In which I write far too much about my life

Wow, life has been busy. I've barely had time to think, let alone blog, so this post is way overdue. Life hasn't been particularly difficult or stressful, but with the move so close Jeremy and I have been busting our butts getting ready. Add to that the crazy growth Joshua's been experiencing (with the additional needs and time that takes) and it adds up to one tired mama.

We found what we think will be a great apartment in the Bull Mountain neighborhood of Tigard, 8-10 minutes southwest of Portland on the 99W. Its a two bedroom on the third floor (top floor) in a nice complex with its own playground. Hopefully that bodes well for the family friendliness of the neighborhood. My brother Dirk checked it out, and he's the type of guy that if he likes it, then you know its good, cause he doesn't get excited all that easy.

We got all rushed and packed everything away, only to discover that the move date is 9 days away, and we don't have anything left to pack but the last minute pieces. (And all of Josh's toys. I keep explaining that its just for a couple weeks, but he's not buying it.) So, all the prep that can be done has been done. Moving Van, Apt, Utilities set up, Non-Essentials packed. Done.

Now what?

Catching up with my life. I finally got to send some recent pics to the family members, and posted some on facebook for the rest of y'all. Josh has four teeth now. The top two are very much in, but will probably grow a bit bigger before they are done. He's a speed demon crawling master, getting into EVERYTHING, way too strong for his own good. Pulling out the cat box, lifting up the baby gate (when its not snapped in), he can even lift himself up briefly by pulling on our dresser drawers. He's pulled himself to standing, one handed, and is letting go more and more frequently to see how long he can stay up.

He's also learning some pretty big things. The internets say he's learning categories right now, and lots of dexterity with his hands. I can totally see the second one, cause he's picking up every little tiny thing he can see, and then putting in his mouth and scaring me half to death. And he's discovered that saying "mum mum mum" gets him picked up and loved, so its become his mom/dad/caretaker word (it occasionally shifts to "mama" and I get all excited)

Until yesterday, he really was having a hard time sleeping, and eating solid foods, all due to his crazy busy brain, so they say. (They being mommy-bloggers, child development experts, and various other parenting websites) But finally, we've had two nights in a row of decent sleep, and he's napping IN HIS CRIB right now. (For almost three weeks, we've had to hold him or drive him in the car to get him to nap at all) So maybe he's finally finished the growth spurt he was working on, and now is winding down to routine and normalcy again. God, that would be great. Fingers crossed.

And now I'm going to stop typing cause this is becoming an novel. Next chapter: How to keep a 9 month old (yes, he really will be 9 months old on the 8th) busy and calm during a three day moving trip across state lines. Woo!