He's Here

I realize that birth announcements are becoming obsolete. When you can instantly share stats and photos minutes after delivery via six social media routes, there isn't much purpose to sending out formal announcements several weeks later.

But the designer in me can't pass up an opportunity to combine fonts and photography and cardstock in one beautiful little envelope.

And since almost all of our family is out of state, I can still justify sending out birth announcements.

Crew's Newborn Pictures

When Crew was just three days old, we hurried and got his newborn session in. We met with our photographer first thing in the morning so the boys could be in a few shots before Troy continued driving them to their grandparents' house in Arizona. Thanks to Jordash Photography for fitting us in so quickly after a whirlwind couple of days in the hospital. 

Crew | One Month in Instas

Dear Crew,

It’s been a month since you joined our family. A whole month of watching you grow and change. I had forgotten what it was like having a newborn. The jerky movements, the startled cries, the rooting mouth. The first month seems to go by the quickest. Maybe it’s because of the lack of sleep and constant nursing. The days start to run together. One day you have a brand new babe and next you have a one month old. A month of loving on you and falling in love with you has come and gone. Everyone around here is completely smitten with you baby boy.

You like to eat. A lot. I've watched your cheeks grow plumper and plumper the last four weeks. You are a great sleeper so far. In fact, you sleep the best during the chaos of your older brothers running around you and making all sorts of ruckus. You like to be swaddled tightly at night. But you are very strong and many nights you maneuver your little arms out of the swaddle. 

We've been co-sleeping ever since we brought you home from the hospital. I didn't co-sleep much with your brothers because I was scared of the transition. This time I don't really care. You love to cuddle with me and I love to cuddle with you. I know how soon you will grow out of being a newborn and sleep on your own, so for now I just can't bear to be apart from you. Plus, it makes nighttime feedings so much easier. If we can both get a couple extra hours of sleep then it's fine with me.

You are my first baby to take a pacifier. It is incredibly convenient to satisfy you by pushing that binky in your mouth when I am trying to take care of the other boys. You also make a great shopping and errand running and dropping off and picking up your brothers partner. You are such a calm baby.

These next months are going to fly by. I know they will but I still find myself saying "I can't believe it's already been a month." Your movements will get less jerky. You will start to smile and coo and get into everything. You will grow and change every day and I am so glad that I will be here to witness it. I wish you could understand the love that so many people have for you already. You have stolen hearts, including mine, and you don't even know it yet.

I love you baby boy.

Love,

Mama

I'm Dreaming of a White Kitchen

We've held off on making a lot of changes to our early 90's home because we've always thought we were just here temporarily. But fast forward five years, and we're still here. We decided it was time to start updating some rooms to look a little more 21st century (I started with the brass doorknobs back here).

Back in November, we had our friend who does custom cabinets come and give us an estimate on an entire kitchen remodel. Troy was gung-ho on the idea until he saw the dollar signs start adding up. We decided that the money would be put to better use finishing our basement. Adding two bedrooms and a bathroom would certainly raise the value of our home more than a kitchen remodel. And with our growing family, we could use the extra living space.

We settled on finishing the basement (more on that later) which I agreed made more sense and that was that.

But once the idea of updating our kitchen was planted, we didn't want to let it go altogether. So, we settled for plan B. Instead of a complete demolition including ripping out walls and adding custom cabinets and granite countertops, we decided to spruce up what we already had with some paint. Not only did we paint almost our entire main floor a dreamy shade of gray (Argos by Sherwin Williams), but my dream of a white kitchen finally came true.

Here is what it looked like before with our cabinets in all of their orange-y oak glory:

We started out thinking we would tackle this project ourselves. I'm not afraid of a little DIY, but I had heard too many nightmare stories about painting and sanding oak and it taking weeks to finish and the oak still showing through. Since I was also nine months pregnant when the ideas starting rolling, we decided to leave it to the pros. Our kitchen was out of commission for a week, but they did such a great job making sure the cabinet fronts were smooth and sprayed evenly.

I was literally hunting in the basement for the right type of screws for the painter to hang the hardware in between contractions. Crew was born a few hours later so the kitchen was finished in the nick of time.

A few things that I think really make a difference are the molding on the top of the cabinets and the subway tile backsplash. Both were super inexpensive and quick little additions to give the kitchen a more custom look.

The new appliances were a splurge but they make a huge difference as well. And I'm so happy to have a functioning ice maker! I craved crushed ice constantly during my last few months of pregnancy.

The kitchen always looks better (and smells divine) with some fresh lilacs from the tree right outside the kitchen window.

Eventually, we'd like to replace the countertops and sink, but our remodel funds are officially exhausted until I start working again after taking a good long maternity leave. I actually don't mind the laminate tops that much. At least they are gray and don't stick out like a sore thumb.

I love this reminder that I have hanging over our pantry to simplify. Oh how I need that reminder daily. I'm so glad that we decided to simplify the kitchen remodel project just enough to get a satisfying end result.

Next on the list: figuring out what to do with our dated oak banisters. And painting that dining room behind the kitchen. And adding wainscoting. And maybe new flooring. And trim. And actually decorating our newly finished basement. Okay, it never ends.

Nash the Performer

Nash made his debut end-of-preschool performance today.

He was pretty articulate during the songs but I think he was most excited about the cookies at the end.

And the fact that his big brother got to skip class to come watch him in action.

I find these two waiting together each time I come to pick them up even though they are supposed to stay with their respective classes. Blake always wants to show off his little brother to his friends and Nash's face is lit up the entire walk down the hallway until he reunites with Blake. I'm sad they won't be at the same school together next year - it's both convenient and heart-warming.

We adored Nash's teacher, Miss Cidny. Every teacher the boys have had at their school has been phenomenal.

Since I didn't get a clip of Nash in action at school, I had him re-perform at home. I seriously cannot get enough of his lisp and rolled R's. I'm so proud of him for conquering his first year of preschool fearlessly.