Random Thoughts on New Year's Eve

As I sit and type this, my body is telling me I am not tired....who would have thought I would still be up at 10:15 New Year's Eve?!

Justin and I were talking tonight about how our lives have changed just in the past five years! We remember when I first moved to Illinois, how we always had to go out for New Year's and bring in the new year with a few cocktails.

We also talked about our memories in Joliet at Bobby's Tap one year--I think that was the year we walked home and made a pit-stop and the infamous Joe's Hot Dogs for some late night snacks!

This year has definitely been one to remember and we are looking forward to 2011!! We lost my mom's mother on September 23rd (seems just like yesterday). My mom's mother was here in Lincoln at Madonna Rehabilitation Center and there wasn't a day that went by that we didn't stop and visit...Kayin even knew the directions coming home from daycare. The day she headed home in June was bittersweet--so lucky she was able to go home for some time, but yet hard on us to not have those visits with her at Madonna. When word came that she had to have another surgery three months later, we knew she had a tough road to fight. She fought until she had no more fight in her... she had family by her side the whole time supporting her.

Our little bundle of joy will arrive sometime in February and if all goes well, his birth day will be February 22nd. It's kind of crazy to think that we are having a boy...we are hoping I can make it to full term without going on bedrest. Kayin is looking forward to being a big sister and keeps asking if I "am done making him yet"!

Christmas Eve, my brother and his wife announced that they are expecting a baby in July!!! We couldn't be happier!!! Kayin will have lots of practice by then!

We hope to post some pictures soon! We went through our camera and realized it's been some time since we have put any up!

Handy Hands

Justin scored this 9-drawer dresser at a garage sale this summer and it has found a PERFECT home in Kayin's new bedroom!! With a little bit of TLC, a couple coats of paint, and new drawer pulls, it has turned out quite cute!! I will post before and after pics next!!
Tried to get her doing the "Vanna White" pose but this is as good as it got. :)
Kayin was insistent on helping us put on the drawer pulls...and she did a great job!!
Daddy even let her help with the drill a little bit!
Can't seem to get enough Harper pictures on here...he was laying down behind the chair downstairs and the pile of hang up clothes fell on him. As you can tell, it bothered him quite a bit...NOT!!!

Tis The Season

My attempt at redoing our wreath for the front door--got the idea from my sister-in-law and added a few different touches...if only I could find battery operated white lights to put in it!



I came upstairs from doing laundry and to my surprise, found not only Kayin snuggled up in her new blanket...but Harper too!! Can't you just sense the EXCITEMENT in his eyes?"Baking day with a friend...Nutter Butter Santas!! So cute and SOOOOOO EASY!!
An assortment of the ingredients...this doesn't include my pile of "junk"!

Redecorating Part 2

Kayin playing with her Little Tikes Nativity Scene...although I try and put them in the correct spots, she would much rather just play with them.
In the midst of making room for the new baby in the house, we had to do some rearranging. Kayin is now downstairs and LOVING IT!!! The headboard and footboard came from a salvage find from my husband. We painted them up and they look brand new! Her dresser was another garage sale find that we painted...lots of storage and perfect for all of her clothes!

Redecorating

We have been planning and deciding on lots of little things for the lil' man's bedroom and I think we have finally agreed on major decisions...one being his name!!We aren't telling the name until he is born (but if you are close, most likely, Kayin will tell you his name). When Kayin was born I scored some wooden letters at Hobby Lobby and painted them to go with her bedding. Fortunately, as I was walking around Hobby Lobby last weekend on Black Friday, I scored...AGAIN!!! This time, the letters are finished with an antique look and all we have to do is hang them on the wall!!! And yes, for those of you who are guessing, his first name will start with a "K"...and don't worry, the sex hasn't changed! It was confirmed again last week with another ultrasound.
I have been reading a blog of a friend and they are adopting a little boy from Ethopia and she recently made a mobile for his room. I got this idea from her and although it took a little longer to make, we are completely in LOVE with it!! His room is really starting to come together and we can't wait to see all the pieces in place!
If you couldn't tell by the vintage name sign, we are going with a vintage/antique look in the room. I scored these at my parents place...planning on filling them with marbles or something of that sort, but they are awfully hard to come by.
When we found out we were having a girl the first time around, we had no problem picking out bedding (a shout of to Pottery Barn Kids) and coordinating accents. However, this time around, it was proving to a daunting task. Justin suggested this fabric and as I kept looking at it, it grew on me! So, we bought enough yards to make curtains, a bed skirt, and a crib bumper...on my grandma's sewing machine that I acquired right before she passed away.
These are the curtains with the pattern fabric at the bottom. We were going to paint the room, but with all the accessories, it's coming together!

Pregnancy

26 weeks and counting...and yes, I still have 16 weeks to go. Not sure how considering I am continuing to grow at a fast pace. With our first pregnancy, I was really good with emailing everyone pictures on a weekly basis. However, now with our family blog and facebook capabilities, that doesn't happen. This pregnancy has proven to be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the first one!

* I had some difficulties with spotting until around 16-weeks

* Continue to have "morning sickness" (although I have it morning, noon, and night)

* Was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (which has had its perks...have lost weight due to really watching what I am eating). Numbers aren't horrible and OBGYN isn't too concerned, but being preventive before the possibility of them getting that way.

* Starting to have the oddest cravings...didn't really have any with Kayin--just wanted fruit and salad ALL THE TIME with her. Don't even want to tell you what I have been craving with this lil' guy!

* Tired ALL THE TIME

* My boobs....well, they HURT and we are hoping that it's a good sign (hopefully this time I will be able to breastfeed and won't be too stressed out for my milk not to come in...with Kayin, there were so many things going on that my milk never did come in)

* Having some major back issues early on in the pregnancy has sent me to Motherhood Maternity for a fashion "belt" for bellies....but I am telling you, the sucker WORKS!!! Takes so much pressure off my back and actually has helped me walk !

The list could go on and on but considering that the time change happened last night and it is really 9:30 instead of 8:30 I see on our clocks...I better get to bed! That's the other thing...did I mention I am TIRED ALL THE TIME??!!

Halloween

Mommy wasn't feeling the greatest on Halloween, hence the number of pictures. Kayin insisted on being a Husker cheerleader since, oh, about March. About a week before Halloween, changed her mind and wanted to be a Pink Princess. Although we didn't get a home-made costume this year from Nana (nobody to blame but an indecisive 3 1/2 year old) we pulled through with a flowergirl dress she wore in my brother's wedding a year and a half ago. Not to bad for putting it together three days before Halloween, huh?!

Oh where, oh where, did our camera go??
I was out of commission for a couple of days this week due to the baby growing and putting major pressure on my lower back...severe BACK PAIN (and just a little over half-way there....so hoping we make it to at least 38 weeks) and I wanted to post some belly pictures, Kayin pictures, and family pictures. However, we, for the life of us, can't find our camera!!! So, if you see one laying around, PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!

I wonder where my blog could be? Did it disappear? Did it run away from neglect?

Have you ever felt so totally overwhelmed that things get pushed off and off and then as you are reading up on everyone's blog you take a look at yours and realize it has been about a month and a half of not touching it??!!

We are here...I PROMISE!!!

I'm pretty sure with the death of my sweet grandmother, "morning sickness" (although I get it throughout the day still), meetings before/during/and after school, Husker football, a list a mile long for Fall break, and about 100 million other little things there just doesn't seem to be enough time for it all!!

I should probably be trying to rest since I have recently done something to my back and can't walk today, or trying to get the lil' Princess ready for Halloween, or maybe finishing the new rooms for the transition of the baby (which I will post pictures soon...I SWEAR) but instead, felt compelled to write something so you know we haven't really fallen off the planet!

Psalm 23

This morning at 8:27, another Angel made their way to heaven: Betty Bumgarner...my grandma

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Grandma, I can just imagine what you are doing right now--probably having a feast you have prepared for all your friends who have been waiting for you. God opened his arms this morning and you peacefully became his and you have your final resting place. You no longer have to suffer and go through this fight and we are so lucky to have had you in our lives. I am working on putting together some pictures for you!!

GOOOO BIIIIIIII REEEEEEED

Yesterday marked the start of fall football here in Lincoln and Kayin couldn't wait!! For the last several weeks she has been asking when she "gets to see the Big Red Band"!! Well, today her wish was granted and she was thrilled to see the band, tailgate, get a few pictures with some band members, and see the CHEERLEADERS!!! She was thinking of being a Big Red Band member for Halloween but I think has since then changed her mind to being a Husker cheerleader!!

Sniff Sniff

Tomorrow is our official first day of school and although I am more than ready to get on a routine and schedule, I am going to miss spending the days with our three year old daughter! I am pretty sure I say this every year, but I have learned so much about her and have seen her blossom to be such an amazing little girl. We have had our moments, but I have never laughed or cried so hard as I did this summer with her!

10 on Tuesday

The summer is officially over...as I am working on the blog today I am in a computer profile class at school. So, here is my 10 on Tuesday for the kick-off to the school year!

10. Learn how to create a profile on our webpage...hopefully to upload classroom newsletters.

9. Manage a classroom blog

8. Create several picture schedules for some of our new students (after meeting some of them, these will come in handy)!!

7. Finish our family meetings

6. Make name-tags for: coat hooks, cubbies (mailboxes) desks, folders

5. Hang up the new apple clock that papa picked up at Scholastic

4. Get lots of rest tonight as our first official "back to school" day begins tomorrow with meetings, meetings, and more meetings.

3. Finish organizing the books in our "book closet".

2. Did I mention get lots of rest tonight?

1. Plan the first week of school...

Of course, the list could go on and but I won't go into the details.

Vacation Part 3

As I sit here typing this entry, countdown to starting back up again has begun!! Although I have had family meetings and classes this week, we "officially" report back on Wednesday. We have had a great summer together...it definitely was a whirlwind and kept us busy!! Here are some more pictures from vacation in Canada!!

Here is Grandpa Brinkmeyer's brother, Ken, with Kayin down by the river that runs through the city of Edmonton.

All of the light traffic control boxes were painted -- these were in Strathcona which is a very artsy little town. A lot of fun shops and UNIQUE merchandise!!

A little sneak peak of the mountains (this got out of order for some reason, but it's on our way to Banff). City Building downtown Edmonton

Fields of canola...these were close to LIME GREEN in color!!

Signing and filling out our declaration card for Customs to get into Canada...this makes is official!!

Checking out Aunt Amy's jewelry!!

Watching the sea lion show at the Edmonton Mall...for any of you out there who like to shop--they have over 800 stores with an attached hotel!! We couldn't believe the size of this place! There was an official size ice hockey rink, a waterpark, a miniature golf course (Uncle Joshy would LOVE IT) and a little lake running through the middle...absolutely incredible!

Ice Hockey Rink

Olympic statue on a corner in Strathcona (about 20 minutes from Edmonton). Found several new things from jewelry to souvenirs in this little town!

VACATION PART 2

Passed out and zonked even before the plane left out of Minneapolis!!

Showing Baby Baby what she sees out the window!

On the flight, they offered complimentary snacks...these little biscotti cookies were a hit!!

Checking out what's for sale in the Skymall magazine!

Reading to mommy and Baby Baby

VACATION PART 1

Okay, so I am trying to figure out how to change the font color to match the new background and I can't!! Hopefully soon I will remember since it has been quite awhile from the last blog post!!
We arrived safe and sound from a WONDERFUL two-week vacation in Canada and words can't even express how thankful we are to Grandma and Grandpa Brinkmeyer for organizing it and making it happen!! Kayin and I were able to meet some family members for the first time and we definitely made a lot of memories!!
I know many people who read this enjoy the videos of pictures, but most of you relish in the single pictures with descriptions! So, with that, I am going to be doing a series of posts about the vacation. With over 200 pictures to choose from, there is no possible way to include all of them unless I do a short slideshow for one of the posts (which I might do if I can remember how to put one together).

The first part is at the Fletcher household!! We made it just in time for a Toad themed birthday party!!

N with his HUGE bullfrog!!

Someone is missing from this picture!!

Having Aunt Jessi pain my nails before vacation!

Swinging with N on the swingset

Look at all these toads!! I believe the boys caught most of them behind their house at the lake!