The New Office

Our old office is now Littlest Waller's room, so we had to do some rearranging.  We decided to put the office in the kitchen. So far I am loving it.  The computer is a in a central location so when I am cooking or cleaning up, Jacob is still in the same room with me. Also, Elli is learning to play some toddler games on the computer so she is able to do that while I am working.  I think I'm going to like this set up.

Our kitchen before

This is the view coming in the car port door...

The view from the "kitchen."  I'm standing in front of the stove.

Cozy office corner

Progress

We have made some progress in the home arena.  Mom is my interior designer and I think she does a fabulous job!  So far we have finished the hallway (which before had zero pictures hanging) and the living room.  Elli's bedroom is almost done but the famous Mrs.Jane is painting the walls for us this week so I won't post pictures until later.  Our bedroom is to be finished this week after painting a few more pieces.  The nursery won't be done for a long time!  I'm saving that for last and am really going to enjoy taking my time.

 This is in the foyer.  The front door is to the left.  

 The living room from the back of the room facing the entertainment center

 The living room from the front of the room.

The end of the hallway before.

New hallway!  Grandma Waller gave us the idea to put the book case there and it looks great!  All of Jacob's important text books are housed there!

 Elli's new rocking chair.  Her old glider will now be in the nursery and she insisted on a rock rock chair.

 Another shot of the bookcase at the end of the hallway.

 The Wall of Elli.  I promise this will have some pictures of other family members soon!

This is a shot of the living room before.  We barely had any pictures!  It seems much cozier now.

My whole goal in this entire ordeal was to make our house more cozy.  I just wanted it to feel more comfy!  We set a budget and so far I have done fairly well (although I may go over a bit when I have to get the glider covered for the nursery but I'm hoping not!)  We are really lucky because mom and dad left a ton of stuff here when we bought the house (couch, entertainment center, and some rugs) so that obviously helped our budget.  Either way, I feel very blessed to have a husband willing to paint and a mom wiling to help me decorate.  We are getting this place ready for Littlest Waller because once he arrives I doubt I will have time to breathe, much less hang a picture =)

Just So You Know...

We are still rearranging around here.  It is still making me crazy - but we are getting close.  Just so you can see what we are dealing with; here are a few pictures of our "house."  It will get done...it will get done...it will get done.  Jacob has been so wonderful during this.  He has painted tables and dressers.  He has put together two different cribs.  He watches Elli so I can go shopping.  He is understanding and patient while the house is a wreck and I haven't cleaned it (for obvious reasons!)  I am a blessed woman!

The Colors

Thanks Aunt Renet for the great fish puzzle.  It has really helped Elli learn her colors!

New Job

I'm excited to say that I am going to start a small part time job here soon!  Onslow County Memorial Hospital (in Jacksonville) does a series of blogs for moms.  They were looking for contract bloggers and I applied.  I heard today that I got the job.  I'm really excited as I think this will help us financially (in a very small way).  It is an answered prayer because Jacob's car is on its last leg and we will need a new one soon.  Right now we don't have to make a car payment but that isn't possible for the next car so this little part time money will just be our monthly car payment.  What great timing!  I basically have to write 3 blogs a week and answer comments etc.  I will be writing for the Tummy Time blog which is for pregnant women following from birth to one year.  You can check out some of the blogs here and I'll let you know when I start!

http://momtalk.onslow.org/

Chaos

I hate messes....I hate things being out of order. Now that's not to say that my drawers are always straight or my closets are perfect, but I hate visible mess!  Our house is in such a state of mess right now.  A general run down of whats going on...

1.  The huge TV that we were holding for my parents (circa 1991) was taken away leaving a big hole in our entertainment center.
2.  The entire office has to be relocated into the kitchen area so we can make the office room a nursery.
3.  The kitchen table is gone and we bought a smaller one - one that needs to be painted.
4.  The light in the kitchen now doesn't work and needs to be replaced.
5.  The living room/tv needs setting back up somehow.
6.  All office furniture needs to go out.
7.  Elli's furniture needs to move into the office.
8.  We have to pick up and assemble/possibly paint Elli's new furniture.
9.  We have to assemble and organize the nursery.

It might not seem like a lot but it is completely overwhelming me.  I hate doing things in little stages and that is the only way to do this.  Yep, its going to be a long few weeks, but I'll post pictures as we finish things up (if I don't implode before then!)

At any rate, I know you aren't reading this to hear me complain but to see Elli so below are a few funny Elli videos.

PS - even though I hate the chaos, I love having the opportunity to redecorate.  We moved into this house quickly and I haven't really felt comfortable in it yet so I'm glad we get the opportunity to clean up, clean out, and re-do!

Nothing makes a K-2 teacher happier than seeing her kid love the ABC's.  

PS - Elli loves the letter "o" but it is the only one she knows right now. 

Thanks Aunt Melissa for the cool fridge toy!!

This proves that Elli hears and retains more than we want her to sometimes; I guess I thought Jacob's fall and subsequent "boo-boo" was gross.  

Well...it happens

So this post isn't necessarily about Elli, just about life.  I was supposed to be leading a conference in El Paso Texas on Tuesday.  One conference was at 8:00am and the other at 12:00pm.  The conference was for around 60 K-5 teachers on differentiation (literacy centers, technology in the classroom etc.)  Well, my flight from New   Bern to Atlanta had to make a pit stop in Columbia SC making me miss my connection in Atlanta to El Paso.  When I finally talked to a service rep they said I wouldn't make it to El Paso until 1:00 pm on Tuesday, causing me to miss both conferences.  Therefore I basically spent the night in Atlanta with no luggage and was put on standby to come home on Tuesday morning.  Luckily I made it, although I can't say the same for my luggage yet.  You know, these things happen and maybe it was to teach me a lesson.  Maybe I was too excited about the extra money or maybe I just needed the practice flying (I'm a horrible flyer).  Either way, at least I am safe at home and get to see Elli one day earlier!

The other up side is that I can start my Extreme Home Makeover one day earlier.  A  lot of rearranging is about to happen in our house to make room for Littlest Waller.  I am doing a lot of research on Pinterest.com to get ideas on how to make a small space do-able.  I will chronicle it all as it takes place - I am bracing myself for a messy house for a few weeks.