Friday Quick 5, a day late

I didn't manage to sit down and do anything on the computer yesterday, so here it is while my kiddos nap (for however long that might last).

1.  Obviously, I am still struggling to find some sort of routine, especially when it comes to things I want to do.  Reading, writing, poking through blogs and cookbooks (and now gardening advice) have all taken a backseat.  It's not that I don't have plenty of time on my bum: after all, I'm feeding an infant every few hours.  It's just that I can't do some of it with just on hand, and often can't stay awake even if I can use just the one hand.  (It's been more than once I've woken up to realize I'd fallen asleep, and Simon was done nursing, and Eliza had disappeared to some quiet spot in the apartment...)  I know this is nothing unusual, that there will be an end to this time; after all, Simon isn't even a month old yet.  But i wish I could be back to that routine.  Which brings me to number two.

2.  Of all the things that represented how our life ran before Simon arrived on the scene, I only miss two.  One is the routine, or at leas the ability to accomplish things, usually during certain times. But the other, even more than that, is the one-on-one time I had with Eliza.  I miss sitting on the floor and playing with her, see her big open-mouthed grin and hearing her laugh with delight.  It was just the other day that that laugh came back; I hadn't realized how absent it had been and how much I had missed it until I heard it again.  I hope it's a sign that she's adjusting.  But I miss those times, and I forsake accomplishing what I can during Simon's naps just to sit with her again.

3.  I am not excited about hot weather, but I'm enjoying the return of spring-like weather to the neighborhood.  In fact, I'm excited about it.  Because once Nick has the yard under control, I am going shopping at the farmer's market.  And I'm going to force him to pull out the grill.  And I'm going to mix up some dough.  And we're going to grill some pizza!  I've always wanted to try this.  I have friends who rave about it.  Now that the summer months are here, now that we have a grill and a backyard, I hope we'll be grilling a lot.  I've already told Nick this.

4.  I really hate using the keyboard in the living room.  It takes twice as long to write anything here because this remote keyboard is pretty, well, crappy for this purpose.  It either misses keystrokes or holds them, and I have to correct it.  A typical line from this keyboard would look something like this:  OF COUrse once i try to sw a typical lne the thing decides to cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooprate. Mostly.

5. Work is still being done to get the garden ready.  Nick was working on building the raised beds today.  I hope to post pictures when they're done and ready to plant.  I'm looking forward to having it planted and to start watching things grow!

Hitting that point

I'm hitting that point my postpartum period where I feel the desire and the need for greater intellectual stimulation, but can't find the time.  For pete's sake, I can't even find a regular time to: shower; read my Bible; clean house; wash the dishes; finally unload the laundry basket!  And I want to find time to meditate and write, when???  I can't give up more sleep: I'm getting so little I'm literally kicking myself for being on here rather than in my bed!  If I get any less, my body is going to go into decline, as my mind really has already.  Yes, I want more stimulation; maybe it would preserve what little brain I have left, but what I do have left isn't functioning properly.  You should hear some of the sentences I've been coming up with.  Alas, this too shall pass, right?  So many more weeks/months and he, and I, will be sleeping through the night?  If only.

The Kitchen

We didn't do a lot to the kitchen, you'll see.  It's a room we intend to tear out someday when we reintegrate the house, and we didn't see any need to spend a great deal of money here as long as it's functional.  Well, it's not functional, or as functional as I would like.  I've posted previously about my strong distaste for this room, mostly because it reminds me so much of the former tenant, as well that all the surfaces just never really look... clean.  It's frustrating cooking in here, as there's little room for anything, even when it's decluttered and clean, and keeping it that way is a challenge as I'm not the most organized person and there is little storage.  Besides those hindrances, the room is an old sun porch, poorly converted into a room.  The outside walls are not actually walls, but particle board slapped over with wall paper.  There is not ventilation, which means no heat in winter and no air in summer.  Yes, it gets really cold and really hot in there.  During the winter, I would heat up the oven and then let the door hang open for a bit.  This summer, I' researching ways to cook without my oven.  Or maybe without the stove at all.  We have made a few, small handful of adjustments to make the space more useable, and you'll see that here.

 The kitchen as you enter.  The photo doesn't do much justice to the "aged patina" [yellowing] on the counter or the stains in the sink, or on the floor...  It's a small galley style kitchen that seriously makes me wonder how anyone gets anything done in those tiny kitchens in New York apartments.  The only reason it looks this nice is my mother-in-law, that sainted woman, came in and cleaned it so well that she told me Eliza could eat off the floor.  Which is saying something, as other rooms in this apartment Eliza wasn't allowed down on the floor at all.

The kitchen from the other side of the room.  This room was an old sun porch.  The door goes out onto a "sitting area" that has a lame excuse for railing.  Hopefully someday Nick and I will clean that up (as there's debris left from the former tenant out there that we simply haven't dealt with) and make it into a sitting area for our coffee on nice days. 

 The kitchen after all the construction materials were moved in.  This became the repository for construction materials, tools, paint, debris...  It didn't stay clean after that.  At all.

 The old stove.  The only major changes made in here was we swapped out the old stove and fridge for newer models we got at a garage sale from a lady in our church.  They're not top of the line and I wish desperately I had gas, but it works.

 The kitchen from the entry now.  You'll see we ditched the old table left by the former tenant and Nick installed a few shelves and a counter.  He also put up hooks to hang my pots and pans on for easy access (and quite frankly, we'd have nowhere to store them otherwise).  I didn't bother to take down my dish rack for the pictures, though the place looks much less cluttered without it, as it's pretty much out all the time.  That's because we have dirty dishes all the time, or dishes drying.  I don't always have time to dry and put them away.  Or I should say, I rarely have time.  But this is what my kitchen looks like on a good day.

 View from the other side.  You can see one of two shelving units we put in in the corner there.  The other is on the other side of the fridge.  Neither look very tidy, but it helps hold appliances and things of that nature.

 The newer stove and fridge.

This pantry is technically in the dining room and was an old clothes closet, used as a broom closet by the former tenant.  Nick outfitted it with shelves shortly after we moved in.  Without it, we'd likely be storing something, be it food or kitchenware in piles in a corner.  I'm so grateful for my handy husband!  It's an atrocious mess and could use some organization, but that will have to be a project to be accomplished when I'm not just trying to keep my head above water around the house.

Next up: some bedrooms!  I think I'll leave the bathroom for last, as it got the most attention and has the biggest impact.

Friday Quick 5--Baby Edition

*Note: this Quick 5 was supposed to be posted last week, but I wasn't able to get it done until... now.  I've gone through and tried to edit accordingly, but I may have missed something.  The postpartum brain isn't functioning as I would like it to.

1. HE'S HERE!!  Simon Earl Kemper made his arrival on the scene two Fridays ago.  He's beautiful.  He really is.  He's got the cutest, funniest little face and we are in love.  Well, Mommy and Daddy unequivocally are.  Eliza has her doubts.  Birth stats: born Friday, April 8th, 11:56 pm.  Weighed in at 8lbs 4oz, and measured 21.25 inches long, though the doctor's office didn't agree at his check up a few days later.  Go figure.

2. The postpartum period, I have to say, is definitely not my favorite time of life.  Simon is, and Eliza was, the sweetest little thing to ever hold and it's so nice to when they cuddle on your chest.  But I really hate the lack of sleep, the pain and discomfort residual from labor, the emotional roller coaster as your hormones fight to return to a normal stasis, and the mountain we like to call the "adjustment period".  I never feel more at a loss than at this time of life.  I am grateful for the way it makes me pray harder and love on my family harder, but really, I count down the days until it's done.  I know someone will try to tell me to "enjoy this time, because it will soon be gone," and believe me, I am loving cuddling with my little man and my baby girl just as they are now.  But that does not mean I will be grateful when he's a little older, a little heftier, and can go longer between feedings, especially at night.

3.  Eliza is definitely going through the transition period.  There are times she really likes this new little creature, and times she really wants him to leave.  We've been home [two weeks] now and I can see the reality that he's not temporary beginning to hit her.  She's more likely to act out and has thrown her first few real tantrums.  She is much more possessive of a lap once she gains it.  But at other times she likes to hand Brother his binky, give him kisses, and at times hold him on her lap.  She loves it when she finds him laying in accessible places, and tries to sit as close to him as possible (which often translates to on him) so she can hold his hand, touch his feet, and pat his head.  It's a constant effort to make sure I don't leave them unattended together in case she might hurt him accidentally.

4.  Simon, though, is proving to be a baby who likes human contact.  He does not like to be left to lay on his own to stare at something interesting for any length of time.  He doesn't like to lay in his cradle.  He'd rather be laying on the couch next to a warm leg or in bed at night with Mama and Daddy.  (Neither Mama or Daddy are proponents of co-sleeping, but in the middle of a sleep-deprived night, they're willing to make exceptions).  It's something we're going to have to work on with him, as we don't want him to expect to be held constantly.  It makes getting anything around here done very, very hard. *Simon is currently learning to like his cradle now. He'll sleep in it all day without fuss.  It's nighttime we're struggling with.

5.  Which brings me to my last post.  After months of whipping myself into shape and working hard to get this place looking good.... it takes just a few postpartum days for that to crash down around my head.  The place is a disaster.  Things are piled everywhere.  The clean laundry is still in baskets.  The bathroom could use a wipe-down, dishes are all over the kitchen, and the floor... I don't want to talk about it.  I've discovered that having things picked up is very nice, having most surfaces clear is lovely, but the floor has got to be clean.  Thank you to my loving husband, who really is the most amazing man ever, otherwise this place would be far, far worse than it is.  Far, far worse.  He did a great deal of picking up and cleaning during his week at home.  And I love him for that.  Now that he's at work... I miss him tremendously and wish I could have him back home again.  Here's looking forward to retirement some day, right?

Still waiting on a baby

And the crummy thing is that my midwife is out of town the next few days.  So after all this time of wishing and hoping he'd come, now I rather hope he'll hold off a few more days.  The end is in sight, though: if we don't go into labor on our own, we'll be scheduled for an induction next week.  I'd like to go on my own, though.  So, if you have a moment, say a little prayer for us that we'll go into labor naturally, and at a time when my midwife is available!

Entryway and DIning Room

Continuing the reveal of our before-and-afters, I give you... the entryway and our dining room.

The entryway itself is a small room.  It used to be a spacious landing, but they closed it off when they dissected the house into apartments.  From the pictures it may be hard to see, but much of the wall space is commanded by doorways.  There are eight doorways in this one little space, some to rooms, some to closets... you get the picture.

Before, this is looking from the living room into the entry way.  The open door is our "front door" into the apartment.  You can see into Eliza's room and the dining room.

This is "during" when we'd pulled up the carpet.  See the debris from the bathroom?  Pretty!  This is looking from the dining room into the living room, so the opposite perspective from above.

After! From the living room towards the dining room and the kids' room.  You can see the baby gate we put up to keep Eliza out when we don't want her wandering in the kitchen and dining rooms.

And, from the dining room towards the living room.  We're very pleased with how the floors came out.  The entryway isn't really anything special, but... it works.

These next are of the dining room.  The befores...

 The durings, where we're patching walls and painting...

And the afterwards....

This room most of all will benefit from some pictures being hung!  And hopefully, that's gonna happen today!

Why is it?

Why is it that my greatest urge to bake comes on a day when it is easily 88 degrees in my kitchen (and I'm not joking) and just days before my second child is due?  It makes no sense.  I can surely hope it might be that last surge of energy and nesting instinct that comes just before a delivery, but I'm not counting on it.  Contractions have been minimal today.

But let me say: I've been greatly inspired by these.  Oh, and this.  And definitely, this.  Are they anywhere in the range of the healthy dietary options my husband and I have been wanting to pursue this spring?  Definitley not.  But... they just may end up on my birthday list anyway.

Friday Quick 5

1.  We received some furniture to supplement the kids' room from my in-laws, Earl and Jan Kemper.  I could not be more grateful for their generosity!  Last night, Nick and I spent a few minutes rearranging the room to accommodate all of it.  The room looks like a bit of a hallway, with the changing table and Eliza's crib on one side, and Simon's crib as well as two chests of drawers on the other.  We also moved the bookcase containing her toys to stand by the window and make use of a wall plug-ins that Eliza's crib had previously covered.  Eliza is a little unsettled by the changes.  It's evident in a slight whiny quality to her voice when she goes in the room, and that she won't go down for a nap.  She's very tired as she got up early this morning, a little disoriented.  She's very content to snuggle with me and lay her head on my shoulder if I rock her.  But she won't lay in her bed.  It may be a few rough days of transition.

2.  Tuesday night a couple friends came over to help me knock out the cleaning of my house.  Tuesday night, my apartment was clean.  Wednesday my apartment was clean.  Yesterday, my apartment was clean.  Today, it's a royal mess.  The dinner dishes are not washed, the floors need vacuuming, again, and my living room is strewn with hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law, for which I am incredibly grateful.  Not only does she have great taste, but Eliza is well-outfitted for the next stage.  It really isn't much, when you consider it, but after having such an orderly home for just a few days, it feels like a disaster.  I am going to attempt to get the dishes washed and the clothes sorted and ready to put away while Eliza naps, if she'll nap.  I'm hoping she'll finally succumb, but at the moment, she sounds heartbroken.  (This is a little hard on Mama, who's policy is to not go in unless I suspect harm or dirty diaper, and who usually only has to listen to her little girl play around before sleep rather than cry in despair!)

3.  This weekend marks the first dry weekend in a few weeks!  Nick has plans to be in the yard.  It's a good thing the Farmer's Market hasn't started yet (at least that I'm aware), as I'd be tempted to haul him down to look at tomato plants, when he really needs to be out digging and tilling.  It will be a busy day as it is, with my ladies' luncheon at church, and a family birthday in the evening.  I'll use the morning, instead, to play with Eliza, clean, and watch the changes in the backyard.  I would love to say I'll see raised beds by the end of the day, but more realistically I'm hoping at leas the trunks and brush will be cleared away and the ground broken up and getting ready.

4.  April Fool's Day doesn't really get much attention in our house.  Maybe that will change, if our children are ornery enough to enjoy the jokes.  However, there have been two occasions on which I thought Facebook an excellent use of April Fool's.  The first is actually today: I seriously considered posting that we were on our way to the hospital, suggesting delivery was imminent.  I chose not to, because I know there are some watching for the news on there, and I don't really want to throw them into a tizzy.  Somehow, it just didn't seem... kind.  The other time was when I first began dating Nick.  I, at least, had been told over and over and over again for some time how Nick and I should "get together" and what a great couple we'd be.  I always downplayed the remarks, mostly because I wasn't completely sure of how he felt about me.  I did consider, however, asking him to play an "April Fool's joke" by putting it out on Facebook that we were dating; I rejected the idea.  I'm glad for it, as when we did begin seriously dating, we put the news out on Facebook to watch the reaction of the high schoolers.  It was classic: we heard about it from most of them the very next day.

5.  I am a BIG fan of Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  Admittedly, I would watch just about anything with Bobby Flay on it.  That's how I started watching America's Next Great Restaurant.  But I enjoy watching the food on Throwdown, seeing the different twists put on the dishes, and hearing the comments about it.  It's good friendly competition.  This week, they featured fondue.  I'd already been consider that I might like to get a fondue pot, or even a small crockpot.  I love cheese.  And warm, melty cheese seems like a great way to get some veggies in, don't you think?  Well, after Throwdown, I was almost ready to throw out my menu plan for the night and figure out a way to have fondue without the appropriate equippage or ingredients.  I resisted the urge, but now.... I'm thinking I gotta have fondue.  We may be investing in something here quite soon.

Hope everyone is having a great Friday!  I hope by the next time I post the Friday Quick 5 I will have a little man's picture to include!  (But we shall see....)