M.O.P.S

So this morning I had my first MOPS meeting.  I also attended 2 weeks ago although I was the only one (I got the date wrong!).  So this morning was the real thing.  I had a great time.  It was so nice to connect with other moms, get out of the house, have someone to care for my baby, get treats, and meet other christian moms.  I went to Sunnybrook church in Sioux City.  I was amazed at the amount of women in attendance!  We spent a good chunk of time at the beginning getting our kids checked into one of the sitter rooms divided up by age groups.  Then we got something to eat, sat down, and had kind of an introduction meeting.  I'm not sure how many are in my small group, I'd say around 12ish.  I was the only one that was a "new mom" so to speak and probably on the younger end.  Most had a few kids or at least older kids.  That was a little unusual for me because most of my friends don't have any kids.  I'm used to being around women in their 20's who are single, not the mother of 3! But they seemed like great gals and people I could definitely connect with.  One of them has a son named Gilbert, how cute!  Another has a little girl just under Jude's age and her husband is the youth pastor at the church.  Oh, and another, one of the leaders in fact, went to Northwestern and graduated just two years ahead of me.  All in all it was a good time and I'm excited to be a part of it.  What a great organization!  

Right now Jude is on the couch trying out his Baby Einstein video for the first time.  I feel kinda bad sticking him in front of the TV (don't judge me!), but he honestly he loves to watch the TV so much I thought I'd see how he reacted to this video.  He is liking it okay, but is due for a nap so may get squealy or just fall asleep...we'll see!  

I am attaching a picture of Jude showing off his Baylor gear as he cheered on aunt Brittany in her volleyball game vs. Texas on TV the other night.  I am attempting to teach him to say, "Go Brittany!" but so far nothing!  

I am also attaching a pic of Jude at 5 months (last Friday).  I want to point out what a big boy he is getting to be (16 lbs. 6 oz.!).  I also want to point out his Bum Genius cloth diapers.  Gil and I decided to attempt to be earth-friendly and we have really been impressed with these diapers.  We definitely recommend them:)  They are easy to use and wash and hopefully will save us money in the long run.

Another thing on my to-do list these days is to get my name in to some schools to start subbing.  I need to do it (even though I don't exactly want to do it...the $$ would be beneficial), but haven't been able to get a person to watch Jude on those days.  The daycare in town will do it Mondays and Tuesdays only.  So the search continues...

Chickens

Well, we did it!  We purchases 10 chickens at the Love-a-Lop farm swap meet last Saturday.  We have 3 laying hens, 3 cross bred hens, 2 bantam (or something like that), and an exotic rooster with a hen.  We have already gathered 5 eggs and are going to make omelets tonight!  Gil is so excited that we get to reap the benefits of chickens right away and not have to wait forever.  So far they have proved to be rather easy to keep.  That is besides the first day when a couple escaped the coop and we had a heck of a time trying to catch them again!  Gil and his dad built quite the place for them in our barn.  I am off to Wayne today to get some chicken feed.  While I'm at it I think I'll pick up some baby wipes and take Jude on a little stroller ride.  Oh, and I found out that chickens eat gravel so that their gizzards work and their egg shells are hard.  Who knew?  

On Jude news he is currently sleeping in his swing after falling asleep in his high chair after a cereal feeding this morning.  That is VERY unlike him so he must have been tired!  He is doing much better at night now and I'd say usually sleeping through.  Last night he slept from 8:30 to 5:15 and even then wasn't really crying.  AND he was dry!  I had to purchase some of those crib pads because I was tired of changing his sheets each night (he's a crib wetter!).  Other than that he is also taking some good naps and is usually a happy baby.  He's rolling well and on his way to getting around I think.  Well sounds like nap time is over...

Jude Rolls

Here is a video of Jude rolling over since he refuses to perform on command and many people have not had the pleasure of witnessing the monumental event in our son's life!  It is a little artificial I admit, but nevertheless I promise he really does roll over frequently.  

Also, Here are a few pics of our inherited dog, Barry the Beagle, and cats.  Leanne had some better pics of them in her picasa link in the previous post.  We enjoy having pets thus far despite their constant need to be fed and watered!  The cats also behave as though they are starving (especially the momma) and sit outside our door waiting for scraps even though the pet food we put out for them goes untouched at times (picky picky!).  Oh, we also have a used-to-be house cat out living in our culvert under the driveway.  There is a swap meet at the exotic animal farm in town (yes, Allen has an exotic animal farm and the llamas even stay out in my dad's pasture at times!) called Love-a-Lop and we are going to attempt to find culvert cat, as we've become accustomed to calling her,  a new home and also purchase some exotic chickens and some egg laying chickens.  Gil and his dad spent Labor Day assembling a chicken pen in and around our barn.  They did a pretty great job so stay tuned to future pics of our new chickens...it  promises to be an interesting experience!

Party in the Country

Gil and I hosted some friends from Omaha a couple weekends ago.  We had a great time grillin', playing with the pets, riding the 4-wheelers (my parents), and playing wii tennis.  I especially loved the 4-wheeling part since almost none of them had driven one before.  We had a great time just circling the house and out in the field.  Here is a link to some of my friend Leanne's photos.  She is a fantastic photographer and took some amazing shots:)

http://picasaweb.google.com/leannefgray/CountryParty?feat=email#

Also, here is a pic of us all on our front porch.

Rice Cereal

While Jude is upstairs taking what is for him a world record long nap (2 1/2 hours so far!).  I'm going to try to get a post in.  He has recently begun eating rice cereal (sporatically because it is so tough to get in between "regular" meals and naps and bathtime etc.).  He does SOOOOO good with it!  He just loves the stuff.  Anyway, here are some pics and a video if I can get them to work.  

Here are some pictures of our new home in Concord, Nebraska.  We bought our first house right down the road from where I grew up and where my parents still live (how brave are we?).  So we moved from the Omaha Metro Area to the sticks!  I went from working full time as a teacher plus coaching and various other commitments to staying at home with our 4 month old son.  We went from being close to Gil's parents to being REALLY close to mine.  We went from many friends and lots to do to 11 acres, a beagle, and 7 cats.  Gil went from a summer of unemployment to working full time at Briar Cliff  (with a 45 min commute) as campus minister/theology professor/track coach.  Needless to say we have made a few adjustments.  However, we upgraded from living in an apartment or with our parents.  We LOVE having space and dreaming about what we are going to do with it all.  We hope to have an organic apple/fruit orchard, chickens, and maybe breed dogs as well.  Gil is hoping to help dad with harvest, get another buck this fall, and maybe get his first turkey.  He is also hoping to someday still earn his doctorate degree in Theology.  I am hoping to adjust to this new life of spending my days with a baby.  I am also hoping to get involved with a MOPS group and to do some subbing in the area after another month or so.  We have many hopes.  Ultimately our hope is in the Lord and we want to do His will in our lives!

Coming back to small town life has been interesting, trying, and comical.  I haven't lived here for almost 10 years but since I have so much family and so many ties it's like I really belong. It has also been a flash from the past in many ways.  I am glad to not have neighbors outside my window, but I am sad I cannot call up a friend to do something with.  Even though I am from here there aren't any friends left in the area.  I guess I will have to get going to make new ones!  I did get an offer to join the Senior Citizens which seems to be the most happening group in town.  I actually went for coffee with them and my grandma this morning.  The place was packed and everyone wanted to see Jude.  They were all telling me who's grandmother they were.  It was pretty funny!  I sat beside the grandmas of my two best friends from high school. I might just have to become a regular.  Wish the young moms could do coffee every morning! 

Blogging Beginner

So yesterday after having quite an adventurous afternoon of lunch at green gables, feeding in the parking lot, shopping at Payless, and a massively poopy diaper in my car I came to the conclusion that I might need to start blogging!  There is just so much to tell sometimes...and no one to tell it all too (except for beautiful little Jude of course, but he doesn't always get it!).  I am new at this and since I love to write and journal I think it will be fun.  But right now I'm wasting so much time just trying to figure it out.  I should be exercising or picking rhubarb or sorting the recycling, but alas here I sit in front of my laptop screen for the past 2 hours!!!  Yikes!!! (don't tell my husband).  I don't really know who might read my rantings, but just the same I rant.  Tootaloo!