I Made That

You know when someone says "where did you get that" with a certain hint of "what the heck is that"?  It seems every time I hear that question, the answer is "I made it".   Then people like it more.  After they know you made it, it looks better than if they heard you bought it.

My name is Lisa and I'm addicted to crafty goodness.  I've been sober 2 days.  I'm getting the shakes from withdrawl.

Here is a small example of my addictive history:

We bought a table and chairs set from Craigslist.  It was in good condition, except for the cushions.

Before.  

Dirty, ugly - needed some color!

After!

 I used outdoor fabric hoping it would endure many butt cheeks worth of wear and tear.

So much better!

 I'm on a yellow kick.  I bought some new pillows (see them on the couch?) and needed to tie the color into the hallway.  I found a $2.00 black vase from Goodwill - and painted it.

 

 We have a little loft area at the top of the stairs.  It's become our office area.  I bought three Walmart $30 bookshelves, and made this by pushing them together.  And yes, we attached them to the wall so the rapidly developing little girl doesn't pull them down on herself.

The bookshelves were plain like Jane, so we added trim to make them look like one whole unit.  We're still filling in the nail gun holes.

I started painting this owl before I was pregnant.  It sat untouched in the basement for over a year before I finished it the other day.  Wooooo wooooo!  His face is jacked up, but don't tell him.

And then came Andrey's crafty needs.  One day she said, "ga ga go go... mobile NOW".  So I made her one.  She can be so demanding.

Don't ask me to make one for your child.  It took me hours upon hours to make and I don't like you enough to do it again.

Also in A's room are these tissue puffs.  I love them!  Now these suckers are easy.

And because I'm like every other mom and I sing "you are my sunshine" to my wee little lass, I made this for her.  I found similar ones on Etsy that were going for big buckaroos.  I made this little thing on my computer, printed and put it in a shadow box.  Ta da!

One day when my mom was coming over I told her to bring all of her buttons.  Like a good mom she didn't ask any questions.  We glued them to this, and it's much more fun than the boring store bought letters people use.  I just hope my mom doesn't lose a button and come take one from Andrey's A.

 Finally I painted a mirror for little A's room.  Can you see my chihuahua painting in the back?  I had to have that one, duh.

Today I'm off to buy materials for a hanging lamp I'm making.  I can't wait!

Crap.

Days sober: 0

9 Months In and 9 Months Out

Well, she was only in for 8 months, but I didn't come up with that title last month...so I'll use it now.

Our little one has been out in the world for 9 whole months!  I can't believe it!  Before I had her I'd see 9 month old babies and think they were little practically toddlers, capable of so much.  Now I know they are still babies...albeit quickly growing ones.

My little ray of sunshine is turning out to be a feisty little mama-jama.  She has quite the strong determination genes indeed.  We know she gets that from me.  C'est la vie.

But she is also a good listener (already) and is much more patient than I am.  Andrey is rolling all over the place.  She rolls across the room until she hits the wall/door/corner of something and then just lays there.  Stuck.

She head-bangs dances to music...and silence.

She screams in delight, especially in church.  She loves the Lord that much.

She kind of waves and kind of claps.

She seeks attention from any stranger in public - screaming until they have to look at her, then she smiles.  It's hilarious!

She's eaten grass, sticks, dirt, my hair and a piece of an emery board.  

She still has Donald Trump hair.  And have I mentioned she sucks her thumb?  Oh, yeah she does!

 T minus 3 months until her first birthday.  I'm already planning it.  We will have a pony, ferris wheel, hot air balloon, bouncy house and scuba diving.  Or not.  Maybe just some cake and a tutu...

How Do You Relax?

No, I'm not asking how you wind down.  I know all about reading books, foot massages and scented candles...and maybe a little Kenny G thrown into the mix.  And really, Kenny isn't so bad.  I appreciate some smooth sax in my life, but not too much or I get tired.

How do you relax as a parent?  How do you not freak out about every little thing?  This question comes with major rhetorical undertones, FYI.  Every parent is different, but I'm a proverbial mess.

If you have been around Andrey you have been asked (by both Nate and me (and yes, I was supposed to use "me" not "I" there)) to sanitize and then wash your hands.  You will have also noticed that minor panic attacks ensue when she is running 15 minutes past her nap time.  Or if you sleep with me, you will see that OCD kicks in when I check my video monitor 12 times to make sure she's okay, it's charging and the volume is on, all before I can turn my light off.  It's exhausting.

In my own defense she hasn't been sick yet, she naps well and sleeps through the night and is completely unaware that I'm crazy...so far.  If I were my own therapist, which I'm not because that's my mom's job, I'd ask myself "why are you like this, you supermodel you?"

Let me take a crack at it.

On this day, pictured below, the anxiety and excitement began.  Will this baby be okay?  Will we lose it?  What if I fall?  Am I going to be a good mother?  Please let her have blue eyes...

By the time this picture was taken, we had been through the ringer and were at our wits end.  We had been told our girl had a good chance of chromosomal abnormalities, and might not even make it.  We were told she might be rushed into surgery after she was born.  We were told a lot, none of which came true (PRAISE GOD)!  But it increased my natural ability to worry like none other.

Then, when the little squirt decided to come almost 6 weeks early, I was resigned to my fate as a paranoid freak.  It's too early!  Will she be big enough?  What about her lungs?  Her cyst?

Shockingly, it turns out that all that worrying didn't add a day to my life.  It didn't protect my daughter, or relieve me of my fears.  Worry is a waste of time.  I don't need to live my life in worry because I have a loving Father who is in charge.  I can relax in His arms, and trust in His provision for my life.

Did I just answer my own rhetorical question?  Was that a rhetorical question?

Next time I find myself in a panic because some deranged maniac (picture little old lady) dares to touch my little girl's hand, I'll try to remind myself she's okay.  And when she misses her nap by 3 minutes, I won't think it's the end of the world.  I'll cut down on checking my video monitor.  All because I know she can't be protected from everything.  I can only do so much.  I don't want to live my life, or her life, in fear.

She is safe, the Lord is with her.  And He has proven Himself to me over and over again.  I can relax and trust in Him.

Chilly Fall

I love fall.  It's my favorite season.  Summer is my least favorite.  People are always shocked about that.  Maybe it's because I get sweaty and can't wear gray shirts.  Hello armpits!  Maybe it's because I hate to shave my legs.  I like chilly days where I feel like the only sensible thing to do is drink hot coffee and watch a movie with my dog.  I'm so excited that we are on our way to the colder months.  It's time to say goodbye to the shorts and tees, and hello to the hoodies!

Bye bye summer clothes!

My little one is so used to photo shoots.  She loves to sit and smile, drool and fart for the camera.  Don't you?

Are other parents obsessed with their kids thunder thighs?  Yum!

See the drool marks on the couch?

Another thing I like about fall now is baby girl clothes.  I spent way too much money at Carter's the other day.  Everything is adorable.  Like this little outfit.

The little girl wearing the outfit is even more adorable.

With fall comes some of my favorite holidays.  Thanksgiving!  Yes please!  I have more to be thankful for this year than ever before.  Then winter and Andrey's first birthday!  Woohoo!  Christmas... it's like a dream for me.  I better go put some socks on...

White Kitchen Cabinets

It only took me four months of painting during nap time to complete the biggest house project yet.  My kitchen cabinets went from dingy and ugly to clean and pretty.

Before

After

I love how the white cabinets made the dark floors stand out.

Let's start over.  Here's the 1990's style, dirty "oak" cabinets.  I knew we'd break up the moment we met.

I did the kitchen one section at a time, five in total.  Each time, I'd empty the cabinets on the dining room table.  It was such an inconvenient mess.

Nate helped when he could.  I usually begged him to clean the cabinets.  It was the worst step.  

We set up shop in the basement and that's where I spent my spring and early summer.  I blame those cabinets for the lack of books read.

Section four underway.  We were almost done here!

I almost cried with joy when it was done.  I was as proud as Lance Armstrong after a race.

We added hardware for the extra pop.  It definitely finishes the look!

And now I'm getting ready to paint the walls.  It's been a tough decision picking a color that goes with the attached family room.  After that's done, I'll never paint again.  Toenails?  NO!  I'm done.

Party in My Crib

As the end of the day approaches, things get wacky around my house.  I've run out of ideas to entertain this girl, we go lay in my bed.  She loves this.  On this particular day, she had a serious and infectious case of the giggles.

I can't help but to kiss those cheeks!

She's not crying here, she's screaming in delight!

I usually get poked in the eye a few times.

Laughing so hard she can't open her eyes.

We know how to party together!