Yes, I’m still here.
Yes, I’m still here.
To the few devoted souls who continue to check here regularly - bless you. The fact that you didn’t give up on me entirely makes me feel loved.
So - what’s new?
The house: Well - after an entire year of spinning our wheels, (and wasting so much time and money it makes me want to throw up whenever I think about it) our home remodel is finally started. We’re not even two weeks into it, and the place has been gutted, a huge beam (30ft long/2 ft high) has been installed so that we could open up the living area, and most of the place is already framed. We’ve got most of our finishes chosen, and our living room and patio are currently filled with boxes containing a toilet, tub, faucets, door handles, sink, fridge, gas convection range, microwave, dishwasher, etc. I think plumbing and electrical happen next, and they are measuring for our kitchen cabinets next week. The current estimate says end of June - but I’m not holding out any hope for that. I’ll be happy if we’re in there before the end of July - or at least by the time Bella starts school in mid-August.
I’ve got a bunch of pictures of the progress so far - I’ll have to upload and post them (hmmm…maybe I need a remodeling blog to keep up with too). Until I get that done - here is a quick look at the layout of the finished house, as well as a look at how the house sits on the lot, and a look at the original floor plan.
Remodel Floorplan
Original Floorplan
Our lot
Before then though - I need to hire some sort of organization expert and figure out how to turn myself from a cluttered packrat into a streamlined minimalist. The clutter and mess cause me so much mental stress, and I feel like all our possessions have created this huge energy block, but yet - I have a hard time letting go of all this stuff. I am bound and determined that our new home will be a fresh start - any suggestions?
Photography:
If you keep up with my photoblog - you’ll know I’m still quite immersed in the world of photography. I just got a new lens that I am having a great deal of fun with, and recently had the honour of using it to photograph my dear friend Phoebes maternity pictures and homebirth. I think/eat/sleep/dream photography - it is an absolute obsession.
I recently created a little portfolio site to showcase some of my work - you can view it here. You can always see my most recent stuff on flickr.
I feel like the past year was devoted to learning all the technical stuff, to practicing and reading and trying to keep all the details straight. Now this year, although I’ve still got plenty to learn, I can feel my creativity start to take over, and I’m having a great deal more fun. I’m experimenting and finding my artistic style - and I’m loving it.
The kids:
Bella loves preschool and is planning on marrying a boy named Lucas (they are going to have boy/girl twins, she informed me the other day, and Lucas really likes it when she wears pink). This sweet little lovefest is only disrupted by the fact that Michael loves Bella (head over heels loves Bella) - who does not return his affection in quite the same way. Who knew there were love triangles in preschool?
She’s into Junie B Jones, and Magic Tree House Books, and is just a sponge for learning right now. She asks really intelligent questions (some that I can’t answer) and has an incredible memory. She’s still all about Dora and Diego and Pirates - and loves the colour red.
Julianna is almost twenty one months, and I owe her an update letter so badly. Her language has really blossomed in the last month, and I don’t think there is anything she can’t say. She regularly speaks in five and six word sentences, and is always surprising us with the things she comes up with. She calls tomatoes and potatoes “May-ton-oes” and says “uppity” instead of ‘up’. She has very specific ideas about clothing - always wanting to wear something with flowers - and she loves her crocs. She adores her doll Lulu, and wants to do anything her big sister can do.
She is now night weaned - and although she doesn’t always sleep through the night - things are SO, SO, SO much better. I was very guilty and unsure while we were going through it - didn’t know if I was doing the right thing. In the end I am really glad I did - because she was still waking up every 45minutes to an hour - and I was loosing my mind. She now sleeps all night in bed with Bella, and wakes up to nurse around 6am. I can live with that.
My aunt and uncle are visiting now, and we might just be heading to San Diego next weekend for a quick trip. I’ll try really, really, really hard to get back into the habit of writing…..as always, I respond well to bribery….
I’m so glad you are writing! I saw you comment on my blog & had a feeling that you might have posted something new. I’m glad I checked.
I will bake lots and lots of cookies for you if you keep writing!
Comment by Doulala — 04.28.07 @ 8:05:53
Love your new blog design - kinda reflective of your embrace of modern-architecture!
XOXO
Comment by Leigh — 04.28.07 @ 8:31:18
Nice to see you back. I’m so envious of your remodel. We are currently remodeling on a much smaller scale. It’s still thrilling nonetheless. I’ll have to check out your new photos later (dinner is calling). I’m sure they are great as usual.
Comment by Jolene — 04.28.07 @ 11:29:31
Hi J! I was just thinking today that Julianna is now the age that Bella was when I visited you. And now you have a 5 year old and I have two boys. Crazy. Glad you guys are doing alright — I hope you survive the remodel process.
Comment by Amy F — 04.29.07 @ 2:45:33
hey happy to see you writing… I love you. Does Bella have any books about sisters named lola and charlie??? I can’t remember who writes them but there awesome and I was thinking about things to get her for her birthday… yes I know its not till september:)
Comment by Lynn — 04.29.07 @ 7:15:50
I’m so excited for you (re the remodel) - it’s an ordeal but it will be so worth it! Here’s to smooth sailing. Please post pics!!
Comment by Jen M — 04.29.07 @ 7:02:20
So happy to hear news from you! Great to hear that the remodel is underway as well. I remember looking at your plans when you were here in October, and I’m sure the end result is going to be great. Having that awesome new space will give you the incentive to get rid of clutter, I promise. Post some pics as soon as you can!
Oh, and the night-weaning. I’ve been wondering how the sleep situation was going. The night-weaning is hard, but at a certain age I think it’s best for mom’s sanity. I did it with Andrew when he was nearly two, and wow, things got so much better after that. It helps so much when they are more verbal and you can explain it all to them. Happy to hear it went well and you’re all sleeping better nowadays. I hope you have your evenings back too.
Keep writing, woman!
Comment by Jen H. — 05.01.07 @ 4:18:35
Welcome back. I had just found you and then you were in absentia for a while, so woohoo for the return:) The new design’s very posh, as well.
Comment by heidi — 05.02.07 @ 5:47:18
So glad to read an update. Your new home looks like it will be positively lovely. The open floor plan will be so nice. For clutter I’m no expert, but I do find one thought to be helpful … I often hold on to things because they have some sort of sentimental value; they remind me of a time, place, etc. Then I read somewhere that just because you get rid of an item, it doesn’t mean you’re getting rid of the memory. That really struck me. It doesn’t always work, but I do find myself returning to that idea whenever I’m struggling with getting rid of something I know I’d be better off without.
And better sleep — that is fantastic news. I got a little catch in my throat when I read that your girls are sleeping together.
As always, your pictures are gorgeous. It has been such a pleasure watching your talent blossom and bloom over the last year or two. Your passion has been such an inspiration to me … showing me how I have been neglecting myself and my interests.
And as for the infrequent writing, it matches up with my infrequent reading! Now that I’m devoting more time to my interests, I can’t find the time to keep up with some of the more prolific bloggers I like, so I guess we’re a perfect match!
Comment by gearhead mama — 05.02.07 @ 8:35:21
Jeanette, I’m so happy to see you back online! I’ve missed your updates, but love checking in on your photos. As for your clutter, it’s amazing that I read your post today. JUST TODAY, I decided I was going to do something about my clutter and get others involved, too, all in the name of charity. Check out the new blog I started at http://thegreatrelease.blogspot.com and hopefully we can do some clutter-busting together!
Comment by Kori — 05.03.07 @ 4:48:05
Okay, I’m a dork. The address of the new site is http://greatreleaseparty.blogspot.com—I said it was very new, and I guess me forgetting the address proves it!
Comment by Kori — 05.03.07 @ 4:56:05
Yeah! Jeanette’s back! Um, as you can see, I’m just realizing that fact. I LOVE the new photography site and here I am with two sleeping children and I have to go and pick up the third from school so there’s not much time to really look around! Waaaah!
Can’t wait to read more!
Comment by Lisa P — 05.04.07 @ 8:07:35