Baby Coconut's "Un-Shower" ... and more ...

I've said throughout this pregnancy to many of my friends and family, "Thank you, kindly, but I do not want to have a baby shower for my third! Especially, because I don't know what gender it is ... not to mention, I have plenty of baby things left over from my first two kids--I saved." But my good friends, Gwendy and Lindsey, gathered a few of my friends and family together to have a small "un-shower" at our MOMs Night Out last night, and I have to say, it was perfect!

I have been wanting to do You Do the Dishes for MNO for several months.  It was actually on our November calendar, but it didn't work out for me (or anyone else that I can recall).  At our last board meeting, we put it on the calendar for my last MNO (for a few months, at least) just so I could go!  I was pretty excited ... but for most of the month, only Gwendy and I had signed up.  Gwendy still planned on going ... I was going to suggest a movie or dinner, instead, but I decided, if she really wanted to go, too ... then I would still go (if Billy could get home at a decent time).  I forgot to mention it to Billy until that afternoon.  Luckily, he was able to meet me in the parking lot of the You Do the Dishes location and swap cars with me ... mine filled with kids, as per usual.  For once, I was on-time!  And all of my friends had been counting on me to be a little late!  Ha, ha!  I didn't ruin the surprise, because I had NO IDEA they were planning anything for me ... and I didn't expect to see people arrive who aren't even in our MOMs Club!  They invited some of our church friends and our cousin, Elizabeth.  We missed a few of my good friends from MOMs Club who just couldn't make it, but it was a nice small setting ... and we had a good time!

My "un-shower" friends and family guests ... they are all super great people!  I am blessed.

The ladies all made delicious food, and they brought me some of my much needed items ... uni-sex onesies, burp cloths, blankets, and size 1 diapers!  Perfection!  I really appreciate my friends and family, and it was a small but nice little celebration for Baby Coconut.  Gwendy even drove up to Dade City to get some delicious cupcakes for the event.

The food and gifts ... and diaper cake.  Awesome job, ladies!  Lindsey did well with the diaper cake ... and the cake plate, I got to keep.  Bonus!  (You know I LOVE cake plates!)

The GINORMOUS fruit Elizabeth brought ... SAMs, apparently, sells them only in size x-large.

The top of the diaper cake ... a girl pacifier and a boy pacifier ... which will it be?

So cute!  And love, love, love that cake plate!

The delicious cupcakes Gwendy drove all of the way to Dade City to get for the party.  Yummy!

Lianro makes these super tasty energy balls ... and they're pretty healthy, too.  Mmmmmm!

That orzo pasta dish was fabulous!  Thanks, Basilea!

We all made some really cute pottery items, and I can't wait to see how they turned out!  I am anxious to get mine put up in my kitchen.  I made a display platter.  As per usual, we were hurrying at the end to finish our items ... I guess we chatted too much or ate too much!  Thank you, ladies for a super fun time last night!

On another (grosser) note ... I have been hard at work around here.  Last night when I got home from MNO, I checked on the kids.  They were both sound asleep.  About 20 minutes after I checked on Khloe, she started to cry.  I was afraid I had woken her up, so I went in to soothe her.  She asked me to cover her up then she told me that her tummy hurt.  She never tells me that!  So, I grabbed her up and carried her out to the living room with her blanket.  I was holding her for a minute ... I asked her what she felt like ... again, she said, "My tummy hurts."  So, I asked Billy to get a cracker for her.  I thought she might be hungry.  He got her one, and then he said to put her back to bed, she was probably ok.  I (stupidly) said, "I bet she's going to throw up."  Billy thought but (stupidly) didn't say, Take her off of the couch then. But he didn't want to be mean.  It was at that second that she threw up all over me ... twice.  Most of it got on me, her, and her blanket ... but make no mistake, there was some on the couch, the side table,  and the floor.

I rushed her over to the open space on the floor (away from furniture).  There she threw up three more times.  I kept saying, "It's ok.  Just throw up.  Don't worry about it.  It's ok."  When it was all over, she looked at me ... all covered in vomit, and she said (bless her heart), "Are you okay, Mom?"  I undressed her, started the bath, ordered a stunned and grossed out husband to get me a TON of towels ... then I asked him to clean up while I bathed her and myself.  The look on his face was priceless.  "It smells so bad!" he said.  So, I traded him ... "You wash Khloe, and I will clean up this mess.  Then I will take a shower."  He agreed to that trade!

When I got out of the shower, Billy was holding her with a blanket around her on the couch ... she was all ready for bed.  I wanted to rock her and sing to her ... I don't have that kind of daughter.  She just wanted to sit and watch the football game Daddy had on (saved from some game he didn't get a chance to see in December).  I decided to put her to bed.  It wasn't that much later ... maybe 30 minutes ... that she called out for me.  She said she was going to throw up again.  I took her to the bathroom.  We stood at the toilet for a while.  She finally told me that she felt better ... I, however, did not feel better.  I knew she still wasn't good.  I told Billy I was going to sleep on the couch, so I could hear her right away, if she called out for me in the night.  He went to bed.  It was about 1:15 a.m. when I heard her yelling for me.  I got into her room just in time to see sitting up vomiting all over herself in her bed.  I grabbed a towel, and she threw up over and over into it.  When she was done, she was very worried that it was all over her jammies!  I got her changed and wiped down, the bed sheets changed, the carpet cleaned up, and her stuffed animals in the wash with all of the other items that had been hit (by now, this was nearing the 5th load of vomit laundry).  She kept asking for water every time she threw up ... I knew she was getting dehydrated.  She went to bed around 1:30 a.m., and I crashed on the couch.

She was up bright and early at 8:00 a.m. ... asking for more water.  Needless to say, we spent the morning fighting diarrhea.  We didn't go anywhere today ... I did get a lot done here--including, 6 more loads of laundry!  (Not all hers ... I did Colton's and ours, too).

And just when I thought it was all over ... as I was typing this, she stood next to me ... howling.  I asked her what was wrong.  Her answer ... vomiting all over.  Ugh ... Round #3.  Round #4, unfortunately came 20 minutes later while she was taking a bath to clean off Round #3's yuckiness.  She stood up in the tub, started to cry ... I said, "Do you need to throw up?"  She said, "Yes." And before I could grab her out of the tub to throw up into the toilet ... she spewed all over the tub and bathroom floor.  Bath time over.

The only good thing is that she hasn't had a fever.  Let's pray for a good night's sleep ... and that all of this is starting to end.  Here's to another night on the couch!

There is a silver lining ... being stuck in the house all day did let me do A LOT of laundry.  I, also, got something put together in Colton's room that I had been thinking about for a while.  I wanted to make gutter shelves for his books ever since I saw some on Pinterest (a long time ago!).  I have some redecorating to do for him, since he will (eventually) be getting a big boy bed.  I want to change the decor to something that will last a long time and is for bigger boys.  But until then ... I am happy with this change.  It cleans up all of the books that plagued the floor of his room for too long!  I just have to say, it wasn't as easy (or as cheap) as Pinterest made it sound.

Cole's new reading corner.

Billy said that it makes him feel like he wants to go read in the "reading corner" like when he was in 5th grade ... he said, "It's like you've been a 5th grade teacher or something."  Ha, ha. 

a neutral baby's room ... boy or girl

Counting down the days ...

37 Weeks ... and counting ...

Last week, I worked and worked ... and finished the baby's room in one week!  I painted the entire room in two days!  It's amazing how hard you can work when you're anxious to see the outcome.  To be fair, I had been painting the baby's crib for a few weeks ... working on it here and there, but I finished it this past week, and I finally got everything put up and together.  It's now ready for guests, as well as, a new baby boy or girl.

I went with a really neutral room.  I want to personalize it more, of course, when the baby arrives.  I will add more color when I know what gender I'm having ... I'll add more girly or more boy colors dependent upon who pops out.  If it's a boy, I plan to add greens, yellows, oranges, browns, etc.  If it's a girl ... I may add some of those colors, too ... along with pinks and purples.  Right now, it's gray with pops of a vintage blue ... and my favorite--a chalkboard wall!  I want to make a mobile to incorporate more color that way.  Billy says it feels like a hotel room in there ... kind of nice for guests, but I kind of want the baby to feel like he/she is in a cozy room!

Crib and Chalkboard Wall ... his or her name will go inside the picture frame.

This is the opposite side of the room from the crib.  The guest bed, as well as, some pictures.

A closer look at the pillows on the bed.

Another view of the guest bed with the shelves I added.

The shelves I added last week with some decor.

The entrance to the room.

I refinished this framed mirror.  It was my grandparents.

The changing table area inside of the closet.  I will get a new changing pad cover, but I'm not in any hurry ... as it's hidden away inside the closet.  I added that shelf to the right on the wall ... it houses lotion and hand sanitizer.

A closer look at the frame I refinished and the wall.

The baby's crib from above.

I refinished this table this past fall, so I thought it made a good place in this room.

From the entrance of the room looking in ... I love how the color of the crib looks against the chalkboard wall.

A piece of artwork that I made ... I see these all over etsy, and I figured, I could probably do this myself.  So, I did! 

These are two contenders for the "coming home" outfit.  I like them both ... I just haven't decided.

Anyway, I only have a few things left to do before I feel completely ready for the baby to arrive.  I want to wash my older kids' newborn/0-3 month jammies, so the baby has some options of clean clothes.  I want to clean my house ... really well.  I mean, every nook and cranny!  I just prefer to do the hard cleaning myself, and I will feel much better arriving back home from the hospital knowing all has been taken care of down to the nitty-gritty.  I want to clean my car ... vacuum, wash, windows, wax, etc.  I have my new carseat, but I just need to bite the bullet and put it into my car ... the thing is that I need to buy one more seat protector.  Having a car filled with an infant carseat, a toddler carseat, and a booster seat really fills it up!

I, also, need to buy a few more things ... size 1 diapers, a few more wipes, a new thermometer (my favorite one I used for my first two kids is MIA, so I better reinvest!) ... and I need to sterilize bottles, the pump, etc. ... just in case.

I got my hair cut on Sunday ... which it desperately needed!  I hadn't had a hair cut since the beginning of June.  I want to get one more pedicure the week before the baby is born ... just for some fun and to feel all prepped and ready.  (Of course, that's more of a want--not so much a need!)

I'm starting to feel the super nesting bug ... as I want to work on Colton's room before the baby arrives.  I want to put some book shelves on the wall, so I can clean up the books that litter his floor on a daily basis!  I'm glad he loves to read ... but I need some organization!  I think I can do it for under $15.  I want to try it out and see how it goes.  Hopefully, I can blog about my success soon.  We'll see if I really have the time!

I went to the doctor yesterday ... having my weeklies now.  He asked me, "So, how big were your other babies?"  I told him Colton was nearly 9 lbs. (8 lbs. 15 oz.) at two weeks early, and my daughter was 9 lbs. 4 oz.  He asked me if I usually measure several weeks ahead of schedule.  I said, "That is not news to me!  I have always measured 2-3 weeks further along than I am."  He laughed.  He said, "Well, looks like this one will be up-to-par with the others ... as long as you're used to it, I have no problem!"  I laughed ... just another big Heinrich to add to the group.  I love some chubby newborns! Will keep you posted after my next visit ... hoping all stays quiet on the baby news ... I am working around here!

just around the corner ...

The imminent arrival of Coconut Heinrich is just around the corner ... just under three weeks away!  I can't believe that it's coming so quickly.  I have the baby's room finished (look for my next blog all about the nursery!) ... as it can be.  Once the baby is born, I can get to some finishing touches by adding name accents and color accents, etc.

When we were in Kansas City over the holidays, my sister took my maternity pictures.  She really does a great job, and I am very happy with the results!  If you are in the Kansas City Metro area, you should check out her website www.dananichole.com.  She is an excellent photographer!

Here are (some ... just waiting for the rest to arrive on a CD in the mail) of the photos from my THIRD maternity shoot ... that's hard to believe! I'll probably post another maternity shoot blog once all of my pictures are available to me.

I took some of the pics and did some editing, myself.  Just for fun!  I have a bunch more, but they are personalized with names of the baby ... both, if it's a boy or a girl!  Can't reveal those, yet! 

celebrating, crafting, painting, sewing, fixing, and cooking

Since we've been home from our Christmas vacation ... I have been going in full swing.  Billy had some cousins and other family in town visiting this past week/weekend.  Most of the extended family stayed with Billy's cousins who live here, Caleb and Elizabeth.  We hosted three of them for 3 days.

The kids had a lot of fun playing with Billy's cousin's kids ... Maecy and Nolan Keller.  We got to see them when we were in KC for Christmas, too.  They enjoyed running around playing together in Caleb and Elizabeth's backyard.  We roasted marshmallows one night, and enjoyed the company of Billy's cousins and Uncle Gordon.

Roasting marshmallows by the fire with cousins. 

Cute kids! 

That face!

Big marshmallow mouth. 

His cousin, Maecy, made this s'more just for him!

While everyone was here, we had Billy's 33rd birthday celebration!  Happy number 33, Bud!  I baked two pies to share with Billy and his family.  He wanted a blueberry pie, and I had the ingredients for a Dutch Apple, as well.  Billy doesn't usually like to make a big fuss over his birthday.  He's more of a private celebrator ... but he doesn't often have so much family in town over his special day as he had this year.  So, I invited everyone (12 adults and 4 kids ... which included the Adams family) out to dinner at the Olive Garden.  We had delicious food and a great time talking and hanging out.  After dinner, everyone was invited back to our house for pie and games.  Billy stayed up playing games with the boy cousins (Caleb, Ty, Terah, and their friend, Daniel) until 2 a.m.!

This year, I wanted to surprise him with a gift he hadn't put on a list.  He has never owned a hockey jersey with a player's name on it.  I know his favorite player is Jordan Eberle, but I wasn't sure whether to get him the white away jersey or the classic blue home jersey.  I, finally, settled on the classic blue home jersey (after many questions to Billy regarding a Nugent-Hopkins jersey that I want).  He was pretty surprised, and I think really happy!  Now, he and Colton have matching jerseys, and they both look pretty great!

My Bud ... all of his birthdays since we got married!  I am blessed to have him as my husband.

Daddy reading his cards.

Opening his gift!

He LOVED it!

A picture taken by Khloe ... she did pretty well!

The family on Daddy's birthday!

Pies to follow the meal. 

The pie with my creative version of the #33 candles. 

Wearing his gift and giving us a smile before we sing to him! 

Singing to Daddy! 

Blowing out his candles to get a wish! 

So ... I have been crafting, painting, sewing, fixing, and cooking a lot since I've gotten home from our vacation.  These past two weeks have been filled with a lot of projects.  I am trying to get the baby's room complete ... or as complete as you can for a Baby you have no idea what gender it will be or what name it will have!  I have to get the room painted, but I'm prepped and ready to start that on Sunday.  I am halfway done painting the crib (thanks, Kristie!) ... as this is the THIRD paint job this crib has had in 4 years!  I painted it brown for Colton ... and swore I would NEVER paint a crib again!  Then I painted it white for Khloe ... it pained me.  Now, I am making such a neutral room that I felt it needed SOME color.  So, I am painting it a vintage blue that could go either way with gender.

I (amazingly) found some pillows and a throw that matches the blue color EXACTLY at Ikea.  I am redoing the guest bed that will stay in that room, too.  I got a white comforter and pillows ... with some blue/map throw pillows for interest.  There's a lot of gray going on in that room ... and I love it! But I wanted some color.  I was going to order a print from etsy ... and then it hit me (like a smack in the face) ... I can paint my own print exactly the colors I want on a canvas I have left over from decorating Koki's room two years ago!  Perfect!  Save myself some $$ and add a little personal artwork to the baby's room.  Voila!  I am reusing a picture frame that I have had on-hand ... all I need to do is paint it for a centerpiece over the crib.  I repainted a frame on a mirror that I want to use ... but now, I'm afraid it's too girly, if the baby turns out to be a boy.  Bleh!  I don't know what to do about that right now.  I need to peruse Goodwill and Salvation Army to get a few more frames to hang on the wall above the guest bed.  I figure the detail decorating can really wait until after the baby is born.  I just need to get the paint on the walls and the crib completed!  Next major goal for the coming week!

The mirror before ...

After ... just need to hang it somewhere.

As you may have seen in a previous post, my sister-in-law had her baby boy last week, so I am finishing up a quilt I will take to her tomorrow when we go to meet our nephew, Owen.  I like it a lot!  I really like the fabric.  I am finding that I love that color blue right now.  I want to paint everything that color!  I like the dark and the lighter version of the color.  It looks great with gray, too!  I hope she likes it!

Quilt for Owen Maddox Araujo.

Minky on the back ... the coloring is a little off here ... but it's more like a lighter teal ... not aquamarine. 

Last night, I made this delicious mushroom soup from a recipe I got off of Pinterest.  It is incredible!  I added the 1/2 cup of cream to the soup while it simmered, instead of making the suggested thyme cream.  It was fabulous!  If you love mushrooms, you should try it out.

Well ... I finally made it back to the gym this week.  It was a poor showing ... only 2 out of 5 days, but next week, my goal is to officially get back into the swing of going.  I did Bodyflow (yoga), and I did Zumba.  Both were great, and I felt awesome afterwards!  My kids LOVE going to the gym daycare, because the teachers there are fabulous!  Hopefully, I'll, also, get the baby's room completely painted this week.

Rollin', rollin', rollin' ...