Table Transformation

Let's see if I can get this post written up in the next 20 minutes before Abigail gets up from her nap. Bubba is already crying from the other room, but if you read anything I say on facebook you know that's a sore subject for me right now. The boy is just boycotting sleep. Anyway. I have a table. It's from Ikea, and it's great. Very simple. It's this one, the Stornas table:

 Buuut...it's dark brown. I am obsessed with painting anything and everything white these days, so a few weeks ago I decided on a whim to paint the bottom part of our table white. Just the legs, and those boards running under the table top. I used the same paint that I am using on our cabinets, which claims to be a paint & primer in one. Don't believe the hype. It's not true. I don't know how they can even put that on their label and not get sued for false advertising. But I digress. I put on two, maybe three coats, and after a couple weeks there were already chips and peeling places. I decided it needed some REAL primer to really hold the paint on there.

Earlier this week, I got down and dirty and sanded off all the paint. What a pain. {but I learned my lesson! I will always prime first!} I painted on some kilz from the can. I would have loved to just used the spray paint but I couldn't get the table outside, and even if I could, there was nowhere to actually do it. So I just used a craft sponge brush and painted it on.

Then I taped up everything, used some aluminum foil, and some sheets, and whipped out my awesome paint sprayer to make the paint nice and even all over and avoid brush strokes.

Here was my little setup:

Don't mind Abigail's weird face, I guess I caught her mid-chew. This is what my house looked like for a couple hours, but luckily I did get it all cleaned up before Patrick got home from work. 

I didn't have anything else I could think of to use, and didn't want to run to Lowes just for drop cloths and stuff, so I taped foil around the edge. I felt pretty resourceful. 

I really like the white. I have big plans to sand the top and re-stain it a cherry color. Patrick says we can't do that right now though because the other furniture in our dining/living area is espresso colored and it would look weird. I agree, so I guess I'll just have to do something about that, huh? ;-)

Here is a random photo of my new owl from Goodwill. He was $1.99, and had some dirty spots on him. I gave him a couple coats of white gloss spraypaint, and a coat of spray polycrylic and now there he is on our mantle. 

Just want to take a moment to announce that Abigail can draw circles! Kind of. If you look in this picture, she is actually drawing spirals instead of just the zig-zag scribbles she usually does. And the best part is that she does it when I ask her to draw circles. I'm glad she's learning. I know she is very observant, and smart, but I just get so worried because she was so slow to talk, and still am a little worried now that she doesn't ask questions. But I'm sure I am just being paranoid. 

Pinteresting Day

I want to keep up with posting, but I am so tired I haven't been doing much projecting. The good news is, yesterday Abigail and I had a great day. I finally got to spend some real, quality time with her. We played outside for a while, read lots of stories, and had a great bedtime that wasn't rushed. It was definitely a much needed day with my baby girl! I can't wait to get that print from my last post up in a frame next to my bed to remind me every day to enjoy my sweet babies.

T Patrick is going to be crawling any day now. He is up on all fours like a champ, has been for like a month now, and now he is really rocking and ready to go. He just has to figure out how to do it :-) We brought out the pack n play last night to try getting him used to sleeping on a flat surface again. He slept pretty well last night really. I think he only woke up once at 3, but I could be wrong. I had to let Stewie outside at 12:30, and everything in the middle of the night just kind of runs together for me. So we'll just be optimistic and say he only woke up once. I brought a dining room chair in our room for now to nurse him in until we can get the Tullsta chair from Ikea. Which I've discovered is really a necessity, because I almost fell off the dining chair multiple times during our nursing session last night. I am pretty wobbly when I'm half asleep, so arms to keep my contained are a must!

Abigail had daycare this morning, so I was able to get a bit of work done on my friend's curtains. I am inching my way towards being done, but it is taken much longer than I hoped it would. So I think a BIG HUGE THANK YOU to Lindsey is necessary for having patience with me!

Once Abigail got home, I got to work on painting the bottom of our kitchen table. I will be writing a full post on that sometime when I can get the photos together.

And now, for the meat of this post, I am leaving you with some stuff I am LOVING on Pinterest right now. Because who doesn't love some house eye candy??

Source: younghouselove.com via Amy on Pinterest

Isn't that kitchen amazing? Click on the source to see the before and be even more amazed. Best thing is that it only cost a little over $1000! It looks pretty easy to turn your kitchen into something light and bright like this! (Although there is nothing easy about painting cabinets when you have two kids under two!)

Source: kerrisdaledesign.com via Amy on Pinterest

This night stand is awesome. And also kind of simple. I think maybe I will make it one day...? I emailed the designer about it, and apparently it's SUPER SPECIAL because it cost over $1000. Yep. I REALLY think I could make this though...stay tuned! I also love that pillow fabric.

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

I want these so bad for Abigail's room! They totally go with her new curtains I made her recently and that pin board. Love.

Source: justagirlblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

I have been drooling over board and batten lately. It's everywhere, everyone's doing it, and consider me on board. I love it! I really think I want to do it in our entry. We'll see if that happens this winter. If not, I will definitely be doing some in our next abode!

That's all for now folks, little bubba is calling me.

From a Tired Mommy

This is a poem I found that was just what I needed to read right now:

This sentiment is something that I am really struggling with right now in my life. I feel like this time with my kids is slipping by so fast, and I am so tired that I find myself just "existing" and trying to stay alive long enough to make it to bed time. And bed time isn't even that much of a reprieve because I have not slept all night in two years. There was one month when Abigail was 10 months old where she slept all night, but then I got pregnant, and even though she was sleeping, I began having lots of insomnia and night waking very early in my pregnancy that lasted til the very end. And then obviously I have a baby who wakes up several times a night now. I. am. tired. I feel like even saying it with periods after each word is still an understatement. Like, understatement of the century.

Not only am I tired, but for 6 months I have been co-sleeping with T Patrick and if you have ever breastfed in the "side-lying" position, you know how your neck feels when you wake up after falling asleep that way. If you have never fallen asleep breastfeeding like that, just imagine sleeping on your side with your bottom arm all the way up under your head ALL NIGHT. So my neck and my trap muscles hurt always. And I am always having stingers in my neck. So much painful nerve things going on, and soreness, and it is just interfering with my ability to participate in life.

On one hand, I have a husband who gets frustrated with piles of laundry and things around our house. See our house tour to see just why he is always frustrated with me. On the other hand, I have a beautiful two year old who, when I open the door to let her occupy herself in the backyard while I get things done around the house, or just rest, comes to me and says "hand? hand? hand? hand? hand?" because she wants to walk around our back yard holding my hand. It breaks my heart that most of the time, resting or cleaning takes priority over playing with my little girl, who will only be two years old for 340 more days. And don't get me started on my sweet little boy. I could just bite his little cheeks all day long. He is the cutest thing ever. So squishy! And growing so fast. I love my babies. But I'm not enjoying them as much as I want to. 

If anyone reading this didn't already know, I live in Washington state. My parents are in Oklahoma and Patrick's parents are still in Louisiana, where we are both originally from. I don't have a lot of time to make friends up here, and the good ones I have made have all moved away in the last year. One of my closest friends from up here hasn't left yet, but lives about 45 minutes away from me. I don't know any of my neighbors, because I don't have the energy to try to meet them and maintain a friendship with them. So this means that I have NO help. I am with two small children day in, day out, without a break once in a while to take a nap, paint a cabinet door, or get a pedicure. Or just have a couple hours with no responsibility. No constantly being on guard for a toddler about to get into something she shouldn't be, or a puppy thinking about peeing on the floor, or a baby that may or may not be crying waking up from a nap. It can get exhausting to always be "on duty." And yes, I have my husband here, but he is tired too. He gets up for work at 4:50am and is out the door by 5:15 every week day, and often works weird overnight schedules and weekends. And he does help out and give me breaks every now and then, but it's not the same as having my mom live down the road and being able to come help me out when I'm having a rough day. I am completely on my own. 

I am not trying to complain really, just putting it out there. I know lots of people make it through life every day with two kids 19ish months apart. I just feel like it is SO HARD. I don't know how other people do it and make it look so easy. I'm writing this so when my kids are older, and I am sad that I didn't enjoy them as much as a should have when they were little babies, I can read this and remember how difficult it was and not be too hard on myself. 

Oh, and back to not having time or energy to appreciate my babies...we are currently trying to get Bubba to sleep through the night. I feel so guilty about letting him cry so much. I am of the opinion that sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone just like rolling, crawling, sitting, etc. And I don't think you can make a baby sleep all night if they're not ready any more than you can make a baby crawl before he is ready. Despite that belief, I am going to give "cry it out" the old college try, because I am just at a loss with the sleep deprivation and neck pain. 

To make a long story short, does anyone want to come spend a few hours at my house, a couple days a week, so I can take some breaks, do some chores and have the rest of my time to spend enjoying my beautiful, smart, sweet, adorable babies?? 

Blogger 411

I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it would fun to share some relevant and some random information with y'all!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I have been blogging officially since Mother's day this year, so only two months! My blog hasn't had much time to change yet!

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I did, I spent three years at Oklahoma State University, moved to Washington and got married before my 4th year, so I've been working on finishing up online at Columbia Southern University ever since. Yes, still not done...whomp whomp. If you're counting, that's 7 years of college under my belt folks, and still no BA. I studied nutrition and exercise for two semesters at OSU, and the rest of my years have been spent studying marketing and finance.

3. Where have you traveled?
I have been to most of the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Belize.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
A different house and all new furniture, of course! (well, new to me...lots would be antiques!)

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
1. Grammar
2. Driving like an idiot (that includes fast idiocy, and slow idiocy, and all other types of driving idiocies)
3. Pets (har har...get it? But for real...not a fan.)

6. What is your favorite movie?
I like so many now that I don't think I can pick a favorite. But for the longest time, in like, middle school, My Best Friend's Wedding was my favorite movie! I could watch it over and over!!

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
I quit drinking alcohol for the most part after gaining 26lbs my freshman year of college! So I don't really have much of a taste for it. However, back in the day my only drink of choice was diet coke with either vodka (vanilla smirnoff in particular) or whiskey. Nowadays my only drink is water! I prefer to eat my calories rather than drink them, so water it is! 


8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
Projects around the house! Or sleeping!! Sleep is a big one. My kids don't think I need much, but they are mistaken. I also like to read and look at house eye candy on the internetzz. 

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Oh my. One store...I would have to say Whole Foods so I could get grassfed meat for my family instead of the CAFO crap in the grocery stores. We {try to} eat Paleo in our house, so eat A LOT of meat, but the quality is not great and that concerns me. I would love to be able to afford $6/lb ground beef and pork chops from grassfed animals! 
If that answer is too boring, I would also LOVE to spend $10000 at a good flea market and get some awesome antique furniture, fix it up and start a shop selling it.


10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present. 
I am lucky enough to have gotten by so far without any catastrophically embarrassing moments in my life, but recently I have had the top button on my button up shirt come undone a few times in public. This happens to be a very crucial button that keeps my boobs inside my shirt, so it's not cool when it pops open.

I also farted on my husband's lap once. Which may not be embarrassing for a lot of people, but I am not a "fart and poop in front of my husband" kinda gal. So as far as he knows that is the only time I've ever farted in the last 4 years. Is this TMI? I think it might be...

11. What day would you love to relive again?
This is a hard one. I've never had any really particularly awesome days. My wedding was just kind of whatever, my childbirths were cool but awfully painful so I don't think I'd relive that again for the same kid...I guess I don't really have an answer to this question. Although it would be nice to relive any day when I weighed 125lbs. I would appreciate it more this time around!


12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
I was told once that I looked like Sandra Bullock in my driver's license photo. But I do not at all look like her. So it wouldn't be Sandy. It would probably be Kristen Wiig from SNL/Bridesmaids, etc. I am way not as funny as she is, but I am a big spaz and pretty awkward. So if she could be more awkward, in a less funny way, she would do a great job playing me. 


13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
In high school I worked at the Hot Spot tanning salon in Mandeville. Then I worked at three more tanning salons in Stillwater, OK while I was in school at OSU. Then when I moved to Washington, I worked for a psychotic chiropractor for 3 weeks, then spent a year working for American General Finance (now Springleaf Finance). And that right there is my whole resume, folks. I have been a stay at home mom since I was 21 weeks pregnant with Abigail. 


14. Show us a picture from high school or college.
I love looking at old photos of people, so I am going to post a bunch of these! 

This is me and my dad at the Sweet 16 for the sophomore girls at my school. I was 15 here though.

This is me and my baby boy Pepsi. He was my first horse that I got when I was 11 and he was 3. 

I love him!

This is me and my husband in 2004. I was just starting my senior year, and this was in Mississippi after one of his fights. {he won, hence the medal :-) } There is a better version of this floating around somewhere where Patrick's eyes are open, but I don't know where it is. :-(

This is one of my favorite pictures from college, I think it was the beginning of my sophomore year. These girls were my best friends at OSU! 

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I would go to Greece! Hands down, I think it is so beautiful, I would LOVE to go there for FREEEE. I am hoping to eventually pay to go there anyway, but if anyone out there wants to foot the bill, you are more than welcome to!


16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you. 

This is my family at our photo shoot in early June. I <3 my family! 

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
Hopefully somewhere WARM! We should be living in the south somewhere, maybe with one more kid. But mostly I hope that we are all happy and healthy! And that my house is pretty and my husband and I don't get divorced over decor disagreements...ahem...

Some Bubba Eye Candy

This is just a picture dump of my boy and his dog. Enjoy!

"Hmm this looks yummyyyy...."

Nom nom nom...

Oooooohhhh...what's this???

Mom I think he is trying to get me....

That's all folks. Haven't been getting much sleep around here so I haven't had much energy to do work on the house. Here's hoping for a restful night tonight!

Let's Talk About Vacuums

This 1980's hideous awesomeness will soon be coming to live at my house! And I am actually SUPER excited about it!! My current vacuum just bit the dust a few days ago, and my parents were nice enough to foot the bill for the majority of this bad boy from their dealer in Tulsa. It will be shipped to my house for FREE and have a TEN year warranty! I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to have a vacuum cleaner that is guaranteed for TEN YEARS! Can you tell how excited I am?????!!!!!

I can't believe I am so excited about a vacuum cleaner. I think that's how you know you are an old lady. Excited for a vacuum cleaner at age 25. But guess what. My mom has had her vacuum like this for 25 years. WHICH MEANS....I could still be using this vacuum cleaner when I have grand children. Sah-weet! Looking at my record so far with vacuums (two for about $200 in the last 4 years) this vacuum cleaner will have paid for itself in like 8 years, and anything after that is just awesome free vacuuming!!

Since I burned everyone's eyeballs with that hideous vacuum photo above, here is a picture of my little fruit thief at the grocery store:

I turn my head for 5 seconds to grab some peaches, and I must have had the cart too close to the produce, because when I turned back around she had taken a nectarine and already eaten two bites. At least my girl loves good food! It could definitely be worse!

Freebies! and a Miracle

Sorry for the tease in the title, but this post is not about freebies for any readers...I'm not famous enough for that yet! (However, if anyone reading this would like for me to review something, or use my blog to promote something feel free to contact me!)

What I'm talking about is all the free stuff I scored at Lowes yesterday! I went in just to price out having two more pieces of glass cut to match the piece I stole out of an old 11x14 frame and used in my new homemade frame. I asked the salesman about acrylic too, because I thought maybe it would be cheaper.  Well it turned out to be a LOT cheaper, because he had a bunch of scraps already there, and cut me two pieces for free! :-) Abigail was with me, and also got a free wooden toy to put together at home. It was their kid project for the day, and the lady who was taking the toys to set up walked past us and showed it to Abigail. It was a "Kung Fu Panda" on a stick that swiveled. Not the coolest toy ever, but Abigail was excited about the "PADA" so the lady gave us one to take home. Patrick put it together, and now this guy lives on our kitchen table, until it winds up on the ground and Stewie eats it.

And now for the miracle...

Abigail held her bubba all by herself on the couch yesterday for a few whole minutes AND SMILED while I took her picture!!! I am so excited! This NEVER happens!

Our photo shoot started like this:

Looking at the TV like usual, trying to figure out why the picture and sound goes away every time mommy gets out the camera.

Then she miraculously looked at me and did THIS:

And THIS:

(No, they are not the same picture...I promise. But I do have about 5 more that look just like these two. Just call me Patti Perkins. (That's my mom, and for those of you who don't know her, she is camera-crazy. For real. (How many parenthetical notations can I make inside eachother?? Should I stop?)))

Then when I thought we could call it done and had turned off my camera, she started giving Bubba the cutest sugars ever! So I pull my camera back up and by then I kind of missed the moment. I asked her to give him some more sugars, but all the pictures I got just look like she is torturing him. But here they are anyway for your viewing pleasure.

Disclaimer: No babies were harmed during the making of these photos.