It's been a long time in coming..., or The Living Room

Last summer I blogged a little bit about the work we were doing on the house we've moved into.  And I promised some pictures and never delivered.  Well, I can finally say: here some are!  Finally, the apartment is clean enough, organized enough, ready enough for me to pull out a camera and snap some pics.  I have to say: they're not great quality as they are on my phone.  Somewhere in the move several months ago were our batteries for our camera.  And we haven't found them yet.  So, I apologize for that.  Plus, we're not completely, totally, utterly "moved-in".  We still need to hang pictures and the like.  Hopefully, sometime soon.  Maybe I'll bribe my sister-in-law with some Simon cuddling if she'll come over and help me do it.  She's an interior design genius.  I am not.

I intend to just post a few each week, maybe a room at a time.  One huge blog post on it would be overwhelming.  But it will give a good sense of the before and after.  I know, these are so late, perhaps all interest has waned.  But I might also go out and get some before-and-afters of the house and yard.  The hope is that this spring we will scrape and paint (though I feel time running out for that before summer already!), plus Nick has plans for the yard work, if he can get a dry day to work in.  I love watching this house change and morph into the home I know it can be.  We won't realize all the potential this house has to offer for some time, but someday.  So, without further ado, our apartment living room.



This first picture is the before of the living room from the door to our entry way.  You see the old, dirty curtains on the window as well as nasty, nasty brown carpet, nasty because of its uncleanness, rather than the color or texture.  It has to be said somewhere, so it might as well be said here, but sadly the woman who lived in the apartment before we took it over did not clean.  At all.  The apartment was in horrible condition.  Before we even began work, my mother, mother-in-law and a friend of my mom came over and cleaned the place from top to bottom, and even then there were rooms Eliza was not allowed to explore in as some things would not come out of the carpets.  It was generally acknowledged the carpets would go, and we refinished the wood floors, which you won't see in these pictures.

(Do you notice the baby carrier?  Eliza has since graduate to a toddler car seat.  My, how she's grown since these pictures were taken!)

This pictures is the after from the same view.  I hope you can see a BIG difference.  I feel it is far more comfortable (and yes, it is far more clean).

The door in the first picture is now nonfunctional.  We chose to not use it.  We needed the space for furniture, instead.

This next shot is still from the doorway, looking at the other side of the living room.  The old furniture left behind had to be broken to get it out, and we are awaiting the "Free Dump Day" at the garbage dump to dispose of them.  Our backyard and garage will look so much better when dump day arrives!

And now, the after....

The bookcase sadly covers that decorative window, which has lattice woodwork across it.  One of the first features that drew me to this house.

And last, but not least, these are shots from the other side of the room, looking towards the entryway door.  We removed the door on this room for easier passage, and will replace it someday when we take over more of the house and return this room to a bedroom.

And after...

Not quite the same perspective, but you get the picture.

As a living room, it is indeed a bit cozy.  We've sacrificed some furniture to storage in the basement.  However, it does work for the time-being.  It may be even cozier when Simon arrives!  As a bedroom, someday, it will be quite spacious, which you'll see when I post the pictures for our own bedroom.  But for now, we'll leave it at the living room.

Project Simplify and other household news

If you're following Project Simplify at all, you can go here to see the details on this week's hot spot.  It's the pantry and fridge.  Something already on my mind for this week, because the fridge definitely needs some things emptied out, and I need to reorganize my pantry to accommodate some of the things we put together last Friday.  So that's a bonus.  It's almost like this whole project is sympatico with what I need to get done before baby boy arrives, or something.

The triumph I felt last week at completing my other household projects has dramatically faded.  In fact, the house is in need of a good pick-up, trash-toss, vacuum-floors, wash-dishes clean-up.  I hope to do it today.  It's really not that terribly bad, it just looks that way.  Five minute clutter-busters in each room should do the trick.  Ok, the dining room might be a ten-minuter clutter-buster.  And then, maybe, finally, I will be able to exalt in a temporarily completely clean house.  I'd love to have that feeling just once before Simon arrives.

Speaking of the Little Man arriving, he doesn't seem too interested.  There was a day last week where I admit, I got a little over excited and thought maybe, just maybe, it was starting.  False alarm.  And no indications of otherwise since.  I suppose that's ok: I'll cherish these last few days of just Eliza and me, as we will likely have very few of those again as she'll be the first to go to camp, first to go college, maybe the first to get married (my younger sister certainly beat me down the aisle).  I have to stop that, as I don't really want to think of letting her go right now.  I can also use the time to get in those last pushes to clean.  I keep hoping for a huge burst of energy to do it all, but that never really came with Eliza and so I don't expect it with Simon.  But that would be nice: maybe then I could actually go into labor.  People are telling me to take it easy, and I do, but boy... sometimes it's tempting to push a little too hard if it will start the process going.

There has been no coffee in this house for weeks now.  This is not a triumphant statement.  I substituted chai, and that wasn't too much of a sacrifice, seeing how much I love chai.  But now there is no chai.  I even went to the store yesterday to get some, and that blasted store didn't have any but the wrong kind.  I don't know how often I'll go there.  I don't need a warm caffeinated drink (or even a cold one in the summer) to get going.  But I do admit, it has become part of my routine, and following your routine is not only comforting but helps you organize your mind.  Especially when you are not remotely a morning person, like me.  I so wish I had a cuppa-cuppa right now to hold in my hand and sip from while I enjoy the fact that Eliza is sleeping late.  Heavens parting, angels singing, it's so rare that she does this!  Still, we are waiting for coffee we ordered to arrive in the mail, and then hopefully mornings will be doable again.

However, I've come to the end of my household tidbits.  So maybe I will wake Baby Girl up so we can have breakfast and get to our activities on time, and just maybe enjoy a brief snuggle on the couch before we do.

Friday Quick 5

1. What a busy week!  I've been cleaning, getting together with people, cooking...  I had hoped by this time this week I'd have the whole house really clean, but it isn't so.  The bedrooms, bathroom, and entryway are all in good shape.  The living is good, except for a Eliza's things scattered around.  The dining room and kitchen... they need some work.  I've been reflecting this week through all my efforts how housekeeping is not something particularly suited to my talents or interests.  I hate to clean.  I hate the fact that every time I clean, I know I'll just have to do it again, and soon.  I hate that it's a never-ending round of chores where the pay-off is so limited and brief.  Many of the other things I like to pursue (reading, writing, biking), I can see a payoff that lasts.  Better and better health if I am consistent in biking, better and better writing if I am consistent to work at it, etc.  Cleaning, I'm just fighting to keep the status quo.  However, I know that cleaning is not just cleaning for cleaning's sake.  Rather, I am trying to create a comfortable home environment for my family.  That's worth fighting for.  And while I may not be naturally talented at cleaning (I often miss the details that make a good job good), I can train myself to be decent.  Maybe you can't make a great housekeeper out of a lousy one, but perhaps at least a competent one?

2.  Today, I conducted a freezer-cooking day with a friend.  We're both due to have babies next month, and so that our families will have quick and easy meals, we got together to put some stuff up for a future date.  We marinated chicken, baked meatballs, made seasoning and dressing mixes, and prepared tomato sauce.  This may not seem like a great deal on the surface, but with a few things that are best made at the last minute (like vegetables, pasta, and rice), what we cranked out today could make at least twelve different meals, easy-peasy.  It was my first ever cooking day, but let me just say, I can see how it is much easier to do with a friend!  And it was also easier because nothing we chose to put together required chopping, cutting, or peeling, or too many complicated steps.  And now, I'm happy to say I have at least 15 go-to meals or meal preps ready for when Simon comes!

3. Speaking of Simon, we're down to two weeks.  I've been experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks and even some of the real thing, but nothing to alert the hospital over.  I keep hoping... bu I know it's good to let the little guy hang out.  Still, there are times I'm seriously tempted to coax the little guy out.

4.  Eliza is becoming quite the crack-up.  In fact, she's becoming quite the mimic.  She has begun imitating a laugh/growl her cousin Faith does.  She babbles/chatters in a certain way like another young girl we have regular play-dates with.  She and her daddy have several little routines they do together.  She's even begun imitating some of my pregnant habits in regards to my belly!  These last ones seem almost unconscious, as she does them as she walks around.  I enjoy watching her, because I'm never quite sure what she's going to do next.  And sometimes, I think she enjoys it when she catches me watching her, because we grin at each other and then she laughs before moving on.  She is just a joy in my life!

5.  In our gardening preparations, Nick has actually gone through a few different variations of software to help him plan our garden, the spacing of the vegetables, and all of that.  If it weren't for the fact that last Saturday and this Saturday have been doomed to be cold and rainy, I might be concerned for lack of a solid plan.  But we are actually supposed to receive a freeze this weekend, and planting might not be wise anyhow.  The weather and its timing really haven't allowed Nick to get out and work in the yard like he'd like to.  I'm definitely not in a position to help.  There are stumps to grind up and pull out, beds to raise and frame, bushes to whack, perennials to transplant, not to mention the planting.  Our seeds haven't yet arrived.  Our garden may be a little late this year, and we'll have to see what disastrous affects (or lack of) there might be.  Still, I'm hoping for a good enough harvest to try some new recipes, expand our palates, and hopefully take a whack at canning and preserving and pickling.  I've always wanted to try making pickles, at least.  We'll see how things go.

And so another afternoon begins

I'm hiding in my room on my computer, pretending I don't hear Eliza in her bed.  That was a short nap.  Barely an hour.  And the way the past week has gone, I don't know if I'll be able to get her down again.  I really cherish naptime, those few, few hours that I have to be my own person and do something quiet, or get work done, or do nothing at all.  I love being a mommy.  And I love my girl.  And I know I will love, love, love my little boy as much as I love Eliza.  But sometimes, I just want to be me, without a "Mommy!" or "There's something on my finger!" or "I'm not happy, do something about it!"  Not that Eliza's that demanding, but I'm sure other parents relate.  And so I want to extend this moment just a little longer before I get up and make lunch and change diapers and finish vacuuming the house and wash the dishes and find toys and whatever else it is that we moms do day-in and day-out.

Yes, there are the calls: "Mommy?  Mommy!"  She's pretty sweet about, the way I would croon to a cat to coax them on my lap.  Off to make some mac and cheese and hope she eats it.

Haha! YES!

I tuned in over at Simple Mom for this week's Hot Spot for Project Simplify, and I'm excited to announce... I don't need to do it!  Not because I have no children (that's obviously false, with one and one on the way), but because I've already done it.  Yes, sirree-bob.  The hot spot is actually children's toys and clothes. I actually went through all of Eliza's clothes the end of last week and pulled everything that didn't fit and emptied a few of her drawers to make room some of Simon's clothes.  Then over the weekend I sat down and sorted them into clothing types (jammies, shirts/onesies, pants, dresses, etc.) and put them in bins.  Two of which I'm still waiting for my strong, muscular husband to take downstairs.  Why did I do this on top of that massive paper clutter assignment?  Well, it was something I could do while she was up.  Yes, she got into it just as much as she would have the paper, and yes, I did have to go roaming around the apartment picking up littered out-grown clothes.  But with the clothes, it was a simple matter of refolding and putting back in the bin.  It would have been more complicated and a great deal more frustrating with the paper.

As for the toys, I went through those about a month ago and pulled all the toys Simon will likely play with and set them aside in a few boxes.  We don't have a large number of toys, anyway, because of our lack for space, so we didn't actually get rid of anything.  Just thinned out and put away for the time being.  We have a small basket of toys in the living room and a few stacked under the sidetable by the bookshelves.  The rest are either stuffed animals on a bookshelf in her room or fit into a tub next to it.  There's not much for us to do there.  I may yet go through the books, but that is mostly to put away some of the easily torn ones that she's not quite ready for yet.

So, this makes me smile.  I feel on top of it.  And it also means I have more time to actually clean and then work on other projects I have.  Oh, and all the social activities I've scheduled for Spring Break.  Yessirre-bob.  It's gonna be a good week.

Lovely afternoon

I'm enjoying not being a mom for the afternoon.  Eliza is here, but asleep (finally).  I put her down for a nap after a quick lunch and flat didn't let her get up no matter how much she played, sang, called, or cried.  That is the usual routine, but it's only been recently that she's been fighting it so much.  I admit, I did go in and rock and sing to her, something I haven't done since she was 9 months old, maybe younger, to remind her how sleepy she was, and then put her down again.

In this time of child-in-bed, which has extended far longer than usual because of her refusal to sleep, I have been enjoying a very quiet afternoon.  We decided the TV is staying off for the time being.  We worked on our garden plan together for awhile, and I've been browsing some cookbooks, trying to expand my repertoire for a higher proficiency with vegetables.  I've also been browsing the blogosphere, reading articles on organization, simplifying, home management, etc.  It's a concept I'm fascinated with and completely inept at using in my own life.  It's also brought me across a huge variety of blogs I never knew existed.  Anyone else find it completely fascinating how some blogs have huge followings and others don't?  I've read the articles and tips on what and why this is, but I'm not sure how much I'm concerned about it.  I just like to write and share.  Thanks for following along with me.

All in all, it's been a rare and lovely afternoon.  I should really get back to the recipes and accomplishing things that I always want to do and never have time.  I know I will become a slave to the household again tomorrow: everywhere I look there is dust and dirt to be eradicated.  I think vacuuming and dusting will be the tall order of the week this week.

It is finished

Would you allow me an incredibly loud, "WHEW!"

Yeah.  Project Hot Spot Paper Clutter is over.  Mostly.  I didn't think it would happen today, and I really wanted it to.  It came down to a last minute push after we got home from a bonfire dinner with friends and Nick pitching in to get it finished.  And two enforced naptimes for Eliza, who didn't sleep through one at all.  But it's done.  Is it clean?  I wish I could say yes, but alas, the dusting is going to have to happen this next week sometime.  Is it decluttered?  Yes.  Is the paper taken care of?  Either yes or there is something in place to help me take care of it over the next week or so.  Does it look decluttered?  Ah, there's the rub.  It does in person, but looking at my pictures I'm so not convinced.  I'll show you what I mean.

 This is my side of the room again.  Much of the clutter on the floor is gone.  Granted, knitting/crocheting supplies aren't in the best shape.  I likely need to go through those and get rid of or use up some yarn that's just hanging around.  That is largely the problem there.  My bedside table doesn't look all that spic-and-span, either, does it?  But really, all that's there are the medicines (mostly the antacids) I need in the middle of the night, my water mug, and a small pile of cookbooks I'm browsing.  And yet... I feel like it looks messy.  Sigh.

 The desk and the vanity (which wasn't in the original shot but was just as messy).  Again, it doesn't look to great.  I should have thrown away the Kwik Shop coffee.  I blame that on the perspective, though, so... that means the next picture.

 Here, you can see that most everything on the desk is in neat piles (notebooks, my bible, a few things I want to make sure I know where they are).  On top of the filing cabinet is my new in-box/out-box for papers.  Those are papers that were gathered up at the last minute and I have yet to go through.  There's not a whole lot there, some coupon pages, a little bit of mail, some miscellaneous.  A big calendar that I need to find a place to put up.  Maybe I'll just nail it to the wall right next to my desk.  That's the most logical place.

 My file cabinet and a close-up of the new in-and-out box.  Really, that box looks worse than it really is.  The file cabinet was actually the first big project after all the clutter was rounded up.  As we hadn't been through it since we moved it out of storage, I had to go through everything, ditch things that we didn't need to keep.  The filing system is a bit poor, but hopefully I can refine it as we use it more.

 Entryway shelves.  Not perfect, but far, far better.  You can actually see the shelves now.

 Living room side table.  This is one picture that I think speaks mostly for itself.

 Living room side table and book shelves.  Also much, much better.

Now, if only I could say the same for the whole apartment.  But the rest of the place was a bit neglected during the project.  I don't think that was really supposed to be the intention of Project Simplify, but this was a tall, tall order for me.  Some of that clutter has been collecting since we moved in.  I intend to continue with Project Simplify, if the next hot spots continue to be relevant, but hopefully they won't be such a big chore that I have to let other cleaning go.  I need to pick up the living room after the 16 mo. old, and sweep and dust and clean in general.  And then, maybe, I'll feel like things are in order.

But I have to say: I'm rather proud of myself that I got it done.  Allow me to indulge in a smiley face here. : ]

Friday Quick 5

The Quick 5 is LATE today.  Let's just say, it's not been a day that has gone according to plan.

1.  I am realizing how dependent I am on Eliza's naps to achieve true productivity, and it worries me.  Case in point: today.  Because she gets up so early in the mornings, we still haven't dropped the morning nap.  A typical day includes a 1.5-2hr nap in the morning, and then a 1.5 hr nap later in the afternoon.  This schedule makes up for the fact that she gets up much earlier than I would say her disposition would allow: she's never really happy in the mornings until after that first nap.  However, the past week or so since daylight savings, that nap schedule has been in limbo.  She's not getting up as early, but she's also not getting as much sleep.  And today was the worse, with a single nap clocking in just shy of two hours.  I had really been counting on naps today to work on my decluttering project.  If I attempt anything like sorting papers, laundry, outgrown clothes while she is up, Eliza is sure to get into it.  I make a big enough mess doing it as is, making piles to sort through things; I don't need her help!  So I have to wait for her to nap so I can go to with gusto.  Needless to say, I got very little done today (because yes, I do require a shower).  If she doesn't nap well tomorrow, I might not make my deadline.  So, what am I to do when I have two children, who do not nap on the same schedule?  Thankfully, Simon will be immobile for a time!  But he will still demand my attention. This is something that gives me apprehension.

2.  Nick and I are enjoying watching Jeopardy! together currently.  The current champion "Tom" is a bit of a wizard: just about every day it's almost impossible to catch him.  We enjoy testing our own trivia skills (which are mad depending on the day), but it's been great fun watching Tom play.  He's a man after Nick's own heart: he's not afraid to go for a true daily double by betting it all.

3.  It's Spring Break next week and while many of my friends are off and more free for the week, suddenly I'm more busy!  I am making plans, plans, plans to see people I normally don't get to see and do things that having people off work suddenly allow me to do.  Like a cooking day with my friend Jaime.  I am determined that I'll have at least a few things in the freezer for when Simon comes!

4.  The decluttering thing...  Yeah, it's more work than it should be.  It just goes to show how far behind I am in the organization business.  I first needed to go through our filing cabinet and clean it out: it had been in storage while we were living with my parents and was in desperate need of an overhaul.  And then there's the beginning to go through the paper just to see what needs to be kept and what tossed.  Next will be sorting to file.... I might not make the deadline tomorrow whether Eliza naps well or no.  Because that's just the paper (which is all that Hot Spot was assigned for), but I also want to declutter all the... well, clutter from those pictures as well.  I have a lot to do.

5.  My body is really beginning to gear up for labor.  At least that's the way it feels to me.  Most evenings find me very uncomfortable from contractions and Braxton Hicks.  I'm almost to the point where I want to say, "Just come out, already!"  But the truth is... I'm not ready.  Typical for a second or later child, I'm told.  But I realized I still need to get preregistered at the hospital so paperwork is taken care of; I don't have any bags packed; I need to get this room decluttered and cleaned up so we have someplace to put his cradle.... I think you'll see what I'll be trying to accomplish next week and the week after (likely).  If only I had that proverbial burst of energy before a birth.  But it's failing to come.

So much household-y news for the Quick 5 this week!  But that's the majority of what I've got on my plate.  Before long it will be lots of news about babies and the like.  Sigh.  I'm told there are seasons in life, and this seems to be mine.  But I'm longing for more time for reflection and thinking.  Too bad I just don't function that well at 4:00 in the morning, or maybe I'd get up earlier so I would have the time to do it!

Gulp, we're getting serious here.

The shame and humiliation.  You must understand, these are the parts of the home I try to hide or disguise as best as possible.  Ok, the ones in the living room often hang out for all to see, though I often do try to straighten them.  But the bedroom.... oh, groan.  I can't believe I'm letting you see this.

But, let's be frank: I want to be serious about getting things put into order and organization and cleanliness around here.  I am all for the argument that it is possible to share too much.  There are things I will never post about or talk about on my blog.  Period.  And not all of them embarrassing or intimate, or the like.  But there are some things that go on in my life that I just don't feel need to be out there for all to see.  Usually, my clutter, my mess, and my abysmal housekeeping skills would be among them.  Still, confession is good for the soul.  If you really want to change a behavior, you tell someone about it.  And then you change it.  This works with bad habits, with sin, with weight-loss: it's always a good idea to get some accountability.  So, here's my accountability.  I blogged yesterday about wanting to take part in Project Simplify, and this is what's going to get me to do it.  These are my before pictures.  My corner of the bedroom I never seem to get tidied or taken care.  The paper clutter in the living room.  The shelves, where we toss everything we want to keep away from Eliza... and then leave.  The Hot Spot this week is actually paper clutter, and that's a majority of what this mess is, a few other things thrown in.  My main goal is to tackle the paper clutter, but I don't see why not just take care of the rest while I'm at it?  So.  Here it is.  Gut-wrenching, humiliating honesty.  This is how we've been living.  (Please, don't judge me too harshly!)

 My side of the room, where everything ended up that we didn't have an immediate place for (mostly things we want to file or decorations we haven't yet set out).

 The desk area.  Sigh.

 The entry-way bookshelf where everything gets tossed when we get home.  Or when we don't want Eliza to play with it.

 Living room side table.

Living room side table and bookshelf.  Much the same story as the entryway bookshelf.

If you want to see the plan of attack, head to Project Simplify Hot Spot #2.  I hope to post pictures again by Saturday (I'm giving myself an extra day since I got started late!)

Have you checked out Faith Fotos?

Amy Mallinson is the girl who took the photos for my wedding.  She did a GREAT job!  On top of being a fantastic photographer, she's a beautiful woman and a joy to be around.  She takes many of the family pictures for Nick's side of the family (which I really need to get out the cd and post some!)  I believe, if we're friends on Facebook, that some of those photos are tagged with me in them and you can see them.  However, she also recently started a blog for her photo business, Faith Fotos.  You should really check it out!  Both the blog and her business site give you an opportunity to see her work.  Let me tell you, the newborn photos are pretty cute!

Speaking of newborn photos...  Today's her birthday!  Happy birthday, Amy!  But she's also doing a giveaway: a newborn photo shoot.  So, if you know someone who's expecting, you might like to go check out the giveaway.  I confess, I'd love to win.  But Amy does such a fantastic job, I can't begrudge the person who gets the prize.

Project, project, who wants a project?

I've got too many I want to do!  Projects, how much I must love you; shall I count the ways (number)?

1. Blogging 365 on my Bible reading to make sure I do it.  (Failed last night, but I blame illness for it.),
2. a new baby weeks away (I definitely consider that a project until I get adjusted again!),
3. a women's writing project,
4. the new garden,
5. a weight-loss plan/diet-plan I'm working out for when Simon arrives to lose weight,
6. and now.... I'm considering joining the Project Simplify over at Simple Mom.

Yeah, maybe too much?  Here's the deal: one thing I wanted to try to do before Simon comes is to get this house cleaned and in order.  Granted, I might not do every project (such as the first hotspot as it's cleaning out the master closet and I have NO idea what might fit or what I might need until after Little Man's here).  But it seems like a good tool to get that goal accomplished.  Plus, it's due to finish just before Simon is (but I'm kind of hoping he'll come sooner, to be honest). 

But to evaluate: do I have too much going on?  Maybe.  If I have poor time management (and I do, I admit).  New baby, there's nothing I can do about that, gladly.  It will be an adjustment and I'll learn to make life work with more than one munchkin under my feet.  The new garden?  I'm really not doing a lot of the work.  A lot of planning, yes.  But Nick admits he plans to do most of the work himself.  This is his kind of thing.  This late summer/early fall is when we'll do my side of the work: harvesting, canning, preserving, pickling, etc.  By then, New Baby and Writing Project should be well handled.  The writing project?  I really feel led to do that.  I am working on it now, and recognize that I will probably hit it harder over the summer: when this organizing/simplifying/cleaning-out project is already over and done with.  Why over the summer rather than now?  I'm good when deadlines are breathing on me.  I plan to have much written before then, but it will solidify, shape up and refine over the summer, realistically.  Just like our veggie garden.  Huh.  And the 365 blogging: well, I hope that just doesn't go away.

So... what am I hesitating on?  I think I can make this project work for me, rather than me work for it.  Maybe that it's 3:00 on Tuesday already?  And I've got dishes to wash (and a kid that finally just now sacked out for her first nap)?  Maybe I'll wash some dishes and then see.  But I have to tell you: the hotspot for this week is where I need to be working!  It has hit several places on my "to-do" list already!

In the garden!

Nick and I are attempting our first garden this year.  The house we live in has a decent-sized backyard for being in town and there's already a little garden plot in it.  The past years the neighbor has been using the garden space, mostly to insure that weeds don't creep into his own from our yard.  This year, he may need to take different precautions.  Nick and I fully intend to plant some veggies there, but there are no promises to whether we will prove to be conscientious about weeds or that sort of thing.  We're newbies.  We're learning.

I'm excited about it.  Scratch that.  I'm excited about the harvest.  As much as I love The Secret Garden, and could read it every year, truly, I don't fancy myself to be much of a gardener.  I don't mind plants, but I kill them far too easily.  And I hate bugs.  I have a horror of bugs.  My contribution to bug control may not go beyond the suggest we plant marigolds in the garden, as I hear they are a natural bug repellent.  For pete's sake, if that's true, let's plant them throughout the house!  I hate bugs.  So, I honestly can't see myself spending a lot of time tending our dear, little plants on my hands and knees with my hands deep in the soil.  I will gladly keep the garden journal so we can improve on our gardening experience from year to year (because we're pretty serious about wanting to grow vegetables and doing some canning and preserving); I will gladly help harvest.  I will gladly go out and water on a hot, dry day.  But weeding and debugging may be out of my league.

My concern is that we not be overwhelmed this first year.  We've made a list of veggies we'd like to have.  It's a long list.  This doesn't include the strawberries and blueberry and blackberry bushes I'd like to get (though I may suggest those go on the other side of the yard when we get it straightened out).  I have things I want to make: gratins, salsas, tomato sauces (though the sauce I make right now is so easy...), etc.  I want to get vegetable cook books and learn more about preparing them.  Nick and I have discussed the benefits of being vegetarians, but we don't really think we could do it.  However, if I was more proficient at preparing vegetables, aided by an abundant harvest that must be eaten, we might be able to cut our meat and carb consumption down enough to be respectable.  I love that idea.

So a-gardening we go!  I intend to update regularly on the garden.  I want this to work.  I know I've likely romanticized having one a bit, but I've been jealous of a friend's canning and pickling stints and the produce from her plot.  Maybe it will take time, but hopefully we can turn over a new leaf!

Friday Quick 5

So, shall we see if I can keep it truly quick?  My sister and her boys are in the other room watching Megamind while I tap away at the keyboard!

1.  Today is BEAUTIFUL outside!  Eliza and I took a trip to the zoo with friends Jennifer, Elizabeth, Sarah, Travis, and Cale, as well as my sis and crew.  One of the zookeepers seemed keen that we get the best zoo experience.  She came to feed the elephants while we were viewing them, and convinced them to do a few "tricks" for us: standing at attention, grunting/growling in response to questions, opening their mouths wide.  It was great, as I'd never heard an elephant make any sound (though we all know the trumpet blast).  I didn't know elephants "growled"!  But the best was yet to come.  She saw us again at the hippo exhibit and she opened the gate so that the kids could go right up to the cage and pet the baby hippo!  Both the mama and the baby were quite keen to have their noses petted, and the kids got to watch the hippos be fed up close.  They had a great time, and we adults were so impressed that they let us do it!  Probably our best zoo experience yet.

2.  I've decided to give up soda.  It's something that I used to enjoy just once in awhile, but now I seem to need one every day, sometimes I want two a day.  I feel I've gained far too much weight with this pregnancy, and I blame it largely on soda (though there are some other factors).  I've resolved that I will lose at least some of this weight over the summer, and that my first step will be to cut the pop.  Second, I will exercise daily, even if I have to climb the stairs outside our apartment, and begin sooner than I did than after Eliza was born.  Third, I am seriously considering changing my lunch tactic.  But we start with the soda.

3.  I am very glad to say I've stuck with my Bible reading blog so far!  Just a few more days and I'll be done with the Books of the Law entirely.  Part of me is going to miss it.  But the exciting thing about reading the histories in the Old Testament is seeing that Law in action: the Israelites either being faithful, or not so faithful, and God fulfilling His promises.  I'm looking forward to reading Joshua and Judges and the Kings and Chronicles because there are so many interesting people and stories in them!

4.  Hmmm, today may have to be the quick 4, as I don't seem to have that much to share!  The only other real news for the week is that we are t-minus 4 weeks and counting to the due date.  I've already written earlier this week that we had a check-up and that things are already starting to progress towards labor.  Since the forecast for the next week is looking pretty nice, I think Eliza and I will be at the zoo just about every day walking, trying to encourage this kiddo to come!  We're so excited to meet him!

Soo... yes.  I think the Friday Quick 4 will have to be it for today! :)

News on the baby front

I start having weekly check-ups now.  For the uninitiated, that means we're getting close.  We learned yesterday that our little man's head is down and ready for the delivery, and that my body is showing signs of getting ready for labor.  This is all very good news.  We're really excited about this little boy.  Just last night I saw it again in Nick's face when I showed him some rompers I got with a coupon my mom gave me.  Part of me is going to really miss the one-on-one time I've been able to enjoy with Eliza this past nearly-year-and-a-half.  She is the apple of our eyes; we delight in her so much, but now there will be competition for our attention.  Perhaps I feel this more keenly than is necessary because I was a middle child and not until my adulthood did I have an opportunity for undivided attention from my parents.  Not that my parents were in any way neglectful or distant; there was just always someone else around.  Still, I'm excited that Eliza gets to be a big sister, that she'll have a little brother (and more, hopefully) to play with, grow up with, share memories with.  She'll have to learn to share and to love and to compromise and work with others.  I'm excited to have a little guy and all the differences there will be between having a girl and a boy; to be able to watch Nick raise his son as well as his daughter.  I know there will be lots of challenges, but there will also be lots of love and joy to go with them.  I just hope we can survive the adjustment period and the lack of sleep and the never-a-dull-moment diaper changes!

Friday Quick 5

1. One thing I've realized about the Quick 5 is that it has eliminated random chatter on this blog.  This is good: I don't have so many posts about just random things going on.  This is bad: I'm not posting as often.  I could get back to the more philosophical posts I started out doing... but there could be pros and cons to that as well.  I'm a bit torn.

2.  We think Eliza may have decided that her daddy's name is "Bye-Bye."  Every morning before he goes to work (as Eliza is usually up) or whenever he leaves to go teach Hapkido, etc., I encourage her to tell her Daddy, bye-bye.  And she's been really good at it, too.  She doesn't often say "Da-da" or even attempt "Daddy", and she rarely addresses me, either.  We'd never thought much about that, just thinking she understood we are Mama and Daddy and never cared to use the terms.  Until last night.  Last night Nick came in from some preparation for his next Hapkido belt test, and Eliza lit up to see him standing in the doorway of our living room.  And she pointed to him, over and over and over, grinning away, and said, "Bye-bye!"  Not as in, "Bye, Dad!  Aren't you supposed to be going somewhere?"  Instead, she was saying, "Hey, there's Bye-bye!"  Nick and I had a good chuckle, but I noticed he began asking her what his name was (to which she just smiled as if to say, "Oh, I know") and telling her, "I'm the Daddy."

3.  Nick has a work conference this weekend.  Thankfully it's in town, but it does mean we will see less of him.  Plus, tomorrow is my family's celebration of my grandfather's birthday.  Plus, the Hapkido master they are now working with at church is in town this weekend.  He is due to test both Nick and his friend, Dave, who are both teaching our Hapkido group at church for their next belts.  It is still in question whether Nick will be able to get his test in while the master is here because of the schedules.  I hope he does: he said that if he passes this test, he'd be one belt away from black belt.  I'm very proud of my husband.  He began as a volunteer to help with the class, and through a series of events, he was willing to step up and help take leadership of the group, working hard on his own belts so he was able to teach the others and help them test for their own.  He's shown a great deal of dedication and hard work for this group.  I don't think this is so unusual; rather, I think it's an excellent example of his character.  How did I ever land such a man?

4.  I have gone on a cleaning rampage in this house.  The floors have been swept and mopped, surfaces dusted, cleaned, polished, etc.  Sadly, the place still isn't as clean as it could be.  There are still a few bastions of clutter around.  I am determined by the end of the month that my apartment could possibly look like a showpiece, well, except that we don't have expensive decor.  It's a personal commitment and I refuse to fail.  Because, really, my goal is to finally post before/after pictures of this apartment, as I'd always intended.  It has taken me far too long to get moved in, organized, and cleaned up.  (I blame our bedroom.  It's always the last to get any attention.)  This is the time I wish I could magic my friend Melissa home to help me sort papers and reorganize our filing.  Yes, the Melissa that surprised me awhile back.  I have kicked myself several times for not taking her up on her offer to get it done then!

5.  Nick and I are getting ready to plan our vegetable garden.  I realize we might be a little late to the game, but we're newbies, so we hope to chalk it up to experience.  If necessary, we'll just buy some mature plants from a nursery and cut our gardening teeth on those.  But I do hope to have a high enough yield to put up some jars of pasta sauce, salsa, and other vegetable goodness.  I intend to take a trip to the library today for my daughter's enrichment and some vegetable cookbooks so I can start schooling myself on the art of creating tasty veggie dishes.  I am disgruntled with my weight gain this pregnancy and I realize that though most everything I prepare for the family isn't too unhealthy in and of itself, it's abysmal at times because of our low vegetable intake.  So, I'm going to change that.  We need more vegetables, and having them in the garden is a good way to start forcing us to eat them!

That's it for today.  Eliza is chatting to herself in her bedroom, so I'd better get her up, get her dressed and fed some lunch so we can make that trip to the library!