little man's room

Our little man's room is pretty much complete. We have a few finishing touches here and there and I have to decide if I need something else on the walls but for the most part it's complete and I LOVE it.

I actually started planning out his room with different crib bedding in mind but went another direction once I got going. I love modern contemporary design and adore all the funky patterns and prints that create that style so that's what you see throughout the room. Lots of color, fun patterns, and different textures.

The 3 canvases hanging above the dresser are a project I worked on a few months back. Super simple and a cheap alternative to pricey prints. I simply found 3 different fabrics that I loved at Hobby Lobby and wrapped and stapled them to 3 canvaes and vila - artwork.

I also love the little vintage inspired red clock hanging above the light switch. And another favorite is the contemporary letters that spell out his name that will complete the night stand (I had to take them down for the pictures of course:) )

So here's a peak at his room - hard to believe that in 8 weeks or less this will be home for our little guy!

a grover wedding

This past Saturday we had the fun honor of being a part of my sister in law's wedding! Jimmy's little sister, Jena, got married on Saturday and we had a fun filled week of wedding activities and just hanging out with out of town family.

Our activities began last Sunday. After spending some time at home as a family in the morning after our weekend away the few days before and squeezing in some furniture shopping for little man's room, we spent the afternoon and evening celebrating my other sister in law's birthday! Jimmy's aunt, uncle, and cousins from Texas arrived the day before so we were able to spend time at the farm catching up with them, riding 4 wheelers and gators, and just playing outside. We were also able to celebrate the youngest Grover sibling, Jalissa turning 20!

Monday we found ourselves entertaining family at our house with fun on the lake with our jet ski! His cousin's had never been on a jet ski, and only been tubing a few times so off to the local lake we went. Lily, his aunt, uncle, and I enjoyed relaxing on the beach as we watched them ride by over and over again on the jet ski. I think it's safe to say they enjoyed themselves! After that we hit up a local pizza place that happens to be one of our favorites, Doughy Joeys, and then home to bed to rest up for the next day!

Tuesday was spent at home catching up on things around the house, working on the baby's room, and then heading to Cedar Rapids to have dinner with one of Jimmy's childhood friends and his wife. Because what else did we have going on this week - right?! Even though it was a hectic week and probably not the best to squeeze this in it was great catching up with them, they enjoyed seeing Lily, and we were able to see their brand new house that they in the process of unpacking!

Wednesday after a full day of doctor's appointments, a hospital tour (yeah!), wedding errands, and a hair appointment we were back to the Grover's to see more family and this time to celebrate his mom's birthday! Jimmy's other aunt, uncle, and cousins from Colorado arrived earlier in the day so we were anxious to see them and enjoy some more family time. After staying way too late, that always happens doesn't it?! we were back home once again.

Thursday all his family joined us again at our house for the day. The boys spent the day in the music room and playing video games while us ladies spent some time outside and got in on the video game playing as well. We had intended on hitting up the pool but didn't quite get to it. We then met up for dinner out with some other extended family and once again found ourselves pushing our limits with our child's bedtime :)

Friday I was off to spend some time with the ladies in the wedding getting our nails done, decorating for the reception, and then getting ourselves ready for rehearsal. Daddy had Lily for the day and spent the day at his parents with the boy cousins and uncles getting into trouble - I'm sure.

We all met up for rehearsal - including Lily, since she was the flower girl and after a short run through at the church were off to the rehearsal dinner. The reception took place in the groom's parent's backyard and while it was absolutely beautiful it was absolutely HOT! They decided to have the rehearsal dinner there as well and I'm pretty sure I spent the whole time chasing a 1 year old around and sweating! Jimmy was busy running the zipline - yes they have a zipline in their backyard running from a treestand, over a pond, into a grassy area! So of course my hubby was all over that! Lily also enjoyed her first taste of steak at the rehearsal dinner. I am not a steak eater so I'm pretty sure I have never made it but she sure loved it. At one point I think she picked the whole thing up with her fingers from her daddy's plate. Guess this means I may have to learn how to make steak :)

lily getting ready to go down the aisle

lily and the ring bearer mason

lily and i at dinner

lily and daddy eating steak

Then came the big day - Saturday! Of course it'd be the only day in the last month or so that we would see any rain. While my farming husband and father in law were thrilled it always makes things a little nerve racking knowing so much of the wedding is taking place outdoors. However, by wedding time it had mostly cleared up and of course instead of cooling things off the humid was back in full force!

We had "hired' my mom for help with Lily on wedding day since both Jimmy and I were a part of the day as well and that was for sure the best decision we could have made! I had to be there bright and early for hair and makeup, Jimmy had to be there a little bit later for lunch and wedding party pictures, and then a little bit after that came Lily's time for pictures. So with much help from my mom Lily made it there all ready to go and smiled away for her pictures. She actually kept going back up front to be in more pictures - such a little ham!

Come wedding time both Lily and the little 18 month old ring bearer walked/ran down the aisle and were as cute as could be. Lily then took off with my mom to get a nap before the reception while Jimmy and I stayed at the wedding.

The reception was beautiful - so many neat decorations and fun things for kiddos to do but once again it was just so hot! I don't think I stopped sweating the entire time! Lily and my mom joined us around the dinner time, mom stuck around for a few hours after that to help out with Lily and then off she went. Lily loved playing with the other kids on the swingset, in the sandbox, by the pond, on the trampoline, and with sidewalk chalk. To say she was one messy girl is for sure an understatement - I am actually pretty sure she ruined her dress she was so dirty! But she loved it. After enjoying the dance and catching up with family and friends Lily and I hit the road around 10pm to crash for the night while Jimmy stayed back to party!

Lily fell asleep before we had even pulled out of town and after a quick shower I was right behind her. I don't think daddy joined us in bed until 3am or so!

We had such a fun week catching up with Jimmy's family and seeing people we don't see often enough. The stress of a wedding, especially outdoors is so worth it when that day finally arrives! Jena looked absolutely beautiful and we were so happy our whole family could be a part of their special day!

her dress

the bride getting her hair done

almost ready

jimmy and i - 8 months pregnant with little man!

the only one i have of lily and mason on wedding day

some of the wedding party

their first dance

our family at the reception

the 4th in nebraska

So I am a little behind on blogging. This week I'm focusing on getting caught up so bare with me.

A few weeks ago we spent an extended 4th of July weekend at Johnson Lake - located in the middle of nowhere Nebraska - with my siblings and their families. Lily and I took off Tuesday morning, stopping in Des Moines to spend the afternoon with my best friend Katie and her little one Harper, and had dinner and stayed the night with my sister and brother in law in Ankeny. Jimmy then drove from Chicago to Des Moines that night, after a long flight from China, and we hit the road bright and early the next morning for Nebraska with my brother and his family also.

We knew the drive would take about 7 hours from Cedar Falls so we thought by driving to Des Moines the day before it'd break up the trip for Lily and I. However, it took us a good 7 hours from Ankeny due to stops and driving a little slower with the boat in tow. However, Lily did good on the drive, for the most part, but we were already for some fun once we arrived at the lake.

We had rented 3 "cabins" side by side for the 3 nights we were there and although it was more or less an oversized trailer divided into 4 seperate "rooms" - it was close to the lake, they each had their own bathroom and kitchen, and it was really all we needed for a messy few days on the water and beach.

Wednesday night once everyone arrived we headed into the local town for dinner and fireworks. While the town left little to be desired and had us slightly concerned for our safety a few times - the fireworks were great and the kiddos loved running around the open field we found to sit in. We may have been a bit close though as we found ourselves continually dodging falling ash! After a late night stop at Wal-Mart for our groceries for the week we were all "home" and tucked in for a good night's sleep.

The next few days were spent playing on the beach, tubing, skiing, jet skiing, and relaxing in the water. Although the water activities were lacking for me and my little sister, who is also pregnant, it was a lot of fun and the kids all played so well together. There are 5 of them altogether - ranging in age from 14 months to 6 years so you can never be sure how it will work out but they did great and really enjoyed their days together. Crazy to think that next year there will be 2 more added to the mix!

Each evening we adults enjoyed some time around the fire, after putting kiddos to bed and really just enjoyed being together. Families are such blessings and it's really special when you can enjoy being together for extended periods of time.

Our final night - Friday - we decided to tackle dinner out at a lakeside restaurant to celebrate my sister in law's birthday. We brought along cupcakes and enjoying singing to her, showering her with gifts, and chasing kiddos around a restaurant :)

Then our family hit the road bright and early the next morning in hopes that Lily would start out the car ride with a few hours of sleep, that didn't quite work out! But she did great on the ride home with the help of mommy in the backseat, the ipad, snacks, and the occasional nap. We left earlier than the rest so that we could make it back in time for a good friend's wedding reception to wrap up our weekend.

It was a fantastic weekend with family and one I hope we make somewhat of a tradition - maybe not going to that same place but meeting up somewhere along the way. Hope you enjoyed your 4th as well!

getting ready for fireworks

lily and aunt kristle

the kiddos playing with bubbles

our family nice and sweaty

sister kristen and her family ready to tube

jimmy, eden, and lily playing in the sand

all the kiddos minus sam sitting in their chairs

lily and i enjoying the view

28 weeks - 7 months

Tuesday marked week 28 - 12 to go! It's hard to believe I'm in my last trimester already. I feel way less prepared for our little man to arrive than I did with Lily at this point. We haven't had time to get his room put together, just this week I spent some time going through the clothes we have and making a list of things we still need, and we have yet to decide on a name! But, I know his room will come together quickly once we finally have some time together to do it, that we will agree upon a name before he's born, and that he will have plenty to wear once he arrives, but sometimes I just get impatient :)

I continue to feel pretty good. It's definitely been a bit more challenging with Jimmy gone lots and not having the break that another parent provides. But I have really enjoyed this special one on one time with my sweet girl and it's really made this pregnancy fly by!

I am continuing to workout which I think has been so good for me. It keeps my body loose and flexible and just makes me feel better. I continue to experience quite a few Braxton Hicks contractions in my back and my stomach but they seem to be less frequent. I had my glucose test last week and everything passed fine with that however, my hemoglobin was low so I have begun taking an iron supplement each day in additional to my prenatal vitamin. My doctor visits are now every 2 weeks instead of monthly which just seems so crazy!

I am definitely feeling more pressure than I ever did with Lily however the doctor has assured me that it's normal and to just continue to keep an eye on things. I am experiencing some signs of preterm labor and measuring about 2 weeks ahead of schedule but that may be because of the additional stress of being alone so much with a little one. Nevertheless we are paying attention to them and praying that little man stays put for several more weeks!

Other than that things are normal and good. While spending some time in his room this week, folding clothes, and washing crib sheets I continue to get more and more anxious and excited to meet our sweet boy. I imagine how different a boy will be than a girl, what the relationship will be like between him and Lily both at first and as they grow, I picture the joy and pure love I will feel the instant I set eyes on him, I think about nursing him and cuddling him, I can smell his newborn scent, and picture him all swaddled up swinging contently in his little swing. There are so many things I am looking forward to. I am anxious to see Jimmy and him interact and how that relationship will be different than a daughter/daddy relationship - both so unique and special. But I think most of all I am just thankful - thankful for a healthy pregnancy, thankful for a body that is able to carry and create a human being - what a miracle, thankful for a wonderful man to stand beside me in life and through parenthood, and extremely thankful that I will soon be a mother of two to a daughter and now a son.

And here's the growing bump....

summer summer summer time

It's no secret that I LOVE summer time - the hot weather, the longer days, the pool, running in the heat, the farmers market, trips to the lake, grilling out, movies at the park, getting together with friends, weekend trips, and so many other things.

However, this summer is proving to be a bit different. Being 7 months pregnant and having Jimmy gone about 80% of the time so far thus summer has given me some new challenge.

While we've still made several trips to the pool, spent long afternoons playing outside, gone to the lake a few times and spent a few weekends away. BUT running in the heat has only happened a few times on those milder mornings, we've only made it to the farmers market once, the trips to the lake are minus all the fun stuff for me - skiing, tubing, and jet skiing, and we have yet to make it to a movie in the park (there's only been 1 to date, to my credit:). So while summer may be a bit different amongst our different circumstances I am still love loving it.

This time with my sweet sweet girl is priceless but life without Jimmy makes some days seem endless and just flat out wears me out. I definitely have a whole new appreciation for single parents and it's become so clear to me why God intended parenthood for two. We are all ready for this season of travel for Jimmy to come to an end - and it will soon! We are down to his finally trips away and then we have lots to complete before baby boy joins our little family! I am very quickly realizing how soon our family will forever change and we will no longer be spending all our time and energy on just one precious baby but two!

playing in the sprinkler

bath time

corn on the cob

modeling her new life jacket

all worn out and snuggled up

words

Lily has been saying all kinds of words lately - the ones we hear most often I got her to say on tape and thought I'd share. They include; up, this, baby, mama, dada, responses to what a dog says - wolf, what a cow says - moo, and what a duck says - quack. She has also said cracker, hot, nana (for Grandma) and often times shakes her head yes and no in response to something we ask her.

This little voice melts my heart everytime I hear her say something or learn something new. Where does the time go?!

weekend projects

We have accomplished our fair share of projects lately. In the limited time that Jimmy and I have had together in the last few months we have optimized our weekends by completing several to-do's and homemade projects. One of these last few weekends we tackled a revamping of some dining room chairs, painting the baby's room, a canvas art project for baby's room, and making a headboard for our new king size bed! That was a lot to tackle in one weekend but we succeeded and I think they all turned out great!

We've had a small dining room table that fits perfectly between our kitchen and living room for quite some time and I primarily use it as my decorations table - topping it with different centerpieces, place mats, plates, napkins, etc. However, just recently we've actually started using it to eat on - who'd have thought?! So I thought the beige colored chair cushions could use a revamp and with a little fabric, time, and staples here's what we came up with!

Next on the list was for Jimmy to paint little man's room while I worked on a canvas art project for his wall decor. We decided on a sky blue, got the paint, I helped him tape things off, and he begun the paint job. Meanwhile I worked on covering 3 canvases with different fabrics to create some art work for his room. I LOVE the patterns and colors in them and absolutely cannot wait to put together the details of his room. His room has a fairly modern theme with several different colors and patterns that uniquely all fit together - at least I'm hoping they do! And I must say Jimmy did a fantastic job painting this room all by himself!

And the last project on our list for the weekend was to create a two piece headboard for our new king size bed. We replaced a queen size bed so we could no longer use our headboard but like our other bedroom furniture so we figured we could come up with something on our own. After finding some fabric I loved we creatively came up with an idea of mounting the fabric to the back of two oversized picture frames - after removing the glass and backing - and viola! I really love the fabric and the way they look and am anxious to actually get them mounted above our bed - I will have to post a picture of that once it's all put together.

So that's what we've been working on lately - we've been quite crafty in our free time, I guess. I really enjoy creating things for our room, especially together. These were some fun projects and ones I am glad are complete!

I'll have to come back with the pictures - for some reason it's not working.....