PJ Pants

The next project on the sewing list was to make Kaden a pair of PJ pants (okay, well, these are for the fall, but Laura (my partner in sewing crime) and I found some super cheap cute flannel fabric that we just had to tackle.... this project wasn't quite at the top of our list, but that's okay! :)). Laura and I played around with the fabric a bit and viola.... flannel PJ pants appear! Not too bad for my first pair of pants. The elastic waist was a bit tricky, but I got it! Maybe I'll make all 5 of us (okay, that's really weird to say... 5 people in our family?!?!?) matching PJ pants for Christmas this coming year- now THAT would be ambitious! Enjoy the model.

View from the front

LOVE how cute they turned out! :)

And the back view

Father's Day Weekend in NJ

We took a long weekend trip to NJ this past weekend to spend time with my family over Father's Day weekend. We always have a blast when we're there and of course are spoiled with shopping, food, and fun! Kaden was excited to see his Grandpa and Grandma VDH again and thankfully it had only been a few weeks since he had seen them last when they came to MI for Memorial Day weekend. While we were there, we spent time with extended family, I was able to visit my Grandpa in the hospital, we went shopping for girls clothes for the twins, and spent time fishing and hanging out at Green Pond. Kaden was in his glory and all he wanted to do was fish. He got lots of attention and not much sleep while we were there (by his choice- too much to do... why sleep?!?!?), so we spent the past few days back at home recovering. He's already talking about when he gets to see Grandpa and Grandma again when they come to MI for his 3rd birthday in a few weeks!

Enjoy a few picture highlights from our trip!

Kaden proudly holding his fish (and yes, he caught that... with MY old Snoopy pole. Needless to say, he never really paid attention to his pole in the water, so when we saw the bobber down, guess who had to reel it in?!? Me! The least fisherman-like person on the boat!!)

Kaden drives the boat and proof that I was actually there. I don't like pictures of myself when pregnant so you won't see many!

Andy proudly holding his fish. No, he didn't use my Snoopy pole, and he was able to reel it in by himself! :)

I LOVE these boys. Apparently it was too sunny for Kaden to smile. Too bad- would have been a great picture!

There's just something I love about this picture, too.

And this one...

When the boys were fishing from the pier, the fish fell off the hook. Kaden didn't like it at all as you can see from the 2-picture reaction.

My little fisherman. Such a cutie.

Posing for a picture with Grandpa.

Posing for a picture with Uncle Brian

With Daddy

Going crazy on the OLD rocking horse in the grass. This used to be my mom's!

Kaden with his Grandpa and Grandma "Heide" as he calls them.

22 weeks

It's hard to believe that my first official belly picture was taken at 22 weeks. Funny how things change when it's your 2nd pregnancy! I'm definitely starting to feel and look bigger. Bending down poses a problem, and Andy has to help me put a few pairs of my summer sandals on. Oh, the joys of getting bigger and carrying twins! :) I continue to feel well and I'm trying to balance out working on my to-do list and taking it easy to avoid bedrest. Fluid levels and growth in the babies is where it should be, which we are thankful for. I've started to pick up a few things here and there for the girls, and it is definitely strange shopping for girl clothes. Very exciting, though! :)

Children's Museum

I met a friend and her kiddos at the Children's Museum this week Wednesday since it was too hot to think about doing anything outdoors! Of course it was crazy there with school groups and every other mom who had the same idea, but we had fun none-the-less. Every time we take Kaden to the CM, he loves it. There are so many things to entertain kids his age, and he loves going from one activity to the next. It makes for a great morning of playtime! After we went to the CM, we grabbed lunch and visited Daddy at work since we were already downtown. Kaden of course said, "I LOVE Daddy's work!!" and has asked to visit Daddy at work every day since. He always makes for lots of laughter at the lunch table with Daddy's coworkers, too. A fun day in our book of summer fun!

Enjoying the construction exhibit

Construction worker

Digging on site- love that it was all rubber- no mess!

Super Kaden!

I bought the material to make this cape for Kaden quite awhile ago with full intentions of making it sooner, but life (aka pregnancy and the first trimester) happened. But, now that most of my work commitments have ended for awhile, I've been organizing a ton and getting back to my list of sewing projects. My sewing buddy, Laura, and I got together last week and made capes for our boys. My list of boy projects isn't huge because there's just not a lot of cute stuff out there for boys. But, I'm determined to still find cute things and make them for Kaden. Although, now that I know I'm having girls, I have a feeling my sewing list will never be completed. I'm hoping to finish most of Kaden's projects this summer so I can start working on girl projects- woo whoo! :) Anyways... he LOVES his cape and has a blast running around the house with it on telling me he's a "super." I love how it turned out. SUPER cute! :)

Modeling his cape

View of the cape

Close-up of the monogram on the back

Cute boy using his cape as a blanket on the floor. Not quite what I intended for its use.

Sandbox

Kaden is loving his new sandbox. Ever since Daddy and Grandpa put sand in it over Memorial Day weekend, all he wants to do is play in it. It took him awhile to get the hang of it- how to crawl around in there without bumping his head, and especially getting over the fact that he was getting all sandy. This boy does not like to be dirty, and didn't know what to do with himself in there at first. But, it hasn't taken long and now he imagines making me food and builds roads in it, like a true boy.

Getting the hang of it

I LOVE my sandbox, Mommy!!!

I love that it's underneath his playset in the backyard, which means its mostly in the shade. Perfect for warm summer days!

Gotta' love the tongue sticking out- a classic Kaden look when he's playing or working on something.

Cutest. kid. ever.

Pink or Blue?!?!?

It's in. The verdict is FINALLY in. 4 weeks ago we began this gender quest in hopes of finding out what the twinners were going to be. It was inconclusive 4 weeks ago, and 2 weeks ago the technician was unable to tell also. I went into today's ultrasound convincing myself that we weren't going to be able to find out again. However, thankfully, we were able to get a firm gender confirmation today. The appointment took forever (3 hrs from the time we got there to the time I got to my car).... waiting 45 minutes to get into the office, waiting for a full anatomy check on both babies, cervix check, fluid levels check, talk with the doctor, etc. All of the measurements look great, so we continue to pray that God will develop these babies into healthy little girls. Oh, I didn't mention that earlier??!? :) Yes, we are going to be buying lots of pink in our future!!!

We are overwhelmed with happiness, as well as the normal worries of pregnancy x2, praying for their health, hoping to carry these babies as long as possible, etc. If you've been pregnant before, you know how many worries go through your mind. Now multiply that x2. But, we know that God is in control of everything and we have no reason to worry. I don't know how people can get through a pregnancy without knowing their Heavenly Father. God is good, all the time. God isn't just good because we're having girls- we would feel blessed if we were having 2 boys or 2 girls, it doesn't matter. We continue to feel doubly blessed!

I'm 20 1/2 weeks pregnant and feeling great at this point. I should probably take a tummy picture one of these days. Funny how life goes on and you don't focus nearly as much on your pregnancy the second time around. Sometimes I even forget I'm pregnant as I run around outside with Kaden and keep up with this busy almost-3 yr. old boy! I'm more than halfway at this point, knowing that I'll for sure have the girls by 38 weeks (they don't let you go past this point with twins). Overall I feel great and love the second trimester. I wish each trimester was this good! :) Praying for many more good weeks to come!

Baby B's face (kind of creepy, I know...)- who likes to float around everywhere from my belly button on down.

Baby Girl A's profile- nestled comfortably down by my cervix

And now for the evidence...

Memorial Day Weekend- Day 3

Day 3 involved lots of time outdoors. It started off with yummy monkey bread for breakfast. After that, Andy and my dad got Kaden's big sandbox all set. We'd been using a small sand and water table on the deck, but figured this year it was time to fill the big sandbox underneath his swing set in the backyard. We had a picnic with the family at lunchtime outside, followed by lots of water fun with the squirter gun and the hose. Once again, Kaden had a blast. It was so nice to spend a beautiful day outdoors with our whole family. The day ended with a trip to the airport to bring my parents back. Kaden seemed so sad when they left, BUT we get to see them in 2 weeks when we go to NJ for Father's Day weekend. Woo whoo! I know there are a lot of pictures in this post.... too many good ones to choose from! :)

Grandpa inside the sandbox laying down the sand

My dad and Andy putting the finishing touches on the sandbox

Kaden playing with his new playhouse. I bought this the day after Thanksgiving for an amazing deal and it's an early birthday present for him. Andy put it together on Saturday, and he's been playing with it non-stop ever since! :)

Peeking through the window in the playhouse

Getting squirted by Uncle Steve

Trying to squirt "Aunt" Kelly with the squirter gun

Daddy gets Kaden with the squirter

Getting wet

Running in the lawn trying to escape Daddy

Kaden and his super soaker (gotta' love clearance mega-deals at Target at the end of the summer last year!)

Getting squirted by the hose and by the squirter gun.

Loving the water fun!

Sprayed by the hose!

Again, Daddy!

A fun afternoon in the sun!

Memorial Day Weekend- Day 2

Day 2 consisted of the guys golfing (sorry, no pictures of that), shopping for the girls (and Kaden), bowling, and dinner with the whole family at FireRock Grille. Kaden was in his glory eating snacks and bowling with Grandma and Grandpa. He was in the craziest mood when we were bowling- not sure I've ever seen him that crazy before. Crazy in a good way, though- running around, laughing, just being silly!

Daddy and Kaden

Putting the ball on the ramp with Grandpa and Grandma

Cute face hanging on the railing like a monkey

Grandma and Kaden

Being silly with Papa

Watching the ball with Daddy

Family picture- to prove I was there of course. I sat the 2 rounds of bowling out and took pictures and ate snacks instead. Much better for the twinners! :)