April on my phone

1. Found my crew playing basketball when I woke from a nap. 2. Except her, who was enjoying the playground. 3. Pita bread was a success! 4. Delicious king's cake from Natasha's Kitchen. 5 & 6. Shaving cream fun. 7. Mila's favorite jeans. That girl loves jeans, just like me. 8. Baby in the bassinet. 9. Blue skies 10. Soccer practice 11. Table settting 12. Brunch with friends 13. Dinner 14. French toast and strawberries 15. New hedgehogs at our house. 16. Park 17. I finished War and Peace!! 18. Burgers 19. Croque madame--the best. 20. Girls' breakfast 21. Weekending with my other half. 22. Lots of doctor visits lately.

This month was a good one, with lots of fun outdoors and some fun indoors as well. We've had beautiful weather, and it's only getting better. The forecast says we'll hit the 90s on Saturday. I had a lot of energy in April still (so much has changed since then), and my belly wasn't big enough yet to really weigh me down, so it was a good month to get lots done around the house. I kind of feel like I'm moving, except everything I organize and weed through gets put back on the shelves instead of in boxes. It feels like I'm getting a fresh start in my life in a lot of ways, and without going into too much detail about it all, I'm happy with the changes I'm seeing. My sister and I finally had our garage sale this past weekend, and though it was pretty hard on me to get things ready for it at 38 weeks pregnant, I'm so glad to be rid of all the clutter, and I made some good money too.

We are at soccer practice four nights a  week these days, which makes it that much harder to get dinner on the table in a timely manner. That has always been my struggle. Evenings tend to fly by, and before I know it it's time to eat, not time to start cooking. I am constantly working on this, but I'm also looking forward to the end of the soccer season so my evenings are freer. Ben's last game is this Saturday and Mila's is the one after that. Which is also my due date, so I don't know if I'm going to be there or not. :( I missed out on a fun field trip Ben took to the state penitentiary and a museum, and I'm going to miss his 4th grade rendezvous field trip as well because it's the day before I'm due. I did rendezvous in 4th grade when we just moved to Idaho, and I would love to see his version of it. It was so fun! I am also not up for going to the zoo with Olivia's class next week, which makes me sad. I've just not been involved in her class or Mila's kindergarten class as much as I was last year with Mila in preschool, and next year isn't going to be any better in that regard. I will definitely be busy at home!

I have had constant contractions for the last couple days and my doctor told me yesterday that my cervix is ready, we're just waiting on contractions to get things going. I'm usually late going into labor, but I'm thinking maybe this time I will be a bit earlier. The contractions are just so constant and never stop anymore, day or night, that I'm thinking something might be up. I'm finishing packing my hospital bag today and going to try to get some things done around the house just in case.

xoxo,
Tanya

March on my phone

I never got to post my March photos yet, so I thought I'd get them up real quick before I do April. I just like to be consistent and have every month documented, even though I've been a bad, bad blogger lately...too bad I'm too old to be standing in time out now. :) Being a grownup is hard sometimes, but at least I can do whatever I want whenever I want, right? ;)

March started out with my baby shower (seems so long ago now) and ended with Easter and lots of sunshine coming our way, so all in all, a good month. It felt good to see green again after a long, cold winter, and it's always so refreshing when we can start spending more time outside. I'm looking forward to summer now, though I know it's going to fly right by and I'll just have some photos at the end of it to remind myself it happened.

1. Selfie in the mirror 2. Mushroom favors--the cutest 3. Adele's new expression 4. Zoo trip 5. Sisters 6. B helping me out with some laundry. 7. Breakfast date with a friend. 8. These little chefs love to bake. 9. Olivia's people 10. Organizing is my favorite these days. 11. Favorite treats 12. Enjoying the new waffle maker. 13. Marbled eggs 14. Using the trampoline again. 15. Out for lunch. 16. Donuts and balloons 17. Olivia 18. Belly on the couch. 19. Ready to hunt eggs. 20. Second hunt of the day--way better than the first was. 21. Gotta open each egg to see what's inside. 22. Happy Easter!

xoxo,
Tanya

Max Wagner and Bri Emery

I discovered this amazing photographer through Design Love Fest blog when I stumbled upon Bri's living room makeover. Max Wagner's Tulum photo was hanging above her dining room table, and I fell in love. Her new space is amazing, and so is this guy's photography. I especially love that he offers most of his photographs in really large sizes, so they can really make a statement on that big empty wall. Take a look at that colorful shot of New York--perfection.

And here are a few of Bri Emery's living room, decorated by none other than Emily Henderson (of HGTV Design Star fame):

All photos from Design Love Fest.

xoxo, 

Tanya

Lately

So. It looks like I've been missing from here for over three weeks, though I must admit it really does feel like much longer. I don't know what my reason for it is, because I think it may be a lot of things put together. I've been in my own little bubble these last few weeks, and gone through some good highs and some low lows, and I just haven't had the desire or the energy for the internet. Pregnancy just does things to me that I can't really anticipate, and sometimes it chews me up and spits me out, and I don't know what hit me at the end of it.

I think I mostly just wanted to be left alone for a while to do my own thing, get things done, get my life organized, and get my mind around all the changes that are about to take place in my life. I've had some really lonely nights, some insanely busy days, and a lot of emotions these last few weeks. I've also been nesting like nobody's business. I tend to get anxious and worry if I'm not completely prepared for something, which also translates into bad sleep, so I've been doing everything I can around the house to put things in order and prepare for this baby. I've sold things on Craigslist, bought things on Craigslist, cleaned out every closet in the house now, replaced all the clothes/shoes/sports equipment the kids are outgrowing, and purged and purged to get the useless things out of my life. I still have plenty of unfinished projects to finish, but I'm happy with my progress and the direction things are going.

Just this last week alone, we went to a birthday party, finished working on taxes and had our tax appointment, took Olivia to urgent care, had three soccer practices and a soccer game, had an OB appointment, went back to the doctor with Olivia, went to kindergarten registration, took all three kids to the dentist, did a Fun Run with the kids for their school, and had various Craigslist appointments as well. We now have a carseat, a breast pump, and picked up our crib from the in-laws, and I'm currently washing baby clothes and blankets for the first six months. I have two and a half weeks to go, and I'm pretty miserable by now, so I'm glad I don't have too much longer to go.

Hopefully now I will crawl out of my shell a little bit and start going out more, but who knows. I may just continue to cozy up in my own little world until this baby decides to arrive. Yesterday evening we had my sister and her family over to join us in the hot tub, and the guys grilled up some burgers and portobello mushrooms while us girls and all our wild kids soaked in the hot tub. It was a good way to end a really good day. And now I'm off to watch the story of Joseph with the fam, so I better wrap this up. :)

Here are some things we've been doing lately (and lately is used very broadly here, since it's been weeks since most of these were taken).

1. The kids love having their cousins over, and we've been seeing more of them than ever.
2. Little creature
3. Zuppa Toscana
4. I'm getting better and better at golubtsi (Ukrainian cabbage rolls). I have come to realize Ukrainian recipes take time and patience to get right, and will most likely not turn out just like your mom makes them on your first try. It doesn't help that my mom does everything by eye, either.
5. Tearing up catalogs together.
6. Hey there! Whatcha doin'?
7&8. Stop/go
9. Mila and Noah with their freshly-made road and stop sign.
10. Busy reading.

xoxo,
Tanya

Nothing better than a hot tub on a windy day

We had the chance to use the hot tub during spring break in daylight hours, and we all loved it! B went off to work, we had breakfast, and jumped in. Usually the only time we manage to use the hot tub is on weekends, and since we usually have other things going on during the day, it's always in the dark.

It's funny, the kids get these zoned-out looks on their faces when they're in there. I noticed that while looking through my pictures...I guess they're just enjoying the warm water. :) And don't worry, I set the thermostat at 98, which is body temperature, so this baby won't cook in my belly. I actually can't sit in really hot water myself and I overheat easily, so there's really no danger of me getting into water that's too hot, ever.

I have really noticed, however, that heat and water really help my pelvis feel better, and the hot tub is so much bigger than a bathtub, so I love to get in when my pelvis is super sore and painful. We just drained all the water out the other day and I'm cleaning the hot tub today and refilling it, so tomorrow we should be good to go for more fun. It couldn't come sooner, because my hips needs a break! This baby is sitting so low this time around, it kind of scares me how low I can feel her movements. I won't go into details, but you can use your imagination...

xoxo,
Tanya

Orla

I've been seeing Orla Kiely everywhere lately, and I love everything I see. If I was a designer, I would be designing clothes like hers (or I'd be buying them if they were in my price range; alas, they are not). Her designs are retro and sweet, with fun repeating prints and pretty collars and mod necklines. Always something unexpected, though all the clothes are sophisticated and grown up, never gratingly obvious. And they are colorful, but in beautiful muted shades, almost like a vintage photograph. That first dress in that beautiful camel color that's covered in ships is amazing, and take a look at those swimsuits! Definitely fun and not too serious.

xoxo,
Tanya

I meant to wish you all a very happy Easter this morning when I was up bright and early with some insomnia, but I spent my time wisely by blogging a bit, making origami bunnies on youTube, watching hair tutorials, and enjoying some paska (traditional Ukrainian Easter bread with raisins) with milk. Yup, it was a very productive morning. Then I ran out of time and had to get ready for church, but here I am, back at it before the clock strikes midnight! :)

I hope everyone's Easter was amazing, and judging from what I saw on Instagram today, everyone was all dolled up in their fancy spring clothes in every pretty shade of pastel and they all looked so festive! We enjoyed Easter with my in-laws after church, then headed home for a nap (just me, cause I couldn't take it anymore), then a walk to the kids' school for some basketball and playground time, and then another Easter egg hunt indoors to cap off the weekend. I still can't believe how much candy my kids consumed over the last two days. It is kind of blowing my mind. They are insatiable! :)

By the way, I'm tmartsenyuk on Instagram if you'd like to follow me there.

xoxo,
Tanya