Do It Yourself Kind of Season.

I tried to make as many gifts as I could this year for Christmas. 

 I liked the way things turned out.  I couldn't post these pictures before 

because people would see what they were getting.  

And of course, I just came across the photos now and decided to post them.

Home is Wherever I am With You.

 I made this for Kari.  She said she loved it.

I haven't been to her house to make sure she hung it up.

But I hope she did!

 Grand Kids Make Life Grand.

 Casey's mom - Gran - loves getting pictures of the boys.

Unfortunately, we give her so many pictures she is running 

out of tabletop space for all those frames.  

I saw something like this on Pinterest.

I made it and love the way it turned out!

Gran has this hanging in her house.

 Lucas' headboard.

Headboard painted and looks perfect

in his big boy room!

If I could do DIY projects for a living I would.
So. Much. Fun.

Boys Rule!

Back when we found out we were having a second boy, the first thing I tackled was the bathroom.  For some reason I used this room to embrace the fact that I would have lots of blue and NO pink in my life.  I have to say it was therapeutic and allowed me to get PUMPED about having so much testosterone in the house.

 Submarine Shower Curtain by Dwell Studio for Target.

I thought it was cute and something that the boys could grow up with.

You know, not too "baby-ish".

The "BOYS RULE" sign is actually a flag wall decoration
on the other side.  My mom gave it to me.  I just flipped it over
to make it match the bathroom without destroying the flag.

Luke points to it and smiles every time he takes a bath.
I tell him what it says, but does he really know...?

 Lucas on his big boy potty.

Such a ham smiling for the camera.

____________________________________

Since we knew Liam was on his way, we had to decide what 

we wanted the room situation to look like.  We decided to

take away the guest room and let the boys have their own rooms.
After all, how many guests do we really get?

Here is Luke's big boy room:

We put two twin beds so when we did have guests that 

wanted to spend the night, they could!

The Bedding is from Pottery Barn - on sale over a year ago!

The headboard is my design + handmade by Casey.

The Pillows are homemade from Grandma Reed.

The photo is terrible and I am just now realizing the bed isn't even made.

Oh well.

Another terrible picture.

But close up of cute pillows!

We hung this "shelf" on the wall to display things.

It has really turned into a shelf 

to keep things away from Lucas!

The shelf was the old mantel in my parent's house.

It was so cool and they were just going to throw it away!

A close up of the books and toys 

we don't want him to destroy...

just yet!

__________________________

And finally, we wanted to make Liam's Nursery his own.

It isn't done by any means, but he won't be in here for a while.

 We choose to stay with brown (since the walls were done)

and just add green instead of blue (that was in Lucas' nursery)!

 We painted the lamp green and 

built these wall plaques from scratch.

 Some ply wood we had in the garage were perfect backgrounds.

We painted them green then antiqued them around the edges with brown.

 These letters were purchased from Mini Social (discount site)

when Lucas was born.  I just now got around to using them.  

They are from Children Inspired Design - we love this site!

A close up.  We think they turned out so cute!

Lucas vs. Liam

We thought that little Liam was a spitting image of Lucas when he was born.  We THOUGHT.  We have been looking through the photos of Lucas when he was a newborn to compare them to Liam. And it turns out they don't look a like after all.  After looking at tons of pictures of Lucas (and we have tons!) we weren't able to find a single picture where they look alike.  Still, it has been fun looking back at early photos of Lucas (even though it has only been 2 short years ago). In these newborn photos I definitely see a lot of Casey in Lucas.  Does that mean Liam looks more like me?  He definitely has my coloring.  We can't wait to watch him grow.

Christmas 2011.

Here is the Christmas Recap in the form of pictures.  

It's a little late, but better late than never.

 Lucas helping decorate the Christmas Tree.

 Lucas running away with the lights.

 Lucas showing me the lights.

 Lucas old enough to open his own presents!  

So much fun to watch!

 His first laptop!  All smiles.

 Lucas helping daddy put his toys together.

 Lucas playing with Cousin Brady's DHL truck.

Lucas wanting to be like Cousin Brady.

 Lucas + Preston.  Adorable.

 Granpa + his boys.

 Lucas' new tricycle from Santa.

 Lucas not quite sure how to ride it.  

So funny.

 Our only family photo from Christmas.

Lucas was OUT!

 Casey, Liam + I.

We had no idea Liam would arrive a week later!

Lucas' Christmas tree with vintage ornaments

from my mom and grandmothers.

Happy New Year!

Wow.  It's 2012.  How did that happen?  Last thing we knew it was Thanksgiving.  Where did Christmas and New Years go?  I haven't blogged since November so get ready for a recap of the past two months.

Going out of order, but knowing it is really what you want to hear about...
Baby Liam!

Liam Daniel Clemmer

January 3rd, 2012

6 lbs, 11 oz

20 inches long

So apparently I had been having contractions for atleast 24 hours.  Not having had contractions with Lucas, I didn't really know what was happening.  It wasn't like the movies...it was just uncomfortable.  After all we had cleaned the garage, taken down Christmas, finished a few projects in the boys' rooms and made a trip to the mall all in a day.  Of course I was feeling something - I had done too much!

After feeling the cramps for a day, we decided to call the doctor just to see what she thought.  We were advised to go to the hospital just to be checked out since I was a few days over 37 weeks.  We scooped up Lucas and a few belongings and were out the door.  I was abnormally calm.  Casey - not so much.  I was afraid that it was a false alarm (all the books tell you that happens and you will be sent home) so I guess I didn't think much about what was about to happen.

When we arrived at the hospital and I was checked in, they hooked Liam and I up to monitors and took our vitals.  I was having contractions and my blood pressure was through the roof!  I have excellent blood pressure normally; it even tends to be on the low side.  Since I hadn't had any other high blood pressure readings through my whole pregnancy they were afraid I had preclampsia.  I was admitted to be monitored overnight.  Once I was admitted, my blood pressure went down.  I was never treated for preclampsia so we think the blood pressure numbers were a result of pain.

Because I was having contractions - and they don't go away or get further apart - they decided to take Liam the next day.

Daddy with Lucas waiting to join me in Operating Room.
 

Lucas meeting his little brother for the first time!

Lucas having so much fun @ the hospital.

 My oldest and dearest friend Melissa happen to be in town + 

got to meet Liam.  So very special for me to have her be there.

 Daddy + his boys!  Love.

 Gran meeting Liam.

Daddy and Liam trying to get some sleep.

 The hospital brought us a birthday cake for Liam.

Lucas loved it.

 Grandma + Papa saying hello.

 Gran + Granpa w/ Liam.

 Cousin Preston meets Liam.

Kari visits us in the hospital.

 Welcome Home Liam!

Adorable wreath from Grandma Reed.

 Two boys in the backseat!  Luke is protecting

his younger brother already.  That face says it all.

 Lucas loves Liam.

He pats him and kisses him all day.

 My heart melts every time and my eyes 

fill up with tears of joy!

 Love at first sight!

 One of many kisses Luke gives Liam daily.

 Small boy doesn't fit in any of his clothes!

 Newborn is way too big!  It's a daily struggle to find

an outfit that fits.  It is really sweet how little he is.

 First Family of Four Photo.

My Boys!