Knit Together

Okay, so here are the before and after pictures of our beautiful new kitchen!

Before

And AFTER!!!

This is the refrigerator, the above before pics don’t have a shot of this wall, but we installed cabinetry around it and it’s now my pantry. The floors are cork, which I’m really, really happy with and would definitely recommend to others.

Here you can see what tore down that useless half-wall and see all our gorgeous cabinets and counter tops. My MIL helped me make that valance above the window.

Here I’m standing in the doorway from the driveway. Next to the microwave and stove Andy is building me open cabinetry to give it a finished look. I’m thinking of doing a butcher block counter top there as a cutting spot right next to the stove and just for something a bit different.

Okay now you can see the door I was standing in before (I made those curtains on the door too). We hung a new door to the outside and stained it to match the cabs.

Alright, that’s it! There are a couple of things to do, like building and installing the cabs next to the stove and there a couple of things I want to hang still. I’m really happy with the finished product.

July 1st, 2009 | Category: House remodel | Comments (3)

The time really flies, whoever said “the days are long, but the years are short” really described it perfectly. I love my beautiful, happy, friendly, loving, goofy girl. I can’t imagine life without her. I remember wondering if I’d ever stop missing my child-free days, and I think that’s already happening. Of course there are times I see young married couples without kids and think “ahh, I miss that.” but I also realize that I’m really happy with the way the timing worked out for starting our family. We had almost 4 years just the two of us, and it was wonderful, and now we’re doing something else, something new, something harder and yet so very cool at the same time.

Happy Birthday Charlotte Elizabeth, we love you!!!

July 1st, 2009 | Category: Charlotte | Comments (2)

Pictures of our long since completed kitchen…this is my way of forcing myself to take them and post. Now I just have clean my kitchen…

June 24th, 2009 | Category: House remodel | Comments (2)

I have been so remiss this pregnancy at updating! I honestly just don’t feel that pregnant. I mean, I look pregnant, I’m in all m maternity clothes, and I’ve even felt the baby move when I poke him/her a bit…but I just forget! I think I’m just really wrapped up in Charlotte right now and I feel pretty good so I don’t think about it too much. The other day, though, I was brainstorming how to get our room to be a bit darker in the evening/morning since little bean will be sleeping with us for a few months and was hit with a rush of ooey-gooey good feelings about this new little life. I have been praying that I appreciate those first few weeks more this time around. Charlotte was so amazing the first 4 weeks, a great nurser and really good sleeper…and I just didn’t take time to appreciate it. I hope, no matter the temperament of this baby, that I can remember how quickly it passes and to get in a few extra snuggles. I can’t believe my first baby is turning 1 in just one week.

My weight gain is significantly less than last time at this point, and I need to take a belly shot because I feel smaller, though it’s likely I’m not. We find out the gender next week on Thursday, July 2 (that day 1 year ago I was staring in wonder at my FIRST baby, holding her and smelling her…). Most people have guessed boy, but I think it’s just because we have a girl and since most assume we’ll only have 2 (not sure why, but they do) they figure we want a boy and hope that for us. They mean well, but I really don’t care. In fact, I actually would rather it be a girl in some ways, but mostly I just want a healthy baby. We’re definitely having more kids so there’s no real pressure to “produce the son”, ha ha.

It’s amazing how true it is that you forget all the hard stuff, the bad stuff…I mean, I remember thinking “this is awful” and “this is too hard” and “what am I doing!?”…but I only remember the thoughts, not really the feeling behind them. I remember stuff like holding a sleeping swaddled baby and rocking while reading a book. Or the first time she smiled at me WHILE she was nursing. Or how she was so tiny she would fit on my chest. God was wise to build brains this way, who cares about the up at night, no napping junk. I’m glad to forget it. Bring on the yummy smelling cuddly baby!

Otherwise I’m feeling good, eating okay, and enjoying the nice easy second trimester before the dreaded third trimester begins!

June 24th, 2009 | Category: Little Bean | Comments (3)

So Charley was born with a very friendly disposition. Everyone, as a result, tells me all the time what an “easy” baby she is. I won’t argue that, I see Moms struggling with little ones going through severe separation/stranger anxiety…or kids Charley’s age who still wake up multiple times at night…Charley is NOT a “dificult” baby. But I don’t really like those categories anyway. Like all human beings my sweet girl certainly has difficult aspects to her personality, the ones I’ve seen I think will prove to be more challenging during her toddler and teen years…which are basically the same thing except teenagers have a larger vocabulary!

It cannot be denied, though, that Charley is FRIENDLY. As soon as she figured out waving, it’s been non-stop. She loves to smile at everyone and rarely protests being held by others (and if she does protest it’s usually to be put down, not given back to mama).

Recently I started taking Charley to work with me as she was accepted into the daycare across the street from my work. As much as I would have preferred to leave her with my friend who has been watching her it wasn’t an option anymore, so we moved to Plan B. We ride the train to work (train=subway) which is always filled with a wide variety of interesting people. I wear Charley in the Ergo because I like having her close to my person and don’t want to deal with the bulk of a stroller anyway.

She absolutely loves the train. She is content to hang out in the Ergo and people watch. That is where the title of this blog post comes in to play. Charley has an uncanny ability to find the grumpiest, most “outcast” looking person near us and stare. them. down.

For example, yesterday we were in the seat that faces the center aisle of the train, so to my right were two seats facing us, only about two feet away. In one seat was a sweet older woman who jabbered affectionately at Charley in Spanish, waved, smiled and cooed. Charley was largely unimpressed and offered only a small smile. Next to this woman was an older man, maybe in his 70’s. He looked tired and angry and sick. He was very, very thin and had a ball cap pulled low over his eyes. So what does my girl do? She stares. And stares. And stares. She waves. And waves. And waves. The ENTIRE train ride (about 15 minutes) she is doing this with her eyes locked on this guy. Now I know she looked elsewhere occasionally, but not much. Finally, at the end of the ride, right before we got off, the guy can’t help himself and looks up. He gives her a little smile and a slight nod which sends her into fits of happy hysterics squealing and bouncing and smiling.

That is just one example. Charley always seems to find that one person who really needs a smile. Whereas I want to avoid eye contact with scary, tattooed, pierced biker dude and cross-dressing, tattered clothing, probably high on something guy…my daughter offers them a smile and a wave.

While I obviously will have to teach her some discernment so she doesn’t just get in anyone’s car or wander off with strangers, I hope I never crush that grace-filled spirit she seems to have.

June 9th, 2009 | Category: Charlotte, Faith | Comments (8)

So I should find out in about 4 weeks if we’re having a boy or a girl this time. For me, I don’t care that much. I sort of would prefer a girl because they’ll be very close in age, so a sister would be nice. But close in age doesn’t guarantee a good relationship so a boy would be fun too, something different. Because we’re going to have more than 2 (God willing obviously) I just don’t feel that “pressure” to produce a boy.

But a friend of mine just found out she’s having another boy, her second boy and second child, and she is really bummed. She has a lot of complicated reasons for this that I won’t go in to here, but I feel sad with her because I think part of me would feel the same (but for different reasons).

I told Andy tonight that if we had another girl and then for some unforseen reason never had anymore children I’d be fine with that. Not sad at all. But if we already had a boy and then had a second boy and never had more children…I’d be sad. I’d get over it, I’d love my boys…but I’d be sad. I thought about why and came up with this: boys leave.

Okay, I know that girls leave too. I mean, I hope and pray all of my children grow up to be successful, independent adults who love the Lord and find someone to spend their lives with, having families of their own. But a baby girl, as long as I cultivate a good relationship with her, will always rely on her mama in some ways. When I had my daughter my Mom was SO important to me (and still is as I raise my daughter). But a son…well, they do and rightly should, break away from their mothers in a different way.

The relationship just isn’t the same from what I’ve witnessed. My Mom and brother have a great relationship, they are good friends and enjoy spending time together…but it’s different. He married a beautiful woman and she is the woman in his life, the one he shares with and leans on. It’s like boys are only your babies for a little while, and then they’re men and it’s just different.

I wonder if this is how Daddy’s feel about daughters?

June 6th, 2009 | Category: Deep thoughts, Kids | Comments (5)

Thought I’d do a quick pregnancy update. I’m feeling good now, I forget I’m pregnant most of the time until I get dressed (in all maternity clothes now…) or I look in the mirror. I haven’t slept all night in weeks, I always have to pee once every night. I’ve been feeling the fluttery movements for a couple of weeks off and on, with Charley I didn’t feel that until 16 weeks so that’s kind of cool. My Mom was just in town for a little over a week, which was SO great and we did some damage at Gap Maternity. It’s fun to have some new clothes to wear this time around, even if I didn’t really “need” them.

It seems like I should have more to say! I did have a funny baby dream, I don’t remember most of it but I know it involved a painless labor and a healthy baby (of neutral gender) so not a bad dream. I had two women I love very much deliver babies last weekend too! My close friend out here had a little boy and Andy’s little sister had a daughter. All the mom’s and babes are healthy and doing well so thank God for that!

I have a question for other Mom’s out there who read my blog. I am looking for a super comfy nursing bra I can wear during pregnancy as well. I’ve heard lots of good stuff about the Japanese Weekend bra, but I need something with some padding (not like “make my boobs big” padding, more like “can’t see anything through my t-shirt” padding) so I don’t think that will work. Suggestions ladies? I don’t like any of the bras I bought last time around.

Now, just for fun.

Then (Charlotte):

Now:

Ha ha, it’s true about the belly popping out sooner the second time around. The funny thing is I’ve gained LESS weight! Oh well.

May 22nd, 2009 | Category: Little Bean | Comments (4)

My friend Misty…who I just think is SO cool, just posted one of the most succinct and logical responses to the claim that Christianity (and Christians) is narrow-minded and exclusive (because Christians believe Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven). Here’s an excerpt:

Jesus expected his followers to take their quest for the Truth seriously. He constantly said things that stumbled them, offended their sensibilities and hurt their feelings. Maybe nowadays people think that seeking God is like drinking a warm glass of milk and drifting off to sleep in a featherbed. But back in Jesus’ day people had a firmer grasp on reality. They understood that if you dared to seek out the living God, you ran the risk of having your world turned upside-down.

Now go read the rest, you’ll be glad you did.

May 13th, 2009 | Category: Faith, Friends | Leave a comment

So I met Dr. Wu today. He was very nice, very chill. He didn’t care that I have big babies, or that I gain a lot of weight, he said I seem healthy and he’s not worried about it. He was sooooo relaxed, I loved it. I agreed to an ultrasound because we couldn’t find the heartbeat and we weren’t sure about my due date. There was a little bean in there, flipping around and waving his/her little hands. Nice strong hearbeat, nothing to be worried about. Official due date: November 22.

May 6th, 2009 | Category: Little Bean | Comments (4)