Palm Springs

This weekend, we headed out to Palm Springs with our friends Keith and Carmen. We were able to stay at Carmen's parents' condo so it was a nice free weekend! We left Friday night and actually had nice weather Saturday morning. We laid by the pool and swam some laps and it felt so good in the sun! It was SO hard to not lounge in the hottub! Also, because I'm pregnant mainly in the winter, I don't have a maternity bathing suit. So, I dug through a box of my sisters' old stuff and found one in there to wear. I didn't try it on before we left because I honestly thought it would be WAY too cold to do any bathing suit wearing! I ALMOST put in one of my normal bathing suits just in case but didn't! So, Saturday morning, it's sunny and we want to go to the pool...I put on the suit and quickly learned that elastic somehow deteriorates over time! It was one of those things if you pulled too hard, you heard the brittle elastic break. Luckily, this hot number of a bathing suit had a skirt attatched to it! So, the loose, "did she just poop her pants?" bottom was covered up and I held my head high and went out to the pool! In the pool, it just continued to get looser and looser and I was more and more thankful for the skirt! In the end, it worked... it covered what it needed to, and I got to swim but I will NEVER wear that again!

Watch out Mrs. America Swimsuit Competition...this is one hot number!

Eric dominated on the golf cart!

After a relaxing morning, we dropped the boys off at a casino and then did a little shopping...I wasn't looking for anything in particular and made no purchases but it was still fun. We went to Black Angus for dinner to use some gift cards (thanks Keith and Carmen!) and went home and played some games. We left this morning and stopped at my parents for a quick visit and then headed home! It was a nice, relaxing weekend and we all had a great time!

Our only group picture...Keith, Carmen, me and Eric

So much to say...

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying their 2008 so far. Last week it was back to reality as school started up again. It was actually a good week back but just having to wake up again everyday was a little tough. Our Christmas was a good one! We celebrated Christmas Eve at our house with Eric's family and then had Christmas dinner with them Christmas Day. We didn't celebrate Christmas with my family until January 4, when all my sisters were back from their in-laws. On Christmas Eve Day, we had our 20 week ultra sound. It was so much fun to see so much more than the first one and we resisted any temptation to find out what our little pumpkin is! It is moving more and more and it is so fun for Eric to be able to be more a part of it all, actually getting to feel it kick.

The profile of our little pumpkin

Truly Eric's child..."pull my finger!"

Little legs and feet

Over our break, we also went to Las Vegas with our friends Chris and Kelly. We had a really fun time getting away and Kelly and I had a great shopping trip along with learning to play a little blackjack...with the boys coaching us! I don't think I would dare sit a table by myself to play although I did do pretty good! We have also had fun starting to get things a little bit ready for the baby's room. Our second room has been our office, guest room, junk room for the last 2 years so we were able to get organized and get things ready to be painted in there. Eric also painted an old dresser white to match the other furniture so I can continue to keep some of my stuff still in there! We also registered so things are starting to feel so much more real! It's so fun preparing for the arrival. I'm at 23 weeks now and I feel like time is flying since Christmas has passed! Here's a pretty horrible picture of me but you can kind of see my growing belly...I feel like it is so much bigger than it looks here!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

It's embarassing...I've almost been gone a month. I'll try to do better! Anyway, my Mom celebrated her 70th birthday on Saturday! We had a big birthday tea party for her with her closest friends and 3 of her sisters from Iowa flew out to surprise her! We had such a fun time pulling a fast one on my mom. I took off from work on Friday and was there to help my sisters (who did pretty much all of the planning) with the decorating and last minute stuff! My dad took my mom away Friday night and my sisters and I went to pick up my aunts from the airport. Saturday morning when my mom arrived to her party, who was sitting at the table?...her sisters! It was so much fun!

Me with my 3 sisters and my 3 aunts

Jen, Jill, Mom, Julie, Jani

So, in the above picture, you see my mom and you might be saying...there's no way she's 70! I agree! I think my mom looks so great! I think she needs to be in one of those articles like 50 is the new 30, well 70 is the new 50! I am so thankful for my mom and that I get to talk to her everyday! She is truly the greatest mom in the world and everyday I thank God for her!

Onto some baby updates...I believe I felt movement this past weekend! It has to be it because I've felt it a few times and even if it's not it, I think it is and I guess that's what matters! Also, today was the first day someone asked me if I was expecting! One of my students' parents asked. I definitely know that I'm starting to show but I still don't think it's obvious enough to be questioned...what if I was just putting on a little extra holiday weight? Anyway, I guess it kind of confirmed that the bump is not just something those who know see anymore!

Day Off

In honor of Veteran's Day, I had the day off today. My poor husband had to go into work but I got to stay home! It was a FABULOUS day! I stayed in my pajamas until 1:30 when I finally decided to shower, I scrapbooked like crazy (I'm SO far behind), I watched shows like 90210 and One Tree Hill, and just throughly enjoyed my day off! I love these "bonus" days. Saturdays are nice but it's typically laundry day and cleaning day around the house...on a day like today, that's done and I can just do whatever I want! This weekend was a nice one too. We went to Redlands Sunday to celebrate my sister, Jill's, birthday and had a fun time hanging out with family. I tell you...it's crazy when my family is together with all those kiddos. Fun, but crazy! When everyone leaves, Eric and I sit there with my parents and just kind of soak in the silence! We love them all and LOVE seeing them grow but it's a bit of chaos when we're all together!

Exhaustion

I'm wondering when this "tired phase" of pregnancy is supposed to be over. I mean, I realize it probably never really ends but I feel like I can't function some days because I'm so tired. I've heard it's supposed to get better in the second trimester but I've arrived there and it's no different! Anyway, that's my excuse also for not having written in so long. My spare time is always spent lying on the couch these days! The past week has been a good one. I went to Palm Springs with Kelly last Saturday night and we had such a fun time getting away. It was her first night away from Cameron and she did such a great job! She seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself and I was happy about that! We ate yummy food, layed out, painted our toes, and of course, went to bed early! Oh, let's not forget about shopping too! She took pictures and there on her blog if you care to see them! Friday night, Eric and I went to our friends' Keith and Carmen so Eric could help move their bedroom furniture into their remodeled room. After dinner, they did the big move and then we stayed and played dominos! I laugh at this because Eric and I always play dominos with my parents when we're in Redlands and here we are, 2 young couples enjoying some Mexican Train! We played way too late and were all sleepy and silly by the time we finished but had a great time. We are so thankful for the wonderful couple friendship we have with Keith and Carmen! I always hoped when I got married we would have that couple friendship where both sets really get along and we have it with them! Carmen is pregnant also and due 6 weeks before me so I'm sure we're in for many more fun times together! Anyway, that's the latest with me. I'll try not to wait so long before I post again! Oh...I do want to show off a little bit! For Halloween, my oldest niece, Anneke, and 3 oldest nephews, Billy, Grant and Nate, were Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow. The 3 younger kiddos, Luke, Alyssa, and Maria, were ladybugs and a bumblebee. Kaitlin was adorable as Nemo but I haven't gotten a picture of her yet...I'll post it when I get it!

Nate, Billy, Anneke, Grant

Alyssa, Luke, Maria

Latest Happenings

This past weekend was a fun one. Grant and Anneke (our nephew and niece) came over Friday night and we had a great slumber party! We went to a pizza parlor and won some "awesome" prizes, got candy and watched Aladdin on Friday night and then on Saturday we went to this random place in Costa Mesa. I found it on the Internet and the third weekend of the month, this place runs their miniature trains and you get to ride them for free. The kids loved it and it was really a fun time.

Last, but not least, on the 12th Eric and I took the day off and we had our first ultrasound! It was so fun to see our little baby...it looks like a peanut but it's beautiful to us! My dad's comment upon seeing the picture was, "that's it?" I said..."Yes, Dad, but isn't it beautiful!" It was finally proof of life! The ultrasound lady was on my stomach FOREVER before we finally got to look at the baby. She was trying to get it to move so I laughed and sure enough, it waved it's arm and leg! It was a very fun day. We then went down to Laguna and had lunch and walked around before heading home so I could nap, what else!

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks 2 years that I've been married to the love of my life! I love being married to Eric and getting to share in day to day life with him. He is such a wonderful, thoughtful, hilarious and generous husband and every day I'm thankful I get to come home to him! We went to BJ's for dinner tonight and were sorely disappointed. It was one of those nights where service was really bad and they forgot to put our name in when they gave us the pager so we sat and waited way too long. Our waitress was a disaster and my pizza was cold! To give it a Kelly rating, probably only a 4! However, we didn't let it spoil what we were celebrating. What's even more exciting about this anniversary is that it's our last one as just us 2! Around May 12, we're going to become parents!! Yes...I'm PREGNANT!!!! We are so excited and we can hardly believe it sometimes! I'll put pictures up soon of our ultrasound which we have on Friday. So, I'm technically in my 10th week and feeling ok for the most part. I've had my share of trips to the bathroom but I really can't complain too much! We've had fun telling our families and friends. We even made a little poem for Eric to put in the teacher's lounge and let all of them know!

Telling Eric's Family

Telling my family

Eric's Poem at school