To Blog of Not to Blog...that is the question.

Finally got to a project. It only took a month after Emmi was born! And I didn't get to do it as extravagantly as I had pictured. But I am still pleased.

I purchased this old milk jug off and online garage sale. Actually I got two for $10. I have so far only up-cycled one of them though.

It looks much better all one color I think. I don't love this color but I was trying to pick a color that matched our house. And of course I can and will spray paint it another color later for a different project.

1.50 for this wreath at a thrift store. Flowers and ribbon from the dollar store. "Z" from Michaels. This project took 5 minutes and cost about $7. I wanted to paint the "z" and I want to make the flowers and wrap the wreath in burlap fabric...however, this is what I had time for.
And again,
I can and will change it up for a different project later!

I LOVE these flowers. Super cheap at Superstore. I wasn't ready to let winter take over.

Here is the painted jug with sticks, flowers and pumpkins.

I couldn't get far enough away to get a proper picture of our welcoming Fall doorway. There are the 3 potted flowers to the left and then the sticks pumpkins and yellow flowers to the right. I loved decorating up this door.

Ode to Grammas...

OH how special and wonderful...

How loving...

How helpful...

What a blessing they are to both myself and my girls.

...and don't forget grampas...


Great grampa Les fed Emmi Grace her very first formula.

I am trying to eat more vegetables.
After easily dropping20 pounds post baby, the weight loss has slowed to an almost stop.
ARGH!

Now I have to actually try to get rid of the rest. Only 25 more too go.
I ordered an exercise program today and purged the fridge of naughty food and prepared my list of healthy snacks. No more excuses!!!

But somebody else in the house is supposed to be chubby...
and oh how wonderfully chubby she is. 10 pounds at 6 weeks. that is 3 weeks faster than her older sister hit 10 pounds!
Shes a great little eater my Emmi Grace.

And it had to happen. Only took 2 months before the crayon migrated to the wall. I am actually kinda impressed that it took so long. And it hasn't happened since.
My kid does listen sometimes!!!

My wonderful little artist Elliott Evelyn.
So much fun this girl is. She makes me laugh every day.
My heart is full.











Life is sweet.

Life is a whirlwind

 Going from one baby to two babies has been an adjustment. I wouldn't say that is has been overly shocking. It is about as much work as I thought it was going to be. I don't think I had my self fooled into thinking it was easy. I know what I signed up for and it has been just that...a perfect combination of crazy and delightful!
I wouldn't trade this time for the world. Although my stance changes from 3-5 a.m.each morning.

 Emmi is 4 weeks and 1 day old. Things are feeling quite normal now, like she has always been here.
I am so very very thankful for both sets of parents who provide us with lots of love,support, and Elliott entertaining.
Helps keep me balanced and energized to do the job of raising my beautiful daughters.


My husband is absolutely amazing at both parenting and husbanding. He gives me as much time to myself as he can. It's amazing how a few hours out every few days can recharge me.
And of course he "supports"(and I use that term loosely)my shopping habits.

I would be lying if I said that getting ready and out of the house with 2 little ones is easy. It is not.
It really really is not.
In fact, it's the one part of this life change that intimidates me.
By the time I have myself and them ready and heading to the car, I'm usually late and so frustrated I could scream.
And I am very tempted to just stay home at that point.

But I persevere.
I persevere because getting out is good for me and for my sweet toddler. Elliott is a social girl and I don't like her to have to stay home too many days in a row without at least getting to the park or something!

Life is good. The adjustment has been quite smooth considering the enormousness of it.

So, I had a baby Emmi

 I went and visited my midwife on Monday, August 20,2012 and asked her if she would check me to see if I was having any progress.
I had been cramping for days so I was hopeful that something would be going on.
She informed me that things were at about 50% and then asked me if  I'd like my membranes swept.
Ew, I know, but to anyone who has ever been pregnant forever those words are music to their ears.
I quickly agreed and left with a bounce in my waddle.
That evening I had some cramping and that was it. Nothing exciting.
A little disappointing however I told myself that 50% plus whatever the sweep did is definitely on the way to a baby.

 I saw the midwife again on Friday the 24th at 10am. She checked me again and told me that my cervix was "most favorable" so after another sweep I was instructed on how to make the labor cocktail and off I went to pick up the ingredients.

Since I responded to the cocktail in an hour with Elliott, Karen asked me to wait to take it until 1:00 because she had some errands to do and needed some time.
Good thing she told me that...

 I responded within the hour and by 3:30 I was feeling pretty ready to head to the hospital. My biggest worry was being stuck in the truck in active labor. I remembered the ride to the hospital with Elliott and did NOT want a repeat of the intensity of that trip.

When we got to the hospital at 4 things were really heating up. Karin checked me at 4:15 and informed me that I was 3 cm. I was a little surprised as my contractions were so close together and I was feeling them for sure.

 I had what seemed like only a few more and then when she checked me again she said I should stay up for a few more contractions to let gravity work for me rather than getting in the birthing tub. What I didn't hear her say was that I was at 4 cm. I believe this was Gods' sweet mercy because I would have been discouraged and worried about how much "worse" it was going to get as I was already in a lot of pain.
I stayed upright for maybe 3 more contractions and than my water broke on the floor. I was standing up leaning over the bed. At this point I started to rock my hips side to side like a crazy fat stripper and Ray informed me later that that was the point where he knew it was go time.
Next contraction I felt the urge to go number two if you know what I'm saying. I hobbled to the toilet and asked if I should. Karin said, "only if you don't have to push."
Hmmmm...

 um, ya. no thank you
I'm not having my kid in the toilet.

So I jumped up as fast as a preggo can and got in the tub.

Thank God Almighty I made it!!!

I proceeded to have one crazy ass long contraction that shot my sweet Emmi Grace across the tub! (I might be exaggerating a tad here but it truly was one push!)

 I was told later by Karin that from the time she checked me at 4cm to the time I was holding Emmi was 38 minutes. From the time my water broke until I was holding her in the tub was 3 minutes.

Insane.

I was in total shock and didn't really take Emmi in until after she fed which must of been about 25 mins after she was born???

She is beautiful. She was and is perfect. My teeny girl. 6lbs 11oz and 19 inches long.

I am so in love with her. I look at my girls and my heart swells with pride and love and all sorts of wonderful feelings that only Elliott and Emmi could bring me.
My life is full and blessed and wonderful.
I am grateful to my sweet awesome Lord for blessing me so richly in this life He gave me.

My favorite people!

My perfect Emmi.

Happiness is this.

According to the ticker...

Well according to the ticker at the top of my blog page I've got about 11 days to go. That is 11 too many if  you ask me. I'm ready tonight...or at least I think I am.
My body is aching in ways I never thought possible and I am just too dang fat to be comfortable. Can't wait to meet this little miss.

From this teeny bean...

Too giving mama some stretch marks!!!

From this....

...to this...

...it just happens so fast!
Life is such a gift to treasure.
I am so blessed to have my girls and my wonderful husband.
Life just keeps getting better and better.

...this baby is coming...
the signs are there...
it's just a matter of time now...

Kids

I just had a very tiring one sided conversation with the little boys who live across the fence in the backyard...actually he's still talking but now I'm just saying "oh ya" at random and that seems to be pacifying him. Apparently they are both 6 and they go to Hart Highlands Elementary and they both have sister, and they blah blah blah...oh dear Lord!!!!! How exciting when Elliott starts talking!!! Or how about when Elliott AND Emmi start talking non stop...at the SAME time???

Oh the fun.

 Here is Emmi in my belly at 37 weeks. The bigger I get the more motivated to dress up with hair and makeup so as to feel pretty despite being ginormous.

 Next summer I will so be fixing this tan. My belly is about 100 shades lighter than my arms and legs. My thighs too actually. They haven't seen much of the sun this summer. It's been so beautiful out, but unfortunately I am too uncomfortable and hot to enjoy these sunny days anymore. Well, I enjoy them from the comfort of my AC'd bedroom. Thank you awesome husband.
Only 2-5 weeks left to go...I'm trying to be realistic and not get my hopes up about going early. Although I see the midwife tomorrow so maybe she will tell me stuff is happening where it should be? I'll keep you posted, whomever you are...

 My wonderful friend had her birthday celebration at my house this past Saturday. I didn't have to do anything! She hosted the whole shin dig and still bought me flowers? Nice gal, eh? I just love daisies of every kind and color. We had a blast and it was great to be distracted for an evening from my burgeoning belly.

 In other news...drab and boring news to many but not to me, I am growing off my nail enhancements with the intention to go a more natural route. hah!!! Just kidding! I am so going to purchase something like the CND Shellac gel nail system for my own personal use and then later on for clients when Emmi is a bit older and my leg is better. So I won't be doing extensions, however I will be able to offer my clients nails that last up to 3 weeks instead of a 5 day manicure. I am very excited about this...for my spa but also for my own girly pleasure.

But baby in the meantime...

Good ol fashion paint will have to do. Notice the blingy ring Ray let me buy so that people would know I'm married(my wedding set quit fitting about 2 months ago...dang you swollen fingers!). It shines brighter still with the sparkly polish. I am such a girl.

I've been blogging mostly of fun projects and DIY crafts and the like as of late. And I was working on a gorgeous antique dresser to redo my spare room when Danielle moves back to Vancouver. Alas, my projects have come to a bit of a standstill. Very disappointing. But it's not to say that they won't be picked up again as soon as physically possible. I am just plain tired and very pregnant at this point. My energy goes towards Elliott and Emmi and just making it thru the day with some semblance of order at this point.

Life goes on :)

I am in love with my sewing machine!

Here is my second attempt at the Bow Pillow. I like this one better than the one that I did for Emmi's room mostly because I like the simplicity of this fabric better. This wonderful fabric that I purchased for $4.50 for 4.5 yards at St. Vincents :)

I may have just rekindled my love for small out of the way thrift stores.
I found a boat load of stuff to refurbish and up-cyle. I'm so excited for my next project!

I got the idea for this pillow from this blog. And although I didn't even read her instructions, I still must give credit where credit is due. Really I just saw her photo and made it up as I went.

I ran a line down the ribbon with my sewing machine and then scrunched it down. Super easy. I will most definitely be making more of this one in the near future.

I purchased this chair from a FB seller for $50. I recycled some black curtains and an old chair cushion that I had sitting in the crawl space to make the seat for it.
I am very happy with how this project turned out. It is in Elliott's room for when her daddy cuddles her at night. She wakes up maybe once a month in the middle of the night for daddy snuggles...our sweet sleeper.

I finally found a lamp shade that would do for the lamp I recently posted about. I am happy with how this turned out too although I must say, finding a reasonably priced nice lamp shade in this town is difficult!
I settled for this plain white one from Walmart for $14.99 and then just bought two rolls of ribbon to embellish it my own self.

I will post another photo when it's all tied together in Emmi's room. Which I really better get on since I need to do some final touches to both my girls rooms before the monopolize all my time when they are both on the outside instead of just one!

Nesting is fun!

Ray pulled out all the baby paraphernalia for me to wash and disinfect. I'm starting to really feel like this baby is actually going to come out soon!

My very cool niecey poo, Miss Kaelen Olivia, knit this sweet little hat for Emmi. I can't wait to put it on her little head!

I woke up yesterday morning to a lovely surprise. My beautiful friend Lonnie, who is also super talented and creative, made me this sweet wreath for no reason. I love how it pops on our brown door!

I love pretty things. They make me smile :)

Miss Elliott makes me smile every day. She is so pretty een covered in dirt and grime. I just adore her and her baby sister!!!

Mamas' day out

Since SPD is causing me much discomfort in these late days of my pregnancy, my darling husband said to go ahead and get some more help. So Wednesdays off from now to the end seems like a great idea! My first one was this past hump day The whole day all to myself from 9 to 5. And even after 5 Ray still did all the work so it was more like a full day off mommy duties.

At first on dropping my sweet girl off at Aunty Rebekahs' house I was feeling a bit guilty. My need for rest is no reflection on my girls behavior. She is and always has been a delightful child with very few bad days. My need for rest comes from the pain in my body and the tiredness that comes with being in the last stage of a pregnancy. The guilt I think comes from believing that since I am the mom that I should be with her all the time whenever possible and that I am the best thing for her all the time. Pride maybe?
I realize this is simply not true and that other people in Elliott's life are detrimental to her turning into a well rounded little human. Anyhow... the guilt did eventually subside and I started my mamas day out with this view...

I went for a Pedicure at Core. It was luxurious and exactly what this tired Esthetician mama needed.
I am forever doing my own spa services well, because I can so why pay money. And although it was expensive, I am so glad I treated myself.

I had a lovely lunch date at Books n Co with the lovely Danielle followed by shopping in solitude for the rest of the afternoon. Shopping for all my fun projects that I have on the go.
So many ideas and so little energy!!!!

I love spray paint!

I love how spray paint can take a hideous lamp like this....

...and turn it into something magnificent and beautiful like this!

I on the lookout for the perfect shade to compliment this lovely new lamp. She will go in Emmi's room for now and then eventually maker her way down to my spare room I think. I am presently fantasizing about turning my spare room into a Shabby Chic getaway.
Alas, I may need to wait as these things take time, energy and cash...all of which I'm a little low on at the moment. But a girl can dream and plan and obsess right?

Here is to many more mamas' days out!