Happy weekend:

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Happy weekend, friends! We survived another week! I know most of my weekend posts sound like I just survived a cataclysmic event but these days, by the time Friday rolls around, it sure feels like it! This week is no exception. We are trying to break M of his swaddle since he is 8 months old now and still needs to be wrapped up at night. Let's just say he does not approve. It's been a week of rough bed times and middle of the night crying sessions. Consequently, we are exhausted. I feel a bit like I'm running on empty these days. I know it will get easier but until then, I'm in survival mode.

This weekend we hope to wrap up what's left of our painting and catch up on sleep. Maybe I will work in the yard. That's it. I can't commit to anything more than that.

Here's what's going on around here lately:

1. Andrew got me a serger for my birthday and I have been practicing with it. The thing intimidates me for some reason, so I'm taking it slow. We're getting to know each other.
2. We got this for spraying out M's diapers and it has made a world of difference! I don't know how we ever lived without it.
3. I started working on getting my abs back post-baby and it has been insanely hard. I never knew my stomach muscles could hurt to badly.
4. M has started saying "mamamama" and it is the cutest thing. I like to think he's saying my name (even though he's really not) and it melts my heart.
5. M turned 8 months old this week! Can you believe it? It feels like it happened so quickly.

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

New reads:

This week I'm reading The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Like the book, I'm going to make this short and sweet. 

It's about a guy who I'm pretty sure has Asperger's Syndrome. He's very smart and very methodical but just a little socially lacking. He's made rules to help him deal with life and up until the beginning of the novel, it worked very well for him. He decides though that he'd like to get married but every women he's ever met is lacking the missing the qualities he's after. So, he invents a survey in order to weed out the unlikelies and find his perfect "candidate". By accident he meets a woman who is the complete opposite of what he looking for and through helping her with a project of her own, realizes that he may have been wrong to make such strict requirements when it comes to love.

It's cute, it's short, it's predictable. I probably would never have picked it up on my own but it was this month's book club selection. I'm glad I did. I found it enjoyable.

It's also #4 (a book your friend loves) on my list of books to read in 2015. You can read more about that challenge here.

New music:

Deathcab for Cutie, one of my favorites, has a new album coming out soon and just released their first single. It's different, probably due in part to Chris Walla's absence, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm keeping an open mind and giving it the chance it deserves.

What about you? Any thoughts on this new sound for DCFC?

Happy weekend:

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Happy Friday, friends! I am so glad the weekend is finally here! A long weekend always makes the work week seem so much longer and this week has felt exceptionally long.

What are you doing this weekend? Anything fun? We are planning on having a date night! I can't remember the last time we went on a real date outside of our house. I'm excited! We also have more painting (boo) to do and some serious baby snuggling to take care of.

Have a great one and stay warm out there!

Happy weekend:

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Thank goodness it's Friday! This week has felt ridiculously long -- like the universe was playing some kind of sick joke on me. You know those weeks where you just can't seem to get it together? Or, maybe you just don't really even feel like trying? The biggest accomplishment you can muster is getting out of bed every morning (and not even on time). This week was that kind of week. I've been staying up late every night trying to finish a baby blanket for a friend's shower this weekend and I have been exhausted every morning because of it. I've turned up the intensity on my workouts in order to get something that resembles abs back and consequently have been dealing with a sore body on top of everything else. And M has been improving in the solids-eating department so I'm ready for these night wakings/feedings to go away.

Enough complaining though. It could be worse. And I am thankful for the weekend, even if all it means is that I get a few extra naps and snuggles with a babe. I'll take it.

I have a Monday off (hooray for state holidays!) so this is a three-day weekend for me. I'm looking forward to getting some things done around the house, extra family time, and a short week next week.

Have a great one, friends!

Happy weekend:

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Happy Friday! Doesn't the week after a long break always seem particularly long and grueling? I am glad to see it over.

What are you doing this weekend? Anything fun planned? We are having breakfast at one of our favorite places in Argenta this weekend and I have been thinking about it all week. I'm getting the french toast! No, breakfast taco! No, wait, french toast! I can't seem to make up my mind; it's all so delicious. We're also hoping to tackle the last bit of painting that we have left. I can't wait to declare our bookshelves complete and share them with the world.

It's despairingly cold outside so do yourself a favor and stay in, cuddled up in blankets on the couch. And if you do have to get out there, bundle up and stay warm!

Have a great one, everyone!

While you were sleeping:

As part of our first Christmas in our new home and M's first Christmas ever, we all needed new Christmas stockings. So, I made some, naturally. I picked out fabric (see here) but when it came in, I didn't like the fabric for Andrew's stocking. It was weird and metallic so I went in search of a different option. After scouring the internet and local stores, I picked out a different plaid (actually apparel fabric) and after getting A's stamp of approval, I got to work.

I laid out the fabric and mapped it all out. I borrowed my mom's stocking pattern (all of our family's stockings are made using it) and gathered the rest of my supplies.

I cut pieces out of each coordinating fabric and the batting, which I used to give them a little weight.

I did the same with the cuff, sewed the ends of each side together to make rings, put the right sides of both pieces together, and sewed it up (while drinking tea, as you can see in the photo above). Then all I had to do was turn it right side out and bam, cuffs were done.

Then I basted and sewed together both the outside and the inside. I put the lining inside, added the finished cuff, and sewed around the top. Then I just flipped the cuff over and it was finished.

I brought the finished stockings to a friend to have them embroidered since I don't have a machine that does embroidery. They turned out lovely and were a hit come Christmas morning! I am looking forward to incorporating these into our Christmas traditions and seeing them hang on the mantle for many years to come.

Resolutions:

It's that time of year again: when we reflect on the year past and focus on our goals for the coming year. Ready? Here we go...

How we did: Done! On May 29th at 2:55 am, our lives changed forever (see here and here).

How we did: Not only did this not happen, it was sort of the opposite. After my c-section, I had such a hard time getting back into exercising. And then I had a hard time finding the time to get out there. And then my running partners sort of dropped away. Just a bad combination of things really led to me taking a hiatus from running. I think I was a little too enthusiastic in my goal. Instead, my goal should have been just to get back out there, period. 

How we did: Done! Finally! This one was such a long time coming, it felt so good to finally see it happen. Read more about it here.

How we did: Okay, so I didn't really actually upholster anything this year. But I did purchase and read a book about it. So, in theory, I feel like I could do it. Does that count?

Okay, see my declarations for 2015 after the jump.

Happy weekend:

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Happy Friday, everyone! It's the first weekend of the new year! What are you doing? We are celebrating my nephew's birthday tomorrow. He is going to be 13! 13! Can you believe it? I blinked and he is a teenager. Unfathomable.

Here's a little of what we've been up to:

1. Our built-in bookshelves finally got installed and we've spent pretty much every free second painting them. Not quite done yet but almost! Hopefully we can knock them out this weekend. 
2. Tillie had her seventh birthday this week. We celebrated with peanut butter puppy cupcakes and lots of snuggles. 
3. We've been enjoying the time off, spending time with family, catching up on sleep, eating delicious food, and playing new board games.
4. We got our new couch! Things are finally starting to come together.
5. X

Have a great weekend! Stay dry and warm!

New year:

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Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your New Year's Eve celebration was just what you wanted it to be. We snuggled a baby, put him to bed, watching a movie, and went to bed early. Definitely my idea of a good time.

We're home today celebration the seventh birthday of a certain special little lady. Puppy cupcakes! Hooray!

Have a great one! Enjoy your first day of 2015!