New Year, New Post

Wow! I cannot believe it has been exactly twenty months since the last time I posted. I seem to always set out to do these great things, and then I get caught up in the daily grind with Tristan and the hubs, and lose myself -- do you feel this way?

Before we left Washington many, many moons ago, I said I was going to turn this blog into a site of lists since John came back and I no longer was doing the "100 Things until John gets Back." While we have been in North Carolina, I have be blessed with a job where I get to teach grammar (ha! yes, I am that person) to some middle/high school students, and get this, I get to bring Tristan with me! This community, ya'll (when in the South, do as the South does!), is nothing short of amazing. They love on me and my boy... and John.

For our first Christmas in North Carolina, John got me a silhouette cameo. You can imagine between being a mama, a teacher, and this fun "little" present, I have been quite busy. But man! Writing is so therapeutic!  I've missed it. So, here's to a New Year and a New Post! There will be more to come, I promise!

cross-country driving with a B-A-B-Y (and dog).

Hey Friends!

I have been busy making our new house our "home." We're almost settled -- I have made four sets of curtains (post to follow) and have been busy down-sizing too.

I know you all are dying to know how to successfully travel across the country with a baby (and a dog).

Did I mention that I put in new sinks & faucets in the two upstairs bathrooms? --- and that we bought a sink & new vanity for the bathroom downstairs ?? Day one consisted of the finishing touches on those along with some last minute packing.

Adios green & yellow sinks! HELLOOOOOOOOOOOO beautiful new white ones!

Saying goodbye to the loveshack was a lot harder than I though it would be. I have grown to love this house.

                                                                       -- especially this room!






We said our goodbye's and headed out the door with heavy hearts.

Day One: JBLM --> Spokane, Wa
Day Two: Spokane, Wa --> Bozeman, Mt
Day Three: Bozeman, Mt --> Rapid City, Sd
Day Four: Rapid City, Sd --> Kansas City, Mo
Day Five: Kansas City, Mo --> Franklin, Tn
Day Six & Seven: Franklin, Tn
Day Eight: Franklin, Tn --> Fort Bragg, Nc

John was lucky enough to travel solo with the U-Haul. Multiple times he asked if I wanted to switch and take over the reigns, but I just couldn't. It's too intimidating to me so I just jammed out okay, I listened to NPR with Buttons and TAB.

A few quick tips...

1. To avoid any cell phone tickets, we used walkie talkies. They come in handy! Get some.
2. I let John lead (most of the time) because I didn't want other drivers to hate me for going so slow for what looked like no real reason. -- better to look like an annoyed driver who happens to be following a U-Haul than a total oblivious driver going waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay below the speed limit.
3. Put all toys up front with you. Hand back as necessary. I don't mind the noisy ones. They seem to keep TABular entertained longer.
4.INVEST IN A PACIFIER CLIP. It's a lot easier to find the pacifier at the end of the string than it is to blindly search for it in the car while your supposed to be driving.
5. Pack some bags and extra clothes. Remember my post about Tristan agreeing to not get any bodily fluids on me? During this trip, our agreement went out the window. The little stinker took part in what can only be described as pukefest2014. This kid puked (and had massive blowouts) for daaaaaaaaaays. I never thought it would end. 
6.  You can never have too many wipes or diapers.

Meals:
1. We always ate breakfast before we hit the road in the morning -- it was included in our stay.
2. Lunches were usually fast
3. Dinners were more relaxed -- We varied it up -- some sit-down restaurants and some "fast" food (thank you, Chipotle).
 4. Pack snacks -- like applesauce, cherrios, graham crackers, string cheese (in a cooler), black beans!

Sleep:
We brought our pack & play. I know most places have cribs available, but I didn't want to have to wait for the crib to be brought up -- not to mention in our Chicago trip the bars were so far apart that Tristan lost his pacifier a million times.

Attractions:
We stopped at a few fun places (mostly all in SD). We went to Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug, and the Badlands. It was a great way to break up the trip some. Normally, we stop a see a few more sights, but we really wanted to spend a lot of time in Franklin with our family.


Toward the end of the trip, John and I got into a rhythm.  A lot of times, if I just needed to pull over to give him a bottle/change a diaper, I'd let John go ahead and just catch up to him. This was the best of the trip because the speed-racer in me was allowed to come out. I mean, we were on open highways for days and I had to go well below the speed limit. Not fair.


Good Luck & Have Fun!

Baby Shower

We've made it to North Carolina! What an experience it was! (blog post to follow).

John and I drove across the country from Ft. Lewis, WA allllllllll the way to Ft. Bragg, NC. While our Army career has been short (we're going on four years), we have made some really wonderful friends. Before we left Washington, our friends helped us do last minute projects on the house and I even through a shower for my dear friend, Jamie! Here are some of the highlights!

Jamie isn't into "baby" things so when coming up with a theme for her shower, my friends and I decided, rustic/camping would be the best idea.

 food.

We wanted to keep things simple in order
to have the day focus on Jamie so we did
a very simple menu that allowed for everything
to be made ahead of time -- I mean, who doesn't LOVE that?

BLTA's with garlic aioli on sourdough
pasta salad
fruit & veggie tray

dessert.

Whenever I think of camping, immediately

I think of marshmallows... and chocolate...

and graham crackers.

s'mores in the house!

decor.

book ends.

The hubs cut these logs in half from our cedar tree. Ashley found the inspiration on pinterest, but we made it our own. The S for Greg & Jamie's last name & then a picture of the two of them. We started little Schlotski's library.

We have trees E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E in our yard. Tall ones, small ones, fat ones. You name it, we have it. John cut down this lovely ceder tree when our friend Scotty came to visit. We made these candle holders (which later turned into s'more roasters). 

No real explanation is needed. Mason jars are the latest craze and they just scream
R-U-S-T-I-C.

 Onesie wall.

we created this onesie wall equipped with pictures of Jamie and Greg growing up. This took a little pre-planning just because I needed to contact their family for the pictures. Boy were they surprised!

guestbook.

at my own baby shower, my sister had people bring books instead of a card and then had people sign a book as the guestbook. This idea is probably the single most greatest idea anyone can ever do for two reasons.

1 you have a library for your child
2. you get to look back and read the well-wishes of those who love you and your baby.

presents.

because every little girl needs a hairbow (or two), I made this bow holder and then this hairbow (and others). But this one is particularly special because it came from one of Jamie's dresses.

Every baby needs a nickname,  & Baby Girl Swears has been dubbed "Schlotski"

sidenote: these are the gals I keep talking about. They're the greatest friends anyone could ever ask for. That cute dog there, is sweet Buttons.

#2. Scrape popcorn ceilings

When I started the ceiling project, all I could think was, You didn't give me the wonderful hardwood floors under the shag I was hoping for so the ceilings must be perfect under all that popcorn.
                                                                 

the little specks that look like dirt are actually flecks of glitter

I decided one of the cheapest ways to bring our 70's loveshack into the 21st century would be to scrape the ceilings. Not only were our ceilings popcorn-ed but we were also blessed with gold glitter.







I was under the impression that this was going to be the easiest project. I mean, how hard is it to spray the ceiling with a squirt bottle and then scrape it with a putty knife!? My ceilings, though, were not as smooth and fantastic underneath as other bloggers had said their's were. My ceilings required a series of putty-ing and sanding before the priming & painting could begin.

Have I ever mentioned how great my friends are? Here is a picture of me and a friend who rocked at putty-ing and sanding ceilings. She was like a machine and kept my 1st trimester pregnant self going.

side note: this whole process is messy. It's smart to section off the room from the rest of the house so that the dust is mostly limited to the room you're working with.

Check out the awesome 

metallic wallpaper! 

Thanks, Murphys!

The Process:

If your house was built before 1979, then you should get your popcorn tested for asbestos. It's not required by law, but the EPA highly recommends it.

Gather all of your materials:
goggles (the popcorn falls into your eyes... who wants that?)
mask (I was strict about this because I was pregnant)
putty knife (bigger the better)
ladder (I'm short, and couldn't always reach the ceiling)
spray bottle (good ol' Dollar Tree helped me out here)
drop cloths (to keep the floor clean/ easy clean up)
water

Later on you will need:
putty
putty knife
sand paper (high & low grit)

The process is pretty self explanatory. I just sprayed the ceiling with my spray bottle filled with water from the Dollar Tree in sections and then scraped it as I went. It was time consuming, but with a friend (thank you, Ginger), it went by pretty fast fast enough because there was someone to talk to.

Afterwards, putty is used to fill in the imperfections/nail divets etc. Sand smooth & repeat.

Eventually, you will end up with a beautifully smooth ceiling. Once this happens, you can begin priming & eventually painting!

In total, we scraped six ceilings and two hallways. My ceilings are by no means perfect, but I can live with them. They have definitely updated the house quite a bit. It's a relatively cheap project, but again, quite time consuming.

Airplane + Baby

Hola Friends!

It's been quite a while since I last blogged. Tristan and I have been busy traveling... We did five flights (two layovers) in less than two weeks. Tristan has officially turned 9 months and the kid has already been on ten different flights can we say world traveler!? 

A lot of friends have asked for advice for traveling with an infant.. I think I now qualify as an expert since good ol' TAB-ular and I have been on so many flights.

Pre-flight 

Since Tristan is only 9 months old, I have always brought my snap and go stroller to the airport. This allows me to have my car seat with me just in case there are extra seats on the plane. If there are, the ticketing agent will allow you to bring the car seat on. can you say hands free!? If not, you can just check the stroller and the car seat at the gate. No harm done. 

disclaimer: rearfacing car seats must be in the window seat. That way you don't have to climb over it in case of an emergency.

The only downfall to bringing the snap & go and the car seat is going through security. You have to take the baby out and fold up the stroller & the car seat and push it on the belt. Sometimes though, you get lucky and find a good samaritan who will pretend to be a part of your party so he doesn't have to go through the invasive body scanner. However, if the creeper isn't there to help you out, sometimes a TSA agent will help.

Feedings

Tristan is a formula fed baby. Instead of searching for water at the airport, I just pack warm water in a thermos. You have to take it out at security and they do a litmus test on it, but it's worth it. You even save a few dollars -- I just bought a Vitamin water at Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport for $4.00! I've found feeding him beforehand makes things a whole lot easier for me. At take off, I just give him a pacifier.

If your baby doesn't use a pacifier, then I would hold off and let them eat during take off/ landing, but again, to me, it is just added stress. Every time I go to feed him, it reminds me of a chemistry experiment. 

Imagine:   Thermos + Bottle + tupperware of formula all on the tray in front of you + baby on your lap so, as you can imagine, I try to avoid this at all cost.

If your baby does use a pacifier, I suggest getting a pacifier clip. This eliminates the five second rule and the need to ask your neighbor to help find the pacifier.

Keepin' Busy
I frequently switch out Tristan's toys so that he doesn't get bored with his toys. When we get ready to go on our trips, I always pull out the least noisy toys as possible. Some of Tristan's favorites are:
1. soft book - this is good because I can read it to him & he can chew on it.
2. Eric Carle's butterfly - it lights up too :)
3. "the baby ipod" - this comes with two volumes. Low & Loud.
4. the rubber duck

Diaper Bag
1. Extra clothes. They are a must.
I've learned this the hard way. On our third flight (at 3.5 months), Tristan had a massive blow out. I was lucky enough to have John with us for this one. I knew how tight the space was in the bathroom, so I took Tristan's pants off as we boarded the flight. WHOOPS. John had quite a few pity looks coming his way.
2. Tupperware of formula (if you formula feed your baby).
You never know if your flight will be delayed. Flight #10 was. We hung out in Chicago for the night.
at our hotel in Chicago. I'm blessed with one happy boy!
3. More than one pacifier.
I left the pacifier clip in NY. Pacifier #1 fell on the bus floor. I normally abide by the five, okay ten second rule, except when something falls on the bus floor. Pacifier #2 fell somewhere mid-flight and my neighbor and I couldn't find it. Bring on Pacifier #3 & an overnight in Chicago.
4. Diapers, Diapers Diapers! (and wipes!, and a travel-sized powder too!)
I change Tristan at every feeding (every three hours) unless he poops. Plan accordingly.
5. Snacks for baby (He's currently eating Puffs)
6. My kindle just in case he gets his own seat & sleeps

* When he was younger I would always bring an extra shirt for me. However, now that he's older, we've reached an understanding... no bodily fluids on the mama.

The most important thing is to remain calm. The flight attendants are super helpful. Fellow passengers typically are understanding too, especially if you are actively trying to soothe your baby. Enjoy the trip!

ahh, a sleeping baby is always a good baby.

Dedication Sunday!

Life has been a little crazy. I started the latest project (painting the kitchen cabinets) over a month ago and it still isn't done. To my defense, I did a lot of work the week before John returned home from Sapper School, but because I'd done so much painting I started seeing paint drips in my sleep. I promptly decided it was time for a break and ever since then, I've been taking my sweet time to sand all 27 doors and 6 drawers -- I guess I should have counted them before I started the project...

So, what have I been up to? My in-laws came for a quick visit to see this little guy.

who is the same little guy that happens to be taking up so much of time time lately... well, him and a certain sewing machine.

On Sunday, we dedicated Tristan at church. A baby dedication is a public commitment that is made before God, the church, and our family. We have publicly promised to raise Tristan to the best of our abilities so that he will develop a desire to love God. -- what a huge responsibility!

Here are some pictures from the ceremony.

Since we live on the complete opposite coast of our family, it was nice to be able to dedicate him while John's parents were in town. Have I mentioned that we have wonderful friends here? My sweet friend, Ashley (or as John calls her, Mom2) took these wonderful pictures. She of course, remembered to bring her camera, whereas I completely forgot/ counted on her bringing her's. Our Army friends have really become like a second family out here and I am dreading the inevitable move. John and I have been quite lucky in our life as an Army family. We have moved only twice and have had the same two couples with us each time. The more time we're in though, the more I realize that the Army, though large in numbers, is actually quite small. People meet back up after years of being apart and it seems as if no time has passed in between. 

On top of our Army family, John and I have been blessed to have found a great church community. I have never felt more sure that John and I were supposed to be in a place than I have with this church. I never thought we "settled" for our church, but I wasn't sure that God had placed us there either. Recently though, I was visiting a friend's church, and I was overwhelmed by how much I felt at home at PSCC. At that moment, I realized that God in fact, had placed us at our church. John and I have grown quite a bit since being on the west coast, and I'd like to think some of it has to do with being away from our family, becoming parents, but I also believe that it has to do with listening to God. God's perspective is so much greater than ours, and although I may not understand at the time, I know that when I am in His hands and following His direction, things will be fine -- better than fine, they'll be great and I hope that this is something I can teach our son as he grows.

until next time!

Home Renovation #1: Get rid of all carpet & put in new flooring

When John and I did our initial walk through of the house, I said, "You know, this carpet really isn't that bad. We can keep it around a little while if we get them cleaned." I however, didn't realize I was pregnant at the time and when we finally bought the house and started cleaning it up for the big move-in day, my pregnant brain went into overdrive and I demanded the carpet be taken out. My sweet husband (along with some wonderful friends of ours) obliged and took out all of the carpet. Here is what we were originally working with:

that red carpet in the distance in fact leads to the kitchen! 

Carpet in the kitchen!? Carpet in the bathroom!? Carpet everywhere! ... even on the covered patio.

             

Perhaps the most upsetting part of all of our home renovations is the fact I didn't take NEARLY

enough pictures of the "before" & hardly any of the "during." -- SHAME on me.

Again, not terrible at first glance. I kept rationalizing keeping the carpet because there wasn't one stain on this carpet, which, I figured for the 30+ years that the Murphy's lived here, they must NEVER have stepped foot/ate in the dinning room or living room area. However, upon further inspection, I realized that shag doesn't show the stain because it is hidden deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep within. I found a random assortment of things including TONS of bobby pins -- immediately I felt sorry for leaving mine around all of the time, SORRY JOHN! Anyway, sweet, practical Diana who originally viewed this property decided that in no way would her baby (in 8 short months) be crawling around the sea of shag looking for daily surprises so out went the carpet! 

*disclaimer: we lived with just the sub-flooring throughout most of our house for quite a few months before some of it was put in.

I was so relieved that it was leaving, that I didn't even have a plan for what would replace it. I just knew I wanted it out as soon as it could be and John was leaving for a quick month down to Fort Irwin, so it had to be before he left. I grew up with all hardwood flooring, so naturally, I wanted that throughout my house -- easy clean up. John, on the other hand, grew up with carpets in the bedrooms and wood flooring throughout the rest of the house. We compromised, because after all isn't that what marriage is all about? We have bamboo flooring that we bought from Lumber Liquidators that is in the kitchen, dinning room, hallway, and formal living room. Carpet was put in in all three bedrooms and the down stairs living area.

this is the carpet we went with...

 a neutral tone that our future renters 

will love.

Partial view of the wood floor we chose.

We didn't want to go too dark because

of the dark cabinetry throughout the house.

Flooring process: 

Carpet first (thank you Home Depot) -- this took care of all of the bedrooms & the down stairs living room

Tile in both bathrooms (these too had carpet. All I could think was C'mon Murphys!)

New stair treads (stained by yours truly)

Bamboo flooring in formal living room

Bamboo flooring in dinning room

Bamboo flooring in kitchen