Movin' on up!

Patrick and I spent my birthday furniture shopping and we have all the pieces picked out for each room. We have gotten our breakfast table and chairs, our foyer settee/loveseat, and our foyer console table. Hoping to order our couch soon! We still need some rug ideas, and online shopping for rugs doesn't appeal to me because I can't feel how cozy soft they are. Anyone know of any great rug stores to look into?

Our dryer burnt out on Saturday, which means we need a new set. I think the one we have we got for about $100, so its not much money lost and we got our use out of it for sure. We were going to wait until we moved in and wait for it to go kaput, but I guess here's our sign to getting a new set. We were thinking of the whirpool cabrio....thoughts?

We found a guy to haul off our junk - some chairs, our couch and bed, and now the washer and dryer. I thought he was pretty hilarious because his ad is from the movie Madagascar - "I like to move it move it, you like to.....move it???" Every time I see his email pop up I chuckle at his signature quote. Cheers to getting rid of our last pieces of junk. Feels GREAT!!!

Our house is in its initial stages of getting the slab poured. It is coming along! The other pictures below are of the space between our backyard and the other houses....so happy that they do not back up to each other and that there will be a nice grassy space to look at and look across!

                                                Our house, tiny little slab form :-)   

                                   

                                   View from the back, our yard goes up to the orange fencing.

                       Our house will be the empty space to the right of that house. The sodded area is the empty space between our backyard and the other houses back yard. We are on the higher slope :-)


Lastly, our business is getting ready to launch! Hopefully I'll be able to use the winter break to go over excel docs, taxes, receipting, inventory, etc. and get it all figured out! We took apart the crib to make room for the clothes to have a temporary home between January and April. So the spare room is clear and ready for business! We are waiting to purchase other items like shipping and packaging, hangers, rods, lighting, backdrops, etc. until the 1st of January so that it will be in next year's taxes. We should be getting our call the week after Christmas or so to order inventory. We are ready to see what January and February bring!

On a side note, I've started to meal plan and come up with an easy system to manage meal planning and grocery shopping for our family. I'm pretty excited to get it finalized over the break! This week I'm cooking up some Irish stew. YUM!

As I told Patrick the other night, 2017 is going to be the best year yet! Then, I found this great image later the next day:

It can only go up from this past year! Haha! It WILL BE ridiculously amazing!

Under Contract!

We have been waiting and waiting for this day! In fact, I was up at 12:30 am, nervous as can be. We both felt like throwing up and having a heart attack haha! We were really a sweaty stressed out mess. We finally got to send our NEW address to our foster agent and tell her it is official!!!! In December, they will be getting our permit to build and flagging off the lot. Construction should start sometime between Jan 1st and the 15th. :-D Our new home will be ready sometime between May 1st and the 24th, depending on weather this season.

We are ecstatic! And now very much stress free until our little one arrives in our arms. <3

Our realtor rocks our socks! She was able to get us a free fence, $6500, and all the upgrades we wanted, plus a screened in porch wired for a fan. Now our doggies and kiddos will have a safe place to run and play in!

Another little cool thing is that the sidewalk in the neighborhood will be on our side of the street and every 3 or so houses they put a tree in for beautification of the neighborhood. We are the lucky winners! Not sure what kind of tree, but hey, you know trees make me a happy camper!

We ended up getting a different elevation, so here is a picture of what the outside will look like, very craftsman style. There are also pics below of the finishes we will have and colors.

Our house will have the light gray siding on far left, the roof peaks will have dark gray shake, and trim will be pearly white. The shutters, door, and garage door will be the two dark colors that are almost black. The bottom of the front of the house will be stone, not brick. The porch roof will be a dark dark bronze that matches the dark color for the shutters, etc.

 We will be having a light base paint of silverpoint gray, with carpet upstairs only. We will be getting a painter to add some final touches to the arches, ceilings, and other walls as needed once we move in.

This is our kitchen backsplash, with quartz marble countertops, and dark almost black cabinets. The same cabinets will be in bathrooms, and the same countertop in master bath.

These our the floors downstairs. They have black knicks and grain to go with our almost black cabinets. Hopefully they will hide more dirt and dog hair haha!

Here our some pics from the best day we have had in a LONG while! Thankful, relieved, grateful, and excited!

Before signing our life away haha, I met with a lighting specialist and we are still in the process of narrowing down our choices, but she was able to think about each room, the size, how we would use the space, the wattage and light output for each light etc. and helped us pick the right choices for each space. We were able to make adjustments to our cut sheet for building based on her suggestions. Here is a pic of our LuLaRoe Room light (which will now be in the big bonus room, not the room downstairs, that will now be the playroom) and the mirrors we will have in the master bathroom.

Business Update:
I was able to get a lot done over Thanksgiving since I didn't have to worry about the house stuff any longer. I've started to build up my connections with others who will be getting their inventory around the same time. I have joined a multi group with other people across the US in many different states. I'm excited to expand the business outside my regular connections.

I was able to get some black friday deals on things for my LuLaRoe room and business like jewelry hangers and dishes to display jewelry, business cards, thank you/care cards, my size cards, LuLa Cash coupons, thermal label printer for shipping, and some cute glass jar containers to hold LuLaRoe hair ties for my 1st time customers.

Needless to say, both Patrick and I are ready to get our lives rollin'! Can't wait to see the next chapter in our life unfold!

Update on our Timeline :-D Thank you for your continued support!

As some of you know, mom has passed on this past week on November 16, 2016. As I scrolled through facebook and this blog to find pictures for her service, I came across our timeline and goals. So, I just thought I would give a newer update so that you will know where we are at and what the next few months hold for us.

Here is our previous timeline:
Still left to do:
***Write a letter to the birth parent and a letter to the foster child DONE!
1. Buy stroller and car seats (infant and toddler)
2. Physicals and TB shots in January
3. Buy a home (Jan-Mar 2017) - Pending this week!!!! OMG we did not think it would be this soon!
4. Have a foster/adoption shower! -Planning in Process!
5. Fire Inspection (upon closing of the house) - Which means we need to child proof! This will be May but not sure the exact date/time frame for our house completion
6. 3 Home study visits
7. 1 month to get license processed 
8. Get placed with a sweet baby! Create a LifeBook!
9. Work on room number 2! Continue parenting and child classes (must do 10 hrs each year to keep your license!)

Here is our new timeline:
1. Sign our house contract and put a deposit down this coming week!!!!! Our lot has been released!
2. Physicals - appts made - end of Dec. for Pat/Beg of Jan. for Crystal
3. Start online Business - LuLaRoe Crystal Catherwood - (see more below) in Jan.
4. Buy stroller and carseats
5. Foster/Adoption shower planning - Starting in January! Hoping for April/May time!
6. Fire inspection - May __???
7. 3 home study visits in 3 weeks! Get license processed!
8. Get Placed and create a lifebook!
9. Work on room 2, continue classes as needed


So, here's the scoop!
We got wrapped up caring for my mom, foster classes, and then the house, and then my mom again, so we didn't get an opportunity to order the carseats and stroller yet, but we will!

 I've also been in contact with some specialists about breastfeeding and/or pumping to feed breastmilk in the bottle. We were able to get a lot of support from not only doctors, but lactation consultants, support groups online and in person, and friends. We are still pending to hear back from an NC lawyer about the laws regarding foster children and breastmilk. Stay tuned!! 

If you struggle with understanding our choice, more information can be found by searching "Breastfeeding without Birthing". There are books, videos, websites, seminars/conferences, etc. to help you understand what this means, what it means to us, and what it means for us. The downside that still stings is that insurance will give you time off to be with a foster or adoptive child, as a natural mother would get, but insurance refuses to pay for a breast pump unless you have BIRTHED a child. Ummmm....can we do something about this???!!! Don't ALL babies need to eat? Haha

We also were able to purchase a 2nd convertible crib for baby number 2! We are still on the search for a changing table dresser combo for baby 2.

I have changed my insurance around in prep for our sweet child. I added in short and long term disability. Short term allows me to get some pay while taking off work for those initial weeks to bond with the child. Long term allows me to get some pay if I need to take off work to care for the child through surgery or medical needs etc. Patrick's insurance renews in the spring, so he will do his then.

Are you ready for goosebumps?
Our lot for our house was released the exact same time that my mom passed, like within the minute. Freaky huh? Must be a sign!!! We knew when we did walkthroughs that it was the right house for us and it felt right, and then knowing that the lot was released for us to buy at the same time as my mom leaving this world, was like a sign that she was giving us a gift for our family! We truly weren't expecting it so soon and really more towards the end of December. We were both SHOCKED!

We are also currently prepping to start our own small business that will open in January to sell designer clothes online with LuLaRoe. We are hoping this will be a small stepping stone into more financial freedom and more time to spend with our forever family. Our LuLaRoe page is https://www.facebook.com/groups/1804974496431455/  You will need to have facebook to join and see the clothes! Please let others know about the group page too!

Sooooo......we have got a lot going on! I did tell my fam that Christmas might be delayed until I get back in a groove and settled haha.....

Lastly, while thinking back on our journey to get to this point this year, I realized how many people have been involved in our ups and downs, our process, in US. This has not been an easy road, it has not been an always happy road, but here we are.....at the end of the road....FINALLY! It is a time of overwhelming emotions and happiness and excitement as each day gets closer to our placement date. We can't wait to hold that sweet loving child in our arms and share them with you.

We hope to have an adoption/foster shower sometime in April/May. When we realized just how many people have supported our journey, we knew our house would not hold all the love. So my best friends, sister Kate, and Patrick's mom Joyce are going to be on the search for a venue to rent. Not only do we need more space for all the people we love, but we have waited sooooooo long for this and it deserves to be celebrated!

We will have a more relaxed cookout a few weeks after being placed, after we are settled, to introduce you to our sweet child.

Thank you all for being so supportive along the way. For hoping and praying, for lending a shoulder or an ear. We could not have made it to this point without you, our friends and family. We are just so very very thankful. I wish we could put it into words how much we love each and everyone of you, but THANKFUL is what we are. <3

A House Is A Coming! :-D

Hip Hip Hooray to our long awaited house!

Our meeting with the lender went very well today. However, we are still awaiting the right lot to be released so that we can start building. We should be under contract sometime between now and December, then it should be almost 5 months before we move in. We walked the house now for a 3rd time and looked at where different furniture would go and measurements. Here are some photos that are similar to our house, but ours will have different finishes and some slight differences, but same floor plan. It really feels like a dream come true that we have waited so long for. Timing is everything!!! We are so happy that things are starting to fall into place!

DINING ROOM

BREAKFAST ROOM LOOKING INTO LIVING ROOM

BREAKFAST ROOM

PANTRY

KITCHEN LOOKING FROM BREAKFAST AREA

FROM LIVING ROOM LOOKING INTO KITCHEN

HALF BATH

FRONT ENTRY

BONUS ROOM CLOSET = HOMEWORK CENTER WITH DESKS

Great lighting for closet! Definitely can use for kids work space!

KIDS BATHROOM

MASTER CLOSET

MASTER BATH

FOYER/ENTRY

Our stairs will be similar with wrought iron

ART/CRAFT/OFFICE off entry

Possible exterior color schemes

Home Sweet Home....

Well,
We have been looking at houses since July, and we thought it would be very difficult to find a house that makes us both happy and that we can agree on. We saw many choices of old and newer homes, but always had that feeling of "we would need to change that". Knowing that we want to be placed as soon as we can, we thought a new or newer build would be the best solution so that no changes needed to be made and nothing would need to be fixed or improved. Our top priority is a safe house that is ready to go!

We found a new build home that we could both agree on. We took a look with our realtor Carrie McDonald Morris, and instantly fell in love. It was even better than we thought and fit us and our needs perfectly. The best part is, that the builds are currently happening and some are happening down the road later on, so we can choose our lot when it is released and choose all the finishes and colors. Fingers crossed we can be first to get the lot we want to fit the house!

We have scheduled our appointment with the lender tomorrow and today Hanna and I are going furniture shopping. Hopefully after I return from Phoenix in December, we can proceed with the pre-approval and go under contract for our new home! Patrick and I have waited our whole lives to get our forever home and we are ecstatic that we found it. Let's hope it becomes official soon!

There is plenty of space for at least 2 kids, an art/craft room, a dining room, a kitchen with lots of space, ample storage and closets, a decent sized yard - not too big, not too small, and room for a playroom/family room.

Stay tuned to the progress on the house contract and the building process! It will take about 5 months or so after we go under contract.

Doggy Preppin'

Since June, we have been working with our dogs to train them to be gentle and respectful to the baby, the baby's things, and the baby's space. We bought a water baby that is similar weight and feel, and it does make some sounds when you press its tummy. This has been the best investment for us.

The dogs know how to go to the crib to check on the baby, they know how to lay down next to the baby's play mats, they give space to the swing and are used to its sound, they have been exposed to baby smells (thanks to baby products and our nephew Rocco), and they are respectful to the baby bouncer, boppy, walker, glider, and carrier. 

They do know how to not jump when we are holding the baby and to sit when we hold the baby. When they sit we pet them, give them praise, and let them smell the baby and give its toes/fingers a little kiss.

They do still get a little jealous and want to snuggle when the baby sits on the couch in the boppy. We will work on it!

We probably still need practice with leaving the baby's small toys, books, and stuffed animals alone, but we will get there! And we still need to get them used to crying sounds (thank goodness for youtube!).

Our future goals will be to learn how to walk with the stroller respectfully - Walking is tough for us as we want to protect mommy and baby!

Here are a few snapshots and videos of our progress:

Our play mat video was too long to upload :-(

Stay tuned for our stroller update!