5 Months Old!!!

Ok, so Gabe is 5 months and a few days but I am close! Gabe is such a sweet little boy and we are so thankful for him. Everyone says what a happy baby he is and it couldn't be more true. Gabe still lights up when he sees his sister and I think she is starting to understand how much he likes her, because she is giving him more attention now.

Gabe can roll over from his tummy to his back, although we haven't really seen this in awhile. Maybe now that he is getting comfortable in the rental house he will get back to his old tricks. No rolling the other way yet. He can hand things off between hands and of course everything gets put into his mouth. Gabe is very ticklish and giggles all the time. His favorite activity is flying above daddy's head.

We bought Gabe a new crib because the old one still smelled like smoke and he is loving not sleeping in the pack and play. Gabe normally gets up at 7, although 5:30 has been more his style this past week. Because we currently don't have our nursery rocking chair, we are using the recliner in the rental house for our monthly pictures, enjoy!

How our little guy sleeps...

Chillin' with Emory. She loves touching his head!

Hello Again...

We are finally in our rental house and the internet is now connected! Yippee! We have been busy with meetings for the house and I am way behind on posts, but given recent events I get a free pass.

While we were sorting through our ruined possessions, Grant found our small camera and noticed the SD card was still good. I uploaded our pictures and found ones from the night before the fire. The kids were so happy, not only because Jaypa and Nanny sent down some new toys, but because we were safe in our home. Looking at these pictures got to me. What we wouldn't give to go back to that night before all the chaos.

Em playing with her new little people fairy tree house. No worries it has already been replaced!

We have been talking to Emory about the fire trucks and found this fire truck place mat that she can color. We also have many discussions about how we are fixing our house and we will be back there soon.

Powdered donut smile!

Emory was so sweet in the car the other day. She reached over and gave Gabe one of her books to read. Such a good big sister!

More Updates...

Here are some current pictures of our house. Bleak. Everything is getting boxed up to be cleaned to see what makes the cut of not smelling like smoke anymore. The windows that were broken (by the fire fighters to let smoke out) are boarded up to keep thieves out who listened to the police scanners and know that no one is living there. It's kinda creepy that they have to do that.

What remains of my poor kids rooms...

Our bedroom...

The living room looks less "homey" now, can't put my finger on the reason...

As for us, we are still hanging in there. We are looking at rental properties today. Keep your fingers crossed that something will work out! We thought it would be a good idea to share/document some things that are different with our routines so that we remember it.

The Dess Bedtime Shuffle: Gabe goes to sleep around 8, in the hotel crib, in the bedroom. Around 8:45 Emory needs to go to sleep so we wheel Gabe (yes the crib has wheels) into the dark and quiet living room. From that point on, Grant and I sit the the dark living room watching inaudible TV or work on the computer (thanks to Donald and Angela) or work in the dark on inventory of what was in our house.

Sniff Sniff: We got out first round of clothing back from the cleaners (who specialize in getting the smoke smell out). So after the kids go to bed, there we are sniffing the clothes. It gives us both a headache and then we have to give up after like 5 minutes because you can no longer tell what smells and what is ok.

Inventory: We have to make lists and price EVERYTHING in our house. Just think about the junk in your drawers and try to assess it. The amount of baby toys we had makes me sick to my stomach. There is no way we are bringing that much back into the house. Which we also refer to as "our new house" because it will be like new when we get back.

Grant went back to work today. He got there late and is leaving early, but at least he was there. The kids and I did a fun trip, picked up lunch, swung by the house and came back to the hotel for naps. The new version of normal? That's all for now. When I get my camera back from being cleaned, I will post some cute pics of the kids instead of depressing fire pictures.

Keep On Keeping On...

We are still in the midst of getting things figured out. Currently we are staying at a hotel and waiting to find temporary housing. They are still clearing out our house. The things we know will be cleaned and returned to us are; our bed frame, our dressers, the kids cribs, the kids dressers, the dinning room set, and some other small pieces of furniture. Our clothes are being cleaned, but we don't know what will end up not smelling like smoke.

We are so thankful for all the help we have received. We feel so blessed to have such amazing friends and family. We are currently without our computer, but we will post more updates soon.

Everyone is safe...

Wednesday morning started off like any other. Gabe got up, Emory got up, and we played. I got Gabe out of the swing for his nap and noticed some lights in our house were getting really bright, while others were flashing off. I also heard a hissing sound from our laundry room. I looked through our kitchen and saw sparks coming from the water heater. Already holding Gabe, I grabbed Emory (who was in the dinning room) and ran back to my bedroom to get clothes and when we went towards the door I looked towards the laundry room to see an orange glow and smoke. I called the fire department and they showed up in 4 minutes! I stood in front of my house, holding my babies, watching smoke pour out of my house. Grant came home and we have been nonstop ever since.

So here is what my house looks like now....

The kitchen is by far the worst.

Where out kitchen table use to be...

Doorway and wall by the kitchen table going into the dinning room...

The baby swing was on the wall near the kitchen table and it is totally melted. I must have been scared and in a hurry because the swing is still moving and its melted so you cant turn it off.

One of the walls in our living room. The blistering is from the heat of the fire.

Grant's pez collection took a major hit today. All of the valuable ones were destroyed and most of the others on display were also melted.

The bedrooms and bathrooms were not as damaged by the heat, but they do have the smoke and water damage. Windows had to be broken to let out the smoke.

Even inside the closets are gross.

The beginning point of it all. You can see the black water heater and in the middle of the picture is the door to our garage. We will still don't know the exact cause but the investigators are working it all out.

We have had such an amazing out pour of love from family and friends. All your calls and emails are greatly appreciated and sorry if we haven't gotten back to you, but its just chaotic right now! We couldn't do anything without all the wonderful help we have had. Thank you so much to everyone. It' late and I'm going to try to sleep, but I will be posting more soon.

2 1/2 Years Old!!!

Emory is such a big girl. And she won't let you believe otherwise! She is constantly saying, "I do it myself." She has boundless amounts of energy, always jumping and dancing. She has starting singing some songs with her sweet little voice. Emory is learning so much lately, she can count to 13 (random), she knows some of her letters, and she knows her full name. Emory will repeat almost anything we say (dangerous!). Emory's favorite toy right now is all her little people, today they were all at a birthday party and she sang happy birthday. Too cute!

New trick for pictures.... She has her moments of being a little stinker!

Silly girl! Guess she was finished sitting still.

Outside playing with bubbles, a regular activity at the Dess house.

Love you Em.

Our Little Em...

Like I mentioned before, Emory is starting to be interested in dress up. She goes into her room and comes out with all sorts of outfits on. It's tough to see but she is wearing her bumble bee headband over her hat, very stylish!

Emory was definitely due for another hair cut, things had gotten a little messy.

Waiting patiently. Her hair is under control when she keeps her bow in, but still in need of a trim.

The after! Still super cute...

Enjoying a sweet treat for being so good.

Emory is also very involved in play time with Gabe. She is mostly good, but still a big sister who takes what she wants. We are just lucky Gabe doesn't know the difference (to change soon). But don't they look cute together?

First video of Gabe! But as you will hear Emory is involved. He is becoming more vocal which is so fun to hear him "talk" back to us.

Emory's Posse...

Here is Emory's posse. If we let her bring them everywhere she would. I turned around one day and laughed out loud because there were all her buddies on the drain spout staring at me. The are one cool crew. Let me introduce them to you....

Princess (which is her favorite)

Ernie and Elmo

And two Marys.

We have the Little People nativity and at Christmas we were talking to Emory about baby Jesus and Joseph and Mary. To Emory, all the Little People babies are baby Jesus and all the women are Marys. In her Little People doll house she will tell me that baby Jesus went poo poo on the potty, and Mary goes night night. She has about 5 Marys, and if she can't find one she knows just who is missing. Emory is OBSESSED with her Little People doll house, SUV, farm, Noah's ark and castle. Yikes, we are a little Little People crazy.