Our Little Guy's Nursery

Well, I am happy to report that the baby's nursery is about done, or at least as done as it's going to be before he's born. I think it turned out to be a fun room. It was so nice to decorate with boy colors, though I have to tell you that it was so much harder to find things to put in the room or on the walls than with the girls' rooms. So, I had to be creative and make pretty much all of it. So, it has kept me very busy the past few weeks. 

The crib bedding set that I had for the girls was neutral enough to use for a boy but I was so sick of it after two kids. So, I looked for a long time for a new bedding set but the problem was that I couldn't justify spending very much since I already had one that would work (and I'm cheap). So, I FINALLY found a set that was perfect when I was at a thrift store in Spokane. I got the bumper and crib skirt (that originally retailed for $200) for a whopping $8.00! Then I found a few crib sheets that matched. But that meant I only had a few weeks to get the room put together after we got home from all of our summer trips. So, I used the furniture we already had and did a lot of projects to complete the room, such as recovering the chair, covering the lampshade, making a pennant banner and all other wall decor, and spray painting things to make it work in the room. I still have a few things to get such as a rug that I am holding out for from IKEA and other fillers, and possibly painting the walls in the future. But for now, I am happy with it.

But, I think our little guy will like it and I will enjoy the many hours I will spend in there over the next few months.

I love that the bedding is a simple polka dots and stripes in retro-like colors.

How cute are the embroidered animals on the soft inside?

I have since painted the baskets red.

Our Upcoming Arrival...

We have only 6 DAYS left until we get to meet our newest addition!!! The big day (scheduled c-section) is set for this coming Thursday, September 1st. I am getting so excited and nervous all at the same time. I really like knowing the exact date- it makes it easy for my mom and sister to get time off of work to take over the girls, I can have everything clean and ready, laundry done, and I know that I don't have to go past my due date (since I think my kids would come out as toddlers if it was up to them). But on the other hand, I think there is a little more anxiety knowing exactly when it will happen as compared with the excitement of it spontaneously happening. But it's worth it to have the scheduled c-section as opposed to me being in the hospital/ in labor for two full days before ending up with a cesarean as with Makenna. I would prefer to just skip to the end so that I am not so tired by the time the baby is actually born. I know I will feel relieved when I hear him cry and see that he is healthy. And I'm thrilled that we are so close to that amazing moment.


This pregnancy has gone really smoothly. The worst part was the first trimester because I actually had morning sickness this time and I had 3 flus and 2 colds in the first few weeks. But since then, it has gone without a hitch. I have really felt good and have kept active with our trips and keeping up with my two busy girls. It has been nice to be pregnant in the summer because I have been able to be outside a lot, stay active, and have my amazing husband to relieve many of my duties. And I really haven't been overly hot and I still have ankles (you know what I'm talking about if you've been pregnant before)!!!  I am carrying straight out front this time so I haven't had back pain or pelvic pain, which I'm grateful for (though I stick out plenty far). The worst part has probably been my burning ribs (which has subsided the past few weeks) that the doctor says is due to my ribs extending out to make room for my growing uterus which results in nerve pain- darn my short torso. 


This little guy has been very active, which is my favorite part of pregnancy. We have some good little chats- I talk to him, he kicks back. :) I can tell his living quarters are getting really cramped now though. I have new stretch marks on only the one side of my stomach where I can always feel his back and bum. Awesome. (I have plenty more from my last two pregnancies. I'm one of those lucky people. We call them my tiger stripes.) But with every movement at this point, it makes me so excited to kiss those little feet and elbows that I can feel. I am curious what he'll look like. I seem to picture a little Travis, so we'll have to see. 


As for a name, we are still deciding. We have four names we really like and probably won't commit to one until after we see him. Maybe the pressure of it at that point will force us to make a decision. We have kept the names to ourselves for the most part for a few reasons: 1) People are so opinionated about names and we want to pick the name based on our opinion and not others.  2) We know the gender and the exact day this baby will be born, so this is our one surprise. So, stay tuned until next week. :)


Here are some belly shots over the last few months to show how much I've grown since this post. I have taken a few pictures throughout the pictures but just haven't posted them. You can see how much I am sticking out. I don't think I can stretch much more.

29 weeks at Coeur d' Alene Lake 

(Yes, in my swim suit- just what I always wanted to post a picture of?)

31 Weeks on my birthday

(I think I look huge in this picture.) 

 34 Weeks at Alturus Lake

 36.5 Weeks

(And yes, I am in my pajamas. My dignity was gone long ago.)

3 days ago at 38 Weeks

Whoa- does it look like I'm hiding a basketball or maybe a beach ball under my shirt?

NEXT POST: The Nursery!

Back to School

Well, it's that time of year again.... BACK TO SCHOOL. I was sad that it came so soon but Makenna was excited and we were ready for the routine. Makenna is in FIRST GRADE this year! It makes me sad that from here on out, she will be in school all day every day. But she is ready. 


We started it all off with school shopping. I actually let her pick out a few things this year. I am not big into buying a bunch of clothes just because school is starting- I don't think it's that necessary especially where the first six weeks it's still summer. But it was cute to let her pick a few shirts out. She was very particular. Then we had her back-to-school night the evening before school started which made Makenna really excited. And finally, the first day of school came and with a backpack FULL of supplies and a new start in the air (and many pictures later), we headed to school. She wasn't the least bit nervous and wouldn't even give me a kiss in her classroom (sniff, sniff). 


And she is loving it. She is definitely getting used to going all day every day and having homework, but school is her thing. She's such a good little student and LOVES playing with all of her cute little friends at recess (Lately she has been playing cheerleader). 


Her class is heavy on boys (which I'm not too thrilled about just because I've been there- boys have soooo much energy at this age). So the teacher is being strict (which is great) to try to train the class to follow the rules. So if they aren't listening after being warned, they get their name on the board and have to stay in for 5 minutes at recess. Well Makenna, my VERY CONSCIENTIOUS STUDENT, is very concerned about NOT getting her name on the board (which is a good thing). But, I worry that if she ever did get her name on the board it would crush her. So, after the second day of school, I had to explain to her that if she did forget to put her pencil down or stop talking and happened to get her name on the board, it would be okay. It would just be a reminder to work at listening to the teacher. So, then she came home yesterday and said "Maybe I do want my name on the board so that I can stay in our nice cool classroom instead of being so hot at recess." Uh oh. (But very clever.) Luckily, I know she wouldn't really do that. But it made me laugh. 


When I dropped her off at school yesterday, we got there a little early and I asked if she wanted to go play. Last year, she NEVER would go play- I had to either walk her in the school or wait in the car with her. But this time she told me that she saw a few of her friends so she wanted to go play. When she got to the gate, a group of her friends had gathered to meet her. They all stood around and talked with their cute outfits and backpacks, and then slowly made their way to the school. It cracked me up. I felt like I was looking at little junior high students. It's so weird to see my baby growing up but so exciting at the same time. She just seems to just get more and more fun.  Good luck in first grade sweet Makenna!!!

HADLEY'S FIRST DAY OF "PRESCHOOL"

Poor Hadley was feeling left out on all of the school excitement. So, since I am working with her this year with preschool skills, we made a big deal of her first day of "school" at home the same day as Makenna's first day. Hadley got to pick out a few school supplies and we took a few pictures of her too. She loved "school". We are starting with basic handwriting skills and following directions, but she was so proud the entire time. And she looked at me and said, "I am having so much fun with school." 

And here is Hadley trying to figure out what to do without her play buddy all. day. long...

At the lake...

One of my favorite weeks of the year has come and gone way too quickly. I look forward to our week at Alturus Lake in the amazing Sawtooth Mountains every year. You can always find us the last week of July at the lake doing the same thing we've done for the last umpteen years. No need to change what's perfect. (Except I have to admit with kids, it's not as carefree as it once was. Sigh.) But it is still is so relaxing and fun all at the same time. We have camped there for many years with my mom's side of the family. And we love spending time with everyone, especially now that all of us cousins are older with lives of our own. The girls LOVE playing with their cousins non-stop and seem to never get sick of each other, just like we all used to and still do. We have created so many great memories here at Alturus which is why we all seem to cherish our time here each year.

         Little Surfer Babe

Heading out for an evening boat ride:

Enjoying some girl time on the back of the boat

                                                               BATH TIME!

A serious game of Blokus

Dancing in the rain

Their cozy bed in the plush trailer

Family Time and the Big 6-0

We spent a week with the Pincock fam in July. We kept busy playing with cousins, watching movies outside, swimming, playing miniature golf, going to the movies, and celebrating Richard's big 60th birthday. 

Reading with Grandma

Movie time in the back yard. So fun!!!

These three were loving Funbrain games.

MINIATURE GOLF

Travis wanted me to add that Trevor took last place. (Seriously, these guys are SO competitive.) 

RICHARD'S 6OTH BIRTHDAY

The day started with the guys and Maddy all running a 5K with Chard, which he took 2nd for his age group.

CassieAnn made all of the kids these cute tie-dye shirts for the big day. 

Richard got to open 60 presents of things that represented him or memories that we all had of him. He had lots of helpers to unwrap all of the presents.

60 cupcakes and candles to blow out