September Updates

Happy Friday folks! I've been a little better snapping pictures of Naja, although she is incredibly difficult to catch these days. As soon as she sees the camera, she walks up to me and wants to look at pictures, or she runs away like we're about to start a game of hide and seek. I think we're well past due for some updates on the little one so here goes...

Naja is growing like weeds these days. She's pretty tall for her age - but she doesn't have a lot of girth. I'm still cloth diapering her, and she's long off the bottle and uses sippy cups with a straw. She is starting to formulate some words/sounds. To name a few, she says "buh" for book and "bah" for bath, and she says "Woof woof" whenever she sees a dog. She also says three words very clearly now:

1. "agua" for water - yep, she's bilingual - JK - agua is much easier to say than water
2. "Naja" to refer to herself, because she speaks in third person often and loves the sound of her own name...
3. "Momma" It may sound crazy, but whenever Naja sees a picture of me, she calls me "Naja" or "Momma". When I point out that I'm Momma, she sometimes points to herself calling herself "Momma". So, basically - we're both Momma and Naja.

This stage of motherhood is a busy one! I can tell I'm going to have lots of fun stories raising this little one!

As for me - I'm rearing up for the last week before my cousin's wedding. I passed my sign off for the new role I assumed at work, and I have a new look.

The glasses are prescription - I wear them for distance, and while sitting at the computer at work. As for my hair - I cut it...why? well...why not? Peace.

On Naja: 1 & 4: top - gift; leggings - gap kids; sneakers - baby zara |  2 & 5 - tutu dress - gapkids; boots - baby zara | 3 & 6: top - target; skirt - baby zara |

Expressions from Naja

...stank face

...ham

...sleepy & contemplating

...wanting something

I took pictures for a friend of the family who had a rededication of their vows...so Naja got to wear a pretty dress. My child is truly expressive, and this is just the beginning folks! I hope you all have a great weekend!

On Naja: Dress - Baby Gap; Shoes - Baby Zara

Part 1: A Fresh Look - Repurposing a Dresser & Nightstand

In my last post I referenced doing some repurposing projects, and I've finally snapped some pictures and gotten around to posting them. FYI - taking pictures, and actually posting them to your blog are two totally, separate, and independent things.

I don't know how many of you remember this "Smile" post from last July, where I talked about getting new (to me) furniture that I planned to use for Naja's room. I got the furniture for free, and it was in spectacular shape, and it's probably as old as I am.

I loved the framework of the furniture, but I hated the color - this pale yellow is just so flat and blah. Originally, I planned on using the dresser in Naja's room. However, I soon changed my mind after I finished another repurposed dresser (to be posted in the near future) and I knew that should be saved for her room. Thus, I knew this furniture had a home in my room.

Here are some before pictures of the repurposed dresser/chest and night stand:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Wow - what a world of a difference a nice paint job makes! Thanks to some help from Libby, and my good friends at Home Depot, I did the lazy man's repurposing job with this project. Note: I had one day to do this job, by myself, so I was all about the short cuts, not my preference, but it's real life. I did not sand it, instead I applied a thick coat of primer (only one coat), and then applied the paint. I used a glossy black paint by Rust-Oleum, because they also manufacture paint in a spray can - and I used the same color to repurpose some chairs (also to be posted in the near future). I then used chrome spray paint on the hardware, and voila - a repurposed dresser!

There are some white parts that peak through around the drawers, and the paint has some texture to it, but I kind of like it. All in all, I am very satisfied with the finished project.

The cost of this project was:

Primer - $9.99

Paint - $9.99

Spray paint - $3.49 

Furniture - Free

Total - ~$25 (including taxes)

This post will be part 1 of 4 of the repurposing projects I embarked upon before my move. I've taken pictures of the other projects, so I will try to focus on posting them across the next few weeks. Peace.