Spring Cleaning

Our grout was DISGUSTING.  There is no other way to describe it.  It had been gross since we moved in and just kept getting worse.  After dogs, dirt, normal wear and tear, etc. last fall we hired some company to come and "clean" the grout.  They told me there was nothing they can do to clean it and make it look good unless I had the tile re-grouted.  Sounds costly, right?  So a few weeks ago I was perusing pinterest and came across this site for Grout cleaning and decided to give it a shot.

Obviously, it would make total sense to try this out the morning that Carolyn had been up all of the previous night with the stomach flu and about 8 hours before Grandma Judy arrived for a visit.  (J can attest that I usually start home projects at inopportune times).  C was down for a long nap after being up all night so I thought "Why not give it a shot in the bathroom?".  So I grabbed the ingredients and got to work.  Just like the blog post described... it looked "Ok" ... but as it dried it started to look "GREAT".  It isn't perfect, but our grout was SO DARK & DIRTY and it's a number of years old so I am happy with the MUCH IMPROVED but imperfect results.

Yesterday I tacked the entryway and kitchen and just need to seal it today.  All said and done the project will probably take 6-7 hours including the sealing.  I would put the paste down, let it sit for 10 minutes, come back through and scrub it (I found that it worked best if I sprayed some water on the paste while scrubbing it with a toothbrush), let it sit for a few more minutes, wiped it up with some wet rags and water, repeated the previous step (get a bucket of water and lots of rags!), then finished with a cleaning of soapy water and a few more rounds of the wet swiffer (it takes a while to get all of the baking soda up), and after it is dried I will spray the seal.  Here are some pictures... once again, not perfect, but much improved and cheaper than putting in new grout!  

SO GRIMY & DIRTY

In the process...

Some shots of where I have started the cleaning and where I haven't.

 AFTER 

It's been a PB kind of week

While I really like Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids style and products we normally don't do a ton of shopping there.  We did get a lot of C's nursery from PBK but we I really try to control myself.  However, C has gotten two bigger PRK goodies in the past week and I just had to share some pictures because she is loving these two purchases.

I had to run to Keystone mall last week (which I usually try to avoid) and while I was there I decided to check PBK for a night light that can be put on a dresser because Carolyn has become OBSESSED with unplugging it and putting it in her mouth and she freaks out if she doesn't have it...  so anyway...  while we were in the store I noticed that it was their floor sample sale and I thought I would let Carolyn play with the play kitchens for a few minutes before putting her in her stroller where she would inevitably scream.  Long story short...  we took the miniature play kitchen home.  She loved it, I texted an adorable picture of her to Jesse playing with it along with a caption reading "Daddy, can I get it?", I pondered over the purchase and even went to Nordstrom to pick up some make-up, swung back into PBK, let her play with it again, talked to Jesse, and before I knew it I was loading up the play kitchen in the back of the Murano.  After lunch with Jesse I put Carolyn in her crib while I unloaded the deceivingly heavy play kitchen and the look of shock on her face when I brought it in her room was one of complete confusion and excitement all at the same time.

Ok, second purchase.  We had been planning to buy C a PBK chair for a while and after waiting for a good deal the time came to order it already.  It came yesterday and I think the pictures tell the rest of the story.

C has turned into quite the little climber....

She NEVER sits still...  this chair seems to have changed that for at least a few minutes at a time.

Counting Sheep

Ok, I give up.  I have been having sleep issues for about a month and a half now.  I finished a book series that I thought may be keeping me up, that helped temporarily but alas my sleepless nights continued.  I have tried everything: baths, yoga, breathing exercises, no ok minimal caffeine (just decaf coffee in the morning), reading before bed, limiting TV and technology, counting sheep, exercising, over the counter sleeping pills, and melatonin supplements but nothing seems to be working.  It literally takes me 5 or more hours to fall asleep at night.  I cannot pinpoint anything that has me overly stressed out, I am happy with my life- I just can't seem to turn my mind off and fall asleep.  Naps are a bust, going to bed early/late doesn't help either.  The sleeplessness and now slight obsession with getting to sleep is literally occupying way too much of my time and energy (which I don't have much of due to said sleeplessness) So for the sake of myself and those around me (specifically my husband who has been more than understanding of my issues despite my waking him up tossing and turning or throwing a fit because I can't sleep), I am turning to modern medicine in the hopes that I can finally get my circadian rhythm back in sync with the night and hope that I will stop tossing and turning and once again be a normal sleeping person.   Ok, just had to get that off my chest and now I feel much better! I am taking the fact that they had an appointment open today (and since Carolyn is sick I can take it) to mean that God is telling me it's time to just go see a doctor already!  Hoping that all of us get a good night's sleep from here on out!

A walk in the park

Carolyn went to the park for the first time to actually play this past week.  Here are some pics from it.  I tried doing this blog post from my phone last week but it wouldn't let me upload pics and now I can't find the actual post anywhere.  So here are the pictures and as you can tell Carolyn had a blast!  Thanks Abby and Claire for inviting us to play with you!

 Wasn't really sure about the grass...  

 Slide love

525,600 minutes

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes,Five hundred twenty-five thousandMoments so dear.Five hundred twenty-five thousandSix hundred minutesHow do you measure, measure a year?

....

Oh you got to got to

Remember the love! You know that love is a gift from up above Share love, give love spread love Measure measure your life in love."


As we reflect on Carolyn's first year of life some of the lyrics of the song "Seasons of Love" from the musical RENT seem very appropriate (plus she loves singing to this song!)  to describe our first year with Carolyn.  This year has been filled with such immense love and we can't believe how blessed we are to be her parents.  I must admit that we have been a little sad as she has been transitioning from baby to toddler.  She has now fully transitioned from bottles to sippy cups, is mastering walking, beginning to talk, and just overall looks and acts like a toddler now.  We are very aware that we are blessed to have a daughter who is growing and developing exactly as she should be it is still bittersweet to know that she won't every be this small again.  It has been such an incredible first year and we can't wait to see what this next year brings.


Here are some stats:
Height: 30.5 inches
Weight: 24.5 pounds (90% in both...)
Eating: Loves fruits and veggies, hates applesauce and being fed
Sleeping: Still a great sleeper (except at day care)
New Achievements: Walking, saying "no", drinking from a sippy, moving furniture, unpacking the diaper bag, and waving and clapping. 
Loves: Lovie, the dog-dog, stuffed animals, books, and Praise Baby

We love you so much CareBear.  You have made our lives complete and we hope that you always measure your life in love!


In case you want listen to the song from Rent!  It's one of C's favorite dance tunes!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to....

Despite what the title of the blog implies, it was an great unbelievably fantastic few hours that we spent celebrating with family and friends!  We were completely overwhelmed with the love that everyone showed to Carolyn yesterday by coming for her birthday party.   Jesse and I felt so blessed to have to worry about whether or not we would have enough space in our house for everyone.  After some careful rearranging of furniture, borrowing of card tables and chairs, and turning Carolyn's room into a playroom for the day (you should have seen it by the end!) we were fairly certain everyone would fit.  It was crowded.  It was cramped.  We bought a lot of food, a big cake, and plenty of alcohol (yes, I know she is a baby, but the adults enjoyed it!).  It turned out great and was the most WONDERFUL afternoon we could have ever imagined!  We didn't get to talk with everyone as much as we wanted, there wasn't a seat for everyone, no matter how many windows we cracked it was still warm in our house, but the love and excitement in the house was so strong.  Carolyn is so blessed.  We are so blessed.  Thank you, thank you to everyone who took the time to come (especially, those of you who drove 2-3 hours) and help us celebrate.  Even the "smash cake" epic fail will be a great memory to laugh over some day (once we can forgive ourselves for how scared she got!).  God is so good and I honestly believe he has put children in our lives to help make sure everyone takes a moment to breathe and come together!  Thank you everyone who paused their crazy lives to help celebrate our greatest blessing, Carolyn Eileen.

Date: January 28th
Location: Home
Menu: Buffalo Dip (obviously), Meatballs, Wings, Cheese and Crackers, Grapes, Veggies, and of course cake and ice cream!

P.S. Although Carolyn did NOT like the cake part (I would have been scared too, with +40 people staring at me), she LOVED getting to play with all of her friends and cousins in her bedroom, I mean playroom!

P.P.S.  We were so sad that her Arizona family couldn't be present but we know they were here in spirit.

Here are some pictures.  I will post more once I get them from other people (somehow I thought I had more pictures!)

She is almost walking!

She took five steps tonight.... Will try to catch pictures tomorrow if there is a repeat performance!