I still have a lot to learn

I can no longer out-run my 5 year old. (This is a dangerous thing. Please don't tell the 5 year old!)
Can you see your toes?

So . . . the last time I posted about my pregnancy I was sort of feeling sorry for myself. I don't think it was a total negative post but I know that I did a fair share of complaining. It was 2 days later that I found out that one of my best friends lost her baby at 15 weeks. This was her 2nd pregnancy loss in a row at about this far along. My heart broke for her. She is not the first friend of mine to loose a baby or struggle with being able to get pregnant. I have other good friends who have had similar hear ache.

I knew when I had written my 'complaints' that there were people who would think that I was very ungrateful. So many people struggle with infertility or pregnancy loss. I wrote them out anyway because I know that I am also entitled to my own feelings about my own body and situation. However, one of my first thoughts when she told me was "She deserves to be pregnant more than I do." Obviously I wouldn't give up my unborn baby for anything, but I felt very guilty. I still do for some reason. Wondering why this happens to some and not to others. There is no right or wrong answer or anyone to blame.

Since then this topic of pregnancy loss has come up a lot among our friends and family members and I have heard more stories of loss like this. I know that this thing has not happened to my dear friends in order to teach me a lesson, but it has taught me. I hope I am learning to be a more understanding and sensitive friend. I hope I am learning to be grateful for a healthy baby and a little less selfish. I am grateful each time I can hear my baby's heartbeat. I want my friends and loved ones to know how wonderful they are. These trials they've gone through are so difficult. I commend them for their strength and I know they have many blessings in store.

So here I am now with 4 weeks left. I am not entirely prepared here at the house, but working on it. We still can't think of a name that we agree on. I had a doctors appt. at 35 weeks. I am dilated to a 1. In my mind I believe that this baby will come around the same time Embrie did at about 38 weeks. I could be wrong. I am scheduled for an induction on the 8th of August. My actual due date is the 15th.

Brad and I have made some predictions (this is a tradition) because you have to turn it into a competition right?

Guesses:

Randi
Date: Aug 5th
Weight: 7 lbs 11 oz
Height: 19 in.
Hair: light brown
Eyes: blue

Brad
Date: Aug 8th
Weight: 7 lbs 2oz
Height: 19 in.
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Hazel

Anyone else have a guess? Does anyone have name suggestions?

Think we need to chat . . .

So these two pictures are of the walls in my son's room. The purple is spackling that I have put on to patch all the 'dings'. I am doing this because we are trading rooms for the kids and getting a baby room ready. Well . . . needless to say Garrett is a little bit destructive? ? I mean I figure it's just a boy thing or whatever. . . but really? These are pretty bad. Last month we had a whole month of FHE's on being kind to others and getting along, kind of going with a theme there. I think this month we might try doing a theme of -treating our property respectfully- ? ha ha! so any ideas there? Of course he is much more important that 'things' but still, we need to work on this. I don't think he sits there with a hammer to the walls but he plays rough with his toys and sends his cars flying through the air in crashes on a daily basis. Is this just a boys will be boys moment? Or do you think we need to lay down the law? I feel like a pretty strict mom as it is.

this is just crazy!

A fun birthday party

Since we're reaching the age of 'friends' Embrie had been invited to two birthday parties. This one for her friend Lydia. They came dressed up as princesses. They made crowns and necklaces and then had a little tea party!

Look at those beautiful little princesses!

The Basement Project #1

So the basement is finally done! (mostly) 2 1/2 years ago we begin to work on our basement. We knew that it would take time and money. For one thing my husband does have another job (or two) so he can't be home to work on it all the time and in order to save money we decided to do as much of it ourselves as possible. We are very very lucky to have people in our family who know how to do things like this! Starting from scratch we got to work. Brad and my grandpa Clyde did almost everything. The first day my step-dad, grandpa and Brad started the framing. They both left us with most of the tools we'd need to keep going. After that Brad would work on it when he could and on many of his days off my grandpa would come down and help. They did the framing, insulation and sheet rock. The little bit of plumbing we hired out. Brad installed the shower. Our brother-in-law Eric came and did our wiring. My uncle Mont came and did the mudding and taping while my grandpa and Brad were there at his disposal to help. I primed and painted walls, ceiling, doors & trim (that's my only specialty and claim for helping since I was watching the kids most of the time). Brad and my grandpa installed the doors and trim with the help of my grandma (who actually came every time and helped quite a bit too). Brad's dad came and helped cut & lay the tile. Brad grouted the tile. Then finally it was someone else's turn to do the work! We had the carpet installed last week! yay! Brad will say it's not done, but I say it is close enough for a little comfort on my part (we have a baby coming soon and we need the room). The only things left are the toilet, vanity, and trim in the bathroom and shelves in the toy closet and book shelf.

We couldn't have done this without my grandpa Clyde! I love him tons! Thank you thank you thank you.
Also to my dear husband: he is so particular about how he wants things done, and having them perfect that sometimes I got impatient and thought " I don't care what it looks like just get it done!!!" (especially these last 3-4 months you know, pregnancy, nesting, etc.) BUT I have to say that because of his attention to detail and all of his hard work we have a very very nice basement. It has been finished much better than the rest of our house which was done by people who do this for a living, and this was Brad's first time doing any of it. Thanks honey! you did a GREAT job! I love you!

here is what it looks like today!

heading down the stair well (impossible to get a good shot of this)

looking in from the middle landing at how it is divided by the load baring wall

main living room

second room (toy room)

this little nitch has a built in book shelf on one side and a closet on the other.

and of course the bathroom is not finished yet, but close!

Remember When . . .

Man a lot has been going on lately! And maybe I just document 'everything' and that is why it seems like so much, but I really don't want to forget these moments with my kids. My memory is already not so good sometimes and I want to be able to look back and remember!

So last week Garrett and Embrie played with the babies almost every morning. I had to get pictures of this! I was so surprised at how Garrett was willing and wanted to play with the babies! They would change the babies' clothes, give them baths, feed them, put them to bed. Then wake them up and do it all over again. In the below picture they are taking them to the store. That is why they are in the shopping cart. However this was like the 3rd day they'd been playing this and Embrie let Garrett have the babies and she chose to wheel around one of his dinosaurs and her blankets. - Something you need to know about Embrie's blankies . . . they are to her like Garrett's stuffed animals have been to him. She sometimes acts like they are alive or talk. Pretty funny. So to see her with a stroller and 3 blankies inside is really not that uncommon around here.-

Embrie really likes these squishy dinosaurs that Garrett has.

Baby Jack, Baby Susie, Garrett with Baby Lulu and Embrie with Baby Amy.

Lets just hope they like real babies as much as they like these dolls!

America the Beautiful!

Our 4th of July 2011

I am proud to be an American!

If tomorrow all the things were gone,

I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Ok I just had to put that in there. I really love that song. I always have and I think it pretty much sums it up. Even when our country seems to be a mess sometimes or things aren't going the way we think they should we are still very lucky and the Lord has blessed this land. And maybe if we don't forget our Heavenly Father then He will let us keep it.

Now as I mentioned previously we were sick for the 4th of July. So pretty much the day was spent sitting and watching movies and holding buckets (at least the kids). But we still wanted to do a little something. So we went out to eat meaning that Brad and I ate. Garrett ate for the first time that day and we crossed our fingers and Embrie had eaten toast that morning but wasn't interested in anything else.

After that we went and bought some fireworks to light off at home and got some shaved ice too! This is when the kids seemed to perk up.

While it was still light out side we did some smoke balls, and parachutes.

and some snaps.

When it got dark Daddy lit of the other fireworks. This kids laid on a blanket and watched.

and giggled.

and this is how we ended the night. With our puke buckets on our heads.
(Don't worry they were clean!)

I would say the holiday wasn't a total loss.

(The next day Brad got sick, I am the lucky one in the family that got off scott free!)

The kids loved all the guys taking them on the Rhino and 4-wheelers. They got some pretty good rides in. No one wanted it to end.