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Friday Morning Coffee

September 23rd, 2011

Good morning, my friends.

I actually just finished eating a bowl of grapes and bananas. It was SO GOOD. I have a love affair with red grapes, they can’t be the least bit soft, I want them crunchy and not too sweet. Right now, they are perfect, I love them.

I’m 37 weeks pregnant. The baby will be born during my 38th week.

My body is tired. I’m crampy and pretty much grouchy 55% of the time.

I’m still attending physical therapy.

I still can’t pick Eli up.

Next week Eli turns 18 months old.

helper

He’s giant and fun and really feisty and a super good helper. He’s extra cute and sometimes just likes to snuggle with Mama but mostly likes to play cars and do laundry.

In a few minutes, I’m leaving for a pedicure and a necessary *ahem* waxing on a region that I haven’t seen in a very, very, very long time.

The baby’s room is so close to being finished that some people would consider it finished but I do not.

I’m still scared out of my mind that something bad is going to happen to this pregnancy.

I’m not scared to have four kids.

I am scared to see how Eli reacts to this new baby taking up his attention.

But right now? I’m mostly scared about the upcoming waxing.

Happy Friday, friends.

Once Purple

September 12th, 2011

I’m not necessarily prepared to show you guys a Grand Room Reveal of the kids new shared room because once I took photos, I saw that one of their beds was poorly made, one of their new bedspreads was actually not on the bed, but an old, unmatching one, also, there was a fan in the middle of the room. And in every photo, at every angle, ALL YOU SEE IS FAN.

While taking the photos, I’ll be honest, I noticed these minor imperfections and I was all “I’m 35 weeks pregnant, I DO NOT CARE.”

And then I downloaded the pictures and yes, I care.

Very, very much.

So, to backtrack, for all of their lives, Anna and Noah have had their own rooms. We have a four bedroom house. We are about to have our fourth child. Some of the children were bound to share, so we decided to give Anna and Noah “the life experience” (heh) of sharing a room. When we approached them with this idea, they were all “uh, no thanks. But the offer, you know, is appreciated.” And then I said the magic words: BUNK BEDS.

And they agreed. Happily.

The trick for me was creating a space that was gender neutral BUT NOT BROWN.

This was part of the room before:

oncepurple

This is basically the same section, after:

shared-room-one

I found the room color on Pinterest, this was my inspiration.

I downloaded the photo to my iPhone and used the Sherwin Williams app (free!) for color matching. It was right on.

The color is called Supreme Green. It’s like a light shade of mint chocolate chip ice cream (minus the chocolate chips.) It’s perfect.

Here’s another shot, of the other side of the room:

shared-room-two

The bird artwork above the dresser and the shelves was a project the kids and I did. I had an idea of what we could do and to watch it come to life on one beautiful Sunday afternoon with my two kids was awesome. We had a lot of fun doing it and they are SO proud of the finished project.

Here’s a peek of the during process of that project:

wall-art

And you know, WE LOVE BIRDS in this house, so it was perfect for all of us.

So, there you have it. A bunch of peeks. Just for you.

Maybe someday I’ll get that top bunk made properly and move the fan and then re-clean their room and take after shots one more time which means I should have the grand reveal for you in about two years.

Just giving you something to look forward to.

Brothers & kids

August 1st, 2011

About two weeks ago, my brother and his family from Colorado Springs came to visit my parents. Being the best child out of six, I live the closest to my parents, so we certainly benefit from these visits.

This is my brother, Dan with my Mom at one of our favorite restaurants. He’s a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and was in Iraq (his fifth tour overseas) until this past March. This visit he was also able to meet Eli for the first time.

mom-and-dan

As some of you know, I have five brothers and sisters and love that I am able to photograph their families when they come to visit. (or I go to visit them.) Dan’s oldest son is entering his senior year in high school. Now, I’ve asked almost all of my nieces and nephews to please, please, please stop growing up and they all say “okay, Aunt Beth” or “okay, Aunt Ba,” as the younger ones call me.

But they never listen.

Grant-WM-2414

On our way back from the restaurant, we stopped very quickly at a cute little location to snap of few shots of Grant for his senior portraits. It was a lot of fun. Especially with Dan around. He always makes everything a little bit happier.

He was also good to have around to help Grant with his hair. (which was helpful because obviously Grant has a TON of hair.)

Grant-and-Dan-1

We managed to get a few good shots.

Grant-WM-2505

Here’s a pull back of the above shot:

Grant-and-Dan

After taking this photo, he said “no one will ever believe I was really batting. I’m not left-handed.“

And occasionally, I’d be taking a shot of Grant and I’d hear “Beth, take a picture!” and I’d turn and find this:

dan-9

He reminded me how immobile I am, being in the middle of my seventh month of pregnancy. (jumping on box cars is most certainly not an option)

But, in his own way, he reminded me how important it is to lighten up and have fun.

danny

He’s such a wise fellow.

The truth is.

July 26th, 2011

I’m really grouchy and emotional. I’m short tempered, too. I have felt insanely lonely over these past few weeks. This is not a complaint, it’s just my state of being. I can accept how I’m feeling because I know it’s just a season but I’m afraid it won’t end until after the baby is born. Actually, I’m afraid it won’t end until LONG after the baby is born.

I guess it’s okay.

Despite being emotional and lonely, I still have really great moments in my life and am surrounded by many things that I love.

Like my belly. I’ll be 29 weeks tomorrow. Today, we scheduled her birthday. I begin weekly NSTs tomorrow. In August, we give her a bedroom.

nearly-29-week-shadow

I think it’s funny that my belly looks like a dunce cap in this photo. I’m pretty sure it’s because of the corner of the house. But I suppose it really does look like this.

I love my zinnias in the front of my home. They’ve exploded into giant yellow and green balls. Anna and I planted them in late May, early June. They were so tiny. I actually wanted to plant five but they only had enough for three. The purple flower in front was a surprise return from last year. I thought I had pulled them out but they eased their way back into our garden. I love how they accent the zinnia and the sidewalk.

zinnia

Today, I needed to disconnect, so I packed up lunches and the kids and we went to the park. Such a perfect day for it.

Towards the end, when I was getting really tired, I asked the kids to sit on the bench. I finally got Eli to sit perfectly for me and saw that Anna was making ridiculous faces at the camera.

Lest you think I am always calm. I placed my lens cap on my camera, picked Eli up, put him in the stroller and said “let’s go.”

And we did. I’m still so frustrated that my oldest child ruined such a great photo but I look at it and I have to admit, I do love all of their faces in this photo. But still. ANGRY MAMA.

park-kids

I’ve been making headbands.

headband2

Because of my newborn sessions, I spend a lot of money on Etsy, particularly on headbands, sometimes I’d spend $50 a month on headbands alone. OUCH.

I decided to try making them on my own and guess what? I spent about $60 on supplies and have made about 15 headbands so far with plenty of supplies left over.

I made these two for my neighbor’s newborn. (who happens to have a head FULL of shiny black hair.)

headbands1

I’m no expert and that’s totally okay with me. It’s a great creative outlet. I’ll be editing photos and stand up, walk into the kitchen and just make a headband. Literally takes minutes. Sometimes I make them while Eli plays with bowls and spoons while, literally, sitting on my feet. It’s enjoyable.

Speaking of Eli:

VIP

He’s very busy these days, as you can see.

He’s grown up so quickly and cries so hard when Mommy or Daddy leave the house. His kisses are adorable and he loves carrots more than any other food in the world. He is such a sweetheart.

I guess that’s all I have for you. I did post images from a recent newborn session here, feel free to check it out.

And don’t worry about the first paragraph, I really am okay, I’ve just been uninspired to post here and I wanted to let you know exactly why.

15 months

June 29th, 2011

I don’t mean to get all sentimental on you, but seriously?

How. Is. This. Possible?

Eli-plays-ball

This morning, Anna, Noah and I took Eli to his 15 month appointment and they were all like “climbing! running! eating! independence!” And I was like but “he’s so tiny and my baby, leave us alone.”

Except they’re not lying. Even just these past few weeks he’s grown so much. He really is climbing and exploring and not wanting help from anyone. He wants to jump in the baby pool, unassisted, and share popsicles with his siblings and throw balls and push toys rather than be pushed in them.

He even started drinking beers with his little cousin. (although, we’ll need to refine his choice in beer, it’s a work in progress.)

Eli-and-Dane

He looks at you with wonder and throws his arms straight up in the air when he wants you to pick him up. He loves his Mama and his Daddy and he adores his big siblings, too. When you ask him where “the baby” is? He lifts my shirt and sticks his finger in my belly button which I find completely disturbing so when I do ask him, I hold my shirt down as best I can.

His eyes are spectacular and his skin is so soft and his thighs are so wonderfully chunky.

He loves adventure and shows no fear which I love and also fear.

Eli 0133

I think we’re in trouble because when Brian and I are together with Eli, we just let him do whatever he wants and we think whatever he does is just incredibly cute. No matter what it is. On Sunday, he opened the dryer and took some clothes out and placed them in the washer, shut the washer door and began pressing buttons. “LOOK, BRIAN! He’s doing laundry!” And we laughed and our eyes sparkled at his cuteness and then reality hit us and we were like “we mean, no, no, Eli.”

We are wrapped around his tiny little fingers.

Today, when the three of us and my giant belly were walking out of the doctor’s building, the older volunteer woman said “you remind me of me when I was younger. I had four children and I was so happy.” I love that my happiness shined through. I replied, truthfully, that I could absolutely not wait to be a Mom of four.

“Enjoy them, as you’re doing. Mine are all gone now.”

In just three months, his little sister will join us and then all of a sudden I’ll be writing about her climbing and eating and her growing up before our eyes and it will still feel as wonderful and amazing as it does today because that is the wonder and beauty of being a parent.

The hardest, best job in the entire world.

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