Noah is a smart little cookie

Maybe i was born to be a teacher. Let's face it, i love all things kids, especially anything educational. I pretty much want to turn Noah's room and our playroom into a classroom. I'm sure Noah will get annoyed by it one day, but lately his little mind has been like a sponge! He soaks up everything i teach him. He understand so well, and when i stop to explain something to him, i usually pause thinking he wont get it, but he does! He knows how to count to 6 and almost all his letters and colors, but i thought it would be fun to have some sort of curriculum here around the house before he starts preschool in the fall. I have been using this website and i LOVE it! I also found this craft, on this website that has so many other fun things for kids. Here are some pics i've taken lately of Noah's recent adventures. I'm working on a few things for him in his room and playroom and i just love his little curious personality.









He has been such a big helper lately, and is SO independent it scares me. I've been teaching him to pick up his clothes and put them in the hamper and so many other things that are easy to forget as moms and then we end up doing them. If you're interested in some other fun activities to do with toddlers look into these workbooks, Noah LOVES them and often ends up BEGGING me to do more.



Oh yeah, did i mention he's OBSESSED with pirates lately. We're thinking we might have to do a pirate party for his upcoming 3rd birthday. ARRGGHHH matey!



We have had so many projects going on in the house lately that i really need to get caught up soon. Thank God next week is Spring Break for me! WAHOO!!! Tons of papers that I'm sure i'll put off to finish my house projects :) Happy tuesday!

Patio Progress I

The fact that George and I love to sit outside and enjoy some drinks in the spring, summer, and fall is nothing new. Then we had a little crazy man, who if he could would LIVE outside. So when we decided to do a big project to the house we had to think long and hard on if we wanted to do something to the inside or outside. Well we figured since Spring is practically already here, we wanted to create a space outside where we could relax and enjoy the fact that our backyard pretty much looks like the forrest. With a creek behind the fence and all (it's pretty amazing). We had talked about building a brick patio for awhile now, it was just actually going ahead and doing it. George has never done a big project by himself yet, but we watch HGTV and DIY channel ALL the time so we thought it would be something we could do ourselves. First off, our backyard is NOT level. On the left side when you walk out is a huge ditch that basically drops a few feet down. And then the rest of the land to the right is a steady decline. SO, the first step would be building a retaining wall. Here are some pics of what it looked like before and the progress up to this point.



Gorgeous huh? hahaha



The retaining wall where the big, deep ditch was, was the first thing George started on.



I was SO impressed!



Then the retaining wall continued down the front :)



My dad and brother got here 2 days ago to visit and wanted in on the project. They also had another little helper on their hands.



What was once a 3 foot drop from our concrete slab, was now filled with dirt and leveled out courtesy of my Daddy-O!



All leveled and almost ready for the first brick!



And this is where we left today! The left side is practically done and tomorrow we will finish prepping and hopefully get more brick down! I'm already dreaming of dinners out here on a gorgeous patio set, or late night drinks around a bon fire with my love! To be continued....

Enjoying the warmer weather

The weather has been absolutely beautiful here lately and the last thing i want to do is sit inside! George works saturdays so mine and the kids saturday is usually spent sitting in the living room while i work on homework and the kids play. Well today i decided to load the kids up, grab a $20 and go yard saling to see what we could find. Noah LOVES yard saling, and as i drive all he says is "Another surprise?" haha When i stop at houses i always tell him i'll get him a surprise. Well loe and behold, did we make out like bandits! I guess the good weather brought everyone out today!

Here are a few of my goodies:

Here is an old window that i scored for $4! I have been dying for one of these and i dont know yet exactly where i want to hang it in my house but the ideas are ENDLESS! These usually go for around $20 a pop at antique stores!

And i got these bad boys at the same sale for $4. I have a GREAT idea for them in the guest room and really want to get started on it in the next week. Will write about it when i'm done :)

And like i said in an earlier post, Belle's room has been collecting a few items over my last few Goodwill trips.



Here you can see her added crib bumper which is vintage. Probably one of my FAVORITE thrift store finds.



AND her mirror above her crib. I was going to paint it white but one of my friends convinced me not to and said that it is her very own princess mirror from Snow White :)



This Spring weather is getting me so excited for Easter! Since i feel like i missed out on crafts for Valentine's day and St. Patty's day, i might have to dive into some for Easter :)

Baby Steps

I've been taking small steps when it comes to projects in my home because i've been taking rather LARGE steps in school! This is my second semester in the Special Education Teaching Program at Augusta State, and although i know it may not be a huge accomplishment to some, to me i feel like i'm on my way to being the next President. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and although i have a few more hurdles to jump before i graduate and get my diploma and teaching certificate, i can feel the success already! I am doing my observation hours at a Middle School this semester and i have to say that i am not very fond of middle schoolers. I would much rather be in a high school or elementary school, but so far this semester i have really enjoyed myself SO much! The kids are great, the days fly by, and i feel like i'm learning SO much! I'm really getting to do alot of hands on things that i am enjoying so much, because i'm really starting to understnad the process of special education in the school system better.

With that said, alot of my projects around the house have been sitting and waiting patiently on me. I did score some goodies at the Goodwill last weekend that i will show off in a few days when i upload them. Let's just say Belle's room has some more cuteness, as if that was possible. Here are a few things that are so far on my to-do list they MIGHT get done before April 1st :)

Right now all i can think about are the colors of these walls. Um can we say GORG! I swear when i say i think about it all the time, i literally do. I'm constantly like, where ELSE can i paint my walls this color in my house. Right now i'm really driven towards getting all our bathrooms and loft together so you will definitely be seeing some of this gorgeous color somewhere in all that.

And speaking of bathrooms..........

I scored this little cutie cabinet at TJ Maxx like 2 weeks ago on clearance. And when i realized he had a few little scuffs (NOTHING major) i asked for another discount and VOILA, i got one! I'm ALL about storage in our house, and putting everything in it's place. I attempted to hang this little slugger last night after the kids went to bed and George was at work but was not successful. Tonight will be round 2. He is HEAVY and i'm not too good with anchors :)


And since i mentioned the loft, check out these cuties!!!! As much as i LOOVE decorating, i have to say my passion is most definitely with kids spaces. I cant wait to transform our loft into a playroom of my angels dreams! These manner cards MIGHT have to make an appearance somewhere. And i'm still wrestling with the thought if i want to break out some more chalkboard paint in the loft :) Either way, i will keep you all updated!

But something similar to THIS is what is currently under construction in our backyard. How long have i been drooling over this patio?? And George is FINALLY starting on one of our very own. The goal is to have it done by April 1st, but since our backyard slopes George is having to build a retaining wall. I have taken pics of the progress so far, so i will upload those soon with some of my amazing Goodwill finds :)

Can only move up from here!

Blogging has been on my mind, but my time has been stretched to new limits these days. I hit a low point about 2 weeks ago. I don't know if it was school, or the kids, or maybe a combination of them both, but for the first time in a long time i hit rock bottom. I have to address the fact that many times through this journey of motherhood so far i have had women tell me i'm "supermom" or they don't know how i do it, blah blah blah. It's nice and all, but to be honest, they do not know my struggles. I'm not one to air my dirty laundry, and i don't confide in alot of people, but i can assure you that my husband and some of my closest friends and family know about my meltdowns, my breakdowns, and even at times my depression.

I have always taken alot on my plate. It's my way of staying busy, i guess its my way of feeling confident: to be doing many things at once. As soon as i joined the military, i signed up for school. Before i had kids i worked full time, went to school part time, and worked out ALL the time. So when Noah came it was only natural to keep up the crazy pace. I didn't even bat an eye when i found out i was pregnant with belle. I told myself, piece of cake, of course i can still do school, run, hang out with friends, invest time in my marriage and be there for my kids. BOY was i wrong. I have had such a HARD time adjusting to 2 kiddos. And i know being in my second block of the Special Education teaching program at my school, and getting ready to graduate in a year doesn't help much. So with all that said, 2 weeks ago, it was a meltdown of the century.

I finally came to terms with myself that i CANT do it all. And it is ok sometimes to walk away. It is ok to say no. I can be my HARDEST critic sometimes. So with my plate full of things, and my shoulders weighed down to the ground, i knew i had to let something go. I've already practically gave up exercising, so i decided to stop nursing. It KILLS me to even say this, but i have to to come to terms with it. I know women who lie about nursing because they feel so guilty, or make a million excuses as to why they stopped, so i am going to try not to make any excuses and just say it was for selfish reasons. With being gone 8+ hours a day at school and taking care of the house, noah, George, and Belle, i just could not keep up. I KNOW there are women with more kids and that do more and still nurse and are AMAZING in my eyes, but for me, i could not do it anymore.

I felt like there was nothing left of myself to give. I give it all up everyday and i cant keep driving myself into the ground. So i have decided NOT to feel guilty about it, and not to beat myself up for it, and instead realize that the reason i breastfed Noah for 10 mos was because i wasn't in school full time. And i didnt have another baby to take care of either. I am still a HUGE breastfeeding advocate and will always feel that breast is best, but for me right now i have to walk away from it. Besides the fact that i have the swine flu (i'll save that for another pity me post) i have felt a million times better since i've lightened my load. I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel for this semester and it makes me SO happy to see that Belle is still so happy and thriving despite my selfish decision. With all that said, i'm looking forward to warmer weather because we have a few projects up our sleeve! One which is HUGE and will be finished at the end of the month! :) Cant wait to share some pics!

Need to thrift soon!

It's been too long since i've hit my favorite thrift stores. Granted i have my share of projects to finish around here, i did hang a cute little hook rack by our back door that i bought at Goodwill weeks ago, but thrifting is therapuetic to me. I love to just walk around, and find potential in people's junk lol. I've been so consumed with the kids and school lately that the only time i've left the house to take the kids on a walk or to school. As i sit here with my big glass of wine and reading my evening newspaper, i mean blogs, i found 2 things that i el-oh-vee-E!

THIS vanity! Stop right now. Drooling. I've been having nightly dreams about a little charm like this on my side of our bedroom. I know the time will come when i will get my hands on one to re-do myself. But until then, this one will meet me in my dreams.

And i LOVE this mirror! It reminds me so much of my little yellow gem i have hanging in our entry way. It just makes me smile. I'm obsessed with mirrors right now, and actually have another one in my garage, but no idea what color or where i'm going to put it. It will get some lovin soon, dont you worry.

P.S Chalkboard globes are no joke. My lil devil is taking FOREVER to finish. But it will no doubtfully look adorable in Noah's room when i'm done!

2 things

In between my crazy classes and assignments this semester i have found time to indulge my creativty in 2 things:

First off, this mirror that i scored at the Goodwill while i was pregnant for $8! I didnt start stripping it and sanding it till December, so it took awhile but it is finally done!

BEFORE

AFTER

George chose the color and i added the little wood detail on top. They sell those at Lowe's to add on furniture and i just love it!

And then there is this necklace i made. I got the tutorial here and it reminded me SO much of my friend Kristie whose birthday is right around the corner. I love getting handmade gifts and made a little pact to myself to give more handmore gifts because i feel they are from the heart. Here's how her's turned out! She loved it!

Of course i have many other projects lying around here, but next week i start my observation hours again, so we'll see if i get to tackle any. Middle school here i come!