13 for 2013

Sorry for the short absence.  Between the holidays and starting back to work, life has been a bit nutty.  So much has changed since Ella's arrival and everything, from the smallest things (getting laundry done, going to the grocery store) to the biggest things (going out of town), requires a lot more planning.  Seth and I realized that there is a lot we want to do, both as a couple (read: without Ella) and as a family (with Ella), but in order to do anything of those things, we need to focus on planning (I sure do love a good plan).  So on New Years Day (and, yes, a New Years post is still fine since it is still January, right?), we sat down and outlined 13 fun things to do in 2013.  So without further ado, I give you...

THE GEISE FAMILY 13 FOR 2013


1. Take Ella to the zoo

North Carolina has a pretty great zoo.  I loved going there as a child and I can't wait to introduce Ella to all the animals.  She is still on the young side for this one, so we'll be waiting until the Fall for this adventure.

2.  Go to the beach

Seth and I love the beach and NC has some pretty awesome beaches.  We are really looking forward to putting Ella in a silly little bathing suit and letting her explore the sand and sea.

3.  Go to Asheville without Ella

Asheville has a very special place in our hearts.  We have visited several times, including our mini moon following our wedding.  Since we didn't really get to celebrate our anniversary this year (Ella was born 3 days after our anniversary, interrupting plans we had for a fancy dinner), we are really hoping to get away for a night.

4.  Fancy Dinners: Valentine's Day, Anniversary, Seth's Birthday, Katie's Birthday

Greensboro has some pretty decent resturants and Seth and I always have a good time when we go out.  We love spending time as a family, but also want to make sure we set aside time for us.  Hence, we have already carved out 4 sure dates for dates.

5.  Family Picnic

I love picnics and I think it will be so much fun to spread out a blanket, watch Ella roll around, and eat some tasties in the sun.  This is one that we can do as soon as it gets warm out.

6.  Chapel Hill day trip

We think it will be a lot of fun to just get away for a day and luckily Chapel Hill is only a quick drive away.  We plan a tasty lunch, some times with friends, and a trip to the Trader Joes.

7.  Take Ella to the Children's Museum

Greensboro has a pretty awesome Children's museum from what we hear.  Apparently, they have a room for the little ones, so we'll be headed there once Ella is a bit more mobile.

8.  Red Oak Brewery Tour

This is another one for just Seth and I.  We have done a couple of winery visits and always had a blast, so it seems sensible to take a quick drive down the road to sample some really tasty beer.

9.  Katie and Seth run a 5K

In the past, Seth and I have run a 5K together on Thanksgiving.  Clearly, that didn't happen this year.  So, we'll be picking out another race and lacing up our shoes.  I am looking forward to a picture with Ella at the finish line.

10.  Visit Dad and Denise

My dad and his wife own a really awesome piece of land up in Virginia.  We had the pleasure of visiting them right before Christmas and are looking forward to heading back up once the weather warms up a bit.

11.  Visit Seth's Brother

Seth's brother and his family live outside of DC.  They have a daughter who is 11 months older than Ella.  We have a great time when we are with them and can't wait for Ella to be old enough to play with her cousin.

12.  Host a party

We have not done a great job of having people over to enjoy our house.  After Ella was born it was a lot of fun to have people drop by.  In the same vane, we are planning to host a party and we'll have plenty to celebrate.

13.  Go to a hockey game

Being from Nothern New York, Seth grew up playing hockey.  He loves the sport (and is pretty damn good at it).  Last year, we headed to a Hurricane's game and it was so much fun.  Now that the NHL strike is over we are looking forward to enjoying another game.

So those are our plans for 2013.  They are posted on our fridge, so we don't forget.  Having fun is a priority for us and I promise updates as we have these little adventures.

Anyone else planning anything fun for 2013?

Ella and the Fur Babies

One of the questions I have gotten since Ella's arrival is "what do the dogs and cats think of Ella?"  That  is a great question.  Fortunately, the answer is everyone is getting along just fine.  But I was pretty worried that wouldn't be the case. 

What We Did to Prepare the Dogs
All the pets, but especially the dogs, were used to being the center of our world.  Early  in my pregnancy, like 8 weeks early, we started to retrain the dogs.  We set new rules- no dogs on the couch unless invited, sitting and waiting to eat, reduced number of toys (on the rare occasion Oliver and Matilda would fight, it would almost always be over a toy).  Slowly, the dogs got the hang of the new routine.  While I know it was hard for both Seth and I to enforce new rules, it would be so much sadder if we had to re-home any of our babies because we didn't properly prepare them.

After Ella was born, we sent a couple blankets with her scent on them with my mom (the dogs were staying with her), so that they could learn the new smell.  When we got home, Seth went in the house first and greeted the dogs.  Then he came out and got the baby and I went in and greeted the dogs.  We then set Ella, in her car seat, down between the two of us on  the couch.  Matilda was very interested in what was happening.  She jumped up on the couch (bad Tilly) and gave the baby a good once over.  Oliver was a bit more hesisitant.  He actually growled at the car seat (we weren't surprised- Oliver is a bit of a head case), so we let him out for an hour and tried again.  This time, we held the baby and hid the car seat.  He slowly approached the baby and gave her some good sniffs.

And that was that.  Ever since everyone has been fine.  The dogs are freakishly protective of the house.  We have to know when people are stopping by so we can make sure they are out (Matilda actually tried to nip a guy delivering flowers).  As much as everyone is fine with Ella, each pet has a different approach to her.

Matilda

Matilda meeting Ella

Tilly is out oldest baby (6 1/2!) and is used to being Seth's little princess, but like I said, she showed great promise in the beginning.  But she hasn't exactly warmed to the baby.  She likes to sniff Ella, but if you try and put that baby down anywhere near her, she runs away.  When Ella cries, she always checks to make sure she is okay, but then retreats to another room.  I don't worry that Til would ever hurt Ella, she just isn't particularly interested.  We are 100% sure that will change as soon as Ella can drop food on the floor.

Oliver

Oliver snuggled with Ella during nap time (excuse the unmade bed)

Ella is Oliver's baby.  This was very surprising.  He took a while to warm up to her, but as soon as he figured out he could give her kisses, he was sold.  Now whenever I put Ella down for a nap on our bed (she sleeps better that way), Oliver can be found snuggled right up to her.  We figure that he will want to sleep with her once she is in a big girl bed in a few years.  It makes my heart happy to know that Ella and Oliver will be best buddies for years to come.

Ava

Ava trying to get some attention too

Ava seems to be a bit jealous of the baby.  One day, I had Ella in the carrier and was working at the computer.  Ella climbed on my lap and proceeded to lie down on top of the baby.  I shewed her off and haven't had a repeat performance.  Since then, Ava has warmed a little to the baby.  She was hanging out on the back of the chair while I was burping Ella a few days ago and Ella got the biggest smile on her face and giggled at the cat.  I don't think Ava was amused, but she's coming around.  She also enjoys new places to sleep- mainly the changing pad and Ella's chair.

Henry

Henry says "What baby?  This chair is for me."

I'm not entirely sure Henry is even aware that someone else has joined our family.  He definitely likes to come visit when I am feeding Ella in the morning, but like I said, I don't think he realizes that I am up for any reason to do anything other than pet him.

Christmas Time is Here...

I really love Christmas.  This holiday combines a lot of the things I enjoy- cooking, spending time with my family, driving Seth crazy, and decorating.  This weekend, we finally got around to that last one.  I try hard not to go over board and I think I usually do a pretty good job.

The Christmas tree is up (sorry for the kinda blurry picture).  The only presents we've gotten around to wrapping are the ones Seth picked out for Ella.  I am a little behind this year.

The baby artificial tree I got in college is up on the sideboard.  In a few years, I imagine Ella will have a blast with this one.

And the stockings are up.  Seth and I both have our stockings from when we were young and we ordered a similar knit stocking for Ella.  I like that the stockings don't match, it kinda shows how our family has been built over the years. 

We also have wreathes on both doors and lights up on the fence, but that is it.  The house feels Christmasie (Christmasy?) without feeling obnoxious.

I really am so excited for this Christmas! 

Concrete Planters

How 'bout a post that has nothing to do with the baby?  Well, maybe a little to do with  the baby cause she was there (and very helpful). 

We have jasmine growing up the sides of our pergola.  It is a beautiful vine and it smells heavenly when it blooms.  Simply, we love it.  However, we do not love the planters we put it in.  They are cheap, falling apart, allow no room for root growth and are simply ugly.  Don't believe me?  See for yourself...

Not so pretty...  So we set off to make some easy, awesome looking planters out of those big, concrete stepping stones you can get at any hardware or landscaping store.  We opted for the 16" squares because we wanted lots of room for the plants to grow.  Plus we only made the four sided (no bottom), so the root system could eventually work its way into  the ground.

To start, we purchased 16 squares (4 squares per planter times 4 planters)  and some landscaping adhesive.  Once we got then home, we positioned Ella to supervise (babies first project, yay!)...

And we laid out our steps...

applied some adhesive...

And added the next step...

And the next...

And the last one...

And pretty soon, we had 4 planters all set...

Two quick notes:  this stuff sets up pretty fast, but we found it was helpful to hold the steps in place for just a minute to ensure that it was stable and the adhesive we got recommended allowing 5 days before the project was used, so these babies got a few days in the garage before they were installed.

And speaking of installation, my darling husband gets all the credit here.  These suckers are crazy heavy and Ella decided she wanted to eat.  So Seth got the planters into place, removed the old planters, added new dirt, and got the plants all settled in their new home (my husband is pretty awesome).  And the results are fantastic...

The planters look slightly industrial and really complement the pergola (rather than making it look cheap)...

I am super excited about the  new planters, especially because they are so large.  I may be able to nestle in some annuals come spring time.  Anyone else do some last minute fall gardening?

Making Room for Baby: Part 2

Last weekend marked more baby furniture buying and arranging.  It made the most sense to buy the biggest piece for the room.  That would be crib.  To be honest, I didn't care too much about what crib we purchased.  Sure, I wanted something sturdy and non-toxic, but those were about the only requirements.  We figure she'll only be in the crib for 2ish years and we only plan on having one more.  Plus we plan on having her sleep in our room in a bassinet for the first 3-6 months, so really the crib will only be in use for maybe 4ish years.  When it came down to it, Seth actually picked the crib.  I looked it over, but he gets total credit for this buy.

So we ordered the crib and it came.  And then Seth put it together (the cats and I supervised).  And it looks totally awesome...  BUT wouldn't you know it, the spot that I thought would be perfect for the crib, just wasn't.  See...

It sticks out too far.  Turns out cribs are bigger than I thought... 

So we got to play a rousing game of furniture shuffle.  The next obvious pick for the crib was in the corner of the opposite wall.  That would be the same space Seth's massive humidor lives (lived?)...

My first suggestion was that we should just get rid of the damn thing- just kidding...  I love my husband and his stinky cigars...  So we lugged the damn thing to our bedroom and that just didn't work.  Nothing says romance like a huge, manly cigar humidor...  So I took a deep breath and said "I think it has to go to the living room."  And Seth's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.

So we moved the humidor/table that was between the chairs...

And replaced it with the bigger version....

And it works.  And Seth is thrilled to show off his collection.  Oh the compromises of marriage.

Back to the nursery...  With the humidor gone, we just had to figure out a spot for the bookshelf.  I got cranky and exclaimed that there was no freaking place that damn thing was going to fit, so we might as well just leave it in the nursery til we came up with a better idea.  And Seth, sensing hormones about to explode on him, agreed.  So we relocated it to the other wall...

AND WE LIKED IT!  We originally had planned a long low bookshelf, but this works and we have it.  We do plan to secure it to the wall for safety reasons.  You gotta love it when you can make what you have WORK!

So with space, all we had to do was slide the crib into place...

YAY!  The wooden chair is just hanging out as a place holder.  We have plans for a glider and a little table there, which of course means that the wooden chair will have to be relocated.  But we are getting there!

If everything goes as planned, mama and I should be making curtains this weekend!

Making Room for Baby: Part 1

To answer the obvious questions:  Yes, I am only 4 months pregnant and yes, I am freaking out about getting everything done, including setting up the nursery.  I like to call myself a planner, others just say I'm neurotic.  Whatever the label is, the result is still the same: we have started to put together the nursery.

When we moved in, we decided that the computer room (the man room) would become the nursery when a baby came along.  We painted it a nice green that we figured would work well in the future because lets face it, I hate painting.  And yes, this does mean that Seth is losing "his" room.  Don't feel bad for him.  Its not like I have a room just full of my shit and don't say "the whole house is the woman's domain," because Seth has had a hand in every single color/design/decorating decision in that house. 

So back to the point, Seth thought it would be a good idea to start with a dresser since we will eventually  need some place to put all the stuff that comes along with a baby.  So dresser hunting we went!  We were looking for a pretty specific size (about 3" tall, 4" long, and 2" wide), so choices were limited.  Finally, we found a sweet little Ethan Allen piece at my favorite consignment shop, The Red Collection. 

Once home, we went to moving furniture around.

To start, lets take a moment to remember the man room as it was:

Looking in from the hall

Looking back out towards the hall- that room is NARROW

The plan was for the dresser to go where the desk current is, which means first the desk had to move.  We figured that we could move it to the big living space and it would work just fine.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

The verdict: we really like where the desk is.  Side note: Henry (did I ever mention we got another damn cat? Well we did, and he's pretty alright for a cat), who has tummy issues anyway, got really nervous about all the moving around and boy did he stink that room up... Lord, cat farts are bad.

So back to the babies room... In went the dresser:

And it fits perfectly!  There is a closet to the right of the dresser, so we needed room to open those doors.  Plus we plan to use the dresser as a changing table as well, so there is room for a diaper pail to the left of the dresser.  I plan on adding some festive curtains to frame the window and the whole wall.

Want to take a closer look:

This little beauty is solid wood and surprisingly heavy.  It has three awesome drawers.  I do think we need to update the hardware a bit, but that's nothing a little spray paint can't handle.

The first drawer has one divider and isn't terrible deep.  This seems like a good spot for wipes and various baby stuff (socks?  hats?)

The second drawer is much deeper and has three dividers.  We plan to cloth diaper, so this seems like the perfect space to separate prefolds, covers, and workhorse/ AIOs (I sure do hope I got those terms right.  Cloth diapering is complicated)

The last drawer is also pretty deep.  I figure this where the actual clothes have to go. 

So there you have: the first edition of making room for baby.  To finish the room we still need a crib, mattress, bookshelf, and chair of some sort (glider or rocking?).  I also plan to make curtains, a crib skirt, and fashion up some new lighting.  Stay tuned as there will be more baby updates to come (as well as some non-fetus related posts as well- I promise!)

A Special Day

February 5 was a very special day, and not just because it was the night before the drunk driver crashed into our yard- it was the day that sister #2 (I have 3 younger sisters who will be identified by number) turned 19.  We threw a nice little party for her, including brinner, champagne cocktails and chocolate cake.


DRINKS!

Seth and I tasted some pomegranate wine a couple weeks ago at the Fresh Market.  It was recommended that we mix the pomegranate wine with champagne.  After a couple trials, we found that a one to one ratio worked best.  Those sure were tasty!

CAKE

The cake was a chocolate chambord cake from the fresh market (sadly, no time to bake #2 a cake).  Luckily, this cake is divine!  And she got the candles out in one blow.

And a few pictures of the party goers...

#2 and her sweet boyfriend

#3, #2 and me

Overall, a very successful gathering and a wonderful way to celebrate such a great sister!

Introducing: My Silly Little Family

To adequately understand my little domestic life, you must first meet my silly little family.

Up First- THE HUSBAND

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This picture is one of my favorites of my husband, Seth.  It was taken on our wedding day, as ee worked to move our home theater surround sound onto the roof so we could have music during the ceremony.  He did a fantastic job and the music was enjoyed by all.

Next- THE 1ST CHILD

Matilda is a 4 1/2 year old beagle/german shepard mix.  Seth and I adopted her from a shelter when we were living in Roanoke, VA.  She sure was a cute puppy.  Her hobbies include barking, chasing squirrels and begging for food.

THE MIDDLE CHILD

Ava is a 1 1/2 year old terror.  To properly tell Ava's story, we have to back up a bit.  While house hunting in late spring, Seth and I came across a lack luster house with a kitten sitting on the front step.  Seth was immediately in love with this skinny little kitten and as all of the neighbor's identified him as a stray, he came home with us.  Mack quickly grew into a big lazy, hilarious cat.  Sadly, in December 2009, Mack went walk-about and never returned. Although we still miss him very much, his absence made us realize how much we loved having a kitty around.

Enter Ava.  We adopted her March 2010 from the Guilford County Animal Shelter.  She is absolutely fearless and loves to be in high places.  She also enjoys knocking things over and chasing her canine siblings.


Lastly- THE BABY

Oliver is truly the baby of the family.  He is a 9 month old pitt-bull/boxer/who knows what mix, who was picked up running around dirty, hungry and wormy in an apartment complex.  I quickly claimed him as mine and he came to live with us the next day.  Oliver is happiest when he is being cuddled.  He also enjoys excessively licking his people and trying to make his sisters play with him.  He's a bundle of energy!

And one last picture because it makes me smile-

Have a happy Thursday!