The Feminist Housewife

Tweet Tweet: Bird Mobile DIY

2012-01-26T08:58:00.000-05:00

This is a bird & branch mobile that is now perched above our playtent...

This little project was a lot of fun, and hand-sewing the little birds was surprisingly satisfying. I used the pattern from Spool, which made it super simple. I think it would be especially cute over a crib. Maybe I will move it over one, one day. So far, we have survived two children without setting up our crib. The fabrics are mostly Amy Butler.

The best part is how much Dmitri loves the little birdies.

A Mailbox DIY

2012-01-18T15:58:00.000-05:00

We woke up on Christmas morning to an obliterated mailbox, thanks to an evidently very intoxicated driver. David brought the remains to me while I was still in bed, proclaiming, "It's a Christmas miracle!" I did really hate our old mail box. It was a plastic box stuck on a piece of wood. Not exactly charming.

I knew exactly what I wanted to replace it with...except that I didn't want to spend $70 on a copper mail box plus the cost of the post. So, I decided to buy a basic white one that looked like this for $17 instead:

And spray paint it with copper paint. I'm pretty excited about how it turned out!

Side one (with our picket fence in the background! More photos of that coming soon!):

Side two. Sorry for the sun ; ) :

There you have it. Not quite perfect, but I'm loving the charm! (And the $40+ that I saved.)

I will inevitably be asked what kind of spray paint I used. It was from Lowe's. It cost $7. And it was copper. = )

Say Yes to the Slipcover

2012-01-16T13:13:00.000-05:00

Replacing our purple sofa that has been a little too loved has been high on our priority list since we moved into our farm house. But, between thousands of dollars of unexpected home repairs and our college student budgets, buying a new sofa has not been a feasible option. We decided that maybe a slipcover would be a good interim fix, but even slipcovers are pretty expensive. Well, when I found a Pottery Barn slipcover in my local swap group, I was a little more than excited to work out a deal.

Wrangling it over the purple sofa was quite a task. It kind of made me think of trying to fit someone's skin over every crevice of a different person's body. But eventually, we got it on. And I am pretty impressed. Sure, it's not a new sofa. But for $30, it makes a pretty big impact!

Before:

Now:

Please ignore the post-Christmas toy craziness lurking in the corner. We are in the process of some major toy organizing here. And I need to make some pillows, but it's getting there. It makes me much happier to sit in the living room now. = ) It's a good feeling.

Have you ever tried a slipcover as a temporary or permanent fix?

A New Year & A New Career: And too many thoughts and feelings

2012-01-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

We have finally returned from our holiday travels and are settling into January. It is now that I get to realize that I have actually graduated. My new life as a stay-at-home (during the day) mom is going to take a little getting used to. When I drop David off at class or work, I get the "I'm playing hooky" feeling, and then I wonder what to do with myself all day. Don't get me wrong, there is a long list of things to do (I am months behind on cleaning, laundry, organization, my book list, scrapbook and photo albums that are years behind, and anything else that has taken a back-seat to college and babies. What?! I have a blog?!) There is just a lack of a schedule, a lack of "I have a paper due and I have to shower, change two diapers, eat breakfast, and be at class by 9:30 and who cares whether the dishes get done today, as long as I have some clothes to put on."

I suddenly find that I have time to realize that the purple couch looks like a toddler has been eating breakfast on it, or that I have five mirrors yet to be hung, or that door handle that needs to be replaced.

It will take some time to adjust. To swallow the overwhelming feeling of being home with a 2.5 year-old and a 10-month-old all day alone, to set a schedule, and to tackle the mound of laundry that has been patiently waiting for all this time. It's a new challenge. One that lacks due dates, and there will be no grade at the end. It lacks much recognition. And my name will not be on a list at the end of the semester nor will there be a performance bonus. I will only have my own feelings and perspective to measure my achievements and value. Yes, it will be an adjustment, but it is one that I am eagerly facing. I'm more than a little scared, but I am ready.

A New Year and a New Project...or two.

2012-01-01T15:24:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful Christmas and Hanukkah and enjoyed time with dear friends and family, as well as homemade eggnog, fondue, latkes, and herb de provence butter cookies, amongst other things. And as is tradition, we are ringing in the New Year with a new project. (Our New Year's project of 2011 was our Master Bed)

I asked for a white picket fence for Christmas, and I must have been pretty good this year, because Santa (white beard and all) is helping us install one. What we originally thought would be a one day project has turned into five and counting...But all that remains is building a gate for our driveway and then painting (which the elves are working on as I type).

There were many reasons for deciding to install a fence in our front yard. The first of which being the safety of Dmitri & Damon. Since our house sits very close to a busy road, we knew when we bought our house that a fence would be a necessity to keep little feet from chasing after something into the road. However, since we only had one immobile baby at the time, and not two little ones on the loose, it hasn't been a high priority until now. Dmitri can now open all of the exterior doors on his own, and so this upped the priority very quickly! We also feel that this would be a concern for any potential buyers or renters who have young children too.

Lesser considerations for the install included our desire to add some English cottage charm and curb appeal to our home, both for our own enjoyment as well as for re-sale purposes. And Pinterest only fed my obsession.

Some photos of the fun...

Dmitri loves riding his tricycle...now in the front yard.

Damon checks out the fence.

Playing in the red clay from the fence post holes.

Dmitri loves to help. Even if the shovel is twice his size.

Hauling away the dirt.

Exhausted after a hard day's work.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

I designed our holiday card this year and had it printed by Mpix. I was really happy with how it turned out, especially since this is the first year that I've done cards this way:

The back had this photo and a list of our 2011 highlights:

It's been an amazing, crazy year, and I am enjoying taking some time to reflect on all that the year has held.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas at our Home

2011-12-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

Finals and graduating right before Christmas left little time to spend decorating. But in between studying, I managed to take a couple of breaks to play Christmas music, bake cookies, and decorate our house a little. It just wouldn't feel like Christmas without some of my favorite holiday traditions. (And if you live in the South, than you know that it really hasn't felt like Christmas with this 70 degree weather. But I'm sure not complaining!) This year was especially fun since Dmitri enjoyed taking part in decorating the tree for the first time and he loves "Kissmas songs!" Damon is also enraptured with the tree, although, he is more interested in un-decorating the tree and throwing the ornaments. But that is just a part of the magic and fun of enjoying the holidays with little ones!

Our 10 foot $5 dollar Christmas tree. (Lowe's had a $5 section in the back). I purchased the ornaments and topper for less than $20 last year after Christmas. All ornaments are shatterproof and kid-friendly. = )

Damon's first Christmas ornament

Our mantle with four stockings.

Our front door...Boxwood wreath from Target last year for $10.

The back door. I just added some leftover ornaments to a plain wreath.

And we are counting down till Christmas with the advent calender that I made last year!

It's feeling very merry, and we spent next to nothing (I think only the tree...) We try to keep the holidays simple, inexpensive, stress-free, and fun, and I think it really does make it the most wonderful time of the year.

College Graduate

2011-12-15T08:55:00.000-05:00

Mascarpone Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-20T09:31:00.000-05:00

I love pumpkin pie, and I have spent several years trying different recipes, altering recipes, and trying to make a perfect pumpkin pie. I have made five already this year, and I am loving my current recipe, so I wanted to share it with you. The husband doesn't even like pumpkin pie, but he still manages to eat half of this one. ; )

Mascarpone Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) container of mascarpone cheese (available at Whole Foods, Earthfare, or Trader Joes)
2 cups of cooked pumpkin, pureed (directions on how to cook a fresh pumpkin below)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
1 pie crust or pie dough
Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To prepare pumpkin:

Cut pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds (you can save them for toasting- a delicious snack!). Place in a medium or large saucepan depending on size, face down, with about 2 inches of water in the bottom. Cook on medium heat, covered, until soft (about 30-40 minutes). Keep an eye on it and add more water if necessary. Allow to cool, then scoop out pumpkin/remove peeling. Puree the pumpkin with an immersion blender, food processor, or blender until smooth. This can be done ahead of time to make pie baking go faster on the day of! You will probably have left over pumpkin. You can make this into a second pie, or add it to your coffee cream for a homemade pumpkin spice latte!

To make crust pie:

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color. Don't skip the pie weights! Otherwise your crust will puff up.

Assembling the pie:

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.
Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. After about 30 minutes, either place a pie crust shield, or a piece of foil that is cut out in the shape of the edge of your pan around the pie to avoid crust from burning or getting too brown.

Enjoy! And if you are like my family, you might need to make two if you want one of them to last until Thanksgiving!

Fall.

2011-11-07T21:01:00.005-05:00

I cannot begin to say how much I have missed blogging and reading all of my favorite blogs over the past several weeks. But sometimes priorities and sacrifices have to be made. While I've been incredibly busy with classes, I have felt that I need to spend the remainder of my time with my little ones and focus on sharing each day with them. I've realized as a parent how quickly time passes, and I want to hold onto each moment and be present (not just physically!) with my little ones. Additionally, since Damon has exited the dreamy newborn stage, having two little ones, two and under has made it increasingly difficult to do anything outside of giving one (or both) of them attention. So, I just had to take a break.

I am looking forward to returning to blogging regularly, and I must say, ever since I've started blogging, it is nearly impossible for me to not "think" in blog posts. I am pretty sure that is how I process my entire life at this point.

So what have I been up to the last month or so?

I love every season (ok, except winter), but I especially enjoy Fall. And we have been taking full advantage of some of our favorite fall activities...

Picking pumpkins

At the pumpkin patch

And making a homemade pumpkin pie...or five (and it's just the beginning of November!)

Smores...with homemade marshmallows & graham crackers. (And a bonfire of course!)

We visited a beautiful local homestead/farm. It was a lot of fun for Dmitri and it was inspirational for David & I as we explore what steps we want to take towards homesteading ourselves.

Dmitri found an egg!

Moo.

I love goats.

I would have taken him home with me.

Brushing the goats

Cluck. Cluck

And it's the season for family photos...

It also means that I took graduation photos! But I'll save those for a little while. I do not want to jinx anything...

The cooler weather gave me an excuse for a DIY to hang by the door and catch our coats:

Total Cost: $16 (hooks from Anthropologie, wood and supplies from our scrap pile).

Other random thoughts & happenings:

-I am nearly finished with a big project that has been dragging on for nearly a year...and it may or may not start with an "S" and end with cuddling up to read a book under a quilt with my littles on a sofa!
-Graduation. Less than six weeks away.
-Scheming about the holidays...my holiday projects, that is. And trying to figure out how to see our ever-growing sprawled-out family, get some much needed rest, and work on some major DIYs all at the same time.
-We are thoughtfully considering growing our family. By adding some members of the fur and feather variety. More on that as it develops.

What's new with you? I have really missed reading some of my favorite blogs and look forward to catching up with everyone.

A Day In the Life

2011-09-26T13:15:00.001-04:00

Many have commented that they don't know how I balance being a mom and a college student. So I thought it might be enlightening to take a peek at "A Day in the Life of a Student Mom": Here is a look at my typical Tuesday.

7:00 AM Damon is awake and hungry. Oh, and very vocal. I never have to wonder if he's awake. Well, except when he sleep talks... After his feeding, David takes him into the guest bedroom so that he does not wake up Dmitri.
7:30 AM Dmitri is awake, and sometime between now and 7:45 AM I make myself get up.
7:45 AM-8:30 AM Make breakfast & take a shower. Transfer laundry from washer to dryer so that I have pants to wear today! Check the weather.
8:30-8:45 Eat breakfast as a family. Most days it's steel cut oats. Occasionally it's homemade biscuits or toast from homemade bread, and/or eggs and fruit.

Oatmeal & Blueberries

8:45-10:15 Make and pack food for the day, as well as make dinner for tonight. I put beans that have been soaking into the crockpot, make homemade tortillas, pop popcorn on the stove, fill up water bottles, and put food into the mason jars and into the cooler. Fold the laundry out of the dryer. Dmitri is my little helper. And of course, I breastfeed Damon in there somewhere.

Dmitri making tortillas

10:15-10:45 The Great Rush begins. We dress Dmitri and Damon, make diaper changes, and pack the car. Double check that we have enough diapers/food/shoes for everyone. ~~Bribe~~ convince Dmitri to get in his car seat. And inevitably, we will frantically run back into the house to look for a phone/shoe/toy/book/pen etc. And then we are off!

A cooler full of snacks...

The accruing stash of stuff we have to bring with us in the mornings...

The beginning of the long day in and out of the car.

10:45-11:00 We drive to campus through 12 traffic lights and a slew of jay-walking "sorostitutes" in oversized t-shirts, leggings or Nike shorts, and rain boots/ UGG boots/ other miscellaneous boots. I drop David off at class, and I usually head to a park.
11:05...Boo. It starts to rain despite the forecast. So, I turn around. Rain is a pretty big downer when you have a two-year-old in the car most of the day. I head towards the rainy-day back up plan: the library!
11:07 I remember that I have been driving with my gaslight on. So I stop and put $50 in my tank. I would have taken a photo, but I had two crying babies in the car.
11:20-11:55 Read/play/breastfeed at the library

Reading at the library

Happy Damon

11:55-12:10 I have to plan for at least 15 minutes to get the littles in the car. Especially to avoid a tantrum. And we decided it was time for a snack.

Snack time in the car

12:10-12:30: We drive back to campus, where we pick David up. I usually breastfeed Damon in the car, and then I jump out and head to class.
12:30-1:45 Class! It's not always exciting, but I almost always look forward to getting to sit for an hour and fifteen minutes uninterrupted and child-free.
1:45-3:15 I meet back up with David and the littles; pull a Chinese firedrill, and drop David off at class. It's right around naptime, so after feeding Damon, I usually use this time to run errands that require me to drive a lot so that Dmitri & Damon will go to sleep in the car. I am a part of a swap group, so I often schedule swaps to take place during this time. Today I swap some diapers that no longer fit for some Burt's Bees products that I can use. Other days, I drive out to a farm to pick up my weekly milk. Today, we still have some time to kill after swapping, so I head to the park for about 20 minutes.

Dmitri checks out the swap goods.

Sliding

Wood chips!

Swinging together

Hi Mama.

Happy Swinging Baby

3:15-3:30 Pick up David and breastfeed Damon in the car before heading to class again!
3:30-4:45 Class....
4:45-5:30 Driving, driving, driving. I drop David off at the neuroscience lab that he is working at and head home in 5 o'clock traffic. Both little ones whine the whole way home.
5:30-6:00 Dinner time for me and Dmitri. I make burritos from the beans and tortillas that I made this morning.

Dinner!

6:00-7:00 Dishes and cleaning up the mess that we made in the morning! Throw in a load of laundry.
7:00-7:20 The little ones are exhausted, whiny, and just need to go to sleep. So I change diapers, load them in the car, and head to pick up David a little early...
7:20-7:50 Sitting in the car....waiting on David, who is running late. Luckily, both babies are asleep.

Crappy iPhone photos of my sleeping babies. It's been a long day! Such troopers.

7:50-8:05 Pick up David! Driving home, at last.
8:05-9:30 I'm exhausted. A little cleaning, a little reading, more laundry, and I am ready to call it a night.

Maybe My Next Job Should Not Be a Used Car Salesperson...

2011-09-14T15:57:00.000-04:00

I have been asked countless times what I plan to do with a degree in Women's Studies. I think I might have to check used car salesperson off of the list...

We decided a while back that it's time we get rid of our Ford Escape. It's been a good vehicle for the past two years, but our needs have changed, so it's time to get a vehicle that will fit us better. I've never sold a car before. I totaled my first car, and I drove my second car until it was dying (and then my dad drove it until it took its last breath a couple months later). Selling a car seems a little overwhelming.

I wasn't sure where to start. So, I took some photos and wrote up a post on Auto Trader. I priced it just above the blue book value that I had looked up several weeks ago. After only 24 hours, I was shocked to have received numerous calls and emails from prospective buyers, as well as dealers. David wanted me to look up the blue book value for a trade-in, so I did. And that is when I realized my error...

I had listed our car $2500 less than the blue book value.

Oops?

I'm not exactly sure how that happened. Maybe the value went up? Maybe I typed in the wrong vehicle? Maybe I forgot? I have no clue. But on a positive note, I guess I know for sure what business I don't want to go into!

DIY Play Tent

2011-09-12T13:18:00.002-04:00

I have been trying to look around our house with a child's eye view lately, and I have been thinking about what it would be like to be less than three feet tall and live in a home with 10 foot ceilings. One of the homeschool curriculums that I have looked at recommended making a space that would feel cozy and den-like for a child to relax and play in. One of my own favorite memories was building play forts as a child! When I saw this tent tutorial on Ana White's website, I thought that Dmitri would love it! I also felt that form could meet function, and that I could make a tent that was child-friendly and fun, yet I would not be embarrassed to set up in my living room. I was lucky to have leftover fabric from my master bedroom curtains, and I used a drop cloth for the sides. Here it is:

From the front

A side view

Dmitri loves it!

Peeking out

Sookie does not want to miss out on the action! Also, her favorite sleeping chair is inside...

Total cost: about $20 (we already had the paint & some of the fabric on hand)

Total time: 3-4 hours

Tools required: Drill/Electric screwdriver, Wrench, Staple gun, Iron (or sewing machine if you would prefer not to use stitch-witchery...as for me, I find any excuse to skip a needle and thread!)

I hope that the boys get to enjoy the little child-sized magical space of their own.

P.S. I linked up at the Weekend Wrap Up!

+Update+

I have been asked about how I did the front of the tent...After I measured and cut the fabric into a triangle, I cut a slit down the middle of the bottom for the opening. I then "hemmed" the bottom and both sides of the slit with stitch-witchery (the iron-able hemming tape). I stapled the sides to the inside of the tent. And badabing. That's it! Does that make sense? Feel free to ask more questions. I usually respond via email, unless your email is set to a "no-reply".

Home Brewin'

2011-09-01T09:35:00.003-04:00

Well, the semester is in full-swing, and while I have been absent from blogging, I have been busy experimenting with new things...

Like home-brewing my own kombucha:

Brew, baby, brew!

Kombucha is delicious. But the whole scoby-fungi-fermentation thing still freaks me out just a little. But I'm being adventurous and trying new things, so that's fun. And funny. And just a little weird.

But, kombucha isn't the only thing that's brewing around here. Taking a blogging break has given me the opportunity to spend time exploring other things. It has given me a chance to read books, and I don't mean e-books or blogs (though I love both of those too). I mean a real book with paper pages...and it's been wonderful to step into another world. I read the book "The Accidental Farmers," which was fascinating. For the first time in the 11 years that I have been a vegetarian, I am honestly considering eating meat! That is, if I raise it naturally, myself. I am not sure where that journey will take me, but I think I'm having to admit to myself that *whisper* I secretly want to be a farmer.

I used to imagine that I was Laura Ingalls when I was a kid. (And I have read every book that she, and every relative of her, has ever written that I am aware of). I did not sleep in a bed, it was a wagon loaded up with my [stuffed] animals and children. And we rode through the great big woods...I was a pioneer! But living in an industrialized food system stopped me from allowing that dream to grow. I have always valued living naturally and I appreciate independence, but I don't think I ever realized that I could make it a reality.

Currently, I am taking the challenge to not buy processed food. Now, that's not exactly possible since I don't have my own cow to milk every morning...but I am baking my own bread, pizza dough, hamburger buns, and I hope to continue to expand this. I shop at the farmer's market each week, as I try to buy more locally.

It's new and exciting. And a challenge. I am striving to live as I believe we were intended to live, and as I try to ask myself Where does my food come from & how does that effect other people?

What has been so amazing about this journey is how the right people have come into my life at the right time. From my "Anthropology of Eating" class, to my homeschool co-op, a Ladies Homestead Gathering, and even my design client (more about her down below), there have been so many people on similar paths that I am learning from and sharing the pursuit of this lifestyle with. It simply blows me away. Okay, I better stop before I start tearing up. There is nothing like the feeling that comes with knowing you are at the right place, at the right time in life.

Another completely unrelated development that I have been incredibly excited to share with you is that I am working with a design client in Athens to redesign her guest bedroom! I cannot wait to show you the room. But in the meantime, you can follow along with our inspiration on my Pinterest: Rebecca's Guest Bedroom Pinboard!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend! It's good to be back on the blog.

My Last First Day

2011-08-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

I cannot begin to tell you how much all of your encouraging comments meant to me. Life has been rough and tumble around here. But things are looking up. A lot of the changes that we have been implementing are definitely helping. However, we are still in transition and I think it will take a little while for our schedule to actually run smoothly.

Today is my very LAST first day of classes! It's hard to believe that my days as an undergraduate student are nearly to an end. I have a few mixed feelings about it, but mostly, I am very, very, very glad to be graduating this December.

My schedule is pretty light. I only need 3 electives to graduate, and I must say, I am incredibly excited about taking "Anthropology of Eating". UM, yes please. What better class can there be for a foodie like myself? The only downside I can see is that it's scheduled at lunchtime. I might have to bring a snack.

Oh where oh where have I been...

2011-08-10T16:51:00.000-04:00

I've been avoiding the blog for a while now.. The few times that I've sat down to write, I just haven't had much to say outside of long tirades of negativity. I don't want to pretend that I'm some mythical creature that doesn't have meltdowns. And yet, I don't want my blog to become a spewing stream-of-conscious of frustration and negativity that leaves me and you feeling downright repugnant. To put it simply, life has just been really hard lately.
David has been working two jobs and taking a very difficult summer class, leaving me with Dmitri and Damon the majority of the time. Being with two little ones two and under from 6:30 AM until 7 PM every day of the week, after waking up 4-6 times a night with a teething baby, has me feeling like there is no "me" left. Being stuck in a messy house while it's 105 degrees, and having to share a car has compounded issues. Not to mention that despite all of our hard work, we have been scraping pennies to pay the bills. I have become a mother-zombie who just wants to take a nap. And maybe punch something. And cry. And file for divorce.

It's been one of the most difficult times of my life. Knowing that our lifestyles are not sustainable, we have been evaluating where we can make changes and try to make our lives run a little more smoothly. A lot of transitions are in progress right now...

David was tired of working hard for a company where he couldn't get a raise or a promotion after working there for three years, so he put in his notice. I am glad that he will be home in the mornings now; I miss waking up next to my husband! It will also mean for the first time in three years, we will have one day off from school/work each week. We are beside ourselves to actually have half of a weekend now! He will continue to work at his other job, where he is the office manager for a storage facility, and I will have to get a job when I graduate in December.I'm not all that excited about it at the moment, but I will worry about that when the time comes.

We also got a bike. David has been biking to work the past few days and plans to bike to school starting next week. We are excited that biking will not only solve some of our car-sharing conflicts but it will also help us save money on gas (we are spending over $200/month right now!). Consistent exercise for David, as well as cutting down emissions add to the pros list. Dmitri also thinks its quite cool. He loves "bi-kikles" Hopefully it will continue to work out well, since we feel that we are in need of a second car, but just don't have the money for it right now

One thing that I have been very grateful for this summer is the Waldorf-inspired homeschool pre-school cooperative that I have been a part of starting. We will officially be starting in September, but we have been meeting 2+ times a week over the summer to prepare/plan. I absolutely love our group. They have been a great source of ideas and support, plus, we just have a lot of fun. It has really gotten me excited about homeschooling my little ones.

We are getting ready to start Fall classes on Monday. I cannot believe that it's here: my final semester as an undergraduate. That's something to smile about. I am still trying to finalize my schedule and get into some classes that are full right now. Here's to hoping that it will all work out over the next few days.

Well, that's the update. I am hopeful that life will calm down a little, I can find my rhythm, and blog more.

How's life? Ready for summer to end?

Good moms...

2011-07-28T20:03:00.001-04:00

And sporadic blog posts....

P.S. Hoping to find a rhythm soon. How is your summer winding down?

Ombre Dresser Makeover

2011-07-25T08:39:00.002-04:00

Our white dresser on our white wall in our master bedroom was just really really, well, white. So I decided to brighten it up a little with a distressed, whitewashed ombre look:

I love it, & it was a free makeover. So, obviously, that makes me love it even more.

Are you loving ombre?

P.S. I linked up at The Weekend Wrap Up!

Damon: 4 Months Old

2011-07-23T19:08:00.001-04:00

Damon is four months old today! I think the following photos speak more than I could. He is the happiest baby, despite teething. And he is becoming more and more proficient and quick at scooting and rolling! He has been wearing 6-12 month clothing for a while now. Damon really is the perfect addition to our family. I just wish that he would slow down a little and not grow up so quickly! It makes mama sad. I am enjoying every minute, but it goes by way too fast. Because I have realized this, I am already working on his baby book (and I still need to finish Dmitri's! ack!) through blurb.com. It's so much fun! Have you ever tried it?

Here are some straight out of camera shots of Damon from today. Happy four-months my darling boy!

Summer Days

2011-07-19T10:31:00.001-04:00

I wrote out a long post about how my husband ruined my summer because he hates having fun. Afterward, I decided to save you from my extra dose of negativity. Although, it did have a few interesting metaphors, such as the one comparing sanity to sand and my brain being Miami or something...

To entertain ourselves on these long summer days while David is working and studying, the boys and I have been going for walks, eating vegetables straight out of the garden, playing in the sandbox and kiddie pool, going to the Farmer's market, visiting the park, playing with friends, and we are apart of launching a Waldorf-inspired homeschool co-op that will be starting this Fall. It's been busy and fun!

Some photos of our times...

Damon loves walks

Double stroller = double fun

Damon - 3.5 months

Picking tomatoes

Yellow Pepper! (He ate the entire thing)

Proud of his gardening

I have often had to remind myself, "Good moms have sticky floors, dirty ovens, and happy kids [and a mimosa with lunch]." Only kidding, of course. ; )

A Simple Train Birthday Party

2011-07-13T08:28:00.000-04:00

We had a small get together with a few of Dmitri's friends in honor of his birthday this past weekend. I wanted to keep in simple and focus primarily on Dmitri's favorite things. Like trains, cake, cookies, and bananas. Here are snapshots of the event:

the invitation

The banana split table

Ice Cream buckets

Homemade blue macarons

Damon is ready for a party

Homemade cake & gum paste train

Cake with sparklers

Happy Birthday to you!

Dmitri loved the singing and sparklers; he is clapping and saying "YAY!!!"

Birthday boy with his hat

Sookie loved the hat too; Dmitri's birthday is the anniversary of her joining our family!

It was a wonderful, simple, and happy occasion!

Dmitri is Two

2011-07-11T21:14:00.002-04:00

At this time two years ago, I was having contractions every two to three minutes and arriving at the hospital to have Dmitri! Today reminded me of the day he was born: 100 degrees, sunny, and with a beautiful sunset. To read his full birth story, you can click here. What a life-changing day. I cannot believe that it has been two years...he is a funny, rambunctious, affectionate two-year-old. He knows the word "no" and watching him form his independence and personality is beautifully difficult. I am so thankful to have all the love that he has brought with his arrival.

Two years ago....

Today...

Licking the beaters for his birthday cake

Brothers in party hats!

He wanted me to wear his hat...

Dmitri- I love you so much. It's been an amazing and crazy past two years. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for you, my sweet boy!

Birthday details to come. = )

Franke the Faucet Fail and Fix

2011-07-07T12:23:00.000-04:00

It all started when I decided to turn an old TV cabinet into a toy kitchen. I needed a kitchen faucet. I checked the usual spots (Craigslist, Goodwill, etc) but to no avail. And despite my begging, our Habitat Restore would not sell me just a faucet without a sink. I was not about to buy a sink just for the faucet for a play kitchen...

So, I decided to take a different approach. I decided to buy a nice faucet that I actually liked to replace our outdated kitchen faucet, and use the old one for the play kitchen. That way, I felt I was not wasting any money on buying an old faucet for a play kitchen, and I got a new faucet out of it. Sweet.

I scoured eBay for months, waiting for the perfect faucet. And one day, I found it. A beautiful Franke faucet that retailed for nearly $600, and I got it for only $59.99 including shipping. On the listing, the seller mentioned that it might need a washer. What he failed to mention was that it was completely incompatible with American pipes. I guess it's a little easier to sell things when you leave that part out.

After watching several faucet installation videos, we realized there was no way to hook it up. So, David headed to Lowes for help. No one there had ever seen a faucet hook-up like this one, and they could not find an adapter that would work. They sent him away, hopeless. Then he tried Home Depot. Although they had never seen this either, Home Depot had a very stubborn older man working in the plumbing department, and he was determined to make something work. Through an extravagant string of pipes, hoses, adapters, couplings, and other miscellaneous plumbing pieces, he was able to find something that fit.

And then, there were leaks. Everywhere. At least five of them. I googled and googled until I found a video on using plumbers tape. (It's even cute and pink). We took all of the contraptions apart, and I was able to wrap up all of the joints, and it solved our leak problems. Finally, after four days, six trips to Lowes/Home Depot, and a lot of frustration, we got the faucet installed.

And that's when the fun started....cleaning up the kitchen after not having any water or a dishwasher in our kitchen for four days. It was downright scary in there. When absolutely necessary, this is how we washed dishes during our faucet-induced drought:

Dmitri thought this new system was a lot of fun! Yay for child labor.

But I think it was all worth it in the end. Here is the faucet before:

And after. Meet Franke:

An ad for Seventh Generation?

I love the handle. I think it goes with the farmhouse feel:

And that is how we get it done. A lot of craziness...but worth it in the end. Maybe.

What's In Your Fridge? Making It Lovely

2011-07-05T07:46:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to share the final "What's In Your Fridge?" guest from one of my favorite blogs, Making it Lovely. Nicole made me fall in love with pink after years of a tumultuous relationship, mostly siding on dislike. Her house is truly an inspiration (and she has some seriously cute kids with awsome names). And here is a peek into her fridge....

Describe your diet in five words or less:

-Not bad, could be better.

What food could you not live without?

- Peanut butter. And chocolate. Preferably together.

What is the scariest item in your refrigerator?

- We threw out a bag of shredded lettuce this morning that had liquified. Ew.

What food is your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure?

- I have a love of chocolate milk. I tell myself that at least I'm getting some nutrition out of it, so it's not complete junk food, but it really isn't that good to drink. So much sugar!

Thank you Nicole for sharing your fridge contents with us!

All good things must come to an end, and I'm sad to see the series go; I've had fun looking into everyone's fridges. But, there are more exciting things to come...Hope everyone had a great Fourth.

3 Months Old

2011-07-03T09:29:00.001-04:00

This post is a little late, as usual. Where has the time gone? Damon isn't my tiny newborn anymore. I'm quite sad about it, although it's difficult to maintain any despondency when I have such a cute little one smiling at me all day. He's getting so big! He weighs in at close to 15 pounds and wears 6-9 or 6-12 month clothes. He and Dmitri wear the same diaper size (convenient!). He's becoming very active, as well. He is on a roll. Literally. He rolls to get places...and doesn't stop until he gets to where he wants to go. Back to stomach, stomach to back. He's got it down.

Damon loves people, and smiles at anyone who will look at him or talk to him. He is happy and smiley about 98% of the time, and when he's not smiling, he either has an upset stomach or is ready for a nap. He's becoming very vocal. He enjoys "talking" rather loudly. He has added so much fun and happiness (and cuteness) to our family...I am incredibly thankful for him.

More Damon....

P.S. I hope you enjoyed the "What's In Your Fridge" series...you can still link up to the linky party & I will be having one more special guest on Tuesday that I am VERY excited about...!

I Like My Coffee Tables with Cream, Please: Before & After

2011-06-30T14:38:00.001-04:00

I think almost everything looks better after a coat of white paint. And very few things can escape my paintbrush. I found my most recent ~~victim~~ project, when I visited my mom. She had this gorgeous coffee table in her living room. I felt that it was a little dark and overwhelming, so I offered to lighten it up, giving it a sophisticated look without being too heavy.

Before

With my mom's permission, of course, I convinced David to help me out, and he primed and painted it for us. I had planned to glaze it, but we ran out of time. This is what it looked like when I left:

I love the detail on the legs.

So that was our quick switch, that really lightened up the coffee table and added a completely different feel and style to the living room. Now, if I could just conquer some of my own painting projects...

Happy Anniversary,

2011-06-28T10:35:00.002-04:00

This is a candid shot where the ceremony took place.

6.28.2008

Three years ago I married my best friend. Our exit song was, "It's The End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)"....I don't think we had any clue how true that would be. Three years, a house, a dog, two boys, and a cat later...and we still love each other.

What's In Your Fridge? Linky Party!

2011-06-27T14:59:00.005-04:00

Do you have your fridge photos ready? Because it's time for the "What's In Your Fridge?" Linky party! So, what's hiding in my fridge....

the main contents of my fridge- minus eggs and condiments. Note my Venti Green Tea.

I love cheese.

and bread! (and fresh pizza dough. I love Trader Joe's!)

Most of the magic is hidden in my fruit bowl....

mmm...tomatoes

But the really scary stuff? It's hidden in my freezer....

We keep our compost in the freezer until we take it out to the pile, frozen breast milk, fruit, gelato, and oh my, a PLACENTA!

So, what's in your fridge???

Top 10 Nursing Accessories (And a boppy is not on it...)

2011-06-22T12:07:00.001-04:00

My dear friend and doula, Alexa, (who has 7 years of breastfeeding experience) recently wrote a list of Top 10 Accessories for a Nursing Mama. I hope they encourage some of you nursing mamas (or soon-to-be), and make you smile!

1. A nursing tank top- love them more than nursing bras.

2-4. Good Nursing Bras- 2 comfy ones (Bravado, Blue Canoe) and 2 that make you feel pretty (I never...um...explored those.)

5. Nipple salve (i.e. AngelBaby)

6. A water bottle you love and that's big because you're going to be thirsty as hell & you'll finally realize what all the hype is about the "Big Gulps" people buy from the gas station

7. A nursing-friendly baby carrier

8. A "nursing necklace" or other distract-my-child-from-twiddling-my-other-nipple-tool

9. A standing weekly appointment with a chiropractor or massage therapist to work out the kinks that come from bending in all kinds of weird ways in order to be able to just nurse the baby as he simultaneously (pick one of the following):
a) is asleep in your bed & you wouldn't dare move him
b) is NOT asleep but IS in your bed and you want a position where YOU can sleep
c) is getting his diaper changed by papa & won't stop screaming so breast comes in from above
d) is riding in a rear facing carseat on a road trip and you are not going to pull the car over one. more. time. just smile and wave to the passersby.
e) he's an EC baby & will only pee in the middle of the night while nursing...good luck with that- nothing says "EC works" likes a little potty full of pee spilled in the bed at 2am (am I the only one? I love EC btw.)
f) nursing while YOU potty...you know you've done it.

10. A sign on your forehead that says,
"1) yes, I'm feeding my baby. 2) I know, you're sorry you looked, you thought he was "sleeping." 3) no, I'm not worried about him biting me...I think "natural selection" is smarter than that 4) no, I don't know when he will stop. get use to it...you'll be seeing a lot more of it."

Notice I didn't put in any nursing cover-ups because, well, I'll keep my mouth shut now.
-Alexa

I've been breastfeeding for two years straight now, and I think that all breastfeeding mamas need encouragement from time to time. It's not without it's challenges! Sometimes all we can do is laugh about it...

In other news, get yours fridges ready, I will be hosting a "What's in Your Fridge Linky Party" on Friday! (Sorry for the delay, my camera broke. And well, I don't think it's fair for me to ask YOU to reveal your deepest secrets without me showing what's hiding in my vegetable drawer...)

What's In Your Fridge? Full House

2011-06-20T07:45:00.002-04:00

Christina from the blog, Full House, has a house full of triplet boys and twin girls! And she has a full refrigerator to go with it...check it out:

Describe your diet in five words or less:
Nut, grains and legumes and veggies

What food could you not live without?
Baked goods like anything loaded with carbs such as breads, cookies, chips and crackers. Ok so I am sure I could live without those items but they sure do help my world go round.

What is the scariest item in your refrigerator?
Leftover turkey meatloaf.

What food is your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure?
Dark chocolate, I also love to take a spoon full of almond butter with chocolate chips and almonds placed on top.

Any random food thoughts you would like to share:
I have been considering taking my family off of cows milk. Also when I get my act together I would love to have a chicken coop for all of those fresh eggs.

I don't know if I agree with the quote, "Eat to live don't live to eat":-) Seriously though I feel so blessed to have never gone without good food and think of those that may be starving...then say a little prayer for them.

Thank you Christina for participating in the series!!

What's In Your Fridge: Jeremy & Kathleen

2011-06-16T08:41:00.002-04:00

Jeremy & Kathleen is my go-to blog when I am looking for inspiration for a new tasty, creative, and healthy recipe. So I am thrilled to get a peak into their fridge and food lifestyle. Definitely check out their blog for more recipes and a lot of other fun posts.

The veggie drawer: Kathleen says this is where the magic happens!

Describe your diet in five words or less:
-Eat Real Food. Mostly Plants.

What food could you not live without?
-Being a vegetarian I would say vegetables. Our veggie drawer is currently stocked with red peppers, zucchini & squash, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and ginger. Yum!

What is the scariest item in your refrigerator?
-Last week a cucumber went bad. It wasn't pleasant.

What food is your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure?
-I love a glass of red wine or cold beer (depending on the season) every evening.

Any random food thoughts you would like to share:
-I would love to recommend the book In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. It changed my life and the way I feel about food.

Thank you Jeremy & Kathleen!

What's In Your Fridge? Featuring Under the Table and Dreaming

2011-06-15T07:35:00.003-04:00

I am excited to have Stephanie Lynn from Under the Table and Dreaming here today to share what's in her fridge!

When Caroline told me about her series I immediately thought, how cool is that - then I actually opened up my fridge and realized it's cool to look inside other people's fridges, but mine....not so much.

~Describe your diet in five words or less~

College Dorm Life

Food is not really a great topic around here right now as my son has been diagnosed with eight different food allergies as well as EE {eosinophilic esophagitis} and pretty much does not eat...anything... anymore. So it is just my husband and me and half the time we feel guilty even eating. Before my son was diagnosed I went as far as making monthly meal plans but now it seems like we just snacking our way through the days... at least until we get this thing figured out.

~What food could you not live without?~

I'd have to bend the rules and say my Diet Ice Tea...I know it's a drink but I could seriously live off it.

~What is the scariest item in your refrigerator?~

Unfortunately our cupboards are pretty bare {if they look full it's because they were just re-stocked for the new week} so I guess fortunately we don't have any scaries! There is a bowl of shrimp and a bowl of fresh tuna that could potentially be scary if I don't remember to buy mayo to make some salads.

On the other hand our son's special meal replacement formula {Neocate Splash} is pretty scary when you look at the price tag {they can range from $4-$6 a box}

~What food is your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure?~

Pretty much anything that tastes good. I find myself wanting to blog more about recipes just so I have a reason to make some 'real food' - I know, really sad, but true.

My Husband and I tend to get on kicks and we will find something that I throw together that we both love and we will eat that one thing everyday until we get so tired of it - we don't really even want to see it again. Right now it's chicken wraps made with deli sliced chicken breast, provolone cheese, lettuce, and chive and onion cream cheese spread on a sun-dried tomato basil tortilla - all wrapped up and so yummy {for now}.

Oh and any kind of homemade bread...We love fresh warm bread {hence the multiple jars of yeast}

And I thought I would add some tips to storing your vegetables to this post {since what's actually lurking in my fridge is pretty much boring} I admit I never really knew how to store fresh vegetables and was always hesitant to buy them when I first got married as I was throwing most of what I bought away because we didn't use them quick enough. It wasn't until I started my monthly meal plans and was looking for ways to prolong my fresh foods that I actually took the time to research and learn...and although it's a little time consuming, these methods really do work {plus they make it incredibly convenient as most of the prep work will already be done ahead of time}

Cauliflower: Trim the head of cauliflower into florets, rinse, dry and store in a sealed plastic bag.

Broccoli: Trim the broccoli into florets, rinse, dry and store in a sealed plastic bag.

Carrots: Wash the carrots thoroughly with cold running water and place in a container that has a lid. Fill the container with cold water until the carrots are completely covered and store in the produce drawer of the fridge. Change the water every four days or so.

Asparagus: Wrap a wet paper towel around the bottom of the stalks and place into a plastic bag. Keep them store in the produce drawer of the fridge.

Celery: Remove from original packaging and separate the stalks. Trim the ends and wash with cold water. Wrap in a damp paper towel and place in a plastic bag. Store in the produce drawer of the fridge.

Mushrooms: Place loose mushrooms in a paper bag and store in the refrigerator {but not the produce drawers}.

Peppers: Remove from bag or container they were purchased in {to ensure good air circulation} and keep them refrigerated in the produce drawer.

Lettuce: Separate the leaves, rinse with cold water in a colander and lay on a paper towel to dry. Put the leaves in a large closeable plastic bags, seal and store them in the crisper. {I have not done mine yet}

For a Round Head of Lettuce: Take the head of lettuce out of the original packaging. Wrap with a moist paper towel and place in a plastic bag. Keep in the produce drawer of the fridge and check the bag frequently for water accumulation. When using the lettuce peel away the leaves - do not cut them.

Lemons & Limes: Lemons & Limes can last up to six weeks if kept in the fridge vs 7-10 days on the counter. Place them in the produce drawer.

Thanks so much Caroline for putting this together and having me!

Thanks so much Stephanie! And if you haven't checked out her blog, it is absolutely full of fun and beautiful DIY projects! Take a look: Under the Table and Dreaming.

What's In Your Fridge: Emerald Cove Reveals

2011-06-14T08:06:00.003-04:00

Today is Day 1 of:

Michelle of the sea-worthy blog, Emerald Cove , shares with her readers her beautiful shore inspired home and life with her family. And today, Michelle is sharing with us her darkest secrets that reside in the depths of her refrigerator. (ok, it's not that scary... ; ) Here is is a peek it to Michelle's fridge and food life-style:

Describe your diet in five words or less:

- Easy, fast, healthy-ish

What food could you not live without?

-I could not live without pasta

What is the scariest item in your refrigerator?

-The scariest item in my frig is the garlic that has been in there for as long as I can remember. At least I think it was garlic. :)

What food is your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure?

-Guilty-ish pleasure is chips and cheese with sour cream and salsa!! YUM!!'

Any random food thoughts you would like to share:

-I would like to be healthier but I think that I would need a chef for that. I try, but usually we are so busy and while I like to cook, it is not my favorite. Oh and I despise grocery shopping so that doesn't help with preparing meals.

Thanks Michelle for sharing your food with us!

What's In Your Fridge? Celebrity Blog Series

2011-06-13T08:03:00.002-04:00

As bloggers, we get to glance into each other's lives, families, and homes. And now, you get to take a look into some of my favorite blogger's refrigerators during the blog series:

Who knows what we might find lurking in the depths of their fridge shelves...So stay tuned this week to see inside the refrigerators of:

Emerald Cove
Under the Table and Dreaming
Jeremy & Kathleen
Full House

And get your refrigerators ready for the Fridge Reveal Link Party at the end of the series!

You might notice that things look a little different around here. Thanks to With Two Cats for the blog lift!

Reading Rainbow

2011-06-01T16:06:00.004-04:00

Since returning from the beach, I have mainly been focusing on getting back to "normal" life (whatever the heck that is...). But I could not resist our bookshelves in our entry/library. So they got a little re-organizing. This is the jumbled mess that they were before (plus there was some extra mess since this photo was taken a while back):

And now, reading rainbow magic:

Harry Potter gets it's own shelf.

So there you have it. My quick little book switch-up.

You might notice that the lower shelves are not allowed to have books; it's for a simple reason known as a toddler.

You also might realize that the bottom shelves of the left book case aren't quite as pretty as the rest of the shelves..despite a lot of ~~whining~~ discussion, I could not change David's mind about not letting me touch his Philosophy books. So, I'll just have to live with it. It's all about compromise (and I love him quite a lot, so he's worth an ugly shelf or two. And the pile of laundry on the floor...etc.)

Aside from Christmas break, summer is the only time that I really make time to read outside of class. I have started a summer reading list that continues to grow faster than I can read. However, I did read the book, The Help, while at the beach, and I really enjoyed it.

Are there any books are your list this summer? Any that I should add to mine?

Sand between tiny toes...

2011-05-26T09:24:00.002-04:00

I have been MIA this past week because we took a last minute trip to Orange Beach. Sometimes you've got to just leave your day-to-day life hanging, and go have some fun. And what fun it was...there is nothing like the laugh of an almost-two-year-old as the waves splash into him. It was a very special time to experience what I envisioned while I was in the most difficult part of Damon's labor: having my two boys with me on the beach (minus the bikini. I opted for a tankini considering Damon was born 9 weeks ago...)

Here is a glimpse into our trip:

Naps on the beach

Smiles

Wrapped up in a towel after a swim in the ocean

Windblown hair

Burying Daddy

On the beach where David proposed, today, three years ago

Family time

Dmitri loved the boat

Happy

More Smiles

Naps

And more naps

Aside from the long car ride with a crying baby....it was perfect.

Feminist Confessions: I painted my son's toe nails PINK

2011-05-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

So there was a big brouhaha about a J Crew ad that involved a mama painting her son's nails...

Quite a few people were upset about the ad (*cough* Fox News). I of course, have my opinions about gender, and how colors do not have a gender. I have pink pom-poms in my sons' nursery and my son's wear pink and purple diapers. But that didn't mean I neccessarily planned to paint my sons' toe nails...

But when I painted my toe nails for the first time in three years with the only nail polish that I had (neon pink), Dmitri was enthralled. He didn't take his eyes off of me. And when I was finished, he wanted his "toes" painted too. I never knew an almost-two-year-old could sit so still. And he did not even touch it until it dried.

I'm glad that I did not deny myself or my son quality time together, laughing and painting our toe nails neon pink, for the sake of societal ideas of gender. I would have hated to miss out on that experience and memory...

Mama & Dmitri feet

I love his little toes!

Do you have special memories of doing unconventional activities with your kids?

I'm an Everday People...

2011-05-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had a surreal moment when we went to eat at our favorite local vegetarian restaurant, The Grit (We may or may not have eaten there twice in one day before) and several of my favorite people in Athens (they are friendly, cool, and they serve cake...pretty much my BFFs) mentioned that they saw me in Flagpole, a local Athens magazine. I opened it up, and there was a large color photo of me and a full-page interview, in which I talk about blogging, parenthood, Women's Studies, and of course, I get a little political about birth.

It's not like it should have been a surprise, per se, since I did give an interview for the column entitled, "Everyday People." But it was still surprising, weird, and surreal to actually see it in print! And it made me a little giddy, no lie. The whole thing came about through several random connections (friends-of-friends-of-my-husband, through Facebook) sort of deal. Not only was it a random opportunity, but quite a hi-tech one. Since I was traveling at the time, I "met up" with columnist, Emily Patrick, and she conducted my interview via Skype. It was not nearly as awkward as I expected it to be. I actually had a lot of fun!

And so enough talking about the interview-that-makes-me-feel-silly-but-I-can't-help-but-be-a-little-excited-about it... go see it for yourself. You can read it a few different ways:

-Visit Flagpole and I'm on the front page.
-Or click here to view the paper in PDF

Sofa Sneak Peak

2011-05-16T12:46:00.000-04:00

The project that never ends, might be getting closer to the finish line...

The sofa that I am re-upholstering is officially covered in fabric!

Now I just have lots and lots of piping to sew, and cushion covers to make. I'm pulling out the Singer..Hopefully this feeling of accomplishment will inspire me to finish it. With any luck, after photos will be coming soon!

Exciting News: Mood Board Service!

2011-05-09T10:11:00.003-04:00

I am excited to announce that I will now be offering a Mood Board Service! This is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time, and I am happy that now I am able to do it.

There are a lot of talented mood board creators in the blogosphere, and I admire their work. However, what I envision is a little different. Instead of creating custom mood boards with just buying sources, I construct mood boards with DIY options, as well. This gives you the opportunity to DIY projects, keep costs down, recycle, and really make the room personal and your own! However, if time is a constraint, you always have the option to purchase a similar item.

I am flexible in fitting your needs. Whether you need paint color suggestions, accessory help, you have an ugly lamp that needs a revamp, or an entire room that needs inspiration, I would love to help. I would be there every step of the way for your room design, offering help and problem-solving on DIYs and how-tos, I would also offer eBay and Craigslist personal shopping to help you find the perfect pieces for your room.

Here is a sample mood board that is the inspiration for Dmitri & Damon's shared nursery/playroom. It is centered around what I need and have for the room, thus an actual mood board would have different features:

Sources:

Abacus
Buy: CB2 Abacus - $149
DIY: Over-sized Abacus Tutorial (paint with bright colors inspired by CB2)

Patterns Revealed Pillow
Buy: Anthropologie Pillow - $78
DIY: Fabric Strip Pillow Tutorial (consider adding fringe or orange piping)

Zinc Letters
Buy: Anthropologie Oversized Zinc Letters - $98

DIY: Zinc Letters Tutorial

Bed: Minnen Bed from Ikea
Red Hook: Anthropologie Five Alarm Hook
Hot Air Balloon Print: Etsy Hot Air Balloon Art
Vases: Crate and Barrel Vase
Curtains: UO Tree of Life Curtains
Fabric: Joel Dewberry Aviary Collection
Hot Air Balloon: Amazon Hot Air Balloon (consider searching eBay)

If you have questions about my services, please feel free to email me at thefeministhousewife [at] gmail [dot] com!

To purchase your custom mood board safely and securely, click the Paypal button below.

Check out my interview!

2011-05-06T10:56:00.001-04:00

Check out my interview with Stacey today! It was a lot fun. And perhaps you'll learn something new about me. ; )

Got to finish a 12-pager today...and then I think I deserve some relaxing over the weekend. (And a margarita or two!)

See you Monday!
Caroline

Finals Week...

2011-05-05T08:54:00.000-04:00

It's final's week....currently occupied with some major studying and paper writing. And lots of pumping, so that Damon won't be hungry during my three-hour exam!

I'll be back shortly...happier and ready to tackle some projects!

Damon's Monthly Photo: One Month

2011-05-04T08:14:00.004-04:00

Damon August at one-month-old

We are loving him more and more each day.

I plan to take a monthly photo of Damon on our bed, to chronicle his growth. Here is the first installment, a little late. We are so happy to have you as a part of our family, Damon!

Damon's Welcome Party

2011-05-02T08:53:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, we hosted a party to celebrate baby Damon and welcome him to the family. We had a wonderful time visiting with friends and family. I kept it pretty simple with a blue and green spring theme. I was on a tight budget, and I tried to re-use anything I could and decorate with what I had around the house. I was a little hesitant to throw a party with a newborn and toddler, but I'm so glad that I went for it. It really was a special time.

I was busy enjoying visiting, so of course I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked (and not before the food was eaten...but I'm glad everyone liked it!) Here are some snapshots of the event:

My summery fireplace

Oregano, Thyme, & Chives

A simple bunting

A ribbon mobile constructed out of a wire coat hanger and ribbon on hand; hanging above the food table

Cupcakes

Coconut "grass" & jelly bean eggs: cupcakes

"Welcome to the Family" Table: Family portraits of most of our family hang above

Mini Bunting

Potted herbs as decorations and Damon's birth announcement

Italian lemonade

Simple blue & green bottles as a centerpiece

Simple, fun, and truly a wonderful time celebrating such a precious gift to our family.

The Project That Never Ends...

2011-04-28T07:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, it goes on and on my friends...

Re-upholstering my sofa, that is. I am almost embarrassed to say when I started this insane project. (And did I mention that I have zero re-upholstery experience and knowledge? I thought circular needles were for stitching people up, not sofas.) But yes, the beginning takes us back to the week before Thanksgiving. (Stupid, stupid, timing to rip a sofa apart. Especially if hosting the Thanksgiving meal for your in-laws for the first time). It's been five months. And that's as long as I don't count from the procuring of the sofa, which would be, gulp, a year ago.

This project goes in waves of excitement, determination, and pure DIY-will power. Quickly followed by frustration and repeatedly kicking the darn thing, which settles into a stage of ignoring it's existence. I then take a look at those pretty little white feet on it, and fall in love all over again. And we've got a life cycle.

But as I frequently mutter unconvincingly to myself, it will all be worth it in the end. I hope. At the very least, I will have learned something, surely. Even if it's just along the lines of, never start a major project before the holidays or while 5 months pregnant, or when you don't know what the heck you are doing.

Here is the sofa as it stands today:

In Progress

Damon is there for moral support. (And I couldn't move a sleeping newborn just for a crappy photo!)

DIY Baby

Pure Sweetness

So I'm stapling and sewing away. And maybe in another five months or so, I will have it finished! (Ok, really hoping before then.)

Have you ever started a project that has taken forever to finish? Or have you been over your head or chosen crazy timing to delve into a massive undertaking?

One Year Housiversary

2011-04-26T15:38:00.001-04:00

On this day one year ago, we were handed this key to our house...

It's hard to believe that it has been a year. On the one hand, we have come a long way. But, we also have a long, long way to go.

I'm looking forward to another year of making our farmhouse our home!

The house as it was then...

And today:

I wonder what it will look like next year.....

Life with Two Boys

2011-04-25T12:13:00.001-04:00

Our little Easter bunny

Asleep: One month old

After a bath: Four weeks old

Sweetness.

Serious.

Almost 5 weeks!

Brothers...checking each other out!

Kisses!

The Tasmanian toddler..right before he threw the sand everywhere...

I've survived a month of life as a mom of two, and it's been a wonderful challenge. It's been a month of growing, and I've learned and re-learned a lot. Thoughts:

-I forgot how much laundry newborns dirty up. Newborn + toddler...I should be investing in a giant energy efficient washer, a clothesline, and Charlie's Soap stock. And a laundress...

-I also forgot how much newborns sleep. Not on my schedule, but they do sleep. A LOT.

-Watching Dmitri grow has brought many tears of happiness, and of course, a tinge of sadness at the reality of how quickly it goes by. But with Damon, I think there are double the tears, because I really KNOW how fast life passes.

-Along those lines, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Dmitri as a baby. But, I think that I am cherishing Damon's newborn stage even more. I am loving every minute of having him in our family. Even at three in the morning, when he is staring at me with bright eyes. I cannot help but smile. Because I know that this too shall pass. And all too quickly.

-I am mystified by how I have such big babies. Damon is about 12 lbs. at one-month-old. I think it's strange, since I am naturally a tiny person. What's up with that? I kind of wish that they would stay little...just a little bit longer! Damon is already out-growing his 0-3 months clothes. My little newborn is gone (although, starting at 8 lbs. he was never THAT little). But of course, I am happy that they are so healthy.

-Dmitri is in full-fledged Tasmanian toddler mode. That's an adventure, and we are trying to manage tantrums and a lot of energy! He is becoming more verbal, but I wish he could communicate his wants a little bit more effectively. I think that would solve a lot of frustration! But, it's also an exciting stage. He is so much fun to play with, and he is so happy and silly (most of the time).

-Taking photos of two under two together- next to impossible. Which makes me a little sad...I want to capture the memories of how sweet Dmitri is with his little brother. Always wanting to hold him, kiss him, and point out his nose, mouth, eyes, and toes. Any photo tips or ideas?

In other news, as you can tell, I have a working computer! It took several days to fix ours, and in that time, David decided it was finally time to replace my computer that broke several months ago. It's fantastic to have a "computer of my own" again. And did I mention it's a MAC. Love that thing. Hopefully it will enable me to do some fun things for the blog. Get excited. I am!

When a Blogger's Computer Dies....

2011-04-21T14:17:00.000-04:00

I honestly do not know what to do with myself. Our computer has been out of comission for nearly 24 hours. I am on the verge of a breakdown...

Exhibit A: My facebook status this morning:

Stuck in our pigsty with two babies under two, and no car, no tv, and no computer. Charlotte Perkins Gilman could write a story about it.

I know, it is such a "first-world problem." And I should probably use it as an opportunity to grow/learn/explore/etc.

One thing I am definitely learning? Blogging is such a part of my identity. And I'm not sure what I would do without it...

Here is to hoping that the computer can be raised...

from the dead.

All Things Green

2011-04-20T13:19:00.000-04:00

I planted my little garden this morning with the help of Dmitri and Damon. Nothing elaborate, but I am incredibly hopeful that it will go better than last year's garden. (Which did not produce, hardly at all.) Obviously, I cannot do the same thing and expect the same results. Some changes I made this year are, I decided to plant a raised bed, add compost to my soil, space the plants further apart, and plant less.

I planted two heirloom tomatoes, one cherry tomato, and one yellow bell pepper plant. I get asked a lot, how I do all that I do. Now, I definitely don't have it all together. However, one thing that enables me to get work done is my Ergo. I can't imagine life without it. Damon loves it; I love it. Pure happiness.

Gardening in the Ergo.

And no, this is not an ad for Ergo. I only wish I were receiving compensation for this, but I'm not. ; )

I also got a sweet basil plant. Grow little plants...!

In other green-related projects:

I am determined that our backyard will no longer be a bed of weeds, but will be a lush grassy yard. Literally, we have no grass. But hopefully, that is about to change...

weeds. and dirt.

We Round-Uped the yard...perhaps not the most green option. And now we have this:

Mostly dead weeds.

Next up, we will be tilling and seeding. I really hope it goes as planned! Wish us some luck.

Have you been getting into spring and getting outside more? Right now, I am hating being inside...hence the lack of indoor projects at the moment. I'll save those for a rainy day. For now, I'm going to rock on the porch with my boys and play in the dead weeds.

Curb Appeal: Front Door Makeover

2011-04-14T08:32:00.002-04:00

When we bought our house, it kind of looked like a big grey box. See:

However, I felt that it had so much potential to be a cute, warm, cottage. Lately, we have been so focused on the inside (oh yeah, and having a baby!), that the outside has not gotten much attention.. But with the warmer weather, I have been looking for any reason to be outside. And working on outside projects seems to be the perfect excuse.

We started our outside makeover by adding black shutters, several months ago. The front door, the first thing you notice when you enter our house, was not setting the mood that I wanted to resonate through the rest of the house. And as much as I liked our screen door, it felt a little, blah. So the front door got a quick, but bright makeover this past week.

Before:

After:

A bigger picture:

The window box got some spring love too:

Verbena:

There is still so much I would like to do with the porch and flower beds. But I'm excited to be making a little progress!

I linked up to The Weekend Wrap Up Party!

Tonight We Are Going to Shower like it's 1901....

2011-04-13T10:38:00.002-04:00

Because renovating a 1901 farmhouse isn't always as exciting as stenciling a wall or hanging new curtains...hah.

I got up last Tuesday morning to take my shower before going to my first day back to classes since Damon has arrived, to find that there was nothing but icy cold water pouring from the shower head. I was already daunted by the task of appeasing a newborn and a toddler simultaneously, while trying to shower. So, having to bathe 1901-style made my morning not-routine all the more adventurous.

We assumed that it was the water heater that had to be replaced, so we did some research on different heaters, went to a few hardware stores, and finally settled on having a basic 50-gallon installed. After placing the order, my dad called David and gave him the grand idea that he might be able to FIX IT HIMSELF. Now, my husband is not the most experienced when it comes to plumbing (or anything, home improvement, car, toilet, other-miscellaneous-manly-man-projects related). For some reason, books on Existentialism and Philosophy of Science omit sections on water heaters, transmissions, or anything practical. (I'm not even sure if philosophers eat, most of the time). However, I am always impressed by David's effort to learn something new. So, he canceled the order.

He pulled up a few articles on the internet, read up about diagnosing a hot water heater, and headed to our local hardware shop to buy some testing gadgets. David "diagnosed" that the heat element was not working properly, so he decided to replace it. Now, to do this, the water to the heater must be shut off.

Evidently, in 1901, no one was concerned about shutting off water to a water heater, and a valve was no where to be found. (I know, I know, there wasn't a water heater in this house in 1901). David and my grandfather, who stopped by for the morning after a trip to the Master's in Augusta, worked on trying to shut the line and drain the tank all of Friday morning and afternoon. But the main valve by the street appeared to have not been turned since it was put in, however long ago it was that our well was filled in and we were put on city water. (You can still see where the hand pump used to be.)

After three days, we were still bathing by boiling water on the stove, the water line still had not been shut off, and it was time to call in some back-up. So Friday evening, my dad consulted with my other grandfather (who had repaired a few water heaters before) and drove down from Tennessee to help us out.

While David worked on Saturday, my dad and I finally got the water shut off, drained the tank, and replaced the heating element. We gave the heater time to re-fill and heat, and then we turned on a faucet.

And there was no hot water.

This led us to believe that it was not the heating element, after all. We tested the old element, and it was actually working just fine. So I got to googling, and found that it could be a few other things: like a fuse, or the thermostat. After watching a few Youtube videos, we were able to rule out anything that was related to the hot water heater.

So now what?

I needed a break at this point, and I loaded Dmitri and Damon up in the car and started to drive to my friend's house. But, Dmitri fell asleep in the car, so I ended up doing a loop around Athens and coming home, Around this time, I got a text from my dad saying that he thinks he figured it out. My dad explained his theory that it was not the hot water heater after all, but a leaking hot water pipe in our crawl space.

There was going to be no DIY-job on this one. We were calling a plumber.

Instead of paying near-double on the weekend, we waited until Monday, and a great plumber, who knew exactly what he was doing, came out and had us fixed up in less than two hours.

After a week without hot water, I cannot say how thankful I am to be able to get hot water, by simply turning a handle. Washing cloth diapers out in the creek was getting really old....

A Fixed Roman Shade

2011-04-11T09:31:00.000-04:00

One of the main projects I have been working on lately is accessorizing my naked windows throughout the house. Window treatments can be really pricey, so I have tried to cut costs, while finding the perfect fit for each room by DIY-ing my own.

I was inspired by Centsational Girl's Fixed Roman Shade (love her blog!) to make my own Roman shade for the Breakfast Room using Bodega fabric from Tonic Living. I lined the curtain using a heavy canvas, but I would recommend using blackout lining like she did so that the fabric doesn't look funky with the folds when the light shines through. Here it is...

What do you think?

Total cost: < $20

Change [my mind]: Nursery Curtains

2011-04-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Curtains were one of the first things that I tackled in the nursery, other than paint. I picked them out, hung them up, liked them decently well, only to grow tired of them and realize that they really were not doing much for the room. You may remember them:

Blah. Blah. Blah.

However, they were pretty expensive. So, I listed those things on eBay (hoping to at least re-coop some of the money to invest in something else.). Not only did I sell them, I even made a profit. Which were not my intentions at all, but that's hardly something to complain about! And I bought these:

They have every color that I'm using in the nursery: yellow, orange, red, and grey!

They add a little more color to the room, and I'm liking that a lot better! I plan to line them with blackout lining to help reduce noise and light for nap times, and to make the pattern more visible. But since neither of the little ones are sleeping in there currently, it's not too high on the priority list. I'd really like to finish up the nursery/playroom considering that we now have TWO kiddos...slowly but surely.

The curtains are from here: Urban Outfitters: Tree of Life Curtains

Gliding

2011-04-04T14:00:00.001-04:00

The latest addition to the master bedroom is both aesthetic and incredibly functional. We received the most comfortable glider, ever, as a baby gift: and Damon & I are both loving it. Especially considering how much time we spend nursing (plus pumping!) every day.I almost want to sleep in it.

Where I spend a lot of my time...currently:

click for larger view

The arrival of the glider also means that I am incredibly close to the complete reveal of the master bedroom! I'm excited to call it "done."

Also pictured:

DIY Jewelry Holder

No Sew Curtains

Pillow- Liberty of London from Target (on sale a while back)

Click for more of the Master Bedroom

DIY Placenta and Photos of Dmitri & Damon

2011-03-30T11:13:00.000-04:00

I commented on the fact that we have a placenta in our freezer, and it got me thinking about what people have actually done with a placenta. Searches turned up some interesting results. A few don't seem too out there to me..you know, like throwing it away. But other ideas are full-on DIY Placenta Edition.

Like this Teddy Bear...

OhDeeDoh

Wow. Just wow. Creative, to say the least. Other ideas that I've found are encapsulating it so that the mother can take it in pill form to regain the nutrients. Using it to make art...and my personal favorite, planting it under a tree, bush, flower, or other plant in honor of the baby.

(We will probably go with the last one).

Damon is just precious, and we love having him as a part of our family. It's been an adjustment, nonetheless. I am pretty freaked out about having to handle the two of them on my own. But I still have a few days before I will face that challenge.

Dmitri loves the "baby". He is constantly giving him kisses, wanting to hold him, and petting his head (he is unbelievably gentle for a 21-month-old)! He also enjoys pointing out his hair, eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, chin, ears, and toes! It completely makes my heart melt to see how sweet they are together:

Dmitri & Damon (Damon is yawning, not crying! Haha!)

Eyes!!

Sleeping

That last photo reminds me so much of this photo of Dmitri...

Sometimes, I think that I've given birth to twins 20.5 months apart.

As we adjust to life as a family of four, and I start back classes, I plan to slowly resume my normal blogging. I have several projects/changes to share... = ) But I'm trying my best to take it easy, let my body heal, and focus on loving my two boys.

Damon August: The Birth Story

2011-03-28T19:52:00.001-04:00

Damon August

March 23rd, 2011

12:04 PM

8 lbs. & 20 3/4 inches

Damon’s arrival has left me with many existential questions. And as I sit down to write his story, cradling his tiny body in my lap, I feel unworthy of putting words to the magnificent and beautiful event that was his birth. And starting the story is the most difficult of all.

How does one know where a little human’s life story should begin? Is it at conception (Too much information? I thought so…)? Or the pink plus sign on a pee-stick. The first ultrasound and hearing the heart beat. Announcing the news. Surviving the first trimester. Finding out the sex. Or the numerous other milestones that intrigue and excite parents as they look for any hint or glimmer of the being that grows clandestinely inside the uterus. And finally, after 9 months of growing, labor and birth. The first breath. But, where to begin…

Unlike in the movies, labor rarely starts spontaneously with a gush of water. Labor often starts as a painful whisper, foreshadowing things to come. And at the beginning, it leaves little questions in the mind of the mother, like “Is this it?” Or it can start, send you into a whirl, and stop, laughing at those who think they can predict it, control it, or know it. But when the baby has communicated that it is ready to make it’s entrance, labor no longer dances lightly. Labor lets it’s presence be known, and there Is no longer a doubt that the arrival of an earthling is imminent. And whether waiting or laboring, all we can do is surrender.

I started having regular, crampy, contractions in the early morning on Sunday. It was the night of the full moon, and David and I had made the most delicious homemade eggplant parmesan for dinner. I woke up at 2 AM, thinking, this is it! I timed the mildly painful contractions on my iPhone (using the application Stage 1). They were about 15 minutes apart, but getting closer together. So, we called my sister-in-law, who drove an hour-and-a-half at 3:30 AM to be there to take care of Dmitri should he need anything. I called my midwife, who stressed that I really needed to go back to sleep, because it could just be the moon causing them. I stayed in bed, but I was unable to go back to sleep from the contractions. But by 6 AM, I was exhausted, and I finally drifted to sleep. When I woke up a few hours later, I was still having contractions every 10 minutes, but they were much milder. A sign that labor was not progressing.

And I was angry at the full moon for being such a tease.

Three days passed.

I returned to classes on Tuesday (we had been on Spring Break), still very pregnant and rather uncomfortable. But generally, my spirits were up. And I continued to have mild, but crampy and regular contractions.

I woke up Wednesday morning at 5 AM to use the bathroom, and then I knew. I had a contraction. The kind that I could not lay down through. The kind that I had to dance to. I timed three of them, and then I woke up David, saying, “I’m in labor.” There was no doubt.

I called my midwife to let her know that today was the day. I wanted to make sure that she had plenty of time to get there since she lived over an hour away. She asked whether she should come then, and we decided to touch base in an hour. After getting off the phone, I directed David as he helped get everything around the house ready for the birth. We began filling up the labor pool, gathering Dmitri’s essentials, and I ate breakfast. All the while, I moved through the contractions that were coming about every 8 minutes and lasting 60-75 seconds. About 15 minutes after getting off the phone with Debi, I called her back, asking that she go ahead and come. I knew that her arrival would help me relax. I did not want to worry about the baby arriving before she did, as I’ve heard enough insanely fast second birth stories (where the baby arrives in the car/on the toilet/ other unexpected place) to make me worry.

Up until this point, Dmitri was asleep. But around 7:30 AM he woke up. I will always cherish the time that I got to spend with him in between contractions. I told him how today was the day he was going to become a big brother. We shared lots of snuggles, hugs, and kisses. And I cried just a little (the first of many times that day).

Shortly after this, my midwife, Debi, her assistant, Jessica, as well as our friend Ingie (who took Dmitri to their house for the day) all arrived in a bustle of morning energy. Debi and Jessica began unloading their supplies, and I said goodbye to Dmitri, knowing that the next time I saw him, I would be a mother of two.

With all of the arrivals and departures, it took a little while for me to get back into the rhythm that I had had when it was just David and I. Although the contractions were still becoming more intense, they seemed to space out a little more. But it did not take long for me to become comfortable in my labor space, settle in, and make it my own. At this point, I was standing up and swaying my hips during contractions, while deep breathing and chanting “Om.”

“Om” was my labor chant from the beginning until the end. It centered me, keeping me focused and calm throughout the entire labor. It relaxed me, and I really believe that it enabled my cervix to open.

The contractions intensified, and I started having a more difficult time getting through them. I decided that is was time to get in the labor pool! We had a La Bassine pool set up, and it was amazing! It was so spacious; I could move easily. I felt like I was swimming. And I cannot say enough about the power of warm water to help relax and ease the intensity of painful contractions. It was also pleasant to rest in in-between the contractions, and I think it helped me let go of each contraction and not store up the tension.

David sat beside me in a chair while I labored in the pool for several hours; and Debi and Jessica sat in the living room. I continued to eat light foods (apple, toast) and I drank a lot of water, as well as a little bit of iced red raspberry leaf tea. As the contractions became more intense, David applied counter pressure to my hips while I was in the pool. We talked in between contractions and listened to music (Tegan and Sara, if you are wondering). This was such a wonderful way to labor: I was relaxed and confident, but in my moments of doubt, David was there to encourage me and support me. There were several times after an especially intense contraction when I broke down and cried. This really helped me release my fear and was able to let go and power through the next contraction.

As for fetal monitoring during this time, Jessica would come in and listen to the baby’s heart beat occasionally. However, I felt very comfortable with her. She was very non-intrusive, and I never felt like my space was violated. And if I were having a contraction, she was very respectful about waiting until it was finished.

As labor continued, David started timing the contractions to see how close they were together. We used the Stage 1 application on my iPhone. It was a super easy application to use; I would definitely recommend it. (And it’s free!) Around 11:00 AM the contractions were at their most intense, and I had severe back labor, but they were still 3-4 minutes apart.

This is when I became upset. I looked at David and declared, “This is taking too long. I cannot keep doing this. They are still 3-4 minutes apart and it’s going to be so much longer…I can’t do this.” I was anticipating this labor to be just like Dmitri’s labor. His labor had progressed similarly up until this point; and then I had hit transition. Transition was two hours of pure hell: incredibly intense contractions that lasted 90 seconds, with only 30 seconds in between. For two, solid, hours. Luckily, I had not known how long it would last with Dmitri, and I kept thinking it would just be a little bit longer. Especially since I had read that transition was normally only 8-10 contractions and usually lasted about half an hour [a learning experience that there really is no “normal” in labor.]

But this time, I had that memory. And I was terrified of having to endure that again. David recognized that I needed a “change of scenery” and we had listened through the Tegan and Sara playlist two or three times. At first, I suggested Regina Spektor. But as David clicked through the playlist, I said “Next” to every single song. I was just not in the mood. Debi had brought a CD that was nothing but the sound of ocean waves. I had not wanted to listen to it earlier, but now it was just what I needed. So, David put that on.

It was perfect. During each contraction, I envisioned standing on the beach (skinny and in a bikini again, of course!) holding the baby in my arms, feeling the sweet burn of sunshine on my skin, cool sand in between my toes, and watching Dmitri laugh, splash, and run in the waves. I am pretty sure that I smiled during the contractions. I know that my eyes watered, not from pain or fear, but from pure happiness and excitement to meet my baby. I was mostly silent, and I meditated in between contractions. When I could think about nothing else, I focused on getting to hold the baby. And I listened to the crashing of the waves…

All of a sudden, I felt a wave of dizziness and pressure in my lower back. I told David, “Get Debi, NOW.” Debi came into the room, and I said, “Debi, I don’t know what’s going on!” [Code for: Surely I am not feeling the need to push.”] She asked if I wanted her to check me (I had not had any vaginal checks up to this point.) I decided that yes, I wanted to be checked. I wanted to know what was going on. She checked me while I was still in the labor pool.

She said, “No cervix!”

David said, “Caroline, you know what that means!” I think I had the biggest smile I’ve ever had in my life. I was elated. In my mind, I had somehow just skipped transition, (of course, I had actually just powered through it.) I laughed; and I was so excited.

At this point, there was a slight lull in my contractions. I’m not sure if it was the excitement, or just that I was transitioning from stage one to stage two of labor. At one point, I felt like I was going to have a contraction, so I got into my hands-and-knees position and took a deep breath. But the contraction didn’t come. I burst out laughing, feeling like I had been pranked. But it was a short-lived break, and they resumed, now with a strong feeling of pressure. Debi and Jessica were in the room now.

I began to bear down during the contractions. I did not feel a full out need to push, but I felt so much pressure. And then, with a huge “pop” (although, not audible, since it was underwater, I felt it) my water broke. It was like an octopus emitting ink into water, except that it was clear: yay!. I said, “Thank god! My water just broke. That feels so much better.” But the relief did not last long. I felt surges of dizziness and a lot of intense pressure and pain in my lower back. I decided that I wanted to get out of the pool, so David helped me out. For a little while I felt like standing up. David stood behind me, nearly holding me up, in a supported standing position while I pushed against his support. While I was pushing, a massive amount of fluids came out. I said, “I feel like a Clydesdale!” Debi assured me that I was not peeing, but the gushing warm liquid had some similarities.

I continued to feel dizzy, and I became tired from standing, so Debi directed me to the bed. I DID NOT want to lay or sit down on that bed, and I do not think that there was anything anyone could have done to get me to, outside of chaining me down! I told David to get the ball, and I tried holding the ball while in a hands and knees position on the bed. But that was not comfortable at all. I kept saying, “I just feel so dizzy.” Jessica mixed me an Emergen-C to help give me energy, and I felt much better after chugging it. Debi then suggested that I get on the squat stool.

The squat stool was covered in a trash bag, so I could not really see what it looked like. But when I sat down on it, I was astonished to find that it was incredibly comfortable! It was like the rim of a chair, or a toilet, but the front and center parts were open. It was also covered in foam, so it was very soft. Because of the shape and height, it enabled me to relax (much like a toilet would, except that it was much softer and more comfortable). Think Sphincter Law. I cannot rave enough about the squat stool.

At this point, Debi was in front of me, with Jessica and David on either side of her. And I began to really push. While I pushed, I leaned on Debi. I still felt dizzy, but I knew that I had to work through it. I pushed during contractions, but I also pushed in between contractions. And I pushed slowly. (I had read a lot on the benefits of slow pushing). As the baby began to descend, I got to put my fingers inside and feel his head. This was both motivating and empowering! I was not afraid of my own body. And I held no inhibitions. And I continued to push. I do not think that I can describe all of the sensations that I felt at this point. A lot of pain, a lot of pressure, the most intense experience that I have ever been in; He began to crown. And there were plenty of hands there to catch him, including my own. It seemed to take a long time for his head to be fully born. It burned, and I made a lot of noise! But finally, I delivered Damon August at 12:04 PM and David was there to catch him. Debi directed David’s hands to put him in my arms. I do not remember what I said at this point:

I was in complete shock and disbelief that I was holding a completely blue, floppy, and oh-my-goodness, slippery! baby in my arms. I could not take it in- it was so amazing. And I could not take my eyes off of him as I cradled him in my arms. He eventually took his first breath and made a whimper, but he never actually cried. They helped me move up to the bed; David sat beside me. And we got to know our son. It was only a few minutes before he had latched onto my breast and was sucking away. It was incredible to be able to bond with him immediately, and for the three of us to lie in bed together: completely relaxed and comfortable. There were no interruptions, no one bugging us. Just an immense amount of love, awe, happiness, and peace as we shared and celebrated the first hours of Damon’s life.

The Afterbirth & After thoughts:

It took a little while before I pushed out the placenta, however, even after it was delivered, we left him attached for about an hour and a half so that we made sure he received most of his blood back. I was fascinated by the cord and placenta (something that I did not even want to look at the first time around). I had no idea that the cord was so rubbery and cartilage-like. David got to cut the cord when we finally did cut it.

I had zero-tearing, and not even a skid mark. Which my midwife said was impressive, considering he was 8 lbs. and had a head-circumference of 14 .“ I was so happy about this; tearing is not a fun recovery at all.

Naturally, I was sore afterward. And the contractions were pretty horrible(and lasted for several days. They were especially bad while nursing). But I had very little swelling, and honestly, my perineum and tissues did not even feel like I had had a baby at all by the next day! Although, I had a lot of soreness other places (like my back!)

One thing that I learned afterwards, was that my midwife had never intended for me to give birth on the squat stool; she prefers for moms to not give birth on it because they often push too hard and have severe tearing and difficult repairs. I found this out after I had gone on and on to anyone who would listen about the wonders of the squat stool, how much I loved it, and how I would refuse to give birth any other way in the future. Debi assured me that I could give birth on it again; I have since joked that I have earned squat stool privileges and I want a badge.

Breastfeeding is going well. My milk fully came in four days after the birth. Of course, I have the usual complaints of soreness and engorgement. But it comes with the territory and we are working through it. I have had to work to make sure that he has a proper latch, but we seem to have it down now. I am also pumping so that I will have milk stored, should he need it when I go back to classes.

Dmitri got to meet Damon a few hours after he was born. He is very sweet and gentle with him. He loves to point out his hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and toes. And he greets him by saying “Hiiiiiii baby!” Having a little brother who requires attention is definitely an adjustment for him, and for all of us. But he is doing as well as can be expected.

Since Dmitri still sleeps in bed with us, it has been a conundrum determining how to handle sleeping arrangements with two little ones. As of right now, all four of us are sleeping in our King size bed and it is working really well. This might not seem like the most comfortable situation, but it is working for us, for now, and we love getting bond and cuddle as a family.

All in all, I feel like I could not have asked for a more perfect birth. Yes, it was crazy/intense/painful/etc. But, it went exactly how I wanted it to, and I feel very very lucky. Perfect is not a word that I thought could ever modify the word birth.

A final thought: there is a placenta in our freezer. That’s a little strange. I'm unsure what we will end up doing with it!

Damon August is here...

2011-03-24T09:56:00.001-04:00

Damon August

March 23rd, 2011

12:04 PM

8 lbs. & 20 3/4 inches

He's here!!! The birth went beautifully and we are so happy to have him earth-side. I look forward to sharing all of the details soon...but now, for a nap.

No Sew Curtains

2011-03-21T11:00:00.002-04:00

Our house is full of naked windows, so one of my main goals has been to DIY some window treatments. I started with our Master Bedroom, using Young House Love's No Sew Curtains as a guide. Seriously, if you can iron, then you can make your own curtains! I have fallen in love with Stitch Witchery. It's amazing! Plus, there is no way that I could have bought curtains for the same cost that I made these.Here is how they turned out:

I love them. They make such a difference in the room; and they block out a lot of light (even though they are unlined.) I also have more of this fabric for some pillows & my other window. Here are a few details:

Fabric: Tonic Living Sweet William Teal ($10 / yard - a 10 % discount)
Measurements: 110" x 52" per panel
Hardware: Wal-Mart ($35 for the rings & the rod)
Total Cost: $95

If you haven't tried making your own curtains, don't be daunted! It's as simple as heating up your iron!

To see more of our master bedroom, click here!

A Tribute to the Final Weeks of Pregnancy

2011-03-17T10:19:00.003-04:00

This past week, I have taken some time to enjoy the last few days/weeks of pregnancy and life as a family of three. It probably seems like a rather uneventful (and at times, miserable) way to spend Spring Break, but I am loving every minute of it. I look forward to showing off some projects, but I want to focus on the biggest project that I'm working on right now:

Yes, I am huge and tired.

I have loved reading your guesses about the bebe's name & stats. If you haven't cast your vote, now is the time!

Favorite Birth Stories that I have read Recently:

Opening

Delivering Babies After a Tsunami

Inga's Birth Story (with Video)

How I'm Feeling:

This pregnancy has gone by so quickly! I absolutely cannot wait to meet this baby. And I know that I'm not going to miss the frequent trips to the bathroom, heart burn, lack of sleep, back aches, and morning sickness. But I have to confess, I think I'm going to miss being pregnant! (I never thought I would be saying that). To document my enormous size, David and I belly-casted my very pregnant torso. I'm so glad that I decided to do this at the last minute! (You can get a belly cast kit from Proud Body).

Belly cast

I have also been cherishing the last days of Dmitri as my only child. We have been reading a lot of books, playing at the park, and setting up "homeschool" toddler activities for him (FYI, homeschooling a toddler means playing with a toddler. Don't worry, I'm not that crazy!) I cannot wait to see how Dmitri reacts to the baby; I think he is going to be such a wonderful big brother!

20 months

Swinging

I cannot wait to meet this little one: to hold him, cuddle him, love him, breastfeed him. I want to count all of his fingers and toes. Kiss his cheeks. To announce his name. And I have so many questions running through my head:

-Will he be a brunette/blond/red-head?

-Will he look like Dmitri/David/me?

-Will he be left-handed like his big brother?

-What if he is a she?

-How much will he weigh?

-What day will he arrive? Will he be a week "late" like with my first pregnancy? Will it be day or night?

-What will the labor be like this time?

-Will he be a water birth?

It won't be much longer...! I will close with a video that makes me laugh, even at 9 months pregnant!

The Bebe Guessing Game

2011-03-14T10:07:00.000-04:00

As my due date gets closer, now is the time to cast your votes on the baby's stats! We have decided on a name, but are keeping it a surprise until little one's arrival. But, here is a hint: his initials will be D. A. (just like his daddy's and big brother's initials).So take a guess!

Baby's Name:
Date & Time of Birth:
Weight:
Length:
Anything fun that you would like to add:

Good luck...! = )

A Collection of DIY Window Treatment Tutorials

2011-03-11T08:08:00.000-05:00

With my recently arrived fabrics, I plan to make some window treatments. Ahh, but which ones. There are so many cool tutorials out there. Here are a few that I'm admiring:

The Ivy Cottage Blog's No Sew Curtains

Young House Love's No Sew Curtains

Roman Blinds in 20 Pictures or Less by Jen Duncan

A Fixed Flat Fold Roman Shade by Centsational Girl

Another Take on a Roman Shade by Centsational Girl

A Faux Roman Blind by Hodge:Podge

I'm sure that there are plenty more...do you have a favorite or your own tutorial?

Fabric: A Late Pregnancy Depression Fix

2011-03-10T14:44:00.001-05:00

Being 38-weeks-pregnant and the usual complaints associated with being rather large and hormonal, coupled with midterms, has been a poor combination for my sanity and blood pressure. There has been an unusual amount of tears and gelato consumption around our house these days. However, a package from Toronto did quite a bit to cheer me up this morning because it contained this:

That's 12 yards of yummy fabric from one of my favorite Fabric companies: Tonic Living. They are incredibly reasonable, have a fantastic selection, and great customer service. My only complaint is that it takes a while for shipments since they are in Canada; but it is always worth the wait (and really, it's not that slow; I'm probably just impatient).

The fabrics pictured are Sweet William Teal & Bodega in Maize/Linen.

And hopefully these will become window treatments for some very naked windows soon.

I have to thank Jennifer at Rambling Renovators for introducing me to Tonic Living; I absolutely fell in love with her Master Bedroom Curtains (or more specifically, her entire house; you must check it out) and had to have the same fabric when I realized how perfectly it matched our own Master Bedroom. I am not the least bit ashamed of admitting copy-catting; I mean, have you seen how gorgeous they are?!

Have a favorite window treatment tutorial? I'm excited about trying out a few different DIY designs and I'm open to suggestions!

The Breakfast Room: Plate Wall

2011-03-08T10:06:00.001-05:00

The Breakfast room is the room that is first seen when you come into our home, but amidst the master bedroom overhaul and getting ready for the baby, it has been forgotten. I have been collecting plates for a while to hang above the table. Here is what I've gotten so far:

All of the plates accept one are from the Anthropologie clearance section at one time or another (I paid $3.95 a piece; full price they range from $12-$28)

I tried out the Disc plate hangers (Hobby Lobby for $1.99) to secure them to the wall. They are so awesome!

There are still plenty of things I would love to do in this room, but I'd say we've come a long way:

Before

Final Preparations for Baby and The Home Birth Supply List

2011-03-07T09:10:00.001-05:00

We are making headway on the final preparations for baby # 2's arrival. It's a good thing too, since technically, he could be here any day (although I'm not planning on him arriving for a few more weeks!) We've stocked up the pantry, fridge, and freezer, as well as our cleaning supply closet and things like toilet paper:

Dmitri loves to play with the cereal boxes in the pantry.

And we've been cleaning like crazy. Although, it seems that we have a little elf who likes to undo our cleaning as we go. We've had to re-arrange some furniture to prepare for the baby's arrival. We moved our queen size bed into Dmitri's room, and then changed our minds and moved it back into the guest room, which is serving as the "birth room." We will also be setting up a labor/birth pool in there.

Having a home birth requires a bit more preparation than merely pre-registering at the hospital and getting there once labor is underway. It can be a little overwhelming, but it's also a lot of fun to be more involved and prepare for the birth. Luckily, my midwife made it easy for me by giving me a very detailed list of supplies that I need to assemble before my home visit (which is this week!) Here is what that list looks like, just in case you are curious!

Supplies:

-A pre-assembled birth kit from Everythingbirth.com (this has a lot of the medical supplies in it)

For Mom & Baby:
-2 Sets of clean sheets
-8 bath towels
-Clean night gown
-Bathrobe
-Socks for mom
-Baby's 1st oufit
-Newborn diapers
-Receiving blankets

Supplies:
-Two roles of paper towels
-1 box of 13 gal. trashbags
-4 -30 gal. trashbags
-3 painters drop cloths
-2 lg. bowls
-1 flashlight
-Overnight pads
-Lysol Wipes
-Toilet paper
-1 lg. bottle of Floradix Iron Plus Herbs
-small bottle of Olive Oil
-1 package baby wipes
-1 bottle of rubbing alcohol
-Ample heat in birth room
-Car with gas tank at least 1/2 full

Food and Drink
-Light food: yogurt, eggs, toast, frozen grapes, broth, honey, etc.
-2 qt. clear juice
-Quick meals/snacks, coffee, and half/half
-Emergen-C Packs

Ice Options:
-Lots of ice cubes and cold packs
-Ziplocs with crushed ice or gel packs (I made my own "gel packs" by filling freezer bags with water and a little alcohol)

Water birth:
-Pool/tub
-Inflation pump
-Floating thermometer
-Hose
-Sink adapter
-Large pots for heating water
-Small fishnet
-Pool liner

I almost have everything together; I just need to pick up a few more things! = ) It's hard to believe it's almost here; this pregnancy has gone by so quickly. I think being due in the middle of a school semester plus having an active toddler has had a big influence on that. Life isn't slowing down at all for this baby. I'm just hoping that he'll hang in there until after midterms, and then it should be coasting from there.

Of course, there is always an infinite list of things that I would "like" to accomplish before the baby arrives. But I'm having to let go, de-stress, and view any extras as icing on the cake; because really, the baby doesn't care if there are curtains hanging in every room. (There is a hint as to what projects are coming up!)

The Blessingway

2011-03-02T09:27:00.000-05:00

I cannot even begin to share how blessed I have been by your many blessings, beads, encouragement, notes, quotes, poems, and love. I have shed many (happy) tears, and I feel so honored! I will print out all of my sweet messages and keep them near to me during labor. If you are just now checking in, here is info about my virtual blessingway. I wanted to share a few of the beautiful poems & quotes that were shared with me. And thank you so much to everyone who participated and to those who said a silent prayer or sent a positive thought for me. If you would like to add to this, please feel free to leave a note in the comments!

Thank you again; I feel so loved!
Caroline

Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers -strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength. -Barbara Katz Rothman

“Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything.” -William MacNeile Dixon

Ordinary Miracle
by Barbara Kingsolver

I have mourned lost days 
When I accomplished nothing of importance. 
But not lately. 
Lately under the lunar tide 
Of a woman’s ocean, I work
 My own sea-change: 
Turning grains of sand to human eyes. 
I daydream after breakfast 
While the spirit of egg and toast
 Knits together a length of bone 
As fine as a wheatstalk. 
Later, as I postpone weeding the garden 
I will make two hands 
That may tend a hundred gardens.
I need ten full moons exactly
 For keeping the animal promise.
 I offer myself up: unsaintly, but
 Transmuted anyway 
By the most ordinary miracle. 
I am nothing in this world beyond the things one woman does. 
But here are eyes that once were pearls. 
And here is a second chance where there was none.

Willow Tree
Anonymous

I am a willow tree,
Strong, yet fluid

graceful.

I can bend with the wind,
but my roots are tough,

indestructible.

Opening to birth my child
is flowing with the wind:

from a soft and gentle breeze
to a stormy gale
back to a soft and gentle breeze.

My body is strong, but flexible.
It is my friend, it knows how to open.
I am a friend to my body

eating well, walking, and loving myself.

I shall birth safely, freely, openly . . .

among my loved and trusted ones.

I am the willow, flexible

beautiful resilient
endowed with the power of surrender

to the wind rustling through my leaves,

my branches.

My roots reach deep into Mother Earth
Anchored in Her strength
I bring forth life
In joy!

“As women, we are inherently both power-filled and power-full. Each one of us knows on some level that we do have awesome strength at our core.” –from the book Mother Rising

"There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we" - Ina May Gaskin

"Remember this, for it is as true and true gets: Your body is not a lemon. You are not a machine. The Creator is not a careless mechanic. Human female bodies have the same potential to give birth well as aardvarks, lions, rhinoceri, elephants, moose, and water buffalo. Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body."

— Ina May Gaskin (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth)

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~ Rajneesh

Nursery Bookshelves

2011-03-01T09:17:00.002-05:00

We love to read, and our love of books is something that we hope to pass on to our children. It was important to us to create a reading area in the nursery/playroom that was accessible to little minds and fingers! So we crafted floating bookshelves for the room:

We tried to use as much scrap wood as possible for the construction.

A mini Poang chair (a Christmas gift from Dmitri's "Tia")

The view from the entrance

The shelves are constructed out of 1 x 4's and trim, most of which we had leftover from building our bed. David cut the mini-brackets with a jig saw, and we used leftover white paint. The total out of pocket was $6!

This is the first part of the nursery that I feel I can officially say is "finished"! And considering I'm full-term, it's nice to have something complete. Hopefully we might can fit in a few more projects before baby # 2 arrives, but we'll see!

For more nursery posts click here!

I linked up at The Weekend Wrap Up Party!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow....

2011-02-28T09:24:00.001-05:00

There is a rainbow cake...

In the months of February and March, we celebrate 5 birthdays (soon-to-be 6!) in David's family. Every year, we celebrate with a combined birthday extravaganza. This year, I had a lot of fun baking the cake: a six-layered rainbow cake to represent each of the six individuals that have February/March birthdays!

Deborah & Amelia (my sister-in-law & niece) with the cake

The cake started out simply enough: two boxes of white cake mix!

I separated the batter into six bowls and colored it! That was definitely the fun part. This would be a very fun project for teaching kids about mixing colors!

I baked each layer in a 9" pan; let it cool, and then wrapped it in plastic wrap and placed it in the freezer. This made icing the cake so much easier!

A classic white cake (the icing is homemade mascarpone buttercream)

What a surprise to cut into...

I may or may not have eaten a piece for breakfast this morning....Happy Monday!

You're Invited to a Blessingway

2011-02-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

click for larger

I have felt at a loss at points during this pregnancy, wishing that the many of the women whom I consider to be my friends, supporters, and encouragers were not scattered across the States (and some outside of the US), but were nearby to encourage me and celebrate the pending arrival of our baby boy. When I heard that Rixa at Stand and Deliver (a fabulous birth blog) was throwing a "virtual blessingway" I felt like it was the perfect answer to my desire to have a community embrace me and the baby, even if it is "virtual". I would be so honored for any of you who would like to take part in my "blessingway" as I prepare for the birth of baby # 2!

What is a blessingway?

A blessingway is reminiscent of a baby shower, except that it is a time that is focused on affirming and encouraging the mother during such a momentous time as laboring and giving birth. Women gather to share "blessings" for the mother, whether it is a poem, song, art, or word of encouragement. Sometimes each woman will bring a bead to add to a necklace or bracelet for the mother to wear during the labor and to be reminded of the affirmations that she received from the women in her life.

You are welcome to send your virtual "beads" (words of encouragement and affirmation, something positive that you would want to share or remind a laboring mom of) to my email address, thefeministhousewife {at} gmail {dot} com. I will "open your gifts" on March 1st!

Thank you for being such a wonderful source of support and encouragement through this exciting time!

I Survived Doula Training

2011-02-22T08:17:00.000-05:00

Wow. What a weekend!

I am exhausted, overwhelmed, challenged, encouraged, inspired...and so many other things. I openly admit to being a "birth nerd". And spending the weekend with other birth junkies was way too fun! But, it was a lot of work too...I am completely drained, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

I spent 4 hours Friday night, and then from 8:30-6:00 Saturday and Sunday in training to become a Birth Doula with DONA International. I learned so much- from the positions of babies in the uterus to how to keep records for tax purposes, from keeping birth charts to different massage and relaxation techniques, the pros and cons of different pain medications, and all about medical interventions.

If you would like to know more about how to become a Birth Doula, here is the certification process. I have been working towards certification for quite some time now, and attending the training workshop was a big hurdle. I still cannot believe how it all worked out for me to go at the last minute (and at 8 months pregnant!)

The day before the conference was a huge scramble to get all of the laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, homework, packing for a trip, preparing food for the three of us for three days so that we can stick to our one-night-eating-out-a-week-rule, getting the cat taken care of, etc. etc. The day after we returned home (Monday) was a rinse and repeat...catching up on couponing, grocery shopping, dishes, laundry, unpacking, homework, et cetera. I feel like I dropped off of the earth for three days. And honestly, that was wonderful. Even if I am now trying to pick up all of the pieces, completely spent.

This weekend has also really made me realize that I will be graduating this year, and then what?! Getting baby # 2 here has been such a focus (naturally) that it's hard for me to recognize that I'm going to have to start trying to figure out some kind of job soon! (And don't get me wrong, I think being a mom is a full-time job. If only it paid monetarily- sigh).

But, I digress. Let me just catch my breath from this amazing weekend and get this baby here....

An Unexpected Opportunity

2011-02-18T09:24:00.001-05:00

This past week has been a whirlwind as I have been given a very unexpected and last minute opportunity to attend a Doula Training Workshop. The Doula Training Workshop is a full-weekend of training, and is one of the biggest requirements to becoming a birth doula. I have been attempting to attend this workshop for a year and a half, and every attempt has faced a road block. One time, the workshop filled up before I could register, and another time the workshop was canceled at the last minute. I knew about the workshop this weekend, but several months ago, I decided that I could not commit to an intense workshop at 8 months pregnant. I had given up on the hope of attending the workshop before Baby # 2 arrived, and figured maybe I would work it out sometime next year when the baby is older.

However, I received an email at the beginning of the week about this workshop: there were openings AND they were offering scholarships!! We are in a very tight financial position, and there was no way that I could have attended at this point. So I applied for the scholarship and was accepted! (It's a partial scholarship, so we still have to scrape together some money, as well as the added strain of David taking off work). But it made it possible!

I am so excited to spend an entire weekend dedicated to one of my favorite subjects: birth! And I am sure that I will learn so much.

Nonetheless, getting everything together is a little crazy at the moment. But I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end...

Wish me luck!

It's My Birthday and I'll Cry if I want to...

2011-02-16T09:20:00.000-05:00

I never imagined that I would spend my 21st birthday 35 weeks pregnant....with my second child! There will be no partying all night....although the 5-6 trips to the bathroom that I will make seem to indicate that there are more similarities than I thought between how I always envisioned my 21st birthday to go, and how it actually will be. The baby even made sure to give me a birthday gift: new stretchmarks! (I was hoping that the second time around I could skip those...no such luck.)

Despite my cynicism, I am very excited to meet this baby, and to actually celebrate my 21st birthday correctly afterward.

35 weeks

But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I've cried, just a little. Blame it on the hormones.

Nonetheless, my day started out with getting to sleep in till 8 (which never happens), an extra batch of morning kisses from Dmitri, a cup of tea from Starbucks, and I am really looking forward a special date with the husband!

Here's to being 21!!!

A Final Look at 21 Before 21

2011-02-15T08:05:00.000-05:00

In April of 2010, I set 21 goals to achieve before my 21st birthday, which is: tomorrow! You can see all of my 21 before 21 posts by clicking here.

Here is the short version:

1. Bake homemade bread
2. Take a sign language class
3. Read a book just for fun
4. Buy a house
5. Reupholster a piece of furniture (in progress)
6. Plant a garden
7. Make cake icing out of avocados
8. Get an internship
9. Write a pros and cons list for future careers
10. Go on a weekend away
~~11. Perform a random act of kindness~~
12. Build Dmitri a play kitchen (in progress)
~~13. Write a love letter~~
14. Scrapbook from July 2009-July 2010 (in progress)
1~~5. Build a piece of furniture "from scratch"~~
16. Take a practice GRE test (decided against it)
17. Perfect a whole wheat sugar free cookie recipe
18. Create a budget and follow it
19.Face a fear.
20. Blog about it
21. Start a compost

The Final Tally:

Completed:16
In Progress: 3
Aborted: 1
Unrealistic: 1

All in all, I feel pretty good about it.

As fun as it was to have a vision for the year and goals that I wanted to achieve, this next year I think I'm going to change it up a little bit:

Two Before Twenty-Two

1. Give birth to baby # 2
2. Graduate from college

And there you have it.

A Perfectly Real Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T11:42:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, blogger's lives seem so perfect, together, and glamorous. I think everyone is selective when sharing their lives...but sometimes, real life is just too crazy/funny to edit out. Not to mention, if I wanted perfection, I would just watch TV. I had my sweet, idealized Valentine's Day blog post all planned out. But who would want to read that boring thing...

My Perfect Valentine's Day:

Like any perfect housewife, I spent several hours yesterday (dressed in a cute frilly apron over my belly bump, of course) making the Feminist Househusband's favorite dessert: Strawberry cheesecake- to be served with an bubbly organic wine by candlelight tonight. The husband brought me a bouquet of roses before I even got out of bed this morning, along with two bars of dark chocolate, and he scheduled me a pre-natal massage. We shared a quiet morning together, eating breakfast before he goes to classes.

My Real Valentine's Day:

I really did make the Feminist Househusband's favorite dessert: strawberry cheesecake. I have pictures to prove it. What I don't have pictures of is the cheesecake being dumped upside down in the refrigerator (strawberry topping and all) after my 34-weeks-pregnant belly ran into the door while trying to put it in after "staging" my "perfect blog post photo shoot". I also did not take pictures of the mess my kitchen was in while I was baking, like cream cheese all over my giant, uncomfortable baby bump, my swollen feet, or the poop smeared all over a rolling pin courtesy of Dmitri. And there was definitely no apron: just an over-sized t-shirt and sweatpants (since that's about all that fits me these days!)

There really were flowers in bed, but that would be because I woke up at 6 AM with a pounding headache and swollen tonsils and had to call David to come home to take care of Dmitri because I could not get out of bed. I chose a nap over the chocolate.

And to top it all off, I will be showing some love to my teeth this afternoon with a very dreaded dentist appointment (one of my pre-baby to-dos...especially since I haven't been in 3 1/2 years).

Happy Valentine's Day, David! I love you!

Mmmm....I might eat all of it myself.

Sweet flowers.

I'm sure I could top it all off with a few cynical comments about capitalism and card holidays...but instead I think I will say that this Valentine's Day is a perfect representation of our lives.

- Things never go as planned
- Nor are they ever "picture perfect"
- But the trials always bring us together
- And we survive on laughter and love

And thank God, the cheesecake made a surprising recovery and is intact (and you can't really tell that it was dumped upside down).

Now where is that champagne...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Here is the cheesecake recipe..I substituted frozen (thawed) strawberries for fresh raspberries & used lime juice instead of lemon zest!

Dmitri has Two Mommies

2011-02-09T09:18:00.000-05:00

Before we let our minds get away from us, this is not "The Feminist Housewife comes out of the closet" or "The Feminist Housewife's Husband is getting a sex-change"....Although, I am sure those would make for some interesting conversations.

Rather, it's the story of Dmitri and his two mommies. Because you see, Dmitri refuses to have a daddy. He knows who "Daddy" is (although he can't seem to figure out WHY I continue to call him that). No, Dmitri is adamant. David and I are both named "Mama." Or, more like MOMMa. I'm not exactly sure why Dmitri has decided this. I keep thinking it's just a little phase and he'll probably switch back to "Daddy." But this has been going on for a while, several months now.

Neither David nor I are the least bit worried about it. But it is incredibly comical when Dmitri screams "MOMMa" at the top of his lungs and runs to David in the middle of a restaurant...We receive some quizzical looks. I would like to read into it a little more. Maybe it's because Dmitri views us as equal parents, or as the same person, or that he does not distinguish on the basis of gender, but rather on love.

Or maybe he is just a toddler who asserting his own opinion on names. Or, he's just confused. No matter what the reason, as a feminist parent, I cannot help but get a little smirk on my face every time he says "MOMMa".

A Chalkboard for the Nursery Fireplace

2011-02-08T09:02:00.001-05:00

Fireplaces are charming. But when you have six of them, they become a challenge. They take up a lot of space and you can't do too much with them. I wanted to make the large fireplace in the nursery "use-able" (but not in the fire sense..). Now, the fireplace is a fun, creative place for Dmitri to draw with chalk!

The Chalkboard

In the fireplace

The full view

Did I mention what an easy and in-expensive project this was? We had everything on hand, except for an extra piece of trim. With the purchase of the trim, the total cost ended up being about $5.

Materials:

-Chalkboard paint

-A piece of plywood cut to the size of opening

-Trim for the edges of the plywood

-Black paint

-Sander/sand paper

-Hammer/finishing nails

-Saw

How we did it:

1. Cut a piece of plywood to the size of the opening (the nice people at Lowe's did this for us)

2. Cut the trim to fit the edges using a miter saw (or box)

3. Sand the plywood

4. Paint the plywood with chalkboard paint

5. Nail the trim into the plywood with finishing nails

5. Paint the trim (I used some black paint that I had leftover from another project. You could use chalkboard paint if you wanted).

6.Sit in fireplace. Our fireplace was already sealed up, and we secured the chalkboard using the nail-less picture hangers.

7.: HAVE FUN WITH CHALK! = )

The mantle still needs some love...but it's wonderful to be making progress on the "Nursery-Playroom."

I linked up at A Chalkboard Party @ Sixty-Fifth Ave!

To write, or not to write: a birth plan

2011-02-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

For Dmitri's birth (click for story), I was very ready. I had read all of the books, I had watched the natural birth videos, we took a natural birth class...Of course, the labor and birth were intense (it's called labor for a reason!), but everything went remarkably well. And like any birth, there were a few unexpected bumps a long the way. But for the most part, I felt that I did everything it my power to get the birth that I wanted, and that's the best that I can do!

Now I'm about to give labor and birth a second go, and I want things to go a little differently than the first time. One thing that I am doing differently is the birth plan. Surprisingly, I did not write one when I was pregnant with Dmitri. But this time around, I am putting it all down on paper. David and I sat down and worked on it together for a couple hours. I think it really helped to clear our heads, made us think through everything to make sure nothing was forgotten in our preparation, and it ensured that we were on the same page.

A few things that we included were:

-Childcare Plan of Action
-Who to Call & When
-A "Once Labor has Begun" To-Do List
-Specific Requests About the Birth (like positions I do/do not want to be in; Cord-cutting; and David would like to catch the baby, etc)
-Who to Call Once Baby has Arrived
-Visitors Protocol (Who Can Come and When, etc.)

Did you write a birth plan or would you consider writing one? Why/why not?

Chug-a-chug-a-chug

2011-02-04T08:33:00.000-05:00

Our most recent completed project was not so much a decorating project (although, we did take design into consideration) but building a giant toy for Dmitri. Dmitri is obsessed with trains. Honestly, I was not expecting this to happen until he was a bit older. But ever since we took him to the Barnes and Noble's children's section, he has loved playing with trains and saying "choo choo!" He enjoys reading books about trains, and he especially liked last week's family yoga class, which was appropriately train-themed.

We try to keep Christmas gifts simple and keep the focus on other parts of celebrating the holiday, but we wanted him to have one special present from us: a train set. After hours of researching different sets, I decided on the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set (which I got for a steal on Amazon- well over 50% off retail which is $129.99). I was more excited than a 33-weeks-pregnant-lady-in-a-cupcake-shop when it arrived (and I would know). I had hoped to set it up while he was sleeping on Christmas Eve. But since we did not arrive home from our crazy-visit-every-family-member-within-driving-distance-that-we-can tour until 1 AM Christmas morning, we ended up waiting till nap time. One of the wonderful things about toddlers: they have little expectations on Christmas- just pure happiness! David and I put together the train set while he was napping, and Dmitri woke up just as excited to see the "choo choo"!

And then, it happened. Dmitri, like Godzilla in Hong Kong wiped out the train set. Epic fail on the part of the parents. Of course a 17-month-old will knock over and destroy the carefully assembled track! Little did I think about the fact that the Barnes and Noble track was industrial screwed and Gorilla-glued to a table. In fear of losing the pieces, I packed up the train set, majorly bummed.

I researched train tables and ways to secure train tracks, but we did not have the money to spend on an expensive table, nor did I like how cheap most of them looked. So my brilliant husband designed and built his own train table for a fraction of the cost (and I think it's pretty damn-good-looking too!)

Here it is in the BOYS' playroom/nursery:

But I have to be honest, it was really difficult to get a picture, because there was a lot of this going on:

We still have some major re-arranging to do in the nursery, so it won't be as cramped when we are finished. Look forward to several more nursery projects next week. I'm feeling the need to finish it up before baby # 2's due date gets any closer. Ack.

Double Trouble, Double D's, Double Strollers...

2011-02-02T08:28:00.000-05:00

Sorry, this post isn't about boobs. Or should I say, "You're welcome." Although, I guess boobs could be considered a part of "baby gear"....

I would definitely consider us to be minimalists when it comes to accumulating baby gear. Especially when Dmitri was born, we lived in a small one bedroom apartment and had very little room for anything other than the bare essentials. (And do babies really need anything other than food, clothes, and diapers?). With doubling our offspring, we definitely do not want to double the amount of things that we have. Already having one child means that we already have some of the essentials. But, I have been shocked by how much we still have had to purchase and how much adding a second child costs! It definitely is not as simple as just re-using everything- especially since they will be close in age. So, we have been trying to stay true to our minimalist approach, while saving as much money as possible, and still get what we need for Baby Deux.

What we decided are essential:

Car Seat. The expression "duh" came out of my mouth faster than a seventh grader from the 90's...We decided to go with an infant car seat this time around (We skipped that with Dmitri). The Graco 35 Snugride to be exact, because it had the highest safety ratings. I was able to score a good deal at Babies 'R Us with a coupon. Here it is.

Diapers. Our current set of cloth diapers are still in use by Dmitri, so we needed to grow our collection. We use Fuzzibunz Perfect Size diapers (mostly) And you can read all about them here. We will use disposables for the first couple weeks (unless the baby is over 8 lbs.) and then switch to cloth once they fit him. Since I'm all about re-using and recycling while saving money, I bought ours off of eBay and from a local mama (some never used, and others very gently used).

Double stroller. Since we became pregnant, I have argued with myself over whether we really need one of these monstrosities. They are so enormous and cumbersome and embarrassing. I finally decided that there is just no way I can carry two under two everywhere, or even push one and carry one. So, I thought I would get the smallest, lightest weight double stroller possible. I researched strollers for months and months. (And plagued my poor sister-in-law with the pros and cons of each and every one). My first choice was the Baby Jogger City Select. I liked the versatility of it, but the price tag? Not so much. Even if we had the money, I do not see how I could justify spending that much on a stroller. So I kept looking. The Baby Jogger City Mini Double was a top contender (and I was looking at purchasing one via eBay at a discount). Another option was the Graco Quattro Tour Duo, which was less expensive and top-rated by third party consumer report, but I was worried about it being too heavy. I made a stop at Babies 'R Us to buy some baby wipes, and decided to take a few of the strollers for a test ride to see if that made the decision anymore clear. After a quick tour around the store, I could not deny it any longer. The one that I liked was the BIGGEST ASS STROLLER I've ever seen. It's like pushing an Expedition down the sidewalk...and it has 6 cup holders, and huge storage compartment, and it is compatible with our infant car seat (no extra parts needed!). And it clocks in at a very sturdy 40 lbs.

I ordered it off of Amazon greatly discounted from Babies 'R Us' prices. It arrived, and Dmitri and I assembled it. We have been "test-driving" it around the house thanks to the nasty weather, and all four of us love it. I'm looking forward to some Spring weather and a yummy newborn to really try it out.

Those were our top three essentials that we purchased. We have a longer list of things that "would be nice", like:

~~-Baby Bjorn Organic Carrier~~
- Ergo Baby Carrier (Thanks for all of the opinions and recommendations!)
-A Glider
-A Crib (...and Mattress)
-Monitor

What are your "essentials" that you just can't live without?! Any items that you regret buying or wish that you had?

The Nightstand Addition: Or the table that Goodwill would not even want

2011-01-31T08:27:00.000-05:00

As we've been pulling our master bedroom together, I've been looking around for a nightstand to sit beside our bed. (When we were sleeping on the floor, we had no use for a nightstand. Haha!) But, a new nightstand was not in the budget right now (nor was it the highest on our priority list), so I had resigned myself to lustfully imagining being able to turn the bedroom lamp on and off without even getting up (at 32.5 weeks pregnant and averaging 4 bathroom trips/night, with excruciating round ligament pain, I hate getting up unnecessarily). Until I took a look around our living room, and there it was: the almost-perfect little nightstand.

Where did it come from and why was it sitting in our living room? Well, my manager, when I worked at a gift shop in downtown Athens, found it in the dumpster behind the store and gave it to me. It started out yellow and I painted it off-white, and used it as a little table in our living room in our former apartment. However, our incredibly destructive yellow Labrador chewed parts of it up, so we planned to get rid of it. But we never had.

And that brings us back to it sitting in the living room, waiting to be taken to Goodwill (or the wood pile...since Goodwill would probably not take it. Have you ever been refused by Goodwill? That's embarrassing...). David took the table and cut off the chewed up parts with our jig saw. He proceeded to cut a new piece of wood out of scraps to replace the old chewed up piece, and attached it using wood glue, nails, and then wood filler. I knocked off the old wooden handles and filled in the holes. And then it got a good dose of green spray paint (the same paint that we used for my shelves).We added a cute little Anthropologie-esque knob that we already had from a collection of mismatched knobs that we were sampling for our kitchen. And now for some photos because that's what really matters:

Keeping it simple

A wider shot

With the fur

And that is the story of how we got a nightstand for our room for free.

Sources & Costs

Nightstand: Dumpster, then Living Room: Free

High Gloss Spray paint: Lowe's: $4

Lamp: Target: Already owned

Picture Frame: Target: Already owned

Knob: Hobby Lobby: Already owned (However, they only cost about $2!)

Total: A whopping $4....I spend more on the Sunday paper than that!

I linked up at Show Me What You Got!