Reno Update

We're a little over four months into our renovations and we're more than ready for them to be done.  In case you missed it, we've had a number of setbacks but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Our kitchen has been up and running for the last month with a few minor cosmetic items left - nail holes, paint touchups, etc.  We're getting used to where everything is and Mike has only told me five thousand times that the glass mixing bowls should go with the pots and pans.  I disagree but that's where I find them every time I need them so it might stick.  Eventually.  At this point it's hard to imagine what our kitchen even looked like before.  We definitely don't regret the new layout!

I had to dig pretty deep for some of these before pictures.  While the wallpaper, paneling, and chandelier were some of the first things to go when we moved in, I wanted to remind myself how far we've come!

Days after we moved in...

Days before renovations vs. now...

From hallway to laundry room

From living room

From dining room

The only wall that remained standing during this whole process (although Autumn and I considered blowing it out until Mike made us come to our senses)

What's this?  New views?  Yup!

Our master bathroom reno is in full swing.  The shower has been tiled, floor is in, and cabinets are installed!  Monday the countertops will be templated and ordered and hopefully we'll be moved back into our bedroom soon.  Mike and I have been hanging out in the basement guest bedroom living out of laundry baskets and boxes.  Mike's been using the girls bathroom because it has a nicer shower head while I've opted to use the basement mini-shower...unless I need to shave my legs...at which point I move all my product upstairs and then back down.  Ridiculous - I'm well aware.

I've been purging our mismatched furniture and slowly replacing.  Wayfair is my new best friend.  I was a little nervous to order sight unseen but have been pleasantly surprised with how comfortable our new living room chairs and sofa are.  We finally bit the bullet and are upgrading to a king bed.  Sunroom chairs and a dining room table have been sitting my Wayfair cart just waiting for me to confirm my order after I see what cyber Monday sales bring.  Fingers crossed that one arrives by Christmas.  All in all...I can finally see the light.

Sometimes we fancy

It's been a long time since Mike and I have had a fundraiser to attend.  With my new role at BDO, my networking requirement has shifted from galas to college campuses.  It's rare I need a dress, a date, and am able to drink booze.  So when my girlfriend invited Mike and I to attend the DA Blodgett St. John's Masquerade Ball, I immediately said yes.  It took a bit of convincing for Mike - I wagered no tux OR a mask AND kids free for the weekend.  The evening was filled with good food, great company, dancing, and a McDonald's drive thru run (if that tells you anything).

Family Photos - There's always a crier

This picture reminds me of Lily 5 years ago.  

There's something about my children @ 18 month that screams - RUIN FAMILY PHOTOS!  

Earlier this year we met up with Erin for Julia's one year session.  I really really wanted a photo of Julia in this vintage carriage which belonged to my grandmother.  We have one of Lily so I made Mike drag the thing down from the barn attic and we lugged it out to the park.

BUT she was awful.  I mean...so awful.

Because Erin is fabulous, she offered a retake session but then summer came and I never ended up scheduling anything.  As the weather got cooler, I was dying for some updated fall photos and tasked Erin with finding us a spot with tall pines.  We ended up having to reschedule and then move our rescheduled time up 30 minutes to beat out a hail storm but it was worth it.  Even though Jules was a crank, Erin worked her magic.  AGAIN.

My husband doesn't babysit

I'm back in the airport waiting to board another flight.  This week its Cinci.  Two weeks ago it was Pittsburgh.  I'm all caught up on email (dare I even say it?) so I thought I'd share a pet peeve of mine.

I'm the kind of person who travels with my headphones in.  If they aren't already in when I board a plane, they go in immediately after I'm settled.  Usually this closes the door for small talk and niceties with the person I share a row with.  I say USUALLY because on my most recent trip someone didn't take the hint.  On my return flight to Detroit, I had the "pleasure" of sitting next to a nice woman who wanted to know my entire life story.  And having my headphones in and iPad up, didn't deter her from pressing and pressing.

To make matters worse, she took on a topic that really makes my blood boil.  She saw the picture of my girls (of course splayed across my iPad screen) and asked how my husband survived babysitting when I traveled so much.

I politely replied with my standard response "My husband doesn't babysit".  Now.  This comment is USUALLY when people get my drift that I'm annoyed.  It's usually the comment that screams I can't believe you implied my husband is a babysitter instead of just being a dad.  

But with confusion across her face, she asked "Then your mom lives close?"

Me: "She's a little over an hour away.  Sometimes she makes the trip up to help."

Annoying lady: "Then do you have a nanny?"

Me: "Nope!"

Annoying lady: "Then who babysits?"

I kid you not.  This was about the time I considered asking for a glass of wine on our 30 minute flight but couldn't find a flight attendant.

It seemed to be so shocking that my husband ACTUALLY took care of our kids when I worked outside the traditional 8-5 time frame.  Why wasn't it shocking that I was home by myself with the girls when Mike traveled?  Why did I not get shout outs for being a rock star mom?

I'm not an overly huge stand on your soap box kind of person.  Everyone has different lifestyles and chooses different paths.  But it kills me when people make the comment about dads babysitting.  Or playing Mr. Mom.  People talk about marriage being a partnership and how there's a lot of give and take.  Sometimes it's 50-50 but sometimes it's 80-20.  Parenting shouldn't be any different.  And for us its not.

When I travel, Mike does it all.  And when he travels, I do it all.  Sure there are times when we have to call in reinforcements, arrange carpooling - I mean it takes a village to raise a child.  But we share kid responsibilities the rest of the time too.  I do morning daycare/bus stop and Mike picks up.  Unless I'm downtown at which point it makes no sense for Mike to drive past our house when I'm driving past daycare.  So he starts dinner.  I do bath time and Mike cleans up the kitchen.  I do laundry because I'm incredibly picky about it.  Mike runs the vacuum.  We alternate bedtime.  Does he do it the way I do it?  Nope.  And over the years I've had to come to terms with that being ok.  For the sake of my sanity.

We attack parenting together.  Because at this point, in our life, there's no other way to attack it.  It's exhausting for sure.  We schedule breaks.  There's no way we could survive without our nights out - either together or separately.  And that's healthy!  Not just for our kids but for our relationship too.

So there's my little soapbox spiel today.  My husband is a rock star.  Not because he takes care of his kids - well partially that - but because he supports ME in the life WE want together.