Harrington House

Mall Rats

We ventured out today to look at stuff at the mall.  I say that because I have put myself on a spending freeze.  (Well, at least a little frost anyway.)  We started Dave Ramsey-ing this month.  We are really motivated to get our house paid off.  Really, really, really motivated.  I don't feel the need to be filthy rich (which is good, because I'm not), but I want the financial peace.  And to be able to help other people.  I am thankful that one of the things my family raised me on was that TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED.  And I've been given a lot.  I have no doubt where my blessings come from, and I want to use them for Him.  :o)

 

We spent half our time today waiting on Amelia to hug every single mannequin.  Every single last mannequin in all of Dillard's.  

 

 

 

I think she loves the mannequins so much because they remind her of her beloved Barbies!  haha!  

 

 

I had to change Jack out of his cute outfit and put him in this back-up onesie.  (Shhh, he doesn't want me telling everybody what a tee-total mess he made out of the previous outfit.)

 

Check out them knees, y'all.  I'm proud as punch over those legs...just so you know.  ;o)

Amelia just loves a fountain.  I'm pretty sure she thinks that one day she's going to finagle herself into one.

Oh yeah, I knew she was thinking about it...

 

 

 

 

 

By the way....any of you long-time readers of mine recognize Amelia's top???  hehe

 

 

 

Come Collect Cute Children's Clothes...Cheap

...with lots of Crazy mommas...in a warehouse Chock-full of everything from Cotton to Corduroy...bring Cash or Check.... okay, okay...enough with the Cs...I'll stop and behave and get to the point already!  :o)

 

For all you Atlanta-area mommas, click here or on the poster for info on the sale.  This is where I go to get a lot of Amelia's clothes.  This will be the first time I get to shop for my little Gentleman Jack!  Yea!  You can get some really incredible deals on otherwise very expensive boutique clothing.  Your eyeballs will see so much smocking they're liable to just fall out of the sockets.  I'm on the hunt for Christmas outfits for the babies.  Matching, of course.  ;o)  

So....C'mon!

(And if you see me, say HI!)

Time Flies, Yes It Does

Time sure does fly by...especially when you are happy and having fun.  :o)  I've heard before that as a mother, when your children are young, the days seem to last forever...but the years just fly by.  Isn't that the truth, y'all??

We've been hitting up the park a lot lately.  I obviously can't take them both to the pool by myself, but the park I can handle!  

(I know, I know...no laughing at our "park" shoes...haha!  I get so tickled because they look so big and clunky and uncomfortable on her feet, but she loooves 'em so, bless her heart.)

She had to stop a couple times to "clean" the stairs of some rogue wood chips.  

Law, Chewmomma would be so proud.  (By the way, Chewmomma is my momma.  We have no earthly idea why Amelia started calling her that, but that's what it is!  Anytime the phone rings, she hollars for Chewmomma.  Too funny!  Go ahead and say it out loud...see what I mean?  It just sounds so funny to me....hahahaha!)

We've also been spending some time on the trail walking.  Y'all, I'm down to 165...woohoo!!  That means I've lost 45 pounds since my day of Jack's delivery (good gravy!), and 17 pounds since I started walking.

The trail where we walk is sooo nice.  It's always peaceful and quiet, and the babies are really good in their stroller.  I always take Amelia a snack, and I try to rotate out some toys.  Her Barbies are always automatic, though.  They go everywhere with us.  It cracks us up the way she loves those Barbie dolls!  I also have a clip-on battery-powered fan for Jack.  It has been a lifesaver, too, because I also take it with us when we go to the pool. 

Before I hop off...I have one more thing...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT KIKI!!!  

My younger sister just turned 28!  She and my brother-in-law Derrick are in Mexico right now.  I'm sure they are laying on a gorgeous beach right now.  I'm also pretty sure that Kelly Jo is wondering what we all got her for her birthday.  Haha!  (I'm right, aren't I, Kelly???  Haha!)  But before I show you some of your gifts, lookie here what I found...

I love you, Sister!  

Now, week before last, Kelly's super-sweet husband Derrick called me and asked if I would go pick her out some stuff for her birthday since I know what she'd like, and then he asked if I'd post pictures here for her to see them.  So, Kelly Jo, when y'all get back from Mexico, here some of what is waiting for you from Derrick...there is more, but I'm saving the rest (the best) for surprises.  Hehehehe!   

And I'm going to dry you some of my limelight blooms...

I'll bring these and the rest of your surprise presents from Derrick up to Momma's for your birthday party, and Amelia will sing you "Hap Birt Day" and help you eat cake.  Jack thinks he wants some cake, too.  :o)  Have fun in Mexico, and see you soon!!!  

Oh....and finally....coming soon....Jack Jack's nursery....

Hard-Working Man

Like I mentioned a few days ago, Mike has taken a new job.  We are so fortunate that his new office is exactly 5 miles from our driveway!  Now, that just doesn't happen around Atlanta.  

It's a brand new office, and it's actually pretty for an office.  I like the glass French doors that lead into his actual office room, and the molding and trim is nice.  His furniture isn't here yet, so he is using a folding table and one of my kitchen chairs.  It's funny to see him working in a big room with practically nothing right now.  I do like the look of my black chairs in there...but they won't be staying!  ;o)

Looking in from the main door... (that piece of baseboard has since been painted...was it as glaring to you as it was to me?)...

The little kitchenette... 

Here's the bathroom... 

I'll refrain from showing it in detail.  You cannot imagine the unmentionable horrors that were waiting for me in there!  It was about enough to send me running for the hills!!  This being a brand-new office, I'm not exactly sure who left the mess...blech!  When I went in to clean it, I felt like I should be wearing a haz-mat suit...but I settled for some elbow-length heavy-duty gloves and a whole mess of bleach!   (All of those cleaning supplies were tossed immediately after I was done...just to put your mind at rest...if your mind is anything like mine...)

Now, even though I was there to clean, I had to take a couple time-outs to take pictures of my favorite subjects.

Amelia helped, too, with the cleaning.  She loves to suck things up with the sweeper, and she would grab a rag and start wiping things down...just like Momma!  ;o)  It's so precious when she "cleans!"

Jack spent a good bit of time in Daddy's new office.  I think he was mulling over furniture layouts...

Well, hi there, Jack-Jack!

There's my happy baby!

Amelia loves to run the controls on his chair...vibrations, music, and combinations of both...it's just too much to resist...

I guess "Little Mommy" just wants to make sure her brother is taken good care of...

She can hardly keep her hands off of him.  

OH, and then, my break was over, and I had to get back to work on the windows.  Amelia grabbed her rag and got back to work, too   ;o) 

I Fought the Law...and The Law Won

It was bound to happen.  The other night, an officer of the law pulled me over for the tint on my windows.  Remember that glorious tint that I had decided was made exclusively for modest breastfeeding mothers???  He informed me that in the good state of Georgia, tint has to be 32% or above on their handheld tint checker thing.  Do you know what my windows were???  1%.  ONE!  

Luckily, he did not hand me a razor blade and offer me the ultimatum of "ticket or strip it" right there on the side of the road.  He let me go on home.  :o)

So Mike busied himself this afternoon, stripping the tint off the two front side windows.  

Speaking of wheels, Jack and Amelia got a new set, too...

I ended up getting the one I saw at Babies 'R Us.  I so badly wanted one of these , but it just isn't it my budget these days.  But I'm glad we finally got a double stroller so I wouldn't have to wait for Mike to walk with me, each of us pushing a single.

 

I've been walking every day to lose some of this baby weight.  Y'all, I'll just be real honest here....I have 39 pounds to go.  Phew!  The day of delivery I was 210 pounds (which is where I was with Amelia, too).  Both pregnancies I've had about a 70-pound weight gain!  Right now, I'm at 174.  I'm not going crazy with diet and exercise because I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize my milk supply (or my overall health, of course), so I'll get there one of these days!

And in the meantime, I'll be enjoying the reason I gained all that weight to begin with!  ;o)

Still Waiting...Patiently?

This is a present I'm really ready to open!!

Last night, I was trying all the tricks...

...we finally got to eat at Scalini's, so I had the famous Eggplant Parmesan...(Amelia thoroughly enjoyed her 'sgetti as you can see)...

...and it was a full moon last night...

...and we walked and walked...

...and I closed out the evening in what has become my signature way - chocolate ice cream smothered in Gummi Bears... (I'm sure gonna miss that belly shelf)...

I did have some strong Braxton Hicks all night and all day today, but nothing too exciting.  I have 48 hours to go into labor for Sugar Bean to be an official Scalini's baby.  At which point, Sugar Bean's photo will go on the baby wall at the restaurant and we will get a Scalini's Baby onesie.  So, we'll see...   

Some of y'all have asked about Amelia's new big girl room...  *SIGH* I am so stumped on what to do for window treatments.  I have a couple ideas, but nothing I'm completely set on yet.  I would hate to cut the fabric and do something with it unless it's exactly what I want, you know?  I'm really feeling pressured though to get it done (like, yesterday) because I know once the baby is here, there will be no time.  Hmmm............

However, I have almost finished the bedskirt I've been working on for her room.  As you can tell, it needs some serious tweaking.  But you get the idea...

The white bedskirt was the one from the twin bed in the nursery (it's actually queen-sized, but I had folded it under the twin mattress to make it work)...

Now, on this twin bed I have a new skirt.  I made it from some chenille I found at an antique store.  I have absolutely no idea what this used to be.  It's a couple of long pieces of chenille...

Like I said, I have no idea what it used to be, but now it's going to be a bedskirt!

It even has pale blue nubbies along the edges that match the nursery walls.

Some of you had asked about the chandelier in the nursery, too.  I got that at Home Depot online for $29 (regular price!) about 3 or 4 years ago.  It kills me that they don't still have them, because I would love to put one in Amelia's new room, too.  I loved that they were white and plain so that I could embellish them however I wanted.  I covered the shades with coordinating fabric and added the little pink floral candle rings.

I've also been wanting (needing) to make Amelia a bow holder.  Well, here it is...

I bought the wooden frame at Michael's for $1, and the ribbon was on clearance for $2.  After I painted it and put her monogram in the frame, I added the bow on top with an pretty brooch I had bought at an antique store.  I love it so much I almost hate to put it in her closet.  Haha!

Cue the Tumbleweed...

...because NOTHING is going on over here on the baby front!  PHEW!  Playing the waiting game is tough stuff.  I have been having pre-labor symptoms for a week now.  I keep thinking it might be The Time, but alas...nothing.  Everytime I call my momma or my sister Kelly, the first thing I hear on the other end of the line is:  "Are you in labor?!"  I cannot wait till the time I can say: "YES!!!"

Mike took me to Scalini's for lunch today for the famous labor-inducing eggplant parmesan dish.

Unfortunately, they don't open until 4:30 for dinner service.  So maybe we will try to fix it at home.  Their recipe is here, for any of y'all mommas out there who don't live close enough to go to Scalini's.  Good luck!  We did it with Amelia, too...

I think we have everything in order.  The two carseats are ready to go, the car is gassed up, the bags are packed, and the nursery is quietly and patiently waiting....

I've really not changed the nursery because I couldn't bear the idea of tearing it all down and starting again.  Partly because it was Amelia's nursery...

...but mostly because I still love all the clean, fresh white and calm, pale blues and pinks.

And if this is a boy I'm carrying, then I'll just take out all the pinks and add in either some grass green or a light brown.  

We had a very busy weekend as I tried to finish up some last minute cleaning projects.  Mike helped me finish washing all the windows.  Why is it that when you are in that "nesting" phase that you feel the need to get everything just right??  Like I'm going to bring this baby home, and he or she is going to really notice the corners are dust-bunny-free, the windows are sparkly, and underneath the fridge is spotless??  Why do we feel that way?  Maybe it's just that we know how busy we will be and how it won't get done after the baby is here.  Who knows!  But it's done now, and it feels gooooooooood!

Amelia had a lot of fun watching her Daddy wash the windows!  

We have some windows on the top level of the house that we can't reach well, even with a ladder, so we used this stuff from Windex...

I was really surprised that it did a good job as it did.  You just spray it and let it sit for about 15 seconds and rinse.  I was impressed!  

On the outside windows that I can reach, I use a Meguiar's car wash brush and a bucket of water with my all-time favorite soap, Dr. Bronner's liquid castille soap.  

I use it on just about everything in my house.  It's an organic, vegetable-based soap without all the synthetics and petrochemicals, and thus better for the environment and safer for us.  I've used it for over a year as part of my "cleaning green" routine, and I absolutely LOVE it!  The peppermint flavor is my favorite.  On my inside windows, I use one of these microfiber-type towels with just water.  

I like not using any chemicals on the inside windows because I have a little Missy who likes to press her face against the windows and lick them.  ;o)  Plus, if you notice on the bottom of the package, it's a proud NASCAR sponsor.  Haha!  ;o)  And I just leave the screens off my windows, because in the summer it's both too hot and too dusty to benefit from keeping them open down here.

A couple days ago, we also went and tried out some new double strollers.  I want something I can take with me on our nearby walking trail (for when I start walking to lose my 60+ baby pounds!!).  My friend Rachel just bought this one.  I really like the way it's made, but the colors are so masculine.  What do y'all think?  Does anyone have any good recommendations on a good walking/jogging stroller for two?

That's about all I've been up to lately.  Even though I am ready to welcome my new one, I'm still trying to relish my last few days/weeks (?) with just the three of us...me, Mike, and Amelia.  I admit that I'm feeling so torn in ways and have some bittersweet feelings about all of this.  I remember some of my girlfriends talking about it when they were about to give birth to their second one...feeling anxious (and kinda sad) about the times with just you and the first one are almost over.  I never understood those feelings they were experiencing till recently when I did myself.  But I've always wanted a whole mess of kids!  A litter!  I was always so thankful to have had a sister.  And I know I have more than enough love in my heart for Amelia and my future children.  So, here we go!  When this baby finally comes, I know I will be SO excited to introduce him or her to my two favorite people...

Alrighty, y'all! Who forgot...

...to tell the big pregnant lady that horizontal stripes are bad!!  Hahaha!

Here is it is.  My most recent picture...

I got this dress, along with a couple others at Old Navy the other day.  They aren't maternity, but I'm telling you...I don't think I've had on anything more comfortable in months!!  I liked them because they go all the way to my feet, and you can't see my swollen ankles!  :o)

I really hesitated to show these pictures because, well, to be honest, this "photo session" was comprised of about 50 shots trying to find my best "angle."  (I know that's so vain!  But everybody wants to look decent, right?!)  Anyway, I am posting it because I do want to remember these last few weeks with Sugar Bean in there!  I love looking at pictures of my momma when she was pregnant with me and with Kelly, so I'm sure my children will want to see these, too!  Most of the session was me and Mike dying laughing...

  

...and Amelia coming to pose with Mommy...

...and sniff the irises.

I'm getting SO EXCITED to meet this new little baby!  Is it a son?  Or a daughter?  All along, I was thinking girl.  In the past month or so, I've been thinking boy.  Mike says it's a girl.  Oooooooh!  The excitement!  I love asking random people what they think I'm carrying.  Last pregnancy with Amelia, everybody said BOY!  Haha!  This time around, it's about 50-50.  I finally FINALLY found something to dress the baby in when we come home from the hospital.  It is so hard to find something gender neutral that I like.  I settled on an all-white gown from the Ralph Lauren layette collection.  I love the RL layette fabric...it's always so thick and soft.  I just need to get it washed up and pressed.

I'm starting to pack this week.  WOW!  It's hard to believe it's already time for that!  I'm rounding out my 35th week.  I feel like I could go any minute though!  Just listening to my body, I feel so close!!  I can't help but think I'm further along than I've been dated.  I honestly thought in the beginning that I had conceived earlier than they said, but then I blew it off when I got my due date.  But now, I'm left wondering about it...  What do y'all think?  Is that possible???  Does that happen???

I'm a little anxious as to how Amelia is going to handle the arrival of her new sibling.  She has no idea what's about to rock her little world!  She's a tiny bit on the high maintenance side, and as much as I talk about the new baby, she just doesn't understand.  But I've got a big heart with plenty of love for two (and more), so I think we can handle it!  ;o)  Aunt Kiki is getting her a special baby doll, so maybe that will help.  Mommy will have a new baby, and Amelia will have a new baby.  It's a Bitty Baby from American Girl.  And so, we will enter the world of American Girl...oh my...  :o)

Yesterday, when Mike took me to pick up the baby gown, I stopped into Bath & Body...and I found a new scent that I'm claiming for this year's summer scent for my home!  It's glorious!!

It's called Pineapple Orchid, and it smells so good for summer!

 

And I love pineapples in general because of their symbolism, so I fell in love with these...

 

I got an email today regarding an upcoming conference...Passion 2010...for college-age young adults, and it's here in Atlanta!  I'm really excited about it, and since I'm obviously too old to attend, I am hoping I can volunteer.  Has anyone been to any of the Passion conferences before?

And I'm sure everybody reads MckMama's blog and knows about Stellan, but in case not, this family has an awesome story of faith and submission to God's will.  Please, please pray for this precious little lamb and his whole family...

 

Sun, Glorious Sun

Can y'all tell what this is?

If you guessed my big ole' pregnant belly, you're RIGHT!  (I sepia-toned the pic so I wouldn't blind anyone by that giant ball of paleness.)

This is how I spent the last hour or so...in that beautiful sunshine.  Not many clouds, not much wind...just that fabulous heat.  And some P.M. Dawn on the iPod.  Thank goodness I have a private back yard.  As you can probably tell, I'm in a bikini...a pre-Amelia bikini.  It's not cute.  It's not nice.  It may not even be legal.  But tan fat is just so much more attractive than pale fat.    

Have I mentioned I am ready for summer?

Recession Fashion - Amelia Kate Edition

When Kelly announced she was doing a Recession Fashion bit on her blog, I thought I'd share what I do for Amelia (since I am not fashionable AT ALL!).  

First of all, I shop consignment for a lot of her clothes.  I have a few local shops that I frequent, and they are usually hit or miss...either I come out with nothing or a garbage sack full of goodies!  I also go to the big consignment sales that are held at churches and civic centers.  I look on thebargainwatcher.com for sale info.  I went to DCS a couple of weeks ago and loaded up!  They have boutique overstock plus consignment, and they travel to a handful of cities.

 Here is some of what I got...

I picked up a bunch of little shorts, skorts, bloomers, and capris for her for $2 each.  YEA!  I have some white tees that I am going to applique later, which is another way I can personalize stuff for her without spending a fortune.

I also got some of these outfits that were being sold as pajamas, but let me tell you, they are made out of that thick knit, so I have every intention of having them monogrammed and parading her around town in them.  (Actually, the one is what she wore in my last post...)

A smocked bathing suit...oh yeah...couldn't pass that up...

And I have a whole pile of fun clothes that I got for a song that are loaded with bows and rick-rack and smocking...oh my!

Now, one of my other favorite places to get Amelia's clothes is Wal-Mart.  I have seriously (surprisingly) found so many cute clothes there!   And I usually only spend about $5 on each outfit.  

I couldn't resist buying a tiny one of these just in case I am having another girl.  How sweet will they look in these?!?

And I loved these little dresses...

I'm just going to use those iron-on letters for some quick/easy/inexpensive flare.  ;o)

And I bought some flip-flops at Old Navy for a couple bucks, and I'm adding bows to them for some girly fun!  (Just use those clip-on earring backs...easy!  And interchangeable, too...)

I've also found THE BEST fabrics at Wal-Mart...even better than some of the regular fabric shops.  I can't wait to make her some fun little dresses...

And in case there is a boy in this oven...

Aren't those cute fabrics?!  And they are all only $1-$2 a yard. 

And lastly, I just try to extend the life of her clothes by washing them and hanging them dry.  Unless something accidentally slips past me and makes it to the dryer, I hang-dry all of her clothes, even her socks and onesies.  It really does make a difference, and it's just routine to me now.  And contrary to what many people think, her clothes aren't crunchy and stiff!  Haha!  

So there it is...that's all for now on the AK edition of Recession Fashion.  I'm sure I'll have more to show later!  

Oh, and I was really proud of myself the other day for discovering that I can use the elastic band that comes with Mike's Brooks Brothers shirts as a headband...   :o)