a new season

Just in time to kick off a new year, David has a new job!

He will start on January 16 as the Manager of Capitol Planning at Mohawk Industries. We feel so blessed by the timing of this new opportunity, and we don't hesitate for a second to acknowledge the Lord's hand in this new phase of life. Just as I am quitting my job (Feb. 3 is my last day at UTC), David will start this new one. It definitely will be an interesting transition as we adjust to all kinds of new in 2012, but we are excited to see what the Lord has in store!

it is finished.

Well, sort of. Recovering this chair turned out to be the biggest pain-in-the-rear, but I finished it. It was hard for me mostly because I had no idea what I was doing, and I considered loading the thing back up and taking it with me to Columbus so my mom could help me. If you come to my house please don't inspect it. In fact, please don't even move the pillow out of the way.  Fortunately, the thing is comfortable and the pattern on the fabric is super forgiving.

week 32

I know I'm a little (ok, a lot) behind on this week's post. Sorry... Our evenings have been full, and getting this picture taken took a few days!

This week has been a good one on the baby front. We spent Saturday in breastfeeding/daddy boot camp classes, accordingly. Even though neither one was earth-shattering, we both learned a few new things and had plenty to discuss afterwards. I found myself sitting there thinking about actually meeting my little man, and I'm getting so excited! We also went to a childbirth class Monday night, but it was pretty lame. The lady just read straight from a PowerPoint and we watched a bunch of outdated videos. David said he could have taught the class, and he's pretty much right. Once again, I'm so thankful for the advice/examples/testimonies of so many friends and family members! I feel pretty well-informed because of their willingness to share with me. I say well-informed because I know I can't be prepared at all. I have low expectations of this whole having-a-baby thing because I have no idea what it is going to be like.

Other miscellaneous stuff: I have noticed that my fingernails and toenails are growing SO fast! I wish my hair was doing the same... I want it long again! I've had side effects gas from milk pretty much throughout the whole pregnancy, but it has gotten intense in the last couple of weeks (ask Beth!). I talked to the doctor about it and have since been taking some medicine for the lactose issue. It seems to be working like a charm. My only concern... does this mean the baby will have cows' milk allergies/issues?? Please say no!

We're gearing up for a big Christmas on the road, and we are both so excited to spend time with our families. It is NUTS to think that this time next year we'll have a mobile (presumably) little boy on our hands, and Christmas will be a whole different ball game.

a closet cleanup

I have been feeling an overwhelming urge to nest lately, so I decided to do some good with it. I called Lynn, asked if I could come over and organize their game closet.

A Suburban full of giveaway stuff, five garbage bags and about three hours later, we (me, Hayden, Lynn and a bit of help from the boys) had accomplished this:

Before and after (obviously)

It felt SO good!

Now, on to the next closet I can find...

shoes for Paige

Thanks to Pinterest, I was really motivated to make the babies' Christmas presents this year. I re-made a few things I've done before (the best burp cloths and a taggies blanket for each kid), plus a couple new projects. I made them each a bapron, and they are so cute! I've made several now for baby shower gifts, and I need to make one for Crawford. I just use flannel and store-bought bias tape, so it's actually a really simple project. Flannel is my favorite baby fabric because it's so absorbent. Now I make nursing covers out of it too- it just makes sense! On Black Friday I bought 19 yards from JoAnns (it was $1.49/yard!!), so I'm well stocked for baby projects into infinity. 

Also, using this tutorial (with a few alterations... ribbon for the straps, no faux suede sole, no interfacing... ok, so I took the lazy way out) I made Paige some of the sweetest shoes! The first pair was a pain to make, but as soon as they were finished I had to make a second.

week 31

After spending last week with the Johnson babies, I am even more excited for my own to arrive! I sure hope Crawford was paying attention to how well-behaved his cousins were because it would be super nice if he was the same way. It's a little wild to think that Beth had those babies at the exact point in her pregnancy that I am right now. Crawford weighs approximately what Paige and Bryce did when they were born (3 lbs. 3-13oz.). But hopefully he'll wait until February-ish to make his entrance into the world. It was nuts holding Paige and thinking that I might birth a baby her size (she is 8 lbs. 13 oz... hopefully he isn't that big, but my brother was 8 lbs. 13 oz. so you never know).

At the doctor this week, Crawford measured right on schedule. The visit was pretty uneventful, which is amazingly reassuring! I am so thankful for a pretty boring pregnancy.

I'm feeling really great, overall. I'm going to bed crazy early and loving every second of sleep I get. I've gained one pound in the past two weeks, so I'm getting used to the way my body is right now (just as it's about to change, I'm sure). I'm drinking lots of water and consequently, peeing a ton.

I won't go back to the doctor until after the new year because we'll be traveling for Christmas to see both of our families, but I'm ok with that. David and I are counting down the days until we begin our holiday traveling, and we are so looking forward to this last Christmas as a family of two. Next year will be SO different!

my week with the babies

Last week, I left town on Wednesday to head to Ohio and spend some long-overdue time with Beth and the babies. I flew up there and David and Patrick Bryant drove up Friday night to join me. It was pretty wonderful to not have to make the 6 hour drive twice (especially by myself one way!), and I cannot stress how much I LOVED my time with the Johnsons. I had never spent any time with David's family without David, but it was totally wonderful. Jayme is back at work and Brianna goes to all-day kindergarten, so Beth and I had all day Thursday and Friday to hang out, do craft projects, watch movies (4 Harry Potters in 4 days!) oh, and take care of two totally adorable newborn babies. Who, by-the-way, are about as close to perfect as two babies come. Seriously, they are the most pleasant, easy going kiddos ever!

beautiful Paige! Unfortunately, I hardly took any pictures of Bryce... he likes the swing and Paige likes the vibrating seat. Obviously, it's easier to take pictures of a kid in a stationery chair than one that swings.

Beth had a to-do list for us, and we were able to accomplish every project. We made bed skirts for the cribs (out of burlap, which is a bit heavier than I expected and they need some tweaking... sorry Beth!), a pelmet board for the window (with a crooked ribbon... ugh! I may have left Beth with more work than she had when I arrived), hung the two awesome monograms she got to go above the cribs, changed out some ribbon on a frame and hung it too.

Left side before and after

Right side before and after

Like I mentioned, Patty spent the weekend with us so he could see Ohio and go to his first hockey game. We also took it as a great opportunity to begin training him on baby care. He was a natural! Not to mention, Brianna was obsessed with him. She was so excited for him to come because she thought he looked like Justin Bieber :). haha!

Brianna, as usual, loved seeing her Uncle David. She's big on calling us "Aunt Emily" and "Uncle David" right now, which is adorable. She LOVES her baby brother and sister, and really is such a helpful big sis.

All in all, it was such a sweet time away from home. As we pulled away early Sunday morning, I told the boys that if we didn't have plans to see the Johnsons again in just a couple short weeks, I definitely would have been crying!