Stephan's Shadow

"Can I help you?  Can I help you? I a biiiiiiiig helper!!!  Watcha doin'?  Watcha doin'?  Watcha doin'?   Watcha doin'?" ~Levi

During Stephan's days off this week the 'watcha doins' never ended.  Stephan , however, was endlessly patient with the munchkin....even when his "biiiiig helper" freaked out over getting glue on his feet.....oh, the injustices of life.  "I STICKY!!!!  I STICKY!!!!!" followed by sobs and a very strange manner of walking until a wipe was brought to the rescue.

A Little Saturday Rambling

Just a few things:

You'll be glad to know that you don't have to sit through another one of these posts for a while.  Due to some scheduling conflicts at work, Levi's dad won't be able to take him for the second two weeks of summer visitation.

Breathing is oh so nice.

Levi's dad did get to take him for the past couple of days, and I've been trying to fit a very long to do list into that time.  I've worked my tail off, y'all, and I have the burning thighs to prove it.  I've painted furniture....lots of furniture.  I'm on my 5th coat of paint with this one.  Agh....it still needs more!

(I've also painted two dressers, partially sanded another side table, and attempted to paint a stool before

realizing that I had forgotten to sand the darn thing!)

And, I've cleaned other furniture given to us by a friend....lots of cleaning....oh, so worth it.  Love this chair!  Now if I could just pick a fabric for a cushion (the second fabric is actually a really pretty blue, but it doesn't look it in any pics)....

(Not pictured are an old vanity and side table that with a little elbow grease turned out gorgeous!)

Of course, I've run errands because it doesn't seem to be possible to actually have all of the supplies on hand when I start a project....no matter how much advance planning I've done.  And, I've started going through Levi's old baby things.  Oh, and the baby room....it's floor, walls, and ceiling are complete.  Yay!  We've even got a piece of furniture in there....

(Not sure what's up with the way the colors are registering.  They look better in person.)

On Monday, the uber ugly and old carpet in my living room is going to be sitting on the curb, and on Tuesday, we should have lovely wood floors in it's place.  I am so excited.  Thanks in advance to my fabulous hubby! 

The downside to all of this progress is realizing that no matter how much gets knocked off of the to do list it is still daunting in its giganticness.  Do renovations ever end?

Last but certainly not least, as of today there are eight weeks till my due date!  Is anyone else freaking out, because I might be....just a little. 

Levi is coming home today!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There aren't enough exclamation points in the western hemisphere to convey how happy I am.  In the meantime we are Stephan is working like crazy to finish up a few projects before the little man's arrival.  Once, I get my act together (i.e. my leg stops hurting from this morning's not so charming wake up call....a stinkin' awful leg cramp), I'll be joining him.  Thanks to my incredible husband (who amazingly still thinks I'm wonderful despite my moments of doubting his flooring skills) our house is really-o-truly-o looking like a home....like our home! 

Oh, and before I go off to finish up housework, I wanted to share a little conversation with you.  It went something like this:

Me: Do you like the name Leo?
Stephan: That could be okay.  I don't know.  I think it's gonna be a girl anyway, so it doesn't really matter.
Me: Um, you know if a boy pops out we're going to have to name him.
....Stephan....shrugs shoulders.

This, my friends, is why we have yet to pick out a boy name. 

P.S. My presence might be a bit spotty over the next couple of weeks due to all the doting I'll be doing over my little fella.  :-)

Reno Update

This is the only pre-reno photo I could find of Levi's room.  Notice the large brown thing next to the window.  The previous owners apparently thought it was a great idea to place adhesive cork squares directly to the wall.  In case you too think this is a good idea...don't do it.  They won't come off without doing some pretty awful damage.  Also, those faux Tiffany light covers were all over this house.  And, you probably can't tell by the picture, but popcorn ceilings were also in every room.

This is Levi's new (and much improved) room.  The ceilings are now flat.  The paint color is actually almost identical to what was in his room at our old house, and those pictures above the bed are the ones I blogged about here.  And, of course, the very, very, very old carpet has been replaced with beautiful wood floors.  Thank you, Stephan!!  Just ignore the lack of pillows on the bed.  Levi doesn't sleep in that bed anyway, and I can't find the spare pillows....

My mom painted the cork, and we trimmed it out with lattice strips.  We have plans to attach a large chalkboard to the bottom half and hang some of Levi's framed art on the top half.  Also, the curtain is just temporary.  I have some super cute fabric waiting to add a little more personality to that window...

Excuse the junky closet.  Levi's is one of two closets that can currently be gotten to.  It will look much spiffier once we get some more functioning closets in the house.  The doors will not, however, be going back on.
Oh, and the cube shelves are awesome.  The piece of furniture that used to hold Levi's toys is being moved to the baby's room to hold diapers and such, so we were left with zero toy storage.  This is probably the first new furniture I've bought in 10 years.  I searched and searched for something second hand, but no luck.  We ran across this on one of our 5 million trips to Lowe's, and I'm so very glad...

It makes me happy that this little fella now has a home.  I gave him to Levi for his first birthday....

And, this is my oh, so wonderful sewing room.  Obviously it still needs some work....for instance that poor dresser needs its knobs put back on.  More furniture needs to be moved in, and some of the stuff that's currently taken up residence (like those metal shelves) needs to move out....but, I still smile every time I walk into it...

Stephan's got a little extra time off this week, so he'll be tackling the floor in the baby's room.  I'll be moving stuff around, cleaning, and sorting.  I'm kind of getting into this now.  I think it's the whole nesting thing.  I even cleaned and organized our storage rooms yesterday, because I decided it absolutely had to be done that very day.  If it hadn't been so dang skippy hot outside, the carport would have been next on my list.

Weekend Loves

A few things that made me smile, made me think, and made me go "Oooo...I want one!"....

: : If I had some spare cash right now, I'd buy these and these.  Don't they look adorable and oh, so comfy?!!

: : Sarah wrote a comment on Thursday's post that has me seriously considering buying a pair of goggles.  I'd love to see Levi's reaction if I took her advice:

"Also I'm with you don't stress too badly about the spitting just wear goggles."

 

: : Leanne mentioned The Future of Food on her recent post.  I can't wait to watch it on Hulu.  Actually, it's on my to do list for today.

: : While we're on the subject of food documentaries, Stephan talked me into watching Super Size Me the other day.  Eeeeewwwww, gross!  I know I'm probably the last person on the planet to watch this.  Since I'm not really a fast food gal, I didn't think there was any urgency in seeing it.  But, I'm glad I did. 

: : I really want to make one of these.  I'm not sure if it's more for my own entertainment or for Levi's.  They just look so very squishable and fun.

: : Don't y'all agree that I need to crochet this bag?  It would be so cute to take along to the farmer's market.....right along with all of the other bags I've made for the farmer's market.  Okay, so maybe 'need' is a strong word for this one.

: : I mentioned wanting to print these and frame them, but I changed my mind.  I printed this, this, and this instead.  They are three of Levi's favorite animals, and oh, my, they look so stinkin' cute hanging on his wall!

: : The thing that's making me smile the most this week (other than Levi's homecoming being so much closer now!) is that my house actually looks and feels nearly inhabitable.  My mother has been over here for days helping me move furniture, organize, paint, etc.  Levi's room is finished except for the curtain.  My sewing room is in working order which means I no longer have to climb over stuff to get to my beloved sewing machine.  And, y'all, my living room is usable for the first time in months.  It just feels so good.  The end of renovations is still far away, but at least it's becoming more and more visible with each passing day.

What We've Been Up To

I should probably point out the inaccuracy of that title.  This should be "What Stephan's Been Up To".  And, the answer is....a whole lotta work.

This was Levi's room a few days ago...

It now has a completed and quite beautiful wood floor. Photos to come. My mom is on her way over to help me move furniture into it!! I can't wait!

This was my sewing room as of a couple of days ago....

Stephan is nearly finished with the floor in it.  And, then my sewing machine will have a home...one where I don't have to wade through boxes and piles of furniture to get to it.  Yay!

This next one is the baby's "room".  It's currently holding enough wood flooring to cover nearly our whole house.  Once the furniture for the above two rooms makes it's way out of our living room, these boxes will take it's place, so Stephan can put the floor down in this room.  What this room actually becomes will be determined by the boy or girl status of the new bambino. If it's a boy, this room will just be a holding zone for clothes and diapers and something of a playroom.  Eventually, he and Levi will share a bedroom....you know, if they ever move out of our bed!  If it's a girl, this room will become a girl's bedroom.

And, this is our hallway....most of our house actually has this same look going for it right now....we call it the 'stirred with a stick' look...

Well, I'm off.  My mom should be here soon.  Wish us luck while we tame the mess and organize the chaos. 

P.S. I get to see Levi this afternoon!  :-)  It's gonna be a good day.

Sweet Dreams: Renovation Style

Oh. My.

We're renovating.
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Sarah from Pea Pilly Bean recently described moving rooms as being "a bit like placing all members of the family in a blender and pressing ON." 
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That is exactly how I feel.  We've pressed ON, people, and now I can't seem to find the OFF button.

Luckily for us, my uncle is in town for the week.  He is an awesome and generous fella who has decided to bless us with his incredible handyman abilities.  I wish I could show you my new bedroom floor because it is looking truly fabulous.  However, in all the moving and renovating I can't find the little gadget that goes into the computer and loads your pictures onto your computer.  Yeah, I should at least know the name of the little gadget, but I don't.  That makes buying one online a tad difficult.  And, since I am without a car for at least another week, then this blog will be pictureless for a while. 

Sigh. 

I am so looking forward to having at least one room finished.

Note to those of you considering renovations...be organized.  Don't attack the entire house at once.  One room at a time is much, much smarter.  Ah, well, live and learn.

P.S.  If you want a good laugh, imagine me at Best Buy explaining what "gadget" I need.  I'm sure I'll have them rolling their eyes all the way back in their heads as I "describe" what I need.