Holiday Weekend Lessons

Saturday: The Farmers Market Keeps Getting Better
The crowds were down at the market this weekend (lots of people were out of town for the holiday) but the produce did not disappoint. Everything looked delicious and we came home with an overflowing bag.
Sunday: Auntie Trish Rocks!
A.J. spent the morning cuddling with his Auntie Trish while Karl and I met up with one of our 2010 couples to shoot an engagement session. They must have had lots of fun because A.J. came home hungry and exhausted. After eating, he took a three hour nap.
and...
Sunday: Parks are crowded on Labor Day weekend!
You can't tell from this picture, but the park was crammed with people when we arrived to shoot on Sunday. We made it work, but it would have been a whole lot easier if we weren't dodging campers and their pets!
Monday: 3 day weekends = Extra Daddy Time
Having Karl home all weekend was really nice. A.J. got lots of Daddy time and I got lots of work done without having to worry about catering to the whims of an almost three month old.

Day 4 Lesson: Train'em Early!

It's College Color Day, so I knew AJ would be wearing his "I drool Orange and Blue" onesie even if it is a *tad* big. (But at least it will fit him through the whole football season, right?) I will confess that I got a little giddy taking his picture this morning. I can't wait to take him to Gainesville this winter and add to his collection of Gator gear.

The truth is, A.J. can go to school wherever he wants. But I really REALLY hope he grows up to be a Gator fan. You've got to admit, he looks pretty good in orange and blue right?

Day 3 lesson: Have baby sized bandaids handy

Mark the calendar. September 3rd: I made my baby bleed. The crying and the bleeding wasn't really the bad part. The worst was the look of shock and horror that came across AJ's face in the moment before he started wailing.

I should have known those baby nail clippers were dangerous. I had the best of intentions. Three cuts on his face in two days means it's time to trim those scratchy little nails. So I decided to tackle the problem while getting the monkey man dressed this morning. One ill timed squirm later and I was trimming skin instead of nail and AJ was looking at me with wide eyes and a quivering lip.

I think I cried before he did. I had no baby sized bandaids so there we sat, me holding toilet paper to the wound, begging forgiveness of a 12 week old. The good news is by 10am we were home from Walmart with baby sized bandaids, cuddling on the couch.

All is forgiven for now, but I'm not going near those nail clippers any time soon.

Day 2 Lesson: It's going to take more than nursing...

Yup, I did it. This morning I rejoined Weight Watchers in an attempt to finally say goodbye to what I not so fondly refer to as my "infertility weight." Three years of failed cycles, depression, and drugs were not kind to my body and now it's time to make things right.

I've been pretty lax (okay, totally lax) with my eating since AJ was born for a couple of reasons. First of all, I'm breast feeding and you need extra calories for that. Second, gestational diabetes kept me from eating what I wanted during pregnancy so I felt like I "deserved" some free time. Despite the food free for all, I've managed to lose 41 pounds I gained during pregnancy. That would be a much bigger achievement if I didn't swell up like a balloon in those final weeks. I'm pretty sure 20 of those 41 pounds was water retained in my legs and feet!

The nice thing about Weight Watchers is they make the plan friendly to nursing moms, so I have extra points to account for the extra calories I need to keep my supply up. I'm committed to the program for 2 months. We'll see how it goes.

Learning Something New Everyday: September 1st

Ah, September. This time last year I was getting ready to begin the cycle that we conceived our little monkey man. It's totally hard for me to believe how much has changed, and how much I've learned in the last year.

Last September I did a daily mini album to document the month. This year I don't have the time to devote to such a project, but I am going to *try* to blog through the month. Emphasis on the word TRY people. We'll see if A.J. decides to cooperate :)

So what did I learn today?

September 1st: Salisbury Steak doesn't photograph well. Today, Barb and I kicked off a new blogging project :Cook. Eat. Repeat? Over the next year we're going to cook our way through the stacks of cookbooks and recipes printed off the web we've aquired over the years.

Tonight, I made my first new recipe and quickly learned why the picture in the Light and Tasty magazine is very small. This recipe definitely doesn't get high marks for presentation. You'll have to wait a bit to find out if it tastes better than it looks. The recipe and my review wil be posted on the Cook. Eat. Repeat? blog tomorrow!

Back to School

Fact: I have a slight obsession with this time of year. There's just something about the school supplies popping up in the stores, the kids shopping for new clothes and new shoes, and the college students returning to town and dragging their parents to target to stock their dorm rooms. I love the return of a little chill in the air, even if I can only pretend for so long that fall means winter is right around the corner. So while September means my teacher friends are heading back to work and won't be around to entertain me on a daily basis, there are new adventures to look forward to in the coming months.

I'm not going back to school myself, but I like using the new school year as an excuse for new beginnings, new projects to tackle. I guess I consider it an early start on new years resolutions. So in honor of the new year, and inspired by the lovely Miss Em, I'm throwing out a few goals for the school year ahead:

• New Year, New Schedule: I know they say all babies do is eat, sleep, and poop but really...that eating, sleeping, and pooping seems to take up a LOT of my time. In the coming months, I really want to find my new groove as a mama. There are so many things I want to do, many things I NEED to do, but on some days the idea of doing ANYTHING, while juggling the needs of my little monkey man seems more than a little overwhelming. I know the name of the game is flexibility, but having even a rough schedule will go far in making me feel like something is getting accomplished in my life.
  
• Home Ec: I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to surf the interweb for appealing new recipes. Unfortunately, those new recipes have been little more than bookmarks on my computer for the past several months and little has been going on in my kitchen aside from preparing things that are "quick and easy", "tried and true," or my personal least favorite "prepackaged for convenience." So my new thing that I'd like to learn this year is how to cook. Like for real. I'm going to menu plan. And I'm going to try new recipes. And if something really sucks...we'll just eat cereal for dinner. I've got big plans for this goal that involve culinary adventures with my very favorite foodie Barb. More details soon :)
  
• Physical Education: Ah, gym. NEVER my favorite part of the school day. Well, there was that one time I nailed my elementary school nemesis during dodge ball....but that was a long time ago. But when it comes down to it, being a mom requires quite a bit of endurance. We're talking late nights and early mornings. There's lots of crawling around on the floor, not to mention the squatting and lifting and carrying of a baby that's growing bigger every day. And we won't even talk about how heavy some of that baby gear is! So, it's time for me to get back in shape. A.J. deserves a healthy mama who can keep up with him. I joined the Y. They have child care. The elliptical and I are getting back together.
  
• Dating an Upperclassmen: Truth be told, I kind of miss my husband. Being a mama is more than a full time job and sometimes I think the being a wife part takes a backseat. But we're trying. Date night is back in the Homburg household and unless there is some extenuating circumstance, Friday night is just for us. Sure those Friday nights might involve nothing more than take out and a trip the the redbox, but every little bit counts, right?
  
• Economics: Oh, budget. Such a bad word. But since it's going to be a few years before AJ is making millions and taking care of us, budgeting is important. I'm lucky that photography allows me to stay home with AJ, but not working full time means we have to make some sacrifices when it comes to spending. I need to remember that.

And since blog posts without pictures are taboo, here's a few recent pictures of my contribution to the Class of 2027:

Chilling in the tub
Pondering the meaning of life while looking out the window with Mama.

Too young to protest taking pictures with his "uncool" parents.

I heart Faces Week 29: Funny Silly Faces

A.J. showing off his personality July 2009

This week I stumbled upon a fun photography challenge blog called I Heart Faces and it looks like I have perfect timing since this week's subject is funny silly faces. While this photo might not be technically perfect, (snapped with our little canon point and shoot) it makes me giggle uncontrollably.

I love this boy.

Seriously.

Summer Lovin

I'm currently having a love affair with summer, soaking up every lovely thing this season has to offer. Last year I was too busy for weekends of summer fun. We had weddings to shoot and very very little time off. This year there are still weddings, but they are spaced out and I'm currently not the one shooting them.

Of course I also have a very good reason to slow down and soak up the summer this year. He's 11lbs 2oz and he's just started smiling at me like I'm the coolest person in the world. I know he'll only feel that way for a few years, so I want to take advantage of every moment.

This weekend pretty much sums up all that is wonderful about summers in Wisconsin.

Friday night we took AJ to his first drive in double feature. I've decided the drive in is the best idea ever for new parents. We sat in the car with AJ in my lap and when he wasn't eating he slept like...well....a baby. I plan to make many more trips to the drive in this summer.

Saturday morning we were up early to walk the streets of Downtown Appleton with Barb. It never fails, the farmers market makes me wish I lived in a big city where you walk to the grocery daily to buy fresh ingredients for dinner.
Since there's no move in my future I'll have to settle for taking pictures of pints of perfect berries.

Spent Saturday afternoon at home with this little man, enjoy a lazy little nap on the couch. Please note the super cool bib that came in the mail from our favorite Finn Torm!
Sunday, we fired up the grill and invited a few good friends over for an afternoon in the backyard.

The monkey man was too little to enjoy the food, but he did seemed pretty content to sleep in his swing as the grown ups ate and talked and laughed around him.

We wrapped up the afternoon with what just might be the best cake I've ever tasted, courtesy of Barb. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but I'm serious. Cake that contains vegetables has no right to taste that good.

The only downside of this weekend is the knowledge that summer will be over before we know it!

If you're happy and you know it...

AJ is a man of many expressions and now we can add smiling to the list. Here he is yesterday when all was right with the world and the playmat was the coolest place to be.

Unfortunately, that was yesterday. Today we're seeing a less desirable expression:

Don't feel too bad for the little guy. I promise he wasn't being tortured.

Unless you consider being asked to nap in his crib torture.
He has a rough life.

The Other Side of the Camera

As photographers it's not often Karl and I find ourselves in pictures, especially not together. But when our little monkey arrived, we knew it was important to document our new family just as we are right now.

Enter our good friend Heidi of HJ Selch Photography:
We also took some shots with my family since they were in town visiting.


And ofcourse we needed a few shos of the little monkey all by himself.
Looking at these images, I can't believe how much he's changed already! So thankful for our little family of three.

Right Now

Inspired by Ali

• AJ wears a sleeper, but not for long. Blowout diapers require lots of wardrobe changes these days.
• Walker is happy to share the bed with his little brother. I'm amazed how well these two get along. My crazy dog is playing the big brother role well.
  
• My bed is made because she told me it would help me stay sane as a new mama. So far I'm thinking she's right.
  
• I can't remember who I was before I was AJ's mama. Maybe a little sleep would help me regain my memory.
  

The One Who Knows

Time it was I had a dream
You're the dream come true
If I had the world to give
I'd give it all to you

I'll take you to the mountains
I will take you to the sea
I'll show you how this life became
A miracle to me

You'll fly away
But take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done
You'll be the one who knows

All the things you treasure most
Will be the hardest ones
I will watch you struggle on
Before the answers come

But I won't make it harder
I'll be there to cheer you on
I'll shine the light that guides you down
The road you're walking on

You'll fly away
But take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done
You'll be the one who knows

Before the mountains call to you
Before you leave this home
I want to teach your heart to trust
As I will teach my own

But sometimes I will ask the moon
Where it shined upon you last
And shake my head and laugh and say
It all went by so fast

You'll fly away
But take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done
You'll be the one who knows

-Dar Willliams

Anderson James Homburg

9lbs 3oz 20.5inches

June 11th, 2009 9:05pm

Almost There

At 36 weeks:

• Monkey has "dropped"
• which means I am waddling. So attractive.
• Ultrasounds estimate Monkey weighs 6lbs 11oz. although I feel like he/she weighs at least 11lbs
  
• I'm down to about 4 outfits that fit and will NOT buy anything else.
  
• We've "graduated" from our childbirth class. I wish I could say I feel prepared.
  
• My to do list gets longer the more things I cross off.
  
• I can't wait to meet our baby!
  

Adventures in Babysitting

Or shall I say adventures in trying to find a babysitter (rather CHILDCARE PROFESSIONAL if we're being 2009) for the yet to be born little monkey.

First, let me say, I now know why "back in the day" families all lived within blocks of each other. It really does take a village to raise a child. And unfortunately for us, not everyone in said village is trustworthy and competent. Now, that's not to say that Karl and I don't love where we live. Because we totally do (except for the absence of Publix Grocery stores, and Chickfila, and Bradford pear trees, and sweet tea). We have the best friends here, who really are like a second family. But as I'm beginning my attempt to find quality childcare for Monkey, a part of me wishes we had grandparents, siblings, aunts, cousins who live in the same area code.

In a way, Karl and I are lucky. When I made the decision to leave news and work on photography, a big factor in that decision was babies and my desire to be a stay at home mom. Karl and I were both raised my SAHMs and were committed to making that a priority in our family. Of course, living on one income is becoming increasingly more challenging these days, and shooting weddings is a great help to us. I am LUCKY to be able to be a SAHM 6 days a week. But at the same time I am not so lucky to be searching for good, reliable, weekend childcare because so many options just aren't available for us when our main need is 12-14 hours on a Saturday!

So...Monkey could be here any day now (but not until after this weekend when I'm shooting a wedding thankyouverymuch!)....and I'm beginning the process of interviewing potential part time nannies to begin in September when I return to shooting weddings. I'd like to think I've been pretty clear in my desires and expectations from the person who will be "joining our team"

• you need experience with infants, which sounds kind of funny since my own husband has never actually held a baby...but whatever.
  
• you need to be dependable (we can't call in sick on our brides....therefore don't call in sick on us)
• you need to not be a criminal, a smoker, or a leadfoot with an outstanding warrant for failure to pay your tickets.
  
• bonus points if you love our dog as much as we do.
• more bonus points if you have a morning or two a week that you can come by and watch Monkey so I can hide in the office and power edit.
  
• did I mention the dependable thing? Because that's really important to us.
  

I began getting replies just a few minutes after my ad was posted (written much more professionally than the bullets above by the way). I was able to weed out a few candidates right away. I'm sorry 16 year old girl who has her license and is homeschooled so therefore available during the week. I don't care how "risponsible (sic)" you are, I am not comfortable leaving you home alone with an 8 week old for a 14 hour stretch. I also turned down the mom of 3 who was willing to watch Monkey but only at her house 25 minutes away. It just isn't a good fit for us to have to drive an extra 1/2 hour at midnight to try and pick up our sleeping baby after a long day of shooting.

Once the definite nos were weeded out, I started setting up interviews with my top five candidates. One a day starting this past Monday. We're halfway through the week and here's how things are looking so far.

Monday Candidate A: This person sounds great on paper. She has experience with newborns, first aid and infant cpr certified, etc. Unfortunately....she didn't show up for the interview. An email from her the following day informed me that she never checked her email again over the weekend after she suggested we meet on Monday so she didn't get my reply with a time. Grade: F

Tuesday Candidate B: She showed up, which to me is a huge bonus after Monday's debacle. She has a great amount of nanny experience, but the youngest child she's ever cared for is 5 months old. She's currently a part time weekday nanny for another family so her ability to help out during the week would be limited. Her references are excellent. Grade: not entirely decided but leaning towards B+

Wednesday Candidate C: Oh the high hopes I had for C. C was my girl. Not only does she have newborn experience but she is studying to be a nurse and has a job at the hospital. When you're a nervous new mom like me there's nothing like the comfort of someone with some medical knowledge.My only concern about C was whether she would be committed to the job because her schedule is already pretty busy. But she reassured me via email that she understood how important dependability was to us. I couldn't wait to meet C this morning. Except....C called my cell phone 45 minutes before our interview and left a voicemail that she "woke up not feeling well" and "needed to reschedule." Seriously??? I guess the whole, "Wedding photographers can't call in sick so therefore they need childcare providers that will be reliable" seems to not apply during the interview stage. Grade: With great sadness F!!!

So 3 candidates down and only one with potential. The last two candidates on my top five were there only as backups because I thought for sure the first three were my strongest candidates. My current fear is that when it's time to return to shooting I will be doing so with Monkey strapped to my back!

On This Day...

I wonder when I'll really believe it. Despite the swollen ankles, the heartburn, the frequent need to pee and the resulting sleepless nights, I still don't believe I'm a mom. Even though I'm being bruised from the inside by this little soccer star, I can't really wrap my brain around the fact that in just a few weeks I will hold OUR BABY in my arms. A baby that has lived in my dreams for years always just a little out of reach.

I've kept a journal since 2000. That journal chronicles so many changes in my life, new jobs, new cities, new friends, and new loves. It is a written record of my relationship with Karl from the moment that he was "some guy on eharmony." I can go back and read my feelings during our long distance relationship, the anticipation I felt as our wedding day approached, and the excitement of those newlywed days.

The first talk of babies in that journal began in November 2005, right after our first wedding anniversary. I went off birth control that month, feeling confident in "our plan" to begin officially trying in February 2006. My thoughts there were optimistic, excited, and perhaps a little naive. Karl and I would conceive our first child while on vacation in Florida, because that is what happens when you time things right and you cut out caffeine and you take your prenata vitamins, right?

Not for us.

I can read through those entries now and watch as my excited "Maybe this is our month..." turns into "Next month will definitely be our month..." and finally "What did I do to deserve this?" I can look back and relive those first frightening doctors appointments when I said out loud for the first time that I thought maybe there was something wrong with me. I am reminded of the first months we tried drugs and how I suddenly had new hope. A pill could fix this. A pill could make me a mommy.

But sometimes pills just aren't enough.

And when you want nothing more in the world than to be a mommy, days like Mothers Day seem especially brutal. The commercials on tv seem to mock you. The long wait for a table at a restaurant suggests you should just stay home since you have nothing to celebrate. I stumbled upon this entry from just before Mother's Day 2007:

" I had a lot of hope this time around. Sometimes things just seems to be blessed. They fall into place when you're not even thinking about it. And maybe because it's May. Because it's almost 3 years since we lost Aunt Sherry. Because it was just days before Mothers Day.

And it helped that my body seemed to be giving me every signal in the book. Sore boobs, exhaustion, a constant weird taste in my mouth, nausea, even bleeding gums.

But all those symptoms-- they don't equal a positive pregnancy test.

All that hope doesn't mean you get what you want.

It just means it makes it all the more difficult when you fail.

It's not my month.

And in the spirit of learning something out of all of this-- I've learned it's a bad idea to run to the grocery right after such a realization. I don't like the type of person I become when I find myself staring at other women and wondering what they did to deserve their babies.

Maybe next month."

It turned out "next month" wouldn't be the month either. It would take 15 more months full of tests, and drugs, and tears before I saw that positive pregnancy test. And now, almost 9 months later, it still doesn't seem 100% real. I guess in all the years of guarding my heart against another disappointment, I've forgotten what it feels like to get exactly what I want.

So on this Mothers Day, I am thankful for the blessing we waited so long for. But a part of my heart still hurts because I know I didn't walk that long infertility road alone. I know that tonight there is a woman who will cry herself to sleep, trying not to wake the husband sleeping next to her. She will wonder if she'll ever hold a baby in her arms. She will long for the sleepless nights and the dirty diapers and the grubby hands. She will pray once again for the strength to cast her hopes on "next month."

Tonight, that woman and all the others like her are in my prayers.

Holy Crap!

Sometimes that's really all there is to say.

I start childbirth class tonight and to say I am terrified would be the understatement of the century. You see, I've had a sort of "ignorance is bliss" thing going on so far. It's not that I don't know how a baby is born. It's just that up until this point I have decided not to really consider how it was going to feel to happen to me.

That "choosing not to think about it" ends tonight. And it ends in a classroom full of strangers, sitting next to my husband who has not watched as many episodes of "A Baby Story" as I have. Let's hope neither of us: passes out, throws up, or laughs uncontrollably.

Prayers and good thoughts are much appreciated.

In Good Company...

So I've always been pretty sure Megyn Kelly of Fox News has the perfect life. I mean, really, she spends her morning sitting next to Bill Hemmer. I've been kind of in love with Bill Hemmer since he spent weeks in Tallahassee, FL after the Indecision 2000 debacle. Back then he was with CNN and I was a Democrat. Things have changed for both of us since then, but I still think he's pretty darn cute.

Now, back to Megyn. I find her to be smart, attractive, and capable of pulling off some serious snark. And my recent suspicion that she's expecting has been confirmed. She's due in October. So yay for Megyn Kelly joining the ever expanding preggo club. 2009 is clearly the year of the baby.

But can I be a jealous pregnant woman for a moment? She's 38. She's more than half way through her pregnancy. She currently looks like she ate a big meal before heading to the set. I guarantee she won't get stretch marks, or cankles, or sausage fingers. AND she gets to sit next to Bill Hemmer every day!

Some girls have all the luck!

Well Hello, April!

So, it's been over a month since I've written. That's bad right? What's worse is that I feel like when I have things to say I have no time to say them. And when I have the time, well then the things I thought I had to say seem much less important.

So, inspired by my dear friend Babs, I present a few random thoughts with accompanying pictures...

Dear Woodmans, Thanks for the green bag reminder. Seriously. There is nothing worse than getting to the checkout only to realize those handy little enviro-friendly bags are in my backseat...or worse, at home. While you're handing out friendly reminders, maybe you could post a little sign inside the store directing people how to go with the flow of traffic through the produce department. And maybe...just maybe we could get some signage advising peopl that it is NOT proper grocery behavior to park your cart in the middle of an aisle while you decide which barbeque sauce to purchase. P.S. Next year I vow not to make a Woodmans trip on Good Friday. I know this wasn't my smartest move ever. Lesson learned.

Dear Insulin Manufacturers, Why must you make all your vials look exactly the same? Do you not know that pregnant women tend to be forgetful? It's called pregnancy brain, and since even my dr has mentioned it, I think it really exists. So yes, putting the slow acting insulin and the fast acting insulin in identically shaped and sized vials is just asking for trouble. Trouble that involves calling Labor and Delivery at 9:30 on a Thursday night in a mild panic. Trouble that requires the pregnant woman in question to choke down multiple glasses of OJ and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in order to keep herself out of a diabetic coma. I know I only have a few more weeks in this pregnancy so there's no hope in getting a fix now, but if you guys could work on that before next time that would be great. Thanks!

Dear Neighbors, See this dog? See how calm he is? This is what Walker is like when he is not being tormented by your dog hanging out in our backyard. Contrary to what you might see on a daily basis, Walker really isn't a growling snarling attack dog. He just doesn't want some other dog peeing and pooping in his yard. If you would follow leash laws our neighborhood would be a lot quieter. I would also appreciate it if you would not LAUGH when your dog makes a beeline for Walker when I've got him out on a leash. We know this doesn't end well, in fact I have gashes all over the top of my feet to prove it. Pregnant ladies are lacking in the balance department and controlling Walker is challenging enough without having to fend off your leashless dog while you stand there laughing. I understand if this note of death makes you want to move. I'm totally okay with that option too!
Dear Friends, thank you for making Monkey's shower so special. Thank you for not laughing when I sucked it up at the shower games or when I kept dropping things while trying to open presents on my non existent lap. Thank you for telling me I look cute, even though I feel like a sweaty whale.
Dear Husband, Thanks for being almost done with all your traveling. I really will be happy to have you home in May, June, and July...even if it means I will no longer have the bed to myself. I'm sorry I keep yelling at you for snoring when you're home and making you stay "on your side" so as to prevent my hot flashes.


Dear Monkey, Thanks for being so active in there! I find it very reassuring to know you're comfy in there and throwing a party for one. However, if you could push on something besides the back of my belly button for a while that would be great. I think I'm developing a bruise! In exchange for your cooperation I promise not to poke your belly button when you're out here. Oh, and if there's something you can do to help get rid of these ugly Fred Flinstone feet and claw hands I'm sporting, I'd really appreciate it. See you in a few weeks!

Project 365: March Week 1

I'm happy to report I've been doing really good at keeping up with my photo a day. I have *not* been as good about sharing the photos. I'm trying to change that starting with March and hopefully at some point I'll get back to sharing the weeks I missed.

So, without further ado, my first week of March in pictures!

3.1.09: My creative mess in Kewaunee. Sad that I had to clean up early and leave the girls, but Karl was headed out on a business trip and I needed some husband time before he left for a week.
3.2.09: Karl may be gone, but there are signs that he was busy this weekend. He painted the first coat of Monkey's room while I wasn't around to inhale the fumes.

3.3.09: The Fedex Man is my friend today (even if he makes Walker bark) because he delivers Monkey's new bedding. Yes, it's different than the one I posted previously. A girl is allowed to change her mind!
3.4.09: Another happy mail day! The invitation to my shower arrived in my mailbox. It's kind of hard for me to believe it's really happening!

3.5.09: It's a good thing I overcame my fear of needles in the process of getting knocked up. This morning's dr visit results in a second insulin being added to my routine. 5 injections a day now.
3.06.09: Only in my world would more insulin result in larger blood sugar numbers. Cue major freakout and desire to screw the whole thing and consume Cold Stone. I behaved though, and opted for a long hot shower instead.
3.07.09: Karl is back to work on Monkey's room. Coat two looks great.
3.08.09: My husband is a handyman rockstar. Here he is installing my new sink! The old one was divided, and shallow. Now we have a deeper sink perfect for washing babies.

So there you have it. I can't believe we're already in the third month of the year! And in 3 months, Monkey will be with us! Crazy!