8 Months

Weston turned 8 months old yesterday! We can't believe how time flies. He continues to bring one of the greatest amounts of joy to our lives. I guess if I could pick one thing to define him right now it is that he has a fascination with walking while holding onto our hands. However, while we think this is adorable, we really want him to crawl first! Hopefully, he will soon- he has made huge strides just in the past couple days, but unfortunately he face-plants more often than not. The good thing is this doesn't phase him:)

Now, I will let Michael take over the keyboard and update you on his job situation. (No, we don't know where we are going to live yet.)

Ok, this is Michael typing now. I'm a bit new at this, so hopefully I don't totally blow it!!! I went all the way through the State Farm candidate career path to become an agent. The final step to become an approved candidate was to prepare a business plan for an agency and present it to a panel and then answer 11 interview questions. The interview process took about 2 hours total.

Later that day I received a phone call from my career coach, and she told me that I didn't make it through. That's the bad news!!! However, she said that the panel was extremely impressed with my business plan, and I came across as "very intelligent, professional, innovative, hard-working, driven, and goal-oriented." She stated that they would like me to try again, maybe six months down the road or so, and that I should use this time to work under an agent to gain more experience and build more capital. These were the areas they thought I needed to grow in, which I completely agree.

And so, what seemed like a brutal rejection has really turned out to be a huge blessing. It opened up a lot of doors for me to find a new job. I've personally called about 60 agents inquiring about their job opportunities. Several of the area executives, as well as some of the agents, have helped to get my name and resume around. As a result, I have talked to about 8 agents who are interested in hiring and I've already met with one. I am also still talking to the representitive from Catholic Knights (another insurance company) who sounds interested in hiring me. I will meet with him next week.

Right now, I am going through the insurance pre-licensing course to make myself more attractive and competitive to agents. I'll be done with that next Wednesday and then I will take my exam some time next week. So, in short - no job yet, but plenty of prospects!

Also, Maria wanted me to mention where I am with my degree. I've made huge strides in the last couple of months. I haven't taken any courses through the college because we had too much going on during this time, but the military offers a lot of opportunities to take free tests for college credit. In the last few months, I have taken probably about 15 tests and passed about 10 (most importantly, I passed my math test which I was dreading!) Anyway, after all of my test results came in, I added them up and realized that I only need two more classes/tests to get my degree. I'm gonna sign up for the classes this semester and hopefully get my degree by the end of the summer.

So anyway, that's the latest news with me. I just looked up and realized that I typed a lot, so hopefully I didn't bore you to death.

New Faces and Places

Slowly but surely Weston is meeting more and more of his family! His Great Uncle John, Great Aunt Lisa, and Cousin (well, actually first-cousin-once-removed if we are being technical) Brianna came for a visit a little over a week ago. My Aunt Lisa helped me discover that Weston just doesn't seem to like the taste of his baby food- plain and simple. We have discovered that he prefers food in pieces he can put in his own mouth! We are finally making progress in the solid food area- yeah!

This past weekend we went to Necedah and had a great time introducing Weston to his Pipi and some of his aunts, uncles, and cousins on Michael's side. We also learned a fun new game called Speed Scrabble (Benj and Mary you would really like this one). Of course, Michael was great at it and I was terrible, but that is how is goes with any kind of word game between us.

Weston and his cousin Stephanie

We also got to meet the newest member of the LaVoy family- Mae Ann Boyles! She was so precious and served as a reminder for us of just how much babies change in a few short months! We are already forgetting what it was like having Weston as a newborn.

Weston meeting his Pipi's horses for the first time.

Weston with his Pipi

We even got to see more snow while we were there.


Finally, Michael introduced Weston to the Hardwood Floor Luge.

We Are Ready To Be A Family Again!

Well, I feel like I have come as close to being a single mother as I want to be! Weston and I are both very ready for Michael to join us in Wisconsin!! I am lucky to have the help of family here, but sometimes there in only so much they can do when Weston only wants me. However, I feel like I can't really blame him for his "mommy neediness" because I am the only thing familiar with all the new places and things he is experiencing. Speaking of new things, Weston got to experience his first wedding last Saturday.

At the wedding he tried out some dance moves on the dance floor, but I think his Daddy needs to show him how to really move on the dance floor:)

Weston still doesn't like eating baby food, but he has taken a liking to Cheerios and is quite good at picking them up and putting them in his own mouth.

This week Weston and I got to spend some time in Chippewa Falls with Andy, Andrea, and Gianna. We had a great time and got to see their beautiful new home:)

While we were there Weston learned a "new trick" (as Mary says). He has figured out how to pull himself up! Check it out-

Also, while we were there winter reminded me what I was missing in Texas. Weston and I got to experience some very cold temperatures and I must say- I didn't enjoy it! (I couldn't even warm up inside- hence the jacket in the picture.)

Here is our attempt to have a life outside of babies- Weston brought me back to reality before we could finish our game of dominos (Andy probably woke him up because he was losing so badly.) Oh well, we really wouldn't have it any other way!

Wisconsin

Weston and I arrived in Wisconsin on Sunday after a long day of traveling. I was nervous to fly by myself with Weston, but all went well. I did, however, get some sympathy stares because I think most people thought I was a young teen mother! We are adjusting pretty well to the cold. Andrea, Andy, and our friend Susan had no sympathy and broke us in right away by taking us on a long walk in the cold the first day we were here! However, we must have brought some warm weather with us, because today it got into the upper 50s! We are suppose to get more snow this weekend, so maybe Weston and I will get to see our first snowfall for the year (I think we are the only ones here who will appreciate it)!

(Doesn't he look thrilled to go back out in the cold?)

Weston, for the most part, has enjoyed meeting people. However, he seems to do better when he doesn't meet a bunch of people at once- he was a little crabby when he met some people for the first time at my mom's birthday.

Weston and his Great-Grandma Luebke

Weston and his Great-Grandma Thompson

Mom- did you get enough scarves for your birthday?

Today Weston and I went over to my Grandma Luebke's house for lunch and Weston had a blast banging on the metal tray with some metal measuring spoons. I was going to video tape it, but decided I would spare you the ear-piercing noise:)

Also, while we were there I ran out of diapers for the first time. I didn't expect Weston to go through three diapers in an hour anymore! Well, needless to say, the only thing I could think to do was to dig one of his diapers out the the trash that was just really wet and line it with a spare burp cloth until we got home. Can you tell how full his diaper was in the picture? He was like the kid in A Christmas Story- only instead of, "I can't put my arms down" it was, "I can't put my legs together!"

Overall, we are glad to be back. We miss things and people in Texas, but we also appreciate even the small things here like good tap water and a cheaper sales tax! Weston is enjoying quality time with Grandpa and Grandma Thompson, and as far as the job situation goes, I will save that for another post. I am tired and need all the rest I can get!

We Made It

Weston and I have made it to Wisconsin (Mike will come on the 15th or 16th with Tory). I will do a post sometime in the near future with details, but for now I just wanted to let you all know we made it safe and sound.

A Post For Everyday

I feel like I could have done a post everyday since my last post, but I haven't had the time! So, here is a little catch up starting with Saturday. Weston seems to have found a new fascination with Tory. He absolutely loves when she comes in the room and especially likes it when she barks and gets hyper (which isn't too often at her age). Here is a video of the noises he started making on Saturday.

Saturday night we went over to our neighbors, the Duycks, for dinner. We have enjoyed getting to know them over the past seven months and wish that we would have met them sooner. Who knew we had such wonderful neighbors!?

On Sunday, Weston got to experience his first carnival with his friend Julia. We had a fun time with the Beavers (as usual) and Weston seemed to enjoy the experience, but he did get a little overwhelmed towards the end with all the new sights and sounds.

Here we are enjoying our $3 snow cone and $4 carmel apple- don't we look lovely in this shot?

We had to get one picture of Weston in a cowboy hat before he leaves Texas- Michael said it is his first and last time trying one on.

Then, Sunday night we went over to our friends, the Anthonys, for dinner and had a great time playing Oodles and hanging out one last time before Weston and I leave. Saturday and Sunday reminded us how blessed we have been to have made some great friends here in San Angelo and we are really going to miss them!

As far as big news goes, Monday we accepted an offer on our house!!!! YEAH! That is a big relief for us and a huge thing out of the way as far as our move goes. Weston is excited he doesn't have to clean up his toys all the time now and always keep the house up for showings (so is Mommy- that gets old fast)!

(This video really has nothing to do with selling the house, but I thought it was funny/cute and this looked like a good place to put it- I guess we could say it is Michael and Weston celebrating.)

Tuesday, I decided to try something new with Weston when it came time to trying to eat solids again- let him do it himself and explore his food! The results were messy, but believe it or not he actually got more in his mouth than he usually does. He still made sour faces, but at least he was bringing the spoon to his mouth and opening it! I think he is just one of those babies that may not be ready to eat solids until he is older than most.

Finally, today Weston got his first ashes for Ash Wednesday:) We also have been enjoying some 90 degree weather for the past two days (I think it is nature teasing me about having to go back to Wisconsin and the cold), so I have been getting more use out of Weston's shorts- he still fits in his 0-3 month shorts!

Baby Interaction and Life Update

It is amazing at such a young age how children still want the toy that the other is playing with! Here is a promised video clip of Weston and Gianna playing together. Although most of the time they played separately next to each other, we pieced together some of their interactions:)

Little ones also have a fascination with each other's pacifiers. Last Friday, Mary and I had Julia and Weston outside and didn't even notice when Weston took Julia's pacifier and put it in his mouth. We both laughed when we saw this sight.

Unfortunately, sometimes people already mistake Weston for a girl and this doesn't help the matter! Seriously, do people not realize that babies can be boys too? Apparently, even dressing your child in all blue isn't enough of a clue!

In other news- we got an offer on the house yesterday! However, after counter-offering all day yesterday, we have yet to hear if they have accepted our last offer. Hopefully, we will hear something tomorrow, but the wait is killing us. It would be sooo nice to have the house selling out of the way!!

Michael is still in the hiring process for State Farm (it is a lengthy process) and currently he is working on a buiness plan that he will present in front of a panel in Austin on March 4th. If all goes well with that, he will get added to a pool of approved canidates and he can compete for different openings. He plans on trying for the positions opening in Eau Claire or Menomenie (no clue how to spell that one). Finally, once he gets hired for a position he will train for an average of seven months! Whew, it will be nice when all that is over! Heck, it will just be nice when we know where we are going to live for sure!! Life is sure uncertain for us right now and we were just commenting today about how it is also going in a direction we wouldn't have imagined- Michael becoming an insurance agent!? Go figure! However, when we first met, the military wasn't in his future plans either and it turned out to be a great blessing for us. It is interesting and exciting to see what God has in store for our future.

Lastly, I decided this post needed at least one more picture. Here is how I found Weston after literally leaving the room for no more than 30 seconds to get his diaper cream.

When I left the room, he had been laying face up on his towel with his diaper half on by the doorway. Apparently, he decided he didn't want his diaper on (his new trick is learning to take it off himself) and was trying to roll to get the wipes when his towel got in the way. And, just like my friend Mary and any good mother, I decided to grab the camera and take a picture before I helped him out:)