Oh Boy(s)...

Last night was a big night for all of us here in the Poole household. Sweet Baby James moved out of mine and Marcus' room and into his and Connor's.

At first Connor was not too hot on the whole idea. I think his words were "get that baby James out of here. I want him in his little bed (pack 'n play)!" Of course, we told him that James was going to be sleeping his his big bed (crib) from now on and that he would simply have to deal with it. It's amazing how well just telling C he has to "deal with it" works. He does, and did, and everything turned out just fine.

The funny part of the night was listening to the boys through the baby monitor. Connor couldn't keep his little mouth from moving and James was a gas (literally). Our favorite Connor quote was, "I want one more piece of bread three more times."

Marcus and I just sat in on our bed and laughed our heads off. Sitting here now neither one of us can remember most of what was so funny, but it was. Without the monitor on it sounded like Connor was asleep, but with it going we could hear his little mouth talking nonstop...for nearly two hours! We decided we might keep the baby monitor in there throughout their teenage years...think of all the good night-time conversation we'll probably get in on!

Are We the Dumbest Couple or What?

Marcus and I, bless our souls, are just not that good with the little sentimental details of our families life. For example, we can NEVER remember important dates and events in our relationship. You wouldn't believe what we had to go through to remember/find all the stuff I included on my "Our History" sidebar. We're lucky if we both remember the actual date of our anniversary (but we never forget the weekend...Presidents day...so we go on vacation).

ANYWAY

I just noticed on MY OWN sidebar that James was 18.5 inches when he was born. WE SO TOTALLY LIED TO THE DOCTOR this morning and told her he was almost 20. Are we dumb or what? No wonder she mentioned his lengthening curve was much slower than his weight. We're idiots. Love ya babe, but you know it's true.

2 Months Old!

Today my sweet baby James is two months old! Time sure does fly!

We just got home from his well child visit and here are his stats:

Head: 15.5
Length: 22.25 (25%)
Weight: 11 lbs 13 oz (50%)

He is a healthy boy and coped o.k. with getting his shots. He is recovering from the tragic event by taking a little nap in his car seat right now and whimpering in his sleep.

Before


After


Here are a few other fun facts about James at two months:

-Just started wearing size 0-3 clothes
-Also just started wearing size 1 diapers
-Goes to bed at 9:30, sleeps until 3:30, eats, sleeps until 6:30, eats, sleeps more
-Eats 3-4 oz bottles every 2-6 hours
-Smiles lots
-Laughed for the first time yesterday
-Loves his swing
-Rolls over ALL the time
-LOVES to stand up (with help, of course)
-Still doesn't care for his carseat much.
-Loves Bevo and Hemi
-Likes his binkie (wahoo!)

We love our sweet baby and are so happy to have had in our family for two months now!

It's Official...

We got the Chapel Hill apartment we applied for!

I was really nervous to post the details of our up and coming move before we heard that our application was approved and a lease signing was set up. I always worry until things are final...and now they are! So, here's the scoop.

We'll be moving November 14 to Lewisville, which is where Marcus' office is. Because we certainly are not planning on any change of employment between now and the time we leave for medical school we are also not planning on having to move again until then. I am EXCITED about that because it gives us the opportunity to settle down for a while and become a real part of a community and a ward. We were very careful in our apartment searching to find a place that would meet our needs (and wants) yet be affordable and smart. After-all, this phase of our lives is meant to be a time of saving and preparing for the med school years.

We selected a nearly 1000 sq. feet 2 bedroom 2 bath floor plan with a balcony (well it's over 1000 sq feet if you include the balcony).


The actual apartment is directly across from a playground, right in front of a lake with ducks, just a 2 minute walk away from a pebble-bottom swimming pool and spa, and a 3 minute walk from an amazing fitness center and juice bar. Awesome.

The complex has a million and a half other amenities. In fact, when we were apartment hunting we stopped and got a flier from Chapel Hill, but when we saw the list of amenities we threw it out, thinking for sure it would be out of our price range. Funny enough it ended up being less expensive than every other place we considered.

The area around the complex is really pretty and I think we're going to be happy there. It definitely has more of a community feel to it than the hustle and bustle area of Irving we're in now.

I'm looking forward to our lease signing appointment and picking out the colors I want the walls painted. I can't wait to move into a place that is going to be our little home for the next few years! Wahoo!

I Know How Connor Feels...

Connor LOVES the Zoo and is always asking to go. We went early in July and I think he brought up that he wanted to go every day from sometime during the begining of May. Each day since we have gone he has asked to go back. I keep telling him we will, but we've yet to take the time to do it.

Now, the point of this post.

I think I finally know how Connor feels. I am not dying to go to the Zoo, but ever since I made a 5 minute trip into Hobby Lobby (just to buy googly eyes for a Halloween costume) I can't stop thinking about wanting to go back. Now, I know I'm a grown-up and if I REALLY wanted to go I could find the closest one and then venture over to it. Unfortunately I'm a big wuss when it comes to driving around here and if I don't know EXACTLY where I'm going I'm too nervous to try...I have a small history of wrecking cars.

Anyway, maybe I can talk Marcus in to taking me over there sometime between his getting off of work and the begining of Biggest Loser tonight. We'll see.

A Few Items of Business

As you all know I have not been on top of my blogging for a little while now. I have several posts that are half-way written and saved as drafts, but let's be honest, I do not have the umph to get in there and finish them all and you most likely would not enjoy reading a thousand new ones at the same time. SO...I will sum them all up below.

1. I have our apartment unpacked...but it's a daily struggle to try to get the whole place to be clean all at the same time. One day soon I hope that happens...and once it does, I hope a miracle will take place and I'll be able to keep it that way forever and ever...

2. Irving is a great place. I have never met more friendly and accepting people in my entire life.

3. Our ward is awesome.

4. If you are ever looking for a good time, go to Wal*Mart in the middle of the day anywhere in the DFW Metroplex. It is full of mothers, babies, and a few stay at home daddy's who I swear are only there to talk to the other shoppers. I have yet to go and not be approached by at least 5-10 other people who just want to chit chat. It's pretty funny.

5. Marcus loves his job and so do I. I don't think you can beat a 7:30 to 4:30 daily schedule. I love it.

6. This is a big one...We are moving. Just about 25 minutes away to a rockin' apartment out in Lewisville (the city Marcus works in). We will be leaving here November 14. I will miss it, but I can't wait to settle in at the new place as well. If all goes as planned we'll stay in the new place until we move for medical school.

7. Connor, James and Marcus are awesome...I Love them!

8. New TV is starting...can you say Biggest Loser, House, and The Office? That's right!

9. I can't figure out how to make my new family picture fit normally on my side bar. It is either too small or ginormous. Any suggestions?

10. I just discovered Hobby Lobby on Saturday and now I wish I could win a shopping spree there or something. That place is amazingly dangerous.

11. I thought I had lost my temple recomend but today my cat Hemi had it in his mouth in his little hiding place under our bed. I am 99.9% sure he stole it out of the basket it was in under our night stand. The little stink.

Family Pictures

Yesterday we went and had some pictures taken at Kiddie Kandids. This was our first time going there and I am converted! Compared to JC Penney and Wal*Mart (the two places we've used several times in the past) Kiddie Kandids rocks! Why? More options, more patient photographers (in our experience), reasonable prices, AND unless you special order large sized prints or products you walk out of the store with your photo's in hand! Awesome!

Anyway, here's what we ended up with yesterday!

Do You Know How Much I Could Get Done...

...If I didn't have kids?

A LOT!

P.S. I love you Connor and James.

Photo Update

I grounded myself from the computer a few days ago in hopes that I would get our apartment finished. Marcus and I got the actual unpacking pretty much done the first week we were here, but I have needed to get everything put away where I really want it to go as well as decorate the place. Most things are mostly done now and I will just be spending the day on laundry, so I figured I could get online for a while and atleast catch-up on my blog.

By the pictures I've posted below I'm sure you can tell I haven't just been working on the apartment...I only do that while Marcus is a work (well, try to atleast. I have two little boys mind you). In the evenings and weekends we've been out having lots of fun.

Here's some photos of our recent going-on's. At home or out we've really been having way too much fun! Enjoy!

P.S. The pictures of James covered in blankets, pillows, and clothes are courtesy of Connor...who likes to make sure his brother is nice and warm...

My Babies Have Not Been Cheap!

I am writing this post to celebrate the fact that we finally have received the last of our bills from James' birth and have gotten them all taken care of...my babies have not been cheap! Good thing they're worth it (and of course they are. I'd pay a million times more for them if I had to and could).

We easily hit our out-of-pocket maximum with Connor's birth, but when I ended up with such a healthy pregnancy with James I expected MUCH lower medical bills...and they were, by far, but that newborn intensive care unit stay for James was insane! Thank goodness for fantastic insurance...even though we just barely missed reaching our out-of-pocket max again. Yikes!

I spend a lot of time budgeting and planning and thinking about our money...it's nice to be able to now put this behind me. Just ask Marcus how much it was killing me to not know the final damage we owed all those rich doctors! :)