new closet

New to me, but old closet, and I'm so excited to have this space, it doesn't seem much to anybody else I'm sure, but MFJ worked so hard, and it was his first real piece of D.I.Y handy work in the house...

in process

First off, MFJ pulled out the one shelf and the one bar that was already affixed in the closet. Then, he spackled, sanded, primed and painted the whole thing. Above you can see the shelving situation he created, cubbys at the bottom for my shoes, and one low bar, another bar high for double hanging space.

shelves added, waiting for paint to dry, but
couldn't resist putting something on them!

After the lower shelving was completed, he added 2 more shelves. Then, the hanging bars.

stocking the shelves!

Then, after about a week of being far too detail oriented for my liking, I was finally able to start filling the closet. Sorting organising and stashing as I went. As of yet, I have only managed to fill the bottom bar, but I'm sure with time the top bar will be filled also. I love my new closet, and don't want to share it! 

MFJ has embraced this new 'fatherhood' role feverishly. Never watching TV anymore, working hard all day at work, and coming home and working on the house.. This is a new man!! I cannot complain!

22 weeks, Day 1

home and garden

While I'm recovering from being sick, sitting on the couch, with very little energy.. what better time to contemplate my many plans and ideas for the coming year...
In an ideal world, we would be living in a bigger house with a lovely garden, room to play and run around, and also a separate space for vegetables etc... But, this is a world that you have to wait for the things you want, and work hard to get them... so, a bigger dream house is on our list for the future. Until that time, I really do love our home, it has so much character, and it's old (1928) brick, mock tudor; my little bit of England in America I always thought.
While I sit here -listening to MFJ scraping and painting the closet re-model, singing along to Eminem- I look out the window at the latest snow fall and think of Spring and being outside.
Last summer I planned a raised vegetable garden, which never happened, but this year, I'm thinking a mixture of self-made raised cedar beds and pots to grow lettuce and tomatoes... start small! I'm thinking they would look good outside the back door which is usually a 'nothing' area.
Then at the back of the shed, we will have our little 'secret garden', possibly going to lay pea shingle or similar and have a seating area back there.
Now for the nice weather so we can get out and start on all that...!

house to do's

Things that I want and need to get done on the house;

• clear nursery of my stuff
• sort and tidy clothe arrangement
• sort and purge the bookcases in the dining room
• pick a colour/wallpaper for the dining room
• paint nursery
• get shelves/drawers for wardrobe in nursery
• organise organise organise!!!

MFJ is banging away as a type reconstructing the closet in our bedroom making it more storage friendly. He already did the closet in the office, which looks great. Added a bunch of shelving at the back of the closet (it's super deep) and brought forward the hanging bars, having one low and high, so we have double the hanging space we did!

I want, I need, I love!

Orla Kiely scribble stem nappy bag!

Ever since I realised that Orla Kiely does a  changing bag, I have been somewhat obsessed with it. O.K. I know it may seem slightly over the top, but really, I love bags anyway, always preferring to 'invest' in a quality one versus a cheaper one. And I really do rotate all my bags out, so, they are never wasted 'investments'! My thoughts on justifying this purchase to MFJ is that I would really be using it as my main bag. I'm not going to want to carry around that, and a handbag full of junk.. I'll just be happy with the nappy bag and then I can slip in my wallet and diary, hey presto, all I need!!! I was slightly dubious of the size of the bag, as I'd only seen it online, but after seeing it in one of my favourite shops John Lewis back in England, I am more convinced this is the bag for me!!

just an idea

We definitely need to get a wiggle on with the nursery, we have such a busy few months ahead. And, with me being gone for 2 weeks in England, then returning to be ill for a week, time is running away...

So with the image below, I am kind of drawn to the wood panelling and then the shelf above, but I was thinking just one wall, I'm not sure if that would look weird... I need to get my sketch pad and pen out!

I already know which '1,2,3' placards I want for the baby's room, I just need to hunt them down.

The colour green is striking, but I'm thinking maybe more an orange.. not to bright and in your face, just a happy, cheery colour.
Lots of ideas for nurseries in this post here from Design*Sponge.

Since I came across this image a while back I can't stop thinking about the panelling on
the wall, thinking it might be a nice touch?? I dunno!

We are being given a cot by MFJ's Dad, and I would love to
paint it this colour. Lagoon by Martha Stewart.

mUmmy not mOmmy!

found a bib that will stand out in America! I'm going to
be a Mummy not a Mommy!! 

not a panda anymore!

baby!!!!

It's a baby!! After the last scan, (that looked more like a panda then a baby), I was beginning to worry! ;)

This scan was amazing, we could see everything, found out all the organs and everything were great, and checked everything, head seemed to be on the larger side, but I guess I shouldn't expect anything less with the size of MFJ's head!! 

We are so so excited, more so now, especially after seeing 'it' wave at us! The lady poked my belly at one point to get baby to turn over and 'it' waved it's arm around like it was telling us to go away!! So exciting...