Starting the new job - July 13 - August 8

So we made it back to Bartlesville in one piece. Clint started his first real job after 23 years of schooling. Fortunately he really likes it. It is great to be at home together as a family working on creating a somewhat normal life. The first weekend we needed some major marriage maintenance. We had been apart for 3 weeks and then had some not so nice moments in the mountains. So Clint and I dropped baby off at Grandma’s and planned a romantic getaway in Tulsa . We got a couple’s massage at a spa, a suite at the Ambassador hotel and ate dinner at the Polo Grill. It was Sawyer’s first night with a non-parent. I think he was ridiculously spoiled while we were getting ridiculously spoiled. So everyone was happy. But since then we went to the lake, spent a weekend in Stillwater , and started working out again (it has been 11 months for me ugh). One of the best things is Clint and I spend a lot more time together. We also work about 2 miles apart. We grab a picnic in the park a few times a week and have a real lunch date once a week. I know we are cheesy and here is my confession. We decided to try every restaurant in B’ville. Not that big of a challenge. So on our lunch date we have to try someplace new. We then rate the restaurant 1-5 french fries. If you ever need restaurant advice in the thriving metropolis of Bartlesville, OK come to us!

Sawyer is growing like the weeds in our front yard (I have to keep apologizing to the neighbors because we haven't gotten to it yet.) He is not walking yet, but he is very close. He also is into copying me. It is so cute. He is into everything. He can't do anything though without a wooden spoon in his hand. It is hilarious. On the somber note Heather left August 5th and we had to start day care. My heart rips into two every morning. He is right across the street from my office so I can check on him regularly throughout the day. I think I annoy his teachers, but it is worth it to me. He seems to be having fun. Everyone says it is the hardest on the mommy. We will see how long I make it . . .

Colorado (July 2 - July 13)

I am going to do another post later of pictures of the cabin. I don’t want to brag or anything, but it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Clint, Doug and the crew have done an amazing job. To be honest I am speechless.

Our week in Colorado was not the best week. I am just going to be honest for the sake of history. Here’s a little summary. I got to see Clint for the first time in 3 weeks – good/bad (I’ll explain later). I got to see my friend Kaitlin’s new house in Denver and eat dinner with her – great. Sawyer had his second cold ever which started the day we left – bad. Sawyer was cutting teeth – horrible. We went to Breckenridge – good. We went to some of our friend’s wedding – great! My husband was a workaholic on the cabin so I didn’t see him when we were up in the mountains—bad. He was grumpy because all he wanted to do was work – bad. The outhouse on the side of the mountain and a crawler was a little tricky to maneuver – bad. We didn’t have any emergency room visits – good. We did get in one great hike while we were up there – good. We blew a tire leaving town – bad. We didn’t blow the entire engine like last summer – good.

All in all it will be nice to get the cabin mostly built. Ok honestly it will never be done, but I have made it a requirement for my husband to have a better work/play balance when we are up there, but trying to tell Clint what to do is like trying to predict the weather in Oklahoma.

Clint Is Still Gone - (June 21 - JuLy 1)

So I am trying to catch up on the blog. Our life appears to get more complicated with every day. But back to the beginning of the summer . . . Through a series of unique circumstance (which I believe were ordained by God) I found out one of my high school friends, Andrew, lives here in Bartlesville . We haven’t talked since high school so it was great to get reunited. Andrew’s new girlfriend (they were set up via facebook) was planning on coming to Bartlesville to spend the summer getting to know each other better not using Skype. I included the note about their internet relationship because they are the two last people in the world who ever expected to meet someone that way. It makes their story even more cute. Heather is a kindergarten teacher in Midland and needed a job for the summer. It was perfect. She watched Sawyer all summer. She even lived with me while Clint was gone. Sawyer loved Heather and we will miss her greatly now that she is gone. But she and Andrew fell in love over the summer and hopefully she will be moving to Bartlesville next summer!

I went to the lake and I spent a lot of time working on the house. Unfortunately we are still not decorating/painting/remodeling yet. We are still trying to get the house clean, deodorized, organized, spider free, . . . My parents spent a weekend busting their @#$% and we still have a way to go. But I will have to admit it felt a lot homier for Clint’s return.

But the highlight of the three weeks of being by myself was having lots of time with my baby. Sawyer and I really got to have good quality time together. He is such a love. Sawyer had not been talking at all (only the little aaahhh babies say) and the doctor was slightly concerned. On my birthday I was very grumpy. I was alone and Sawyer woke me up at 5:45 a.m. So I was getting ready in the morning feeling sorry for myself with a fussy baby. He crawled over to me, grabbed my leg, looked up at me with those big chocolate brown eyes, and said MaMa! Yes his first word ever was mama on my birthday. I couldn’t believe it. And it wasn’t babbling. He was calling me by my name. Now he says all kind of stuff. His favorite word right now is Dada and Heidi. Unfortunately I am no longer MaMa, but MMMMM. So that made my birthday, actually my year. It was extra redeemed by the fact that some of my favorite people in the world came to stay with me. Julie, Shepherd (one of the prettiest boys I have ever seen), and Ashley came to help me celebrate since Clint was gone.

Week one of Clint being gone, May 14th-June 20th

I headed to Arkansas to do some furniture shopping and stay with my older sister and her kids for the weekend. We had a great time. The rest of my family was busy living their own lives. Fortunately I have the coolest compadre ever! Sawyer has got to have the world’s greatest personality. I am so blessed that I have such an amazing son. I really can’t be too upset for too long because Sawyer makes everything brighter. Fortunately this week we have not had any major crisis yet. Sawyer is starting to really love the water. We also found a really nice babysitter and they seem to be having fun during the day. I am happy that Sawyer is at home getting a lot of one on one attention. Clint took the digital camera so I won’t have many pictures to post over the next few weeks. I think I am going to break out my old 35 mm.

Clint Leaving, June 8th – June 14th

We spent the week getting ready for Clint to head to Colorado. This was a very emotional week for me, so he stuck around an extra day and headed out June 13th. Everyday we have had a major crisis (did I mention the dog ran away twice, once without her collar on – she’s at home now) so I was pretty upset about him leaving. He assured me he was upset too and did not want to go to Colorado. He said that it was going to be a horrible month for him. He told me it would go by so fast. Oh, the lies men tell you to get what they want. He called on day one of his horrible time in Colorado. He called because he was having so much fun he wanted me to quit my job and head up there. He wasn’t joking either. I wish. So much for Clint’s horrible summer. Fortunately he has given up shaving so with his motley facial hair I don’t think I have to worry about the ladies in Colorado. So I was left a single parent of a baby, a dog, and a bunch of brown recluse in a town where I have one friend (unless you count Jimmy and the team of pest control guys who have been out every few days).

Ashley’s Wedding, May 30th – June 7th

My best friend Ashley got married to Shawn Campbell on May 30th. It was a beautiful wedding. It was a lot of fun because the other bridesmaids were Karen and Kaitlin my other college best friends. I am so happy for Ashley and Shawn. The rest of the week we just worked on the house unpacking. We had pest guys out, carpet cleaners out, and professional cleaners. I discovered some great stuff called LA’s Totally Awesome cleaner. You get it at the dollar store and it got all the stains out of the carpet even after we had them professionally cleaned! It is just too good to be true. I am expecting and appendage or something to fall off.

Sawyer started swim lessons this week. He is turning into such a little fish. He also has been cruising all over the house either crawling or walking behind his walker. He crawls as fast as he can through every room. It is hilarious. He also loves to antagonize Heidi. At first she tolerated it, then she would leave immediately. Now she is really warming up to him and they are becoming buds.

The House = Spider Infestation, May 26th-May 29th

Back in Bartlesville we crashed with Ashley’s, then finally closed on our house on Wednesday, May 27th. We knew the house would need some work, but it wasn’t until we bought it that we realized how much. There was a serious odor problem, the carpet was so dirty that Sawyer was black from crawling on it, and there was dirt everywhere. Also the dishwasher broke the first night (Clint fixed it), the AC kept breaking, it rained and we realized the gutters was ruined, we had a leak in the new roof, there must have been a cat that used the master closets as the litter box, the shower was leaking out the door onto everything, the toilet broke, then the sprinkler system broke, serious odor problems, and that was just the beginning. This doesn’t even include the remodeling projects we needed to do.

The worst problem (which has yet to be resolved, we think everything else is getting under control at this point) is the ant and brown recluse infestation. Yes, we bought a house with a brown recluse infestation. I know we are freaking out too. The pest guys have been out 5 times in 3 weeks. We even have a rug rat which makes us worry more. The ants go away for a few days, but then they come back. I have spent every night caulking holes I think the ants might be coming in from (for some reason I don’t remember to do this until 11:00 at night), and let me remind you that we have had the house sprayed 3 times in 3 weeks. I normally try to have a chemical free home (I use vinegar and baking soda for most of my cleaning), but I can’t live like this.

On the bright side we do like the house, the ants are getting better, and the spiders should be under control in the next few months. Right now everything is working, so we are ready to start painting and decorating.

Sawyer got his second tooth this week. I love his toothy grin. The house also has a great play room off the kitchen which has been wonderful. He really is into his toys, especially this oversize horse we call Buck. He loves to give Buck hugs.