Monday, January 2, 2012

what 2012 will sound like

I always get a little melancholy this time of year; the holidays are over and spring does not come for a very long time.  I always feel like only two things would make me truly happy:


1) a sunny place to lounge
like these pictures of Greece
 


2) finding really good music to take on
long walks through the pouring rain
 

Here are a few of the songs, some new favorites, some old, that I plan on listening to a lot in 2012:

1.  The Band Perry - If I Die Young:  I love this song, period.

2.  Beyonce - Countdown:  It's too catchy not to listen too.

3.  Bob Dylan - Make You Feel My Love:  for some reason I just noticed this song and I really like it.  It's on Riggs' playlist from me and Steve, who better to sing him a lullaby than Bob Dylan?

4.  Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man:  I always love this song.

5.  Bob Dylan - Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands:  My soul flutters when I hear this song, the entire thing; and it always tricks me into thinking its raining, no matter what the real weather is. 

6.  Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life: Riggs is the yellow bird that I've been waiting for.

7.  Cass McCombs - County Line:  Just close your eyes and listen to this one and then try and tell me you don't love it.  

8.  The Decemberists - Down by the Water:  I didn't want to like this, and I would stubbornly skip it on Pandora.  Then I found myself singing it all the time and now it's grown into full grown love.  

9.  Hank Williams Jr. - Family Tradition:  It always makes me smile and that's worth something, right?

10.  Johnny Cash - Hurt:  It hurts just the right way that I want to listen over and over. 

11.  Lady Gaga - You and I:  Couldn't have a playlist without some Gaga and this just happens to be it.

12.  Zac Brown Band - Colder Weather:  This gets on my playlists all the time, but I don't really know why. Maybe you could listen and tell me.

If you have any songs I just have to hear, don't be stingy, please share.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2012!  I've been so busy hanging out with family during this holiday season, I haven't had much time to blog.  So I thought I'd pop in to say no baby yet...he's warm and cozy inside still and I don't blame him!  Yesterday I think the high temperature was -2, what baby would want to come out in that weather?  As I type this, it's a warm -1.  Maybe if it gets above zero he'll decide to come out.  For now, I'm still feeling great and trying to enjoy my last few days of baby free life with Steve.

Here's some belly pictures from last year (last week lol) and the first day of 2012:



No New Years resolutions here, I'm just excited to see what the new year holds for Steve and I as new parents.  Hope everyone has had a great start to their new year!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!

I've been busy this Christmas Eve shopping and baking, and can't believe it's already almost over!  Hope you all have a very merry Christmas and enjoy time spent with family and friends.

cranberry upside cake and rum cake...yum

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Out with the old in with the New

I found an picture of one of our old cars and had to share it with you.  I'm happy to say we're coming up in the world...


Monday, December 12, 2011

37 weeks

So I am officially 37 weeks 2 days pregnant.  I still feel pretty good, actually.  Nothing to complain about, because any discomfort or pain I've had is because he's dropped and is so low in my pelvis - which means he's getting ready to be born!  Steve and I had a low key weekend.  We hung out with Ford Friday evening so his parents could enjoy a Christmas party baby free, which was lots of fun.

Ford was asleep, Steve was nearly asleep, and Beau nervously
watched over them...lol
Saturday we lazed about all day, which was marvelous.  Steve had a massage at noon, so I went and "worked out" at the Alaska Club (if you can call what I did working out lol).  Then we came home and hung out on the couch the rest of the day.  I took a three hour (!) nap around 4:30, and woke up just in time for our friend Jesse to come and pick up our two recliners he bought from us.  It is so nice to have so much open space in our living room!  And just in time for baby to come and clutter it up with his stuff lol.

We watched a movie, during which I utilized my rather large protrusion for practical purposes...


Steve looked over and had quite a laugh at my expense...secretly I know he's just jealous he doesn't have a built in shelf lol.  He "had" to take a picture, and I thought I'd share, since I haven't had any other recent belly pics to post.  So happy 37 weeks to me and happy Monday to you!

Is he really 5 years old?

On December 4th, my oldest nephew Corbin turned five.  I honestly cannot believe it!  He is my first nephew and my parents first grandchild, and has always been special for those reasons...and because of who he is of course!  Sunday was his birthday party, and it was crazy to see him running and playing with the other "big kids" - he's not even close to being a baby anymore.

It's exciting to see him grow up and experience new things every day, but it's also bittersweet - he'll never be that sweet, happy baby again.  I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm a super emotional 9 months pregnant lady, but it's so hard to watch my nephews grow up.  I simply cannot imagine how it's going to be with my own baby, who's not even born yet!

Corbin's hospital picture - born December 4th, 2006

1 year old, getting his first haircut!
nearly 2 with his new baby brother
3 years old and adorable as always
crazy 4 year old :)
5 years old!
At his birthday party Sunday - December 11, 2011
We love you Corbin and can't wait to spend many more birthdays with you!

Monday, December 5, 2011

keepsake

Today I got out the box of keepsakes my mom saved for me and took out some things which are gender neutral to use for Rowan.  It is so special to have some items that are not only from me when I was a baby, but also from my dad and my grandpa.

here is his cradle with the bedding from my dad's bassinet.
It looks so good!  I cannot wait to have a picture that includes
my little Rigglet :)

So soft and snuggly...
A picture of another extremely special keepsake item will have to wait until my little guy is actually here, dressed up in the handmade cap, gown, and booties that my great-grandma made for my grandpa to wear when he was born, which makes the little outfit 88 years old!!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

10,000!!!

Can I just give a big shout out to everyone who stops by to read my blog? I just noticed I have now had over 10,000 views!!!  10,016 to be exact...so thank you everyone for coming on by to read my meanderings, it sure does mean a lot  :)

Weekend Warriors

Steve and I had the most productive weekend ever, and it feels so good to have gotten so much done! The weather wasn't exactly the most motivating, but we got everything we planned on done anyway.

Last week we decided to stop talking about getting rid of our futon and recliners and actually do it. We sold the futon the day we posted it on Craigslist and sold the recliners to some friends of ours in Homer. It was a relief to sell everything so quick, but it meant we had to go search for new furniture, which was fun and overwhelming all at the same time.

Friday Steve got off work early and so we used the time to head out searching for a couch-like piece of furniture to fill the space. We also wanted to look into an Ekornes Stressless recliner for Steve, so we went to Scanhome first. He has always wanted one, and I felt it was pretty important for him to find a comfortable chair due to the chronic back pain he has. They are on the pricier side, especially compared to our Costco recliners, but we decided to go ahead and order one for him. Merry Christmas to Steve!

It won't be here for a few weeks, but these are the color choices we went with.
I can't wait to see it in person, it's going to looks so, so nice! :)
Then we headed over to Sadler's and found exactly what I was looking for in a sofa. It's grey and has a chaise lounge-like side for me to stretch out on. Plus we will be able to seat more than just two people, which is always a plus :)

We picked up the couch Saturday and got our living room all set up. It is SO comfortable and fits perfectly. There is only one problem: I feel like it clashes with the current paint colors, so I told Steve there might be some painting in his future, which I'm sure he's pretty excited about...

This is what our living room used to look like...
...and now it looks like this! Quite a big improvement :)
Sunday we woke up to high winds and pouring rain and decided it would be best to stay put for the day. Our circle and road was glare ice and there was debris from the high winds everywhere.  Steve was happy to snuggle into the new sofa and play Call of Duty the entire morning. He had his headphones, his dog, his coffee and some chocolate chip cookies, so he was good for a few hours.

I was filled with a burst of random energy and decided to deep clean and organize...the entire house! I started on Steve's desk, which really was a completely unorganized mess. I cleaned out and went through every ding drawer, the entire surface and everything that was under the desk. I also went through the shelves above his desk and reorganized them when I was done.

I got rid of two full black garbage bags worth of trash, and moved onto my next project, after vacuuming all around his desk and starting a load of laundry. This involved washing the dishes from the evening before and making a nice brunch for us to eat: eggs scrambled with cream cheese and pigs in a blanket.

I switched loads of laundry, cleaned the entire bathroom, and got everything laid out for Steve to replace both fixtures in the shower and re-caulk nearly everything in the bathroom. He finished his last game and got to work. While he was busy in there, I deep cleaned the kitchen in preparation for him to replace the faucet there when he was done with the bathroom.

The bathroom was a piece of cake for him, but the kitchen faucet was a different story. After TWO trips to TWO different home improvement stores due to no fault of his own, I might add, he finally got the new faucet all set up in the kitchen.  I made dinner and some cookies for Steve's lunch tomorrow, and cleaned up the remains of the faucet project in the kitchen.

It was so nice to get so, so, so much done this weekend and even though I'm exhausted now and ready for bed, I can't wait to finish cleaning and organizing the house tomorrow!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend and has a great Monday!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Happy December!

We have had beautiful winter weather all of November, with the third snowiest November in history.  Now it's December, and this is what we get:

Statement as of 9:41 AM AKST on December 03, 2011

... Freezing Rain Advisory in effect until 3 PM akst this
afternoon for lower elevations...

The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a Freezing
Rain Advisory... which is in effect until 3 PM akst this
afternoon.

* Location... light freezing rain is expected at lower elevations
throughout the Anchorage bowl as temperatures will remain at or
below freezing.

* Ice accumulation... light ice accumulation less than one quarter
of an inch is expected on exposed objects and bare pavement.

* Timing... the freezing rain threat should end later this
afternoon as surface temperatures rise above freezing.

*Impacts... icing on Road surfaces and sidewalks will make travel
           difficult.


Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Freezing Rain Advisory means that periods of freezing rain or
freezing drizzle will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while driving.

Happy December Everyone! LOL