Monday Musings & Coop's Two Year Photos.

Good Monday morning to you!

Well I turned 32 last week and it was AWESOME.
I feel very content at 32 - like I'm right where I want to be. I really love where life is right now; I know these years of young ones and pregnancies will be quick but they are so darn fun!

Now I'm not into weekly bump pictures and such but Jeff and I celebrated numero 3-2 at the George Strait concert, (which blew my mind PS), and we took this picture right around 1AM when we got home. Because how often am I rockin' a dress and cowboy boots these days?

(Extremely tired)
26-weeks at 32-years.

Here's some pregnancy updates:

1. LOW ENERGY. During my first pregnancy I had so much energy! At 40-weeks with Cooper I lapped a local park twice for a total of 6-miles trying to will this child out of me. I can't even IMAGINE doing that during this pregnancy. I am trying my hardest to stay active and healthy but it takes it out of me.

2. NO NAME. When we found out it was a boy with my Coop-man we knew right away what his name would be. This time? Nada. We have three names that we mull over, but there's just not that sense of urgency to decide this time. It may be a game time decision.

3. EVERY TWO WEEKS. We are now in our third trimester and go to our doc every two weeks until this baby arrives! That went fast. 

4. NURSERY UPDATE. Since I moved Coop I have an open room to work with. I am using Coop's furniture but did order new bedding and am still playing around with a rug and window. Per my us- it's taking a while. I did get Coop's clothes out, organized, and ready to wash. Goal completion: early June.

I also got to spend some time celebrating our second little boy-to-be this weekend, at a Sprinkle friends threw for me and my friend Patricia. We got pampered, enjoyed waffles and mimosas and had such a wonderful Sunday celebrating our babes upcoming arrival. I love to laugh and do life with these girls.

Happy Sprinkle!

And...can you believe I got Coop's two-year photos in the mail on my birthday? I was SO happy to get my hands on these gems. Our photographer was awesome and I feel like she captured Coop perfectly at this age! It was a chilly February day in Colorado!

Wishing everyone a lovely week!

Wisdom Wednesday: Uncoupling.

Did y'all hear about Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin? 

In case you're not up on celeb gossip these days, they are uncoupling. 

Seriously? What does that even MEAN?

I love being married and I feel like all of our married friends have healthy, committed marriages, but some days it seems like marriage is a dying institution.

The other day I read that 40% of all births are out of wedlock. So clearly, it's not a priority when bringing a new baby into the world. Divorce rate now is 50% (increasing with the number of marriages).

Gwyneth released this statement shortly after the news broke:

"Divorce is a traumatic and difficult decision for all parties involved—and there's arguably no salve besides time to take that pain away. However, when the whole concept of marriage and divorce is reexamined, there's actually something far more powerful—and positive—at play. ... Our biology and psychology aren't set up to be with one person for four, five, or six decades. The idea of being married to one person for life is too much pressure for anyone." 

Does that statement annoy anyone else?

Now listen, I think there are at times very valid reasons two people decide to get divorced. But it's this flippant attitude that she uses when talking about "marriage" that really bothers me. 

First of all...speak for yourself. 

She's very definitive about what she is saying, when in reality, this is her opinion, and there are many studies to contradict her "facts."

Second of all...

Ya probably shouldn't have gotten married in the first place if you hold the belief that it is, per her words, too much pressure and psychologically impossible.

Celebrities have such a platform to express their views, politically and relationally, and it feels too loud to me sometimes.  As for me and my husband, we each entered marriage believing we are stuck with the other FOR-EVER.
Like, ever.

Jeff and I have totally different interests and hobbies but at the end of the day we agree on the big things (ie: commitment to marriage, faith in God, how we want to raise our children, and respect for each other as friends).

And let me not deceive you here, we bicker, disagree and fight (not even a little, a lot), but I never worry that he's going to be out the door after an argument, or find someone else more interesting than me. When you marry the right person, for the right reasons, with the right intentions and work daily at being good to each other and yourself - marriage is not only sustainable for 5 decades...

...it's the best thing that'll ever happen to you.

It's The Little Things...In Little Packages.

Today I pulled out all of Coop's newborn onesies; just one more step to try to get organized and feel way, way, way in front of our newest little miracle's arrival. To feel on top of things. Ready. 

In other words, feel less stressed.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel going through newborn clothes.

Nostalgic? Sentimental? Guilty about how we're about to rock Cooper's world? 

But I feel excited. 

Anxious for him to get here. I feel like he will be arriving at the perfect time.

Not mine and not Jeff's timing, mind you. But, perfect, nonetheless.

These clothes, so tiny, were a small part of my day today, but brought me so much joy of the anticipation of a big event to come...welcoming our little boy! Sometimes life gets so darn busy it's hard to really soak in this pregnancy and this baby.

Bring it number two!

And in case you want  an update on how the Coop man is doing lately?

Static-ky.

Ikea Dresser Transformation

Good morning to you!

We are slow moving over here today, but I'm excited to share Cooper's dresser that I finished last week for his new room.

My goal for his room is to keep it cheap and simple. We'll be moving sometime soon, and in a couple years I'll upgrade his bed and such, but for now we are in a tiny room that fits a bed and a dresser, and that's about it.

I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a dresser, and didn't want to get an old dresser to re-do because they're just not as sturdy, and sturdiness is critical with a two year old. So, I settled on this Tarva 6-drawer pine wood dresser.

Ikea (they're brilliant I tell you), came out with a line of plain wood dressers that are up to the buyer to stain, paint, etc. So I grabbed one and got to work. Everything in his room is deep navy and reds, so I wanted to go pretty neutral. I decided on an antique white.

I recently fell in love with a store in Denver that refurbishes old furniture into unique pieces, and it was there I was introduced to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. She has so many techniques but I am so not crafty, so I kept it simple.

Step One: One coat of paint on top, side, drawers. 

Step Two: Once paint dries, add second coat of paint.

Step Three: Apply soft wax in circular motion. Wipe down wax with cheesecloth.

Step Four: Repeated wax one more time on top of dresser. (I think I should have done one more coat) 

Step 5: Sand the edges of dresser to add worn down effect.

I also grabbed some knobs on sale (50% off) at Hobby Lobby, which I like because I can always switch them out and not waste a ton of money.

Here's the end result.

I'm close to being finished with the entire room and will share pictures soon!

He's been sleeping there for over a week and loves his new space.

First night in the new room!

And first morning. Crazy hair, don't care!

Way to go Coopy!