Mind the weeds…

This week you get to see our weedy little backyard.  Yay!  It makes me sad that this space still goes unused and we’re closing in on three years since we spent our first night in this house.  The pool was used once for a family pool party and a few times by Ant and I before we decided it would be best to drain it and start from scratch when we’re ready.

We both have visions of a retro-mod backyard in our heads, but it’s been in that one section in the far back, along with all the other distant ideas.  The section of your head that gets overrun with more important priorities…

Lately it seems like we’re starting to make progress.  We bought this vintage patio set that includes a sofa and a cocktail table and the store threw in a little ottoman for free.  The set is from the ’60s and the cushions were too ratty and torn so I am going to have to take on making some sofa pillows.  (I love that it’s called an outdoor sofa.  It sounds so silly-elegant.)

I thought this week I’d showcase our one living plant in the backyard, our Arizona Sweet orange tree.  I can’t wait for fresh squeezed juice!

And I decided to try out getting cozy on our outdoor sofa.  It is actually pretty comfortable even without the cushions!

By-the-by…I haven’t been doing my “Dressing for 2″ feature, have I??  I am really trying to just focus on non-maternity pieces and I haven’t had any tricks to share lately other than simply squeezing into whatever I can.  Sheesh.  So maybe I will just start detailing my outfits in the meantime.

Top:  Target
Cut-offs:  American Eagle, cut by me (I can still button these, sans elastic hair tie!)
Sunnies:  Old Navy
Belt:  Forever 21
Shoes:  Toms

She still looks like my tiny baby here

Today was one of those days where we stayed in our jammies all morning.

We had seconds on cereal for breakfast.

We read a lot of books.

We had a diaper stand-off between a stubborn mommy and an equally stubborn daughter.  It lasted way too long.

We took an afternoon shower and relaxed in the swing.

…a little too much relaxing.

This 5 minute power-nap may be what led to a short naptime this afternoon.

Today was the sort of day for a surprise treat from a husband on his way home from work.

(Did you know Pumpkin Spice is back?!)

It was the sort of day for coffee in the afternoon.

Then one little munchkin went across the street to play and one tired mommy sat down to work (and have some grown-up fun).

Some of my favorite things

Tonight I got so much sewing done, I can’t believe my eyes.  I made a lot of progress on three freckled girls.  They’re just waiting for buttons and some stuffin’ lovin’.

Tonight seems like the kind of night to watch the Back to the Future sequel in bed with a snack and a backrub.

We’ll see how much of that I can swing.

‘Night.

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1.  Louis Armstrong Gold
Part 1 of my vintage summertime fantasy

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2.  These tumblers from Anthropologie
Part 2 of my vintage summertime fantasy.  All they need is a little lemonade.

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3.  Plaid
Reminds me of Fall so much!

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4.  Sweet potatoes
Mashed, plus cinnamon, plus brown sugar, plus a date with the oven

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5.  Searching for new and old cake stands
I think they would look darling in our new vintage hutch!

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6.  This book of Ella Faye’s
This book coupled with our listening pleasure of late has led the little goose to exclaim, “Louis song!” every time she hears his voice.

7.  Ella’s new infatuation with Louis Armstrong

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8.  Back to the Future
Watching it for the first time in my 26 years.  Conclusion showing: tonight in bed.  With cookies?

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9.  Anticipating carrot cake for family dinner on Wednesday night.
(And the preceding pot roast with farm vegetables and mashed potatoes!)

10.  Back rubbins
Which I am off to get right now…

Good night!

Maggie & Ella on graduation night

Last Sunday after church we headed out to college-town to visit my cousin who just started her first year at university.  I can’t believe she’s in college.

Maggie just turned 18 and I mentioned this anecdote in her birthday card, but I have to share it here.  This is how I will always think of her…

It was Christmas Eve at my parents house.  They had just purchased a karaoke machine and it was the perfect occasion to break it in.  We were a family heavily into country music and at the time, country music was heavily into Miss Shania Twain.

I remember poking the video camera around the corner into the kitchen, hoping Maggie wouldn’t notice the blinking light and get shy.  There she stood, her little denim skirt twirling as she swayed her 5 year old hips to the beat.  She clutched the mic like a child country star should.  She was so into it.  Mag was singing her heart out about her man’s boots being under someone else’s bed.  She knew every word of Shania’s tale and heartache.

The Hoffmann Cousins, June ’10

There is a memory that is so vivid, I don’t even need the tape as a reminder.  But it’s there, in my parent’s hall closet, should anyone want to see the real Maggie I know and love.

Come to think of it, she’s pretty much remained the same as she’s grown into the woman she is today.

I am so proud of you, Mag!  Don’t be afraid to let that Shania star out once in a while.  I think she’d be a big hit at the parties.

We love you, Mag-tastic!

One of my best friends had a baby about a month and a half ago and this past weekend we ventured out on a post-baby shopping trip.  She has recruited me as her stylist (which. I. love.).

I think we were successful in finding her a few things to tide her over until winter, when we’ll really get down to business and get serious about a fresh wardrobe (I can’t wait!).

I spotted this peachy floral dress hiding on a full rack and snatched it up, hoping and hoping that it would please cooperate with my belly.  It did.  Although if it hadn’t I would have brought it home anyway and hung it up to swoon over until this baby is in my arms instead of my belly.

This dress just says vintage summertime to me, plain and simple.  I love the peach and faint blue tones together.

I have to tell you I have this fantasy of late that keeps replaying in my head.  Here are the ingredients…

*  1960s Homecrest patio furniture set that Ant and I just brought home (photos forthcoming).

*  The classic Mr. Louis Armstrong (I am so feeling his tone in this phase of my life).

*  Ice cold lemonade in a carnival glass tumbler.

*  This dress.

All I want to do is sit outside on our new pillowed lawn sofa, draped in this dress, lemonade in hand, Louis Armstrong singing sweetly around me.

That sounds like pure bliss.

I just realized I’ve got both my girls with me in these photos.  My monogrammed E necklace for Ella Faye, and you get where the other is…

Double bliss.

You may have noticed the name of this site is now katyverga.com.  Yay!

Posts from my old site, katyandthekismets.seekconnectlove.com, have been forwarding to this here new site.  We will be turning off this forward in a week, leaving my old site inactive.

Please be sure to add katyverga.com to your subscriptions/bookmarks as my old blog address will soon no longer be accessible.  After a week, posts on my old site will no longer be forwarded to this site.

Ok, got it?  (Not sure if I do entirely, but) Ok, thanks!

How about a little inspiration?

I saw this amazing piece of work about a month ago and now I can’t even remember where, but I am pretty certain it has come to mind every day since then.  I just love it.  The simplicity is wonderful, though goodness knows it mustn’t have been simple to create, and the message is so fantastic.  Who doesn’t have a secret fascination with Marilyn Monroe…and how spot on is this quote of hers:

Work and image belong to Rosie Geissler.

I have a good husband. A good one indeed.

He lures me out of bed in the morning with promises of hot Mexican mochas.

He washes the diapers when it’s my turn and I am too tired to move.  Same for the dishes.

He gets really excited over good food.

He loves to cook and make up meals.

He’s made me a much healthier eater.  (Rough at first, when he would ban Oreos and the artificial likes from the house.)

He has formed me into an appreciator of simple healthy food and taught me to value what it can do for my body.

He loves to indulge in desserts.

He bakes bread from scratch.

He looks at Ella Faye with such love in his eyes.  Which brings tears to my eyes when I see it happening.

He is patient and supportive and listens when I rant or ramble on.

He rubs my legs every night when they get jumpy.  And scratches my back when it gets itchy under my jams.

He dances with Ella and runs through the kitchen playing soccer with her.

He can make me laugh to the point of streaming tears.

He decides he wants an affogato and makes one on the spot.

He makes up funny jokes using the word “affogato.”

He does this yoga pose where he bends so that his chest touches his thighs.

He has encouraging words anytime I need them.

He has hair that flips out when it gets long and he can rock a mean Beatles shag.

He can be romantical…swoon.

He is determined and inspired and motivated.

I find him to be the most handsome boy.  Period.

I am in love.

I am so excited about the 4 Simple Goals! I think it’s just what I’ve needed. And that my friends are joining me in this self-bettering challenge makes it so much more fun!!

This week I’ve been making sure I get in some good crafting time here and there every day, and I’ve been working on different items.  I feel like I should be focused on one thing, but both of my projects are ongoing, and I think variety is what keeps things spicy.  So…

I have been sewing this week!  Although most of it has been by hand, which means I’m at the tail end of the doll-making process.  I’ve been having a lot of fun making progress on my plush collection.  With each step that takes me closer to a finished little girl or boy, I get more hyped up for the next little bit, which fuels me to keep going.

This week I also found out that Ella is a fan of my plush dolls.  Oh man it is dangerous.  There is a reason I keep them behind closed doors (until now I thought it was just for protection from the cats).  It’s time to make her one of her own.  (I don’t know why I haven’t done it yet.)

Sneak peek!

Ella and I browsed the craft store last Friday for some backdrop supplies and props for the upcoming doll photoshoot I have planned.  I’m hoping that by making the photography part a bit more fun, I will be able to jump this hurdle and finally get my dolls stocked and in shop!

I’ve also been crocheting it up!  I do my yarny crafts more when my mind is too sleepy to focus on sewing details.  I love how you can just get lost in crochet or knitting and all of a sudden you’re conversing with yourself and settling things in your mind and maybe resolving those little lingering issues.  It’s so therapeutic.

(Although I think I need glasses for real now.  This afternoon I put my yarn down and looked up at the tv and the faces were so muttled!  And I couldn’t see what time it was either.)

A bitty glimpse of a mini girl’s cap

I’m slowly making progress on my other goals and will keep you updated when there’s anything exciting to report!

Those of you starting up your blogs, leave me a link in comments when you’re up and running!  I’m so psyched to follow them!!

Here’s to action!

As I type this, Baby must be doing spins and flips, sending my lower abdomen to feel tiny rolling tickles.  If I really stop and let my mind focus on it, I realize all over again how amazing it is to have this separate life within me.

What a privilege to nurture a precious, clean, new little being.

What an honor it is to be a woman with a body built for growing babies.

The biggest development this month has been her activity.  She is just a little jumping bean!  That first sight we saw of her at our initial prenatal appointment must have been a clue.  Tiny thing at ten weeks, and there she was rolling around in front of us.  Our doctor was amazed.

Then during our anatomical ultrasound on Gender Day, she showed us her gymnastic skills again.  She rolled and bounced and by the end of the session, our tech was grateful she had gotten a profile right off the bat because, she said, there was no way she was going to get one now with all this movement.

Sweet little nose and roundy tummy

She moved so much during that appointment that I worried we wouldn’t see the goods, but we did get a nice shot.  Two for that matter.  (We use the terms “booty” and “privie” here at Verga House.  Ella has taken to saying “pri-zees.”)

It feels sort of wrong to splash our baby’s “pri-zees” over the internet.  It doesn’t really count yet, does it?

Look at those cute little thighs!

By the end of the ultrasound, the little jumping bean was curled around herself, head tucked into her belly, nearly pulling off a nice smooth 360.  If only my uterus was a little bigger…I wish we’d gotten a snapshot of that position.  She is a crazy little one.

The tech said we are right on schedule with our January 5th due date.  Baby weighed 8 oz. at the time, which was a week ago.  By now she measures about six inches from her head to her bottom and is about the size of an heirloom tomato.  A juicy little thing, I bet she is…

Hello!

On a personal level, I am feeling my motivation return.  I have been sewing and some evenings I even get the inspiration to cook.  Last night after finishing up the dinner dishes (from a meal that Ant cooked, not I) I went straight to the fridge and pulled out the goods for Morning Glory muffins.  I was like a robot.  It was nice, actually.

Tiny hands

Can motivation be present without energy?  That’s the combo I think I’ve got.  Motivation, ideas, but not much energy to back anything up.  I am so tired!  I’ve been getting about 8-9 hours of sleep a night (which is more than I used to get).  Maybe it is too much sleep?  But I fear cutting back on nighttime sleep because how will I function at all the next day?

10:30am rolls around and I am in the middle of reading books with Ella Faye and she will look up at me with her confused face.  Through slatted eyes, I will realize I’ve just made up a random storyline.  And then by her naptime, I am really ready to zonk out.

Which is a nice abrupt segue, because right now I am just a pile of sleepy.

More tomorrow.  I’ll be posting an update on my one of my 4 Simple Goals.  Good nights!