My Whereabouts

I realize it’s currently well into January, but my last couple of months have been split between work, planning a massive kitchen remodel, and spending as much time as possible with Etta Felice Shupe, my tiniest of friends. Look at those cheeks — don’t they just make you want to DIE? For Jason’s birthday party last Saturday, Etta came dressed to the nines in her iPood shirt, tiny jeans, and pink Chucks that we bought her when she was just a name that we were forced to keep secret for months and a speck on a sonogram. And yeah, that is a tiny anchor tattoo.

Etta is the offspring of our BFFs, Kelsey and Justin. We met these crazy kids back in 2008, when we started talking online, then had our first date at Brewer’s Alley downtown. The rest was history. We take turns helping with each other’s home improvement projects (Justin was the brains behind our bathroom remodel and we helped tackle their hardwood floors and bedroom). Kelsey and I drag the men to Asian restaurants and Ikea. And we got to watch Kelsey’s belly grow bigger and bigger last year and met Etta her first day in the world as we know it. Here they are during our trip to Brooklyn.

Etta is one of those kids that really, really makes you want to have a kid. She’s also one of those kids that makes your mom really, really want a grandkid, so you’ve got to be careful when introducing the two. (Found out the hard way).

It’s hard to find a picture of NOT making the wide-eyed I’M-GONNA-STEAL-YOUR-BABY face, so this was the best I’ve been able to do, on the day of her baptism.

Anyway, I plan on posting much more from now on because this is a big year for the Henley Abode. First and foremost, my *ahem* GENEROUS parents gave us a kitchen remodel for Christmas. Like, an entire new kitchen. We are knocking out the wall between the dining room and kitchen to make way for a breakfast bar and glass cabinets, completely replacing all of the cabinets, installing some sexy granite that we possibly picked based solely on its name–Blanc Noir, and getting all new appliances. Did I mention we are making way for a DISH WASHER?! Yeah, we will soon be the proud owners of a MACHINE THAT WASHES YOUR DISHES FOR YOU. Because it’s 2010–the FUTURE! I plan on our relationship improving around 87% based solely on its existence.

On Saturday, we begin the demolition process, along with the help of aforementioned friends. Etta won’t be of much use, but maybe we can get her a tiny sledgehammer and get her into the DIY way of life. Her mom makes her own laundry detergent, after all.

We will be documenting this whole crazy process, so stay tuned.