A few sneak peeks of LC's room.

I took a few photos today of baby girl's room, but I still have a few small things to add, as well as a lamp. I can't wait to call this room complete, although I know I will always be changing things up! :)

Hopefully I will have a full post up by the time she arrives! 

Small paint project: Numero Uno!

Awhile ago I posted on my Facebook page that we were working on two small paint projects, like really small. Two quarts small. This is the beginning story of the first one.

Before:

It was white and washed out. I love the look of black doors, but our house has VERY dark features (floors & cabinets) and I did not think black would go over very well in the general scheme of things….

After:

Paint color: Elephant Skin by Behr in Satin

I still need to add some decoration to this area, but I am just not sure yet what I want to do. I think on the wall where there is a night light, I want to add some hooks for the boys to hang their school bags, lightweight jackets, dog leash, etc. 

We carried the navy blue from our family room into the entry way, which I really love. We also added blinds and a basket. My husband leaves for work REALLY early and constantly leaves his stuff laying around downstairs and the boys like to strip their clothes throughout the day. Now I have a basket there to put things that need to go upstairs in the evening, which makes the stairs look a lot less messy. 

Eventually these walls will have the same paint color as our family room, kitchen, and dining area. That requires hiring someone to do it because of how tall the ceilings are, and that just is not in the budget anytime soon! We will also replace the light fixture eventually, but I just have not found the perfect one yet! 

I am so fortunate that the model we built has SO many windows… There are 12 windows letting in natural light to our main floor alone - a MAJOR bonus! 

I also love the pattern of this rug from Target.

I made sure to get an indoor/outdoor rug this time because our last rug did not fare so well with the elements of weather in Colorado! 

Thats all for now! As soon as I get this area a little more decorated I will post an update!

29 weeks.

I seriously cannot believe I have made it this far in my pregnancy without any major body aches or pains. My second pregnancy battle with HG was pure hell and there was not one day until I delivered that I did not feel like slowly dying. This also scares me because my pregnancy with Aiden was easy-peasy and he is quite the difficult child. He is also a gemini, and this baby will most likely be one as well… what was I thinking with that one?!

I really need to get a floor lamp for the baby's room and do a cute craft with my grandmother's broaches and then I might call it a day. We are also in the process of getting some things for Luke's big boy room so we do not have to splurge all at once to get things, and he got his first thing tonight, a giant giraffe! He is such an animal lover - I love that!

Well anyway…

29 weeks

How far along: 29 weeks 

Total weight gain: 14 lbs.(ish)

Baby is the size of a: a small cabbage

Maternity clothes: Yes

Stretch marks: Not yet, but I have a few from Luke and they seem to be brighter than normal…. SHIT. 

Sleep: Okay, not great.

Best moment of this week: I am not going to lie, this week was hard. It actually was pretty awful. Aiden has had some major behavioral issues and as I get further along, I literally have a very difficult time handling him and his tantrums. He gets mean and talks back… then he starts hitting and throwing things and screaming. It is awful. I literally could have dropped him off on the corner of a mountain this week until he got over his madness...

Movement: Lots!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular

Anything making you queasy or sick: When I do too much, I feel sort of sick. Also, when I am tired I don't feel so well.

Aches or pains: Back pains, sciatica, you know, the usual subsequent pregnancy stuff!

Have you started to show yet: Yes 

Gender: GIRL!! 

Labor signs: Not yet

Belly button in or out: The top half is out

Wedding rings on or off: On

What are you dreaming about: Vacation and no school work! :) Both of which will not be happening any time soon!

I am on Spring Break this week and have big plans to get baby clothes washed, my bags packed, organize cabinets, and sell the remaining boy clothes we have! Even though my husband really wants another baby after this one, I am going to say we are 95% done with kids. This first trimester was hard and I will be working in the near future and I will feel bad being a stay at home mom with the other kids, but not the baby! Plus, we love our house and only have four bedrooms!

28 weeks.

This will be short and sweet.

28 weeks

How far along: 28 weeks 

Total weight gain: 14 lbs.

Baby is the size of a: Head of cauliflower

Maternity clothes: Yes

Stretch marks: No but I am getting itchy… Need to head to the Body Shop and get some more cocoa butter!

Sleep: Okay, not great.

Best moment of this week: The weather has been AMAZING! I had my 28 week appointment and gained 7 pounds in the last month. Ut-oh! Also, her heartbeat is at 145 and she is a MOVER!

Movement: Lots!

Food cravings: Chocolate and pizza.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really 

Aches or pains: Just normal pregnancy pains

Have you started to show yet: Yes 

Gender: GIRL!! 

Labor signs: Not yet

Belly button in or out: The top half is out

Wedding rings on or off: On

What are you dreaming about: I don't think I sleep deeply enough to dream!

Hopefully I will have room pictures up soon! It is mostly done minus some last minute touches. Next week I am on break from school and I have lots of baby laundry to get done! 

27 weeks

This post will be short because this week has been exhausting, and this weekend is not going to slow down much either!

27 weeks

How far along: 27 weeks 

Total weight gain: 7 lbs (ish)

Baby is the size of a: Cucumber

Maternity clothes: Yes

Stretch marks: Not yet, but I definitely feel some stretching going on...

Sleep: So so. And, it is probably about to get worse because Luke has managed to climb out of his crib!

Best moment of this week: Is it bad if I say nothing? I am over the snow and cold, and I stupidly shoveled which hurt my pelvis really bad from wednesday on...

Movement: Lots!

Food cravings: Pretty much just chocolate. I need to be careful though, between 27 and 29 weeks with Luke I gained A LOT of weight… so I am going to do my best to slow it down these next few weeks.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really 

Aches or pains: I repeat: DO. NOT. SHOVEL. SNOW. It hurts.

Have you started to show yet: Yes 

Gender: GIRL!! 

Labor signs: Not yet

Belly button in or out: Starting to get a little poke

Wedding rings on or off: On

What are you dreaming about: Nothing really

I think that is all for now. Nothing new happened this week because of homework and being stressed. I did paint something last weekend and hopefully I will have time to paint the other thing this weekend…. pictures to come...

Non-candy Easter basket ideas.

Now that the blog is up and running sort of smoothly again, I thought I would post something I can pin to Pinterest! Before I was used to buying things for Aiden, it was hard for me to come up with practical ideas for things like stockings and Easter baskets. Now that I know better, and I am a little bit smarter with money because of multiple children - I buy things they will need and things they love. I always usually throw something they have mentioned they want in there as well!

First, I always add a book and a movie. Books are pretty pricey, but they last awhile and kids LOVE them! Plus, everyone loves the smell of a new book!

Then, I always add a movie they are into at the moment. Both boys are loving Big Hero 6, so I am sure the Easter bunny will bring one of them this movie.

Second, they will both need a new swim suit for the summer, as well as some goggles - so why not throw it in the basket and act like it is a present - you will be buying it at one point anyway!

New underwear is always needed, and hopefully Luke will be potty trained within the next year, so he will need underwear at some point too. Aiden also just went up into little boy sizes, no more toddler sizes. WAH - stop growing child! 

Both boys have had a recent interest in Angry Birds, so they will probably get something along those lines as their "present" in the basket!

Also chalk and small animal creatures have always been a big deal in this house - we go through them SO quickly, and they are fun and keep both boys busy. Also, bath toys never get old!

This summer may be slightly different for the boys since we will have a newborn with us… that means less pool dates and more front yard play dates. Playing in the front yard is 1000 times easier than taking two kids to the pool anyway - because, they like to go places where they cannot survive without adult supervision. Plus, newborn naps are all over the place and I want to keep the baby out of the sun as much as possible for the first few months!

I also will be putting *some* candy in their baskets, because they are now old enough to love it, and who doesn't want some good candy in their Easter basket?!

26 weeks.

I am starting to get to the point where exhaustion has taken over any other priority in life. I really can't believe I have less than 14 weeks left of being pregnant… it is exciting and sad all at the same time!

26 weeks

How far along: 26 weeks 

Total weight gain: 7 lbs (ish)

Baby is the size of a: Eggplant

Maternity clothes: Yes, and those maternity leggings I bought are amazing… they are so comfortable!

Stretch marks: Not yet, but I am starting to really feel my skin stretch!

Sleep: Pretty darn good actually. I have been so stuffy and I bought a Neti Pot in the last week and it has made sleeping much easier!

Best moment of this week: Putting up the curtains, moving Luke's rocker into baby LC's room (I will explain that in a bit), and seeing the room almost entirely finished!

Movement: Between More wiggly by the day!

Food cravings: It changes daily… this week I have really wanted chocolate, Qdoba, and water!

Anything making you queasy or sick: I sucked it up and cleaned the fridge and threw almost everything out - so there is really nothing but milk and yogurt in there right now - and it doesn't smell like any food, which is AMAZING! Sorry kids, you get freezer food or noodles this week! 

Aches or pains: My hips and back have been feeling it - I also have been shoveling the massive amounts of snow we have gotten this week, just to try and help and keep up on it while Berto is at work, and it hurts my pelvis a little bit! 

Have you started to show yet: Yes 

Gender: GIRL!! 

Labor signs: Not a lot! I can tell that when the boys stress me out or I am in a bad mood, I have more Braxton Hicks, so I really just need to relax more! 

Belly button in or out: In - ish and starting to get the bruise that I had with Luke, which I seriously hope does not turn into something more!

Wedding rings on or off: On

What are you dreaming about: Nothing really stood out this week! 

So, we decided against getting the Pottery Barn chair that I wanted oh-so-badly. Although a light fabric would look much better in baby LC's room, it is just not economical to spend $1000 on a new chair that will only get used for a few years. Instead, we are going to put aside some of that money to buy a nice video monitor since our old one used wifi, and with the recent news about hackers looking at us (and the kids) we are going to retire that one. I also want to spend that money to get a new bumper pad from Pottery Barn Kids…. Luke and Aiden needed the bumper because of how much they move around, and without it (when it would get pee or puke on it and it needed to be washed) they would wake multiple times because of getting a limb stuck or bumping their head into it. 

So, we also decided that we will get Luke a new fun chair for his big boy room! His room looks so big and empty without his chair in it - but he is so happy laying in bed with Aiden and reading there with his big brother! Plus, kill two birds with one stone, right?

Speaking of big boy rooms, there are SO many things that Luke loves, and I know he would be happy with any room, because he really is such a care-free kid, but I want something amazing for him. Aiden's room is so perfect for him in every way, and I want the same thing for Luke. He is still happily sleeping in his crib (thank god) and I am not rushing that transition at all, but as soon as he is ready, I want some sort of idea of where to go! Planes, animals, or dinosaurs? He loves them all! 

I also ordered these cuties this week….

Also, I am not sure if I ever shared the mood board I created for the new nursery…. some things have changed since I created it, but I have kept the same general theme…

This weekend I am doing some painting projects in the kitchen and in the front walk way! I can't wait to share how they turn out and why I did them! Snowy cooped up me = paint some stuff!