big girl room

So with Siena coming in a short 8 weeks or so, we figured (with the nudges of Nina Tiffany) that we should get rockin and rollin on painting Lia's new [big girl!] room. We painted the room a nice soft, bright yellow that is so perfect when the window is open and all the lights set in.

My whole idea for the room is an antique-y/vintage-y feel. 

So my camera is not able to get wide-angles, meaning Befores & Afters don't really work, and you can't really see the difference in the paint color and all that jazz. My apologies! So, all you get are close-ups of the volunteers hard at work painting up a storm! Thank you to Michael, Uncle Mijo (Ross), and Nina Tiffy :)

Tiffany happened to turn into Hard Ass Tiffany - she's a paint nazi! But, thanks to her, we got the job done. This is a pic of Ross and her telling Mike what to do as we all just sit back and watch his job [semi] well-done.

Mike getting grief from all of us, but working hard!

This is a pic of the dresser that Tiff and I painted white and then used some special paint to antique the dresser for that feel that we wanted. Tiff also found some great handles at Hobby Lobby (I think?) that were super cheap and fit PERFECTLY into our decor! I really love the dresser and the handles... 

We also found some great frames at Goodwill. I wanted to do a lot of gold frames to put some antique pics in. The big frame in the middle had a really nasty print in it (that a woman at Goodwill just "loooooved," and was SO jealous that we got it). Anyhow, we painted chalkboard paint over the print that we will use to put some fun quotes/Good Morning Sunshine/Jesus Loves You/kind of stuff.

Although you can't see the Before & After - I hope you feel the idea of what Lia's Big Girl Room looks like!! We also got a twin bed from one of Tiffany's coworkers at a really great price, and she's been in the bed for FOUR days now! It's so weird to see our tiny baby girl in a big twin bed, but she's adapting well, and it makes my heart happy that she's still our happiest girl and adjusting well to this huge transition.

Now, we have Siena's nursery to work on, but luckily, we have NO furniture to buy since all of Lia's nursery stuff is going right to Siena. It's really perfect :)

hot day at the park

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Days at the park are getting hotter and hotter, and I accidentally put jeans on Lia. Poor girl was sweating bullets! Also, the park near us happens to be really silly because there is NO shade at the whole park! What kind of design is that?!?! Hello?! 

Oh well, we have fun no matter how hot and sweaty we get. She's my girl :)

a vid

 I just watched this video and got major chills - I have grown up with a great love of reading and of books and of words - and at times I fall into slumps where I don't read and savor the literary and poetic aspects of life that I wish I did. But I hope, with all my heart, that Lia and I will grow as readers together.. that we learn to express ourselves through words and through books - with all the yucky plotlines and the messy stories - and that we continue to unveil more of ourselves through all the reading and writing that we can muster.

crayons and such

 

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I finally got crayons for Lia because she's just been complaining and complaining about having nothing to color with! Ha - I felt like I was depriving her of some part of childhood without crayons or paints or colored pencils or something. So, crayons it was. 

Recently we just repainted her new big girl room and I set up a little table and couple of chairs and put her crayons and coloring book on the table. It will turn into her reading nook/art station/place to contemplate all of life's mysteries - you know, the typical 16 month old thing. As Tiffany and I were setting it up, Michael says, "What happens if she draws on the wall?" Where Tiffany responded, "We colored ONCE on the walls.... long pause... and we learned our lesson."

So, since I set up this area for Lia, she proceeded into her [new] room and sat down to color. I came in about five minutes later, and what did I find?!? Coloring on the walls!!!

Ah! What do you do when it's a 16 month old and you can't wash their mouth out with soap or or spank them or make them write 85 times "I WILL NOT DRAW ON THE WALLS."???

I learned MY lesson - I need to sit with her for a good while for her to understand that we DO NOT color on walls, but on paper. Dear child, the lessons you are teaching me :)

"I like taking time and I like your mind. And I like when your hand is in mine." ~Kate Nash

drumdrumdrum

 

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Our girl's newest hobby - playing "Da-da's" drums. It is seriously so stinking cute watching her bang on the drums, although she only really uses her right hand because her left hand - well, that's still a little weak ;)

And I'm sorry her clothes are almost falling on - the shirt was too cute to pass up (thanks, Nina!), so I had to put her in it - no matter if it's too big!!

Life is sweet with little Lia. I'm really treasuring these last few days with her where it's just her and me. Soon Siena will be here, and life will be different. I'm scared/anxious/nervous for that time because I don't want things to change. But alas, the Lord wills our lives to change, so we shall change. I'm trying to stay open to His will and desires for our life as a family. Lia will always be my favorite first girl in the whole world, and I want her to know that with all my heart.

"Children don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”~ Jim Henson