5 Weeks to go...

I'm ready - I mean, I'm REALLY ready! I don't relax well. I have been a little tired lately... probably recuperating from my bursts of energy in the last few weeks. And we have all had a little bug of some sort. So just trying to get through the next few! 5 weeks doesn't sound too long; but when people say to me, "So just 2 weeks right?" it's a little bit of a downer! Oh well. We'll make it and have a baby at some point, I guess, unless the Lord comes back! Either one would be okay with me!

Finally Done! with 6 weeks to go....

My newest projects....

New mirror and light fixture for the bathroom. We also got a free countertop that we haven't put in yet. Thanks, Matt, for indulging me.

We got a free carpet for Ava's room, so put that down today. And then I just rearranged to try it differently. I don't know if I'm nesting or what, but I think I'm about done! Matt is ready for me to settle down.

Ava's room updated...

Ava's first outfit - She will be getting pictures done in this.

I'm proud of my garage sale finds! Lamp $1, small shelf free (Jack's idea to put her shoes from Chris and Alicia on there), changing table $5 (brand new Graco from Target), baskets holding her clothes (not free or on sale, but so cute!), laundry hamper $1, diaper bag - gift from Aunt Bek.

I already had the white shelves, pictures $5 for both, curtains I already had, curtain rod -Target gift card from the Fures for Mother's Day, crib and bedding (Dad and Mom and Craig's List), bumper Craig's List on sale, bedskirt free, mobile $3, blankets were gifts, rocking chair was my mom's when Nancy was born, carpet squares we had in the shed to cover the red carpet, and the rug was another gift.

pink lamp $3, bookcase I had but got that cheap a few years ago and got the yellow color idea for the walls from it and then updated the paint - so far it's just holding her hats and the lamp, but I'm sure she will accumulate stuff since she already has so much!

Another overall picture from the door

I have been so focused on Ava's room that yesterday we went to some garage sales, and Jack racked up with a horse for $10, a little white chair that sits with ours on the deck, and a Veggie Tales DVD. He said, "So is the white chair for Ava's room?" I said, "No, I think this chair should be for Jack." So that made him pretty excited. The horse's name is Bullseye at Daddy's suggestion. He had seen one at TJ Maxx the other day and pulled it around the store while we were shopping, and that was $25. This one is a lot nicer and much cheaper!

Jack sayings...

Jack was giving me a hard time at the store wanting everything and pouting when I said no we're just looking tonight. So we get home and I say, "You weren't very nice to me tonight." He said, "Sorry, mommy, sorry about freakin' out."

After swimming yesterday Jack said, "My ear is going potty."

Picking up phrases like, "Can I tell you a secret?" or "Can I ask you a favor?" He says, "So Mommy..." a lot before he talks.

Jack and Matt came in from mowing. Jack said, "Mommy, you have two dirty boys!" They were so cute; and yes, very dirty! Matt said they were singing at the tops of their lungs. I was sorry I missed it!

He was so excited all day today, and so I said, "Jack, you've been happy all day. That's so good." And Matt said, "What makes you so happy?" And he said, "Mommy." Very nice to hear after a long week!

He loves pancakes and calls syrup "sticky". More sticky, please!

I put Jack in the bath one day and sat down with some cheese and crackers to watch Bonnie and relax for a little bit. He must have heard me because he said, "Mommy? Whatchu doin'? You watchin' Bonnie?" I said, "Yes." He said, "What are you eatin'?" Me: "Crackers and cheese." He said, "I'm comin' out!"

He looked at me the other day and said slowly like he was thinking about how to say it. "You're stettin' my nervers." Come to find out, this means, "You're getting on my nerves." It didn't take him long to figure out the right way to say it though! He picks up quickly on the fact that you are laughing at him for saying something incorrectly.

He loves chips especially Cheetos. After dessert the other day, he wanted a few more chips. So I said, "OK, I guess." He pumped both arms and said, "YES!" Way more excited about that than dessert which he hardly ever finishes.

I asked him last week what he wanted for lunch, and he said, "Strawberries and fruit." He loves almost all fruit besides oranges. We eat grapes right out of the bag on the way home from the store usually until they're gone. He also loves corn and rice and bread. Still not a big meat eater since it takes him a long time to chew.

A gun is a pewter. "Can you find my pewter so I can pewt the bad guys?" Or, "Daddy? Can you help me with this pewter? It won't pewt!"

He got some army men from Grandma. For some reason, he couldn't say army men, and it kept coming out "argy men", and lately, it's also "arny men". But he practices when he hears it the right way until he gets it right. Kind of funny. "Ar Me MEN!"

He is very excited about his little sister coming and thought he would be able to play with her right away, so I just said, "Well, we have to be careful for a while because she will be little, and we don't want to hurt her." Quiet for a minute, then, "So...no fighting?" Nope, no fighting. Not until she can retaliate, I guess!

If he's talking and I'm not listening, he yells, "Mommy! are you talkin'?"

He is not afraid to ask the waiter for what he wants or for help in the store. I can't help but laugh when I'm muttering about not being able to find something in the store and he finds some worker and says, "Can you help mommy find....?" Or if I'm not hurrying him to the bathroom, he goes ahead and asks someone else to show him where it is. A little Roger Hanks in him, I think!

About 100 times a day, he says, "Mommy, what are we gonna do today?" Even when I've already told him. He doesn't really care what we do, just wants to keep talking about it. He likes to just say, "Mommy". He says it all of the time multiple times. And I love hearing it...for the most part!

He loves wrestling with daddy. We are working on how he asks for things because he's very demanding and particular about what he thinks should be happening. "Mommy, I NEED to watch Mickey Mouse." "Daddy, come on. We need to wrestle."

My favorite times I have found are either in the car talking and singing together or in devotions or hearing them wrestle. The laughing, talking, and singing are the best. He sings all of the time. Lately, he likes "Climb Climb up Sunshine Mountain", "I'm in the Lord's Army", Jesus Loves the Little Children", and "Yankee Doodle Dandy".

I might add to these as I think of more. It's hard to get them all down at one time.

Ava's room

So we have consolidated Matt's office, taken off wallpaper and painted, moved in Ava's things, and this is where we are so far. She is so spoiled! Jack loves her bed and wearing her hats. He has been so excited about everything we are doing for her which helps. I hope that continues! There are still a couple of things to do such as hanging stuff on the wall and maybe getting a rug or something for the floor which is red old carpet. But overall, I am happy with the results. It took a good 2 weeks in which our house was a mess. Matt said it was okay since she's not coming for a while; but I said, "I can't relax with the house this way, and I need to relax before she comes!" I hope it is not indicative of how difficult she is going to be, but most kids have their difficulties, right? Jack's room was so easy, and he's not always easy.

So we have done all we can do at this point, and it is better than it was; so there you go. I do love the yellow. We were able to find some great deals on Craig's List since most everything in the pictures is either from there or a garage sale or something I had already. But thanks, Mom and Dad, for indulging your little girl and investing in your granddaughter's bed and bedding! She will love it, I'm sure, and will be able to use it for a few years anyway. Eight weeks until she gets to use it! Can't wait!

So all of her clothes are clean and ready for use, and today I will be cleaning all of the equipment (swing, carseat, etc.) that has been in storage. So we should be ready for her by next week! HA

Fun in the Sun!

We've had a great time playing outside! We had about 10 kids here the other day playing in the little pool and slip n slide. I think today we might get into that again! Yay for warm weather that we can do these fun things!

My mom gave Jack some cookie dough that looks and shapes like play doh, so this is about as creatve as we got. But it was fun and yummy!