Pinterest fails me

As most of you know pinterest is addicting - like very addicting. I am always pinning stuff & seeing what my friends pin. I was working on a craft project while Aniston napped today {I was in a very crafty mood} & so when she woke up she was dying {literally dying} to bust into my paint. So I thought well my friend April pinned a craft using paint in a ziploc for mess free finger paint. {Genius idea by the way} So I decided this would be perfect for Aniston to do right now....unfortunately Aniston didn't agree & these are the pictures of this failed craft attempt.

Checking out the bag

Desperately trying to get the bag open

Starting to wonder "What is the point of this?"

As my neighbor would say as a little boy officially "Pished off!"

Game Over

Asking for "Elp Pease"

GRAND OPENING

Dostie Deli is now open! I reorganized the pantry today & decided since Aniston loves to shop there I might as well open up a store for her. I couldn't resist doing the double D's & I am starting to think although no one can pronounce Dostie it isn't such a bad last name after all.

I still need to make up a few more things but enjoy another photo {as they weren't easy to capture but thankfully our pantry is over 13 feet deep!}

20 months & 2 days old already.

Well Berek our little Aniston is approaching 2 quite fast these days. I just can not believe it! She is back on her nap/sleep schedule {Woo Hoo} & Momma couldn't be more happier about that. She is about to have lower cuspids break through anyday now. Which means she will officially only have 5 teeth left to go. These days she is absolutely in love with Elmo. She fell in love at first glance while sitting on the potty & now she just can not get enough. Although we have not watched any Sesame Street yet {difficult task without cable} we have seen glimpses of youtube videos starring Elmo. Last week Aniston began saying three words in a row & this girl really knows how to melt my heart because they were "I love you." She can really be quite the little love bug these days. She is doing excellent with her manners but still giggles after she excuses herself after "shooting bunnies." I laugh with her because it is just too darn cute! We started working on flash cards {thank you Reagan} & she is doing great! She can pronounce almost every word but sometimes she prefers to call out the Sesame Street character over what the card is trying to show. Her favorites are Cookie, Ernie, & Elmo. But she also is familiar with Big Bird & Zoe. I bought her two look & find toddler books from Kohl's & we go over them every night. Some pages she can locate all the items they are asking for. I am very impressed with how smart she is. I have also started teaching her how to throw things away, recycle, help with laundry, put away our shoes {mostly mine because you know I leave them all around the house}, & pick up our toys when we are done playing. She is no longer allowed to drag out all of her toys without cleaning up afterwards. Sometimes we don't get to it right away because we are running out the door to get some errands done but overall it is working out well. I must say my sanity has never been better. We have throughly enjoyed our new sitting room & often sit down & talk & read the mail on the love seat. It is a great new addition to our home! I know she has been up to more but I can't remember - as you know it has been a hectic week for me. I lost my {$300} sunglasses {for those of you who don't know} but luckily they showed up a few days later. What a relief! I typically don't lose things so I get extra upset when I do! Anyways here are Aniston's 20 month pictures. Enjoy!

Taking with her bird friend {Umm only $0.97 at Pottery Barn! What a deal!}

Goodbye Birdie

Once a frog always a frog

"Happy to be me because I am a big sister to be"

Playing a brain game

Cleaning up

As you can tell these days I am lucky to get any pictures of Aniston at all. The days of her looking at me & smiling are over {for now}. Now all I get to do is follow her around & watch her get into stuff.

Baby Dostie #2 to arrive in June 2012

We are so happy to announce that we will be expecting another sweet baby girl in June! We are so excited! Aniston is especially excited to be a BIG SISTER! She loves to snuggle & hug the baby. She even feeds her milk & juice bottles through my belly button. It is all very sweet. I will make sure to post belly bump pictures etc as I continue to grow.

Our {My} new sitting room

I am way too excited not to share the {halfway} finished sitting room. This used to be my dining room until I sold Berek's dining room table. Sorry baber. It is what all {fabulous} Spouse's do during deployment! I know you don't really care especially since I sold it for what we paid 3 years ago. Go me! I mostly recycled stuff we had around the house with a few new things. I still have to hang things on the wall etc. Enjoy!

This is the view from the front door. I will be taking down the square candle holders & putting up letters that say "Welcome." Right now I decided to center the room around the hanging light {mostly so people won't bump their head} but I think it will work out good if I place the letters properly. I am going to do a mixture of plates that Berek has collected from around the world & solid ones wrapped around the back corner above the basket. The Sofa is new {it is so perfect for monthly photos! So excited!} The square tables are recycled from the family room. We put them away once Aniston started walking because of the sharp corners we needed a secret hiding spot for our 20+ bottles of wine & whiskey from Italy & Scotland. The candlesticks were a cheap find last year & they just float around our house. I plan on using the basket in the corner for spare throws for those chilly Florida evenings! :) Or I might eventually add a table in the corner if I find one for the right price.

Close-up of the adorable buttons & bird

The left view from the front door. The bench is recycled from our kitchen table. It has two leaves that we rarely use so we store the bench out of the way when it isn't in use. It has been spending it's time in our entrance way from the garage. I knew it would be a perfect in my new room & a great way to create more seating. I am temporarily borrowing our pillows from our family room to get the idea because I am a visual person. I would like to order more pillows from Pottery Barn because I heart them but I can not see spending $130 on 3 more in a room I am not sure how often I will use? So in the meantime I will watch out for a sale which is how I got those just one of those {the one hiding} the others were a gift from my Momma. {Mom, Any interest in buying any for my bench? :wink wink:} When I do get new pillows I will love the splash of color they will give the room. The sham in the middle however will stay there as I just purchased it specifically for there. Thank you Pottery Barn clearance! I think I am going to hang two photos to the left of the bench. The starfish will probably remain there because they are from our wedding. Awww.

UPDATE: Yes I am still awake! I can't stop thinking of decorating & yes I am on Etsy!

I added this green blanket into the basket & I love the color it adds to the room. {Mom you might recognize this - it is your old comforter!}

Ok now back to the original post....

This is the right view from the front door. Just ignore the random black armed chair in the corner. I just got it from PB on clearance! I love it but I will be moving it into my craft room {which is the doorway it is halfway through.} I absolutely love the rectangles on the wall & I can't wait to enjoy all the cards, invitations, & pictures of our friends & family throughout the year. These have always been my favorite thing I have in our home & now we can truly appreciate them! {Yes my Christmas pictures are still hanging & will continue to hang for sometime because I cherish them!} The bookcase is something I got from Ballard Designs & didn't really have space for so it was shipped to our guest room. I am looking forward to enjoying this piece as well. I decided to store some of our games & cards on the bottom shelf so that we can hopefully use them more often! The grass vase has also floated around our house & was initially purchased for the niche in our condo.

So all in all the only new things are the love seat, birdie pillow, & eventually pillows on bench. I still need to purchase the "Welcome" letters & a few plates to go on the wall. Plus any steals on accessories I may find during my usual Home Goods trip. I will also need to purchase two barstools for the island since I had to return the ones we were using with the bar height dining table {Boo the only bad thing about returning the table!} But I found the set I want at Target for $65 each. Interestingly enough they are from the Carey collection. I will also get 5% off thank you Target debit card! But since they aren't really a necessity I am going to wait to see if they go on sale. All in all we will still end up pocketing a few hundred dollars from the swap.

I am very happy with the results considering it all took less then a hour to transform!

Daddy will be so proud...

...to know that Aniston did #1 & #2 on the big potty tonight! She was as excited as she possibly could have been. So glad I was able to catch these moments for Berek {grandparents & anyone else who cares.}

Just sat down

Enjoying some "wawa" while I wait

Focused

Proud!

So very Happy!

Giggling

& more giggling!

Please excuse the left over yogurt from her snack as we were heading to the bathtub! I am so proud of Aniston & she was even more excited about her reward - 2 chocolate mints! They are her favorite!

Ohh my little Berek...

...is such a busy little girl these days! Some days she doesn't nap at all & it really is not cool. I need that time to unwind & get things done like my blogging. Unfortunately lately I have been going to bed when she does & so I don't get to post things as much as I would like. Or maybe it is because I choose to go on pinterest instead of blogging? Guilty as charged! I mean I do have a 2nd birthday approaching quickly.

Lots has happened recently -

First I got this sweet new computer. I hope Max can teach you how to use it Berek because I will not. {I am not a good teacher with adults because it is faster if I do it.}

I sold Berek's dining room table

I sold Berek's truck - unfortunately there isn't a picture but I will take one tomorrow. It is cleaner then it has ever been!

Aniston is still a hoarder {not everything is a change}

I canceled cable & don't even miss it. I was extremely nervous about this but I figured I would just go cold turkey & I had it cut off at midnight on Tuesday night. I haven't had time to even watch it so I don't miss it at all. We did however sign up for Hulu+ & it rocks! I can watch my favorite tv shows the next day & it is only $8 a month! Talk about a steal! One of my NYE resolutions this year was to simplify our life & I think I am doing quite well so far. I have some other changes up my sleeve but they haven't been put into action yet.

Unfortunately there have been some unfortunate events that have happened recently as well. Berek lost a good friend from the Naval Academy & one of my friends lost her baby. Please keep them & their families in your prayers.



Aniston update

Aniston has also been doing really well with her manners lately. When in need of my help she says "Elp Pease!" She says "Tank you" after you give her something {she prefers mini M & M's & goldfish -- don't we all?}. She says "cuse me" after she shoots a bunny {farts} & burps {then she chuckles.} She is working on "your welcome" but my favorite so far is after she gets mad & gives Mommy a boo boo she immediately goes in for a hug & she knows just how to melt your heart - by giving you a back rub too. She is getting good at giving bear hugs. I know this makes you happy Berek. {Hug Poppa's neck! haha.} She also got a shot today & did great! In addition she is getting her 14th & 15th tooth in. Which means in the time that you have been gone Berek she has gotten 1 tooth & working on 2 more...lucky me! We also bought her a potty seat today & some potty training books. I am going to introduce them to her & then wait for her. But I have her rewards waiting - chocolate mints - her favorite!

We miss & love you lots B! 1 year & 361 days don't forget! ;)

Happy New Years!

I can not believe that 2011 has already flown by. This year has definitely been a great one. Although Berek had to spend multiple months away this year we were able to make some wonderful memories. I can not wait to see what 2012 has in store. I am sure it will be a busy year with Berek returning home & then Berek's squadron will be getting a new plane in July!

We hope that 2012 is good to our family & friends & we look forward to making new memories with all of you!