The Good The Messy And The Sick Again

Nothing like a Sunday stroll in the backyard...

Not too shabby...

But I did speak far too soon about Piper's transition last week.

She loves the house. Sighs and visibly shakes with delight.

She's not alone in that one.

Her favorite thing to do is usher anyone who comes in to, "see my baby sister's room." So to be fair, the house and a new room for a mythical new being who makes it hard for Mom to do just about anything might be the culprit. Add in that the house is far beyond put together and it's a recipe for - well - chaos.

We knew that going into it. Moving into an unfinished home with a toddler 8 months pregnant may sound crazy. But I still think it was the right move for us.

So ya. The invisible barrier around Piper's toddler bed has disappeared. 

She can't co sleep, she just doesn't sleep. But yet she won't stay in her room. So we're trying to ride it out because the poor kid is trying to figure it out and being too harsh right at this moment doesn't feel right. It started with sobs for Daddy all day, at least she's settled into realizing we all moved here.

So. First time she got up at 10 pm and was unsettled the rest of the night. Next was 2am, then 4:45, 3:30. This morning was 5:45. And I'm not talking those are one night's wake ups. Those are start of the day times for the last 5 days.

Kid normally sleeps until 7 or later.

Add in cats who are also adjusting and we've had a rough sleep week. Add in Piper and I both getting a cold/flu again and it's getting ridiculous. I'm back to coughing and I'd cry but it would start a coughing fit.

At least we 've had a few days of spring like weather.

They were followed by brutal cold winds and snow, but hey! It is CO!

To add to the chaos this week the stone work has been going in so we can set the stove. We were beyond thrilled to hear we could work something out with Mathias. He's an artist. 

He also is a Dad of 4, the youngest being his only girl, Lucy. Mathias was beyond patient with Piper's desire to help and even brought Lucy with him on a few of the days he was here. Lucy is 5 and a 1/2 and watching them play was like a glimps to a possible future. 

So the following pictures may make some of you cringe.

My point in sharing is to show those of you who seem to not grasp what I'm talking about when I say don't you dare send anything to us or I'll melt in a puddle and never forgive you. 

And also to remind myself later what we have endured.

These are not complaints. Not at all.

We created this situation by having too much stuff and by jumping the gun on moving.

I know that.

And I will also say that I adore this house. Which says a lot considering I haven't slept, I'm sick, and I can't find my socks.

So with that...

The state of one of our hall closets. Finding winter layers has been interesting.

Piper's closet. Bars and shelves will come, for now bins are my friend.

Dinning room

Master bath.

A small corner of our master closet.

My side of the room...

Josh's side of the room...

Kitchen

Food storage.

No joke.

But check this out !!

Nice, eh?

We'll get the stove in this weekend.

See the major issue is - with so much stuff and no shelving everything went into the garage.

Great, except Josh needs the garage to build anything - closet bars, shelves, the rest of the 2/3 of the kitchen...

This is the current state after a week of trying to clear it. Late into the night Josh has been trying to make sense of it - it's getting there. I feel for him. He's taking the brunt of the night time antics, he's had to get back to work - and every time he sets foot in the house he sees a huge list of things to do that he can't until he clears out this crazy town. But how do you clear it with no place to put it?

But again... We all love our house. We're excited for the babe who is a mer month from making her debut - and it will all work out. 

In the mean time no housewarming or birthday gifts needed or wanted.

New House

This is how the week started...

By Tuesday afternoon we were dust free and shined up.

By Saturday night we're still buried, but making sense of the chaos. 

Thursday the bulk of the house made it's way over in piles of ridiculousness. How can three people have so much stuff? And where to put it? And do I even want to think about the storage container still 1/2 full in the driveway?

No.

Piper handled this move 100 times better than the last one. She kept saying, " Momma, we're in the new house!"

She spent some time with Mimi and Papa while we contemplated torching the rental so we didn't have to carry another box or clean the place. 

Don't worry. We acted responsibly.

But while in the new house she seems happier. Playing and chatting while I try to find the spatula.

It's in here somewhere.

What I did find was two boxes stuffed with hand me down dresses in Piper's size and to her liking. Yahooooo!!! We are set! And between a new house and a mountain size pile of new duds Piper is in heaven!

Mimi saved us with exactly what we needed.

Food!

So now I'm trying not to push it anymore than I already have while Josh goes nutter about the state of the garage.

How are you supposed to finish building cabinets, shelves and closet storage when your table saw hides beneath several layers of random books, papers, knick nacks and a big heap of paddy whack? 

I don't know.

But for now Piper is learning to sleep through the sounds of drills and I'm enjoying my new big tub while I ride the Braxton Hicks waves. 

Oh yes, and in the middle of all this we did have about 2 seconds to acknowledge Valentines Day. 

All Most There

Almost there! With lots of help, sleepless nights and far too many details - by the end of the week we'll be sleeping in the new house.

It's a huge transition, with the reality of Momma's belly moving and growing adding to the change. But Piper is hanging in there.

She's chatting up a storm. 

She told Mimi and Papa's cat, "I'm going to brush your teeth, otherwise they'll turn black and fall out." This is NOT something I've told her.

The other morning I got her out of bed and she said, "Momma I had dreams of monsters, but then I realized something...I was only dreaming."

What we have here is Piper trying to see how fast she can run with her pants around her ankles.

There were several trials on this experiment.

In other Piper changes one day last week she woke up and decided she didn't want to wear her princess dresses. 

Ummm... What?

Ya. Not sure if they will resurface, but all week we've been challenged by what else she would wear. Hello Kitty shirts weren't exciting, no tutus - a huge HUGE love of pink. But buttons or anything that confined or restricted in any way was out.

I'm stumped and getting ready in the morning is taking far too long.

Thank Goodness for Papa!

Despite having a bout of Piper's latest cold (yes, she's sick again) he showed up

all weekend wiring away on the new house.

Piper was thrilled to help him.

As I stand at the door to the back porch I feel such gratitude for the many friends and family that have gotten us into the house in time to settle a bit before baby makes her debut. 

Lots of settling to be done, but I'll suffer the views during breaks. 

Progress

What is better than new appliances? 

Appliance boxes!!! Wooohoooo!!!

There is so much progress on the house from day to day Piper and I poke our heads in daily. 

We're about a week or so out from being able to move in. There will be lots still to do, but it will be livable enough so we're going for it. Rental plus building is just too much.

Plus, we all miss the big views and neighborhood. 

When we go to visit Piper never wants to leave. She's completely enthralled with Gabriel, who's helping with tile. 

Back at home Elmo moonlights as a dragon and fairy catcher.

And fairies get to play with dinner leftovers.

Yes. Don't ask.

I'm still sick.

Better than before but still have yet to get through a day or night without coughing or blowing my nose. I'm 31 weeks pregnant now and I've had some rough days with cold weather, working and packing. Nothing gets past Piper and when she's not testing me into madness she offers up foot rubs. Yesterday she told me I looked tired and took me to her bed to read stories and sing to me.

Sweet girl.

I've been meaning to share ...

Piper has continued to be an oral child. But it's getting crazy these days. Everything- and I do mean everything - goes right into her mouth. Cleaning up and packing I found her with a mouth full of plastic confetti. Paper, plastic, clothing, stickers - pine needles from the Christmas tree she finds on the ground...the list goes on. Needless to say we're telling the Easter Bunny to lay off that awful plastic grass. Between her and Oscar kitty I've pulled too many thin ribbons from throats - my adrenals can't handle anymore.

So back to the house.

The baby's room is a source of curiosity as well, as Piper tries to grok the kicking she gets while sitting on my lap.

And her room is a hit too

By now the floors are all in thanks to the speedy and lovely work of Uncle Gary and Everett. They're all ready to start next week with baseboard trim and the doors should arrive. Josh is cranking on electric and the cabinets for kitchen and bathrooms as we get ready for Marcos to come back for a final plumbing the end of next week.

Packing at home is intense. Our move out of the last house was quick and I'm buried in "stuff"

The new house is smaller, which is wonderful - but it means I am on a mission because three junk drawers in the kitchen is no longer a luxury I need or want. A mission quite difficult when you factor in being 8+ months prego and living with a toddler. Luckily between some extra time at school and Mimi and Papa I'm making progress. As well as many, many trips to the free box.