Oh, the many adventures of living in a basement...

The most recent adventure? Nate and I acquired a new pet, unknown to us until Nate saw him hopping along the floor one evening. Needless to say he was not a welcomed visitor. Nate's parents had recently done some renovating down here in our basement, which had meant necessary open doors, and keeping the connecting garage open for long work days. We are thinking he invited himself right in, not knowing we aren't super keen on drop in guests. This is one of the poses he provided when I screamed at his presence in my home:

Okay, he wasn't as cute as Renny, so Nate promptly called Brand to come over for back up the night he saw the hopping bandit. Nate and Brand are definitely much braver than me! (This must be why they're the burly men bearing brooms as weapons, and I'm the screaming girl in the corner with my eyes closed.) Our "pet" was evicted in less than 30 minutes. I have never been so happy to have Brand come over in my entire life! This was one I snapped when Nate handed him his eviction notice and escorted him off the property:

I am just hoping he didn't invite too many friends over, because their fate is sealed to end just as quickly. So in the mean time all our food is housed in sealed plastic containers on my kitchen counter, because frankly I don't feel like sharing; and my kitchen has that familiar smell of the ultimate killing-of-everything cleaner: bleach. I'm sure you can smell it from outside; the neighbors are probably wondering if we bathe in it.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that we are back to only us Whickers inhabiting this space... because as I have had the strength to try and make this horribly scarring experience into something more like a funny adventure today, yesterday was a much different story. Yesterdays story included tears, tons of cleaning, wearing shoes inside my house, and lots of extra-intensified emotions due to my pregnant state. Oh, and I'm sure Nate is sick and tired of all my paranoia, so we're hoping this experience is behind us!

Shopping- It's not just for us girls!

Mason is seriously a pretty lucky kid. I mean honestly, the previous post shows some of the small piles of loot the little man already has waiting for him. And here I thought it would be the women of the family who would be shopping like crazy... Well. I sure wasn't thinking clearly. You see, Mason's grandpa, my Dad, runs an Old Navy. And apparently, grandpa just can't pass up a good deal. Or alot of good deals :)

My Dad has always been an embarrassing lover of Hawaiian button up shirts. His favorite from the stack? The Hawaiian shirt that he "wished came in big sizes". He is living vicariously through the little man and is jealous of the one Hawaiian shirt on the planet he doesn't own.

My favorite was a shirt that says something like "Mr. Fix It". Any son of ours will have to be a Mr. Fix It, or at least learn from the master. Nate can fix anything, I'm convinced. If he doesn't know how to fix it or do it off hand, he will research it to death until he has figured it out, and can tackle it like a pro. I'm sure he'll teach Mason all that he knows. I am really excited for Nate to have a little friend to teach and hang out with while he fixes things, (usually things that involve dirt, or grime, neither of which I am not a fan of!) because that means I don't have to! I can be clean, bring them drinks, and read a book!

And last but not least, the monkey outfit, as promised. Seriously. So cute I can hardly stand it. Check out the monkey feet... I love it.

Spoiled Rotten... Already.

Yes, I am making it known that my dear son is spoiled already. Mason is going to come into this world with a wardrobe handsome enough to get him in the pages of People. Nate's mom has found him some really cute clothes! She got him this bounty last weekend at a garage sale... Lots of clothes, and a really cute bouncer.

Here is my favorite from her find, I mean what boy wouldn't look cute in this outfit!

Nate was telling me the other day that Mason was going to need some basketball shorts so he could be "comfy" like Daddy. Well, Nate asked, and received!

Not to say he has enough clothes... Because this boy has a mom who loves clothes! (I may have already hit up Old Navy clearance sales and stocked him up on some essentials for his first years of life!) But, he sure does have a stockpile, and he isn't even here yet! My mom spoiles him too. She got him the cutest little outfit that I would love for him to wear home from the hospital. It is a little shirt with blue and brown stripes, and a pair of brown pants that have monkey feet! It is so cute! She wouldn't want me to forget the beanie hat that has a monkey on it too... It's an adorable ensemble. Where is the picture? I know that's what you're asking yourself... Well, my mom got him the "Newborn" size. I am not anticipating this boy to be a small baby. Why? At my last appointment, this little guy is already weighing in at 1lb 10oz. He consistently measures more, and more ahead each time I go in. So I think Mason will be more of a beefcake linebacker, and less of a speedy running back. Go figure :) So my mom is exchanging it for a bigger size, after which, I will post a picture. Because honestly, it's too cute not to!

Last but not least, we found another good deal. Nate found a used glider on Ksl.com for cheap! And it is nice, and comfy. It will be my pleasure to lounge and rock Mason in this little find!

Good Deals = Happy Mama!

It must be said that shopping for baby necessities is hard work! The most recent item Nate and I had been looking for was a travel system for Mason. (Or it could be said that I had been looking at them, and Nate had been dragged along...) We wanted a nice one, but one that wasn't outrageous price wise.... We had settled on an Eddie Bauer one that Target had just started selling. We liked the previous model Target had stocked before, but the new one had more blue (and Nate liked that!). So that was our plan... Until, while shopping during my lunch break, when I saw the older model on clearance! Funny how a good deal can make your entire day seem a little bit brighter! So, now I love the older model, and our little guy will be riding in style, and matching his cousin Capri since she rides around in the same one! (And it must be said that she's a pretty stylin' girl, so he's got some big shoes to fill!)

Growing Well, and Begininngs of a Nursery

Today was what my doctor called the "BIG Ultrasound". The one where they check for fingers, toes, four chambered heart, and all the other physical things parents want their babies to come with. Nate and I are happy to report Mason has all his pieces! I was really nervous for this ultrasound, since so much can be effected by it's outcome.... But all was well. He was still a little camera shy today. The ultrasound technician told us that she would have thought it was a girl at first too with how he was sitting, and with his legs crossed. But all that talk of calling him a girl got him to open right up, and he gave her a money shot. She says he's all boy! He still kept his hands right by his face, and covered his eyes alot. I don't think he likes having his picture taken- he gets that from his Mom. He also moved all the way from being in a breech position, to being head down by the end! He's a mover!

They recorded this ultrasound for us which is kind of neat. It's nice knowing I can turn on the DVD player and hear his heart beating whenever I want to. We also found out today that my doctor has moved my due date around on me a bit... She has moved it up a few days to December 12th- my birthday. It will all work out okay, I think. Rarely do the kids make their big appearance on their due date anyways. So he is 21 weeks and a few days today. Here is a new profile picture of him we got this morning. The machine printed a little dark, so it isn't as good as the last one we got... But man, is he going to be one handsome fella if you ask me! (I am definitely not biased!)

We have also gotten Mason's crib, and his bedding. Boy things in general are so hard! I have decided since being pregnant with a boy that the world is definitely sexist, and geared towards cute little girls! Boy sections in stores are 1/4 the size of the cute girly sections- what about boys?! They're cute too! Okay, rant over. I searched, and searched for his bedding and decided to get this cute little jungle set.

We aren't going for a whole jungle theme... I don't really want a theme. This one has animals, stripes, and polka dots- and the colors are bright, and beautiful! Lots to work with! So the nursery is a work in progress. Nate asked me how long he had to finish moving his computer out, and painting the room up nice. I told him he could have four months :) Slowly but surely, the boy will have his room!

Two Years Later....

On Sunday Nate and I were remembering what we were doing on that very day a mere two years before.... Getting married on a beautiful July day with all of our friends and family watching and rooting us on! It is crazy to me how fast two years can fly by, and how much can change in such a short amount of time... Like spending this special day next year with my two special guys. (It's only polite to let Mason join in the festivites next year too... Although he wouldn't have enjoyed Ruby River Steakhouse as much as we did.... I'll bring him some "yummy" carrots or something next year!)

I love my husband more today than I did on our wedding day, and cannot gush and love on him enough here to express all that I adore about my guy. He is selfless, so incredibly handy, endlessly loving (and sometimes cuddly!), and my very best friend- not to mention he is going to be the world's best and coolest Dad. I think this growing boy of ours is pretty dang lucky to get such a catch for a Dad! I don't think anyone else could have put up with me, let alone love me as much as he does! Here's to another year of our life together- I love you.

It's official... He's a boy!

How doctors can decipher these ultrasounds I have no idea... But my doctor told us today that our little 6 ounce bundle of joy is all boy! (She was glad she had us come back, he cooperated much better today!) Here he is:

If you are having problems identifying what makes him a boy- so are we! These pictures are not the best, but you could definitely tell on their little ultrasound screen. In the excitement of our upcoming boy, we bought him the first baby item we have gotten to date.

We are hoping this statement rings true... Here's to wishful thinking...