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) :
Friday, June 13, 2008
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) :
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) :
Sunday, June 8, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, June 2, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Figures..
First of all, I am officially done work. Yay for me! It was a BUSY last week, and it flew by. I'm quite relieved to be done as it was getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. So, whooo hoooooo!!!!!
That being said, today is my first day off and what happens?? I get sick. Full blown sniffles, stuffed up, headache blahs. This is not how I imagined my first day off. I hope it's short lived because I do not want to go into labour with a cold.
Brent has been busy. He's primed the entire basement (thanks for your help Jon, Jim, Nnamdi and Cheyenne!), and is now starting to paint. He picked up the cabinets for the bar, and the bookshelves for beside the fire place, the french doors and the cork flooring today. It's 10:30 pm and he's still working! I did my part and went out and got him a 6 pack of Coors Light. The extra tall ones at that :)
I really should take some photos, but our camera is packed away in my hospital bag. Speaking of which I'm not at all feeling prepared for this baby. I hope this cold goes away so that I can have a somewhat productive week (in between naps).
And...Burdine, happy due date (well tomorrow)!!
That being said, today is my first day off and what happens?? I get sick. Full blown sniffles, stuffed up, headache blahs. This is not how I imagined my first day off. I hope it's short lived because I do not want to go into labour with a cold.
Brent has been busy. He's primed the entire basement (thanks for your help Jon, Jim, Nnamdi and Cheyenne!), and is now starting to paint. He picked up the cabinets for the bar, and the bookshelves for beside the fire place, the french doors and the cork flooring today. It's 10:30 pm and he's still working! I did my part and went out and got him a 6 pack of Coors Light. The extra tall ones at that :)
I really should take some photos, but our camera is packed away in my hospital bag. Speaking of which I'm not at all feeling prepared for this baby. I hope this cold goes away so that I can have a somewhat productive week (in between naps).
And...Burdine, happy due date (well tomorrow)!!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Nursery Pics
I have had SO much fun decorating the nursery. It's not totally done but I do love it. It's our favorite animal theme...puppies!
My recycled curtains. We had these from the townhouse and I almost threw them out. I added the blue stripe and voila..good as new!
Another view, check out the lazy boy. It's so comfortable!! (and poo brown too...perfect for diaper explosions)
We will put the baby's name above the crib (once it's decided for sure). I found a website that has some fun custom vinyl names, Vinyl Attraction , all I have to do is pick out the colors.....and we need to agree on what to name this kid. That is proving to be the hard part.
Crib close up - I'll have to take off the bumper pads one baby is here. But for now, they are staying put. At least I can enjoy them for a little while.
The welcoming comittee (thanks Mom!!!) Can you spot the intruder?
Dog art, from Art.com
We found a use for Brent's old dresser. Some new knobs totally made it cute again! (It was missing a few knobs to begin with). I've hired a photographer, Ashley Skjaveland Photography to come to the house and take some newborn pictures. I LOVE her pictures. I plan on putting one above the dresser to fill that space and put up some Paul and Winston photos too. We can't forget them!
Dog bum hooks from Ikea...and some paw prints to finish it off.
I'm already thinking of how to decorate the play room in the basement. I guess I've got a few years to come up with the perfect design.
I hope the ultrasound tech was right because if this baby pops out a girl, I hope she likes blue !?!?!
(I'll have to ask Astrid how to make the links pop up in a new window....I have no clue how to do that!)
My recycled curtains. We had these from the townhouse and I almost threw them out. I added the blue stripe and voila..good as new!
Another view, check out the lazy boy. It's so comfortable!! (and poo brown too...perfect for diaper explosions)
We will put the baby's name above the crib (once it's decided for sure). I found a website that has some fun custom vinyl names, Vinyl Attraction , all I have to do is pick out the colors.....and we need to agree on what to name this kid. That is proving to be the hard part.
Crib close up - I'll have to take off the bumper pads one baby is here. But for now, they are staying put. At least I can enjoy them for a little while.
The welcoming comittee (thanks Mom!!!) Can you spot the intruder?
Dog art, from Art.com
We found a use for Brent's old dresser. Some new knobs totally made it cute again! (It was missing a few knobs to begin with). I've hired a photographer, Ashley Skjaveland Photography to come to the house and take some newborn pictures. I LOVE her pictures. I plan on putting one above the dresser to fill that space and put up some Paul and Winston photos too. We can't forget them!
Dog bum hooks from Ikea...and some paw prints to finish it off.
I'm already thinking of how to decorate the play room in the basement. I guess I've got a few years to come up with the perfect design.
I hope the ultrasound tech was right because if this baby pops out a girl, I hope she likes blue !?!?!
(I'll have to ask Astrid how to make the links pop up in a new window....I have no clue how to do that!)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Bumps!
A photo from my sister in law, Burdine's baby shower that was April 24th. She's due June 1st, I'm due June 18th. We tried to put our arms around eachother for a photo and it was quite a stretch!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Jen's thought of the day
I have 4 weeks of work left. Can you tell I was smiling as I typed that? I can't wait to be done. To keep a long story short, my employer and I could not come to an agreement as to a leave of absence, so I don't have a job to come back to. This is the first time in my working life that I have not had a job lined up. It feels strange!! I'm nervous about that, but at the same time it has opened up my mind to new possibilities. Hopefully if and when I decide to go back, I'll have figured out exactly what I'm looking for. My experience at this job has made me realize that I value a company that places value on their employees. I guess I had taken for granted the fact that my previous employers did such a good job at that! This one..not so much. Oh well..at least I know for this for future jobs. My criteria will be different from now on, that I can guarantee. It's not always about the signing bonus or the stock options. It's hard not to make those the decision making factor when choosing a job, but I think I've learned to place increased value on the non-monetary factors as well.
In home reno news: the basement drywall has started, the new furnace is going in. I smell progress! We are trying to choose paint colors for down there, not an easy task at all.
In home reno news: the basement drywall has started, the new furnace is going in. I smell progress! We are trying to choose paint colors for down there, not an easy task at all.