Thursday, February 28, 2013

Updated Clubfoot Files

Just a quick note that I updated my clubfoot files info onto this tab.  Now it's easier to see everything in one place, chronologically, as we went through the treatment process.  I will keep updating it as we progress along.

Harper's Colorful Nursery: An Update - Plus LMWL W2!

I recently realized that the last time I shared a picture of Harper's nursery, it was a week before she was born (see it here along with all of the details).  It's evolved a lot since then, so I wanted to share updated pictures.  Mostly, it's changed with our needs and become more colorful.



Much better, no?



See that awesome bunting above the windows?  My friend Kacy made it for our shower, and I finally managed to put it up!  I love how colorful it is, and it's the first thing you see when you walk in.


My Ikea frames got upgraded.  Originally, they were silver.  Not sure what I was thinking - perhaps thinking they would match the gray curtain rod?  Either way, I decided they didn't fit in with the look of the room, so I sprayed them white.  I had planned on putting pictures of Harper in these after she was born, but the weeks slipped by and I never did it, and then she was old enough to where it just seemed weird to have pictures of her as a tiny baby when she was a moving, smiling, growing girl.  (The little frames on the shelf hold those kinds of pictures instead). 

So instead I just swapped out the teal paper with three somewhat coordinating pieces of scrapbook paper.  I love the look and the bold color it brings to that big wall.



Much more suited to this room!


Her shelf even got a little painted makeover.  I knew the cube bookshelf was a little plain, and so I finally got around to painting the front edge of it a fun purple.  It's funny, I set out to make this room teal and yellow, but pink and purple ended up sneaking their way into the room somehow, so it fit right in.  Turns out, I love the theme of just any color!



I'm still not in love with everything on there, but it works for now.

The toy boxes are relatively new.  


Well, really, I've had them for a long time.  In fact, I bought these storage boxes and others before anything else in the nursery.  I knew I wanted teal and fell in love with them (see it here).  I'd say all of those bins I got were one of the best things for this room.  I have redone those bins so many times as our needs evolved.  The bibs alone have moved from a bin in the closet to a bin in the dresser to the cube by the door.  The bins are mostly in the closet, but since these are cute enough, they have come out of hiding and provide easy toy corralling   We play in her room a lot, so this allows for easy access and easy clean up.

Can I just say... I love the glider.


I was not in love with it at first, thinking it was frumpy and didn't really match.  But man, is it comfortable.  I have spent many, many hours in this chair since that first complaining post about it, and I want to buy it an apology dinner.  I nursed Harper every single night in this, and many times during the day, and I was so grateful to have a comfy spot to sit during those weeks of multiple night feedings (so long ago, it seems!).  I still sit here for her dream feed each night.  I read her a bedtime story in this chair and sing her songs.  It has endured many spit up attacks and shows no signs.  It has yet to let me down.

The table got flipflopped based on use and the book bin is now there for easy access.


Her dresser area hasn't changed much.  I still love it for it's spaciousness, and the little purple bin works well for holding everything I need, from diapers and wipes to lotion, sanitizer, and diaper cream.  And see that awesome painting???  Tony's mom painted that for us.  I love it!  Harper has always loved looking at the color contrast on it, too.  

The lantern mobile has always been a big hit too.  It's my secret weapon when she gets fussy - I just bat at it and she watches it move.  (She tends to get fussy when I put clothes on her - this kid loves to be naked.  I wish it were summer!)
 I am still SO glad we removed teh door in favor of a curtain.  I sort of just did it because it seemed to be the trendy thing to do, but it's been so helpful.  I usually leave the curtain slightly open, and I can just toss dirty clothes/bibs/burp cloths into it easy from anywhere in the room.  I have also been known to keep one hand on Harper's head while she's on the changing pad and reach the rest of my body into the closet for more diapers or wipes.  This would be more difficult with a door I had to open and close constantly. 

Now, her closet was where this week's Live More With Less, courtesy of Emily at Imperfect, really came in.  While I do keep her room pretty organized and clean, the closet hadn't been really worked on in a few months.  And any mom of a baby knows how quickly things change in baby-closet world.  


7 Weeks to a Clean Home

I didn't take any before pictures, but imagine a pile of clothes on the floor that she had outgrown, disorganized bins, and wasted floor space.

I made a designated bin for Too Small clothes (aka - not the floor) and went through her 9 month box and got out those, since she's on her way out of 6 month stuff (I get so so so sad each time I do this!).




I rearranged so some bigger items, like the lion and dino toys and the bumbo seat, could have a place when I wanted them off the floor in her room. 



Her dresser also got a nice straightening and organizing.  It was much needed.


I also vacuumed and dusted. Woo!

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So there you have it.  A nursery, evolved.  I love this space and am so glad I've given it some extra attention this week.



Friday, February 22, 2013

Time Warp

When I have something that needs to be done, I do the sensible thing:  procrastinate and do everything else but that thing that needs doing.  This is especially true of anything that needs doing "at the desk" - meaning, I will be on Pinterest and Facebook and organizing stationary - not doing that one thing.  Today it came in the form of staring at my photo screen saver and seeing this gem - and then deciding it needed blogging about.


For some reason, I think I've put this on the blog before... but here it is again.  

1. Nice braid and jean shorts.  And good thing I tucked that oversized tshirt in.
2. Computer games!  For the win!
3. Mom's Glamour Shot.
4. Fax machine!
5. Corded phone!
6.  Huuuge computer with accompanying joystick for said computer games.

Thank you, October 2, 1995.

[this makes me realize I need to remember to take pictures of everyday life - it will be worth the laugh a few decades from now]

[also - Hi Grandma!]

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Live More With Less: Week 1



It's been a good week.  I've exercised every day this week, except one busy day (a day in which I chased my niece in the yard for approximately 24 seconds, in jeans - that counts, right?).  

My Runkeeper app says I went 18 miles, some walking, some running.  Two of those miles were a '3 minute/mile walk'... which basically means I left the app on while driving in a car.  So we'll go with 16 miles.  It helps that it's been great weather, but it's also nice to know it's a required part of my day, so it's not an "if," it's a "when."

So, as promised in this post, I joined Emily of Imperfect in tackling one room of my house this week, namely our bedroom.

7 Weeks to a Clean Home

In all honesty, this is what our bedroom can look like on any given day.


Keeping it real here people.

The problem is, we spend most of our time in the kitchen and living room.  Most of my daily efforts are focused on keeping up with those rooms, as they see the most daily wear.  I've been known to start sorting laundry on our bed in the morning, leave it unfinished, and not come back in there and see it until it's time for bed and Laundry Mountain is staring me in the face.  So then it gets shoved back in the basket, set on the floor, and ignored for three days.  But my dishes are clean!

I recently moved this room around, since I was totally bored by the way it was.  I'd like to note that this is NOT the most efficient layout of the room, but it works for now.

So here is my official 'before' picture and my list:



To Do:
- Reprimand husband and dog
- Dust all surfaces, art, curtains, lightswitches, etc
- Wipe down baseboards
- Vacuum under the bed (eew)
- Mop
- Fix the terrible green/black striped small dresser (more on that below)
- Remove clutter
- Fix up "nightstand" 
- Organize dresser
- Paint trim
- Lower brown frames/fill holes/paint

So, here's where we got:

  • Reprimand husband and dog - inserted cute baby instead
  • Dust all surfaces, art, curtains, lightswitches, etc - yes!  and eew.
  • Wipe down baseboards - yes!  a great feeling!
  • Vacuum under the bed (eew) - yes!  and eew. lots of dust bunnies. (fun factoid:  Tony insists on keeping this ridiculous wooden bat under the bed...as if he could actually find it if needed, and as if our two huge dogs wouldn't work better...)
  • Mop - yes!
  • Fix the terrible green/black striped small dresser (more on that below) - in process
  • Remove clutter - good enough
  • Fix up "nightstand" - made it work
  • Organize dresser - tbd
  • Paint trim - sorta
  • Lower brown frames/fill holes/paint - nope.


I didn't paint the entire trim (but would like to one day), but there was one window ledge that was so gross - from dogs looking out and a poor paint job from the prior owners.  The nasty window ledge before and after:




 We usually don't have room for a nightstand, but since I like to keep the video monitor by my bed for crazy-mom night checks (few and far between these days, but frequent in the early months!), I needed a nightstand.  

Those suckers are expensive!  So I worked with what I had and used a TV tray covered in a bed sheet and tied with a scarf (thanks Court!).  It aint pretty - but until we find something we like that's affordable (preferably at the thrift store), this is what I've got.  I gussied it up with a little dressing jar covered in scrap paper.  Don't judge my random reading selection I've got going right now...



The little teal toy basket is clutter, but it's my stash of distractions for Harper while she watches me pretend to fold laundry or get dressed.

The frames didn't get lowered.


They are holdovers from when the bed was on that wall.  I printed those pictures ages ago, and while they are nice, I want something with a little more color.  Or perhaps replace them altogether with one larger piece.  So they look ridiculous, but I didn't want to make new holes if I'm not going to keep them there.  I'm on the lookout, but don't want to rush-buy anything.  I also kinda hate the stuff on the dresser, but again, working with what I've got.

The closet and the dresser are going to be tackled in week 5.  

Now this dresser.  Remember this post, ohhh, like TWO years ago?  I asked you guys how I should paint this 90s monstrosity.  


The consensus was white with a stained top.  I was all for it.  Then I got knocked up and did nothing for the past year and a half.  Oy.  But this week, I finally got the process started.  However, thanks to weather and a six month old, it's not done.  Look for that post coming soon (but don't hold your breath).

So there you have it.  Freshened up bedroom.  It was so nice to finally give this room some love instead of neglecting it.

Here's what the next few weeks look like:


Week 1: Our Bedroom
Week 2: Guest Room
Week 3: Harper's Room
Week 4: Bathrooms
Week 5: Assorted Closets/ Laundry Room
Week 6: Outside
Week 7: Kitchen/Living Room (hopefully we will have finished up our big projects in there by then)

Saturday, February 16, 2013

A Great Day


Leave it to a perfect day in the middle of a dreary winter to make me feel so full, so alive.

The sky was crystal blue with fluffy little pouches of clouds.  The air was crisp, but not cold.  The sun was shining and the kind of excitement that's only possible on a Friday afternoon filled the air.  I had my favorite people in the world with me.



Windows were cast open.  Kids set loose to run free.  Babies trying out swings for the first time.



  Baby smiles, swings and tickles.





A day for counting blessings.




A great day.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Sacrifice






I've always given something up for Lent.  I have a lot of vices (ok, well, not terrible ones, but ones like fried foods and chocolate and Diet Coke and apathy), so it was never that difficult to find something.  Yet this year, as I was contemplating what to do, I was thinking about what was really the root of this act, and that is sacrifice.  Sure, I could give up any of the above, but what would be a greater sacrifice for me at this point in life would be to add something.  Something that would make me feel better, mentally and physically, and contribute positively to my life, while also requiring me to sacrifice time, energy, and couch-sitting.

I've never been a regular exerciser.  I have never viewed exercise as a regular, routine part of my life (as much as I wish I did...).  I never played sports growing up, so anything physical was like bonus points tacked on to my life - great if I did it, but not required or expected.  Believe me, I've expended much mental energy regretting this and wishing I had more motivation, but surprisingly, that has gotten me nowhere...


(A taste of my physical prowess...)

This Lent, I want to add in exercise, five times a week.  I know, that's sad - but the reality is, that will be a big sacrifice for me and will require discipline to achieve.  This will mean choosing to use morning nap time to do a video instead of drinking coffee and enjoying a nice shower.  It will mean taking an evening walk with Tony and Harper and the dogs when I would rather get things done at home.  But of course, it will be of such great benefit to me (and all of us).  And naturally, I'm writing it down here so I can't back out.  I'm committing to five days because I want to be realistic.  I hope to spend that exercise time re-centering myself and focusing on what's important.  I was given a healthy body and I don't want to waste it.

So it begins - ugh... ;)


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Also!! Emily over at Imperfect just posted about a challenge she is doing during Lent that hit me at just the right time, and I feel compelled to participate!


7 Weeks to a Clean Home

Choosing one area of your home each week, cleaning and addressing those little projects as a way to feel more content and happy with the things we have.  I need this.  I would say recently I've been pretty good about keeping our house clean (ish), and one of the great things about having a small house is it stays relatively decluttered out of necessity.  But there are definitely things I have been putting off and off, and this will be motivation to deep-clean and address the little things.

Here's how I'm going to tackle it:

Week 1: Our Bedroom
Week 2: Guest Room
Week 3: Harper's Room
Week 4: Bathrooms
Week 5: Assorted Closets/ Laundry Room
Week 6: Outside
Week 7: Kitchen/Living Room (hopefully we will have finished up our big projects in there by then)


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Drywall Dust

Well, we finally made some progress on our little kitchen DIY (we're opening up the doorway between our living room and kitchen).  We got derailed by a snow storm in Tennessee that forced my parents to delay their trip to come help us, but it finally got done (well, started!) two weekends ago.  

The difference is amazing.  I haven't taken any good shots yet, and technically it's still in-progress, but here are some action shots.


Things a baby doesn't nap through: reciprocating saw usage.

Who knew cutting a wall out was relatively easy?


We also took advantage of my dad's presence to put in 4 can lights in our living room to help brighten it up a bit (it's so dark with just the fan light).

Sawing the ceiling yay!

Tony crawling through attic insulation.
Yay extra room!!

It was a mess.  My mom and I were supervisors.  Since the cabinet previously sat over some time, and the new opening came out further, some new tile work was in order.  

Summary of the work thus far:  dusty.

Real pictures to come!

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