The weekly grind

**Edited to fix typo! :)
It's back to the weekly grind tomorrow...
{Josh back to work, and 3 kiddos here with me :) }
But I wanted to 'jot down' some thoughts before they got pushed out of my brain.

*Zoe is developing more and more.  She know REALLY realizes when you walk away from her.  I mean, she always has...but now she like expresses it.  Yesterday, she was in her swing and I walked away and she cried :)

*She is starting to ham it up more and more...and I love it!

*She is really getting good at sitting up!  (I have a video I will post soon also.)  Today at Missy's she sat up for the longest that she's ever done.  (It helped that Missy {who doesn't blog anymore...cough cough...hehe}has carpet...we have wood floors, but she's on the rug)

*We started going to church again.  There is a local church here that we've always said we wouldn't really like because it's a huge church.  We know a few people that go there and really like it...so we met Holli & Kyle (+their 3 kiddos) there 3 weeks ago...and have been going every Sunday since.  It's not so bad :)

*Nataleigh and I hosted our Twilight party here yesterday...fun girls night.  (I have photos to post later)

*I am pushing myself to have my last 8 pounds off by March 21st.  (That's 7 weeks from now)  If I do it...Josh's taking me shopping for new jeans.  I'm stuck in between jean sizes now and it's driving me crazy.  I can't fit into my prepregnancy ones yet...but the ones I bought for post pregnancy are too big.

*I am taking two different photography workshops this spring and I'm very excited about them.  I want to focus more on my photography business and I think these are just what I need to give me a kick start in the right direction...lots more on that to come soon!

I think those are all the thoughts in my head right now... oh wait there's one more.....Sleep!

mama leaving baby

In March I am traveling to Utah for work. 
The-Whole-Kit-N-Kaboodle will be in beautiful Sandy, UT at the Scrapbook USA Expo....and guess who gets to go along ...yours truly.
I am SO excited to be along side Andrea and visit another Scrapbooking Expo.  What scrapbooker wouldn't want the excuse to travel and walk into an Expo center FULL of YUMMY scrapbooking goodness? 

My flight and hotel are booked.  And I'm ready to go :)  Well...almost.  I will be away from Zoe for almost 4 full days.  Eek!  Origionally Josh, and my mom were going to go along...Josh to help and mom to watch Zoe, but with Josh's job changes he can't take time off work.  But we're making this work.  I am sad to be away from her.  I can proudly say I have seen my daughter everyday of her life...I've held her and kissed her every single day.  But I know this is an AWESOME opportunity and she will be in good hands. 

Taxes Smaxes

It's that time of year again! 
I started our taxes this week...I knew they'd be harder to do this year because of everything.
My 2 different jobs
Josh's 2 jobs
Adding Zoe
Josh's ESOP pay out.
School.

I am still waiting on 3 peices of mail so that I can finish them...and then we'll be on our way to our refund!
We have to pay state this year though.  Thanks to Josh's ESOP. Yuck. 

Well I'm off to stalk the mailman!

I'm not the only one....

that thinks he's wonderful.

Josh emailed his old boss at 11:30 am on Friday, and asked if they could talk about him coming back.  He just kept it generic and said he missed ComDoc and wasn't happy with his decision to leave.  (Side note:  which is true...we had been talking for a few weeks about him doing this anyway.  We actually had already typed up an email..just hadn't sent it yet)  His boss emailed him back by 11:40am.  (And said he needed to get somethings together and would get back to him 'in a week or two')

Monday morning he got an email from him that said to call him as soon as he got the email.  Josh called him and as soon as he answered the phone Josh said he was excited to hear from him.  He asked if they could meet for dinner Tuesday night. 

Last night they met at the office about 5:00pm and by 5:40 he called me and was so excited!  It went very well and they were very excited to hear that he wanted to come back.  They said they had to get it approved by an upper management person and then by the board, and HR today.  While he was on his way home his boss called him and said that it was (already) approved by the upper managment person! 

This morning he woke up at 8:30 with a message from a lady in HR saying she was emailing him a few papers to sign.  He had an email from his boss by noon with an offer letter and HR had sent out a "welcome back Josh" email by 1:00 :)

It all happened SO fast....which was A-O-K with us.

Josh is very excited to be going back.  He knows that leaving was not the best decision.  But he learned a lot from it, grew from it...and is happy to be back!

Changes!

Things are looking up!
On Monday, Josh got an email from his old boss at his previous job.  (He had emailed him on Friday to see if they could talk about him coming back)  They set up a meeting for tonight and things went really well. 
They have to talk to the board (about him coming back) and then, upon approval, he can start on Monday. 
Thank you to those of you who have kept our family in your thoughts and prayers.  We should know something tomorrow or Thursday at the latest.  But it seems as though things are going to work out :)

She's almost One!

Alyvia (my neice) will be One on February 17th!
I can't hardly believe it.
Devon (my brother) and Megan had a photoshoot done a few weekends ago.
Here are a few of the photos....they turned out AWESOME.
LeAnne & Sarah did an amazing job.  Go see for yourself!

Backspace key

Do you wish you could press the backspace key {in life} sometimes? 
Sometimes I think I do. 
This week was a rough week.
Wednesday morning, at 10:45, Josh called me and told me he rearended someone!  Everyone was ok.  The car was not.  He hit a lady in a CRV (with her two children and her mom in the car).  She had a tow hitch on the back and her car being higher than my Civic, did some major damage to the front of my car.  He brought it home...(took it to a shop and they said it would be ok for him to drive staright home) when he got home it was smoking and smelled real bad, so we knew it was not driveable.  I made some phone calls, had the claim filed, tow truck here and gone (with the car) the car in the shop and a rental car all picked up by a few minutes after five. 
We are very thankful he (and other parties involved) were safe. 

Today the phone rang again at 10:45....but this time I couldn't really understand what he was saying.  He told me that he had just lost his job :'(  We talked for a moment and I tried to hold it together.  He was coming home.  I was waiting...and crying.  The only thing that kept me from totally loosing it and having a panic attack was Zoe sitting next to me, cracking up.  {Evidentally I look funny when I cry}

He came home and went straight to the computer.  Resume, emails, phone calls.  He has a few things in the works so we're saying our prayers that something works out.  {Quickly} 

I know that God has a plan for us...and that he knows how this will all work out and he is just waiting for the right time to show us.  We are waiting patiently for that time.

I have NEVER been a saver.  We are not savers.  I STINK at it.  I think this might change that.  At least a little.  I know others have much larger problems...problems of their own.  We are grateful for our health, for a roof over our heads and the ones we love close by, grateful for awesome friends who will do anything for us and most of all grateful for an amazing daughter who can make us laugh when we want to cry the most.

A {dear} friend told me today:
Don't tell God how big your problems are, Tell your problems how big your God is...I LOVE that!

As rough as this week was for us, but I do not want to push the backspace key.  I want to push through it.  We will come out on the other side of this stronger.  We will grow from this and it will just be 'another thing' in our past. 

Changes!

I know I've been a blog slacker this week! I have been working hard on a stats project (for class tonight) and I have been (trying) to keep myself off the Internet!
I will blog this weekend :)
I also am going to change the blog header! Those photos need updated...badly!

Our boy

Dear Manny,
Even though you've cost us SOOO much money in "medical bills"  you are still our bubba...and we love you.
You are the best bubba ever. 
You listen when we tell you to lay down or sit. {most of the time}
You let Jackson {2 year old} walup all over you...and sit on your bed with you. 
You ring your bell at the door whenever you need/want to go out.
You know to stop on your way back in if it's raining or snowy so I can wipe your feet. 
You lay on the floor in Zoe's room every time I give Zoe a bath and wait for me to come back in there to get her ready for bed.
You give me high fives.  And even hugs when I ask for them :)

We love you!

A scare from the little bug!

The night before last my mom texted me and asked if Devon had called me...no...why?

Alyvia (my niece) fell and hit her head and they were on their way to the hospital.

I got an update from Devon a little bit later that they were getting ready to do a cat scan.
So we were waiting for more updates; we didn't really have any other info other than that and that she was vomitting a lit. (didn't know how she fell)

Mom was very anxious and wanted to go up to the hospital to support Devon and Megan. (dad was at work so he ran over there too). I told her she should go and I would ride with her. She stopped to pick me up and we rode up there...walked in and found dad who took us to their room in the ER. We no sooner walked into the room and the nurse came in with the Cat scan results! She had a a minor concussion. Poor thing was so sleepy. Her eyes were so red from crying and her poor lips were so red from getting sick.

Dev and Meg were exhausted too! Meg had been puked all over :(

The nurse told them they could go home. Just to let her sleep and keep a close eye on her. So we got her in the pjs I brought for her and a fresh clean carseat and headed home!

{She was at the daycare, with Meg, and she pulled herself up and was standing at the bookcase. Meg said she was thinking about stepping over towards the rocking chair and she just fell straight back onto her noggin}.

Lyvi, we are so glad you are ok and back to your happy self. We love you!

You say Tomato...

Josh and I were talking the other day about how we are polar opposites.  We went through an entire list of things that we feel/like completly opposites on.  We find it funny.  We were like how are we so happy and love each other so much...but have so little in common? 

It's a mystery that I'm ok not understanding :)

We're happy and that's all that matters!

Happy 5 Months Miss Zoe Woe!

This little miss will be 5 Months old tomorrow! EEK. 

She is becoming more of a giggler.  We can't go anywhere without someone stopping and commenting how cute and happy she is.  She just cracks up at random things.  Love it!

We started Sweet Potatoes today...so that's three foods.  (Bananas were first then carrots and then today Sweet potatoes)  She Loves the bananas...is ok with the carrots and now loves the sweet potatoes. 

She is holding onto toys and (of course) putting them in her mouth.  She's started grabbing things randomly.  I'll lay the toy on her belly and she'll grab it.  Today, I was holding a spoon in my hand, while holding her and she grabbed it!  Yay.  She's got the rolling over thing down...she just doesn't do it very often.  She's rolled from her back to her belly a few times with Josh...when mommy's not here to see it.  But I'm ok with that.  Daddy needs to experience somethings too. 

She just a few days ago realized she could stick her tongue out.  It's so cute.  It's this little pointy thing.  I keep trying to get a photo of it...but she pulls it back in. 

Her ears are doing well.  The left ear has a little bump on it.  It was red, then turned purple and now looks like it's healing.  I just hope it goes away.  I had one on my ear when I had the top of my ear pierced. 

I'm not sure how much she weighs right now...but I am guessing it's about 13 or 13.5.  She goes to the Dr mid February for her 6 month. 

She's {almost} outgrown her mommy attachment.  She is completely fine with Josh now...which I love!!

With other people it's getting MUCH better.  She just likes to see me.  If she can see where I am she's usually ok.  {Side story:  My dad stopped over yesterday and was holding her and she would start to fuss when I'd step out of her eye sight.  She doesn't take her eyes off me} 

When you say 5 months I think it sounds so big...but she's still our wittle baby!

Henry & Zoe

This is another example of what a few weeks does in babies :)
Mr. Henry was born at the end of July!

Les, What is his birthdate?

Two Months

Miss Aubree started coming last week!  We had a great first week.  I handled two babies well better than I thought.  Which I don't know why I thought there would be a problem....I've handled WAY more than two at a time before.  Jackson was also here a few days.  They were all great kiddos.

Aubree doesn't pay much attention to Jackson yet.  But, I'm sure in time she'll think he's just as funny as Zoe does.  You saw the video.  Zoe just cracks up at him.  Sometimes he's not even paying attention to her, but she is watching him and thinks he's soooo funny. 

Aubree and Zoe are about two months apart.  It's crazy how much a difference of two months makes when it comes to babies.  I look at Zoe and think she's SO BIG compared to Aubree...and think Aubree is SO LITTLE.  I'm sure soon enough we won't even see the difference :) They'll both me chasing me around the house hehe...or should I say chasing Jackson.  Good thing he's got manny (boy)  because he's out numbered.

Giggles

For awhile now Zoe has CRACKED up at Jackson (the 2 year old that I babysit).  I've tried numerous times to get it on video...and as soon as I break out the camera he wants to just watch instead of playing with her.  But I got it today!  Enjoy.


Zoe Laughing at Jackson from Natasha on Vimeo.

I told ya...

Caught her doing it today with my camera in reach :)

Time goes so quickly!

I think it's time for some random updates!
Miss Zoe is 4 months (still) hehe :) She will be 5 months on the 13th!  She's growing like a weed...and learning a lot.  She's holding onto things better.  I bought her a few toys that were smaller for her to hold onto.  She has a favorite ring, that has these chewy fruits on it...she holds the ring and it goes straight to her mouth.

She's still determined to be a thumb sucker.  We catch her all the time with it in her mouth.  The last few days though, she's been sucking on her indes and middle finger....but upside down.  It's quite funny how she flips her hand backwards and puts them in there.  I'll try to get a photo.

We started her (on January first)  on bananas.  She's starting to love them.  There were a few days she just would nibble on them and then gag.  But now she seems to really enjoy them.  Thursday we'll start something new.  I am making her baby food.  I made Bananas, Carrots and Sweet Potatoes...and froze them.  We'll see how it goes.  I figure even if I do it for awhile, or part of her food ...it will save us some money. 

She's still in size one diapers!  And in 3-6 month clothes.  I can see a pattern forming though...she will always out grow her pants (in length) first and her sleeves will always be long.  Like her mama.

She makes the funniest noises.  She just talks and talks.  I have a few videos of it.  I will post soon. 
She's actually sitting on my lap right now, making them!  And now she just stuck her thumb in there.  Nice.

Dad's leg is looking MUCH better!  It still looks bad down around his ankle...but way better than it did.  They want him to have surgery on his vericose veins.  (If that's how you spell it)  Mom isn't crazy about the idea...She's not a big fan of surgeries.  But he does have some bad ones and they need to be taken care of :(

We had a great Holiday season.  Christmas flew by as always...but it was great to spend lots of time with family.  We spent New Years Eve in...all night...Zoe was in bed by 7pm and I made buckeyes!  Josh's friend Seth came and stayed too...they played video games until we watched the ball drop.  I was in bed by 12:20am.

New Years day we had people over and watched the OSU game.  We didn't end up with as many guests as we originally thought we were going to have, which was a bummer...but we all had a great time. 

That's Carson (Zoe's Spirital Twin) Maddy, Alyvia and Zoe

Saturday we had planned on going to moms to visit with Beth & Caleb, but they didn't end up making the trip from Cleveland because of the snow...so we went anyway.  Ab & Tuwana came so we played some catch phrase and just hung out.

Sunday, Josh, Zoe & I spent the entire day in our PJs just hanging out.  Zoe and I had colds (Zoe's first cold) so we didn't have much energy.

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