Nursery (sorta) Update: The End Is In Sight

Well, after a summer of incredibly hard work, our living room is almost put back together and the bookshelves are almost complete. We are one UPS delivery away from all four pieces being put into the living room, emptying out the office / nursery, and beginning to really clean out your all's room!

The two weeks after campout were spent painting the cabinets (with a lot of thanks to Johnny who was here every single night for more than 10 days straight, painting away). It's amazing how much more finished they began to look even after just a coat of primer.

After the paint job was complete, a terribly tedious job of sanding the dry wall was next on the list. Unfortunately, the fireplace wasn't completely square, so it was a pretty tight squeeze to get the bookshelves in. Too avoid having to force them in, we decided to sand some space off of the walls. What an awful job for Keal and me - he trying to sand and me following him around with the shop-vac, trying to pick up all the dust.

so much for our lovely paint job!

Our cabinets were now painted and dry, ready for the lights to be put in.

so proud of himself!

All summer long, Keal has talked and talked about "needing" a new TV for our living room makeover. And while I agreed (to an extent), it definitely wasn't a priority for me. So, we began budgeting and saving any "extra" money that came in, putting it to our new TV. One night I came home to find Keal even wrapping his coins to make an extra 50 bucks! His goal: to have saved enough to buy a TV for Christmas.

For his birthday I decided to surprise him and go ahead and get his TV now. I was going to buy it myself, but he had researched and found the "perfect" TV and I didn't want to make such a big purchase by myself. So, together we went out and got his birthday gift.

very excited about his birthday present

Finally, with the cables and TV purchased, the cabinets sanded, painted, and finished, it was time to start moving them back into the house!

Getting some help from Uncle KiKi to move them into the house

I was so ecstatic, I had to put something in the cabinets right away. I went with the oh, so important board games! After getting a quick power nap on my lap, we enjoyed our new TV, the Steelers, and our new living room set up together last night.

 

It isn't even finished yet and already I love our living room! I was sitting on our couch last night just admiring your dad's work. It is amazing to me that he is able to turn just some regular boards of wood into incredibly beautiful pieces of furniture! I am so excited that the end of this project is in sight and all of his hard work has paid off so well. I can't wait to get back into your nursery, clean it out, and start planning for you two (just over three more weeks until we know if we should be planning for boys, girls, or both...then we can really get your nursery set up!).

16 Weeks

It's a Beautiful Day

What a busy, wonderful day today has been. Today was:

1. Keal's birthday

2. My last day of summer

3. Our 16 week checkup!

And while I am finally sitting down for what feels like the first time today, today has been the perfect end to summer and perfect way to celebrate my fabulous hubby and your awesome daddy.  

The day began with my mom and I heading to my school to make the finishing touches on my room before Open House tomorrow. From there, it was off to the mall for my mom to pick up Keal's gift. Next stop a craft store and finally lunch! It had been a whirlwind of a morning, but fun time spent with my mom.

Somewhere in the midst of our running, I had texted Keal, "If you're so slow today, you should ask off for your birthday. Come to the doctor with us!" Well when he didn't respond, I assumed work had picked back up and he couldn't get off. 

Together, my mom and I headed into our appointment. While in the waiting room, I had to make some financial decisions and wanted to run it by Keal first. So, I gave him a call, but got no answer. As I disappointedly put my phone away, I looked up to see Keal standing at my chair! He had been able to get off and join us at the appointment. What a great guy - surprising me on his birthday!

Today, we got to get another peek at you, and your "Zsu Zsu" got to "meet" and see you in person for the first time. I know you are constantly growing and changing every day, but seeing these changes on screen is always amazing to me. There you both were, just a wiggling and moving like crazy, all snuggled up next to each other. Today I even saw your adorable noses! You are now so big, that's it difficult to see you both at the same time. And to think, just a few weeks ago you weren't even an inch long!

From here, we said goodbye to Zsu Zsu and began the birthday festivities. First off, a scrumptious meal at a place Keal had been dying to try, Burgers and Mussels. From there, an early movie. And finally, we wrapped our evening up with pie to go (your father doesn't care for cake, so he always gets birthday pie instead) and enjoyed it on the back patio. 

Shew. I'm tired just retelling this exhaustingly, perfect day!

15 Weeks

Maternity Shopping: Pants and Shirts and Bras, Oh My!

Well, today my mom and I ventured out for two very critical and important endeavors.

The first, maybe more crucial part of our day: half-off cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory. After working and setting up my classroom today, we met for a late lunch / early dinner / afternoon snack / call it what you will! It was such a nice afternoon, relaxing and chatting over some scrumptious food.

Afterwards, we headed to the mall to peek at some maternity clothes and just start getting some ideas. Good gracious was it overwhelming / exciting. So many things to think about: work clothes, lounge clothes, PJs, leggings, bras, nursing pads, nursing bras, underwear...the list goes on and on. I keep thinking, okay how much of this is really necessary? How long can I stretch (quite literally) my regular wardrobe until I have to cave into this maternity stuff.

So, for fun, I tried a couple outfits on. And even more fun was the bump I tried on too! To make sure everything's fitting just right, and to be able to envision yourself in these clothes with a real bump, there was a bump to wear in the dressing room. I still can't believe this is my life, but it was very exciting to see what I could look like in a few months!

We ended our day with a few adorable outfits and essentials from your Grandma to kick off my maternity wardrobe. (You'll quickly learn, she is way too good to everyone and is such a giver of everything - time, work, you name it, she would be willing to do it. She already loves you two so much. It is exciting to watch her start stepping into this new role in her life!)

It was a perfect day and some very nice, laid back time with my Momma Lou. I am lucky to have had such a wonderful role model in my life growing up. I hope one day you can say the same about me. She was a fabulous nurturer and I owe my tender heart to her. I love that I can say, that as I entered my adulthood chapter of life, our relationship began to shift to that of a close friendship. There aren't many who I would call very close friends and I love that she is one of them! I know you will love her too!

Goodbye First Trimester, Hello Second!

A few weeks late, but that's okay...

Well little ones, I have survived the dreaded first trimester. As hard as I tried not to, I occasionally - I really was pretty good considering who I am - worried over you two this trimester (as I'm sure I will from now until the rest of your lives!). Each new symptom had me debating, "To google, or not to google." While I did find a lot of helpful answers there, I also found some things that could make one worry. My body is going through so many changes that many of the symptoms that could be warning signs are also considered normal parts of pregnancy, so it was difficult for me to tell the difference between these (and still is difficult for me).

Everyone told me how miserable the first trimester was going to be. And some people were kind enough to even tell me how much worse it would be for me since there were two of you and double the hormones (what lovely, calming advice I received!). And while it wasn't always a walk in the park, so far I have really enjoyed every bit of being pregnant. I know you two are my sweet miracles, so I don't take for granted the fact that this could be it for me. I may only have this one chance to enjoy pregnancy. So each new ache and pain, each trip to the bathroom (and trust me, they were...and continue to be...constant!), each need for a random nap, every uncomfortable side effect, I have welcomed for they remind me that I'm growing two precious gifts!

It's fun watching your daddy enjoy this pregnancy too! He has been busy building for you two and has worked non-stop. He would get home from work and head straight out to the garage until 7, 8, and sometimes even later building our bookshelves. As my bump has begun to grow, I can see him getting even more excited. He can't take his hands off of you two. Already he is constantly tickling and kissing the two of you! When I have asked him to leave me alone or stop kissing my stomach (terrible of me, I know, but I still have my hormonal - don't touch me - moments!) he always replies, "You can't tell me to stop loving my babies! I'm hugging and kissing them." So just know sweet babies, both of your parents already love you so very much! We cannot wait to meet you.

As I say goodbye to the first trimester, there are many things I'm looking forward to experiencing during the second trimester:
1. Feeling you move for the first time
2. Having Keal feel you move
3. Finding out if you are boys, girls, or one of each!
4. Seeing how my body and bump will continue to grow and change
5. Getting my energy back (which I already have begun to experience!)
6. Seeing if I will have any crazy cravings that last

Ah, I love being pregnant! And as much as I love this, I can't imagine how much more I am going to love being your momma. I pray you keep growing strong and healthy, sweet babies. I pray you stay right where you are for quite a bit longer. I pray God keeps me healthy so that I can keep you healthy! I know God has wonderful things in store for both of your lives and I can't wait to watch them unfold. I love you so much and am already proud to call myself your mom.

14 Weeks