Deck the Halls!

Alright, I said earlier that there would be no more pictures on this thing until the baby was born because our camera was charged and packed. 
I didn't know I'd have to put it away for over two weeks!
So, out it came to document the hanging of the greens at Chateau Stavenger!

Kendall was an excited helper this year!

The product of her efforts...a cluster of red balls around the bottom of the tree.

 We had to stop in the middle of our decorating tasks to indulge Kendall's love of climbing up "Grandpa Mountain".  This little game sparked LOTS of giggles over the course of Grandpa's stay!

Showing Grandma Donna how this decorating thing is done!

Taking the decorating into her own hands.  Shortly after this photo, she realized the tree was prickly and didn't want any part of it anymore.  :)

All finished...time to enjoy family and our pretty tree!

Please Don't Make Me Shave My Legs Again!

Three times.  I've had to shave my legs three times since I thought I'd have this baby.
I love a good shaved leg, folks, but getting the job done with a nine-month pregnant belly is no easy task.
And before some of you post comments with links to THIS device, let me just say I'll NEVER be using one of those.  Sheesh...I'm clutzy enough with a regular razor.

With that being said, at this moment:
My hair is clean.
My legs are smooth.
My toes are looking snazzy.
My bag is packed.
My camera is charged.
The carseat is in.
My laundry is done.
I have a full belly.
I got a good nap.
My mom is here.
My dad is here.

BABY CARTER, I AM READY!!!!
Let's DO this before I get bitter. 

I Never Thought I'd Say It, But....

*Pause*
If you're looking for any kind of intellectual substance from this blog, you will be sorely disappointed with the next few posts.  I've given my brain permission to downgrade function until the baby is born, so until then....total nonsense.  If that's your thing- well then, pal, stick with me!
*Double Pause*
Oh, and if you're looking for more cute pictures of Kendall, I'm afraid that's on hold, too (I'm plugging my ears so as not to hear your collective sigh of disappointment.  Neener neener!).  The camera battery has been charged and disk cleared for upcoming events.  Hospital bag....check!

Ok, what was I blogging about?  Oh yeah...
I NEVER thought I'd say this, but...
I think I am officially Pumpkin Spiced Out.
Not permanently, just for the remainder of 2011.  (It took me three tries to type that year correctly.  Told you my brain is asleep!)
I've made just about every recipe possible and consumed WAY too many Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
I went through about a dozen cans of pumpkin in the last couple months and, as I evaluate my current body type, I'm even starting to believe that you are what you eat...my belly is looking very pumpkinish these days.

So, I'm officially moving on.  
Goodbye fall, hello winter and all of your red cup goodness.
Peppermint Mocha, meet your new best friend.

 

While I Still Can...

I definitely haven't spent much time concentrating on my belly this time around.  I wasn't a "monthly belly shot" kinda person with Kendall, and nothing much has changed- except I've taken nearly NO pictures of my growing belly this time!  Maybe Carter, down the road, would want to feel some preggo love, too.  So, our friends at Elation Photography set up a family photo shoot this weekend.  I'll always cherish these pictures from our last days as a family of three!

Kendall had a fever all weekend, but was a trooper for our session!

 

The LOOK on Kendall's face when she realized my belly was fair game for coloring was PRICELESS!  This part of our session was the most fun- lots of giggles from everyone!

And...the finished product.  A masterpiece by Kendall and Chris :)

More to come...these are just some teasers!
Thank you for graciously sharing your talents with us, Ty and Brandy!

All Settled In!

Welcome to our new home!  Come....take a look!

Entrance...Living room is to the right.

Our cozy living room.  The green paint is a little awkward with green couches, but it will have to do for now.

Our 4th bedroom/ currently functioning as a den/playroom.  It sits above the garage.

Kendall's "big girl" room...a work in process.  We have yet to get her bedding, window treatments, etc.  And I've got a wall mural project up my sleeve.  Her room was originally yellow and purple (see below) with princess decals around the top.  Kendall was excited about the closet space, as you can see below!

These airplanes were a DIY nightmare, but I wasn't going to pay $60 per airplane through PBKids.  3$ foam airplanes, some spray paint and fishing wire...a nice addition to Carter's nursery.

Carter's nursery is coming together!  Still a couple more projects to complete, but you get the idea!

The Grown-Up bedroom, with a temporary baby set-up.  Kendall is living in Carter's nursery until she's ready for the jump to the big-girl bed.

Annnnnd, what sold us on the house....the beautiful kitchen!  I ADORE the open space and the PANTRY!

The Christmas Card Quandry

Christmas is a-comin', whether I like it or not.
I used to love the Christmas season.  But since Kendall busted on to the scene on Dec 23rd, adding a birthday to the mix has also added a considerable amount of stress.  Extra presents, parties, and if I didn't have enough to do this year, let's add a NEWBORN to the mix!  

I'll get it done. 
But one thing still has me baffled:
WHEN do I send out Christmas Cards!?
Carter is due to be born on/around Thanksgiving.  I could get them ready NOW before he's born, but then they wouldn't include our almost month-old baby.
Or, I could rush to get them out after he is born and save myself a birth-announcement mailing- but that would be cutting-it-close.

Sigh....holiday babies throw a wrench in the whole system!

Practicing...

She'll be a big sister soon!

The Halloween that Almost Wasn't.

or....
This Little Piggy Went Wah Wah Wah.
-but I thought the piggy references on this blog were getting a bit excessive.

Halloween started off on a funky note.  Kendall was up at insane o'clock in the morning, warranting an afternoon nap that is not usually a part of her routine.  When we woke her up to prepare for trick-or-treating, well, she MAY have been possessed by some toddler demon.  And, unlike EVERY OTHER DAY that she begs me to wear her piggy costume, she was just NOT having it on Halloween.  Super.

So, we threw an orange pumpkin hoodie on her and headed out to hit up our family stops for candy, then planned to stay home and distribute sugar rather than taking her out in the neighborhood.  I'm not exactly sure WHEN the demons fled, but she was suddenly a new girl upon arriving at home, and easily was persuaded to costume-up in exchange for a wagon ride.  We made a few stops at our immediate neighbors, and then Kendall helped Mommy and Daddy pass out the candy at the door.  (She jumped up every time the doorbell rang!)  All in all, I felt like part of the night was salvaged, but really glad we took Halloween pictures early this year!

Begrudgingly making the rounds.

Not even Gma and Gpa Stav could really pull her out of her funk.

Back at home, a little bribery helped us get her suited up.

Just rolling with it!

Now totally on board with the Trick-or-Treating thing, having abandoned the wagon idea.

Digging in to her stash.

Being a super helper at the door.

Kicking her feet up at the end of a long night!