Making Progress

Get ready for lots of pictures!!!

Last weekend my Mom, sister, and I went on a little "junking" girl getaway and I picked up a ton of loot! Now, usually, said loot will sit around unpacked for a while, then gradually drift into random piles around the house and in the laundry room, and eventually maybe if it's lucky get worked on halfheartedly for a little while. Usually my loot doesn't see the light of day in the way I envisioned it at the store--but lately I have been DETERMINED!!!! Determined to turn this builder's beige box into something I like, and maybe even love, and do it somewhat inexpensively. So here are my first bits of progress. And I must say I really really like how it's coming out so far.

The Loot:
Lots of candles, a basket, an old lamp, some metal medallion things, a knob and some coatsters from Anthropologie, a bucket, a pitcher, and some fabric to cover the tons of pillows that my Mom dug up for me. I also got 3 quarts of paint, a "priceless" side table, and a few other little things. It was all pretty disjointed and random.






Below is the "priceless" table. I bought it at a flea market on Hwy.49, the type with different booths. My mom and I found it and each assumed that the other examined it closely, when neither of us actually did. So as we loaded it into our car we noticed how cheap/shabby/not worth the money I paid for it, it was, but it was too late. So I had a lot of buyer's remorse, and Brian has ragged me A LOT about it, but oh well. We now have a cheap/shabby/too expensive/but now sorta cute side table. I painted it a greenish-blueish color that was BAAAAD as you can see below. It was very early-nineties seafoam green! UGH! Then I repainted in white, and now it's pretty cute.





And here are all of the afters: Some things are still in progress. I want to put something in the bucket on the side table, but I'm not sure what. I want to add something to the painting over the shelves, again, I don't know what. And the window treatment is OK--I just used leftover fabric from the pillows and some ribbon I had, it'll do for now.








I'm really happy with the progress I've made in the past couple weeks, and I hope I'll be able to make more in the next few weeks. If anybody has any suggestions about what to put in the bucket or to add to the painting let me know.

Some projects I am looking forward to are putting some iron on letters and designs on the canvas pillows and painting something to go between our front door and the window. We're also going to start looking for a new couch and chairs. Maybe a dark brown couch--I think the pillows will go well with that.

Building

We've been doing all kinds of building around here.

First Jack, Ali Grace and I built the world's most awesome castle. Jack was very proud of it, and couldn't wait to show his Daddy! Ali mostly tried to destroy it--but we managed to keep intact for most of the day which was no small feat.





Then Brian caught the building bug and has been working on a new big boy bed for Jack. Jack has been helping here and there. Tonight Brian brought the headboard and footboard into the kitchen so Jack could help fill the nail holes. They had fun. We got the plans for the bed from Anna at knockoffwood.blogspot.com. I've posted about her and her amazing plans before. Brian has modified her plans a little and the bed is coming out great! More pictures of that to come.

My First Pigtails

LOVE THIS GIRL!!!!!

So I'll Remember

It amazes me how much I've forgotten from when Jack, and even Ali Grace, was teeny. So in an effort to keep track of what they are like and who they are at each little stage, I want to post more about those little things--and big things that they do everyday. That is one of the main reasons I started this blog anyway.




Our big boy is busier than ever! He is changing daily into more and more of a boy and less of a baby! (Yes, I know he's almost three! THREE!!!) He is adamant that he is NOT a baby--but a big boy! He loves to play with his trucks, cars, and train set. He also pretends a lot--mostly having to do with hunting and crashing cars and other "boy things". It is hilarious how no matter what he's playing with--a torn up tortilla or broken crayons or actual bought toys-- crashes, bangs, and general mayhem always breaks out! He is such a little boy! He's starting to take on the big brother role too--as far as picking on Ali Grace goes anyway. He picks, pinches, pulls, and aggravates her like crazy. He's getting more independent too. He always wants to "do it by myself".

His likes: Screaming, running, guns, movies, going to church, yogurt, fruit, crackers, sausage, baths, watching hunting with Daddy, dancing wildly, laughing.

His dislikes: Going to the potty, sleeping, eating veggies, having his toys messed up by Ali, sharing.

Some of his latest catch phrases are:
Using "we" instead of "our"-- "Let's say we prayers." or "That's we house."
"I want to help toooo Mommy!"
"That mine!"
"How was your day, Daddy?"
"I's fine."
"That's my baby sister."
"Thank you Mommy for...cleaning up, cooking..." SO SWEET!
"I wanna watch Spiritathawild" (Spirit of the Wild)
"I sit wit you Mommy."
"Let's shide from Daddy!" (hide)
"I's a fast runner Mommy!" Yes Jack you ARE!

As far as milestones go, we're still slowly working on potty training. He'll go when we put him on the potty, but he will not tell us he has to go, or say yes when we ask if he needs to. We're hoping to get him to wearing diapers only at nap time and at night by thte time the new baby arrives.

LOVE HIM!




This little girl is one of a kind and we are all just smitten with her. It seems like her little personality just gets bigger and bigger every day! She will we 17 months old tomorrow, and I can't imagine our life without her in it. She is hilarious!!!!! Drama is always right around the corner with her--crying, thrashing on the floor, pouting, screaming--all of it can start one second and then be over and done the next. She is definitely a girl! She loves to read! He favorite book has been a "My first Dictionary" for some time now. She loves the pictures, and wants to know "what's dat" through the whole book--and the whole day for that matter. She's very smart too--she can say a TON of words, and will name things in books like helicopter, baby, hat, bear... She is quite demanding and LOUD!!! If she's in her crib awake for too long she will yell, "Come ON!" She's just starting to play on her own some and it is sooo precious! I love just watching he when she doesn't know it. Earlier today she sat down on the floor, put a basket on her head and proceeded to feed her stuffed dog from a pot and cup. I was dying! She also has become a big copy cat--when the mood strickes her (usually during meal times) she does EVERYTHING that Jack does--finger up her nose, banging on her tray, shaking her head...etc.


Her current catch phrases are:
"I want....Daddy, Jack, Mommy, to draw, cracker, milk, TV, and everything else you can imagine."
"NO!"
"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
"What's dat!!!?"
"Dogs!" She loves to look for the neighborhood pack out the front window.
"Papa!" She looks at a picture with him in it all the time.
"I talk! I talk!" When I'm on the phone she always has to talk.
"O Kaaaaay Mommy/Daddy."
Saying no when she means yes--such a girl!

Her likes: Copying Jack, being loud, her pacifiers, fruit, yogurt, crackers, drawing, dogs, babies, talking, reading, running,talking on the phone, baths, being dramatic, dancing in Mommy's or Daddy's arms.

Her dislikes: Being told no.

She has hit a bunch of major milestones in the last few months--walking, talking, all that big stuff. She's running and making little sentences now. Who knows what will come next with her!!! Our funny girl!

I am very very very interested to see, first whether we're having a boy or girl, and also, how he or she will fit into the craziness that happens here every day. I honestly don't know how the baby will EVER sleep b/c these 2 are soooo loud! It's going to be interesting for sure! :)