Things to Do

First let me say the pictures in this post have nothing to do with the post itself.  I just like to add pictures- it's makes everything more interesting.

So I'm 38 weeks pregnant.  It feels like 83 weeks but the doc says 38.  I guess I'll trust her judgement.  I am scheduled for a C-section on Monday, December 5. If you are keeping score at home thats only 8 more days.  And in that time, I have a lot I'd like to get done. Enjoy a glimpse into my crazy mind.

1. House Chores
Theres a lot that needs to be done around the house.  It's nothing life or death related it's silly things like this:

• hang picture in hallway
• install A's "bookshelf" in room (is a hanging sling-like "bookshelf")
• Clean bathrooms (we have 3)
• Move Avery's old bath stuff to new bathroom by her new room
• Organize pantry
• Get more freezer meals together
• Make December menu plan
• And more that gets added to the list daily

It's not that any of those things NEED to get done, it's just that I'm kind of nesting and I want it done.  Today.

2. Ellie's room
This is probably the list that gives me the most stress. 

• Dresser - we are having E's dresser painted and I haven't heard when we expect to get it back.  Until then, I have no place to put blankets, onesies, sleepers, gowns, sheets, etc.  Plus the dresser is going to be our changing table.
• Decor-
• I have big plans to create a gallery wall.  I should probably get started on that.
• Frame vinyl name on wall- I have the frame and the name ordered.  Just waiting on the USPS to deliver.
• Mirror- I have a big mirror that I want to put above the dresser.  I should probably get that spray painted.
• Shelf- I have a shelf that needs to be hung.
• Stuff for shelf- I guess if i'm going to hang a shelf I should probably find stuff to put on it.
• Sling bookshelf- I have fabric and supplies to make the same type of sling bookshelf for E's room (Pinterest find).  They need to be made and installed.
• Pack Bag- there's not a lot I will take for E to the hospital but I need to make sure we have her coming home outfit, etc.
• Bassinet- someone (Ronnie) needs to get this out of the attic.  And someone (me) needs to wash linens for said bassinet.

3. Crafts
Have you heard of Pinterest?  If not, I urge you to get thee over there and sign up.  As I read recently, it's like ripping pages out of a magazine and putting them in a binder only easier.  Well, thanks to Pinterest I have all kinds of ideas I want to get done.

• Ruffle tote bags (gifts) - Pinterest find, I made one this evening and it is adorable.  I have several friends, Avery's teachers, etc. that I'd like to make a ruffle tote for but it's all a matter of time.

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• Advent Calendar- I have always, always, always wanted an Advent calendar.  I think they are so fun and now that I have a child that really understands Christmas, I'd love to have one with her.  Again, thanks to Pinterest I found a great pattern for a cute Advent calendar idea...it's just a matter of getting it made.  Before December 1.  Place your bets now on the likelihood of that happening.

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Coasters (gift)- found a great tutorial on Pinterest (gasp, i know!) for cute hand made coasters.  What a great gift idea for that hard to buy for person.  They look super easy and not too difficult. Famous last words my friends.

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• Christmas shirt for Avery. Another Pinterest find.

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4. Pack hospital bag
This is kind of difficult to do.  It's like trying to pack for vacation 1 week early.  You are still wearing clothes and using your stuff.  I have a pile of stuff put together but my fear is that I will go into labor early and all my yoga pants will be in the dirty laundry.  Because of the C section I know I will be in the hospital 3-4 days.  It's hard to plan what to pack when you just don't know how you will feel and what you'll want to wear.  Plus I need to get a bag together for Avery. 

5. Christmas
See Crafts above.  Plus, we'd hoped to have our Christmas shopping done.  That hasn't happened but we are about half done.  I feel pretty good about that.  What I don't feel good about is that I'm just not able to decorate the house this year like I usually do.  I mean, I'm that person that have 4-5 trees around the house and no room is without a Christmas decoration.  I'm okay with that but I still want to make Christmas special for Avery. My list of Christmas to be done before E would look something like this:

• Christmas tree- we have a smaller tree that can be set up pretty easily.
• Avery's Christmas tree- yes, Avery has a tree for her room.  I've bought her some special ornaments and she has pink lights for her tree.  She'll be thrilled once it's up.
• Start wrapping gifts

6. Phone Calls
I've got about a ba-jillion phone calls to make.  Haircut, massage (rough I know), house cleaning (I have a groupon), and then some. Lot's of appointments to make this week!

As you can see, there's a lot to get done in 8 days.  Again, all of this doesn't have to be done before the baby gets here and obviously it won't all get done.  Nonetheless, I still get a little bit of anxiety thinking about what needs to be done.  Of course, this list isn't exhaustive either.  I'm sure there's more that needs to be done that I'm forgetting. But I know that at the end of the day, if all this stuff doesn't get done, it will be waiting for us when we get home with our new family member.  That will be the greatest gift.

But don't cry to me if your Christmas gift is wrapped in a Target bag.

The Cutest Unicorn

This year has to be my favorite Halloween with Avery.  She finally understood she was going to get to dress up and couldn't wait to go Trick or Treating.  Anytime we went into a store she had to look at all the Halloween stuff.  Usually this means going over to the area of decorations that made noises and had buttons to push. She loved pushing the buttons and seeing what the decoration did.  I shouldn't be surprised about this.  Ronnie LOVES Halloween so Avery comes by it naturally.

When we asked Avery what she wanted to be for Halloween she said she wanted to be a unicorn.

Okay so the conversation may have gone more like this.

Me: Avery, don't you want to be a unicorn for Halloween?

Avery: Yay! I want to be a unicorn!

How easy it is to sway a 3 year old! In my defense, she's really into unicorns these days and I knew she'd love being a unicorn.

We initially bought her costume at Pottery Barn Kids in a moment of weakness.  But after searching Ebay and finding a costume for half the price, the PBK costume when straight back to the store!

Avery had a blast dressing up and wearing pink unicorn make-up!

Avery had a Halloween party at school and had a blast dressing up and trick or treating.















We also went to the Spooktacular event at our local community center.  Along with 4 bajillion other people but that's another issue.

Of course we went out Halloween night as well.  And of course, this mom was too caught up in the moment to snap a single photograph!  I know, I know. Mom of the year over here.  But Avery got to trick or treat with her besties Hannah and Chloe.  Those girls could had a blast running from house to house.  Their little "trick or treat" voices were adorable.  And though we constantly had to remind them "remember to say thank you!" before they rang the doorbell, they were on their best behavior.

Next year we'll have two little girls to dress up for Halloween!  I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around having two little girls in the house but I can't wait!

More adventures to come!