Extreme Home Makeover: Meurer Edition

When Brett first bought our home in Novemeber 2006, he was convinced we'd be here for "Two, maybe three years-tops...." The plan was to make a decent profit, and use that profit to buy a much nicer single family home. Given the state of the economy, however, it seems we are going to be stuck here quite a bit longer. Our community was never finished and our builder left 8 or 9 brand new townhomes when he foreclosed. The bad news for us: if we sell now, which we'd love to, we will probably take about a $40,000 -$50,000 bath. Obviously, we are not interested in doing that, so we are staying put for now.

Since we're stuck here longer than anticipated, we need to do something drastic to "make it work" around here. Our storage is extremely limited, and we are trying to keep Little B's toys separate from our "adult space"- which is not proving to be successful the way were are set up now. So, now that the tax return is in, its time to begin the makeover. Item #1 is moving everything out of our basement to create a playroom of sorts for the little man. I met with a builder yesterday who will be installing a full wall of custom built-in storage for us in the basement. This will hopefully alleviate the 'toys eating our house' issue of late. The problem being, there is so much more to do and it is unfortunately NOT cheap! Our "to do" list for now remains:

-Get new carpeting or get carpets professionally cleaned (I'm pulling for new!)

-Get new curtain rod and curtains for over patio door

-Windows washed

-Finish buying and hanging shelves in hallways to accomodate our thousands of framed pictures

We look forward to gradually checking things off our list (and hopefully not adding many more!).

Vacation Schmacation

As we are winding down our week long extravaganza, I am getting very sad to end our time together (it's been much needed), but also excited to get Braden back into a routine.

We have accomplished so many things on this trip, and I am absolutely amazed at how much Braden has changed since we left home. Yes, in a mere week he has started clapping, waving, pulling himself up onto furniture and eating table food. It actually makes me wonder how much he is changing while I'm at work. I guess I'll have to avoid going there--ignorance is bliss, right?!

We have had an amazingly fun trip so far. We started out with two busy days in San Antonio. Braden met all three of his great grandparents on Brett's side, as well as several great aunts and uncles and some distant cousins. As usual, he was a huge hit, and I got pretty emotional leaving knowing that this might be the only time he meets some of them. We left planning to come back as soon as timing will allow.

We then made our way to San Diego. Monday marked a LONG day of traveling for all three of us, as a rainstorm in Dallas kept us delayed for almost 5 hours longer than expected. Thank goodness our little man was on his best behavior-smiling during our entire layover and sleeping on both of our flights. I definitely was anticipating a nightmare when I found out about the delay and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

Monday was pretty much shot in the airport, so Tuesday marked our first real day in "sunny" San Diego. Sunny? I guess. Warm? Absolutely NOT! It was windy and cool and according to the locals "this NEVER happens!"I think it was actually warmer in Chicago that day! But we made the best of it with a trip to Coronado Island which was gorgeous, and a trip to the local aquarium and a visit to La Jolla (which, for the record, is amazingly gorgeous). Since Braden's internal clock was telling him that bedtime was at 4:30pm here, we had "dinner" at about 4pm. It made for a very cheap meal considering we went with drinks and appetizers at happy hour, and they were half off before 5! Thanks, little man!

Yesterday was busy, but fantastic. We got up early and left before 8am to head to Anaheim. We drove about 2 hours through some of the most gorgeous scenery I've ever seen to eventually reach our final destination--Disneyland! We figured we were so close that it would be an injustice to NOT take Braden to the "happiest place on earth." I have not gone to Disney since I was around 14, but we had a wonderful time! Disney with your own child is just a whole new experience.

Watching Braden's eyes light up and jaw drop open in amazement was worth every penny we spent there. We got to have breakfast with all of the characters and then walked around the park riding all the "baby friendly" rides we could find. Braden fell asleep on the darker, quieter ones and squealed with delight at the rest. It was an extraordinary experience and I am so glad we decided to go.

On our way back to San Diego we drove through Laguna Beach and Irvine to take in the sights. Again, the views were out of this world! We wish we could uproot our lives in Chicago and take all of our friends and family here! Waking up to this scenery could never get old!

Finally, we made our way to "The Hat", a restaurant like a Portillos for Californians, to meet our friends Chris and Cat for dinner. Great food and great company made for a great end to our night.

Today will be a visit to the zoo and possibly a dip in the pool. We'll see! I'll update again soon!

The days are passing us by SO quickly over these past few months, its hard to keep everyone caught up! Lots of changes are happening in the Meurer household. Braden continues to grow way too quickly for my liking, but it is so exciting to see his little personality come out.

At almost 7 months, Braden's daddy is still, hands down, the most hilarious person the little man has ever met (yeah, I'm still trying to figure it out as well!) While part of me is a little disappointed that I don't have the same effect on my son, I do get a little choked up every time I think about the special bond they share, and the wonderful father my husband is. Brett never complains about any of the many errands he runs for us, despite his 90 minute commute to and from work each day. He is truly an amazing father and husband.

As Braden continues to reach many milestones, he is about to embark on another one--his first airplane ride! I am a little nervous but excited as well. We will be leaving 2 weeks from today to travel to San Antonio to visit Brett's extended family, and San Diego for our first family vacation. We are SO excited for Braden to meet his great grandparents in Texas, and think it will be particularly special for them to meet him. And I absolutely cannot wait to take my son to see the many sights in San Diego, including introducing him to the pool for the first time! I am absolutely determined to teach my child to swim as early as possible (mostly for peace of mind, but also for a little bit of selfish pride). Afterall, he is 50% Patterson, so it would be an injustice for him not to know how to swim. The warm weather (we hope!) will be a much needed change for us as well!

Work is going well for both of us- Brett just got put on a new project that is keeping him busy, and things are starting to pick up for us around the bank so my decision to not transfer was probably for the best! One new change for me is that I decided to finally go back to school to get my teaching degree this June! I know, timing is probably not the best with all of the budget cuts right now, but I am hoping by the time I'm done, things will have turned around. I will continue to work full time until fall of 2011 when I will be doing my student teaching. Brett and I are both very excited for me to finally be working toward what I really want to do in life!

Well, enough of the novel, just thought I'd catch everyone up! Gotta get the little man up from his nap now!

I'll update again soon!

Fondness makes the heart grow stronger

Ah, yes. Words of wisdom from my typically very intellectual husband. He was trying to tell me that "distance makes the heart grow fonder" and got a little confused. But I guess I'll cut him some slack. He allowed me to have a very rare and much appreciated "girls night out" last night while he stayed at home and watched Jr. It was fantastic, but I am definitely paying for it today! I literally got home, showered and have left the couch only for food or water, or to feed Braden.

My night out reminded me....I am definitely older than I feel. Not sure if its the fact that I have a child or that I live so damned far from the city is the reason that when I go out I am not dealing with the same "bounce-back" factor that I operated with in my late teens and early 20s. Probably a combination. Nope, not one part of my body re-cooperates the way it used to after a long night at KAMs back in the good old days. I am not sure HOW I used to do that so often!

Every time I sit back and think of what I used to put my body through while in Champaign, it makes me even more amazed that, A. I didn't and still don't weigh 300 lbs. and B. I somehow survived college. I'm pretty sure that a majority of at least my first 2 years of college consisted of: wake up, eat, class, eat, sleep, homework, sleep, shower, out, drink A LOT, eat, sleep, repeat; and most of the time, what I was eating was probably something with a lot of grease and a lot of cheese. I suppose that is the reason that in all of our pictures from college, my friends and I seem to have a recurring case of "face bloat." Over the years, the number on the scale may not have moved a ton, but the width of my face in pictures luckily has been decreased since those nights have ended.

Last night was a blast. I got to catch up with people I haven't seen in ages and have dinner at a BYOB sushi place (places that are non-existent out here). I definitely miss my time in the city and being so close to friends. I wouldn't trade my life for anything, but its nice to pretend to be a single, city girl once in a while. Single, of course, being a relative term :) . I felt like myself again, pre-mom, and am so grateful to have had some time away. Unfortunately, my body is used to waking up at 6 am , so I awoke, head throbbing in pain at 6:08am this morning. Rough is an understatement. After what seemed like a 2 hour drive home, I have since become a fixture on my couch. Getting off to go upstairs to bed seems like a chore. Yep, I'm having a "I'm in college again" kind of day and I kind of love it :).

Being sick stinks :(

Upon rolling out of bed this morning, I immediately knew it wasn't good. My body ached, I was freezing cold and burning up at the same time.....yuck. I thought getting up and taking a shower would help get me out the door to work, but unfortunately I only felt more sick as time went on. Being sick is one of those things that makes me feel like a kid again. I want my mom or dad to call me, ask how I am, and when I say "not good" bring me soup and 7up and make me better.

I guess you know you are an adult when you call home and say "yeah, I had a 102 temp today" expecting some form of sympathy, and your mother replies with a very prompt, "well, you'll be fine." Yes, I know I am fine, I will be fine, but when I feel as yucky as I did today, I want someone to come and say "you poor baby."

I guess that's what husbands are for. Mine is one of the best, and called home several times throughout the day to check up on me and make sure I was okay. He is currently at Panera, getting me a chicken noodle soup remedy. Hopefully it all works, cause I'd really like to enjoy my girls night out tomorrow night. I'm trying really hard to get better fast.

Braden makes it hard to feel too sick, either. No matter how I feel, he always gives me that big huge "hi mom!" smile whenever he sees me for the first time in a while. I feel much better after seeing him and after a day of rest. Let's hope it's what the doctor ordered! :)

Oh my god, your son is HUGE!

Yes, we are very well aware that we have somehow created a giant. Braden is a mere 5.5 months and is already wearing 12 month clothes and weighing a massive 20 pounds. He's huge. I get it. I feel like I have literally spent my entire weekend fielding questions and comments on that topic, and trying to downplay his size as passersby are so intrigued as to how "YOU TWO" created "THAT". Yeah, not too sure how that happened. I just smile and nod, trying to hide my growing complex over the issue.

Brett just beams when the comments come our way. He told me today that he takes them as a compliment, and that the bigger our little monster gets, the more he can forsee his future as an athlete. He is so proud that we might have a future lineman on our hands.

I, on the other hand, can't help but get a little concerned. I am afraid that as he gets older, he'll be made fun of or develop a complex about his size. While Brett is hoping he keeps on the growth train, I am hoping he starts to slow down so that he can blend in with those his age a little easier.

We were at our friend Nancy and Bryan's son Kyle's first birthday this weekend and while Kyle, who is 6 months older than Braden, used to dwarf our little man, they are now almost the same size. Quite the eye opener. I guess until we see him next to other kids, its hard to see just how big he is. Its pretty humorous to hear people guess his age.....8 months, 9 months, a year?? Haha. Not quite.

Today, the three of us made our first trip out to the grocery store. As Brett was waiting in line at the deli counter, Little B and I made our way past the meat and seafood section where I was approached by a man with a baby carrier in his cart. Braden is too heavy to be carried in the seat, so we have resorted to sitting him in the front of the cart, the "big boy seat" as we call it. As I passed by the cart with the baby, the man looked over at me and says, (those who are parents will understand the "instant friend" scenario at stores when you have kids) "Oh he looks just a little bit older than mine". "Oh," I said, "how old is yours?" I was thinking he couldn't have been older than 6 months. "9 months". I had to laugh...."Yeah, he's 5.5. He's a big guy" As I watched the man's jaw drop, I thought to myself, "I really hope he is going to be a stellar athlete or this is going to get old very fast."

Here's to hoping.....

Here we go.....

For the past 6 months, I have been overly anxious for Braden to start doing new "tricks" as my friend Emily calls them. I could not wait until the day he could hold his own bottle, eat baby food, roll over, talk, etc. I guess there is a reason they say to be careful what you wish for. Yesterday morning we awoke to Braden's first words : Mama and Baba (I can't say I am disappointed to have made the list!) He added "dada" to his repertoire today and I'm sure there will be more to come. We are very proud that amidst the aftermath of a 3 week+ lingering ear infection, he still managed to accomplish such a milestone with a smile on his face (most of the time).

Alas, we have begun the downhill spiral that is childhood development, and while I am super excited to watch the little guy reach so many different milestones, I know that there is no turning back now. Gone are the days of the silent, sleepy baby that did little more than eat and poop. We are now onto bigger and better things, which means busier and busier days for us. I have said many times over that I can't quite figure out how time flew so fast. I can't believe that I thought I was tired all the time before I had him. I wish I knew then what I know now. I'm pretty sure childbirth and parenting is the official definition of tired, and I'm sure any parent out there would agree. Braden is starting to talk, soon will be crawling, walking, running.....oh man, I'm tired just thinking about it.

My newest obstacle to overcome? How I can be running around after this child, working, working out and watching what I eat and still manage to gain 1/2 a pound this week?? Strange....