the renovation : painting original trim white...and a doorway opened!

We debated for quite a few months as to whether or not we wanted to paint the original trim in 'the dream home' white...or keep it in its natural, original state.  1859-style.  

It was hard.  

We didn't hate it.

But we didn't love it.

In the end we decided if this was really our long-term home we wanted to love it.

So why settle?  We like white trim better.

So white it has become. 

Well, the downstairs.  

Upstairs will happen eventually.

And...

WE LOVE IT.

Absolutely no regrets.

The moral:  It is your home - you should LOVE it.

We are keeping the doors the natural color, as well as the trim inside the windows and around the giant double doorframe between the front living room and kitchen.

So, you purists out there, breathe easy.

 We are keeping some 1859 character.

Here are some before and after photos.

(Keep in mind the walls have not been painted yet - the only thing that has changed is the trim color and we removed the picture rails in the living room.)

Looking down at the doorway to the nursery 

{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

And from the hallway through the newly opened doorway - our house is now officially a single family home - not a 2 unit!  Hurrah!

The beginnings of a nursery! 

And a look back through from the nursery...

Front living room
{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

Stairway and hallway trim
{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

like the dusty handprints on the handrail?  I long for the day when my house is renovation dust free!

Front doors {BEFORE}

{AFTER}

Doorway from living room to foyer 

{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

Living room {BEFORE}

...and {AFTER}

The kitchen {BEFORE}:

All that is different in the kitchen is the white trim...but I think it makes a huge difference!

{AFTER}

I just think everything looks happier, bigger and brighter.

I can't wait until we have time to paint the front rooms upstairs...
but with this baby coming, 
that might be awhile!

More progress to come soon -
hardwoods in the kiddo bedrooms get installed this week!

g

{32 week bumpdate)

Home stretch.

The Braxton-Hicks contractions are in full force.  Last night I seriously thought I might be going into labor.  My huge belly would become one giant, distorted rock for about a minute at a time last night from 9-10pm.  then I reminded myself that BH contractions are not labor.  They don't hurt.  Well, they feel really, really uncomfortable when they are this strong...but absolutely nothing like real contractions.
This is all kind of exciting to me!  I love knowing that my body is preparing itself for labor.  However, it is also freaking me out because the baby has no nursery.  Well, the painting is done.  The walls are pale gray (same as last time) and the trim has been caulked, repaired, sanded, and painted a gleaming white.  Oh, and Hubby even repainted the ceiling.  Now we just need: flooring, light fixtures, window treatments, furniture, decor...  

I'm sure it will all get done...but I still kinda want to cry.

{Last pregnancy's 32 week post!}

Rants {the crappy stuff}:

• Dressing myself is just not fun.  
• Aching back and hips has begun from sleeping on my side...despite my trusty pregnancy body pillow.
• I'm tired.
• My hips/pelvis have shifted into "baby delivery mode." 
• I am starting to doubt my belly button will ever return to a somewhat normal state.
• Leg vein issues.
• Stretch marks????
• Restless leg syndrome.  I've always wiggled my feet a lot, but throughout this pregnancy I've actually felt discomfort from this.  It is particularly bad in the evening.

Raves {the happy stuff}: 

• Cormac singing to the baby.  Singing for him is yelling "Dada Dada Dada!" to the tune of Baa Baa Black sheep...but I'll take what I can get.  
• NOT getting up to pee as much in the middle of the night.   Is that weird?  Last pregnancy by this point I peed like eight times a night.  This time, even sometimes I wake up and sometimes feel like I maybe should go...I don't want to wake myself up fully and risk never going back to sleep.  I maybe go once a night.  Pretty sure that is not healthy and I will be in diapers by the time I am forty.   
• Naps.  Cormac now sleeps three hours in the afternoon.  I consider this a fabulous sleep-training victory, as well as an amazing excuse for me to: take a nice hot shower and then have enough time for a long nap.  
• The fact that I can now say, "I'm getting close!" Because let's face it, eight weeks sounds really, really, really close.    
• The nursery is painted!!!!  Flooring goes in next week!!!

Weight gain: 29 pounds.  Exactly like last pregnancy.  Midwife (a different one than said I should only gain 25 total!)  said unless I gain ten pounds in a week she is not concerned.  Phew.

Nausea:  Nope.

Skin:  Linea nigra getting darker.  No stretch marks - according to the midwife.  (I can't really see under my tummy.)  Although I think I see some around my belly button???  Praying my eyes are playing tricks on me.

Boobs:  I won't go into detail...but these babies are ready for baby.  They're not afraid to show it.

Cravings:  Dutch apple pie.  Made one.  Yum.

Aversions:  Nope!
Exercise: Still working out five days a week.  Mostly elliptical now, 45 minutes a day.  Less intensely.  If I go too hard I later feel like the baby is going to fall out. (Yep, I went there.)  Pilates had to end, sadly.  I was afraid I would fall on my tummy using the sliding disks and injure myself/baby.  But I am still doing a lot of the yoga poses said to be good for stretching the pelvis and a lot of squat/lunges with weights on my own.  

Dreams: Lots of vivid dreaming...no new ones about pregnancy/babies.

Clothing:  Nothing fits.  Still too cold for mu-mus.  For these Easter photos I kind of forced myself in a dress and sandals, despite the rain and chill to the air.
Heartbeat: 138 at 30 weeks.  140 at 32 weeks

Baby movement: Lots and lots...even though supposedly baby is supposed to be sleeping more now, due to his/her giant growth spurt.  The midwives haven't even mentioned doing "kick counts" - which I think is good because what pregnant mama wants to stress about that and fill out a little chart every day????  Um, not me.  Baby moves.  Frequently.  He/She is fine!

Gender speculation: I am pretty much decided it is a boy.  I've stopped buying girl clothes,  or referring to baby as a girl at all.   I am that certain.  I even asked Cormac what he thought, and he said very clearly, "Boy!" and he will only say the boy name.  This is all very compelling evidence, I know.
Baby names: Same story - both boy and girl are 100% decided.  I particularly love our boy name, so I am pretty pumped that my gut says it is a boy.  It is probably about as unconventional as Cormac...maybe slightly less. Hubby feels: Excited!  He is probably a little more positive that we can survive having two young kiddos than I am.  He asked me the other day if I felt a strong connection with the baby.  After thinking about it a bit, I said, "I think it is easier to feel a bond when you know the gender."  It is one of the only things that can help you know your baby while in the womb.   I am still really glad we are waiting, as it is a LOT more exciting!!!  However, not knowing if baby will be wearing cute dresses or Cormac's hand-me-down tie onesies makes it a little hard to imagine a personality and dream of the future with babe.  Gender will make a huge difference, I feel.  Hubby specifically says he kind of dreads having a girl - thinks the diaper changes will be harder and the teenage years will be more worrisome.   We shall see!

Bump progress: 

g

easter joy

Easter Sunday means...

resurrection

church filled with joy

new life

new clothes

family

feasting

easter baskets

hunting for eggs

reese's pb eggs {that I stash in the freezer and enjoy the entire week...}

wearing sandals no matter how cold it still is

and...a great excuse for an impromptu photo shoot before church...

this expression is why I now have forehead wrinkles

Was a beautiful day.  Sure, the kiddo was sick with a nasty cold.  Somewhat cranky.  Didn't get a decent nap due to a royally messed up schedule.  Spilled on his new white dress shirt before we even got to church.  Kept wiping his nose on his tie.  Finally had to ditch the tie.

sick kiddo ready to gather eggs, etc.

I love how everything about my son is so pale he glows. #mylittleangel

Still - despite the cough and runny nose and crabbiness, had such a great time with family and was, as I said, a beautiful day.

Christ is risen!

g

mama confessions : six tips to feeling attractive {no - SEXY!} in the third tri

Yes, I said it.  The 'S word.'  Sexy.

My first pregnancy I don't remember feeling like a total slob.  This is probably because I was still working a normal job where I got dressed in nice, tailored clothing and wore heels.  I put on makeup every day.   When my Hubby left for work I wasn't in a bathrobe, my hair a crazy mess, with dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep (since I slept much better last pregnancy.)

last pregnancy - 40 weeks

This pregnancy I have, in general, felt not sexy.  I'm not saying I look ugly or that Hubby is not attracted to me - I just feel really, really blah.  

I am sure I am not the only mama who has felt this way during pregnancy, particularly in her third tri.  Right?

So in an effort to feel a little better about myself I searched for ways to 'get my groove back' in this third trimester of pregnancy...

1. Self tanner.  I feel better tan.  If you feel sexy pale, more power to you; however, I am willing to invest in bronzer or going for a spray tan if that is going to help me feel sassier.

my go-to "insta-tan" bronzer

wearing pink {and lipstick} really helps :D

2. New clothes.  Not talking about going on a major shopping spree here.  Even a new necklace or boldly colored scarf from Target can help.  Since I have sworn off clothes shopping until after this pregnancy, I satisfied my urge for a new outfit by unpacking all my maternity spring and summer clothes.  I have a LOT of cute dresses that fit my bump (or mu-mus as I like to call them.)  I tried a few on and felt sexier.  Now the weather just has to cooperate...

3. New hair style!  Again, trying to be thrifty I did NOT go to the salon, rather I colored my hair at home.  By myself.  Red!  Okay, well, technically it is 'dark auburn brown,' which is not extremely red, but redder than I have ever gone before.  I have previously written about my wish for red hair.  Turns out I LOVE IT.  I feel sexier as a redhead.  It really doesn't look drastically different, and maybe others think I am cuckoo for doing it...but it is fun and definitely makes me feel sexier.  Score. {will post pics soon when I have the time to take with decent camera!}

4. Have more sex.  This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you are not feeling sexy and then realize you  really haven't been having sex with your husband as often as usual, it may help to increase that.  Even when you are ginormously pregnant I am pretty sure your husband is into you.  So forget that you are overly exhausted, bloated, and hormonal...and just do it.  Just sayin'.

Source: Greta on Pinterest

5. Work out.   Getting sweaty at the gym makes me feel a million times better.  It is not just a body thing, but a mind thing.  So get those endorphins pumping!!!

6. Be happy.  Audrey Hepburn said it best when she stated, "Happy girls are the prettiest girls." I am definitely guilty of getting stuck in a negative rut.  I'll fully admit I can be a terrible nag, and a world-class complainer sometimes.   I don't think nagging and complaining on occasion are awful things, unless they take over your mindset completely.  (In fact, I think people who are ALWAYS waxing positive/roses and sunshine are rather dull/fake/trite.)  However, finding things to be happy about even when the weather sucks, your house is a complete renovation disaster, you have cankles  AND you resemble a waddling hippopotamus is crucial.  So I've been trying to be more laid-back and positive about the things I can't control, and focus on the good things!  There are many!

Source: theniftyfifties.tumblr.com viaSue on Pinterest

So that's my list.
What makes you feel sexier when in a rut... 

(preggo or not)?
g

ikea kiddo table redo!

When I saw this Ikea table "hack" I knew I had to do one for little Cormac's toddler room!

The 'Latt' table and chairs from Ikea are only 19.99, and come unfinished so you can paint them to your little heart's desire.  I love that Ikea started carrying a lot of unfinished products...since I bet a lot of customers got sick of trying to paint the laminate! 

*waves hand wildly and points to self*

Anyway, I wanted him to have a little table for his room, and this fit the bill.  I painted the table with Valspar "Classic Navy" which I bought a sample of, the table top with chalkboard paint that I already had, and the chairs are "Proper Gray," which I also had already.

So the project cost about $22.

And he had fun 'helping' me. 

:)

Please ignore his messy room.  It is currently having an identity crisis as to whether it is a toddler room or a nursery.  And really, the room will be neither.  (In the end, it will be our master bathroom.)  The color schemes are at odds with each other, made worse by the green tiled fireplace.

Buuuuut he looks like he is enjoying himself, anyway.  :)

g

one year ago : we were in t-shirts!

When I look at my iPhoto "last twelve months" folder and this video comes up from almost exactly a year ago, it makes me want to cry - a little.

The weather last winter was warm.  We were in T-shirts in March.  We were jovial and lighthearted!  We were running with the running stroller every day.  A rainy day didn't get us down.  No way - we were lovin' life!

Lately it has been gloomy, rainy, snowy, cold, blech...every day.

{well....the weekend was 70 degrees and beautiful. a teaser...today - snow again!!!?!?!}

Spring, where are you!?!?!  This isn't Minnesota.  I feel a little cheated.  I moved "South" for a reason.  Well, and my hubby.  :D

Hope it is getting warmer where you are!

g

the renovation : back unit - the 'before' tour!

As promised, I am back with a tour of the back unit of 'the dream home.' 

We rented it out as a two-bedroom apartment for seven months and then let the renter out of the lease early when I found out I was preggo to start the renovation process.

Since moving in, we have lived in the front unit...basically another two-bedroom apartment.

It was definitely interesting going from living in a full-sized home for five years to a two bedroom apartment with a giant dog and a toddler.

But the sacrifice has been worth it!!!!

Progress is now being made on the back of the house so we can see the light at the end of the tunnel...having a full-sized, four-bedroom, 2.5 bath family home.

Our 'dream' home.

I showed you the front unit in this post.

Now, here is what we are working with in the back...

As you enter you have the future dining room...which sported this black wall when we purchased the house.  Yikes!

Can you even tell there are awesome floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases to the right and left of the arched doorway????  The bookcases, the extra-wide arched doorway and the door transom window were selling points for me in this room.

 As you exit the dining room you can look back and see the doorway which will lead to the front of the house, connecting the main floors.

Which brings us to the back kitchen - our future family room!  This will be our casual living space, which I am so, so, so excited for!    We have since sold everything you see in this photo, so it is literally a blank canvas.  Just try to imagine a cozy sectional, huge coffee table, new flooring and some great accessorizing. :)

This built-in cabinet will stay, though, with a little re-vamping!

Now we head up the stairs to the "kiddo wing."  I like this staircase because it winds around with several landings...so they can never fall too far.  ;)

(Looking back down the steps at the storage closet, former laundry closet, which runs the length of that wall.)

When you get to the top of the steps, there are two bedrooms to the right and left, as well as a bathroom in between.  The bedroom to the left will eventually be Cormac's room...

Don't be jealous of that awesome ceiling fan!

There are small his-and-her smaller closets in his room, to the right and left of the arch.

Here is the view from his room - our backyard space.

Yes, needs a lot of help!  Future project!

Here is the bathroom.  Not very big, but a four-piece, with clawfoot tub, which I love!

Then, finally, this is the future nursery...

There is the doorway that will connect the upstairs of the two units.

Baby will have the best closet in the house, at least at the moment!

Cormac likes to be put in this closet with the doors closed, and then burst out of it unexpectedly.  Love that kid.

The room has a little private deck coming off of it, another feature I love.

The door and window looking out on the small deck.

Sorry this is so dark!  I didn't use the flash, the light fixture sucks, and I took the photo straight into the natural light...oops.

So there you have it!   

Progress made with the kiddo rooms is that all the carpet and subsequent linoleum has been ripped out and toe-kick trim being removed to make way for the hardwood floors.  We are going with various widths of wide-plank heart pine to match the flooring in the other bedrooms upstairs, stained in a mid-tone honey color.  Installation should be complete by April 15th.

After a bit of a mess made by Cormac and I on the walls, the wall colors for the bedrooms, bathroom and hallway are decided upon.   

Painting will ensue this coming weekend!

Happy Monday!

g