Another week goes by...

Well, we made it almost another week and things are starting to move and feel like we're accomplishing something. Before I get into that though, I realize I haven't said anything about our ultrasound a week ago. We weren't going to find out because I thought it'd be fun to find out in delivery but the girls wanted to know so I was easily persuaded to find out. It was quite obvious that it was a girl. I really thought it was going to be a boy. I thought  I was getting divine messages that we were supposed to have another boy so I felt a little tricked. It wasn't that I was upset it was a girl, just more or less upset that I was so sure it was going to be a boy because I felt we had another boy waiting to join our family. Oh well. If we only get one boy, I'm sure glad it's Cooper. He's so sweet and loving and I'm glad Isabelle will have a little sister closer to her age, so we're happy about it. Here's a lame-o picture I took of myself to show my "progress". I'm 22 weeks in this picture. I tried to get Elizabeth to get one of my but I looked like a freakin' giant, so I tried myself and this is as good as it gets for now! I feel like I'm in that awkward in between stage where people can't tell if you're pregnant or just chubby. I figure the nightly ice cream will catch up soon and push me out a little more, not that I want to, but I hate the in between stage.

So just over a week ago our wood came in and is still sitting until this weekend. I can't wait for Brian to start putting it in. I'm anxious to say the least. However, he hasn't just been sitting around.

On the main floor we just had our bedroom and then a large room that used to be 2 rooms. The lady turned it into one room and put this fireplace in and used it as her tv room. Well, I said it would be better for us to have 2 rooms than one big one. I told Brian I'd like to put a wall up, well, for him to put a wall up. I didn't think he'd do it for a while, if he did at all. I mean, we have enough bedrooms downstairs, but one day he went over to work on the house and he said, "you're not going to believe what I did" and I didn't. He had already knocked out half the fire place.

It was no easy job. He had to chisel off a bunch of the cinder blocks to be able to flatten it enough for the sheet rock to go over and what not. I was amazed when I saw how much he had done. The bricks went all the way up to the ceiling. I think he probably has a brick worth of dust in his lungs. The crazy head won't wear a mask!

So Saturday he put up the framing and yesterday did the wall. I couldn't believe how he just knew what to do. I was kind of freaking out like "how are you going to do this" and he would just say, " I don't know yet. I'll figure it out." And he sure did. By the end of yesterday he had the wall up.

He got the other side completely done, but now there's this challenge. I have no doubt he'll figure it out though. He is amazing me and how fast he's working and how much he is figuring out on his own. I'm so impressed. My Mom keeps saying, "that Brian. When he puts his mind to something, there's no stopping him." And it's true. He's a mad man working so hard and I love him for it.

Now that today is supposed to be good weather I'm hoping to finish up this forever long project of cabinet doors. Well, I probably won't finish them, but I should get at least half of them done and ready to hang. They

are at the house we're living at now outside. I haven't been able to do anything on them 'cause of the wind and crappy weather.

 I almost wanted to cry yesterday when I saw we still hadn't done anything with the drawers and Brian said there are like 15. It will NEVER end!!! And then I keep freaking out that I'm going to give this baby brain damage with all the painting I'm doing. It is well ventilated though, so Brian tells me I shouldn't worry... but I do. But I feel bad 'cause there isn't much else I can do. Well, there's the progress for now. More this weekend!

Free time? What's that?

What were we thinking? For some reason we thought redoing a house would be fun and I don't know... stress free under no real time constraint, but we, well, I, was wrong. I guess I didn't factor in being pregnant, trying to now keep up with 2 houses, keeping the kids happy while painting and what not.  Ugh! However, today we have hit a major point in that we are nearly done with a room. Just have to touch up the floor boards and touch up paint and I think we're good. Our living room got carpet today and not only that, it was 2 days early! A first. So here's the original:

And here are 2 of the nearly finished. I'm happy with how it's turned out so far. I realize that I haven't put up many pics, so you can see out the one window there's a side porch. It's  a nice size and covers to the back of the house. It's well shaded too which is nice. I just love all the big windows in this room.

This is our kitchen. It was the main starting point. All the doors off and are all ready for, if not already, painting. We removed the amber glass above and will leave that open. We need to get a stove/oven to replace the cook top. I painted the countertops white and the bar area black with light glitter in it. It turned out okay. Not as great as I would have hoped, but it'll work until we get the new ones. Now we just need to get the doors on, the drawers sanded, primed and painted and the floor in. That should take, oh I don't know.... forever!

This is a built in that's in the dining area (which is open to the kitchen area). My sister Caroline took this on as her project. I painted the countertop black like the bar. The blue parts on both the kitchen and this piece will stay open. And yes.... the intercom does work. :)

This has been a familiar pose for Brian lately. He's amazed me at how much he can get done and so fast. He always does though. He spent a few hours taking out all the staples out of the particle board, and the just 2 days ago started ripping up that same board. Realized now that it was a waste. Oh well. You learn as you go right?!

Amidst all the house work, I realize that I just wasn't going to be able to get as mu;ch done as I wanted to during the day. I've managed to paint a little here and there or plant a few things in the garden, but my patience is already so thin that trying to do all the things I need to and being constantly "interrupted" just isn't worth the frustration  and getting upset with the kids, so I've cut back. It'll all get done eventually.  We went down last weekend  and picked up our hardwood flooring. My parents came back up with us and as we neared the house to drop off the wood, the kids got a little ride with Papa John on the trailer. Highlight! Even if they don't look like they were having fun... they were.

We took a little hike, and it was quite little. I should have left the kids at home. A few minutes after walking the girls were upset with rocks getting in their shoes, so they took them off and complained the rocks were hurting their feet, so we carried Caroline, Liz toughed it out, and then a few minutes later Bri ran back and got the car and met up with us to take the kids home. Good thing the trail is only a 2 minute drive up the street.

Thought this one was cute. This sweet little girl seemed to have been abandoned on the trail, so we took her with us. Okay, just kidding. I just didn't do anything with Isabelle's hair for like 2 days.

Caroline found a beautiful "flower bouquet".

At one point, I came home and this is how I found Cooper and Papa John. I thought Cooper was asleep, but I'm assuming they just took a break from wrestling.

This one was cute.

And so was this. :)

Well things are going  well, and eventhough slow, we are making progress. Brian is such a hard worker and I'm impressed with his handyman skills. Some day this will all be worth it! At least that's what everyone keeps saying. Brian read something online where this lady was talking about redoing her cabinets and the guy was like, "you either have only 3 cabinets or you've been watching too much HGTV". We're one of those who watch too much HGTV and think we can do it all! We'll see.

Because I just can't help it

I love scaring people, it makes me happy. Sounds bad I know. One time I dressed up as a stuffed newspaper dummy for Halloween and sat on the porch to hand out candy. I had a sign on me that said "take one" and if they tried to get more than one I'd grab their hands and freak them out. Another one of my faves was hiding in my Dad's closet a few years ago. He was getting out of the shower and I had to wait for like 15 minutes and just sitting in the dark in his closet I was laughing at how funny it was. Well, just to make sure, I closed my eyes when I jumped out at him and thank goodness I did! A towel doesn't do much good on the floor. JK. I have no idea if it fell or not.... my eyes were closed! So I set up the webcam to video the kids watching the video. I'd seen it before so I knew what happened. It's one of those dumb videos where something jumps out at you, and do you know who sent it to me? My Dad, so I don't feel so bad jumping out at him! For some reason the sound is off from the video, but you get the idea.