BEEP! BEEP!

Ian is getting SO big!! He really has become a "little man" as Clark would say. We went grocery shopping and he got to ride in the "cool cart." He LOVED IT! Thank you Auntie!

Our first experience with spaghetti. We also had our first Heimlich episode that night. Somehow he choked on a noodle an hour later?? That's all I could get him to throw up. Scary!

Ian leaving Target with his new potty!

I thought since he does his "duties" in the tub everyday an easier way to deal with it was to try to get him to do it in a potty in the morning. It went well for the first week...and then we had super late nights and early mornings at the house. I think I'll leave this one on the back burner until he's a year old and we're back home. I think he'll do well (4 out of 7) but I realize it's just as much "Mommy-training" as "potty-training." Mommy just needs time first!

Ian is also learning a lot of stuff. He is RUNNING everywhere! He frequently gives kisses and "hugs." He also has been really silly. One of his favorite "tricks" is to slap his tummy and say "ooo." That would be him being a monkey! SO FREAKING CUTE!! He is a little stinker about eating lately. We have to be very careful with when we eat so he doesn't scream until we let him eat all our food. He'll do it even if he's not hungry...especially if he knows we're having ice cream! Ian is also using the phrase "whahistit." He usually says it with a fairly confused look on his face so we think he's saying "What is it?"  

Since last time we have gotten so much done at the house. Everything on our list is done and we have finished hanging sheet rock! I spent all day Saturday (12 hours) measuring, cutting and hanging drywall...by myself! Can you believe it?!?! I dare say I may be a true DIY-er!

See the drywall right here? The little pieces...

so...those may have been my first pieces of drywall...ever!! I was so proud of myself!

27 pieces later....

MY PANTRY!! I put up 4 sheets of drywall in the pantry...by myself!

Hello! They are heavy and I was tired after 12 hours!

Anyway, we have a guy coming this week to tape, mud, sand, texture, prime the whole downstairs and paint the ceilings. So glad I won't have to deal with that mess. We were planning to do it ourselves, but this guy could come when we needed him, doesn't cost a ton and he will be done in a week with what would take us several weeks! He will be done Friday so we can paint this weekend.

I am going to be stenciling this for my back splash. Not exactly sure how it'll look but I can always paint over it right? I love the design and can't afford tile right now. I did find another argyle pattern I liked but a stencil seems like a lot less work.

Following painting, we will be hanging cabinets, ordering our countertops and laying our laminate. Carpet goes in on the 29th! The next few weeks will be busy...but we'll get to move back home soon! I almost get a little excited about it...KINDA!

"MOM...do you see what I have?"

"GRR! I AM SO STRONG!"

He just swung that piece of sheet rock around like it was a baton! His father is so proud!

He's such a good helper...not really!

Lastly...my $2 rummage sale find...

A little paint and new handles...cute craft desk! It has the gliding drawers even...not the old kind! Two bucks...can you believe it?!? LOVE IT!

Deadlines and Birthdays!

Ok...so I have to be the worst blogger ever! In my defense, I have been super busy! Changes in plans have been keeping me on my toes. We now decided to just rip out the whole downstairs, stay with my in-laws and remodel the whole thing at once. Our deadline is October 7th, Ian's birthday. So far we're done getting all the plaster and lathes off, flooring out, walls ripped out, header beam put up, and walls in the bathroom up. We also have the plumbing done and alot of the electrical roughed in.

Our next step is to finish a little duct work, a couple walls, pantry (which I'm more than a little excited about!) and closet. After that will be sheetrock! We're getting there!! I am optimistic that we'll be done on time...my husband...not so much! We have 7 weeks left....EEK!!

On to more exciting stuff...Ian!! My little man is walking already! He started about two weeks ago and has been going nonstop. He goes to the trash can about 50 times a day and recently tried to eat a toilet brush...so gross! He didn't actually get it in his mouth, but he didn't really love the fact I kept saying "NO." Ian has also learned to patty-cake, high five, give kisses, do so-big and "try" to feed himself with a spoon. He is such a loving little boy! While he is very naughty sometimes, I wouldn't give it up for the world! His smile is just so precious...

I've been trying to figure out what I want to do for Ian's 1st birthday. I'm thinking monsters. I have a couple ideas...monster cookies, cupcakes made to look like monsters with candy, some type of hat thingees to look like monsters. That's all I've really got so far. Does anyone have cool ideas for me to try? I'm open to suggestions.

Have a great day! Til my next blog post...

**I really wanted to put pictures up, but my phone isn't working for pictures right now...bummer!**

Refinishing the Bathroom

I used my "Cabinet Transformations" today. I finished the cabinets in my bathroom, except for the last step. They just need the protectant on them tomorrow and TA-DA!

**A huge "THANK YOU" to my sister-in-law Amy!! She came and spent the day helping me do my cabinets. And then offered to watch Ian this afternoon and tonight, so I could keep working.**

THANK YOU AMY!

 To start you have to wash, use a deglosser, and paint the cupboards.

The paint needs to dry and then you paint it again.

 After 2 coats of the "paint" use the deglazer. I was super stressed out about this! Probably didn't help that I had already been working on cupboards and painting for 10 hours....ugh. I think the color looks pretty good. Had one weird spot on one of my long doors...I got it to blend though, so we're ok!!

 To avoid the issue I had on my cabinet door, I did the side of my cabinet in rows (instead of doing the top half and then the bottom half). This seemed to work much better with how much working time I had with the deglazer before it dried. This looks more "streaky" in the picture than it does when you look at it.

 I can't wait to get the top coat on and get the doors and drawers back in! I was hoping to get my painting done today too but only got the ceiling painted. Which I think was an accomplishment for how long the cabinets took!

 DISGUSTING!!

The vent cleaned up with just water (will get washed, with soap, when I can get to my sink!). I vacuumed out the vent and light area. I will be spray painting the vent cover as soon as I get the paint.

Doesn't it look so much better??

I painted the ceiling a really light gray...what do we think of gray ceilings? Or colored ceilings in general?

So busy....

So this is the cupboard under my sink. Doesn't look so scary...does it?

I have a confession.....IT'S A MESS!!!

 Not so much dirty...more along the lines of severely challenged in the organizational department.

I have really been wanting/needing a bag storage thingee from IKEA. So when in Minneapolis for the weekend I went to IKEA...and guess what I did? You know I bought one!!!

Still not gorgeous, but organized!

On the left, we have my bag storage thingee.

On the right, there in the box, is all my dishwasher stuff and garbage bags.

My vinegar for mopping floors and my "crinkley" bags for toys are in the back.

My tub is in the bathroom...it looks great.

On to my next HUGE project....cabinets, painting, lighting, and I have a special plan for the mirror!!

Before pics:

 My "before" cabinets aren't terrible but I have a vision...and the "Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations." Seriously, typing that gives me chills!! Can't wait to use it!!

 The mirror is huge and since my bathroom is so small I'm going to keep the huge mirror up. I have a plan to make it look better and I'm hoping to get that done next week.

 I hit Lowe's hard  tonight!

Light fixture (need globes yet): $40

Paint and pan: $20

Knobs and Hinges: $30

The awesome totes: $8 each!!

Also, thanks to the nice man at Lowe's, I found out I really don't need to replace the vent with the light.

Instead, he recommended trying to spray paint it. Savings: $100...Wowsers!!

 Two of my 4 totes will be used for organizational puposes. The other 2 will be in a new project I want to attempt soon. I am planning to make myself a bench for my living room. I found the red fabric for 75 cents at a thrift store! It's a table cloth but I think it'll make a great cover for the cushion!

I made Ian a little knit hat today. It's pretty plain but it fits him and keeps his little ears from the wind.

He looks even more like Daddy in black!! Scary!

Weeks 8 and 9...baby legwarmers...and a cute baby!

 "Are you my mother?" Ian's Christmas gift from Uncle Peppers

 Just being stinkin' cute!

 LOVE YOU!!

By the way...It has been crazy around here the last couple weeks! It may not have actually been busy but running on the little sleep my delightful little boy thinks I need....I'm running on empty. Anyway, I have been keeping up on my cooking just didn't have time to post it! This week (last night actually) Ian rolled all over the floor! He could only go one way until he got stuck and we had to turn him to go the other way! Such a cutie! On to the recipes!! I made Gorgonzola Chicken Penne last week...well kinda. I asked my Gma what kind of cheese Gorgonzola was, and then decided that much of such a strong cheese would be too much for me. So I substituted Parmesan. SO...here we have Parmesan Chicken Penne! This is from...where else...the Taste of Home cookbook I got for Christmas!

 Ingredients
1 pkg (16 oz) penne pasta
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 cups (8oz) crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (I used Parmesan)
6-8 fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced (I used ground sage)
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan and minced fresh parsley

Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, brown the chicken in oil on all sides. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan.

Add cream and broth; cook until the sauce is slightly thickened and chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the cheese, sage, salt and pepper; cook just until cheese is melted.

Drain the pasta; toss with sauce. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan and parsley.

This is SO GOOD!! I messed up the chicken so it was a little dry...I'll make it right next time!

This weeks recipe is one that I have had for 5 years!! Can you believe it?!? I think I have had this at my mom's house but I have never made it or helped to make it. So this one is Garlic Salmon Linguine.

Ingredients

1 pkg (16 oz) linguine

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/3 cup olive oil

1 can salmon, drained, boned, skinned

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

Prepare linguine according to package.

In large skillet saute garlic in oil. Stir in broth, parsley, salt and cayenne pepper. Stir in salmon. Cook until heated through. Add salmon mixture to linguine (drained) and toss to coat.

Let set, covered, for 10 minutes. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

I really liked this. James isn't a huge fan of salmon so he isn't over the moon about it. I think next time I make it I will try adding half chicken broth and half whipping cream. Maybe try with different kind of meat sometime...for James...just 'cause I love him!

These are some little baby legwarmers I made. I used a tutorial at Samster Mommy's blog to make them. LOVE THEM!! Can't wait to make more! Do we think Ian needs some little Spider man legwarmers??

Baby Hats Everywhere!!

The other baby hats I made for the preemie baby girl.

 I think James thinks "Enough....you need to stop!" I'm kind of addicted!

 This blue one has a flower on it that I also made. It didn't really show up well in the picture though.

 I love this fabric! It looks kind of old ladyish but for a baby!

I also thought a bow would be vintage, cutesy looking!

 Fabric flower and the hat matches...same color green. Didn't show up very well in pictures.

I love this one!! Just because it has a great big knot on it!

I'm so inspired and am hoping to make a few more projects...as soon as I have time! Today Ian was crabby again so he took a nap on me as I worked on computer. I don't know if it's his formula (I just started switching him to half formula/half breast milk) or if he has teeth coming. It might just be that he has days that he's extremely clingy? I don't know. I'm just glad that he doesn't get this way at night when it's time for bed. He might fight the sleep at first but after I have him asleep, he sleeps fine in his crib.