Lucy Love

First of all... we're HAVING A GIRL! We couldn't be happier (although we would've been just as happy about a boy.. funny how that works). It was so amazing to actually see her little fingers and toes and watch her moving around. We're pretty settled on the name Lucy Love Heller.

Now that we know that she's a girl, my mom and I had a great time buying Lucy's first little outfits at a few consignment stores in San Jose. Here's what we found:


I just couldn't resist this little wooden camera. It will be cute on the shelf until she's old enough to play with it. Maybe she'll love photography like her daddy :).

Simple and Lovely

My cousin April has created a chic, bright and peaceful home for her and her family. Her love of black and white, coastal style, and simplicity really inspires me to keep things uncomplicated.

Dave, my cousin Tina, and my Grandpa are enjoying strawberry shortcake in the bright and cheery dining room (so yummy!)


Their growing garden with hand-made signs.

In the baby's room.



Can I tell you how much I LOVE this chair?

Back patio.

Thanks Graham and April for letting us stay with you! We were totally spoiled :).

Finished Up In The Studio

Parting Gift

We're done recording! I can't believe it. It went by SO fast this time around. Somehow we tracked and mixed 12 songs in 10 days. We are always so thankful for the opportunity to work with Mitch Dane.. he's such a wonderful producer, and a good friend (so kind, in fact, that he's giving us a ride to the airport tomorrow :).

As a small gesture of our gratitude, I made him a throw pillow for the studio. It has a spaceship (the studio is called "Sputnik Sound," so there is SOME reasoning behind my madness), and the Nashville skyline. This photo was taken before I sewed up the bottom, so please excuse the bunchiness.

Downstairs Bathroom Complete!

Here's the evolution:




We actually finished this bathroom a few weeks ago, but we just got around to finally taking some photos. We are SO pleased with the way it turned out. Adding the window made a dramatic difference in the effort to make it not feel like the basement. Here's the finished product:


The grout color on this tile is a little lighter than the upstairs bathroom, and I like it a whole lot! Okay, so who wants to come stay with us?

Mette's Here!

Kristen and Brian had their baby girl on Sunday at 6:16am, and we've already gotten to visit her twice :). Here we are at the hospital when she was two days old.

Talented Friend

My lovely and gifted friend Carol has just launched her very own line called Unity Bloom! You should definitely check out her webstore and order many pretty items :). She makes really wonderful things like baby slings...

... and sweet aprons.

I've also added a link (over on the right-hand column) to her store, so that you can visit her whenever you want to.
Don't waste any more time... go see it for yourself!

20 Weeks

Here are a few photos that Dave took of me a few days ago in the future nursery. I'm wearing a dress I borrowed from my friend Lisa (thank you!). I don't normally wear purple, but I think it's kinda sweet :). We have our big ultrasound appointment on Friday... I'm SOOOO curious to know what we're having!

More Studio Photos

I got some more photos to cooperate and finally load... so here they are!

Week 1 In The Studio

Dave just finished editing down our video footage from this week. Here it is...

Studio

Our friend Casey was kind enough to come into the studio yesterday and document our time there. She took a ton of killer photos, but unfortunately, only two of them want to load right now. Hopefully I'll post more later.

By the way, the project is sounding really great!

If You Like Thai Food

I made this recipe (one of my favorites...  can you tell by all my scribbles?) last night when we had dinner with our friends Jeremy and Kierstin. It was SO yummy. Dave and I are looking forward to left-overs tonight :).

Make sure to double the recipe if more than 3 people are eating (you'll be thankful for the extra). AND make sure to salt and pepper the chicken and the sauce several times throughout the cooking process. You can also used bagged carrot "chips" and just toss them in to save some cutting time. Delicious!

As Promised...

Here are a couple photos of the neighbor's house that's now for sale... notice the highly desirable two-tone paint :).

Hallelujah!

Since moving into our wonderful little cottage, we've known that our neighborhood is not exactly the kind where children play on neatly manicured front lawns. It HAS come a long way in the past two years thanks to multiple flips, but there has always been one "thorn in the flesh" for us (to be dramatic)...

The green house. The one with the peeling paint. The one with the cars parked on the front lawn. The one with the scary tattered curtains in the window. The one RIGHT NEXT DOOR. 

We have been praying and hoping that either 1. the owners would take some time to make a few improvements, or 2. they would put it up on the market so that someone else can renovate it. 

Today we found out that our dreams have come true! The house is for sale for $110K! Granted it probably needs to be totally gutted, but it IS over 3,000 square feet including the basement. 

There aren't any photos on the realtor's website yet, but here are a few little sneak peaks I found among my photos...

Their yard is the one with the awning thing.

Here's another sliver..
Perhaps I'll try to discreetly snap a few photos tomorrow :).

Mette's Baby Shower

Here are a few photos from the baby shower I helped host this afternoon.

The food turned out so beautifully! This shot was taken before the punch bowl was added, but I wasn't sure if there would be any time later to take another shot.

Menu:

1. watermelon

2. brownies

3. bruschetta on baguettes

4. chips with spinach and artichoke dip

5. chex mix "puppy chow," (aka "muddy buddies")

6. veggies and dip

7. fruity sherbet punch

It seemed like the perfect amount of ladies. We had SUCH a fun time!
We played a game where we had one minute to draw a baby on a paper plate while holding it on our head. Kristen got to choose her favorite drawing, and named that artist the winner.
It's been awhile since we've hosted a large group of people at our house... it makes me want to do it again sometime soon.

Gift for Baby Mette

My friend Rachel and I are hosting a baby shower for our friend Kristen on Sunday afternoon. I had the idea to make a decoration part of her gift. I sewed a fabric bunting banner with her baby's name on it (it's pronounced "met-uh"). Mette's parents are not too excited about pink, so I went with a blue and green theme. 

I'm excited to make one for my baby!

Getting the Lead Out

I recently realized that peeling paint (that is quite possibly lead-based) is not the best thing to have around a pregnant lady. So, I (sadly) had Dave put some of my lovely old things down in our crawl space. I had SUCH a rough time trying to redo my two mantle displays without my shabby-chic antiques. Alas, these sacrifices must be made for the health and safety of all.

Here's what the living room mantle used to look like:

Here it is lead-free:
Here's the dining room mantle before (the mirror next to the H had to retire):
Here it is now. There's a photo of a beautiful blue flower in the frame.. sorry you can't see it!:
I don't like the arrangements as much as the old ones, but they will have to suffice!

Family Fun

Dave, Stephanie (my sister) and I crammed in the back of my parents' car for a wonderful trip to Chevy's (the home of my favorite fajitas). Sometimes we act normal...

... but this is what we're really like...
Apparently Dave is always normal :)

Recalling Camp

I was looking at my facebook page, and I noticed that my friends had posted some great photos... and I stole them!

Our "assignment team" pitched in (although Dave and I still have to make our contribution!) to buy a tree to plant on the property at Oakbridge. I love the imagery of planting something there at camp that will continue to grow. I'm on the left side in the second row with the white headband on (it was All-Star night... we had dress like athletically). 

Here we are with some of our friends...
This is Pam.. she was one of the other head leaders... and a WONDERFUL person. She was really gracious with me. I realize that my shirt looks kinda weird in this photo, but I assure you... that is my tank top showing :)