My baby turn's 2 soon...

 

DISCLAIMER! I'm not a computer wizard and once this was posted online the clarity declined. I'm a willing candidate for video posting lessons!:)

Pottery Barn Look-A-Like

     You know when you find the piece of furniture that you just have to have. Maybe its simply a picture frame so you can finally put up a wedding picture 4 years into your marriage or maybe its a comfy rocking chair that will log hours of enjoyment while your children are young.  I wouldn't say this was that intense but mostly it came from desperation.

     Typically you buy a mattress and bed frame around the same time when moving up (or down) in size. Being pregnant brought out the "Princess and the Pea" irritations of our queen size mattress. Tim caved and we invested in the wonderfully spacious king size mattress and decided we would hold off on a frame until we found something that would fit and be functional in our small bedroom. Now I love LOVE to look through my Pottery Barn catalog. Its always sparking creative ideas that inevitably lead me to Hobby Lobby (40% coupon in hand of course). This time around it was a $2000 bed with functional AND adorable baskets for drawers. VIOLA. I eagerly showed it to Tim who laughed and said " I can make that for 200 bucks. We are NOT buying it." So I pouted a good 10 seconds and moved on with life. 

     Well Life doesn't schedule in free time as often as one would appreciate and so we continued to sleep on the floor.  After I lost count of being woken each morning with dog slobber and toddler pouncing, I had had enough. ENOUGH! I consulted my designer and woodworking father-in-law who glanced at my magazine page I had kept plastered to my fridge for several months and made me a list of supplies I would need. 

     With his expertise and patience, I assisted in cutting, sanding, staining, and building our king size bed. YES I got to use the power tools, saws included. YES It was 150 degrees outside. YES I love the smell of fresh cut wood. It was meant to be... And in case there is a skeptic or 2 out there, I HAVE PROOF!

After cutting the birch down to length, we worked on the slats that would serve as support.

 Sanding each piece down before staining.

Staining with the help of my cousin Sarah

3 baskets on each side and 1 on the end. I cannot reveal the top of the bed...Its currently occupied with clean laundry.

p.s. I think the grand total was exactly around $150.00

From smiles to laughter

This little guy is growing like a weed these days. David just hit the 7 month old mark on Sunday and we're loving (almost) every minute. Those sweet smiles have turned to belly laughs whenever he is observing his big brother's antics. I've been lazy when it comes to food and he is beginning to show signs that we have to work harder to keep up with his metabolism. Being this is the 2nd child, I haven't even glanced at the baby food isle and opt for a more tasteful route. The more I read the more I am convinced that we CREATE picky eaters.  Offer bland food and VOILA you will be pulling out your hair and wondering WHY WON'T MY TODDLER EAT! Can you feel my frustrations with Samuel in that last bit????  This "go round" will be budget friendly and mouth-watering. I simply puree the veggie and fruit of choice or (GASP and FLUTTER),  I just let David chew away on a hunk of banana. Those baby gums are good at mushing too!

Big brother here is beginning to show his independence as he approaches his 2nd birthday. His superior climbing skills ensure he is one step ahead of me most days( as do the bumps and bruises he displays). He loves to "help" in the kitchen and whenever I pull an item from a lower cabinet I can be sure to find Samuel prints covering it. He can undress himself with just a tad bit of assistance and he has become my #1 retriever for almost anything. Though he still has much ground to cover in his talking skills,  I have NO DOUBT that he hears and understands 90% of what I tell him.
We made it to the Chattanooga Aquarium while my cousin came to visit. I'm not sure if Sarah or Samuel enjoyed it more...

Cotton Row 5K

Well I'm taking a break from painting my kitchen. I have lots to catch up on for the month of May and so I'll probably bombard you with several posts together. Spring Fever is deeply rooted in my bones and so I've kept us busy as bees around the house. In between home projects, house guests, and summer fun--- Tim and I have squeezed in exercise too. We worked our way through a 5k training program with Fleet Feet and "graduated" by running in the Cotton Row Run on Memorial Day.

It was a noble accomplishment...even if my 'ol gray-haired dad beat me by 16 minutes!! :) I did however beat my super awesome hubby by 1 WHOLE minute (heehee). We are still leaps and bounds away from our goals, but headed down the right path!