The Tranmer Family Scrapbook » snapshots of our daily life, in words and photos

11-28-2012

‘Siah’s Baby Shower

First of all, let me say that the photos in this post don’t do justice to how CUTE this shower was! I wanted to enjoy myself and not be the photographer for once so I just took a few quick snapshots (and I know that Monica has more photos on her camera that I may add later!).

My friend Monica put it together with the help of several of my other friends. It was totally unexpected and a total blessing. It made me feel loved to have my girls put on an event to celebrate your upcoming arrival. Donna opened her home. Heather baked a cake (a DELICIOUS cake!) The table was decorated with 2 adorable diaper cakes, one made by Monica and one made by your Auntie Steph. Mimi and Tia were there as were a bunch of my church friends. Even Silver drove in from Carlsbad to celebrate with us. The ceiling was decorated with white balloons (clouds) with silver ribbon (rain), themed to fit in with the decor of your nursery. So sweet!

We played the “guess that baby song” game, all songs with “baby” in the title, find the diaper pins in the rice, and another game where you steal clothespins off each other when you catch them crossing their arms or legs. Tia thought she had that one in the bag. She took nearly everybody’s. And then Anissa caught her crossing something (she denies it) and sat with him arms and legs spread for the rest of the shower so as to ensure her ultimate victory.

These women are such a treasure to me. They’ve been with me, some of them for almost 5 years, going through life’s ups and downs, true friends of the heart with which I can share my soul. I’m so grateful to the Lord for their presence in my life. I had so much fun and I’m so glad we got to celebrate your life before you were even born. Thank you, Ladies! I love you all!

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10-15-2012

40 Weeks!

It’s time, little man. Time to come and meet your family! We are anxiously waiting, waiting, waiting. I’m so excited to meet you! And so nervous! And we’re as ready as we’ll ever be. Don’t make us wait too much longer. 🙂

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10-15-2012

Special Report – Pumpkin Patch 2012 at 39 Weeks!

We weren’t sure if we’d make our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch this year, but your brother cooperated and stayed tucked away in Momma’s belly until we had a chance to visit. We love going there, to the Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch, during the autumn months and again during Christmastime when it morphs in a Christmas tree farm. I still miss  New England during these months. Nobody does fall like the North East. Nobody. But between this spot and Oak Glen a short drive away, we at least get to keep a little bit of our seasonal sanity living out here in the desert. I’m really grateful for it. We look forward to it so much.

I feel so, so blessed with the timing of yours and your brother’s births (well, he hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m 2 days away from due now, so hopefully any time now!) You are our Christmas baby and he’ll be our Autumn baby. Seriously, we couldn’t have planned it any better. We love this time of year!! And having the 2 most important little people in our lives big debuts happen smack dab in the middle of all the festivities, well, it’s just perfect. 🙂

Mimi bought you tickets to go on the super high jump thingy (I don’t know what it’s actually called?) The one where they strap you in to a harness and you jump on a trampoline 10 or 15 feet into the air? Because that was your face watching the kids jump. I thought you’d be terrified of it. But you were adamant you wanted to try it. Unfortunately, you were about 10 pounds underweight to take advantage, so you’ll have to wait until next year… or the year after.

You took a pony ride last year, and the girl who put you on the horse pretty much left you to your own devices. I mean, you were strapped in and everything, but she wasn’t anywhere near you when the horse decided to bolt off and left you dangling by your waist restraint over the side. I didn’t know if you’d remember and be afraid to get back on, but you weren’t. Not at all. You were stoked to go for another ride and this time the guy who put you on the horse stayed next to you while you were riding (without a request from us). He was much more attentive, and considerate.

And here you are with me and your brother, my two babies. <3

You were terrified of all the giant slides and bouncy houses, as evidenced by your face below. You wouldn’t let go of Daddy’s leg. The exception was the same as last year, Mickey Mouse’s Clubhouse. Of course you loved that. When you see the pictures I took, you get a big smile on your face and say “bounce, bounce, bounce.”

And I have to include this last photo because it makes me laugh. What a cheeseball. Cute even when you’re making *that* face.

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10-13-2012

2012 Remodel – Before & After

I could just kick myself that I didn’t take a series of before pictures, when we first started working on our house. It has come so, so far. We fell in love with this house when we first saw it because it was the first truly unique home we saw after looking at over 100 houses in Yucca Valley. We knew it would be work, but the perks – the unique architectural features (like an open second story landing and cathedral ceilings), the location (one of the best neighborhoods in town), the mature landscaping in the yard (a rarity in the desert) and the incredible view of the valley (including from a second story 30 foot balcony) – were hard to give up once we’d seen it. There were a lot of new or almost new houses around from the boom that were in our price range, but this one was the first one that we imagined actually living in, that felt like it could be home. So we bit the bullet and went for it.

Here are the best I could do at finding some before pictures. The first two were taken from outside through the kitchen window back in February. The second 2 are photo of Adela checking out the gutted kitchen and living room area that is now her brother’s room.

Slowly, slowly, slowly we have worked on this home over the past 5+ years. We have replaced all the dated light fixtures, yellowed light switch covers, and have scrapped cottage cheese off of about 2/3 of the ceilings so far. We built custom railings. We’ve painted the entire house, replaced all the baseboards, doors and door/cabinet hardware, repainted the bathroom cabinets, and most recently (with some help) knocked down walls, added a room and completely remodeled the kitchen. Where there used to be a wall there is now an opening between the kitchen and the”great room”, the big dining room/sitting room with cathedral ceilings. The ceiling in the kitchen used to be an ugly dropdown ceiling with florescent lights. Now it’s raised and has pretty canned lights. All the cabinets are new (I’ll post detail photos some other time). They’re white hazlenut-glazed with bronze hardware. The countertops are quartz and might be my favorite upgrade. They are gorgeous! Especially after dealing with white tiles and white grout for the past 5 years. I love them!! There is also a brand new room, our son’s room that I’ve pictured in another post.

And the final touch (for now)? Newly installed bamboo flooring on most of the first floor. Buying an older (’77) house is a lot of work, but it’s awesome to take a unique home and turn it into something uniquely ours. We always appreciate the things that take time, the things we have to work for and wait for the most. And I love my home, even though it’s still not done. 🙂

So grateful for my hard-working husband who provides for us so well, who is handy in all things, who is excellent at saving money, and who works alongside me to accomplish all the plans we make together. I can’t wait to bring our new baby into a house with no more old, yucky flooring and no more old yucky kitchen, and to watch both our children grow up in this gorgeous home we’re creating! Yay!

Now the bathrooms… they still need work… and the windows…and… But there is no ounce of discontent in my heart right now. I am in love with my home!

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