Operation Big Boy Room: Complete!

Now, I understand the word "complete" is like an oxymoron when speaking in terms of children's rooms, because they are like the children themselves...constantly changing and growing.  But I feel like the major transitions have been made, and I'm super happy with the outcome!  I may be more in love with this room than I was with it as a nursery.  Which is quite a statement considering 3 days ago I was sitting outside his room crying because it looked like a prison cell to me.  But with a little color and a paintbrush, it's now my favorite place to be in the house.
I decided I wanted to avoid the expensive showroom bedroom furniture, but instead have a more eclectic feel.  I'm done with stuffy fussy rooms and furniture that can't be scratched or dinged. So here goes!

The madras curtains were the color inspiration for the whole room.  Next purchase was the previously white iron bed, which I spray painted a dark brown.  Because Carter is still figuring out the big boy bed thing, I got foam bumpers from Amazon that fit under the mattress pad and sheet.  Love them! 
The letters and paper airplane idea was inspired from pintrist.com....however I used electrical tape instead of paint to create the airplane and its trail so that I can just peel it off when I'm over it.  Black paint is not easy to cover up.
I still need to recover the trunk, but you get the idea.

We bought a small travel pillow that he sleeps with (perfect toddler size 5.00 at target) , which required some creativity as far as a pillow case.  So I pulled out his baby receiving blankets and whipped up 2 travel size cases and a few standard cases.  So glad those blankets get a second life!

This is a dresser that I found on craigslist for 25.00!  Painted that bad boy the deepest blue martha stewart offers, and then spray painted the hardware.  So this is diaper changing central until he is potty trained.  The airplane watercolors are actually just copied images from real watercolors for sale on etsy...printed them on my color printer.

Add an old Edens barn board and a few hooks and this room is complete!  Done and DONE!

Preggo and Purging

That's right!  I'm pregnant and purging...old clothes, shoes, linens, housewares, and anything else that might get in my way.  Some might call it nesting, but technically that term only applies to the days before labor when oxytocin floods your brain and sends you into an unexplained mother hen frenzie.  So I'm just calling it "Reality check: you have no storage space so you better get rid of some crap."

First on the list: My wardrobe...will I really ever wear these size small Polo shirts again? No. Toss.
Will I, or more importantly, SHOULD I ever wear these low rise skin tight jeans again?  No.  Toss.
Will I ever wear these 18 fuzzy sweaters again? No. Toss, toss, toss.
Will I ever need these 13 pairs of nice Banana Republic dress pants again? Probably not, but it just seems irresponsible to throw those out.  Keep.
Maternity in, 20-something college girl out. The rest goes in storage, because it's just too sad to look at all the clothes that don't fit this baby bump right now.  See you in February, my lovlies!

Next on the List:  Carter's toy situation- Operation Big Boy Room includes revamping my childhood toychest so Carter can keep the majority of his toys in his big boy room...hopefully keeping my living room tidier.  Fingers crossed.

After That:  New baby's room- you know that place where  you just throw everything that has no other home?  Yeah...you're lookin at it.  However, this requires husband help so it's gonna have to wait at least another few weeks.  Ugh.

Horray for getting rid of useless closet clutter!  I feel lighter already :)

Mommy Confessions: Who ARE you?!

Terrible Twos? No Problem. I'll get through it. I'll read the books when it's time. Well, guess what...they came a knockin' and look who isn't prepared AT ALL! 

I know, he looks innocent enough, but let me assure you, the impatient and obstinate temper-tantrum-thrower lives on the inside.  And when he comes out to play....it's enough to make this woman lose her Christianity.  The problem is you just don't see it coming!

Take today, for instance. It started out innocently enough- Breakfast as usual, we made the bed, we washed some dishes, I took my shower, we got him dressed for the day, and loaded up in the car for a trip to the fabric store. All was well....until it wasn't.

He's in the cart while I am trying to pick out a fabric to recover my old childhood toy chest, and then he wants me to hold him.  Then he wants my cell phone.  Then he wants to get down and push the cart.  Then he runs the cart into a wall and bangs his head.  Then he's mad at me because it's obviously my fault.  Then he wants his juice, which is conveniently located in the car (stupid!) Then he just wants to get the heck out of there, which won't work because I refuse to leave with the denim I've chosen before looking at all of my options. 

So, I had my first real terrible two breakdown in Joann Fabrics.  Somehow, I made it to the counter with the denim that would just have to work, and checked out.  Got him to the car, buckled him in...all the while ignoring the awful display of brattiness that is being yelled in my ear and slapped in my face (literally).  I calmly get in the drivers seat, shut the door, turn the key....and in the safety of my car, unleash the Chuck Edens(my father) temper.  "NO MORE TANTRUM!!! NO MORE!! NOT ANOTHER WORD!!"- Silence.  Quivering lip.  Hurt feelings written all over his face, but silent.

I immediately felt awful.  Fail.  Really?  Yelling?  At a toddler?  I beat myself up all the way to subway, where...I confess, to avoid another awful moment, I left him in the running car while I ordered and payed for my turkey sandwich.  While inside I decided that no one would steal a car with such an explosive 2 year old in the back. 

We made it home, I fed our hungry bellies, put him to bed, and now I'm praying that a nap will do us both some good. 

The Childhood Education major in me understands why this is an emotional time for him.  He's just big enough to communicate what he wants, nearly big enough to get it or do it himself, but doesn't understand why I won't let him.  He doesn't understand the dangers, the social rules, or the delayed implications. He hears "no" more often than "yes", and that has to be frustrating.  I still stand firm in my belief that the Terrible Twos are only terrible when parents lose their patience...and I lost mine today.  And yeah, it was pretty terrible.

Passport: Orcas Island

After we'd had enough of the big city we headed out of Seattle to the Northwest coast of Washington.  From a small town called Anacortez, we planned to take a ferry ride to the SanJuan Islands.  I was real excited about this, partly because we had booked a cozy little condo that was a major improvement to the sub par hotel we were camped up in downtown, and also because of the whale watching opportunities.  So we found a spot in the ferry line, hopped on board, and floated our way to Orcas Island. 

When we landed on the Island, we unpacked at the condo and then Daniel and I went out to explore what was around.  We didn't have to go far.  Our part of the Island, contained the Islands only grocery store, a few restaurants, a couple novelty shops, and the needed medical offices.  Nothing more than they needed...just enough.  Locals had the island laid-back attitude, but wore flannel shirts and boots.  I even saw some full grown mountain men beards...which would be unheard of in Tennessee summer heat.  It wasn't the cheapest place to vacation, since everything had to be flown or floated in from the mainland, but it was relaxing none-the-less.  The scenery was to die for, and the sunsets were unbeatable.

We drove to the top of the highest mountain on the Island, Mt. Constitution, and snapped some pics along the way.  We went early in the morning, and then again late in the afternoon once the fog had cleared. 

 I couldn't help but hope I'd catch a glimpse of Jacob or Edward on the way up the mountain :) 

The next day Daniel and I ventured out to do some whale watching while the in-laws stayed at the condo with Carter.  It was freezing cold, so I'm glad they didn't tag along.  Carter would have been miserable, but I enjoyed every second.  I was worried about getting sea-sick, but it was kind of like a choppy day on the lake.  We got to see two different pods of orcas (aka. killer whales), each about 8 or 10 strong.  We saw a few jump completely out of the water, which was amazing. 

And I got to wear the same kind of jacket that the guys on Deadliest Catch wear...way cool. 

Passport: Seattle

 So when the opportunity arose for us to take a family vacation with the Watson clan, we jumped on it.  Well, I more reluctantly than everyone else.  Why?  Because this trip would include carrying, entertaining, feeding, changing, and napping my 22 month old son...on a plane.  Closed quarters with no way out.  The thought of it had put a damper on the entire trip for me.  But thanks to a few new toddler apps on the IPad, Buzz Lightyear & the rest of the Toy Story 2 gang, a few sippy cups, great flight attendants and a little seating luck we made it! 

So 6 hours, 2 flights, and 1 layover later...we were in Seattle with the rest of the fam.  We spent the first few days seeing downtown.  It really is one of the prettiest cities I've ever seen.  The air is crisp and clean...I'm convinced it's from all of the evergreen trees.  You can be standing in downtown, but still look out and see beautiful mountains in the distance.  The natives were a bit odd, but the scenery made up for it. 

Call me a tourist, but I've decided that guided tours (preferably ones that we can ride) are a must for me.  I don't have the patience to read the history myself, and I don't have the stamina to see the entire city by foot.
If you go with a company listed on the chamber of commerce site for the city, the tour companies are reputable, and the guides are almost always loaded with the city's history.  It's like cliff notes.  All the important or cool stuff...skip the rest.  Plus, you usually get restaurant recommendations or other city must-sees.  This trip, we chose the harbor & locks tour.  The boat starts in the harbor, goes through a water lock system, and then out to ocean water.  We passed the Sleepless in Seattle floating house that Tom Hanks' character lived in, and some of the crabbing boats from Deadliest Catch (kind of cooler in my opinion).  Plus, we got to see Seattle in a whole new way.  It was 2.5 hours, definitely my personal max, but it was well worth it.

I need to introduce my in-laws.

This is Wayne and Barbara, and they are amazing.  We couldn't do vacations...or weekly date night for that matter without them.  They love Carter and I never feel bad asking them to watch him.  They keep him two days (includes one night) a week.  Yes, I'm spoiled, and no, I don't share.  They had a crib in their hotel room as well, so Carter "slept over" with them one night while we stayed in the city.  *silent mommy cheers* It was also great just to have extra sets of hands...plenty of people to give mom and dad a break.  I'm a proponent of family trips....if you like your family. 

Back to Seattle...one of my favorite stops was the Pikes Place Market.  It's the local farmer's market and was busy with people.  A little crowded for a stroller, not gonna lie, but worth it.  The food vendors let you taste their stuff, so I tried everything that looked good.  Washington cherries and local peaches were my favorite.  You have to see the fish market throwers.  They put on a good show.

Our last stop before leaving the city was the Space Needle.  In my opinion, I couldn't NOT go to the space needle.  So we paid the 18 bucks per person to ride to the top, I know...I know, took some pictures and came back down.  The view was great, and I can say I've been to the top.  That's all I have to say about that sham of a site.

Part 2: Orcas Island coming soon 

Touring Tennessee: Tullahoma & Lynchburg

This week, I decided to cross off a few spots in the Tullahoma area. 

 I grew up just a few minutes from Tullahoma city limits, so to me, it's home.  The town is home to a few historic stops on the Tennessee Trails & Byways "Jack Trail", so I thought I'd cross off a few while visiting my family this week.  There are lots of great local places, but the Sweet Aroma Cafe at the old Coca Cola building is one that I've never been to.  This was an original bottling plant built in the 40's.  Once a state-of-the-art facility, it produced 120 bottles of Coke per minute until it closed in 1973. Locals remember attending school dances here, and the time when it served as a designated bomb shelter. It has recently been restored as a restaurant and retail destination.  It's been featured in Southern Living Magazine...so I thought I'd check it out.

As far as cafes go, this was a great little place.  It boasts a lighter fare...sandwiches, salads, wraps, and hot dogs.  Yummy looking desserts and the local coffee stop.  After lunch we took a quick walk through the shops that share the building.  There were some cute handmade items and lots of nostalgia.  It was a great place to cool off after hitting the city park (few blocks away).

Next on the list was Historic Lynchburg, home to the Jack Daniels Distillery.  I grew up being able to smell the sour mash from my house on a day when the wind blew right...but I've never been to take a free tour.  It wasn't going to happen this trip, mostly because we had 2 toddlers with us, but also because my mother and sister aren't invested in this project enough to endure the 75 minute tour with me.  So I will leave that for another blog.  Because I will go soon...the visitors center alone was too pretty not to snap pics of.

We headed past Jack Daniels to the square to walk around and visit the local shops.  It's a small square but full of Tennessee charm. 

The highlight of this trip was Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Restaurant. 

It is a hundred year old boarding house turned restaurant, and is home to family style southern cooking that I've heard about in grown-up conversation for years.  The restaurant has several dining rooms, and ours, The Motlow Room, was located on the second floor.  So the dinner(yes, we call lunch "dinner") bell rang at 11 and we headed up the stairs to eat.

In Miss Bobo's hospitality tradition, each table has a hostess who shares local history and makes sure the food gets passed to the left.  You are seated at a table with people you may or may not know, but by the end of the meal everyone has a full belly and a new friend or two.  This might be my new favorite.

The restaurant was bought by the Jack Daniels company when Miss Mary died and works with the distillery to serve tourists and locals alike.  A few of our servers were actually fulfilling a working scholarship funded by Jack Daniels.  The distillery gives them a scholarship to attend Motlow University(Turns out Jack and Motlow were cousins), and in turn they serve tables at Miss Mary Bobo's.  Pretty cool.

It was so yum, and we made it out-2 toddlers in tow and no catastrophes!

So until I take the distillery tour....To Be Continued

Brain Dump

I love Britney's idea of a brain dump...so here goes.

There are a few projects that I need to do around the house.  Not big ones...but they require just enough effort to keep me from getting started.  Maybe because all of them require a small shopping trip, which should be easy now that Carter can handle a day trip...but it means that I have to argue that mommy buckles him in and "no, I will not sit and wait for you to figure it out yourself." It's like a mini war every time I get him in and out! I can hear his brain thinking "I want to do it MYSELF." It also means that I have to heave him in and out of a car seat.  Quite frankly, it makes my biceps burn.  So why don't you do them on the days when Carter is at Grandma's, you might ask.  Because I'm so stingy with those days!  I want to lay by the pool or watch the shows that I can only watch when my husband's not around to make fun of me.  So those projects continue to sit.  Unfinished.

I'm scared that I won't enjoy my trip to Seattle because I'm so nervous about taking Carter on a plane.  No escape if he gets fussy.  Can't let him down to run around when he gets squirmy.  I'm gonna be that parent with the rotten kid who won't shut up.  I'm scared.

I'm officially a youth leader.  There is only 1 young girl right now, but that number will grow.  Am I good enough?  Am I really the best person for the job?  Do I have a story to tell?  I've been saved my whole life...I don't really know if there was ever a shiny moment when things became clear and Jesus miraculously changed my life.  I've been continually blessed...always.  But is that was kids want to hear?  Will that encourage them to be followers of Christ? 

My husband got an IPad2...I miss him.

I'm in the process of buying my son big boy furniture.  How did this happen?  I thought I'd never get to this point...and now that it's here I kind of want to put it off.  Potty training?  No Paci?  Twin bed?  Packing up the highchair?  I find myself clinging by the tips of my fingers to the days of baby Carter.

We need a finished attic....our house is bursting at the seams with STUFF.  Baby stuff, bachelor stuff (which is way worse than any other kind of stuff), our childhood stuff.  But then, if we had an attic...it would just be full of junk!  Today is one of those days that I'd like to throw it all in the back yard and burn it (which would violate Homeowners Association as well as city codes)

If you list something on craigslist...it should be mandatory to mention if you (A.) own a cat and (B.) are a smoker.  It might make me think twice before buying a dresser that emits toxic fumes.  Also...please make sure someone is awake to answer the door when I come knocking.  It's not my responsibility to "pound like hell until they hear" me.  Those are the seller's words...not mine.