Furniture Re-Vamp

Here are some pics from my furniture re-finishing projects... YAY for pinterest! I found both of these pieces at local thrift shops for mere pennies!! And, they turned out to be beautiful accent pieces in Miss Morgan's Room!

Well, I cannot find all the tutorials that I read through before starting these projects, but I can say I have learned A LOT about paint and several techniques to distress and re-finish furniture. Here are some things I have learned:

- You can't use an oil based stain to glaze latex paint....

- Spray Paint is awesome

- Acrylic craft paint is worthless! Never buying that again! (Samples of Latex Paint at Lowes or Home Depot -- SAME price, MORE colors, BETTER paint!)

- Just DIVE in -- You can always re-paint!

-Damaged wood veneer can be patched but is a TOTAL pain! I recommend trying to find something without peeling veneer if you're a first timer

So, For the first two projects (the night stand and the bookshelf) I used a technique  I found on pinterest that uses spray paint. It was by FAR the easiest most FAIL PROOF method I tried! It is very simple.

-SAND old paint off

-STAIN (It does not have to be perfect you're gonna paint over it!)

-PRIME USING KILZ BRAND SPRAY PRIMER (My tutorial said this brand and step was a MUST!) 

-SPRAY PAINT 

-SAND - This is where you distress as MUCH or as LITTLE as you like!

-GLAZE if you like - They have all sorts of glazes but I used the stain I already had -- Worked GREAT slop on -- Wipe OFF

On the chest of drawers ... I tried the vaseline technique. I found this to be MUCH more difficult! 

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TUTORIALS I READ

http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/2010/09/aging-is-so-distressing-techniques-for.html

http://downtoearthstyle.blogspot.com/2012/01/salvaged-frame.html

I got a little excited and did not get a total before pic...
But, It was painted with BLACK chalk paint... Horrible

Modge Podge Drawer liners -- The inside of the drawers were GROSS

Stained Top

In the thrift shop! 

REMOVED the cardboard backing

Staining shelves

My little HELPER -- Pardon his clothes or LACK THEREOF!
(I was afraid he was going to get paint on his clothes!)

New bead board backing I made --

With the back complete

This was paint job #1 --- Pink with a gold glaze... I HATED it!

The re-paint --- Still not 100% Happy with it. But it's better!
This is latex paint with the vaseline distressing technique and stain glaze
(which apparently inhibited the latex paint from curing properly... OOPS!)

Here are the pieces in the finished room

Full Term

This week marks the "full term" point of pregnancy!! We are SOOOO thankful for everyone's prayers, and believe that God has truly watched over both of us throughout this pregnancy! I have continued to see the high-risk OB throughout the pregnancy, and they are monitoring me very closely for the complications that caused Jacob's early arrival! Miss Morgan is having testing done 2x per week, and so far has been doing great! She weighed 5 lbs 9 oz at our check up last week, and I am looking forward to Friday when they check her weight again. (They are able to get an approximate weight using measurements taken through ultrasound -- Her head, belly, and femur are measured and a formula is used to come up with a weight. Really amazing if you ask me!

Today, we officially booked a repeat c-section for July 2nd, but we are hoping and praying this little girl decides to make her exit voluntarily before then!! This Momma does NOT want to be cut on again!! SO, We are thankful for each of your prayers for keeping this baby in as long as possible, and we request your help praying that she will continue to grow, her lungs and sucking reflexes will continue to develop, and for a safe, healthy "spontaneous" delivery!

Here is what the books say:

Week 37:I can see the finish line!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 37

~length
19 in | 48 cm

~weight
6.3 lbs | 2.8 kg

If you haven't yet delivered, you've reached the calm before the storm. You're probably monitoring your body for those first Early Labor symptoms and wondering what you've forgotten.

Your smooshed-up baby is weighing in at around 6.3 lbs and 19 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls).

As far as their internal organs go, your adorable poop and blood factory has reached "term" - a medical term that means your sweet little bun is birth-ready and labor is welcome and normal at this point.

Despite being physically ready to land on planet Earth, your baby's immune system is quite weak and will continue to be that way for their first years of life.

Thankfully, your breast milk (aka "boob medicine") protects your child via protective antibodies that are present in your breast milk.

Maternity Pictures

Since Jacob made his arrival 11 weeks early there was no time to get maternity pictures taken (not to mention at 29 weeks I barely looked pregnant)! So, My very generous sister-in-law offered to ta/ke some maternity pictures for us this go around! It was a tough job with a cranky two-year old and a jet-lagged Mister (Jason flew in from Germany the night before), but she did a great job!

I just LOVE this one!

This pictures captures our little "wild man" PERFECTLY!

One of my favorites!

LOVE THIS prop for MISS MORGAN!!

Hanging out with Mr Jacob

Just hanging out in the backyard -- "OUTSIDE" --- with our little man! He loves it outside, and would LIVE out there if I let him!

You can practically SEE him saying "CHEESE" 

He likes to push as much as he likes to ride

He just LOVES his power wheels 4-wheeler Aunt Casey and
Uncle Shane got him for Christmas

Another one of his absolute FAVORITE toys... THANKS Aunt Jane and Aunt Gail!

Daddy taught him to stick his tongue out... He does it all the time now!