The Great Appliance/Furniture Adventure

I started my "five things" post and realized that I don't actually have five things to post about. Our whole week has been pretty much consumed by one thing: Appliance and Furniture shopping. Due to all of the sales going on last weekend and this weekend, we have decided to really jump on it and get the things that we need for our new house. We don't have space right now, but most of the stores we have been to have been really good about letting us buy things now and then holding onto it for us until we move into our house. It's kind of overwhelming because we pretty much dont have anything that you need in a house: Refrigerator, washer, dryer, furniture... yeah, pretty much everything. It's been fun though because it means we are getting really close to getting into our house!


We bought this couch set from RC Willey for our new house - but in a really rich charcoal grey. I couldn't find a picture of our actual set. (Don't ask me why we didn't take a picture at the store.) Couch, sofa, tables, lamps and all. It's really gorgeous and I can't help but continually think about how amazing it's going to look in our living room.

As far as kitchens go, here's my question, and really... please leave your answer in the comments below, if all of your other appliances are stainless steel- do you need to have a stainless steel fridge? You see, the house comes with really nice stainless steel appliances: microwave, oven, dishwasher, etc... but it doesn't come with a fridge (weird? yeah.) The top of the range is black as well as the details on the diswasher and microwave. Do you think it would be weird to have a black fridge? I just don't LOVE stainless steel the way some people do, and it's a bit more expensive. And I don't love the thought of all those little fingerprints all over my fridge ALL the time. What do you think?

This is the only photo I could find that has the mix (even though the salespeople have all said that people mix the black and stainless steel fairly often) and it's not a real black fridge -it's a chalkboard one. But... What do you think?

Image from here: http://www.myskinnygarden.com/2011/04/how-to-make-chalkboard-fridge.html

The thing that i'm most excited about (well... maybe not most... but really really really excited about) is to own my own washer and dryer. We have been married for over three years and have never actually had a washer and dryer of our own. Shout out to our parents who have graciously let us come home and do our laundry in their homes. And believe me, i've spent my fair share of time in laundry mats watching Judge Judy or reading a book while our massive piles of laundry are finally getting the wash they needed. Who knows, maybe i'll end up with a red washer and dryer - because lets be honest... this is pretty gorgeous:

I have all sorts of other laundry inspiration that you can find on my pinterest board here: The Laundry Room. If you have any great laundry inspiration pics to share, please send them my way! My laundry room may just become my favorite room in the house. It's going to be awesome!

Anyway, those are my thoughts this beautiful Friday morning. Wish us luck... and don't forget to answer my stainless steel/black appliance mix-up question. I really would like to know. Oh, and here's a picture of Lydia and I in all of our morning hair-ed and pajama-ed glory. Aren't we cute?

 Happy Friday!

Dear Lydia

I've had several sweet moments with you lately and already my memory is beginning to fade. It breaks my heart to know that these sweet moments will become such a blur that I won't be able to remember, but in an attempt to capture some essence of the feelings I've had - I'm writing them out for you. Who knows, maybe someday I will make a book of these "Dear Lydia" letters. Maybe I will forget and you will stumble across them. Maybe you will never read them. But I hope that you do, because then you may know how much I truly love you.

-- I had just finished feeding you after your morning nap and I brought you into my room so I could change for the day. I laid you on my bed and you started coo-ing at me. You curled your legs up to your chest and gave me the biggest smile then flopped your arms and legs out so you were lying sprawled out on your back. It was the sweetest thing and I couldn't resist laying down on the bed beside you. We sat there for several minutes just smiling and talking. Usually after a minute or so, you get bored and want to move or do something new (you certainly are my go-er girl) but this time you were content to just lay and smile at me. I loved it so much. I told you all about how special you were and how much I loved you and you giggled and basked in my attention. It was like you were soaking it all in. The moment was so special to me - I tried to memorize the picture in my head. The morning light streaming in through the window. Our faces just inches apart. Your hands outstretched - grasping and moving and learning. My lips kissing your little fingers. Your big blue eyes so full of life and joy. Your purple onsie and bald little head. It was a moment that made my whole day. I hope I never forget.

-- Your dad and I have been working so hard to help you sleep in your own little bed - but it's been quite the adventure. Some nights you do great, waking up just to eat. Some nights you still just want to be cuddled. I'd been up with you several times already one night, and after laying you down I collapsed on my bed falling asleep immediately. What seemed like seconds later, I heard a noise from your room and in my sleepy state I realized that your dad was no longer in bed beside me. I got up and peeked into your room. Your dad had heard you and before I could wake up - he had gone in to take care of you. I stood in the doorway for several minutes with only the faint light of the nightlight to see by. Your dad was rocking you and whispering sweet things to you. I hope you know how much he loves you.

--You rolled over for the first time ever and I am SO proud of you. We were at the McArthur Design Center going over our choices for the interior of our new house. There was a big square table covered in black felt in the center of the room so that people could lay out their flooring/counter/cabinet choices to see if they went well together. My arms were getting a little tired, so I set you on the table (being very careful to stand right next to you of course). You started wiggling and rolled onto your side. I wasn't too shocked because this is a favorite new trick of yours. But then you got your bum turned all the way upside-down and the only thing standing in your way was that your arm was trapped. I was amazed and your dad and I stood by you cheering you on. You didn't seem like you were going to make it, but you were also pretty content to stay in that position so we went back to looking at our design choices. I glanced down at you just in time to see you miraculously wiggle your arm loose and complete the roll-over onto your tummy! I was so proud. So were you - you were looking up at us with a look that said "Hey mom and dad, look what I did!" All smiles and giggles - that is, until you realized that you were on your tummy and couldn't get back. I picked you up and covered you with kisses. I can't believe how big you are getting my darling girl. First comes rolling, then walking, then running, then moving out of the house to go to college! I'm certainly not ready for that. Please, stay my little girl forever! I love you darling Lydia.

Five Things

I had lots of things to write, but it's late and I am tired. I would write tomorrow but we have a really busy day so all you get is this little list and maybe a picture or two.

#1- Lydia has slept in her bed all night (beside her feedings, about three per night) for the last three nights. This is a huge deal. Most other nights she has ended up with me on the couch. Yay for progress.

#2- Great hangout time with lots of friends and family. My mom, my sister Melissa, my friend Ashley, my dad, David's sister Amy, David's parents, my friend Rebekah. It's been a great week.

#3- Lydia has started being more interested in her toys. For the first time she reached out grabbed her toy and brought it to her mouth. Now she can't get enough of it. Oh, and she has a dimple! It's so darling.

#4- My hair is falling out like crazy. This really isn't a good thing... but it's a pretty big deal (in a sad way) to me. I probably need a haircut a-sap... But I will be sad to see these long locks go.

#5- Today we were able to attend a super awesome banquet for David held by the Utah Association of CPAs. He was inaugurated as one of the newest members of the CPA profession. Lydia played with her Grandma Peaden and David and I got to go on a fun date to the Little America. Here are some of the pictures from the day: (I'm so proud of David, he is so amazing!)

David's friend and co-worker who also was inaugurated. They are holding their "Tombstones" which - literally says "Rest in Peace" at the top - symbolizing the putting to rest of the CPA exams. So funny!

 

 

So proud of this boy!