update

Yesterday Jason worked all day and I went to Springfield. I got to get our new license plates and found out that I have to take the written test for my driver's license yet again. I am going to be a pro at this...3 tests in 2 years! Good grief- I didn't even leave the state for a full year! I did some shopping too. I thought I had a successful day until showing Jason my purchases last night and he pointed out I got multiple things wrong- ugh I think I am losing my mind. I even called to double check on something I was picking up for him and still got the wrong thing! Oh well, I guess I will have to go back to Springfield to do returns/exchanges sometime this week.

It rained last night and today was Mason City's graduation so Jason didn't have to go to work, but we both definitely got our work out with the yard work we did today! I am guessing that mom, dad, Jason, & I will all sleep good tonight! Thanks mom & dad for coming to help!

It is hard to believe it will be June tomorrow and we are only a little over 3 weeks from my due date. Jason keeps saying he is ready to have the little guy or girl, but I am definitely willing to wait the 3 weeks! There is a lot to get done at home & work before then so I am hoping it doesn't come too early if early at all. I have been very blessed with an "easy" pregnancy so far and am still feeling great. I am getting a little slow and it is getting harder to tie my shoes...shoot it is getting harder just to get my shoes on because my feet are so stinkin' fat :) !! Before my left foot was always swollen, but my right foot is starting to catch up- yay! I'm not sure which way is better one fat foot or two!

We decided to have the baby at St. John's Hospital and have found our way there once so hopefully we can find it again. Actually, it isn't too far from the clinic where my doctor is and isn't too hard to find- there are always the blue "hospital" signs right?!? We go to the doctor on Wednesday and start going every week from here on out. I am going to do a better job of keeping the blog updated, especially since I have my new camera!

Flowers & Landscaping

This weekend we finally started trying to get all of our flowers & landscaping under control. This is definitely going to take a lot of our time this summer to get everything figured out and keep it looking nice. When Jason was mowing earlier in the week, I went outside to get something and started weeding around the gazebo...he finished and I was still weeding. I kept at it for a little while, but then gave up and told him I needed my mom to come help. There is just tons to do and I really didn't know what to pull and what to leave in many places!

Luckily, she & dad were able to come over today and work outside with us and Jason didn't have to work so we were all able to work on the yard. We made a huge dent, but there is still a lot to do. I feel better though- we at least have a plan for what still needs to be done around the backyard. Part of the problem is the bugs are so bad in the backyard that we are going to have to spray something before we can do much work in the very back bed.

Mom & dad got to our house around 11 and we started in the front. I'm sure our neighbors were beginning to wonder if we would ever do anything out there! Jason made us a quick lunch and that is the only time we sat down or were in the house (except for bathroom breaks)! Jason was actually planning on painting, but we all 4 ended up outside all afternoon pulling weeds! Mom & dad left around 4:30, I headed inside to rest (update our blog finally) and Jason stayed outside to mow the yard.

Like I said we got a lot done, but you can't tell everything from the pictures. I tried to do before & after shots, but I didn't do a great job of getting similar shots for comparison. I will definitely work on that for future projects.

The front flower bed along the road- before

not completely finished, but the after shot for today

The front of the house- please note...I did more than just take pictures

The side of the house along the drive- before

after- for now

in front of the shed- before

after- for now

one of the side flower beds on the road side - after (no before pic)

bed along the backside of the house- after (no before pics)

The back bed that we are waiting on...I think it is the worst!

Happy Anniversary!!

Last Tuesday Jason & I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary! He acutally got home from work before me so we were able to head to Springfield for the night. We ate out at Chili's and then did a little shopping before heading home.

Jason & I before heading out 36 weeks

So our anniversary present to each other....our move to Illinois, new house, and new furnitureLast year I got the escape and didn't think that could be topped, but this year I got a house- I can't wait to see what happens next year!

I actually got my real anniversary present this weekend- A NEW CAMERA!!! Yes, I finally begged/complained enough about the old one that we bought a new one...thanks to Stephanie for being in on this mission too! I started playing with it today and hopefully will have a few things figured out before the baby gets here. The picture of our house was taken with the new one- doesn't it look 10x better than my old pictures?!?

Andi's 3rd Birthday Party

Last weekend was Andi Marie's 3rd Birthday Party and I got to drive to Macon (all by myself- Jason was working) to celebrate with the Belts', their family, and friends. The theme was "Little Mermaid" with a mermaid cake and some "mermaid" presents. Andi got some really cool gifts and everyone had a good time.

Andi's "mermaid" cake- decorated by Jessi

Lighting the candles on the "other" cake

Andi opening presents

Andi & Cole "jumping rope"

Another use for the jump rope- tug-of-war

I'm so glad we are moved to Illinois already- so I was able to make the party!

Baby Showers

Our baby (and Jason & I) has been blessed to have 2 baby showers thrown for him/her! It was good to see everyone since we hadn't been able to see many of the people who attended for quite a while and we got lots of things that we will be using before long! We didn't have anything and now thanks to our awesome friends & family we are ready for the baby...we have a lot of stuff in the room anyway. Thanks to everyone who was able to make it or sent gifts- they are all appreciated!! Due to a camera that doesn't always cooperate my pictures are limited from these events.

Our first shower was back in April (I know I am slow). Jessi, did an awesome job of putting this shower on and we had a great cake made by Kayla- yum! Stephanie was going to take pictures for me, but she didn't get any :(...because my batteries were dead. We got tons of gifts, including a pack-n-play, our diaper bag, a baby carrier, bouncy seat, some toys, and lots of diapers & wipes. At the end of the shower, guests had to decorate a onesie for the baby before the got a piece of cake so we got some really cool homemade onesies too. They were different sizes so we will be able to display the guests’ work for a while!

A few of the homemade onesies

Our second shower was put on by Megan & Leslie a couple of weeks ago. Again, they did an awesome job and the cake was delicious, made by Megan herself. I did get a few pictures from this shower, but they didn't turn out the best so I'm only posting a few. Anyway, lots of great gifts again, instead of a card many guests brought a book to help start a library for Baby Pollard so we got a number of books, our travel system, high chair, toys, more diapers & wipes, blankets, and clothes. Everyone got to play a game where they reached in to a paper sack, felt the object (baby related), and guessed what the object was. At the end I got to do this in front of everyone, I actually surprised myself and knew quite a few of them.

The sheep cake Megan made, super cute!

Megan, me, & Les in front of all the gifts

Me & the Grandmas

Thanks Jessi, Megan, & Leslie! We have all of the baby things back in the baby's room and it actually feels like we are getting closer to being ready, we better be I guess! Leslie is letting us use the baby bed and changing table her kids used and I'm sure once we get it put together it will look great and I will share pictures, but for now it is boxed up in the garage. Trust me; it is on our list of things to get done and getting closer to the top! It’s not June yet- I know it will be tomorrow!

Two days of work down and several boxes left to unpack, we are slowly getting settled in. We finally got cable & internet today so here are a few pictures from the house and an update of our last week.

Last week Wednesday our closing went great! Surprise- no problems with closing in 2 1/2 weeks..our realtor and loan officer were both nervous about the time frame, but everything went off without a hitch. After the closing we headed to the house to clean before everything was unloaded. Thankfully, my mom came over to help clean. She & Jason spent at least 3 hours straight cleaning. I helped a little, but observed more! The movers unloaded all of our things that evening and we began unpacking a few boxes. Since it was late and we had no food we opted for Casey's pizza for our first meal in the house, but on Saturday when we had our first "home-cooked" meal we made sure it was tacos! We unpacked Thursday morning and a little in the afternoon before heading out of town.

Jason left for Missouri to get some more turkey hunting in and my dad, Kyle, & I headed to Ohio for a Southdown show & sale. Jason was successful in his hunting and got a bird Saturday afternoon- thank goodness! He didn't get any pictures because I had the camera with me. Dad, Kyle, & I were successful at the sale too, but not so much with the hotel I found for us to stay at. I don't think I will be allowed to book rooms anymore! It was cheap, but we definitely won't be staying there again or at least I won't!!

Jason & I both returned home Saturday evening and have gotten a few more boxes unpacked and a few things put away. The house is still a mess, but probably will be for another week or so...we have plans for the next few weekends so it is after work when get to unpack things. Most of the boxes in the garage were in storage while we lived in Minnesota so I'm pretty sure there isn't anything we really need in them.

I have my first doctors appointment in Springfield tomorrow so Jason & I will get to meet my new doctor. Only 42 days left until my due date- where in the world did all the time go?!?! Hopefully now that we have internet at home I can keep up with posting things! Now, on to the pictures...

The kitchen The family room The living room One of the "other" rooms...this is going to be the baby's room The master bedroomAnother shot of the master bedroomA picture from the deck looking at the swing set & fire pit Standing in the back yard- the deck & gazebo

The back of the house

Jason's little shed and another view of the fire pit

There is tons of landscaping and lots of flowers to take care of...if we ever get to them! I'm not sure why I don't have any pictures of the front of the house, but I will take some & get some posted eventually.

Last weekend in MN

This weekend was our final one in Minnesota. After an afternoon at the driving range yesterday and going to listen to a local band last night we finally started packing what we needed for the next few nights and cleaning our apartment today. We are finished (almost) and are now counting down the hours before we head out.

The movers will be here at 8 tomorrow morning to pack! They are going to load everything tomorrow also, so we will be heading to Missouri tomorrow night (hopefully not too late) and be there until Wednesday morning when we head to Illinois to close on our house! Everything is going great so far and we are still on schedule to close Wednesday so only a few more days.

Our internet won't be connected until the 12th so it will be a while before there is a new update from us! Here's hoping to nice weather the next few days and Jason to have good luck turkey hunting Tuesday & Wednesday morning!