On Your Due Date

Dearest Dulci,

Today marks your estimated time of arrival which we all saw come and go. Although it was a pretty typical day, here's what you missed because you're still baking away in Mama's womb...

We all took Papa to work this morning because he was tired and it was so cold. Then your brothers and Mama stopped off at the park to do more laps in the hopes that it would encourage you to come out and join us. Immediately after, we headed over to the doctor's to check your heartbeat and to tell them you were still cooking. 

Back at home, we had a lovely visit with a friend from church, ate lunch and had naps. Then you helped Mama prep dinner {"chicken-pot-pie-and-I-don't-care"; a family favorite} and hung out with the boys while they watched Mary Poppins. Papa biked home, we had supper, and off the boys went to bed. 

Mama and Papa caught up on shows while you danced in Mama's tummy. And helped us check on Theo since he's been having trouble sleeping with his sickie congestion. Poor brother. Maybe you're wanting for everyone to get over their colds and for your parents to get better sleep at night?! If so, that's very thoughtful of you, but we're ready to meet you. And figure lack of sleep will be the new normal for awhile. We'll make do! Please come out and join us soon!! We are all very excited to meet you and love on you!!  

We looooove you already,

Papa, Mama, Big Brothers Ezra + Theo

Family Babymoon {Monterey}

At the end of last month, we took our first "real" {church camp doesn't count} vacation as a family of four....just in time to become a family of five.

My girlfriend told me about Monterey Bay Aquarium's homeschool free days awhile back and I booked late January in the hopes that we could make a family trip of it. I love the aquarium, but dang, is it expensive! The last time we went, E was three months and we used a family friend's annual pass. I was so excited to get to experience it with both boys, especially being older.

So, this time we got a hotel right on the beach and stayed a few nights in Monterey. We hit all the local attractions including the beach, Dennis the Menace park and the Aquarium. As well as the family trip to Target since we forgot some essentials like shoes. We also forgot the dozen sandwiches I made to cover lunches while we were there, so we ate out a few more times than planned. All apart of the adventure, right?!

Come Join Us

We are finally ready for this little one! Well, okay, we still need to put that car seat in, but other than that, we're ready. I had my 39 week doctor appt. last Tuesday and he was really rough with the cervical exam. Definitely sent my body into pre-labor status for the rest of the afternoon and into the night. By morning, all had quieted down. But since we weren't sure, we finally got the rest of the baby stuff from the attic and had our midwife on call. 

W also unpacked our birth kit and laid everything out on our dresser for her. Makes it easier for her to grab and go. It amazing how much your brain graciously allows you forget...all the soreness, extra absorbent supplies, and time it takes to recover from such an event.

Even though we've done this twice already now, it surprises me just how tiny they once were. I loooove seeing all her tiny outfits and newborn diapers taking over our room.

Third pregnancies definitely make you feel like an old lady. My body has been so much more achy all around this time, even though I'm measuring the smallest out of all my previous pregnancies. My pelvis, hip bones, and surrounding areas feel like they're being stretched and pulled in ways that normally shouldn't hurt so much. Like I'm either severely out of shape {which I am} or I'm like 80 years old. And the exhaustion has been hightened the past few weeks; making mothering to my other two loves that much harder.

I'm anxious to meet our little girl and give her a name and lots of love. I'm ready to not be pregnant for a looooong while. I'm excited to even the score and get some estrogen back in this house! I'm sure the initial transition won't be smooth, but we're praying that we can take it in stride. We also continue to pray for a healthy and smooth delivery of a healthy and adorable baby girl. And that I don't labor and have her at night... I know I know, Theo's birth was like a fantasy birth, but I'm really hoping not to lose too much sleep again. ;) A pregnant, hormonal girl can still dream, right?!

We've Been Busy!!

Projects. Projects. Projects have been filling most of our weekends. We tackled quite a few since I've been on a nesting kick to get things done before I pop. One such project was our downstairs tv situation. It had become quite a situation...

{the before... all manner of bad.}

We got a tv as a birthday gift a few years ago from my parents. We don't have basic tv but sure enjoy movies and hulu. So, it's been sitting on this small entertainment unit right from the beginning. One of those "temporary solutions that quickly turned permanent" as the years piled on. Enter Theo: our tornado toddler. He would get into the DVDs and fiddle with our player every.single.day. It was getting old. Quickly.

So, W found a great deal on Amazon for a tv wall mount and I hunted craigslist {like it was my part-time job} looking for a dresser that would fit our mini-wall's dimensions without being a road obstacle for foot traffic. Found a dresser, but didn't love its look so I knew immediately when we bought it that I'd be re-doing it. But it had a veneer finish. My quick search online led me to chalk paint.

I'd heard of the stuff but didn't really know much beyond the words "chalk paint" "shabby chic" and "Annie Sloan". So after a mini-lesson {there are a lot of posts out there on it}, I learned about its "chalky" or thicker properties, zero prep-work benefit, and that it adheres to pretty much any surface without hassle. I also learned the price point of AS chalk paint. Yikes! So when I found I {Heart} Naptime's homemade recipe, I figured "why not?" All I had to buy was my normal paint in the colors I wanted + plaster of paris. Easy enough.

4 T Plaster of Paris to 2T HOT water

Mix in container until all the clumps are gone

Mix into 2 cups of paint

At the store, I bought my Plaster of Paris {$6}, my normal gallon of classic white, and then four sample sizes of a paint card I liked: graduating shades of mint. I went with a half batch of chalk paint in each of the five colors because my dresser had so many different colors and not much of each. Worked like a charm.

I did minimal sanding since I didn't really want a distressed look for the dresser. I then covered it in a polyurethane protective coat that we already had on hand. I would love to try the wax finish sometime. Heard it really finishes off the piece nicely. Next time. ;)

We mounted the tv, put the dresser in {after drilling a hole in the back of the top drawer for cords}, and mounted my antler project: ebay antlers + white spray paint + gold craft paint

We are loving the extra storage {currently the bottom two drawers are still empty! So huge for us. ;)}, and the simple fact that T is not creating a mess nor are our movies out for all to see {tacky!!} Definitely one of those "feels so good" projects.