Connors 7 months!

It's amazing how each day seems to last forever...then all of a sudden your baby is 7 months old, trying to crawl, and explore the world around him! He weighed in last month for his six month check at 19lbs 10oz and 28 1/2 inches long. Preston thinks Connor is so much cooler now that he is playing with toys, he often runs up to Connor gives him a hug, says "little brother Connor," then rubs Connors head and says, "Connor so soft, be gentle." Its pretty cute. Preston is also saying his own prayers. The other night at dinner Preston's prayer went like this..."heavenly father, bless mommy, daddy, connor, preston, amen." Jim and I tried so hard not to giggle, it was so darn cute. Now when he counts to ten or can name everything in a book, he often says, "preston good job, so smart!" His vocabularly is growing, sometimes we are shocked at what he remembers and puts together...I don't think we realize how smart little children are, and how quickly they pick up on everything around them.


We finally got a different expression out of Connor on camera!


He is getting pretty good with his sippy cup.

Preston won that battle

So my question is this...does everyone else's children have a royal meltdown when getting a hair cut??? I can talk Preston into going into the bathroom for a haircut, and get all excited about it, but once I pull out the clippers...the screaming, yelling, and hysteria begins! Today for example I felt motivated to give him a hair cut, he is long overdue...his hair is in his eyes, half way covering his ears...you get the idea. Well I strip him down to his diaper, set him on the sink so as I cut his hair it falls in the sink, less to clean up...and all moms know how the hair gets everywhere! No matter what great plan you have to contain the hair it still manages to get everywhere, I swear I feel like I am still cleaning it up days after the haircut. Needless to say I put the attachment on the clippers and proceeded to cut the back first. After 5 minutes I had a sobbing, fighting, screaming, literally freaking out child, so I put him in the bathtub thinking ok, we got to get a grip...this is ridiculous. In the end Preston won, his hysteric screaming, totally freaked out Connor who was sitting in the doorway in his walker...completely content until the battle began. I thought are you kidding me??? I can't give a 2 yr old a haircut?? Well not today, 1 for Preston. So he looks pretty silly...from the back of his ears across from ear to ear is cut, and trimmed everything forward is still insanely long...its like a reverse mullet...oops. Jim guarentees he will finish it tonight, we will see how well he weathers the hysteria! I am betting Preston wins that one too.

Historic Homes

I LOVE Historic homes!

So here is one of my confessions....
It is true, I have a total obsession with real estate! Especially homes from 1880's-1930's. Growing up with my dad as a contractor, not only did he teach me everything from skip sheeting to framing, but also a great love for good craftsmanship. In my spare time I drive around looking at homes. It is really a problem. I love older homes, completely love them, nothing is more inspiring than a home that has all the original woodwork, hardware, built-ins, pocket doors, dual staircases, and stained glass. My favorites are the craftsman bungalows, and eastlake Victorians. I can look at them all day...they are awesome! I would love to own one and restore it, I get so excited going into a home that is 100+ years old to find it has all the original guts. Wainscoting 3/4 of the way up the walls in the dining room...built-in buffet...solid hardwood pocket doors... bookcases built-in around the living room fireplace...stained glass windows on either side of the fireplace...9 ft ceilings throughout...brass hardware...ornate brass radiators...so awesome!

1913 Prairie Style

9 ft ceilings, stained glass windows, hardwood floors, beautiful built-in bookcases, fireplace, and trim.
Love the built-in, now days you see all the original hardwood painted white, it is really unique to see it not painted. I love the wainscoting 3/4 of the way up the walls in the dining. I love the coffered ceilings and the dark woodwork.