New Rooms!

Finally "finished" the new nursery up last weekend (it still needs some decorative stuff, but, for the most part it's ready to go). 

We ended up doing some switch-a-roo-ing to make "everything" fit in terms of rooms of our house.  Jacob's office was downsized and was moved to a section of our TV room (I was worried that it was going to be too crowded, but it actually turned out ok).  Emily was moved from her nursery to a new "big girl room" that was Jacob's office, and the new baby will reside in the nursery that's been updated slightly since Emily's departure.

For those of you who have been reading my blog since Emily's arrival (and for those of you who haven't), here's a reminder of what the nursery looked like when it was her's.  The main differences now is a new rug, new curtains (we actually got even NEWER curtains since the below photos were taken--they are all navy now) and some different wall decorations:

Emily's new "big girl room" is where most of my energy was spent.  She already had her toddler bed, but needed a dresser, bookshelves/case, some organizational stuff, and some kind of seating... so I got to go shopping.  =)  We kept the curtains from her nursery, just moved them over, and reused the same rug.  I found a great little dresser on a FB sales group and the bookcase from IKEA.  I even got to pick out a new paint color for the walls!  I wasn't sure what to do about seating, but was able to find a slipcover that worked for the chair that was in there when it was still Jacob's office.  So that worked out, too!  We did all of the painting and most of the furniture stuff back in August when Emily spent a week with her grandparents, and then we moved her in a couple of weeks later.

I think my kids have some pretty cute, comfy, cozy rooms if I do say so myself.  ;)  Now it's time to change up my own! lol

Camping While Pregnant with a Potty Training Toddler

I was a little nervous about our camping trip last week... both due to the fact that I'm 6 months prego, that Emily was only one week into potty training, and that it was forecast to be roughly 90F throughout the weekend.  But, we had the reservation, so we went for it.  And, for the most part, I'm happy to report that it went very well!

We went up to Camp Dakota.  Jacob had a Groupon for some of the activities.  Since I'm not really able to go ziplining, rock climbing and paint balling, he invited his brother to go along.  Emily had an absolute blast hanging out with her cousin Sophie! (It would be cool to go back sometime when the kids are older and I can actually DO some of the stuff!)

So, the key things to note before I overwhelm you all with pictures:

1. Emily didn't have a SINGLE accident!  She "went" the whole weekend in her little potty!
2. The air mattress that I slept on was almost more comfortable that my Tempur-pedic bed... had a lot more "give" to it.
3. We were at a higher elevation, with more trees... so it only got in the 70s or so.  Great weather.  Though, still 6 months pregnant and over heating.  =)
4. Holding a potty training toddler over a porta-potty in the heat while pregnant is really, really gross.

OK... now for some photos.  =)

Perfect combo: One cousin learning how to read, another cousin who loves to be read to!

Emily would fall asleep each night on her air mattress in her sleeping bag, but every night she ended up squeezed between Jacob and I.

Our "indoor plumbing"  ;)

Learning Frisbee Golf!

She's got quite the arm!

Jacob and Sophie working their way to the top!

Our tee pee.  It was too hot to actually use, but cool to look at.  ;)

She LOVED this tire swing.  Scared the crap out of me though!

Making a fire in the tee pee while we hang out outside.  =)

Best Two out of Three

Saw this image on Facebook this evening and felt it was the perfect writing prompt.  =)

I have two full-time jobs (being a mom and working outside the home) and two part-time jobs (unfortunately I think being a wife and taking care of myself fall into this category).  I was not about to take on a third full-time job and try to be a housewife who (somehow) keeps the house running seamlessly as well.  I just don't feel like I can do it without losing myself and giving up any sort of me-time that I can find for self-care. 

Keeping up a house has NEVER been something that appealed to me/that I was any good at.  My mother LOVES to clean.  She'll actually do that as her me-time.  Me?  Nope.  Didn't get that gene AT ALL.  My room as a kid was a mess.  My room as an adult is a mess.  There is just so much more that I'd rather be doing that cleaning the house.

About a year ago Jacob and I made a couple of household-life-change decisions.  The first was that we would hire someone to come in once a month to give our house a nice cleaning.  The second was that we signed up for an online meal planning service.  Both of these decisions have been EXCELLENT.

Now, don't get me wrong, we still clean the house throughout the course of the month between professional visits, we don't live in a pig sty, but that once a month break/deep clean has been great (especially since the cleaner comes when I'm at work so I could home once a month to a spotless house after work and didn't have to lift a finger!).  I feel lucky that this is an expense that we can afford right now.  I doubt we'll be able to keep it up forever, but, for now I'm a happy wife.  =)  (especially when, even days later I run across things that were cleaned unexpectedly... like, for instance, the inside of our kitchen trash can!)

Using a meal planning service has also been amazing.  Before we would shop with no real list (except what we needed for the house), and then it was a constant battle every night after to work to figure out what to cook for dinner.  And we often had the same things over and over again.  And, while Jacob and I are both capable of cooking, I wouldn't say that either of us are particularly creative/adventurous in the kitchen.  In other words, it got a little boring.  Now, we get a weekly shopping list and dinner recipes via e-mail (I signed up for recipes for a family of 4-6 so that I'm sure to have left overs for lunch).  We just have to get to the store (or order from Safeway... we have definitely simplified our life by using that service every now and then, too!), get the things on the list, and then make one of the recipes each night when we get home.  Everything is laid out for us nicely and I don't have to think about a damn thing (except for doing any sort of pre-marinading or crock pot prep work that needs to happen beforehand).  Generally the meals are delicious and include healthy foods that we would not have even known what to do with before.  We've been VERY happy.

If I have to pick the best two out of three of that graphic above, it's going to be happy kids and my sanity every time.  I'm just blessed right now that I have the benefit of making that choice and can afford help in the other area.  I know that others don't have the same luxury, and to those women (and men!) I say "you are amazing."

Pictures for Mom

My Mom is, for some reason, completely anti-Facebook.  She doesn't want to admit that she uses a computer (although, she has slowly inched from occasionally ordering clothes online to now Googling recipes and craft projects... I wonder if anyone has showed her Pinterest yet... lol).  One thing that she DOES do online is read my blog... and occasionally I get guff for not posting enough pictures of her granddaughter (which are, consequently, all on Facebook).  So, for my mom, and as a recap of the last few months, here are some of my favorite photos from the summer.

You're welcome, Mom.  =)

Memorial Day at the beach

With her friend Tim

With Aunt Brittney and Cousin Jordan

No better view than atop daddy's shoulders!

Learning the climb!

Robinhood Festival in Sherwood

Sportin' some cool shades!

We totally look alike. lol

Feeding Daddy goldfish

At the splash park

Such a happy water baby!

Camping at the Beach!

The beach is my happy place.  The calm, serenity of the Oregon coast has the power to make all of my stresses just float away.  When I was in high school I used to drive to the high school, sit on the bleachers at the soccer field, close my eyes and listen to the cars go by on the nearby road, pretending that I was listening to the ocean waves.  I used to take day trips with friends to Florence... even when it was raining and so windy that our umbrellas blew inside out... didn't matter.  I just wanted to touch the sand and hear the ocean.  =)

It's no surprise, really, that the beach, specifically the Oregon coast, has become such a part of my life and memories.  I was more than a little excited when I found out that the guy I was dating had parents with a beach house--may or may not have been a factor in my ultimate "yes".  ;)  (Love you J. lol)  Jacob proposed to me while on a beach trip, and, a year later we were married with our feet in the sand. 

P.S. Tomorrow is our 3-year anniversary!

I try to make it to the beach for a true "vacation" at least once a summer.  Back in 2010 we discovered Beachside State Park campground.  There are tons of campgrounds along the coast highway.  But, what I LOVE about this one is that it is on the WEST side of the highway... ie no walk and no road to cross.  The beach is, quite literally, steps from each campsite.  We camped there in 2010 and again in 2011.  In 2012 we had an infant, so decided to skip a year, but this last weekend we went back... with our daughter. 

It has been amazing to introduce my daughter to the things/places/people that I love and watch her explore and fall in love with them, too.  Plus, she's an awesome little camper.  Slept great in the pack and play in our tent even with all of the nose around her.  She also wasn't too interested in the campfire (which made me feel better!).  It was a great weekend.  And I can't wait to go back next year.  I even took an inventory of the campsites so I can make sure to get the "best one" next year.  =)

Good Morning!

Yummy breakfast to start the day.

Reading Daddy a "wake up" story

Got her her very own camp chair.  ;)

My family!  (I'm not a giant... just sitting closer to the camera. lol)

Have bucket, will play!

On our way home we stopped at the Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center.  A great (cheap) alternative to the aquarium!  Emily got to touch and explore all kinds of stuff!