Up North Annual Vacation

Always a good time in Up North Michigan. I love that my parents have a place in Boyne with a 2 minute walk to Lake Charlivoix. It truly feeds my soul being up there. We have been going up north every year over the 4th of July since I can remember. I wish my brother's and sister in law could have made it, but I enjoyed the time with my parents and Dan. 

Enjoying some fun in the sun

Waiting for the fireworks!

5 months prego-  Love my parents. 

At Pirates Cove playing putt putt and being goofy.

YUM- Fresh white fish and chips....mmmm.

Nothing says relaxation quite like Lake Charlivoix. 

July 4th- Our "secret spot" that turns out is not so secret for the fireworks. 

Good game. :)

Lake Charlivoix goodness 

Favorite picture from the trip.....Dad has discovered a "new thing" called photo bombing. Not quite the right moment but so funny. 

Can't wait to go back. I would move to Northern Michigan in a heartbeat 

Over half way there!

Sorry No Baby Bump picture this week!

How far along? 21 weeks and 2 days

Total weight gain: 20 pounds...yikes!
Maternity clothes? No.
Stretch marks? none! :)
Sleep: Some nights yes some night no...my lower back has been killing me!
Best moment this week: Assembling the crib- surprisingly very easy. The room is starting to come together.
Miss Anything? Working out.
Movement: lots of little kicks and punches! Still very faint, but I feel them.
Food cravings: Still california rolls and iced coffee.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing! Thank goodness!
Gender: Drum roll please.....BOY BOY BOY! :)
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: Lower back pain
Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and tired.
Looking forward to: working on the nursery more. Can't wait until it's completed. 

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BOY BOY BOY!!

Dan is over the moon excited!

and so am I! But there's just something about a daddy and his son. 

Gender Reveal Ultrasound:

It was such a cool experience seeing your baby for the very first time. The only other time I saw him was at *8 weeks and he looked like a bean....seriously, a little blob on the monitor. We had our ultrasound done at Beaumont-Troy Hospital. I knew it was a boy as soon as she started looking at the anatomy---Totally apparent, haha. He was pretty calm and such a chill baby (hopefully this doesn't change). Our tech needed to get another view of the heart and he wouldn't flip so we ended up walking the halls, running the stairs, enjoying delicious suckers. Nope he wouldn't move...we finally, after being there about an hour, got the view of the heart we needed. 

My favorite picture from the visit. 

The best part is-----starting to buy cute clothes!! I couldn't resist after we found out it was a little boy. Dan headed back to work and I headed to Target. Baby polos and nautical onesies galore! :)

 Daddy setting up the crib. :)

We can't wait to meet you little man!

19 weeks

How far along? 19 weeks 

Total weight gain: 14 pounds
Maternity clothes? No. But my yoga pants and leggings are my go to item of choice. 
Stretch marks? none! :)
Sleep: I sleep wonderful. Unable to sleep on my stomach anymore. :( 
Best moment this week: vacation all week long! Gender reveal tomorrow!!! :):):) 
Miss Anything? Working on our house. There is a lot of things I'm just not allowed to do anymore. 
Movement: I think I have felt a few kicks here and there, still unsure though. 
Food cravings: California rolls! 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken
Gender: Now I'm unsure! Still leaning boy more than girl. 
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: lower abdomen aches. 
Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 
Looking forward to: July 4th upnorth! And my ultrasound tomorrow. 

18 Weeks

How far along? 18 weeks

Total weight gain: 10-12 pounds, just depends when I weigh myself. 
Maternity clothes? No, I can still fit in my jeans but unable to button them. I have purchased a few maternity tops but haven't really worn them much. 
Stretch marks? none! :)
Sleep: Sleeping like a baby. In the past few days I have been experiencing stretching sensations in my lower abdomen which has become uncomfortable at night.
Best moment this week: knowing I am almost halfway there!! And starting to actually "show" rather than just feel chubby.
Miss Anything? so many things... Seafood, working out, caffeine without restrictions, etc. etc. 
Movement: Not yet!! I can't wait to feel those first few movements. CAN. NOT. WAIT.
Food cravings: Sweets and Fruit...lots and lots of fruit.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken
Gender: Still think BOY- Dan swears its a girl. Find out July 2nd!!!! :)
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: lower abdomen aches and stretching.
Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy & EXCITED to say the least!
Looking forward to: JULY 2nd to find out if little baby D is a he or she! And July 4th this next week! :) :)

Almost to the 1/2 way mark!! 

We scheduled our gender reveal also--- JULY 2nd!!!

This really makes me happy because we find out right before we leave for our annual 4th of July vacation to Charlivoix, Petoskey, Boyne. SUPER EXCITED to purchase a little "up north" outfit for our little bebe. :)

From my favorite place on earth!

Dan has been hard at work painting the room we declared as the nursery. It's the room right across from ours so we figured it was much more practical than the one at the end of the hall. 

I helped...a little. Don't worry windows were open and face mask was on. My mom and I thought it would be a good idea to do board and batten in the nursery. That project should start June 28th- I can't wait to see the final outcome!

This is just an example of the board and batten. I think it brightens up the room so much.

My mom and I had a little girls shopping trip Saturday afternoon and headed up to birchrun. LOVE THAT PLACE!

Of course we stopped at our favorite place of all time. POTTERY BARN! I found this little Mobile thing for $20. I have no idea what the "theme" of the nursery will be yet but it was just so unique and cute. Plus you can't even find these mobiles for $20 on Etsy- I bought it.

Before I reveal our next purchase- I just wanted to say how extremely thankful I am for my parents. They are such an example to me and are so giving and self-less. We have had our ups and downs (especially during those wonderful teenage years) but I think in the end we have come out stronger and I can't imagine my life without them. 

After I told my parents Dan and I were having a baby they wanted to buy our bedroom furniture for the baby. WHAT!!!?? What a huge expense!! THANK YOU! I am so so so grateful for such loving parents. :)

My mom has GREAT taste- So as we were at Pottery Barn they had cribs for sale, we browsed, and they had the color I was looking for "simply white."

We bought Baby D's Crib!!!

Here it is in all it's glory in our Office. :) :)

Can't wait to set it up!!

You are probably wondering what it looks like: Ta Da!

Introducing the Larkin Crib from Pottery Barn Kids:

We have also been prepping the exterior of our house to paint. A couple weekends ago we power washed the outside of the house and cleaned out gutters. 

Dan hard at work. I supervised- obviously. I can't wait to get rid of the puke green exterior. Barf!

My dream color scheme. We should be starting project "Paint Our Gross House" in the next 2-3 weeks. Thank goodness for my brother who will help and guide us. I think we would be lost. 

We're going to be parents!!!

Well....secret is out, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!! 

I am still in disbelief but so very excited!! I have always wanted a family of my own and be a mother- for me this is a dream come true. :)

I couldn't believe it- I took A LOT of pregnancy tests. 

1st one I took- I swear I saw the start of the second line. Hubby didn't believe me, he thought I was crazy.

Later that night, I took another- Line visible but faint.

Next morning- no denying it now. I'm PREGNANT! :)

First appt at 8 weeks- my first ultrasound. Baby D is there! :)

8-9 weeks pregnant. Nothing. But ecstatic none the less!

13 weeks pregnant. Starting to look chubby.

We are so very excited, I am so happy to share this journey with my family and friends. I can't wait to be a mother, what a blessing this is. I am so incredibly thankful. I have never seen Dan so excited to be a father. Words can't express how we feel right now. 

Here's to a happy and healthy pregnancy. 

Can't wait to meet Little Baby D!

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” 
― Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Winter Happenings

Slow motion here at the Drwencke's. After the Holiday's things really slowed down and have become boring and gray. Just waiting out the rest of the winter and REALLY looking forward to Spring.

My Mom, Ashley, and I all took a day trip to IKEA in Canton. What a FUN store. SoOOOOoo much to look at. I'm not a huge fan of modern decor but I was quite surprised how much a liked everything.

 

Mom on the left- Ashley on the right- Browsing the fun that is IKEA. :)

 

My Few IKEA purchases of the day:

 

Picture frames

 

 More picture frames...

 

Faux plant...$3! Can't beat that!

 

And the whole reason I went----- DRAPES! Seriously, good quality-linen drapes or $24 bucks. Love a good deal!

 

Speaking of good deals- We recently purchased a new suit for Dan. He really needed one- He was measured at Men's Warehouse, we ordered online (came with coat and *2 pairs of pants), and had the suit coat tailored, all for less than $300! And it is a GOOD quality suit. Check out MRMAC.com.

 

 

 

Recently, I have become very aware that I may have started too many home projects. Which, in return has left our house very incomplete. What can I say...I get too excited but also get burnt out on every project which leads me to another before I finish. PRIME EXAMPLE: KITCHEN

 

I started painting our kitchen cabinets in September....it's almost the end of February people. So I have really cracked down and now have almost 75% of the kitchen done! YAHOO!

 

ALMOST DONE PAINTING!!

 

VALENTINES DAY...is for lovers.

 

I love holidays that celebrate love. What a wonderful day just to remind someone that they mean the world to you. :) *hopeless romantic*

 

No pictures....But Dan and I celebrated the day after at our favorite restaurant Outback Steakhouse. Dan raves about their Steak and rave about their sweet potatoes....mmmm.

 

I also received a nice surprise!

A valentine from a cute goldendoodle named Apollo. ;)

One of the residents that I work with is his owner....awwwww. haha.