Long Overdue

Holy crap. I've been TERRIBLE at updating, and let's face it - it's not going to be the last time I suck at this. Things have been crazy around here and it's just going to get more hectic... but here's some fun updating that I really should do...

Moving Update: I'm moving to Chicago in 5.5 weeks. Ah! I made a list of everything I needed to get done before I move and oh. my. goodness. I don't know how I'm going to be able to do it all.  Kyle agrees - he even dared me to get everything done that's on my list...so now I have to. Dang it all. I guess one helpful thing is that I got a calendar and mapped out basically every day from now until I move with what I need to do that day (for instance - blogging - NOT on today's schedule) I'm doing SO awesome.

Here's my calendar for June - just so you can get an accurate picture of what I'm talking about. As you can see, I've appropriately added "Catch Up" days. Which I'm sure, 4 will not be enough, but they will all be used. But hopefully, I can exhibit self control and just follow the calender...but probably not.

I've already bought my plane ticket out to Chicago... I leave July 18th. I'm jumping right into everything too.. I'm meeting with my realtor July 19th so start seeing houses. Hopefully we find something quickly so that Kyle and I can get in right away. Hopefully.

shopping score with my momma in Phoenix

Pregnancy Update: I'm 28.5 weeks. Woo hoo!! Exhaustion has set in. I think I hit a wall the second my 3rd trimester came around. I'm exhausted ALL THE TIME. Probably has something to do with having a 20 month old, but maybe not. He is pretty well behaved...most of the time. I've only gained 19 lbs. Which I'm pretty happy about.. it's much better than the 30 lbs I gained with Max at this point. Which is so funny to me because I threw up EVERY day with Max and haven't thrown up with this pregnancy for a couple months and I gained more when I threw up every day.   Bulimia would never work for me, obviously.

It's still a girl in there... or at least it better be. Or all the stuff I got when I was in Phoenix is going to be useless. But let me tell you, shopping for a baby girl is WAY more fun than boys!! I love my darling Max's clothes (and he has some good stuff let me tell you) but all the cute dresses and shirts and shoes for a girl ... ooo!! .... love it. Makes me smile just thinking about it.  If you'll notice - in the above picture - on the right hand side, there are 3 lime green dresses. Yes. I did buy every. single. size. they had in those dresses - 3,6,9,12,24. She'll never grow out of it!! Muah ha ha!!!! Don't judge (they were only $7.00 a piece on clearance - though how they ever lasted to clearance is beyond me).

Apart from the typical aches and pains associated with my pregnancies - I am seeing a chiropracter again. Bleh. I have a herniated disk and a swollen sciatic nerve in my back. Which is typical, the nerve - not the herniated disk. That would explain all the pain I'm having, but I'm getting it sorted out, so don't worry!!

Kyle Update:  He has chosen to defy me and apply to work for the Forest Service again this summer. He started this week and so far hasn't gone out on the river yet, but the first trip is next week. For those who don't know what I'm talking about... this is basically what Kyle does for his job. He gets to raft the river, talk to strangers, camp, and make rock signs on the beaches for me (adorable isn't it??) and he gets paid to do it all. Lucky dog. But at the end of the summer he's super tan and even more muscular, so it all works out in the end.

We're also waiting to hear back from the Navy about the scholarship that we applied to for dental school. Hopefully we hear back sooner than later... I'll have more on that later (unless we don't get it - then I'll never mention it again).

Max Update: He's 20 months old. How the time flies. Super tall, super scrawny and looks more and more like his dad everyday. I feel like every time that I look at him, the less he looks like me. His Hobson genes are definitely beating the crap out of his Ficklin genes at the moment. But not to worry, Ficklin's are scrappy, we'll work our way back in there somehow.

see??? adorable

He's learning all kinds of words now too.. like cow, truck, tractor, car, bubble, shoe, rambo... I can't think of any others at the moment. But what's more impressive are not the words, but the sounds that he makes. He is one AWESOME motorcycle noise maker. I kid you not. You would be impressed. He's better than any adult that lives around here and most of the kids. I can't find a video to upload right now, but I will and then you'll be impressed. And he does it constantly. Sure, you think that'd be cute, right? WRONG. It's cute in small doses, but he does it 24/7. Sun up to sun down. And EVERYTHING makes a motorcycle noise, it doesn't have to be a motorcycle. Ah...he's napping now. Serenity. But I know I'll miss it when he grows out of this phase...or maybe he never will. Oh dear.

notice the intense concentration and the drool - it's awesome

Bragging moment : Kyle and I are very proud to announce that Max folds his arms during the prayers. And not just for a little bit, like the whole prayer. He even kneels or sits down when we tell him we're about to pray. It's so adorable!!! And he waits to get up until he hears the magic word "Amen". We'd like to contribute it to our awesome parenting, but it's probably just because Max is naturally awesome.

Rambo Update: Rambo is Max's best friend - notice how Max is NOT Rambo's best friend. It's adorable, but now its verging on dangerous. And not dangerous for Max, dangerous for Rambo. Sometimes, we are seriously concerned for Rambo's well being. Max likes to "hug" (a.k.a. tackle and sit on top of) Rambo. He also likes to "kiss" (a.k.a. pull on the ears of) Rambo. It's a good thing Rambo is such a good dog or we might be concerned about Max's safety. Not to worry though, Rambo just gets up and walks away whenever Max comes around, which you'd think might work, but then Max just thinks they're playing tag or something so he chases Rambo and Rambo usually ends up in a headlock. I should get a picture of that.... I don't know what Rambo is going to do when there are two babies chasing him around. He may run away and never come back. I probably would.

Etsy Store Update:  Kyle and I have been SERIOUSLY blessed when it comes to my store. It's been unbelievable. We have been able to make a decent living on what I make there and it's really humbling. I've put my shop on "vacation" until probably the fall when everything slows down a bit. But judging from the fact that I've gotten like 6 inquiries for people still wanting to order (even though my store is on "vacation") I'm probably not going to get the break that I want. Seriously, how am I supposed to say no to the money??


I think that's mostly it for now.. I'm sure there are things that I'm missing, but I just can't think of it right now. All I can think about is how I REALLY need to go work on my Etsy orders that I still have out...and eat something. I'm hungry.