Home Improvements - Nursery Window

The window work continues at the Rude house, and David might even get them all installed before the baby arrives! In fact, the nursery was next on his list and he started with the bigger window in front.

The old wooden window before it is removed... not sure if you can see the cracks.



The new vinyl window that opens with ease!



Front view of the house. (new window on left, old window on right) David is removing the metal frame from the old storm window.




The nursery also has a smaller window on the side that he is hoping to tackle later this week! Just a bit of trim and some paint and Baby Rude's room will be ready to go! ...well...after I clean and organize and get the furniture in there... hee, hee.

Baby Par-tay!

I've been reminded lately of the need to thank God for all the blessings He's put in my life. That was the topic of the sermon on Sunday at our church and also the discussion at our Life Group that night. I try to remember to thank Him for my family and friends in every prayer, and I was especially made aware of my appreciation for these people in my life over the past weekend. Our friend Suzie was in town and she collaborated with Jamie and Amanda to throw a co-ed shower for Baby Rude. It was simply FANTASTIC!

Here are some pics and highlights from the event:

A sample of the food/decorations/festivities - Suzie is so creative! (There were over 150 wee diapers in the "cake")



Some of the guests chillin' before the par-tay gets started!



E'lana shows her skills during one of the games!



David got 100% in the baby food tasting competition!



We received many wonderful gifts. It was suggested that this baby tub could also double as a snow sled! (I'm worried that David will actually try it!)



The Mag7 Girls (except Anna) together again!



Everyone wants to touch the belly!




Thanks friends for being so fun and generous! Also, Baby Rude just nudged me and wanted to let you know that he sends his love as well!

Home Improvements - Bedroom Windows

After the roof, the next big project that David is tackling at our house is the replacement of our windows. Our little home was built in 1925 and it still has the original wooden-frame windows throughout (with the exception of the "dining nook" addition which has cheap metal-frame windows.) These ancient panes do little to insulate our residence and we saw the effects of this in our natural gas bill this winter - yikes! Many of the windows are cracked, only 2 of them have screens, and most of them I can't even open - years of warping and layers of paint have practically sealed them closed!

We got quotes from a couple of local window manufacturers and installers and found them to be waaaaay out of our price range! We debated about what we should do until a contractor from our church referred us to a supplier of vinyl windows and offered to let us use his discount. What a deal! David got all the specs and measurements and we mapped out all the details before we placed the order. Who knew there was so much to consider?! - size restrictions, style, color, latch type, installation type, direction of slide, number of panes, etc.

After our order arrived, David got to work right away. He said it's actually not that difficult to swap the windows out because the type we selected is easy to work with.

Here is one of the old windows in our bedroom.



This is the replacement vinyl window - much nicer!



All that's missing is a bit of trim and some touch-up paint!

Home Improvements - Roof

David and I bought our little bungalow almost a year ago now, and we are slowly plugging away at the repairs. ...and when I say "we," I really mean David, because he's the one who really does all the work! I just help provide the cash to back the projects and sometimes throw a paintbrush around or help clean up the messes.

Anyway, the big project of 2008 was replacing our roof. When we originally looked at the house, we knew that this would be one of the areas we would need to address, and we figured that we should try to get it done before winter. We saved up the money for the supplies and David rolled up his sleeves.

David starts removing the old shingles on the back of the house.



Several of David's "brothers" from the Kingsmen service club at Cascade College come over to help with the demo work.



David and Troy, a friend from church, replace plywood and lay paper.



The new shingles are looking good!



David also rebuilt the overhangs on the ends of the house. Here, I caught him with the primer-sprayer-gun (technical name) in hand.



David hangs the new gutters while Tucker supervises and sniffs the tools on the ground.




SPECIAL NOTE/BONUS STORY: My involvement in the roof project was very minimal. I was in my first trimester of pregnancy when the work began and was strictly forbidden from climbing a ladder. Also, I was very sick and spent a lot of this time laying on the couch. My major contributions included providing water and food for the workers, cleaning shingles and staples from the yard, and playing photographer. I recall one day in particular when several guys from church were over to help with the plywood replacement. There was much stomping and pounding echoing through the house and I had a terrible headache for which we had no medicine that I could take. I retreated to the bedroom, turned out the light, put a pillow over my ears, and secured an ice pack on my brow. The awful racket from above was relentless! I was actually crying at one point because I was in such pain and increasing nausea. I was so appreciative of the assistance of our friends, and knew that they were sacrificing their time to help us in making great progress with the house, but I seriously had thoughts of pushing them all off the roof! - Didn't they know there was a sick, prego lady in the house who was about to die from head-explosion?! Anyway, I think I score some points for enduring the effects of the work that day.


In conclusion, I'm glad that my hubby is such a handy-man and works so hard for us! More improvements shall follow...

Our Little Rude

Yesterday we had an ultrasound to confirm the due date for Baby Rude. It appears that he is growing right on track with the estimated arrival date of April 10th. I was excited to get to take a little peek at him again! His heart is so much bigger now and his frame is starting to fill out too. I think he actually looks a bit like David in his profile shot:



Our little guy was very cooperative for the technician and only kicked her Doppler wand once during the exam. I think this is indication that he will be a very well-behaved young man. =)

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

We have now passed the 32 week mark and are quickly approaching Baby Rude's arrival. We have an ultrasound this afternoon to take measurements of his growth and progress. At our 20 week ultrasound, he was measuring about 12 days ahead of his initial due date so we made an adjustment at that point. Now our doc wants to get another evaluation so we can have a more concrete idea about when we should expect him. I will share those results when we get them...

Here we are in the nursery:



In other baby news, David and I spent a romantic Valentine's Day attending a 6-hour Birth Preparation class. I was expecting a lot of cheesy awkwardness but it actually turned out to be quite enjoyable and informative. We got to learn about our birthing options and watched several delivery videos. I'm glad I wasn't the only one sheepishly wiping my eyes after watching those emotional moments when families welcomed a little miracle into their lives. Several of the other ladies had to get kleenex and I think I caught David nonchalantly rubbing his cheeks. In our class, we also learned techniques to cope with labor pains, the roles of the labor support person, and all the nitty gritty details about bringing a baby into the world. Next week we'll learn about breastfeeding and caring for a newborn. I'm glad we got all the blood and needles business over with - bring on the baby dolls!

So how about that weather?

After many days of glorious sunshine, we're back to the now-usual rain/snow business.



I may be smiling, but I'm not a fan!

Seaside Trip - Day 3

Sadly, all good vacations must come to an end. I could have stayed in Seaside for weeks - I never get tired of the ocean! Our real lives were waiting for us in Portland though, so we had to pack up and head home.

One last view from our room.



The next time we come to the beach, we'll have a little Rude with us!



David made a friend at the Carousel Mall, but I wouldn't let him come home with us.



A final stroll along the shore.



To end our trip on a traditional note, we purchased some saltwater taffy and chocolate covered seafoam to eat on the drive back. Hooray for sugar!

Seaside Trip - Day 2

It was simply delightful to wake up to the sound of rolling waves late this morning. I could see that there were lots of people out strolling along the shore and I kicked back and watched from the comfort of our balcony. It was already sunny and warm (I think it got up to 70 degrees today!) and a little old man made me smile when he called out "you have a nice day young lady," as he passed by on the walkway below.

David and I spent the day relaxing, walking the beach, exploring the quaint little shops, enjoying a pizza lunch, watching surfers at the cove, meeting his brother for a Mexican dinner, sharing a sundae at the Pig n' Pancake, and then chillin' some more in our room. David made some friends at the hotel pool but Baby Rude and I decided that we didn't feel like squeezing into a swimsuit!

Morning fog on an otherwise clear day!



I found a whole crab shell!



David leads the way!



We couldn't have asked for better weather!



Watching the ducks.



Lots of surfers enjoyed the waves at the cove.



I could really get used to this vacation thing!

Seaside Trip - Day 1

David and I went to one of those dreaded timeshare presentations last year and managed to turn down the "great deal" being offered. At the time it was a bit tempting - an investment that would allow us to travel, but given our financial situation now, I'm really glad we didn't go for it!

I must confess, however, that the real reason we went and listened to the sales pitch was for the free stuff. They gave us a free trip to Las Vegas, which made it totally worth our time, but the only dates we would be able to travel were at the beginning of 2009. Since I'm in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy, we figured Sin City might be a little too faced-paced for me, and opted to trade our trip for a 2-night hotel stay in Seaside, OR. We planned the trip as a combo between a "Babymoon" and celebrating my birthday. So far, it's been sunny and we're having a great time!

David makes a new friend at Camp 18 on our drive to the coast.




The Cinnamon Rolls here are no joke!



Cozy fireplace in our suite.



View from our balcony!



Walking along the waterfront to dinner.



It's a great start to a fun trip!

Getting Closer...

I can't believe it's already February! Time is sure flying for the Rude family!
Here's our 30 week pic:



Less than 10 weeks now(?) until we meet Baby Rude!

Baby Boy Clothes!

Since my mom found out that she's gonna' be a grandma, she's been collecting baby clothes from our friends and family who are "done" having kids. Here's what she's accumulated so far:



Little Rude's wardrobe is off to a good start!

Also, speaking of baby boys... Eric and Niki Arnette just had their little bundle of joy yesterday. Congrats Arnettes - he's precious!

The Joys of Craigslist

I'm sure there are lots of bargain-savvy folks out there who would agree that Craigslist is one of the best things the Internet has to offer. David and I have personally had a lot of success with the site. (...and no, we did NOT meet through one of their personal ads, but that would make for a more interesting story...)

Just last night, we sold our futon to a nice young couple for $80 cash. The uncomfortable wooden contraption had been taking up too much room in our guest bedroom (to-be nursery) and it was time to get rid of it. The buyers said they were planning to put it in their playroom and David happily helped them load it into the back of their truck after they placed a nice little stack of Jacksons in his palm.

Goodbye space-hogging couch/bed!



Here are a few of our other great Craigslist deals:

- sold hideously huge and very loud stereo speakers (we lived in apt at the time)
- sold our first pet, Rufus the guinea pig (and his supplies) to a preschool teacher
- sold David's three-wheeler and trailer
- sold David's little red Honda something motorcycle
- bought "pocket bike" motorcycle and picked-up in CA (stolen the next day, great)
- bought (and later sold) David's blue Honda something motorcycle
- sold David's 1994 Mazda B3000 pickup
- sold set of studded snow tires
- bought 2002 Mazda Protege (that I tragically totaled a few months later)
- bought 2004 Hyundai Elantra (to replace aforementioned vehicle)
- bought 1997 Ford Escort Wagon (my brother says we've now entered our 40's)
- sold 1987 Acura Integra (see post "Adios Leslie")

Also, I found my previous Credit Union job and David found his Hardwood Store job on the site. We used it when we were house-hunting and checked out several of the places we found (but I can't remember if we actually found our current house through the site, or not.)

Currently, I am perusing Craigslist for cheap baby furniture and a rug for our living room. Such fun!

You Gotta' Try It!

I'm not sure how my life was complete before I was introduced to this game...

Luckily, David and I decided to join Randy and Sarah on that fateful trip to Mt. Hood a couple of years ago, and that's when it all began. Little did we know that crammed together in a freezing cabin, we would crack open the board game that would change our lives. Huddled around a crude wooden table (pulled as close to the giant stone fireplace as possible) we entered a world of far-away and long-ago.

I'm talking about a little game called The Settlers of Catan!



For those unfamiliar with this entertaining treasure, here's a little synopsis...
Each player has a group of settlers that compete (in a friendly way) for domination of the island of Catan (no violence involved here, peeps.) The goal is to be the first to obtain 10 Victory Points through collection of a variety of resources and the development of a civilization - settlements, roads, cities, armies, etc.



You have to watch out for the sneaky robber too! (Every island needs a scoundrel, right?)



It's tough for me to remember a time when we didn't schedule "Settlers Nights" with various combinations of our friends. What did we even do back then?

Well, I gotta' give props to the Germans for this one! I may not like their harsh language or care for their beer, but they got it right when they created this game!

The Countdown Continues

Baby Rude and I are now at 29 weeks which means we only have 11 more to go! Everyone keeps telling me that the third trimester drags on, but I think it's going quickly! This is probably because I feel like there is so much to do before he arrives (and what if he's early?!) We've already started getting some hand-me-down baby clothes from family and friends - such fun! Here's the ole' belly:



Those vertical stripes aren't fooling anyone! =)

No, Really!

I don't think you understand how much I LOVE citrus fruits right now!



I just ate half of a grapefruit and it was basically the flavor of heaven (with added juiciness.)



My other loves include oranges, limes, tangelos, and tangerines! Is that so wrong?

There could be worse things, right?

David and I got back yesterday from Winter Retreat at Camp Yamhill. I've been a counselor at several different camps and retreats but this was my first time to this particular event. I really enjoyed it (despite the chilly weather - they still had piles of snow and lots of frost everywhere, brrrr.)

I was in a cabin with junior-high girls and was really impressed with their level of spiritual maturity. The topic of the weekend was Peace (with God, self, and others) and all our classes and activities revolved around this subject. We had designated times to meet as a small group and I loved the opportunity to get to know these girls more. Sure, sometimes they wanted to chat about boys and teenage drama, but they were also able to really examine their lives and share ways that they planned to seek true Peace in their lives. You go girls!

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone." Romans 12:18

Adios Leslie!

I said goodbye to an old friend last night. It was a bittersweet farewell. While we had shared some good times together, it was time for me to move on... and besides, we really needed the cash.


Leslie wasn't my First Car. No, that title goes to my little white 1980 Nissan 200SX. It looked similar to the car pictured here - stylin'!



Nevertheless, Leslie and I had been together since I was a senior in high school (which was, like, ages ago!) and she was something special. Allow me to share some fond memories from our years together...

- Leslie was always reliable in taking me to early morning dance team practice and delivering me home after late-night shifts at McDonald's.
- We took friends with us on many trips in the summer to swim in the Calapooia, and she never complained when we got her seats wet with nasty river water.
- It was together that we traveled to Cascade to brave the mysterious world of college and learned to navigate in the "big city."
- She endured some gear-grinding (and possibly some cursing) when I let my roommate use Leslie to learn how to drive a stick-shift.
- We were pulled over only once, when Leslie's right headlight went out. We were left with a warning and I didn't hold it against her.
- One time driving to my parent's house, Leslie started making some weird noises but I didn't stop to check it out. When I got home I discovered I had been dragging her muffler on the ground for much of the trip. I felt bad about that one, but made it up to her with a shiny new muffler.
- Leslie wasn't really high-maintenance, but I did put some of my Mech Tech skills to use (thanks dad, for making me take that class) when we replaced her alternator and performed various maintenance tune-ups.
- When David and I got married in 2004, he welcomed Leslie into our family too, and he's the one who actually christened her with the name. I guess I didn't really call her anything before that - how heartless of me!
- Old Leslie and I endured rush-hour commuting, traveling in the rain and shine (mostly rain), honking at crazy Portland drivers (until her horn stopped working), passing numerous DEQ tests, and various other grand adventures.

Towards the end of our time together, Leslie and I started to grow apart. I was spending more time with Mr. Bigs (our Hyundai) and Leslie was often left alone in front of our house. While I felt bad about this, what could I do? She just wasn't needed anymore... We decided that it was time for her to find a home where she could be truly appreciated.

Several people come look at her but none of them seemed quite right. Finally, a young guy named Shaun came to check her out and he knew at first sight that she was the one for him. He didn't even take her for a test-drive before he asked us if he could take her home. It just seemed right. We watched, with great hope for their future, as they drove away together into the night.



I hope he'll love her as much as I did...

One of my Nerdy Hobbies!

I'm not a complete super-nerd, but I enjoy some activities that push me towards the nerdy end of the scale. I'll admit to taking pleasure in things like: reading for hours on end, scrapbooking, filing receipts and paying bills, making lists, and doing Sudoku puzzles (I like to call it Su-DORK-u!) One hobby that David and I both enjoy is Geocaching. Now, if you know what geocaching is, you totally understand why we love it... but if you're out of the loop, allow me to tell you a bit about it.

Geocaching is like treasure-hunting for grown-ups! It combines hiking/exploring with sluething and discovery. All you need is a GPS unit and access to this website: Basically, participants hide a "cache" and then record details for others to find it. The details might be the exact coordinates where the cache is hidden (longitude and latitude to plug into your GPS) or there may be a series of clues or discoveries you must make to find this information. Some caches just contain a logbook so you can sign that you found it, while others are larger and contain little trinkets that you can trade. (i.e. - I'll leave a friendship bracelet and take a pin shaped like the state of Kansas - score!)

One of the best parts about geocaching is that you can do it almost anywhere. They have caches in downtown metropolitan areas, around most neighborhood, way out in the country, and even the Canadians have caught-on to the craze! We bring our GPS when we go camping or hiking, when we go visit friends out of state, or basically any time we travel.

Photo taken while hunting for a cache in a downtown PDX park:


Taking a break while finding caches in the PDX Rose Garden:


You should check it out, and maybe you'll get hooked like we did!

Farewell Second Trimester!

Hello third trimester! I am happy to be in the downhill stretch of my pregnancy now, although, to be honest, I think it has actually gone by pretty quickly. I guess moving my due date up two weeks helped also (April 10th y'all!) I'm still feeling great and don't have any big complaints. Baby boy is healthy and still growing on track which is a wonderful blessing. He is an active little fella' too! As I type, he is alternating between kicking and pushing my lower left abdomen - I love it!