March 2015 Goals

I’ve been revisiting my February Goals and I’m very pleased with our success. The only room that did not get completely purged was the kitchen. We’re still working on that. There are also a couple little odds and ends in each room (primarily deep cleaning tasks) that we’re still working on. I want to keep the momentum going so we’re adding some new goals for March.

March Goals

Week 1-2: G’s room

While we’re in this house, G’s room will also serve as the nursery. The baby will be with us until he’s sleeping most of the night so that she’ll have fewer interruptions at night. We’re hoping for the same success that we had with G. She was moved into her own room at a month old (trust me, we all slept better…) and she was sleeping through the night by 2 months old. With that being said, I’m  trying to decide what to do about decorating, painting, etc. The walls are currently a pretty spring green color with white trim. I’ve found an adorable theme that I’m longing to use but I’m not sure if it will be worth it considering we don’t know how long we’ll be in this house. While painting would not be a major undertaking, we’re just trying to decide if it would make a huge difference when it comes time to sell. Thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

I plan to finish going through her closet and add any unnecessary items to the upcoming consignment sale. Everything will be dusted and wiped down and miscellaneous decorations and keepsakes will be boxed up. I want to get her room down to the basics.

Weeks 3-4: Master Bedroom

This will undoubtedly be a labor of love. I plan to go through ALL of our clothes and rid our drawers, closets and tubs of clothing that we no longer wear. I already have two full garbage bags. Our room will need to be repainted and the closet needs to be finished. The closets in our home were not finished when we moved in. Oddly enough the house was built in the late 60’s and apparently closets were not a big deal. They were nothing but rafters and exposed roofing. We insulated, dry walled, painted and put in flooring into the other bedroom closet. We just haven’t gotten around to ours…but now it is time. I want to try and sell or donate any furniture that we’re not planning on taking with us in the move.

It’s hard not to become overwhelmed in the process. Our goal is to have the house up for sale at the beginning of April. Some of the other things that we would like to have done or need to have done prior to doing so are…

-painting the hallway

-painting the stairwell

-finish repainting the ceilings

-wash the windows inside and out

- basic landscaping

-removing miscellaneous items from the back of the property

While my pregnant brain is already on overload, I’m trying to stay focused and do what I can. My husband has been a huge help and, while we have a lot left to do, we’re pushing on. We’ve been praying about this decision for a long time and we feel we’re doing what we should at this point (despite expecting a baby in about 4 months). God’s timing will be perfect. Part of our prayer is that the Lord is preparing the right family for our home. We know that we’re doing what we can with our budget and time and we believe that the right family will look past whatever flaws there may be and see the true country charm, stable foundation and beautiful setting that comes with our house.

Linking up with Andrea for Monthly Goals

It's a Big Day

It's Thursday and boy is Friday looking good.

G was proud to show me her sticker stash...

Today is going to be full. This morning we'll drive an hour in one direction to check in with my oral surgeon.  He'll make sure my incision is healing and that everything looks good. While still somewhat sore, I'm glad what will hopefully be the worst of this whole tooth extraction is behind me.

We'll then come home for a short time and then head an hour in the opposite direction for our 21 week ultrasound.  They'll be measuring all of his anatomy and we'll get to spend a good deal of time watching our miracle move about. He's become quite the bladder bouncer theses past couple of days and I'm ready to see him in action.

Today also marks yet another snow day...who knows when we'll have a full week of school. It's been a challenging two weeks for various reasons and I'm ready for Spring. I'm ready for the fresh air, fresh starts and the promise that the season brings.

Yesterday morning's God art

Happy thoughts to all of you and happy Thursday!

Linking up for Thoughts for Thursday!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

::via::

Snow days + pregnancy cravings + ample amounts of baking supplies equal good things (unless my obstetrician tells me otherwise at my upcoming appointment). Last week I had a ridiculous craving for chocolate chip cookies. Someone may or may not have demolished an entire package of chocolate chip cookies last week…can’t blame the hubby or toddler for that one. So naturally, when I was trying to decide what to make for my husband’s volunteer fire department’s annual dinner fundraiser, I knew what was going to be my contribution.

Each year the wives, along with some of the fire department’s auxiliary team, make desserts to go with the main meal. I opted to make some super delish chocolate chip cookie bars. Now, this recipe makes a lot…I cut 15 large (maybe giant is more appropriate) bars but you could easily double or triple that number by cutting them smaller.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

You can find Martha Stewart’s original recipe and directions here.

Ingredients:

1 ½ c (3 sticks) of butter at room temperature

4 c all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 c sugar

1 ½ c packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 12oz bag of chocolate chips (butterscotch or peanut butter would also work well)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Cream together the butter and both sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Add the vanilla.

3. Add the baking soda and then slowly add the flour. Mix until well combined (the mixture will be thick).

4. Add the chocolate chips. Mix until just combined.

5. Line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly spread the cookie dough batter into the pan (I found using a wooden spoon to work best).

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes and check. The top of the bars should be slightly browned. Over baking will make them dry and crumbly. I baked mine for almost 35 minutes and they turned out perfectly.

7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Remove from the pan, slice and serve. Yum!

These were delicious! It is a good thing that they are not staying in my house because I would be in some serious trouble. These are so good! Enjoy!

Linking up for Tasty Tuesdays!

My Person Turns 30

Today my best friend turns 30! We've known each other for almost 11 years (wow!) and I wouldn't trade a moment.  The tough times make us stronger and the good times just get better. I just want to take a moment to recognize one of the most special people in my life.

::via::

30 of My Favorite Things About LBC

1. You are my best friend.
2. You call me out on my crap.
3. You keep me grounded.
4. You make even the most ordinary of days special.
5. You have fabulous fashion sense.
6. You know me so well...
7. You are an awesome aunt.

One of my favorite pictures (Easter 2014)

8. You are determined.
9. You know how to make others feel special.
10. We know what each other is thinking without saying a word.
11. You're generous.
12. You are humble.
13. You love the Lord.
14. You have a beautiful servant's heart.
15. You're well traveled.
16. You fight for what is right.
17. You're a wonderful hostess.

One of my favorite trips to date...2012

18. You are an excellent baker.
19. You are adventurous.
20. We share a love of movies, peanut m & ms and ice cream.
21. You always make our time together meaningful.
22. You challenge me.

Our first 5k

23. You inspire me.
24. You take chances.
25. You hold me accountable.
26. You make change for Christ.
27. You're honest.
28. You're loyal.
29. You make me laugh.
30. You're my person.

Happy Birthday!

This Week's 5

With the kind of week it has been, I thought it would just be easier to go day by day.

[Monday]
We enjoyed another snow day at home thanks to more snow on the ground.

[Tuesday]
We had a 2 hour delay to ensure safety. I went to work for a couple of hours and then headed to my dentist appointment.  I've been having an achy teeth problem and I wanted to see what was going on. Everything was fine a few months ago at my last cleaning.  Too my surprise,  a wisdom tooth was almost completely filled with a cavity. After many attempts to numb me up and get the tooth out, he decided sending me to the surgeon would be the best decision.

Tuesday was also my hubby's birthday. It was not spent the way we'd hoped. I'm making it up to him on Saturday with a tasty meal at a local brewery.

::via::

Tuesday was also filled with sadness as we grieved the loss of my cousin's husband who lost his battle with cancer.

[Wednesday]
We actually had a full day of school! Now to play major catch up...

::via::

[Thursday]
I officially became a surgical patient. I didn't feel a thing, which was amazing. 3 stitches later I was sent home with a  mouth full of gauze and a headache. As the numbing agent wore off the reality of the pain hit. The safest thing for me to take is regular Tylenol,  which doesn't do much.

[Friday]
G is off to the sitter so that I can have a little healing time. The pain is pretty bad and sleep was difficult. I'm glad I can be at home today to mend.

::via::

Happy Friday!

Linking up for Oh Hey Friday!  and Five on Friday

Bump to Birth: 5 Months

Month 5

Size:  Banana

Gender: It’s a boy!!!

Name: It will be a surprise! We’ve settled on a first name and are almost fixed on a middle name.

Symptoms: sinus pressure, achy teeth, tiring more easily, food aversions, nose bleeds, nausea, round ligament pain, restless sleep

Emotions: Excited about my next appointment, thrilled over baby’s gender, excited to share the great news, overwhelmed about having to prepare for a boy (since we have EVERYTHING needed for a girl), in love with all the movement I have been feeling, grateful to now be halfway through, anxious about getting everything ready for next school year since I will not be starting, a little overwhelmed with all of the things we are trying to do to get the house ready to sell, ready to finalize plans with the person that will be keeping G when I go to have the baby

Doctor’s Visit: January 30^th-baby’s excessive movement made it difficult to track a heart rate so another ultrasound was done. We received an excellent report (it was then that I began questioning my gut feeling that it was a girl…)

                           February 14^th-elective ultrasound. We found out that we are having a boy. He had a beautiful heartbeat that was measured at 156bpm. You can read all about it here.

                           February 27^th- general checkup scheduled

                           March 5^th- anatomy scan and dentist appointment

Movement: pops and thumps, a couple of rolls now and then, typically in early morning and evening hours

Cravings: eggs, French toast, strawberries, iced coffee, Chinese food and chocolate chip cookies

Aversions:  mayo, purple (yes purple) lima beans, homemade macaroni and cheese, carrots, and black beans

According to Big Sister: G does not “want” a baby. When asked she still says no. She does, however, like to “listen” to the baby with her stethoscope and pats my belly. His arrival and introduction will be interesting

Memories:

-G was pitiful with a really nasty cold and a UTI.

At the doctor...before the horrible catheter experience

-We enjoyed a girls’ day with Terri and Alyssa.

-G plainly said “I love milk!” without any prompting.

-We made a secret gender ultrasound appointment and found out that we are having a boy! We enjoyed telling our families.

-Finished G’s birthday invitations (now I need to order them).

-Baby’s movements are becoming more and more noticeable.

-8+ inches of snow and bitter cold resulted in a whole week off from school and lots of extra time with G.

-I secured a long-term sub for the beginning of next school year.

The Back Story// Months 1-3// Month 4

Goodbye Stuff

Have you ever stood in your house and just looked around…only to find that every room is a mess? I mean every room. Well I did and it was a little overwhelming. We’ve had an entire week home because of the snow and you would think that my house would be spotless! You would think…In my defense, I have a toddler who “helps” in the  most unproductive of ways and I’ve been working diligently on my monthly goals.

The goals are meant to help us purge the house of anything we’re not using and/or do not want to take with us when we move. I’m also trying to begin boxing up things that we aren’t using now but will want to use in our new home. This is quite an undertaking. Our home consists of my life and his life combined, many, many things that were in the house when we moved in, objects that we’ve acquired in our almost 7 years of marriage, and of course all of the things that have been given to us as gifts or hand-me-downs. Yikes! 

Currently I have 2 bags of clothing/stuffed animals and two huge boxes ready to donate. I have a huge pile of little girl clothes on hangers ready to be tagged for an upcoming consignment sale, as well as multiple other items that I still have to enter, prepare and tag. No wonder my house is a mess. I suppose all of these things just make the dishes in the sink seem more than what they are and the laundry more content in the basket. One thing is for sure, when I look past the dishes and the unfolded laundry I still see that we still have entirely too much stuff.

Dictionary.com defines stuff as “material to be worked upon or to be used in making something.” I’ve begun applying this definition to the things that are in our home. If it is something that still needs to be worked upon (and hasn’t been touched in the last 3-6 months) it’s out. If we have not used it in the last year (clothing included) then we’ll part ways. If the item does not help to make our house a home in beauty or function, then out it goes. Using these guidelines I’m finding it much easier to let it go. I’ve even made a simple print out to hang or place in the room I’m working on. It helps by my husband and I stay focused on the task at hand.

So far we’ve successfully purged the living room and the dining room. I’ve also gone through all of G’s clothes (newborn to 24 months). I had some that were ruined, so they were trashed or will be reused as dust rags. I ended up with a decent size box full of donation items and then a slightly smaller pile that I will be cosigning (and what does not sell will be donated.) I was also thrilled to discover that I had a very small selection of gender neutral clothing items (and then of course random firefighter items) that I’ll be able to use for our sweet boy that’s due in July.

There are only two real issues that I’ve encountered during this process:

1. I’m still on moderate bed rest so my lifting has to be limited (not to mention how a growing belly impacts one’s ability to do certain things.)

2. My husband seems to have much more attachment to items in our home than I do. Don’t even get me started on his t-shirts.

It’s been hard to work around the lifting since my husband worked a 72 hour shift (Monday-Wednesday) and worked another 24 hour shift on Friday. Saturday was filled with his volunteer fire departments annual dinner fundraiser and then of course Sunday had us snowed in from another 7 or so inches of snow on top of what we already had (and it's our designated day of rest). Overall though I’m pleased with our progress and whether it’s the nesting phase that I’m hitting early or the realization that April will be here before we know it, I’m on a roll and I’m trying to keep the momentum. As we prepare our home for sale, I’d love to hear any other words of wisdom or advice for this current phase of our lives.

Linking up for Mommy Moments