Blogging Again and Max's New Map Room

As Luigi would say, "I'm-a-back!" (Yes, I have a 4 year old, a husband and a Wii.) I would like to say that I have accomplished a lot over the past 5 months, but other than growing a little girl in my tummy, keeping up with a 4 year old and "completing" said 4 year old's Map Room I haven't accomplished much. I am excited to be back at blogging. I want to be able to use the blog as a way to document our lives and I hope I can keep it up this time. We'll see...

I am excited to share Max's new room. I started working on this project over Christmas break and last night I finally "finished" it. There is still much to be done in here, but it is good enough for now!

Our house has 2 bedrooms downstairs (including the master) and 3 bedrooms upstairs. Marcos uses one of the upstairs bedrooms for his office, I use another for the guest room and "my room" and, until recently, the other has been use for storage of baby stuff and other "stuff" we didn't know what to do with. Max has been downstairs with us. The news of Little Lily made us realize that it was time to move Max to the upstairs room. The problem? We had to make Max think this was a good idea...a little bribery never hurt! Talk of a cool new map room had him convinced!

This is what the room and closet looked like as the "we-don't-know-what-to-do-with-this" headquarters of the house.

Closet & Stuff

Cleaned-out Closet (don't ask me where the stuff went!)

Baby Furniture

The new view from the door. I decided to use the dresser that we used for Max's changing table in his room. This may mean that Lily won't have a changing table (did I mention that we are having a little girl in May and that her name will be Lily?). The globe is a Goodwill find and I think it is cool as ice.

(I don't have any progress shots--believe me, you don't want to see them anyway!)

Max's bed...I am still trying to decide on "art" for the walls. I have never been very good at hanging things on the wall.

This side of the room still needs a lot of help, but like I said, it is good enough for now!

This is a very old school desk that I refinished. I love the way that it turned out and I think that it makes the perfect bedside table for Max.

Max would be upset if I didn't point out his favorite item in the room--his orange lamp. My child loves all things orange.

The chalkboard wall in his closet is also one of his favorite parts of his new room.

I am happy to report that his transition to his new room has gone smoothly.

Now if I can only finish Lily's room by May!

Simplify

Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed and tired. No time to do the things that I want to do. My patience is short and my energy is even shorter. I attribute much of this to the crazy hormones that are rushing through my body and to this precious little one growing inside of me that is sucking every bit of energy out of me--it's not easy making a person! I must be honest, however, and admit that it is not my current state of pregnancy alone that is causing me to feel so run down. The truth: I wish that I did not have to work; that I could stay home all day everyday playing with Max and making this house a home. That I could focus 100% on my family--on being the best mother, wife, ME that I can be. The reality: I MUST work (at least for now:-). I have a lot to do over the next 7 months. This list includes: building my consultant business so that I can stay at home the majority of the time with my children (I must say that I thank God everyday for the people that He has put into my life to help make this dream a reality); completing all of the projects that I have started (and not completed); moving Max's room upstairs; decorating a nursery; painting, painting, painting; installing a carpet runner on the steps (I'm leaving this up to the pros); organizing and cleaning out; the list goes on and on... Some of these items are clearly important to be completed before the birth of this baby and others may seem silly to some. Either way, the fact that there has been little progress over the past few weeks makes me feel out of control. I was so intent on things being "perfect" when this baby arrives that before I even knew for sure that I was pregnant I spent several house with 10 months worth of calendars scheduling every waking moment--if nothing got me off track, I would complete all of my tasks just in time...so here I am weeks later and already far behind on my "to do's". Here is the curse that is the story of my life--set expectations that are unrealistic, spend too much time planning how these unrealistic expectations will be met, setting myself up for failure by scheduling too much to do in too little time; doing nothing (or very little) because I am too overwhelmed. The result: a feeling of failure and very little actually accomplished. So why do I keep doing this to myself? Not sure...I think that I want for things to be organized and settled when this baby is born because with Max they were not. We brought Max home to a very tiny apartment stacked to the ceilings with boxes, moved when he was 7 weeks old and still haven't caught up. Max changed my life in ways that I cannot explain. I now realize that when he was born I didn't really know who I was. I was 26 years old when he was born and I am now 30. It is amazing how much things can change in 4 short years. I often feel sorry for him because I had to learn on him. Learn what is really important in life. Learn that I am often way too selfish. Learn that what I do and the decisions that I make have a lasting impact on my children. The number one thing that I've learned: I want to be the type of mother to my children that my Grandmother was to me. Along with this lesson, I have also learned that I am simply not her. I am me. Now I know who I am and what is important. I know that I am a caring, creative, devoted person. I like to believe that the best parts of me reflect some of who she was--funny, quirky, loving, selfless. I am often disappointed that I don't live up to those expectations. I remember her spending hours studying with me in the afternoon, yet I sometimes find myself finding excuses as to why I don't have enough time to read a book to Max. Needless to say I have a lot of learning and growing left to do. It's like I feel like I need for everything in my house, my work and my finances to be perfectly in order so that I can focus completely on my children. I have come to realize that this perfection that I strive for does not exist. I need balance in my life and I have come to realize that the only way to obtain this balance is to prioritize and simplify. I'm not sure what exactly this means or looks like, but I am making it my mission to figure it out. My priority is, of course, my family--being able to be as involved as possible with Max's school and be able to stay home as much as possible with the new baby. I am not exactly sure what it means to simplify as I have always been one to make things harder than they need to be, but what I want is to be able to accomplish those tasks that will have the most positive impact on my family while avoiding "to do" lists that make me feel like I am being buried alive. I still I have a lot that I want (an need) to accomplish before the arrival of our second child, but I need to enjoy the process and realize that things will never be perfect. I will devote myself to completing those tasks that will enrich my life and the lives of my family. I need to simplify.

Photo courtsey of twistyfishies on Etsy

Inspired

I have been really slacking in the blog department lately--I'm blaming it on these crazy hormones that make me so tired I can barely make it through the day! BUT...I have been inspired to do better and not allow the hormones to beat me! I have much on my "to do" list that I want to share with you! What has inspired this new found motivation?



I have been inspired by my BFF's new blog! She has always inspired me and she is super creative and talented! Check out her blog I am sure you will be inspired too! Check back here tomorrow to learn how to make art out of an old window pane!

The Best Pajamas EVER!

Max has a "thing" for pajamas and I have a "thing" for how cute he looks in them. He has had some cute, unique, comfortable pajamas in his collection, but these are by far the coolest!

I found them on sale at the Gap Outlet (where I buy most of his clothes for super cheap). I knew he HAD to have them. Not only is he the cutest skeleton ever, but this latest addition to his pajama collection even GLOWS in the dark. In boy world things don't get much cooler than that! The only down fall is that he keeps turning off all of the lights and closing the door.

Wrapping it up!

We have a birthday party to go to tomorrow at Chuck-e-Cheese. The perfect gift for a two-year-old little girl? BOOKS! The perfect "wrapping"? A $3 Wal-mart basket...

Max helped me pick out the books and we wrote a little note inside each of the books so the Birthday Girl would know that they were "Max Approved"...

I then searched the garage for some spray paint that would be suitable for a little girl--yellow offered a nice change for me. I pulled out the mask and sprayed the basket.

Twenty minutes later we have a personal gift that she is sure to enjoy for years to come.

I always like to use twine with ribbon to make my bows.

A few months ago I used some birthday paper to make a whole set of tags so that I don't have to make one every time we have a party to go to. This one matched my color theme perfectly.

Other great wrapping ideas...

Number paper and a red marker = "Calendar" Wrapping Paper

Jump Rope Ribbon

Cupcake Foil Flowers--This one is on my list to try!

Pom-poms--Cute & Cheap

Newspapers & Maps--Very Green!

And for the man in your life...a "Man Bucket"

Images courtesy of Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Marie Claire Idees via blackeiffel.blogspot.com and Simple Treasures

I've Got News...

OK, so I'm not that great at keeping secrets, but my news is too good to keep to myself!

Max is going to be a big brother!

I took 3 tests just to make sure!

TWO pink lines for sure and we couldn't be more excited. We have planned and waited on this for so long and we are thanking God for this blessing!

This momma's gotta get to bed so good night!

My New Best Friend

Meet my new best friend!

The Kobalt Large Gravity Feed Spray Gun!

Fancy, right?

I ran across a blog about a week ago that introduced me to the spray gun attachment for an air compressor. I was so excited about the thought of having a spray gun to make all of the painting that I need to do much easier and much quicker. I rushed to Home Depot the next day to get the exact spray gun as Holly from Life in the Fun Lane. I was disappointed that the gun was not compatible with our air compressor. I left Home Depot empty handed. Today I went to Lowe's to see if they had a spray gun that would work with my air compressor and they did!! I was so excited that I came home and got straight to work painting the arbor that I primed last weekend. I finished in less than 30 minutes! I have BIG plans for my new BFF this weekend, I'm only wishing I had known her when I was painting the shed last weekend.

I'm hoping to have some before and after pictures of the projects that I am working on to share with you tomorrow night. Until then, I will share some of Holly's beautiful work that is made possible by her handy spray gun...

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After...

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I'm on the hunt for one of these benches!

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After...

Can you believe what she does to transform Craig's list and thrift store finds into beautiful furniture with her handy spray gun? She also has such a talent for styling her pictures! Check back tomorrow to see my progress.