Our New Home

Well, we did it.

We finally made it to Maine.

We have been planning and getting ready for so long,

I really didn't know if  we were ever going to actually get here, but we did.

The Trip

The drive here was an adventure of itself. Let me just say, I am sooo very tempted to leave all of our stuff here, fly home, and start over. The first two days were pretty exciting so the miserable drive was masked by excitement. Day three and on however, we all were over it. I can honestly say the worst part was eating fast food, every meal. Yuck. Let me just tell you I am always up for going out to eat, Tanner not so much, but this trip gave me enough fast food to last a life time. Carter has had about enough chicken nuggets forever too, he stopped eating them around day 3. We also had some exciting/terrifying days at first. We were driving right through the tornadoes that were going on. Luckily we were higher up North so we didn't get it that bad, but for a couple of nights we were forced to stop driving because of the storm. Not being use to tornadoes I was pretty frazzled. One of the nights that we were forced to stop we stayed in a TINY little town. I don't mean tiny like Pocatello, I mean TINY TINY. They had exactly two motels..... and a Diner. The motel we stayed at was absolutely the most disgusting place I have ever slept. I don't love hotel floors ever, but this was a whole new level. We were scared to touch anything, it was so filthy. We made it through the night with a few hiccups, (Carter fell off the bed in the middle of the night) and by morning we couldn't wait to get out of there. Tanner got up and showered and came out to let me know that Carter and I would not be using the shower and we would just have to wait until we stopped again. I guess its pretty bad when you feel cleaner not taking a shower than taking one. Needless to say we left super early. After that experience we had pretty smooth sailing. Carter had pretty much given up on life outside of his car seat. Lots and lots of movies were watched and lots of naps were taken. Poor guy had no hope for life by this time. We finally made it into Portland on day 5 around 5:30 to grab the keys to our apartment.

Moving in

Right when we got here we had to start moving in and make it so we at least had a bed to sleep on. We had called the bishop before hand and he told us to just let him know when we would get here so he could round up some guys to help us out. Well Tanner forgot. So we moved everything in (which wasn't much) by ourselves. Next time Ill be sure to call the bishop myself. Anyway, as we were moving in Carter was going crazy just for the fact of being out of his seat. We were bringing his bed in, when he lost it. This little guy has been through a lot the last couple months, But as I was bringing his bed in he started crying and yelling "No No No!!! Go home mommy, go home." and that would be the first of Carter and I's break downs. I couldn't stand seeing him miserable and wanting to go home sooo bad. I tried to explain that this was home, which made him cry harder, with more no no mommy go home go home. This also made me have myself a little break down. All I could think about was going home, to all of our comforts. After un-packing more it started to feel better to get our stuff out and have some of our comforts.

Settling down     

Now it is almost a week later, we are moved in, and Tanner is officially a P.A. student as of yesterday morning. We are starting to realize that this is our new home and not just a vacation. Sunday helped all of us a lot. Our ward was so welcoming and made us feel so much better. There were a few student families that are in the same situation as us. They made us feel so welcome and we actually went on a picnic to the beach yesterday. We are still having upsets every once and awhile, we have yet to have a night without Carter in our bed, but there are worse things in life. Bedtime is nothing what it use to be, and naps are officially gone but I'm sure with time we will all get use to our new home, and the city of Portland does make it a little easier. It is so beautiful here with so much to do that I'm sure we will keep ourselves busy. 

The Month of May

I have officially been the worst blogger ever lately. I don't even know when I last posted.

Blogging has not been anywhere close to the top of my list of things to get done, 

or even on my list for that matter.

This is the month though. The month we are taking off to Portland Maine.

In a short 16 days we will be packing up a trailer and heading off to our new home.

Reality is starting to set in, saying goodbye the friends and family is a fear that will be coming true in just a short few weeks.

This is the part I am most dreading. I hate goodbyes, and I'm no good with other peoples emotion,

crying makes me so uncomfortable, so I always try my hardest to never cry in front of people. 

(besides Tanner, he would say I had no problem crying at all ;)

The excitement has been taken over by fear, and the fear is stronger than ever. 

I think the anticipation is so much worse than actually moving, I guess I'll find out soon.

We have most things ready to go. Boxes are packed, apartment is being held, and the new ward is fully aware of our arrival. I feel bad already, as we have relayed so much on our future Bishop for advice and help. He has been more the willing and has made a lot of my fears settle.

I think Tanner and I have come up with every possible situation that would ruin our chances to getting to Maine over the past few months, but its here and we made it.

(knock on wood, we still have a little over 2 weeks)

Our list is gone from overwhelming huge to only a few things left to do.

So here is to a new adventure. 

 The next time I blog, I could very possibly be sitting in our new home in Maine! 

   

Spring Time

Well it's been awhile, and I have been slacking, but my goodness how could I be inside blogging when we had such a beautiful day. We fully enjoyed being outside today. Carter loves to be outside, and there is only one problem, when it is time to go inside, a fit may or may not be thrown. Beside the fit, today was great. The morning was super boring and a lot of cartoons were watched while the cleaning got done, so by the afternoon I knew it was time to get out. We walked down to the park and just played. Carter loves being around all the other kids there, he loves feeling like a big kid, and just running free. I can't believe how big my little guy is getting. It is so fun to watch him enjoy so much. A couple weeks ago on a nice day Tanner had the day off so we went to the park. He tried teaching Carter how to roll down the hill (just like EVERYONE has done) and Carter always seemed to go the wrong way. Well today he ran right up the hill to roll down, and this was the result......

anyways, all in all it was a great day. Carter is so funny to watch and growing like crazy. He is really starting to talk. I feel like he learns ten new words a day. We are also getting so excited to be moving in just a month and a half. Sometimes I feel like its never going to come, at the same time its coming up to fast. We are slowing figuring stuff out and have a couple apartments, and things are starting to fall into place. We are so excited to get on to this new adventure, and really can't wait to go. Meanwhile hopefully the weather stays nice and doesn't pull a random snow storm, so we can have more days filled with this.

seriously how cute is he?!

on-going battle

I have an on-going battle with Carter that is in full swing. 

He officially HATES getting dressed.

Having his diaper changed.

 and especially Lotion.

I never realized how hard changing a diaper of an almost two year old would be.

He is one slippery booger, and is always getting away from me.

I need more arms, because two is not cutting it. 

Getting him dressed consist of me holding him down with my legs while trying to get clothes on him.

He is absolutely crazy.

As hard as is it getting him to put clothes on nothing holds a candle to lotion. 

Carter has had skin problems ever sense he was just tiny, and the Doctor told us about special Lotion for eczema. 

So I have to put this yucky lotion on him two times a day to keep his breakouts under control.

If you were standing outside my door, you would think I was beating him.

So if you walk by my house and hear a bloody murder scream, it's just Carter getting lotion. 

The other day I gave up fighting Carter to get his pants on, so this is what I got.

 In the meantime, were still fighting daily, to get dressed.

Forts

Packing has officially begun around here. I feel like I am doing way more damage than good.

I have some major ADD going on, so I have about 10 piles all over my house,

with nothing done.

Anyways, because of the packing there has been way to much TV on and Carter is not getting me as his normal playmate. 

Yesterday I had planned a big day of going through more things and getting it all a little more organized. 

About 20 minutes after breakfast I just couldn't say no to carter any longer and decided we were going to have a full day of play and no work. 

We started off with his first ever fort building.

Which was more fun to destroy than it was to help make, but either way fun.

We built our fort and took in books, toys, and of course goldfish.

Tanner came home for lunch to find Carter and I still tucked away in our fort, both of us in our jammies, and just hanging out.  

Carter is growing so fast I can't believe it.
I love my days where i decide that other things can wait and I just need some good time with my baby.

 

E.L.M.O

ELMO

Carters new obsession. 

I have to admit, I hate Elmo.

I also have to admit, when I was pregnant 

I said my kids will never wear all these dumb character clothes.

I hated them.

I don't like Elmo, Pooh, or any of those creepy Yo Gabba Gabba.

My only exception was "Cars" only because Tanner loves Cars.

Now here I am, two years later, eating my own words.

Anything and everything Elmo is making its appearance in this house.

And I couldn't be more serious than to say, Carter can rock all things Elmo.

It might be the fact that he can spot Elmo from a mile away and his little face lights up and he can't hold back his excitement. Either way, he looks adorable. 

I haven't gotten a really good picture of him in his Elmo Jammies because he is so excited when he wears them he wont stand still. But really he is the cutest.

 

2013

2012 

was full of happiness, disappointment, tears of joy and sadness. 

We got denied from PA school and had to apply again, only to get an early acceptance for the next year

My baby boy had his first birthday, which brought lots of tears from his mommy.

We said goodbye to our house and rented it out, and moved into an apartment

which was an adjustment to say the least.

I still find myself wanting to go home.

It brought very long talks on where we should be moving our little family so Tanner can finish school.

It also brought new jobs while waiting for PA school that have blessed us so much, 

new friends, and a couple more nephews, and an engagement where Carter stole the show :) 

(really he wasn't in a very good mood)

2013

will for sure be one for the books. 

We will be making the very big move way across the country to our soon to be home in Portland Maine.

Tanner will be starting PA school and finally seeing the end to school forever.

Other than the obvious of our move being such a big part of our life coming up there will be lots of fun memories sure to come like,

my babies 2nd birthday! I can't believe he is so big and grown up

a wedding,

a brother coming home,

lots more backwards eight with friends,

more friends having babies,

and much more.

So here is to our biggest year yet for our little family. 2013 will be great.