Our Deck - Before and After

My hard working husband and father-in-law recently spent some time out on our deck - stripping, prepping and staining it. I did help one evening - inbetween feedings - while Rustin's sister Katrina watched Emmett. However, it was obvious that Rustin and his Dad did the bulk of the work - and it looked like hard work! I told the person helping me buy stain at Home Depot (on my third trip for my third can) that one of the benefits of having a newborn baby is that Mama doesn't have to stain the deck! :) Thankfully we have people in our lives who are willing to help us accomplish these types of tasks (Grandma and Grandpa Nelson and Aunt Katrina).

Here are the results:

Before...

And After!

I also have to give credit to Katrina for coming over earlier this summer to help Rustin plant some flowers. Without her our baskets would most likely still be empty!

We even purchased some new deck furniture. Again, this was from Home Depot. It was much less expensive since we waited until later in the season so it was on clearance.

Thanks to Rustin and his mom, dad, and sister we now have a beautiful deck to enjoy! Hopefully the stain will protect it so it lasts for many more years.

What we've been up to...

We attended our first wedding in Charles City. Mommy's cousin Ben got married.

I slept through most of it. I did, however, wake up to dance with my great aunt Rita with the rest of the Rottinghaus' (they say that I am one.. and look it, but also look a lot like Daddy!) to the song "We Are Family". That was a lot of fun. They are a wild bunch. :)

We attended Mom's cousin Melissa's graduation from dental school. That is where I met my great-grandpa Bill. I call him Bampa for short.

 I also met my second cousin Brayden. He is only 2 months and 16 days older than me.

As well as my second cousin Katelyn. She is 2 1/2. We all piled on Bampa's lap for a picture. I promise this was the only time that I wasn't very happy that day, other than when I was hungry of course.

Then we traveled to Wayland where I met my great-grandma Boshart. She was quite sweet on me.

Four generations..

So, that is some of what we've been up to lately. We have been busy and it is hard to get much done around here with me being hungry all the time!

Waiting for Baby Nelson

The countdown is on. 8 days until our actual Due Date.

When we were at Rustin's sister Katrina's for Easter last weekend we had the opportunity take a video of the Nelson family and find out what we were all most looking forward to with the arrival of Baby Nelson.

Now we just have to wait..