Our Living Room!

This definitely isn't a craft or DIY blog but I am so excited with our living room that I had to share.  Though it may come as a surprise because I'm so crafty, decorating does not come easy to me. It takes me FOREVER.  I am not the type of person that is okay with just hanging things on the walls without having a plan.  That stresses me out, actually.  Ryan and I are both the type of people that believe things need a place and a purpose.  We're a no "fluff" couple.  I can't just go to the store and buy something because I think it would look good in my house.  There has to be a deeper story behind it.  Hence why decorating is difficult.  

We moved into our house August 29, 2013 with three years of marriage and apartment furniture under our belt.  We love our chaise lounge and couch, but the other pieces were cheap finds that did the job.  I never saw the point in decorating an apartment with nice furniture if it possibly wouldn't go with our house someday.  We were lucky enough to negotiate the giant clock and lamp from the previous owners and until now, that was pretty much the extend of decorations in our living room.

After a few months in the house we decided it was time to shop for real furniture, starting with a TV stand.  We were willing to pay for a solid piece of furniture, but we just couldn't find anything we liked! Then I stumbled across this listing on Etsy for $755.  I loved its simplicity and rusticness (yep, that's a word now), but I didn't like the price tag.  

Pinterest makes everything look easy, so I decided we could make one! So last November, I got on Craigslist and found a guy selling a bunch of barn wood for a really decent price.  We loaded up a trailer full and brought it home.  And there it sat in our family room ALL WINTER LONG. Ryan was not happy and wanted it GONE. But, it was cold outside and baby was almost due, not to mention we were going to have to borrow all the tools to make it. Hehe, oh Pinterest...

My wonderful parents came through as always in our time of need and showed up one Saturday with a bunch of tools as part of Ryan's delayed graduation gift.  This was still going to be no easy task. To start, I hammered out nails and scrubbed the boards while Ryan sanded them down.

Once we got the dimensions all figured out, we had to cut the boards down to size.  But once again, we didn't have the tools.  Thankfully my Dad hooked us up once again and Ryan learned how to use a table saw.  They didn't get all the boards cut in one day and the project was once again put on hold until Ryan eventually found a saw to buy on Craigslist.  In the meantime, I was feeling inspired and could finally see how our living room would all come together.  I used a $50 gift card I had won to Fabric-Warehouse.com and made some pillows that were definitely not lacking in personality.  

Ryan and I do BOLD.  It's really hard for us not to.

I also made some floor poufs that seem to be all the rage right now.  Mostly, it's just extra seating for guests and for Ryan who loves to sit on the floor instead of furniture. You can see how bare our living room was for over a year! You can also see how consumed I got in the projects that I didn't care what I looked like when I went to the store.

Ryan and my dad dedicated many Saturdays to getting the TV stand done. And not just done, but perfect.  These boys are perfectionists, but it was worth it in the end!  Landon wasn't so sure of all the noise.

Probably about a month ago, Ryan finally finished and was so happy to wash his hands of this project! Sadly, that wasn't the end of the barn wood.  We still had a shelf and coordinating end tables to make as well as painting our coffee table!  That is when it was all turned over to me. But again, not without delays. As I left our applicator out to dry, someone thought it was a new chew toy...

Ryan was a little nervous when he got the middle picture with a text that said, "I may or may not be using your saw without adult supervision!"  But have no fear, there were no (major) injuries to report and I was able to make the end tables almost completely by myself! I let Ryan use the table saw only because I was too lazy to learn.  Otherwise, I did all sanding, cutting, drilling, and hammering! This is a big deal for me. As is the TV stand for Ryan.  We're not craftsman.  At all.  Neither of us have ever done a project like this.  So in typical Caitlin fashion, we chose a super difficult material to work with and learned the hard way! Seriously, this project was a BEAST.  When you're working with super old wood, nothing is the same thickness or width or heaven forbid, straight.  You're dealing with cracked and warped wood and you just have to make do. And we did. And we LOVE the results!

AND NOW THE FINAL REVEAL!

As I said at the very beginning, we don't just decorate to decorate.  Almost everything in this room was made or has some sort of meaning behind it.  And that is what we love about this room.  We look around and see memories, how fun is that?

Ryan served his mission in Ukraine, we took a trip to Egypt and Spain (and Italy) as our pre-baby Graduation trip, our friends brought us the coasters from Africa, and Ryan stole the rock from a glacier in Alaska.

The Etsy prints were purchased a few years ago when we didn't feel like we had a "home" because we moved so often. Our home is the first time Ryan has had an official permanent address since he came home from his mission in 2006. 

One of my favorite things about having the living room decorated is that we finally have pictures of us hanging on the walls! We have engagement and wedding pictures as well as the family pictures we took in North Carolina and just one of Landon at the moment (whoops). I also make Blurb books with our photos and they are on display and ready to be browsed through by anyone who decides to "stay awhile." (Do you see what I did there?) Oh, and "the Sweeneys" sign was Ryan's parents.

The TV decor is a work in progress and just makes me smile at the moment. It's just leftover things but again, they all have meaning.  Minus the white tree vase, I bought that at Joann Fabrics because I thought it fit with our theme. You caught me, I do buy random things on occasion that have no story behind them other than I liked it.  Same goes for the Anthro ampersand.

Ryan's whole family worked for Union Pacific and he has wanted a model locomotive for years.  Little did I know, there are a lot of different ones out there and he spent four hours trying to find the right one.  The right one is this one. How adorable is that? 

On the right hand side is the vase and remnants of the flowers my parents brought us when Landon was born. And the little wooden model is what my dad made showing us how he envisioned the TV stand being built.  He is pretty awesome.

And there you have it. And the best part? We did it all for less than $400. Not too shabby.

Three Months

I suppose it's finally time to catch up on the blog a little bit.

I've got to be honest here, I don't know why everyone is so worried about new moms.  There are plenty of moments where I would take my sleepy newborn over my starting-to-get-opinionated 3-month old! I also realize I had it easy.  He ate and slept well and I healed quickly.  Those were the days!

Now, just when I think we've gotten our routine down, something changes.  From stomach issues, catching my cold, growth spurts and just growing up in general, it is a new challenge every week.  Recently, I really thought I had it down.  I was dealing with the stomach aches when they came, the occasional evening fussiness could be handled but recently has been the biggest (but also exciting) challenge, yet.

He can see what is going on around him.

It's so much fun to just stare at each other and grin and coo!  But, the problem is that he no longer easily sleeps in his carseat when we run errands because he wants to see what's going on.  No sleeping in his carseat means he gets so tired he just loses it and screams.  This isn't every day, but it's happening more often and boy is it a struggle to get anything accomplished or take him anywhere.  He is like a ticking time bomb but I don't know when the explosion is going to go off! Sometimes we get out scotch free, other times, we're not so lucky.  And I just don't know how rude it is to stay in a store with a crying baby.  Am I the most uncomfortable one there because it's MY baby or are the other people really as upset as I think they are from hearing him cry? I will tell you, it's one of the worst feelings I've experienced so far in motherhood.  I want to run out of the store immediately the minute he starts crying.

Now don't get me wrong, I love him to death and I still think he's (mostly) a really good baby.  He really is.  Especially if it's just me and him.  That kid is growing to be quite attached, which I know is our next big challenge.  But we have a good routine of eating, playing, then binkie as he gets tired, followed by swaddle and nap time.  He is still sleeping for 1-1.5 hours between every feeding and I'm okay with that.  And some people think it's weird that at 3 months I still swaddle him.  But he likes it, so I'm not going to stop until he fights it!  I'm amazed that even if he sleeps more during the day, it doesn't seem to bother his nighttime routine.  He even takes a "nap" after his 7:00 feeding so essentially he sleeps for almost 12 hours.  He takes his nap around 8:30 p.m. then has a 10 p.m. feeding and is put to bed.  He wakes up at 6:00 a.m. and I put him back down until 9 a.m..  It's quite heavenly!

That's my word update, now onto the pictures which is what most people want to see anyway.

On June 1, Ryan blessed Ryan and we were lucky enough to have A LOT of our close friends and family there to attend.  Ryan's "St. George Family" was in town for a wedding and we were happy they got to be there as well!

For Father's Day, Ryan got a baseball with Landon's birth information on it.  

Landon also gave him some Sour Patch kids because he behaves like one around Dad.

And some more pictures, because that's what you came here for.

Two month stats.  

Aunt Shelby found his twin (Winston Churchill)

This is most often the look he gives Ryan. But it's getting better.

We went to iHop on our anniversary because that's where we went the night Ryan and I met. Then exactly one year later we got married! Now, five years later we have a dog, house, baby, and a job.  Holla!

Cheering on Brazil in the opening match of the World Cup.

Angry because I wouldn't let him lick his barf off of his burp cloth.

Loving his new Freddie the Firefly toy.

And finally because I haven't posted any of these on here, I give you the progression of Landon.

Naked baby

Landon's new favorite place to play is on the changing table. He's such a happy kiddo!

White before Memorial Day

Happy Easter from the four blonde Sweeneys to you!

We broke the rules and wore white and seersucker before Memorial Day. 

Take that, fashion. We look dang good.

Ryno was getting jealous that Landon was getting all the attention.

There was no way I could resist getting Landon this twinner outfit despite it not even being on sale and him possibly only wearing it once.  It was totally worth every penny of the $24.99 plus tax.

I love this little kiddo so much and am incredibly grateful that I get to stay home with him all day!

But this Easter I am most grateful for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and knowing that my little family is eternal.  But just as importantly, that our WHOLE family is eternal.  I was never able to meet Ryan's parents and I very much look forward to the day that our whole family can be resurrected and reunited.  We wanted to go visit their graves yesterday, but the rain stopped us.  Another day though! 

We did go to Lincoln and have lunch with my big crazy family but unfortunately we suck at taking pictures with them.  They all love Landon so much! I'm happy that despite being grand baby #18, he is not forgotten about.  But how could you not love that blonde hair and pirate eye?

Two weeks!

Landon hit the two week mark yesterday and the pediatrician thinks he's just doing fantastic! I am one lucky Mama, for sure.  He gained a pound since his last visit (10 days ago) and is up to 7 lb. 6 oz  (19th percentile) and 20.5 in. (47 percentile).  He's figured out this whole eating thing and instead of nodding off during mealtimes, he can eat nonstop and be full in about 8-9 minutes.

He is awake more and more these days and thankfully during the day and not at night.  He is content to just lay on the floor, the bed, the couch, in my arms, pretty much wherever and just look around.  At night he eats around 8 p.m. and then I put him to bed and he wakes up every three hours like clockwork until we both drag our butts out of bed around 8 a.m.  I can't complain about a lack of sleep when I spend around 9ish hours in bed with probably only 2 of those being awake/feeding times.  

There is no such thing as a newborn cry anymore, though.  This kid has lungs and only two volumes - on or off.  He screams bloody murder at the most minor of inconveniences but then quickly calms down like nothing happened at all.  Most of the time, I just laugh at him.  I don't think he sees the humor, but I sure do.  And sometimes at 2:00 a.m. diaper changes, all you can do is laugh.

He doesn't get called by "Landon" probably as often as he should.  There have been quite a few slips of "Ryno" but mostly he gets called "baby," "baby boy," "squeakers," "little dude," "little buddy," "little guy," etc.  I just love hanging out with this kid all day!

Nailed it

Landon is now a whopping nine days old and has pretty much nailed this whole newborn thing. People say he looks a lot like Ryan and I'm just grateful he's developed Ryan's eating and sleeping habits. He's pretty darn content just eating every three hours and sleeping in between with a few glances of his eyes here and there. 

He LOVES to be swaddled. In the hospital and at the pediatrician, the only times he would cry was when they unwrapped him. The brave kiddo didn't care that they were snipping his man parts or taking his blood, he was a happy camper as soon as he was wrapped back up into his cozy cocoon. 

When he manages to get his arms free, he sleeps like his dad with his arms above his head. 

Or in his mouth (Ryan sucked on the same two fingers as a child).

His one exception to being swaddled is sunbathing. While hesitant at first, he quickly grew to be a fan of those warm rays of sunshine!
(His jaundice was nothing to worry about, just a preventative measure). 

So far, he has only three major objections (all related to being unswaddled): 

getting dressed, changing his diaper and the car seat. 

Landon was lucky enough to be born during one of Ryan's favorite times of year, March Madness.

You better believe he has already had his fair share of basketball and male bonding.

His hair also very much resembles his Dad's and big brother's (and mine, I just straighten it...).
When you get it wet, it sticks up just like Ryan's. 

Twinners in their stripes and sweatpants.

He is turning into quite the little bundle of smiles these days! It's so hard not to just sit and stare at him all day. 

And that brings me to his newest trick which is going on right now as I type this on my phone.  The past two days he has been fussing at about 7:30 a.m. that he is hungry but then just snuggling up in my arms and smiling up at me. How can I resist those cuddles? He is already learning how to get his way! Now with three needy boys at home, they each have to be clever and find their niche to get my attention. 

All in all, life is just grand! Minus this little newcomer kicking his dad to the couch... Ryan got a cold in the week leading up to Landon's birth and still can't seem to get rid of it.  I snapped at him the first night home as I was finally trying to get some sleep after feeding Landon and Ryan's snoring was keeping me up.  He was getting better and was going to be welcomed back to bed last night when he came home from work worse than he had been in days.  Poor guy, can't even snuggle with his new baby (or wife).

My recovery is going great.  Everyone seems shocked by how normal I am.  To be honest, so am I.  Everyone talks about zombie mothers and just trying to survive but I have yet to hit that point.  I'm getting around 6 hours of broken sleep a night and get tired around 9 p.m. if I haven't taken a nap. During the day however, I'm my normal self.  Ryan let me just snuggle my baby on those days we were both home and he took care of all the house stuff.  Now that it's just me, I can handle it all with no problems and still plenty of time for cuddles.  It's hard to believe that it's only been a matter of days since Landon has been with us.  It feels like so much longer (in a good way). I hardly even remember being pregnant!  

This was me two weeks ago today - WHAT??