well and that Spring comes to us soon!

Ok … so it wasn’t anything like the movie …. but we did go with the Lentil to the Mill City Museum tonight — courtesy of my employer donating money … :)  Occassionally we get some perks — other than free test food … LOL

Yes I have pink eye, The Lentil is over hers — and BJ didn’t know that he had it yet.  We had a great time and the Lentil really seemed to enjoy herself … even getting a sample of “tunnel of fudge” cake (a very very small sample!) 

Mommy and the Lentil …

Who ME?

Hey this water stuff is really cool!

Wow — water is really heavy!

Using Tools

The Lentil can find ways to play that have nothing to do with anyone’s intentions.

I love me some trucks!

The Lentil Furniture Moving Company … any piece, any where, any time …

Daddy & The Lentil …

This is the “Falls” at Saint Anthony … this is while the Mississippi river was flooding up north … a ton of water and very forcefull!

All in all we had a wonderful time!

I have no idea how this is even remotely comfortable.