Some Cutie-PaTootie Boys!!!



Here are the cousin-boys, Jake & Robby, in their Halloween costumes. They were so cute together! (Spider & Cheetah)


Kevin's Aunt (Carleen) was in town to visit & got to meet the two 'great' nephews for the first time. It was such a nice time hanging out, but I'm afraid I was a little tired & preoccupied, that I feel like it flew by too fast. I barely got to 'really' talk to anybody & am so *totally* bummed that I didn't even get a picture of Jake with his great auntie!!!! What is wrong with me!?!? (Have you ever done that? Gone to a get-together, and drove away thinking, "I barely *really* talked to anybody!")

Chalk it up to my hurty/crampy pregnant tummy... which is actually a good thing because today we have an exciting progress report... I'm 1 cm dilated!!! Not that it means much- last time I was 1cm for 3 weeks before Jake actually came. But it's still exciting! The doctor could feel baby's little head (he's head-down, obviously). The closer it gets, the more excited I get. I can't wait to hold my sweet baby boy!!


So I'm (pretty much) ready for him to come. I do want him to stay in at least another week, of course. (He'll be "term" on Wed, plus Grandma Judy has to get back in town first!) But it feels soooo good to have my biggest 'loose ends' finally tied!! His closet is done! Changing table ready! Cloth diapers in the mail- and my grandma, mom & I are having a diaper-sewing marathon tomorrow to fluff up my stash. And the most exciting thing ever... is THIS!!! (see pic)


I know it's not baby-related, but it's been hanging over my head for so long and it makes me feel more organized & 'ready' run this home more effectively in the midst of mommy-of-two-hood. Whatever that means, I can't really explain it.

Before Jake was born we tore out our storage nook, with the intention of getting a desk & storage unit to put in it's place. (We did it because Jake's room was the 'computer room', and so we would need a new place for the computer stuff.) I've regretted it ever since, because we lost a ton of storage, but never replaced it with a desk or storage! For the last 17 months we've been sitting in a chair, crouched over a piano bench (our make-shift "computer desk") in this empty nook in the living room/hallway. Ugh! So ugly, embarassing, & uncomfortable!


So my wonderful father-in-law, who is the most talented wood-worker I've ever seen, offered to make us a custom unit. Look at how PERFECT it is!!! I can't believe he made it for us, and how it fits our needs so perfectly. We have storage and a desk and, on top of that, it's BEAUTIFUL! (P.S. the keyboard & mouse will go in the drawer... we just have to adjust the wood a little because our keyboard is thick.)

Before Jake was born, he also made us the most amazing changing table ever-- I told him what I wanted, showed pics for ideas, and he *made* it. Everything he's ever made us has SOOOOO exceeded my expectations/imaginations! I just can't say enough about it! So I had to show it off. (P.S. the wood looks a little orange in the picture, but it's not, it's a perfect brown.)

So I am able to take all of our 'office' stuff (envelopes, stamps, bills, files, pens, etc) out of the boxes & baskets, bags & piles, and they now have an organized home and we have more living space. Feng Shui! Ahh it feels so good! Stay tuned... we have more projects on the way in the next few months!!! (A new linen cabinet, drawer set, and toddler bed!)


I know, my blog is super exciting, right? LOL
Sorry!


Fire update- family is all well and properties intact! Sis still at friends house with the baby. Their home & business is fine but their neighbor (4-houses-down) lost their home. These fires have been so devastating to so many. On a bit brighter note, Jake got to go outside today for the 1st time in 5(?) days. He was LOVING it! So nice to be able to breathe a bit better! Things are looking up as the fires are moving away from homes and getting closer to containment, but the firefighters are still working around the clock.


Anyways, hopefully this next week brings some fun and exciting things. Halloween fun, pumpkin carving, maybe some creative creations (knitting, sewing, scrapbooking), yummy cooking, family time, and of course some more cleaning/organizing... that's my plan anyways. What are yours?

THE FIRES

Here's a quick little update on us & the fires.
{{And a great website on the San Diego fires... the San Diego County Emergency Homepage.}}

As you know, there are fires popping up everywhere in So Cal. And, as you may or may not know, most of our family is in San Diego (where many of the fires are concentrated)-- and we have family members out there fighting them.

So I just wanted to post a little update- thank you to all those who have been concerned about our safety! We're all doing great. "Our" firefighters are all safe, (Kevin's brother,his uncle, & my nephews dad (former-bro-in-law)). They are working so hard with very little sleep.

My sister and her family (with newborn Finn) have been mandatory evacuated and are safely staying with a friend. Their home is intact at this time, and I pray it stays so. The Fallbrook (Mission) fire is a few blocks east of their house, but across the highway. We also have family in Ramona (Kev's aunt/uncle/cousins) who has been evacuated as well. I've been thinking about them a lot, especially with uncle being out fighting the fire as well. They are all safe, but I haven't heard about their properties. His/our cousin JUST moved into her home the week or two prior!

My in-laws have voluntary evac orders, but the fire is nowhere near them & all are safe. (FIL has a fire/disaster radio as he's a retired fire captain, so they're still in their home & listening for all the updates... no mandatory orders.) My parents are in Lakeside where there have been some evacs, but sofar it looks like they'll be out of the path of the fire/evacuations. Other siblings/family doing well.

Oh yah, and us! We're not really near the fires- the Irvine fire is about 20-30 miles north and the San Marcos is about 20-25? miles south of us, so we just have lots of ashes raining around us. Staying indoors & being creative to keep Jake busy & stimulated, (hating keeping him cooped up for 3-days!)

Please keep our firefighter family members in your prayers (and their wives/family members at home waiting) -- as well as all of the firefighters & police officers out there. And a quick prayer as well for our families, friends, and all those who are affected by the fires.

In other household news... I've been nurturing a sick hubby, a baby recovering from tummy bug & coming down with daddy's cold, who also just cut his bottom left molar (#4) & had vaccines... As well as preparing the nest for the new baby! I still have 4 weeks to go, (36 weeks), hopefully he'll come a little early! Maybe at 38 wk? Of course, when he's ready... but a girl can wish!

Today's 'nesting' task... I'm rearranging Jake's drawers, splitting closet space, & pulling out some of Jake's old clothes for the new baby. I started making the changing table a table-for-two! It's hard to fit two sizes of diapers on there! (& imagine having a diaper bag for two... how will I ever fit everything I need for 2 babies in ONE diaper bag!?) lol Lastnight I placed another order for some itty-bitty-fluffies! (translation: some more newborn cloth diapers, so cute and soft!) I think my stash will finally be complete, I've been building it up slowly over the last few months- thanks to my *favorite* online diaper store, Nicki's Diapers.

And maybe if I feel like SITTING DOWN (imagine that!), I can try for the 20th time to get the carseat cover off of the newborn carseat so I can wash it. Now that's a nice relaxing down-time project, isn't it? Because, god-forbid I actually sit down and accomplish NOTHING for a few minutes of my day! haha The crazy busy-ness of an expecting mama... I wish I had this much drive all the time! {{I'll admit, I probably spent an hour pampering my feet lastnight as we watched news coverage during Jake's nap... felt like I was 'wasting time', but my feet felt sooo goooood! After doing a pampering treatment & pedicure (minus the paint), I put a thick overnight salve on them and let them REST-- then put socks over it for the rest of the evening. I want soft feet when I'm in my birthing time!}}

I hope you and yours are all doing well~*