Nesting...

I think the nesting urge has hit me! Although, I have 7 weeks to go, I know that there is a lot that needs to happen in those 7 weeks! 

If everything goes as planned, we will be moving right before our little girl is born. However, up until this point things haven't really been working out as planned (issues with our new house that are completely out of our control) so we might be moving AFTER she is born...we will see! 

Either way, I'm trying very hard to take things in stride and know that even if we don't get moved beforehand, I'm blessed that this time after having a baby I will be staying home rather than returning to work. This will allow me time to unpack, organize, and decorate when I have time and not be rushed. I'm also counting on having my mom and my mother-in-law around for some extra hands...and to help me stay sane with all the moving, renovating, entertaining a 2 year old and getting to know a brand-new baby! Thank goodness for family!!!

In the mean time all I can do is pack and prepare...so I'm finding myself coming up with small ways to fulfill my need to nest! :)

With the renovations we are doing to our new house, Shane and I found a picture of these shelves and spice racks that we will incorporate into our new kitchen! I like how clean and organized they look! And so much nicer than storing our spices in the plastic containers they come in!

A few weeks ago we picked up the jars/shelves while on a trip to Ikea with my parents. Along with my little helper, I washed, labeled and transferred the spices over! 

Screwing the lids on was the perfect job for this little guy!

All done! Aren't they pretty! Just have to pick up a few more jars, but they are all ready to be put on the shelves in our new kitchen! Yay!

Just a couple more!

Remember not so long ago I dove into a pinterest DYI project and adhered these pictures onto canvas? Welp...I’ve further expanded that photo wall AND produced a couple other areas of interest in our transitory home! Because, really you can't have too many pictures of your two-year-old plastered on the wall, right? Maybe I should just consider getting customized wall paper with his cute little mug...then there wouldn't be a square inch not covered with his bright sun-shiny self! 

Anyway, seriously, I am loving the results! 

Admittedly, I never have actually ordered a canvas print, and I'm positive they are a smidgen higher quality; however...I change my mind a lot. This just seems like a cheaper, easier, and less committal way of displaying our favorite pics. Suits me just fine! And I tell myself while the kiddos (yes, I’m including the one in the oven) are still growing – we best keep snapping shots and updating our walls! 

I adore these pictures of Zay. I think of them as…”the many expressions of Zay”! Makes me happy to gaze at them hanging on our dining room wall.

And what’s not to love about a little lad getting a bit dirty. This undoubtedly demonstrates the phase of life we are in right now. Zay + outside = filthy. 

Okey-dokey, I'm off to pack up for the first of two little excursions we are going on. First stop, Minneapolis to see a Laker's game with Grandma Judy! Second adventure… On Sunday, Zay and I are heading out on a little road trip with Grandma Becky and Papa Jim! Ought to be fun! Have a fabulous day!

Photo Wall

I've done some more Pinterest projects...this time I did an easier version of the canvas pictures! They were a bit challenging to take a picture of them on this gloomy day...but you get the idea!

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I just received an order of pictures from Zay's 2 year old shoot. I'm excited to make some more of these! Can't beat having some adorable pics of our boy all over our house! :)

Pinterest Projects!

I'll unashamedly admit it ...I LOVE Pinterest!

There are SO many great ideas on there. Even my husband will find some of the ideas really exhilarating!

I have not quite a zillion projects pinned that I would LOVE to try...not to mention I'm certain I could put together our family's dream home with all the decorating and storage and built-in ideas I've found!

So...one of the perks of my new full-time job...naptime to do mommy-things! Yay!

Below are a couple of my Pinterest projects!

A new tree skirt for our Christmas tree! Love it!

An up-close look at the tree-skirt.

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DIY canvas print! Not perfect...but super cool and cheap!

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Bug's Blanket!

I finished making this awhile ago, but thought I'd put a picture up! Here is the blanket I made for our little man! Can't wait to wrap him up in it! :)

Front of the blanket...Bongo decided to get in on the picture!

Back side of the blanket...and Bongo didn't move much!

Sewing!

I've finally started using my sewing machine! Below are some pictures of my very first projects! There are a lot of mistakes in these projects, but I feel like I am picking up sewing fairly quickly. Luckily I watched my mom sew when I was little and remember a few of her tricks. I'm still pretty much learning as I go and I'm looking forward to more projects soon!

I made myself an apron! Hopefully I use it while I'm cooking up some yummy meals! We will see about that! :)

New pillows! Well kind of, I just recovered some old ones we had. I didn't use a pattern, just decided to wing it. They didn't turn out too bad -- just don't look too closely! :)

Organizing!

Here's what I spent my afternoon doing today! Organizing bills, taxes, insurance, warranties, manuals, and other important documents! I wish I had a before picture, but I wasn't thinking quick enough. I'm so happy to have this job behind me. I haven't gone through all of our "important" documents since we moved into this house. I think we are good to go for another year now! Yea!

Weeding

Today I finally did it...I finally spent the majority of my afternoon weeding the flower garden in our backyard. This has been a chore that I've been dreading for a LONG time. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I did not touch our flower garden one time last summer. Just looking into our backyard overwhelms me! And weeding is one of those chores that truly weakens me. I wish so badly I could say I enjoyed it like both of my next door neighbors, however I am beginning to think it's never going to happen. And I am certain there is no hope for my husband, therefore I will continue to do it because I have to...just like cleaning the bathrooms. :) Our yard has so many beautiful flowers and the landscaping was done so nicely...however since I hadn't touched it in a year, it was overgrown and out of control! Although I still wasn't a 100% sure the difference between some of the flowers and weeds, I thought I better give it a try before our backyard turns into a jungle!

Piles and piles of weeds!

Not perfect...but better.

And so, I will continue to battle with the weeds...But make no mistake: the weeds will win; nature bats last.

Projects!

Couple of weeks ago I painted our basement stairs. Here are the end results! :) Next project -- painting the living room!