Small Changes, Big Difference

I'm embarking on a new project...I call it the "Great Kitchen Spruce Up of 2015!"

Let's just hope I actually get it all done before 2015 is over :)

Basically, I'm home more now...but I'm still a do-er. I like to get stuff done. We've lived in our home for over 5 years now and one of the first rooms I painted was the kitchen. Not much else needed sprucing up in there at the time, although over the years we have changed a few things (new sink, new faucet, added a garbage disposal...)

But over time the painted kitchen cabinets have not held up. They are in desperate need of repainting. On top of that, I accidentally painted with flat paint on the walls, which you should never do in a kitchen. I just asked for flat instead of eggshell and just lost my mind.

So being around this kitchen much more often, it is officially driving me crazy. I had to do something.

After some research I've decided, I'm going to go for it! I love DIY projects, and oddly enough I think I can do this. It will just happen SLOWLY. But that's ok with me! Of course I would love instant transformation, but let's face it, we don't all have the budget to pay the pro's for this stuff.

I decided to start small this week...with the refrigerator.

Ever since we moved into the house it has had these stained patches on it. Not sure what from, don't really care. But I just decided one day, enough is enough. I got on pinterest and read about other people painting their appliances. I decided I could totally do that one evening. And I did. Small change, big difference!

You can buy the appliance paint at Home Depot (it's rustoleum appliance paint). I got myself some white, and went to town. It was very very smelly, but I only had to do one simple coat on the front. The rest of the fridge was just fine. So if anyone wants to try this, I have LOTS of extra paint.

Next I will slowly repaint the cabinets myself. Then I will paint the ceiling, trim and update the wall color. I still want a yellow kitchen I just want it a little lighter than it currently is. I'm excited for all these small changes to add up to a refreshed kitchen!

I'm hoping to even replace a couple light fixtures maybe! Exciting times in the Watkins household - let me tell ya!!

Louie - 2 months

Louie turned 2 months old on August 5th - and he is doing awesome! I don't have his 2 month "stats" just yet since we don't have his 2 month check up until next week. But this kid seems to grow overnight every night!

Here are some highlights from Louie being the big 2 months...

Louie has dropped to just one night feeding usually...it happens anywhere from 2am-4am and then his next feed is usually between 6am-8am (and I consider that into the next day...even though we usually go back to sleep afterwards). He did have one magical night where he went to bed around 9 and didn't wake up to eat until 6am, fingers crossed more of those start happening!  I had tried doing a dream feed with him a couple weeks ago and it didn't eliminate any of the night feeds...and since it took work to drop Noelle's dream feed, I have decided to just not try to dream feed this kiddo. Especially since I don't have to get up early for work or anything.

Louie loves looking out the window and sitting outside. He still is very tolerant of his car seat and most car rides unless he is a little hungry. He happily sits on his playmat and loves to kick a ton. He naps about 4 times a day, two of which are usually cat naps on me while in the baby k'tan carrier. He loves to eat and is very fast at it. The only long feeds are usually the last one of the day when he is tired and not as alert.

Noelle adores her little brother still and can't wait for him to get bigger so she can play more with him. Louie loves his big sis too - and usually gives Noelle at least a smile or two each day. He gives great smiles (especially after eating) and that is when he also likes to "talk" to us with the sweetest little baby coos. We are watching him get closer to laughing but he isn't quite there yet...but probably will be in a couple weeks.

It's getting alot easier each day and we feel we have mostly adjusted to having 2 kids...the evenings are the hardest at this point, but they seem to get easier with each passing week. I am very much looking forward to the 3 month mark when Louie starts getting even more expressive and transitions to the "infant" stage and out of "newborn" days.

We are so grateful to have this little chunk of hunk in our family!!