Tonight I went and picked up Miles to watch him for a few hours. A few days ago Eric and I were up at Greg and Hollie’s and we talked about helping them out with Miles while getting to spend quality time with him. We decided that Thursday nights would be our nights. SO? I got to go get Miles tonight. Eric’s gone to Vegas so I wasn’t sure how Miles would like just the two of us hanging out for a few hours. We had a blast. I picked him up (thanks Greg for carrying the basket) and carried him to our house. When we got in Miles and I played cars for a while. We drove them up and down the pergo floor. It was a blast. We sat at opposite ends of the room with our legs straight and open and then push the car across the floor to the other person. Miles had a great time and laughed so much. He’s so cute when he laughs. Then we watched a little BooBaah?and then Thomas the train. I felt bad that we were watching so much TV but it was pouring rain outside so there wasn’t much to do.

We played hide and seek forever. Miles would walk to the back of the couch and climb up on the cat box while I pretended to hide and that I couldn’t find him. Then he’d pop his head over the couch and say “surprise” in his cute Miles voice. Then he’d outstretch his arms like he wanted me to pick him up. I’d grab him and slid him over the back of the couch and snuggle with him and shower him with kisses. He’d giggle and laugh and then do it all over again.

Finally, we watched Sesame Street. Miles loves the show. It is about the only time that I’ve ever seen him totally concentrate on a show. He climbed up in my lap and we watched it. He was so cute because every once in a while he’d start to chuckle and then look at me as if to say “is this really funny”. I’d laugh too and we’d giggle and have a great time. Spending time just the two of us was awesome. Miles is becoming such a big boy, such a hansom littler person. I’m so glad we get to spend time with him every week.

Beth is here! Beth is born. Today my sister-in-law, Hollie, had her second baby, Beth. Eric and I went to the hospital to see them and Greg, her husband and Miles, baby number one. It was such a special thing to finally see this baby that Hollie had been carrying. Beth is beautiful. She looks a lot like Hollie with the dark hair. I thought it pretty funny how different Beth looks as a newborn compared to when Miles was born. Miles had no hair and weighted over 10 lbs. Elizabeth has tons of dark hair and was just over 7 pounds. How different can you get.

I was so happy for Greg and Hollie and their little family with the new addition. There were a TON of people in the room visiting Hollie and the new addition. I didn’t know you could fit that many people in one hospital room but we did. There were cameras with flashes going off, video recording and lots of “ohhh” and “ahhhh” all around. It was such a special time and a special moment. It wasn’t long after we’d gotten there that we were given the opportunity to hold the little bundle of joy and happiness. Eric did such a good job holding her. I knew he was nervous but he did great! I got to hold Beth a couple of times. I was so amazed at how beautiful she was and how tiny she was. The whole experience was a little bittersweet. I love babies and I’m so happy for Hollie and Greg and I’m glad they’re close so I can get my baby fix but at the same time it was hard to see everyone cooing over Hollie and the baby and know that it’s highly unlikely that Eric and I will have a child of our own creation. Ordinarily I don’t think I’d ben having these mixed emotions so much it just happens that earlier this week I went to the OB and got not so great news and Hollie’s just had a baby. What’s the best about the situation is that Hollie and Greg know I love Miles and I love new little Beth but they understand the struggle for me which means a lot. I’m so thankful and blessed to be in the family I am.

I am SO excited. Today is the last day of work before Christmas vacation. I’m SO looking forward to it all. I’m excited to visit family and just be away from here, read some good books and just recharge. We leave tomorrow for eastern Washington and Othello. We’re going there until Tuesday, most likely and then off to Ellensburg for the rest of vacation. I can’t wait. I love Christmas Eve in Ellensburg with Eric’s family. We play games, eat lots of food and do puzzles. It’s so nice. It’s going to be even nicer this time because my mom and brother will be there too. It’s always the best of both worlds when we can blend family activities.

Last night Greg, Eric’s brother, and Miles, Eric’s nephew, came over while Hollie got some much needed rest. It was so nice to have them over. Miles is too cute for words. I’m so glad they live so close. Last night was so funny because Miles would run around the love seat and coffee table chasing Baylee and having a great time. At one point Josh came down stairs and Miles thought it was pretty cool to see someone new. He called Josh “doss”. It’s so cute. Then, when Josh started to go upstairs I told Miles to go get him and he ran after Josh and stopped him at the stairs. They both sat and Miles talked to Josh about what, I don’t know but he talked so fast and about every twelfth word was one I recognized. Then Miles came back down the stairs and hung out for a while. Later in the night Josh went outside to talk to friends. Miles went up the stairs far enough to sit in the window sill. He could see Josh and would knock on the window and say “doss”.. “doss” and Josh would look at him. Eventually Miles would be more forcefully and sound more like a command for Josh. It was so cute… Then upon feeling defeated that Josh was busy Miles gave up and we went back in the living room where the boys watched TV, Miles played with trucks and Baylee sat eating her raw hide.

Later Hollie made it down and was able to visit for a few minutes. It was great to see her. I’m guessing she’ll be glad when she had Elizabeth…Unfortunately we didn’t get much of a visit in with Hollie because Miles was so tired and it was close to his bed time they had to go. I think the real indication was when he tried to sleep on the cat post and then moved to being sprawled out on top of the coffee table with a pillow conveniently provided by his uncle Eric.

Today Eric and I went over and did some more painting on the house. It’s coming together really nicely. I like the sage green and hunter green. When we’re all moved in I’ll take an after picture. When my brother tells me how to add pictures I’ll put a before and after here. Until then you can see the before pictures on snapfish.com. If you don’t have the password and log in ID I gave you then e-mail me and I’ll give it to you.

The keyword for today was tedious. It was such a pain to do the touch up work on the painting. it took forever. part of the problem is I’m anal about the paint job, so Eric says. he was a trooper and did most of the touch up while I did the touch up on the part where the ceiling and wall meet. We did a good job of taping the master bedroom too. I think that’s where we’ll start tomorrow. Just have the master and the office to finish. I think after we move we’ll figure out what to do with the guest bedroom, the bathrooms and the dining room.

We went over to Greg and Hollie’s today too. Miles was so cute. When we came in the door he held out his hands to Eric signaling that he wanted up. He loves his uncle Eric. It’s so cute to see the two of them together. We sat and chatted for a while and then went and got lunch for all of us. Greg is sick with the flu cootie. I’m hoping Eric doesn’t have the cootie. He’s had a sore throat all day and Hollie said that was how her flu cootie started. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’m so glad that we went to see Greg and Hollie. It was a lot of fun. Once we move we’ll be down the street from them. I’m excited about that. Hollie and I can scrapbook and hang out then.

Well, got to go.. time for bed. tomorrow is a day filled with painting and sealing grout… don’t you wish you were me

Tonight was so much fun. After work we went over to Greg and Hollie’s. We hadn’t seen Miles for the last month and a half. Sad too because we’re only a few miles from Greg and Hollie. Somehow our schedules and phones don’t work well enough that we see each other on a frequent basis. Mile has the cutest costume. He was a giraffe. he was so cute. I took several pictures, I’ll have to post them on snapfish for people. It was so cold outside that Hollie and her mother only took Miles to a few houses. It was so nice of Hollie and Greg and her mom to share the evening with us.