Sunday, October 18, 2015

Diaries of a Ghetto Extended Stay

And when I say "extended stay", I mean "place people live who have nowhere else to go". Which described our situation perfectly, so we were definitely in the right place.

When we first moved down to Orlando at the beginning of September, we knew we'd need some time to find a place to live and for Colby to find a job (kind of important). So I got a place on Airbnb for us to stay for a month. It was a pretty good price for a 1-bedroom apartment (glorified studio) in a decent neighborhood and it worked out pretty well for us. I thought by the time the month was up we'd have found an apartment. Unfortunately people don't like to rent you stuff unless you have income. Weird. So we didn't even seriously look for a place during that time because we knew it was pointless. We moved here in the first place for my job but that doesn't start until much later than we thought. (I finally start next week!)

So when September was ending I was trying to find another place we could go while Colby was interviewing for a few jobs. I didn't really want to commit to somewhere for another month since we were hoping we wouldn't need to stay somewhere that long. I found an extended stay that looked decent enough and had a good weekly price. Let's just say you definitely get what you pay for. 

We ended up staying there for 2 weeks and I have never been happier to leave a place! Here are a few highlights of our time there:

  • Apparently they assume you'll be fine without a blanket since it's Florida or whatever. There was a sheet on the bed and a "comforter" that was literally thinner than said sheet. Luckily our comforter was easy enough to get out of our storage unit!
  • We stayed in a non-smoking room and supposedly a smoke-free floor, but everyone and their mom was smoking everywhere you went. So we smelled like smokers ourselves (which we didn't really realize until we would leave) and when we finally got out for good, we had to wash the "clean" clothes that were just sitting in our suitcases twice to get the smell out. Side note: can you dry clean suitcases? Asking for a friend.
  • There was a good 24 hours where we didn't have hot water at all. Apparently the system went out and the closest replacement part was in Jacksonville. I feel like that's one of the top requirements of a hotel?
  • One night Colby was coming home from a temp job at about 1 in the morning and one of the "residents" walking around in the parking lot at the time (obviously) came up and asked him for money. That's what you want to come home to.
  • I was walking around the hallway with Dez one day and a guy said something to me in Spanish. I didn't think he was talking to me, but he came closer and asked me in broken English if I had a knife. He said he just needed to cut something. Good thing I always carry I knife around in my purse. Never know when it will come in handy!
  • That same day, we were near the lobby when I heard a lady yelling at another lady, calling her an effing whore among other nice things. It was because that lady was with her 7ish year old son who decided to just whip it out and pee on the floor of the lobby. The mom just kept saying there was nothing she could do because he just starting peeing and it wasn't her fault. I don't know I would have gone as far as the lady who called her a whore, but being his mom and all there are probably a few things she could have done! Good thing the desk lady saw it and cleaned it up, because the mom made no attempt to do anything about it. 
  • Oh, and there was a dead guy found in front of the lobby one night. Died of gunshot wounds. Nbd. We didn't even find out until a couple days later when they posted flyers asking us to call the police if we knew anything about it. Eeesh.
Again, I have never been so happy to leave a place.

So about the week after we first got to Florida, Colby interviewed for a job with a really great company, but they said the whole hiring process usually takes 3-6 weeks. I thought they were just saying that. They weren't. This past Monday Colby had his final interview with them after doing 3 or 4 evaluations and interviewing with about every manager of every department. They called him back that day to offer him the job! Best. News. Ever.

The very next day (our last day at the extended stay from hell) we went out and looked at places to live all day, hoping we'd be able to move in somewhere the very next day. By some miracle it worked and we were able to move in on Wednesday! It's beautiful and perfect and I love it so much.

Monday, June 29, 2015

12 Months

I can't believe at this time last year we were bringing the little guy home from a hospital. It's weird imagining my life before him and I couldn't be happier to have him in it! Things are much crazier obviously but he makes us so happy and this past year has been the best.

His birthday on Saturday was really fun and I felt like I got another birthday for myself! We filled his crib with balloons in the morning, went swimming, out to lunch, and then I had to go to work so we were planning on doing his cake today. But the game Saturday ended up getting rained out so I went back home but it was too late to make his cake, so we put a candle in a cookie. You're welcome.

Then the game Sunday got rained out too so I made his cake and we FaceTimed with both of our families while he went to town. Thank goodness for technology! His grandparents sent him some awesome presents and he had a pretty good time opening them even though he mostly wanted my camera.


Today was his one-year checkup and he got a total of 7 shots and finger pokes. I was freaking out as if it was myself getting the shots just like I do every time. Ahhh I hate it. But luckily he only cried during some shots and was done as soon as they were over. He was 31.5 inches and 24 lbs 3 oz. The first time she weighed him it was 14 pounds...I was wondering if we had gone back in time to when he was 2 months old. I'm glad I asked her to do it again!

A few weeks ago he just started taking off walking and he's finally starting to prefer it over crawling, though he does still crawl sometimes. It was the craziest thing just sitting there and all the sudden looking over and Dez is walking without being prompted. We practiced with him for a few days and now we can't stop him.

He says "mama", "dada", "hi", and he finally has started waving to people, but still only sometimes. He hasn't really caught on to that whole thing and we should probably get him checked. :) He also has started trying to put on his clothes, shoes, socks, and hats. But he also loves ripping his socks off.

He loves books, gold fish, cars, and acts like everything is a phone, including clothes. He sleeps for 12-13 hours (recently straight through thankfully!), and will happily play by himself in his crib for another half hour or so after he wakes up.

His favorite new thing is playing in the fridge. Colby always lets him when I'm not home and says it keeps him very entertained. Who needs cold food anyway?





 No one should cry on their birthday. No one should be forced into a photo shoot either. Sorry Dez!
 The best ones are always blurry!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

11 Months

Dez is seriously so much fun and we love getting to know his growing personality more and more. We've learned he can be pretty intense, and lately he's started making fists and either squeezes them until he starts shaking or he'll clasp his hands together and pull them apart while they're still squeezed really tight. I realize that description probably means nothing to you but I know what I mean so oh well. Bottom line is, as happy as that kid is, it's surprising at how often he seems angry!

I was telling Colby that I always think of him as a really happy kid, but most people probably wouldn't know it because he's all about the blank stare in public.

As far as eating goes, he loves any kind of crunchy stick-shaped snack. We've been giving him Trader Joe's apple cinnamon sticks and black bean sticks and he can't get enough. He also loves crunching them up in his hand and dropping the crumbs all over the floor. He loves quesadillas and anything that involves cheese of course.

He's mastered the sippy cup and actually prefers drinking out of my camelback water bottle. It's a lot heavier than the sippy so I was pretty surprised when he started tipping it up on his own. He still ends up with half of the water on his shirt from spitting it out, but at least he gets some water in when he isn't choking on it. Oops.

He loves to suck on washcloths in the bath and basically anything that involves drinking more water. We went to the pool last week and he just kept trying to drink the water the whole time, and he does that in the bath now too. He absolutely hates getting dressed after a bath, but we've learned we can distract him by smelling his feet and saying they're stinky. He thinks it's the funniest thing ever.

He loves going in his room and closing the door on me so he can play in peace. He never cries for me to open it (but don't worry, I do...eventually). He loves opening his drawers and pulling all his clothes out. He's started to mimic what we do more like he'll put the phone up to his ear (face) and try to brush his own hair (which CANNOT be tamed btw). We've started playing catch with a little ball a lot and he's getting pretty good at throwing it back.

A couple of times he's taken a few steps, but most of the time when we try he just wants to crawl. He stands by himself all the time though. Still two teeth on bottom and four on top. The outside two aren't all the way in though and have been that way for a while.

The pictures are becoming more and more of a hot mess but I swear we tried...




 His flash face cracks me up!

Monday, May 4, 2015

Spring Break Woo

Late posting this but what else is new? In April my mom came down to visit us for Spring Break! We had a blast showing her around our new home in the South. It's a shame she's probably the pickiest eater out there and she wasn't a fan of crawfish or any other adventurous Cajun food...but me and Colby ate like kings and finished whatever she didn't. No surprise. And her favorite thing we ate all week was Waffle House. She liked it so much that we went there twice. But I can't blame her, that place makes the best waffles I've ever had. (If anyone ever finds a waffle iron that makes super thin waffles like Waffle House, you could get it for me if you want.)

Here are some of the pictures from the week according to my mom's iPhone...

Easter weekend and I was determined to take Dez to an egg hunt. Colorful eggs covering a field is the best.
Holding the golden egg...
that won him this bike! I don't know how a hunt will ever live up to his first one. (I had no idea what the prize would be, but my competitive nature made darn sure we ended up with that egg. Suck it kids.)
LSU to see Mike the Tiger and the stadium


Cajuns baseball
Seafood gumbo and boudin balls

Avery Island and the Tabasco Factory
New Orleans!
bjdkahgtrjbvdesgftwa is that not the sweetest face?!


Dez warmed up to her quick and loves his Grandma! It was sad to see her go and it was really nice having her around. But we are excited to visit our families in Utah this summer!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

10 Months

Double digits! I can't believe it. He cut 4 top teeth this month, has learned to tip up his sippy cup, and waved to his first stranger! I'm so proud.

People wave to him all the time and I always think they think he's older than he is and should be able to wave back...but Sunday he actually did it back to someone at church! I was really surprised when it happened and it was the cutest. Still, he mostly just stares at people and while he smiles all the time, he doesn't do it too often to strangers.

I left him with a babysitter for the first time at the church while I went to a tennis clinic, and I was really nervous about it! When I left he was just sitting on the ground by the toys, still as a statue. It was hilarious. But by the time I picked him up at the end, he didn't even want to come with me! That kid doesn't miss me at all. I'm sad about it but I can't let him see my weakness. He loved being with kids around his age and was really good the whole time. It still makes me nervous but at least I know he likes it!

He stands on his own all the time but hasn't taken any steps yet. He started dancing to the Curious George theme and credits song a lot, but now he does it to any song! He loves clapping as well. Every time I try to get a video though, he immediately stops. He also has learned that when he drops the remote on the ground, the batteries come out. So he's started dropping it over and over waiting for them to pop out. He's too smart and now we take the batteries out before he gets to it so in his face. 

When he does eat real food, most of the time he is a super angry eater and looks completely pissed off the entire time he's shoving food in his face. Super heavy breathing, scrunched up face, and then just starts rampaging by throwing everything when he's done.





 Colby makes his first cameo! ^^^

Thursday, April 9, 2015

9 Months

Two weeks late cause my computer died as I was getting ready to post (a Mac battery lasts almost 6 years in case you were wondering...)

At his doctor's appointment, he got his flu booster shot and didn't even react. His thigh chub definitely comes in handy! He's 21 lbs 3 oz (60%) and 28.5 inches (63%).

Dez is developing such a personality and dare I say high maintenance. Of course I love that he loves being held and always crawls up to where me and Colby are standing, pulls himself up and reaches his arms up. I sort of miss the days of being able to get anything done while he's awake. But I have to try and always remind myself how much I'll miss it when he doesn't need me anymore!

He loves exploring and discovered he can unroll the toilet paper and eat it too! It's fun trying to get ready in the morning with that nerd. He falls down a good amount, and with the wood floors at our new apartment it always sounds worse than it is. He doesn't cry when he falls that often, but when he does cry he doesn't seem to want to be comforted at all. I try to hold him but he just wants to keep crawling around while still crying. It's so sad! So I guess he's only needy sometimes...

The first few weeks in the new apartment were pretty bad for his sleeping. He cried for a good hour each night, but this past week it's finally been getting back to normal. He sleeps about 10 hours straight and 12-13 hours total each night. He used to go 12-13 straight but I can't complain! 

This month we realized that he's much more likely to eat solids if it's something he can feed himself. So we've all but done away with purees and are just giving him chunks of different food. He probably drops half of it and makes a huge mess, but he loves it! His favorite things to eat are cheese (duh), bread, beans, and sweet potatoes. Those are probably just the things I feed him most often so that just makes them his favorite by default. If he has bananas and cheese on his tray at once, he will go for the cheese 10 times out of 10. He tried his first ice cream and some other sweets this month and couldn't get enough. But let's get real, my milk is probably 90% sugar so you're welcome.

He loves drinking from a straw and water from his sippy cup, but he just hasn't figured out how to tip it up by himself yet. He spits with his tongue out nonstop, loves pinching/scratching/clawing our eyes out, playing with cans of Diet Dr. Pepper (doubles as a toy and a tasty beverage), and absolutely lights up when Colby get home. He's slowly becoming more of a daddy's boy. But at the end of the day, he knows who's got the good stuff.

We really struggled with the pictures this month but he really is this crazy:







Sunday, March 1, 2015

8 Months

It never ceases to amaze me how fast Dez is growing up! Only a month ago he was barely starting to pull himself up to stand and now it seems like he's always done that!

He wears mostly 9-month clothes. 12-month stuff fits him better but we don't have a lot of that yet!

His hair is finally seeming to get thicker and his eyes are still blue.

Tons of new things this month:

2 teeth! They looked like they were coming in for a while and all the sudden there they were. He didn't seem fussier than normal but now that I think about it this month he has been moodier than normal. I just didn't think it was teeth related!

He's started reaching for me when Colby holds him or vice versa. I love it so much!

He can drink out of a straw now and he loves water. He usually drinks too fast and makes himself choke. Colby gave him a taste of root beer the other day and he wasn't sure what to think but pretty sure he was a fan. The trick to actually getting him to eat food is giving him some water between bites. He does love feeding himself little pieces of bread or dry cereal, but could use some work with the fruit and veggies. (Although he loves sucking on oranges.)

He can clap! All the sudden he just started doing it one day. I don't think we really taught him but he just discovered it's possible.

He also started doing a "wave" type thing but he doesn't really know what it means yet. When I pick him up from a nap or something he'll usually start doing it.

Fake laughing like crazy. Every time I go in his room when he's in his crib he will start "laughing" uncontrollably. If he's crying and I go in there he starts laughing while also crying and I really can't tell which one he's doing.

He loves standing, practicing walking, can stand up on his own for a second or two, and is all around a crazy kid. Putting him in his pajamas after his bath is literally a two person job now because he's too strong for me already and I can barely catch him much less hold him down to get him dressed.

He also loves grabbing the ceiling fan switch and turning the light on and off. When we pick him up and he sees it on the ceiling he starts laughing and reaches up for it.

He punches his head repeatedly while I feed him most nights. Either that or punches me. I tried to get him to stop at first but the kid loves getting punched. Go figure.

But my favorite thing of all he does a lot is taking "hug breaks" while playing. When we're playing on the floor and he's standing up on something, every so often he will turn to me and hold his arm out, give me a hug, and go right back to playing until he does it again. He also gives the best, slobberiest kisses and you never know when he will just feel like giving you one. He is the sweetest, most cuddly boy and we love him more than anything!







Thursday, February 19, 2015

Let's Eat King Cake Everyday

In Jr. High French class we learned a little about Mardi Gras. Basically what I remember is that it means "Fat Tuesday". I believe my exact thoughts were, "well that's a dumb name for a holiday". Then last year my coworker, who had spent some time in New Orleans, brought a homemade king cake to work. That was the first time I had ever heard of one!

But after actually experiencing the holiday down here in Cajun country I'm finally beginning to understand why these people love it! I had a great time while also remaining sober (I know, what's the point?)--so I can only imagine how fun it is for a large majority of the partiers. We also had some delicious king cake from a local bakery that was basically a giant donut. I'm not mad.



I can count on one hand the number of parades I've been to in my life before this past week. We loved it so much and I feel like a stamp card-carrying parade groupie. Dez loved all the lights and music and the people on the floats loved him and threw him a lot of toys! I wish it were candy. But I digress.

I had no idea what we were in for and I wanted to at least catch one set of beads for it to be a success. The next thing you know we are leaving with more than we know what to do with! I don't know what it is that's so exciting about catching 20 cent necklaces but it's quite the rush. On Mardi Gras day I was focusing on one necklace flying toward me while at the same time another one hits me right in the face. Those things travel FAST. (Most of our attention was focused on guarding Dez's face and luckily we were successful with that.) It hit so hard that it scratched my sunglasses as well as the side of my face! Good thing I was wearing the glasses or I might be blind right now. Nbd.


 It makes everything worth it when you see the joy in your child's eyes. 
Buuut we called this one quits early--it was nap time.






Next year we may even be crazy and head to New Orleans! We'll stick to the family-friendly stuff though cause I'm not some kind of sicko.