CA Vacation/Babymoon

Last week Dave and I left for our last vacation before Baby Lewis arrives.  I clearly remember sitting on the tranquil beach of the Dominican Republic last summer and us talking about how great it was to be carefree and how much vacations would change once we have kids.  Don't get me wrong...I couldn't be more happy about our baby boy and I know we'll make new and exciting memories taking him on trips...but I think any parent can agree that traveling with a baby just isn't as easy!  I hope that Dave and I may be fortunate enough to take a trip or two in the future while leaving our little one(s) with any of the terrific grandparents (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) BUT I still think I'll never have that "completely-relaxed-without-a-care-in-the-world" type of feeling for a while!

The first part of our trip was in Newport Beach, CA, where Dave and I met (6 years ago!)  We both enjoyed seeing our old stomping grounds around there, and since we didn't have a car we walked A LOT.  Me and baby were WORN OUT after we walked about 10 miles the first day (without sunscreen on...oops...hence, the reason why I'm covered up the rest of the trip and in the beach pictures!)  Enough talking, I know all you want to see is the pictures :)  PS These are just the highlights...the rest might have to be in a Facebook album.

At the beloved Seastar, where we lived during summer '05...and yes, I know my eyes are closed

"The wedge"...waves can pretty gnarly out there

Boardwalk we rode our bikes on everyday to work back in the day

I can't even begin to explain how much I love this place.  I have literally been craving their tacos for SIX YEARS.  Talk about a satisfying meal.  

red velvet pizookie.  nuff said.

Won't he look so great in it?

Dave used the sand as sunscreen.  Real cool. 

...Not that I look much cooler.

Love this man.  

Our nice little hotel

Last stop...Subway, of course.  Where Dave and I quickly became sandwich artists and great friends :)

From there, we went on to San Francisco to visit our good friends, Lindsey and Trey...they roped one of their friends into giving us a car tour of the city and we enjoyed seeing some of the top spots including Twin Peaks, the Mrs. Doubtfire house, Lombard street, Chinatown, Little Italy, and the very exciting Castro Street where we witnessed two men walking buck naked together with nothing but their long dainty purses on their shoulders. WOW.  I think my jaw dropped open for a full two minutes before I really believed I was seeing what I was seeing.  It was especially shocking because they walked right behind a group of police officers without any trouble.  There was an event called Carnival (like Mardi Gras) going on that day so apparently things like that are totally ok...

Winds of "15-20 mph" according to Trey...but 55 according to Dave, so somewhere in-between that small range..haha..kept us very chilly up there so we didn't stay atop the peaks for long, pretty as it was!

Dave and I took a tour of Alcatraz which I realized I knew very little about...I'd recommend doing it if you ever have the chance to!

We also got to meet Lindsey and Trey's super cool friends, Megan and Paul, who joined us for lunch one day, a cookout one night and gave us a tour of Stanford...didn't get any pictures with them, but we very much enjoyed our time getting to know them a bit!  Raleigh is waiting for y'all...  ;)

Another day, L & T treated us to some fun in Burlingame, and our last day was spent going to see the Golden Gate bridge and Muir Woods (aka Meow Woods...nevermind, you had to be there).  Right before hopping on our redeye flight home, we squeezed in a mostly friendly but slightly competitive game of mini-golf.  Whew!  It was a whirlwind trying to remember all that and I'm sure some things were left out.   Needless to say, it was a blast and I am so thankful we were able to do this trip.  

And finally, if you made it all the way to the end of this mile long post, you'll get to celebrate with us as I am happy to share that Dave and I sort of officially decided that we will be naming our son CAMERON DAVID.  We have liked this name since we found out we were pregnant and have liked using it in reference to him since we've known the gender...so that's that!  Ok, now enjoy the last pictures of our trip...

Catching up...

Haven't been consistent with updates, so I've got some catching up to do!  Since we found out we're having a little boy we have celebrated with family, friends, and co-workers and already have received some very special cards and gifts.  Thanks, everyone, for your love and support and for sharing in this joy with us step by step.  

This was a "pamper yourself" Mother's Day basket from my wonderful MIL, Dave's mom.  Included was a yummy candle, lotion & body wash, a pretty bath towel with velcro (love that!), a loofah, a back massager, and one of those warm compresses for my eyes/forehead/neck/whatever...mmm mmm mmm!! Thank you for that!  Can't wait to have a spa night for myself :)  

FREE gift from our insurance company for enrolling in a pregnancy program!  

A sweet homemade bib and burp cloth from our friends Nate & Amy

This book and frame are from my great employers, 

whose little ones I will miss tons after baby Lewis is here!  

21 weeks and counting...feels like I'm getting bigger by the day!

Some of my favorite foods most recently have been:

Don't judge me!  It's mac and cheese, popcorn chicken, black beans, peas, and tomatoes--I think all the food groups are represented, so at least its a balanced meal :)  I promise it's good.  On a side note, I think I officially had my first "crazy pregnant lady" moment on the hunt for all the things to make this dinner come together.  I'll just say that KFC made a BIG mistake by taking popcorn chicken (and mashed potato bowls and a bunch of other tasty items) OFF of their menu!  crazy.  

Dave and my go-to summer dessert...strawberry shortcake

(Is anyone else's mouth watering?)  

Oh, and another summer favorite is the good ol' BLTCE (that's bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and egg, people!)  On whole wheat bread, with plenty of mayo, and a pickle or two on the side.  yum. yum. yum.  I don't currently have a picture of that beautiful sandwich, although I am always really proud after I make one of them and will confess that I have repeatedly asked Dave to admire it for a second before I indulge ;)  

Last but not least, here's a picture of my neighbor friend, Jamie, whose little guy is due in less than 4 weeks!  This was after a good night of grilling out and swapping pregnancy stories/advice.  Can't wait to have get togethers when we're stay at home moms with the boys and the dogs :)  

Goodnight and hope you all have a super week!

IT'S A...

boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy BOY! boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy

We couldn't be more excited and are praising God that we got an amazing look at our son during the ultrasound yesterday.  

Highlights of that for me were:

1. Hearing and seeing the heartbeat and all four chambers

2. Seeing both hemispheres of his brain

3. Watching baby boy move around as I felt his little punches and kicks

4. Seeing his cute little profile and face when he turned at looked straight at us in the camera :) 

5. Seeing all five fingers open on one of his hands

6. Seeing some of his tiny bones and ribs

Ok...so the entire experience was amazing.  I told the ultrasound technician I'm pretty sure I could stay there all day and watch our little guy move around.  I can't wait to interact with this little boy and be able to love on him and look in his eyes and kiss his cheeks and feel his little fingers and toes!!!  I decided that I didn't want to hear what the gender was in the doctor's office (I knew I would need to jump around and squeal and be giddy and Dave would not like that in public ;)) So, I told him to come up with some way to surprise me with the news.  We would be happy either way, but it was exciting for me to think about this being his little secret for the rest of the day.  This is what he came home with:

So...he did a good job :)

I can't wait for this mini-Dave to arrive!

First family photo

Wanted to share a few of these lovely photos taken by my wonderful cousin, Ashley, who we were able to visit with the weekend before last!  She snapped our first family photo... 

The fashionable and very generous baby bag from Ash and Ryan..thanks again!! 

The Webbubers ;)

Dave figured out how to use the timer on our camera :)

In other news, we are 18 weeks today!  (Little Lewis is about the length of a bell pepper)  Got the baby room painted this past Saturday.  I would take a picture but it's just an empty room, so not very exciting at the moment.  I'm looking forward to registering soon--we are hoping to find out the sex a week from today!  So far, we have had a few people guess that it's a girl and no one has guessed boy...I can hardly wait to find out and start looking for all the fun stuff that baby will need.  Any suggestions for what items you mommies out there are either really glad to have or haven't used as much as you thought you would?  Or wish you would have had sooner?  I want to take as many of your suggestions into consideration so hopefully the selection process will be less overwhelming--there are so many baby things out there nowadays!  I started a running list this morning while I was eating breakfast and and still have a lot to add to it. 

Also, just want to take time to say that I am grateful for tomorrow being Good Friday and for Easter weekend to again remember the price that Christ paid for our sins, and to celebrate His power in defeating death by rising again so we can have the hope of everlasting life with Him.  I cannot imagine entering into parenthood without the hope of knowing that although I am weak and bound to fail in countless ways as a mother, Christ is all sufficient and I can rest in His hands and put all of my hope and trust in Him.   

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” - John 10:10, 11, 18, 28-30 

Apple's First Outfits

We are hoping to find out the sex of our little one at our next ultrasound at the end of this month (can't hardly wait for that!)  In the meantime, we'll continue to have fun referring to our baby by whatever produce item it is compared to that week.  This week it's grown to be around 4 inches long, about the size of an apple :)

So, this weekend we went to a yard sale hosted by the family I was a nanny for last year.  I always love getting to see their sweet, smiling faces!  

 

I decided to sift through the bins of baby clothes and found a few gender neutral onesies and sleepers.  I got super excited about washing and folding and putting them away, imagining the day that I'll get to see our guy/gal wearing them!  Also got a maternity top and dress for when I'm busting out this summer.  Thanks, Lakins!  

Can't flip that picture for some reason...

Clearly, the overalls are all boy, but they were too cute to pass up.  I'll hold on to them until we find out which it is!

Here I grow

As promised...here are some belly shots from week 11-15.  It is blowing my mind how quickly I am changing!