5 more exciting things!

1. Congrats to my Hubby!

Hubby received a promotion last month! He is now the Vice President of Business Development for his company! He deserved it more than I can say and his new boss said he couldn't believe it hadn't happened already. His boss also said that he knows he couldn't get him to the matching salary so he's going to try to bump him up over time. But Hubby chose to take a pay cut to come to this company years ago because he gets to work from home the majority of the time, and we decided for our family, that was WAY!!! worth it!! And we wouldn't change it for a minute!!! It is such a blessing, beyond words! Most breakfasts and lunches as a fam (and dinner), little wrestling or play outside (or diaper change, yay!) breaks, wouldn't change it! Congrats Hubby! I am such a proud wife, he is SO good at what (everything) he does!!

2. Giveaway coming soon!!!

I have the fantastic opportunity for another review AND giveaway with CSN Stores!! So get ready to win a fantastic gift certificate!! They have tons of stores devoted to everything from Dining Sets, where it's fun to look even if that's not next on our list right now, to baby, to cooking! And all of the rugs that y'all voted on and asked about in this post, are all from CSNRugs.com. I also have two gorgeous end tables in my cart for our family room!! I cannot wait to click buy sometime soon I hope!

3. I won!

I won a giveaway from Sweet Simplicity last month (I think, time is running together ;))! It is the first tervis tumbler I have ever owned and Hubby and I both love it! and it's so cute! Thank you Sweet Simplicity for a fun giveaway!

4. New Friends!

We met another neighbor and her husband just up and across the street, who are our age, with two little ones (2 and 4!)! We saw the mom and littles playing outside, so we all went over to say hello and introduce ourselves. We had a great time playing and talking (her Hubby got home a little later too) and ended up impromptu having dinner together at their house! The babies had so much fun playing and we just talked and laughed for hours! So now we have two neighbors (one next door and the other a few hundred feet walk away) with two littles each, who we have a lot in common with and get along with great! And we have some other fab friends who live a few streets away, who also have two littles (what up AO :)). Such a blessing and a huge answer to prayer!!

5. Bloggy Meetups!

Last month I met up with Karah and T in the big city! Perfectly Imperfect was driving through last week and she and BG came over for the afternoon, we had so much fun (pics to come!)! This weekend I am spending a GNO with Rachel, Lis, Whitney, and Michelle and a couple other girls are going to try to make it too! I am so excited!! And I might get to see Shabby Princess this weekend too! :)

Afternoon with Karah and T!

I was able to meet up with some new fabulous friends in the big city last month! We had such a fun afternoon! Seriously, these girls are SO sweet, you know the friends who you just feel comfortable with right away and like you've known for so long. These are them! :) And they were so good with the boys, the boys had so much fun!! It was the first time I drove into the city by myself in so long (since I gigged with my string quartet!), annnnnd first time there with just me and the littles. And I did good! After we had to say goodbye, I found my parking garage and car on my first try! I was very excited, even with pregnancy brain, I did it! ;-)

excuse my total goofball cheese smile ;) I was having so much fun :)

BabyBoy wanted to take some pics at lunch too :) I think this pic he took of Karah and T is so cute!

Karah, me, and the boys :) We didn't get a pic of just me and T... next time!

Our final stop was Georgetown Bakery from the show DC Cupcakes on TLC!

I hope you have a fabulous day!!

Baby Bump: 28 Weeks! and New Littlest Sono Pics :)

We had our 28 week appointment last Thursday! I tweeted that morning about the appointment and being a little bit nervous because we didn't find out until later about some complications with BabyBoy, but God is in control. And if anyone was able to say a lil prayer for Littlest, we would appreciate it. I am so thankful for my twitter friends, I got all teary in the car on the way and with all of the responses all day, saying y'all were praying! Hubby and I (and all the littles) thank you, so. much!!

We had such a full day! We had our 28 week appointment, played at a park for a few before I was able to have an appointment with the chiropractor, ended up having our extra 28 week sonogram, and then had dinner with Hubby's Grandparents and Mom. Phew! And the boys did so great. Little only got one little nap (usually two) and BabyBoy missed his. :)

Here are the boys as we waited for the doctor to come in! Ahh, they're so cute and fun!!! :)

I had my glucose test, where I am always afraid they're going to tell me I have gestational diabetes because I eat so many sweets! ;-) Seriously! I don't, yay! But my blood work did come back saying I my iron was low, I knew there had to be something going on, I have been so so tired. So now I'm taking an iron pill on top of my prenatal (and being better about taking my prenatal, it was tough because I was so sick, I switched to Flintstones, still tough, I do not remember them tasting so gross :), but I'm back to the regular prenatals!)

A little park time :)

Lunch!

28 Week Sono!! Hubby says this is BabyBoy's gift to all his siblings, extra sonograms ;)

ETA: and baby girl looked great! Measured great! I measured right on! We are beyond thankful and can't stop smiling about it! :)

Dinner at Hubby's Grandparents' condo; we always have so much fun with them! And the residents love when we come because they get to see the boys run around and play and talk with them, it is so cute! Little was even going up to people and giving hugs, it was so sweet and they loved it!

28 Weeks!! We're in the third trimester!!! Oh my goodness, it is flying now!! :) (we're 29 weeks today!)

And we confirmed Littlest is a girl! hehe! She kept her little arm and hand up by her face almost the whole time, but she put on a cute little show for us and we saw that she has hair already!! My reflux had been out of control for a while now, though it has gotten a little better the past week or so, I knew she had to have some hair on her little head :) It looks like she's smiling in top right pic :-) she's holding her lil arm up :)

We are so excited and so thankful!!! More exciting things happening, I'll post about them soon!!

It's here! Highly anticipated shopping! We now have...

A fun new store 15 minutes from our house!!

About 6 minutes away, we have a great shopping center, with a Target, TJ Maxx, Pier 1, Michaels, Kohls, Lowes, Bed Bath and Beyond, Five Guys (yum yum!!), and more! About 25 minutes away, we have a Home Goods (and outlets) but the much better one is about 45 minutes. Boo! Though we have made the trip a few times to attempt to complete projects/decorating.

There is one store, that a bunch of my southern friends have been talking about, tweeting about, and been so excited about I never thought we'd see near us! My friend, Erin, took me for the first time when we stayed with her and her fam in South Carolina this summer. We found some great deals and things for the littles' birthday party!

Hobby Lobby!!! Hob Lob! HL! The Hob! Ok, I added that last one, I haven't heard that one yet ;)

We now have a Hobby Lobby about 15 minutes from our house! It's a combination of Michael's, JoAnn Fabrics, and the other craft stores we have scattered around us, all rolled into one, with so much more! Hubby went with me this past weekend, it was very exciting! I kept hitting, err tapping, him on the arm saying, we have a Hobby Lobby! I can't believe it! We just got a few little fally decorations (all 50% off :)). So fun!

I've heard from a bunch of friends already that are going to come visit and shopping together! Even if I don't need anything, it's fun to just look around and be crafty inspired! There are so many things I'd love to do, once we're done with our house projects, I hope to start on my crafty projects! Hopefully that'll happen before Littlest arrives ;)

Are you coming?? We can do lunch, shop, if there's time get a sweet treat!! :) Have you been to a Hobby Lobby? Do you love it?

Family Room Makeover: The Great Rug Debate (And a new giveaway winner!!)

I have been looking for "the" rug to go in our family room. I keep finding one, waiting a couple days to see if I (we, I show Hubby after I find it :)) still like it, and then questioning myself. BUT I think I have found "the one!"

I wanted to put some on here that I was considering and see if you choose the same one I chose!

I won't say anything about what I was thinking about the style or anything and see if we all come to the same conclusion ;-) I just wanted something with orange and ivory/tan/light accents and then bring in more accent colors into the room through accessories and pillows (inspired by A Southern Accent! some new ones are on the couches now! some of you noticed from my Baby Bump post yesterday!! :))

Here is a pic of the room with the new light furniture & of the pillows so you can visualize the new rug :)

The pillows were clearanced at Pier 1 and their weren't enough for the couch and loveseat (and chair), so I got different ones. I like the ones on the couches better, but I like the contrast too, I'm still debating taking the loveseat ones back, but I haven't found any others that "go," what do you think?

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Ready, set, vote*!! I told Hubby what my pick is :-). And he, independently, choose the same one!

New Le Creuset Giveaway Winner!

Because I have not heard from the initial giveaway winner, a new winner has been chosen! Random.org chose....... #1 Randall at Happy For This Moment! And ya always think #1 never wins ;-). Congratulations!! Please e-mail me at naturallycaffeinatedfamily {at} gmail {dot} com!

*Or if you find something better, let me know!!

Baby Bump: 27 Weeks!!

Oh my goodness, I was reminded today by a weekly e-mail that we're 27 weeks today! I can't believe it!!! We will be holding our baby girl in 3 months!!

Ok, friends, you want authentic, this pic is it!

This pic was taken tonight, after a day at home, I have on the same outfit (yoga pants and a t-shirt ;)) that I was wearing yesterday, hair washed on Monday, with absolutely no makeup on, or whatever trace might be leftover from yesterday, yes, terrible I know ;-). This is how you will find me most days we spend the day at home :). I did put chapstick on and change into my fun NY earrings and will tell you the reason is because they are longer than the pearl studs I normally wear, because I feel like my face has doubled in size and they might elongate my face, hah. I'm keepin' it real, friends, I'm keepin' it real. :)

Facts: Littlest is SO active, Hubby feels her move and flip and dance and kick and stretch out, all the time. The babies have even felt her move. BabyBoy prays for her during our prayer times every day and if I say to Little, where's the baby in mommy's belly, he giggles and walks over and tugs at my shirt to lift it up to see and touch my belly! It is SO cute. :) She has been giving me some serious reflux for a while now. I've "lost my cupcakes" a few times in the past week, it seems mainly due to the reflux, not a fun new trend, but I can't complain! I started getting some energy back and went straight into nesting overload and have been getting pretty tired, but there is SO much I want to do before she arrives and with the babies now. :-)

We need to start on the nursery, bedding, decorating, art, it's time! I would love to custom make the bedding this time, but am not sure how much that is going to cost yet :) I've looked at some fabrics online but haven't researched the price of getting the bedding made yet. ;) And there are a bunch of other things we'll need to get too.

I want to blog our top 2 names and I think we (I talked to Hubby about it :)) might next week!.......

Next Week: is our next appointment. And based on my prompting, we have the opportunity for another sonogram as well. Because we didn't find out until after 28 weeks that BabyBoy had a blockage in his small intestine and needed surgery the morning after he was born, we've been able to have additional sonograms for each baby to keep a eye on them, even though they say it was most likely just a fluke. We almost didn't want to do it for fear that we'd worry more, but we know that God is in control and we can't wait to see her again!

If you missed our fun in South Carolina, click here :)

South Carolina and Friends!

First, thank you SO much for all of your comments on our Guest/Babies' Bathroom Makeover, y'all are awesome! And I love the suggestions you had for canvases!! I can't wait to do one of them!

We had a whirlwind of a trip to Charleston SC to tag along on Hubby's latest business trip! We left early last Tuesday morning and got back veeeeery late on Friday night.

While we were in SC, the boys and I got to hang out with one of my girls and her little! Anne and Perfectly Imperfect and their littles were going to come too but ended up not being able to make it :( next time!!

We've had fabulous opportunities to hang out many times now and each time we have so much fun, it's like we've been friends for so long. You know the ones you can be yourself around right away, have fun just sitting and chatting and laughing and having real conversations with? It is so refreshing! :) I've said it before, but she is so sweet, and thoughtful, a great friend, and the boys (and Littlest ;)) love her and TC!

We met at Erin's house, hung out for a few, let the boys stretch their legs, went out for Mexican for lunch :), and then headed to the zoo!

{caught sweet lil love, BabyBoy, in the middle of a smile :)}

We came back to Erin's house, put all of the littles down for late naps, and just chatted away for hours!

Then we got the littles up, so they'd be tired enough for bedtime, and BabyBoy asked to go play outside. TC got home from work, so we got to say hi and chat with him too! We all went outside and the boys just ran and ran (and the littlests climbed the stairs) and played until we left :) It was so cute watching them all run around being their little boy selves :).

There was a car coming, so BabyBoy put his arms around Little's chest to protect him from going near the street!! He told him to be careful and stay here, there's a car coming. ahhhh, I LOVE it!!

Attempting to get a pic of all the littles! :) (thank you for your help TC! :))

We had such a great time! We can't wait to visit again!!

p.s. and y'all make your trip up here to visit soon too!!

Guest/Babies' Bathroom Makeover!

I am in full on nesting mode and Hubby and I have a ton of projects we're trying to complete before Littlest makes her grand little (I'm hoping she stays in line with the boys' weights and doesn't outweigh them! ;-)) appearance! We're trying to do as much as humanly possible and ourselves to save money, we wouldn't be able to do most if we didn't do them ourselves. So here is one of the things I really wanted to get done for the babies* and guests!

Guest/Babies' Bathroom: Before

Guest/Babies' Bathroom: After

I really wanted something that was colorful, fun, and cheerful for the babies but not too cutesie for our guests :)

What we did:

[1] *Took out sliding glass door - SO much easier for bathing babies, otherwise you can only open half the door, and for curious, cute wiggly babies, that can get difficult ;) (they've been taking their baths in our bathroom. and especially after Littlest arrives, it will be great that my Mom can bathe the littles in their bathroom when she's over and we might be resting :))

[2] Repainted and took down fishy wallpaper - not the look we were going for :)

[3] Painted vanity! - this was our first try at painting cabinets/vanity!

[4] Added hardware to vanity

[5] Replaced vanity top with granite - replaced ourselves :)

[6] Replaced faucet & lighting - Hubby installed to save $ (he taught himself how to do everything!!)

[7] New accessories - towels and mats (Walmart), shower curtain (Target), candle stick (clearanced at Kohl's), candle (clearanced at Pier 1), vase (clearanced at TJ Maxx), mirror (discounted from Home Goods :)), shower curtain rod and hangers (I can't remember where I got them, I checked so many stores to find the best deal, I cannot remember! :)), towel holders, toilet paper holder, hook on back of door (all discounted from Lowes, and #4, 5, and 6), canvas basket (Target), wash clothes to go in canvas basket (Target and Walmart)

I would love a couple canvases to hang on the walls that incorporate all of the colors: orange, blue, pink, green, white, and yellow! I haven't found any so far, so I might have to do something custom! Any ideas, let me know! It could use something else on the counter too, I just haven't found anything yet :) and both things on there happen to be pink because that's what I found for the best deal :)

We're happy with the way it turned out. I know it could have looked more incredible, but for being on a budget and the price we paid for everything, we love the new look. :)

just plain ol' fun

We're in Charleston! We had a great trip here, the boys did fab, only a couple minor fussy times, and it was beautiful weather and pretty smooth driving. BabyBoy started feeling a little icky before we left, it's not too bad, so we're praying he can sleep it off fast (both littles are down for a nap right now, late for Little, early for BabyBoy, but they're asleep and doing great). Trips are always a bit hectic, and I am exhausted already, but we're so glad to be here as a family, and the boys and I are really looking forward to seeing some friends tomorrow!

I don't know about you but I could use some extra smiles for energy today! I hope these smiles brighten your day if it needs brightening!

Our little passengers: #3, #4, and #5 ;) (taken with my phone, most of Little were blurry bc he's always moving :) I tweeted these yesterday on our drive)

Just plain ol' fun, enjoying the simple (but exciting :)) things!

Bubbles :) The first time he was really excited about and chasing them. We brought the boys back a lil bubble gun from NY, that you just press the trigger and it shoots a stream of bubbles :)

Playing drums made out of old oatmeal containers and chopsticks :)

Saturday morning breakfast :) This time: egg and cheese bagel sandwiches, diced potatoes/home fries, pancakes, scrambled eggs (we didn't have any turkey bacon or sausage :)).

Picking tomatoes off the plant that he and Grandma planted together!

From bro to bro :-)

Smiles and laughs are good for the soul, body, mind, heart; pretty much, we need to smile and laugh as much as we can (Hubby just came back to the hotel for a few from one meeting before his next, read this and said he thought I was going to write we need to smile and laugh as much as we eat, haaah!! You know we, err especially I, love food, haha!). It is so easy to let things get to us, get stressed about things that don't need stressing, lose sight of what's more important, or maybe there are truly stressful circumstances happening. But I hope that something makes you smile or laugh today!! and pray we can remind ourselves that God has a plan, can help guide us, and bring us comfort and strength, and if our hearts are in line with His, then our minds can rest easier.

Big hugs and smiles (and energy! :))!!

p.s. I am uber behind on blogs, please don't take my behindedness personally ;)