Fall Lust

It's all "baby, baby, baby" around here, which I am loving.  I can't wait to meet our son and I am having fun getting ready for his arrival.  It won't be long now, less than 4 weeks!!  I actually had this funny dream about him last night, he had lots of hair and talked a lot.

Anyway, even though I am really focused on getting everything ready for the baby, I am secretly lusting after some fall fashion.  I am really looking forward to not being in maternity clothes,  and being able to wear heels without getting weird looks.  So here are some things I've come across in my "online window shopping".

I like this shoes, A LOT.  I don't wear heels very often, but I like the option for a date night or going to church.  I like these because they would go with everything, but are a little unique.  The price is too much, but, maybe they will go on sale.  I have a confession... I am kind of obsessed with Anthropologie and stalk their website more than I would like to admit.  

{Anthro Stacked Strapped Heels}

This bag is just too cute.  Even though what I really need is a good diaper bag...

{Ruche Golden Horizon Handbag}

I really like the colors in this sweater, and it would be condusive to nursing, so maybe I could actually justify this one!

{Old Navy Cardigan}

I am really like wide-legged pants, and these look super comfy.  

{Gap Perfect Khaki Pants}

So, even though I am pretty certain I won't be going on any shopping sprees in the near future,  I find that it is a little satisfying just to look and not buy.  (['m not being sarcastic, I promise)

The Office

Like I said in my last post, it's been months since we moved our closet into the bedroom and started working on making an office in the old walk through closet.  A couple weeks ago, Aiden and I took a trip to Ikea where I got lots of baskets, boxes, a new desk lamp- things that I have been needing to get for months to make an actual work space to help organize everything.

In addition to organizing, there were a couple of small projects I wanted to complete in there as well. 

I had this Ikea RAST dresser already, but wanted to re-paint it.  I already had the glossy white paint, and I just bought a $3 sample at Lowes for the drawers.  The knobs are old ones from our kitchen cabinets. 

I recovered this lampshade with fabric, all of which I already had.

I didn't want full-coverage curtains for the window because I wanted the maximum amount of light to come in since it is the only window.  So, I just took 2 pieces of fabric I already had, hemmed them, and got the wire and clips from Ikea.  It dresses up the window without losing the light. 

 

The last thing I did was cover the bulletin board with fabric that I already had.  

It feels good to have space for everything and to have a place where I can sit and do the bills or write a thank-you note.  It will also be nice for Rob once he starts classes again next month to have a quiet place to get work done.  

{it's really hard to take pictures in here because it is such a small space, but hopefully you get the idea}

Gettin' it done

Before we left for the shore,  I had a whole list of small projects that I needed to complete around here.

Most of them were things that I should have done months ago, but never did.  So, I got super motivated and just got it done.

When I take on a big project, sometimes I tend to procrastinate with the small details that I want to do.  That's what happened with the bedroom/office makeover.  It's been months since we moved our closet into the bedroom and made our small walk-through closet an office.  However, I never took the time to finish all the little things that I had wanted to.

I'll update you on the office later this week, but there were a few things I needed to finish in the bedroom.

I had to re-hem the curtains for the closet because I had never actually sewed them, just used the ironing tape, and that didn't hold up.  Also, I decided that I wanted them an inch or two off the floor because they were getting so dusty and dirty, it was driving me crazy.  

The other thing I have been putting off were the stools that we use as nightstands.  They're from IKEA and I tried to dye the covers, but that turned out to be a disaster.  I have been wanting to make covers for them.  Again, I have been putting this off, but once I cracked down and got it done, it was SO easy.  

So, I can officially say the bedroom is done.  It's only been like 9 mos. or something, but it's done and I'm really happy with it.  

I'll try and get a post up about the office within the next couple days.

Back Again

We were away last week down at the shore, and I had intended to do a blog post before leaving, but never got around to it.  We also didn't have great internet at the house down there, so I was offline all week, which was probably a nice little break anyway.

We had a really great vacation.  It was the last one for us this summer, so it feels like the summer is winding down now.

Aiden loved the beach and the water.  It is so fun to see him enjoying things like this.

He also loved the rides this year.  Last year, I had to ride with him, but this year he loved going on by himself, although I wished he had a friend or sibling to ride with.  He didn't seem to mind though.

Now that we are home, the realization that the baby is coming in 5 weeks is setting in.  Before we went away, I got a lot of things done around here so that when we did come home, I could concentrate on all things baby.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Old furniture, new spot

A few weeks ago, while sorting through the guest room, I decided my original plans for this dresser in the boy's room was not going to work.  The drawers are too tempermental and it was too large for the space I wanted to use it.

So, I asked Rob if he thought maybe we could make room for it downstairs somewhere.  I always need more storage downstairs for things. 

Rob (being the sweet husband he is) is used to me moving furniture around, so he agreed to carry it downstairs and let me start my process of furniture placement.  We had it one place in the dining room for a day or so, but I wasn't really feeling it there.  So,one day while Rob and Aiden were playing upstairs, I started moving it all around the downstairs to see where it worked best.  Rob's not crazy about me doing things like this when I am pregnant, but I promise I was being super careful.  Plus, I always need to process through furniture placement, it's just how I am.  

I found the perfect spot, which required moving the console and the pictures and mirror in the dining room, but oh well. 

Obviously, I painted it, and got some new knobs from Hobby Lobby- they have great anthro knock-offs for less than half the price.  

I'm already loving the extra storage it provides, and have gotten used to how it has made the dining room a little more tight.  That's what happens when you live in a small space!

Arm tickles and hair rubs

I haven't had too much patience with Aiden recently.  Every day I wake up, pray for patience, and tell myself that today I will succeed.   But, pretty much every day, I fail at some point.  I tell myself that it's summer, it's hot, I'm pregnant and uncomfortable, and that sometimes he does things just to push my buttons.  But, these are all excuses.

I don't want to make excuses.  So, I'm really trying.

And sometimes, I am blessed with a sweet moment that helps (a little) to make up for my lack of patience.

Every time I put Aiden down to sleep, we always say prayers, and then he asks me to rub his arm ( I call these arm tickles), or his hair.  Since he has been a baby, I would rub his head to help soothe him to sleep.  And even now when he's exhausted and just wants to go to sleep in the car, or on my lap, I rub his arm or his hair to help him settle down.

Yesterday when I was putting him down for a nap, I really wanted to get him down quickly so I could do the things that I wanted to get done while he was napping.  He asked me to rub his arm, which I did for a couple of minutes.  When I said goodnight and gave him a kiss, he asked if I could rub his hair for a couple of minutes.  He was halfway asleep at this point and I knew I could say no and he wouldn't be upset, he would just roll over and go to sleep.  But, I didn't, I said yes and I rubbed his hair while he drifted slowly off to sleep.

I chose to do something so simple for a few minutes because I knew how much it meant to Aiden, and how loved he feels in those moments.  That's what being a mother is about.

Swaddle

Aiden was born 3 and a half years ago.  That doesn't seem like that long ago, but there is a ton of new baby stuff since I had Aiden.  There is not a lot that I feel like I need with this baby, especially since I am having another boy.  But, I've been hearing lots of buzz about muslin swaddling blankets.  They seem to be all the rage- even my mom mentioned something about them.

Aiden loved being swaddled as a baby, and I did always have a hard time finding a blanket that worked well.  So, I decided that I would try these out.

{I chose the "mod about baby prints"}

They aren't cheap by any means, but everything I read says they are well worth the money.  Also, every website that sells baby stuff sells them, so you may be able to find a good deal.

They are quite large too, so using them for other things like nursing is also an option.

I ordered them last week and it's making me excited for all things baby!  I'll let you know in a couple of months how they work out.