I have had so many things on my mind lately. Little by little life is becoming more orderly, and I can sit down and type without feeling guilty.

We finally moved Tony's bedtime to 8pm (it had been 9, sometimes 10, if he was being particularly naughty). We were nervous that he would wake up at an ungodly hour, but that hasn't been the case. He's in bed by 8, and wakes up between 7:30-8am. I've read how important routine is for children, but it has only been now that I have seen how well Tony does with the predictability of our evenings. When dinner is over he asks for a bath, and then he knows it's time for prayers. Once prayers are done, we read, and then he gets in bed. Often times there are momentary tears as we leave the room, but he stays in bed, and falls asleep in 10-20 minutes. He doesn't nap (some days he really needs to, but getting him to settle down takes a million years and Evie has been eating up all of my patience in that department), so I have been savoring the time after he goes to bed like fine wine. It's amazing. Even if I have to put Evie in the carrier to get anything done after that. Right now she's asleep in my lap. 

We are finally saying the Rosary as a family. We haven't been very successful in the past, but we've been going strong for nearly 3 weeks now, which makes me so happy. We haven't been able to engage Tony yet - any suggestions? (Sometimes he will hold his "Rose", but lately all he has wanted to do is make noise and climb on Zach. I have a little better luck making him sit by me, but can't always because of Evie.)

My breakfast lifesaver: Egg muffins. I started making them for Zach, so that he doesn't have to eat the cafeteria garbage every morning. But then Tony asked for one and loved it, and I tried one and realized they are quite tasty. So now I make two dozen egg muffins on Sunday night to get us through until Thursday. That is, if Tony doesn't scarf down more than two a day. He hasn't eaten scrambled eggs in months, and will occasionally eat a single fried egg, but he will eat two egg muffins (which is equal to two eggs, with a little bit of sausage and some frozen spinach), and ask for more. At that point I give him yogurt because I don't want to run out of muffins. People say they freeze really well, but I haven't had a reason to freeze them yet. 

Has anyone else ever printed out those lovely cleaning schedules you see on Pinterest? And then proceeded to not do anything on them because it just doesn't fit your life? Ahem. I'm a person who needs lists and directions. If I don't have a plan for the day, it just kind of evaporates. Nothing extra gets cleaned, and I might make it to bed with the dishes done. Maybe. My mother-in-law is coming to visit this weekend, so I made a schedule for this week of what to clean on what day. Mainly so I didn't forget anything. I started yesterday, and actually did everything I had planned. It felt so good. Today I got most of it done. I locked myself out of the house this afternoon which made me lose a couple of hours while I waited for Zach to finish class. But anyway. I am now inspired to make my own schedule so I can stay on top of cleaning better. Cleaning one room a day really does not take very long, I don't know why I always think it will. 

You know that "one word for the year" thing that people do? I had never heard of it until I saw it on someone's blog last year. I didn't think about it again, until I saw it a couple of different places this year. I've been trying to set goals and get my act together a little better, and when I thought about what my word would be I came up with Patience.

Being the wife of a student is incredibly overwhelming sometimes. I get little to no break from anything. Zach has been trying to help me get the dishes done after dinner since I hate waking up to dirty dishes. And he will take the kids upstairs while I make dinner, which is fantastic. But during the day, and most evenings, it's me. Just me. And my patience with Tony wears really thin. Especially since Evie has not been napping unless she is held the entire time. 

So, I'm making a concerted effort to have more patience. And not just with Tony, with myself, too. That's not to say I'm going to use it as an excuse to be a bum parent, but I am a work in progress, and I need to remember that.

And now that I have written a novel, I am going to go brush my teeth. And get the clean, but not yet folded, laundry off my bed.

Love,

Jess

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

{pretty}

Sweet little Cora is turning one on the 19th, and I wanted to do something special for her. While walking around Wal-Mart one afternoon, I came across a spool of ribbon on clearance that was too cute and made me think of her. So I bought it, hoping that I could come up with something to use it on.

I can't remember if it was Google or Pinterest that led me to this Peasant Dress Pattern, but it was the only thing I could find that didn't say to just use a shirt you already have for your bodice (which I would have done, had I found a 12 month top in my bin of girl clothes).

Isn't that ribbon adorable? So simple, but something about the blue, with the pink dots...it spoke to me. The bodice fabric is from a shirt that my Mom gave me to convert into a maternity top (which I haven't done, because I'm lame). It had long sleeves, so I cut them off where I wanted, and between the two it was enough for the front and back!

The bird fabric has been in my stash for some time. I think I was pregnant with Tony when I picked it up. Just a half-yard of each, with a quilt in mind, should he have been a girl. If you can see in the picture, I gathered the center piece on the sides. I love that look. It did take a good deal of trimming at the top and bottom to make the hem even once it was attached. I think it still dips a tad lower than the rest. Oh well.

I even serged the inside seams! (Except the center back, which makes me sad, but by the time I figured the tension problem out, it was too late for that one.)

The bodice looked really wide to me, so I added elastic to the waist. Seeing Cora again this week, it would have fit her just fine, but it looks a little more princess-y with the gathered waist. 

{happy}

 In between trips up here, my parents made new wooden drawers for me! I only have three drawers in my kitchen, and they were plastic and broken off of their runners. The fronts are wood, and attached by L brackets, so it was really simple to put the new ones on. They're so nice and clean and work much better.

 Cabinet doors! Some of the doors still need a little bit of paint work, unfortunately, but they are done enough to be on, and it has brightened up the kitchen. I'm rethinking the green on the top, but that can be dealt with at some point in the future.

{funny}

 This goose seemed as interested in Tony as Tony was in it. Thankfully he wasn't hissing. Zach laughs at my fear of the geese, but when you're faced with over 25 geese, and they are hissing at you, it's a little unsettling.

 I was trying so hard to get his face in a picture, but he kept foiling me. That's what happens when you are pregnant and slow. 

Even more than watching geese, Tony loves to chase them. He likes to chase them into the pond if he can. It's the cutest thing.

{real}

In an attempt to be prepared for Baby coming early, we set up and filled the birth pool. It had been up for just over a week, when I heard a dripping sound...I thought it was rain, but for whatever reason looked into the living room, and there was water dripping off the plaster, onto the table, and on the floor. I sent Zach a text and ran upstairs to start the pump to drain it, which wasn't working as fast as I hoped. Zach made it home quickly, and ended up opening the window in Tony's room, scooping buckets out and dumping them out the window. He was like Superman. He had it empty in a blink, and then went downstairs to figure out what to do. As you can see in the picture, plaster and slats came down. Thankfully it will fixable with sheetrock, and we have a bucket of ceiling paint in the basement for when that is done.


When I called my Mom to tell her, I jokingly said that it was going to put me into labor. She started packing up to head back here. I did start having contractions in the afternoon that went on for a couple of hours. Deb came to check me in the evening and I had dilated to 4-5cm, but things slowed down and we're still waiting. Hopefully it won't be too long, though! I'm still having random sets of contractions (honest to goodness contractions, not Braxton Hicks), which is good, but can be frustrating because every time you start to hope it's kicking in for real. I'm so happy to have my Mom here, though. It definitely makes the days go by more enjoyably, and I don't have to worry about what we will do with Tony when I do go into labor.

I really didn't want to lose my water birth, so Zach set up the pool on the back porch and hung sheets over the windows so it will be private. It's a little crazy sounding, but we don't have to worry about water damage! The neighbors were gawking while Zach was putting it all together, which makes me laugh, despite the rudeness of it. I'm wondering what they will think when I'm in labor (if it's during a time that they will be outside). I doubt they can really think we're any more weird than they already do, haha.

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{pretty, happy, funny, real}

 {pretty}

 Ta-da! 

 The sofa is still unfinished, but done to the point that it can be used again. Despite my hopes to reuse the tack strips, they were too bent, so I need to order new ones. For some reason that slips my mind whenever I sit down on the computer. Thankfully you really can't see the sides, and obviously not the back, so it isn't the end of the world. I think that the cushions are going to be covered by that green sheet until I can find a good deal on fabric that I like.

{happy}

Our Father's Day trip to the playground. Tony always has the best time, and we are fortunate to have three nice playgrounds very close by. It makes a great activity for Daddy and his boy when Mama needs a little break.

I can't remember what it was, but something had him excited. A dog, perhaps?

 {funny}

Tony loves bringing trains and cars wherever we go. I finally got my act together and made him a little bag, so that they didn't end up in my purse. We had very autumn-like weather a couple of weeks ago, so we donned sweatshirts and went for a walk. It was beautiful. We stopped at a bench on the Ludovico Sculpture Trail, and out went the toys. That was his first full day in underwear, I think, and he went three hours that morning while we walked without wetting his pants. 

{real}

I found this at the Salvation Army last week - the frame is in great condition, and there are no water marks on the picture. Definitely one of my best finds ever. When Zach saw it he asked what I wanted to do with it, and I said I was thinking about giving it as a wedding gift (is that tacky? It's a beautiful, beautiful piece of art, in excellent condition.). I could tell from the look on his face that he would rather keep it, so I think it is going to take up residence in our guest room. I can't say I'm disappointed, myself. :)

I hope that everyone has a glorious Fourth of July! We are having a low-key celebration with one of Zach's friends, and will be serving up hotdogs and hamburgers from my beloved Autumn's Harvest Farm, sweet potato salad, watermelon and apple pie (trying a new gluten-free pie crust recipe...praying it is good!).

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A quick update on the sofa...

 This is where I stopped last night. I worked on it for most of the day, stopping only to make dinner. I still have to pull fabric off of the one arm...the number of staples need to be pulled out is exhausting.

 I replaced all of the fabric over the springs - I used drop cloth for both layers, which seems sturdier than what was there before!

 Trying to get both sides to match was a little tricky, but I think I finally managed. I was a cheater and didn't sew it to fit like the original. That would've required more work, and I kind of like the way it looks now better.

 The front piece stapled in!

 Preparing to cut out the seat pieces. The great thing about a project like this is that it is very forgiving. As long as you don't cut too small.

 Under it all.

I'm too lazy to go flip this, but this is the receipt from the fabric I'm using (the fashion fabric, not the drop cloth, though that was in my stash, too). It isn't enough for the seat cushions, but $8.50 for the body of the sofa isn't too bad. Especially considering that I bought it over a year ago. I'm not sure what I want to do for the cushions. I'm thinking maybe stripes? My color thoughts right now are peach, rose, or a pebble brown. I need to find an example of that - like these cacao nibs? I thought of it because that was the thread color I used to stitch all of the seat fabric together. It looked rather pretty. It would also coordinate with peach throw pillows.

I'm hoping to finish the arms tomorrow. I had my midwife appointment this morning, and then had to stop by the lab for slightly late 28 week glucose and CBC. Tonight one of our interns from the student clinic is going to watch Tony so that Zach and I can go out. I've kept up with the dishes, but my haven't done much for the rest of the house while working on the sofa....

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

{pretty}

 A dining room chair pre-makeover. Zach has been telling me that I need to craft more. I get caught up in trying to keep the house clean (without succeeding), and never make time to do the things I enjoy. This was a fairly quick and easy project for an evening, with lovely results, if I do say so!

This fabric has been in my stash for some time - I think it was a thrift shop find, given to me by my Grandma. I haven't been able to decide what to do with it, but I knew it was perfect for this!

Tony was admiring the big toy firetruck in the neighbors yard.

This table came from Zach's Grammy and we were going to use it on the back porch but the finish on our other dining room table is coming off, and until I decide if we're going to paint or restain, we brought this one inside. I like it a lot (though the glass can be difficult to keep clean with little hands wanting to touch both sides). The new fabric brightens the whole room, and makes me smile. 

{happy}

We made those delicious truffles as a birthday gift for one of Zach's professors. This time we added some Frangelico and for her box I rolled half in finely chopped, roasted hazelnuts. I didn't think they could get any better than they were originally, but I was wrong. I ate way too much of what was leftover (which was rather a lot, since I only put six large-ish ones in the gift box).

Tony agrees - happiness in your mouth.

{funny}

You know all of those cute, clever soap dispensers made from Mason jars? I was going to make one of those, until I saw one using a kombucha bottle. I have quite a collection of these pretty bottles, and this one matches my kitchen. The pump came off of a Bath & Body Works soap bottle - I just removed the tall piece that would screw it onto the bottle. The tube inside doesn't reach the bottom, but I can work with that for now.

 

In case you thought I was joking... I think the rows are 4 deep, and there are three more rows not pictured. Despite my husband's belief that I consumed the contents of all of these bottles, he is mistaken. I was given a good number of them by my Mother. That doesn't mean that I haven't added to it, but lest I be thought a glutton... 

(In all seriousness, kombucha is amazing. We have a SCOBY in our pantry right now so we can make our own, which is far more economical.)

{real}

Leaving the State Park on Memorial Day. Zach had to study part of the day, so we opted to have a quiet picnic with ourselves. We had lots of yummy food - potato salad with a garlic aioli instead of plain mayonnaise, red cabbage slaw, hot Italian sausage, hamburgers and coconut flour banana muffins. The muffins were the best gluten-free banana muffins I have made. I'm ashamed to say that they disappeared before we left the park.

Zach didn't have any luck fishing, sadly. Of course, we also didn't fish for long. Trying to keep Tony from walking right off the dock into the lake was a chore, and then there was the grilling to be done. Chasing Tony kept me from taking more than two pictures at the park. Kind a bummer, but I have the worst fear of him drowning in the lake. It doesn't help that I'm pregnant and would be no good trying to save him.

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A Recipe and Some Gardening

Yesterday I was making a menu on the fly, since my meat options at the Farmer's Market were limited. Thanks to Pinterest and my Mom, I ended up figuring out a super-easy, and quite tasty dinner for last night (the one night that I just could not come up with a good meal for, haha).

-1 spaghetti squash, cut in half and baked at 400 for about 30 minutes

-1 8oz. jar of tomato paste

-2 pounds ground beef

-1 white onion, chopped

-3 cloves of garlic, minced

-1 tablespoon Italian season

-Salt and pepper to taste

-1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped

-1 egg, beaten

While the squash is baking, cook your ground beef with the onion and garlic. Move to a bowl using a slotted spoon and drain off the remaining drippings. Saute the chard in the same skillet in a little bit of butter. Add the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and salt & pepper to the meat in the bowl. Add your cooked chard and the egg. (I beat my egg right in the bowl of meat.) Remove the squash from the skin, and add to the bowl. Mix well and put in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes on 400.

 I didn't have any mozzarella cheese, but that would've made it even better. Next time. Hopefully it will be homemade mozzarella, if I remember to get rennet and citric acid next weekend!

Last weekend we bought a few bush bean plants. Zach planted them yesterday. Today he dug up a bigger garden space so that we can plant more. 

We're utilizing the area under the clothesline. It's the sunniest spot in our yard, and I should be able to dodge the plants when I'm hanging laundry.

We were surprised to find that our soil is beautiful - it's so dark and Zach said he barely needed the hoe. We came across tons of earthworms while we dug, which is quite exciting. I'm hoping that this try at a garden is successful. Our last garden was a miserable failure, and it's made me nervous to try again. But, we have a new yard, and renewed enthusiasm, so we shall see how it grows.

Since we're on the subject of the yard, here is our new gate. I'm quite proud of it. I did all of the cutting, and the overall planning. Zach contributed his muscles and know-how for assembling and hanging it. I no longer have to worry about Tony (or Jack) escaping, and the neighbors can't see right in. (I had to tell the neighbor boy to stop coming over to the gate when we were outside. It made Tony want to go out of the yard, and made me uncomfortable to have him just standing there watching us.)