Friday, November 28

the last month of our baby-free lives





October 1
St. Mary's
Getting ready for relaxation time at our first lamaze class. We might have laughed through the entire thing.


October 2
the putt putt place
My friends were kind enough to participate in my pregnant, drink-free, 32nd birthday putt putt adventure. 


October 3
Bedroom
My ankles are starting to get fat. The best is when I take my socks off after work and even the little thread designs leave imprints on my feet.


October 4
Bedroom
34 1/2 weeks! (Seems so long ago now.)


October 5
Bon Chon
Molly's birthday celebration! Enough beer and wings to get her through the night.


October 6
Office
Repurposing wedding thank you cards to be baby shower thank you cards. Pretty proud of myself for this economical and clever fix.


October 7
Kitchen
Getting some dry wall patches up.


October 8
Stairs
Making room for baby and bringing the giant desk upstairs!


October 9
Living Room
Making sure we have at least twelve projects going on simultaneously. We cleared out the furniture to get the floors redone.


October 10
Living Room
Using this opportunity to get rid of stuff for good also. Sister and I had an indoor yard sale and made $2.00 each. Probably the last time we'll do that.


October 11
Larkum House
A baby Smith baby-cue! Our friends and family are great.


October 12
Bedroom
Our bed has become my desk, dining room table, and couch because there's nowhere else to sit in the house right now.


October 13
Bedroom
The last of the emptying and the beginning of staying at the in-laws. (Keep in mind we are only four weeks out from the bobby's due date.)


October 14
Peterson House
My new roommate, Abe.


October 15
Peterson House
36 weeks and last lamaze class.


October 16
Kitchen to Cyborg Room
Checking in on the floors. The photo is misleading. That's unfinished countertop in the foreground, messed up floors in the background.


October 17
Peterson House
Making the most of our home away from home. They ganged up on me.


October 18
Front Porch
Doing some outdoor work while the inside is unwalkable. By work, I mean nap in a sleeping bag in the front yard and pleasantly wake up to an original piece of art hand delivered by the artist, Abernathy Bland, herself. She has a blog and does neat things. (Riding Bareback Beside a Train.)


October 19
Back Yard
More outdoor work and napping.


October 20
Back Yard
More outdoor work. Mom is in town and telling Andy what to do.


October 21
Peterson Basement
The poor cat is not happy about the floors either. She's stuck in this kitty prison. Eat, sleep, poop, and lift weights all in the same small room.


October 22
Peterson House
Movie night. I suppose the silver lining to going into week two of not being able to be in our house is that we were able to step away from the projects and relax a tiny bit. A very tiny bit. (Three weeks until baby.)


October 23
Peterson House
Front view of the growth. I look scared, but I'm not really scared. I just don't know how to make a normal face. Especially when taking a selfie in my pajamas.


October 24
Living Room
Walkable but not livable! One step closer to moving back in.


October 25
Gaylord, National Harbor
Annual trip north to see Dad. Every year they've done something a little more extravagant at National Harbor. This year there was a Ferris wheel! Woot!


October 26
Bedroom
Another bonus to an empty house: deep cleaning (ie. vacuuming the walls and everything in between). And a bonus in life: friends that help you do it.


October 27
Nursery (formerly the office)
I put the crib together! Mostly by myself! I stuffed the bottom part with the drawers into my car and made one trip to the station while Andy was on duty so he could help me.
(This is the first of three requirements before this baby is allowed to show up.)


October 28
Kitchen
Andy's putting a coat of finish on the countertops. Fumes are too strong so we are still staying at his parent's house.


October 29
Car
Bringing the cat back home. Those eyes look thrilled. Not pictured: me. And I'm dang excited!


October 30
Bedroom
There's a bed in our bedroom again! (This is the second requirement before this baby is allowed to show up. And that is supposed to be in less than two weeks.)


October 31
WFM
The Halloween costume we've been talking about doing for years. It's even better too, because there's actually three of us in that chef coat!









Sunday, November 9

no slowing down





September 1
Back Yard
Matchy matchy, turqoise and stripes squared!


September 2
Office
I'm not sure what's happening here, but Andy's being gross. Practicing for fatherhood, no doubt.


September 3
P.F. Chang's
Dinner out with my ma- and brother-in-law.


September 4
Patio
Just chiseling some brick away for the oven vent. All the things wrong with this: no dust protection, pregnant lady on ladder, sandals. There's no slowing down over here.


September 5
Kitchen
Dishwasher slid into place for a dry fitting. Even just seeing it there (not working yet) is exciting!


September 6
Kitchen
Looks like a fall harvest festival with that beautiful grilled corn and burrito filling. This is probably one of three home-cooked meals in two-months time. That's why I'm so proud.


September 7
Kitchen
Clearly the focus of our work these days. Progresses: Advantium (ie. second oven/microwave) installed and dry fit countertops.


September 8
Front Porch
Cutting the hole for the kitchen sink. Talk about pressure. And talk about the beginning of the longest sink ordeal ever. That story is not worth rehashing, but just know that nothing ever goes smoothly when home renovating.


September 9
WFM
That's a baby-shaped impression on a raw cake. I'm not aware of my size. The best is when I try to slide past someone and graze their butt with my belly. Oops.


September 10
Cyborg Room
Let the process begin! Stage one: sanding!


September 11
Office
I made a few things for the bobby. Tiny things! (Holy cow as I type this it's a matter of days!)


September 12
Cyborg Room
A coat of shellac. And that's just the underside of the countertop.


September 13
Terrace
Getting the roof done across the street because one house to worry about isn't enough.


September 14
Back Yard
Picnicking with Sister and Adah (because there's nowhere to sit inside).


September 15
Bryan Park
The most beautiful ombre berries of them all! Enjoying a park stroll with Molly.


September 16
Sunroom
We installed that fan and it works.


September 17
Living Room
My new lamp to replace the one that Whit broke.


September 18
Kitchen
Countertops in place and getting more coats of shellac. They're purty.


September 19
Hardywood
Celebrating (or mourning) Ben and Laura's last day. At least I'm doing it in style. (Pregnancy fail.)


September 20
Office
Preparing for floor refinishing and yard sale purging. The cat comes with the bookshelf.


September 21
Bedroom
32 1/2 weeks. Feeling good and going strong.


September 22
Kitchen
Two years of marriage to celebrate and be thankful for! I'd say we've managed to pack quite a bit in. Andy certainly deserves some pie with heart-shaped cutouts.


September 23
OBGYN Assoc.
Waiting for doc.


September 24
Cyborg Room
Barstools that need to be re-covered eventually. Add it to the list!


September 25
64 East
Giving ourselves a long weekend/anniversary celebration in the Outerbanks with Abe and Tim. And starting it off right with car pizza.


September 26
Frisco, NC
Father and son assessing the surf situation.


September 27
Ocracoke
Evening sit on a deserted stretch of beach. Don't mind if I do.


September 28
Hatteras
Crab traps on crab traps on crab traps.


September 29
Hatteras
Shells on shells on shells. Andy collects for hours and I don't mind because that's a great dad activity.


September 30
Cyborg Room
I'm not too pregnant to paint the top part of the wall, but I am too pregnant to paint the bottom part. Getting bigger by the minute.