Catch up

So many things have happened in the last month!  Our baby turned 1, and we had a party.  It was exhausting!

I was attaching tissue poms to the ceiling way too late the night before.  There was an emergency trip to (multiple) Walgreens to buy command strips because I couldn't get push pins into the plaster ceiling to save my life.  They looked really cute, though.

The birthday boy was mostly in good spirits.

Until we did the cake, when this happened. 

I have a child that hates cake.  If I wasn't there when he was born, I'd say he wasn't mine.      The cake itself turned out exactly as I wanted it.  I had a very detailed color-coded print out of what I wanted it to look like, and the bakery made this control-freak mama extremely happy!  (Me: "Those are circles, NOT balloons...it is very important that you write 'circles, not balloons' on the order, please."  Employee:  "Um, ok.")    

I also spent hours crafting a bunch of crap because I felt the pressure of other blog moms and of course stupid Pinterest...let me show you all the nonsense I wasted my life on.  First, I made 7 strands of felt-circle garland that are still hanging up because I can't bear to take them down after all that work.

Then I cut out my favorites from each of Ashford's monthly photos and hot glued this crazy photo bunting thing that instantly curled up from the horrid, swamp-ass-inducing humidity.  Of course.  

If you can get past the curly photos, it did turn out pretty cute.  And yes, it is still hanging up a month later.  For full disclosure, I took this photo on July 3rd.  Dork!

I made a little door sign with leftover felt circles and card stock.  

And I also made goody bags for the kids with scrapbook paper tie and bow tie toppers.  I was so proud of these, and only a few kids actually showed up.  Oh well, more chalk and yo-yos for us. 

Here is the adorable invite I made at Tiny Prints.  I love their stuff!  (ps - don't send me spam emails)  

And that about sums up the party.  I am glad we survived!  Since I'm way behind, here are my favorite shots from his 12 month photos...

He is walking exclusively, has said 'mama' to me exactly ONE time, and has the cutest baby mullet that I refuse to cut.  He weighed just 18 lbs 12 oz at his one year appointment (only 6 oz more than his 9 month!), so we have been trying to up his calories by giving him greek yogurt and more protein.  Such a picky eater!

It seems to be working, he has already gained a pound in the last month.  

He is a happy, skinny baby. 

In other news, I have been extremely busy at work.  I like to say I've been 'working like it's my job.'  We have done nothing further with the basement, and I also have not touched the closet in our bedroom.  However, I turned 34 on June 20th, so I get a pass for being old.  

Little things

We have done a few things around the house.  In April I got an email from Rejuvenation about an outdoor sale.  I'd had my eye on their Porcelain Tile House Numbers, and the 15% sale brought them down to $65, so I got them.  Of course now the normal price for 4 numbers is $65, story of my life.  Here is the awful before with a dirty piece of wood and unevenly spaced numbers:

And several hours later we finally got the new numbers installed.  Let's just say the mortar was not cooperating and neither was Ashford.  

I love them, although the tiles themselves are a little too ivory next to our white door and window. A problem I can easily overlook! 

We also hung up a chalkboard in the kitchen.  I had been saying I would DIY one or paint the wall with chalkboard paint and frame it out, but I never did it...so Shaun finally just bought one at TJ Maxx because he really wanted one.  We use it to keep track of his travel dates, it's so convenient.  And we also used it for this:

Technically, Ashford isn't 1 until Wednesday, but we had a nice party for him last Saturday.  More to come on that later!  One last 'little' thing we've done....

We got all of the tiles and drywall off the ceiling, had 9 new can lights installed, and got some of the drywall off the walls.  Now we just need a miracle to finish the rest.    

11 months

Ashford is 11 months old, and so full of personality!  He is still a peanut at about 19 pounds.   He still wears mostly 9 month clothes.  I attribute his slender frame to his refusal to eat most things - yes, that is still going on.  It is my biggest worry.

Maybe if they made wood-flavored baby food, he would be happier.  He gnawed a hole in both sides of his top crib rail, so that is awesome.  He is just starting to walk, when he's not thinking too hard about it, he will walk for several steps before falling, so I think he just has stage fright. 

He still has regular meltdowns, but in the last week or so he's been healthy (we think he has allergies like me) and a total joy to be around.  He doesn't appreciate my non-smart phone, though.

I've been completely obsessed with taking photos of him.  I'm not sure what my deal is, but I bring my camera on every walk, every time we step out in the yard, I have it for every bath, it's ridiculous.  I've been trying to take photos that aren't your standard pose, so when he doesn't look at me or gets too close to the camera, I take a photo anyway.

Sometimes you get great photos.  And you may wonder, what is he smiling at out of the frame?  Or, is there a spider about to fall on my head?

So, we've been having fun.  The kid loves swim lessons, climbing stairs, and chasing the cats.  He also loves taking walks in the stroller and 'dancing' with us. 

He is warming up to books, which gives me immense relief.  He used to just hit them, throw them, try to eat them....I had visions of him never reading because I failed to get him into it when he was a baby, so YAY! 

In a couple weeks he will be one.  I hear that is a big birthday, so I'm about 7 days away from freaking out and doing everything last minute.  Guess I will just relax until then! 

I hate my city

Uh, this might seem like a weird post for the one immediately following our 'look how much we love our house' feature in the paper...awkward.  I have straight up had it with our city.  In the 5 years we've lived here, we have watched our services go down (recycling pickup every two weeks instead of every week, skipping garbage/recycling pickup if your day is a holiday instead of moving it one day later) and our taxes go up.  We currently pay just over $4600 a year for our property taxes, is that not ridiculous?!  Our water bill increases.  Our street doesn't get plowed for over half a day after a snowfall, and after one storm this winter our street NEVER got plowed.  We were sliding around ruts of snow for days.  Our street is full of potholes and good luck catching the dump or any city offices while they are open.  Our assessment keeps going down, making this all the more irritating.  Then a couple weeks ago, the city sidewalk inspector made his rounds and gave me the cherry on the top of my annoyance sundae.  

Shortly after the green spray paint, we got a certified letter note on the door.  What is that, city?  You want me to go to the post office during my lunch hour and wait for 30 minutes for this stupid letter?  Great.  The post office workers yukking it up about how I better 'get ready to shell out some dough for my sidewalk' when handing over the letter was also enjoyable.  It said that we had to fix the difference in elevation between the 75 year old flagstone approach and the sidewalk.  That sand you see by the street was the city fixing a water leak the same day we got the letter.  It is still a pile of sand two weeks later, they are supposedly planting grass...I'll believe that when I see it.  

We have the only flagstone walkway in our neighborhood, and I'm sick at the thought of replacing it.  I decided to call the sidewalk engineer to see what our options were.  When I called the number on the letter, it brought me to a voicemail system where you couldn't move forward without a last name or an extension, of which NEITHER were included on the letter.  Classic!  I called the public works commissioner because his name was on the letter.  I bet he loved that.  

I finally got in contact with the engineer and he told me my options were to get the flagstone level/replaced with a contractor, have the city rip it out and put in bright white concrete, or rip it out entirely and plant grass.  Of course all these options require me going downtown to buy a permit.  And we have until June 21 to do it.  I am so upset about messing with this original part of the house.  

I refuse to have the city pour regular concrete in there, but I don't know how much it will be to fix the flagstone - and if it will even match the old stuff.  I also don't want to take the entire thing out because we use it all the time.  Anyone have any advice?  

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Feature

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to have a reporter come out to the house and do an interview for the paper.  They were interested in our home renovation story, and also the Renovation Roadtrip we participated in last October.  The timing was a little stressful since we had JUST refinished the upstairs floors and the house was a hot mess, but it all turned out great.  Ok, we are still looking for stuff that I shoved into random closets....but anyway, the story is in the paper today!  Check it out HERE.

Oh, and I really wish I had worn a different sweater.  You just can't remember to suck it in all the time, right?  

There are also lots of links to the Roadtrip, I hope Meryl and Chris are ready for the traffic!  Thanks to Jackie Loohauis-Bennett and Rick Wood for coming out to Racine and giving this blogger a thrill!  

10 months

Ashford turned 10 months old on the 5th. 

He has two more top teeth coming in, which brings his grand total to 6.  He has also eaten all the paint off his pretty white crib.  I got this just in time to not prevent the damage.  Luckily, it works, and I guess I can always touch up the crib later.  Grumble grumble.

This kid has been all over the place, non-stop.  He is able to walk with a walker toy, stand without holding on, and crawls and scoots on his knees so fast!  He also loves to randomly cry for no apparent reason, and has started crying when other people hold him.  Boo.

We have started adding some formula to his bottles so I can pump less.  He hasn't been that interested in nursing (and loves to bite!), so it seemed natural to stop that at this point.  I'm sad about it, but I will still be pumping for a while, and he will have my milk until he's 1.  It was a good run.     

Unfortunately, he still doesn't like to eat solids, whether it's purees, pasta, fruits, meat, you name it.  I joke that I will have to give this kid formula until he's 2 because he won't eat anything.  I joke in a sad, defeated way.  I hope he comes around, we are both tired of wrestling with him over food!  At least he still loves baths.

So, that is the kid in a nutshell.  Keeping us on our toes, and keeping me from wasting the day by sleeping past 6am.  Ever.   

I am taking him to swim lessons this Saturday, I can't wait!  Although, I'm less than thrilled to get myself into a suit.  I did find one that flatters my 'still 5 pounds to lose' bod, though...just in case you are looking!  

The 'not bathroom'

When we bought this house, we were told by our new neighbor that the little room attached to our master bedroom was a full bathroom at some point.  

I have no idea why they knew that or what made them tell us about it before we even closed on the house...maybe because Boozy Susie took out the plumbing for no good reason and they couldn't believe it?  Since we were never able to find any traces of plumbing, I started referring to it as the 'not bathroom.'

To be fair, it usually looked like this:

I realize I have a problem with organization.  Anyway, we are lucky enough to have the original blueprints for the house, and it appears that this 4' x 5' space used to have a sink....and a closet rod.

Not sure what was popular in the 30's, maybe they liked to splash their armpits quickly before getting dressed?  Either way, it doesn't appear that it was ever a two piece washroom, let alone a full one.  While I would've loved a half bath attached to the master, we decided to leave it as a closet to avoid an expensive 'can of worms.'  It had some laminate floors, not sure if it used to be tile back then?  This room also has drywall while the rest of the house is plaster, so something happened in here.  

We pulled out the laminate in anticipation of our floor guy adding new red oak to match the bedroom.  

And this is what I saw when I got home from work a few Thursdays ago....  

The transition turned out beautiful!  It looks like it was always there.  

Of course, I already have a bunch of junk back in there.  

Now I just have to:

Replace the boob light with a DIY chandelier (hope that project is happening soon)

Paint the ceiling

Paint the walls Behr Aqua Smoke to match bedroom

Add base and shoe trim 

Paint all trim and window/shutter

Research, purchase, install closet system.  Any suggestions?