Josephine is 9 long letters. Didn't realize that when we picked it!

Remember how I said I was going to go crafts shopping? Oh I did, and it was grand. A little overwhelming, but grand nonetheless. I started out at Hobby Lobby (love that place) but the randomness and overwhelming amounts of everything did not help me out when I was looking for specific things. I could walk around in that store for hours and not get bored. Every time I turn the corner, something new and "perfect" for me. ahhhhh....

So, on to JoAnn's. My experience there consisted of walking back and forth between the sewing section and then painting section. I'd get to one side, realize I forgot something on the other, think of a "great idea'' for a different project and rush over to the other, etc. Good grief. Talk about exercise. This is what I came home with:

Yes you see that correctly. I have some work to do on those letters! I can hardly wait... but am also nervous that I'll screw them up. They were $1.29 or something each, so I can just go get a new one, but I find that with painting, I usually do awesome the first time or two, and then slowly decline as I get too huge of an ego. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I seriously just get worse and worse as I try harder. Taking a class for actual technique or something may help but I have no idea where I could do that for cheap or where I'd find the time. I'll add that to my "to do" list, and for now just continue to float along with my limited ability. I'll keep you updated on this lovely project once I get the nerve to jump in!



Yep, these brushes should only add to the fun!



Like the colors?   



I know, random. But I didn't have one til now...

                                                  



 

Are you wondering what these are for? Don't peak ahead, but I made some lovely ribbon bows for the curtain. I won't lie, I stabbed myself in the finger way too many times, and wanted to throw my hands up in the air at least 3 times. But I like the end result! Velcro in the back so I don't have to retie the bows. What do you think??

 I feel like a creep always takig pictures of the neighbor's house..luckily I've never actually seen anyone in there looking back! That would be ... awkward.




Front



Back



I work tomorrow morning and will be doing some painting in the afternoon. Looking forward to a McDonald's iced vanilla sugar free coffee in the A.M. and some serious creativity in the P.M.

I'm nervous already...

Arts and Crafts

Warning: This post contains many random thoughts and brainstorming. You've been warned.

Mike made the comment the other day that my style is "arts and crafts". I wouldn't go so far to say that this is true for every room of the house, but for the nursery, I would have to say that yes, I can agree with that. So much so, that I am finding  myself spending hours and hours pouring through arts and crafts websites trying to figure out what my next project will be. I just had so much fun with the curtains so I figure, why stop there?

Here's what I am thinking. I know I want to do letters on the wall, whether they are hanging on a string or scattered across the wall, I'm not sure. Maybe something like this:

found here
or
 found here
or
found here

So  many different directions! SO I am thinking I will make them myself. Cheaper, more room for personalization, and may even fill my "creative" funk fix. :)

Another thing that I was thinking: Since the wall decal and curtains are so busy, I don't want to overdo it. The bedding is something that will be changed frequently since children grow (shocking, right?) so I have thought I would do just a solid color for the sheet and then whatever blanket we get/use at the time. I found a website that shows a way to make the fitted sheet that seems super easy. This way I can make numerous fitted sheets in different colors. Pink, green, blue, even brown! So exciting, I know. I cannot tell you how exciting it is for me to have so many practical options even when laundry must be done. And talk about cheaper! So. I'll keep you up to date with that project. It might be a total disaster,but we'll see.

I need to find the right shade of pink. I am hoping to find a lamp that will have a white base (well I found this at Target already, but no shade yet) and a solid pink shade. Simple, small, and cheap.

Still working on the rug, although I did get one suggestion to go with a brown rug. I hadn't thought of that before and honestly I kind of like it. I wasn't planning on having brown be a major color in the room, but it would definitely be pretty neutral and blend in well since the tree is primarily brown and the color works well with green and blue (and this mysterious pink I keep hoping to find).

See how my head is spinning with ideas? So today I will be hoping to get started on at least one of these projects just to ease my  mind a bit. I'll keep you updated!

PS. can you tell this is my day off? Glorious. No time to waste!

Ta da!

I really amazed myself this time! I guess its true that if you are really determined, you can accomplish anything. I didn't even get mad at the sewing machine even though every time I use it my patience is maxed out. Maybe if I used it more often I would actually remember how to use it..?


Note: I really need to learn how to use my camera to my advantage. The lighting is awful and you can't tell how truly fabulous this looks from the pictures. My apologies.

So here they are! Josie's curtains.

 We'll have to find a way to fasten them to the sides so we don't minimize the lighting. I'm thinking velcro wth a lttle blue bow but we'll see.

We made the rod be a lot wider than the window so the thick curtains wouldn't completely take over the window. Plus it just makes the window look better. I like it now that is done!

Ahh, that looks better. I guess the camera can't capture the detail that makes the curtains so wonderful. But at least up close its easier to tell!

We left extra fabric on top so there would be  more of a "ruffle" effect.

So what do you think? You really have to use your imagination at this point since we are missing so many things. Picture a white crib, pink lamp, window trim, round rug (color to be determined, any ideas?) and so on. 3 months left to get this room ready!



Well I finally feel like I have enough to write about to sit down and blog. I apologize for the lack of posts, but I find that as I blog more, I think in blog mode and have more to write about in general. But then if I stop for whatever reason, it seems completely impossibe to pick it up again. I'm working on it, promise.

Here is your promised 27 week photo. Tuesday will be 28 weeks - 7 months. It snuck up on me, although really I still have a solid three months left.

I went shopping today with my mother dearest. She likes to spoil me a bit and purchased some cute dresses and a sweater to go over (have to be work appropriate...). Its a start for warmer weather clothing, but it is hard to buy more clothes that I won't be able to wear once Josie is here. Hopefully I'll be able to make the current wardrobe work. That or I can hit up a thrift store, although I don't have much faith in that since I'm such a weird size (not the biggest but definitely not small).

And the best part of my morning - the mailman personally hand delivered the fabric I ordered from Joann's fabric. Good thing that my mom was here to set me up with the sewing machine and pins!! Did you really think that I would just set it aside? Of course not. I am about 1/3 done... hopefully will be done tomorrow. Maybe some pictures after? If you're lucky.

So this is the fabric. The top part, with the leaves, is the front. Wonderful. Once you see the wall decal you'll understand how truly perfect it is. The bottom half is the back side, but is almost just as cute if you ask me.

AND THEN. Josie got her first gift!! My friend Katie came over and completely outdid herself with her lovely gifts. Now that I have the stroller in my possession, I believe I made the right choice. I didn't want to get the big bulky stroller that the carseat fits in, since we have the runner stroller already. Two big strollers=no room in the garage. I just feel like the smaller stroller that folds up so nicely will work just as well and be a bit less in your face.

And how can you resist the cute little outfits?? I cannot even stand it! She needs to hurry up and get here (but not before she's ready of course!)

More later! Goodnight fellow bloggers. :)

Healthy as a horse

Alas, no photo this week, but I must tell you the exciting news that I received in the mail today.

I don't have gestational diebetes! I kind of freaked myself out thinking that I had it b/c of how much sugar I had been inhaling, but this is also why I am not a doctor. Clearly, that is now how it works.

I will soon be posting pictures of the wall decal that we received in the mail and put up. I'm not quite done (and by I'm I mean Mike), so you'll just have to wait until we get the little blue birds up, which could be anytime in the next three months. Sorry people... I want  you to see the finished project before you judge!

My sister and I went shopping for material to make (yep, make!!) curtains, and we happened to find the perfect material that was a whopping $80 total. I was and still am very proud of myself for not impulse buying and instead finding it online and getting it for 50% off.  Yep, long story very short - my online shopping actually paid off and I didn't spend more because of random finds! I always end up getting a better price on what I was actually looking for but buying more things (aka more $$ spent) because they are so good at tempting me with advertisements and "you might also enjoy this" sections.

I'll try to get a baby bump picture up soon. Let me tell you - its bigger. :) 27 1/2 weeks right now... and can't wait for 40!

6 AM where are you sun?

I had a huge feeling of de ja vu this morning. Last year at this time I was working out at the Y(MCA), getting up early in the morning before work and getting a class or regular workout in. I did it about 3-4 times a week and absolutely loved it. What I didn't love was that it was pitch black outside until I was coming home. I felt like I was exercising in the middle of the night, which I'm not 100% down with. And then as the time went by the sun started to wake up with me. It was wonderful and I was truly excited. Until daylight savings time. I realize that you get more sun later in the day, but I love love it in the morning!

So today as I was driving back to the gym, and the sun was coming up, I decided that I was not going to get tricked this year. I just have to remember that the sun will not be my friend in the morning until the summer and no amount of hoping and dreaming will change that.

As you have probably gathered, I woke up and worked out this morning for the first time since getting my membership. I had to give myself a good pep talk but once I was in the car I was sold on it... its just so hard to get out of bed when the house is dark and nobody else is awake. Don't worry everyone, I'm perfectly aware that these days are short lived since little babies like to cry at all hours of the night... That doesn't change my want of sleep right now though!

Last night my sister made fettucine alfredo with a salad and cheesy bread. DELICIOUS. I am willing to hire her if she wants to move in. Just saying. Having her cooking on Sunday night (instead of us cooking when we get home at 7:30 from youth group) is the best. I have to somehow convince her that this should be a lifelong thing we schedule in for each week.  Any ideas on how to do this? I am assuming that at some point she will not be so eager for the "free meal", you know, when she is not in college and has her own family.

Long day today... I just have to make it Wednesday when my day starts (7:30 AM) and ends (11:00 AM) early and I have a bunch of time not at work.

Happy Monday!

Wonderful fabulous

A wonderful thing happened today. I got a membership at Planet Fitness ($10 a month? Really?) and it really feels fabulous! (See how I used both words of my title in one little paragraph? Genius right.)

I have just been feeling so blah lately. And lets not forget that the doctor things I am gaining too much weight yada yada yada. He said I should only be gaining about 2 lbs a month. Well. Let. Me. Tell. You. Its harder than it seems! I am hungry all the time and if I don't eat, I get light headed/dizzy/shaky. Now I realize the solution seems so obvious. Eat small meals or snacks throughout the day. I do this for the most part AND I even eat healthy, for the most part.

I just like ice cream... and its the only thing I have actually craved. There I said it; I am admitting the horrible awful truth.

So lets hope the movement helps! Oh and I did mention that I weighed myself and haven't gained anything this month yet!! That is truly a miracle. I just spent the weekend eating out every meal in Duluth and I forget about the fact that I eat less and get instantly full. Thank you baby for keeping me accountable with my appetite. :)

On another happy note (besides that little rant), I had most of today off!! Ohhh how I needed this time off. I worked for a couple of hours this morning and now there are only 2 days left...

So. Things to look forward to - wedding on Friday, weekend, exercising (I've missed it! It's true!). Woo hoo!

23 weeks

Oy. I don't like posting these pictures... :)

Go Josie go - you are growing a lot!!

We are having a...

Look at that beauty.

I even had the nurse check twice since I was so sure it was a boy.

Heartbeat.

The whole time she was moving and squirming around. We watched as she practically sucked her little thumb. So sweet!

So what do you think? Does she look like a Deyle or a Caron? 

I hope she doesn't look alien-like... She just wasn't cooperating enough to get a good profile shot.

We are so excited to start planning for a little baby girl!
Last big surprise: The name! Our little girl will be called Josephine (Josie) Grace. Cannot wait to meet her in just a few months!

What were you doing at 4:45 AM?

Well, my hubby and I were trying to coerce our dog to come up the stairs from the backyard to come inside and go back to bed. WHAT IN THE WORLD??

Yesterday, before I got home, Mike had let Buckley out and he would not come back in. He just stood at the bottom of the stairs and waited. So when Mike said "come on, lets go inside" he'd take one step up and two steps backwards. Finally Mike went down there and tried to pick him up. At this point it appears that Buckley thinks the steps are slippery and he doesn't want to attempt them.

There must be more to it because when Mike picked him up Buckley showed some serious teeth. I don't know how many of you have met this lovely pup we have but he's not that kind of dog. He'll growl a bit to strangers but that only lasts for a while. So Mike scolded him.

See here's the thing. When I scold him, he is all humble and sweet and we make up and move on. But when Mike does, Buckley is scared of him for the rest of the day and keeps his tail between his legs. I really hate the man that made him this fearful! (Sidenote: we got Buckley from 4 Luv of Dogs, and he was not in a good home at all before he was abandoned.) So of course he acted like this all last night.

Back to 4:45 AM. WHY ARE WE UP AND STANDING OUTSIDE. He would not come in! Mike finally had to put a leash on him and practically drag him up. Oh, this was after he woke the whole neighborhood up chipped at this ice for 10 minutes hoping it would help.

But it gets worse. So now that we've been up for about a half hour, we finally get him back into the bedroom and tucked in his bed. And then he whines. For like 45 min. I tried to get him to stand up and he couldn't do it! So here he is... all pathetic like, unable to stand up, and we are mad and tired and just want to sleep.

I guess he hurt his back somehow.. he winces pretty bad if we touch his back in a certain spot, but he needs our help standing up. He's so pathetic I can hardly stand it! Those big eyes looking at me like "Sorry but I can't go anywhere"... its breakin my little heart!

Have you heard of dogs throwing their backs out?

Just in case you forgot what he looks like.
This picture was taken before we were living in the whole house... so excuse the mess behind them. Also, excuse Mike's cheesy smile. :) Aren't they cute?

Week 20 - halfway

Ooooh I don't feel so little anymore!!

Sidenote: Don't you love that pretty air conditioner?

Halfway there!! And we find out what we are having in just a couple of days (like 10!!)

Pointless doctor's appt done.

I had my doctor's appointment on Wednesday. No excessive waiting, no big news, no bad news.

Baby's heartbeat is loud and strong at about 140 bpm. Could be a boy?? I don't understand why the two are related but that's what I've heard.

Next appointment: February 7th. I cannot wait for this one!!


Besides that, this weekend I'm working on clearing out the junk room/guest bedroom to turn it into the beginning of a baby room. I think I might even have my super ambitious mom here to help!

Maybe you all will get some pictures :).

Happy Friday!

Edit: Timestamp was for 5:45 AM? I got up and walked on my treadmill but lets be honest. I was not up and ready by then! A little investigation shows my setting were set to pacific time. hm... :)

18 weeks!

Here it is! First picture. I know I don't have another picture of the "before" BUT you can still tell that there is a bump there!


Two posts in one day? I'm on a roll!

Happy Sunday!

Who's house is that, anyway?

We did some serious work this weekend people. Cleaning, organizing, finishing projects. It was beautiful.
See, I tend to be a bit of a nagger when it comes to the loose ends around here. I'm not proud of it, but a lot of the products we have left to do are a bit out of my hands. Literally... Mike doesn't want me to even touch them. That being said, he was absolutely amazing this weekend getting little things done that have been piling up. He's so busy with work that I could never have asked or expected this from him... so here are some pictures of our progress. :)

Living room upstairs. Originally I had wanted to move the piano to the otherside of the room but that also meant that we had to find a new place for the huge desk that currently occupies the space. The reason for this is because of how crowded it was. I wish I had a previous picture that I could use to show you how awful it was before. I never wanted to be there! But Mike just moved a couple of things around and tada!! Much more open and Sarah-style.

Dining room

Dining room/huge desk that doesn't need to be taken apart and moved (right now)!

Upstairs bathroom. I have been wanting to keep everything white and more spa-like and I finally have collected enough hand and body towels that we can keep it looking like this on a regular basis. It's so nice when it is clean like this!

 Our bedroom. We finally cleaned up the piles of clothes that didn't have homes and now I like being in this room too! But wait - there's more!

Our closet is even clean!!! Truly prevents the headache I develop every morning as I stare in here all groggy and sleepy. I also went through and took out all my post-pregnancy-only clothes so I don't have to sadly look at what I can't wear for the next 5-7 months. Plus that opened up a ton of room for all the new clothes my family loaded me up with! Thank you family for taking care of me :).

 Guest bedroom upstairs. This room is soon to be converted into the baby room but for now it is still the guest bedroom. Not much has changed, but it's significantly cleaner than it was before! Can't wait to start the transformation...

Living room downstairs. New tv (looks so small from the stairs! but is actually a 50 in). Clean, neat, without a bunch of clutter. We could use a bit more in this room but I am not rushing it... I know how easy it is to go overboard and end up with too much! Mostly just notice how wonderfully clean it is.

 See those track lights? Those are one of the projects that Mike did today! We got them at Lowe's and they turned out way better than I was even hoping for. I didn't realize how dark the basement was until he turned those on. Plus they make that painting look amazing.

 Track lights from the bathroom looking up.

 I just have to show you how organized I am for Christmas next year. I took the time to carefully put everything away in order of the room things belong to. That way when I put decorations up (with a little one occupying my time) I won't have a chaotic mess like I had this year! I also set this closet up so that all my gift wrapping, Christmas and otherwise, is easily accessible. I have tons of bows, wrapping paper, and tissue paper and now it is all in one spot. It looks messy, but it is a super organized mess and makes me happy just looking at it!

Bathroom downstairs. Picture hung? Check! Towel rack up? Check! Room looking finished? CHECK!

 Oh, and did I mention that Mike got me flowers for my birthday and they are still going strong? Looked nice in here so there they sit!

What is that big piece of wood that is blocking this picture?

Ahh it is the shelf that Mike put up for storage in the laundry room! Again, wish I had a picture to properly show you the mess this room was before. He also plans on putting in a sink and more shelves above all of that on the otherside. This room is so functionable that I can hardly stand it. Dare I say that laundry is not such a chore in here??

Oh mini fridge, how we meet again. This fridge was for Mike's dorm room but it serves a wonderful purpose in the lower level. I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be able to walk in there and grab a bottled water instead of going all the way upstairs everytime my glass gets empty. Add the future sink to that and I may never come upstairs again!

As I told a colleague at work - "do you know how much water it takes to make a baby?!"

Well that is it for now! I am so much happier with the way things are set up - baby room doesn't seem so overwhelming anymore. Well... we'll see if I still think that after I start looking for all the things we need online. Yes, I am a huge online shopper. But lets just remember how much there is out there!! I might need a pep talk or two in the near future!