New Year, Same Resolutions.

I've been a craptastic blogger, but the last few months have been insane. Yet, all of the crazy was the same things over and over, so there really wasn't anything interesting to write about. The house repairs have become a consuming, financially and emotionally draining, never ending cluster. But we've gotten a ton done.

All new carpet is finally in. Every room had to be painted to cover the smoke smells and stains. All the blinds have been replaced for the same reason. The missing door frames have all been finished.  I also fixed 3 windows, and framed 3 others until they can be replaced. Broken and mis-matched fixtures and ceiling fans have been changed out. The kitchen and bathroom tiles have been caulked where they weren't upon move-in. Broken, filthy shower doors are down, as are the jagged, broken porcelain wall-mounted fixtures. After 8 total hours of cleaning out the back patio of the previous residents trash and junk, the backyard is clean and the dogs are happy.

Oh yeah, dogs plural. We rescued a puppy that was about to be put down. He's name is Toby, and from the vet, and then our own research, we think he's a black and tan coonhound and walker coonhound mix. My husband thinks it is hilarious that I'd end up with a raccoon hunting dog, but that's another story.

So finally, it's finally starting to feel like a home here. The ILs visited the day after Christmas, and we all had a really nice time. I'm hoping my parents will be visiting sometime this month. When we lived in Texas, we only saw everyone once a year, so it's nice to have them for visits.

There is a short list priorities structurally, including a decent amount of electrical repairs, some plumbing issues, 2 soffit and facia board replacements, and the HVAC system getting tuned up. Other than that, we can just do a little at a time, but at least be comfortable living here, and proud of the work we've done when they come for home study.

Husband and I go to DCS tomorrow for our next step, and I'm nervous. We've decided to open our profile to one child for now instead of 2 - a little girl between 0-6. With DH deploying sometime this year, I just feel strongly that it will be easier for a girl placement to adjust and thrive alone with just me for a while.

So that's my life right now as I bring in the New Year. It's hard to believe it's 2012. It feels like yesterday, and long ago, all at the same time that I started each New Year's with the resolution that *this* year, will be the year. The year we have a family. Most everyone around me brought in 2012 with their healthy little ones, or with little ones on the way. But for me, it's the same resolutions all over again. Get settled at (insert whatever new place we've moved), have a child, let DH have a safe deployment, and so on. Yet those are still my hopes and dreams for this year. I really hope the universe has something up it's sleeve for us in the months to come.