this week...

Well, I was leaving a comment on Heidi's blog and got inspired to leave it on my blog too. The concept is "things you are loving this week". So here's my list:

THINGS I LOVE THIS WEEK:
- fall weather!
- pumpkin spice lattes
- a good baby checkup
which leads me to...
- making it to 36 weeks! wahoo for the "safe zone"!
- starting 2 new paintings
- a clean house (still working on that one...)
- catching up with Jenn
- listening to Amy Grant Christmas music (no it's not too early!!)
- starting a new "moms" bible study
- fall smelling candles

I'll leave you with this image. Not QUITE what it looks like outside yet, but certainly what it feels like!

Renovation Station: Completion!

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Before:

After:

Tada!

Kickin it Old School

First of all I'd like to apologize to my partner in crime who did make a point of saying before hand, "this better not end up on your blog". Granted I smoothed over that point without agreeing, and granted that's where I got the idea...

However, I've decided that these pictures have much too much value to be left out of blogworld. So... in an attempt to keep everyone happy, the "partner in crime" shall remain nameless. We'll refer to her here as "Hilary".

So, Hilary and I went to Target (where most girls go when they can't decide what else to do). Here we found a tantalizing rack of "party dresses" that looked suspiciously like they used to belong to my old Barbies. Now, of course we couldn't pass these by with merely a "wow, look at those" comment, oh no, we needed to have an impromptu photoshoot in the dressing room. Needed to.
So, we trooped into the handicap dressing room with our armful of dresses (I had a variety of sizes because who knew WHAT was going to fit being almost 9 months pregnant--you'd think that would have deterred me, but oh no.) Ad mist uncontrollable giggles and quite a few "oh there's no way that's getting zipped" comments we managed to squeeze into the Barbie dresses.

Quite a few bouts of laughter later we have these pictures to show for our time at Target. Ahhhhh they just bring back so many, many memories. I felt like a crazy teenager again....good times, good times. So, here's Hilary and me, modeling this year's party dresses.
(excuse the blurry camera phone pictures)




not bad for practically 9 months pregnant, huh?

A little of this, a lot of that...

Well hello there. What's that? Oh, yea, sorry about that, sort have forgot to blog lately. Actually I've been composing a couple posts in my head...you know how it goes. Just haven't made it to the computer yet...until now. Sorry? Oh thanks, nice to see you again too.

Here's a summary of recent events:

Family in town
Rex stuck around
took some trees down
improved the view

Cleaned up the "crib"
organized bibs
told a couple fibs
I swear it's true

Got the stomach bug
Needed lots of hugs
EPB pulled the plug*
I was blue
*(aka the power went out)

Getting ready for Rye
Em's making me a pie
trying not to cry
at Winnie the Pooh.
(or WalMart commercials for that matter)

Ok, that brings you up to speed. Soon I will be posting pictures of the nursery (hoping to put a few finishing touches on it first) as well as the finished kitchen/dining/living room (after i clean up a bit). So, look forward to that, my long lost friends.

Feeling the Baby Love

what can i say? I have the best friends and family....thank you to all for making the shower special. Rye told me afterward how much he felt the love. He can't wait to meet you all and give you a big thank you hug in person.

all i can say is...thank you.


to see the greatness summarized beautifully, check this out.

p.s. I just have to say, how great is Kaley looking these days? Seriously, so cute.

Random Baby Question

input, please:

special baby detergent - how important is this? and if it is important what all needs to be washed in it?

thanks team

The Question & The Answer

Today is the first day in 5 years that I have no answer to The Question, "where do you work?"

Yes, I have quit my job. I am.....unemployed.

(i think a moment of dramatic silence is in order)

Due to the imminent arrival of our son, and the inordinate amount of work left to do on house, multiplied by the increase of swelling and the decrease of energy, we've decided that now is as good a time as any to kick the proverbial working bucket.

So, I have done some thinking about how i will answer The Question, when it arises.
(one must always be prepared)

I'll start with UNacceptable answers:

1. I'm a stay at home mom
now, no offense to those of you who call yourselves by this label, but i have always found it accompanied by such insinuations (either imagined or real) as: "I have no interest in working." or "I live to bake homemade cookies and change diapers." or "I follow the chosen way by not working outside the home." Since none of these answers at all represents me, I will decline this title.

2. I'm a home-maker
This title also rubs me the wrong way, seeming to imply that my only talents lie within the confines of my domestic establishment. I picture buns and gingham dresses and the smell of homemade bread (which i love, by the way). In short, "making house" is by no means in my list of reasons for quitting, in fact, after the recent home renovations, i believe this title fits Trevor better. ;) ha, good luck calling him that though.


Ok, this brings me to the next category:

Acceptable answers:

In the search for an acceptable answer, I am looking for something that represents my reasons for leaving as well as my plans for the future. My main excuse, i mean reason, for leaving is that we are having a child. With the nearest family 6 hours away, if I was to continue working, that would mean that our kid would be raised by a non-family member who we would have to pay. Now, that said, I do have other reasons for leaving. Second would be my desire to spend more time getting my painting "career" off the ground. I hope to be able to spend more time painting, and exploring places/people to sell my art. On top of these 2 goals, I will also be doing some sporadic freelance work. So, I am searching for an appropriate title that sums up these reasons, goals and philosophy. Here is what I have....so far.

1. Freelance Artist
this sums up the painting and design aspects while still insinuating that I'm at home.

2. Trophy Wife
Come on, that's just funny. And really, it implies that i do whatever I want with my time, and look great doing it. That just might sum it up the best. (ha!)

This concludes my dissertation on my current unemployed status.