Carpet Crazy

So this week was Carpet Week, and I am happy to say that it is finally behind us!
First of all, I've never bought carpet before. I had no idea what I was doing. I asked for advice on Facebook, but seemingly got a lot of anti-carpet protests instead. That was not what I was looking for. The majority of my house IS hardwood and tile, people. The only place I have carpet is a) on the stairs, and b) in the bedrooms. I do not even have carpet in the hallway, or even the landings to the stairs. So I was averse to the comments that I should only do tile or wood. I already have it!! And I do not want to get out of my bed and put my feet on tile or wood. So there. I had to figure it out on my own.
I went to five different carpet retailers in my area, and I knew I had to put my game face on, because let's face it-- they're salesman, and they want to sell you. But I went in armed with my dad's advice-- don't let them sucker you, and you have room to make a deal-and-steal in this economy. The first place I went was Jack's; they have a good reputation and quality carpet. The salesman could tell I wasn't sold, though, and that opened the door for a little bargaining. We bargained stair price (which I got for free-- typically $250), carpet pad (upgraded pad worth $500-- for free-- took some haggling), and he offered free installation, free furniture moving (regardless of the number of pieces), and free take away. This did not all happen on the first stop, though. I went in, told him what I wanted, we looked, he explained some things. He knew I was shopping and threw down what he was offering for my business. He knew I had one foot out the door. I said, "We'll see.... I'll be back." And I left. That was the BEST thing I could have done. Ironically, Will and I also got schooled in bargaining at Dave Ramsey the same week, and I discovered that, hey! I did pretty good, without having the class yet! What Dave calls "Walk Away Power" is one of the major basic rules of negotiating big purchases. These people WANT your business, WANT to make a sale, and WANT you to come back-- and they're willing to do just about anything. I'll give you more on that later.
So after making a similar run to several different retailers, I ended up back at Jack's when I realized that this guy (Tim) really was making me the best deal for my money. That's when the haggling began. However, I STILL didn't give him my business right away. Then it was, "I have to run all this by my husband. We make joint decisions for major purchases. I'll be back with him on Saturday." This was a Thursday. He probably thought he'd never see me again, which is why he called me that evening to reiterate how much he wanted my business, and what he'd do to get it. Usually that would annoy me, but for the first time, I appreciated it. It made me feel like I was giving the right guy my business; that he cared. Of course, he could probably give two squats, but that was what he was aiming for, and he did it well. Now THAT'S a good salesman. Because a good salesman knows-- money is emotional. People don't want to part with it. And if you make them feel good about parting with it, then they just may give you their business. Which we did. Will and I went back that Saturday, I let him explain everything to Will; he'd already made notes on the negotiations we agreed on, and Will looked at the carpet. I really wanted multi-colored flecked carpet-- which we got. There were three colors that interested us; and looked really good, and I liked the darker carpet, something different than we already had. However, we had to make a choice based on resale (since we will likely be moving in just a couple of years) and we went with Will's choice, Harmony. It was the Mohawk SmartStrand carpet, by the way. It was similar but not quite the same, and definitely a higher grade quality than what we already had. Tim, who is the manager of the Jack's Carpets in the Houston area and runs about sixty crews, has worked at Jack's for 25 years. He seemed as passionate as you can get about carpet. And he really trusted in his carpenters, so that was good. He even came out himself to do the measurements later that day. While figuring it up the cost for 1037 square feet, he questioned the downstairs closet. "Not worried about it," I said. The carpet inside was fine, and who really cares? He said, "Nope, it's gotta be done. I'll throw it in for free." Well, if you're going to do it for free..... okay. He set a lay down date for a week away, and gave us the instructions. Basically, unhook all your electronics, and pack everything up. EVERYTHING. In a box. Like you're moving. Oh, Lawd.
While packing everything up in boxes was a real pain in the ass and took some time, sweat, and a few tears, it did do one thing really awesome for me. It pushed me to complete my nesting. I know I've written about my nesting frenzy before, and it has been in full blown feathering mode around here. However, my closet was like the Last Frontier. It was time to get rid of some things. By the end of it all, everything in my house has been touched, moved, organized, or donated in the last three months. EVERYTHING. Wow. I feel super-cleansed; and everything has a home, and that makes me feel sooo happy. But before we could get to that happy part, we had to get this carpet down. We left all the boxes in rooms to be moved around along with the furniture. Everything that didn't have a box, including all my clothes on the bottom rod in our closet, went into our two bathrooms upstairs. Crammed, is more like it. Will actually had the swell idea of using our ironing board for all my clothes to lay on, and that was awesome. But EVERYTHING in these two bathrooms, including linens, comforters, shoes in the bathtub, lamps, TVs.... you name it. We had a little wiggle room into one bathroom for use. And luckily, we have another bathroom downstairs for brushing teeth, etc. We did this all over the weekend, starting Saturday, for the Big Day on Tuesday. So we had to live like this for a few days, and if you know me, then you know the disarray would cause major anxiety in this mama. My mom and Will kept encouraging me, so I lived.
The two guys showed up on Tuesday about 11:00 am, and I was a little worried about a) being alone (you just never know) b) supervising them (I'd already moved jewelry, etc. to a place they would never be, but we wanted some of the boards underneath to be secured to stop some creaking, Will didn't want to unplug the internet, we didn't want them to break anything, especially the posters off our bed, since one is a little weary, amongst some other things) and c) the cat. She was not taking to this kindly at all. She'd been freaked out since the weekend because she thought we were moving, and her bed (under our bed) was no longer in its place. She did not like. And, she isn't keen on strangers. And, I'm not keen on strangers leaving the door open (if you know me, again, you are laughing right  now, because my Sasha traumas of getting out the front door are replaying in your head. Not pretty. Or fun!)
But, as usual, Will is my knight in shining armor, coming to my rescue yet again! He told his boss that morning (after talking with the guys on the phone) that he had to come home to help me. I'm seven months pregnant for the love of God, we have a skittish cat, and he didn't want me alone in our house with two African-American strangers all day. In his eyes, this wasn't going to happen. His boss (begrudgingly, but understandably) let him come home to take care of me, the cat, and our business. He breezed through the door about five minutes after their arrival and took over. I was on Sasha duty all day. After she clawed the heck out of me when they showed up, she went into the laundry room for awhile until we got things started. When we went to check on her, she was behind the freakin' washing machine! What the heck?! I coaxed her out, though, and she came to me, so I put her leash on her (yes, my cat has a leash. It came with a collar one time. But, that day, I was glad I had it!) and her and I went to the couch. I put her under a blanket, and after that she was fine, because she thought she was hidden, and that was all she wanted. She did not twitch a muscle all day. We sat there for seven hours, but she did not move. Will, my mom (who stopped by several times), and I took turns on duty, but it was mostly me, and that was fine. She IS my cat. At the end of it all, the carpet looked awesome, all the furniture was put back into place, the cat was safe, AND I sold one of the guys my speaker and amp that I was going to sell on Craigslist anyways. I can't be bumpin' The Wiggles going down the street with Hayden, so back to regular car stereo speakers for me. All in all, a successful day! The next day, my  mom came over bright and early, ready to work. We got everything out of the bathrooms and into their "homes," along with some more cleaning out, and at the end of it all-- yippee, that happy, clean, organized-finally feeling! It was glorious! We pick up Hayden's furniture tomorrow (Grant is helping with that), and the nursery will be under construction for just a short time until completion. Then, we will OFFICIALLY be ready for Hayden's arrival! It has certainly been a quick but enlightening ride; and quite an experience. And the new carpet feels so good underneath my toesies. I am one happy mommy-to-be! I couldn't have done it without the help of my family! Thank you all for all your help!

I'll leave you with Dave's Lucky Seven Basic Rules of Negotiating, as promised. If you are willing to implement them, you will be amazed-- it WORKS! And you can get some great deals on big purchases.

• Always tell the absolute TRUTH. The salesman has to know the truth of the whats, hows, and whys of your purchase to make sure you get what you want. And, just how far you're willing to go.
• Use the power of CASH. (This wasn't feasible for us at this moment in time, but it will be in the future. I guarantee I could've knocked off another $500 or more if I'd pulled $3000 in cash out of my pocket and said this is what I have, and I won't give a penny more (for what cost us $3500.)) And the reason is that:
• Cash is EMOTIONAL.
• Cash is VISUAL.
• Cash has IMMEDIACY. Pretty self-explanatory.
• Understand and use "walk away power." This helps you keep an emotional distance from the product and the salesman. Don't just throw yourself at their mercy! THEY should be working for YOU; not the other way around. Let them know you are able and willing to take your business elsewhere if they will not meet your demands. Because if they won't, someone else WILL. And don't let them make you EMOTIONAL with "this special is only for today" or, "I don't know if I can make the same deal later." They WILL if they want your business. If you are already attached to something, and they see that, then all room for negotiations come to a quick close-- they know they've got you! Why negotiate, when they know you're willing to do anything for it?
• SHUT UP! Let them do all the talking! See how far they will go to sell you! Ask questions, gather information, and listen! The "smile and nod" does wonders.... especially when coupled with Walk Away Power. That's when they are running after you in the parking lot. You know it happens all the time!
• "That's NOT GOOD ENOUGH." When haggling, and they are trying to downplay your demands, use this phrase. Someone else WILL be good enough to meet your demands. Henry Kissinger himself used these famous words when dealing with foreign policy as Secretary of State. If he can use them on world leaders to get what he wants, then surely you can use them to your advantage when buying a car, home, or CARPET! Kissinger used these words on his own people, even-- he expected nothing less than the best from them. After several times of hearing "It's not good enough," and overcome with frustration, his people would say, "It's the best I have to give!" Then Kissinger would reply, "Now that I have your best work, I'm willing to look at it." This guy did not play. He didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize for nothing, people. 
• GOOD GUY, BAD GUY. Ever hear, "I have to talk to my manager"? What a bunch of baloney! This lets the salesman be the "good guy" and he cuts down your negotiation because of his "bad guy" boss. Did he even ask? Or was he just outside smoking a cigarette while you wait? Get to the bad guy and work with him directly. If he has to talk to the manager, offer to just talk to the manager yourself. 
• The "IF I" TAKE AWAY TECHNIQUE. It could also be called "nibbling." Throw in a few final "nibbles" and get a deal that really makes you happy. For example, I said, "If I am willing to purchase this carpet from you, I need you to upgrade my carpet pad to the moisture resistant for free," and another that apparently worked, "If I buy this carpet, then I need you to do my stairs free of charge." Let them cave to YOUR demands-- not the other way around.

While these are the seven rules, I'll throw in one more key to successful bargaining-- be patient. Sleep on it. Talk it over with your spouse, and come back tomorrow. It will still be there, and regardless of what the salesman tries to hook you in with, the sale will still be there, too. Don't seem too overeager and make an impulse purchase. Those are the buys you are most likely to regret later. And remember, if you go all goo-goo, ga-ga over a product, then the room for negotiations close once the salesman knows he has you hook, line, and sinker no matter what he says. Hope this helps. Have the courage to apply the rules, and you will be amply rewarded! If it worked for us, it will work for you, too. Good luck!

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She's Crafty-- She's Just My Type

One of my favorite things to do in the world is to make something. Something crafty. I've been scrapbooking for years, and that was only the beginning of this obsession I have with making stuff. My mom and I both make all kinds of things. Wreaths have been our things as of late. We've made a wreath for every holiday since Thanksgiving, and we already have the materials for Easter and 4th of July. It's just rewarding to complete a task and look upon it with satisfaction. Then of course the thrill of someone complimenting it, and being able to say, "I made it!" It makes me happy!
The last week, I've made two things. The first thing I made was the beadboard with Hayden's name hanging from it, which you can see in the post below. I bought some letters, paint, glitter, ribbon, and knobs from Hobby Lobby, and a piece of beadboard from Home Depot, which I painted. I also painted and glittered the letters. If you are using a lighter color (yellow or lime green), it's best to prime it with some white spray paint (let it dry) before you paint it. We laid the letters how we wanted them to hang on the beadboard and my husband marked where the knobs would go with a pencil. Pre-paint it, however, before you put the knobs on. We also used picture hanging wire on the first and last knob between the washers before he cut the excess from the screws off the knobs. The hardest part was measuring out the ribbon, but it wasn't that difficult. Secure the ribbon to the letter with a hot glue gun. Wall-a! The name plate for the wall was made.

For my second craft, I made closet rod dividers for her baby clothes. She isn't here yet, but her closet is already expanding rapidly. I'm constantly looking to see what clothes are what size so I can hang the new clothes in the appopriate place. I needed some dividers! Here is how I did it:


My materials that I needed were as follows:

• Several wooden letter O's from Hobby Lobby (they come 2 to a package; I bought 4 packs)
• Acrylic Paints in colors of your choice
• Paint brush
• Several pieces of patterned scrapbook paper
• Adhesive numbers (I used scrapbook letters/numbers)
• Scissors
• Exacto knife
• Modge Podge

1. First, I painted the wooden O's in a variety of colors. I painted the whole O, on both sides, and especially the edges. Let them dry thoroughly. (I saved one for tracing in the next step, and when I was done tracing, I painted it also.)
2. While waiting for them to dry, I traced the O's on the back of the scrapbook paper (not the patterned side.) Remember to trace 2 O's for each divider-- you'll be putting one on each side.
Cut out each O with the scissors. It is a little difficult to get each O perfect, especially since you are tracing the outside of the O and the tracing will generally be slightly bigger than the O itself. This is where the Exacto knife comes in.... later. So don't fret.
3. Once the paint is throroughly dry on each O, use the Modge Podge to adhere the paper O to each side of each ring. It will most likely not be perfect. Used the Exacto knife to trim excess paper on the inside and outside of each ring. This will get it as close to perfect as it's going to get.
4. Fasten your numbers to the side of each ring. Remember to be sure to put them on the same side, whether you are looking at the ring from the right or left. You want to be sure that the number is on the outside of the clothing. I used an N (newborn), 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 for each month of sizes. I had an extra O left over, so I used an H for her holiday outfits, which she has many of already. You could, however, use the O for 2T, or anything else that may come to your mind. Or, not at all!
5. For good measure, I painted on some more Modge Podge after I applied the numbers, to be sure that they weren't going to come off or peel. I recommend painting only one side at a time. It doesn't take long for it to dry.

And there you have it! Cute dividers to slide onto your closet rods for your child's clothing!



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Baby Girl's Name Is...

There is a quote from the movie "Pretty Woman" where the character Kit says, "Oh God.... the pressure of name...." and a couple of months ago, I could totally relate. Naming your kid is not easy. There wasn't a name that I had saved my whole life for my children. I had names picked out back then, but either my tastes changed or someone else stole it. That's what happens when you wait so long to have kids. Everyone steals your names. Even your own family members. But, I learned with every stolen name to be less and less disappointed. And, if I really liked it, then who cares. There's always going to be someone out there with your kid's name.... unless you name your kid Apple, or Pilot Inspektor, or Kal-El. (Those are real celebrity children names, by the way.... Gwyneth Paltrow, Jason Lee, and Nicholas Cage, respectfully.) As I had mentioned a few blogs ago, I was certain, CERTAIN, this child was a boy. I had a name chosen (which I will keep to myself, hehe), and Will had chosen Hayden. We were in a hot debate. I had always LOVED Hayden, since Craig T Nelson was Coach, but I had seen another name that was really different, and I was stuck on it already. Will, however, was bound and determined to have a Hayden. And my name and Hayden didn't mesh, as first and middle names together. It was going to be one or the other. Dr. Rowe, however, solved our problem a few weeks later when he revealed, to my great surprise, that this baby was going to be a GIRL. "A girl?!"I thought. I was delighted, but feeling a little unprepared, because until this point I had been planning boy, boy, boy. Back to the drawing board! We mulled over names for weeks. It's hard being a teacher, because every name reminds you of that child. Usually the child you don't want to be reminded of. After years of teaching, I'd crossed out about every name I ever liked that hadn't been stolen. Will was very particular. Sometimes he didn't have a reason, he just didn't like a name. We had one criteria-- we wanted a name that was familiar (and not too out of the ordinary), but also a little different. It seems like that would be hard criteria to fill, and admittedly, it wasn't easy. But we had decided that it would be an older name, or a name that is no longer popular or not used often. We had girl's name picked out for many years, a beautiful name (which I will also keep to myself!Ha.) But when it came down to it, I was a little..... bleh. We'd said it and thought of it for so long, I was kind of.... over it. So we were starting anew. Natalie? I asked him. No. Bridget? Eh.... maybe. Josie?Not really. Joy? No. Casey? (One I had always really liked, for a boy or girl), and though it was a top candidate, the whole Casey Anthony thing ruined it a little. I thumbed through a book of 10,000 names. Not one of them struck me. I was beginning to feel like she'd never have a name. I told myself that I just had to have faith that her name would come to me in God's time, whenever He revealed her name to me. And one day, it just came. A name that we had already both liked and decided on; it had been there all along. Hayden! It was perfect for our criteria. A familiar name, nothing that anyone could make fun of; but different, because though it was a name meant for boys or girls, it was typically a boy's name, thus far. (My name was also a boy's name during the 1970s when I had been born, and we all know how that turned out. The 80s destroyed that facade!) Though many little girls are named Hayden, not any that we know. I can see where this name may drift towards being a more feminine name in the future, but maybe we'll have one of the first. So Hayden it was. We loved it. Will always had the playground litmus test-- how could other children twist their name to make fun of them? My litmus test was-- how will it look embroidered on the back of her cheerleading uniform? We also liked that as an adult, when her resume comes across someone's desk, they will most likely assume she's a man. It will likely save her some discrimination, and possibly give her opportunities she wouldn't have otherwise. This name satisfied us both across the board. It was chosen. Baby Girl Hayden. Her full name will be: Hayden Elise Luker. Elise kept coming back to me, over and over. I thought of several middle names, but Elise was relentless coming back to me. When my mom said one day, "I like Hayden Elise," and I had not told her yet at all that Elise was all I could think about, I knew. This was destined to be her name. And so it is. Two names I never imagined I would give my daughter. But there they are. And that's what it will be. I don't know why I waited so long to put it out there. For a long time, I wouldn't call her by name, I was afraid we would wear it out, like we did the other name. Then, one day, we just started saying it; calling her by her name. So.... strange. But we love it. And we love her. She will be a perfect Hayden, as beautiful as her name.♥

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Good Will Hunting

When I was a little girl, I always prayed for my husband. I hoped that wherever he was out there, that he was happy and that God was taking care of him. Sometimes I would look up at the stars, and wonder about him. Was he looking at the same stars? Where was he? WHO was he? What was he doing at that moment that I was wondering about him?
I always thought I would get married when I was young and be a young mom. I suppose I thought that because that's what my mom did. (She always reminds me that it was "different back then.") It did not happen that way for me. God had a different plan. It came with some stumbles and many (I hate to say a lot of) tears. I had a hardship destined for me to experience that not many people my age experience. Ever. I had to take some steps back and start over. I had to start my search over again. Not only for my husband, but now for myself. Who was I? Where was I going? What did I want in this life? And how was I going to get there? Luckily, I had a strong, strong family to help me. I had parents who loved me immensely (and each other-- that always helps), and a brother that would fight for me when I was too tired to fight for myself. He would defend me against all the lions, tigers, and bears in the world if he had to. I had a safe shelter to grow again. I found wonderful, true friends during this time in my life. Ironically, it was a group of boys (and Erin) that had been best friends since junior high. In fact, I'd known them since junior high, but had never really gotten to know them. God brought them into my life when I needed true friends more than any other time in my life. They also took me under their wings and protected me. They helped make me feel whole again. They made me feel wanted and accepted, which I really needed. I'm happy to say that all these boys are STILL good friends, and some of my best friends, and their wives are, too. I'm happy that their children will be playmates with my children. God blessed me with what I needed right when I needed it. He has a funny way of doing that. But still-- where was my husband?? I was looking everywhere now and he was nowhere. Nowhere! I was begininning to wonder if I would EVER find him. A relationship would begin; it would end. Begin. End. Begin. End. Each ending was accompanied by more tears. That heartbreak, it's a real tearjerker. Heartbreak is..... well, heartbreaking. It's a physical pain. I think that surprises some when they experience it for the first time. It physically hurts. Like a limb has been torn from your body. You can feel your heart aching right there in the middle of your chest. Some of those heartbreaks were real whoppers. It's disappointing to be so sure of someone, and then find out that they weren't who you thought at all. And everything changes. I don't do change that well. But it was in the "meantime" of those relationships that I may have been at my best. That's when I traveled, to Europe, to Mexico, to Las Vegas, to New York, California. I met new people, made friends, had adventures. Though it was still a little painful, those were the most exciting times of my life! I was experiencing things that I may not have experienced otherwise. But somewhere, deep in my heart, I was still longing for my husband. My ray of hope was dimming a little. I was quickly approaching thirty. By the time my mom was thirty, she had a ten year-old me. I remember my mom crying and fretting to her best friend when she turned thirty. I remember sitting in her friend's bedroom circa 1988 (mirrors and everything) and my mom exclaiming that she was THIRTY, what now?! I wasn't going to have anyone to remember something like that about me. I was still alone. Well. You know that cliche, it's going to happen when you least expect it? Well, of course it did. When I met Will (through one of those wonderful guy friends that was brought into my life so many years before.... ironically, he is also named Ashley), I had hot pink and silver glitter spray painted into my pigtails. (This was not a normal style for me, but I had been running the "hair salon" at my elementary school's carnival earlier.) Will did not really know what to make of me (he actually thought I was a stripper.... yes, stripper! The hair threw him a little bit. I guess the College Park Elementary t-shirt was a non-issue for him.) What a jerk! I thought. Maybe a cute jerk, but still a jerk! Of course I made every effort to harass him. All. Night. Long. He had red hair, for crying out loud. Sometime during the wee hours of the night (or morning), I must have greatly impressed him with my fantastic Guitar Hero skills. I WAS jamming, if I do say so myself. At that time, I was a Guitar Hero legend. I had flying fingers. But I say he must of been impressed, because he text me from the airport the next day (oh yeah..... he lived in Midland. He was only in town for the weekend. Anything coming of this was close to nil, so I was trying to be nonchalant. As Ashley's wife Amy put it, "he's geographically unavailable.") But he text me and said he'd never really met anyone like me. Aw. That Monday morning, I thought, that was so nice, I'm going to tell him to have a great week. So I did, and his reply was that he had woke up missing me, and that he hadn't felt that in a long time. Well. That pretty much did me in. We started talking and texting every day, for hours. I stopped seeing and talking to anyone that I had been casually seeing or talking to. It was just Will. Two weeks later, he flew back into town again, but this time to visit ME. That was it. We were official. I had conquered the geographically unavailable jerk. And I LIKED him. Because he wasn't really a jerk. He was the nicest any boy had ever been to me. He says he was a jerk because he didn't want to like me, it was his defense against all my charms and joie de vivre. A year to the day after we met, he surprised me with a trip to Boston. And in the rain in a courtyard between the Boston Public Library and the Trinity Church (one of the oldest in America) he asked me to marry him. I had found my husband. Finally, he had been found! We got married ten months later in the biggest and most beautiful wedding I could ever ask for, in front of 300 family and friends, in the most beautiful historic church in Houston with a long marble aisle and a grand organ; and partied like rock stars at the Rice Hotel, in the same ballroom with the balcony that John F. Kennedy gave the last speech of his life.  And now, two years later, we are expecting the arrival of our little girl, and I couldn't imagine anyone who is going to be a better dad. Will is already the best husband I could ever ask for. Before he came, I had always been what I call the "gardener." I had gardened, and tilled, and pulled weeds, and did everything I could to make every relationship before him look pretty. It always wilted in the end, and there were times I didn't understand why. With Will, I get to finally be the flower. Of course we both work on our relationship, but everyday he makes me feel loved, appreciated, wanted, respected. He makes me laugh until I'm literally crying daily. Even if we argue, at the end, we're laughing. He lets me know that he thinks of me all day. He does things for me that I could or would never ask of anyone else, and I tell him everything. He is my very best friend. I'm so grateful and thankful everyday for God bringing him to me, for saving him just for me. Now, all the heartbreaks make sense. Now, all the tears were worth it. All the years I spent living life for myself were well spent, because I will never regret not having an experience I feel like I missed out on. I spent nearly a decade trying to figure out what life was all about, but in the end, it just fell into my lap just like it was supposed to; gift wrapped and pretty for me to open and enjoy. I suppose that's what faith is about-- having faith that God has you on this path for a reason, regardless of the hardships; and that in the end, it's going to be better than you ever imagined. It always works out. Now I have all the answers to my questions-- I know just who my husband is. And when I was a little girl, wondering where he was; now I know-- Denver, Colorado! I never thought I'd marry anyone from Denver, anyone with red hair, or anyone named Willie for that matter. But I did. And I wouldn't change it for anything.
I love you, Willie. ♥

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We're Painting the Roses Red.... Or The Walls Pink!

Speaking of painting the roses red, I am on a mission now to buy Baby Girl all the Disney movies on DVD. As you are well aware, they aren't the cheapest things out there. It's really irritating because I have them all on VHS, which is, of course, obsolete. So we are now buying them all in Blu-Ray. For the love of God, I hope they don't update DVD technology anytime soon! Ah, well, onto the purpose of this blog today....
The nursery walls are painted! I can hardly believe it! It's becoming more real by the day. Will took just a couple of hours to knock it out, and he did a fantastic job! He taped all the edges so nicely, too; I was really impressed. That is super important when you are painting for someone who is as OCD as I am. (I'm not really OCD, but I may as well be; my perfectionist side can get a little out of control sometimes, I'll admit.) But it is really lovely! The pink isn't too light or dark or bright, it is JUST RIGHT! I am so pleased with it, I now want to paint every room in my house. Hmm. We'll see. I wish I would've painted years ago; it makes such a difference. Anyway, the room is perfect and is ready for new carpet and then the furniture. The countdown is on in a major way, but we are right on top of it! Everything's going according to schedule so far. Here's a few pics of Will on his first Daddy duty task:

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