Bunny-ization Round 2

3/30/10

Franca has been sleeping very restlessly for the last 2 days, so I just couldn't bring myself to turn the heat gun on on her, so I decided to do another little bunny-ization!

(Although, on second thought, the heat gun might be really good white noise. Hmmm...)

Bunny-ization #4

When we painted the fireplace originally, we just painted the whole thing and the look has been bugging me lately. It is just so flat and I figured out why. The actual fire place needs to be dark, duh!
Now, let me state a disclaimer here: I am normally not a fan of painting brick fireplaces, but we painted ours because the old owner had painted the red brick, you got it: brick red (yeah - because THAT makes sense.) Anyway, I need to add to this disclaimer that I also normally do not advocate painting the inside of your fireplace IF you burn your wood directly inside of it. We can't burn wood directly inside the fireplace (it is too shallow and the flue isn't made for it), so it is ok for us to paint the inside.

Looks much better right? This fall when we get our awesome fireplace insert, this will all be irrelevant, but you know how I like instant satisfaction and short term fixes. :)

And because I know you want it, some Franca:


Isn't she getting big?? And here she is taking control of dad's hands. (When she gets really worked up, we use a finger to soothe her.) And yes, I am obsessed with PJs with animal feet!

Score!

3/25/10



The office work is slow going because my very sleepy baby has become much less sleepy... Oh who am I kidding, honestly, it is slow going because the first task is to strip the paint off the window and door trim. I HATE doing this, but if I don't the new latex paint won't adhere to the existing paint & varnish and Marc will just peel it all off again. (Don't get me started on the paint peeling...)


I tried to convince Marc that I didn't have to strip this paint because A) who cares? and B) the heat gun is loud and we have a sleeping baby 2 rooms away! He didn't go for either excuse... Urgh. I HATE doing things the right way instead of the easy way.

<---------- Anyway,  to get to the "Score!".

Check out this nice wood filing cabinet that Franca and I bought at our local Habitat for Humanity store. Pretty nice huh? Beats any of the rusty metal ones and has more style than any new ones!

Here's some funny pictures of Franca:

Her reaction when I told her I'll be using a heat gun while she sleeps:

Her in her Maxi Cosi Stroller with the Mico carseat in it. (LOVE IT! Thanks Moms!):

And Tuna, showing her dominance:

Yet another daunting room to tackle.

3/17/10


Marc and I combined offices right before Franca was born, but that is just about all we did. I boxed up some books, removed a shelf and moved my stuff in.

<----- As you can see, it is a mess and it is getting on my nerves. So I've decided to tackle this room in shorts bursts while Franca sleeps. 

#1 - First task will be decluttering and going thru stacks and stacks of old paper and junk
#2 - Second prepping and creating a new joint desk out of a door donated by my coworker.
#3 - We need to find 2 file cabinets.
#4 - Then painting? We would like to keep the busty lady, but paint over the rest of the graffitti.
#5 - The windows need some serious work, but that might have to wait for another day.
#6 - I'd like to hang some shelves also.


Just for your amusement, here is Franca chilling in the office (in a cat bed - thanks Dad!).


And yes, notice the big pink pillow on my chair. I did go thru 45 hours of labor people!

Let's Get Bunny-ized!

3/11/10

As I've said before, I'm an Efficiency Type of person. So I have been using the facts that I'm on maternity leave and that Franca is an amazing baby to do some "Bunny-izations" around the house.

(Yes, yes, I'm also sleeping and we know she likely will not be this terrific forever.)

Bunny-ization #1:

A simple one to start: Put the 3 couch cushion buttons back on that my funny nephew Owen removed for us about 6 months ago. :) It seems like an easy task, but I quickly realized I don't own a 6" needle and therefore, this task needed to be Bunny-ized! So of course, I did what any sensible person would do and busted out a wooden kabob skewer and some duct tape!
Attach thread to skewer w/ duct tape, push thru cushion & tie off!

Bunny-ization #2:

Friends of mine who actually BUY furniture got a new coffee table shipped to them with a broken drawer. The company shipped them a new one and said don't bother shipping the broken one back. So of course, they gave us the broken coffee table (SCORE!). I quickly Bunny-ized the broken drawer front.
First, I cut two small pieces of 2x4, back screw them to the drawer front and then screwed thru the drawer sides. Ugly from the inside, but fixed!

Here's the couch w/ buttons and the new coffee table:

Bunny-ization #3:

Our bathroom door knob has been loose since we bought this house 3 years ago. No biggie, except that when you open and close the bathroom door, the knob slides back and forth essentially announcing to the house that you are about the use the facilities. Klassy.

This is not really a Bunny-ization, but the fact that it took 3 years to get around to it and honestly 30 seconds to complete the task makes it one.

See that nice, loud gap there?

and now you don't!

That's all for this installment of Bunnizations!
Time to feed the Franca!

Franca's Homecoming Amid the Cranes

3/9/10


I think it is pretty clear that we have AMAZING friends, and thanks to three of the very best ones, the crackhouse got a dressing up to celebrate Franca's first homecoming.

<-------- Here is Marc walking her through the door for the first time. :) 

We came home to find our tree and porch decorated with these beautiful paper cranes courtesy of Calder, Aaron & Louisa.

Yeah, I burst into tears when we pulled up to the house. :)



and some detail shots:


We need to take these down tonight because it might rain. 
Pretty amazing thing to come home to huh? 

And just for fun, here are some photos of Franca:

Please welcome the newest crackhouse resident:

3/5/10



Franca Catalina
Born 3/3/2010 at 2:26pm
8lbs 2oz & 20-1/2" long
With tons of thick, dark hair 

We are all doing very well and couldn't be more in love! 

Marc, Nikki & Franca

 

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