Hi from Waco

Well, here we are again, majin folks, coming to you live from Waco, home of the Branch Davidians and the Cowpeople Who's Family Tree Boasts Only One Branch. This is true Texas, friends. El Paso was El Fako when it comes to this. I never knew when I lived there, but now I see the error of my ways: this is DEEP in the heart of Texas, and everyone here has an accent and very down-home ways. We cannot leave the house without some nice person striking up a conversation with us about their children (when seeing ours) or sharing their personal histories with us at the park. This is the type of place that you would feel safe leaving your house unlocked not just for the day, but for your ENTIRE VACATION.
It's weird...I never thought that I would live in Texas at all, but now that I'm here, it's like the Camel's Nose....we saw the nose inching it's way in when we lived in El Paso, and now the whole frikkin thing is in the tent, crapping in the hummus, now that we're in Waco. We are truly Texans now.
Our house is a duplex, which I think I mentioned before. It's very nice because it was built quite recently. This also means that there is slightly restricted access to the area, because it's all new...in other words, one of the roads that lead here is a DIRT road and the other is unmarked. No one can find it because the road has NO ROAD SIGN. It's true. We think someone stole it. Who knows? Coulda been the cows who GRAZE OPPOSITE OUR BACKYARD. I had to drive and meet the movers who brought our stuff and guide them in, like a pilot boat, because it's kinda impossible to find. I will provide this service to anyone else who comes to visit too, because you could literally end up in the 'crick' if you try by yourself (esp. at night), and also because we really hope people come to see us, because as before mentioned, we have no money to come see you. We're all cutting back, and it's a challenge, but I think we're going to manage. It helps that I grew up living like this, so I'm getting back to my roots.
Back to our new place: the biggest drawback I'm seeing is the bug problem. I think this stems from the fact that this used to be pasture land about 3 years ago. When we moved in, before our stuff was unpacked, I casually glanced in our master bedroom to see a spider the size of my PALM casually sitting on the floor. My scalp crawled. I don't know that I ever knew that was a genuine condition and not just a figure of speech, but it crawled. Like it was trying to get off my skull and scurry back to El Paso. I don't know which is worse, spiders or centipedes. Yuck. I'm so tired of Texas-sized bugs. So we sprayed and the management sprayed and we're still finding them out in the yard everywhere, but no more in house, at least for the next 15 minutes until they mutate and become immune to the poison.
But on the bright side: the house looks clean and big and quite classy...it's painted a nice light brown/tan color with cream/white crown molding. The kitchen is pretty big, tile counter tops, new (black...meh) appliances, etc, and it has a little built-in wine rack thingie up high. The ceilings are all high, which means the shelves are all built high. I imagine this is a pain the ass for normal sized people, but for Jeff & I it's a mercy and a blessing, because we can reach everything (barely), but Dillon can't, even if he drags the chair over & climbs as high as he can! Yay! Finding places that Dillon can't reach for the 90% of our stuff that he's not supposed to touch is becoming the focal point of our lives and the bane of our existence. Which brings me to the kids:
They're all growing up quickly. Dillon talks in full sentences now. Example: a big fly was in the kitchen and flew in his hair. He bats it away, yelling, "BAD BUFLY! BAD BUFLY! YOU. WANT. PUNCH? YOU. WANT. PUNCH?" He copies Noah all the time. Noah is growing fast too, physically and in imagination as well. That kid is going to write a book someday. I overheard the following the other day: he's running around talking (to himself) about some magic thing he was going to do, to mend a sword or something, and he's saying how he's going to use his "magic slobber." "My magic slobber"....I just laughed and laughed. We should send it to Dave Barry as an offering for a rock band name.
And Zoe...what a fat, cute thing she's becoming. She's huge, wearing 6 month clothes already (at 2 months), has a double chin and fat rolls everywhere, which pleases me no end. Her thighs are endless, huge and dimpled, and they taper down to her dainty feet with her long toes. Makes me laugh just looking sometimes. I'm so in love with her, she's such a good baby. She absolutely has not a bad bone in her body, and she just exudes love and sweetness. I can never be frustrated with her like I sometimes got with my sons in their infancy...probably because she always sleeps through the night and never gives me a lick of trouble, but also because she's just an angel from heaven. Thank God for small favors in the middle of my insane life.
Jeff's new job is like any job, good and bad things both. But we're thankful for the fact that he has it, with so much unemployment in this country. And that's an overview of what is going on with us. Maybe I'll see if I can take some pics of the house and post. More later.

the one-handed post

so i'm typing one-handed cuz Zoe's laying on the other one, nursing, & one hand typing sucks so here it is as brief as poss:

Got a job in Waco, Tx. no cracks about branch davidians, pls.

Went there last week for 5 days to house hunt. Not fun with 3 sceaming kids in tow. imagine.

Got a 1400 sq ft duplex, pretty good price.

Waco's pretty...come visit, y'all. we have no money to visit you.

cheers!

More pics:

I've gained some weight...can you tell? 10 lbs at the last doctor visit! Yay!

Ok, so the way these pics upload, you have to do this backward: this is the "after" pic, after the boys got their hair cut.

Aaaannnd: this is before. Can you tell Dillon doesn't like his picture taken? Looks like the FBI's 10 most wanted.

These next few are "the many faces of Zoe".

And if there was any question, she got Rudow/ Browning feet.

Updates:

Hi, Majin Folks! Here's a quick update for you of what's been going on recently. Hang onto your hats, because I'm gonna breeze through the 5 minute version:

I delivered Zoe (I should say the Doctor delivered Zoe) via C-section on Aug 17th at about 4:30 PM. Thanks to some well-placed equipment overhead, I actually witnessed the operation...quite educational. Zoe has been a very very well-behaved baby, sleeping more than I ever knew babies COULD sleep, and just in general a very well-dispositioned baby, thank God.
Abi & Andre came to help us for 2 weeks just when we really needed them...and thank God for them! I can't describe what a help they were, and the kids just LOVED them. Dillon still asks for you, Abi. He called her "Mom" for almost the whole time they were here. It was such an indescribable relief not to have to worry about the kids & just to know they were being loved & cared for as good or sometimes even better than us parent do! So thank you so very much, Abi & Andre. We really really appreciate it!
Mom arrived about a week afterward, helping out at all hours and doing all sorts of things that she shouldn't have been doing for her arms & hands (sorry Mom!).....we couldn't have done it without you! Esp. when Abi & Andre left. Mom just took over the kids almost full-time....I think we totally wore her out, poor thing. DC, you'll have to make sure she has complete bed rest for about 6 months when she comes home. But she worked so hard for us & uncomplainingly ate our sub-standard food (hey, we were moving & had a brand new baby) and was up at all hours with our wakeful young. Thank you SO MUCH too, Mom. We really enjoyed your visit!
Jeff's Mom, sister & husband & 2 children, and 2 brothers came for a weekend visit & his brothers helped Jeff move some of our stuff into storage. THANK YOU Frank & Kenneth, and thank you just as much to Kara & Kim who very generously allowed their husbands to leave them with the kids on a long weekend when I'm sure they all had much more fun, interesting weekends planned. You guys are awesome & we really appreciate it!
As mentioned above, we have moved. Our beloved home is no more. It's very sad, but it's quite wonderful that it sold as quickly as it did. We had to put some money into the transaction, but not too much at all, and it's better to be out from under a house payment at this time BECAUSE......
we still don't have a job.
So we're in an apartment now, hoping for some doors to open for us.
That's it in a nutshell. Thanks for all the help to our family....we sure feel loved by you all & know everyone is rooting for us. It means a lot.

Pics

Update

So I wanted to just update everyone on young Zoe san....the ultrasound shows that she turned again, and is now in the right position! So for now it seems no C-section. There is no guarantee that she will stay that way, but we're hoping for the best, of course. Thanks for everyone's concern & kind words & hopes. May she stay down and come ASAP!

My biggest son just had his birthday on the 23rd. I can believe that he's 4, having lived the last four years spending every moment with him, but I can't believe how big he's grown. He almost is really that big boy that he believes himself to be. But also still my baby. He asks SO many questions...this must be that phase that you hear about, and it irks me sometimes, but I'm also proud to see how inquisitive his little mind is & how intelligent. He works out the most amazing things on his own. I tell him often what I write now: that I always knew I would have him, that I used to dream of having a blonde boy years before I ever knew I would have children, and that he's my most special big boy. God gave him to me and I'm so proud of the way he's growing & learning.

Enjoy the pics below:

After fielding about 20 questions a day as to when his birthday was, I created a calendar on his whiteboard & he put his little magnets on each day until the day of the blessed event. This is him on his big day, putting the last magnet on.

Awww, happy boy with his presents.

We recycled the Spiderman bag from last year (thanks, Grandma!) and he was thrilled. Notice Dillon Redpants in the background, taking a small break from earnestly trying to get all the balloons off the walls.

Noah playing with the birthday gifts. The camera was probably his biggest gift, and he really likes it. The toys at his feet are the Disney "Tarzan" toys, courtesy of E-bay!

In the water at "Surfin' USA", or the Wet N' Wild Waterpark, with friends Ethan & Zach...his fondest wish come true.

Oops...didn't turn this one sideways. Opening a final gift from his friends, a T-ball set & glove. Thank you, Marsden family!

Jeff holding the jury-rigged pinata while Noah takes a swing. Jeff acknowledges the retarded way his feet are positioned, but agrees with me that this is the best picture we have of Noah & the pinata. So deal. :)

Thank you, family members who called/sent e-cards! Noah appreciated & liked it! We love you!