Deucie Update...due, but still not here.

Well the news is...there is no news. Very little change. Hardly any progress, Not really surprising at this point. We've reached the "will be pregnant forever" stage. The doctor assures us that the baby will eventually come out. I apparently create such a warm and safe environment within the womb that baby girls just don't ever want to leave. Yea Me.

We will schedule an induction for 42 weeks (that's March people!) if the fluid levels and everything continue to show okay on the sonogram and there isn't any other progress. We return to the doctor on Tuesday...

Lord, thank you for baby Deucies' strong heartbeat. Thank you for keeping all of us safe and cozy thus far. Please help us to be patient (to wait without complaining) for your perfect timing in this birth.

To My Valentines

How Do I Love You?

by Marion Dane Bauer

How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

I love you as the sun loves the bright blue days.

I love you as the bee loves a fragrant flower.

I love you as the thirsty duck loves a sudden shower.

I love you as the bird loves a song to sing.

I love you as the waking bear loves the smell of spring.

I love you as the cat loves a sunny sill.

And as the dancing snowflakes love the winter’s chill.

How do I love you? Let me tell you how.

I love you as the nest loves a sturdy bough.

I love you as the sea loves the sandy shore.

And as the ancient world loved the dinosaur.

I love you as the wind loves it’s own sweet sound.

And as God’s friendly Earth loves to spin around.

I love you as the moon loves each shining star.

I love all that you will be and everything you are.

DFW-1, Global Warming-0

We are affectionately calling it the Blizzard of 2010. While it surely doesn't reach blizzard status, we did receive record snowfall for the 24 hour period of February 11, 2010...around 8 inches I believe (though I couldn't find a source to confirm after midnight.)

Bryan went to work for most of the day yesterday and Hayden and I spent some time at the grocery store. It snowed gently all day and outside looked like a winter wonderland. We didn't have any issues with ice while we were out, but the temperature was supposed to drop last night. Bryan came home early and we bundled Hayden up so they could go outside and play.

Not having a snowsuit, Hayden wore multiple layers and looked like she might have some trouble walking. They spent about 20 minutes making a snowman before Hayden's nose turned berry red and her lips a little blue. Time to come in and defrost.

All ready to go...

H. kept wanting to "sit". She had a very chilly, red bottom when she came in.

My little snowman makers

Admiring their handy work

Uh Dad, I'm getting a little cold...

It apparently snowed most of the night. Before we went to bed last night we heard a very loud thud and looked out back. We lost a large part of one of our oak trees, but are very grateful that it missed both the roof and the fence. Apparently this is the hazard of having 6 large trees surround your house. Hopefully things will melt off before we lose any other large limbs...our neighbors and their car weren't so blessed.

Our backyard (since this picture was taken we've had another large limb fall. Though again missing both fence and roof.)

Our front yard...the snowman's existence remains in peril.

neighbor's front yard

Thank you Lord for the beautiful snow! Thank you for keeping us safe from ice and falling limbs. Thank you for the reminder of your grace and forgiveness...

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7b

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

...or rather robbing the Nursery to decorate the Big Girl Room. We had pretty much stripped the nursery walls of artwork and frames. The monogram wouldn't work for Deucie (hint about what the kid's name isn't--same as the first) and the framed stuff was mostly chosen specifically for H. So, new artwork was needed.

I was totally inspired by Lindsi's owl canvas in H's room. I tackled nothing so complex, but did enjoy slapping some acrylic paints from JoAnn's on this canvas...which looked rather large until I hung it on the wall...now it looks a little lonely.

The scripture and sheep inspiration was found on a calendar and has been waiting patiently to be used. Once we get the nursery all put back together I'm sure you'll see a photo with it on the wall...hopefully with better lighting :)

"Big Girl Room" Tour

Welcome to the "Big Girl Room," Come on in!

The Goal: Crisp and clean with fun "pops" of color and some functional storage.

Free crib from our neighbors! (will eventually be a daybed, but we haven't bought it or come to grips with having Hayden sleep "unjailed".) Painted it white and whipped up some pillows from the fabric my mom purchased (on sale!) at Hobby Lobby. The quilt was made for Hayden by my Aunt Barbara...it is as if two years ago when she was making it, she was channeling the "big girl room". It goes perfectly!!! The monogram was moved from her nursery...it is just holding this space until something else wonderful comes along.

The picture ledge shelves (my favorite!) These are from Ikea and allow Hayden to see her books. She can access the bottom two shelves and I use the top two as display...and to hide the books we are tired of reading.

There needed to be some flat surfaces to house all the electronics: monitor, lamp, sound machine, radio/clock etc. We love the blue table from Ikea along with the lamp (that has a dimmer for bed time story reading). Underneath are H's night time books...to be kept separate for just nighttime or we would be reading "Goodnight Gorilla" 86, 362 times a day. The photo above the table (very hard to see, sorry) is of Hayden in her "Team Chamness" onesie from the hospital...that onesie is already packed to be used by the next member of Team Chamness.

Since H has independent playtime in her room once a day we needed some toy storage. There are clear bins under the crib and these cubbies were bought on sale at Target. The photo collage above is of family members...Hayden likes to point and for us to name them.

The wicker chair is from my own room growing up. Perfect for stories and pre-bedtime snuggles! The owl painting was a gift for Hayden's first birthday from her talented Aunt Lindsi. The autographed matte/picture above was also from her first birthday party. You can just get a glimpse of our inspiration fabric/curtains. Mom whipped them up while she was here on a visit.

A few more "must-sees." The ABC, number and birth stat prints were all done on Publisher and printed at Kinkos (or whatever it is called now.)

Big Thanks go out to Eric M. for patching the very large door knob hole in the wall; to Jason F. for helping install the fan, curtain rod, and book shelves; and to Grammy (Karen B.) for purchasing the fabric and the sewing help!!!

Wordless Wednesday-Coworing (a.k.a. coloring)

Hey, Hey, Hey...

When Hayden wore her hat like this for at least 5 minutes while she played in her room this morning, all I could think of was this guy from Fat Albert...

(his unfortunate moniker is "Dumb Donald")