Most people reading this blog probably know us fairly well, but there are some who do not.  I will not have much to share, (hopefully), about baby, until my next appointment, so I thought I would throw in a post telling you all a little more about us.

Josh and I have lived in our home for just under 11 years.  While it is small, and 111 years old, we LOVE where we live.  We have been slowly making it into the place we want it to be, with a nice yard, a big deck, and a big garden outside, (thanks to Josh).  We have also remodeled much of the inside, with the help of our contractor friend next door. Most recently, we are finishing up a remodel upstairs, (a converted attic master bedroom), which Josh has been working on, with the help of our neighbor’s son.  It’s something we have been wanting to do for a while, and since we are reorganizing our house to accommodate another child, we figured now is the best time.  It’s not a huge change, but the walls are finally textured and painted, two ceiling fans were installed, the ugly carpet is gone, and Josh installed a dark hardwood.  It’s not quite done, but close enough to tell you that I love it.  I can’t wait to get a couple new dressers, and some new bedding to fancy it up a bit.

Josh has a love hate relationship with home projects.  While gratifying upon completion, home projects are a pain in the butt.  I think most people feel similar about anything DIY.  When he isn’t doing a home project, he is usually hard at work, managing his dad’s drilling company, with this brother.  He has a couple passions in life, as well, which are gardening and music.  As mentioned before, we have a large garden area, and this is no thanks to me.  I just water it once everything is planted and growing.  He has a true green thumb, and really enjoys the process.  And while he never made a career out of music, he is a talented musician.  He mostly plays guitar, but also plays the drums and taught himself to play the keyboard several years ago.  In my opinion, his biggest talent is his ability to write lyrics.  He is never one to write a cheesy song, (unless he is messing with me, and making up a song as he goes – talking about what I am doing…or my bad mood).  His lyrics make you think, and I love that.  I don’t just say this because I am his wife, and I have to.  It’s all true.  In fact, I should probably wrap up my Josh info paragraph before his head explodes from a giant ego.  (Love you, honey!)

Next up – Eli.  There is so much to say about Eli, it’s hard to know where to begin.  I suppose I will just tell you a little about current Eli.  He attends a local public school that has a special education program, specifically for children with autism.  He has been in the same program since kindergarten, and will probably be there through 6th grade, as it is a K-6 program.  He is a pretty hard kid to get to know, so it’s great that he has been able to stay with the same people all these years.  School, in the past, has been tough for Eli because he is so sensitive to noise, especially children’s voices, but I think being in the same program has gotten him used to what to expect.  It’s also a very structured program, so he has a specific schedule every day, which is what he needs.

Things that Eli loves:  his iPad, slinkies, swinging in his special swing, Signing Time, (a series of DVD’s that teach sign language), puppets, Sesame Street, (yes, even at nine years old, and probably forever), looking at himself in the mirror, his shadow, typing scenes from his movies on the computer, and getting playfully thrown around, (which only dad can do, these days).  He has been obsessed with sign language since he was about one and a half, and he has yet to let that go.  He loves to watch himself sign in the mirror, and his shadow is good for the same thing.  He has also shown some interest in other languages, like Russian and Spanish.  Language is a funny thing for Eli because he can read anything, and type out an entire scene from a movie, based on memory, (word for word, because he watches with subtitles), but the comprehension piece is lagging a lot.  His receptive language is also very delayed.  He does talk, but it can be very hard to understand him.  He has come so far, though.  There was a time when I wasn’t sure I would ever hear him speak, and I am so proud of where he is today.  Thanks to ABA therapy, we are actually finding that he is capable of more than we knew, it’s just a matter of finding the best way to tap into his world.  Over time, I will probably talk more about Eli, and his unique ways, but for now I am going to cut myself off.  I could go on forever.

I feel like there isn’t a whole lot to say about me.  I don’t have any passions like music, or dance, or art.  I guess the one thing that I can say I do love is comedy.  And even more than that, I love making people laugh.  Hopefully, one of these days, I can incorporate some humor into my blog, but for now I am pregnant and, let’s be real, pregnant women are the worst.  Wit = snarky comments that make me sound bitter and feisty.  I don’t actually FEEL that way, but hormones are a funny thing.  🙂

I am a bit of a homebody, and happy that way.  In addition to keeping Eli alive, we have two cats, a dog, and ten chickens to care for.  The pets are good company, for the most part.  I could go for less chickens, but that’s my own fault.  I got a little addicted to them in the first couple years of being a chicken lady.  Did you know that cute little chicks turn into big chickens?  They are fun, and I have learned a lot in having them, but I think, until we have a house with land, ten is a bit much.  Six would be great.  Say…does anyone want four chickens?

As for my “real job”, I have two.  My main job is parent CNA.  In Colorado, there is a program that allows for parents to work for a home healthcare company, and get paid for caring for their child with a disability, (as long as they qualify, based on their needs).  For Eli, it’s the feeding, therapy, dressing/undressing, bathing, taking him to the bathroom, etc.  We are very fortunate to have such a program.  I believe only one other state offers the same.  I also have a side business called The Ruby Apron, with a close friend.  We do home painting parties for kids and adults.  She is the artist, I handle the business, and we both work the parties.  The parties are few and far between, but we have fun with them, and we really enjoy what we do.

So there you have it.  A little more about who we are.  I hope no one fell asleep reading this post!  🙂

Until next time.