Airstone Fireplace | DIY

When we first walked into our new house - I saw an ugly fireplace and 19' ceilings. I knew I wanted floor to ceiling stone work…but didn't want to spend a ton of money. After a bit of research, I found Airestone at Lowes. This was lightweight stone that we could install ourselves. It was a no brainer.

The great folks at Lowes helped us gather all the material we would need for our project and soon we started laying the stone. 

After some existing wall prep, we were ready to start laying the stone. All we needed was a small hand saw, the Airstone adhesive, a level and stone. 

 

After a few days were really started making progress. Once we got the hang of it, it went pretty quick. We did place a few shims in between the stone in order to keep everything level once it was drying.

After a few days for work, we were just about finished the 19' floor to ceiling stone work. I was so happy! 

Our finished product was nothing less than amazing. 

Our Finished Airestone fireplace. 

Be sure you check out Airstone at Lowes.com! 

Sam Hardy | 4 Months

It's late…I'm fully aware of that. But I have an excuse. Sam is an insomniac. Seriously. The 3-4 month stage was sleepless for us both. Sam doesn't like to nap longer than 45 minutes. Drives me bonkers. And at night…he was, at one point, waking up every hour. Holy shit. That's a lot, especially for a little baby that is in our room.

But now that we are well into week 19 of sweet Sam's life, things are better. I now have Sam on a strict nap schedule and he's doing much better at night. It looks something like:

6:15pm - Bath
6:30pm (ish) - Bed
11:00pm - dream feed
3:30am - feed
7:00am - wake

So with Sam NOT in our bedroom very soon - I think it can only get better, right?

Sam still nurses about every 4 hours and just (this week) started cereal, which he loves. As soon as things around here settle down, I'll start introducing other foods as well. Sam absolutely adores IV and laughs at just about everything he does. It's amazing. 

He recently started sucked his two fingers (just like Dad used to). It's ADORABLE! He tri-pod sits and loves to jump in his jumper every morning. He is most happy when being held and bounced. He adores his Mama and will "yell" Mamamamamamamama anytime we are away from each other. 

4 Month Stats: 

17 pounds

25" long 

Size 3 diaper

9-12 month clothes (mostly) 

THANK YOU for being you little nug! We love you. 

Sam Hardy | 3 Months

Oh Sam, you are too much lately. I cannot believe you are three months old already. You are such a joy lately - so cuddly and so sweet. Oh so squishy.

You wake up between 6:30 and 7:00am and you are such a morning person. I go over to your crib and you give me the biggest smile. I am not a morning person, but lately - I have become one because of you. You serious bring the biggest smile to my face each morning.

You nap during the day every 2 hours and I recently started putting you down in your crib every 2 hours. You seem to like that and having been putting yourself to sleep. Some days you fight it and I have to give in and put you in your swing…but that's ok. I'll pick my battles.

At night - you go to bed between 7 and 8pm. I normally nurse you for about 15 minutes before I go to bed (at 10pm) - then you wake at 1:00 and 4:00…still. I say still because I don't think you need one of those feedings - but we'll figure it out when we move into our new home... more about that later.

You drool more than Nate. Seriously…I have never seen anyone drool as much as you do. And those chunky little hands are always in your mouth. It's adorable…to me.

You can hold your head up and roll belly to back. You love laying on my floor while I massage your big chunky theighs.

You laugh…oh, do you laugh. Big belly laughs too. I haven't gotten many, but your big brother does. You think he's the funniest.

You love affection and need it. You want to be held 80% of the day when you are awake. You recently started to enjoy the jumper and you like tummy time…but if you had it your way, you'd be held ALL day long.

We won't go back to the Doctor until you are 4 months - and I actually look forward to that. I love seeing how you've grown and how you are thriving. We make such a good team, buddy. I'm proud of us.

Thank you for bringing so much love, joy and strength to our Family. You rock, little man.

Sam Hardy | Two Months

Happy Birthday, Sam!

Weight: 14lbs 8oz

Height 25" tall

Loving: Sam loves to be held. I could hold him all day and night and Sam would be his happiest. I love snuggling his warm chunk - but sometimes I have to put him down. He loves to be outside at all times…especially if it's cool out. Baths are another favorite along with his swing. 

Not loving: Sam is not a fan of his car seat…he has to be in a really good mood to enjoy it. But most times, he's not a fan I don't blame him - he looks uncomfortable most of the time in it…I even removed the newborn insert for him, which made it a little better for him. 

Sleep: We have a schedule at the moment: Wake around 6:30am then back to bed around 8:00. He'll nap until about 11. Then nap again at 1:00. Most nights we start his bath around 7 and he's sleeping by 8:00. Sam just started falling asleep on his own. I put him down awake, which he then starts cooing and smiling at me…making it oh so hard to walk away. But I know it's good for him. He's back up around 11, then 1, 3, 5…then 6:30. It's hard, I'm not going to lie. Some nights are so different though - only waking twice…but most are every two hours. When he wakes - it's pure hunger. I try to keep him alter and eating during his feedings but it hasn't changed his wake ups. He's happy at night, which makes it less painful, I guess. But he's 8 weeks old - these "phases" don't last forever…or at least that's what I'm telling myself. 

Eat: Breastfeeding on demand. During the day it's about every 4-5 hours and at night it's every 2. Sam is doing a lot better taking a bottle - which is great seeing I'll be at a wedding Saturday night. 

Life: Life with two is busy, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I still can't believe I'm a mother of two. It sounds crazy when I say it. But I'm looking forward to the future and watching my two boys grow up together. 

Sam Hardy | One Month

My big boy turned one month old on Monday. First month is gone already. It makes me sad to think how fast this first year will go…but I'm excited for his new milestones. 

Sam is a champ at eating. He eats every 2 hours…if not more. Day or night…2 hours and this boy is looking for milk. I asked his Dr if that was "normal", which it is of course. But IV didn't seem to eat this much…or maybe he did, I'll have to look in my notes. 

Regardless, Sam is gaining weight and growing like crazy. His official one month stats are:

Weight: 12lbs 13.4oz

Height: 23"

Head 41cm

He's in the 97th and 98th percentile for height and weight. His head, of course, is off the charts…much like big bros was. 

Sam is such a lover. He loves to be held and if he could, he'd sleep on me every chance I got. He's currently in a wake, eat, play, sleep schedule and I love it. His longest nap is 2 hours and that starts around 1:00…which just so happens to be IV's nap time. I'm not complaining…at all. 

Ginormous is the word the Dr used to describe him…and he is. But he's also so strong. At 2 weeks, Sam rolled over. He has since gone belly to back and back to belly. Crazy is the only word to describe it. I don't feel like I have a newborn baby. He's well into 3-6 month clothes and quickly moving into a size 2 diaper. 

I just love this sweet sack of sugar and I cannot wait to see him continue to grow. 

IV's 1st Day of School - Pre-K-3

Big things happened this past week. IV started school. I can't believe I'm even typing those words…but the day has come. For the first time in almost three and half years - I would leave IV during the day.

But - he was ready. We didn't make a big deal about starting school, just because we had enough going on this Summer with the arrival of Sam. I knew if I really talked a lot about school, IV would get anxious and not want to go.

So when the day arrived, I treated it like any other day…but today, we were going to school.

I wasn't sure how the morning would go, but I knew I wanted to leave Sam at home. I felt that it'd be best to just start the day with Stew, IV and myself. We'd go to school and hopefully everyone holds back the tears. So my Mom took the morning off to stay with Sam while we headed to school.

We made a quick stop for a coffee and we were there. IV was so excited that he was practically running into school. I couldn't believe it. I had nightmares of him in tears…asking to go home. But there was my big 3 year old - walking into his first day of school. 

Stew and I couldn't be more proud of him. He loved his first day of school, all the new kids and his teachers. We now will go every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the school year. I look forward to his excitement when I pick him up. I look forward to him excelling and making new friends. I cannot wait to watch him grow this year. 

Welcome, Sam Hardy

8.8.14 | Sam Hardy Gregory - A Birth Story:

It's been over 20 weeks since I last posted. At that point, we had just found out that our sweet baby was a boy. Let me skip forward to August 4th, my due date. I was still pregnant.

I had my weekly appointment in the afternoon. My Dr asked if I wanted him to strip my membranes - I declined the offer and headed home with an appointment card in one week - written on that card:

a non stress test and ultrasound to check fluids

Induction set for Monday or Tuesday 

Tuesday and Wednesday were normal days. Nothing to report or complain about for that matter. But I woke up on Thursday and something felt different. Not physically, but mentally. I knew today was the day I had been waiting 40 plus weeks for. My day started off with mild contractions throughout the morning and afternoon. I kept Stew updated - and actually said "I think today is the day."

Around 3:00pm, I emailed my Mom at work and told her to plan on taking Friday off, which she did. I finished up my work for the day and at 5pm, IV and I headed outside for a game of hop scotch. I wasn't feeling good. I quickly downloaded a contraction app on my phone and started to time my contractions.  What a rookie move. To my surprise, they were 7-9 minutes apart and become intense.

At 6pm, I attempted to eat dinner, which Stew had so graciously picked up on his way home. I ate in between contractions.

At 7pm, it was bath time for IV. I told Stew I couldn't help and that I wanted to head to the hospital once he was in bed. After a quick bath and book, I kissed IV and told him we were off to meet his baby brother.

And now, that moment had arrive. We stood in the living room, bags in hand. We were anxious, nervous and I was in pain. We left for the hospital. I checked in at 5cm and 100% effaced. We settled into labor and deliver. At this point my contractions became worse. I told Stew I wasn't sure how much longer I could handle them. I asked for an epidural. About 30 minutes last, the anesthesiologist arrived. It's 10pm and I felt good…better and at ease. I was ready. I kept watching the clock to see if baby Sam would be born on 8.7 or 8.8. I secretly wanted 8.8.14.

The room was calm, the nurses were relaxed and soft spoken. I had the shakes. I was freezing.

I had transitioned. 

Around midnight it was time. I was 10cm.

I practiced pushing a few times and couldn't find my rhythm. I know that may sound weird, but I couldn't get it. It didn't feel right. So after a few minutes of practicing, I found my groove. His head was partially out.

Stew looked. I didn't.

I pushed a few more times and at 12:24am on Friday, 8.8.14, my beautiful Sam Hardy was born. He came into the world at 9lbs 10oz and 21" long. He was quickly placed on my chest and right then I knew our family was complete. Sam was the final piece of our family.

After about 30 minutes, the nurses took Sam to perform all tests and give him his first bath.

I breathed a sigh of relief and Stew looked at me and said "you are amazing. you did it again. you are so strong" 

It was time for me to get up and use the bathroom. I walked the 5 feet and told my nurse I couldn't see her. I couldn't hear either.

The nurse pulled the emergency handle and 15+ doctors and nurses flooded the deliver room.

I had passed out.

After, what Stew tells me, about 2 minutes - I came to feeling tired. The nurses placed me back in bed for fluids and something to eat.

It's now 3am.

We were tired, yet couldn't sleep. We closed our eyes, with Sam in his bassinet next to my bed. We woke around 6am - I felt relief. 40+ weeks carrying this sweet boy and he was finally here. He was perfect.

Proud Big Brother!

I'm hoping to find more time to write about my last 20 weeks of pregnancy and write about the last two weeks with my boys.

Stay tuned.