We got our complimentary gallon of paint from the builder and picked a rich rust-red for the dining room. And finished painting the nursery. :)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Day off
Yesterday Jeff took off work and we toured Gwinnett Hospital and puttered around the house. The tour lady was awesome and gave us an honest, clear picture of how the hospital works and what to expect. The main thing we brought away from the tour was "be assertive." You can have the birth experience you want, but you have to keep reminding your caretakers exactly what you want or don't want.
We got our complimentary gallon of paint from the builder and picked a rich rust-red for the dining room. And finished painting the nursery. :)
We got our complimentary gallon of paint from the builder and picked a rich rust-red for the dining room. And finished painting the nursery. :)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Three more months!
It's hard to believe. It's kind of crept up on me. I've been thinking pregnancy is the "new normal" but it's starting to dawn on me that this baby will be COMING OUT one of these days. (Hopefully not too soon!)
I've decided to change care from my current OB. It's a large clinic that was recommended to me by others I know, but I think they now have more patients than they can give attention to...the waiting room is always full. I hardly know any of my 5 OBs, and each time I go I meet another nurse. I just need more personal attention and need to feel less like a number instead of a person. Because I'm healthy, have no complications, and am not the pushy type, I think I'm just getting rushed through the system.
I think I will stay with the hospital I'm with (Gwinnett Hospital). Rooms are homelike, there's a jacuzzi in each room, and they say they are open to working with your individual birth plan. I take the maternity ward tour tomorrow, so that should give me a better idea.
I've also decided to hire a duola (labor companion). If I'm going to make it with a natural birth I'll need someone besides Jeff to be there with me. My mom willl most likely not be able to be there until after the birth (it would have to work out perfectly so that Aunt Mattie could fly down to care for Grandma). I found a wonderful duola service and they are going to allow me to phone interview a couple of them to decide who I click with. That is a huge weight off my mind, knowing I'll have a knowledgable and caring person there who will support me in my decisions.
So anyways... :) here is my latest belly shot, at 28 weeks. As I write this Benjamin's little hands are tickling my ribs!
I've decided to change care from my current OB. It's a large clinic that was recommended to me by others I know, but I think they now have more patients than they can give attention to...the waiting room is always full. I hardly know any of my 5 OBs, and each time I go I meet another nurse. I just need more personal attention and need to feel less like a number instead of a person. Because I'm healthy, have no complications, and am not the pushy type, I think I'm just getting rushed through the system.
I think I will stay with the hospital I'm with (Gwinnett Hospital). Rooms are homelike, there's a jacuzzi in each room, and they say they are open to working with your individual birth plan. I take the maternity ward tour tomorrow, so that should give me a better idea.
I've also decided to hire a duola (labor companion). If I'm going to make it with a natural birth I'll need someone besides Jeff to be there with me. My mom willl most likely not be able to be there until after the birth (it would have to work out perfectly so that Aunt Mattie could fly down to care for Grandma). I found a wonderful duola service and they are going to allow me to phone interview a couple of them to decide who I click with. That is a huge weight off my mind, knowing I'll have a knowledgable and caring person there who will support me in my decisions.
So anyways... :) here is my latest belly shot, at 28 weeks. As I write this Benjamin's little hands are tickling my ribs!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Settling In
With a lighter teaching schedule, I have had a little more time to get things straight. Last weekend was the second wkend we had since moving to actually devote our attention to "house stuff..." Of course, I'm home a lot more than Jeff, but I need him to move things & hang hardware. We're taking it one room at a time, but we got a lot done last weekend. Pictures below!!
Loft/study, where Jeff will spend a lot of his time working or reading. We're still waiting on his desk legs that are on backorder. I made the curtains...don't look too close. :) I want to add decorative fringe to the top part of the curtain that hangs over.
Guest room. We got this put together pretty early on. Jeff was busy so I did it all myself. Even used the power drill to put up the curtain hangers (which are a little off center...oops). That mirror was heavy!
Guest bathroom & simple curtains I made. They didn't make blinds that size.
Living room. The couches, chair you saw in the loft, and coffee tables were Craig's List finds. We got the whole set for a great price, but the couches smell like curry! It's slowly fading with the help of daily doses of green tea spray. I haven't made curtains yet b/c can't decide on the color I want to go with.
Music room. It has no furniture except a shelf and the piano, but I got the idea of hanging the instruments on the wall. I'm looking for an antique-ish chair to put in there. These curtains were my first attempt. I like the loft curtains better, but this blood-red color is just amazing, and added some much-needed punch to the room.
Music room curtains.
We painted the first coat on the nursery last weekend. I love it when the sun hits the room. :) I have a few ideas...the letters of his name painted with baby chicks, light blue curtains, yellow and blue rug, plus the baby furniture. Not too sure yet, but I'll figure it out as we go!
Loft/study, where Jeff will spend a lot of his time working or reading. We're still waiting on his desk legs that are on backorder. I made the curtains...don't look too close. :) I want to add decorative fringe to the top part of the curtain that hangs over.
Guest room. We got this put together pretty early on. Jeff was busy so I did it all myself. Even used the power drill to put up the curtain hangers (which are a little off center...oops). That mirror was heavy!
Guest bathroom & simple curtains I made. They didn't make blinds that size.
Living room. The couches, chair you saw in the loft, and coffee tables were Craig's List finds. We got the whole set for a great price, but the couches smell like curry! It's slowly fading with the help of daily doses of green tea spray. I haven't made curtains yet b/c can't decide on the color I want to go with.
Music room. It has no furniture except a shelf and the piano, but I got the idea of hanging the instruments on the wall. I'm looking for an antique-ish chair to put in there. These curtains were my first attempt. I like the loft curtains better, but this blood-red color is just amazing, and added some much-needed punch to the room.
Music room curtains.
We painted the first coat on the nursery last weekend. I love it when the sun hits the room. :) I have a few ideas...the letters of his name painted with baby chicks, light blue curtains, yellow and blue rug, plus the baby furniture. Not too sure yet, but I'll figure it out as we go!
Monday, June 04, 2007
A new nephew
There are more details and pictures on Laura's blog, but I thought I'd do a quick post to say how thankful and excited we all are about the newest addition to the family...Jonathan Laurance! He came 5 weeks earlier than his projected due date, but he's a healthy 6 lbs. 11 oz. and doing fine.
I had a long talk with my mom about the events of the weekend. She and Kimberly went to the mall for some mom-daughter time, and all the walking must have triggered the labor. They came back, both took a nap, and when Kimberly woke up she found her water had broken. She and Laurance had to go to the hospital in Manning to have the baby, since legally her midwife couldn't deliver (the baby was too early). Later that night when Mom got a call from Laurance, she told Dad, "We've got to go to the hospital and be there for them...we can't let them have this baby there all by themselves!" Dad was tired after a full day and at first didn't think they'd be of any use, but he is now so glad he went....and even rated it as one of the best experiences of his life. Mom & Dad waited outside (Mom was so worried for Kimberly, as she could hear her crying and screaming...it came so fast it probably seemed overwhelming). They were fully expecting to be at the hospital all night, but near midnight the nurse came out to say "you can come see your grandson now!" Mom said he was very red, and still covered with "cheesy stuff" but crying his little lungs out (no lung development problems!)
Kimberly wanted to head back home as soon as possible, but Jonathan needed to be monitored and treated for jaundice. Mom said they put him under a heat lamp and had to leave him unswaddled for the rays to be absorbed into his skin. He didn't like feeling like there was nothing around him, and thrashed around most of the night. He had to wear protective goggles to shield his eyes, and he kept knocking those off. Kimberly stayed up most of the night putting them into place and trying to quiet him. (How cute and pitiful is that...tiny newborn goggles...poor little guy!)
I'm so glad Laura & Will were there to offer their support! Kimberly's mom will be coming down as soon as she can get their plane tickets changed. I hope L&K get a crib for this little one soon.... :) I'm very glad they got their glider and...I'm sure...tons of other nice stuff at the shower. :)
God is so good! I can't wait to see my little nephew!
I had a long talk with my mom about the events of the weekend. She and Kimberly went to the mall for some mom-daughter time, and all the walking must have triggered the labor. They came back, both took a nap, and when Kimberly woke up she found her water had broken. She and Laurance had to go to the hospital in Manning to have the baby, since legally her midwife couldn't deliver (the baby was too early). Later that night when Mom got a call from Laurance, she told Dad, "We've got to go to the hospital and be there for them...we can't let them have this baby there all by themselves!" Dad was tired after a full day and at first didn't think they'd be of any use, but he is now so glad he went....and even rated it as one of the best experiences of his life. Mom & Dad waited outside (Mom was so worried for Kimberly, as she could hear her crying and screaming...it came so fast it probably seemed overwhelming). They were fully expecting to be at the hospital all night, but near midnight the nurse came out to say "you can come see your grandson now!" Mom said he was very red, and still covered with "cheesy stuff" but crying his little lungs out (no lung development problems!)
Kimberly wanted to head back home as soon as possible, but Jonathan needed to be monitored and treated for jaundice. Mom said they put him under a heat lamp and had to leave him unswaddled for the rays to be absorbed into his skin. He didn't like feeling like there was nothing around him, and thrashed around most of the night. He had to wear protective goggles to shield his eyes, and he kept knocking those off. Kimberly stayed up most of the night putting them into place and trying to quiet him. (How cute and pitiful is that...tiny newborn goggles...poor little guy!)
I'm so glad Laura & Will were there to offer their support! Kimberly's mom will be coming down as soon as she can get their plane tickets changed. I hope L&K get a crib for this little one soon.... :) I'm very glad they got their glider and...I'm sure...tons of other nice stuff at the shower. :)
God is so good! I can't wait to see my little nephew!
Is there a "Major Life Change Fairy" in our family??
It's just too bizarre. I have to believe there's something in the genes, which has waited until now to emerge, affecting spouses and cousins of our family. I do have a theory. I believe one of the homemade bombs my brothers made as teenagers caused a fluke in the genes (this also affected cousin Jim). It all started with that harmless little pipe bomb, forever setting in motion a chain of events that has just now, 15 years later, begun to disrupt all of our lives.
Don't tell me it's coincidence. I place the blame firmly on the Brothers and Cousin and their insane experiments.
Here are the events as I see them. They began almost exactly a year ago, to date.
#1. Charles, through a strange series of events, moves overseas to Guam with a 3-year teaching contract. Being younger and more susceptible, he was affected earliest.
#2. Emily and Jeff, homebodies and longtime residents of Greenville, get an urge to pick up and move to Atlanta. (Apparently those in any proximity were affected by this biological timebomb. I happened to be inside playing Chopin, yet we were some of the first targets.)
#3. Abbie discovers she is pregnant. This owing of course to the fact that Jim put the actual bomb together.
#4. Just weeks later, Kimberly is pregnant. It was Laurance that fired the fuse, and his proximity caused this major life change.
#5. Even in Thailand there is no escape. It's encapsulated in the genes. Erin is pregnant with TWINS.
#6. Emily is hit again with a second, more serious symptom. It's not a bladder infection, it's a BABY.
#7. Elizabeth and Kris, long content at their beautiful beach home, accept a job opening for her in Florence. In a whirlwind of events, they uproot and move.
#8. Willie and Laura do not escape. A better job offer in Florence has them even now preparing to sell their house, drop everything and move. (Somehow Will, Elizabeth, and Jim were affected magnetically. The magnetic field recently became stronger, causing them to converge together near Florence. Of course, their spouses were affected as well.)
#9. There is apparently a second magnetic field, affecting the birthdate of two babies (though this is unconfirmed...more details to come later!!)
We still do not know if these events are converging ONCE in a lifetime or if they will happen again. In any case, be forewarned that if one major life change begins with one of the family, prepare yourself for anything. It could be your spouse will announce a career change to NASA astronaut. Perhaps you will find yourself moving to Siberia. Or you may find you are expecting quintuplets. Forewarned is forearmed!
Don't tell me it's coincidence. I place the blame firmly on the Brothers and Cousin and their insane experiments.
Here are the events as I see them. They began almost exactly a year ago, to date.
#1. Charles, through a strange series of events, moves overseas to Guam with a 3-year teaching contract. Being younger and more susceptible, he was affected earliest.
#2. Emily and Jeff, homebodies and longtime residents of Greenville, get an urge to pick up and move to Atlanta. (Apparently those in any proximity were affected by this biological timebomb. I happened to be inside playing Chopin, yet we were some of the first targets.)
#3. Abbie discovers she is pregnant. This owing of course to the fact that Jim put the actual bomb together.
#4. Just weeks later, Kimberly is pregnant. It was Laurance that fired the fuse, and his proximity caused this major life change.
#5. Even in Thailand there is no escape. It's encapsulated in the genes. Erin is pregnant with TWINS.
#6. Emily is hit again with a second, more serious symptom. It's not a bladder infection, it's a BABY.
#7. Elizabeth and Kris, long content at their beautiful beach home, accept a job opening for her in Florence. In a whirlwind of events, they uproot and move.
#8. Willie and Laura do not escape. A better job offer in Florence has them even now preparing to sell their house, drop everything and move. (Somehow Will, Elizabeth, and Jim were affected magnetically. The magnetic field recently became stronger, causing them to converge together near Florence. Of course, their spouses were affected as well.)
#9. There is apparently a second magnetic field, affecting the birthdate of two babies (though this is unconfirmed...more details to come later!!)
We still do not know if these events are converging ONCE in a lifetime or if they will happen again. In any case, be forewarned that if one major life change begins with one of the family, prepare yourself for anything. It could be your spouse will announce a career change to NASA astronaut. Perhaps you will find yourself moving to Siberia. Or you may find you are expecting quintuplets. Forewarned is forearmed!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Internet woes
Sorry I haven't been posting...our internet connection is messed up. It turns on once a day at an unpredictable time and dumps email into my box, but I can never seem to catch it when it's on...until right now. :)
I had another prenatal appointment yesterday and things seem to be fine. The little guy kicks a lot! Yesterday he ws so active...I don't know when he sleeps (hopefully when I do!) As far as reading, I'm halfway through "Thinking Woman's Guide" and getting a lot of good information. Information overload, in fact. I'll need time to process everything.
Jeff's mom and grandmom are coming this weekend, so it will be nice to see them.
Hopefully this internet problem will be resolved soon! I miss chatting with y'all.
I had another prenatal appointment yesterday and things seem to be fine. The little guy kicks a lot! Yesterday he ws so active...I don't know when he sleeps (hopefully when I do!) As far as reading, I'm halfway through "Thinking Woman's Guide" and getting a lot of good information. Information overload, in fact. I'll need time to process everything.
Jeff's mom and grandmom are coming this weekend, so it will be nice to see them.
Hopefully this internet problem will be resolved soon! I miss chatting with y'all.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Busy week
There is a lot going on this week, and wouldn't you know it, I came down with a nasty cold of the cough cough hack hack green phlegm variety. (TMI? Sorry!) I spent yesterday in bed instead of at church, and today I cancelled a couple of lessons. Also had to cancel on the dress rehearsal for the volunteer choir I'm involved in. It's a 2-and-a-half hour rehearsal, with an hour-and-a-half drive there, and since I can only sing Tenor, I figured my time tonight was better spent drowning myself in fluids and catching some Zzzz's in between coughs and potty breaks...
On a more perky note, some fun things have happened lately. :) Last week we received our first baby gift. It was a blue bib that says "Millionaire in Training!" I love it...soft and fuzzy and plenty big to contain messes! While we don't want to install a materialistic, get-as-rich-as-you-can mentality in our kid, we do want him to learn how to handle money, how to save and invest, and all the great stuff we've begun to learn from Dave Ramsey.
Speaking of money, while convalescing yesterday, I read a book by Ellie Kay called "1/2 Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income." (I'm not planning to leave off teaching, but neither are we really living on what you'd call a "two-salary income." My teaching is a pleasant outlet for me and generates a little extra income which we put right in savings, so this book is a good fit for us too.) There's a great "working mom worksheet" which allows you to crunch numbers and see how much you're REALLY making as a working mom. There's also a good chapter on cutting grocery costs, along with a handy chart for what you "should" be spending for a 1) thrifty, 2) low-cost, 3) moderate cost, or 3) liberal grocery budget. I love seeing real numbers so this was helpful for me. If you're curious I'll send you the figures! And, if you're a SAHM and looking for a cottage-industry type thing to earn a little spending cash, read chapter 10, which lists some ideas to get you started. A good read overall though I wished she had fleshed out some ideas a little more. (It's a short book, 168 pages, large print).
Hmm....somehow I got sidetracked to a book review. :) Other fun stuff...I bought some lovely, red silk material for my music room curtains, Jeff bought a curtain rod for the same. Also found a weird shade of gray green that actually matched the guest room comforter. I'll cover a pillow with it and try to get some color into that room.
I wish I could do more right now. I have a million little unstarted projects in mind. However, after dropping the vaccuum cleaner down the stairs yesterday (in a moment of "sure I feel fine, I can do it" delirium), I am not allowed to attempt anything besides staying safely in bed...my reflexes are nonexistent and energy is very low....and now there's a hole the size of my fist in the lower part of the wall...thankfully Fixit Man Jeffrey says it's repairable... :D
Another good thing that's gotten done (by Jeff, not me) was digging up the beds & enriching the soil on two sides of the house. I planted zinnia seeds early last week, and they're already sticking their perky little heads up! By the end of the month, we should have flowers. Jeff bought a tomato plant and put that in yesterday. Also the potted rosemary and oregano plants can now grow freely in the ground.
And...Friday, when I was sniffly but still mobile, we went to Ikea to get the adjustable desk Jeff's been wanting. His legs honestly do not fit under normal desks, and this one is on an adjustable sawhorse. We got that as well as a huge bookcase for an amazing Ikea price. He assembled that and it's ready to receive a PORTION at least of his plethora of books. :)
The nursery is still completely bare except for a yellow, sealed trash can I got for dealing with stinky diapers. :) We have the paint color picked out, and are just waiting until next month & the funds & time to get it done.
The place looks more homey already with pictures on the walls. We're working on acquiring a living room couch. Jeff is selling a lot of his beautiful, leather-bound Easton Press books to help with that expense. He figured he'd rather have something for guests to sit on than a beautiful library of books that he could read in paperback if he really wanted to... Thankfully he's keeping a few of both our favorites. They do look great on a shelf!
Well...it's back to bed for this chickie...those of you in transition are in my thoughts & prayers! Take care all.
On a more perky note, some fun things have happened lately. :) Last week we received our first baby gift. It was a blue bib that says "Millionaire in Training!" I love it...soft and fuzzy and plenty big to contain messes! While we don't want to install a materialistic, get-as-rich-as-you-can mentality in our kid, we do want him to learn how to handle money, how to save and invest, and all the great stuff we've begun to learn from Dave Ramsey.
Speaking of money, while convalescing yesterday, I read a book by Ellie Kay called "1/2 Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income." (I'm not planning to leave off teaching, but neither are we really living on what you'd call a "two-salary income." My teaching is a pleasant outlet for me and generates a little extra income which we put right in savings, so this book is a good fit for us too.) There's a great "working mom worksheet" which allows you to crunch numbers and see how much you're REALLY making as a working mom. There's also a good chapter on cutting grocery costs, along with a handy chart for what you "should" be spending for a 1) thrifty, 2) low-cost, 3) moderate cost, or 3) liberal grocery budget. I love seeing real numbers so this was helpful for me. If you're curious I'll send you the figures! And, if you're a SAHM and looking for a cottage-industry type thing to earn a little spending cash, read chapter 10, which lists some ideas to get you started. A good read overall though I wished she had fleshed out some ideas a little more. (It's a short book, 168 pages, large print).
Hmm....somehow I got sidetracked to a book review. :) Other fun stuff...I bought some lovely, red silk material for my music room curtains, Jeff bought a curtain rod for the same. Also found a weird shade of gray green that actually matched the guest room comforter. I'll cover a pillow with it and try to get some color into that room.
I wish I could do more right now. I have a million little unstarted projects in mind. However, after dropping the vaccuum cleaner down the stairs yesterday (in a moment of "sure I feel fine, I can do it" delirium), I am not allowed to attempt anything besides staying safely in bed...my reflexes are nonexistent and energy is very low....and now there's a hole the size of my fist in the lower part of the wall...thankfully Fixit Man Jeffrey says it's repairable... :D
Another good thing that's gotten done (by Jeff, not me) was digging up the beds & enriching the soil on two sides of the house. I planted zinnia seeds early last week, and they're already sticking their perky little heads up! By the end of the month, we should have flowers. Jeff bought a tomato plant and put that in yesterday. Also the potted rosemary and oregano plants can now grow freely in the ground.
And...Friday, when I was sniffly but still mobile, we went to Ikea to get the adjustable desk Jeff's been wanting. His legs honestly do not fit under normal desks, and this one is on an adjustable sawhorse. We got that as well as a huge bookcase for an amazing Ikea price. He assembled that and it's ready to receive a PORTION at least of his plethora of books. :)
The nursery is still completely bare except for a yellow, sealed trash can I got for dealing with stinky diapers. :) We have the paint color picked out, and are just waiting until next month & the funds & time to get it done.
The place looks more homey already with pictures on the walls. We're working on acquiring a living room couch. Jeff is selling a lot of his beautiful, leather-bound Easton Press books to help with that expense. He figured he'd rather have something for guests to sit on than a beautiful library of books that he could read in paperback if he really wanted to... Thankfully he's keeping a few of both our favorites. They do look great on a shelf!
Well...it's back to bed for this chickie...those of you in transition are in my thoughts & prayers! Take care all.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
It's a Boy!
Most of you got my email (sorry Letisha, I didn't have yours!) but I thought I'd post it officially! Apparently our guy was being pretty shy...all he would show the technician was the top of his head! She said it was like he knew she was trying to look at him and was hiding from her. But finally she got a good look and it's certain...he's a boy! The measurements were all within average and he's developing normally. I've been feeling him kick a lot more lately.
And yes, closing went fine and we're all moved in!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! We slept here the night after closing on an air mattress and brought over our immediate living stuff. Then Saturday we got some guys from church to help us move. It was Men's Retreat weekend, so we were very thankful there were a few "slackers" who didn't go! :) The piano was the worst to move, with Jeff on one end and two guys on the other. It's amazing they got it done and it's in one piece!
I puttered around a little helping with small items. It was actually really nice to be pregnant and not have to do a lot, hee hee. :) I'm very thankful for Jeff and his ability to carry large objects and hook them up (washer, dryer, internet and computer)! We're fully functioning and did a mountain of laundry yesterday, along with stacking the dishwasher full of packed-away dishes...
Oh, and also got my new Bug on Thursday. :) The stick is a little tricky to drive but it's great having my own wheels. :) (Okay, my cheeks are getting tired from all the smiley faces)
I knew all this would happen in time, but it seems unreal now that it has. I feel incredibly blessed. Jeff has a hard time going to work every morning because we both want to putter around and settle our "nest." It will happen in time. :) Meanwhile we have visits from friends and family to look forward to. Love you guys and thanks for your prayers and support!
And yes, closing went fine and we're all moved in!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! We slept here the night after closing on an air mattress and brought over our immediate living stuff. Then Saturday we got some guys from church to help us move. It was Men's Retreat weekend, so we were very thankful there were a few "slackers" who didn't go! :) The piano was the worst to move, with Jeff on one end and two guys on the other. It's amazing they got it done and it's in one piece!
I puttered around a little helping with small items. It was actually really nice to be pregnant and not have to do a lot, hee hee. :) I'm very thankful for Jeff and his ability to carry large objects and hook them up (washer, dryer, internet and computer)! We're fully functioning and did a mountain of laundry yesterday, along with stacking the dishwasher full of packed-away dishes...
Oh, and also got my new Bug on Thursday. :) The stick is a little tricky to drive but it's great having my own wheels. :) (Okay, my cheeks are getting tired from all the smiley faces)
I knew all this would happen in time, but it seems unreal now that it has. I feel incredibly blessed. Jeff has a hard time going to work every morning because we both want to putter around and settle our "nest." It will happen in time. :) Meanwhile we have visits from friends and family to look forward to. Love you guys and thanks for your prayers and support!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Closing snafu stuff
Okay, the appliances are in, minor fix-ups are being done, and we're ready to move in...except the check hasn't cleared which we transferred from another account for the downpayment. It's been a week. They're just incredibly sloooow. I hope it will show up by closing Wednesday...another chance for us to trust, I guess.
Also the Bug won't be available until Thursday. :( Until then I'll be heading out early with Jeff so he can drop me off and I can get a lot of extra practicing in...hey, this way my guitar skills should improve superfast. :)
I'll be very thankful when everything's done!
Also the Bug won't be available until Thursday. :( Until then I'll be heading out early with Jeff so he can drop me off and I can get a lot of extra practicing in...hey, this way my guitar skills should improve superfast. :)
I'll be very thankful when everything's done!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
House walk-through!
Today (Tuesday) we did our walk-through of the house! It's beautiful! :D Final walk-through will be the morning of closing. The beautiful wood floors were unveiled (actually they're laminate, we found out today--cudda fooled us)-they had taken up the protective brown paper. It's a lot of Swiffering, but when I'm done, I'll know it's clean!!
We went through each room with the builder and looked for imperfections or things that weren't what we expected. The company is great and will not hesitate to change anything we like. A couple of special things we'd asked for weren't there, b/c they changed builders mid-build and some things got lost in the cracks, but they assured us everything could be fixed by closing date (Wednesday a week from now). We were impressed how many things they caught that we didn't...everything from little dents in the wall or drywall imperfections.
The appliances aren't in yet, and they haven't done their final spic-and-span cleaning, but we got a very good idea of how it would look.
I never did get those curtains done and it looks like I won't, so we'll make do with a few mini-blinds in places until then. Wednesday, while I'm teaching, Jeff will move our current living stuff out there, and we're planning to sleep on an inflatable mattress until we can do our actual move on that Saturday. Can't wait!! We're going to be too excited to sleep! :)
Just eight more days...it should go fast! And, good news on our VW Bug that has been "coming" for the last month...it's in and can be available probably by this Monday. :)
Happy, happy. :)
We went through each room with the builder and looked for imperfections or things that weren't what we expected. The company is great and will not hesitate to change anything we like. A couple of special things we'd asked for weren't there, b/c they changed builders mid-build and some things got lost in the cracks, but they assured us everything could be fixed by closing date (Wednesday a week from now). We were impressed how many things they caught that we didn't...everything from little dents in the wall or drywall imperfections.
The appliances aren't in yet, and they haven't done their final spic-and-span cleaning, but we got a very good idea of how it would look.
I never did get those curtains done and it looks like I won't, so we'll make do with a few mini-blinds in places until then. Wednesday, while I'm teaching, Jeff will move our current living stuff out there, and we're planning to sleep on an inflatable mattress until we can do our actual move on that Saturday. Can't wait!! We're going to be too excited to sleep! :)
Just eight more days...it should go fast! And, good news on our VW Bug that has been "coming" for the last month...it's in and can be available probably by this Monday. :)
Happy, happy. :)
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Silly Survey from Letisha!
Letisha, I filched your survey for lack of anything else to write about. If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!
Favorite magazine? Better Homes & Gardens
What is your favorite tv show? HG TV? I don't watch a lot
What's on your mouse pad? It's weird but I don't have one.
Favorite smell? tea olive blossoms, or maybe wisteria
Worst feeling in the world: oh no, I forgot about that make-up lesson....!
Things I do on the weekends: hiking, errands, sleep in
Favorite Soundtrack: Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version)
What is the first thing that you thought of when you woke up this morning? I have to pee
Do you get motion sickness? nope
Roller Coasters, Exciting or Deadly? Deadly, not fun
Pen or Pencil? Mechanical pencil
How many rings till you answer the phone? 4th or 5th. I hate phones!!
Favorite Foods? Subway turkey & provolone with banana peppers, vinegar and Italian spices
Do you get along with your parents? Yes
Have you ever been convicted of a Crime? no
Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate, with peanut butter!
Croutons or Bacon bits? Croutons
Do you like to drive? when I'm by myself...no backseat drivers!
Do you sleep with stuffed animals? no, but I sleep with a husband and sometimes a cat
If you could have any kind of pet, what would it be? a horse...which someone would groom and feed for me :)
What is your zodiac sign? don't really care
Do you eat the stems of your broccoli? yes
If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be? interior decorator? Though I like my job pretty well
If you could dye your hair any color, what would it be? same color but with a little more red
If you could have a tattoo, where would it be? somewhere hidden
Have you ever been in love? yes...am currently :)
What is on the walls in your room? a wreath, paint
Write the first thing that comes to your mind: the baby is kicking me...little tiny kicks
Is your glass half empty or half full? half empty...trying to work on that!
What is your favorite Snapple? Not sure I've ever had it
Are you righty, lefty or ambidextrous? Righty
Do you type with your fingers on the correct keys? yep
If you could be any gardening tool what would it be? a trowel
What is under your bed? a couple of framed pictures
What is your favorite number? 7
What is your favorite color? salmon
What was your first car? 1992 Mercury Sable (the Great White Whale)
What is your dream car? a blue Miata
Favorite sport to watch? horseracing? Maybe ice skating. The tour de France isn't bad
Favorite magazine? Better Homes & Gardens
What is your favorite tv show? HG TV? I don't watch a lot
What's on your mouse pad? It's weird but I don't have one.
Favorite smell? tea olive blossoms, or maybe wisteria
Worst feeling in the world: oh no, I forgot about that make-up lesson....!
Things I do on the weekends: hiking, errands, sleep in
Favorite Soundtrack: Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version)
What is the first thing that you thought of when you woke up this morning? I have to pee
Do you get motion sickness? nope
Roller Coasters, Exciting or Deadly? Deadly, not fun
Pen or Pencil? Mechanical pencil
How many rings till you answer the phone? 4th or 5th. I hate phones!!
Favorite Foods? Subway turkey & provolone with banana peppers, vinegar and Italian spices
Do you get along with your parents? Yes
Have you ever been convicted of a Crime? no
Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate, with peanut butter!
Croutons or Bacon bits? Croutons
Do you like to drive? when I'm by myself...no backseat drivers!
Do you sleep with stuffed animals? no, but I sleep with a husband and sometimes a cat
If you could have any kind of pet, what would it be? a horse...which someone would groom and feed for me :)
What is your zodiac sign? don't really care
Do you eat the stems of your broccoli? yes
If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be? interior decorator? Though I like my job pretty well
If you could dye your hair any color, what would it be? same color but with a little more red
If you could have a tattoo, where would it be? somewhere hidden
Have you ever been in love? yes...am currently :)
What is on the walls in your room? a wreath, paint
Write the first thing that comes to your mind: the baby is kicking me...little tiny kicks
Is your glass half empty or half full? half empty...trying to work on that!
What is your favorite Snapple? Not sure I've ever had it
Are you righty, lefty or ambidextrous? Righty
Do you type with your fingers on the correct keys? yep
If you could be any gardening tool what would it be? a trowel
What is under your bed? a couple of framed pictures
What is your favorite number? 7
What is your favorite color? salmon
What was your first car? 1992 Mercury Sable (the Great White Whale)
What is your dream car? a blue Miata
Favorite sport to watch? horseracing? Maybe ice skating. The tour de France isn't bad
Monday, March 26, 2007
Baby update
Things are going well, and in just 3 weeks we get to find out the gender. We'll see if my hunch is right that it's a boy, though talking to a friend the other day, she said the fast heartbeat may indicate a girl. (It was 160). Of course, no one knows for sure, but it would be a major shift in thought for me if it were a girl! But I'll be happy either way.
And I am 95% sure I can feel the baby moving! The other day while eating a Sonic Reeses' Blast (insane amount of crushed Reese's in there...it is almost criminal) I felt about 7-8 little "pops" in the same exact spot. It didn't really feel like tummy rumbles, because it was in the same spot and very quick, like a machine gun. I kept feeling that every time I took a few more bites. I told Jeff and his first thought was, "oh no...our baby's inherited my sweet tooth!"
This really is the feel-good trimester. Sometimes I even forget I'm pregnant. No cravings, no sickness. Jeff has to remind me not to carry groceries or other heavy things (I'm sure it's fine but he gets paranoid).
The time is starting to come that I'm glad I have a few things in my closet that 1) were once too big and 2) have elastic waists. I have 3 skirts left that fit that I can rotate for church and teaching. I bought some Tall Old Navy jeans on ebay, and got them in yesterday (Laura...they fit...my savings of $7 was worth it! :D ) I've still been wearing my regular jeans, though, but after getting my new ones, Jeff told me I need to stop wearing the others. He's afraid I'll give the baby a conehead and keeps reminding me to unbutton my jeans when I'm sitting in the car. I'm just glad there are tall pregnancy clothes out there. Talking with a tall friend, she said just two years ago when she was pregnant she could find nothing, even checking internationally on the web.
The house will be done two weeks early! We saw how fast they were progressing, and Jeff went to talk to the realtor to say he's fine with moving up the closing date if they finish early. April 18th was their conservative estimate so they might actually be done sooner. The carpet is in, lights, lots of other little details...Jeff and I made carpet angels in the loft and tested the soundproof-ness of the music room.
Pics
And a belly shot at 4 months.
And I am 95% sure I can feel the baby moving! The other day while eating a Sonic Reeses' Blast (insane amount of crushed Reese's in there...it is almost criminal) I felt about 7-8 little "pops" in the same exact spot. It didn't really feel like tummy rumbles, because it was in the same spot and very quick, like a machine gun. I kept feeling that every time I took a few more bites. I told Jeff and his first thought was, "oh no...our baby's inherited my sweet tooth!"
This really is the feel-good trimester. Sometimes I even forget I'm pregnant. No cravings, no sickness. Jeff has to remind me not to carry groceries or other heavy things (I'm sure it's fine but he gets paranoid).
The time is starting to come that I'm glad I have a few things in my closet that 1) were once too big and 2) have elastic waists. I have 3 skirts left that fit that I can rotate for church and teaching. I bought some Tall Old Navy jeans on ebay, and got them in yesterday (Laura...they fit...my savings of $7 was worth it! :D ) I've still been wearing my regular jeans, though, but after getting my new ones, Jeff told me I need to stop wearing the others. He's afraid I'll give the baby a conehead and keeps reminding me to unbutton my jeans when I'm sitting in the car. I'm just glad there are tall pregnancy clothes out there. Talking with a tall friend, she said just two years ago when she was pregnant she could find nothing, even checking internationally on the web.
The house will be done two weeks early! We saw how fast they were progressing, and Jeff went to talk to the realtor to say he's fine with moving up the closing date if they finish early. April 18th was their conservative estimate so they might actually be done sooner. The carpet is in, lights, lots of other little details...Jeff and I made carpet angels in the loft and tested the soundproof-ness of the music room.
Pics
And a belly shot at 4 months.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
A fun Saturday
It was sunny and clear, though pretty windy, so Jeff and I decided to spend the day outside. We couldn't resist going out to our house again (second time this week!) to see the progress. These men are machines! The wood flooring, all the plumbing, counter tops in kitchen and bathrooms, tile in master bath, linoleum--all this was done in two days!! I posted a few pictures below. The outside bricking is almost done.
After checking out the house, we explored yet another trail at Tribble Mill. This one led us to the old mill...we had fun exploring the stone foundations and the rusted old millwheel. Then we went poking around in Home Depot for rugs and paint chips. We found the perfect color for the nursery, Champagne Dance. It's very pale yellow and doesn't look green, even in flourescent light. I was also snagged by the seed display near the checkout line. Jeff let me buy a few seed packets so that my itchy fingers would stay away from the potted flowers. :) Every year I seem to have a specific "color lust"--last year it was blue flowers, this year it's lavenders and purples. I bought lavender and violet zinnias (the dumb gardener's flower...tough as leather and bloom within a month), some morning glories for around the mailbox, forget-me-nots for the shady spots in the back of the house, and "Convulvus"--big purple flowers that look like morning glories, with yellow centers. I keep looking them over, gloating over my treasures...Jeff just laughs at me!
God is so good to us, and I'm thankful for all the blessings we have done nothing to deserve. Even His beautiful world is a much larger blessing than we could ever ask for. Jeff and I spent the day thanking Him for His lovingkindness!
After checking out the house, we explored yet another trail at Tribble Mill. This one led us to the old mill...we had fun exploring the stone foundations and the rusted old millwheel. Then we went poking around in Home Depot for rugs and paint chips. We found the perfect color for the nursery, Champagne Dance. It's very pale yellow and doesn't look green, even in flourescent light. I was also snagged by the seed display near the checkout line. Jeff let me buy a few seed packets so that my itchy fingers would stay away from the potted flowers. :) Every year I seem to have a specific "color lust"--last year it was blue flowers, this year it's lavenders and purples. I bought lavender and violet zinnias (the dumb gardener's flower...tough as leather and bloom within a month), some morning glories for around the mailbox, forget-me-nots for the shady spots in the back of the house, and "Convulvus"--big purple flowers that look like morning glories, with yellow centers. I keep looking them over, gloating over my treasures...Jeff just laughs at me!
God is so good to us, and I'm thankful for all the blessings we have done nothing to deserve. Even His beautiful world is a much larger blessing than we could ever ask for. Jeff and I spent the day thanking Him for His lovingkindness!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Tagged
It took me awhile, but I always intended to answer this meme! Thanks, Laura. :)
1. What is your occupation? Music teacher--guitar and piano
2. What color are your socks right now? No socks! But when I am wearing them they rarely match. Sometimes I wear Jeff's.
3. What are you listening to right now? The washing machine going.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Raisin bran and grapefruit.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? yes, I was forced to learn when we bought a car with one :)
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? maybe a dark green. When I was a kid, my favorite was Burnt Sienna.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? One of my students' parents about cancelling a lesson
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Who, Supermom? You betcha!
9. How old are you today? 29 years and about 4 months.
10. Favorite drink: Just about anything hot. Cider, tea, coffee.
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? none?
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, I dyed it darker during grad school but it wasn't that noticeable. Didn't love it.
13. Pets? Yes; a very large cat, Frodo
14. Favorite food? Soup! Or anything salty like chips. Also I'm crazy about banana peppers! And I love Subway...
15. What was the last movie you watched? wow...it's been a while. Oh yeah, Jimmy Stewart in a Alfred Hitchcock movie...Rear Window...very good actually and I don't usually like suspense
16. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving! I like the food...
17. What do you do to vent anger? Huff and puff. Get quiet. Sometimes write out an angry letter (which I throw away). Of course, what should I be doing? Well, you asked what I DO...
18. What were your favorite toys as a kid? I really liked playing with my brother's G.I. Joes. :D Also Barbies. And I remember a favorite pocketknife. Just a touch of tomboy. :)
19. What is your favorite: I've always said fall, so I'll stick with that, though it's a toss-up between it and spring!
20. Hugs or kisses? hugs; Jeff gives the best
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry! I love cordial cherries and Nyquil (maybe it's the alcohol)
22. Do you want your friends to do this survey too? sure, if they want :)
23. Who is most likely to respond? Karanena? Maybe? Please? :)
24. Who is least likely to respond? Erin, because she is studying, keeping up with two kids, and has twins on the way.
25. Living arrangements? living with in-laws, moving at the end of April to a lovely house.
26. When was the last time you cried? It's been awhile since I bawled, but pregnancy has had me tearing up quite a bit in the last few months, over little things.
27. What is on the floor of your closet? Jeff's big shoes, my smaller shoes, and the collapsible laundry basket.
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? I've known Elizabeth all my life...she's been a great friend and cousin and is a wonderful, funny, strong person!
29. What did you do last night? made some lasagna, and while it was baking, Jeff and I went to look at fabric for curtains (he's such a sweetie)
30. Who is your role model? There are many! But I'll just say, my mom. I've grown to appreciate her more the older I get. Her patience and goodwill toward everyone is amazing. I remember being critical of her growing up, but now I see how her spirit shines through and how her training has helped me be kinder and more giving to others! Especially now as I'm about to be a mom myself, I'm beginning to understand a little more all she's done for me.
1. What is your occupation? Music teacher--guitar and piano
2. What color are your socks right now? No socks! But when I am wearing them they rarely match. Sometimes I wear Jeff's.
3. What are you listening to right now? The washing machine going.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Raisin bran and grapefruit.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? yes, I was forced to learn when we bought a car with one :)
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? maybe a dark green. When I was a kid, my favorite was Burnt Sienna.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? One of my students' parents about cancelling a lesson
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Who, Supermom? You betcha!
9. How old are you today? 29 years and about 4 months.
10. Favorite drink: Just about anything hot. Cider, tea, coffee.
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? none?
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, I dyed it darker during grad school but it wasn't that noticeable. Didn't love it.
13. Pets? Yes; a very large cat, Frodo
14. Favorite food? Soup! Or anything salty like chips. Also I'm crazy about banana peppers! And I love Subway...
15. What was the last movie you watched? wow...it's been a while. Oh yeah, Jimmy Stewart in a Alfred Hitchcock movie...Rear Window...very good actually and I don't usually like suspense
16. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving! I like the food...
17. What do you do to vent anger? Huff and puff. Get quiet. Sometimes write out an angry letter (which I throw away). Of course, what should I be doing? Well, you asked what I DO...
18. What were your favorite toys as a kid? I really liked playing with my brother's G.I. Joes. :D Also Barbies. And I remember a favorite pocketknife. Just a touch of tomboy. :)
19. What is your favorite: I've always said fall, so I'll stick with that, though it's a toss-up between it and spring!
20. Hugs or kisses? hugs; Jeff gives the best
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry! I love cordial cherries and Nyquil (maybe it's the alcohol)
22. Do you want your friends to do this survey too? sure, if they want :)
23. Who is most likely to respond? Karanena? Maybe? Please? :)
24. Who is least likely to respond? Erin, because she is studying, keeping up with two kids, and has twins on the way.
25. Living arrangements? living with in-laws, moving at the end of April to a lovely house.
26. When was the last time you cried? It's been awhile since I bawled, but pregnancy has had me tearing up quite a bit in the last few months, over little things.
27. What is on the floor of your closet? Jeff's big shoes, my smaller shoes, and the collapsible laundry basket.
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? I've known Elizabeth all my life...she's been a great friend and cousin and is a wonderful, funny, strong person!
29. What did you do last night? made some lasagna, and while it was baking, Jeff and I went to look at fabric for curtains (he's such a sweetie)
30. Who is your role model? There are many! But I'll just say, my mom. I've grown to appreciate her more the older I get. Her patience and goodwill toward everyone is amazing. I remember being critical of her growing up, but now I see how her spirit shines through and how her training has helped me be kinder and more giving to others! Especially now as I'm about to be a mom myself, I'm beginning to understand a little more all she's done for me.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Gray baby at 3 months
I finally got these scanned. This is our baby at 3 months. Once he/she woke up, he couldn't keep his fingers away from his face and in his mouth. It's amazing how God is knitting him together so perfectly. Though our baby is only about the size of a lemon, everything is in place and growing. Human life really is a miracle!
Blogger malfunction!!
Anyone else having trouble downloading pictures? When I choose a file, blogger does not recognize it. The message says "Please choose at least one file." I've tried this with small pictures, large pictures...nothing works! Just wondering if anyone else is having this problem.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Spring and Christians
I think my moods are affected a lot by the weather! This winter I have been more ready than usual for spring. Things are starting to bloom and my hands are itching to plant something! I'm avoiding Home Depot and the Walmart garden section because once in, I can't resist buying something colorful and pretty! I'm glad God creates so much beauty in the world. It reminds me of His hand at work and His beauty, even admid ugliness...everything is still brown except for a few beautiful, blooming trees.
I think followers of Christ are supposed to be like that. In a world of ugly things we're supposed to stand out and draw people. I met a family that showed Christ's beauty so clearly yesterday. They are from Romania, and the two boys will probably be taking piano lessons with me...and they are really delightful boys, 13 and 10. (This is usually not a delightful age!) When she was a little girl, their mother heard that the president of the United States was a Christian. She was amazed and from then on prayed every night that she could come to America some day. They have been here 11 years now. She told me story after story of answered prayer...she could not find a job for a very long time, and got the kids and her husband to pray...finally found a very good job in a lab, testing for pollutants. Her kids now tell everyone "my mom has a really good job!" because they've seen God answer prayer firsthand. Her youngest boy had meningitis and TB when he was 2, and they happened to be visiting in Romania. The doctor gave him a 0% chance to live. He lived, though, but was totally blind. The doctor said he'd be blind and mentally/physically handicapped his entire life, but God gave her peace about it and she knew he'd be okay. She went in to check his vision. He could see! She brought in the doctor and they tested his vision. He steadily improved over the next few months. Now, he is a normal, vivacious kid with dimples and a quick smile! This family prays about everything, and the boys are an outspoken witness in their public school. The youngest had to stand against the wall for saying his favorite subject was the Bible. The oldest explained the story of Creation to his friends when the class talked about evolution. They're not a bit shy, and I found myself really enjoying their company in a way I enjoy few new acquaintances' company! I really want my kids to be like these two boys. And I'm really looking forward to having them as students...they also want to take in the summer, which is a bonus for me!
I was rebuked and uplifted talking to them...how many times do I forget to take simple problems and requests to God in childlike faith? I have such a cynical, self-sufficient attitude at times! Meeting this lovely family was a breath of fresh air to me...like the scent of flowers in spring. :)
I think followers of Christ are supposed to be like that. In a world of ugly things we're supposed to stand out and draw people. I met a family that showed Christ's beauty so clearly yesterday. They are from Romania, and the two boys will probably be taking piano lessons with me...and they are really delightful boys, 13 and 10. (This is usually not a delightful age!) When she was a little girl, their mother heard that the president of the United States was a Christian. She was amazed and from then on prayed every night that she could come to America some day. They have been here 11 years now. She told me story after story of answered prayer...she could not find a job for a very long time, and got the kids and her husband to pray...finally found a very good job in a lab, testing for pollutants. Her kids now tell everyone "my mom has a really good job!" because they've seen God answer prayer firsthand. Her youngest boy had meningitis and TB when he was 2, and they happened to be visiting in Romania. The doctor gave him a 0% chance to live. He lived, though, but was totally blind. The doctor said he'd be blind and mentally/physically handicapped his entire life, but God gave her peace about it and she knew he'd be okay. She went in to check his vision. He could see! She brought in the doctor and they tested his vision. He steadily improved over the next few months. Now, he is a normal, vivacious kid with dimples and a quick smile! This family prays about everything, and the boys are an outspoken witness in their public school. The youngest had to stand against the wall for saying his favorite subject was the Bible. The oldest explained the story of Creation to his friends when the class talked about evolution. They're not a bit shy, and I found myself really enjoying their company in a way I enjoy few new acquaintances' company! I really want my kids to be like these two boys. And I'm really looking forward to having them as students...they also want to take in the summer, which is a bonus for me!
I was rebuked and uplifted talking to them...how many times do I forget to take simple problems and requests to God in childlike faith? I have such a cynical, self-sufficient attitude at times! Meeting this lovely family was a breath of fresh air to me...like the scent of flowers in spring. :)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Two more months!
I'm having a hard time just resting in the Lord and waiting for the next two months to pass. I just can't wait to move in and get settled. I'm thinking about all my neglected furniture sitting there in storage unused, and all that lovely SPACE in our house, and it makes me antsy. And, of course, this morning I looked at Elizabeth's blog and saw her gorgeously decorated house, and had to swallow down my impatience again! :)
There are a few things I can do in the meantime to get us ready to move in. (NOT pack everything...thank goodness it's all labelled and boxed in storage!) But I measured the windows, so I can get started on the curtains we'll need right away for privacy. We loved the model home decorations, so I'm basing my curtains on theirs. I found a website for easy lined drapes: http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa020106.htm.
Model home curtains. Simple, but they look great. The pictures don't do them justice.
We've decided on the nursery colors and theme. We wanted to do something a little different than the traditional pink or blue, so we decided on pale yellow with sage green accents. I was at least partly influenced in my choice by the lovely yellow walls in Ella's nursery! I love the brightness. An instant pick-me-up. Of course we all know nurseries are decorated for the PARENTS, because the kid has no clue about color schemes. :D The theme I chose is "ducks and chicks."
We decided on plain yellow bedding, and Jeff will provide the chick artwork on the walls! (I'm forcing him to do some non-computer related art--he's says he's not good at it--pshaw--what were all those drawing/painting classes for anyway?)
I like the chicks, but ack, too busy!!
Plain yellow is better.
There are a few things I can do in the meantime to get us ready to move in. (NOT pack everything...thank goodness it's all labelled and boxed in storage!) But I measured the windows, so I can get started on the curtains we'll need right away for privacy. We loved the model home decorations, so I'm basing my curtains on theirs. I found a website for easy lined drapes: http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa020106.htm.
Model home curtains. Simple, but they look great. The pictures don't do them justice.
We've decided on the nursery colors and theme. We wanted to do something a little different than the traditional pink or blue, so we decided on pale yellow with sage green accents. I was at least partly influenced in my choice by the lovely yellow walls in Ella's nursery! I love the brightness. An instant pick-me-up. Of course we all know nurseries are decorated for the PARENTS, because the kid has no clue about color schemes. :D The theme I chose is "ducks and chicks."
We decided on plain yellow bedding, and Jeff will provide the chick artwork on the walls! (I'm forcing him to do some non-computer related art--he's says he's not good at it--pshaw--what were all those drawing/painting classes for anyway?)
I like the chicks, but ack, too busy!!
Plain yellow is better.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Ma-Ma is home!
Saturday I called my parents, and they couldn't talk long b/c Aunt Frances was bringing over supper for them, but Ma-Ma is out of the hospital and at home! They said she was sitting in her wheelchair in the den watching TV. :) Mom & Dad have a system worked out where the two of them can lift her into her chair and get her back into bed. Uncle Langdon will come by to help too, and Aunt Frances is helping with meals.
I'm so thankful my sweet grandma is out of the hospital where she can continue to recover. I haven't heard yet the status on the wound on her foot (won't heal because of her diabetes), but apparently the staff thought she was well enough to be at home. God is truly good!
I'm so thankful my sweet grandma is out of the hospital where she can continue to recover. I haven't heard yet the status on the wound on her foot (won't heal because of her diabetes), but apparently the staff thought she was well enough to be at home. God is truly good!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Fashion Blurb
Ever since I was little and was ushered into the joys of sewing by my cousin Elizabeth when we were, what, 8? I've had a little part of me that's very interested in fashion. (This may surprise those of you who attended high school with me!) We sewed together, picking out whatever scrap from the "sewing pile" that caught our fancy. Sometimes we sewed without a pattern, certainly never following it exactly, and Elizabeth even made her own patterns occasionally.
I still sew skirts for myself. I have 6 or 7 in the closet, most of which are now a little tight. :( A blissful hour for me constitutes sitting on the high stools at Walmart looking through the Butterick or Simplicity patterns. (You have to keep in mind that they will look better on you than they do in the photos, and worse on you than the drawings! Nobody has legs that long.)
The summer before last, when I was trying to build up a studio at home and had next to nothing to do, I discovered hotpatterns.com. I haven't bought any of their patterns...they're pricey...but I like how up-to-the-minute they are. They had a reference on their site to style.com, and I like to surf it occasionally. You get a sometimes cutting, always intelligent, often completely off-kilter, review of each of the major fashion houses, along with pictures of their work for that season. (Warning: there is a lot of over-the-top stuff that NO ONE would wear, along with quite a bit of immodesty, so not a good idea to leave it on your computer if you have husbands or kids)
Last spring/fall my favorite designer was Olivier Theyskens for Rochas. I'm not original in that opinion, but his stuff seemed feminine, sane, even MODEST, and just exquisitely made.
Today I looked over just a few houses for fall and wanted to cry. The fashion scene couldn't be worse. This fall, skinny jeans, voluminous tops with shoulder pads, psychedelic colors, and just plain old drab, minimalist gray and black "structured" are IN. Zippers abound, "scarf" neck ties a la '70s breeze behind in the wake of models in dagger-sharp pointy heels. I'm seeing lots of shiny fabrics held in at the waist with huge, patent leather belts.
Is this what we have to look forward too?? Not the '80s again. We who lived through them never want to go there again by choice!!
I guess I can say thank goodness for Walmart and fashion-lag! I'm told that Americans are always five or six years behind the "real" fashion scene in Europe.
I actually liked the look we had going for the early 00's. Bell bottoms or bootcut are flattering to almost everyone. You can't say the same for pencil pants. The Boho chic look was sweet, craftsy and feminine. It has some humanity and femininity, unlike the impersonal, structured "tough girl-knight" look that seems to be upcoming. The earthy colors of before are being replaced by grays and blacks, or, when there is color, it's radioactive blue, hot pink, or lime yellow. It seems like we're returning to antiseptic "depressed" instead of glamorous, richly colored and feminine.
On a hopeful note, the '40s are back as well, with suits that look sharp and tailored. Just don't buy them in hot pink!!
I still sew skirts for myself. I have 6 or 7 in the closet, most of which are now a little tight. :( A blissful hour for me constitutes sitting on the high stools at Walmart looking through the Butterick or Simplicity patterns. (You have to keep in mind that they will look better on you than they do in the photos, and worse on you than the drawings! Nobody has legs that long.)
The summer before last, when I was trying to build up a studio at home and had next to nothing to do, I discovered hotpatterns.com. I haven't bought any of their patterns...they're pricey...but I like how up-to-the-minute they are. They had a reference on their site to style.com, and I like to surf it occasionally. You get a sometimes cutting, always intelligent, often completely off-kilter, review of each of the major fashion houses, along with pictures of their work for that season. (Warning: there is a lot of over-the-top stuff that NO ONE would wear, along with quite a bit of immodesty, so not a good idea to leave it on your computer if you have husbands or kids)
Last spring/fall my favorite designer was Olivier Theyskens for Rochas. I'm not original in that opinion, but his stuff seemed feminine, sane, even MODEST, and just exquisitely made.
Today I looked over just a few houses for fall and wanted to cry. The fashion scene couldn't be worse. This fall, skinny jeans, voluminous tops with shoulder pads, psychedelic colors, and just plain old drab, minimalist gray and black "structured" are IN. Zippers abound, "scarf" neck ties a la '70s breeze behind in the wake of models in dagger-sharp pointy heels. I'm seeing lots of shiny fabrics held in at the waist with huge, patent leather belts.
Is this what we have to look forward too?? Not the '80s again. We who lived through them never want to go there again by choice!!
I guess I can say thank goodness for Walmart and fashion-lag! I'm told that Americans are always five or six years behind the "real" fashion scene in Europe.
I actually liked the look we had going for the early 00's. Bell bottoms or bootcut are flattering to almost everyone. You can't say the same for pencil pants. The Boho chic look was sweet, craftsy and feminine. It has some humanity and femininity, unlike the impersonal, structured "tough girl-knight" look that seems to be upcoming. The earthy colors of before are being replaced by grays and blacks, or, when there is color, it's radioactive blue, hot pink, or lime yellow. It seems like we're returning to antiseptic "depressed" instead of glamorous, richly colored and feminine.
On a hopeful note, the '40s are back as well, with suits that look sharp and tailored. Just don't buy them in hot pink!!
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