I can't believe it's been 5 years since I married my best friend - on one hand it seems like yesterday, but on the other hand I don't even remember what life was like before I met him. We have shared hopes and dreams, ups and downs and everything in between... I love you more than you can imagine Rob :) Here's to many, many more!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
27 weeks!!!!
Just a quick post - 27 week belly picture and my new hair cut. I can't believe I got it so short in the back, but I really like it. It's nice and cool for summer...no hair on my neck! I like the inverted style though; it still looks longer in the front. Probably something I won't keep forever, but my hair is SO thick with the prenatal vitamins and if I have it longer I do nothing but keep it in a pony tail.
I am still feeling good. Some back pain and more recently pains in my rear - almost like a nerve or something if I move wrong; but no biggie. 3 more months and I'll be done with it. I can suck it up :)
We have the new bathroom almost finished too! I will take pics of that when it's all done. It actually won't be ALL done until the next time my dad visits. I tried caulking 3 times and each time it looked like shit, so the bathroom is staying uncaulked until he visits and works his magic :) Love you! Justin took his first bath in there last night and loved it. He could see the hockey game on the TV in the toy room from the bathtub.
I am still feeling good. Some back pain and more recently pains in my rear - almost like a nerve or something if I move wrong; but no biggie. 3 more months and I'll be done with it. I can suck it up :)
We have the new bathroom almost finished too! I will take pics of that when it's all done. It actually won't be ALL done until the next time my dad visits. I tried caulking 3 times and each time it looked like shit, so the bathroom is staying uncaulked until he visits and works his magic :) Love you! Justin took his first bath in there last night and loved it. He could see the hockey game on the TV in the toy room from the bathtub.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
No more land line.....
Just a quick note - we no longer have a home phone. Last week we switched from cable to dish and decided that we don't use the land line enough to justify paying for it! So if you need to reach us our cell numbers are as follows - Melissa: 309-643-7408 / Rob: 309-472-4229.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend....
Whew. What a weekend. Rob and I are EXHAUSTED. We used to be exhausted at the end of a long weekend from too much drinking, eating, driving home from whatever destination we took that weekend....how life changes :) We built a swingset this weekend. All weekend. I am so glad it's done (soooo close!), and I am really proud of us. Rob did all of the hard work, but I did help where I could! We are SO happy with the way it turned out and Justin loves it. He keeps telling us thank you mommy and daddy - it made it all worth it. So here are a few pictures of our weekend. I wish I would have taken a picture of our wood pile before we started and now the finished product. I like the kit we bought and the components. The directions were pretty good - until the end we found a couple of issues, but nothing we couldn't fix. We did the whole project for under $1000...much cheaper than Rainbow or most of the big box store options. Plus the wood is so much sturdier than a lot of it we saw in the pre-made kits. The build time said 5-10 hours. We took longer than that, but it was just Rob and his 6 month pregnant wife, so I think we made pretty good time. Katie and Josh took Justin to her bosses BBQ to play with her son on Saturday for a few hours which was a huge help - we got a lot done in those few hours!
Helping Daddy drill the planks for the rock climbing wall.
Such concentration :)
He was a great helper...... insert sarcasm here!
When I'm tired of pushing him I tell him to swing like Superman.
Up on his rock wall - this reminds me of a senior picture pose :)
Playing under the playset
8pm Monday night - we ran out of daylight with about 45 minutes of work left. We could not start until about 2ish because of the weather today.
Daddy putting the roof on
I was trying to explain to my mom where it was in our yard - this shows it pretty good.
Helping Daddy drill the planks for the rock climbing wall.
Such concentration :)
He was a great helper...... insert sarcasm here!
When I'm tired of pushing him I tell him to swing like Superman.
Up on his rock wall - this reminds me of a senior picture pose :)
Playing under the playset
8pm Monday night - we ran out of daylight with about 45 minutes of work left. We could not start until about 2ish because of the weather today.
Daddy putting the roof on
I was trying to explain to my mom where it was in our yard - this shows it pretty good.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Hills 5-21-09
Finally - some new pictures for you mom :)
I am happy to be home again. I was only in Chicago for one night, but I really don't like being away from home. Especially when I call to talk to Justin and he begs me to come to his house to play sports with him. It breaks my heart...
Last weekend we were in Michigan from Friday night until Saturday afternoon. It was a quick trip, but we went up for a Brooks family reunion in Spring Lake. It was fun to see everyone. There were a TON of people there that we did not know or meet. It was the extended family that only gets together every 20 years or so. We got up there on Friday night around 9ish to Grandma and Grandpa Metzler's house in Holland. Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda met us there - Justin was so happy to see family! Aunt Manda spent the night with us and Ry came back in the morning (had a work meeting). We had breakfast and hung out before we had to leave for Spring Lake. We went to the reunion - Justin played lots of baseball and golf and then we headed back for home. Oh, we stopped at Meijer on the way to get some Vernors....yum! We can't get it in Illinois!
Sunday Rob had his hockey playoffs. They ended up getting 3rd. We love going to hockey games, but it will be nice to have the summer off for a break :) By the time we go to another hockey game we will be a family of four!!!! Speaking of which - the ticker tells us we are down to 98 days......WHAT?!?! How did double digits sneak up on us? It doesn't really seem real yet becuase we don't have the nursery done, I have not dug out any clothes, the crib is not put together, etc. However, when I went to Chicago yesterday one of the guys I work with gave us his double stroller. That hit me a little bit - wow...we really will have 2 kids to fill this! It's a nice Peg-Pergo or whatever side by side, but it's not one that will fit a car seat, so it will be one to use later on. I think we still need to get a sit and stand one - any suggestions for those friends with 2 or more kids?
We are so excited for a long weekend! Hopefully we can get a lot done. I want to get the bathroom finished and Rob wants to work on the room or swingset - weather depending. I figure I can work on the bathroom early in the am and late in the evening if it's too nice out to be stuck inside....plus my BFF wants to help me! Thanks Katie :) We should be able to have it done in no time! All of the swingset components are in, we just have to get the lumber. The lumberyard where the components shipped to wanted us to buy the lumber there. We sent them the lumber list and told them that if they were cheaper than Menards we would - otherwise we were going to Menards. They did say that they would deliver the swingset stuff and lumber for free if we got it there...that would be super convenient!
I think that a lot of you know our friends the Wisley's. Please keep their family in your prayers. Samantha is in Chicago today having surgery on her legs. She has CP and they are doing a surgery to correct her legs so she hopefully will not have to wear braces on them anymore. It involves breaking both legs, shaving bone and putting pins in. Not fun. Especially for a little girl who will be on bedrest for a lot of the summer. Sam is excited and not nervous at all....but I can't say the same for Stacey. I think that this will be worth it in the long run, but getting through this part is going to be tough.
I think that's all for now :)
Grandpa Brooks and Justin golfing
He's getting really good at it!
Uncle Ry and Justin playing on the ipod - probably on youtube again :)
Great Grandma Metzler and Justin
Great Grandpa Metzler and Justin - getting a poke in the nose :)
GG Metzler's new living room! They had a fireplace put in and the built in shelves - it looks great! (Thought you would like to see this mom and dad!)
I am happy to be home again. I was only in Chicago for one night, but I really don't like being away from home. Especially when I call to talk to Justin and he begs me to come to his house to play sports with him. It breaks my heart...
Last weekend we were in Michigan from Friday night until Saturday afternoon. It was a quick trip, but we went up for a Brooks family reunion in Spring Lake. It was fun to see everyone. There were a TON of people there that we did not know or meet. It was the extended family that only gets together every 20 years or so. We got up there on Friday night around 9ish to Grandma and Grandpa Metzler's house in Holland. Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda met us there - Justin was so happy to see family! Aunt Manda spent the night with us and Ry came back in the morning (had a work meeting). We had breakfast and hung out before we had to leave for Spring Lake. We went to the reunion - Justin played lots of baseball and golf and then we headed back for home. Oh, we stopped at Meijer on the way to get some Vernors....yum! We can't get it in Illinois!
Sunday Rob had his hockey playoffs. They ended up getting 3rd. We love going to hockey games, but it will be nice to have the summer off for a break :) By the time we go to another hockey game we will be a family of four!!!! Speaking of which - the ticker tells us we are down to 98 days......WHAT?!?! How did double digits sneak up on us? It doesn't really seem real yet becuase we don't have the nursery done, I have not dug out any clothes, the crib is not put together, etc. However, when I went to Chicago yesterday one of the guys I work with gave us his double stroller. That hit me a little bit - wow...we really will have 2 kids to fill this! It's a nice Peg-Pergo or whatever side by side, but it's not one that will fit a car seat, so it will be one to use later on. I think we still need to get a sit and stand one - any suggestions for those friends with 2 or more kids?
We are so excited for a long weekend! Hopefully we can get a lot done. I want to get the bathroom finished and Rob wants to work on the room or swingset - weather depending. I figure I can work on the bathroom early in the am and late in the evening if it's too nice out to be stuck inside....plus my BFF wants to help me! Thanks Katie :) We should be able to have it done in no time! All of the swingset components are in, we just have to get the lumber. The lumberyard where the components shipped to wanted us to buy the lumber there. We sent them the lumber list and told them that if they were cheaper than Menards we would - otherwise we were going to Menards. They did say that they would deliver the swingset stuff and lumber for free if we got it there...that would be super convenient!
I think that a lot of you know our friends the Wisley's. Please keep their family in your prayers. Samantha is in Chicago today having surgery on her legs. She has CP and they are doing a surgery to correct her legs so she hopefully will not have to wear braces on them anymore. It involves breaking both legs, shaving bone and putting pins in. Not fun. Especially for a little girl who will be on bedrest for a lot of the summer. Sam is excited and not nervous at all....but I can't say the same for Stacey. I think that this will be worth it in the long run, but getting through this part is going to be tough.
I think that's all for now :)
Grandpa Brooks and Justin golfing
He's getting really good at it!
Uncle Ry and Justin playing on the ipod - probably on youtube again :)
Great Grandma Metzler and Justin
Great Grandpa Metzler and Justin - getting a poke in the nose :)
GG Metzler's new living room! They had a fireplace put in and the built in shelves - it looks great! (Thought you would like to see this mom and dad!)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Hills 5-14-09
Hi! I know I just posted last night, but that was just pictures. I wanted to get them up asap in case we lost power because we got some pretty strong storms. Rob was at hockey and some of the thunder scared me - and I LOVE storms.
Not much is new around here. Just plugging along with work, daycare, projects, etc. Tomorrow after work we are leaving for Michigan. We are going to Holland on Friday night and staying with my GG Metzler. I think (hope!) that Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda are going to come over for breakfast on Saturday morning. Then we are leaving late morning for Spring Lake to go to the Brooks Family reunion - the whole Brooks clan! Rob and I are excited. Usually we only see his extended family at Christmas time. Should be a fun party! We are leaving after the party and driving home on Saturday though becuase Rob has playoff hockey games on Sunday morning. So it will be a really quick trip and a LOT of driving, but it will be fun!
We are anxious to get started on J's swingset, but we can't seem to get the stuff in town. I am so annoyed! The lumberyard got everything in besides the actual swing set kit. It got delivered to the wrong store a few hours away and it was supposed to be delivered yesterday to the right store. They called yesterday and said that it got delivered to a wrong store AGAIN. This time it's only about 1/2 hour away. He told me I'm welcome to go get it there. I don't think so! I am not driving for an hour to pick up something that is supposed to be with the other components! Ugh. So he is going to get it as soon as he can and call me. If it's not in by Monday I'm going to be mad!
I need to take pics of our new and improved toyroom soon. We got rid of the entertainment center and hung the TV on the wall - it looks SO much bigger in there! Maybe I'll take the pics when I have that bathroom done too....so you'll probably see it after the baby is born :) J/K.
Justin has been making me so sad lately. He keeps telling us that he wants to go to LV to see Gramma Airplane and Papa. Of course when he keeps asking and doesn't understand why we can't go see them whenever we want to it makes me cry. I was so lucky growing up to live in the same town as both sets of grandparents. He has so much fun with them and it sucks that we only see them a few times a year. :( Move closer.......
Oh and BTW - Katie is alive!!! I saw her on Monday night when her and Josh were such good friends :) They knew that we needed more drywall to finish the new bedroom and that we don't have a truck. They were in the Lowe's area and stopped and got it for us and dropped it off. We love you guys! We need a truck. Just not condusive to a family of four.
Okay - that's enough for now. Stay tuned on Monday for pictures from the weekend!
Not much is new around here. Just plugging along with work, daycare, projects, etc. Tomorrow after work we are leaving for Michigan. We are going to Holland on Friday night and staying with my GG Metzler. I think (hope!) that Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda are going to come over for breakfast on Saturday morning. Then we are leaving late morning for Spring Lake to go to the Brooks Family reunion - the whole Brooks clan! Rob and I are excited. Usually we only see his extended family at Christmas time. Should be a fun party! We are leaving after the party and driving home on Saturday though becuase Rob has playoff hockey games on Sunday morning. So it will be a really quick trip and a LOT of driving, but it will be fun!
We are anxious to get started on J's swingset, but we can't seem to get the stuff in town. I am so annoyed! The lumberyard got everything in besides the actual swing set kit. It got delivered to the wrong store a few hours away and it was supposed to be delivered yesterday to the right store. They called yesterday and said that it got delivered to a wrong store AGAIN. This time it's only about 1/2 hour away. He told me I'm welcome to go get it there. I don't think so! I am not driving for an hour to pick up something that is supposed to be with the other components! Ugh. So he is going to get it as soon as he can and call me. If it's not in by Monday I'm going to be mad!
I need to take pics of our new and improved toyroom soon. We got rid of the entertainment center and hung the TV on the wall - it looks SO much bigger in there! Maybe I'll take the pics when I have that bathroom done too....so you'll probably see it after the baby is born :) J/K.
Justin has been making me so sad lately. He keeps telling us that he wants to go to LV to see Gramma Airplane and Papa. Of course when he keeps asking and doesn't understand why we can't go see them whenever we want to it makes me cry. I was so lucky growing up to live in the same town as both sets of grandparents. He has so much fun with them and it sucks that we only see them a few times a year. :( Move closer.......
Oh and BTW - Katie is alive!!! I saw her on Monday night when her and Josh were such good friends :) They knew that we needed more drywall to finish the new bedroom and that we don't have a truck. They were in the Lowe's area and stopped and got it for us and dropped it off. We love you guys! We need a truck. Just not condusive to a family of four.
Okay - that's enough for now. Stay tuned on Monday for pictures from the weekend!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tiger Brooks?
Rob got Justin his first "real" set of golf clubs today. They are so cute :) We only had about 1/2 hour to play outside with them between rain and storms today, but they both had a lot of fun! There is a lot of work to do - Justin holds them like a hockey stick and hits like a slap shot, but he'll get the hang of it!
Justin and his new clubs
Such concentration....
Look at that form!
Getting a few pointers from Daddy
I think he likes them :)
Glad these are foam balls - a few hit our house!
He must have gotten a goal??
These are my flowers I got from Home Depot with my salesman of the month gift card. My goal was to keep them alive for 2 weeks - I am already at 3!!! What are the chances I can keep them alive for a whole month? I like the basket - it's an upside down pyramid shape.
Justin and his new clubs
Such concentration....
Look at that form!
Getting a few pointers from Daddy
I think he likes them :)
Glad these are foam balls - a few hit our house!
He must have gotten a goal??
These are my flowers I got from Home Depot with my salesman of the month gift card. My goal was to keep them alive for 2 weeks - I am already at 3!!! What are the chances I can keep them alive for a whole month? I like the basket - it's an upside down pyramid shape.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Hills 5-12-09
Ugh. I hate rude people. I used to deal with them on a daily (hourly) basis when I worked in Chicago, but since I've moved down here, most customers/engineers/etc are pretty friendly. I just ran into one that was a complete ahole. He's literally yelling at me on the phone and telling me that I don't know what I'm doing. Why you might ask? Because he promised the customer a 50K energy credit from Ameren (power company) based on some set points that he never even cared to ask me if he can control. I'm pretty sure that does not sound like MY problem. I would love to help you and get you in touch with our controls group to see if there is a way around it to still set the points you need, but do NOT blame this on me to the customer. I am so livid right now!!!!
It doesn't help that I just got back from the doctor and had my largest weight gain - ever. I have already gained 21 pounds with this baby!!! I am only supposed to gain 30 at the most. I am not sure what I can do...not like I can fast or skip meals. Okay - I can give up my nightly snack after Justin goes to bed...I don't want to, but I will. Or I'll have a healthy snack (what's the point?). Oh and he told me that my calves are swollen and I'm retaining water. I still have ankles so I thought I was okay on the swelling front. I usually don't worry until I have cankles.
Okay...enough with my complaining. I'll try to post something happy soon.
It doesn't help that I just got back from the doctor and had my largest weight gain - ever. I have already gained 21 pounds with this baby!!! I am only supposed to gain 30 at the most. I am not sure what I can do...not like I can fast or skip meals. Okay - I can give up my nightly snack after Justin goes to bed...I don't want to, but I will. Or I'll have a healthy snack (what's the point?). Oh and he told me that my calves are swollen and I'm retaining water. I still have ankles so I thought I was okay on the swelling front. I usually don't worry until I have cankles.
Okay...enough with my complaining. I'll try to post something happy soon.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wonderful day :)
First of all - Happy Mothers Day to our family and friends :)
I had such a nice day today. Rob and Justin let me sleep in until 9am and when I got up they were gone, so I went outside and read the paper on the deck. They got home shortly after and had flowers for me. After that we just hung out and worked on the toy room until lunch time. Rob had 2 hockey games today, so Justin and I went to the first one and watched him. Then we came home for Justin to take a nap, but he was not having that :) Rob got home and showered and we went to BW's for dinner (my choice, surprised?) and home to play outside! Here are a few pictures of our evening.
Quincy sitting so pretty :)
Tucker pooped out after chasing his frisbee a lot!
Me and my little angel :)
Quincy again - he would get tired of running and not come near us with his ball.
Tuckerman in action
Perfect end to my Mothers Day :)
Being a mommy is by far my favorite job in the world :) I am so lucky to have such great role models before me to look up to. I am the 4th generation of mothers still living on my mom's side - so to Mom, Grandma, and Grandma Bowen....thank you for always being there! I seriously talk to my mom every other day if not every day. She is the one I call when I'm stressed, when I have any question about everything from a recipe to a sick baby, or when something good happens and I can't wait to share it with her. I love you and don't know what I would do without you!!!!!!
I had such a nice day today. Rob and Justin let me sleep in until 9am and when I got up they were gone, so I went outside and read the paper on the deck. They got home shortly after and had flowers for me. After that we just hung out and worked on the toy room until lunch time. Rob had 2 hockey games today, so Justin and I went to the first one and watched him. Then we came home for Justin to take a nap, but he was not having that :) Rob got home and showered and we went to BW's for dinner (my choice, surprised?) and home to play outside! Here are a few pictures of our evening.
Quincy sitting so pretty :)
Tucker pooped out after chasing his frisbee a lot!
Me and my little angel :)
Quincy again - he would get tired of running and not come near us with his ball.
Tuckerman in action
Perfect end to my Mothers Day :)
Being a mommy is by far my favorite job in the world :) I am so lucky to have such great role models before me to look up to. I am the 4th generation of mothers still living on my mom's side - so to Mom, Grandma, and Grandma Bowen....thank you for always being there! I seriously talk to my mom every other day if not every day. She is the one I call when I'm stressed, when I have any question about everything from a recipe to a sick baby, or when something good happens and I can't wait to share it with her. I love you and don't know what I would do without you!!!!!!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
24 weeks...and other ramblings.
Today is 24 weeks! 16 to go :) Maybe even less....that would be nice! Although we still have a lot of work to do, so hopefully not too many less. Since we didn't already have enough projects going, I decided to tear down wallpaper in our downstairs bathroom when I was home with Justin on Tuesday morning. It was hideous - it really was. We are looking to paint it some sort of blue color and get a blue plaid or striped shower curtain. The floor is already linolium that is white with blue diamonds in it. It's in pretty good shape, so no point in spending the $$ to redo the floors yet. I think this will now be "the boys" bathroom. I don't want to make it a themed bathroom, but sort of nautical without boats or anchors. Does that make sense? I am thinking wooden letters of their first initial over a their towel bars and then some sort of organizer under the counter with baskets or bins (a diaper bin, soap/shampoo bin, etc). The bathroom is small so we have to make good use of the space! It would be nice though to have Justin taking a bath and be 5 steps away in the kitchen. Especially since he likes taking long baths now - just like his mommy :) Plus, the bathroom upstairs only has a sink vanity. The one downstairs has a counter that has some extra room for doing sponge baths when little brother comes along. Just what we needed on our plate - another project, right? Oh well.
In Justin news - I think we found a new pediatrician!!!! I called his old doc again yesterday and told him he was sick and they told me "it's a virus going around" no need to bring him in. So I called the peds office next door and told them the same symptoms I just told his old doctor and they said "we have openings at 11am, 1pm, or 3:30pm - we definetly want to see him today". What a breath of fresh air! So I signed him up with Dr. Ishmail. I was a little nervous there would be a language barrier when I heard the name, but not at all! She is probably my age and super friendly! She looks exactly like Callie from Grey's Anatomy. Not a hint of an accent and she was so good with Justin! He even liked her after a throat swab! We came away from the appointment knowing he has strep throat. We got him on antibiotics within the hour and she said after 2 doses he would be okay to go to daycare! I am not glad that he has strep, but I am glad to finally have an answer and a solution to get him healthy! She is new to the practice so she does not have a ton of patients yet and she is one of the few docs who is full time 9-5 M-F here unless she has to go to a hospital for a newborn check. I am so glad to have a doctor who I'm not afraid to call or go see becuase he'd tell me I'm just a paranoid new mom. I want to call him back and tell him see you Ahole - he really is sick and really did need meds. This guy made me feel like I was just trying to get drugs for my kid when he didn't need them. Strep does not just "run it's course" like I was told I need to let happen.
I have to go to the Post Office today to the passport authority. I did my online application, but had to print it out and sign it in the presence of someone there. I have to go to Canada for work next month (Saskatoon - aka BFE). I booked my flight today and am paying for the 2-3 week expedite fee so I hope I get my new passport by the time I have to fly! I also paid the extra $30 for flight insurance just incase something happens in the next 4 weeks and I can't fly. I hope all stays well though!
Not much else is new. I will post some pics soon - I promise :)
In Justin news - I think we found a new pediatrician!!!! I called his old doc again yesterday and told him he was sick and they told me "it's a virus going around" no need to bring him in. So I called the peds office next door and told them the same symptoms I just told his old doctor and they said "we have openings at 11am, 1pm, or 3:30pm - we definetly want to see him today". What a breath of fresh air! So I signed him up with Dr. Ishmail. I was a little nervous there would be a language barrier when I heard the name, but not at all! She is probably my age and super friendly! She looks exactly like Callie from Grey's Anatomy. Not a hint of an accent and she was so good with Justin! He even liked her after a throat swab! We came away from the appointment knowing he has strep throat. We got him on antibiotics within the hour and she said after 2 doses he would be okay to go to daycare! I am not glad that he has strep, but I am glad to finally have an answer and a solution to get him healthy! She is new to the practice so she does not have a ton of patients yet and she is one of the few docs who is full time 9-5 M-F here unless she has to go to a hospital for a newborn check. I am so glad to have a doctor who I'm not afraid to call or go see becuase he'd tell me I'm just a paranoid new mom. I want to call him back and tell him see you Ahole - he really is sick and really did need meds. This guy made me feel like I was just trying to get drugs for my kid when he didn't need them. Strep does not just "run it's course" like I was told I need to let happen.
I have to go to the Post Office today to the passport authority. I did my online application, but had to print it out and sign it in the presence of someone there. I have to go to Canada for work next month (Saskatoon - aka BFE). I booked my flight today and am paying for the 2-3 week expedite fee so I hope I get my new passport by the time I have to fly! I also paid the extra $30 for flight insurance just incase something happens in the next 4 weeks and I can't fly. I hope all stays well though!
Not much else is new. I will post some pics soon - I promise :)
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