Outside

I know you've heard it a bazillion times lately, but I can't help but ask it again, did we seriously go straight from winter to summer?  What happened to spring?  I am sensing a very hot next couple of prego months.  I'm certainly not complaining, because if you know me, you know I don't love cold weather.  So bring on the sunshine...along with  my swollen legs and my beautiful veiny decor that covers them.  {in case you haven't gathered it, I'm not exactly a big fan of being pregnant...big being the pun}

Okay, so back to the real reason I am writing this post.  Our little family enjoyed an amazing weekend outside.  It was so beautiful that you almost felt guilty just walking inside the house to eat {so we didn't, lots of picnics and outdoor restaurants instead}.  Fabulous I tell you.

When we weren't eating outside, we were playing outside.  We kicked off T-Ball season.  And if it hadn't been for Maggie's portrayal of a cling on, I would say that was fabulous too.  You see if Mommy even stood up to cheer for Jack or even worse walked to the fence to take a picture of Jack my mini me/cling on melted.  When I completed my task and asked her what was wrong, she would whimper, " I just want you Mommy".  Oh, so sweet...and bitter {very} at the same time.

But, all the Maggie love aside,  I really enjoyed watching Jack play.  He's pretty bummed this season about not having a classmate or friend on his team {how could that have happened after 4 years at the same school, nuts?!?!}, but he is way happy about the blue jersey and the thunder bolt on it.  He said it looks like a super hero.  I was shocked that he liked it better the Sand Gnat that adorned his jersey in the Fall.  Go figure.

Thunderbolts must be the trick because Jack put all his effort into his first game {effort is what we are really pushing around here} and he did great. He even earned a bag of Skittles post game.  That must have been some serious effort because we don't give Skittles away too readily around here {especially a whole bag}.  He's already looking forward to his next T Ball game concession stand visit.

The rest of the weekend was left playing "Daddy draw every super hero you can think of with sidewalk chalk on the driveway" and "construction".  In case you are wondering what "construction" is, it's where  Jack climbs and plays on all of the debris and equipment left in our driveway.  And then the neighbor kids join him to up the anti.  I'm pretty sure it's safe, your thoughts?

{and although these pictures may look like they are from the same day as my last post by way of Jack's outfit, they are not.  no, Jack has deemed his "soldier shorts and his Batman tee" as his new uniform.  and no matter how many times it goes in his dirty clothes basket it always comes out before it has been washed.}

Maggie, however, did not play "construction" with the boys.  Instead she took lots of {very slow} walks with her baby doll stroller and I joined her.  And she stopped to smell every flower and 'every' is not an exaggeration.  Each time she saw a pink or purple one she announced it as if it was the first one she had seen. "Look Mommy, a poooople flower!".  And as any good Mommy would do, I shared her excitement all 72 times.   Maggie really is a lovely child.  And although I joke, she truly is my little angel.  There is just something about My Maggie.

I hope you and your family spent lots of time outside on this beautiful weekend too.  And if you didn't, you should have. Here is to another weekend full of sunshine....construction debris and pink flowers.

Construction Update

We have made some progress since my last update.  And according to our contractor we should be finished in about 6-8 weeks.  I am finding that very hard to believe.  Seems a bit ambitious to me.  I would be pleasantly surprised if it panned out that way.  But, I find myself more of a realist, and I don't see it happening.

But, what I do see happening is progress {when they work}.  Which has forced me to begin thinking about kids and bedrooms.  All in the hopes that I will be moving out of mine before this baby arrives.  So far I've got Maggie's pretty visually planned.  And I've picked up a few items here and there.  A fabulous pink dresser {call me brave please, not nuts}, her bedding, and fabric swatches for her drapery.  

Jack needed more window treatments because he is going from two windows to four.  So I've got his roman shades being made and picked up some more panels for him.  I've got his new "rainbow" shower curtain per his request.  He wanted a rainbow shower curtain with "all the colors except for pink and purple".  What was a Mom to do?  His new big bedroom with his own bathroom was the only trick I had to lessen the blow of another sister.  So I translated "rainbow" for madras.  And I have to say it is super cute.  Can't wait to get going on that space.

And as for new baby girl, well there isn't much I can do until Maggie gives up her bedding and baby gets a name. {which is a whole other dilemma in itself}  I'm pretty sure I will be warranting your help on that in a few.

So for right now, all of our new indoor items are honed away in a closet, just waiting to come out and decorate kiddo rooms.  Picking out shingles and stones have got me thinking that will be the fun part of this housing adventure.  Not much to show you there, but here is the latest on the outside...

Who would have thought stone was so difficult to pick out?  Well, I did it {and it was painful} and it's done. " Done" meaning giving the chimney a face lift.  We are even getting a bit on our house.  Told you our little white cottage wasn't going to be white anymore {or wood for that matter}.

The gables are getting a face lift too.  I always thought they needed a little plumping up.  And apparently so did the architect.  And I must note that both kids napped right through this process.  That last gable being Jack's room.  He literally had pictures off the wall when I went in to get him from his nap.  He snoozed right through it.  Amazing...and a maybe little scary, huh?  Just shows you how much energy he  uses when he is awake.  Anyone feel sorry for me? {totally kidding}

And here is a view of our master addition and loggia {which I think is just a fancy word the architect uses for sunroom}.  On the inside they are working on plumbing and electrical.  Maybe one day we will get sheetrock...

So to say the least, I am exhausted, over decision making, and living in a work in progress {while nauseated}.  This is where I remind myself of my new motto..."three's a charm", oops not that one, my other new motto..."this too shall pass".  And when it does we are going to have a glorious new space with a glorious new little life in it.  

One day we will look back on this and think she was worth every nail.  And she might even have a name we can use in that thought.

Someone Loves The Construction...

...and it is not me.

Okay, I love the fact that we are making progress {which I will show you some pictures soon}, but I am not loving the constant hammering in my head, the contractors needing to "see me for just a minute",  and all of the decisions.  My head might implode if I have to pick out one more outlet location, shingle shape, or plumbing fixture.

But, enough about me, now on to the one who loves it.  Or at least loves the mess it has made on our property.

Batman and Robin were perfect candidates to play in the sand pile with Jack.  Have I mentioned lately his new obsession with Batman?  Superman runs a close second. Hence his birthday party theme.

As if the sand wasn't messy enough on its own, Jack decided to add water.  You should have seen the trail through my house.  "Jack use the mud room!" followed by, "Oh yea, I forgot".

Even the construction trash can has appeal.  I promise it was clean.  Well, as clean as a trash can can be.

I think a video camera would have been more appropriate.  Love this kid's imagination.  This is my 'I can play alone, no problem', kid.

A Girl!

Ha!  Ya'll are so funny!  Love you gals! I had so much fun reading your comments, emails, and texts.  Who knew that this would actually stump some of you.  I thought my clues were dead give aways.

Yes, we are expecting more sugar and spice at our house {and she is already a thumb sucker}.  How did I ever get so blessed?  And yes, I am still in complete shock.

I always pictured number 3 as a boy.  I just assumed that's the way it would happen.  Apparently, God had other plans.  And Jack and I are still sorting through them...together.  I hate to admit it, but selfishly I love the idea of another bundle of pink.  With my shock also came underlying elation.  But, then my heart aches for Jack, who I know would have loved a brother.  And I worry about sweet Maggie in the middle.

I never imagined it would be, but the news of a baby girl, has left our family a little bewildered.  I know, without a doubt, she was brought to us for a very special reason.  And I truly believe she will bring us immense joy, but I find myself over selling the pros of this to everyone, even myself.  I think we all just need a few days to let this one soak in.

And when it does, I won't be selling pros to anyone, the blessing will be so clear.  Shock or no shock, we love you baby girl and can't wait to welcome you into our family.  There is lots of pink waiting for you here!

Oh, and I saw there was some confusion about the room situation.  Here's the deal...Jack moves to the old master with his own bathroom {room #1 to redo}.  Maggie stays where she is because it's the middle room in proximity and size {room #2 redo}.  I find that only appropriate and fair to her.  And although that does make more work for me, I refuse to shaft the middle child.  And then baby moves into the last room {Jack's old room}, which is closest to the stairs.  Convenient for late night feedings.  All of the girl nursery goodies move with her.  {room #3 redo}

So although, Jack and baby already have the goodies for their rooms, I still am having to redo window treatments {all the windows in each room are different sizes...ugh!}, paint each room, and rearrange/add furniture.  And do a bathroom for Jack and eventually make the other bathroom girly for the girls.  It's going to be a job.