The Do-Run-Run....

Hi kidlets...

I know, I know...I'm an awful blogger. :( But, you see, I have the best. excuse. ever. I'm pregnant! No? That doesn't count? Hmmm....I know! I have a 16-month old who is running circles around me! Still no? How about the fact that we're trying to finish our attic and empty out the office, prime and paint it so we can put baby furniture in there before October 2nd rolls around? Oh, and did I mention Matt goes back to "normal" work mode next Tuesday?

Geesh, you all have no sympathy for a girl. ;)

So, yeah...we've been a little busy. Of course, there have also been lots of times that I could have posted but didn't, because (if I'm being honest here) I just feel boring. Bo-ring. I suppose I could tell you about how Levi boycotted eating anything green for 2 months until he suddenly "remembered" that he LOVES peas. Or about how my belly is now so large that it's difficult to reach the bottom of my washing machine or hold Levi on my lap comfortably. Or how Levi has been plagued with a cold or nasty heat/diaper rash all summer. Or how this new baby is kicking the daylights out of me and how I still have yet to cross a single thing off my "get ready for baby" list.

Sigh. It's overwhelming, I tell you.

But, on a positive note, we have had SUCH a fun summer. I have loved, loved, loved having Matt home more and we actually got to take a vacation (gasp!) for the first time since 2008 (right after we found out I was pregnant with Levi). My garden has done super well (with the exception of the squash--stupid grubs) and we have had a lot of family time, which has been awesome.

I was so blessed two weeks ago to have been given a surprise baby shower by my girlfriends here in Rochester. They all chipped in and bought us the loveliest dresser/changing table combo for the baby's room. I seriously cried a million times that afternoon. It was such a sweet surprise and humbling to see how much they care about us and this new baby. The general consensus among the girls is that this baby is a boy. We shall see. I still have no gut feeling, but I'm not going to lie, I want a girl.

Don't get me wrong: another little boy would be so awesome, and I would love to see him and Levi grow up and play together since they'll be 17 months apart, but my girly heart wants a little girl to dress up and bake cookies with. I know, I can bake cookies with a boy, but it's not the same, you know? At any rate, place your bets now, folks...and just for a refresher, Levi was 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 19.5 inches long and was born nearly 4 days after his due date. Let's all hope I don't go that long again!

You guys! I can't believe I forgot to tell you about the ribs we made a few weeks ago. Seriously, they were AMAZING. We have a gas grill, but we found a way around it without needing charcoal and oh, my heavens the ribs were soooo good. I made a rub (super easy!) and Matt did all the grilling...we didn't even need BBQ sauce, they were that flavorful. With all the heat we've been having this summer, Matt's been grilling a ton, which is always nice for me. Any reason I can think of NOT to turn on the stove or oven is a-okay with me!

Let's see....what else.....

Oh, yeah! Let's all sing a little tune, shall we?

"It's the most wonderful time....of the year!!"

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL STARTS TONIGHT!

That's right, kidlets...let the insanity and love of all things scarlet, gray, and football-themed begin!

We are ranked #2 in the preseason polls and there are a lot of expectations this year (as there are every year, but this year pretty much everyone has high expectations for us). There are a couple of games in the schedule that could be landmines, but I have faith and confidence that we will persevere and come out on top. Sadly, tonight's opening game is on the Big Ten Network (we don't have cable or DirecTV or anything like that), so I won't be able to watch, but I will be following along with my fam at home.

I will save my thoughts on Nebraska joining the Big 10 and the subsequent splitting of Ohio State and Michigan into separate divisions later. Let me just say briefly now, though, that I am NOT PLEASED. Stupid money grubbers.

Okay...since I have covered a wide variety of topics, and your brains are about to melt from boredom, I will end this. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the last days of summer! Let's hear it for fall, coffee and tromping through leaves! :)

Blessings and love,
Erin

ps. and one more thing: O-H! Go Bucks!!