Kitchen remodel

I am finally getting around to posting picture of our kitchen remodel.  We started in Fall 2009 and finished sometime in Winter 2010.  This was the most challenging thing our marriage has endured yet, but we survived and are better for it.  Now we are not really into remodeling and I am by no way into decorating.  We just gave it our best shot.  We hired someone to do the things that were too far above our skill level, but we designed it all.  I am glad to say it is a very functional kitchen now for our family.

Before:  Yellow Formica counter tops and back splash. Horrible florescent lighting with drop down box. No other lighting.  Yellow walls. Worn out oak cabinets.  Brass hardware.  Broken electric stove with only one knob (we had to switch the knob for every burner we wanted to turn on.)  Wall oven that wouldn't even hold a cookie sheet.  1980s microwave. Gum stuck everywhere.  Mismatched appliances. Broken dishwasher.  Crown molding in only half the kitchen.  Popcorn ceilings.

Sorry, the doors are already off the cabinets in these picture.

The drop down florescent lighting.  When was this a good idea?

After:  New lighting and recessed lighting.  Matching crown molding.  Granite counter tops.  Re-glazed all the cabinets.  New hardware.  Tumbled marbled back splash.  New gas range.  Opened up cabinets on far wall.   Added quite a bit of counter top space.  New sink.  New microwave built into bottom cabinets.  Accent lighting above cabinets.  Pull out shelves in pantry.  Painted a gray blue.  Textured ceilings.

Beau- Five Months Old

Beau turned five months on April 10th.  His fifth month has been a great month.  This critter loves people.  Ok, he screams when he sees a person with black hair, but other than that he loves people.  He is so smiley and happy now.  It is common for me to wake up in the morning to giggling coming from his monitor.  He is not into toys at all because he really just wants to watch people.

He finally started rolling over from back to tummy.  He can sit up with his boppy behind him, but because he is always looking up searching for a face, he normally ends up on his back.  He can scoot a little during tummy time.  He has no interest in food and since he is just pooping 1-2 x per week we aren't rushing it.  He keeps his hands in his mouth.  He can make all kinds of silly noises and makes them all day long.  He can pick up toys and hold on to them, but like I said he just isn't into them.

He still loves his exersaucer and likes the vibrating chair.  He doesn't care for the swing or bumbo.  He likes to be swaddled, but wants his hands free.  He absolutely loves sitting on the porch swing and taking showers with his daddy.  He does great in the car as long as he can see his brother.  He is a great sleeper, but only in his own bed.  He doesn't sleep when we are out running errands.

Sawyer and Beau get along great.  Sawyer really looks out for his brother and Beau is always looking for someone to play with him.  He is still pretty opinionated, but rarely cries.  We are having a blast.

This little guys sleeps with his eyes slightly open.

He is "swaddled" in his favorite blanket.  This was one of my blankets when I was a baby.

It's 2011.  Yes there are a lot more iPhone pics.  It is just so convenient.

March Summary

Here is a summary of our March in pictures.

My brown-eyed boys hanging out with me doing what else, laundry.

Clint and I went to a Willie Nelson concert.  Here he is with Beau getting ready.  The concert was great.  Clint did take his bandana off before we got to the concert, but he wore it to the pre-party with his boys.

Sawyer on the night of our concert.  He was happy as usual.

Clint and I before the concert.  This was Beau's first night with a babysitter.

iPhone Pic of Willie with the Texas flag.

Planting our cold weather crops.  I had Beau on my back.  We are having fun with the garden again this spring.

Sawyer playing.  This kid is awesome.  He is so easy, kind and thoughtful.  I am sooo spoiled.

I had bought some bulbs and totally forgot about them.  The day before Beau was born, Sawyer and I hurriedly planted them in the ground.  They showed up this March as a nice surprise and reminder of getting ready for Beau's birth.

More bulbs.

We sold Shmeiglet this month.  9 years and 150,000 miles.  I spent a lot of time in this car.  We enjoyed this car, but it was nice to simplify our life.

We made a trip to Arkansas this month to hang out with our cousins.  Sawyer and Ellie were giving each other chocolate kisses.  They really love each other.

Sawyer says Ellie and Beau are his best friends.

Lots and lots of park time now that the weather is warmer.  Ok, the weather never stops us.

Sawyer (and Clint) are really into Thomas and loves going to see the train in Bartlesville.

Comparison of Beau and Sawyer's first few months

I have been wanting to do a post comparing my newborn experiences of my two boys.  This is mainly for future reference.  It is probably painful to read unless you are their mama.  I recommend just looking at the pictures.  I have had a blast raising both these boys so far.

Sawyer Philip Aichele

 

Beau Rockland Aichele

Pregnancy
Pretty much exactly the same, but I got a lot bigger with Beau and went almost a month longer.

Angel

Sweet Beau

Delivery
Sawyer was a nightmare.  Beau was as easy as it could be.  Sawyer's recovery was very hard for me, but Beau was nothing.

Buckskin

CheeseBeauger

Sleeping
Both have been great sleepers.  I never co-slept with Sawyer, but Beau spent a lot of time in our bed the first few weeks.  Beau started sleeping through the night at 7.5 weeks, Sawyer was 9 weeks.  Sawyer moved to his own room at 10 weeks, Beau was 12 weeks (mainly because he shares a room with Sawyer). Both boys as little babies ate their first meal of the day at 6:00ish, then back to sleep until 9:00 am.  Beau wants bedtime at 7:30 pm, Sawyer went to bed at 9:00.  Sawyer was always a great little napper.  Beau does not nap on the run.  He also likes a couple of short naps throughout the day.  A couple of days a week he will sleep all afternoon though.

Bub

Bebo

Eating
Both babies ate well.  Sawyer started on bottles so he could always take one.  I have a love/hate relationship with the pump after being a working mom.  With Beau I have avoided pumping so Beau doesn't really get a bottle.  He has had a few and takes them ok.  So far I have no regrets about not giving Beau a bottle.

J.R.

Bebo

Bodily Fluids
Sawyer never ever spit up.  Beau spits up at least once between every meal.  Most days more.  There are burp clothes everywhere in our house now.  Sawyer rarely drooled.  Beau drools.  Sawyer pooped daily (he did take prune juice though), Beau only poops once or twice a week.  It is wonderful.  Sawyer never had stinky gas. Beau, well that is a different story.

Big  Boy

Baby

Physical Appearance
Sawyer was born with black eyes.  They turned brown around his first birthday.  Beau had gray blue eyes that are turning brown.  Sawyer had darker hair than Beau and darker skin.  They both had baby acne, but Sawyer's was a lot worse.  Sawyer had really long fingers, Beau has the shortest cutest fingers, but really really wide hands.  They both had big feet. 

Big Brother

Baby Brother

Personality
Sawyer was very stoic as a young infant.  Probably due to his iron issues and premature.  He rarely made eye contact and didn't start smiling regularly until later.  Beau is the opposite.  He smiled from day one.  He wants constant eye contact and interaction.  He has always been very alert and into people.

S.P.A.

B.R.A.

Parenting
Clint was more involved with Sawyer as a newborn since he was at home with Sawyer.  I let Beau cry a little more than I did Sawyer, but most of the time my hands are full.  Beau actually spends most days in his pajamas.  He hates clothes so I try to avoid putting anything tight on him, especially his tummy.  I always tried to have Sawyer dressed cute.