Chattanooga remix

Last time we were in Chattanooga we were 18 weeks pregnant. This time was very different, more work but also more exciting! We celebrated Thanksgiving here at home but spend our Holiday Weekend soaking in the city, sometimes it's good to be a tourist. 

Our days were filled with boat rides on the Tennessee River.

These two experienced their first train ride.

And lots of moments where I swear I'm looking at Dan's photos from 1985.

We love Chattanooga, if we ever have to move here you'll hear no complaint from me. Ever been to Portland, Oregon? This city has that feel, only in the South so not quite as bold as the real Portland but still trendy, hipster, and environmentally aware.

I'm pretty sure you could eat out at a different place every night of the year and still have places left undiscovered. Did you know that you can ride electric busses that run through town for free? What's free in 2015? They also have recycling bins throughout town, does that give you warm, fuzzy feelings? 

Most of the time I feel like we stick out, maybe not like a sore thumb but we most certainly don't fit into most of what's "normal" here but I'm pretty sure we'd find a place to belong in Chattanooga, maybe you would too.

9 Months

As we all know, a lot can and has happened in nine months. Baby, today you are nine months old. We've had so much fun with you this last month. You've started laughing to engage us, and others- a skill that spreads smiles everywhere we go. (gulp) I think you are an extrovert, which makes your introvert mother a little nervous. You squeal and laugh to engage and not surprisingly people look to us and....engage with us. (sigh) So much for my wallflower existence.

Last week at the library during mommy and me sing time you spent the entire song time without me. That's right, while all the other babes stayed close to mom and did motions with her you made your rounds seeing who you could pal around with. I guess coming to sing time doesn't always imply that I'm going to be singing WITH you, maybe just AROUND you (wink, wink). Don't get the wrong impression, I love who you are, and love that you love people. You are so much like your father both in actions and in looks. This is your father below, tell me you aren't the female version of him?

Everywhere we go people ask who you take after, I think they are just being polite. There is no denying you are your father's daughter, you are family; and that I love!

This month you are learning to stand, you've almost passed 30 seconds on your own. Are you trying to walk soon? You're on the right track. You are also the proud owner of two new teeth, totalling seven now, congrats! My favorite thing you've learned (maybe this won't be a favorite for long) is when you crawl away from us in laughter. Like when the dishwasher is open- I've never seen you crawl so fast, you let out a squeal of pure delight and know you are being tracked. I really love playing with you. Promise you'll obey though when the time comes (I can hear all the seasoned parents laughing at me now).

Happy November and Happy 9 months!

Daniel and Isabel both at 9 months. 

Complete

Finally after much blood, sweat and tears (yes, there were all three) we finished our makeover on these chairs. My advice to you: don't pick a project with arms for your first upholstery project, maybe not even your second either. Though we survived, I don't think I'll put re-upholstery on the docket anytime soon. 

This chair was the first of the pair to be completed. Just as we were finishing this one up someone learned to crawl. Moving the second chair upstairs became essential for safety and sanity reasons and well, you know, out of sight, out of mind. Two months later the project had still not been completed. But with visitors on the horizon we hunkered down and made ourselves (yes made, what did I tell you about sweat and tears?) finish the second chair. 

A little self discipline goes a long way. Several days later and ta-da, I present to you chair number two, finally!

Now all we need are a couple of visitors.

This is a before shot, note the less than stellar fabric that led us down this renovation journey. I guess in my eagerness to remove said fabric I forgot to take a full chair shot but you get the "picture"; hideous. 

Celebrate

Happy 4th, October 4th that is. Today Isabel turns 8 months and Dan turns 372 months. 

Happy Birthday Dan, day after day I'm thankful for you!

No one could love our girl like you do. 

Thank you for being so patient and kind with us, here's to another year full of adventure.

In other news, precious girl is 8 months old today! 

We have moved into full baby proofing mode, challenging both my sanity and housekeeping skills. Nevertheless we love her to pieces and find her joy and discovery of the world contagious. 

This last month we've experienced babe's first autumn and first tailgate (wink) along with babbling, pulling up on....everything and the addition of three more teeth. We've been busy. 

Here is to another month full of adventure baby!

Bloomin

One of my favorite things about Alabama is something is always in bloom, even in September. 

This one is right outside our kitchen window!

Seven Months

How does that saying go? The days are long but the years go quickly, or in our case the months. There are some days where I can't wait for 7:30 (bedtime) to come but then how can it be September already? 

We've been busy, some of us busier than others. Some of us learned to crawl this month. I've put in a request for one milestone at a time but I have a feeling it was denied as we have learned to crawl, are babbling in consonants, pulling up to our knees and have cut our top two teeth. Impressive and overwhelming. What happened to takin' it easy on mom?

Told you we've been crawling, under and through, around and thankfully not yet on top of anything....yet.

Dan has a sneaky grin on his face as this is a rare moment in our house. Baby is not a fan of being held or cuddled like, well, a baby, except of course when she is suffering from teething pain. Dan is taking full advantage.

Mom and dad are still in shock over all the changes that have taken place this month. Happy seven months kiddo. Thanks for keeping things interesting. 

Quirky Spaces

Our new home is a little older than our last, a little less expensive and a little older. Guess you can't have it all. True to form our older home has "character", think more quirky and sometimes even tacky spaces rather than charming windows and wood detailing that may come to mind. I won't lie, the decorator in me really loved adding our touch to these spaces, making them a little less odd and a lot more functional. Here are some before and afters. 

Maybe this isn't very clear but what we have here folks is a built in vanity. Last I checked I, or anyone else I know, do not have time to sit down to put on makeup. Do you? So, out with the vanity and in with the.....craft space! Ahhh, now that I can get on board with (and sit down for).

Quirky space number two is under the stairs. What is one to do, besides get a constant realignment from their chiropractor, with an under the stairs space?

How about an office space? Really more of storage space for office gear 'cause again, the whole chiropractor thing. But it works, and I love that we've made something great out of something odd. 

Stay tuned for more odd duck renovations.