my upstairs ideas

Yesterday I got really inspired to come up with some ideas for our (future) newly renovated space upstairs.  With drywall being put up as we speak it's only a matter of time before it will be time to decide flooring, paint and décor for the new rooms.

After doing a ton of research I made some pretty basic templates of what I'd like to do up there.  Although it will be "newer," my main goal is for the space to flow with the rest of the house.  That being said, I'm really loving the neutral tones (gray, black and white) with some pops of color (aqua and red).  The "aqua" theme can be seen throughout our house so it should coordinate perfectly.

pendant light | light up arrow | storage | craft table | teepee

This was a room I wasn't initially expecting to have upstairs but with the larger room being split into two we will have the bathroom as well as an "extra" space.  How perfect is that?  A playroom for my boys and little girl.  I want this space to be really functional and for it to grow with them.  I'm considering some built-ins around the windows for storage, and obviously we have to join the ranks of Supermoms everywhere by purchasing a teepee.  Aren't they so magical?

metal bucket | rugby stripe shower curtain | bath rug | air purifier

Bathrooms are so easy - it's like everything is already there, you just have to add the color and the candles.  My starting point was the shower curtain; I saw it at Target last week and immediately knew it was the one.  All those bathroom accessories like the toothbrush holder, etc.?  I freaking hate those things.  They're way too expensive and usually ugly.  If you have ideas please send them my way.

quilted bedding | depot ceiling lamp | artwork | rug | usa puzzle | belden bed

This will be Patrick's room.  Eventually Connor will join him but not for a couple years.  I found the bed & the bedding from PB Kids and fell in love with it.  Now I'm not saying we'll purchase the actual bed from there (it's way too pricey) but I'm using it as an idea.  The bedding I will definitely use - you can't skimp on covers.  Comfort is everything when it comes to sleeping!

So what do you think?!  I'm so excited to get going with it.

how things are going

With Jeff:

On the home front -- he's been shoveling sidewalks and plowing our driveway non-stop (until this week because almost all of the snow has melted!).  Him and Patrick have played outside when it hasn't been too cold.  Stupid winter!  Jeff's also begun our upstairs renovation (!!!) and has been moving rather swiftly through it.  All the plaster is torn down, carpet has been ripped up and new wiring and outlet boxes have been installed.  The drywall arrived last week and will be installed tomorrow.  There are currently three rooms up there- one large and two small.  The larger room will have a bathroom added in so the boys can use that as they get older.  It's now time for me to officially start the interior decorating for a Big Boy room and a kid's bathroom.  So. Excited.

On the farm -- Jeff and his brother have kept super busy this winter:  painting, fixing, changing oil and the list goes on.  Pretty soon we'll be talking about planting season, which seems so crazy.

With nursing:

We're still going strong over here, purely out of my own laziness.  Get out of bed?  Run the water?  Make a bottle?  No thanks.  It's such a piece of cake these days, like second nature - it's just what we do!  Obviously with me working I have had to pump every day, twice a day to keep the supply up for the babysitter.  It's like my second job that also requires a degree.  Oh you're an engineer?  I'm a Pumping Professional, pleased to meet you.  It's the biggest pain but it has to be done.  In fact, last week I had my first encounter with the feeling of losing pumped breast milk.  I forgot to put my milk into the freezer when I got home from work so the next morning it was spoiled after sitting in my school tote all night.  It literally made me sick to my stomach.  All that work!  Down the drain!  I cried.  

With Patrick:

He's become the ultimate threat:  a sneaky, loud, and smart toddler.  Those sound semi-negative but he's so much fun (if you call flopping on the floor with head in hands "fun") right now - he's making us laugh around the clock.  I put his Team Umizoomi DVD on yesterday morning and he said...

Dad turned this off.  He had to watch the Farm Report!!

He's noticing all kinds of shapes like the tiles on our floor:  DIAMONDS, Mama!  The moon in the sky:  It's a crescent!  Or when we're driving:  There's a sign for us to stop!

His sleep:  You all know my struggles with Patrick and sleep.  I'd say he sleeps through the night about 4 of 7 nights.  When he does sleep through, he is in bed at 7:30 and up at 5 am (sometimes 10 til!).  I know what you're thinking - put him to bed later, duh!  But it doesn't matter.  We've tried it all.  His internal clock screams at him if it's one minute past five.

The nights that he wakes up it's typically because he's scared - the poor kid has been having bad dreams.  He tells me what they're about:  bugs, chickens, bears, monsters, you name it.  I feel horrible about them and did some research for reassurance.  Apparently it's normal because of their new-found imaginations.  I hope it doesn't last much longer because it's hard on my heart.

Our favorite items these days are the new Huggies Slip-on Diapers.  They're a bit more expensive than regular diapers but make the changes so much faster.  Pat can just stay standing to put them on like undies, which is serving as a great transition for when that day comes.  ::shreek::

if you have a babe, gotta getcha a Sophie.

With family:

This is my sister's fiancé.  Yes, her fiancé!  My sister and her boyfriend, Dale, got engaged last week.  We couldn't be happier for them and are anticipating a wedding next fall.  My sister totally has that bride-to-be glow going on.  The one where she stares at her ring all day and takes it off when she's washing dishes.  (She'll learn that it will immediately be misplaced if you take it off.)

In other news, my brother and his wife are expecting their second baby next month.  They haven't found out the gender so we're extra excited for that special day!  They already have a girl so everyone is (secretly) hoping for a boy.

With School:

My feelings about work are hot and cold.  Some days I feel right on - like it's my passion and the students truly make my day.  Other days I feel off, like I resent the never ending meetings and open houses because I could be spending that time with my boys.  In other words, I love teaching and I love my students.  I hate meetings and I hate weekend work.  Shocking, right?

The coolest thing my 6th and 7th graders put together is a huge periodic table on my classroom wall (see middle).  Each student picked an element, researched it and created a tile.  It's been our biggest resource when discussing chemical bonds and elements in general.  We love it.

connor's baptism

the godparents!

my family, from left to right: my brother's wife, Amy (she's 8 months prego) and her daughter Iva, my mom & dad, and all the way to the right is my sister, Lindsay (who is newly engaged!).

Jeff's family, from left to right:  Jeff's brother, Joe, his son Lukas and his girlfriend Wendy, Jeff's sister Jackie and her boyfriend Brandon "Pork Chop," Jeff's mom & dad.

Connor & "Peepaw."

the star of the show.

 

There's nothing more special than a baby being baptized.  Even when they aren't my own and the priest holds the baby up (Lion King style), and announces the baby as the newest member of St. Mary's Parish, I have tears rolling down my cheeks as everyone in the congregation applauds.  It's just so pure and sweet.

 

Of course Connor was nothing less than a perfect angel for his own Baptism last weekend, despite that it was time for him to eat as soon as we arrived at the church.  He didn't even make a peep when the Deacon poured the water over his head.

 

See his little gown?  My mother in law sewed that together with her own two hands for Patrick when he was baptized.  To me, it's the most beautiful symbol of the innocence that a baby encompasses and I will cherish it forever. 

 

After the Baptism we all came back to our house for a Mexican-themed celebration.  I know, odd right?  It all started with a recent favorite soup (which I'm certain I've linked up before):  easy white chicken chili.  From there we just went crazy with the Mexi-theme, starting with Margaritas, obvi.  This was our menu:

 

 

//White Chicken Chili (I doubled it)

//Cornbread Muffins

//Chips

(obsessing over Mission Tortilla Strips lately)

//Homemade Salsa & guac

//Deviled Eggs (random)

//Coconut Cake

//Margaritas w/ Rock Salt

 



 

Perfection, yet again!   

 

++

 

Oh yes, here's a throwback to two years ago at Pat's baptism...

 

i can't deny it, we both look younger!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

love

 

Reasons I love tonight:

 

//Jeff and I shared some decadent milk chocolate-covered strawberries. 

(We figured about $1.25 a bite...)

 

//It's the weekend and I can finally spend time with my babies.

 

//The twenty minutes I was going to spend cleaning after the boys went to bed was spent blogging instead.

 

//My to-do list for Connor's baptism this weekend is complete. 

(As in the list is written, not done.)

 

//I get to look forward to an all-day shopping trip on President's Day with my Mom.  Out of town.  Brio for lunch.  Couldn't be more excited.

 

//I also get to look forward to Book Club this week. 

(I'll tell you a secret:  I haven't even purchased the book.)

 

//Valentine's Day is a perfect excuse to give my husband a few extra kisses.  What could be better than having your own personal Valentine for the rest of your life?



that time i got a personal trainer

The realization that you are completely out of shape is probably one of the most depressing and overwhelming feelings ever.

When I showed up to to the gym for the first time with my trainer last week I felt optimistic.  I had been eating right for about a week (lost 8 pounds already!) and felt motivated to build some muscle and tone up.

Then we did a lower body workout.

And I almost died.

Yeah, it was that hard.  Whenever I wanted to stop, or felt that I could do no more, he made me do at least  three more.  It was horrible.  I couldn't speak, couldn't walk straight, had a headache and wondered how on earth I'd manage to take care of two children that evening.

Let me tell you a bit about Ryan, my trainer.  First of all, he's a short dude.  Kind of pretty if you know what I mean.  Nice eyes.  Nice lashes.  Nice body.  Like, his shoulders are broader than Hulk Hogan's.  And his ass is tighter than a horse's.  He swears a lot.  Not just about things in general - but he swears at me.

Me:  "What if I suck at the diet?  What if I fall off the wagon?"

Ryan:  "Get back on the f***in wagon."

Me:  "Oh."

He made me say "I will not eat cookies" three times.  (That's my weakness. Cookies.)

Anyways, that first day was pure hell.  Not only was I grunting and sweating and breathing hard, but I was doing all of that in front of everyone at the gym.  Now I'm not really a self-conscious person, but I am aware when people are staring at me getting yelled at about being a human Cookie Monster.  One person in particular that I was aware of was one of the students here at school.  Yeah.  A senior.  Here's how it went down.

Ryan:  "What do you teach again?"

Me:  "Junior high and high school science."

High School Senior:  "Yeah, she's an excellent teacher.  I never had her directly but I hear across the hall."

Me:  ::flattered::  ::humiliated::  "Can we be done with this workout?"

Ryan:  No.

++

Why did I decide to get a personal trainer?  I suck at self discipline.  I suck at willpower.  And see, that never used to matter - my metabolism was amazing.  I could eat whatever I wanted and still maintain a decent figure.  Then came Connor.  Poor guy - I'm not blaming him personally but that pregnancy did me in.  If I could go back in time I would have exercised every single day like I did during my pregnancy with Patrick.  It made all the difference in the world.  

So what are my goals?

bikini via

1.) To fit into (and feel amazing) in the above bikini this summer.

That means:  2.) lose 15-20 lbs., 3.) sculpt & tone my legs, back, butt and torso.

Let's do this!!