What do you say after a break like this?

Um, hi. This is sort of awkward. You might remember me. I'm Kate. I used to blog all the time and then, well, I stopped.

To be fair, I had a pretty darn good reason in the form of a perfect 8lb parcel that was dropped off by the stork late last October. (I wish it was that fairy tale.) Little Junior - yep, he was a boy! - has kept me busy and blogging has taken a serious back seat.

Well, that, and I feel that I've rather lost my way with WHAT to write about lately since gone are the days of house renovations. By the way, I'm still totally okay with that.

But, it's 2am, and I can't sleep. Mr. B is sleeping soundly. Little Junior is sleeping soundly. Clemmie and Dixie are sleeping soundly. I'm wide awake. And I suddenly feel like blogging. I'm just going to go with it, okay? Stick with me here.

In all honesty, this post has been nagging at me for a while. What do you write about when you've been away for a while? I think half the writers block was just getting over this first post (That and the fact that I have yet to get in touch with the designer to fix the typo in the header. Ignore it please.) And the final push was bumping into Lauren and Jackson at the Atlanta airport this week. Yep. Who says we have boring lives now that we have kids?

And, there's no better way to dip my toes back into the water than with a birthday post. For my puppies. Who turn ONE YEAR OLD today. When we adopted them, we were fortunate enough to know their story and know their actual date of birth. February 28, 2012. We'll drag out the celebrations again on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo - so fitting!) for their Happy Homecoming...

So unimpressed with their party hats.

 

Locked in like a laser when there's treats on the line.

 

And just for a stroll down memory lane....

 

The ride home from Petsmart after being adopted



 

Dixie falling asleep sitting up

 

All grown up.

 

Because one ball is NOT enough.

 

Make yourself comfortable Dixie.

 

These two certainly still act like puppies but I can tell they've matured a lot. Especially since they got home from boot camp. (I'm just going to act like you all know what I'm talking about. I'll be forever backfilling otherwise.) They are beyond loyal, beyond entertaining and pretty much my best friends.

Puppy Pictures Friday

Since things around here are pretty slow and boring while we're waiting for Baby B, we may as well post adorable puppy pictures, yes? When I was going through the recent pictures, they all seem to revolve around napping and sleeping. Wonder where they they're learning that from?

The faces of two puppies earrrrly in the morning who are patiently waiting for their "yummy breakfast". Clem's eyes are pure desperation and Dixie's ears look like she has some mad bedhead.

After last week's bed fiasco, I finally busted out the new "throne" I got for Clem several weeks ago. When I originally brought the bed out, she freaked out at it and wouldn't stop barking. (You show that bed, Clem. You tell it.) But now, I think she's overcome her fear of the bed and seems to be enjoying it just fine. Thank you Costco for a cheap bed that my dog doesn't feel the need to attack.

But speaking of attacking beds, I texted Rich this picture one morning with the caption: "Daddeeee, I put my bed in a bed!" She's such a nester/lover and I kinda don't blame her for this genius idea. But how she dragged this out of her kennel and on to the bed, I don't know.

 

Dixie modeling a Halloween costume - specifically a hot pink fairy costume. Let's just say she was highly unimpressed and this one was promptly returned to the store. Next year, girls, next year...

Life These Days...

I'm still here. And still pregnant. Goodness gracious, still pregnant. Many of yall told me these days would drag by but I guess I didn't really appreciate how.long.they.drag.on. And on.

There is progress on the baby front - but not ours! My blogger friend Lauren, who lives where we used to live and is also from TX, and was due four days before me, welcomed her sweet, sweet son, Jackson, early yesterday morning. (Lauren's blog is private, but you can leave well-wishes here for me to pass along!)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we're still waiting very patiently for Baby B's arrival. I can promise you that life is prettttyyyyyyy boring around these parts. Nearly all home projects have gone on hold - except one - the nursery. Cause yeah. We're still not finished in there. I promise it's almost done. Just a picture gallery on one wall and some last minute touches here and there. Really, we could finish it tonight if we wanted. But that's a tall order at the end of the day when my ankles are the size of melons. So attractive, I know.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the lovely fall weather and walks with the puppies, when they're not pullling me around the block. We're still working on manners. The cooler weather is definitely most welcome these days. Otherwise, my next few days will be occupied with a few last essentials for ME: haircut, mani/pedi, lunches out with girlfriends, and that dreaded weekly appointment where my doctor keeps telling me "no progress". Ugh, let's focus on mani/pedis.

Another year, another birthday

Not only is today a pretty fun date - 10.11.12 - it's Mr. B's BIRTHDAY!!

Can you please all take a minute and wish him a happy day? He might not ever admit it, but he secretly loves this blog (maybe more than I do?) and I know your comments would make.his.day.

This year, the birthday celebrations around here will be pretty low key compared to previous years. Partially, because I'm beyond pregnant (yep, it's reached that point) and partially because it just the way it goes some years. Tomorrow, we'll (being me, baby and puppies - duh) bake Rich his favorite cake: German Chocolate and celebrate his special day.

In a sign of things to come, Mr. B will be spending this evening at Disney on Ice with his Little Brother, B. (Oh you didn't know? In addition to being an amazing husband, father, friend - he also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters.) Disney on Ice folks. Love it.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of me trying to explain Mr. B's awesomeness in words, I'll just leave you with a few photos of him to celebrate his special day.

This was a huge hit on Facebook:

"That moment when you're watching men's gymnastics and your husband decides "I can do that too".

 

You know someone is going to be a great father when he practices reading bedtime stories to the puppies - and they actually listen.

 

Teaching Clem-kadiddle-hopper to swim this summer in Dallas

 

Happy Birthday love - it's been a fantastic year. Can't wait for the next...

 

Weekend Recap + Dining Room Update

People: You won't believe what I woke up to this morning...

No. Not the temperature inside. I'm talking about the top left corner with the outside temperature. Let's just say the snuggle bed - of which I'm particularly famous for - was in FULL effect this morning. The duvet was in strong cocoon mode, the sun decided to barely make itself present until I was wide awake, and it's gray and rainy outside as I write this. This, friends, is absolute bliss when you're 9 months pregnant and eternally radiating heat from the bun in the oven.

This past weekend flew by - especially when you realize we really only have two - three - weekends tops left as a little family of 2 (or 4. Depending how you count it.) This past weekend was our Theta Alumnae Chapter Garage Sale so Saturday was a long day of wheeling and dealing all in the name of raising some dinero for Court Appointed Special Advocates. The only problem was it rained, and rained, and rained - so the crowds didn't really turn out as we'd hoped. Nonetheless, we've raised about $3,500 this year for char-i-tayyyy and that's what counts. However, my feet, ankles and knees did not appreciate the manual labor on Saturday night.

We plowed forward with getting the dining room arranged. Mr. B and one of his awesome colleagues picked up the table + chairs on Friday afternoon so Saturday afternoon we did a quick clean, moved the rug into the room and arranged everything. I didn't get any pictures with the two leaves in, but everything fits perfectly at it's largest, and it's nice and compact without the leaves for day-to-day use. Next up - some pictures and a buffet and we can call it a day on this room!

The rug - which was also an auction find - was temporarily in the living room

but now lives full time in the dining room.

Excuse the mess on the kitchen island lurking through the doorway.

I really need to Scotchguard those chairs before they attract a red wine spill or gravy mess. I plan to get them reupholstered but who knows when that will happen...

And lastly, we made some progress with the final nursery arrangements this weekend but nothing to share just yet. It's still a work in progress, but there are a few shelves up and some adorable purple lanterns hanging in the corner. You will see soon enough...

Happy Monday friends!