The New Deck

The past two weekends Brett, along with help from some pretty awesome neighbors, added an addition to our back porch.  We knew from the beginning that we wanted our back deck to be a little bigger, it was just hard to find the time to make it happen!  Now that it is done, I am so thankful that is, John William and I have already enjoyed our time out there, and I know we will all summer long!!

I actually meant to take some before/during/after pictures-- but I failed.  Here are some pictures of John William and I enjoying it though!

Telling the bigger kids he was ready to play basketball!

we tested out the blow up bouncy house/ball pit that we'll be using for his birthday party, just to be sure he'd enjoy it over the weekend...

and he did!!

we've also been using our 'walker' in the yard.. he's ready to cut the grass!

Also...  I got a really great deal on a beautiful Armoire that I knew would go great in our bedroom.  I measured it and it was going to fit perfectly!  The only thing I didn't measure was the corner around the stairs to get this beautiful armoire up to our room.  Ooops.  A few bumps into the wall, shifting, and 3 strong men sweating it was decided it wasn't going in the normal way!  So over the weekend our neighbor Greg helped Brett get in a more unconventional way...

yes, that happened!  When there's a will... there's a way!!  Thank you Greg and Brett!!

We've also enjoyed some warm days and with that came an invitation to our friends heated pool!

I see lots of trips to the Skelton's pool this summer :)

Our little guy is getting very active, and we are just trying to keep up, while loving every minute of it!!  Can't believe he'll be one next week.  Ready or not. Here it comes!  

The Baby Bullet

Well today was my first attempt at making baby food... and I'd like to say it was a success!  We got the "Baby Bullet" as a gift, so it was time to put it to use.  After reading many articles about home made baby food vs store bought baby food in jars, I was totally sold on fixing it at home ourselves; and after doing it today, it wasn't nearly as hard or time consuming as I thought it would be!

First the supplies

I did 1 avocado, 1 squash, 1 cup of rice, and 1 cup of peas

we followed the very easy recipes

steamed our veggies

placed them in the cup

pulsed a little

added a little more water and viola!! Fresh peas for John William!!

now for some squash!!

and avocado

and finally, we milled some brown rice!

 so what was my helper doing during this...

he was just a swingin'!!

And what did he think of his new food...

He loved it!!!

and here's what we got.. a full bowl of squash, 5 servings of peas plus an ice tray full in the freezer, 3 servings of avocado, 6 servings of rice plus an ice tray full in the freezer..

not too shabby for our first attempt!!  this really was so easy and didn't take long at all!  Next time I will probably try to do a little more and stock up our freezer for the month!  I look forward to planting some of our own veggies in the garden across the street next spring and heading out to our local farmers market for some more fresh produce!

J.Will's nursery and a little bath time

From the time we found out we were having a little boy everyone asked what the nursery looked like and if the nursery was done...  Since I knew we'd move into our new house very close to John William's arrival I decided I didn't want to do a nursery in the apartment and then move out a month later, I'd rather have it all ready at the house.  So we did the pack and play thing at the apartment, and now that our little guy is almost 3 months old his nursery is about complete!  Some of the walls still feel a little bare for me, but I know it won't take long before everything is full of pictures of our pride and joy!!

a HUGE thank you to Ms. Jackie, our sweet friend and neighbor, that made John William's bedding.  We love it!!!

 this is the chair, that was bought almost 26 years ago, that rocked Brett

the picture frame I love that my sweet class got me

this cross hung on one of our hospital doors when John William was born

my "spring break" project I did last March 

this picture actually hangs in John William's bathroom, I just had to share!

and speaking of the bathroom... this sweet little boy is loving bath time these days!!  He gets so 'brave' and starts to kick and stomp his feet to splash, then he almost scares himself, but continues the splashing!  This little boy holds his mommy and daddy's hearts!!

I mean, who couldn't fall in love with that smile!!

Home Sweet Home

We are finally in our new home!

We've been in about a week and a half

and we've been going non-stop ever since

however there are still boxes to unpack

and pictures to hang

but this little guy (and his mom) are glad to have his daddy home with us alot more

we are indeed blessed, and so very happy to be home!!

Welcome 3rd Trimester

Hard to believe we have entered 'the last leg' of this race.. and oh how awesome it is.. and bittersweet.  As I grow more and more excited (and largeer), anxious, scared, and ready I also think about how time flies.  Every year as I've grown older it seems as if each year goes by faster, and I know once John Will enters the world it will only go faster.  Time flies when you're having fun!

I am now at week 28, and I really do feel great!  John Will is kicking all the time, and even gets the hiccups from time to time.  I love every minute of it!!  I love feeling him move and it makes me smile so big!!  According to my "baby app" on my phone John Will is the size of a Chinese Cabbage.. aproximately 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 pounds and around 14 1/2 inches long-- growing growing boy!!

In the past week I have actually felt a few cramps, but nothing really to complain about, and the only thing that keeps me up at night is having to get up and go to the bathroom!!  My next appointment isn't for 2 more weeks- the 30 week mark!  Wow!!  I look forward to hearing my little man's heart beating!!



In other news...
Our house is coming right along!!  It's amazing every time I drive by how much they get done in just one day!!  This is such an exciting time for Brett and I, and we know we are so very blessed to be able to be building our own home!!  I'm so excited to move in (sometime this summer.. no, probably not before John Will gets here) for so many reasons!!  We are going to be so blessed by living in this home, and making it a loving home- where people are always welcome!  We are excited to be living next to many of our closest friends, and for the new close friends we are going to meet in our new community!!

upstairs is coming!

(below) This is the front of the house

and this is the back

 downstairs...

upstairs 

 While I was there taking pictures one day there was a little backyard football going on...

 Although he will be much younger- John Will is going to have some pretty fun guys to play with, and learn from!

Last weekend Brett's mom, dad, and brother came to Tuscaloosa for us to celebrate Mr. Ronnie (Brett's dad) and Ashley's birthdays... We went to Five, and oh my, it was so good.  This was mine and Brett's first time to go, and we enjoyed it so much.  The atmosphere was great and the food was awesome.  I recommend it to anyone who hasn't been!!  We went back to Ashley's house afterward for birthday cake and pie.. it's always nice to have family time :)

Oh... and one more thing... CONGRATULATIONS to Mary Kathryn and Brad Thomas on Everett Bo making his appearance to this world today!!!  Can't wait to meet this little guy!!