Who doesn't like a before and after?

This last week I finished refinishing my grandmother's cedar chest. It's a chest from the 1930's that my grandfather gave to her as a wedding present just before they were married. It was quite beat up and rickety. I had started to work on it a year ago but when we moved, 2 of the boys helping us picked it up and it fell apart in their hands. so a year later my dad was here with my mom for a visit and he put it back together for me with a little bit of my assistance. I finished sanding it down then cleaned it up and stained and lacquered it. So here it is:

Motherhood: it makes you stupid.

I don't know where my brain has gone lately. For the third time, that I can remember, I forgot to put detergent in with the wash. Who does that? So I ran a nice full load of pukey/poopy baby clothes in a tank of cold water. Oh well. People don't usually mention the fact that once you're a mom you become an idiot. I guess that might be considered rude. Granted I have done dumb things in the past. For instance, one time instead of changing my undies, I put a clean pair on top of the day old ones and didn't even realize it until I was getting ready for bed that night. And no, I didn't notice when I went to the bathroom. But I didn't do that three days in a row! I'm betting that with each baby after this one, I'm probably just going to keep getting dumber. How ridiculous. It's just a really good thing I like this kid so much.

Gotta love this kid

He's my little fisherman! I know that I am incredibly biased and it doesn't help that people keep on instilling in me the fact that he's cute, but I am certain he is one of the cutest boys there ever was. He's getting his 3rd and 4th teeth in right now and getting so playful. He loves to share his binky with me and always tries to stick it in my mouth. He's trying to figure out how to clap now and is crawling with his belly off the floor 1/6 of the time, roughly. He absolutely loves pulling my hair and I know he knows he isn't supposed to. The look in his eyes every time he does it and I scold him is just a little too innocent to be real.
He matches his lion so nicely.
Just had to show off his beautiful blues.
This is my favorite sweater.
Great dimple! He's always tonguing his tooth that's coming in now.
Wearing my hometown motto




Ok so I'm really bad at formatting my posts but whatever. These videos will one day be my proof that I knew Dex would be a great musician right from the beginning, if he ever becomes great. If not, they're just cute anyhow.

New York New York

I'm in my home town right now and I'm so glad to be out here! It had been 8 years since I got to be in NY for the fall and it is so beautiful here. I missed out on a lot of leaves but not all of them and that makes me happy.

We went for a walk down to the local park to play in the leaves.

This is my dreamhome. It's just a few houses down the road from my parents house. The lawn is always so immaculate and there's a little stream running through it. It will be going on the market soon and I hope the new owners will take care of it as well as it's current ones always have!

Front view

Classic Dex

Miss M after her post trick or treating/candy bingeing crash

Cousins playing!

Miss M singing doesn't she look so pretty?

Ride that lion!

Boys climbing on each other We went Trunk o' Treating at the branch tonight. Dex was a cutie in his clown costume!

Donut eating competition!

Pictures for Uncle Carl

These are all pictures I've put on Facebook, but since Dexter's uncle is out on his mission, he doesn't get to see them, so here's some new pics of Dex!

6 Months Old

My baby is 6 months today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. These last 6 months have been the best months of my life and I have loved almost every minute of it. Sure there's been a few times here and there where I have wondered why on earth I ever wanted to be a mother, but those are just fleeting thoughts of course. It is so much fun to watch Dex as he learns new things every day. He can drag himself around the house, sit up, blow raspberries, babble, roll over super fast, put things, especially paper, in his mouth, and plays lots with his toys. He's been teething for the last little while but hasn't cut any teeth yet.


He's such a happy boy and I love the time we get together. I made this hat for him and I think he's quite the cutie in it.



He looks so big!


He's getting so fast and good at that!

Dexter's first meal

Self-explanatory title