The Great Christmas Tree Debate...
Do you have one of these in your house?
My sweet DH-C is really figuring out how to ruffle my feathers. I'm sure those pregnancy hormones aren't helping much either. For many reasons, the tree didn't go up as early as originally planned this year. My coming down with the flu didn't help much either with our timing.
I'm challenging us to get more organized as a family so that next year we won't have to enlist the Grand Christmas Scavenger Hunt Committee. Yes, that's who all went looking for the ornaments, the right sized tree, garlands, etc... in our basement storage facility.
I hope he's just teasing me. He keeps telling me the tree is coming down the weekend of New Years. We've only had the tree up and decorated just over a week's time now. While I realize many take their trees down at this time every year. Most I know that do so, put their trees up around Thanksgiving holiday. No, that would not be us this year. I'm staging a boycott (though I don't know what I'm boycotting as of yet). I guess I need to come up with something good there to get my point across to DH-C.
I say we take it down the week before our youngest DS-J's birthday, which is the last week of January.
I love all the wintry wonderland of a decorated home and tree! Even more so, I know the kiddos really appreciate it too!!!
What do you think?
Enjoying the Quiet Times...
I guess it's been a very, very, very long time. So long I can't remember when we last took the time to just sit around and enjoy each other's company.
I think it's really quite sad in many ways and I hope this trend continues through the new year on a more frequent basis. I'm hoping that each of the others in our family feel the difference it creates within themselves as well as the shift it creates in our family unit.
What I've noticed, is a closeness reigniting that's been missing for sometime. Many of us are also more patient, kind, nurturing, thankful, appreciative, respectful and quieter. That's always especially good to realize as a mommy or a daddy! But I think the significance is even felt by the little souls in the household, even if they don't verbalize it or acknowledge it as such consciously.
I hope it continues. I pray it continues and further enriches all of us. There's a nice calming influence settling in. It says so much in this holiday season filled with all the hustle and bustle that's associated with preparations, family and friend celebrations. What a fantastic change of pace to welcome our new little one-to-be into our family fold!
Other Baby News... Baby Stuffs
In other baby news, baby stuff (material items needed for baby)… that’s what’s on our brains of late here. I have to admit I’d forgotten how much stuff these tiny little beings require. Granted it greatly helps that we’ve done this a few times over and know what things we’ll really use and what things are a waste of time, space and money. That helps to slim the possibilities down quite a bit. But it’s still a lot of stuff: bassinet & bedding (for the main level); co-sleeper & bedding (bedside for the early days/weeks/months); crib & bedding (for the tiny nursery); changing stations (2- one upstairs and one down)- 2 pads, covers, wipes warmer (for upstairs one), diaper pails & liners; bottles & breast milk collection & storage items; feeding chair; bibs & burp cloths; car seat/stroller/travel system thing-a-ma-bob, all bathing items- tub, toiletries & washcloths; tiny grooming & health implements; first toys; diaper bag(s); blankets; baby monitor; clothes… oh the list seems never-ending at times.
On that note we registered at Target for all the necessities we no longer have on hand (which is most everything, LOL). Since DH-C and I don't have many needs for ourselves these days, we added the most needed baby items to our Christmas wish list for this year. After all, those are our true needs at this point, 26 going on 27 weeks and counting. Amazing how an 8 year time span (that flew by) between children means you're nearly starting over from scratch yet again! We’re also opting for not having a baby shower this time around. I know some may think we’re a bit off our rockers, but it’s just too busy a time for us. Between vacations, holidays, all the extra festivities, kids’ schedules being all over the place, winter school break, trying to get house and nursery baby ready and seasonal illnesses flying about in the public sector it’s just not making sense to have a baby shower added to the crazy roller coaster ride we have going on here these days.
Fortunately we have managed to hang on to a select few items and have been blessed by some others. One such other wonderful person is a coworker of DH-C's who had a baby girl last year and she's passed on many of her baby clothes to us. We're so very thankful for her generosity!!! We managed to pick up a loved and well used Jenny Lind highchair from our church rummage sale for free, love that! It’ll need a lick of paint, but that’s an easy fix. We'll be doing cloth diapers again. This time it's less of an environmental reason and more of a budget necessity. Either way it's a known process to us since we CD'd both of the boys, which is nice bonus. There have once again been vast improvements on the CDing horizons which will help our $'s stretch even further for our last LO. We've already made a couple CD purchases for our newborn phase. We even happened across a box in the attic of the boys' leftover CD's (amazingly in excellent shape) with a couple pocket CD’s, a few soaker inserts & doublers and several wraps in other sizes as well. We've been wildly purging around here trying to create some space for this LO and all the things she'll need. So that was a nice bonus to come across! Also found a long forgotten stash of nursing tops/accessories.
Local 2ndhand stores have been a small goldmine as well for us. Landed a fabulous pale blue velveteen quilted bumper and crib blanket for $20. Oh and did I mention it’s from Pottery Barn and in excellent condition. So nice that it will work wonderfully with a Target exclusive bedding purchase (crib skirt, sheets and hamper) of feminine florals, “Tiddliwinks Cottage Chic”. Meld cottage with shabby chic and there you have it: simple, classic and yet fun and most definitely sweet and girly. Plus it’ll be easy to grow with the LO and add other things to it later on. We’re looking at very smart purchases since we won’t be having any other LO’s to pass things down to at this point. So I’ve also picked up some fleece swaddling blankets, a sling, a nursing cover-up and such for a song. Love good 2ndhand stores!!! One smart purchase on our list that honestly isn’t an immediate need, but I so love, is the dollhouse bookcase in Target stores. It’s a definite KO (knock-off) to the PB version only Target’s is a bit smaller and pink and white instead of PB’s larger green and white version. It’ll start out as cute but oh so functional storage space with baskets/bins for baby items, then later it can hold toys and eventually it’ll be LO’s dollhouse.
Baby News… Naming… well not so newsworthy yet.
We thought we had a name a few times over. But either days or weeks later, it just didn't seem to fit for one or the either of us. Our most recent and really loved selection was Isabel for a first name. Dad loved the NN (nickname) Izzy, but also liked Belle. So we had decided that Belle would be her “name” for her babyhood and later Izzy she would be to family and friends. We were still struggling to pair the perfect middle name with that one. We had lots of suggestions for Rose as a middle name, but somehow it just didn’t fit. Mom loved the name Wren, something new and different, but it wasn’t beautiful and feminine enough for dad’s tastes. We came across the name Willow
Then mom found the popular names lists for 2008/2009. We realized how popular Isabel/Isabelle/Isabella names have become (50-60's and 1&2's)… so disappointing! We had this issue with N's name without realizing it until he was in class with 2 other N's in the 1st grade (N… X, N… P and N… N). Well we're back to the original drawing board once again and starting over entirely from scratch. Oh this baby naming business can be so challenging sometimes. It’s funny in a kind of ironic way. We struggled with boy’s names when it came to naming our boys, but had girls names all picked out. All those names that we loved then we still really love. But they are all (yes middle and first names) now on the most popular names lists. Granted that was almost 9 ½ and 8 years ago, but it’s amazing how time changes things.
Daddy’s biggest issue seems to be that baby girl must have a sweet sounding nickname, regardless of her given name. But he must approve of both naturally. He originally picked Isabel and mommy had always liked the name, so that’s how this all started. We’ve also realized that daddy has a penchant for middle names not sounding like first names. Not exactly sure how else to explain that one, but come to find out, that was his issue with Juliet/Juliette. We might just have to buy a baby names book after all. We’ve so far escaped that trivial expense and have just used the internet and every other opportunity (kid’s winter choral concerts, movies, TV shows, etc.) to snag naming possibilities.
So we wait and we’ll see… and eventually… hopefully… we’ll have some real naming news to share. Until then chat at you all later!
Wow, it's been a whirlwind....and baby news...
and somehow I missed posting anything last month. I know shame on me ;) ! Boys had a great time trick or treating. N went as Chuckie with the neighbors 3 doors down, his lil' partner in crime another N. I took J who was a warlock, around our neighborhood with some other neighbors of ours a few more doors down. One of which L is a classmate of his. C was at her dad's during our Halloween here. DH-C stayed at our place out front with the outdoor fireplace roaring (to keep him warm and let others warm up a bit) and passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters. It was one really chilly night! We decided next year if the forecast looks to be as cold, we'll have some hot chocolate and maybe hot spiced cider too. Planned a smashing birthday party for C. Then to start off November well we got the official confirmation and our LO2B (little one to be) is a girl afterall. So I guess I just know without a doubt when it comes to my/our babies. I've now been right 4 outta 4 times (even though I doubted myself the first time).
Then we left out on our babymoon cruise vacation while the boys vacationed with Grandma P & Grandpa M in Florida (early-mid Nov). C wasn't left out, she opted to go to space camp this next year (her options were the cruise or space camp). We ported out of Ft. Lauderdale and enjoyed the rocky 7 day cruise to Bahamas, Virgin Islands and St. Martin/St. Marteen. Some of the other cruisers weren't so fortunate and didn't escape seasickness as well as DH-C and I did. We felt badly for them since we'd never experienced such rough seas and we've been on several cruises and many of those who fell ill it was a first time event. The weather was actually really wonderful! Sunny, breezy and warm but not too hot at all. I think we had a day of rain in there but it was just as relaxing. We both also noted quite a difference in the cruising crowd this time around, many more middle aged couples and families and not so many of the young single partying crowd. A very nice change of pace indeed. It really seemed to be a fitting and relaxing change for DH-C and I during this time in our lives.
Since we've been back it's been a real string of events... birthday party plans fell apart and new plans were made; dental appts for the kids and I (cleanings/exams/dental work); family in from out of state; Thanksgiving holiday festivities with extended families; C's 13th birthday party on her birthday here (out to lunch and a movie with friends) and her dad even threw her a surprise party at his place; colds (N, J & DH-C); school winter choral concerts (each of them had one inside of a 10 day span); Christmas shopping; purging/organizing long neglected areas of the house (attic, bedrooms and basement); planning the soon to be "new" again bedroom spaces (boys'/master); bedroom swapping (boys'/master); adding storage/organizing to bedroom (C's); new bed purchases/installations (boys metal loft beds from WM to maximize floor space in their "new" room); prenatal appts (standard, just another thing on the list to do); vehicle repairs (why do they always seem to hit around the holiday season for us?); flu (me); planning/designing the tiny nursery (master bedroom's former WIC); putting up the Christmas tree and getting it decked for the season; major meal planning and freezer stash purging; cookie baking (DH-C's work cookie exchange). Still so much to do of course. Isn't there always so much more to accomplish in life?! Sure seems like it here anyway.
Well I think that's a pretty accurate summary of the last month or so. Like I said it's been a whirlwind!!!
Chat at you all later!
Finally back to posting...
I know it's about darn time isn't? Well I'm kick-starting things with my new ticker. Yes it's loud and in your face, sorry about that. Well not really, we're tickled pink with this surprise. Yes, the colors and that last line are hints. We don't have the final confirmation yet. All predictions, quizzes, signs, symptoms and instincts have so far have indicated this little one to be of the female persuasion . Date for the official announcement is Monday 11/2.
This post is liable to be a bit all over the place, due to all the catching up I'm feeling so very far behind on. To say plans have been switched up frequently in the last several months is like spitting in an ocean and expecting to see a visible difference. Yeah, we've really been all over the place: fair circuit that kept growing and changing throughout another season; moving/not moving; major remodel/expansion to the house/err not; adapting to back to school routines; adapting to first trimester exhaustion; planning out where we can possibly squeeze another little body, bed, space; switching bedrooms around; realizing we have lots of house projects to accomplish before we're ready for our soon to be family addition; treading the waters of life to get thru October- weekends at Walsh Pumpkin Farm, an open house; coming to the conclusion we're outta time to get finally organized again; dreaming of a decluttered home that is an oasis of peace, warmth and productivity- yes that would be my/our motivation of late; 2nd trimester hormones don't always equate to the nicest mommy moments.
On the goal list for the upcoming few months (Oct-Jan): install flooring in the entry; survive the holidays (LOL!); plan a party.. shhh; take a "last for a long while" couple's vacation; purge/declutter/organize; finish up the small "almost finished" projects on the main level; swap the master and boy's bedrooms; paint said bedrooms + newbie's; finish up our list for baby needs; convert a music cabinet to a changing table for our full bath/main level changing space; start working on acquiring said baby items; have a couple closets built/added to a couple bedrooms; get to work on slipcovers, cushions & pillows needed all over the house... I'm sure there is more but that's the bulk of it all.
So yeah, it's alot, but that's pretty much it in a nutshell. I'm sure I'll be back to revisit some of these topics and in far more detail in the coming days, weeks, months. Yes, you've officially been updated!
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About Me
- Ella
- I'm a 30-something, mostly SAHM of 4 (2 DD's and 2 DS's) and DSM to 1 (DSD). I've had a deeply ingrained love & respect for mother nature and most things natural ever since I can remember. In 2003 we were FTHB's of a 1920 cape cod desperately needing TLC. We've been gradually remodeling ever since. I have a mad love of beautifully organized home spaces that are exceptionally functional. I love working with my hands and creating, especially newly repurposed things. My DH may state that I'm a creative force to be reckoned with. I started this blog as a way to chronicle our life as a family and our adventures in home ownership... my musings. I love hanging with my family and friends. Yet I crave slivers of good old fashioned alone time to be still, collect my thoughts and refuel my spirit. Hope you enjoy the snippits of chaos, fleeting moments of sanity... er... insanity. Well whatever it may be, it'll be real.
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