6 weeks

So, it seems that our little babe will be here around August 23rd, 2011. A summer baby, just like I'd hoped for!

After asking my mom a bajillion questions, (and friends/anyone else who has pushed something out of their hoo-ha) and getting a bunch of "Hmm... I can't remember!" responses, I decided I wanted to blog my journey through this pregnancy. I want to be able to read these posts a year from now and remember where I was, where we were, in our lives. I want to remember the nausea, the sore boobs, the bloated tummy...

I want to capture it all in this little time capsule of mine and when the time comes to open it again I want to feel like I'm right back in this moment... Full of love, hope, and amazement at the little life we created, the soul I'll give birth to.

In addition to random blogs about the typical pregnancy stuff (I have no idea what typical is yet, just go with me), I'm going to do weekly a pregnancy survey at the beginning of each week to re-cap how I've been feeling and how my body is changing, and I'm going to bite the bullet and include belly pics, too.

Here we go!

How Far Along: 6 weeks!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm the same, haven't made a change in either direction, which I'm okay with so far :)

How big is baby: The size of a lentil :)

Stretch Marks: No thanks! Too soon for stretchies.

Maternity Clothes: Nope, still in my regular clothes.

Sleep: Meh, not too bad. Getting up a couple times a night to pee, and I've been really restless. It's hard for me to stay asleep lately, even though I'm exhausted.

Gender: Too early to tell, but we can't wait to find out!

Movement: Too early for this, too.

Food Cravings/Aversions: Haven't had any cravings at all. I gave up Diet Coke the day I found out I was pregnant,  but I tried to ease some nausea with one on Sunday because that always worked before, and it SO did not work. Made me wanna hurl. Guess Baby Nesbit doesn't take after mama in being a Diet Coke addict.

Belly Button: Still an innie, and I still have my belly button ring in.

Symptoms: Slight nausea, sore boobs, and bloating.

What I miss: Diet coke.

Looking forward to: Our 8 week appointment on January 13th!

Best Moment this week: Finding out we were actually having a baby! Because I'm so anal I called my doctor and had her order a blood test so we would know for sure. When we found out, I was at The Hubster's work. No one else was there, and we had been waiting on pins and needles to find out. I talked with the advice nurse who told me it was positive, my hcg level was a 92 :) Once I got off the phone, I told him "We're having a baby!" What followed was one of the most joyous, emotional, and loving moments I've had with him. It makes me tear up to think about it...

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week: It has to be when I told him!

On Black Friday I went shopping late in the day and managed to pick up a few things for stocking stuffers. On a whim, I grabbed a copy of "Knocked Up" for $1.99, because I thought it would be a funny way to tell The Hubster. Little did I know, I was probably knocked up at the time!

So fast forward to last Wednesday, I got my 2nd and more intense positive test and decided it wasn't a fluke. I grabbed the DVD and the pregnancy test and walked out to the living room where he was watching tv. I said, "I have a Christmas present that I really can't wait to give to you". I sat down on his lap and showed him what I was hiding. Instantly he said "Really?! You're really pregnant?!" with tears in his eyes.

As quickly as that happened he said "Hold on!" and took off to our bedroom. He comes back out with a pack of pacifiers in his hand, which he had planned on putting in my stocking to say we should have a baby.

Looks like I beat him to the punch :)

This still feels so surreal, I can't believe we're going to be parents!


Weekly Belly Pics:



6 weeks




6 weeks bare belly!



Christmas!

Christmas is probably one of my most favorite holidays.

I love the food of this season. Oh god do I love the food. I'm a firm believer that many a heart can be mended, and many a tear dried, with the help of divine treats shared at this time of year. They are created with so much love, deliciously warming and like a hug from your favorite friend, that turning them down would be doing oneself a great disservice. The simple act of scarfing nibbling the treats is therapy enough in my book.

I also love the energy this time of year brings. There is something both energizing and comforting in the hustle and bustle that happens the closer you get to Christmas. Parking lots become obnoxious, lines snake around stores where no one knows where it ends, kids line up to see Santa... Everyone is in a hurry, it seems, but the energy they give off fuels me, too.

Most of all, I love the decorations.

This year I couldn't help myself. I had our tree up the weekend before thanksgiving. No embarrassment or apologies for it, I LOVE how my house looks with a tree all twinkly and the rest of the lights dim. So, why am I just now blogging about it, the week of Christmas? Aside from life being insanely busy and chaotic right now, that's just how I roll.

Anyhoodles, here we go!

When you first come into our home, you'll see our wreath on our front door. Since we have a mudroom outside of our front door, our wreath is protected from the wind and rain the northwest is notorious for this time of year. Which is a good thing, this poor gal is pretty cheap... I made her myself by stuffing some sparkly stuff in and clipping on a flower. DIY on the fly!



Then we have our stockings. I really wish we had a mantle in our home. I don't even care about having a fire place (although, that would be nice too), I just really really want a mantle to decorate year round. Instead, our stockings are hung around a window. They were on a window ledge, but Chubbs kept knocking them down with his Tail of Mass Destruction. Still, I love them.

But my most favorite Christmas decoration is, obviously, my tree! This year we went with a turquoise and red theme, with some white and silver thrown in to balance it out a bit. I really love this color combination and am glad I went with it!

Here are some closer pictures of the details on our tree. I can't wait to add more ornaments as our life together grows.

 

Chloe's homemade ornament



Chubbs' homemade ornament



I loved this reindeer ornament the minute I saw it. And it was only $1!



I bought the Empire State Building ornament when I was living in NYC. Every time I see it, I smile.

 

I love the texture our tree has this year. The glitter and white berries make me feel all glowy.



I thought the key was too cute to pass up! Also, only $1.

And our topper... I've never been one for the froofy-ness of angels, but I love me a good star...

Well, there you have it. Now, to wrap all the presents! I have done all my shopping but zero wrapping, plus I have some homemade gifts I'm working on (ahem... haven't started yet), so I need to get my tush in gear.

Happy Holidays!



There Ain't Nothing Sweet About 'Em

This winter, so far, hasn't been too bad in the Pacific Northwest. We even got a little bit of snow in November! But up until now it has all been par for the course.

Unless you live in our tiny little home on I Street... We've been having a heck of a time dealing with a small problem, and it's gradually turning out to be a bigger problem. The culprit? These guys:



F*cking Sugar Ants

These little buggers have been popping up everywhere. No matter how many times we've wiped everything down with vinegar AND bleach, they still return. And not just a couple here and there either, they're showing up in full army gear, marching their way across my kitchen and grossing us all the eff out. So now whenever I'm cooking or baking something I get all neurotic about things and wash and rinse each item I'm using, just to be sure none of the ants have left their grubby little foot prints that could get into our food. Gross, right?

But now it's crossed a new line. These little f*ckers have invaded my dreams. Yes, you read that right. I spent the majority of the night last night tossing and turning, with visions of sugar ants marching all over us in our sleep. Every little tickle or itch that needed scratched was instantly amplified and I was certain I'd wake up to discover it was no longer a dream, but a freaking reality. I was seriously losing it, guys, and I got ZERO sleep because of it.

So now? I declare war. WAR, I tell you! I refuse to lose anymore sleep over these tiny, gross bugs. They may have me cornered based on the sheer number of troops they have, but I will outsmart them and win this battle, mark my words.

Any suggestions on how I could send them packing and waving their little white flag of surrender? Send them my way if you do, I'm desperate!

It Smells Like Fall

Each year, without fail, fall comes traipsing through the pacific northwest and brings upon us wind & rain, cold, short days, and long, dark nights.  Our little corner of the world is suddenly transformed and we realize that we'll soon be losing the blessed sunshine that we don't get enough of, and taking it's place are grey skies, blustery days, and excuses for baking!

Those close to me know that baking is one of my favorite things to do, and I will often be found lovingly whipping something up in my handy-dandy Kitchenaid mixer at the mere whisper of the need for warmth and comfort. Lately it's been a lot of things pumpkin, because really, who doesn't like pumpkin stuffs this time of year? Some of the things I've made (and not all pumpkin) include:

• Pumpkin Granola
• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Banana Bread
• Individual Berry Pies
• Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
• Party Cookies

I've been a busy girl! Baking delicious goodies and sharing them with those I love is one of my favorite pastimes. I put so much love (and butter, and sugar...) into my baking projects, I simply can't keep them all to myself. Plus, homemade baked goods put a smile on the face of most people, right?

When the Kitchenaid is in hibernation and the stove cool to the touch, I still like my house to smell like it's recently been baked in. The aromas of cinnamon, butter, vanilla, pumpkin... Nothing makes a house feel warmer to me than the cozy, yummy smell that goes along with cozy, yummy goodies we shovel into our mouths. So what to do when there is no baking project on the horizon?

I light a candle!

Recently I found these deliciously scented wax bricks at Wal.Mart, and after opening each one and taking a slight sniff (don't sniff too big, some of those smells will burn your sinuses, it seems!) I have found one I'm in L-O-V-E with.


Smells perfectly like fall, to me.

You break apart the little cubes, drop them in a wax warmer (we use an oil warmer with a tea light, which works perfectly!), sit back and enjoy! The aroma of those apples and oranges, along with the spicy richness of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, gently nudges me toward the couch, covers me with a blanket, and softly blows on the steamy hot chocolate in my mug, all the while warming up my home and my soul.

So when time is short, or you don't have the energy to whip up something yummy but you still want your house to smell good, drop some of these little cuties into your lives and snuggle on down.

I promise, it's almost as good as the real thing.





Couch Hunting!

We've been in our home now for over a year, and in that time we have been using the same second-hand, we-got-it-for-free, it's-seen-better-days "couch" that was gifted to us. We are extremely thankful that we had it, it definitely served it's purpose, but we will not be sad to see it go. Here it is:



It's actually a love seat, and not even long enough for me to stretch out on.

It's leather, which is helpful in that dog hair is easily wiped off, but not so fun in the fact that it is extremely hard to get comfy on this sofa. Sitting on leather, in the middle of the summer, with bare legs... gross. Sitting on freezing cold leather in the dead of winter... unbearable.

And so we begin the quest for the couch of our dreams.

We decided that whatever we get is going to be our main piece of living room furniture for a long time, so we might as well spend a little more and invest in something that will hold up and last us for a while. That pretty much eliminated Ikea, but we're not completely ruling them out yet because some of their stuff is nice, and you really can't beat their prices (we have to spend wisely on this purchase, so we'll be bargain hunting).

What we are looking for is a sectional, preferably with a chaise lounge. It can't be more than 7' long on either side because of how small our living room is, it MUST have arms (what's with all these armless couches out there?), and the back pillows need to be detachable so it can double as sleeping space if/when we have house guests. We wouldn't be opposed to a hide-a-bed, and we would love it if the cover(s) came off for ease of washing. Lastly, it must be grey. And not just any grey, but the perfect shade of grey.

We decided to go with grey because it is such a neutral color that will pretty much go with any other color, so we'll have a lot of versatility. Currently our living room is painted an icy, light aqua blue on two walls, and a deep chocolate brown on the other two. Down with the brown! Those chocolatey walls will soon be covered up with a granite hued satin paint, and the main colors of the room will be aqua, grey, and white. Yummers! Here's what we're liking:



Loving this charcoal hued beauty.



Hello, gorgeous.



LOVE this!

 

So, as you can see, we're in the process of updating our living room and I can't wait to find the perfect couch and show you our hard work!

 



Out Little Abode

So, now that you've met everyone that resides in our tiny, love filled home, how about I give you the 2 minute grand tour of our little love shack? I knew you'd be game...



Our cozy little cottage.

Here she (he?) is! This picture was taken by the realtor who listed the home, but in all honesty not much has changed in the year or so that we've lived here. You could stand in front of our house and probably take the same exact picture, with the only difference being the shrubs have grown. Sad, right? But, as first time home owners, we're trying to pick and choose our projects based on need and added value to the home. Next up for the face of this little beaut? A walking path from the front door! This little wifey is tired of her heels sinking into the grass with every step. Once we get the walkway in we'll re-seed the yard, too. Right now it's pretty much a blanket of moss with the occasional weed poking through. I can't wait to get the front yard in shape!



Driveway and garage.

This driveway is sort of the bane of our existance. It's old, only partially paved, and it's COMPLETELY overgrown. The previous owners just planted whatever they wanted, no rhyme or reason, so we've literally pulled hundreds of bulbs from the ground, yet those buggers keep coming up. This spring we'll be adding planters on either side of the driveway, and we'll be graveling all the way up to the garage. Also, that huge rhododendron you see will be GONE and we'll be putting up a fence in that same area.


Looking at the front door from the living room.



What you don't see in the pictures, located on the other side of the front door, is a mudroom. It's a great place for kicking off muddy shoes, drying of wet puppies, or plain old not having to stand in the rain whilst fumbling for keys. I love the mudroom! I'd love to have some built in seating/storage in there at some point, too.



View of the living room from the hallway.

Those are the original hardwood floors, and the house was built in 1948. For the most part the floors are in great condition, but there are some areas that show a bit of wear and tear from previous owners. Deep scratches mark the entryway to my dressing room/office/guest room. Eventually we'll most likely sand them down and refinish them, but for now we can live with it.

Also, it should be noted that we have painted since these pictures were taken. I'll show you bare bones now, and future posts will consist of the "improvements" we've made.



Our cozy little kitchen.

Our kitchen is cozy, but cute. There is a lot of storage for it being such a tiny house, but it is lacking a dishwasher. That means you can pretty much find me standing right there in front of the sink nightly, sometimes twice a night. We've painted in here as well, but I can't wait to get rid of the flooring and backsplash. Not my style, and those floors show EVERYTHING. Thank goodness it's so tiny because the floor will be fairly inexpensive to replace. Just to the right you can see our back door, which leads to the backyard (duh!), but we'll get to that in a bit. 

I was going to post pictures of the two bedrooms and the bathroom, but the pictures are terrible and show you absolutely nothing other than a corner of the room. But, they're pretty basic as far as bedrooms go, and the bathroom... don't even get me started on that one. Wait, let me see if I can find a pic worth sharing...



Ugh.

This is the room I hve the most issues with in the entire house. First off, it's small and it's the only bathroom. There is fake, plastic tile on the walls, which looks terrible and needs to be ripped down. There is a window in the shower that doesn't open, and it probably has been there since the house was built. I'm going with a grey & yellow theme in here, with some beadboard and awesome fixtures to polish it up a bit.

And here's what sold us on the place...

Where we spend most of our time.

We loved the backyard as soon as we saw it. It has so much potential, and The Hubster is kind of a guru when it comes to yard work so he's right in his element. It's fully fenced, lots of brick everywhere, and we even have our own little brick BBQ pit (which needs some work, but still!). There is a huge tree (which most likely has to come down, but more on that in another post), and for the most part the grass is in pretty good shape. The dogs love it out here!

The tree. We've cleared out a LOT of the beds and they now have red rock in them instead of green overgrown-ness.

 

And that, dear readers, is our home.

It's tiny, but mighty. Cozy and warm. A place where we live and laugh, argue and cry, entertain and love.

We love it.



Moving In!

What happens when you mix one petite wifey, one hulky hubster, one small pooch, and one rather large dogmeister who sheds enough for all the dogs in our zipcode, and stick them all in one house that is only 616 square feet?

Typically, not much. But occasionally madness will ensue, or dog hair will take over, or dishes might not get done. But usually... well, usually we're pretty capable of manuvering through our little home. This little blog is where I plan on capturing the many events, learning opportunities, stressers, tears, laughs, and milestones that take place in our little house on I Street. But first, some introductions...


Our little family... aren't we cute?

Hubster's name is Kjell, but I'll probably never refer to him by his name on here. I rarely call him by his name, it's usually "Babe" or "Baby" or some sickeningly sweet version of the two. We've been married for 2 years (wedding anniversary is August 30th), and have been together for almost 4 years. The story of how we met is a complicated one, but I promise I'll get it up here soon. We got engaged on our one year anniversary, St. Patrick's Day, and I can honestly say I have found the man who makes me so incredibly happy to just BE. He's silly, loving, sensitive, tough, manly, strong, and I'm so lucky that he loves me.
I'm Amelia, and probably the only contributor to this blog. I turned 30 this year, and so far so great! 30 is nothing to stress over, right? Right. I don't really have any nicknames, and people call me by my full first name. When I was born, my parents had planned on naming me Amelia but calling me Amy for short, which was immediately vetoed when they saw me. I guess I was more of an "Amelia" than an "Amy". Either way, I love my name and would feel weird to have it shortened somehow. What else... oh! Speaking of... I'm short. Like, really short. Recently I went to the Dr. to discover that I'm a whole inch shorter than I thought I was, way to burst a short girl's bubble! So I stand all of 4'10.5" tall, but I can still hold my own. I'm scrappy like that. I also dance, but not the kind where it's in a dark club where people are throwing money at you... I dance with an all girl hip hop crew in Portland, OR called Push Jones. We're pretty much the bee's knees.


How hot are we?!

Chubbs is our big pooch, our 80 lb. german shepherd and husky, and the one who sheds enough to make sweaters for all the children in a moderately sized village. With fur left over. He's the old man of the house at 12 years old, and definitely is his daddy's dog. The Hubster has had him since he was a tiny pup, so it's amazing to see some similar personality traits in Chubbs that Hubs has, too. He's such a good dog, though. So well mannered, listens REALLY well to his daddy, and listens well with me when Hubs isn't around. He's loving, mouthy, opinionated, lazy, crazy, and puppy-like all in one. My favorite Chubbs moments are when he greets me at the door with a smile... Yes, he really smiles!

Chloe is our baby girl, our Dorkie (yorkie and daschund). She doesn't shed at all, thank goodness! She's all of 8lbs soaking wet, but will make you smile without a doubt. She's our little snuggle bug and whines and grunts and moans when we have to put her down. At times she acts and sounds like a cat, and one of her favorite places to be is on the back of our couch or under the covers of our bed. She's so funny, too! She's acts so human like at times, it's both funny and scary. Although our two pups are as different as can be, I wouldn't trade them for the world. They're our fur babies and we love them unconditionally.

Well, that's us in a nutshell! In the next post I'll take you around the house and give you the grand tour... Don't blink or you'll miss it!