Grandma & Baby "K"

This has been a wonderful week of visitors!  We had our good friend "B" come to visit on Monday, along with another fantastic friend "D."  They brought us lunch, and we even squeezed in a walk, because the weather was so wonderful!

Tuesday brought one of my bell choir cohorts for a visit.  She cuddled with baby "K" and brought him a super soft bib!  On Wednesday, Grandma and Aunt "D" came to visit.  Grandma had a great time holding and snuggling with our little guy!

Thursday was a visit from the home health nurse to check his weight.  Baby "K" is up to 8 pounds!  So, he is growing, and I believe that my little bitty bundle won't last too much longer =)

It is Friday, and I am waiting for my East Coast friend "E" and my local good friend "D" to come for a visit.  "E" is staying for almost a week!  I am so excited to catch up, and have some extra hands too.  Welcome and thank you to all our visitors!

Bathen to Bathroom!

Mr. Fixit has still be busy with projects the last several weeks!  I am very excited to have some of these projects crossed off the list.  There is almost something in progress in every room in the house - which makes for a cleaning adventure, by the way.

So, the sheet rock, toilet, shower and vanity sink have been installed, and are fully operational.  A medicine cabinet has been hung, and I stocked it yesterday with our items.  Mr. Fixit painted the walls, and is currently laying flooring.  This floor matches what was laid in our kitchen/dining area and office.

Today, Mr. Fixit is glueing the tiles down, and tomorrow will be when the grouting occurs.  I am so ready for the big finish!  There is still trim to add, and some other small construction details to complete -- but I can see the end in site!  I love the ocean blue color, and think the decor is quite relaxing!

Home for a Week

Baby "K" has been home for one week!  He had his first Doctor's appointment on Friday, and he now weighs 7 pounds!  The nurses had fun holding him, and talking to him as they attempted to measure his head circumference, his length and his weight.  Baby "K" did not think this was a fun process at all, and I am pretty sure the whole Doctor's office patients and staff were aware of his opinions on the matter!

Grandma "S" came a week ago, and headed back home today.  It was sure wonderful to have an extra set of hands to help this week.  She cleaned, cooked and was a great listening ear as our little guy was getting settled into his new home.

Other visitors for the week: our rural mail carrier, cousins "A" and "E" and sister-in-law "K" popped by for a short visit earlier today.  The week looks promising for visitors too!  We love having friends and family come to check on us =).  Take care, and enjoy this after bath picture!

Welcome Baby "K"!

Our new little guy arrived about a week ago - March 10, 2011.  He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long!  He was born at 4:47 p.m. that day.  The weather was 55 degrees and cloudy.  We arrived to the hospital shortly before 1:00 p.m. and he arrived shortly before 5:00 p.m.

Baby "K" has been a pretty good eater, but his tummy is giving him lots of fits right now.  So, we are trying lots of different things to see what will make him feel better.  This Mommy is definitely tired.  We have not been able to sleep a night, or even a partial night yet.  A very uncomfortable baby leads to lots of crying.  Pray that he hops out of this phase soon!

Last Lil' Peanut Picture

This is it!  We have made it 42 weeks, and this journey is about to end - and another will soon begin!  How fitting that this falls during the Lenten season, right?  A season full of beginnings and endings.  Thanks to all for being a part of this journey!

I have appreciated your words of support, advice, laughs, phone calls and visits more than I can express.  Thanks to friends and family for the kind support through showers.  We are definitely quite blessed!

I am not sure when I will be back to share more news, so until then - take care!  I hope to post some next journey pictures and stories soon!

Bath Action

Mr. Fixit has been busy building the new bathroom!  The shower has been hooked up.  The sink countertop has been set - and water hooked up.  The toilet has been installed, and plumbed.  Sheetrock is in progress, and paint has been purchased!

The bathroom will be finished soon.  We are not sure, if it will be finished in time for the arrival of the new addition, but nonetheless -- soon!  I have been doing my part to keep Mr. Fixit's energy going, by baking some of his favorite meals.  Here's hoping we have a finished bath to show you soon!

Patiently Waiting

Remember my little Amaryllis?  Well, it is still green, and still growing - but, I have not had any flowers!  My wish for it to bloom around Valentine's Day was not granted.  So, I thought, no problem - it will bloom very soon!

I am still waiting for the bell-shaped flowers to appear.  Everyone gets anxious and excited for new life.  Spring is the most exciting season of the year, because that is when new life begins.I think we are all the more anxious this year, because of the large amounts of snow and winter that came our way!

So, just know, that I am patiently waiting for my sleeping flower to bloom.  Thanks for patiently waiting too!

What's Your African Violet?

Yesterday, one of the Deacons provided the sermon.  The meaning definitely resonated with me.  Maybe because it had to do with one of my favorite hobbies, plants?  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story and the meaning too!

A doctor went to visit a patient at her home.  He was told that she was suffering from depression, and that she would benefit from a visit.  This woman happened to be a member of the same church that the doctor also attended.

When he arrived at her house, he discovered a woman who was quite down and out.  He also saw three African Violets growing on the windowsill, next to an empty pot.  He presumed that the empty pot was waiting, ready for the next African Violet.

After talking with the woman, the doctor told the woman that she was not suffering from depression, but instead suffering from a lack of Christian purpose.  The doctor stated that she had a gift - propagating African Violets, yet she did not share this gift with others.  The doctor than asked the woman, if he were to give her a prescription, would she fill it?  The woman replied, yes, she would.

So, the doctor prescribed this.  He asked the woman to propagate more African Violets.  When she had more, she should find a new mother in the parish, and take one to her and her new baby.  She should take an African Violet to a woman who recently lost her husband.  She should take an African Violet to someone who recently had surgery.

Over the course of the next 11 years, the woman did just that - and more.  One day an article on the front page of the paper, caught the eye of many.  "African Violet Queen Dies - Mourned by Thousands."  So, the question posed to us is, "What is my African Violet?"  "What is your African Violet, that you can do/give to others.  So, as Lent is about to begin - what will your African Violet be?

Mom's Crib

I have been the designated keeper of Mom's crib, since we had her Mother's auction about 11 years ago.  I used it for stuffed animals and some of my baby craft projects that I created during my childhood years.  Most recently, the crib hung out in the basement - holding pillows and unused bedding items.

This was the crib that my Mom and her brothers and sisters used in their early days of life.  Grandma hung on to the crib, and each of us grandkids - 21 total - used the crib when we came to visit.  We were fortunate to visit several times a week, since we lived close by.  I also remember using the crib for our baby dolls too!

Well, when my grandmother passed away, Mom wanted the crib, but there was an issue of storage.  So, I hauled it back to my home, and have had it ever since.  I told Mr. Fixit that I wanted to place it in the living room, and then wheel it into our bedroom at nights.  I thought this would make it easier for napping and feeding in the first days at home.

So, here is a picture of the crib!  I think it will work quite well, and I think it is ready for another generation!

Master Bath-to-Be

There are still a few things missing from the master bath.  I will say though, that it is not the bathtub part.  That, thankfully, has been installed and even hooked to the water supply and the drain.  I love having a tub shower!

Nope, one of the things that happens to be missing is this toilet.  As you can see, the toilet has been assembled.  Did you know that there is some assembly required with toilets?  Who knew!  Anyway, it has been assembled, and is hanging out in our bedroom -- waiting for the big moment of when it will be united with water and pipes.

When, you ask, will this monumental moment occur?  Good question!  Actually, this has been my standard question for the last three weeks or so.  The plumber is coming today - no show.  The plumber is coming tomorrow - no show.  The plumber is coming the next day - no show.  Anyway, you get the picture.  The plumber still has not arrived.

I am ready to clean the house from top to bottom, before this baby arrives.  At this point, I am not even certain that the master bathroom will be completed, which makes me a bit on the cranky side.  So, let's hope the plumber actually comes, and gets this task accomplished soon!

The Adventures of Mr. Fixit - Operation Latex Caulk

Mr. Fixit loves to build, construct, create and just plain have a project or two in the works.  One of the projects he is currently working on is trim.  He likes everything to be nicely sealed, and no nail holes peeking out either.  So, his favorite tool of the trade you ask?  Well, none other than latex caulk!

Now, I admit, I have given him a hard time about the caulk habit of his.  As a matter of fact, we have half a case left in the basement, at the moment.  It seemed like every shopping adventure to the home store warranted the purchase of a new tube, so I convinced him to buy a case.  By the way, it was not a hard sell!  Might at well admit that we have a habit behavior in the works =)

Truth be told, the stuff does do the trick.  I, however, am not bothered by the slight space between the trim and the ceiling or wall.  I think it provides character to the whole decorating scheme.  Now, Mr. Fixit can not stomach the fact that there is an unsealed space - so latex caulk it he must.  After the caulk dries, paint then is applied to camoflauge the white left behind.  Here is a picture of a trim board in progress.  Just think, he still has the outside windows to do yet this spring!  I don't know that we have enough tubes left!