"We're On Our Way...the Mission of the Day"

I'm posting in between contractions.

This one, is for certain - different.

I had to be induced with the first two pregnancy's, so this should be interesting! I am still at home, enjoying the beautiful and sunny fall day from the couch this moment, waiting for the next contraction-while the world stops for a moment-then to write it down on my little piece of paper-all the while watching the clock for the 5-min. apart timing so we can head out!

It's funny. I have thought about and worried about this pregnancy the least of any of the other ones. Perhaps it is due to the somewhat familiarity of having "been there and done that." But, when it comes down to it, it is upon us, and is really out of my control. What wonderful things, like this, that come into our life as we sail along, to remind us that we have a wonderful Heavenly Father to rely on in times of need. This day, no doubt, will be a moment by moment reminder of that for me. And then, Lord willing, holding our little miracle will bring it all to fruition.

Hopefully, there will be good news soon!!!

FULL SWING AHEAD

Well, Hello there, little blog.

And my fellow bloggers.

It's been awhile, huh!

A loooooong while!

But here I am...still incubating this baby awaiting any day for his arrival.

Last night, we thought it was it. For about an hour, I was feeling the beginning of contractions---which of course resulted in nothing more than some ugly braxton hicks. But that, thankfully, means things are a-moving along! The dr. says I'm 2cm/50% effaced---for the record, so we'll see! It would have been cool for a Neiner to be born on 9.9.09. Oh well.

I really cannot believe the time has come.

When I think about it, it has slipped by me so quickly. Maybe that is because this is the 3rd and even though you try hard to absorb every special moment, life is just plain busier with two other children running around. I remember in the beginning of this pregnancy, I would literally feel like I would forget that I was pregnant, of course, until my nausea convinced me otherwise! Then I started showing and thought, Oh yeah, that's why nothing fits me the right way anymore. Then the end which has resulted in a complete house refurbishing---so it seems.

The boys are now in their desired bunk beds. The bunk was John's from growing up---which he fondly shared with his younger brother. So many stories have overflowed from painting and putting that thing together. In which I know our boys will share their own memories---one's we will probably not even find out about until they are in their 20's and know they are safe to finally share with mom and dad! Drew seems so grown up all of a sudden. Taking on a new kind of brotherhood with Jack. And Jack seems so little in his "big-boy bed" which the comforter almost completely swallows him. But he burrows down in it and loves it so much. So far, the 3 nights they have slept in their bunks, there have been no falling outs! However, the first night, after about 2 min of closing the door, we heard little Jack calling, "DREEEEW, DREEEEEW, DREEEEEW..." So John went in and there was Jack with his noggin hanging off the edge of his bed looking up trying to get Drew's attention. Drew was probably talking just as much, he just knows the importance of keeping it under wraps so mom & dad won't hear. Jack has a lot to learn!

The baby will be in the nursery--which is the room we just moved Jack out of. With Jack's arrival we were able to completely decorate it with a new scheme since Drew had grown with the room he started out in. So brown & green & cream was Jack's room. Since this one is also a boy, we didn't need to completely redo the scheme and we certainly didn't want to paint the walls just for the sake of decor. But I felt the desire to make it unique for this baby. So I have added some color in the form of decorations. Here is the new color scheme:

a circle mobile almost finished.

the inspiration for the colors.

I picked up this little bookshelf on the side of the road because Jack's board books were overflowing beyond control. Then I had this idea for the baby's room to paint and decorate a scene inside the shelf to play in. I painted it and used Martha Stewart paper for the images. Then decoupaged the whole thing with mod podge.

Didn't really for-see GI Joe's in this...but you know, anything goes with a little imagination!

This is not a memory-in-the-making video or anything.

I would just like you to hear my 5 year-old's ability for endless chatter & make-up-your-own vocabulary...

WELL, I still have a nice long post I'd like to get in before the baby arrives. Once I get everything situated and photographed, hopefully I will. And it just dawned on me. I started this blog just before I had Jack---nearly 3 years ago! WOW! {click HERE to see what I pretty much look like now! Maybe I'll surprise with a current photo...but no promises!} :)

p.s. OK, I just looked at the preggy picture up close and I am DEFINITELY bigger right now than I was at one month left with Jack! So don't worry...I am b.i.g.

Beach Dreams

WE'RE OFF...just the two of us...my husband and me.

The kids are tucked away safely at "camp gramma's" & tomorrow awakes us with our departure for sunny, beachy, lobstery Maine for a couple of days. It has been TOO LONG since we have gotten away alone! And we figured we had better take advantage of this window before #3 arrives! A hotel right on the 7 mile beach, walking distance to downtown Old Orchard Beach, short drive to great little towns. AND, it's suppose to be sunny for the next 2 days...now that's a God-send in New England this summer! 

We'll be back with pictures...

BABY on the BRAIN

2 babies born this week!!!

CONGRATS to:

1. My friend, Steph and her sweet baby boy who was born on monday: CAEDMON OLIVER

***also, check out her GREAT post on baby products!

2. And a new cousin for me (that's right...my AUNT just had a baby!) My forever young aunt Becky with her precious new one just one day old: ISABELLA ROSE

I have been prompted to be thinking more & more about our OWN baby coming!!! He will be here somewhere in the timeframe of 2 and a half months! That is NOT very far away! So as we are still pondering and hashing out boys names I am considering THE NURSERY. In no way do I desire to redo the nursery, since it's in baby boy fashion. However, there is something I like about it being unique for each baby. We were able to completely start fresh with Jack since he started in a new room. But this *baby* will be taking over Jack's room and Jack makes the move in with Drew (interesting times ahead, no doubt). SO, I am contemplating adding some new splashes of color. But while I am pondering, planning and consulting my husband, I thought I'd share this great idea I may just steal!

You can check out JennSki's fun & funky art at her etsy shop and her scrapbooking line can now be found at Michaels! That's where you can find these great alphabet cards to make the canvas art in the photo above! Click here for a full tutorial by tiny Decor.

Sum-Sum-Summertime

So, today, my feet are completely spoiled. 

I am not sure what I have done, but all they want is to be soaked, and scrubbed, and pampered. Can you blame them? 

I love a good pedicure. And it dawned on me that I haven't had one since preparation for our wedding. That is almost 8 years ago! Sheesh! You'd never know my sister is a cosmotologist! I have never been good about the girly painting fingers & toes...but last night after I got home from my 1 hour luxury treatment, I went to work on my fingernails. I need to keep the feminine touch alive around here with all these boys in tow!! 

SO, yes, #1 won. It really wasn't a hard decision (though, Leah, I will definitely keep your option open for next time). And I had a great afternoon to myself. My in-laws took the boys to the museum for a special frog exhibit, I did a quick shopping stop, had a savory lunch of spring shrimp rolls and organic salad here (logo & menus designed by pixel) before I headed over to elle. So the boys looked at frogs from around the world while I sat and soaked my feet and had them rubbed with all sorts of smelly salts and oil rubs by a beautiful Italian girl with a heavy accent. We talked about the streets of Italy where she grew up, gelato and her love for nutella (something we share). Do you know they make Nutella gelato? She has it every time she goes home to Italy and she says it's the best. I am sure I would completely agree. She was great. And my feet thank her. 

Today, is a beautiful day. We have had SO much rain this past month. I heard in the whole month of June, there were only 4 days without rain fall. So today was a billowy-cloud-sunshiny-but-cool-breeze kind of day. We took the boys to Whitney's farm where they have huge wooden play structures, including a new pirate ship. And farm animals you can feed (including a peacock!), and we packed a picnic lunch. After that we drove by the strawberry field to see if they were picking today. Picking is quite late this season due to the rain, but the fields were plush and ready. So we randomly stopped by Mountain View Orchards (and the name speaks for itself) and picked 6lbs. in just a little bit of time. Jack ate them almost the whole time, Drew played with the boy in the next row, and John & I feverishly picked away. They are the best fresh off the vine. Warm, sunshiny, fresh, fragrant...yum. So now I need to make some shortcake, and get some cream, and we'll be all set. Maybe that's what we'll have for supper tonight. Who says you can't have Strawberry-shortcake for dinner??? After all, it's SUMMER!

Here are some fabulous looking FOOD blogs I stumbled upon trying to find a recipe for easy and delicious shortcake:

Pink Stripes:

~if your mouth isn't already watering, go here! What a fabulous "tried & true" food blog. Looks like she tries just about everything. She gives 4 varieties to the traditional Strawberry shortcake.

 

A Singleton in the Kitchen

~this blog doesn't give an actual shortcake recipe, but she tried pink stripes' recipe and gave rave reviews about it. Upon scrolling through this blog, I was quite impressed at the variety of things she has tried plus taking great pictures helps. Food is not always very photogenic. 

Ronnie's Recipes

~for a nice little shortcut, this blog baker uses a yellow cake mix for the base. Not quite as "home-made" but I bet it's super good!

SPLURGE

SO, I've been given an unexpected gift of time (alone) and some extra special *splurge on yourself* money for tomorrow. 

NOW, to decide what to do???

SHOULD I:

1. Get a SPA Pedicure and give my tired feet the luxury treatment?

2. Go fill my inspiration tank?

3. Go SHOPPING?

4. Go sip on something delicious from starbucks and indulge in a magazine (and pocket the rest of the money for a rainy day)?

5. Go for an expensive pot of tea and some of the world's best chocolate?

6. Go buy something fancy & pretty?

7. Go do something creative?

8. Do some shopping for the boys?

9. Get my hands dirty and do something totally new?

10. Go enjoy nature. (although I think it's suppose to rain!)

 

DECISIONS. DECISIONS. DECISIONS.

WHAT, I say, is a GIRL SUPPOSE TO DO???

(I'll tell you that my feet are crying at me to do #1!)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Yep, He Belongs To Me!

Look who's featured on Fuel Your Creativity! This site is FULL of inspiration for the art world covering many categories such as blogging, illustration, apps, photography, writing, and more! John is today's featured illustrator!! From there you can link to his full portfolio and to the pixel website.

So proud of my man! Click on the link to check out the write up that says he's "rocking the illustration world."

Well, duh!