We have new floors!!!!

I'm so excited to FINALLY say that we have our new hardwood floors in the living room. And they aren't just any hardwood, they're bamboo!! My inner 'tropical girl' loves that!!! We've been saving for this for quite some time and they're so beautiful and worth the wait!

Backstory...when we moved into the house, the carpet in the living room was ok but our 4 dogs quickly changed that. During a trip to a wholesale building supply warehouse we found an amazing deal on some tile carpet. Yep, you read that right. Tile carpet. We quickly bought the 2'x 2' carpet tiles and ripped up the old carpet. We knew we wanted to eventually put in hardwoods so the tiles were going to be a temporary fix until we saved up. That was winter of 2007.

That tile carpet was great at first. If the dogs had an accident, no problem! Just simply replace said tile with a new one. Since it took significantly longer to get our hardwoods than we anticipated, we ran out of tile. That carpet did not hold up well to the pressures of our family. It got to the point where it disgusted me.

Our next step in the living room is a difficult one for me. Finding an area rug. I really LOVE the color Turquoise (robins egg) and I love bold damask patterns for drapes, pillows, etc but I'm having trouble finding what I like. That makes finding an area rug really difficult. The rug is a big purchase and one that will be with us for awhile. Talk and pressure and stress. (I stress over the weirdest things!)

Anywho...here's a few pics of the floors!!

Before - pardon my naked walls and my fireplace mantel. I haven't decided what to do for either and all red pillows are outta here

Let the demo begin!!!

After - we still have to put down shoe molding

Another shot

Southern Sews!!

I love to make things and I love to sew. I'm always on the look out for something 'crafty' to do. My newest 'projects' are a little something I made for Kenley and a little something I made for me!

Her project is a doll that we call her Gummie. She loves chewing on stuffed animals and used to love her taggie blanket...so I combined the 2 and this is what I got.
I think it turned out pretty cute! This was my first attempt with no pattern. Gummie Doll 2.0 will have a few modifications...including a rattle! I'm also working on a 'boy' Gummie Doll!!

My project was Hooter Hider 2.0. A Hooter Hider, for those who don't know, is a nursing cover. It's basically a blanket with a strap that you wear around your neck. That way, baby can't pull it off. It has been my best friend since Kenley was about 6 weeks old. With my hooter hider I can nurse around friends & family and I can pump discretely. Yeah, it's pretty awesome. My first attempt turned out pretty good but the fabric faded and I wasn't in love with the strap. I finally got around to making HH 2.0 the other day and I just love it!!

Ode to a plunger

Yep. You read it right. I am blogging about a plunger. Never thought I'd do that. Ok look, let's face it, shower drains and sink drains get clogged, no? Who wants to use the 'poopy' plunger in their shower or in their sink? NOT me!

So we're renovating our 1/2 bath right now and during a trip to the Home Depot last night I made the most amazing discovery!! This little beauty! I had no idea such a thing existed!! It's small, not used for poop, and it gets the job done!!! I love my little plunger.

I hope my post will inspire others who have clogged shower and sink drains. If I can save one person from using the poopy plunger on their shower/sink, then my plunger post has done it's job. :o)

Kenley Updates

Kenley turned 7 months old on Saturday. It's so hard to believe she is 7 months old. She's learning so many new things and just growing way too fast!!! She is extremely close to crawling. She's got the motions, now she just needs to perfect them. (I'm hoping she'll wait 2 more weeks...that's when we'll have our new bamboo floors and get rid of the terrible living room carpet! I don't want her crawling on that nasty carpet!!!) She is FINALLY (after months of chewing, drooling, and crying) getting her FIRST tooth!!! Saturday she woke up screaming and during said screaming, I caught an actual glimpse of the tooth!! It's sooooo close to the surface and should be here any day now! I sure hope my poor baby gets some relief...she's been in so much pain.

Her newest accomplishment is pulling herself to a STAND! She likes to practice this in her crib. She learned how to do this yesterday (Sunday) and is already a pro. I've got some video I need to get uploaded. She's so proud of herself!!!!

So far so good on the nursing. Just 5 months shy of our 1 year goal. I sure hope we make it!! She's enjoying her solids and REALLY loves pears! Her recent teething pain has made her cutback some though. Hopefully once this tooth cuts she'll be back to my good little eater.

Here are a couple of pictures of her showing off her new skills in her crib. (The crib has been lowered now)

Please pray for these families!!

If you would, please pray for baby Harper and baby Brayden

My prayers and thoughts go out to these sweet families.

Christmas Recap

This Christmas was the most amazing Christmas I've ever had, to date. It was the first Christmas we got to spend with our precious daughter. This was our first Christmas as parents...and let me tell you...being a parent at Christmas adds a whole new level of excitement!! It also made me appreciate Jesus' birth even more...I didn't know that was even possible!!!

Coming down the stairs with Kenley on Christmas morning was such a special and exciting time! Jonathan got us on video and I showed Kenley the crumbs that Santa had left. (I had soooo much fun with that!!) We each opened our stockings and Kenley played with the toys Santa brought her. Jonathan prepared an amazing breakfast: baked french toast, bacon with maple syrup and eggs! It was literally a perfect Christmas!!!

Later on family came over and we visited the whole day. We had Christmas dinner and everyone brought a dish to contribute and man o man was it good!!!! It was so much fun to spend that time with family. The day after Christmas we packed up and headed over to visit my family in Hot-lanta! I love watching my niece and nephews play with Kenley. They're all so sweet with her!!

I just can't put into words how precious and special this Christmas was. Our first Christmas as a little family. I can't wait until Kenley is a little older and can enjoy the excitement with us!!

RIP Common Sense

My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by. Today I read his obituary.

Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.

Obituary for Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsening his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their spoiled and self-important children. It declined even further when schools were required to get written parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a Band-Aid to students, but were restricted from informing parents when their child became pregnant and skipped class to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, schools were forbidden to fail students who couldn’t read and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a severe beating when home owners were forbidden from using force against an attacker in their own home but the burglar was legally allowed to sue a home owner if he was injured on their property during the commission of the crime. NOTE: Has been “fixed” in Texas.

Common Sense finally died after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was actually hot and, when spilled in her lap while she was trying to drink and drive at the same time, was burned and promptly awarded a huge financial settlement in court.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

~Author Unknown