Getting Our Sled On...

As you may know, Slovakia in the winter is pretty typically filled with snow.  Particularly this year, well, in my opinion, at least.  We've had quite a few big snows.

Which means that during the last big snow Daddy ran out and bought Elise a sled.  This was her first time sledding and she seemed to like it.

But instead of talking (er, writing...) about it more, I'll just let these three little videos speak for themselves :)





And this last one makes me giggle...ha!  We did eventually figure out that she needed to be sitting forward on the sled and then she would go better through the snow (apparently we were a little slow...)



Ah, snow.  E loves you, but mama is ready for some sun.  Seriously, ready.  Bring it on, sunshine, let me see what you got!

Some New Living Room Art

If you follow me on Instagram (palmerponderings), you may have seen a few pics of a painting I've been working on...and now I can say it's finally finished!  I've been working on it for some time now (in the evenings after E goes to sleep, random days when I had more energy/time, etc.) and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

We had a painting I had previously done hanging above our couch.  I liked that painting alright, but it just wasn't what I wanted there longer term.  As in, it was ok, but not my favorite.  Then I saw a post on one of my favorite blogs which led me to this tutorial and I was inspired.  And so it began...

I followed the tutorial pretty strictly with the gridding, but after some intense challenges thanks to an already used and slightly warped canvas (yes, I'm cheap-o and painted over the old painting), Jas had to step in and help my mathematically challenged self.  Even now, however, it's still not perfect, but really really hard to tell unless you were to look up close.  I ended up being ok with that.

After completing the grid I took my original cup (read the tutorial for more specifics, she explains it pretty well) and filled in the "petals."  Then I went to town randomly painting all the fun colors.  I stuck to a color scheme mostly that I thought would go well with our living room.  Once the petals were finished and it had dried I took some washi tape and went around the edges (this was my alternative to painting the edges for a finished look).  I love the washi tape on the sides.

One other note, she left some of her petals unpainted in the tutorial (because it more closely resembles the painting in which she herself was inspired by), but I preferred them all painted, so I just went for it.

And with that, it got hung on the wall :)

It looks a bit crooked in the pics above (and we have horrible lighting for picture-taking), but in real life it's not.  And while it's certainly not perfect, I think it makes our red slumpy couch (ha!) look better.  Not to mention I am a fan of it over the previous painting, for sure.  So, all in all, I'd give this project two thumbs up!

Any one else out there working on a painting or an inspired project?! :)

34 Weeks!

This is getting real...whoa.  We're getting closer and closer to having a second daughter...and that is both super exciting and a bit scary (we're going to be parents to a toddler AND a baby at the SAME TIME)!

Here's a look at how the belly is shaping up...

I'm feeling fairly well during the days.  Overall, just tired and by the end of the day my back is quite achy.  I'm also not sleeping well (can't get comfortable and making frequent trips to the little girl's room :) but I think that's all part of it come this point in pregnancy.  I'm thankful I have what energy I do have, particularly with a cute little 17 month old running around.  I am taking iron tablets, so hopefully those levels will be rising and all will be good on that end.

Today at the doctor, Nora seemed to be on track for 34 weeks (or thereabouts) and was head down (so thankful for that).  However, we'll see if little lady is going to follow after Elise and come "late" (who really knows what that means anyway...it's not like she has consistently good due date, ha!)...or perhaps she'll come towards the beginning of April like is (sort of) expected.  We shall see!  We're just continually praying for her little life...ready to meet her :)

{Series}: Grumpy Gills

Normally post-nap she wakes up happy and calm...but not this nap ;)  To her credit, however, it's likely because I sort of (ok, I did) went in her room and started stirring about because it was closing in on supper time and I knew she wouldn't go down as easily for bedtime if she didn't wake soon (though I'm not normally a fan of waking the sleeping baby).  Thus the unhappiness and tears...

And as we got out of bed and started playing she started to warm up again...slowly...

Ya know, just keepin' it real over here ;)

And then how about our look out the window...kind of a random shot, but the sun was going down and it was a pretty view...

Hope your nap today was tear-free! (if you got one in that is :)

Some General Randomness

Over the last couple of weeks I have randomly snapped some camera shots that I just downloaded today (I'm seriously slacking in the photography department these days...I'm going to just go ahead and say it's because third trimester is bringing with it a general lack of energy...lame, I know...need to get on it!)

Her current favorite book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and she'll bring it to both Jas and I at random times and say "BOOM BOOM," which means "read this please."  This time it was dad reading it to E, shirtless and all (that's how we roll on the 7th floor where the heat is all-year-round intense :)

We've also been adventuring, slowly, into the world of art products (washable, I might add).  My art-loving heart is eating it up, but we're trying to be intentional in teaching her that "on the paper" is a must...I mean the white walls around here could use a little color, but somehow I doubt that toddler doodles is what the landlord has in mind :)

And lastly...

We had to take some new pictures for our visas and this little one was QUITE the hamlett.  She made some of the cutest faces.  I mean really, doesn't that one in the bottom left corner just make you smile?  Love her.

So there ya have it...a little bit of Palmer randomness on this Friday :)