Before and After

I love weekends like this past one. We were so productive with things around the house! My favorite project, however was that we finally painted our small china cabinet. My sister gave it to us when they moved houses since they didn't have a spot for it. It's nothing fancy (in fact it's really a pretty cheap piece of furniture; I can say that without feeling bad because it was given to my sister by someone who didnt want it anymore either, lol)
Its been sitting in our dining room not matching anything we own but storing our bar glasses just waiting for someone to give it some love and care. Here are the before and after pictures:

Before:

After:

All we did is give it a coat of paint and some crystal knobs. After we got to painting it we realized how cheap it really is... wherever it came from, they used different kinds of wood on just about every surface! Therefore, the it took about 3 coats of paint to get it looking somewhat consistant. Just dont look too close! lol

It looks SOOO much better, though, and makes the glasses really pop. It even matches this piece that we added a few weeks ago!

Double Stroller Shopping

When Jeff and I decided that we wanted a second little one around, what's the first thing I dive into researching? Double strollers.... I know, a little ahead of myself, but I really dont like our single strollers and since I did hardly any research before buying those, I decided I would really focus on finding the right double this time!
These are the features that I really wanted the stroller to have:
-Side by Side (I really want the kids to be able to side next to eachother and also equally see infront of them)
-Lays flat (or very close to flat). Even bigger kids get tuckered out
-lots of pockets
-a cupholder and tray for the kids and the adults
-has a carseat adapter
-very durable and made from strong, quality materials
-has a 3rd kid adaption (I didnt really care how it was, just to be able to allow a third to ride)
-Large sunshade (non of this wimpy small flap that some call a "sun shade")
-adjustable handle bar height (both Jeff and I are tall, but if anyone else is pushing it, they may want the handle to be lower)
-folds flat and is not too heavy (this is not as big of a deal to me, but I need to be able to lift it in and out of the car at least)
-affordable! (ha!, ya right!lol)

Here are a few that I narrowed my choices down to and a short reason why I dont want them:
-The Bob- I really dont run that much anymore so this one just wasnt for me... Plus it was missing some of the key features I wanted
-The Peg Perego Aria Twin 60-40- After checking it out in person, it was really cheap feeling and smaller than I expected. Also missing most features
-The Bumbleride Indie Twin- this one was my second favorite, but it didn't have the carseat adaptor for any brand carseat; the sunshade was much smaller; and there were no cupholders/tray for the kids
-Graco - The only side-by-side that they make is more of an umbrella stroller style than a full stroller

So, this leads me to the stroller of choice....

The Baby Jogger City Elite Double

Not only does this stroller have almost every feature I wanted above, it has a few more! Here are my favorite features and why I love it:

-Not only does it recline all of the way, the foot rest pops up so that their legs can lay straight instead of being bent downward while sleeping

-Theres a large pocket behind the seat backs and two for the parents on the handle

-you can get a cupholder (seperate charge, of course) to add on the parents handle

-It also has a universal carseat adaptor! No matter what carseat you have (within reason of course) it fits! So, you can use one side as a travel system style, and the other kid can sit normally

-There is an adaptor for a third kid (or one that just wants to stand instead of sit) called a "Glider Board" that you can put behind the seats for them to stand on and "help" push

-The sun shades are HUGE and have 3 positions

-Also and adaption for a tray for the kids

-There's all sorts of different kinds of covers but I probably wont get any of them

-The wheels come on and off. I think this might come in handy when you put it in your car and the wheels take up a lot of room

-Tall seat backs. I put Avery in their smaller model and you could tell that it wouldnt be long before she grew out of it

-Of course, the pretty green color!

Here is a video that puts the stroller into action:
http://cache.vendaria.com/vpop/VpopV6.html?ct=25&ctname=ui&fw=700&fh=520&logo=518&fv=10&ap=vnd_babyjogger_city_elite_stroller&purl=MAIN_babyjogger_city_elite_stroller&iid=CdCpFgVzqIvvLvJIKvuIFgVwqvKJKu&bg=FFFFFF&nm=BZOpener&curl=&err=0&title=Vendaria%20Media&tp=

The only downsides that I have found so far (after seeing it in person) are that it is heavier than I expected. This isn't really that big of a deal to me cuz I could still lift it. Also, it doesnt fold super flat, either. It gets smaller than you would think since it is so big, but it wasnt super impressive. I've seen smaller ones.

The biggest downside is it's price.... bummer! I get sick just thinking about it, but I have about 8 months before Griblet 2 gets here so I am going to do some serious saving till then! I have found it on ebay several times for about 1/2 the cost but I still can't commit to it yet.

Anyways, I think that's all....

I hope I didnt bore you with this, but I have had several people ask why I want that stroller so bad, so I thought it would just be easier to put it up on here for everyone to read.

Wish me luck on saving up till August! :)

Avery 11 Months

Avery is such a happy baby!! I get asked all the time if she is always so "smiley" and of course, I respond with "Yes, as long as she's not tired! lol"

Here are a few developments that we have noticed this month:

1. She has a total of 6 teeth now. This has helped so much with her eating solids! She is off all baby food and eating table food now. I have to say that it gets pretty hard to find new things to give her that are easy to eat, small, not too strong of flavors, and of course nutritious. I feel like I give her the same things all the time. I am really going to have to get more creative at the grocery store.

2. She can stand securely on her own for good amounts of time. She even stood up a few times with out pulling up on anything!! I think it surprised her as much as it did me, lol. She is taking a few steps but still needs the confidence and more balance to take off. It won't be long now!

3. As I have pointed out here, she LOVES pillows! If there is one in reach, she is taking it!

4. She has some new dance moves... also mentioned here. No matter how many times she does it, it's funny every time! For some reason "Jingle Bells" would really get her going!

5. Santa brought her a baby doll for Christmas and she has been attached every since. It's not quite as special as her blanket, but its right up there in the ranks!

6. We've hit a milestone this week.... She is weening herself of needing a bottle to go to sleep. Now, I know a lot of people would shake their finger at me and say that was a bad habit to get into, and maybe it was, but it happened. Up until just recently she has wanted a bottle to go to sleep. Now, she still wants one for comfort, but she doesn't need it to go to sleep. At night, and sometimes at nap time, she will drink for a few minutes, then spit it out and roll around in my arms as if to tell me "Mom, I'm ready to get into my bed now!" So, I've been putting her in bed awake and she just rolls over and goes to sleep. It's AWESOME!! I know people say I should have trained her a long time ago to do that, but I have always believed that things like that they eventually grow out of... What's the rush??

Anyways, now it's time to start planning her first birthday! I can't believe it!! Invites are already out and decorations are bought. My baby isn't such a baby anymore... :(

Christmas 2010

This year was so special since it was the first one for Avery and we got to have Santa come visit for the first time. I think she really had a lot of fun and instantly got the hang of pulling the paper off the presents! Unfortunetly we did not take that many pictures, but here's some from the week:

This is the Raggedy Ann quilt that my mom made for Avery

Big Sister!

Avery is going to be a big sister come August! We couldn't be happier!!

Head Banger!

Avery's got some new dance moves...

Please excuse the blurryness.... Our camera is not an auto focus when set to video so Jeff forgot to focus... Oh well

Training Wheels

... For walking, that is. Allyson got this stroller for Avery for Christmas. She loves it! I hope it really does help her learn to walk soon.

Watch Out!

She'll steal your pillow!

Avery 10 Months

Ok, I am officially over a week late with this. Sorry!! It has been a crazy few weeks, to say the least. Good thing I had a post-it with a list of things for me to talk about through out the month so that I wouldn't forget anything.
I took Ave's to the doctor for her booster flu shot so she got weighed and measured on the 10th. She is 20 lbs 12 oz and 30 inches long.
She has grown in length but not too much on her weight. Part of that reason is because she refuses to eat solids!!!!!!!! It is so incredibly frustrating and exhausting! She will not eat off a spoon any more. no matter what the food is, she sees that baby spoon come at her and she throws a fit! She will eat finger foods, a few bites anyways, so I think she just wants to feed herself instead of me doing it. That's all I can guess anyways. She loves to eat bananas if I hold it and she can take bites off it; she will not eat it if I chop it up and give her small pieces. (picky picky!!) Likewise, she LOVES french fries and all of those Gerber snacks. If I were to let her she would eat a whole can of the Gerber cheese puff things and yogurt bites. At least they aren't too bad for her. I can get her to nibble on chicken fries and green beans, but those are hit and miss.
Anyways, the doctor said not to worry that she will catch on soon and get hungry enough that she will eat. I just need to be persistent in making 3 sit down meals to give her a routine.

Here's a few things on my list of things I've noticed she has done this month:

-looking under rugs

Why, I have no idea, but she has a fascination with rugs
-spitting
She will literally look at you, stick her tongue out and spit! If you repeat it, she thinks its a game and will keep doing it. It's pretty cute, but I need to get onto her at this point to teach her that's not nice; especially when she does it to me if I get onto her for getting rocks out of the fireplace!
-dancing

Dancing queen!! any sound of music and she is swinging her arms and bouncing up and down. She loves music!
-cuddles

There have been multiple instances when she is tired, she will come crawl into my lap and I will rock her and she just cuddles and coos until she falls asleep. Right now, the rocking chair has been replaced with the Christmas tree, but I am hoping that she keeps doing this. It will make nap time so much easier
-opening doors

Do not leave a door cracked open; she will open it and venture into that area and get into something she's not supposed to.
-stands alone

She is getting very good at standing up. She isn't quite brave enough to take that step, though. I know she can do it since she has before, but she doesnt seem ready to walk yet.
-separation anxiety

Holy Moly does she have separation anxiety!!! She will hang on my legs and pull on my pants (which is very dangerous in pajama pants) to be held constantly.
-gets mad when things are taken from her
-predictable and regular night time sleep
-waves hello and bye bye
-blows bubbles with drool

This is really gross. She makes this sound kinda like "mama" but it sounds a little different. When she is doing that she is letting her drool pour out of her mouth and blows bubbles in it. I get so grossed out when she does it, but I have to say it's pretty talented
-4 teeth

-refuses to hold bottle

This is also frustrating. I have tried numerous sized bottles and types of sippy cups but she refuses to drink by herself. Hopefully she picks up on this one sometime soon.

That's all I can think of right now.

I can't wait to see how she does for her First Christmas!!

New Furniture

I can't tell you how excited I am about this!!
A few months ago I saw this piece in the Potterybarn magazine:

Source
I fell in love with it and thought it would be perfect for in our master bedroom. I would use it to get a lot of our "office" supplies out of our guest bedroom closet now that I have a laptop. The only hitch was that it was $899 for the top and bottom pieces together. That was WAY more than we wanted to spend.

So, I went to my father-in-law. He is an AWESOME carpenter and craftsman so I thought I would see if he could make something similar for cheaper.

Sure enough, he could! Here it is:

Isn't it perfect?! It looks just like the Potterybarn one except we made it about 12" wider and about 12" taller.

It took no time for me to fill it up!

It even goes perfect with the chair that I remodeled that sits in our room!

Thanks again, Ronnie!!!