Tuesday

Good morning, everyone. I am in a great mood because I just saw that the high for the day is in the 60s. Woo-hoo. We got to spend all afternoon outside yesterday, and it was beautiful, and we will be headed out again today.

I think it is good for the soul to spend time outside. Do you agree?

This morning we are headed to the library for story time, and then I have more cleaning projects on my list.

The nesting is taking over my life. I can't stop. I am not a cleaner by nature, as you know, but right now I can't sit still because I keep thinking of things that need to be done. I am whipping this house into shape, and I think I am going to send myself into labor in the process. Yesterday as I moved and rearranged and vacuumed the "extra room" upstairs, I had to stop every few minutes to get through a contraction. But there just isn't time to sit still and kick up my feet. Last night as John very uncomfortably forced his legs into my ribs, I decided that John can come as soon as he wants to. I am over pregnancy, for sure. (Don't worry, mom, I still think it will be a couple of weeks). I do go to the doctor tomorrow, so hopefully they will check to see if there is any progress.

In the mean time, I thought I would post a few pictures that I took yesterday. I am trying to soak up play time with Ada during these last couple of weeks before I become mom to two.

Down to the Wire

I have that feeling that I used to have when I was facing a 20 page paper due in three days, and I really hadn't even started. I remember parking my car at the library, checking out a lap top from the front desk (I didn't have a computer of my own), and moving myself into a study room for the next 24 hours, or until the library closed. It was a panicky feeling, and it always felt impossible. I would look out the window at all the students walking to class in the fresh air, and I felt like I was trapped inside that room. Most of the time, the paper got done, but there were some close calls. Times that I knew this was the one that wouldn't happen.

Well, here I am, four weeks (?) away from my due date, and there is much to do before I really feel ready for John's arrival. I was ready weeks in advance with Ada, and then I sat around my apartment counting the days until she would finally come. Now, I just feel that same panicked feeling from college. This time, I think, it's not going to happen.

So, today I made a list for the weekend. Guess what is on tonight's agenda--paint, paint, paint. I hope to start next week with John's room in order, everything in it's place, just waiting on his tiny little self to move in. Tonight I will also clean the kitchen, dining room, and living room (which won't take that long because those three things are on my daily housekeeping list), and then I will clean the guest bedroom and bath.

Tomorrow I tackle the master bedroom and bath and the never-ending laundry pile.

And finally, on Sunday, Scott will finish painting a shelf for John's room, I will clean a piece of furniture for Ada's room, we will move the changing table into John's room, and everything should be in place. For now, I plan to buy some plastic drawers to keep in John's closet until I can buy a permanent chest of drawers.

Then next week, I plan to tie up loose ends--closets that need to be organized, floors that need to be mopped, etc. etc. I want to give myself some breathing room just in case he decides to make an early appearance. You just never know. With Ada I hoped for an early arrival; this time I need every day that I can get to be as ready as possible. Can you really ever be ready for something like this though?

Auburn again

Well, the week had to end some time, right?

We are headed back to Auburn today so that mom can reunite with the Corolla and head back to Scottsboro. What does this mean for me? That I will eat Big Blue Bagel for lunch. And it never tastes better than when I am pregnant. Woo-hoo!!!!!!

What else do I want to tell you?

Well, remember this from so long ago?

yes that is my sewing machine that has been sitting in closet for fear that I would break it if I tried to use it. We unearthed it in the midst of the organizing, mom ordered a "super deluxe" manual for it on the internet, and she is taking it home to figure it out. (She is more familiar with sewing machines than me). Next time I am home she will hopefully teach me the basics of using it, and I will be off on my sewing adventures. Thanks again, Amy, I am so thrilled to have it.

Bows are also on the brain. With Ada's pictures coming up, and fall outfits filling her drawers, I have been thinking about bows and needing to order a few from my friend Bethany. (Bethany, my mom paid for one at a Vinings boutique yesterday so I would have it for the pictures on Saturday. It costs so much more than yours, and it didn't have a no slip grip like yours. I will be placing an order with you soon. Yours continue to be the best out there!!) But we did get a red and green one at the boutique yesterday because Ada will be wearing her Christmas dress in the pictures, and the bows are appropriately Christmasy.

Anyway, I think I might try my hand at making a bow. Darby (surely you know about her blog?) has a tutorial for making one, and I am thinking, why not try it? We'll see how that goes. Most likely, I will decide to leave the bow making to you, Bethany.

So those are my thoughts on this Friday morning. What is mainly on my brain? A honey maple turkey bagel with bagel chips and honey mustard. Oh, I can hardly wait.

It's been a successful week

Well, I am almost to the end of my week with mom, and we have accomplished much. I feel so much more prepared for John's arrival. Thank you, mom!! I told her today that I didn't realize just how much I could accomplish in a day.

Let me show you what we have been up to.These are boxes full of old teaching stuff, and I threw much away. This is the stuff that I felt the need to keep, "just in case." Let me show you all that I am throwing away.

Can you believe this was "clogging" up my house? (mainly my closets!!!)

And Ada has been her usual self in the midst of all the cleaning out--you know, climbing and jumping. Today we told her that walker pictured below was for Andrew to use, so the rest of the day she liked to climb in and announce that she was Baby Andrew. She also liked to climb onto the tray part and jump off.

Here are the baby clothes we are getting rid of.And here are the ones to be stored just in case another little girl ever shows up on our door step;)In the mean time, my bedroom has stayed clean (thank you, mom!) despite the organizing and tutoring and Ada watching that still had to be done.And here is the closet where all of these things were. Can you believe it? We hope to turn this particular closet into a little play area for Ada. With John on the way, she won't have the luxury of an entire play room, but this closet is quite roomy and even has its very own window. Mom and I are envisioning a "play house" type situation. It is attached to a room that will become an office/sewing room/extra sleeping space room. What still needs to be done?
this disaster will eventually become John's room. And after I weed out and throw away unused toys, I will corral everything into the play "closet."

And this pile of junk--it's Scott job. Do you see the dvds? He's been collecting these since college. Tomorrow we are taking a break from all the hard work and we are headed to my old stomping grounds--Vinings. I am so thrilled. Why are we going, you ask? Because I am finally getting that overdue hair cut. I have been talking about getting my hair cut since July, and it is now October. Oh my word, I am so excited. I am returning to the place where I used to go because after waiting this long, I want to be sure I like what they do.

So...that's our week in summary. How is yours going?