Nursery Planning (sorta)

From the beginning, I've said that no matter if we're having a boy or a girl, I'm NOT re-painting the bedroom (which was a guest bedroom)that is being turned into a nursery. The color is staying. I will decorate around that. The end.

I have to say that I have been true to my word! We found out we were having a boy, and I've been working with what I've got since then. I will say though, working around a single paint color can be challenging, if not stifiling, in the design process. If I had my choice, I'd rather pick out my bedding, curtains, and accessories first, and then pick a paint color to coordinate all of it. So, I feel like I'm working backwards.

To remind you, here are a few pictures of the room as a guest bedroom from 2012 - right after the new carpet was installed...

It was at this time that we relocated our guest bedroom furniture to it's new location in the 1st floor bedroom. This upstairs room has remained mostly empty until we knew we were expecting a baby. Since then, we've added a few staple items, including the crib, dresser/changing table, glider rocker, and a bunch of stuff we got for my baby shower. We also added white wood blinds to the windows.

Here is a picture of Joey assembling the crib (and looking annoyed as I snap a picture for memory's sake)...

Our parents bought the crib off our registery from Target. You can see the details here. I wanted a white crib with clean lines and fairly traditional. It's simple and can be used for either gender. Fairly affordable too.

Here it is all set up in its little corner to the left after you walk through the doorway. Crib bedding and all.

I found the crib bedding at a random website and then later found out that places like Target and Babies R Us also sell it. It was cheapest at other websites though. The manufacturer is Skip Hop and the pattern is Mod Dot (seen here). I liked the bedding for a number of reasons. First of all, it was colorful, which I thought made the room feel playful and kid-friendly. It also allows for versatility in colors through out the accessories I use in the rest of the room. I also liked the circular pattern, which is a bit more modern and "boy-ish" feeling to me. But it could be re-used for girl down the road if necessary.

Here's a view of the crib and glider rocker (still in need of a cushion) as you're standing in the doorway. The little brown rocker was Joey's as a little boy. Now it can be used by our little boy. Everyone say Awwww...

On the opposite wall, we put a newly painted dresser (minus the knobs) and it will serve as a changing table and storage for clothes and things. The dresser came from my grammy's farmhouse in Maine. She passed away in the fall and I got this gem from the room we stayed in as kids when visting each year. A constant reminder of her. Everyone say Awwww again....

I owe you more pictures as more progress has been made in the nursery since I took these few. I'll have those ready for you soon. We are also in the middle of a full bathroom remodel (crazy close to baby due date), which has Joey super busy. Pictures on that also coming soon.

Only 5 weeks and 2 days until my due date! So much to do....

Hello? Anybody Home?

Yep! We're back! With exciting news, house updates, and more!

Yes, it's been a long, long time since I've posted anything on this blog. So, to my loyal readers (if there are any left), thank you for your patience!

While a break in blogging became a sudden necessity at the end of June due to an unusually busy summer/fall and several life-changing events that occurred, I am hoping to be back in the swing of things just in time for...

THE ARRIVAL OF OUR BABY BOY!

Yes, this is it. The official announcement of announcements. A little late in the game, perhaps, but better than nothing at all. I found out I was pregnant on June 19th and had a 7 week ultrasound to confirm it on July 3rd. We shared with family shortly after that.

If I felt like giving a full history now, I could go into the fertility treatments, miscarriage, and surprises that led up to this pregnancy. But I think I'll save that for another time if it deems appropriate.

For now, I'll say that we are so excited and blessed to have a healthy, growing baby boy who is due on February 23rd, 2013.

Speaking of baby boy, here he is at 20 weeks - with a cute, button nose, feisty personality (according to the ultrasound technician), and all the right *ahem* parts...

Immediately following the ultrasound that determined it was a boy, Joey and I immediately went to Target and bought some boy gifts. I purchased a few newborn outfits, and Joey got the baby his first superhero movie (that he won't be watching for a while).

Amidst the chaos of pregnancy, we are nursery-planning, bathroom-remodeling, and living up the holiday season. I've already had a baby shower. I've been on 2 trips to visit family in Maine (one for my grandmother's funeral) in the last few months. I just don't know when we've ever been busier.

BUT I will try to keep you updated with our ongoing changes in life and home as best possible.

Look forward to a few posts coming up on random topics like holiday decorating, nursery planning, and baby bumps. In no particular order...

Busy, Busy

This week has been CRAZY busy. We've had stuff going on every single night, including tonight. And Easter weekend is coming up and it's going to be even busier.

So, super sorry, but not much to post on this week. I've been working on 2 non-home-related projects during the few minutes of spare time this week...

1. Puppy Training - Rose is getting bigger and has more energy then she knows what to do with. She's learning fast, but we're still working on the potty training!


2. Picture Sorting/Scanning/Filing - Yes, I've taken on the ginormous task of scanning my pre-digital-times childhood photos onto our laptop and then sorting them into files by date. This is going to take FOREVER! And I have loads of pics to get from parents in a couple weeks.

So, here is the state of our dining room currently with my pictures in piles and a scanning station set up on a folding table...


Wish me luck over the next few days/weeks/months (however long this takes)!

I'll be back next week with something on the home front. I promise!

Adoption Part II: A Puppy

As I promised yesterday, I'm back to share with you another adoption - one that's more important than a light fixture.

For almost 2 years now, Joey has been begging me to let him get a dog. I've said no for 2 years. I didn't want the mess, the work, and the trouble of taking care of a dog. We both work full time and have very busy lives. Our cat, Spike, was enough maintenance for me.

But this last time I caved. Maybe it was the fact that we both turned 29 years old this month, and I felt the need to give Joey a special gift for this last year in our 20's. Maybe it was just a change of heart toward my husband's feelings. Maybe it was something else. But I couldn't say "no" any more.

So, last week, Joey - who had already been searching online for litters of puppies for sale - found our new little family member from a local breeder. Meet Rosalita (aka Rose)...


Rose is a mixed breed - half yellow Lab and half Siberian husky. Her body shape represents the lab and her color markings are all husky. I die for her eyes. They're beautiful. We picked her up at just 7 weeks old for $400.

Joey was instantly in love her. It took me a few days to warm up to her.



While most people think, "Oooh, she's gonna be a big dog with that mix!", her parents were actually medium sized dogs for their breed, and Rose was the runt of the litter. So, we're hoping for a not-too-big dog. Maybe 50-60 lbs.

When we brought her home, she was very timid and sleepy. She would run around the coffee table 4 times and then pass out.


Spike was very unhappy about becoming a sibling to a thing as detestable as a dog. I could see him "rolling his eyes" in his mind. Oh bother.


Spike glares at Rose and has stayed away from her most of the time. The puppy is becoming more and more curious about Spike and has made several attemps at interacting with him. Most often it involves Rose getting right in Spike's face as if to kiss him, and then Spike sloooowly backing up and eventually taking a swing for her head. Rose just gallops off as if nothing bad has happened.

The last week has been fun as we've seen her becoming really energetic and spunky. She loves to run around in circles for hours and play. She wears us out. She knows her name now. She listens to the word "no" pretty well. The potty training is still a work in progress though.

I will say that owning a puppy has got to be like prep work for having a baby. Getting up late at night to let her go potty. Cleaning up after her "accidents". Feeding her. Playing with her. Wearing her out so she'll sleep through the night (got that twice this week). Training her. Thankfully, Joey takes on most of these responsibilities willingly since he wanted her so much. But I've done my fair share of helping out too.

And we have wonderful dog-loving neighbors who offered (for free!) to come over at noon each day (while we're at work) and let her out to eat, go potty, and even come over to their yard and have play time with their 1 year old dog. The 2 dogs are becoming fast friends. The report yesterday said they played for a couple HOURS together. Rose chewed on all the other dog's toys (like the foam bottle seen below) and eventually fell asleep in the other dog's kennel.


We are pretty smitten with Rose. I guess that's why they call it puppy love. You just can't help but love her. Puppy breath and all.

Welcome to 2012!

I know. I know. I'm a few days late on that one. But better late than never, right?!

Let's start the new year right but setting a few goals for the blog, the house, and life in general... sound good?



I'll start with the easy one which is.... the HOUSE.

Back in September, I actually gave you a pretty detailed list of items we accomplished around the house in 2011 (see post here), and listed a few other items to possibly tackle by the end of 2011. The one (main) item we accomplished was pouring the patio in the backyard. I did several blog posts on it in September as we were working through the process, but the final results can be seen here.

After September, our world became a blur of life events and holidays. The house took a back seat, and to be honest, we needed the break. But now it's January, and my rear is in gear to get crackin' on the house projects. Here are a few items that (Lord willing) WILL be done in 2012:

1. Window treatments for almost everyone room of the house except the Master Bedroom, which were done last year. (hint: we've already gotten started on this one)


2. Carpeting for the stairs and hallways and maybe guest bedroom (tax return money may fund this project)


3. Complete ALL interior painting (walls/trim/cabinets) that is complete-able (I make up words) without any needed renovations


4. Move the guest room from the upstairs bedroom to the 1st floor bedroom to make way for a some-day nursery upstairs (key word: some-day)


5. Overhaul of our tiny front entry which has non-painted plaster walls with cracks showing, old terracotta tile, and a rickety storm door


6. More landscaping of all varieties (this never ends)


7. New light fixture in downstairs hall


8. Finish building the cedar steps that lead from the newly poured patio up to the back porch.


9. Install some new plumbing and pipes in the basement in preps for a future 3/4 bath (no fun for me, but it's on Joey's to-do list)

There are a lot of other items I would LIKE to happen in 2012, but I'm not necessarily counting on them (especially given budget concerns). Even ONE of the items below would be great (and astonishing) to accomplish...

1. Vaulting our Master Bedroom ceiling, which would include adding wood planks, exposed-rafters, new vents for heating/cooling, and new lighting (big messy project)


2. Creating a small and versatile built-in office in our Master Bedroom


3. Replacing the 82 year old windows in the Dining Room, Full and Half Bathrooms, and at least one bedroom


4. New siding and gutters on the garage and back porch and new garage doors

Whew! Sooo much work ahead of us.

Next item on the list.... the BLOG.

In case you didn't notice, my number of blog posts per month diminished greatly during October, November, and December. Part of this was just due to the fact that we were SUPER DUPER busy during these months, which means not only a lack of time to blog, but also lack of time to do projects and things to blog about. Just like we needed a house break, I needed a blog break.

I love blogging. I really do. But it can take away from family, friends, work, and other things that are also important in my life. So, my word of the year is PRIORITIZE, which means that the blog may move down a few notches on my "must do" list each day. No worries though. I will certainly keep you up-to-date on the latest adventures at the homestead and well as any other items that I think may spark your interest (PINTEREST, anyone?!). I just may not post every single day (or even every single week) like I was attempting to do some of last year - it's about quality not quantity!

Speaking of quality, I hope to make a few improvements to the site this year, including adding a "Before and After" section to show each room of the house so that you can easily see a snapshot of the changes that are occurring. I'd also like to include a floor plan of the house so that you can get a better picture of the overall space (gotta figure out how to best create this ... any suggestions???). I may also switch blog hosts and go through a blog redesign. We shall see...

Last on my list of "goals" for the year.... LIFE.

This one is tricky to talk about. I'll likely share more on the subject at a later point, BUT Joey and I are in the baby-planning stages. Some of you know that we have been working through fertility treatments and such. So, we're hoping and praying that 2012 will bring us a baby. Only the Lord knows what will happen, but I'm sure this will shake up our life if it occurs. Oh how much I can blog about once it's eventually baby time (and nursery decorating time). Joey is also thinking about starting his own business, taking classes, and things of that sort.

So, this is what I imagine 2012 will look like for us. I'm sure some things will happen as planned and many won't. But at least you get to hear about the journey along the way!