36 Weeks ... Isn't this some sort of milestone?

Pictures from this morning! Exactly 36 weeks. Only 29 days to go, well we will see about that!

Why this girl is a NORTHWEST girl at heart!

Around this time of the year I start to feel like fall should be just around the bend. Well, apparently there are no bends to speak of in San Diego. Today, it is supposed to be 90 degrees and that is too much for this Northwest-y.

Yes I did only spend 4 years in Seattle but every time I am back up in the Northwest I feel so at home. Seattle, Portland, Lafayette, Eugene, McKenzie Bridge and anywhere in between (except of course Roseburg - scary) make me feel complete. Is it because of the people who live in those places, the memories I have from college or simply the fact that I am feeling a little nostalgic on my 33rd birthday? Who knows, but let me count the ways.

1. Fall. The Northwest puts on a damn good show.

2. Starbucks. I will admit it, I love the 'Bucks. Today in fact the gave me a free birthday drink AND they had all of their pumpkin baked goods. Three of my favorite words PUMPKIN BAKED GOODS. Yes, I did splurge and have pumpkin bread this morning.

3. Divine Paints. Mentioned this in my last post. The best paint ever, of course it is from Portland.

4. Rain. We in San Diego have no concept of rain. All I want is a huge rain storm complete with the wind blowing drops against my window, a big bowl of chili and some corn bread.

5. Sweaters and fleece. So we might have an REI in Encinitas but you just can't quite make use of their clothing like you can in the Northwest.

So how do I make myself feel a little better about not being in the Northwest ...

Answer #1. I still go to the Nates Butt Farm, oh I mean Bates Nut Farm to get pumpkins with the hus. This year we will have someone else in tow. I will have to make my own "fall showing" this year.

Answer #2. I will frequent Starbucks and eat all of the PUMPKIN BAKED GOODS I can!

Answer #3. Of course the nursery has to pay homage to the Northwest. Spray and Cocoa it is!

Answer #4. This is a tricky one. I will have to put on my Rain relaxation music, make chili while sweating in the kitchen and turn the oven on along with the AC while I baked corn bread.

Answer #5. Dammit I will wear those sweaters and fleece and look damn good doing it ... all while sweating!

We have a nursery ... almost!

We painted, painted, painted, cleaned this weekend! Now we have a nursery, a place for the little guy to call home. I'll add more pictures later but this gives you an idea of what we did. It looks great and we are both really happy with how it turned out.

We are so lucky to have been given a crib, changing table, and a ton of other stuff. Today we bought the baskets on the changing table, the changing pad, and a few other things. Seems like I am getting over my fear of Babies R Us and apparently not a moment too soon.

This picture is a little dark, but the elephant on top is my absolute favorite thing. I bought him in Santa Cruz and I can't wait to see Tiny Sheff dragging him around by his ear.

I still can't believe that we are going to have a baby in this room soon. The hus and I have both walked by the room and just stared in disbelief. I think we are pretty much ready now, but are new parents ever really "ready" or "prepared"?

This picture was taken at 34 weeks! I am 35 1/2 weeks now. I am officially delivering at the UCSD Birthing Center with a group of midwives. They are amazing and are 100% on board with the type of delivery we want.

Nanna will be making the drive as soon as we call her. Hopefully that will be within the next 6 weeks!

Petunia and 50 DAYS & counting!

It happened, it finally happened. For those of you you know me well enough, you know that I LOVE handbags but that I tend to keep and use them for a long time. I'm in a constant struggle with myself to spend or not to spend good hard-earned $$ on a new handbag.

For years I have known that when I was to get a diaper/baby bag I wanted a Petunia Picklebottom. They are the damn cutest bags, are made in my second hometown (Ventura) and well they are just cutest damn thing I have ever seen. Well, Aunt Vicki did it again! I am now the lucky and very proud owner of a Petunia Picklebottom "Moon Over Mykonos" bag!

Isn't she beautiful? I know, I know, it will soon be full of diapers, bottles, wipes, clothes and many other things but for the next 7 weeks or so I will admire the pure beauty!

Today marks 33 weeks and only a mere 50 days to go! 50 days, really 50 days? I think that ticker over in the right hand corner just stresses me out even more. We haven't started the room, the hus doesn't have the "vision" yet (whatever that means), I am sure we need a million things before he is born but it will happen in time I guess.

I'm off to do more important things like make a loaf of banana bread, two loaves of zucchini bread and granola. Some woman nest by cleaning, not me. I nest by baking up a storm and painting the downstairs bathroom. Maybe someday I will think about painting Tiny's room and maybe we will agree on a name too.

A month, a month ... has it really been a month?

Yes, sir that is my baby belly!

I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. Makes me feel like failed blogger, but man have we been busy. Oh and I am trying to sleep at any point possible! Sleep is wonderful and I have a feeling that in not too long I won't be getting a lot of it!


Last weekend I was up in Santa Cruz (well Capitola) at my mom's house for a baby shower. With 13 of my favorite people in attendance we eat Chinese Chicken salad, veggies in Dill Dip, chocolate covered strawberries, cupcakes and drank strawberry Bellini's! PURE HEAVEN! During the shower all I kept thinking was "this isn't really for me; I'm not that pregnant; OMG it is for me ... I am at that pregnant"! As of Friday I will be a whopping 30 WEEKS pregnant. That has got to be some sort of major milestone!


We started our birthing classes and I am so happy with Hypnobirthing with Jo. It is truly amazing, so relaxing and has given me the confidence to birth my baby the natural way!

Two and a half Generations

My dad came down to visit this week and we were able to fit in quite a few fun things. While I worked, my dad hung out, read some football official info, enjoyed Starbucks, walked along the beach and walked the stupid hills of our neighborhood!

We went down to Balboa Park for a little Father/Daughter/Grandson to be bonding. The Natural History Museum had a special exhibit of The Bodies! I've wanted to see it for years so we made a day of it. The exhibit was truly amazing and educational. I stared at the fetuses for the longest time and couldn't believe that I am actually carrying something that size! Our little guy looks like a little man!

Yesterday we headed down to Del Mar for lunch at one of my dad's favorite beach front restaurants. It was 100% clear and warm (you never know what you are going to get down here in June). My dad seems so relaxed and at peace when he is inhaling ocean air and enjoying some amazing fish!

We love you dad/papa!

24 weeks ...

I didn't really think I would be so good about taking pics of the belly every few weeks. It might have to stop if I keep growing at this rate! The hus says that I still don't look pregnant from behind and I have been able to keep running, okay well maybe jogging.

On Friday, my official 6 month mark I went for a 2.5 mile run down by the beach. Needless to say I found myself pacing my run by bathrooms and pit stops but I still did it. These days I definitely get looks from people when they see my belly coming down the running path. Hopefully I will be able to keep it up for at least 10 more weeks. Running until 34 weeks is the current goal!

We also made the final decision to hire a doula. I'm so excited to have her!