one thing i love about our home

We have LOTS of nooks and crannies to display special items to us.

This is the only photo we have of Greg's dad as a toddler. Ain't he a cutie?

And right next to a special photo, is Greg's to-do list. I'm pretty sure he's finished most of this, but has yet to erase these items, so there they remain.

Our Halloween

In the afternoon on Halloween, we were visited by the Yellow Fairy.
This is a very particular type of fairy as she makes rainbows, apparently and differs GREATLY from the Purple Fairy that visited us last year.

Check out those gold shoes!

And, some wand action.

Later that night, we were visited by 100+ college students for a bonfire and hayride. I know the count only because I had 96 spoons and ran out. I also have no photos of the event as I barely survived. All our guests were very gracious and wonderful and we plan to do it again next year, but hopefully I won't be walking around with a 37 week belly and swollen feet. That would be much more enjoyable I'm sure.

38 weeks

At 38 weeks + 3 days (I suppose I'm a little late on this post)

• I'm more swollen than ever. I even wake up swollen. These shoes b.a.r.e.l.y made it on my feet and it took two people to get them on.
• Greg was nice enough to take some photos on our way out the door to worship this morning. So grateful for that because any day now, Claire will be here and I don't want to regret not having photos of this time with her.
• I finally decided I do NOT like the color of her room and it needs to be repainted. I know lots of people have been requesting photos, but you'll just have to wait now :)
• Greg helped me finish some artwork for Claire's room and all her clothes and linens have been washed and put away. My part is complete.
• I still haven't packed my bag for the hospital. Am I testing fate? Probably, but I really think I'll have time to get everything together. I have a mental list anyway.
• Studio Calico is plugging along and I have worked through as much as I can before her due date so the business runs smoothly for at least a few days for me to take a break with Claire. I can't say enough about the wonderful people who work for SC and their willingness to pitch in and do extra work during this time.
• I'm down to weekly visits at the OB, but my appointment on Friday was rescheduled because of an emergency at the hospital. I'm kind of glad because last week I reported no weight gain, and this week, I'm sure all the cheesecake squares I've been eating have caught up with me.
• I've continued to maintain my luck in the stretch-mark and heartburn categories, but in the burping category, I'm a complete failure. It's terrible.
• I finished all my Thank-You notes thus far and am feeling great about that. I think I'll let Greg help by taking them to the Post Office since that's my least favorite chore. He keeps asking what he can do to help, so..............
• I'm hoping that I don't have a 39 week post. VERY ready for her to arrive this week.
  

Oh, and thanks for all the doggie-baby advice. Definitely have some plans in place now.
Kirsty, Jett is a min-pin (miniature pinscher) and very much like the breed you already have.

this fella

I don't even care that this photo is out of focus.

No judging.

This little fella is going to have a tough time when Claire gets here. I'm getting a bit worried about it. You see, *he's* the baby. He would like to be held 23 hours of every day and spend the other hour chasing turkeys or eating from Greg's plate. And, the last few weeks, he's really become needy of my attention, wanting to be with me all day. Every day. Right next to me. On my lap (what's left of it that is).

I love him so much and I know that won't change post-baby, but I don't know how I can hold both he and she at the same time and get anything done throughout the day.

Now, I don't think he'll rebel and pee all over the house, or bite her or anything like that. I just think he'll act pitiful and like he's being neglected which will just tear my heart to pieces. He's got a way of doing that, that will melt a heart of stone.

Any suggestions that don't involve carrying a baby doll around? He's too smart for that.

Studio Calico - Napa Valley

Again this month for my kit layouts, I was all about keeping my feet up as much as possible. I'm typically a night-scrapper, which can pose problems when you're feet are HUMONGOUS by 5:00. So, for most of these layouts, I planned them ahead in my head, then ran to my scrapbook room and scrapped each one in about 30-45 minutes.

I've been waiting to scrap this photo for a little while and when I saw the months paper whimsies in the main kit, I knew this would be the perfect layout to use them on. I wish I had taken more photos as G was putting the crib together that night, but the ones I do have, I will treasure. I just love watching him prepare for our first baby.

Another layout about G preparing for the baby. He's been reading this book about child-training for almost the entire 37 weeks I've been pregnant. It's 90 pages, so he's on pace with about 1/3 page per day, so he should finish while I'm in labor. Let's just hope that his slow pace is helping him absorb the message.

This was my favorite layout this month and was made entirely with my favorite add-on: Mendocino. I added the Circle Punch (which is sold out but being restocked) and some Antique Linen Distress ink.

This layout was made with the Sonoma add-on. I wasn't too sure I'd like this add-on when I first saw it all in one place, but I ended up liking all the elements because they're so neutral. They blended so well with the other kits, including the main, so that was helpful in putting layouts together. I've almost used all of those gems in the tape roll by Making Memories.

Last, another of my favorite layouts. This is a photo of me at about 3 years old painting our fence in Texas. My favorite part about the layout is the paintbrush stamp that's included in the Mendocino add-on. I used Stampin Up! inks on kraft cardstock, but the new Jenni Bowlin colors would work very well with this stamp. If I had them at the time I made this layout, I would have used them for sure. Oh, and don't forget to add glossy accents to your cart if you don't have any. Sometimes I forget it's a supply that I have on hand, but with this layout, it really made simple hole-punched circles stand out.

Hope you enjoyed the reveal this month at SC. Kits start shipping on the 3rd!

37 weeks

At 37 weeks:

• I just noticed the my belly looks pointy from above at times. Like in the photo here. I guess it depends on Claire's position and if she's sticking her hiney out. Greg says it looks like a square from the side and is taking photos of my side-view while I'm typing this, threatening to facebook it.
• I haven't had a day of heartburn, but I've had about a million burps in the last hour. That seems to be the thing for me.
• I still don't have stretch marks (knocking vigorously on wood here).
• I didn't gain a pound this past week at the doctor and I was so happy mainly because I predicted it before I stepped onto the scale. The nurse was quite surprised (not sure if she was surprised I hadn't gained since I look enormous, or surprised that I predicted it, but I'm going with the latter).
• It was time for my baby shower. More on that later, but it was FAB-U-LOUS. Swollen ankles and all.
• I ordered my Thank-You cards and have lots to write. Can't wait to get them in and see them. They're super-cool if I do say so myself.
  
• I tried to put on my wedding ring for the first time in 5 months and couldn't even get it on my pinky. I think I've swollen even more than I thought I had.
• There are two more loads of laundry to do before Claire comes, plus I have to finish some artwork for her room. I plan to do that this weekend along with a Halloween party for the college kids from church. We'll see how that goes, though.
• One more thing I'm proud of. Despite my insatiable thirst, my bladder is still holding on strong. I haven't once had to get up in the middle of the night for that reason. Usually, I just wake up and lay here wishing I could sleep.
• And, if I must admit it, I'm a little sad that Claire will be the first grandchild on both sides, mainly because she won't have cousins. She'll just have to adopt some, I suppose.
• Greg has completely cleaned out the car and says it's because I'm nesting. I don't know why he thinks that because I've always liked to organize things, but whatever the case, I didn't argue. I have a clean car!
  

sunday sketch at SC!

If you haven't already, head over to the Studio Calico blog for a fun new sketch this week based on a layout by the hilariously funny and stunningly sentimental Laura Kurz. I loved the layout featured and am hosting the blog today. Above is a sneak of my layout based on the sketch.

happenstance

We're headed to a Halloween/Fall party tonight sans bonfire. I feel so sad about the lack of fire, but we've had no rain here for so long and there's a no-burn ordinance in effect. But, we'll bundle up, head out and take a dessert to the party and have a wonderful time with lots of friends.

I decided to make Pecan Pumpkin Butter Dessert Squares after having it saved in my RSS folder for a little while. I don't really care for pumpkin, but when I saw these stacked up on Bakerella's blog, they did look scrumptious.

So, today when I realized I needed to make a dessert pronto, I went to my RSS feed and started browsing. This one popped out at me because it's so fallish, but the main ingredient is Pecan Pumpkin Butter from Williams-Sonoma (over an hour away). Thinking the jar looked familiar, I headed to my pantry and what-do-you-know, I had a jar of it! I know it's not something I would buy. Actually, I think one of my former pharma reps gifted it to me a couple years ago, either that or Greg bought it. In either case, it was still in date so the baking commenced.

And, to make up for any out-datedness, I decided to use my primo Watkins Cinnamon instead of Kroger brand.


Just to enable you, they taste as good as they look and I don't even like pumpkin.

clever

Seriously?

How cool is this? I'm trying to justify getting this and hanging it by my front door. I really need to be buying baby items now....or post-pregnancy clothes but isn't this just so fun?

36 weeks

• Claire is moving around so much, I actually video-taped my belly this morning. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but oh well. It was less than a minute, because any more than that I felt was self-indulgent.
  
• I'm still swelling like crazy. When I wear boots, I have to put them on right after I get out of the shower, otherwise they won't ever go on my feet. Then after wearing them a few hours, my toes are numb.
• I still don't have a single stretch mark, although I almost freaked out when I woke up one morning and there was a crease on my belly. Without my contacts in, it looked like 3 humongous stretch marks on my left side.
• Jett is now using my belly as a prop for his front legs so he can kiss my face.
  
• I'm officially an insomniac. I usually wake up at 3:00am and can't go back to sleep.
• I've worked ahead at Studio Calico so I won't have to worry about so much after Claire arrives. That's been my main focus lately.
• I've decided drinking caffeine is okay at this point in my pregnancy. I need my Diet Dr. Pepper with Vanilla from Sonic during Happy Hour to calm my nerves. :)
• Greg's getting anxious to meet Claire. He keeps saying things like, "We're having a baby!" and "Can you believe it, she'll be here in a month!"