Another update!

Welp, we're plannin' the Tot's 1st birthday party this week! Can you believe it!? I sure can't! (If you haven't recieved an invite, and wanna come, please let me know - I feel like I'm forgetting someone totally important!! I know most of ya'll can't come, but I wanted to make sure everyone got an invite more so just to ANNOUNCE his birthday)! The past year has just flown by - much like my past (almost) 26 years - and it really make me stop and think just how precious each moment is... each little second! I can't get enough of Tatum's laughter and grins, and I try my hardest to commit each little expression, each giggle, each dimple-bearing cheesy grin to memory - 'cause he'll be a teenager before I know it! And likely telling me I'm ruining his life with my extreme un-coolness. *SIGH* These little, wonderful, "can't live without you mommy!" moments NOW are what I'll cling to to help me survive the upcoming teenage years! Though, it's SUPER hard to fathom having a teenager at this point! SO weird!! If there's ever a time ya need to put your trust in God - its' definitely when your kids are teenagers. I don't even have one yet, and I know it! All ya can do is "raise them up in the way they should go!" And pray. Pray A LOT! :)

Stephen and I are greatly looking forward to our tax return this year. We're expecting to be impressed, as this is the BIG year - we get to file jointly as married for the first time, AND we have Tatum, our little "tax deduction." In addition, we get that economic stimulous moola Bush is givin' out! Most of the money we have sensible plans for, but have decided thatwe should use a little of it for what it's been given to us for: stimulating the economy! Steve has had his heart set on a dirt bike (via craigslist.com, of course, used)! Which he got, is in love with, but has yet to ride! And I am stoked beyond all reason to get a new, quality, (almost professional grade), digital camera! You wouldn't believe how much I miss photography! The one thing that kept me loving Delta College... photo 101. You didn't even have to sign up/pay for the class! No one knew, you just WENT IN and used the darkroom whenever you wanted! No one asked any questions! Horrible, I know... but GEEZE, at least have a sign-in sheet or someone checking student I.D.'s and class lists on your way in! It'll be different getting back into photography this time though. I'll be swapping darkroom hours, printing images by after several test prints to finally getting it right - to hours playing with all the effects & editing a photo program will offer me on my computer! I plan to REALLY get back into it though - and in the future, possibly making it more than a hobby. (You know, in my spare time NOT running a home-based business office)!

Speaking of, Stephen and I are getting closer and closer to taking over Doc's of Denver - carpet & upholstery cleaning (and rugs, tile & grout - cleaning & sealing)! Its great to see Steve so excited about it - we're both looking forward to it VERY much! Owning our own business is something we both REALLY want for our family. Sure, we never thought carpet cleaning would be our future, but owning a business is something that is very desireable to both of us... and we plan on making the most of it! Steve has been working hard, "doing his homework," soaking up any and all extra knowledge and info about the business, as well as brainstorming some excellent ideas for improvement and future expansion. He's pumped to put his degree in business & marketing into more action! He's very focused and driven. (I love a man with such ambition)! He's such a dedicated husband & daddy... he takes such good care of Tatum n' me! It'll be hard work & a big transition for our family, but we've prayed diligently about it, will continue to - and we know that everything is in God's hands. We're ready for the change AND the challenge!

Tatum still has a toothless little grin, but I've heard that the longer they take to show up, the better. Don't really recall WHY or where I got the information (mom, I think?), but I know I heard it! Something about them being healthier, I think. Anyways, he's crawlin' faster & into trouble faster n' a speedin' bullet! And he's gearin' up to start walkin'! He's been lettin' go of things when he's standing to just practice being on his legs on his own and is an expert "cruiser." He finally likes to hold your hands and take steps while you lead him, and he'll use anything and everything that'll roll or slide as a "walker" to get around and practice his new skills. Amazingly, he's kind of over food/eating - there is SO much PLAY he'd rather do. I honestly think his food intake has been cut in half lately! Its WEIRD! For myself - I'm gearin' up to wean him from the whole nursing thing. Soon as his birthday hits, we're cuttin' out feedings, one at a time, until he's done! My goal was a year, and I made it! He should be completely weaned by at least two months after his birthday - at the latest! While I'm looking forward to the inconvienience of it being over, I'm sad to be losing the extra burning of calories nursing naturally provides! :( Also, I'm hoping my "God given bottles" get drastically smaller in size... 'cause DANG, MOMMA! :)

Anyways! (T.M.I., I know)!! :) I forgot to tell you about the house we plan to put an offer in on in the next couple weeks! We had thought we would end up purchasing Steve's boss' house & continue to run the business out of it as they are now, but after much thought & discussion - we want THEM to get a good deal for their house. And considering the current market & the existance of a little more desperate sellers, we'd like to take advantage of that and get a good deal as well, ya know? So, thinking about the needs of both the business, and the needs & wants in a house for our family (and future growth of it!), we found a house that suits our desires! So, trying to keep the description shorter and simpler, here ya go: 2 story house with unfinished basement (needed to clean area rugs), 3 bedrooms (upstairs), laundry room (upstairs!), 3 car garage (needed for vans, but will need to be insulated & heated) with large open loft above (perfect for the office/playroom for Tatum) & the usual (living room, kitchen w/island, dining room + formal dining room), total of 4,000 finished sq. ft. - not too shabby, eh? It started out listed close to 400, but is currently listed at 320. There's some not-so-hot stuff about it, which is why we plan to offer around 305 to 310-ish. It sits on a dirt lot (absolutely NO landscaping lf any sort), is close to a major street (Wadsworth) and highway (C470)... BUT, those things happen to be GREAT for the business. Plus, it allows us to landscape/plan the lot as we need to for running business smoothly, creating a great, grassy backyard/play area for Tatum & a good-sized dog run for Chili & Queso. A lot of our desires we can and might write up in a contract with our offer. We're VERY excited - even though we know we have to wait a bit to find out what's going to happen! I'll be SURE to keep everyone posted! Now, the house isn't perfect - there's some things we'd like to change/update (countertops, carpeting - we'd like hardwood in some areas, paint, etc.) - but nothing at all is a necessity & we can do that all as time and money allows). Its a GREAT house that we see spending many MANY years in. :)

Alright, that's all I have to offer for now! Sorry that this update is shorter that most in the past & lacks my usual humor & wit - but I can't make ya'll happy ALL the time! :) And I still didn't tell you about leaving the sun roof open in the trailblazer & coming out the next morning to find it full of snow, about my thoughts on fossil fuels not being created by actual fossils AND why spitting sunflower seed shells out your car window while driving over 15mph is NOT a good idea. Hee hee!

Take care! Sure do miss & love you all!

- Lindsay

P.S. - I think I'm gonna start giving out my movie and/or music recommendations! See and/or read "Into the Wild." Excellent, excellent stuff! Also, vote for Jason Castro on American Idol! :) He's my fave. :)