A Hard Decision

After MUCH deliberation I've decided to make this blog private. I've been keeping track with my SiteMeter who visits my blog and how they get there. Mostly it is people I know, but there is an alarming amount of people (from all over the world) who get to my blog by googling for pictures. Call me paranoid, but it REALLY bothers me to think that Asher could end up on a PowerPoint presentation in Indonesia. I just can't with a good conscience post pictures of my son on the Internet and not know who is looking at them, or where they will end up. So, that is why I am going to make it private.

BUT, wait don't despair, I have started another blog called Heatherlady that will be public.This is my plan-- to post pictures and daily happenings on my Heathon blog, and opinions, Wednesday's Woman updates, thoughts, and other assorted ramblings on my Heatherlady blog. I REALLY hope that if you have been following my blog you will still keep up with it. I means SO much to me, really it does. So please add the heatherlady blog to your Google Reader, blog list or however else you keep track of blogs. I know Google Reader doesn't pick up private blogs, but I will have a link to it on my new blog, and I hope you'll check back in often.

Also, if you would like an invite to keep viewing this blog, PLEASE leave your email address as a comment (I won't make them public, so don't worry). I will try to send an email to everyone I know who reads this blog (and who is on Facebook), but it would be helpful if you left your email anyway.

Is it sad that this is all too true? I'm trying to make "real" friends, but it is a slow process when you move to a new place!

An Update... in Pictures

I finally got some of the pictures downloaded off of our phones. Some of them are a little old, but they are too cute to pass up. Like usual they are mostly of the little nursling because my life sort of revolves around his every whim.



This is the face that greats me after a nap, when I'm lucky.



The nursling shaking his crib (it is about time to lower the mattress) and squealing, except you can't hear that because this is a picture.



Getting into the Tupperware drawer, I'm glad that it distracts him or else I'd never get dinner made. Notice the tongue sticking out, he does that a lot lately because he can feel his two teeth.



How Jon has been feeling lately... Poor guy is a bit stressed out. He is taking a full graduate level class load, has a statistics class that would kill the strongest of us, works two jobs, just got called to be in the Young Men's Presidency, has a house to fix up, a wife who wants attention, and a baby who DEMANDS attention. He is the best man I know.



He got promoted to a big boy car seat because he outgrew the weight limit on the other one. He likes forward facing SO much better. I checked with the insurance company and they said that it was okay to turn him around before a year if he weighed more than 21 lbs. Does anyone know any different? I don't want to get in trouble.



We went to the BYU vs. USU game a few weeks ago. We had quite the conflict of interests. Jon is now a cou-aggie with divided loyalties. But I made sure I represented BYU and wore my hat, even if Asher is wearing a USU shirt. The guys in front of us were really confused. We cheered when BYU scored and when USU scored, they didn't understand :)



First time eating Aggie ice cream (notice the blue around the mouth). This was before the BYU vs. USU football game. He is practicing his touchdown arms!



My mom playing with Asher in Idaho Falls. I thought this picture was sweet.



We blew insulation into our attic last Saturday and it was a MESSY job! The machine was really loud so Jon tried to put ear protection on Asher, it didn't last very long. He kind of looks like a blow fish.



Asher with his second cousin Porter. We were all going to Sam's Club. Porter kept trying to hold Asher's hand. I love Asher's smile, that is my favorite one out of all his smiles.



Again, at Sam's Club. Porter doesn't look quite so pleased with having to share a seat with Asher. He kept trying to push him out. Asher thought it was funny.




Coming home from the USU Homecoming parade. He wouldn't let go of this sucker. I didn't think he'd be able to get the wrapper off, but right before we got home I heard him making extreme sucking noises. I guess he'd found a hole in the paper and was sucking to his heart's content.



Riding Grandpa's shoulders. Good thing Grandpa is wearing a hat, because Ash likes to suck on his bald head!

Yeah, I've been picked!

So someone felt sorry for me after my little pity party, and I have now been OFFICIALLY tagged! Yes!!! So now I get to tell you all 6 random things about myself.

1)I like to brush my teeth with hot water. Think about it, you wash your hands with hot water, your body with hot water, your face with hot water, why don't you wash your teeth with hot water? Hmmm?

2)I love to read obituaries.

3)I have a fascination with picking things out of people's ears. I get positively giddy when Asher has wax clumps in his ears. I think I would be happy to be reincarnated as a monkey.

4)I hate the smell of skunks (Jon likes it) but LOVE the smell of cows. It reminds me of home, especially if I can hear rain birds (big field sprinklers, for all you non-farmer types).

5) I'm a bat. I like lights dim, and especially WON'T turn the full light on in the bathroom. I either turn on hall light or a back light. This drove my roommates crazy in college, and after months of trying to get ready in the dark Jon finally installed a light that dims in our bedroom and bathroom.

6) In college I joined the electrical car team for two weeks. The team built and designed electric racing cars. I was the only girl, part of the appeal, and the only non-electrical engineer. I didn't (and still don't) know anything about cars or about electrical engineering. I mostly joined because the guy in charge was cute, but I did learn what a capacitor is.

Now you know my deep dark secrets.

I tag

Becky R.
Emma
Robyn
Jamie W.
Melanie
Esther
Jasmine

Unless you have already been tagged and don't want to do it.

The Worst Night Ever

Last night we (as in only Asher and his little mother-- because they were "babysitting" in Idaho) had the HARDEST NIGHT we've had since Asher was 2 months old. Let me tell you the sad tale.

The little nursling went to bed around 7:30 PM, like usual, but then woke up again at 11 PM. His mother, me, had not as yet gone to bed because she was reading a really good book (Dracula-- which I highly recommend as good October read--it will scare your socks off). She went upstairs thinking that all it would take to calm the raging nursling was a quick shot of breastmilk. Nope, 3 hours later (2 AM) she still had not got the nursling back to bed. She pulled out every trick in her hat, rocking, singing, stroking his hair, laying in bed with him, patting his bottom, rubbing his back, breastfeeding, massaging his legs, blowing in his face, but nothing worked. Even the NEVER FAIL trick of rocking him while listening to the running water in the sink FAILED. She was in despair and tears. Several times (literally 20 times) she got the nursling TOTALLY asleep, I mean he was snoring, and then AS SOON as she put him down he woke up and screamed, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed. Finally, after several episodes of bawling (on the Mom's side)she finally came to realization that she was NEVER going to be able to put the baby down. So, she laid him on her tummy and they finally fell asleep. Yet fate was against the lovely mother this night, because only 2 hours later (4AM) she was awakened by a little nursling poking her in the eyes.

That was my night. Sob. And I have to admit that I did not handle it well. I was SO tired and frustrated that I found myself doing all the things I told myself I was never going to do. Like spanking him! Oh man, I get the "bad mom award". Even thought it wasn't hard, I felt SO bad after. It just made both of us cry harder. Maybe this sounds REALLY bad, but I can see how some babies get shaken to death. Not that I EVER considered it,but because I can see how a parent, especially a single mom, could get so exhausted and worn out that she would take her frustration out on the baby. It just made me realize how important it is that ALL parents, especially moms, have the help and support they need. I have a new respect for moms who have to do it on their own.



My cousin sent me some links about "sleep regression" which made me feel better knowing that there are other mothers suffering too. I didn't know this, but at about 10 months babies go through a growth spurt and have an exceptional amount of brain activity because of all the new things they are experiencing, like teething, crawling, walking, etc... This extra activity makes it hard for them to take naps and to sleep at night. It also makes them very clingy and want to be held all the time (sounds familiar). I am encouraged by the fact that this is just a developmental stage and I should try to enjoy it.

Even so, I just need to remember what my Dad told me when Asher was first born. I was complaining about how much he cried and my Dad just turned to me and said, "Be grateful that you have a crying, healthy baby, because there are many mothers out there who wish their sick baby would cry." That humbled me quick. Because as hard as it is to have a crying baby, a silent sick one would be MUCH harder. It is just hard to be grateful at 2 in the morning!

Announcements

Asher can crawl up stairs! He is really proud of himself and claps every time he gets to the top. It makes me nervous, because while he is good on the going up part he hasn't figured out how to go down. Janet, he might be ready for "stair lessons" now!

Asher has two teeth. The front bottom two came in this week. I swear for each tooth there were about 50 fits of crying that went along with it. And almost as many missed naps. Please tell me that he will take a nap again SOMEDAY! Sob.

Asher is FASCINATED with my dad's dog Mickey. The poor dog has been poked in the eyes about 10 times in the last day. Asher just crawls along behind, chasing her all over the house and trying to talk to her. She's a very patient dog.

Asher went on the trampoline for the first time. He loved it.

I've been busy making apple sauce, apple butter, pear sauce, pear butter, plum syrup and grape juice. Pretty good for a girl that didn't know how to can a year ago! It is SO satisfying to eat things that I've "put up". I might have to practice my syrup because it is a little thin. Next time I'll boil it longer. I owe all my new found abilities to this book, the best DI (thrift store) find of the year.

This wonderful book tells you how to freeze, can, pickle, smoke, and cook any food you can think of (including meat). It also has helpful tips on how to make your own cheese out of a pig's head (um... yuck), make butter, and how to preserve eggs ( I didn't even know you could do that). Yep, I'm basically a pioneer woman.

Wednesday's Woman

Three Daughters of Heman

1 Chronicles 25:5-6

No More Feeling Sorry for Myself

For the last few months I've been feeling sorry for my poor little self. It seems like EVERYONE ELSE has been getting "tagged" but NO ONE has tagged me. I've been stewing about it for several weeks and feeling sorry for myself. I've felt a lot like a nerdy Jr.High kid who isn't picked to be on anybody's team. Poor Heather. Then a couple of days ago, after reading yet another tag in which I wasn't tagged, I decided that if I had learned anything from Jr. High it was that it isn't worth it to wait around for the "cool" kids to pick you. You have to be yourself and if necessary, go find the other nerdy kids playing chess in the library. So, I've decided not to wait around feeling sorry for myself any more and I am tagging myself! The tag I like the best is the "google tag" in which you type your answer into google images and then post a picture from the first page.

Favorite Vacation: Jordan
(I don't know if it counts as a "vacation" because we went for a study abroad-- I was doing a research project on breastfeeding among Iraqi refugees)



Favorite Color: Red




Favorite Treat: Muffins



Favorite Fruit: Honeydew Melon



Little known fact about me: I have my falconer's license
( I got it when I was 16 and had three kestrels when I was in high school. I haven't had any since high school because it takes SO much time and a LOT of space, but someday...)



Where I want to travel: Jerusalem



Where I grew up: Idaho Falls



Where I live: Utah



Middle Name: Lynne



First Name: Heather
(So apparently everyone famous with my first name is either a swim suit or underwear model... I opted for the flowers)



Biggest Pet Peeve: Messy bed sheets
(when you are in them and they crumple around your feet...ick)



Favorite Animal: Arctic Gyrfalcon



Past Love: Modern dancing
(I haven't been able to find an adult class! Sob. I'm tempted to go join a little kid's class, it would be fun but... maybe a tad bit awkward)


Greatest Wish: Peace



( I know this might sound silly, but it is really all I wish for. The idea of people killing other people makes me physically sick. I can't even watch semi-violent movies any more. I just keep thinking "That person was once some woman's baby. She carried him inside of her. God loves that person like I love my son." It isn't funny or entertaining to me. I hate it. It is my constant prayer that we can realize we are all brother and sisters, and that we share the same Father and the same Redeemer. We need to fill the world with love, for all people and things, there is already too much hate. By the way, this picture is a bumper sticker--I think I am going to get one.)

I tag: Anyone who hasn't been tagged, especially if you are feeling sorry for yourself.
These are people I am pretty sure haven't been tagged. So I guess I officially tag them as well:

Brittany T.
Liz M.
Claire

First Time Homebuyer Programs

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile, but life happens and is more important. I know that with the current financial and credit situation it may not be really feasible to buy a house right now, but I wanted to share what I know--just in case it helps someone. I had to do A LOT of web surfing and calling around the last year or so to find out about first time home buyer grants, and it was REALLY frustrating. I thought that I would save other people some time and heartache by sharing what I discovered. This may or may not be interesting to you at this point in your life, but if it is I hope it helps.

First, since we bought a house in Utah, most of the programs are for Utah, but from what I could find out most States have similar programs. This is a good site to visit that tells you what types of housing assistance programs your state has. Also, check out the HUD website and then use the pull-down menu to go to your state. I believe that the Hart Program, the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) and the Nehemiah Downpayment Program are nation-wide programs. But I don't know a whole lot about them because we didn't use them. State Rural Development Agencies usually have community development programs, if the area you are interested in falls into that category.

Now, if you live in Utah these links are for you:

1. Utah Housing Corporation. Utah has a REALLY great first time home buyer assistance program called FirstHome and FirstHome Plus. They offer a below-market, 30 year fixed rate mortgage loans to qualifying home buyers (the income limit is surprisingly high). They also let you take out a small separate loan for your closing costs and downpayment. So you can get into a house without anything down.
   
2. Community Development Corporation of Utah. Has a lot of good resources, but just to save you time--here is a list of all the down payment assistance programs in Utah. The amounts and availability change from year to year so keep checking in. Also, someone told me that they are based on a first come, first serve basis.
   
3. I thought this was a really handy link. It lists all the home buyer resources by county.
4. UNIDAN--If you have a household income that meets these guidelines then you should REALLY check out this savings account (click here to read more about it). It is basically FREE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SO wish I had known about this three years ago!
5. Housing Services of Utah
6. American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI). This is the link to the SLC program. This is a GREAT deal, but the only downside is you have to buy a house within their designated boundaries. But if you can find one, this sounds like a FANTASTIC program.
   
7. Neighborhood Nonprofit. They have the Welcome Home in Logan program and the Home Start. We used the Welcome Home program. They give you $7,500 grant (no interest) for your down payment and closing costs. The Home Start program is a Rural Development program in which several families work together to build each other's houses. It is a really neat program, if you have the time and want to live rurally.
   
8. BRAG Assistance. Also for Logan. They give you a $2,000 grant for your down payment and closing costs. Lots of other Utah counties have a similar programs.

I know I am probably missing some (if you know of any other programs let me know) but this is at least a good start. You will still probably have to do some web surfing to find the exact program that is right for you. But just know they are out there and that there are people who want to give you FREE MONEY!

Oh, and one more tidbit of advice, lots of communities and colleges have first time homebuyer classes that you can take. Lots of the programs even require that you take a class before you can apply. I would REALLY recommend taking a class, and would take it WAY BEFORE you start house shopping. We didn't take ours till after we had made an offer on a house, but I think it would have been better if we had taken it much sooner. To find a class you can call the Utah Housing Corporation.

What One Does on One's Weekend When One is Married to an Environmental Engineer

Go to the local waste water treatment ponds and collect buckets of sewage! Yippee!




Last Friday I went to "help" (I was mostly along for the pretty ride) Jon collect duckweed (the green plant that is floating on top of the ponds-- you didn't think that was something else did you?) for the project he is working on at school. They are doing an experiment to find out if duckweed can remove phosphorous and other nasty things from waste water. He needed about 75 gallons of waste water to take back to the lab. He thought that there would be a pump that he could use, but discovered much to his chagrin that he would have to bucket it out by hand! The water that goes into these ponds has already been treated a little, but is still really gross. Needless to say, I let him do all the dirty work.






I just enjoyed the view of the mountains!



I do have to say for being a waste water pond it sure was beautiful, and it didn't stink--just in case you wondered.

So, I've learned a lot in the past year about water treatment. It is actually really interesting, and I bet that most of you don't know where things go once you flush them down the toilet. And in all honesty I bet most of you don't care, but you should-- so keep reading.

Surprising, there is actually very little that is done to sewage. In most medium sized cities (big cities usually have money to buy fancy equipment) the sewage goes to tanks where stuff settles to the bottom, is filtered and chlorinated. Then it goes to big ponds, like the ones shown, where it moves VERY slowly from one pond to the next until it is dumped back into a river or stream. The UV rays from the sun kill a lot of the bacteria. EXCEPT, things like birth control and other medications (excreted by humans) which stay in the water and end up back in the rivers. They actually have been finding fish with three heads as a result of the birth control medications that are being excreted into the water! Jon's project is trying to find plants and other natural ways to clean the medications out of the water.

Okay, so that was probably A LOT more than you ever wanted to know about water treatment, but I think it is really important for people to know that when they flush things down the toilet that they don't just disappear. In all honesty, I think everyone should have to take a tour of their city's water treatment facility and landfill. I think it would make people realize that just because something is out of sight doesn't mean that it should be out of mind. Be careful with what you throw away, you never know when you might be seeing it again!

I can almost picture the look on your face right now. I think it might kind of look like this.

Clapping and signing

Asher learned how to clap his hands this week! I don't think anyone even taught it to him, he just figured it out himself. Genuis I tell you, pure genius. He did it non-stop for a couple of days and then must have gotten bored of it, because I haven't been able to get him to clap at all the last few days.

He also did his FIRST SIGN, on purpose, this week. For the last few weeks I've been trying to teach him the sign for "more" (touching the tips of your pinched fingers together), but I didn't think he was even paying attention. THEN, last week when I was feeding him dinner he made the usual grunting noise that means "Hey Mom, give me MORE!" and then followed it up by clapping his hands together. I wasn't sure if he was just clapping or if he was signing, but he did it again and again. I was SO excited. I think I have a genius baby. Here is a video of him, crawling, eating grapes (don't worry I took the skins off and smooshed them) and signing "more". Oh, and did I mention he has learned how to throw tantrums.

Question

Does anyone know how to print off blogs. I want to make a hard paper copy of my blog and bind it in a book. Because really, I'm not very good at scrapbooking and think that this almost could count as one (yes? No?) Any suggestions about what to do, besides the obvious "push the print button"?

Who Do I Give My Sugar Cookie to?

I am having a dilemma. Jon's uncle, a staunch Democrat, gave us an Obama sign to put up in our front yard. Jon wants to put it up, but I don't know how I feel about it. After watching the debates I am leaning A LOT more towards the Democrats than the Republican on issues like the Iraq war, the economy, the environment, and health care. I think I could almost put up the sign, except that I don't agree with the Democrat's attitude towards abortion and gay marriage. These are BIG hang ups for me. I don't identify strongly with either party, but the problem I am having with the Republicans is that while they say they have different stances on abortion and gay marriage, they did nothing about changing them when they had control of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial (the majority of Supreme Court Justices are conservative) branches!

I feel kind of trapped. It is like I have a great big yummy sugar cookie (my vote) to give away, but my only choices are two VERY naughty and lying boys. Frustrating.

While what you say may or may not change my opinions, or convince me to put up the sign. I am VERY interested in what other people are thinking about this election. So, if you are a strongly for McCain, I'd LOVE to hear why, and if you are strongly for Obama I'd LOVE to hear why. If you aren't strong either way, I'd LOVE to hear why. OR if you just don't know and have given up all hope-- I'll agree with you and we can move to Canada together:)

Side note: Oh, and if you want to see how some people are making their decision about which boy to vote for, google Obama (no apostrophe) and then click on images and see the first picture that comes up-- PLEEESE, GIVE ME A BREAK!

Wednesday's Women

Mothers of the 2060 Stripling Warriors



Alma 56:47-48; 57:21-27

I wasn't going to do this one for awhile because it sort of annoys me that they seem to be the only women ever mentioned in church, with exception of Mary and Sarah. But as I was reading about them a few weeks ago, I felt such a profound connection and understanding with them that I couldn't not write about them. Even if you already feel you know their story, I hope you will take another look at these AMAZING women. Really ponder about what they went through for their faith and their incredible understanding of the atonement. I hope they inspire us all to honor and live up to the sacred covenants we make to God.

Just in case you need another reason to support breastfeeding

I know this is sort of old news, but the more I think about it the more and more upset I get!

Babies getting kidney stones and infections! That makes me want to cry. Right after Asher was born I had a kidney infection and kidney stone that put me in the hospital twice. It hurt SO bad (in my opinion MUCH worse than labor) and I can't even begin to imagine a baby having to go through it.

Tian Yaowen, who is 15 months old and has kidney stones, cries in a ward of the Tongji Hospital in Wuhan. From CNN.com

All because they drank formula that had been PURPOSELY tainted with Melanine, a chemical they use to make plastic. The formula company was trying to cut corners and make it look like the formula had more protein in it that it really did. They KNEW that BABIES would be drinking their product and they DIDN'T CARE! Oh man, it make me SO angry I could kick something! (pause... envision Heather kicking the leg of the desk)

I realize that formula isn't all bad. When I was in the hospital for my kidney infection, and on nasty antibiotics, Asher had to have formula for a little while. I have to admit that I was grateful for it. So, I'm not totally against formula. I believe that how a woman chooses to feed her baby is personal decision and should be respected. But with that said, I think that the tactics that formula companies use to get women to bottle feed instead of breastfeed are down right unethical.

For example, in some 3rd world countries formula companies (cough... Nestle--makers of Good Start and Gerber) provide women with samples of formula while they are in the hospital. Telling them that is a better way to feed their baby. This interferes with a woman's breastfeeding, decreasing her milk supply and making her baby dependent upon the infant formula. For most 3rd world women formula is much too expensive and so they water it down. Often the water they have access to is unclean, and so not only are the babies malnourished but also get diarrhea. UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Fund) predicts that one and half million lives could be saved each year by reversing the decline in breastfeeding.

Now for the classic shock effect picture.

If you haven't seen this picture before it is of a mother at the Children's Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, taken by UNICEF. The babies are twins, a boy on the left and a girl on the right. The mother was told she wouldn't have enough milk to feed both and chose to breastfeed the boy and bottle feed the girl. The girl died not long after this picture was taken. UNICEF says that the mother said "Use my picture if it will help."

Formula companies make me SO angry! The WHO (World Health Organization), in order to protect mothers and babies, has passed a code that formula makers are suppose to follow when marketing their products. Here are the guidelines. See how many of them don't seem to apply in the US (am I the only one who got 2 free cases of formula in the mail-- that I didn't ask for?).

Code for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes

1. No advertising of any of these products to the public.
2. No free samples to mothers.
3. No promotion of products in health care facilities, including the distribution of free or low-cost supplies.
4. No company sales representatives to advise mothers.
5. No gifts or personal samples to health workers.
6. No words or pictures idealizing artificial feeding, or pictures of infants on labels of infant milk containers.
7. Information to health workers should be scientific and factual.
8. All information on artificial infant feeding, including that on labels, should explain the benefits of breastfeeding, and the costs and hazards associated with artificial feeding.
9. Unsuitable products, such as sweetened condensed milk, should not be promoted for babies.
10. Manufacturers and distributors should comply with the Code's provisions even if countries have not adopted laws or other measures.

Before and After

The long awaited BEFORE and AFTER pictures of the Cottage Cheese Cottage! It isn't totally finished yet, but we got our new windows and blinds (for most of the rooms) and I feel like the house is FINALLY to a point where I'm willing to say that it is "finished." I've realized that with a house there will ALWAYS be some project that needs to be completed.

So... drum roll... after three months of hard work, numerous marital squabbles, way too much dust, and several unexpected set backs.... HERE IS THE almost COMPLETED COTTAGE CHEESE COTTAGE! (if you don't understand the name, click here and here)

The Living Room

Before:



After:



This room had casino style carpet. It was so old and nasty that when we pulled it up to refinish the hardwood floor, the carpet pad had rotted to the floor. It was a PAIN to scrap off. Also, when we pulled off the wall paper we also discovered that the original walls had been painted the same color we were already planning on painting them. That has actually happened several times, we feel like we are just restoring the house back to how it originally was!

The Dining Room

Before:



After:



This room had the least work to do on it, we just refinished the floor, painted the walls and added the antique wood burning parlor stove-- which I consider the BEST CLASSIFIEDS FIND EVER!

The Kitchen

Before:



After:



I swear that the previous owner of this house NEVER cleaned-- EVER. When I pulled the stove out there was about an inch of grease and grime caked on to it. The cupboards were disgusting and it took a VERY long time to clean them and paint them. We just painted over the wood paneling on the walls.

The Bathroom

Before:



After:



We decided to keep the purple tub, 1) because it would have been too hard to get it out, 2) because it would have been hard to find a new tub that fit, and 3) because it is actually a really neat old tub. It was the ultimate test on our interior decorating skills (which I have to admit are pretty sad), to try to find colors and tile that didn't' clash with the purple tub. The sink stand is an old sewing table we found at an antique store. Oh, and we got rid of the purple sink and the half hot pink/half purple toilet-- which sounded like a train engine when it flushed. They are outside in the backyard and next summer I am going to plant flowers in them!

The Master Bedroom

Before:



After:




I think this is the room that has transformed the most. I really don't have a good picture of how HIDEOUS this room was before. You can kind of see in the top picture the awful closet (that they used as the laundry room) and the red shag carpet. The carpet was SO nasty, I don't think it had ever been vacuumed and I am certain it had creatures living in it. We basically had to tear this room apart. We tore off all the lathe and plaster and put up new sheet rock, and rebuilt the closet, doors and windows. We still need to finish painting the closet doors and build the top ones. We moved the laundry room to the basement. Don't you love our beautiful window treatments!

The Spare Bedroom/Office

Before:



After:



This room had blue shag carpet, which once again I don't think had EVER been vacuumed. The wallpaper was fused to the wall and I couldn't get it off. We ended up just painting over it, which worked REALLY well. You can't really tell in the picture, but the paint color is quite different from the other blue in the house. I couldn't decide what color to paint this room; so when were at Lowes I held up three different color samples to Asher. This is the one he grabbed for-- and that my friends is about the extent of my interior design abilities!

The Nursery

Before:



After:



I don't have a good picture of what this room looked like before, but it looked alot like the Office room. It had the same blue shag carpet with creatures in it, and some of the same wallpaper (most of it had already been painted over). My little sister suggested this color and I really love it. It just happens to match his crib set perfectly.
Oh, and the dresser is an antique that the previous owner left. They also left the antique bed that is in the office. Our stairs are REALLY narrow and steep and I don't think they wanted to try to get the down the stairs. We sure didn't mind!

The Basement

Is not finished and is kind of scary and creepy.
We are going to set up a laundry room down there, and hopefully sometime will get a food storage room and sewing room set up. It will definitely be a future project. Oh, but we have found several treasures in our basement. Like old, old, old Mason canning jars, an old bug sprayer, some really neat old locks and keys, and a NEW pressure cooker! It is really fun to learn the history of our house. It was built in 1916 and lots of the people in our ward have lived in this neighborhood their whole lives and can tell us about the people that were here before. I guess one of the original children who grew up here was nick-named Squirrel! I think when I get the chance I am going to interview people and research a bit so I can write a history of our house.

TA DA!
And that my friends, is our new house!

Like I said it still has some work to do, but it has come SO far. It is funny, but when Jon and I first looked at this house, we thought it was nasty and gross (which it was) and couldn't see how anyone in their right mind would buy it. But when we got home that night it was all we could think about. I think the real estate agent was surprised when we told him we wanted to make an offer on it. It just felt right, and it seemed like miracle after miracle kept happening so that we could get it.
Despite the stress of the last few months, it has really been a lot of fun working on the house with Jon. I think my sister-in-law, who has remodeled 2 houses with her husband, gave me the best advice "Try not to hate each other." I pass that advice along to anyother couple who undertakes a remodeling project. :) I told Jon that we are staying in this house long enough to get some good equity on it-- so that we don't have to buy a fixer-upper next time!