New Look!

I was thinking about my blog and decided it's time for a change. My original intent was to post about our renovation journey. I still want to post about the reno's, but now that we are on the 2nd half of the reno process, and have a new family member I'm changing my blog to be a general family update. I haven't posted reno pics in a while. Speaking of which, Brent is down in the basement assembling cabinets as I type this. I am thinking I should be taking a nap but for some reason am not. I'll regret this decision tonight!

Today is my official due date, so to celebrate Eli's one week birthday, here are a few photos of our little "Mr." (as we have taken to calling him). Note: I've been having fun with the new photo editing on the photo storage site that I use!

Great Baba Marie (Brent's grandmother) with her 2 new great grandchildren:


First Bath:


Auntie Ellen who just turned 13! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!:


And Mom of course!

Happy Father's Day!

Eli Marques James Chmilar

Our baby boy Eli Marques James arrived one week early on Wed June 11th at 12:27pm. He was 8lbs 5oz and 20 inches long. Our new niece Evelyn Mae Rex was born June 9th, weighing 9lbs 5oz. Burdine and Brian were in the hospital room next to us the day Eli was born! (We try to make it as convienient for grandparents to visit as possbile ha!)

Here are 2 photos of the new family additions. We are so happy!!

Eli looking cozy (Brent has turned out to be the ultimate swaddle expert):


Evelyn (2 days) and Eli (1hr old) :

Worst cake on earth

I've been baking up a storm lately. I can't stop!! I get these urges to bake and I just have to do it. I even made cupcakes for Brent to take to work for his birthday. Banana cupcakes with lemon creamcheese icing. They were so good.


I prefer to bake from scratch, however, there are times when a good old cake mix comes in handy. Well, we had one in our cupboard, and I made it tonight, out of the immediate urge to bake, and it was HORRIBLE. Do not buy Duncan Hines Signature Orange Dreamsicle cake. It tasted like pure chemicals and fake ingredients. Totally nasty. I should have known just from the name of the cake...orange dreamsicle?? That even sounds bad. I cut one piece to test it and right away threw the entire thing in the garbage. Now, I love cake, so for that to happen it really had to be disgusting. Here is a picture of the box, so you never make the same mistake that I did.



I think tomorrow I'll go for something safe, like rice crispy squares.

Shrek feet

My goal is to go for a walk every day while I'm off work. So, being that today is my first official week day off, I went for my first walk. All seemed well, until about 1/2 hour after I got home. My toes felt a little tight, I looked down and saw this:



Now, I know there have been much worse pregnant swollen feet photos out there, but I'm amazed at how little effort can create such instant swelling! I guess I'll be taking my walks at night and not first thing in the morning.