James is nine months! Wow, I can't believe how old he is now.

He has learned lots of things. Like crawling. Or standing. Or climbing up stairs.

Or pulling everything off the shelf:
He is so excited to move these days that I couldn't even get him to sit still long enough to finish putting his jammies on.
First bubble bath:

Jason and I are trying to buy a house!

We have an offer out on the perfect house. Well mostly perfect really great house.

We just had a meeting with a property manager to rent out our condo. We can't sell because we owe more than it is worth in this economy. Which is fine, I want to keep the condo until I can sell it and get a check for some extra money off the place. (mama wants a boat. or lake house. or upgraded bathrooms. or a vacation. or all four?)

The property manager thinks she can get it rented out in 6 weeks or so. Which would be great. If we can get a lease on the place then our mortgage guy can get us approved for a higher amount of monies.

Ideally we will get approved, get the house, get closed by mid June so we can have James' bubble birthday bash in our own backyard. (on the totally not up to code deck...)

Keep us in your prayers that it all works out for the best. Be it this house or a different one.

Oh alright, I will post a picture of James too:

Poem.

I wrote this in class:

I am from slip-n-slides, garter snakes, and GI Joes. Sneaking Bike rides to 7-11 and hills for racing and sledding. Watermelon seed spitting contests and apple tree weddings.

I am from building blanket forts and cheating on Nintendo Track and Field. "Don't pull her hair" "But mom!" "Don't hit him" "But dad I wish I had a sister!"

I am from trips to Pennsylvania. The smell of cake, cookies, Sunday dinner, and Christmas trees. Grandma Rea in her apron filling the air with laughter. Slowly drifting into silence and confusion of the years.

I am from packing up the house, picking up the pieces. Numb from divorce and my two new houses. Spiders, fights, silent nights.

I am from growth, patience, and repaired relationships. New satisfaction from a friendship 17 years in the making with a brother that I now cannot live without.

I am from new family built through marriage and peace. New traditions started to pass along. In love with the next generation just started.

That is where I am from.