Last Days of School

Brody's last week of school was back at the end of May, and Evan has been out of school for a week now.  For Brody's last days of his first year of preschool, Mommy and Daddy enjoyed going to eat lunch with him.  It was supposed to be a picnic outside, but due to a recent rain, the playground area was still too wet so we enjoyed an indoor picnic.  He was so sweet because he kept taking things to one of his teachers to show her and just showed how much he had grown to love them this year.  He gave his teachers some sweet treats that Mommy prepared for them, and we received some really sweet little art projects and a special book that summarized his year.  We are looking forward to many more "successful" years of school ahead of him.

Brody enjoying his yummy lunch from Chick-fil-a.  He pretty much eats a "picnic-like" lunch everyday so we thought this was more of a treat for him.  

Daddy helping Brody eat his ice cream treat. 

I love his expression here.  Silly boy!

Cutie pie. 

For big brother Evan's last week of kindergarten, they had lots of activities.  Daddy went to see their cute little ocean themed parade, Evan had his first field day activities, and we enjoyed watching his class' poetry recital.  He had worked so hard to memorize his poem entitled "Celebrating Our Flag."

Evan and his friend, James, show off their ocean themed hats.  

Getting ready for the parade to start. 

Evan wearing his sea turtle hat.

They are ready to make a splash into first grade!

This class did a crab theme. 

And this one made colorful jellyfish. 

Walking out onto the field. 

Sitting with his class watching the other classes parade past. 

Evan was chosen to go get their class' reward. 

He ran so fast he lost his hat. 

And had to go back and get it.  Silly boys!

Evan is ready to recite his poem. 

First, they all said a poem together. 

Refreshment time.  That's the first thing he did when the program was over...run to get drink and cookies.  He didn't care about coming to see his Mommy, Daddy, and little brother.  Haha!

Have to turn the volume way up to hear this one because the camera man was pretty far from him.

Our Summer Bucket List

I decided I needed some inspiration for things to do this summer with the kids.  Yes, I know there will be a new baby, but I cannot let my other two kids sit in the house all summer and not do anything fun.  Luckily, Daddy will be home with us too so we will all get to have some fun!  I think most of the things on this list are things we can all enjoy doing together while staying close to home and with very little expense.

What is on your list of fun things to do in the summer?

38 Weeks

Picture taken Sunday, June 9, 2013

With just about 2 weeks to go before Mattie's due date (from my history, I am not expecting to go into labor before or even on my due date so I am sure we'll have at least 2 more full weeks before Mattie arrives), we are all getting very excited to meet this little one.  With only a couple more touches to add to the nursery, we are about as ready as we'll be.  I washed all the clothes and bedding last weekend except for the things we got this week from Mommy's co-workers.  Mattie should weigh over 6 pounds and may be over 20 inches long.  My doctor predicts she'll weigh closer to Brody's weight (8 lbs. 9 oz.) than Evan's (6 lbs. 4 oz.) judging by my measurements so we'll see.  I would be okay with somewhere in the middle.  

Weight Gain:  Just big.  *Sigh*

Maternity Clothes:  Barely...even some of those are getting tight and shirts are getting shorter.  

Sleep: I wish I could sleep all the time, but it really isn't restful since I wake up with intense back and hip pain and have to constantly switch sides.  I just feel like I am so stiff when I get up that I can barely move.  

Best Moment of this Week:  Getting some new things for Baby Mattie including cute blankets, gowns and sleepers, onesies, and a cute new owl silky (Brody's favorite). 

Shower gifts!

Movement:   Making Mommy's belly do some weird things now like she's got an alien trying to come out.  Ha! I know that her environment is getting a lot more cramped though.   

Food Cravings:  Last week, I saw an advertisement for Dairy Queen's new smores blizzard and just had to have one (never underestimate the power of advertising).  I enjoyed about half of it before it just became too sweet.  That is generally the way I always feel about Dairy Queen.  

Food Aversions:  Nothing really although Zantac is my best friend lately.

What I Miss:  Energy...I've definitely been running low! 

Gender:  Sweet baby girl to join a house full of boys!

Symptoms: Heartburn, back and hip pain, and some Braxton Hicks contractions are the primary symptoms.  I went to the doctor last Friday for a check and still no real progress.  

What I'm looking forward to:  Getting through the next week of work (probably my last) and then seeing what the doctor says on my due date!

Dear Mattie:

We are so close to meeting!  I can't believe it.  It really has gone pretty fast, and I know you must be running out of room in there.  We will welcome you anytime you feel ready to make your entrance although I'd prefer no "surprises" while I am at work or in public.  Haha!  We love you and can't wait to finally meet you!  

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, and big brothers

Blogger's Guilt?

Yep, I’ve got it.  I don’t mean to be an absentee blogger.  Usually, I can at least get one or two entries out a week, and I have entries to write (Evan’s last week of kindergarten activities, end of coach pitch baseball season, pregnancy post update, etc.).  I just haven’t been feeling up to it.  I guess I am getting close to “E” and need to fill up my tank.  Haha!  Maybe I can blame it on the weather.  It’s been pretty crazy here.  Lots of rain and flash flood warnings this past week.  I know all our neighbors on the east coast will be glad for some sunshine today.  It hasn't been too bad at our house, but yesterday, we had some pretty severe storms (no tornadoes in our area thank goodness) that took out some trees and dropped more rain on us.  Today is beautiful and sunny though (a little on the warm side but I’ll try not to complain).  Eddie is getting to spend the day outside with the kids while I am at work (no I’m not bitter much).  My co-workers took me to lunch and gave me some sweet gifts for baby so that was a nice bonus today.  This weekend, I probably could have gotten more done.  We only have a few little projects left on the baby’s room and then hopefully you’ll get to see it in all its “pink” glory.  I am trying to start some light summer reading as I have so many books I would like to catch up on since I haven’t been able to enjoy more leisure reading the last few years.  I am enjoying another Nicholas Sparks book right now just for fun.  I usually just buy books for my kindle now, but if the boys see me with it, they both want to get it and play games.  I guess I am going to have to buy them one so I can enjoy mine again.  Haha! 

I’ll try to get more posts up soon, but here are a few recent pictures from my phone in the meantime.  

Last week, Daddy the forester had to do a presentation in the cute little Town of Matthews to present them with their annual Tree City USA award.  The meeting was in the Town Hall building which is just the nicest and most adorable Town Hall set in a square with some cute shops and restaurants.  Evan discovered that the library was still open so he wanted to hang out during Daddy's meeting.  Matthews is an old southern railroad town, and Brody found this little wooden train to climb in. 

Brody enjoyed "riding" on the tractors at Lowe's as much as his big brother did at his age.  

And Evan still begs to "ride" the tractors every time we enter this store.

And they both enjoyed the double car cart at Home Depot during one of our recent trips getting supplies for the nursery projects.  That is Brody's newest "cheese" face when he sees us taking his picture.  

Brody has been loving getting hold of our phones and taking pictures.  He got this great shot of daddy! 

And he also got this cute shot of Evan at Chick-fil-a.  Evan was holding Brody's little giraffe and teasing him with it. 

Brody had a little help with this one because he was mostly taking pictures of the floor and people's feet.  This was at Evan's end of year class poetry recital.  We were so proud of big brother! 

Big boy likes to help daddy mow the grass. 

One of the many trees that suffered damage from the storm yesterday.  Nothing too serious though.  

And this was a nice reminder in my fortune cookie last week on one of my lunch dates with Eddie.

Memorial Day Pool Break

After a pretty busy and tiring weekend working on the baby's room, Mommy and Daddy thought some "relaxing" time by the pool was in order.  No, Mommy did not get in the pool this time and probably will not until after Baby Mattie arrives, but she enjoyed soaking her feet in the cool water.  The pool water was actually still a little chilly, but it was a very warm day outside.  Brody enjoyed playing with some school friends in the baby pool, and Evan met up with some buddies in the big pool.  After a lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill, Brody enjoyed napping with Mommy in the shade.  What could be better than a nap by the pool?

Brody enjoyed the water in the little pool.  It was so cute to see him standing up and walking around in it because last year he was barely walking and had to be more carefully supervised. 

Brody playing with his little girlfriend, Sierra, from school. 

He found a bucket so he's content. 

Brody and his school friend, William, playing together.  Well, William tried to play with Brody.  

Brody especially enjoyed playing with Daddy in the big pool. 

Evan insist on still using his arm floats.  Hopefully after swim lessons this month, he'll get the confidence he needs. 

This one prefers floating on his back. 

Sweet silly boy.  I tried to make him take the arm bands off in the shallow end, but when I removed them, he just got out. 

I think this one wanted to get out and get warmed up.  That water was cold!

Enjoying his nice nap in the shade. 

Brody's Big Boy Bed

Last weekend, Memorial Day weekend, we spent a lot of time working on Baby Mattie's new room which is currently Brody's room.  Since Daddy painted, we thought it would be best to let Brody try sleeping in his bed in big brother's room to let the paint smell have time to dissipate.  We purchased a bed rail to hopefully help keep him in the bed and make it less tempting for him to get up in the middle of the night.  We don't want to fully switch him to the new bed until big brother is out of school (this is his last week of kindergarten!) because Evan gets up earlier than Brody needs to.  Daddy got Brody to sleep on Saturday night and carefully tucked him into his new bed with his cute little car and truck themed sheets.  Unfortunately, he did wake up a few times and come into our room, but he finally settled down and slept through the night.  He definitely proved he can get himself out of the bed, but hopefully, he will learn to enjoy sleeping in his new bed.

Our little man is growing up!

Lying down with his superhero firefighting big brother.  I am sure that made him feel very safe!  

36 Weeks & Nursery Sneak Peek

Yes, you get to see this momma in her pajamas, but this is just the most comfortable attire for me right now.  By the time I get ready in the morning, I am too exhausted to take pictures, and by the time I get home, I just want to get as comfortable as possible.  So here I am!  And yes, you get a little peek at the nursery progress.

With just about 4 weeks to go before Mattie's due date, I think Daddy has started nesting.  He was determined to get a lot done on this long holiday weekend.  Mommy also worked on some special projects for Mattie the last couple of weeks, and she thinks they turned out as well as she planned.  Mattie should weigh close to 6 pounds and may be as long as 20 inches.  We hope she continues putting on the pounds (um, ounces) the next few weeks. 

Weight Gain:  I think I'm done with this one.  I'm just big.  Ha!

Maternity Clothes:  Oh yes...and pajamas!  Wearing primarily dresses and skirts for work and enjoying shorts and tanks on the weekends.   

Sleep: About the same.  Still pretty rough because of pretty intense back and hip pain.  I wake up every few hours to change sides.  I haven't had any severe leg cramping lately though so there's some good news.  It is harder to get out of bed though, and I feel like I am so stiff when I get up that I can barely move.  

Best Moment of this Week:  Enjoying coming home earlier every night and just spending quality time with my boys.  We also enjoyed the progress on the nursery although we were all exhausted from the hard work. 

Movement:   Making Mommy's belly do some weird things now like she's got an alien trying to come out.  Ha! I know that her environment is getting a lot more cramped though.   

Food Cravings:  Ice cream and other cool treats on these much warmer days. 

Food Aversions:  Nothing really although Zantac is my best friend lately.

What I Miss:  Energy! 

Gender:  Sweet baby girl to join a house full of boys!

Symptoms: Heartburn, back and hip pain, and some Braxton Hicks contractions are the primary symptoms.

What I'm looking forward to:  Getting through the next few weeks so we can meet this little one!

And I'd be so mean if I didn't give you a few sneak peeks of the progress although I don't want to reveal too much yet:

Daddy and Evan work on a special project. 

And Evan got to use the staple gun.  Yikes!

Painting some pink!

Hair bows and a sweet bow holder handmade by Mommy, Daddy, and Evan!

A sweet little chandelier to cast a romantic glow in the room. 

And some bunnies found their way in for a special project. 

A sweet free printable Mommy made online. 

Since we put the new car seat cover on the car seat, Brody's baby has resided in it.  He likes to kiss her goodnight. 

And then he tries to sit on her.  Oops!

Putting her bow back on.  Such a sweet big brother!