On top of everything else... the guy can paint

It's a bizarre and foreign experience for me to be pregnant and actually have my husband be excited about it. It boggles my mind when he says... "hey, wanna spend MY day off shopping for baby clothes? Or a stroller/car seat? Or cute little knit headbands with big flowers and bows?"

"We don't have to" I say. "I bet you can think of at least 20 other activities you'd rather do today" "No way, Jose" is the reply. "I have been looking forward to this all my life" he says and then I melt into a puddle of mush on the floor. I am just used to doing all that getting ready for a new baby stuff by myself.

So imagine my complete surprise when one day we had a conversation that went something like this...

R- I only have 12 weeks to get the baby's room painted.

K- Yes 12 weeks (I say behind a magazine, so he can't see me smiling at his cuteness)

R- I need for you to pick the color

K- Um.... pink???

R- Naturally, but which one? I have several swatches here, (that at some earlier point he'd picked up from the local paint store) which one do you like best?

K- That "melony" one

R- Me too-- that is the color I would choose. What is a good accent color?

K- Um..... (you know me and decisions) um.... um.... brown?

R- Yes! Yes! Like this one here? (out comes a delightful little brown colored swatch)

K- Very complimentary (I say, indulging the little game)

R- And now for a third?

K- EEEE Gad, Ral. Three colors?

R- Yes.... I have plans

K- Light green, I guess.

R- LLLIIIKKKKEEE this one? (again the perfect color)


K- Yep, just like that one. What is your plan?


R- 3 walls in the melon color. And an accent wall...... WITH AN ARGYLE PATTERN. ( and the excitement on his face was unbelievable.) I have been researching on line... I know exactly how to do it and I have to get started if I am going to finish in time.

K- Oh sweetheart... (I say trying not to burst his bubble) that will be so hard. Diamonds are geometrically difficult shapes. This will involve math, and precision and stencilling for crying out loud. It will be an overwhelming task. You will get all frustrated. It takes a lot of patience and if the lines aren't perfect, it will look very..... well...... not good. And I don't want to come home from work to find you throwing little tiny brushes all over the house and yelling obscenities.


R- I am a very patient person. I am good at math. I don't yell obscenities or throw things. I have a few skills you know. I would like to give this a shot.


K- Okay, but the second you lose your temper, and you will, as painting is a temper losing stimulant, I will shut this thing down and ALL four walls will be that cute melon color. Okay?


R- Okay, ye of little faith... but you are going to be so proud of me. Just watch.

So over the course of the next 5 days, I watched that boring wall transform into the most beautiful wall of argyle that I have ever seen. Perfectly painted lines. Perfectly stenciled dashes (which were done with a stencil that he made himself because he couldn't find one he liked at any of the craft stores he went to) A perfectly perfectly painted baby's room and we don't even have the darling crib in there yet. Done by a perfectly perfect painter. Who is going to be the perfectly perfect daddy to this little girl. She will be dizzy with all the shapes in her room and will be mesmerized by the vibrance of the color. But, how could she not love it? And how can I not brag to everyone I know about the little known painting genius that lives right here in my house? Seriously... he is the greatest of my treasures.















I helped a little bit here and there.

He began by offering a prayer to the Argyle Gods. Oh bless me God of Geometry, Goddess of Diamonds and Princess of Blue Tape.

The final photo to come as soon a the crib arrives and the bedding is found... Um yeah... we are going to try and get everything to match. Wish us luck.

P.S. HE DIDN'T EVEN LOSE HIS TEMPER ONE TIME. NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT