2012 a year in review

2012 was an amazing year and our family was so blessed with a new addition, some awesome travel and lots of fun time as a family of four. Let's take a look back at our year. In January we got ready to transition from one to two kiddos.  I also entered my third trimester of being pregnant with Kate whom I had dubbed "peanut" while pregnant with her.  We didn't know that she in fact was a girl while I was pregnant.

In February I started planning Drew's Sesame Street birthday party.

We also moved Drew to his big boy bed and he did amazingly well through the transition! We took full advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and spent time outside in February, in IOWA!

March brought some nursery progress, our Barbados travel review and our sweet Drew turned two years old.

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April had huge changes in our family as we welcomed Katherine Ellen into our family.

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In June I chatted about introducing Kate to Drew and how our transition at home had been going.  We took Drew on his first train ride and it was a huge hit!

In July I finally got around to sharing pictures of Drew's Sesame Street birthday party....Slacker alert!

Kate had already hit the 2 month mark!

We also spent the majority of the month of July in our backyard enjoying the awesome weather.

In August Brendan and I traveled to Puerto Rico and I returned to work. 

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September we were quite busy with family birthdays and my little brother got married!

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In October we visited the pumpkin patch, and I gave everyone an update as to what Drew was up to these days and Kate hit the 5 month mark.

November brought on Thanksgiving and a need to help me decorate.  We are nearly finished with our basement renovation and I couldn't be happier!

December was all about Christmas in our house! We even had a white Christmas this year with a snow day coming just one week before the big day.  I know I shared our Christmas card late this year but it's still our 2012 Christmas card. 

2012 was a great year!  We were so blessed with health and happiness, we are looking forward to all that 2013 has in store for our family.

 

Six years

Six years ago today Brendan and I said "I Do". It's been an amazing journey so far, I love him more each day and the life we have built is far beyond any expectation I ever dreamed. He is my rock, my best friend, my soul mate. He is my Godly man I prayed for and I couldn't be happier.




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Happy Father's Day

I feel like this picture was taken yesterday.



You are our little boys hero and our little girls first love.



Our babies look at you with such awe and wonder. They love you and your bedtime snuggles, your sweet kisses and your tender touch. You are their everything and I am forever blessed for the most precious gifts you have given me.







Happy Father's Day my love. You are the most wonderful daddy! We love you!

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Keepin it real DIY style

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time you know Brendan and I are big DIYers. As we await the arrival of Peanut we haven't stopped doing it ourselves when it comes to house projects. As we now have 8 weeks until the scheduled arrival, I look around our house, shake my head and think "what in the world were we thinking"! We have a to do list a mile long, a week we'll be MIA due to a vacation and I'm only getting slower by the day... Now, don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to soaking my feet in the ocean and enjoying some R&R, I just think we're pretty well CRAZY for doing all of this before Peanut arrives. With that said, we will get it done, hopefully with our sanity in tact.

This week in casa de B&A we are having the drywall finished in the basement. This is our huge project right now. Our basement was completely unfinished and we are adding a second living room, bedroom, storage area and office/toy area. Later on we'll add a bathroom. Brendan has done 99% of the work himself, he used to build homes, but when it came to finishing the drywall, he wanted to hire it out. Not be because he didn't know how, he just loathed the thought of having to do it, so we hired it done and it should be done Monday.

This weekend we were able to focus on our projects upstairs. We are currently painting Drew's dresser for his new big boy room. Drew has now transitioned out of the nursery and into the old guest room. He is now in his twin bed and loves it. We now just need to get the dresser painted and wall hangings hung and we'll be good to go! Due to the basement being out of commission this weekend the painting is taking place upstairs in the living room and in the nursery. Thank goodness Brendan is careful. So here's a keepin it real shot for you, behold our kitchen island, that I'll add Brendan built, with the drawers of the dresser drying on it.



As I type Brendan is painting the last coat on the drawers. Then it's on to the nursery to paint the actual dresser.



That would be the nursery covered in plastic to keep the paint off the carpet and furniture.

After this project we will be working on the nursery and closets. We have to do some rearranging of closets to accommodate Peanut and his/her belongings. In the nursery we are painting, getting a new rocker, wall art and curtains on the widows and closet doors.

As for the basement, after drywall, it's primer, then trim and doors, paint and finally carpet. Not to mention picking out furniture and a tv to go down there.

That's a ton in 8 weeks..... Makes my palms sweaty just thinking about it. We will get there.

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A look back

2011 was a great year for all of us, so I thought we'd take a look back.

In January Drew melted my heart by watching his daddy leave for work each day. He also started walking, and went directly to running in a matter of days.

In February we received the good news that we would be welcoming two miracles into the family.  My older sister who went through infertility treatments was expecting identical twin boys.   Drew also was the proud new owner of an awesome hat from Lindsey's Loops.

In March we celebrated making it through the first year of Drew's life and everyone was still alive!  We held a little shindig for Drew that was all about primary colors.

In April I told you about the kitchen island Brendan built to help the wide open yonder that was our great room.

May brought some beautiful weather and me finding myself two new doctors in preparation for someday trying to have a second baby.

June rolled around and we were preparing to depart to Grand Cayman, and we asked you to Ask US anything.

In July sadly we lost our dear friend and neighbor to a motorcycle accident, I was the recipient of a stranger so kind paying it forward and challenged you to pay it forward and we answered your burning questions and we went on vacation!

In August we welcomed Charlie Robert and Max William to the family.  Our nephews were born on August 15th, 2011.  Drew got his first big boy haircut, and looked like a little man instead of a baby.

September brought fall in Iowa and Drew's first plane ride to see his grandparents. Brendan and I also celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss on September 30th.

October we were elated to share our good news that our family would be expanding by 2 feet in April 2012.

November brought our Halloween recap, the end of the first trimester and unseasonably warm temperatures for Iowa.

December marked the half way point with Peanut, Drew's first hospital stay for croup, and a very Merry Christmas.

2011 was full of blessing and happiness for all of us here at Life with B&A.  We are looking forward to many happy times and a year full of new adventures in 2012.  Happy New Year!