23 Months Old -- New Home Photoz!

Elizabeth on Thanksgiving 2013!

As of today, Elizabeth is 23 months old. In exactly a month she will be 2 whole years old. 

I know I previously stated I'd be blogging about her 22nd month, but I don't think it's going to happen. Fall just always seems to be a busy time of the year for me. I noticed I didn't blog much around this time last year either.
Anyways.
Bean can currently....
- Count to 10! Although a 7 and an 8 come after 10 for some reason, lol.
- Sing the ABC's to D. If I sing it then ask her what letter comes next, she usually know it.
- Draw circles!
- Knows the colors, Red, Blue and Yellow. 

- Her speech seems to grow every day too. It kind of creeps me out how well she can talk sometimes. She's really been into calling things "cute" lately but it comes out " tewt!" which I think is adorable.

Bean on Thanksgiving 2013. 

We still haven't improved much on the potty yet. I did purchase some training undies and let her wear them one day but she was literally peeing every 20 minutes - a sign she isn't ready so I think we will pick it back up once she turns 2. I do put her on the potty if she asks ( normally its so she can have a marshmallow) and so far she's peed twice on it. Both times I think were accidents but she still got TWO marshmallows for going like a big girl, lol. 

We've been in our new home for little over a month now and are still enjoying it SO much. They're some improvements we'd like to make eventually but that's for another day.

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOZ FOR YOU ALL WHO WANT TO SEE IT :)

I know I've already posted this one but it shows the outside well :) Behind the home are a cherry and apple tree.

Our property line isn't very well shown so our "lovely" neighbor ( an older man) has been making it very clear where it's at. He dug a small hole where the line is and is sure to mow every week stopping at the line. It actually made me laugh when I saw him digging the hole... we haven't been in the backyard once since we moved here as the weather just isn't great and there's so reason to go back there. I hope there won't be problems, I really hate confrontation.

THE MUD ROOM.
 This room was turquoise before we painted it. There's a closet on the left. We plan on removing the door to it, adding a bench etc on the inside so people can remove their shoes easy. Also would like to replace the tiling! We're thinking hardwood. Just thinking right now though. Soooooon! 

There's a carpeted spot on top there - I'm not sure what it's actually for, I'm assuming plants but eventually I'd like to put a little pathway leading to it for the kitties! I can put their scratching post up there, a bed, I'm so excited, lol. Our awesome Realtor, Machelle thought of the idea. My kinda lady!

THE LIVING ROOM

View from the living room

At the end of the corner is the beach :) 

THE DINING ROOM
FYI I know spider plants aren't supposed to be in direct light. Give me a break. 

We bought this fridge last year. The home came with a fridge as well so we put the one that came with the home downstairs for my brother to use!

THE KITCHEN
Yes, that's a dishwasher! The cabinets are a little too 80's for us. We're going to repaint them. Haven't decided on what color yet.I want to go white, Frank wants to go dark. Suggestions?

BEAN'S ROOM
Her room was originally blue so of course we had to paint it!

The apple tree is right outside her window which she points out EVERY day, lol. OH and did you notice? The windows? Double pane! No MOLD!!!

OUR BATHROOM
It was originally yellow. We're going to paint the cabinets with a dark wash. 

Framed photos of Bean in the bathtub!

THE MASTER BEDROOM
It came with 2 closets so we converted one into an "office/gaming" station. We plant to paint & add inset shelves to it!

Cherry tree is right outside the window :)

DOWNSTAIRS 

Most of the downstairs I have left to my  brother as he is renting our 3rd bedroom. Most of the stuff shown is his but I did have to put my craft table downstairs as I didn't have room upstairs for it. We also share the laundry room. :)

I didn't take a photo of the 3rd bedroom as it's Tyler's and thought it would be rude. XD 

Laundry room! Yes, NEW washer and dryer! Holla! 

The garage! It's a single car but works for us since we only have 1 car! We plan on redoing the floors, walls, shelving. Everything. :) 

FINALLY MOVED!

The title says it all! The Steele's finally moved! 

After over a year of looking at homes, putting in offers, being declined a million times and getting our hopes up, we finally found a home we, my grandparents and the bank could all agree on.

Here it is! I'm not entirely fond of the turquoise, we plan to repaint next summer! Have I mentioned how EXPENSIVE paint is?! 

Alright. So, where do I begin with all of you who are thinking " Wow! Her Grandparent's bought them a home?!"
Although we're are internally in their debt for helping us out, they did not buy us this home. We're renting from them. Was it our idea? No, it was not. We DO plan to buy it from them in the very near future which is why it was so important to find a home we could all agree on.

I want to say this whole thing started in late spring of 2012 but I could be off a little. I guess my Grandparent's were in the need to bless someone and were in the market to buy another rental home regardless. We seemed to be a perfect fit. We're financially stable and the living conditions we last lived in were lets just say, not acceptable.

This was our last rental from fall 2012.  Our theory is that it was supposed to be the basement of a home that was never finished.  It was perfect when we decided to move in. We hadn't had Bean yet, we both worked 40+ hours and were rarely home. It's a block away from my parents and the rent was cheap. Plus, the view is SPECTACULAR ! We moved in February 2011. 

After seeing my last rental, you can see why I was so, so excited to move! I'm sad I won't be a walk away from my parents anymore but ultimately the place wasn't healthy or big enough for us. There was a serious mold issue, the roof leaked, heating the place cost us hundreds of dollars...I could go on and on.

Now you're thinking " If living conditions were THAT bad, why not move earlier?"

1.) I hate moving. I know most people are not entirely fond of it either but I absolutely loathe it. My Mom mentioned to me a couple weeks ago, through out my childhood we had moved 17, yes, SEVENTEEN times. All before I was the age of 13. I honestly don't remember moving that much. I remember 7 different homes we lived in. I'm assuming most of it was when I was a baby.

2.) Elizabeth. I really, really, didn't want to change her environment if I didn't haaaaave too. We were hoping to bump our credit up very soon and buy our own home. I knew we'd have to put her through at least 1 move. I didn't want to do more than needed.

3.) The kitties. I had already moved with Sven and Mishka from our apartment into this home. They did not take it well.

We made the move on October 13th! It's now November 4th... and we still aren't completely settled.
Even though I don't have everything exactly the way I'd prefer, this home is 1000 times better than what we were living in.
I'm happy we lived in our last rental though. It really taught me to appreciate what I NOW have. It's amazing. Just little things like having a larger sink really make a huge difference.
We have a GARAGE now! I've never lived in a home with a garage ( that I remember). I've never had so much storage room in my life.
Elizabeth has her OWN room, that we painted purple! I got to paint and decorate a room for my baby girl!


I'm still just in absolute awe that we're finally moved and happy! 

I will try to post some more photos as we get more settled and I have more time.
I'll also be blogging about Elizabeth's October. She's now 22 months old, guys! 2 more months and I will have a 2 year old! Eek!