I can't remember if I already showed pictures of little L's nursery, so I'm going to do it again... just in case!
Also, yesterday got a lot better in the afternoon. I took the kids outside before lunch and made them take a short walk (with no stroller) and ride their bikes and play outside for about an hour. Then, somehow, the planets aligned and they ALL took a nap. It was miraculous!
D didn't get rained out, nor did he come home early, but he did get home about 6PM and I headed out at 6:30 and had dinner with some friends at The Melting Pot. It was much needed and a lot of fun.
Now, on to the pictures!
(The pictures start with me standing in the doorway and each one progresses to the right.)
The blanket I made is on the chair. I was/is planning to make a slip cover for the blue chair, but haven't done it yet. I may or may not get around to it.
Closet. She's set for awhile! Don't mind those big boxes - we have to hide Christmas presents somewhere!!
It has been one of THOSE days already and it's not even 10 AM. I am hoping, desperately, that it's going to pour buckets right about 3:30PM so that D will come home instead of playing football after work today. I may not even survive till then. I'm not even kidding.
It started with reading Green Eggs and Ham last night, and D promising the kids we could have that for breakfast. No big deal, I made green eggs and ham, which no one wanted to eat. The 2 year old dissolved into tears and screamed loudly that he wanted a banana, like I'm supposed to read his friggin' mind. Then EVERYONE wanted a banana, which at least they ate. The 2 year old had screaming fits at least 3 more times during breakfast, all over ridiculous things - like his brother looking at him or, in his words, "boddering" me.
They fought over whose turn it was to pick the cartoon. The baby climbed on the table approximately eleventy billion times and I finally put him down for an early nap. The 4 year old wanted a snack SEVEN times, despite not eating his breakfast - which was still on the table. (which he eventually ate, when I wouldn't let him have a pear) The 2 year old cried over his brother singing (apparently he's the only one allowed to), over jelly beans (cause I'm damn straight not giving an already whiny child candy!) and something about his brother eating a pear when he wanted him to eat an apple.
Then we had a 20 minute long screaming session when HE wanted an apple, but wouldn't go get a friggin' apple. (He is perfectly capable of opening the fridge - which he does 50+ times a day - and getting an apple out of the lowest drawer.) I finally got him the apple and then he FREAKED because he, apparently, "hates skin!" on his apples and wanted it "CUTTED!" OMG.
I cut the apple and apparently did not do it correctly so that was another screaming session that ended with me hyperventilating and shaking in the laundry room (trying not to lose it on that little person) and him screaming and flipping out in the kitchen.
And although he couldn't get his own apple, he is now getting a pear out of the fridge that he was incapable of opening 20 minutes ago. And he hasn't finished his apple. **Please pause for another 20 minute tantrum wherein I won't let my STARVING child get MORE food **
And the baby is waking up and that means the marathon of "don't climb that. get down. don't rip that. NO! what's in your mouth?! EW - don't play in the trash/cat bowl/toilet." is about to start again.
There's more, but lets not go into all the fun that is my life right now, k?
Living room - after (Obv - we're not done - hence the plastic, tape, and furniture in disarray) Standing in the entry, looking in.
Standing by the back doors, looking to the front.
We're trying to decide if we should just leave the one wall orange (mincemeat) or go ahead and paint the other large wall. (in the picture above) We won't paint the whole living room, but I just can't decide what to do.
What do you think? Leave it or add orange to the wall on the left too?
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I'm going to complain about pregnancy right now so if you'd rather skip it you really should stop reading now.
I have a long list of things that are so bothersome to me right now! * Restless Leg Syndrome. MOST annoying thing ever - especially since I previously thought it was mostly made up. * Contractions. I was hoping for a few more weeks before all the annoying contractions started. * Hip pain. * Back pain. * Tailbone pain. * Pelvic pain. * Swollen feet and fingers. * Aching knees, legs, feet. * Shoulders and hips falling asleep at night and making me struggle to turn over every 154 seconds. * Daily headaches. * Mild nausea, almost like morning sickness, except more mild - thankfully. * Lack of energy. * 6-ish weeks to go. * Crazy emotions. No patience. Kids who always test patience...
OK - I feel better now. Well, not really, but at least I got that out. Sorry.
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OK - you can come back now.
Vaccines. Oooooh, it's a touchy subject, huh?
Here is my stance:
I don't think all vaccines are bad, and I don't think all vaccines are good and/or necessary. We never get the flu shot, as it's one that I don't feel is necessary or beneficial. That's just my choice. We won't be getting the H1N1 either, because it falls into the same category. In any case, it's not available here and won't be till December (from what I've heard). My kids are fully vaccinated, however. They do not receive flu shots or the "voluntary" shots that are not state mandated. I'm comfortable with my decision. What I'm sick of is the media. This swine flu thing is so hyped up that people are freaking out! I know of several people who have had it and it's been mild, many have said it's not even as bad as the "regular" flu. Granted, there are people that have died, as there are people who die EVERY year from the flu. We are, of course, taking precautions. We're staying away from crowded, germy places like the mall play area. We're washing hands more frequently. We're all taking our vitamins and eating healthy - for the most part. We don't WANT to catch the flu! Who does?!
All that to say, everyone has a choice. What's important is that YOU are comfortable with YOUR choice.
* We now have 3 rooms taped off and not one room totally finished. We'll get there...
* I had an OB appointment yesterday. She said if I keep having episodes of contractions, like I have been the last few nights, to go into L&D and get monitored. That kind of freaked me out, but I think it's probably not a huge deal. They are mostly BH contractions, and not the REAL ones. (just some of them are "real") Still, it's a good excuse to take it easy in the evenings.
* D thought she was over-reacting. You know, because he has a medical degree and all that. The man is completely clueless sometimes. Oh -- to trade bodies with him for just ONE DAY...
* It's raining. Again.
* We have our annual Halloween Party for my mom's group tomorrow. I'll show you the boys' costumes tomorrow!
* We've been going through 2 dozen eggs each week. And I'm not even baking.
* Christmas shopping is almost done. I'm running out of places to hide things.
I'm sitting in the nursery as I type this. Not because I particularly want to, but because it's directly across from O's room and I can put him back in bed every time he gets up. (approximately eleventy billion times, or, for about 2 hours EVERY DAY)
Since I'm sitting here, I took the opportunity to look around. This room is almost like another planet to me. Everything is girly. It's pinks and greens and teeny clothes and flowers and hair bows and shoes that I know we will never use, but are just so stinkin' cute. I made Little L's baby blanket last night and it was nice to cross one more thing of my to-do list.
I was thinking... her room is done now, her blanket is made, her clothes are ready, baby book bought, and really all I have left to do is cook her for another 6-7 weeks and voila! Baby time!
Then I realized that I still need to pack my hospital bag (which seems to require less each time I have a baby), finish painting the living room and kitchen (which gets less probable and more difficult as each day passes), and shouldn't I hire a maid? Oh, and finish shopping for stocking stuffers. Where to hide that one big gift... Mom's group responsibilities... What about Christmas dinner? I guess I should really pre-register at the hospital too.
Are we ever really ready?
This isn't my first go-round, and to say I've learned a lot about parenting, kids and myself is a serious understatement. I don't care how many times you've babysat, nannied, or practically raised younger siblings or other family members - NOTHING can prepare you to be a parent.
Sure, you can learn skills. (and they are valuable - no doubt!) But, the emotional and physical and LIFE changes you experience when you have a baby are just unfathomable. Those kinds of things are less of a shock to the system when you've done this a time or two (or three) - but it's still an adjustment.
When I was pregnant with #3, everyone told me that after you have 2 you might as well keep going because it's really no different. I did NOT find this to be the case at all. Transitioning from 2 to 3 was extremely difficult for me. (Hard enough that I was not sure that there would be a "next time.")
So, we're preparing to meet the newest member of our family in 6 or 7 short weeks. 50 days, give or take. I'm not as nervous about the changes that may come as I've been in the past. I'd gladly skip right ahead to the weeks after Thanksgiving if someone would let me. However, I know it will be here soon enough. Ready or not - she's coming! I think I'm ready.
When I got engaged at the ripe old age of 19, I didn't really know what marriage was about. There is no way I could have looked 9 years into the future and predicted what our life would be like.
There is just no way to prepare for cross country moves, career changes, 4 kids and life's little curve balls. I wouldn't have believed anyone who told me that one little word (really?! As in, "I just vacuumed." Him,"Really!?") or someone refusing to put the dishes in the garbage disposal side of the sink would be ISSUES one day. Not ISSUES, but you know...
Not that we don't have those too...
Who would have guessed that someone who, at 19 or 20, was always late and never remembered to call - would be the same way at 29? Maybe I should have guessed it.
If someone had told me that by the time I reached 28 I would be alternating between feeling perfectly happy and feeling completely lost - I wouldn't have understood.
Pregnancy is never a good time for me to evaluate our marriage. It always comes up short. My feelings are too sensitive and all the little things are suddenly BIG THINGS. D doesn't change, but I need him to. If only I could trade bodies with him for a week during each trimester and the post-partum period. It'd be good for both of us.
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I've been reading the Simple Marriage site. This piece in particular spoke to me, loud and clear. It's called: 13 Ways to Make Your Spouse Hate Sex
#1, #5 and #13 made me want to cry, because they are so true. I'm probably guilty of some of those though too... 7... 10 sometimes.... Read it. But don't judge me about #10. heh
I sent it to D this morning.
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Here's another good one, if you're interested: 6 Marriage Myths ~ For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked. - Bill Cosby
1- Vaccine pushing. All the flu shot commercials. What is up with the huge push this year? It's driving me nuts.
2 - Clouds. The sun hasn't bothered to come out all week. I do appreciate the cooler weather though.
3 - Bathroom stuff. The boys' bathroom always smells like pee, no matter how often I clean it.
4 - Kid stuff. C can say "T. E. LONE" but can't seem to actually LEAVE THE TV ALONE. He can't stop pulling all the books off of the bookshelves either. Or the movies. Or stop climbing on everything.
5 - Eating. I can spend the time to get the kids all a meal and when I finally sit down to eat MY meal, they are begging for every bite, despite not eating their own.
6 - More eating. They want to eat every 15 minutes. Seriously. I should just install a trough full of goldfish, cheese sticks and dried fruit somewhere.
7 - Crafts that aren't really for kids. Every craft we do involves 20 minutes of work for me, and 5 minutes of fun for them. Then another 10 minutes of clean up. Who is this craft for anyway?
8 - Dr. Phil's mommy wars. Seriously? I think as adults we can all just do what works for us and understand that that's what other people do too.
9 - Husbands telling pregnant partners that they are too tired. My husband was too tired to paint last night, after I'd painted for HOURS by myself and even did parts that required a ladder (Don't tell my dr! Or my mom!) and could barely walk. Oh yeah, and I'm pregnant. But HE'S too tired. He hates painting. (What are the chances this will ever get finished? )
10 - Things that don't work out. I finally, finally bit the bullet and bought some expensive, supportive shoes from Zappo's and they came in the mail and guess what? I hate them. They are not cute like they looked online. They are half a size too big too... my fault. Good thing they have free returns/shipping.
11 - Gender stuff. People act like having a girl after 3 boys is the greatest thing that could ever happen. Sure, I am HAPPY to be having a girl. I am excited!! But I wouldn't have been depressed about a boy. I would not have kept trying. This was going to be our last baby, boy or girl. We weren't specifically trying for a girl, though we talked about it. Boys are great too.
Painting updates! We're *almost* finished with the dining room. When we got to the store we found that the paint samples were a little different than online. We decided to go with Birch Forest for the dining room.
Before:
After:
Here is the entry way. You can see that it's next to the dining room, so the way it looks next to the green is important.
Here is the color we chose. It's called Brick Dust. With a primer under it, it will be a truer color and less pink-ish. I love this color, and pulled for it in a bigger room but D is very reluctant about the red.
Here is where I need help!!! This is our living room. We plan on painting the 2 long walls and then evaluating whether or not we want to paint the 2 shorter walls.
This picture is taken standing by the front door, in the entry way. You can see my color swatch on the wall by the window.
Ignore the toys...
This one is taken standing by the back french doors you saw in the other picture. The red and the color we choose for the living room will touch, so they need to be compatible too.
Here's where I get nervous. The color is called Mincemeat. I really, really liked it in the store. I STILL really like. But... it's orange. I am not sure I'm bold enough to paint half of this huge living room orange. It matches the colors in the rug. It goes with the other paint we've chosen.
But. It's ORANGE.
It will be slightly less orange, a deeper color, with the primer under it. And it's just paint, so if we get one wall done and hate it we can always choose something else, right?
* I'm going to a Passion Party tonight. If you don't know what that is, I'm not telling you because you can probably guess. Should be interesting and fun!
* I let my kids have popcorn for breakfast because I couldn't think of a reason why they couldn't and also because we're out of fresh fruit, cereal and eggs.
* I need to go to the store.
* It's supposed to be almost 90 degrees today and although this is probably close to normal for this time of year, I've really been enjoying our 72 degree days!! Come back fall!!
* I'm so tired of the flu shot commercials and endorsements from a certain family member. We're not getting one, OK?! Stop bugging me!
* I still haven't made L a baby blanket. I've made one for all the kids before they were born and I haven't even bought the material for L's yet.
* Amazon could help a mama out by sending all toys in BROWN boxes instead of boxes with pictures of the toy plastered all over them. Especially in the Christmas-this-could-be-from-Santa season.
* The cat has a habit of jumping into the bathtub after the kids are done and drinking the water drops left by the drain. This is fine, except when someone forgets to pull the plug. Whoops.
How is it that it's ONLY Thursday and ALREADY Thursday? It's been a long week, but full and busy too.
We've had 4 play dates, met new people, had fun with "old" people and I'm freaking.exhausted. My kids have had so much fun, and yet they are SO whiny and naughty today. I told D I was leaving him because his kids are brats. (I was kidding about half of that statement. You can guess which.)
It's not helping that I'm so worn out. I'm just tired. My back hurts if I stand too long. My feet hurt if I walk too much. My hips hurt if I lay too long. My tailbone hurts if I sit too long, no matter how soft the surface. I've reached the beached whale stage so getting up and down is a chore in and of itself. The smallest child is nearly 30 lbs and 2 of the children still want to get picked up on a regular basis, although less than before, just out of sheer necessity. Nothing is comfortable. My patience and tolerance are definitely running low. Very, dangerously, low.
Now that we have a little time and the money from selling our other house, we are doing some of the improvements we've been putting off for 2 years.
1 - Dining room table. We've never bought dining room furniture. Our current table seats 4, and sits in the kitchen and came from a garage sale. We bought a new table yesterday and here it is! (PS- furniture shopping with children sucks.)
We got the table with 6 chairs and the long bench pictured. When we have company we'll use the bench and the leaf to extend the table. I'm so excited! We'll be able to seat at least 10 now!! We won't get the table for about 3 weeks, but that will give us time to paint. Re: paint. See below and help me!!
2 - Paint. What do you think of these colors? They are slightly muted/fuzzy because I had to take a screen shot and enlarge it, so imagine them a little deeper. The first one is called Rum Punch and we're thinking about putting it in the entry way. This room touches both the dining room and living room so it has to go well with colors 2 and 3. Color 2 is Cider Toddy and it's for the living room. We have a gigantic living room and we're considering painting only the 2 biggest walls, and then deciding if we want to paint the rest, or leave it. The green, Guacamole, is for the dining room. All of these colors appear in the 2 rugs we already had in the house, and the new rug we got yesterday, and also appear in accents on the wall, vases, etc. Thoughts? Do you think the colors go well together? (We spent hours looking at colors online and my big fear is we'll go to the store and they won't look the same. )
The 2 last colors are called Sunbeam and Butter. These are the two colors in contention for the kitchen. They are both very similar to the color already here, but the color we have is flat and not "wipe-able." D likes Sunbeam, but I prefer Butter since it's a TAD less yellow. They're pretty similar though... what do you think?
In one long hour, my time as a "single" parent this week will be done. D had to travel for work this week, and left around 4AM Tuesday morning and will get back this morning. It's been a long week.
(Yes, I realize that 3-ish days and 3 nights is not all that long in the scheme of things. Yes, I realize that there are parents that do this on a regular basis and/or for MUCH longer. Please do not feel free to point out what a wimp I am, K?
I'm 30 weeks pregnant with a 4.5 year old, a 2.5 year old and a 16 month old. For me, it was hard. )
The kids were pretty good; we tried to stay busy on days D was gone, especially the evenings. I didn't actually cook (besides macaroni, eggs, and kid stuff) the whole time he was gone. I did find it harder to keep the house clean, but there was less laundry and I didn't *care* about the house being clean as much. Apparently, the main reason I pick up is so I don't have to see "that look" on his face when he walks in the living room. heh
The nights were harder. I never sleep soundly when he's gone, even with our alarm system and and with Penny here - who is a fabulous watch dog. I'm pretty exhausted, and D took the red eye so he's going to be tired too and I bet I can guess who's going to get a nap. I plan on taking myself to the grocery store, the pets to the vet for their annual shots and O is due for a shot that he needed 6 months ago. (oops) No rest for the weary...
C & O took this week as an opportunity to wake up at 5:30AM EVERY DAY, despite poor or non-existent naps. Besides torturing me through not sleeping - they were pretty good.
However, the children are beyond what I could call whiny this morning and I've given up trying to reason with them. It's cartoon time till Daddy gets home!
Did I mention that I'm 30 weeks pregnant? That means that I, most likely, have 9 weeks left. NINE is a SINGLE DIGIT. That's like... barely over 60 DAYS. (I realize I could have 10, or god forbid, 11 weeks left. Let's not focus on that...)
I haven't posted many belly shots this time around, mostly because I hardly ever feel like getting dressed and my weight gain has already reached a depressing 25 lbs and I've never been one to slow down near the end. Nevertheless, here's a (small) 30 week picture.
