Hotglue and Handsaws

Lots happening around here. I've finished my Halloween centerpiece for my dining room table. I got the idea from Parents magazine and they were a lot of fun to make. Here's a pic.



Aren't they too cute! And I love that they'll last longer than a carved pumpkin.

I've also been working on the nursery. I've been sitting around and waiting for the men to get it done. I'm old-fashioned in that I feel like anything that involves tools is a man's job. Well, it's been four months and I'm finally fed up with waiting. So I even though I've never done anything like this, grabbed my tape measure and my pencil and my saw and I rolled up my sleeves and I started cutting chair rail. The walls measure roughly 30 feet and I ordered 32 feet of chair rail. Everyone said I didn't have enough. That I needed EIGHT extra feet. That I would have to place an order and pay $25 for eight more feet. Well, I'd like you all to know that I cut all my chair rail and it fits perfectly and I had OVER A FOOT left over! I am all that is über! I rock! I am a carpentry god! (Can you tell I'm really proud of myself?) So here's pics of my chair rail, waiting to be hung.





I'll have this baby his own room by the weekend!

I realized that I should have added more details about Brayden's first word. Eli and I were still laying in bed and Brayden was making his way around it from one nightstand to the other, thoroughly enjoying playing with the things on them. Unfortunately, on Daddy's nightstand was a can of soda. Which, of course, little man had spilled. I pulled him away from it and wiped his hand off and proceeded to start sopping it up. When he reached out to try and play in the puddle I pushed his hand away and told him 'no, sir'. And he told me 'no'. Very breathy. I didn't even realize he had said it. It was Eli who said Brayden had said his first word. I just shrugged it off. After all, what does Eli really know? But I returned from getting Brayden clothes from the laundry room and Eli said he tried to take something from Brayden and he said it to him three times. So there it is, the story of my baby's first word. It's very cute. He says it in such a way it's almost like he doesn't even realize he's saying it.

No, Mommy!

I've become one of those parents. The ones I used to look down on when I heard them say it. And now it has happened to me. My son said his first word! YAY! But I have to say that my reaction to this glorious event is rather selfish in nature. I was hoping his first word would be Dada, or maybe Mama. But alas, this is not to be. No, Brayden's first word was 'no'. This is understandable from a logical point of view. After all, it is very much the word that he hears most. And for that, I am embarrassed. I've been working on disciplining myself to say 'not for Brayden' more and 'no' less. But hey, at least the kid is talking! This is a huge relief to Eli and me. We've been vaguely concerned about why Brayden has waited so long to talk. And he's been so into his own made-up language we thought perhaps something was wrong. Maybe he wasn't comprehending what he hears properly or perhaps not making the link between sounds he hears and sounds he makes. But this fear has now been put to rest. So I imagine I can get over my selfish need for his first word to have been something more meaningful and sentimental long enough to toss him in the air and tell him how wonderful he is and rejoice in all the excitement that should rightfully go along with such an event. My baby said his first word!!!!!