Sunday, October 28, 2012

Mini-van Driving

Once again this is an old post ... when will it stop? : )

We bought a Toyota Sienna mini-van 3 months ago (so it really is February 2013, not October)! We LOVE it! Maybe that's why we haven't posted about it yet, been too busy enjoying life with a mini-van.

It was quite a process, especially convincing Jai to agree to get it. I guess I finally wore him down! : ) We researched a few different options, trying to consider the most economical choices with consumer reports. Our top choices were the well loved & more expensive Honda Odyssey & Toyota Sienna.  However, they seemed out of our price range even though we both have driven Hondas & Toyotas for most of our adult driving lives.

We looked primarily at Grand Caravans, but weren't finding the right one (year, mileage, details). We searched different used car sites, mainly on-line, including Car Max (actually looked last summer, but we weren't ready) & got Jai's car (green Corolla) evaluated there for trade-in value. Then 1 day we looked on Car Max's website & saw a Toyota Sienna for a decent price, more than we wanted to pay, but good considering the value for a Toyota or Honda.

So we arranged for Uncles Mike & Chad to watch the girls & headed there to check out the van. When we arrived, it was crowded & there was no one available to assist us. Annoying as Jacqueline had been asleep so I hadn't been able to feed her before we left M&C's house (1:00pm) ... I really was in quite a time predicament. We walked outside & checked out the vans on the lot, seeing a few we liked. We walked back & finally someone was available (2:00pm). We explained we wanted to test drive 2 vans & started the process with Jai giving his license to be verified ... discovered that it had expired 6 weeks ago on his birthday! Therefore I had to drive the vans which was fine, I enjoyed that, but really wanted Jai to drive it since he would be the primary driver.  We drove both, not liking the Kia, but thoroughly liked the Sienna, so spacious, great pick up with the V6 engine, in great condition (interior & exterior), only 82K miles, 8 passengers!

We returned to office cubicle to start purchase part of process (2:30p) & we discovered 2 issues as they checked credit.
1. Jai forgot to bring title to his car - 95% sure he knew where it was in house
2. There were 2 liens on his car ... odd since Jai said he had the title in his possession, but long story about why it didn't get transferred from bank name to his
He said "how did you know to do that?" I don't know, I just did. I'm sure someone told me.
After way too long talking about options, initially the manager saying we could have the van & bring back the title and I'm about to burst with engorgement & we should have just left with the plan to return with required documents, we finally leave, having to put car seats BACK in Jai's car (3:00pm)!

We drive back to M&C's place, hoping everyone is OK because they're not answering their phones, I'm driving of course, and discover that the E light turns on for the gas gauge. Are you kidding me?

First the license, then the title, now almost out of gas! Someone does not want us to get this van. Unbelievable!

We arrive safely at friends' house, Jacqueline only awaken recently, Julia happily watching a movie. I gratefully feed baby while Jai goes to get gas. After thanking M&C for everything, we load everyone into the car & head home to find the title (4:00pm). Jai goes inside & fairly quickly returns with the located document! Eureka! Then I need to go to the bathroom & so does Julia so inside we go while Jai watches Jacqueline. Thankfully she stayed in the car, the only 1! : ) We all get buckled back in the car & head back to Car Max (4:45pm).

This isn't how we wanted to complete the transaction with 2 young children in tow, but you do what you have to do. It really didn't take too long, but there was a TON of paperwork to complete & sign our names a zillion times. It reminded us of buying a house.

In the dark, we finally left Car Max (6:30pm) in our glorious van, all the i's dotted & t's crossed, extremely comfortable, happy & excited. It's nice! : )


Thursday, October 11, 2012

10-11-12 = 9 months of Jacqueline

HAPPY MONTHIVERSARY!
Another 3 months have gone by & now you are 9 months old!
You are a character, constantly clapping & smiling!
You're not really crawling yet, but you're busy in your own way! : )
Today you weighed 16.11 pounds, 27 inches long & 42.5 cm head circumference.
Lots of growth since 6 month clinic visit, most definitely since you arrived!
Another pound & you'll have tripled your weight! That's truly amazing - you started so small! 

Side note:
Big sister almost weighs 38 pounds ... yeah!!! You only need a couple more to get to 40 pounds by 4th birthday in December. That way Jacqueline can move into a big kid car seat by 1st birthday in January & Julia can move into a booster seat.  Come on, girls, save your parents some money!!!! : )

Julia also is growing up & out as her pants & tops are getting shorter & her shoes are getting smaller. We don't have any tennis shoes in size 11 or 12 so we're headed to thrift store tomorrow. 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Chicago for Fall Break 2012

Another successful plane ride with 2 small children ... this trip was slightly different from the one to MA in June. Unusually Julia was quieter thanks to Jai's Ipod which she LOVES. Jacqueline did not sleep on this trip, coming or going; 1 example of the difference of being 4.5 versus 9 months old! So much to see & "talk" about this time. Once again we got compliments on how well behaved our children are, surprised as people anticipated how bad it would be sitting next to family with kids.

It was nice to see family. They fed us, cleaned dishes, washed our laundry, watched girls for a Date Night, played with the girls, held the baby often, welcomed & included my sister in their home. It was a great vacation, change of scenery, break from the routine of constant work of parenting, house maintenance & working outside the home. Lovely, so lovely! Thank you!

Side Note:
So awesome to take a break from the pump! Only 9 more weeks to go until Winter Break. FANTASTIC!!!!! : )

Monday, October 1, 2012

Complimentary Food

Jacqueline started eating some foods at 7 months old.
Banana - first one like Julia - loves it!
Sweet potato - yum!
Pumpkin - another loved orange food
Winter squash - delicious, favorite fall food
Tofu - Jacqueline likes it!
apples & blueberries - tart, some funny faces! : )
Oatmeal - OMG! The girl loves her oats! She really has bulked up eating it.

A girl who likes food almost as much as she likes the breast!