Closet clean up

Is it me or does the nesting instinct not stop once you have a baby.  I have been on a major clean out/clean up kick - or at least wanting to do a major clean out/clean up but not finding any time.  I had some time on my hands this weekend - well really not really since it was just me and baby boy all weekend.  But I was bound and determined to do something about my ugly closet that I was convinced didn't have a floor anymore. 

I started the clean out, clean up on Saturday morning.  By Sunday afternoon, I sent James a text with these two pictures and captions....

My closet has a floor

Because this is what I took out of it.

To be honest, I cleaned more than just my closet.  I cleaned my drawers too.  I ended up with 2 empty drawers.  I have found some things to put in them, but they are still mostly empty.  I found Christmas presents that had not been put away yet.  I have 3 bags of clothes for my sister and sister and law to go through.  (I cleaned out a bunch of work clothes.  My new work from home gig (not really new) doesn't require half as many nice clothes)  I have 2 bags for goodwill and that's just this clean out - I had at least 2 others I had previously gathered.  I keep a bag on the floor in the closet and when something doesn't fit right or I look at it and think "I'll never wear that" I throw it in the goodwill bag. 

It feels really good to have gone through everything and purged.  However, I know I probably could have been a bit more brutal in my review and probably gotten rid of a lot more stuff.  But this is an honest start and enough to mark it off the monthly to do list....Wonder where my nesting instincts will take me next month.....

JW 22 weeks

I know I owe you all a 5 month picture and some more monthly updates but I wanted to post his 22 week picture from today. It pretty much sums up the last week or so. We are eating cereal once a day (4 tbsp) and loving it. The last couple days JW has combined his love of cereal with his love of chewing on his hands. Yes, mid feeding. I have to hold his hands to keep them out of his mouth. Needless to say we got a bath after we ate tonight!!

Bathroom Clean up

I'm embarrassed to say it has been awhile since I cleaned my bathroom.  I know, gross right?!  Life got a little crazy with a newborn.  Let's just say my 10 minute warm shower is about the most relaxation I am able to get (except for a couple baths I've taken).  And standing under the stream of the hot water is all I want to do.  I am not thinking about the spots on the grout.  Or how I really should get around to cleaning my shower (well, actually I am thinking about that a little - but its far back in the brain, hidden by those sweet relaxing thoughts that the hot water is bringing).  Well, it finally got to the point I couldn't take it any more.  A friend recommended the above cleaning tool and said it worked wonders - well it was going to take wonders to clean my shower.  So, I gave it a try.  I opened a couple windows and started the fan.  Then I soaked the shower.  Given how bad it was, I walked away for a few minutes....okay more like an hour.  It was a beautiful day and I wanted to get JW out of the house.  When I came back my shower was clean and sparkly again.  Now, I wouldn't get all crazy and eat off the floor of the shower, but I definitely feel better about putting my feet on the ground in there.  Now I can go back to standing under the hot water and only thinking about how relaxing it feels!

(If you're embarrassed by your shower, or just want to give it a good clean - try this stuff - its good!)

(BTW - I haven't been paid for this review or even asked to write it...I just tried the product and liked it!)

How things change

As our anniversary approached this week, I asked hubby where he wanted to go eat.  We've been to some really great Atlanta restaurants for our past anniversaries - see links.
First Anniversary
Second Anniversary 
Third Anniversary
I was surprised when he said he didn't want to go out to eat.  We had just been to South Beach and had 3 wonderful dinners with wine and drinks.  A little more than this couple of a baby boy have been used to.  So we decided to do something different.  Something we haven't done in a LONG TIME...go to the movies.  Sounded good to me ;)

We started with a trip to Williams Sonoma to buy our anniversary gift - we went with the d5 stainless as discussed here - the reviews for the line looked good and the sales person at WS spoke highly of them.  Our decision making process ran a little long and we were going to miss the original movie we picked (Limitless).  So we went for a later movie and decided to grab a bite to eat.  We stopped at Five Guys for a quick little cheeseburger and fries.  YUM.  But definitely not like the meals we had at our previous 3 anniversary dinners. :)  After scarfing down the amazing burgers, we headed to the theater to see Source Code.  Decent Movie - kind of left you thinking at the end the same way Inception did.  Overall enjoyed it. 
When we got home and relieved the babysitter, we had a glass of champagne and some chocolate covered strawberries (thanks to my FIL and sMIL). 

Overall a low key night, but just what we needed.  A little different than anniversaries of past years, but still great!!!

Love this Guy

Yes, this one....

 

The one I said "I do" to.....

The one that still makes me smile...

The one that kisses me good morning and good night....

The one who showed me his favorite places around Europe while we lived there....

The one who is my travel companion...

The one I celebrate birthdays with...

 

The one I've started a family with....

Yep - I love him!  

Happy 4th Anniversary Love!!

Wedding pictures by Angela Anderson

Last picture by Michele Poole

All other pictures - personal

Green thumb?

Lately, every time I need to buy basil, the local Publix is out of the packaged basil.  Since we're meal planning (and 2 meals needed basil) and shopping once a week, I couldn't just get it on my next trip to the store.  So, I broke down and bought two plants.  I have been wanting to grow herbs for awhile now, so in my new found organizational, betty homemaker glory, I decided to try my hand at growing basil.  Let's hope it turns out better that this guy......

sad looking oregano plant - sorry Ali!!

I still have to plant these little guys, but hopefully we'll be picking basil off here for the summer!  Any tips to help my black green thumb here?

21 weeks

Still loving my play mat!!

2 Months

Well sweet baby boy, you are 21 weeks today and I am just getting around to writing about your 2 Month update. 

This month started with a bang.  You celebrated your 2 month birthday in the ER, but we discussed that here.  Two days later I took you for your 2 month appointment.  And you got shots.  Yikes....you were not a happy boy.  I think you were hungry and for some reason did not enjoy the tylenol (generic don't worry) I gave you to help with the shots.  But otherwise you are doing great!  Dr. Wendy says you look great.  You weighed 10 pounds, 7 ounces and were about 25 inches long.  Even though that put you in a low percentile for weight, you are still gaining and growing and that is good!  You didn't have much reaction to the shots, though you were tired.  You also got a liquid vaccine.  I think that gave you an upset tummy because your poopy diapers were kind of nasty for a day or two.  Speaking of diapers, you are still in size 1 diapers.

We had a visit from Daddy's friend Brice.  I don't have any pictures to share with you, but he definitely gave you some lovin'.  

You found yourself in the mirror, though the books say you didn't really know you were looking at yourself. You just like the reflection.  But it was still fun to share that with you!

We had some scary weather this month and one day Mommy thought she was going to have to take you and Barley into the powder room for protection.  Fortunately, it didn't get that bad. 

Mommy and Daddy went on our first "date night" and you slept for 9 hours!!  Thank you sweet boy!

You "replied" Hi to Daddy or at least that's what we're saying you did! ;)  

You outgrew your 0-3 month clothes...I packed them up and started getting out your 3-6 month outfits.  Though, I have a feeling you won't be in the footed 3-6 month stuff very long.  You are a tall boy.  

You went to church for the first time - we went to the Ash Wednesday service.  It was a nice introduction for you as it was smaller and shorter than a traditional Sunday service.

You are getting so good with your hands this month.  You bring everything up into your mouth.  You even pushed the pacifier back into your mouth!! 

Mommy started back to work at the end of the month.  I did much better than I thought.  I actually kind of enjoyed having "my time" even if it is spent working.  But you make it all worthwhile during our afternoon snuggle time!  It is such a treat to share that time with you before Daddy gets home.  Then you have your Daddy snuggle time.  It works out very well.

We love you little man and get joy from watching you grow.  Your smile lights up a room. 

Sleepy day after our long night in the ER (see Month 2 post)  Happy 2 month birthday!

the first week of this month was one for sleeping.  your 2 month shots knocked you out!

March is a fun Basketball month - you enjoyed watching games on the couch with Daddy. 

Loving bath time.  You kick and splash and have a great time.  We think you might be a swimmer!

Smiles on the playmat. 

Oh no...somebody got upset.  But you still look cute.

Sleeping on Mommy.  The text to Daddy read "think this might be a sign of things to come?  sleeping with his hand down my shirt."

You definitely found your hand this month.  Your hand and anything you can find goes in the mouth!

more basketball watching with Daddy!  Looks fun!

One of my favorite pictures so far.  Rosy cheeks, drool down the chin and bright eyes.  You are so cute little guy!

First time in the stroller without the carseat.  Don't worry the sun was only in your eyes long enough for Mommy to snap this picture to send to Daddy.

Bright eyes!!  Your head looks so little compared to your body here.  Don't worry sweetie, you are proportional and we LOVE YOU!!

Mommy went back to work at the end of this month.  We cuddled at the end of the work day and sometimes took a quick nap together.  I think you look pretty cozy!

Your first St Patrick's Day was this month!  You had 2 outfits.  Your other one is here.

Self portrait

I realized I have few pictures of me with JW (isn't that the life of a mommy!?!). So since I actually did my hair and wore make up thought I would try. This is the best we got with the iPhone.

Road Trip in Pictures

GGHal snuggling with JW  (need to request a picture with GG Rose)

GG Mac with JW

swaddle sleep sack houdini

appropriate gift at his Ohio shower!

snoozin' in the car.  JW was a great traveler! 

Family picture from my BIL's wedding

The 3 Mrs. F

JWF x3

Aunt B with JW

another family pic

Bama feeding JW at the reception

All in all it was a great trip.  JW did extremely well and got to meet many members of his extended family.

Nursery Design Plan

gives a hint to wall and rug (wall is a bit bright in picture)

We're finally wrapping up the nursery, so I wanted to share the design information with you.
We started the nursery while I was pregnant, but only got the main furniture pieces and painted.  You might remember that we had a hard time deciding on paint color.  (refer to this post).  Well, you probably won't be surprised to know we changed the paint color once JW arrived.  What we had was a bit too green for the bedding we had ordered (another story).  And for several weeks we did nothing else.  So, frustrated and really wanting the room to be complete, we brought in some help.  A good friend who lives near us is a designer, so we brought her in to help bring the room together.  (She has awesome taste - check Jennifer out at Vreeland Road)

A breakdown of the design plan - where we were, where we are and where we are going.....

We had already purchased the crib, dresser (used as a changing table) and glider/recliner (pictured separately).  The walls were a nice bluish/green color (SW Tidewater).  And we hired Jennifer to help. Jennifer and I picked fabrics and laid out our plan.   Well we must be the worst clients ever, because we changed bedding and wall color on her (thank my husband for that).  But the plan still works.
We have now purchased the rug, curtains (which will get a tone on tone ribbon trim), italian number cards, W for the wall (JW goes by his middle name) and the curtain rods.
To wrap up the design, we need frames for the number cards, a mirror over the changing table, ribbon for the curtains, a pillow for the chair (brown with "ciao bello" on it - see the italian theme - Italy holds a special place in my heart and I'll share why one day) and book shelves for either side of the window. 

Its coming together and I am so excited.  I'm hoping Jennifer will do a before and after and share the specifics...If not, I'll do one here as well....now to go and finally wrap it up!!

May Goals

I have been on a "get organized/nesting" kick.  I thought nesting referred to the time before baby was born - and I definitely did some nesting then - but it is really kicking in now.  So to stay organized and not get overwhelmed, I thought I would start listing my monthly goals on here - you know, to make it easier to hold myself accountable.  I'll post updates on the previous month's goals and the new month's goals.  I'm a little behind the eight ball this month, but wanted to at least document it.

Areas for Organization
Jessi's Closet - WOW is all I can say for the current state of my closet.  I want to clean it out and organize.  Now that I'm not wearing any maternity clothes and I'm almost done with breastfeeding (going to 6 months - so 6 more weeks) I want to go through everything and purge.  I feel like I have a ton of JUNK in my closet that I never wear and I don't want it anymore!  Then maybe I'll know what is missing in my wardrobe and I can make "smart" purchases.
Office Closet - My office is also a guest bedroom.  And guests have no room in the closet.  From the floor redo and the furniture shuffle to make the nursery and my office, tons of stuff got thrown into the closet - you can barely get anything out.  So, I'd like to get it organized and also finish organizing all the office stuff.

Personal
Wake up Time - I'd like to start getting up around 6.  I've been a bit slow to get back to a normal schedule.  Fortunately I work from home, so I don't have to "get ready" in the morning.  But, I've been getting up too late and really want to get some things done in the morning (housework, start work, etc) so when the nanny gets here I'm already pressing through the day.  I could squeeze in a lunch workout, not feel bad when all I want to do is cuddle JW when she leaves, and maybe even prep dinner in the mornings.  All in all I think its a smart move, so we're heading there.  (The main thing keeping from this is JW is still taking a middle of the night/early morning bottle)
Meal Plans - We'd like to start planning meals on Saturdays.  I feel like we - I mean I - go to the store a couple times a week and I don't enjoy it.  So, I'd like to start planning better.  Saturday planning would allow us to hit the Whole Foods after church for any specialty items.
Workouts - 30 minutes of something at least every other day.  I've been slow to get back in the full swing of things because of my hips.  They are about 85% better and I need to get back into the routine.

I think that's enough for the remaining days in May.  I'll try to be on target for June!

Birth Announcement

The Birth Announcements are finally out and I think they've even made it overseas!!
We did pictures at about 10 days.  Our wonderful friend Michele did the pictures - check her out at www.michelepoole.com

She took a bunch of pictures and I'll do a post with more later...just wanted to share this! (The back of the card contained all the details.)

South Beach Recommendations

Going to be in South Beach for 2 nights....Any dinner recommendations and/or must see/do??

Thanks!