Bryan: “I need a carpet sample for my van.”
7 May
Room to grow
We finished painting and decorating the girls’ room this weekend. I have a tendency to go with the very last option on the paint swatch (why paint something purple when you can paint it PURPLE?) but Bryan talked me into a lighter shade of lavender. I’m really happy with the way it turned out.
The beds certainly aren’t space savers, but the colors make for a pretty cute set up. (As I expected, I’ve found two sisters snuggled into the top bunk on more than one occasion.)
This is the cleanest this bookcase will ever look. And, of course, I had to prominently display the Madison terrace chairs and table from American Girl.
Halfway through my photo shoot, I had a volunteer model. Ava’s been spending way too much time perusing direct mail catalogs, it would appear.
We found space to hang the birth samplers my mom made…
…and a spot for the “Pickle Dish” quilt, which Karyl made for Ava. “Night Night Duck,” which Ava loved/loathed for years, took a spot on the shelf next to the book Gramma Great used to read to me, and to my mom before that.
The cradles in the above shot were made by my stepdad and mom—they crafted them with pine from the trees that grew in front of my grandparents’ house for decades. I’ve always intended to do a separate post on this topic, but to be honest, the gesture continues to render me tearfully speechless. (See also: The Dresden Plate quilt Karyl made for me with blocks created from scrap calico by my Great Grandma Wallen, which now hangs just outside of this bedroom.) We are VERY blessed to have such talented and thoughtful family members.
Our final project for the weekend was updating the room just down the hall, which is ready and waiting…
5 May
Out of this world
After a rather challenging transition to first grade (which in true Ava fashion lasted roughly three times longer than it needed to), Ava has settled in nicely. Her teacher creates a special work plan with additional projects for her each month; some are completed during free time at school, and others are done at home.
She’s created and delivered about five PowerPoint presentations, crafted a constellation model from a shoe box and a flashlight, and written a number of poems and short stories. Last week, she and Bryan worked together to create a model of the solar system. The sytrofoam planets orbit around the sun on repurposed wire hangers, and there’s even a little tinfoil moon next to the earth.
Ava is dismayed I don’t know more about Mars, but at least all of this planetary talk is rubbing off on someone: Olivia just correctly defined the solar system. Hopefully she’ll retain that knowledge for a least a couple of years.
2 May
Toffee caramel cupcakes
At some point last fall, I apparently agreed to bring cupcakes to our 25-member strategic planning steering committee. I completely forgot about this (I also forgot my email password and my home phone number, so I’m not surprised). I finally made good on my promise last week, and brought two batches of cupcakes into work.
The first cupcake was a toffee caramel cupcake. I used the foolproof Martha Stewart one-bowl chocolate cake recipe, then dipped the edged of the cooled cupcakes into melted bittersweet chocolate and chopped toffee. I topped the cakes with a salted caramel buttercream. Thanks to extremely high doses of sugar, we made significant progress on that strategic plan.
29 Apr
Overheard: The “I’m only 30 weeks” edition
Various comments directed at me this weekend:
From a shop owner on Mass Street, after learning this is my third: “Let me tell you something no one else will: ALL OF YOUR BABYSITTERS WILL QUIT.”
—
A college student who appeared to be 14, though I am sure was old enough to legally consume the drink in her hand: “I just love that you’re pregnant and wearing heels. Like, seriously, I love that.”
—
A woman at the capital campaign kickoff, also upon learning this is my third: “We had three. BUT THEN WE STOPPED. Do you know how expensive college is?” (By the way, my reply here was, “Yes, I do, and that is why the University of Kansas announced a $1.2 billion fundraising campaign 20 minutes ago…”)
—
Another woman I met at the kickoff: “Oh my goodness! Must be any day now—I hope you make it through this event!”
—
One of the interns in my department: “When are you going to start maternity leave?” (My response: “About 12 hours after I go into labor.”)
—
Me, at the grocery store’s meat counter today: “Shhhhh.”
It took me a moment to realize I didn’t have my kids with me, and I had inadvertently shushed a grown woman. A LOUD woman, but still.
29 Apr
One month later…
So it turns out “neglect and then compensatory overwatering” are not secrets to raising healthy primrose.
23 Apr
The man and his new van
Bryan has finally realized his decade-long dream of owning a minivan. He looks pretty good in the “Man Van,” don’t you think?
21 Apr
Party of Five
We’ve spent the last couple of weekends securing the furniture and storage/organization systems needed to free up space for this new baby. It seems that the third time around, nesting isn’t as much instinct as it is necessity. Though tiny by comparison, our impending addition is leading to quite a bit of shuffling.
The girls will be officially sharing a room, though it’s worth noting they’ve both slept in Ava’s room since Olivia moved from her crib. Her toddler bed didn’t last long—she decided early on she’d rather snuggle with Ava. Even though Olivia makes a remarkably poor bedmate, Ava never argued. But now that they’re having to share a room, I thought they might appreciate having their own space therein. With that in mind, we bought a low loft bed and a trundle that lays perpendicular. I am willing to bet we end up with two girls crammed into a twin size bed, but we’ll see.
To accomodate the consolidated bedrooms, we moved almost all of the toys down to a new playroom in the basement. I think Bryan is spending just as much time down there as the girls—he even set up some vintage gaming systems, which Ava and Olivia are enjoying as well. Despite acquiring new shelving, bins and boxes, most toys are currently “stored” in the center of the room.
I took some time today to go through the storage totes filled with newborn supplies and clothing. I’d say at least half of what we have could pass as gender neutral—a benefit of not knowing the sex of the previous two babies in advance. Bryan set up the crib, which still needs a special part to secure the drop side thanks to a major recall last year.
In the coming weeks, we’ll replace the expired car seat, and maybe even the car . . . Bryan has his eye on a minivan, which admittedly, would be quite practical for a family of five.
Just 10 weeks to go!
Smith Family Weblog 