Nursery in progress

Ok, it isn't completely done, but very close.

My mom came up Thursday night. Once she got here Michael helped her unload the truck while I played with Trapper and Buddy. Our next task was to decide how we were going to decorate the nursery. I had watched an episode of Deserving Design and Vern had decorated a nursery for a couple, so I DVR'd it and showed it to mom. So we decided to paint the walls the exact way, but with green instead of blue: http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/vern-makes-a-special-delivery/pictures/page-2.html.

Friday morning, Michael went to work while mom and I worked on cleaning out the nursery. Later I had to go to Rocky Mount to have my car looked at, so mom followed and we went shopping. We went to Lowes and bought all the paint/supplies. We then went to Target to see if they had letters to go above the cribs, but they didn't so then we went to Michael's, but they didn't have a D or a K so then we went to Walmart where we found all the letters that I needed. We then headed home to start working. While Michael was picking up dinner mom and I prepped the room. Here is a before shot of the room once we cleared everything out (except furniture):

After dinner mom and Michael primed while I painted the letters downstairs. They wouldn't let me help with the primer due to the odor. After the priming was done and my letters were done it was time for bed. The next morning mom and I put up tape for where we wanted a green line in the middle and up top, while Michael mowed the back yard. Once that was done, mom went ahead and painted the bookshelf that was bright red to a beautiful brown. At noon we went to Chick-fil-a for lunch and then Lowes to pick up a few extra things like more pan inserts and a mask for me so I could help. We then came back and painted the brown. I did the trimming while mom and Michael rolled. Once that was completed we came downstairs for dinner. Then we took down the tape and then retaped to be able to paint the green stripes. I rolled the middle stripe while mom and Michael painted up top (I was not allowed on any foot stools or latters).

Sunday morning we woke up early for early service at church. After church we came back and did a few touch ups which took just a few minutes. Then we did the rearranging of the furniture. This took a lot of tries to try and figure out how we were going to get two cribs, a dresser, changing station, and a rocking chair in the room. Once we figured it out we put up letters above the cribs and put up the classic pooh portraits I had. Here is the room as it stands now:

The only things we have left to do is put up the 2nd crib (in front of the Zack side), put up curtains on both windows and the closet, and put in our bedding. Our bedding is still on it's way, but here are the links for both Maddie's: http://www.cuddleskidsbedding.com/mobagicacrbe.html and Zack's: http://www.cuddleskidsbedding.com/modern-baby-boy-caffe-4-piece-baby-bedding-se.html.

After we were done, mom had to pack up the truck and head home. Thanks mom for all your help!! LOVE YOU!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

This past weekend we went to A'boro to spend time with my mom for Mother's Day. My sister and her family were also meeting us there so I got to spend time with my nephew who I haven't seen in a couple months (he has gotten so big!!).

Friday night we arrived around 9:45pm and we spent about an hour with everyone before bed. Saturday we woke up and spent some time with each other. Crystal came over and we all decided to take Aaden to the zoo. We ended up walking the entire zoo. There were some new exhibits that I have never seen before. There are several coming out this year that I think would be neat. One in particular is in June there will be a "Feeding the Giraffes" exhibit. I think the funniest thing was Aaden fell asleep as soon as we walked in and didn't wake up until we were waiting for the bus to take us to the car.

After the zoo, Dean came over and all 9 of us went to American Roadhouse for dinner. Then we headed back to the house. Crystal's friend Erin and her fiance came over and we played games. We played Guesstures (which was a game of charades). It was girls against boys and the girls whipped up on the boys pretty good (2-0). By 10pm we were all exhausted from our day that they ended up leaving and I went straight to bed.

Sunday was Mother's Day. Mike and I got up early to make breakfast. (When I said "we" made breakfast, he made pancakes and I supervised.) After breakfast and gifts we all got ready for church. Church was really good and the lesson was "The Importance of a mom". Dad left early to make lunch for us all. Lunch was outside on the patio, it was really nice! Unfortunately after lunch us kids had to leave. Stacy had a 6 hour drive and we needed to get back to mow the yard. When we got in front of our house we saw that a bizarre thing had happened. Our yard was mysteriously mowed. Not only that but our driveway (which had weeds growing up in it) was completely clean. It was like the yard ferry had came down and did our yard (however it was our neighbors who ended up doing our yard.) We felt bad, because we were worried they were so upset at how bad we had let it get so high, but it turned out they did it because they wanted to do something for us.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend!!

Babies Update

Yesterday was my 24 week appointment. We had an ultrasound first and then talked to the doctor. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, but the ultrasound was amazing. They have gotten so big compared to 8 weeks ago. Both babies are currently breech and are up facing each other. I really wish I had a picture, it was so cute! It almost looks like they are playing with each other. Both of them are measuring right at 24 weeks.

After the sonographer took all the measurements we tried to get shots to confirm that they are still a boy and girl (or as Mike says "make sure no one has lost anything or gained anything"). At first both of them were stubborn and didn't want us to see anything. After a couple of jiggles Zack moved enough for us to see that he is still a boy. However, Maddie refused to let us see. We aren't really worried because we had such a great shot of her at the last ultrasound. Both of them currently weigh in at 1 lb 6 oz. I'm now having to be seen every 2 weeks and in 4 weeks I have to take the dreaded GD test. However, my reward will be I get another ultrasound in 4 weeks. That is the great thing about having twins, I get a TON of ultrasounds to make sure they are growing properly. Mike and I loved the doctor we saw yesterday.

After our appointment we headed to Rocky Mount for a very light shopping trip and dinner. I received my first Mother's Day gift ever, and it was early. Mike bought me the 7 season set of Gilmore Girls. I have fallen in love with this show over the last 3 months and I have made him watch with me and now he is addicted too. Then we went to Chili's for dinner. After we got home and watched a few episodes we watched the news. We discovered that yesterday in Eastern NC there were several tornadoes that touched down and one of them was in Rocky Mount. If we had stayed there for 30 minutes longer we would have been in it. This made us realize just how lucky of a day we had!

By the way we have official names, including middle names for the babies:

Zachary Ryan Nowell

and

Madelin Marie Nowell