From There to Here, Part Deux

I know Auntie Schwee liked seeing this post of pictures from the early days through year one, so I thought I'd post his year one through year two all together for her (and others) to see.

 One Year Old 

13 Months

14 Months

15 Months

16 Months
(in Duck, NC)

17 Months
(in an outfit from when I was little)

18 Months
aka Cheeseballs!

19 Months
(I remember this morning was difficult and whack because he's slouching and the dog is on the wrong side.)

20 Months

21 Months

(my favorite, I think)

22 Months

(Kevin's favorite)

23 Months
(another favorite of mine)

Two Years!

(and another fave) :)

Two Years Old

Happy birthday, buddy!

And the slacking begins. I've been a little busy with finishing the kitchen, cleaning the house, and preparing for the birthday party, so I haven't written a two year post. We'd planned to stop the monthly pictures at two years, so I guess this will be his last (I'll have to double-check with Kevin on what we decided). Maybe we could still do a picture but not a full write-up. We did get a picture this morning and his measurements at his doctor's appointment, so I'll at least share those today. :)

Two Years Old

His stats (from the doctor's office):

Height: 37 inches (97th percentile)

Weight: 35.3 pounds (98th percentile)

No head size this time, but I'll just venture a guess and say that it is large. :) The appointment went well--I actually had questions this time about crib vs. bed (for our climbing monster), potty training, language, Mom's Day Out vs. preschool (for the fall), etc. He didn't receive any shots, but they did do a finger prick and squeezed and squeezed (Adie, I thought of you!!) to fill the little tube of blood. He didn't like that one bit, but the exam itself went well. He won't go back for a check-up now until February of 2014!

Play Kitchen

I just set up Lewis' play kitchen after bedtime, and it is all ready for him to see when he wakes up on his birthday tomorrow morning!

As you may or may not remember, I made Lewis a growth chart for his first birthday. I decided to keep that tradition of mama-making-something going by making him a kitchen this year. Young House Love gave me the idea, and I've been looking to Pinterest for inspiration, too. I tried to make it as inexpensively as I could, so I've been making the rounds at my usual thrift store stops, plus a few new ones (which, by the way, I'm sad to report that The Unique is shutting down...).

I tried to take pictures along the way, so here it goes:

Before, untouched

I started by taking everything apart, throwing out the old rotten backer board on the sink/stove cabinet, removing handles and hinges, wiping everything down with vinegar/water, filling holes and sanding, and then began to paint:

Thank goodness for our basement's work space!

Even with the primer+paint, it took several coats (5ish?) to not be able to see the wood grain through the red-orange. I would go down to the basement intermittently and put on a coat of black and a coat of red-orange (there were a few weeks in the middle of the project where I slacked off a bit). :)

Also at the beginning, I did my measuring and cutting. I cut a new shelf for the fridge, 2x4s for a base for the sink/stove cabinet, the countertop, a new backer board for the sink/stove, a backer board for the freezer, a door for the freezer, and the backsplash.

2x4 base for the cabinet (Cabinet is turned upside down) 

Young House Love did this step to help bring the cabinet up to a more comfortable height and to give it the look of having a toe kick below (when turned right side up).

The added shelf in the fridge (still needing some touch-up paint)

I just used some 1 inch corner brackets to support this shelf. (And later I added backerboard and a door to the top to create the freezer space.)

Cutting the sink's hole

(That larger hole to the upper left is for the faucet)

After deciding on the position of the faucet, I placed the bowl (sink) so that the faucet overhung it slightly. I then turned the bowl upside down and traced around it. I knew I wanted my cutout circle to be just a smidge smaller in order to hold the bowl up by the lip, so I started by drilling holes around the circle, just inside of my pencil line. I did some connect-the-dots with my jigsaw, and the cutout ended up being just the right size. 

Next it was time to attach the countertop to the cabinet:

The 'guts' of the countertop installation (seen upside down)

I placed the countertop where I wanted it and reached up inside the cabinet to trace the perimeter in pencil (to know where to line up my brackets). I then spaced some corner brackets out evenly around the countertop. I had to use smaller ones (1 inch) in some spots because the cabinet they'd be connecting to wouldn't accommodate the longer 2 inch brackets. Attaching the brackets to the countertop was easy, but attaching them to the cabinet was perhaps the biggest pain of the whole process. Lots of gravity-defying, crooked-arm-drilling going on. :)

Countertop attached, as well as backsplash: 

 I used mending plates (which are just long metal plates with multiple screw holes, used to connect pieces of wood together--thank you, Young House Love). In hindsight, I should have waited to do this step until after putting the new backer board on. I ended up having to put the backer board over the brackets rather than have it sit nice and flush with the back of the cabinet. By that point, though, I talked myself into being okay with the backer board being on the back (out of sight), so I didn't go through the process of taking it all apart and redoing it. :) 

Next, I attached the faucet and sink to the countertop with construction adhesive.I also sealed the countertop at this point with Polycrylic. (I did 3 coats, overall.)

Time to hang the doors:

 I took a cue from Craig and Mackenzie on the oven door and added magnetic catches (to help keep it closed) and chains (to help minimize the bruising of toes).
I drilled new holes for the cabinet handles and hung those (which was a bit of a pain, correctly aligning/drilling the holes), painted on the burners, and used construction adhesive to attach the stove/oven knobs.

The final project in its new home in the dining room: 

I have the fridge next to the sink/stove for pictures, but it will live in the opposite corner of the dining room (so it doesn't block the vent and window).

Storage on the left, Oven on the right

The curtain fabric is called something like Vintage Travel, and Lewis definitely approved. :)

His apron is reversible with Cars on one side and Thomas on the other. (This is the tutorial I used for that.) Under the apron hangs a small broom/dustpan for him to (hopefully) help tame the ongoing, ever-present dog hair and Cheerios situation. :)

And, like a typical bachelor, all he currently has in his fridge is mustard. :)
I forgot to open the freezer door--there is an ice tray in there, too. And I thought the green wire basket would make a good fruit basket (and it has a handle, so he should be able to carry it around easily). The grandparents are getting him food, pots/pans, baking supplies, etc. as gifts, so he'll be well stocked after his party.
I also put the empty basket on his fridge to either hold a plant or serve as a bread basket.

I didn't really set a budget, but I kept track of what I spent, out of curiosity (vs. what I would have spent at a store). I think The Accountant is rubbing off on me. :) The total was around $130. I don't think that's too bad for a sink/stove + a fridge + accessories + curtains + an apron. 

Cost Breakdown:

Furniture Pieces/Wood:

• Cabinet for Stove/Sink Area - $12.50 [50% off at Habitat for Humanity ReStore]
• Countertop Wood (Butcher Block) - Free [the previous owners left it up in the rafters of the garage]
• Scrap Wood for Backsplash - $0.50 [ReStore]
• Scrap 2 x 4s (to add height/serve as cabinet base) - 2 for $1 [ReStore]
• New Backer Board (for cabinet and nightstand) - $6.15 [Home Depot]

• Nightstand for Refrigerator - $10 [Salvation Army Thrift Store]
• Scrap Wood for Refrigerator (for freezer door and an extra shelf) - $0.75 [ReStore]

• Shelves (on wall above) - 2 for $6 [Salvation Army Thrift Store]

Total for Furniture Pieces/Wood: $36.90

Accessories/Paint/Fabric:

• Sink (metal bowl) - $0.90 [50% off at Unique Thrift Store]
• Faucet - $9 [ReStore]
• Stove Knobs - 3 for $1.50 [ReStore]
• Cooling Racks (to serve as oven racks) - 2 for $1 [Dollar Tree]
• Curtain Rod - Free (already owned)
• Towel Bar - $1 [ReStore]
• Hand Towel - $3 [Target]
• Wire Basket - $1.50 [Salvation Army Thrift Store]
• Basket - $0.50 [ReStore]
• Ice Cube Tray - $0.10 [Wayside Christian Mission]
• Utensil Holder -$0.69 [Wayside Christian Mission]
• Wooden Spoons - $1.50 [Goodwill]
• Strainers - 2 for $1 [Dollar Tree]
• Colander - $4 [HomeGoods]
• Pitcher - $0.50 [50% off at Goodwill]
• Food Storage Container - $1 [Dollar Tree]
• Dish Scrub Brushes - 2 for $1 [IKEA]
• Dustpan/Broom - $1 [Target]
• Trash Can - $0.49 [Wayside Christian Mission]

• Quart of Red-Orange Paint (+Primer) - $15 [Home Depot]
• Quart of Black Paint - Free (leftover/already owned)
• Polycrylic (for countertop) - $10 [Home Depot]
• Brushed Nickel Spray Paint (for hinges) - Free (leftover/already owned)
• Black Spray Paint (for trash can) - Free (leftover/already owned)
• White Spray Paint (for utensil holder) - Free (leftover/already owned)

• Fabric for Curtains - $3.50 [Jo-Ann Fabrics]
• Fabric/Elastic for Apron - $6 [Jo-Ann Fabrics]

Total for Accessories/Paint/Fabric: $60.18

Hardware/Tools:

• Handles - 4 for $8 [Home Depot]
• Hinges (for freezer door) - $2.27 [Home Depot]
• Magnetic Catches - 5 for $5 [Home Depot]
• Mending Plates (to attach backsplash to cabinet) - $3 [Home Depot]
• Chain (for oven door) - $1.50 [Home Depot]
• Corner Braces (for bracing shelf in fridge and attaching countertop to cabinet) - $10 [Home Depot]
• Wood Screws - $4 [Home Depot]
• Nails - Free (already owned)
• Construction Adhesive (to attach sink to countertop and knobs to stovetop) - $4 [Home Depot]

Total for Hardware and Tools: $37.77

Grand Total: $137.85
[Of that amount, I would subtract $9 of the $10 for the Polycrylic since I literally used like 1/10 of the small can.] 

The main power tools I used were a drill, sander, and jigsaw. I decided to go ahead and buy a jigsaw, so that was an additional $30 that I'm not counting since I'll use it on other projects. I also used the staple gun (and a few nails) on the backer board. And my sewing machine to sew (duh).

So that is Lewis' play kitchen! I had a lot of fun making it for him, and I hope he likes it and gets a lot of good use out of it.

A Bonfire in February and Helping Himself to Yogurt

Sunday, Lewis picked up a piece of firewood (from next to our fireplace) and headed for the back door with it, insistent on taking it outside. We told him no, but he kept saying 'Hot!' so I asked if he wanted to build a fire. He gave his usual 'der' (which we take as 'yes' to everything for now). We then asked him if he wanted to cook hot dogs on the fire, to which he said, 'Hot Dog!' So he and Kevin went to the store and picked up some supplies for hot dogs and bonfire pies (bread+cherry pie filling). When they got back, Kevin said Lewis walked right over and stood next to our fire pit. Smart buddy!

 Helping Watching Dad gather sticks for the fire. :)

What up?

 

 

 Clearly the fire did something to necessitate yelling.

 Cooking hot dogs with Dada.

 

Not as interested in eating the hot dog, but the bun was a big hit! 

And just when I thought he was 'off' yogurt again, this morning he got in the fridge, grabbed his carton, got a spoon (and then another), and started helping himself. And got it in his hair, on the chair, on the table, on his vest, etc. 

 

It was lunchtime, so I put about a cup of yogurt into a bowl, and he ate every bit of it that he could scrape out of the bowl. I guess it's safe to say we are back 'on' yogurt now (at least for today). :)

So THAT is what an Open Gym should be...

Last week we met Tonya and Carlton at the other open gym location, and it was so much better! The kids were nice, the parents were nice, and we all had a fun time.

 Lewis and Carlton, jumping on the trampoline

 Trying to figure out the water fountain

It was was totally cute because he's never seen one before--he got the hang of it, and I had to pull him away a few times because he was taking really long drinks (and I was afraid he'd try to lick the spout).

Bouncy fun 

He also carried balls around, as per usual:

Look, Ma, no hands! :/

He didn't fall, but even if he had, the floor was springy. :)

Whee!

They had a ball pit that he was a big fan of--he and a few other kids spent the majority of their time in it:

Like a caged, wild animal...

  

 This is awesome. Can we get one of these at home, Ma?

He got stuck in this car, and I had to help him out of it:

 :)

This time we went over to the gymnastics side for 10-15 minutes before we left. It's really neat! They have beams, slides, trampolines, a rope swing, a trapeze, etc. that the little kids can try out. Most things end in a big foam pit, which Lewis wasn't entirely sure about. I think the squishiness/feeling of sinking freaked him out.

 He jumped off of that gray mat, which reminded me of Juniper's gymnastics pictures. :) She jumped with waaaaay more gumption that he did, though.

 He did go down the slide that ended in the foam, which he seemed to like.

 And then he just stood at the edge of one of the big trampolines and watched a kid going off the rope swing.

We had a great time and will definitely go back!

Seeing Gordon and New Table

Late last week, Kevin realized he would have the weekend off from work, so we asked Ben and Adie if we could pop up to Bloomington for a bit for Kevin and Lewis to meet Gordon. Luckily they were also free, so we took a day trip up to hang out with them for a few hours, run into town for some lunch and shopping, and then head back home (with Aver's take-and-bake pizza and breadsticks in tow for dinner). Such a great day! It was also the day of the big IU vs. Michigan game, so there were lots of IU fans out and about, and it made us think/joke/sort-of-for-a-second consider trying to get tickets (and figure out what to do with Lewis since the game didn't even start until like 9pm). Alas, we drove home and watched the game while enjoying our pizza and breadsticks (ah, just like old times).

Here are a few pictures of us with oh-so-cute Gordon:

 I'm pretty sure Kevin had forgotten how tiny babies are. He said 'Wow' when he held him.

 Lewis checking out his best new buddy.

He didn't really notice him at first and was staying busy chasing their cats. When he finally did notice him, he seemed to be most fascinated by his hands. He was pretty gentle with him, overall, with one minor palm-to-face moment.

Awake, alert, and milk drunk :) And so cute!

We had such a fun day--it was nice to not have to pack or board the dogs or do anything hassle-y like we normally do when going out of town.

Also last week, I found a replacement dining table and chairs on craigslist!

 The Old Set-up

(except that it used to be pushed up against the wall on the right)

The New Set-up

(with a dresser I got at IKEA last week)

Before, I would put the basket with his snacks, bibs, etc. on the dining table, along with the laptop and mail and other junk. It was definitely our catch-all place. Then, of course, Lewis would climb up on the table to get snacks, and it just wasn't working for us. The separate space a) cannot be climbed by Lewis and b) can be cleared off and used for serving (if/when we ever host a party) and c) can store tablecloths, napkins, etc. I feel like it just fits the room and our needs better, and so far Lewis only climbed up on top of the table once, right when I set it up (and it's been over a week now with no incidents).

It worked out that the new table was very similar in style to the old table and chairs, too. It's like it was meant to be. :) I had actually found just a table at a furniture consignment store and bought it, too, with plans to paint it, get chairs for it, etc. Oops! So I'm either going to try to re-sell it or hold onto it for a future house because I really like it, too. It's a nice, sturdy, old table (same size and pedestal-style as the one I ended up finding on craigslist).

So far, so good! I did buy some non-skid thingys to go on the table legs because Lewis was trying to slide it around as he was eating. And I bought new felt pads for the chairs so that they would glide around smoothly on the hardwoods. Other than that, it just needed a good wipe-down, and it was good to go.