Nesting...It's taking over my life!

We've been shifting things around in our house a bit to accommodate the new babe.

And because of this I am the happy benefactor of a snazzy new "creating" space.

Another happy benefactor of a new space is Ms. Nanners. 

Her new room is three times the size of her last and now includes toys, a book wall, and her very own dress-up corner (donated by Nana).

And with all this new space and a mind that will not stop obsessing about projects,

I've been toiling away into the wee hours of the night "nesting."

Oh, it's a bonafide disorder--seriously...my mind...won't...stop...

 A few of the things that have been keeping me up at night:

This brilliant idea came from my visit to Jen's (who is seriously amazing at creating fun activities every day for Lucy to do). It's a card catalog of "recipes for fun" to do 

with Nanners. I am terrible at thinking of things on the fly to occupy Nanners' time so I decided

to make something that can be easily referenced with ideas that we can make or do together.

Some of the ideas include: peanut butter playdough, bubble painting and magic milk colors.

I'm adding as many as I can find before this baby makes his debut!

There are so many things I am working on for the baby, but this blanket is proving to be

the most time-consuming. It is called an heirloom chenille blanket, and although

the finished product looks quilted, it doesn't require any cutting squares or piecing together. However it does require sewing a million diagonal lines. I may be sewing lines until this baby is delivered!

And finally I've been working on this "rainy day" or "Portland weather" mobile for above the crib.

It went really quickly and I love how it turned out!

Oh so many things to create and oh so little time.
Shouldn't I be sleeping while I still can?

Colorado Getaway: Catharsis Week

Nanners and I packed our bags to visit our besties in Colorado.

Nanners excitedly packed anything she thought Lucy would enjoy playing with.

She would have packed her entire room if I had let her.

 We had a perfect week enjoying the pace of a two-kid household (and taking notes on my future), getting out in the 55 degree sunny weather, watching Lucy and Nanners play, play, play and then fight, fight, fight, and talking until my head and face hurt. 

Did I mention it was a week of catharsis?

It was one of those weeks where I was reminded how much I desperately need friends to help me know I'm heading in the right direction. It's so easy to plod along in life hoping you are, but the validation of a friend can be so perspective-altering. I know it was pure inspiration to visit before I have this baby because I feel filled with purpose and excitement for this new phase.

Plus we had a lovely time watching the season 3 opener of Downton:

Getting Pedicures:

And the girls enjoyed their own quality time watching Dora:

Making cookies (with Gluten, what a treat!):

Attempting a slumber party in matching pj's--not planned.

Slumber party finally ended around 10 when it was obvious sleeping was not going to happen!

Daily "crafts":

And perusing the Denver Aquarium:

I think everyone should stay for a few days at their friend's house.

It brought me such a better understanding of where Jen's advice comes from

and it gave me great ideas on how to shake up my own routine for the better.

They've promised a trip to Portland after the baby arrives.

Until then I will be explaining to Nanners why Lucy can't have a 

tea party with us each day.

Christmas 2012 in Pictures

Christmas tree farm; baking holiday treats; we held our first (hopefully annual) holiday sushi party; playdough wreath; a prize-winning gingerbread house (with a pool in back, no less); snow angel on our one day of snow

Our festive colonial house; decorating our birthday cake for Jesus; the star makes it to the top of the tree; Christmas breakfast with her new elephant family; ribbon dancing; daddy-daughter guitar duet

A mammoth Christmas tree; "rewrapping" our presents; Peacock Lane lights; helping decorate the tree; just one of the many fun presents she received; a colonial wreath to brag about (and 2 days of our life spent making it)

Happy New Year!

We partied like animals until 10 p.m. and called it a night.

 Nanners was stoked to stay up and drink Martinelli's and blow noisemakers with her lovely friend.

                                                        Cheers to a fabulous 2013!

Donning Her Christmas Best

Our Christmas dress photo shoot went much better this year.

With a little posing advice from the Pants we caught these gems.

She definitely knows how to put her own spin on things.

And she hasn't stopped posing since.

News of The Pants

Mr. Pants has news:

He's a blackbelt!

He worked his butt off to receive this. As I watched his promotion ceremony (after a grueling 13-hour test) I was filled with two conflicting feelings: I was immensely proud and utterly underwhelmed. I knew how hard he had worked for this every day for 3 months, but I also had no fear that he wouldn't succeed. You see, The Pants can do anything he sets his mind to. And he likes to set his mind to so many hard things. If only I could have an ounce of his motivation and determination. I've since told him he should fail every once in a while just to keep me surprised.

He's also allergic to gluten. 

After years of getting sick every month he finally saw a Naturopathic doctor and 

was tested for food allergies. A gluten allergy it was.

And gluten-free he now finds himself. Initially it was a hard transition, but he is feeling much better

and I have enjoyed the last 4 months sans a sick husband. 

And I just have to say that this stuff is totally heaven sent for the gluten-intolerant:

(in case you wanted to know)

I use it as a substitute for flour (especially the 5 kinds most GF recipes call for) in just about all cookie recipes.

And I can rarely tell they are gluten-free.

So now you have it, The Pants is a gluten-free blackbelt. 

Such a Renaissance man!

Sometimes we call her a Ninny

I've heard it said that it might be better if human babies had the gestational period of elephants. 

Meaning, that they would come into the world as 2-year-olds. I'm not sure I'd agree lately with the sassy looks and constant attitude we are seeing at our house. 

This is the look I get from Nanners when she asks a question--any question really, and she preemptively expects an answer contrary to her wishes. 

I could be in the middle of telling her we are going to get ice cream and then watch Dora and Doc McStuffins, but she will still likely be making this face. 

And wasn't she so cute when she played with her feet and cooed and smiled?

Yes, I think babies come at the right time. 

But this baby elephant at the Oregon Zoo is pretty adorable:

Oh, and then our little Ninny does things like fling the front door open as fast as she can to yell after my Dad "Merry Christmas, Grandpa!" and then she mutters to herself, "Oh man, I almost forgot..."
Yes, I think I like 2-year-olds too.

Better than Leftovers

...A picture to remember Thanksgiving 2012

The food was fabulous and the company just as good. 

And I made napkins for our table. I just needed to brag-because a friend once told me 

that they are "so easy to make." She lied. The satisfaction I felt as I wiped my gravyface

on them was almost worth the 2+ hours.

Blessed indeed, blessed indeed.

Octoberfest

We lived it up this Halloween. Party, upon party, upon party.

Here are a few pictures of our own Octoberfest (not the beer and bratwurst one).

We made a Halloween inspired fort out of a box

and lights poked into the top. It was a hit!

 Nanners told me back in August that she wanted to be Kipper the dog for Halloween.

Kipper is one of the few kid's shows I feel happy watching so I approved.

A dog and his friends all speaking with English accents--who could say no?

 Nanners' letter group friends in their costumes.

 Gratuitous pic of the family doing something Halloweenish. I just look uncomfortable.

 And our little pumpkin. It was really disconcerting when she came home from an outting with my parents looking like this. Everything she said that afternoon came out sounding like a crazypants.

Now it's time to empty our buckets of candy so this pregnant woman doesn't

end up with gestational diabetes!



Half way to Baby!

I've made it to 20 weeks.

And I've turned the corner...Hallelujah!

And we have it on good authority that it's a BOY.

It's so nice to have a feel for who this little person is and to have a free pass to shop for baby clothes.

It really does wonders for my morale!

Speaking of morale, it's being boosted significanly as my daily migraines are now only headaches.

Woot! Woot!

I was naively hoping my 2nd pregnancy would be different from my first.

Oh it was...just worse.

Migraines, throwing up and practically living under a rock for 4 months is not my idea of a good time.

I've been making up for lost time this last week though by catching up on every t.v. show

I missed while I was busy being miserable. So productive, I know.

But Oh, to be connected to the outside world again!

On the Nanners front, she is finally starting to accept the fact that this baby is a brother.

She was absolutely convinced it was a sister and would accept no other suggestion.

I'm positive she'll get over it by the time he's born!

I can't wait to see her as a sister--I just know he's going to love her.

Oh and I would like to thank my loving cadre of supporters

who made dinner for us and took Nanners and tended to her while I was doing

a horrible job of it. We couldn't have survived without you!