Let the Renovations continue!

Well, it's been about 2 months since I posted but it's been for good reason....and noooo it's not because I'm with child or anything like that!  Wes and I have been working off our little butts on this new house that we bought.  I can't speak for Wes, but I am having a BLAST!  I am not sure I want re-doing things to come to an end because then I'm not sure what I will do with myself.  Here's the cold hard facts:

Walls painted: 35
Paint cans used: at least 12
Amount of new roller covers needed: 6 even after reusing them
Outlets and switches changed out: about 20
Pinterest projects completed: 4
Pinterest projects Wes wanted to complete: 0
Laminate wood flooring installed in: 5 rooms over 1000 square feet worth!
Garage floors painted: 1
Caving in brick patios repaired: 1
Leaves raked: a million
Times Wes army crawled through our crawlspace: 2
Times kids followed daddy into the crawlspace: 1
Weird things found in the house from previous owners: a full-size Hulk costume, a pack of smokes, all the kids trophies (which my kids love to pretend they earned), and a giant Hannah Montana poster.
How many walls Owen has drawn on since we moved in: at least 4

Whew, I'm sure I've forgotten something but that's the gist of it!  Here's some before and after pictures that I have been promising you but never delivering....sorry bout that!

Before: Living room
 

Add caption

After: Living room

This room is still the original color although it's hard to tell in this picture!  All we did was move furniture in and hang curtains and pictures.  In the corner is my stash of pictures that I haven't figured out where to hang yet.

Foyer: Before

Foyer: After

Laundry Room: Before

Laundry Room:  After

 

Dining Room: Before

 



Dining Room: After  (my pictures aren't as good but you get the idea!)

  So, as you can see we replaced all the flooring in the kitchen, dining room, laundry room and foyer.  (Wes did!)  We painted all the walls and did a board and batten treatment in the dining room and entryway.  We chose cool colors for the house because even during the day there is not a lot of light that comes in due to the trees.  Hope you enjoyed the tour and can see why I haven't been blogging!  I hope to take more pictures some day and show you the rest!

I'm not who you think I am anymore.

Wes and I have always been known to our friends as frugal.  I love being frugal.  I love getting good deals and saving 50% on my grocery bills and getting things at rock bottom prices.  Well, I thought it was time to come clean.  I am not as frugal as you think I am.

Case in point:  About 2 years ago, I would have gone to the grocery store on my weekly trip with my coupons in hand, my list and I would leave saving at least 50% on my grocery bill.  I would stroll out of there with my head held high feeling like I had just gotten away with something.  That was then.

This is now.  I go to the store about every other day.  Because I have forgotten something.  Because I don't carry a list anymore.  Because I don't have time to make one.  Okay, I do usually have one but it is usually missing the main thing I went to the store for in the first place!  And do I shop with coupons anymore?  NOPE!  I know some of you are gasping, picturing me in a store without a coupon.  Tis' the truth.  I know you're thinking "well I'm sure she still only shops the sales..."  NOPE!  I have been paying full price for things!  The first few times, I had tremendous guilt and literally felt sick to my stomach when I paid full price for something.  How stupid is that?  I'm way over that now.  I feel like I've gone to the dark side now.  I'm so sorry Money-saving Mom!  (Money-saving Mom is a blog that I started reading about 5 years ago that totally revolutionized how I shop.)

I try to put my finger on what has happened and I try to figure out what has changed.  Then I realize a lot has changed.  I am now shopping with 2 toddlers (one big, one little).  Last time I was in Meijer I was in the produce and Cameron saw the bananas.  And then he went bananas.  I'm talking kicking, screaming, pointing, hitting me if I got close to him...you know, the whole bit.  And it didn't last just a few seconds, he went on for minutes.  Thankfully my mom was with me and she sprang into action and got a small box of Goldfish crackers from the checkout aisle and we stuffed his face like he was Iaggo on Aladdin.  But it still wasn't pretty.  I hate being publicly humiliated!  Now I make Wes stay in the car with the kids while I run in and get a few things here, a few things there.

I also have had a change of heart when it comes to buying cheap things.  A lot of them turned out to be cheap!  I was folding laundry recently and every single one of Cameron's shirts had big stains on them; AFTER being washed.  I then realized that my kids were becoming "the dirty kids" because I keep buying cheap-o detergent!  I could kick myself because by trying to save money, I ended up messing his whole wardrobe.  I think I need a live-in stain specialist like my friend Kristin Miller.  She has an amazing ability to get stains out!  Maybe she will come and live with me for 50 cents an hour??

As life has gotten busier and my kids have gone from docile little babies in the baby carriers into crazy people, I've realized I have to adjust my life accordingly.  And I'm okay with that.  I would so much rather curl up in the 15 minutes of peace I have per year to read a book instead of clipping coupons anyway.  Stacy from 2 years ago can't believe that present-day Stacy just said that, but oh well, times are-a-changing! 

Whew...glad to get that off my chest!  Who's going to pick up the coupon torch where I left off?

Ode to Erin

     Back in 2006 I was at church and I met a nice young couple who had been married for less than a month.  They had just recently moved to Muncie and I can't even remember how they ended up at church in Anderson.  Now I know it was definitely a God-thing.  Erin and I and our hubbies became fast friends.  On paper we shouldn't have even become friends.  They were newly married and I was about to pop with our first baby.  We didn't share much in common.  She was in medical school and I was about to be a stay at home mom.  But all four of us just clicked.  We started a wonderful friendship which was rich with laughter and talk about God and His plan for our lives.
  
I think what made our friendship so special to me was the timing of it.  I was in the throws of new motherhood, feeling like an idiot, failure, you fill in the blank, whenever I didn't do something perfect.  It was so nice to have a friend like Erin who would always offer a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on.  She has always been wise beyond her years.  And she would offer me perspective.  Having a close couple we could hang out with who didn't have kids was wonderful because it reminded me that there was life outside of my new little baby.
  
And they were so patient with us.  We took Preston with us wherever we went and he cried.  A lot.  We would put him to sleep at Erin and Chris' house and he would cry for like an hour, but Wes and I would just smile and say, "Oh he's fine."  And then we would all start laughing.  I still smile to myself thinking about it now.  And they never said a word.  They were so gracious!
 
Now in the next week or so (hopefully!) it's going to be Erin's turn to become a new mother.  She and Chris are pregnant with a little girl.  I though it would be fun to write a blog dedicated to her and any new mother written by someone who is a few years removed from all of the newness of having their first baby. 

First thing I would say is whatever expectations you have right now of what it's going to be like, time to lower them a little bit.  Whether it's expectations about having a certain type of birth or whether your baby will sleep through the night within the first week, try to remain flexible with things.  I remember when I had Preston I knew for sure I wanted to breastfeed.  Preston had other plans and wouldn't latch on no matter what I tried.  In the end, I ended having to do things a bit differently than what I had expected.  If I would have lowered my expectations or asked myself what I would do if things didn't work the way I expected,, the transition would have been a little bit easier on my psyche.  I know this is so much easier to say than to do.  You have nine months (and in most cases even longer) to dream about what things will be like and they don't usually include the bad stuff!  Only the cooing and cuddling, certainly not the crying and spitting up!

Second is accept help from people, especially your husband.  As a mom, it can feel very lonely.  There are many times you're alone with the baby due to feedings and it can be hard.  I can't explain why it feels this way, I just know it does.  I remember giving Wes the evil eye while he was snoozing away and I was stuck getting up at 1 and at 4am.  What I made sure to do was get Preston used to taking a bottle once a day so that I could get a break and so that Preston could also get used to having someone besides me feed him.  This allowed me to go out with friends and not have to worry about getting back so quick.  I also made sure to not take all the burden of caring for the baby onto myself.  Thankfully, I had Wes who with Preston was usually taking him away from me so that he could care for him.  I know not everyone has that so I would just say try to include your husband in things so he doesn't feel left out and so that he will know how to help when you need it.  Accept help from your friends as well.  I remember my friend Kelly coming over with her baby and just watching Preston so I could get some sleep.  My cousin Shontel also came over to clean my house and watch my kids so I could get away!  How sweet were they???

Third is trust your instincts.  You will have MANY people giving you advice or telling you what they used to feed their child back in 1942.  People are just trying to be helpful but at least for me, their "help" normally added more anxiety to me.  I kinda wish I had a big red Staple button that I could push whenever someone made a comment I don't like and say "Rrrr....not helpful." and then they would fall down a trap door or something.  A girl can dream.  But seriously when it comes down to it, you need to do what you think is best for your baby.  God made you your baby's mama.  When Preston was born, he was incredibly skinny.  If you've seen Preston at almost 6 years old, you will notice one thing about him; he is incredibly skinny.  That's just who he is but you wouldn't believe how long I agonized about his skinniness due to people's comments.  I began thinking that it was a problem with me and the way I was feeding him.

Fourth, find three or so people in your life who you can trust and ask them your questions.  I always asked my mom questions because she had raised 4 children so I figured she knew how to do it.  If you open yourself up to 20 different people's opinions you can pretty much plan that you will get 20 differing opinions.  This can be so hard.  I try to find people who I trust and admire and ask them my questions.  I also like to find two or three authors that really resonate with me and read their books.  A great book is First Time Mom by Kevin Leman.  Lots of great stuff in that book.  

Lastly, pray pray pray.  Pray for yourself and your recovery both physically and emotionally.  Pray for your husband as he transitions from being your #1 guy to being at times an afterthought.  Pray for your baby that he or she will grow up healthy and live a life that follows God.

I know I have just scratched the surface so I would love for some other "seasoned mom's" to add to the comments other additional ideas you would give a new mom!

Good luck Erin and Chris with the new baby (whenever she may choose to come)!  You will make great parents.  Wish I was out there with you!  

Home renovations!

First off, let me say thanks for the calls and comments about my last blog post!  I hate to be negative on the blog because then the next day when I'm feeling better, everyone else thinks I'm still depressed!  I'm doing much better.  At the end of last week, I got to go do some shopping with my sister without kids and then Friday came which has quickly become my favorite day of the week!  That's the day that Owen goes to his Mom's Day out program.  I have 4 hours with only one kid!  It's wonderful especially because the past two times Cameron has slept almost the whole time (from 9am-1pm)  Thanks buddy!

Here's a picture of the big boy going to what he thinks is preschool!

The huge thing going around this house has been renovation!  This house is perfect in size but not necessarily in the style we were going for.  Wes has been HARD at work on putting in new flooring since the beginning of August.  This was in the beginning stages of laying the floor.  You know it's bad when the friends that are helping you are standing inside where your flooring goes!!  All of the subfloor over by that patio door had to be replaced because it was rotted due to the leaking door.  It hadn't rained in forever but it rained about 2 days before this and we were so thankful because it showed us that there were two leaks instead of just one!!  We were so thankful that God showed us this before we put down our brandnew flooring.  

These are our trusty helpers (L-R) Alan, Wes' friend from childhood, Rod, Wes and my friend from church and work and Dusten, our friend from Anderson.

Here's what the kitchen looked like during the flooring party!  YIKES!  Now that it's all done in there, I'm pretty sure my blood pressure has gone down quite a bit.

While Wes was busy inside, I've been trying to increase the curb appeal on the outside.  I painted the exterior doors red instead of the boring beige they were and it has helped so much! 

 Add some plants, a bench and a pillow and you got yourself a cozy entrance!

I will show you the final flooring reveal once we get a few projects finished!  It looks goooooood!

Why don't they tell you?

WARNING: I'm having one of those parenting days...well maybe even one of those parenting weeks where each of my kids is pushing.  Pushing to get what they want, when they want it, no matter what the cost or how it hurts someone elses feelings.  It's days like today where I can't see past the yelling, the crying, the screaming and whining to think "boy am I glad to be a mom!"  Honestly, right now I'm not glad to be a mom.  I am annoyed that I am a mom.   Just being honest here.

Why does no one tell you this is part of what it is like to be a mom?  That the rough days can easily out number the good days?  Why does everyone say, while your kid is screaming in your ear or throwing a fit at the grocery, "you're going to miss these days!"  Really?  If that's true, then I've got some pretty bad days ahead of me!

I tell myself that part of the problem is that I hold to the "motherhood ideal."  I have this idea of what a good mother looks like.  The funny thing is that most of the time, this "mother" doesn't look like me at all.  So then I feel guilty that I just can't keep it together.  I feel like I'm not a good-enough mother.  I know multiple times today I have thought "how can I be a better mother to these kids?  Where am I lacking that is causing them act like this?"  I find myself putting all of the burden on ME.  Funny thing is, I wasn't the one misbehaving in the first place but yet in the end I feel like I'm the one that has done wrong.  What a bad cycle of thought to get into.  Then as if there needs to be more fuel for the fire, I usually get onto Facebook and see a bunch of mothers on there espousing how wonderful their kids are or how thankful they are to be mothers...etc.  Don't get me wrong!  I love to read these comments but on days like today, I let them make me feel lower and lower.

So, what's the answer?  I think one thing I need to do is put the responsibility back where it belongs...on my three little mongrels...I mean angels.  I need to be better at holding them accountable for there actions without instantly internalizing things.  I think I also need to walk away more.  I reason with them too much when they are being unreasonable.  Nothing is worse than reasoning with a 5, 3, and 1 1/2 year old.  Not gonna happen. 

Husbands, if you are reading this, even if you don't understand what your wife is going through or why she is so cranky, pretend like you do.  Put yourself in her shoes.  Be understanding and when you get home, HELP HER!  Nothing is better than when Wes can see I've had a bad day and he goes to the extra effort to help out.

I like to keep this blog real so sorry about the negativity, but that's life!  Here's to hoping tomorrow is a better day!

Am I alone in feeling like this?

First Day of Kindergarten

Like I said earlier, the first day of school (Aug. 2) was pretty sad...that is until I got home and realized how much more stuff I could get done with one less boy running around.  It was magical!  School already you may be saying?  Yup, the schools around here are on the balanced schedule which means they start about a month earlier but then during the year they get more weeks off than normal.  I like the idea of having longer breaks like 2 weeks off in October, December and March.

This is everyone at the bus stop.  That's my dad in the background, not just some random guy....

I take the 2 little boys in their pajamas everyday to the bus stop.  I don't really care what people think.  8am comes way too early for me.

Notice the tired eyes?  Poor Cammie J is not used to waking up until at least 9:30.  This has been a shock to his system

Here's some things that have changed since I was in Kindergarten:  they don't let you wear flip-flops to school, they don't let you run or play tag on the playground because they are afraid kids will push, everything is based on rewards instead of consequences which is good for a rule-follower like Preston.  They don't give out the names or information from the other people in the class, they also don't allow birthday invitations to be passed out, even if you're inviting everyone in the class and when it's your birthday your treat has to be nutritious (sugar cannot be the first ingredient).  Whew!  Things have definintely changed but so far we like the school that he's at.  The teacher seems really nice and very thorough.  Preston was a bear the first two days of school because he was so tired but now he's starting to get into the groove.

Anyone else's kids getting ready to start school?

Gatlinburg 2012

Here are some highlights from our trip this summer;

All the boys hanging out one morning in their pjs.  The weather was especially nice in the mornings.

View from the porch.  It was so beautiful!

 

The cabin was three stories.  Perfect for all the little people to run up and down and up and down and up and down and up and down.

From left to right: Arianna (Adrians daughter) Owen, Klein (Amy's son), Preston, Avery (Chad's daughter) Hallie up top (Amy's daughter).

The next few pictures are from our trip to Cade's Cove.  This was the highlight of the trip for me.  The scenery just takes your breath away.  Also, the thrill of possibly seeing some animals made it fun for the kids.  We did end up seeing lots of deer and a bear as he was running into the forest.  It cracked me up when we saw him because people were chasing after him with their cameras.  I wanted to yell "What are you going to do if he turns around and starts running after you???" 

Boys hanging out in the cabin.  There was a pool table and a foosball table to keep the kids busy.  There was also a really nice hottub on the porch. 

From left to right: Preston, Quinn (Amy's son), Zion and Cannon (Chad's boys)

This was Preston's first time riding a go-kart.  He was suprisingly good.  Maybe he will be ready to drive someday!

Other highlights included eating at the Olde Mill in downtown Gatlinburg and going to the community center in Pigeon Forge which had a wonderful pool for us to enjoy! A fun time was had by all! 

Did I miss any fun things to do in Gatlinburg?