Ranch Living

We bought a ranch style home.

Those are words that I never thought would come out of my mouth.  If you know me, you know that I am obsessed with real estate, decorating, and re purposing. I even own a two inch 3-ring binder full of cut outs, ideas, paint samples, etc, that I have been collecting from magazines since I was a senior in high school.  If my t.v. is on and Auburn isn't playing, it's a pretty safe bet that the dial will be set to HGTV.  With all that said, I have to admit that I have never been enamored with ranch style, one-story homes.  I imagined that I would live in a two-story bungalow style home because I have always been drawn to that aesthetic. When Steven and I moved to North Carolina a few years ago, we found what I thought was the perfect home for us-- a traditional low-country cottage style home.  We did a lot of work to it to update the 1980s interior to modern times, but left the exterior alone (other than some plants and shrubberies we added along the way).  However, when little Sawyer came, we both decided that hauling a baby up and down the stairs to the nursery to change his diaper, get a toy, or find a pacifier was A LOT of work. 

Cut to our home search in Thomasville...Although I still love the look of a two-story home, Steven and I were both drawn to a 1970s rancher.  It has a weird layout because it was added on to a few years ago, bad tile choices, old-as-the-hills appliances, asian-inspired wallpaper in one room, as well as zero bathroom or kitchen updates.  Some may ask, "Why in the world would that be the house that you chose?"  Well, here are the things we like: great neighborhood (very safe and kid-friendly), large family room that is open to the kitchen, beautiful built-ins, 4 bedrooms with 3 1/2 baths, no stairs to climb, and lots of storage. On top of all of our other likes, I think we really just like a little challenge. 

Our immediate plan is to replace the tile in the kitchen and change out the appliances.  I would love to completely gut the kitchen, but my husband says that he wants to update the cabinets himself.  He got a router for Christmas and is aching for another wood-working project.  The countertops are old but clean, so they will work for a while.  All of the other updates will have to be done as we go.  I love a fresh start, so I am excited about our new adventure in house #2!

Steven and Sawyer playing out front

8 Month Update

I am embarrassed at how late I am with this post because he will be 9 months on Saturday...

Sawyer turned 8 months old on Aug. 22nd.  I feel like I say this every month, but where has the time gone?  He is getting to be such an independent little man, especially now that he is crawling around everywhere. 

8 Month Highlights:

- He loves to smile and laugh.  This is absolutely my favorite thing about my son.  He LOVES to smile. Even  if I've had a horrible day, I cannot look at him smiling at me and not be filled with joy!

- He is pulling up on everything in sight.  He is even attempting to pull his entire body up on the furniture.  This has not been accomplished as of yet, but I have a feeling it's just around the corner. 

- He seems to like his new surroundings and has adapted easily to his new home. 

- He loves to do this yelling/screaming bit all the time.  At first it was sort of funny, but after one trip to a quiet restaurant, I sort of miss my quiet little baby.

- He seems to really love his daycare and teachers.  I especially love when I get to his classroom in the afternoons.  When he looks up and smiles at me, I literally melt.

- He is no longer saying "mama."  Already being stubborn, I guess.  I try all the time to get him to say it, but now all I ever hear is "dadada."

- He is still really good about going to people and is really such a ham.  He loves people who wear glasses or have grey hair for some reason.

- He still has only his two bottom teeth, but his top incisors are about to break through, which is probably going to look pretty odd.

- He still LOVES to be outside and especially to swing out under the tree in our backyard.

- He will crawl in tight places and then get upset when he gets stuck.  I don't understand why he keeps doing this over and over.

- He loves being bounced, rocked, and kissed.  He smiles every time someone kisses his cheek, which makes it impossible for me to resist.  :)



Smiley!



Bathtime is fun!

loves his outdoor swing

wearing Daddy's hardhat

                                                Happy 8 months Sawyerman.  I love you!

 

Getting Back to the Grindstone

Although I am very thankful to have a job, I must admit that going back to work and leaving my baby after a summer of fun together is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  However, I know that he will be well taken care of at his daycare/preschool.  He is attending Clarke Prep Academy, and is already starting to act like a big boy.  Including Sawyer, there are six babies in his class--four girls and two boys.  His teacher Mrs. Kristin says that he is doing great and gets along really well with the others. 

He has already been given a nickname by the faculty at his school, which I found out while picking him up on Monday.  I walked into the school and the headmaster said, "Are you here to pick up the Senator?"  I turned around and asked, "Who?"  She said, "Oh, we've decided that Sawyer will probably become a politician one day because he's so social and always smiling." I just laughed because I knew that politics would probably be the last line of business my husband, old Honest Abe, would want our little man to wind up in one day.  However, as a supportive mother, I say "Vote Sawyer Meadows, Alabama State Senator in election 2040!"

In other news, I started back to work at Clarke County High School located in Grove Hill, AL.   The staff here is very friendly, and I think that I am going to have a good working relationship with each of them.  Speaking of staff, I am one of 29 teachers...talk about a culture shock.  I have worked at two different high schools, both of which had more than 1300 students, so the faculty was large in both cases.  When I walked into our meetings on the first workshop day, I had to readjust to being back in small town Alabama.  So far, my students have been some of the most well-behaved that I have ever taught.  I haven't had one issue (knock on wood)!  Steven and I went to our first Clarke County football game on Friday night with one of my co-workers, Sarah, and her husband and daughter.  We had a really great time.  Sawyer definitely liked the band's halftime show more than the game.  he literally stood in my lap jumping up and down and smiling from ear to ear during the entire performance.  This kid has musician written all over him, which I sort of love!

Lastly, we moved into our house three weeks ago, and it has been crazy trying to unpack, work full-time, cook dinner, and be a good wife and mother to my family.  More on our house in a future post. 

I hope you are all having a fantastic week!  Sorry it has been forever since I last posted.  Forgive me. 

xoxo,
Ashley