I guess it's time for an update

My belly feels ginormous! This sweet little baby kicks my book when I rest it there. Or my tea, or my arm, or its sibs head.
I quite like it actually.
The kicking that is, not the ginormous part.
Sometimes I look in the mirror and think to myself,"hey self, you don't look to bad" and then other times  I feel nasty large and out of shape. Round is a shape I know, however not the one I've strived for my entire life.

Here is belly bump at 29wks 3 dys. It's getting so close that it's mentally painful as well as physical. Mentally because I am so eager to be done. This pregnancy has not been a breeze. Well, it actually has been compared to most however it's my body so I can whine if  I want to. And  I do want to so I am done done done done done done DONE DONE DONE!!!

...only I'm not, and that sucks.

I just want to meet this little one and get my strength back.

Elliott is currently on the 3rd hour of her nap in her big girl room. She is wonderful!

This is a photo from last night. Only cried for 5 minutes at the door before she crawled up into her big bed and went to sleep.
I am so proud of her. She is so amazing to me every day.
Sat on her bed and talked and played by herself until daddy went in to get her this morning. It's funny because she could totally get down if she wanted to.

They say great minds think alike and fools rarely differ so there you have it. We all coordinated yesterday. Elliott and I on purpose and Ray on accident.
We are a good looking bunch if I don't say so myself.







Getting ready for a garage sale on Saturday and a bridal makeup party tonight. Baking cinnamon buns, cleaning house, and hanging with my girl. I love my life. Even when I feel whiny. I still love this wonderful life. We are very fortunate and very blessed.

Two For Two

Baked Pork Chops

I found this recipe for baked pork chops on Pinterest. I've been experimenting a bit more in the kitchen and you know what I've found? The more dinners I prepare, the better we have been eating. Seriously, I am feeling so healthy. My digestion has been better, I've had more energy, we've been wasting less food, I've been putting on less weight, feeling fuller and satisfied, and most importantly...I've been learning to cook and really enjoying it.

These Chops were a hit. Panko bread crumbs to make up a crust then seared in a pan and baked in a delicious cream of mushroom and red wine vinegar sauce. Served with baked seasoned potatoes, corn and tossed salad. Defreakinglicious! 

Definitely a recipe for the weekly rotation.

Yesterday was my first and successful I might add, attempt at cinnamon buns. I have to admit I was really nervous about this. I am not a natural in the kitchen and I have a hard time following the directions. I read and re read and still get it wrong. I almost wonder if I am dyslexic at recipe reading or something!

Not to say this attempt didn't have it's share of problems...

Here they are just out of the oven looking pretty normal right?

...and here they are rising before going in again looking pretty normal..

Crazyassdough!!!!

 

 

And here is the tea towel that went straight into the garbage along with the dish rag because the dough went insane and took over the kitchen and I was quite frightened that it was never going to stop growing and I think I shoulda used a bigger bowl and more flour because I accidentally gave it a mind of its own!!!!!

They did however turn out, and that is the wonderful and glorious point. I will absolutely be making them again! Jesse 1: crazyassdough 0!

Elliott's dresser slowly coming together. Dollar store pretty drawer liner just for fun.

Did I ever post the before photo? I can't remember now. Anyhow, it's coming along. I am quite pleased. The only not so great part is that the hardware has already chipped a bit from putting it back on. I'm confused about this because I really red the instructions and the products I used so they should be so solid. I may have to seek and experts opinion on the matter. But for now, they are on the dresser and as long as you don't look too closely, they are pleasing to the eye.

This girl is a never ending source of entertainment. She is obsessed with laundry and loves to put it all on no matter what it is. It's quite ridiculous. A pile of laundry will keep her busy and quite for up to an hour. It's a great babysitter.

I am having mixed feeling about moving her over to her new room. Not because I don't want her to grow up but more because I don't know if it's going to be hard and I don't know if we are ready for the challenge.
I'm already hating to discipline her and trust me when I say that she is needing it a LOT lately.
But when the tears stream down her face it breaks my heart and it's everything for me to remind myself that I am doing the right thing by not letting her get away with being a little brat.
But I've definitely done my share of praying for strength and convincing myself that I can do this. This being the enormous and frightening task of raising a little respectable and delightful human being.

...and then when I need a little pick-me-up...there are always the joys of being a lady. I have to say that a great hair cut, mani or pedi, outfit or any other number of wonderful girly things that make my life so very very fun are often available to me for my girl pleasure.
I so enjoy this life that God has given me. And I so get angry when I realize that I've been temporarily ungrateful for it.

I am blessed...so very very blessed.

Facebook gets a capital "F"

Frontal

I know I already posted two of these to Facebook, but what can I say, I'm stoked about this hairstyle.

My friend Erin is a hairdresser at La Tienda in Prince George and she is wonderful. She looked at the pick and made it happen.

From the side slightly

Just down with a few light curls. She made it look so easy. I hope I can replicate the easy curls.

I feel like my face looks fat right now. And I'm not fishing either. I just am feeling the effects of 3rd trimester pregnancy. Sore hips and back. Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction. Lack of sleep due to constant peeing and mind racing.

I am truly looking forward to this baby being on the outside. Yes I know the challenges are still there only different, but at least I can start planning for surgery and getting the body back to it's strong tough and capable self.
I weigh less than I did at this point with Elliott. I'm feeling pretty good about that. Feeling pretty healthy despite being sore and tired.

Speaking of capable...and I may regret this...
but I did it anyway. Move a bunch of big stuff to the back of the crawlspace and also set up a table and carried some big stuff outside to paint this weekend.

Sometimes I just think if I just "do" then all of a sudden I'll just be able to do everything I could before. I'm just not interested in being decrepit. It's just not for me. I want to die old and healthy and still lifting my own boxes and exercising and getting my own groceries, cutting my own lawn. Stuff like that.
Accident or no, I won't give up on my goal of being a healthy fit old person. I want to live this life and really live it good.

She helps.

She is just so wonderful. I am so happy to give her a sibling and have my two babies. Life is wonderful and I am enjoying it.
I love how she reclines and crosses her ankles while she's chillin with her sippy watchin a fllick. She warms my heart and makes me smile.







I've got some projects lined up for this weekend. I'm going to finish Elliott's dresser and mirror and start on her dolly bed. It is a lot easier to get projects done when Ray is home to watch her.
Today I nearly had a breakdown trying to wax my underarms with her hanging out with me. She is just so curious and busy. I love her though, so I'll keep her forever and ever.
They did get waxed and with only a minor Elliott breakdown when I locked her out of my room for 2 minutes. 2 minutes that apparently hurt her feelings pretty bad.
She did get to help me put lotion on my legs this morning though, and then we put some on hers. I love my girly girl. She is one of my most favorite people to hang out with in this world even if we don't always see eye to eye on what we are going to do each day.

And she is currently having a nice long nap wherein mama got the house tidied, the projects set up and a HUGE junk of my spa/mama playroom cleaned out and the beginning of garage sale organizing started. Garage sale isn't until June 23rd but I want to be really prepared. It's part of spring cleaning and it feels oh so good.

I think I might be nesting, although, I sorta just am a putter so I guess I am always nesting. I just enjoy order and organization. I enjoy pretty things and making things pretty. Ray thinks I'm nuts I'm sure...but he's still here so maybe he must like it.

Planting flowers and playing outside

 I believe I purchased the hooks for these hanging baskets about 3 years ago. It's amazing how much I can procrastinate. I finally bought 2 $15 dollar hanging baskets from Superstore and got my dear husband to put them up for me. He did it however he had no smile on his face.
They look like baby petunias to me although I really don't know what they are.

 I went out with my good friend Sarah this Saturday and hit about 12 garage sales. I totally made out like a bandit. Sarah said I should've low balled everyone but I couldn't do it. The prices seemed good to me so I just paid them.
I got these 3extra large terracotta pots for $10. That's $10 for all 3! To buy these new at Home Depot or Walmart I would be looking at$35-$45 dollars a piece. That is why I've never bought them even though I've always had my eye on them.

At another garage sale they were selling petunias and marigolds 4 for $2. I spent $16 on flowers to fill these pots plus add some more to my other pots. Sweet deal!

 Every year I pretty much only buy petunias. And every year I say that I am going to buy something different or something that comes back every year so I can really get Ray's monies worth. And yet, I only buy petunias year after year. They are so faithful. I think I fear other flowers maybe not being so faithful.

This cute little hook and stand was left under our deck by the last owners. I'm so glad because I love it.

 I can't wait to get new trim, new door paint, new windows and new light fixtures to spruce up the outside of our place. Maybe next year...
In the meantime, the potted plants smell and look lovely and welcoming.

 Our deck, although functional and large enough for parties, is quite ugly and in need of a spruce up.
But again, maybe next year and in the meantime the potted flowers are so lovely.

 Mr Toad who Elliott likes to throw on the ground.

 My one hanging basket off the deck. Last owners left this here too. I'm glad. It's happy.

Danielle filled this garden bed with some veggies. Unfortunately I think she jumped the gun a bit because a lot of them are dead.
It still looks nice however not overgrown with weeds and grass.
I like to think that I will put my yard and flower pots away properly this year so that it will be much easier to pretty up the yard next spring...but I must give myself grace is it doesn't happen due to the toddler and the new baby :)

In the mean time, I am enjoying spending time with Elliott outside in the yard and taking care of my flowers, watching both my sweet girl and my belly grow right along with the petunias. Having kids and planting flowers are both rewarding pass times. I love my babies...and I love my flowers!