A Name is a name is a name...

So...I believe we've decided on a name. It's one we've liked since we were pregnant with Keith, but didn't get to use as it would have been ill-fitting for a boy. Matt is, yet again, firm and decided. I'm the one that first introduced it to him (as I was with Samantha and Madelyn), but it seems that he latches on to it and makes it his own and won't let go. Anyhwo....the name is *drumroll*........

Charlotte Rose Swenson

Nickname - "Charly" and Matt's oh so favorite "Chuck". (no, this does not thrill me, but I hold tight to the belief that he'll stick with "Charly"

My only hang-up on it is the association with "Charlie Rose". Not that he's a bad guy - just know that we're not naming her after him.

I was also considering the names "Rose" or "Ruby". We all know Matt's feelings. :) Anywho, unless she looks otherwise, that is her name. Only 3-6 weeks left! Woot! Woot!

It's official....LOVE

There is no contest....these are my favorite things to eat EVER. I love love LOVE chocolate covered strawberries. Adore. Strawberries have always been my favorite fruit (and yet, I have craved fresh pineapple this pregnancy...hm...) but you add chocolate and I am in HEAVEN. I recently indulged in some with a dear friend/sister-in-law of mine (thank you Katy!) had to ramble for a bit.

Personally, I am a simple gal - you take the strawberry, you take the dippin chocolate in the oh so convenient microwaveable tub, and you dip 'em, let 'em cool, and eat 'em. Delicioso. And yet, I have to admit, these fancy little cuties caught my eye.

Either way - my favorite. Yey for berries! Yey for spring! Okay, I'm done rambling/gushing now.

SO ready for Monday....

...and I'm sure Matt is too. The poor guy has been remodeling our bathroom all week long. I had my own project (I would have felt pretty lame if I didn't and he's working like crazy) and painted the nursery. It turned out EXCELLENT and I'll post pictures next week. Matt is doing an amazing job and it's going to turn out great....but I know he's ready for it to be over and I can't wait to clean everything up and have our bedroom/bathroom back again (bedroom is now the workshop for said bathroom). Matt's poor hands are swollen and hurt from working with concrete, tile, and grout for 5 days. Why are we doing this, you ask? In December the floor of our shower cracked - just cracked! - and our insurance covered it to have it fixed...essentially, replace the whole shower. But, since Matt is so handy and can do things himself, we pulled out the cultured marble and stone off the tub and counter as well as the shower and he's tiling it all as well as the floor which used to be linoleum. It's gorgeous, but I know he's worn out. I love him.

Birthday Creations

This is the LAST birthday post for at least 3 months! I just had to do a little feature on the birthday decor I put together/made. I decided that because I LOVE decorations on birthdays (it makes it feel so festive) that it was wise to have some I could reuse every year (like Christmas!) and save myself some mula. So, I did the following:

Sewed a Birthday Tablecloth! I was planning on making a banner, but found this one at Hobby Lobby for $9.99! So, I got it! I also made a smaller cloth to further decorate the table.


Completing the look, is a Birthday Picture Frame that holds the Birthday Boy/Girl's picture and the Birthday Love Bucket, where we all deposit notes throughout the day to the Birthday Person. AND the Birthday Hat - another awesome find from the Hobby Lobby.

Here's a close-up of the bucket:

And last, but not least, my favorite...the Birthday Wreath.
We put it outside on the birthday person's day. The wreath has a little interchangeable tag with their name on it. So cute!


I got the idea from the CREATIVE HOMEMAKER Blog. It took about 6 hours to make and 400+ balloons (I got them from the dollar store) but it was worth it. It's way cute. Overall, it cost about $20 to make...I highly recommend doing it.

And now, I say "farewell" to birthdays! See you in 9 months!

Happy Birthday Matt!

Yes. Another birthday. March 2nd marked the 33rd year of Matt. The kids and I woke up early and made him a birthday breakfast and sent him to work with his special birthday sack lunch. We had our traditional decor up and made his favorite cake - angel food cake with fluffy white frosting.

After he had left, our good friends brought over the basketball hoop that I had stashed and hidden at their place for 3 months (they're REALLY good friends:) and I decorated it with balloons. Once I knew Matt was on his way home, I took his wrapped basketballs (one standard size, one small for the kids to play with him) on the corner of the street with a big sign that told him to stop and open those first. He loved it (as you can see from the picture). No - he really did.

We then opened presents from us to him. He got a big container of jelly belly beans, some shoe polish shine stuff, a snazzy new shirt and pants and a pair of shoes that I had already bought him. (oops - must be prego-brain) and a back scratcher! Maddi also made him an eagle, all by herself, out of pipe cleaners.

My sister watched the kids while I took Matt to dinner at Tucano's with his family. It was super yummy and VERY filling. The best part was getting to watch Matt stand on the bench wearing his birthday crown, playing the tambourine. Priceless.

We then went home and had cake and ice cream with the kiddos. I am so grateful to have Matt as my man. He's a keeper! Happy Birthday, hon!