Surprise... here I am!

Good morning! Yes, I am finally writing a post. Sorry for being gone for so long but it has been busy and I really haven't had time to just sit down at a computer. So here I am... Julius is trying to put himself to sleep and I am ignoring the whines while trying to type. =) I realize that this is just what I am going to have to do if I want to get anything done. Ok, here is my update since what, April?! Ha... yeah long time.

Move to New Mexico: I am having a great time here. PJ loves his job as an officer and I love being a substitute teacher. The weather is great, the lake is beautiful, and the rainbows and sunsets... God is amazing. Enough said there! It is quite a difference from living in Washington my whole life. Sometimes I still wonder when I am going to go back home. I guess since I don't have a house to myself yet makes it seem a little less realistic.

T or C Police: Like I said... PJ loves his job. I, on the other hand, can't stand the long hours. All of the officers tell him that most officer-marriages end in divorce because all of the chaos that goes on. I know that won't happen to us because we have God as our third member... but the 14-15 hour shifts are not helping. PJ is suppose to work 10 hour shifts for 4 days on and 3 days off. So far he has worked on 1-2 of his off days almost every week and the days he is scheduled to work, he ends up working from like 8am-10pm, 3pm-4am, and today he works 7-5pm but we will see if that is really what he ends up working. I feel bad for him because he isn't getting enough sleep... but the captain loves his work and says that PJ is a very hard working man! I agree with that!

Teaching: Ok, I decided to sub for a part time job so we could get a loan for the house of our dreams. I only have to work about 2-3 days a month to help out with the house payment. Actually, my working 2 days a month will cover our medical payments and that is very nice because this is the first time we have had really good medical for a medical,dental,vision plan. I don't mind working a few days because I know it will help with starting our life off and it's nice to be in the schools every so often. I do hate leaving Julius because I worry about him so much. I hate that my milk doesn't produce enough to pump after feedings so he will have bottles. I don't like it when he has to drink formula... but since we are starting him on solids, hopefully it will get better. Teaching is fun... elementary... that is a different story. I don't know how you teachers do it. I hate the tattling, the whining, the complaining, oh and the random stories that come out of no where. I thought that was only in kindergarden! It is a nice change from rude high school students I must admit. And it is fun reading stories like "The Whoosh of Gadoosh" because then I know what I could read to Julius when he is a little older. (Great book by the way!) All in all, the students have more manners here and actually pay attention. It's a nice change.

Julius: He is over 6 months old now and I am loving every minute of it. He is rolling over from his tummy to his back and from his back to his side, sometimes to his tummy. He can hold his head up, is starting on solids, and is working on sitting up. We put him in the Bumbo seat or sit him up by holding him under his arms. He is almost 13 pounds, so we have him on a supplement vitamin and I am hoping when he eats solids more often, he will get bigger. He is a healthy, strong boy who loves to kick and suck on his toes and fingers. He amazes me every day and I thank God that he is such a blessed child. He is trying to talk these days more so than others. He babbles and loves to hear the sounds he makes when he talks with his fingers in his mouth. He loves the camera, if you haven't noticed already... he smiles when ever there is a flash or if he sees me open my cell phone. I know my mom misses him so much and I bet if she poked her head in the crib he would get the biggest smile of them all! The sad thing is, we can't find our video camera charger, so I haven't been able to get him on video between his 5th and 6th months... and now we are about to go to his 7th month. So I think I am just gonna have to buy a new one. =(

Our Dream House: I love the house we chose!!! It is a flat top adobe house with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3/4 of an acre, has a boat cover/shed, already painted in great colors inside, and from our roof- a lake view!! We are going to put stairs to the top to have as our patio so we can sit up there and enjoy the view. (PJ's favorite part!) The house inspection went great and our closing date is September 25th. We are just waiting for my paycheck from the school district on Sept. 20th and all the paper work will go through then! I am so excited I can't contain myself. We are house sitting right now until next Friday and then another week in a half at Esthers-then in our own home!!!! Yes, it will be hard without a fridge, washer and dryer, couches, and chairs to our dining room table... but nevertheless... it is our first home and we will get everything in time! (If you would like to donate anything... we would accept! haha just kidding!) At least it will make the move easy right?! The funny thing is, Julius is the one with the most stuff! He already has a crib, pack and play, a glider, decor, ect!! I am happy that his room will be complete though. Yup, can't wait!!

Cougar: This is the name of the dog we want to buy. We found her at the humane society about two weeks ago. She is about 1 and we thought she was a ridgeback mix... but we found who her owner is and they say she is a full-blood hound. The sad thing is, we talked to the officer who found her and she said that Cougar was thrown out of a moving truck on the highway as if they were trying to kill her. She is the sweetest dog who loves kids, is beautiful, and doesn't hardly bark!! That is the part I love. lol We are going to go put a down payment on her so no one buys her. We like to go play with her and give her bones... We just bought a toy and a brush for her. The only thing is, she has to stay there until we get our house. I honestly don't know how we are going to afford a new house, a baby, and a dog... but PJ is determined to rescue her. She has already been at the society for going on 3 months now... so I said it was fine. I don't think I have to explain her name. lol (Her picture with PJ is on our QUINTessentials if you want to see her!)

Well, I think that is about it. I don't know what else is going on in our lives... I believe this is the most detailed update I have ever written... If you have any questions or comments, just leave them or let me know... I hope everyone is doing well and I thank you so much for all your love and prayers!!! Have a great day!!