playing outside.

Cameron is definitely a boy. He is okay with sitting inside if he absolutely HAS to, but he had better have his show on TV and some toys to play with. If he had his way, we would sit outside all day long and play with toys.

When we first moved in, my parents gave us their old picnic table. We just threw it in the skinny grassy area beside our garage and haven't touched it in 3 years. For Easter, Cameron's grandma and grandpa got him a sandbox/picnic table combination and we threw that in the front yard next to the bigger picnic table. We have been playing outside since it has been warm enough, but it had been us playing in the driveway and front yard. Josh got tired of people staring at us while they walked by, and felt kind of trashy, so he moved everything to the backyard.

We have a tiny sidewalk that is supposed to act as a patio in the back of our house where we parked Cameron's 'car' and his slide and there is plenty of room for Buffy to run around (as far as the lead will let her) back there. Another plus, she can't see people walking past our house, so she doesn't bark.

Here are a few pictures of Cameron (and Buffy) playing outside this morning.

Way Back Wednesday.

A couple of the ladies from a mommy message board I frequent have started a fun new tradition on Wednesdays. This week's theme is 'What are your favorite memories from your honeymoon?' I am excited to relive the week we spent!

Josh and I were married on October 13, 2007. We didn't really have the money to take a honeymoon right away, so we saved up the money we received as gifts and some of the money from our paychecks and headed to Orlando in December.

Josh's mom and step-dad are members of a time share community, so we got an awesome suite for the week we were there. We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resorts and had a great time.

The resort was really nice. The pool was big, hardly ever busy, and there were hammocks all over the property for relaxing. The room was a huge 2-bedroom suite with a super nice whirlpool tub in the big bedroom. I don't have a nice tub like that at home, so I spent a good amount of time in it.

We went to Orlando with the intention of getting out of the snow for a week. We didn't really have any set plans, anywhere special we wanted to go. Josh drove me through Disney World's open roads, and convinced me that we definitely had to go. I was pretty skeptical, thinking that we could find something better to spend $500 on, but I gave in.

there we are on the monorail to Magic Kingdom on the first day.

love this picture!

they put that on the back of our car for that ride.

one of many characters met.

at the 'it's tough to be a bug' show.

We spent 2 days at Disney World. We didn't really take pictures of much else. We did some shopping, relaxing and exploring in Orlando and had a great time. We are looking forward to going back once the kids are big enough to have a good time. Can't wait!

37 weeks!

Pregnancy: 37 weeks

Weight Gain: When I was at the OB on Tuesday, I hadn't gained any weight. Let's hope that stays consistent!

Sleep: Same old. I would probably be able to sleep if I didn't have to wake up to pee every 2 hours.

Gender: Girl

Name: Hannah Elise

Feeling: Swollen and huge. After working in the yard last night, the Stay Puft marshmallow man had nothing on these cankles.

Health: I assume everything is fine. Nothing major to complain about.

Movement: She's a busy body!

Belly: Hasn't changed much in my opinion. Maybe a tiny bit bigger.

Next Appointment: Only two more left! This week it is on Thursday with a midwife.

Five Question Friday.

1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument? In middle school, we were required to either join the choir, orchestra or band. I wound up in band and I played the flute. I played for 3 years and quit when I moved onto high school. If I got the flute out today, I am not sure if I would remember how to play it.

2. What is your pet peeve while driving? I have a few, but my biggest peeve is people that wait until the very last second to merge in a construction zone. Everyone else is patiently waiting in the lane they are supposed to be in, why can't you?!

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services? Definitely unlimited spa services. Keeping up with the house is not too bad around here, but that is because I have a husband who doesn't mind helping me keep it that way. Unlimited spa services sounds wonderful!

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance? I never really went to the dances and special events in high school or junior high. But there was a video made when our class was making the transition from middle to high school, and they used the song 'Good Riddance (The Time of Your Life)' by Green Day and to this day I still remember that video.

5. What song best represents your life right now? Is there one about being exhausted from watching/cleaning up after a 20 month old while 9 months pregnant? If so, that is the one! ;)

Father's Day Weekend.

Saturday morning started out as a lazy one. Everyone was still tired, so we lounged around the house and stayed in our pajamas until lunch time. But I am getting ahead of myself here, so let's back track a little.

Friday afternoon, Cameron and I met up with Josh's mom and grandma at a neighborhood garage sale. It was blistering hot, the temperature was only 88 but weather.com said it felt like 95. I believe it. Anyway, she had been finding some bargains and we headed over to see what she had found. She bought a changing table for Hannah's room, and only paid $7 for it. This was a nice neighborhood too, so everything looked like it was in great condition. It is stained a light wood color, so we (not sure who yet!) are going to paint it white and throw it up in her room. After that goes in, I think her room will be done, besides a couple of little things Josh still has to hang up on the walls. =)

MIL also found a really cute bouncy seat for Hannah. Yes, we already had one from when Cameron was a baby, but this is one of those papasan ones that makes me wish I were a baby again. So here is how Cameron spent his Saturday morning:

Of course, the urge to start nesting has started to kick in, so I went in the basement and brought up the infant seat we used with Cameron and will use again with Hannah. I set it on the floor in the living room, set off to find a way to remove the sticker some idiot at Chuck-E-Cheese had put on it, and came back to this:

I love that boy. He helped me clean the seat while the cover was in the washer and was eager to play with it again once it was all put back together. He is so helpful!

Sunday morning was spent giving Josh his cards (he already got his gifts - I am terrible at surprises) and going out for donuts. We drove to Grand Rapids to have lunch at Chipotle (Josh's favorite) and to walk around at the mall up there. I would say he had a pretty great father's day weekend. =)

Here's a picture of the gifts Cameron made for him. Have a great day!

36 weeks!

Pregnancy: 36 weeks

Weight Gain: I assume it's lingering somewhere around the 25 pound mark still. I hope.

Sleep: My body has adopted a new internal alarm clock, and it goes off at 6:15 every morning. Needless to say, sleepless nights will not be an issue for me.

Gender: Girl

Name: Hannah Elise

Feeling: Exhausted, swollen, ready.

Health: I think I had a bit of a stomach bug this week, but after a clear liquid diet for a day, I am all better!

Movement: She is still moving like a crazy person. She will probably be kicking her legs until they pull her out!

Belly: Looking at the last 3 weeks worth of pictures, I think she has dropped.

Next Appointment: Tuesday afternoon.

(a little less than) 4 weeks away!

I am not going to lie. This week has been really rough. I haven't felt well at all, between the nausea and stomach cramping, and the terrible back aches. I am so ready for July 15th to FINALLY roll around. I still think my OB's office has my dates completely wrong and that I really am farther along than they think. I guess time will tell, won't it?

I am having the hardest time convincing myself to wait to do everything that is Hannah related. The planner in me wants to put her car seat in the car, bring up Cameron's old swing and bouncy seat, and pack our hospital bag. Josh, on the other hand, is perfectly content with waiting until the very last minute to do all of those things. Yes, I have to agree that packing the hospital bag right now does not make too much sense. I don't have a lot of clothes that fit me right now, so I need everything I can get. Not to mention, I don't buy little travel bottles of shampoo and that, I take what I have in the shower at home. Maybe it would start to feel a little more real if I at least brought the suitcase up and put it in our bedroom...

35 weeks!

Pregnancy: 35 weeks

Weight Gain: I accidentally looked at my appointment this morning. I am up 25 pounds (not too bad considering almost 5 of it is baby!).

Sleep: I am still getting up every couple of hours to use the bathroom, but it's all good. I am getting used to it.

Gender: Girl

Name: Hannah Elise

Feeling: Ready to hold my little girl!

Health: Everything is good!

Movement: I had to be hooked up to a monitor this morning because I didn't feel her much over the weekend. I must be crazy because she moves a lot!

Belly: Looks the same this week as it did last week, maybe just a little bigger.

Next Appointment: Next Tuesday. Every week now!

testing, testing 123

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Latest happenings.

I haven't updated lately, sorry! I thought my cold was going away, but it is still lingering. I am going to lose my mind pretty soon. On top of that, I have been very uncomfortable, but I will get to that in a little while.

We are officially 5 weeks away from meeting baby Hannah! I can't believe it. It seems like it was just yesterday that I took the test on a whim and found myself face to face with a positive result. According to the websites that I have looked at, and the app on my handy-dandy iPhone, the chica weighs almost 5 pounds and is close to 17 inches long right now. And I believe it. This girl lives in my ribs. All day, every day. I can't remember the last time I didn't have a constant pain in my ribs. Even tickling her feet won't move her. *5 more weeks, 5 more weeks.*

After reading lots of raves and reviews, I ordered these stickers for her yesterday. I guess you just peel them off and stick them on the front of a onesie, but they appear to be ironed on. I didn't do month by month pictures of Cameron, and since Hannah will be our last baby, I plan on taking a million pictures of her every day. Aren't those adorable?!

My mom is just as obsessed with buying tiny pink clothes as I am, so when I show her something I love, she usually goes out to buy it. I FINALLY found the outfit I want her to wear when she comes home from the hospital. Here it is!

It is pretty far zoomed out, but the onesie says little sister on it. I am in love!

There really isn't anything new going on with Cameron. He has been talking a lot more, and saying his new favorite word - "hi". He said 'hi' to the cashier at JoAnn's about 40 times yesterday. I love that boy.

34 weeks!

Pregnancy: 34 weeks

Weight Gain: I don't know, and I don't want to know either!

Sleep: Sigh. I think I will be prepared to wake up every 2 hours with a newborn baby.

Gender: Girl

Name: Hannah Elise

Feeling: Uncomfortable and hot.

Health: I am finally getting rid of a cold I've had for the past week.

Movement: Very slow, deep kicks into the ribs lately. And of course, the grinding up against my hips.

Belly: Has even more new stretch marks. My belly button is half way popped out. It looks really weird.

Next Appointment: Next Monday.

Hannah's room (update!)

I got out of the house all by myself this afternoon, and wound up at Joann's looking for stuff for Hannah's room. She had wall letters on the wall and that was it for decor. 1 birdhouse (for $1!), a tiny galvanized flower pot (on clearance for 50 cents), another wall letter (an H for 50 cents) and some paint later, and we have some new decorations!

We bought the picture frame with the monogram at Target for $15, and Josh's grandma got the shelf at a garage sale for $1. We went to Michael's after Cameron's nap and bought the flower for 99 cents - held up with that messy green foam for $2.

The pretty little birdhouse that sits on top her bookshelf.

The letter on her door (a view from the hallway).

Cameron had a terrible weekend. Nothing made him happy, and he spent a good portion of his time whining and throwing fits. Here he is tonight before bed.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!

Bike trailers and pop up tents.

Cameron is obsessed with bikes. He runs wild through the stores in search of them, points them out on TV and stares in awe as someone rides by our house on one. Last night, Josh got my bike down and attached the trailer we bought last year. They took a quick little drive down the street and back, and someone was mesmerized.

Tonight, we were shopping at Kohl's and Josh found a pop up tent with a crawl through tunnel attached to it. Cameron loves to crawl under the dining room table - between the chairs and all to chase the dog. He was very skeptical when we first set it up, but the boy is in love. He went back and forth through that tunnel for about 20 minutes, until he started rubbing his eyes. Poor guy wore himself out.

Five Question Friday.

Sorry I haven't kept up too much with the blog this week. I have a cold and have felt like crap since Saturday. Boo hoo. Let's play a round of 5 question Friday, shall we?!

1. If you could go back to college would you change your major? Or, if you were to go to college right now...what major would you choose?
I always wanted to be a teacher when I was growing up. I have a couple semesters of college under my belt, but I have never gotten a degree. I keep meaning to go back to school, but I always find a way to talk myself out of it. No excuses, one day very soon I will be going to school! *there is my shameful secret.*


2. What do you love most about your home?
I like it that we live in a quiet-ish neighborhood. I love the fact that we have a basement, just in case a tornado rolls into town, and the fact that we have 4 bedrooms. Two on the main level (one is an office) and 2 upstairs (those are the kids' rooms). It isn't the fanciest or best looking, but it is perfect for us.


3. What types of books do you like to read (if you like to read at all)?
There is a pretty wide variety. I have always loved Nicholas Sparks. He is one of my favorites. I fought the urge to read the Twilight series for as long as I could, and I regret it. I love the books. I am currently reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, and am only on book 1, but I am very intrigued!


4. What is the grossest thing you've ever eaten?
Oh dear. I have no idea. I try to stay away from things that I am certain will be disgusting.


5. If you HAD to be a character on a TV show, whom would you be?
I think I would like to be a new character on The Office. I love that show, and almost every single character, but I would want to be someone original that shakes up the show. There I go being difficult again! ;)

Memorial Weekend.

Saturday started off with cleaning the house a little. My dad came from Holland to pick up some more of the stuff he has stored in our garage and basement, and I took a few pictures of Cameron playing in his jeep.

After he packed up his jeep, we headed to lunch with Josh's mom and his step-dad. They were keeping Cameron for the night so we could get another date night in before we become outnumbered. We said goodbye, then headed to my grandparent's house for a little while. After we sat there for half an hour, we set out on a quest to try and find some fun outdoor water toys for Cameron to play with. The boy loves all things water. After we ended our search empty handed, we headed for dinner and to the movies to see Iron Man 2.

Sunday morning was spent taking Cameron's old crib apart and returning it to Target. It had been recalled twice, one of the recalls was from July 2009. So we returned it, bought a new one, and came home and put it together. Josh assembled it as a toddler bed, just to see how Cameron would do with it. After that was all done, we got ready and headed to grandma and grandpa's to pick him up. When we got home, we played outside with a water toy we found on clearance for $5.

After we wore ourselves out playing in the hot sun, we came in and Cameron laid down for a late nap.

His first nap in the big boy bed was successful, but the night was not. He rolled out of the bed twice and scared himself big time. He wound up sleeping in between Josh and me Sunday night and woke up exhausted. Josh put the side up on the crib, so now he's back to being confined. He doesn't mind it at all though.

Yesterday was Memorial Day, and we were all exhausted. The weather was crappy, it rained almost all day, so we stayed inside and took nice long naps. Hope you all had a good weekend!