Brothers Canvas by Jenni

I am so excited to share with you this amazingly cute canvas created by our super talented friend, Jenni, the master mind at TinkerDot Designs (check out the link to her Blog on the side of my page)

She created the Sisters canvas that I got for Avery and Taylor Dunneback when they were born and I've been dying for a Brothers canvas ever since. Jenni & Dave have 2 girls, so most of her work is inspired by girls of coarse; however, we at the O'Mara house specialize in BOYS, sooo Jenni came up with the concept, whipped up this amazing painting, and I wrote the quote.

It reads: "He is your biggest fan, your greatest admirer. He picks you up and would never let you down. He is someone to lean on, someone to count on, and will forever be your wingman.

He knows everything about you and loves you for who you are. He is your best friend, he is your BROTHER."

I just love everything about this canvas and am so grateful to Jenni for her talent and creativity. She even has the boys initials (minus Baby #3 who will be added later) carved into the tree, it's soo cute =)

Thanks again, Jenni, you ROCK!

Pregnant Cousins

My cousin Michelle and I are pregnant together, due on the same exact day, and both expecting BOYS! Michelle and her husband Mike live in Arizona, so we were so happy to see them and shower them with gifts on Sunday in Lansing. We are so excited for them to experience the joy of parenthood, just wish they lived closer so our boys could be best buddies.

Our pregnant bellies

Yes, I know I am large, thank you for noticing ;)

The new Momma to be and me

The Mommas and the Grandmas

My Mom, aka Grammy or Mimi

My cousins Angela, Valeri, and Debra

The shower was so nice and Michelle looks beautiful! I love seeing my extended family and I even had a surprise run in with my dear friend Leah and her family. What a perfect Sunday!

Baby #3 at 28 Weeks

Baby Boy #3 continues to love his temporary home. He has been an active little guy as he must be practicing his acrobatic moves and yoga stretches. I am constantly pushing body parts back in as they stick out several inches and actually hurt me. I think I am bruised from the inside in one favorite spot of his to jab me. It truly is one of the things I love about pregnancy, though, feeling my baby move is amazing. Blake and Bryce have also been taking great joy in the baby's movement. They like to lay their heads on my belly and wait for baby brother to give a good kick. It's quite hilarious to see their little heads bob from the impact . . . this kid packs a good punch :) The eager big brothers have also found a new game to play: place toys on Mom's belly and watch baby kick them off while giggling uncontrollably. If you listen to the Oohs, Ahhs, and WOWs you would think you were watching a spectacular firework show. It is so much fun, and an easy game for me to play, I am required to lay or sit on the floor . . . AHHHH.

Here is a picture of the boys at play

(taken with my camera phone, so not great quality, but you get the idea)

I'm so glad they already love playing with their brother.

On the statistical side of things baby is still growing BIG and actually measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule. We are hoping it is only because he is positioned high and that once he drops he will measure on target (Oh please, oh please, oh please). His heart rate was 160 and my blood pressure was better than ever (YAY). My only complaint is heart burn. And when I say heart burn I mean the constant angry ball of fire raging from my stomach up to my throat. It is sooo much worse this time than my first two pregnancies and tums or Pepcid are not helping. Thankfully, I was able to get a prescription today and I am hopeful that I will at least be able to slightly recline myself to sleep at night. Here's to HOPE!

I am surprisingly already in my third trimester and we are all getting sooooo EXCITED to meet our newest family member in a few short months. Still working on names and still working on the room, but we will be ready when the time comes.

Soccer Studs

Blake and Bryce are lucky enough to play on the same soccer team this year and they have been loving every minute of it. Bryce is starting to come out of his shell a little, but always maintains a close proximity to Blake. We are so proud of our Soccer Super Stars!!

Warming up

Bryce is practicing his dribbling

Blake is sprinting in the relay

The O'Mara Boys, tall and proud . . . with the exact same expression on their faces

Now that's more like it, goofy guys

Bryce works hard on his balance, putting his airplane arms out there to steady him

We are their #1 Fans

4th of July Festivities

Every year at this time my brother, Allen, comes to Michigan for a week, so we all head up to my parents house in Bad Axe for some 4th of July family time!

This is a picture of my Dad, Brother, Blake & Bryce

My Dad is wearing a shirt that says "BIG GUY" that I found for him earlier this year. This has been his nickname for YEARS and he is wearing the shirt proudly :)

Patriotic boys with the Red, White, and Blue bomb pops

Pool time is always fun! This year Blake has turned into a fish and we struggle to get him out of the pool for a meal let alone a break. He was doing cannon balls and running jumps off the diving board. He either wore a life jacket or arm floaties because he isn't ready to go without.

Bryce did his own thing in the shallow end of the pool. Practicing his form and jumping in from the side. His favorite thing to do is the back float . . . he's a leisurely kind of guy.

Bryce only posed for a picture and quickly became annoyed with his goggles, but Blake loved them for going under water and for swimming with his face in the water.

Thank you Mimi, Pa, and Uncle Allen for a fun 4th! Also thank you to Grandma & Grandpa O'Mara for dinner on Friday night. It's so nice to see everyone in one weekend :)