Christmas Treats

I know, it's not even Halloween yet and here I'm posting about Christmas. That's because I'm already buying for Christmas. And while I'm at it, I thought I'd share just in case it filled a void in your list.

Labels. The idea first started with my little niece. I thought she's like to have some waterproof labels with her name on them so she could stick them everywhere. I remember being her age and getting some address labels on a roll from that insert in the Sunday paper, you know the one? Anyway, I stuck them everywhere. And to this day, my alarm clock still has my name and address on it. Yes, it's old. Several websites have really cute designs, but I went with Cherry Hill Designs. They did Carter's bottle labels and they've held up very well, plus I love that it's a mom-run business. She's very quick too! In addition, I ordered a set of monogram return address labels for my mom, sister, sister in-law and mother in-law. Who doesn't like a good monogram?

Jewelry. Speaking of monograms, I'm on a major kick. So, at least three people are getting something from sTuckintheCoop, my favorite Etsy store. I recently looked at her shop and my goodness, it is stuffed with beautiful things!!! So many, I can't find recipiants for it all! I do know that Carter's great-grandmother (MeMe) is getting this bracelet, with the initials of all her great-grandchildren (8) and their birthstones.

My other niece (on C's side) is getting a cute necklace with her initial on it, too. One thing is for certain, no one will be forgetting who they are this year.

And just because, look at the adorable Christmas ornament I'm adding to our tree this year. Every year, I add a "family" ornament so in a few more years we'll have a tree that means something. This year's came from Lisa Leonard.

Playing Hard (another Etsy post)

I'm spoiling my child. I don't buy him tons of expensive clothes, in fact, his first three months were spend almost entirely in hand-me-downs. He wears Walmart onesies with pride. I don't own shoes that fit him (who needs 'em?). But I do want him to have nice things. Nice things he can give to his kids someday. Nice things I can put on a shelf after he's lost interest. Nice things not made in China of plastic. Nice things like the ones I'm spending entirely too much money on, but consider it an investment... in him and his happiness. And in the earth... can you see my slightly light green glow?

Last week it was the art for his walls and this:






















Today, it's these.
























I'm in love.

I finally did it.

I ordered prints from vol.25. She's having another BOGO sale and this time, I refused to miss out... especially since she was raising money for a new camera. Me of all people couldn't NOT help with that!

Check out what I got:

These are for Carter's room... if I ever get around to actually moving him in there.

This one is just because... I love it.


And finally! For the kitchen! I think they'll look awesome with our new paint colors. Assuming we actually move back into the rest of the house, that is.

Floors

Well that went over like a lead balloon. Moving on!

Here are pictures of our floors which are finished save but one board. One measly board. But, that's not enough to keep us from celebrating! Next up- trim.

The goin's on

Since I'm convinced people only care about the pictures I post, here are some of what we did this weekend. (Token baby picture included)

Sometimes things are best done the "redneck" way. Like carpet removal. Yes, that's a chain wrapped around the carpet and yes, that's a four-wheeler dragging said carpet from the house.

















This used to be parquet flooring installed by the previous owners in the foyer. Not anymore... not since my husband used a JACK HAMMER to demolish it.












We layed underlayment. Tater Bug helped.













Then we started the floor. Hopefully we'll finish this decade... better yet, this week.

Decorating

When we bought our house back in July, I knew we would be doing some work on it. I didn't know exactly when that would be, but I did know that I didn't want to decorate it twice. So, now that our walls are done, I'm dreaming & hunting for what to put on them.













Today, I learned that Vol. 25 is having a buy two get one free sale! I've had my eye on the kitchen series for some time, so now might be just the time to get my butt in gear! Just look at the whimsy and color!



My only hesitation is that since my kitchen walls aren't the soft, lime green with white wainscotting I had originally imagined I hope they match!

Check out some of her other precious prints:

Paint, take two

So I promised pictures, but I forgot. We scrapped "Light Sage" in the kitchen and are going with the hall color, Olive Gray. The Light Sage was just too light... almost teal or aqua and I felt that, although I could've lived with it, I would be really limited in what colors I could accent with. So, with nothing more than a text message, the decision was communicated to the painter and when I get home today, it'll be done. ALL done. No more workers in my house, except my husband.















I'm going to try and take tomorrow off so we can hunt for flooring. Our weekend is going to be so busy with Easter activites, so it's really our only day to get anything house-related done. Daycare is closed and I'd already lined up my mom and sister to keep the tooter, so it should be pretty painless. As if.

Let there be PAINT!

So, I knew the painter was coming today and that we had to pick paint yesterday, but C called yesterday around noon and said I had to pick paint by 4:00. That means, I had to make ALL the choices BY MYSELF and then prepare myself to tolerate the "I can't believe you picked this awful color" for the next 20 years. (It'll take me that long to put my son down.) Along with the help of my co-worker, below is what we chose. I wanted khaki colors and C wanted olive colors, so me, being the pleaser that I am, tried to pick colors he would like. Greens really were a better choice than browns because we have chocolate leather furniture and, eventually, wood floors. Talk about brown overload! Fingers crossed that it looks nice. Please oh please let it look nice!

And so it goes...

• I only thought I hated Mondays. Now, I have to leave him for the first time every single week. Lori said she still crys some Mondays... I understand. I'll be crying every Monday morning from now til he goes to college. Which will be next week as fast as time is flying.
• To cope, I had a slice of homemade cheesecake for breakfast at work. Yum. I'm glad someone's wife has spare time to do things like that.
• I went Easter dress shopping yesterday and bought one in a MEDIUM! Go me and my lactating ass! (No, my ass isn't lactating, you freaks- but I'm a calorie burning fool!)
• Every week, Saturday specifically, I tell Carter "xx weeks ago at this time..." to celebrate another week of his life. This week, I forgot. It was Sunday morning before I remembered. Is this what my life is like now? Distracted and busy and stressed and trying to cram every.single.second. that I've missed with my son into two days? Unacceptable and impossible.
• Our house is still in shambles. We're still living only out of the master bedroom, but there's an end in sight- sort of. Last week, the walls and ceilings in the den, living room, kitchen, foyer and hallway were textured and yesterday, we had them painted (flat white). Wednesday, color will be going up. Color which we haven't chosen yet. Olive or khaki? How many shades?
• Our inherited refridgerator that was born in like 1978 crapped out some time over the weekend. I thought the door was left cracked overnite, but no- things were sweating because THERE WAS NO MORE COLD AIR. Grrrreat. Apparently it's working for the moment, but it's a good thing a new one was already in our budget.
• I had high hopes that by returning to work, I would have more time to write. That's probably true, but I'm finding topics not involving the baby very hard to come by. Has this evolved into a Mommy blog? Probably so. But, it always has been and always will be a reflection of my life. And I'm a mommy now.
• Congratulations to Gabby and Robert on their little Robert the third. I don't know what they're going to call him, but I'm lobbying for Tres!
• My job rank has been restructured as an hourly position. I've never been hourly. My boss think's it's horseshit and encouraged me to maintain my flexibility. She said she refuses to pay me for less than 80 hours every two weeks. I feel restricted and watched. And my face is still stinging from the slap.
• Happy Opening Day, Ranger fans!
• Random thoughts from the ACM's: I can't stand Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) voice. What did Toby Keith's hat do to deserve being forced over his gigantic noggin? Jack... heyyyyyyy. Matthew's boots-- great story. I'm sure George has helped more than one guy score in his life. Taylor Swift- why must you continue to torture us with live performances?

Real Quick

• St. Paddy's day was a hit. See the adorableness below. (Thanks for the outfit, Aunt Heather!)
  
• Also, I love my baby in BabyLegs. His dad thinks they're ridiculous and that he looks like Baby Flashdance, but whatevs.
• My house is in remodel hell-- actually that will be tomorrow when I'm driven from the confines of my living room so I can get real walls put up. (Drywall instead of awful painted PANELING)
• I go back to work Monday. No, I don't want to talk about it.
• Pollen sucks.
  
• I took my nephew's senior pictures last Sunday- he showed up with a hickey on his neck. AWESOME. Thank goodness for photoshop.
  

Here are pictures to illustrate my post. (Please note these are the only ones I've been able to edit and probably aren't the best I have)

Clueless

If you start peeing your pants just go to the hospital, okay? Just go.

Now's when I confess that I'm more than a little scared I won't know when it's "time". Sure, there are all sorts of things that are "supposed" to happen, but guess what- they don't always. Apparently, it's not always like on tv. How will I know that my back ache is actually "back labor"? Or, like today, if my super hard belly is a contraction or just my child in a ball (still don't know)? I've never done this birthin' business before and I think I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, so what if I confuse contractions with heartburn? I should also mention that I live a solid hour away from the hospital. Forty-five minutes if I'm coming from work. So, some people prefer to "labor at home" until they're really going good. Me? I'll probably be in labor for three days before I realize it and I'll have the baby in the floorboard of the Camry. Nice mental image, eh?

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This morning, I got an email notifying me I'd won this adorable onesie from the Etsy Baby Blog giveaway! Yay for PeaPie!

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AND, I just got word that the art I commissioned for my kitchen is finished! Too bad the kitchen isn't!

Finally!

Our first furniture delivery is happening today. On tap: a chair for the living room and our bedroom furniture. We're patiently waiting for our couch and ottoman to be in stock so they can be delivered.... we're shooting for Thanksgiving, maybe Christmas. Bah. Either way, it's exciting and I'm very much looking forward to going home today!



In case you're curious, here are pictures.

Goodbye July

It's 11:11am, make a wish. It's actually 11:16am now, but whatever. It was a good thought at the time.

I'm moved to our new house. What a wonderful thing to say. He and I moved most of his big things yesterday, so now he just has to pack the rest of the house. I wonder if I can get out of helping since I packed mine all by myself. Yeah. I bet.

I need about three weeks off to fully get this house in working order... but then, what are the next 30 years for? Still, we will pack as much work into our waking, non-working hours that we can, I'm certain.

Yesterday, we went to Lowe's twice in one day to buy such things as a new showerhead, replacement switchplates, a replacement toilet fill valve and flapper, a sprinkler head, and plumbers putty. OH! And a garbage disposal. Did you hear that? That clouds just parted and the angels sang. Garbage disposal, how I plan to love thee fully and completely.

Busy week at work + one hour commutes each way make for a tired girl. But, I have a new house to come home to... wonder when that will get old. Never sounds good to me.

Now taking recipes for pears and figs. Also taking bets on how long my evolution into Suzy Homemaker will take.

It's now 11:25am. Goodbye morning...