First Comes Love...

Hi Baby! Today marks 20 weeks (where has the time gone??) While Dad and I hold strong to not finding out your gender, we're looking forward to seeing you at your anatomy ultrasound on May 3rd! Here are some fun things you've been up to the past few weeks: We felt you kick while lying in bed last Friday night (4/19).  Unlike your sister, you didn't shy away from Dad's touch Yesterday I saw your first little kick from the outside.  You're an active one! Abigail enjoys resting her head on my tummy.  We haven't started talking about Big Sister duties yet, but I think she knows you're coming. My wacky cravings are gone, but I'm newly obsessed with coconut ice cream.  Just because  :) You were kicking like crazy on the flight back from San Francisco.  A future pilot? You favorite dance party times are early in the morning (while I'm still asleep), and at night before bed. We started water aerobics last week.  You seem indifferent, ...

If you're raising a toddler in the digital era, you know what a challenge taking pictures can be. Cell phones are not only your phone, camera, computer, and basic lifeline, it's also your toddler's all-time, can't-live-without, must-have-it-now, favorite toy.   While in San Francisco I got a case of Abigail-sickness, so I asked Kevin to send some pictures.  Here are the slew he sent, entitled "The Reach"  ANGRY EYES All at once, these pictures reminded me why I miss her and why I needed this vacation so badly. (in semi-related news, I get another chance to miss her this weekend; Kristin and I are off to Hermosa Beach for Annie's baby shower on Thursday morning!) Have a great rest of the week.

Early last Saturday morning, after jotting  a few notes  to Kevin, my Mom and I took off for our annual girls weekend in San Francisco! The weather was perfect and the shopping was ( as always! ) spectacular. Every year we do pretty much the same thing: walk all around town, ride the cable cars to and from the wharf, shop, eat, and fall asleep to pay-per-view movies each night. We have some favorite traditions (like lunch at The Rotunda , seafood at the Wharf, and Ghirardelli's for a sundae), but every year we also try some new things (this year we went all-out-tourist mode and rode a double-decker bus around the city!) Here are some pictures from our trip this year: Lunch at Neiman Marcus (next year we'll get reservations for a Saturday afternoon...) A beautiful afternoon in the Square Maternity wear galore at Old Navy! Saturday night at Tadich Grill Sunday morning we had breakfast at the Terminal Pier, then walked along t...

A few friends have been pregnant since I gave birth to Abigail, and when asked about early symptoms, I found I was unable to remember the details, so I decided to write them down this time. (lucky you!) Here is a recap of what I like to call "The First Trimester Hangover" , in all it's pregnant glory: While I didn't actually find out until January 9th, two events gave me a strong feeling that I was indeed pregnant: A friend walked in from having a smoke and I could smell it from two rooms away.  Literally.  They walked through the front door and I was down in our bedroom.  This was also the first indication I had with Abigail.   I cried when Cece died on Gossip Girl.   Cece!  I mean really, who does that?!  (I'm referring to the crying, not my more-than-slight obsession with Gossip Girl.) Herbal tea and bananas were all I could stomach for the first few weeks.  I eventually graduated to smoothies, and am now back in full breakfast /...

I'm off to  San Francisco this morning which means Kevin and Abigail will have their first-ever Daddy / Daughter weekend together! While I have full trust in Kevin's abilities as a Dad, I couldn't help but leave a few  micro-management-style reminders...  :) Weather in the Bay Area is expected to be in the upper 60s. I can't wait!

We're pregnant!! 12 week ultrasound Today marks 18 weeks, 2 days and I'm feeling really good.  It was a hard going first trimester (more morning sickness than with Abigail), but I think being pregnant while watching over a toddler all day makes things totally different. Either way, we're excited and thrilled about our growing family- Baby is due September 10th! We told our parents back in January and both we're beyond happy, then we started telling some friends in late February / March.  It was nice to wait a bit and keep this exciting secret to ourselves! Kevin's parents started spreading the word last month;  Amy was the first to start... ;) but my Mom really wanted us to tell my relatives in person, so we waited until Easter and I showed up looking all kinds of pregnant! At first I wasn't a fan of the idea, but it ended up being such a fun, unique experience. Here's a picture of my Easter bump! (we forgot to take an official picture tha...

Miss Abigail,  You're becoming a handful, but have grown so much this month! I always make a point to jot down your new "news" every month, and this month I'm full of them. This morning we went to Uwajimaya to buy sushi fixings for dinner.  Henry, amongst others, are coming over for dinner tonight.  As I type you're yelling / singing in your crib, not wanting to take a nap...I can only assume you're excited to see Henry (he is one of your favorite people)! You had a great time at Uwajimaya: chasing after Daddy, carrying around a bag of fish jerky, and looking at the live tilapia, crabs, and lobsters. You love to push the cart by yourself Roaming the seafood aisles After shopping we had lunch in the food court where you ate a ham, egg, and cheese crepe.   It was delicious! I may have helped you finish it...  :) Not-so-patiently awaiting your crepe Anyway, here are you're newest news this month: You've mastered drinkin...

Easter was a blast this year!  Abigail got really into Easter egg hunting (we practiced with her for a week leading up to the big day...) and she loved strutting around in her fluffy pink dress on Sunday. We went to St. James for Easter Vigil on Saturday night, but quickly realized it was going to be at least 3 1/2 hours long with all the baptisms and blessings of the confirmed, so we left after an hour and a half... ;) Sunday we exchanged Easter baskets and had an Easter egg hunt for Abigail.  She found nine eggs before giving up; not bad for a girl who was sick of the game. Later in the morning we went to my parents house for a big Easter celebration! We had so much fun with friends and family on a beautiful Easter Sunday.  Highlights included "the big surprise!" (more on that soon), celebrating Mom and Kay's birthday (and the chocolate cake Kay made!), drooling over Dad's car and letting the kiddos sit inside, and just getting the chance to be with those...