Matt is so Proud!

We finally had our first chicken egg! Matt thought they should start laying soon and he noticed that the hay had been messed with up in the boxes. Well, he came home yesterday and told us that we had something to collect. Rachel has always wanted a purple basket to collect her eggs in and she already had one from Easter, so we got it ready. She was very proud of the egg and we then went over to our neighbor's house to show them.  We aren't for sure which chicken it came from, but we think it was the red one. The yellow is the same age, so we expect some from both of them soon. Matt ate it for breakfast this morning.

Just an Update

 Here are some small updates to the nursery. This bookshelf has given us A LOT of problems and required a few trips back to Home Depot to pick up more stuff more me to stain. Ahhh...I still have some molding to stain that will go in the back corners (to cover that gap) and then we need to order some glass shelves for the top. I will have to touch up some exposed ends with stain and then put stuff in it! I like the way it turned out, but it has been a pain. It took Matt all Sunday afternoon to put that little light in and rewire the fan/light switch to accommodate the new light. I helped a little, but at least didn't have to go in the attic.

 I got this white shelf at IKEA a month or so ago and we finally got it up. It is a little to plain/modern for my taste as it is, so we bought some crown molding to go under it and give it more of a traditional look. Clearly, crown molding is not one of Matt's favorites either as we had trouble getting the cuts right. So, we are thinking of putting up some corbels and then the crown in between that. I go to HD to pick some up today and had no idea that they run close to $40 each. So, I have no at the moment and my hope of getting this shelf done quickly went down the drain. However, at least the shelf is up and not in my foyer anymore.

 Here is Rachel, just as silly as ever. Why is she wearing those hot pajamas? Because this girl found her stash of winter clothes and thinks her footed pjs are the BEST. She loves wearing them and doesn't seem bothered by how warm it is. I make her take them off for nap and bedtime, but trying on different pairs keeps her busy for a long time.

One of my latest sewing projects was a new doll stroller cover. Her old one had been sat in way too much and was ripping everywhere. I found a tutorial on someone's blog and made it out some old bean bag fabric I had. It was pretty easy and I only had a few redo spots on it. I had fun and she was excited to have a new cover. I also made some table clothes for our card tables that we use for Bible study each week. I know I could have bought one, but those fabrics are not as cute and bright as I wanted. So I spent about $13 on each one and very little time and I really like my new table clothes. They will be used every week, so I am happy.

Matt's overtime has slowed quite a bit (much to his dismay) and he is done with the other house. I feel as busy as ever trying to keep up with my chores, gym, appointments, and having fun. Rachel used some swim floaties that go on her arms a few days ago and really liked them. Normally, she hangs out in the inner tube floatie, but I want her to get the hang of moving her arms and kicking her legs. She did great and was jumping in from the ledge like a pro. She doesn't mind going under the water and was very happy wearing them. On Labor Day, Matt took them off to see how she would do and she swam to him (very short distances) a few times. She calls them her swimming lessons. If it doesn't rain this afternoon, I will take her swimming again after my doctor's appointment. Poor Lauren, she must be getting tired of us using her pool all the time. We really appreciate it! As far as the baby goes, it moves a lot on my lower right side and I feel like I am constantly nudging it over. My belly feels huge, but I suppose it will only get bigger as I still have close to 8 weeks left. I am really hoping for an early baby since Rachel was early too. I am feeling pretty good, getting winded easier, and I noticed my feet were a little puffy after mowing the lawn today. I have been getting leg cramps about once a week at night, but all in all, I have been feeling good and just excited and anxious to meet this little one. Rachel now knows the two possible names for the baby (Lily or Evan), but she always refers to the baby as Lily. She is very sure she is having a sister and always asks what Lily is doing. I hope she isn't disappointed if the baby is a boy. I keep trying to remind her that it could be a boy, but I too think it is another girl. Sorry it was so long between posts and I will try to do a little better next time.

Progress with the Nursery!

 Rachel has thoroughly enjoyed playing with all of the real baby things (swing, bouncy seat, etc.) and I find all kinds of dolls and stuffed animals strapped in. My pile of things in our room has greatly decreased because I got the closet done and much of it could go on the shelving.

 Rachel likes to play on her swing set, but it is so hot that we don't do it often. Plus, we both are loved by the mosquitoes at any time during the day. She likes to swing on her belly and took a nice front dive off the front soon after this picture was taken. She was crying a lot and I thought it just scared her. Turns out she had grass and dirt all in her teeth and on her face. We went inside to clean up and didn't make it back out.

 We have been swimming at Lauren's quite a bit this summer and we have done a few pool parties with other friends too. The three of them were impossible to get into a decent picture together.

 I finished painting the nursery and decided to go with something a little different than last time. Between measuring, taping, and painting, the stripes took me about 8 hours total. After I looked at the stripes, I decided that the color I was planning on using from the other room was not going to match, so I drug my Mom with me to Home Depot to pick out  a new color. I sanded the window sill and restained it because Rachel decided to take a screwdriver to it and mark it all up. I have a few decorations I plan on making and of course, once we know who will be sleeping in this room, I will put up a name.

 I am very pleased with the extra storage space the closet now provides as all of this baby stuff certainly takes up a lot of room.

 This is my stash of diapers I have been working on from even before I was pregnant. While this may look  like a lot, I am sure it isn't even half of what I will need.

Matt has been very busy with Verizon and the extra rehab job, but they will hopefully be done with that this weekend and then I can start putting him to work around here. I am still going to the gym 3 times a week and feeling pretty good while exercising. I went to the doctor last week for my glucose test and check-up. Since I did not hear back from them, that means I passed the glucose test (which I was worried about since I failed the first one with Rachel) and everything else was great. I go back in one week for another check-up and Aunt Lauren gets Rachel a little more often as I start seeing the Dr every two weeks now. We have Bible study every Sunday night, which has been really great. We moved it from Thursdays so that I could be a part of it when I go back to work and it just seems easier for everyone. A couple from our Sunday School class come and they have two little boys around Rachel's age. So, she has made some new boy friends and just loves having them over each week. Life is good!

Lately

 Nothing too interesting has happened here over the past few weeks. Matt has been working a lot for Verizon and my Dad. My Dad bought another house, so Matt and a few guys are fixing it up for him. That leaves Rachel and I to do whatever I feel like doing most of the time. We have been going to the gym, swimming at Lauren's, and resting in the evenings because my feet hurt a lot these days. She is looking very grown-up lately.

 Since all of this stuff is currently in our room, that means I have begun work in the nursery. I have my paint picked out and I am working on staining new trim for this room. This will be my third room to stain trim for and I am just about over it. I need a break from staining, however, there is not one in sight since Matt and I are making a built in storage/bookshelf in that little space in the room. I have to stain all of that wood too. Ugh... I will be putting up the closet shelving as soon as Matt paints the ceiling (which was promised to me by Monday night).

 Grandma Rhine (Toby) took Rachel to the beach today. She has been so excited about it for a few days now and after she saw her new beach toys that I got this morning, she carried them around for an hour. They are spending the day together and giving me a break, which I completely appreciate! I know Rachel loves her Grandma, so she is enjoying the day too!

 She was saying, "I'm ready to go to the beach!"

South Carolina Family Vacation

 There are a ton of pictures from our Hilton Head vacation and I don't have the time to only post the great ones. So, you get all of them from the camera, good or not so good. We had a great time and based on the pictures, we spent the majority of our time in the pool or at the beach.

 Rachel really liked the ocean and the waves and didn't mind too much getting the salt water on her face. Matt drug her around on the boogie board right at the water's edge and she really liked that.

 I just love this picture! I feel like it totally sums up Rachel's personality and how much fun she has. Matt took this string of pictures on their Daddy-daughter date while all of the adult girls were at the day spa and outlet malls.

 Our beach babe!

 My prego belly at 24 weeks.

 Some family pictures that my Mom took at the beach.

 Reagan and Will. They look so much alike.

 I got to go boogie boarding on the last day. We got out around 8:30 when there were actually some waves because of the tide. I had so much fun and finally got some exercise. It think we stayed out for a few hours.

 I am not going to say too much else about the trip besides that we had a great time and enjoyed all of the family time together. I got some sun and didn't have to cook at all (thanks George)!