It's a...

Baby Hartz is a healthy little 1 lb baby!!  I'm just kidding I know you are all dying to know our news.  We are excited to announce that big sister Paige was absolutely correct and she will be getting a little BROTHER!!!

We had the same ultrasound tech that we had with Paige.  She remembered everything about us.  She remembered we were selling our house in Cedar Rapids, that we were moving in with my mom.  It was NUTS!  Rob and I couldn't believe it.  So she asked us before she started if we wanted to know the sex and we said YEP!  She had the ultrasound thing on my belly for not even a minute and she's like it's a boy.  Rob and I were both like already?  You found out already?  Paige was stubborn (shocking I know) and it took 30 mins to find out.  I asked her again at the end of the ultrasound how sure she was that it was a boy, she laughed at me and said "did you not see the evidence?"  I have a picture of it now haha.

We are both so excited.  Rob and I had been leaning boy this last week.  To say Rob is excited is an understatement.  He instantly looked at me and said, "I've got some shopping to do".  So I believe there will be some ISU and STL Cardinals stuff arriving in the mail.  Big sister is so excited.  She's been running around with the ultrasound pictures saying, "Look my baby brother!".   As far as the baby goes though our doctor said everything looks great.  He's measuring right on time and his heart and everything else looks great!  We got to see all four chambers of his heart, his spine and everything!  Enjoy the pictures!!

Here is his face!  We compared this to Paige's 3D and they look a lot alike.  They have the same nose, cheeks and lips.  So funny!!  

Am I Nesting?

So I'm going to write a blog about my problem I'm having today but I thought I'd start out with some fun stuff.  Paigey and I were watching a movie in Rob and I's bed last night.  She decided she needed to cuddle with the baby.

We went out for supper with our amazing friend Craig.  We tried a new sushi place and it was pretty good!!  Paigey loves soup and so we ordered her their homemade chicken noodle soup.  It was so amazing!!  She LOVED it!

This is where we get into my problem.  This morning Rob wanted to do something productive.  He decided he would assemble the double stroller that has been in a box in our garage since we found out we're pregnant.  Paigey of course had to help her Daddy.

Here is Paige testing out her seat

Me pushing it around the living room and LOVING it.  We put the baby carseat on and everything so that we knew what we were getting into.

Paige decided we needed a baby in the carseat.

So much fun!!  I can't wait till there is really a new baby in that carseat and we're off to somewhere fun!!

But then Rob and Paige were done.  I told Rob I wanted to work on a project and he can't think of any that he wants to do.  So this is their project.  Enjoying a relaxing Sunday morning.  

What's wrong with that you ask?  NOTHING!  I wish I could sit downstairs and enjoy it with them.  I with I didn't have the giant urge inside me to organize, declutter, and clean my entire house.  Does this mean I'm nesting officially?  I know I'm a bit of an over planner and I know I like to be prepared.  But I think the fact that I'm a little over half way done I have flipped into another dimension   Maybe it has to do with on Tuesday we're going to find out if it's a boy or girl, we'll most likely schedule our c-section date, and that makes everything all the more real.  So I think I'll start working on decluttering.  I can't seem to sit down and I can't seem to just be happy crafting today.  So this is what I'm tackling....doesn't that look fun?

Wish me luck!!  Hopefully I'll feel a little better about all of this once I just get one project done.  I'm just so excited for this little baby to be joining our family!  I'm ready to build the crib, get out the swing, wash the clothes.  It's just a little too early to be doing all of that.  So I will try and fill that time with something else.

Sewing Lessons

So I'm hoping this little machine and I can become better friends.  My friend Jenn's mom owns a quilt shop and has made me some amazing things when I was pregnant with Paige.  She made me a diaper bag and pillow cases for my nursing pillow.  She's fantastic.  Her and I bonded when Jenn's daughter was in the hospital for her open heart surgery.  Lee and I could get each other cracking up over some pretty dumb stuff.

Anyway, on Saturday I took my sewing machine to her quilt shop for help.  I have owned the machine since October 2007 (I found the receipt inside my manual).  I have not ever been able to figure the thing out.  As Graham pointed out to me it's supposed to be super user friendly and adjust itself.  I just laughed and said I know that's why I bought it!  Lee messed around with it and found out it was NOT user error!   I couldn't have been more excited to come home and rub it in Rob's face that it wasn't my fault that I didn't take classes, it just needed a little help.  So Lee fixed it and now I'm ready to go!  I have some projects I found on pinterest that I want to try for the baby.  So after Jan 29th and I find out if this is a boy or girl kicking the crap out of me in my belly.  I am going to hopefully be a sewing machine!!  I will keep everyone posted!!

20 Weeks?! How is This Possible?!

So every week I get an email of some kind that tells me how many weeks along I am in the pregnancy and some fun facts about the baby.  So I woke up this morning to an email that said 20 weeks HALF WAY THERE!  I had to read it about 3 times to actually process that I am seriously half way through this journey.  June will be here before we know it!  I mean January is almost over for pete's sake.  I find myself checking how much weight I've gained or looking at the size of my belly thinking I'm huge this is not good I'm not that far along.  But then I have to stop and remind myself yes you are Nikki.  I have a very active little baby in this belly of mine.  I have told my mom and Rob that I think its a big baby because this kid doesn't just kick, it punches the crap out of me already.  But it's a nice reminder everyday that he/she is in there and they are doing well.  We'll keep you all up to date on our next appointment and big ultrasound.  I'm counting the days!

Here is Paigey watching a movie the other night while Rob and I were trying to get a queen box spring to make a 90 degree turn.  But that's for a different blog.  Hope you all have a great weekend!  I have my sewing lessons...I'll try to remember to take a pictures.

Let the Projects Begin!

Well this weekend we started projects at our house!  No we didn't get to start in the baby's room yet, but that is because the bed that is currently in there has to be moved to our downstairs guest room/office.  So we painted the downstairs bedroom this weekend.  The pictures don't show the color very well, but 3 of the walls are a light gray and then one is a darker gray.  So these are the final after pictures just step one of them.

These are the before pictures minus the bed that was in there.  They were just white walls and they were dirty.  

This desk is going on craig's list and we will be purchasing a new one from IKEA (Thanks Grandma Chapman this is what your Christmas money will be going to).

 Here is Rob rolling where the desk used to be.

This is me trimming...don't mind how terrible I look.  I caught the cold/flu that my family had a few weeks ago.  Not fun when you are pregnant and are only allowed to take certain medications.  I know I know I should have been laying down taking care of myself, but I'm stubborn and wanted to get this done.

Here is what the light gray looks like after we were all done.  We absolutely love how it turned out and are excited to start putting it all together.

This is the darker wall though with my flash on my camera you can't even tell.  We had a lot of fun doing this.  We were able to knock it all out during nap times this weekend.  

Stay tuned for more updates!  Next weekend I'm off to learn how to use my sewing machine that I have been in a fight with for about 6 years!!  So excited!  Got to love Mom's of your friends who are willing to give their time to help you with I'm sure is totally user error and not the machine.  Though if it turns out to be the machine I will totally be rubbing that in Rob's face.

Where did my baby go?

Can we all take a minute and look at this little girl.  Where the heck did my chubby little girl go?  I got her dressed this morning and when I asked her what she wanted in her hair her response, "pigtails, they are Daddy's favorite" (Rob thought you would like that).  So I got her ready and didn't even look at her.   I ran into the kitchen to make sure everything we needed was all packed up and ready to go.  I told her to turn off the tv and come get her coat in.  Well this little girl walked into the kitchen and I was like HOLY COW!  When did a get a little girl and not a baby!! I of course did what every mom would do I pulled out my phone and took a picture of her :)  

Paige is changing so much everyday.  The things that come out of her mouth crack me up.  She is so excited for her new baby.  Everything she talks about is about her new baby, we'll see how long that lasts once the baby gets here.  I can't believe she's almost 3, where did the time go?!

On a side note we have started projects around our house for the baby.  We have also started this...

a diaper stock pile.  When I'm at Target I just grab a pack or two and start stacking them in the baby's closet.  Upcoming blog posts will soon be before and after pictures of our projects we are working on.  I'm so excited!!  We are starting this weekend (don't worry Kristin I will make sure to take before pictures!).  Graham has inspired me to be thrifty and make things pretty with things I already have.  If you don't follow her blog you should because it's entertaining, go here (your welcome Graham maybe you'll have more followers now).

Love you guys!!

18 week belly picture

Here are some belly updates! The picture of me side by side is 15 weeks and 18 weeks. Starting to pop out. I went to the chiropractor yesterday and she helped me so much. She specializes in prenatal chiropractic care and is also a dula who helps women through natural childbirth. She gave me an idea of an over the counter vitamin that might help with my insomnia. I told her at this point I'll try anything! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We realized we have no plans every weekend in January. So we are going to get startes on our guestroom in the basement, then its onto the baby's room!!

Love you all!

17 Week Baby Update

First off there is no new belly picture.  I forgot to take one, plus I don't think it's really changed all that much. I will tell you I was worried it was bigger then it is supposed to be, but I've been told I'm fine.  We had a doctors appointment yesterday.  It was a quick and easy appointment.  The baby still sounds great!  Heartbeat is still in the 160s.  We asked if we could get our c-section on the calendar as I'm hoping to be one of the first ones of the day.  My doctor who I want to perform it was not in the office as she was on call.  So her nurse is supposed to call me early next week to get that scheduled.  I'm so excited!!!  The doctor we saw said that everything looks and sounds great!  Our next appointment is January 29th and we get to find out what we're having!!!  I'm so antsy to find out.  I'm ready to start unpacking those cute little clothes into the closet.  Boy or girl I'm lucky to have totes full of clothes in my basement ready to go (Thank you Heather for all of Colin's)  Rob and I are ready to start the process of the room.  We need to work on the guest room downstairs first.  So we have picked paint colors and are hoping to get things moving soon.

We hope everyone had a great new year.  We stayed home as Rob is recovering from a nasty nasty cold and Paige has now caught it.  So they are both coughing and blowing noses non stop.  I'm one tired Mama from taking care of everyone.  Sadly I'm happy the holidays are over.  It was so nice to see family and to celebrate but I'm ready to get back to our normal life and of course start prepping for this baby!  We're officially in 2013 which means we are in the year we're going to become parents again!!

Love you all!!

Christmas With The Hartz's - Part 2

We got together with Rob's parents this weekend and did our Christmas.  We were hoping Ryan and Kristin were going to make it but unfortunetly Tyler caught what Sophie had so they were unable to make the trip to Iowa.  We were so bummed to not have them with us.  But we had a nice afternoon with Rick and Gail eating pizza and opening presents.

This is Paigey helping Grammie open her new camera from her kids and grandkids.  We decided she needed an upgrade with upcoming vacations and a new grandbaby on the way.

Trying to figure out what she's got

She's excited about her puzzles

a new ISU sweatshirt that unfortunetly did not help them win their bowl

helping Daddy...I think she helped EVERYONE

Baby Hartz is now ready for football season!  So cute!

helping Papa

 Rob's family has a tradition and this was Paige's first year participating.  They have a pickle ornament that gets hid in the tree, the first one to find it wins the present.  Normally with Ryan, Kristin, Rob and I this gets really competitive.  I've won a few times since joining the family and it's always fun to have bragging rights.  Well this year Paigey got to try.  We showed her what the ornament looked like and explained how it all works.  I had to take a picture of her looking before I actually started looking myself.

She found it!!

She was so excited to find the ornament.  She still talks about it!

Christmas Day

Ok get ready for a lot of pictures.  Christmas day was a long day for us.  We started out with our little family opening presents, then my family came to have lunch and presents, then we were off to my Dad's for dinner. We had such a great day and it was so nice to see everyone.

Looking in her stocking

Buzz Lightyear!!  Her late addition to her Santa list

So excited about her presents

Daddy about to take the 40 pieces to set up the princess castle

YAY Daddy!!

 After we opened all of our presents, Grandma Greta came up and helped me make my dips and hamballs for lunch.  We did snack food and it was fun. Once the Hiatt's got to our house it was present chaos!!

Everytime I held up my camera to get a picture of Colin trying to stand on his Dad this is what he would do.

Took a bunch of trying but he did it!!

Elise reading Paige's new book

These two kill me

 Then after naps we were off to Papa Gary and Grandma Pat's!  We had a yummy dinner and then 7 grandkids opening presents.  They all did very well and waiting for their turn.  It's funny to be a parents watching the kids open from youngest to oldest.  I remember doing this at my Vander Waal Grandparents in Pella.

Colin's sisters felt he needed help

Paige is into what Dylann got