Seahorse Dads

So, last night, we were getting ready for bed and I asked David to give me one of his fabulous back and shoulder rubs. He's so sweet. And it was amazing. And I leaned back on him and told him he always makes me feel better and I'm excited about our girls. And he hugged me and said, "Me, too. And I wish I was a seahorse for you." Sigh. Such a wonderful man. (In case you didn't know, the male seahorses are the ones that carry the babies until they're born.) I hugged him back and giggled at the thought of us as seahorses...with our curly little tails...er...whatever they are.

I've been trying to get some video of the girls going crazy in mah belly, but inevitably, as soon as I get the video camera out, they settle down. Here is a little of what I got last night. They were much crazier earlier on, but this will have to do. Also, on the one where you can see my skin, that spot on my tummy isn't some chocolate I dropped. (I wish). It's an angioma. ANGIOMA. Sounds so formidable. Just a blood vessel that poked through. It's pretty much dumb.

Warning (for Shane & Brooks): It's creeeeeeeeepy.

Tacky Christmas

Once again, Brandi, Shane, Tris and Eric hosted a FABULOUS Christmas party...complete with tacky sweaters. Here are some pictures from the evening...I took just a few of these. The rest I stole from Sara and Tris' facebooks. (Thanks, gals!)

By the way, I know I look amazing. But, the Lord calls us to be humble, so.......

Before we left, David and Jeremy decided to squeeze in a game of Lord of the Rings.

Sara, Jeremy and their homemade sweaters.

Me, David and our 1989 Olan Mills pose. David's hair complete with part and blow-drying.

Such delicious food. When I ordered my friends, I made sure they could cook...and they can. Let me tell you.

Trissers, Eric, and Eric's fabulous moustache.

I'm sorry you can't all look this great.

My sweet genie pants and elf shoes.

Malinda's tiramisu cupcakes. Oh, stars in the sky, those things were so good. Rarrrrraaghghararrrgrgh...that's me stuffing my face.

Me and the Linders

Senia and Brandi. They're supposed to look tacky, but they're still beautiful gals. They just end up looking cuter.

Taylor and his festive tie.

These were soooo good, Amanda!!

Shane raising the roof...the way only someone in a Snuggie can do.

The brothers Shane and Brooks...so pensive.

Ha, just kidding.

This is the best angle for a picture.

Nope. Correction: THIS is the best angle.

Another Olan Mills pose.

Erin and Senia discussing...stuff.

I heart my friends.

And even though there was perfectly good, and empty, furniture just steps away.......

Everyone decides to sit on the floor.

Merry Tacky Sweater Christmas!!

(When Eric posts the professional shots of everybody, I'll add those to another post.)

Driver's License

So (I realize I always start my posts with "So,"), my license was a little bit expired. I never had a chance to have it renewed at the beginning of Fall and then lo and behold, my stomach started touching the steering wheel and I was banned from driving by el doctor, so I was never able to get it renewed. Well, sweet brother Noah stayed with us last night whilst on his way home from college and he offered to take me in this morning to get it renewed. Awww...thanks, baby bro! I had really been dreading getting this done...I knew I had to, otherwise it would have been breaking the law if I tried to drive...but ugh, I did NOT want my picture taken. My previous license's picture was actually kind of cute and I liked it. And I knew she would make me take a new picture.

I spent the better part of last night practicing my license smile in front of the mirror. Just the way Tyra Banks said to practice. I finally found a good pose. One that would not show my extra chin(s) and would not make my nose look entirely troll-like or make me look like I had just gotten back from my weekly lip collagen injection party. Well, we get to the driver's license office and wait our turn. I step up to the counter and the lady looks at me and says, "Were you due yesterday?" Ha ha...I'm pregnant...that's hilarious. I just smiled and said, "Yeah, I wish." She asked, "When are you actually due?" I said, "Well, not until January 28." She looked at me, looked at my gut, looked back at me...eyes hugely wide. After I receive that look, I've learned to just add, "But, it's twins." I usually get over-exaggerated sighs of relief...which, I did this time, too. She said, "Well, I was about to say. I was hoping there was more than one in there." Ha ha...I'm huge...it's soooo hysterical. Once again, I just smiled and said, "Yeah...there are two in there." She confirmed my address and information...asked me to step in front of the blue screen, look at the camera...but no, I couldn't remember how I was supposed to do my face! It was all happening so fast! Wait...WAIT! Too late. Click. It was done. My destiny printed in plastic...my doom laminated for all eternity. (Well, at least for another few years.) I walked back up to the counter...and to add insult to my injury, she asked, "Is there anything you want to change about your height or weight?" I leaned across the counter and head-butted her...in my mind. In reality, I just laughed and said, "No, please." I'll be a monkey's uncle if I'm changing my weight on that card.

I kept thinking, "Surely it's not as bad as I'm thinking it is." She handed me my temporary paper license and I gasped. Noah had to lead me out of the office...I was mortified. I looked like a grizzly bear...a Kodiak polar grizzly mutant bear. And there was nothing I could do about it. Sigh.

Previous license.

New, current license.

House Re-Do

I'm finally getting around to posting these. Still no nursery pictures yet, but this is everything else we did in the house. We decided no new countertops when the quote came back about the cost of a yacht...and it's not like we have miles of countertop to cover. I was thinking, "Gosh, was the granite inlaid with gold and diamonds??" Ridonk. We're still getting the hardwoods, just not right now. The quote was awwwwweeeessssooommmee and we were very happy with it. However, we decided a better investment would be a fence for the Seumas dog. He's a cool kid, but he loves being outside and with two new hairless pets coming, we figured everyone might be a little happier if Shamburgers had a place of his own to run around. So, floors on hold for now.

The master bedroom and bathroom are the only rooms we didn't do anything to.

These pictures aren't amazing or anything. I wish I had gotten before and after shots from the same place. Oh well. We'll have to deal.

Guest Bathroom

The only thing we did in here was add the storage thing above the toilet. Does anybody else think it's fun to pronounce that "twah-lay"? That's just plain fun. The girls came with a lot of bath stuff and we needed the extra storage.

BEFORE

AFTER

Guest Bedroom

Painted the walls. Still a little leery about the blue. The swatch made it look a little more silvery greeny blue and when Noah and I painted it, I was like ACK! TOO BLUE! But, I think the pictures toned it down some. It's growing on me. All of the pictures on the wall are black and whites of some of mine and David's tropical vacations. I got the frames at yard sales and painted them all white. Got new bedding...thank you, TJ Maxx. Moved David's computer and recording stuff in. Found a fabulous mirror at an antique store. The Bahamas and St. Thomas car tags on the keyboard are going up on the wall above, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

BEFORE

AFTER

Breakfast Nook

Because I refused to give up a guest bedroom and because we never actually used the breakfast nook, it became my office. The old office is now the nursery. Painted the walls. Moved the furniture around. Got some new furniture for my desk and storage. Got a paper lamp for $10...thank you Dirt Cheap. Got some antique shutters (off to the left of the picture)...that's the original color...very similar to the wall color. So, I welcome any color suggestions. And placed a kitty in the center of the floor for ambiance. That little green roll-y chair is where I'm sitting right now.

BEFORE

AFTER

Dining Room

When we first moved in, I wanted a red dining room. Well, this girl I used to work with years ago told me that if you paint a room a dark color, you need to use a glossy finish because it "helps the light bounce off the walls." Well, stupid me believed her. And...while I was okay with the color...that high gloss finish haunted me for 4 years. It had to go. Only flat finish for me. So, we painted the walls. Got a canvas storage thing in there. Moved the desk that was in the guest bedroom and converted it to a china cabinet. I took out the cabinet door panels and replaced them with chicken wire. Added new, funky knobs. And put in some tile to cutie it up. The ironing board used to be in the breakfast nook. My grandmother worked for an entire summer picking cotton when she was a teenager to pay for it. Please excuse the baby items in the corner.

BEFORE

AFTER

Living Room

The room I wanted to paint the most. But with 15-foot ceilings and angles of every size and temperament, it just would be an ORDEAL to do. We painted the TV cabinet. Moved out the love seat and got the two recliners. Replaced the chicken coop coffee table with three movable wicker ottomans. I think that's about all we did, actually.

BEFORE

AFTER

Aaaaaaand DONE. I'll show you the nursery next week!