Master Bedroom & Office Reveal

Technically, we aren't ready for a reveal. That will really come when we buy big kid furniture. Until then, our mismatched furniture and bed frame will have to suffice. Honestly, we haven't found anything worthwhile and affordable (not made out of particle board for over $2500). Also, we need window treatments. Until then... we are just happy that we aren't staring at flowers on the walls anymore!

Before photo... taken before we bought the house = not our furniture (though I'd love a chair in that corner along with lamps and nightstands), but the walls looked this way until September 6, 2010... then doomsday hit. The wallpaper was stripped and we've been thrilled and crazy-busy working our behinds off ever since.

Photo taken yesterday. Oh, the glorious walls are bare. Ray likes to say that we are stripping all of the character out of this house. Or, I like to think of it as us making it classier. More modern. More everything-other-than-dated.

Different view and canvases hung. Sure, they're huge... and so is this room. Plus, it's our master bedroom. It's the only place we can be obnoxious with wedding photos. :)

Here's another before photo, but terribly blurry. I took this during our home inspection and didn't get close enough to the terrible southwestern walls we were rocking in the office. As you can see, it's attached to our bedroom and is only divided by a doorway. We love this feature and love the space, but thought the cloth wallpaper was circa 1985-1990. Waaaay cool back then, but soooo dated now.

Here's the modern reveal. We thought that since the rooms are connected, they should also maintain one color. Maybe we could've been daring, but why? We just wanted a neutral palate after having stared at flowers in New Mexico (which don't mix, you know?) for 6 months. God only knows how long the prior owners stared at such a sight... or if they were the ones who chose to clash such patterns? Eek. My diplomas on the left...

...and Ray's diplomas on the right. We liked the back wall empty, or at least for now. Love clean space. Embrace clean space.

We're almost ready to close the door on this project and move onto insulation. Though a pain to setup and purchase the 30+ packages of fiberglass, rent the truck, rent the machine, etc., it will all be complete on Sunday! Now that's the kind of home improvement that we love!

In case you're wondering (like all of our local Chi-town friends) why we're working our behinds off and at such a rapid pace, I'll explain. We have a little nugget on the way. In two months, our lives will change completely as we know it and we'll want to spend every moment with him. He will become our priority, not our house. But... having said that, some things needed to be done. So maybe the wallpaper project wasn't in dire need. But, would you blame us? We could just see it now. Baby W is in 5th grade and we're stripping wallpaper in between his soccer practice and piano lessons. Doesn't sound like a good time to me either. Plus, while we're still somewhat motivated about upgrading our house, we may as well. The roof, deck, and insulation were all required and non-negotiable.We didn't go and spend our savings on a home to let it sit while loathing the look of the flowery wallpaper and watching our leaky roof ruin our investment. Not the Wilsons. We're hardworking and a bit on the perfectionist side...but at least we'll be at every single soccer game and still have an oasis at home to relax afterward.

But ask me if I ever want to own another home again. I'll give you an earful. Haha.

Baby Update: Week 30

How far along?: 30w3d

How big is Baby?: I read somewhere that Baby W is about 15-17 inches long and about 3 pounds. Within normal limits, Baby W is on the small side. He is about 2 cm under, but my doctor said there is no concern as long as he is not +4 or -4. He has grown since the last appointment, she said, so that is all she was interested in. So far, so good. We may have ourselves a runt. ;)

Maternity clothes?: Yes, and wearing them often. But, today I’m sporting a pair of Reebok workout pants that fit just fine and a stretchy long sleeved t-shirt. Weather is hit or miss lately ranging from the high 30’s at night to the mid 70’s during the day. It can be all of these things within a few hours in Chicago, though.

Sleep?: Yes, but not feeling well rested this week. For some reason, I sleep the proper amount but wake up feeling groggy.

Best moment of the week?: I went on a workout walk with a friend, Jess, and we had a great time. It was nice having someone to work out with and share in the gorgeous “changing of the leaves” we’re having here.

Movements?: Yes, and plenty of them. Sometimes they’re spastic though and it’s a bit odd. But overall, I see random body parts protrude out often. Nothing definitive, but usually they are visible from the outside or hard to the touch.

Food cravings?: Not so much. Though, I had a chocolate with peanut butter swirl ice cream at Baskin Robbins yesterday and I must say it was probably the most tasty ice cream I’ve had in ages.

Aversions?: Not a concern… but not enjoying the inhalation of cigarette smoke from fellow Midwesterners—though that’s always bothered me.

What I miss?: I miss sleeping on my BACK.

What I'm looking forward to?: I’m looking forward to finishing our next pre-baby project: insulation. It’s happening this weekend… Sunday morning most likely and we’re excited. I’m going to the Salvation Army today to pick up the rattiest, cheapest looking clothes that will cover us head-to-toe so we can throw them away promptly when finished (since fiberglass is no fun!).

Anything else?: I have read that you can recognize body parts like feet if they stick them out toward your belly! Amniotic fluid is decreasing and baby is (obviously) taking up more uterus space. His brain is rapidly developing (go Baby W!), eyes are functioning, nails are completely developed, and he is shedding that gross downy hair that once covered his body.

This week in history: Leaves are changing! A Chinese dissident, Liu, wins the Nobel Peace Prize, job market suffering since September, candidates are prepping for November elections, including Chicago for Mayor. Dow drops 11,000 points for the first time since May. Yikes!

What's going on this week (with us)?: I’ve already mentioned it, but we’re insulating our house this week. I didn’t sub much this week (only a half-day on Monday). Monday is a school holiday and I have plans to visit the dentist and have lunch with Sandy at LJ. I received my flu shot (you can see the bandage on my arm—classy pink Army bandage—from my 7.5 month belly shot), visited the doctor (since I am going every two weeks now), and we’ve been having a great time getting our house in order. We hung photos in our bedroom and switched out plates, switches, etc. It’s so much more comfortable now. We have spent some time with friends and tonight Ray is going to play volleyball with friends as they started an indoor league for the winter (Friday night sports used to be ultimate frisbee and now they’ve winterized and started something indoors). Doing well, enjoying the fall weather, and stocking up on Halloween candy for the little critters! Alison, Nic, Gab, and Scotty are coming into town on Monday... can't wait!!!

Comparison shots (I made a video but blogger takes SO long that I gave up...)

Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 4, Month 5, Month 5.5, Month 6, Month 6.5, Month 7 

and Month 7.5 is above.

Baby Update: Week 29

Barely scraping by with this week 29 post... because tomorrow I'll be in week 30! Eek!


How far along?: 29w6d
How big is Baby?: Baby W is somewhere between 2.5-3 pounds at this point. He is compared to a butternut squash. How fall festive!
Maternity clothes?: Yes. Though, I am quickly realizing that winter is coming soon. Today was a high of 61 degrees with a low of 37! Yikes! Considering I have no jacket that will fit me (zipped) after another month or so, I may be one cold pregnant woman.
Sleep?: I'm sleeping well but could really use a break from sleeping entirely on my sides. I'd love a night of back sleep since my back has been feeling a lot of pressure lately.
Best moment of the week?: I had a great time bike riding about 12 miles with Toni and Tiana in Steamboat!
Movements?: Yes, and a lot! I am sure hoping he mellows out when he is out of the womb. Otherwise, we are going to have one squirmy little guy.
Food cravings?: Not so much.
Aversions?: The smell of alcohol? Although not an aversion because I always dislike it... smells in general. I dislike strong fumes from cars, etc. but mostly because I know they are not good for me to inhale.
What I miss?: Sleeping on my back and fitting into my really warm clothes!
What I'm looking forward to?: I can't wait to move all of our stuff back into our bedroom tonight and get insulation in our house. It is 60 degrees right now inside our house. Brr!
Anything else?: Baby W's brain is growing larger, so his head is growing to accommodate that. He is more sensitive to movement and light, as he is now able to see and sense better.
This week in history: Rahm Emanuel steps down as White House Chief of Staff to run for Chicago mayor. All we can think about now is the replacement of a trillion signs that have Mayor Daley's name all over the city. Ah, taxpayer money always put to good use for ego boosts. {end to political rant and nothing against the candidate himself}

What's going on this week (with us)?: We just arrived home from Steamboat early this morning at 2 a.m. and made it to bed within minutes. Our trip was lovely and the weather was perfect. Ray hiked and I rode bikes with the girls. We had amazing dinners and lots of great conversation. Colorado is always so relaxing. This week we're getting our bedroom back in order and cleaning up a bit before moving on to our next project... insulation! We are confident in doing it ourselves (renting a machine) since Ray watched the tutorials online and it seems quite simple. That will be exciting because insulation means a warm house! Since it just crossed over into October, it's a bit scary and more real that we are having a baby in 2 months! Oh my gosh!!! Our friend Erin is due any day now and that is something exciting to look forward to as well. Other than that, we're just being good worker bees and enjoying the time we are spending with our friends here in Chicagoland.

Baby Update: Week 28

Here we are in the THIRD trimester! I don't know why my last post was "week 28" when it was really "week 27", but here's the real 28th week post.


How far along?: 28w3d
How big is Baby?: Stats show Baby W at 2.25 pounds (online knowledge--not spoken by a doctor) and is measuring around 15 inches long. He can be compared to a cabbage or eggplant at this point...
Maternity clothes?: Yes. I am just about maxing out of my pre-pregnancy shirts, though the stretchy long-sleeved options are still functioning well. The pants are fully maternity and I love the new pants I bought from Old Navy. They're too big, but I enjoy the extra space when I feel like the rest of my body is closing in on me...
Sleep?: Doing well for the most part. I am up about twice in the night and waking up early on subbing days. I am not using any special pillows or anything--I didn't want to spend the money and I don't feel like I am sleeping poorly at all.
Best moment of the week?: My husband coming home from being out of town all week! And perhaps right now... because it's the weekend and that means spending the entire weekend together.
Movements?: All the time. This little man is obviously filling his space quite nicely.
Food cravings?: I eat a lot of avocado lately. I just love guacamole and since I love Mexican food, it works quite well with this condiment. I also consumed (not one...but) two ice cream desserts yesterday. I came home from subbing and had a Drumstick... then later that evening, 3 of my girlfriends and I went to Coldstone where I consumed yet another bowl of ice cream (chocolate with peanut butter in case you're interested).
Aversions?: No. I love food. :)
What I miss?: Putting on my socks without struggling and sleeping in our bedroom! We've been displaced and have been sleeping in our guest bedroom until the neverending wallpaper project is over.
What I'm looking forward to?: I cannot wait to finish the wallpaper and paint those walls!
Anything else?: We're now on schedule to see the doctor every 2 weeks. I'm not thrilled, because I spend over an hour everysingletime waiting before they call me back, just for the doctor to come in and see me for 5 minutes! It's madness. And when I'm going every week... someone help me. As for Baby W, he now has eyelashes, he is able to see light as he opens and closes his eyes, and his brain is forming billions of neurons. He's adding lots of fat to his little body, also. My doctor measured me and said I was 1 cm behind as for the average 28-week pregnant lady. She also said before measuring that she doesn't think we'll have a big baby at all... it appears I'm more petite than most. We aren't worried, but if there is a need for another ultrasound, we'll have one. From what I've researched, 1 cm with a measuring tape is super subjective and such a trivial measurement.
This week in history: GOP reveals their "Pledge to America", Obama's health care reform reaches 6 months, French Unions strike over reforms, weather across the nation is changing as the first day of fall has come.

What's going on this week (with us)?: Aside from Ray being out of town from Monday-Friday of this week (he's back now... just arrived an hour ago!), we've been working insanely hard to get our bedroom and office redone. It will be so nice to wake up and not see awful flowers on the walls! I've been subbing this week as well and continue to get called a lot for elementary and middle school. I spend most of my time at the middle school and I really enjoy the age of those students. I could do without the negative teachers in the teacher's lounge at that school, but I like the kids. We are attending a wedding tomorrow and hope to have our first coat of primer on the walls! I think I'll even make my first pot of soup this weekend-- fall weather is here (most days) and it's perfect for a pot of healthy split pea soup! Yum.

Bump pictures: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 4, Month 5, Month 5.5, Month 6, Month 6.5 and finally...

Month 7

Baby Update: Week 27

I may have just had a mini-anxiety attack seeing that there are 88 days until our little guy is making his appearance (give or take some days/weeks, of course)! Sheesh. This time has sure gone by quickly.


How far along?: 27w5d
How big is Baby?: About two pounds and still around the size of an eggplant. He is around 14 inches or in that range.
Maternity clothes?: Yes. I am starting to max out the shirts I can wear from my pre-pregnancy collection. I have centimeters (literally) that are left to grow before I may split these shirts at their seams. Soon, it's maternity all-day, everyday. I'm trying to not only wear what is still somewhat tolerable in this 60-70 degree weather before it turns freezing and I won't see it until at least May/June of next year, and what I can still fit into. Since the maternity options are limited, you must maximize your options early in the game. Pants, of course. I even invested in two pairs of pants at Old Navy in maternity sizes. I figured that if I were sub teaching, I'd need them. And... I have. I subbed every day last week!
Sleep?: Yes, doing well--except that nightmare I had last night where Ray was sticking his hand out to touch a very large (tarantula-style) spider that was sitting on a piano. As I watched the spider's green buggy eyes expand out of their sockets (seriously, pregnancy dreams are crazy!), I woke us both up as I screamed, "Oh my gosh!"
Best moment of the week?: Having five great days of sub teaching in a row! I actually enjoyed my time at these schools and met some new teachers that were quite nice.
Movements?: Yes. Some are alienesque. You can absolutely see him maneuvering in there and he loves somersaults. He's obviously reaching capacity in there.
Food cravings?: No, but I'm eating well. We just bought a huge bag of quinoa at Costco and I'm thrilled. It's high in protein, a delicious carb, gluten-free (who knew?), and tastes better than rice! I am expected to have more protein while pregnant and I am enjoying this.
Aversions?: Nope.
What I miss?: Drinking options. I don't really care that I can't drink alcohol, but when at countless business dinners, it would be nice to indulge in a glass of wine with my meal like all the rest of the people at our table. It would just add to the experience. But, this little guy is totally worth the restraint.
What I'm looking forward to?: Finishing the wall preparations in our bedroom and office so we can primer and paint the walls! Maybe then we can move back into the room! Our goal, October 1. We'll see...
Anything else?: Baby W has an 85% chance of survival if born this week. Wow! He is now able to open/close his eyes, is breathing (though inhaling amniotic fluid), and gaining fat that he needs.
This week in history: Miners are still stuck in Chile, Oprah begins her final season... I know... slow news reading for me this week-- I've been busy!

What's going on this week (with us)?: We had a great week and had a visitor in town from Germany. While I subbed this week and had lovely get-togethers with friends for various reasons (Bible study, making a meal for a friend who had a baby, bridal shower for another couple...), Ray was traveling to Indiana to some steel mills. In other news, I had to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a child for the first time! I was sub teaching 3rd grade and was in another classroom just assisting the teacher as my students were in the gym. With two other adults in the room, the child approached me and told me that he had a grape stuck in his throat. He muttered the words and I immediately brought him into the hallway to have a drink, with hopes the water would force the grape down. It didn't. He shook his head and he began to turn red in the face. So, with no other adults in sight, I had to perform the HM on him right there in the hallway. About 5 pumps later, he turned around, let out a huge sigh, and said, "You got it! It's not stuck anymore!" It was a scary experience but I'm sure glad I had some type of training way back when! It made me very nervous that I am just 88 days from having my own son to care for and I may panic at such important times. Never in 3 years of teaching had I even come close to needing this procedure. Leave it to a day when I'm subbing in a new school... in a new state... with kids I don't really know!