Our Home Library

I love house hunting with my husband, Dan.  We get a list to go see, and once we're there, it doesn't seem to matter how crummy the circumstances might be ... we have vision.  We can look past the old carpet, the hideous wallpaper, the brass lighting fixtures (it's just not our style).  When we stepped into what is now our home in Elkhart almost a year and a half ago now, it felt like home.  Thankfully, it was newer and many aspects of it were quite neutral & refreshing (especially after some of the homes we had recently visited!).  Move in - ready is so much easier!  All that being said, there was still so much that could be done to it.  Especially if we wanted to make it ours.  16 months later, we still have to paint.  We still have to set up that awesome bar in the basement :).  But we can now start checking one thing off our list -- our home library! 

We have so many books.  It only makes sense to turn the extra room in the basement, with no windows, into a library.  We have such vision for that room.  We want ceiling to floor bookcases.  We want a faux fireplace.  We want a couple of lazyboy wing backed chairs.  We want it to be warm and inviting. 

Well, we bought the bookshelves!  We're almost done putting those together and anchoring them to the walls.  But today, I want to show you what I've been working on all afternoon/evening.  Our card catalog!

I decided it would be easiest to use the dewey decimal system and to look the call numbers up from the local library. 

I've completed one shelf :)  One down, many more to go!!

I used index cards to write the card catalog information on.  I used the font "traveling typewriter" from dafont.com.  I love the old school library feel it brings. 

Oh my gosh.  This is going to take forever to finish!

Abigail is getting to be such a wonderful child (rather than baby). I look at pictures from even just six months ago, and I'm startled at how long her hair is now, how thinned out her face looks, etc. They weren't kidding when they said time goes by so fast!

Fun at Home

I sometimes have to remind myself that toddlers LIKE repetitiveness and that it's OK to do the same routine every day. But Abi's getting to the age where we can really do some fun things together. This is our first real craft together!! We finger painted with "flour paint".

Here's how you make the paint:

2 Cups of flour
enough water to dilute it and make it runny
food coloring

and that was really it!

I put wax paper down on her high chair, and that's what we colored on.

It's a good thing we started with something that's technically edible - by the time we were done, it was all over her face and probably in her mouth!

I have been thinking about our family blog and I've been wondering: When you visit a blog, what do you like to read about? What is it that you read that makes you think at the end, "Wow, I can't wait til they post something new" ?

I've had many blogs in the past and I've blogged about many things. The problem is - I'm inconsistent and unfocused.

When I think about why I return to family blogs, it's usually because I know the people being discussed. I know that I like to see things like:

• Weekly recaps on what's happening with the family
• Milestones of children within the family
• Stories from daily life that correlate with pictures posted
• Newsflash moments

Yes, there have been times when I've reread some of my blogs from the past and simply been embarrassed. Why? I suppose because I ramble, mostly. Or I'll have been in a goofy mood, tried to write something funny, and when I reread it now - it's just sounds stupid :) Other times I forget that there's an audience and I'll write about something that might be more appropriate for my personal journal.

So while we're still in January, I'm going to make somewhat of a resolution for my 2011 blogging. I'm going to do my best to remain focused on the types of postings that I like to read in others' blogs. I'm going to do my best to refrain from rambling or sharing things that should remain in my personal journal. And I'm going to do my best to post more often.

Here's to a more enjoyable year of blogging!!

Abigail has a new cousin. Emmalyne June Hartstein. She was born on December 20, 2010 in Bremen.

I love to watch Abigail with other kids. Emmalyne was visiting our home and began to cry. What did Abigail do? She stopped playing, crawled over to the couch, pulled herself up and began to pat and kiss the baby's head. How does she know to do this? I'm not sure if she's seen adults do this ... or if it's instinctual ... I don't recall specifically teaching her to do this - only encouraging her when I've seen her already start to try to make kids feel better. But I'm grateful for her heart!

Abigail patting Emmalyne's head.

Giving Kisses!

I love Abi's open mouth kisses :)

Auntie Sarah, is she better?

Mommy, I think she's better!

It is so hard to believe that we're almost done with January. Unbelievable. Abigail will be 10 months old on February 2!! Crazy. She is just crawling up a storm. Allllllll over the house. Apparently, I must have a very baby proof way of living, because I have had to rearrange very little to accommodate her habit of getting into everything. In fact - it's usually okay for her to get into whatever she wants. We have this game, she and I, that I LOVE. I'll get on the ground and crawl around with her. Eventually, she'll start to crawl after me and I'll squeal, "no, no, no, no! No, don't get me!!" and then I roll over onto my back and she crawls on top of my tummy and lays a big, wet, open mouth kiss on my face. I love that game!! I think she likes it, too :) Do you think she'll still want to do play that game with me when she's a seventeen year old junior in high school? *sigh* Yeah, you're right, that might be weird.

The first post for 2011!!

Wow, I took a journal writing online workshop in October and I haven't been on since. Ironic.

Well, I just wanted to hop on, update the old blog-o, and let everyone in cyberspace know we're still here. I'll have to get on soon to post properly.

For now, though. Here's my favorite picture from the holidays! It's my brand new niece, Emmalyne, my father in law, and my daughter, Abigail.

Getting ready for the morning

NOPE. It's not tomorrow yet. Just happy to journal :).

Getting Inspired!

I Can't Remember ... Am I the Good Twin or the Bad Twin?

Jacob and Lauren were at the house yesterday. Man, do they have a talent for finding toys, or at least things they want to play with, in a matter of seconds. They had stuff out I haven't seen in nine months. They had Halloween costumes out, snow pants, TJ and Lexi's old toys. The funniest part to me was that they would carry Horatio around - and then they tried to put him in Abi's car seat. He is such a trooper! :)

A Man's Work is From Sun to Sun, but a Mother's Work is Never Done

Look! I'm back! Did you wonder what happened to me? No? Oh well, I'm back. And - It's 4:07 in the morning. And I'm blogging. I couldn't do that a month ago. So what was different a month ago? We moved on Saturday to our new house in Elkhart from North Liberty in Indiana. In North Liberty, we had to fight for good cell phone service, we had no cable, no internet at home. I had to go to Starbucks, Panera Bread or the library to use the internet. Frustrating. And all of those places were at least twenty minutes from our house. Well, with the exception of the library. There was one around the corner - but the internet was pretty slow. It just took a long time to do what I needed to do, however I was going to do it. And then there's the whole issue of feeling obligated to buy a danish or at least a coffee since they were kind enough to provide internet service for me. Maybe not at the library. But no longer! No longer do I have to travel outside the front door to share my day with the world.

I'm also a new mom. I love it! That in and of itself is a very good reason as to why I haven't been able to blog. It's very much more constant than I ever realized. Who knew, huh? My poor husband comes home from a long day of work. Gets to eat his food. Gets to watch TV. Gets to play a video game. Gets to sleep at night. I work all day at the house, doing what I can between feedings, changes, screams, putting someone to sleep. I have to negotiate my way to a meal. I might be able to watch some TV with my husband if I can get the baby to fall asleep in my arms. Or if I can get her to play with something nearby. Play a game? Before she goes to bed for the night? Forget it. Too many interuptions. So while I love being a mom (this is what I've prayed for since I was little, right?), it is a life altering adjustment. I knew it would be. Everyone has told me for years that it would be. I guess you just don't fully comprehend what that means and entails until you experience it.

I am sincerely thrilled that I can get online at four in the morning, without constantly trying to log back on, to blog. I am looking forward to doing this all the time! This is wonderful :) Cause hey, when else am I going to do it?

Just in case it isn't obvious... Abigail is here!

Abi turns 5 weeks old tomorrow. Wow, it really does go so fast. I'm a little sad because today she officially outgrew her first pair of pajamas :( ! No!




She sleeps ALOT, but I guess that's what babies do.

I got a moby that I love to cart her around in.



I think she likes it :).

- Andrea

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's been a little while since I last posted anything. I find myself this afternoon at the North Liberty public library, running an errand for a friend (online) - So I might as well try to catch up!

Well, I officially have PUPPPs. It's a rash that only 1% of pregnant women get during their third trimester. And 70% of them have boys! We are pretty sure that we're having a girl ... so how did I beat those odds??

It itches quite a bit, but the more I research it, the more I find ways to cope with it. I really don't want to use steroid cremes if I can avoid it. That being said, I REALLY don't want to take oral steroids if I can avoid it. So I've been using Grandpa's brand pine tar soap (heard about it in a forum and thought I'd try it out - it actually does soothe the ithcing!) and I've begun to take dandelion root (in a capsule. Again, found out about it in a forum). From what I hear, the dandelion root has helped women recover in a matter of 5 days or so. As opposed to what the doctors prepare you for - they told me I won't recover until after I deliver the baby. We'll see. I would love to have our baby sooner, but the longer she can stay in is probably better.

I'm determined to enjoy the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I know we don't have that much longer to go ... so I'm trying to think of what I could do to make this time more special and memorable? We pretty much have everything for her ready, so far as the room and supplies go. We got half of our diaper stash in the other day (we're doing cloth diapers - yay!) and I'm expecting the other half any day now. I've journaled and journaled and journaled over the past 8-9 months. I've begun a family history book for her (which gives a lot of room for her to continue in the way future). One thing I've been thinking about more and more is that I should probably start a walking routine, especially now that it's getting warmer out. The post office is close, and that's probably where I'll head. We have a PO Box, so I have to go there every day anyway. And once Abi's here, that'll be a routine for us ... taking the jogging stroller out for a spin to the post office. If I start now, not only will it help get me in the habit, but it may also provide some good thinking time to start to prepare myself mentally for what's ahead. Or some time to specifically talk with Jesus about stuff on my mind. Either way - I love walking outside.

If you have any other ideas of things I could do to make these last few weeks more memorable - I'd love to hear about them!! Maybe I should make a cast of my itchy belly .... or is that gross?

Lamenting over no Internet

Since I've been in Indiana (Oct 8 was moving day), I haven't had cable or the Internet. Ok, seriously, I am just fine without cable. I can watch hulu or download something to iTunes if there was something I really wanted to see. But I have to be honest - I HATE not having the Internet. There is only so much I can do on my iPhone.

When I go to the coffee shop to use the internet - I'm there for about four hours! How am I going to do that with a baby?? I won't be able to, I can tell you that much.

Ugh. This is me talking aloud to myself, trying to convince myself that we need some kind of Internet. Now to get Dan on the same page....

I was curious to see the first episode of the bachelor, so I'm trying to download it. Only two hours to go!





- Andrea

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Starbucks on Ireland Rd

Happy New Years!

Goodmorning Maryland!

It's Tuesday morning. The plan for today: relax. I think we're also going to take down the Christmas tree. Sad.






Above is a fabulous picture of me drinking ovaltine... Just woken up and without any make up.

So Im drinking ovaltine and enjoying the view. I love the homes around where my parents live. If it weren't the insane cost of living rates, I'd love to live in this area, too.





Well, I think I'm going to go work on some stuff online. Happy morning :)

- Andrea

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Goodbye My Lovely Baths

Well, I got some sad news yesterday... I have an infection (apparently I'm more prone to them because I'm pregnant). But that's not really the bad news. Ok, that's not GOOD, but the worse news is- I can't take baths for the rest of my pregnancy (of course, I can take SHOWERS.... Come on, or that'd just be gross). Drs orders. HOW will I live with out my lovely baths??




- Andrea

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Stone Springs Ln,Middletown,United States

The Tale of the Missing Key

Well, we stopped at a rest area to visit Mrs. Murphy. Mom took Charlie to the pet area and I headed inside. After I was ready to go, I noticed they have a starbucks. So I ordered two venti sig hot chocolates. Mom came in, visited Mrs. Murphy and found me. On our way out, she noticed she was missing the car key (how it fell off a key ring, who knows). So we retraced our steps and I think it's officially lost. My mom just went back in to see if maybe someone turned it in. Thankfully, she had a spare key in her coat. Thank Jesus :). We can keep driving.



(mom, retracing her steps)

- Andrea

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Somewhere in Pennsylvania

On the Road Again

Christmas flew by again. I'm not surprised :). But the end of Christmas means the beginning my trip with my mom.

My dad and Thomas are going to drive to Washington state later this week (Thomas is moving there), and my mom and I are driving to Maryland. It should be about ten hours.

I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant, and had an appointment today with my doctor. I have an infection :( and i've been instructed to NOT take a bath for the rest of my pregnancy. Ugh - I could cry. I love baths.

Charlie (the dog) is with us. He seems awfully content, but has been a little sick. He threw up earlier this morning, again. But I think he's feeling better? Poor Char-Char.




- Andrea

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Swanton,United States