Sunday, August 31, 2008

carmel brownies, grapes and orange juice

yep that's what I wanted, and am eating for dinner as I type! NOW I must start by saying, we had a "good for you lunch" so I'm allowed to have a wacky dinner!...right? LOL! Not that I care if you say no, I'm eating it and you can't stop me....spoken like a true pregnant...who has been nesting all afternoon! :) Now you also have to be told, don't get your hopes up, w/ Emma and Ian both I nested like 5 times b/f there actually arrived!...so I am sure this is phase one of multiple times of cleaning and moving of things in our house!....POOR ALEX! He does so well putting up w/ me through this time of craziness!

We had planned to clean yesterday...BUT a water pipe busted at the end of our neighborhood and ran so long it flooded a house on the main street!....I felt so sorry for them. So we were w/o water for the whole day....we last minute decided to go to Matthews Alive for the morning b/c they at least had porta potties!lol!....well it was HOT HOT HOT, so we didn't make it there very long, maybe about an hour or so. Then we packed up everything we were planning for dinner, for Cathy's (Alex's mom) birthday dinner (which was suppose to be at our house) and our clothes so we could shower and headed to Mimi and Granddaddy's for the rest of the day! We couldn't even rinse our breakfast dishes out!...my mom would of had a heart attack! :)

SO needless to say, we cleaned today...we went to church this morning...it was AWESOME as usual and the first time Alex and I have been "normal" attenders in about a year! I was nice to go in on time and be together the whole time...to drop off the kids together and pick them up together...BUT I already see us missing the people we got to "hang out" with while we were volunteering...so I'm not sure how long we'll be able to stay out....we'll see! Then we went and did our grocery shopping, came home and ate some lunch and still had everyone down for a nap by about 1:30 or so. After nap is when the cleaning began....lot's of stuff to the attic, lot's of boxes removed(those were from canning...that had been making there home in my kitchen...but not anymore!) Ian's room got rearranged...working on some idea's there, but nothing set in stone! some furniture moved around in the den/kitchen....I love the change, and it made room for the cradle to come out of our room and into the den! YEAH! ummm then of course the normal, dust,vac, bathrooms, changing sheets...ALL "STUFF" put in it's place, mopping, windexing, fan cleaning, washing clothes, folding and putting away...we did wash our quilt and put it out to dry....and the list goes on!..lol, I told you I nested! Now if only the baby would come before I felt to need to do it all over again! At one point today Alex told me to take it easy, I just laughed and reminded him the dr said this baby could come all it wanted to after 36 weeks...well I'm 36 weeks today....so braxton hicks come on! :)

Well at least my house is clean for the week...tomorrow we are headed to Emerald Pointe w/ Brandy and her family...and house work will not be on my mind! LOL Water Park here I come!...maybe one of those slides will put me in labor! heehee! JUST KIDDING..y'all know I WON'T have this baby early on my own!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

ok so here's the room!

I finally took some pictures for Emma and Eli's room! I must admit, as I looked at the pictures, I am still frustrated at how crowded the room looks!...it is better in person, but it will always be tight! Here goes...

this is as you walk in, Emma's bed is in front of the door...her shelves facing you




Next this is the wall beside the door, the pictures I took in Hawaii and the top one was the theme of Emma's baby room....I already had the prints and frames, all I did was paint the frames purple and red....the flower hooks were a steal I found at hobby lobby and then I painted the one purple...Emma wanted to leave one pink:) The closet door has to be fixed AGAIN! It has been giving us trouble for a while, Alex has put it up about 4 times and now it's in the garage until he get a new track put up...I'm hoping next weekend! :) SO normally there is a sliding door there and it looks junky w/o it, I am still struggling w/ the closet and what to do, I don't want to spend anymore money in their room...SO it might just stay as it is...we'll see






Next are pictures of Emma's side...There is the top of her bed, and her bedset...she has a purple shelf which holds everything important!...lol...her trophy, her cinderella, lipgloss...which she uses every night before bed, her water cup..also every night! and a portable dvd player..our dvd player is acting up and won't play any princess movies..go figure! SO we put the portable dvd in her room and she watches them in there...it nice for quiet time! There is a picture of her at 6 weeks over her bed w/ her name (that is crooked b/c she plays w/ them!lol) Under her bed, is her desk, and her "living room"...she was originally calling it "club Emma" thanks to Madison!lol, but I have her convinced to call it her living room since it has her princess couch under there!lol!...she doesn't even know what a CLUB is!...she LOVES being under there in her space!







ok so there are 2 of the same picture, I'm not going to try and figure out how to delete one of them for fear of messing up the rest!...sorry! :)

Next is Eli's side...he too has a frame for his baby picture, which for now has a u/s pic in it....well, it looked funny w/ nothing in there! and his name...pain, hated those letters...getting them painted and hung was probably the most difficult thing I did in the whole room!lol! He crib was Emma's then Ian's..it's been a good crib! I did add the red pegs to the end, which I picked/u for fifty cents at Michaels...(Emma has one behind the door) Now about the changing table...well, I am planning ahead, Ian has toolboxes in his room for his drawers, so I wanted to go ahead and get Eli's matching and the toolbox was on clearance SO...hence the toolbox changing table and the reason I used red on his side! the basket on the floor will hold diapers...probably the cloth ones and the basket on the wall is for those odd and ends like lotion, and diaper cream and passies and passy holders and you know "stuff" the bouncy seat is driving me crazy there, but for now, that's it's home (note that the bouncy seat matches Emma's babydoll pack in play and swing...she is very proud of that!) I found the baskets under the crib and the one on the wall and the one for the diapers at Michael's at 50% off of course!...I really like them, and they work much better than the original plan of wooden crates and didn't cost me anymore! Last is the "crush" picture on his wall...yes I meant to put it that high so he won't grab at it as he get's bigger! :) Again, Michael's had the print at 40% off it was around $6.00 and I had the frame, which I painted! I am happy w/ his side of the room, now I just need him to come out and see it! :)








so you can't see the "crush" picture...but it's a cute print from Nemo w/ crush, squirt, marlin and dory...fit's the room perfect!

As far as how much I spent...well, lot's of spray paint!...naw not really. Let's see..we painted, so $20 there, I did buy spray paint so total $15 there, Emma's chair was given to us and I painted it, so free! all the frames I had, just painted..again free, her mirror, already had..again, just painted...free again! Her bed was her birthday present...we got it at slumber kids (which apparently isn't there anymore, sorry Brandy for sending you there to look for Graham!) Alex took cash and did his thing, so we got it for $800 (retail $1100) All the baskets cost me $40..the most expenisive thing I bought! the 3 flower hooks were $6.00 from hobby lobby. and I got another set of plastic drawers at walmart for $15. Emma shelf was around $5.75 (hobbly lobby w/ a 40% off coupon) and then I brought the 2 sets of pegs and in the closet 2 wooden flower begs at Michaels for $.50 each...the flower pegs I left wood for now, they are great for holding bigger bags back on a slanted wall at the end of there closet!...so that's is..let's see, what's the total? Right around $103.75 not including the bed for Emma...which we were getting her b/f we knew we were even having a baby!...SO I am happy, and Alex is happy, I didn't break the bank!

Soon I want to blog about Ian's room, it still needs a little help to make it as cute as the "E"'s room! I took pictures of his room so y'all can help me figure out what I should do...but that's for another night!

Let me know what you think of the "Hawaii pool" room as Emma calls it!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

how many times can you clean the same kitchen in one day?...let's count together!lol

The first time was early this morning...after breakfast, I put our breakfast dishes and canning jars in the dishwasher first thing, I wiped everything down, especially the table as it was forgotten by Alex last night(not complaining, he did do the dishes and I am VERY grateful for that!)

The second time was after making applesauce part 1...which is the peeling and cooking part! It makes such a BIG mess. the apple peeler sprayer juice EVERYWHERE! and then the pots bubble on the stove really nicely making the stove a stickly mess!

The third time was after dinner...which first the dishwasher had to be unloaded and then reloaded, and everything wiped down...note I didn't forget the table!lol

Now for the forth time...cleaning up after canning, not to bad, just big pots...heavy pots...hot pots! and putting away the rest of the canning "stuff"

Of course I will still have lot's of jars on my counter tomorrow morning to put away, but there's not much I can do about that tonight.


SO I'm not sure if this is a new record for me or not, but I don't want to clean a kitchen again for a while, and it's a good thing mom took us out for lunch or I might of made it to 5 times today!lol! Oh and did I mention that I am 8 months pregnant and leaning over a sink all day isn't my idea of fun!...Shannon, I'm not doing so hot on that resting thing. I haven't set down all day except to eat and right now...all that's left is one more canner and then I'm done...well, except the whole other bushel of apples I still have to can...but that's for another day! :) LOL. It's a good thing homemade applesauce taste SO good!

a quick baby update

My doctors appointment went really well on Tuesday. I had gained a little weight, so they were happy about that. Everything w/ the baby looked great which I am so thankful for....so the plan is on my next appointment which is Sept 4th I'll be almost 37 weeks and I will have an ultrasound at 2 and see the dr at 2:30. At that point depending on what the u/s shows 1 of 3 things will happen. 1. everything will look great...I keep wait on Eli's appearance!...which is the option I am rooting for! :) 2. the fluids are decreasing(but not considered low) and they will put me to bed for about a week or so...won't be fun at all... this will be SO hard on the kids! 3. the fluids are low or near low and I'll have a baby that day. So as you see, I know what could happen, but won't know what will happen until then! The dr is confidant that everything will look fine for the 1st u/s, he seems to think it will be between 38 and 39 weeks that the change will take place....but he is quick to say, it's just a guess, an educated one, but still a guess. Medically there is no reason my fluid should be low...I have had the perfect pregnancy, but my history says otherwise....there was no reason my fluid should of been low w/ Emma or Ian either...so there is a chance it won't happen again! Some days I think it would be nice to have this baby here in 2 weeks, but I am a little worried about being induced at that point and my body not being ready to deliver. As the dr said, it's not likely that I'll go into labor before my due date on my own, I don't seem to have baby's early, so most likely I am looking at an induction at some point, the question is WHEN? Well, any way it works out, baby Eli should be making his appearance in the next 36 days!...I'll keep you posted!

Monday, August 18, 2008

thank you to everyone!

for all the comments on diapering...even those of you who hadn't a clue how to help me out!...lol! The comments were wonderful! Patti, I found your comment very interesting..I may ask more questions about that later, but we have now decided to cloth diaper. I must admit, every time I have been on the computer lately it has been to check out something new w/ cloth diapering or ask another question of Brandy...who has been my life line w/ this learning process...in fact she wrote 2 blogs just for me so I could learn all about CDing along w/ answering lot's of questions via phone and email both....THANK YOU BRANDY FOR ALL THE HELP...AND PATIENCE! I am now excited about this adventure...and hopefully my washer will forgive me too! The only hold up on my order of diapers is that the website I want to order from is out of the diapers I need!lol...it's that how it always seems to be!lol! We haven't told all the family what we are planning, so that should prove to be interesting...heehee, they are going to think I lost my mind I am sure! BUT, I am not going to make them do it unless they want to...we will still be keeping a small supply of disposables on hand for church and family! We will be cloth diapering here at home and possibly when I am out running around, but even that will be a time will tell!

As for everything else going on around here...the Eli and Emma's room is finished...if I would just hang that last picture I just bought!lol. I promise to post pictures soon, I am very pleased w/ the results, it is really cute and not to boy or girl, but just right for both of them! Emma loves it, her side is very "grown up" she calls the under part of her bed her "living room" complete w/ her princess couch. She has a desk complete w/ a purple chair. Needless to say, she is in heaven w/ her bed and her space and doesn't seem to mind at all that a baby is coming to take up half...let all pray it stays that way!

I have officially finish shopping for everything I need for the baby (other than the diapers....but I do have some disposables to start off w/ if necessary!) W/ not having a baby shower before the baby comes I had a few things to collect...you know new washcloths, a few burp clothes, nursing pads and some passies!...not much, but I already did it...Susan laughed at me say I must think this baby is coming early...which is actually a big possibility this time, but if I am thinking that, it's all sub-consciously. lol.

I have a dr.s appointment tomorrow(week 34 and 2 days!lol) the last one b/f they start the weekly ultrasounds. I am interested to see what he thinks tomorrow and to see if I have gained any weight. 2 weeks ago I had lost 2 lbs, most would think that's wonderful, but not me, loosing weight "could" mean my fluid levels are starting to drop...but it also could just be that I lost some weight...if I loose more they will be concerned, but they weren't at the last appointment. There is still such a part of me that wishes I could have a planned induction where I could pick the dr I want and know when it's going to happen, but they told me a month ago that it could be anytime from 36 to 40 weeks...but most likely before my due date....that translates into Eli "could" make his appearance in 2 weeks.....that thought scares me...I would like about 3 to 4 more weeks :)...but I am going w/ God knows best, and HE make dr's smart! If I had my way, I would think....37 weeks is a great time to give birth...end it early yet not to early!lol! but we all know how it goes for me...so if I give birth before my due date I will have accomplished something!lol!...I almost don't want to think about it b/c my mind always reminds me that I ALWAYS go to ATLEAST 41 weeks..lol...only times will tell I guess!

Ok so I am off...the bathroom call..or I guess it's more that the bladder is full AGAIN!
Pictures of the finished room to come SOON!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

has anyone ever....

used cloth diapers? Alex and I are considering trying them out on Eli...but I know NOTHING about cloth diapers...so I have been looking and now I am SO confused! Can anyone help me out? I need all advice I can get...I am looking for a good kind, prefold or not, I am looking for how it goes....loved it, hated it, constant rashes....I am also looking for where to buy them...so far, I don't know anywhere local that has them. Also I need to know what I need to go w/ them...covers, inserts, what's necessary? HELP, can you tell I am stepping into water I know NOTHING about! If you have ever used cloth diapers I am desperate for your thoughts! PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME OUT!

Also, I am curious as to why you chose to use them...so tell me your story and your thoughts!...I am excited to see what you think!