Spring Break

Despite all the snow days we've had this year, Paul still managed to get a whole week off for spring break. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and we had some really special days with Gray. There are a lot of pictures on this post-sorry but I'm not sorry! ;)

Monday was pretty busy trying to finish up some last minute things around the house since we were about to put it back on the market and I had to tutor that afternoon. But we found time to take a lunch to Tanglewood and let Gray visit the dog park and ride his four-wheeler.

Thanks to longer days and sunlight until after 7:00, we played bubbles that evening after dinner.

Tuesday we were off early to the Science Center in Greensboro. Gray loves it and we get half off with our zoo/aquarium pass so it's a win/win. We hadn't been since last fall so everything seemed brand new to Gray.

These two make my heart so full!

As much as there was to see at the museum, Gray's favorite part was seeing the school buses on the way out. That is so our boy!

Wednesday we were off early again to the Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, which is about an hour from our house. We took Gray last summer when he was barely a year old and he loved it then but fell asleep half way through the wagon ride. We knew he'd get so much more out of it now and it was something we really wanted to do before it gets too hot and baby brother comes along making outings like this a little more challenging for a while. We had a 10:15 wagon reservation which ended up being perfect-it was warm but not hot yet and our wagon wasn't even half full. Gray was in animal heaven.

Like at the Science Center the day before, this was Gray's favorite part of the whole day. Our boy is obsessed with tractors and anything else with wheels!

Thursday morning we were off to Wilmington/Sneads Ferry. My Gram rode with us and stayed with her sister and her husband in Southport for the weekend. They met us in Wilmington to pick her up and then we went to see my cousin and her family for the day and evening, who we haven't seen in way, way too long. My aunt was also there which was an added bonus! Gray was so excited he missed a nap for the very first time since the 'ol colic days. He handled it like a champ though and played long, hard and sweet nonstop until we left that evening.

 

Ruby, Gray and Cole-third cousins!

I can't even stand the sweetness in these faces!!

After a long day of playing outside and grilling out, we headed to Paul's parents for the rest of the weekend. Thursday we headed back to Wilmington for the day. Gray ran around on the boardwalk admiring the boats and water and the many dogs who were out for a walk. We had a delicious seafood lunch at a waterfront restaurant.

On the way home Nana and Grandpa took us to Belk to buy Gray some summer clothes. Gray was such a trooper considering we didn't even get in the car to head home until after 3:00. He slept the whole way home, woke up sweet as sugar and ready to play for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Grandpa let Gray drive his convertible!

And his truck!

Reading books with "Nanny". First time we've ever seen him with his hands down his pants. Certainly won't be the last!

Gray LOVES their big boxers! Sharing milk with Jack.

Saturday morning Gray played outside with the dogs and then we went to watch Grandpa's soccer game, which was at the school that he and Nana teach and coach at. He wasn't one bit interested in the game but the buses were a whole 'nother story!

After the game we enjoyed yet another seafood lunch at our favorite local restaurant. They might have the best fried shrimp I have ever had. I made the mistake of sharing my lunch with Gray-that boy can throw down some food y'all!

After two days in a row of missing naps in his pack n play, Gray took a good long nap that afternoon. As soon as he woke up we headed for the beach. Paul's parents live less than 10 minutes from Topsail Island, which couldn't make me any happier! Gray hadn't seen the beach since last summer so I could hardly wait to see if he would love it the way his mama does. He certainly did and was completely fearless of the water. This day wasn't as warm as the day before but we were certain he wouldn't want to get in the freezing cold water. We were sure wrong! Thankfully we had a change of clothes in the diaper bag. Seeing him on the beach that day got me so excited for this summer!



This picture makes my heart want to burst.

We ended the night playing outside and making s'mores. No surprise that Gray was a fan and is still asking for "mar-mars".

Sunday we drove to Southport to pick up my Gram and see my great aunt and uncle's new house. It was such a cool little town and I wish we would have had more time to spend there. We did get to try out a delicious, water front local restaurant on our way out. It made for the perfect ending to a wonderful long weekend.

And this was our sweet boy just a few minutes into our drive home.

Next time we're at the beach we will have two little boys and I can hardly wait!

Gray's big boy room

Let's start with the toddler bed that Paul built from SCRATCH! We had a twin bed in this room and had always planned on using it for Gray when he moved from his crib. But it was pretty high off the ground and took up quite a bit of space, plus Paul had a hankering to build something. We found a picture of a toddler bed that we liked on Pinterest and just like that, Paul decided to build it. He had no plan to go by for building it, just a picture. He had not built many things before this and certainly nothing even close to this big or complex. Nana and Grandpa generously offered to pay for the wood and supplies for the bed, which we were and are so grateful for. We could have bought two or three toddler beds from IKEA for what this puppy ended up costing, but they wouldn't have been real, sturdy wood and definitely not as special. It took Paul about a month to complete the bed but that was having very little time only on some days to work on it. Since we have no garage or work space, he couldn't do much after Gray went to bed because the cutting and sawing was so loud. I'm not gonna lie, it was a little hard on my type A personality for a bed to be being built in our living room for a month but it was sure worth it and I could use all the refining I can get anyway! ;) We couldn't be happier with how the bed turned out. The drawers underneath are huge and I could just about pee myself with excitement thinking of all the storage space we have in his new room, especially when compared to the closet size nursery he has been in. We didn't want to get another changing table so we will store diapers and wipes in one of the bed drawers and just change him on the bed or floor until he is potty trained.

I put this picture on my last blog post but wanted to have it on this post about Gray's big boy room too. You know, for the sake of the second Hickster Happenings printed blog book one day.


Top picture-Pinterest bed, bottom picture-Daddy's amazing work!

Here is another angle of the bed...

We've known for a while we wanted to do somewhat of an African animal themed room, without it being too theme-y. Gray's second love in this world is for animals-his first being tractors and although I think that would have made a cute room too, we already had several things to make the animal theme work easier. My mom got some canvases made of animal pictures that I took on safari in Kenya a few years ago. We already had a giraffe stool that we'd picked up at Homegoods a year or so ago. We also wanted to use the four hand-knitted animals my mom made back before Gray was born, along with a sweet elephant chair Paul's parents got Gray this past Christmas and also some animal masks and other wood carvings from Kenya that I've wanted to use for years.

This room is not big by any means but is much bigger than the nursery. We knew we didn't want the bed near the window so all along it's been on the long wall opposite the wall when you walk in the room. We ended up getting two pieces from IKEA that are a dresser and shelves combined. It wasn't what I originally wanted but takes up less space and I am very happy with them. We had them right next to each other on the wall across from the bed, which is right to the right when you walk in. Then we had the IKEA toy box in front of the window. I was pretty satisfied with the room but it just felt smaller and more closed in than I'd been imagining it would be. I got the idea to put one dresser/book shelf piece on each side of the bed. I told Paul I was certain I wouldn't like it but wanted him to arrange it like that and let me see if it grew on me for a few days. As soon as he moved the pieces we both loved it. Now the toy box is where those pieces were and the elephant chair is in front of the window. I wish I'd taken a picture of it that way for comparison sake but I didn't and it wasn't worth moving back for. The room looks SO much bigger and open and he has a lot more floor space to play. It also solved the problem of needing a night stand for a lamp and his books to be next to the bed. We were both thrilled about that because we hadn't been able to find one we liked that matched and that didn't seem to cost way more than a nightstand should. The only negative of this arrangement is that we had a perfect place for each animal canvas the way it was before and we had to get creative with finding a good way to hang them all on the same wall with the way his room is now. My BF Lindsey told me that she'd learned when you have pictures that aren't proportionate or even, you are supposed to square up the outside edges and then it doesn't matter if the space on the inside is even or not. I would have never thought of that but I think it looks great.

My Gram was sweet and generous to buy Gray's bedding, which is from Pottery Barn Kids. I'm usually not a big fan of monogramming-I love monogrammed things, it just never makes sense on our budget to put Gray's name on something knowing we won't be able to use it for long or again. But I (or should I say Gram?) splurged and got a small pillow sham with Gray's name on it and also one with Walker's name (in case they stop making that particular bedding by the time he transitions to this bed). Paul took the bedding to Lowe's and matched up a can of spray paint for Gray's letters that had been a soft blue to match the nursery. We left the same white ribbon so it was a quick and easy project to almost finish off his room. I still need to put some recent pictures in frames on his shelves, find a shelf or way to hang/display the animals my mom knitted and maybe a few more little knick-knack things but the room is pretty much done. I really couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

I think it looks much better and bigger in person but here are some more pictures anyway...

This is from the door walking into the room

 

I definitely want to find a few little things for this shelf, though I'm sure it will be completely filled with books in no time.

Thankfully the right closet door still opens all the way even with the shelf/dresser that close to it.

We will probably move Gray into his new room next weekend or the next. I think the transition from his crib to his new bed might be somewhat challenging because he loves his bumper, loves to stand and jump in his crib (he won't be allowed to do either in this bed) and with the way he moves around in his sleep, I won't be surprised if he falls out while he's getting used to it, even with the railings. But hopefully he will adjust quickly and I know he will love having the space to play in his new room. The Lord continues to remind us that we have all the space that we NEED (and more). I never would have thought we could have two kids in this townhouse. Speaking of, we just listed our house last week with a fifth realtor and have already passed the FIVE year mark of when we first listed it before we were even married. Paul did a lot of little home improvements that will hopefully make our home stand out and be more desirable. And if not, it at least makes us enjoy it more as long as we are living here. I'll post more on the house if and when we have any news to share!

 

30 weeks

I'm blown away when I think about how fast 30 weeks have gone by, but of course 8-10 more sound like forever! I went to the doctor a week and a half ago for my glucose test and regular four week check up. Everything looked great and I never got a call about my glucose test-no news is good news so I am thankful for that! Walker's heartbeat was 140, right around where it has been almost the entire pregnancy. I had gained NINE pounds since my last appointment, which made me about have a heart attack but as good as we ate in Asheville, I shouldn't have been surprised. The doctor didn't even mention it, which either meant she knew better or she truly wasn't concerned. That puts me at a total of 21 pounds gained so far, which is still a few less than at this time with Gray but very close to my goal of 30 pounds, which isn't likely to happen at this point. I just hope I don't gain 10 plus pounds of fluid weight at the end like I did the first time around. Anywho, here's a little update on me at three-fourths of the way through my second pregnancy.

According to Baby Center, Walker now weighs almost 3 pounds and is a little over 15 and a half inches long.

I'm feeling-Big! But surprisingly pretty good most days, especially when compared to how I was feeling at this time with Gray. Praise God that I haven't had sciatic nerve problems with my back and that weird issue with my foot again. Praying those things both stay away for good. I am actually sleeping pretty good most nights, which is also way different than this time with Gray and I am very thankful for that. I wake up once or twice to go to the bathroom but the sleep I get before that is awesome. Some nights I have trouble getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom but overall I can't complain about the sleep situation (yet!). My back is starting to hurt some by the end of the day (though again, nothing like with Gray) and Walker seems to be even a little lower than Gray was, but I am not nearly as uncomfortable yet. The gym situation hasn't changed since my last update 5 weeks ago. I am doing good to make it there two or three times a week between Gray being sick, appointments and bad weather. I feel so much better when I have worked out and I'm hoping I'll be able to keep taking my classes for at least another month or so because I really feel like that has helped me to feel as good as I do this late in the pregnancy. I wish you could see the looks and hear the comments I get at the Y. Because my belly is already so big, I think people are really concerned that I could go into labor right in the middle of a squat during Body Pump class. I honestly dread the "when are you due?" question because of the reactions that always follow. But for the most part I laugh it off and just keep telling people that I make big babies and even bigger bellies ;)

Can't get enough/craving-Still popsicles, fruit, smoothies-anything cold and fruity. I've been popping mandarin oranges like they're candy. I've still had a bit of a sweet tooth but not as bad as the last few months. I'm still missing caffeine, Jimmy John's and sushi like crazy!

Movement-Walker is one very active little guy! And although at his size and mine, the movement can sometimes be uncomfortable, I LOVE feeling and watching his sweet little body parts poke out of my belly. Gray likes to put his hands on my belly because he's seen Paul and my mom do it when they are feeling Walker move, but if he has actually felt him move he hasn't seemed to understand what it was.

Big Brother update-I thought I'd add this in because I don't want to forget how precious Gray was when I was carrying his little brother. He loves to hug and kiss on my belly but still only with my shirt pulled up. He "shares" everything with him-tries to pour his sippy cup into my belly button and even makes a pretend sipping sound while doing so, brings Walker toys and puts them to my belly and he even tries to share his paci and snacks too, which is not only a Gray sacrifice, but also so very sweet to watch. Paul finished Gray's big boy bed and y'all-it is nothing short of amazing! I am so proud of him and could not be more pleased with how it turned out. He also got the IKEA furniture together and we plan on having his room wrapped up by this weekend because our house is going back on the market next week. I can't wait to post more about his room when we get it finished. For now, here is a sneak peek of the finished bed...

And here is a comparison of the picture we found on Pinterest and Paul's masterpiece...

Gray is really interested in his big boy room and already plays in there some and asks to go "night-night" in his "big bed". We've made a big deal talking about his new room in hopes of it making it more exciting and the transition easier. Because of that, his new favorite thing to say a million times a day is "I'm big!". We will probably transition him in the next few weeks or so because we don't want it to be new at all by the time Walker is born. We've told him a lot that since he has a new room, baby Walker is going to have his old baby room. Other than that and knowing that there is a baby brother in my belly, he definitely can't fully understand it at his age. We really want to do some special things and treasure these last two months with Gray as only child. Not that life won't be even sweeter, but it will no doubt be different and even busier. But I am just so excited to see him be a big brother!

And now, the belly update...large and in charge, y'all!

A comparison of me with Gray at 30 weeks and now at 30 weeks...

My next appointment is on April 9th and is the first of every other week visits. It might be weird, but I actually like going to the doctor when I'm pregnant so I'm looking forward to going more often now. Maybe it's because it makes it seem like it's going by faster? I hope to be back with one or two more pregnancy updates before Walker makes his arrival.

Surprise Babymoon!

Paul and I had talked briefly about wanting to get away for a night or two before Walker was born but had kind of let the idea go/decided not to do anything. Much to my surprise, he planned a two night getaway to Asheville at the Grove Park Inn. He wanted so bad to keep it a surprise until the day we were leaving but he knows me well and knew I'd want to be prepared and planned for it so he told me several nights before we went. The Grove Park hosts a Christian marriage conference each year that we always hear about on the radio and Paul decided he was going for it! The GPI offers rooms at half price if you attend the conference, which was the only way we could ever afford to stay there. Paul had never been before and I'd only been to look around for a day with some girlfriends years ago. I'd actually mentioned a few months ago that it would be a dream for us to go one day. The conference is always held on Sunday and Monday, probably because GPI isn't as crowded on those days and they are giving such a good "deal" on the rooms. Even though the conference was over at lunch time on Monday, the hotel offered the discounted rate for two nights, so Paul planned for us to stay Sunday and Monday night. He'd talked to his principal about taking two days off and worked all the details out with my family and Lindsey about taking care of Gray-all to who we are SO thankful for!!!

The first conference session started at 4:00 on Sunday so we'd planned on leaving early and making the most of our two days. But our power had been out for almost two days due to the ice storm so we hadn't gotten to do laundry, pack and all that necessary stuff. We got gone around 1:30 and made it there just in time for the first session. The couple leading the conference were Jay and Laura Laffoon, who I had never heard of but they were hilarious and had some awesome things to say and teach on about marriage. We had a two hour break between the first and second session so we checked into our hotel and headed downtown to a eat dinner at Tupelo Honey, which was a very popular local restaurant recommended to us by everyone who knew we were going to Asheville. It did not disappoint! I can see us driving to Asheville just to eat there again one day.

View from our room!

Perhaps the best crab cakes and mac and cheese I have ever had in my life!!

Paul got some kind of nutty fried chicken goodness.

And definitely the best blueberry dessert of any kind that I have ever had!

The evening conference session was led by the guest speaker, Gary Smalley. Paul and I read two of his books in our pre-marriage counseling and found them to be very interesting and helpful but we really had no idea who he was or had heard much of him since then. He is a 73 year old man that about had us peeing in our pants the whole time. He mostly ended up telling his own stories but also had some good things to say about communication in marriage and valuing and honoring your spouse.

Monday there were two morning sessions, one more by Jay and Laura and another by Dr. Smalley. They were both awesome and fun and even though Paul and I are blessed to be going through a somewhat "easy" time in our marriage, we left rejuvenated and motivated to be better spouses. I wish all married couples, including us, could attend a marriage conference once every year. Anyway, it was over by noon which gave us almost an entire day to venture around Asheville. We headed to Biltmore Village and had lunch at Cantina, a local Tex/Mex restaurant that as Paul would say, "makes you want to smack somebody". I'd eaten there one time years ago but it was even better than I remembered. Are we the only people that take pictures of our food?!

I can't even remember all of the things that were on my salad but it sure was delish!

Paul enjoyed shrimp and pork soft tacos.

We walked around Biltmore Village for a while and then headed back to explore more at the GPI. The resort is huge and beautiful and we wanted to just relax and soak it in. It was almost 70 degrees, which was perfect for sitting outside and enjoying the view.

This is the original part of the hotel and where our room was. They also have two wings of rooms but if you ever go, I'd recommend staying in the old side!

That night we ate dinner at one of the hotel restaurants called Edison. Paul had made reservations for a table right next to a window so we could watch the sunset over the mountains. It was perfect and the food was outstanding, though we were so hungry we ate before we remembered to take any pictures

View from dinner

After dinner we headed downtown to a local dessert spot called French Broad Chocolate Lounge, mostly for the experience since we were so full we could barely walk. We ended up taking half of our dessert back to the hotel but it was fun anyway.

When we got to the Grove Park on Sunday, Paul told me he had one more surprise for me. He'd booked a pedicure at their spa for Tuesday morning. I could not have been more excited! The Grove Park is known for their amazing spa but I knew we wouldn't be able to afford couples massage or anything like that so I wasn't expecting it at all. I hadn't had a pedicure since Gray was born and at this point I can barely bend over enough to pain my toenails. Needless to say, I was SO excited about it. The pedicure was scheduled for Tuesday morning but if you have anything done at the spa, you get to stay there all day if you want to and swim in the mineral pools, or just use their shower facilities, which I'd heard were amazing. We got up really early Tuesday morning so we could go eat breakfast before my appointment. I was downstairs sitting by the fireplace while Paul went to get the car and got a text from Lindsey that said Gray had thrown up and we needed to get home. He had another cold virus when we left but had no signs of any stomach thing and Lindsey said he'd been fine the night before so I just couldn't believe it. Not to mention this was the first time he had EVER thrown up before. It broke our hearts not being there for him and knowing Lindsey was having to deal with that. So we skipped breakfast, cancelled my pedicure appointment and headed home as soon as we could. We got to Lindsey's about 10:45 and Gray was asleep in a stroller, something he hasn't done since he was six months old. He was happy to see his mommy, but other than that he was a mess. He was so miserable and ill and there was almost nothing we could do to make it better. He wouldn't eat or drink anything. I rocked him to sleep and he napped for over four hours! He was still pretty ill when he got up but managed to eat and drink a little. He never threw up again so it's hard to say what was going on but he was all out of sorts for several days after we got home.

Despite having to come home early, we had a wonderful time and are so thankful to have had an opportunity to get away, just the two of us, before life gets even crazier with a newborn in just a little over two months! A huge thank you to my family and the Sowers for taking care of our boy so we could enjoy our time away. And especially to my sweet hub for planning such a thoughtful, wonderful babymoon. I am far more blessed than I will ever deserve!

Thursday Randoms

I continue to have a few posts in draft mode and probably all but one will stay there (a post about Gray lately). I just haven't had much time or energy for blogging lately. And honestly, the reason for being here now is probably so I have an excuse not to get up and clean or do laundry while Gray is napping.

I am 27 weeks pregnant today. Some baby sources say you're in the third trimester at 26, some say 27 and some 28. I'll go in the middle and say that today I welcome the third trimester. I have mixed feelings about being here. I'm not excited about getting even bigger and the uncomfortableness that comes along with it but I am more and more ready every day to meet this sweet little guy that I've been growing the past 6 months. I can't wait to fall in love all over again. I cannot wait to know what he'll look like, how big he will be and how sweet I think Gray is going to be with him (for the most part). I cannot wait to kiss his chubby cheeks a million times a day. I can't wait to dress my boys in matching button up shirts on Sunday (we only have a few matching things so we will be seeing them repeated quite often).

Paul is almost done with Gray's big boy bed. He is working on the drawers that are under the bed now and that will be the hardest part. I am so proud of his hard work on it and I can't wait to see it finished. My mom is keeping Gray on Saturday so we can go to IKEA and get a dresser, book shelf and some other little things to complete his room. I think I have decided on his bedding but wanted to wait to order it until I make sure IKEA doesn't have something I like better or that's much cheaper. My mom was very generous to pay for four canvases that will be hung in his room. We used pictures from an African safari I went on my second time going to Kenya. We got one of elephants, a zebra, a giraffe and a mama and baby monkey. They turned out so good and I can't wait to get them hung.

Our house has been off the market since we left for Kenya. Our last realtor was our least favorite yet. We met with one last week and want to meet with one more before deciding on a FIFTH realtor as we have recently approached our FIFTH year of trying to sell our house. Paul has to finish the bed before we can list it because there is wood and tools and saw dust everywhere. We want to get Gray's big boy room mostly finished and do a few minor upgrades to the house before officially listing it again, hopefully by the end of March. That's going to make for some very busy weekends!

I feel like I've said something similar before, but please know that you should never, ever under any circumstances, start a greeting to a pregnant woman with "wow!" Y'all might not believe some of the comments I've already gotten if I told you. And I still have almost three months to go! Two weeks ago someone told me I looked like I was going to pop. I know my belly is big, but pop?! Already?! My response was "You ain't seen nothing yet!" (She didn't know me when I was pregnant with Gray). And that was coming from someone my age who has been pregnant before. I believe if this continues I'll have to go into hiding even earlier this time. ;)

I am OVER this winter! It's been one of the worst ones we've had in a long time. I love snow and am so glad we got one big one this year but I am more than ready to move on to long, warm days spent outside playing with my boy and wearing flip flops. Tuesday we got a little snow and school was out and they are calling for ice tonight and tomorrow. Between the winter germs and weather, I still can't seem to get to the gym more than once or twice a week and my mood and energy are needing more than that.

There is a really sweet little voice calling for "Mommy! Mommy!", so I reckon I'll go now. Hopefully a big boy room post will be coming soon!

Happy almost Friday, y'all.