Come On In!

I'm linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals for her series of "Come On In!"  This is my first time joining in.  I usually just stalk all the other participants homes like the true creeper I am :)

We moved to our house about a year and a half ago.  We haven't really done much of anything yet.  We have painted a 3 rooms, but that is it.  After moving from our 800 sq ft condo in Hawaii to a much larger home in Maryland, we have spent time/energy/money just trying to furnish this place.  Now that we have all of our major furniture the decorating will begin.  As I type these words Big Love and his bank account tremble in fear :)

Toady's feature is Kitchen & Dining Rooms

Kitchen: The overall view

This is the view from the family room.  One of my favorite things about our kitchen is that leads into the family room and deck.  The two main places you will find my babies playing at any given time depending on the season.

View into the family room

Overall, I love my kitchen.  I've always loved white kitchens.  The previous owners had recently replaced the appliances...thanks for the white kitchen with new stainless steel appliances and a new BLACK dishwasher!?  Oh how I hate this dishwasher.  I have looked into replacing the front panel, it isn't offered for this model.  I can't seem to convince Big Love it should be replaced based on color not function....ahh, I girl can try :)

In my dream kitchen I would have an island big enough for seating

Little Corners:

This is TJ's art corner/snack table.  However, after a recent wall/floor/carpet/brother art exhibition, the art supplies have been removed until further notice or complete attention from Mama ;)




Love our little wood high chair!



The fridge is always filled with my loves




Ok, so I pride myself on my honesty.  Honesty says, that although my kitchen does typically look like this, this counter does not.  It is usually filled with mail and all of life's randoms.  It can get really embarrassing over here.  I happen to have just had a dinner party so it was already clean!




Love my little window.  I spend a lot of time staring off into our back yard while I do the dishes.

Dining Room

View from the living room.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do in the room.  I don't mind the wall color, but the window treatments aren't my style.  I like the light fixture, but I can't figure out why they didn't center it?




All I have to say is THE TABLE, oh how I love the table.  What I love about this table is that it is a beast, solid wood.  It weighs a ton and is hand made from refurbished barn wood that was over 100 yrs old.  In the current configuration I have one of the company boards (extensions) on.  I normally have it set for 6, but with chairs at the ends.  If both boards are on it can comfortably fit 10 and if we use benches we can fit 12-14.  This is my forever table.




I love all the knots and gouges.  Beautiful, beautiful one of a kind character.



Well, that does it.  Thanks for stopping in and visiting our kitchen and dining room!

8 months

Gilbert Michael

Height: Starting to wear 12 month clothes

Weight: 18lb 6oz (about 2 weeks ago)

Gil's Highlights:

Smiling

Clapping his hands

Pulling TJ's hair

Talking

Showing off his 5 teeth

Smiling

Starting to sleep at night :) 

*Finally we are back to up only once a night!!

Seriously, this little guy is such a dream!  He is the sweetest thing ever. Ever.  Obviously every mama thinks their baby is the sweetest.  I did too when I had TJ.  Then I had Gil, and I found out what it was to actually have the sweetest baby, not just think I had the sweetest baby.  I am so in love.

TJ

Height: Finally fitting 2T pants

Weight: no idea

TJ is 2.  Very, very 2.  I love it.  Every single minute.  From stinky to sweet in the blink of an eye.  My biggest challenge is trying to keep a straight face when giving serious 'I'm the one in charge' talks.  When I ask for a picture he says, "no pit-ers mama"  But, when I try to take a 'pit-er' without him this is what I get :)

*note the sweet little skinned knees peeking out of his FAVORITE "daddy shorts" aka basketball shorts.  Big Love goes to the gym every night before he comes home from work, so I think TJ thinks this is all Daddy wears :)  In true little boy fashion, he wants to be just like Daddy.  This kid wants to wear 'daddy shorts' everyday.  I had to go out and buy plain t-shirts to wear with them.  He was looking real silly with his polo shirts and basketball shorts.  Gosh I despise these shorts.  I may have willingly lost the battle of these ugly shorts and my personal rule against wearing tacky play clothes, but we have yet to own or even desire any sort of character clothing.  I will stand my ground on character attire.....until  it makes him just as happy as 'daddy shorts' ;)

Mother's Day

Morning kisses
Peonies
Donuts
Church
Centennial Lake
"no pit-ers mama"
Family walk
Sleeping baby
Park
Daddys and big boys play
Chipotle
Naps
Family walk
Vanilla ice cream with chocolate jimmies
Thai food
Messy, sweaty babies
Baths
Sleep

It was spent together on a beautiful day.  Big Love is recovering from surgery and felt horrible, but he still did all the things that would make me happy.  Flowers {peony bushes to be exact}, quality time and food.....he knows the way to my heart.

"no pit-ers"

"NOOOOOO, no pit-ers mama"

sweet sweaty baby

Gramp Randoms

Here are the randoms of our Gramp family this week:

1.  I love TJ's version of words these days.  Nothing makes me happier than asking him to repeat these words.  I act like I'm not sure what he said and I repeat the word.  He's always real serious and adds a head nod while he says it again :). Here are some of my personal favorites:
touch = truck
hell-topper = helicopter
farsher = parmesan
dammer = Grandma/Grandpa
*dammer is probably my favorite.  My parents where just visiting and he can say both of their names clearly, but chose 'dammer' as their interchangeable name

2.  I re-found these recently.  I haven't ordered them yet, but I imagine that they may be a motherhood life changer :)

3.  I just got this cute scarf and I love it.  I never find scarves I actually like, so I was so excited to wear it.  Problem is, it is impossible to wear a scarf as an accessory with babies.  The scarf ends up being eaten, choking me or just falling off.....then I end up looking like a hot mess which sort of defeats the purpose of wearing it.  I may be giving up on it for the foreseeable future.  I'm bummed but relieved at the same time.  Wearing these things kind of ,make me feel like I'm trying too hard anyway.

4.  Tim has been traveling for work quite a bit more in the last few months.  I think out of force of habit, I continue to make dinner every night....until last night.  Why was a making a full dinner for 1 1/2 people?  TJ would be just as happy if I handed him a cheese stick.  So last night we ate the following: garlic toast, blueberry muffin, peas and chips and guacamole.  It was delicious!  I think there may be a permanent change to our meal plans when Tim is traveling :)

5.  Diaper rash.  Horrible, horrible diaper rash.  This is new to me.  TJ has had an occasional red bum, but nothing like this.  Poor Gil.  After 2 weeks, every trick in the book, prescription strength butt paste {butt paste is in fact the name of the prescription} and airing out on towels {that are now forever changed} all day long, I think it is finally clearing up!

After a week of rain and being alone with the boys, we are so excited for Daddy to come home and play in the sunshine!  Hope you all have a great weekend too!