3 Weeks of Fun!

Hey y'all! The Aviator and I just got home from an amazing trip visiting family and taking care of stuff for the work.  We started our adventure in Phoenix, AZ where the Aviator hadn't been in over 2 years. It was great to catch up with the fam there. The Shmoo has a little girl cousin just a few days younger than him and it was a hoot watching them play together!

This was an outfit that the Aviator wore when he was a
little guy. Shmoo wasn't thrilled...

Cousins in their yukatas

                                                   While in Arizona, we'd planned on driving up to Canyon de Chelly in the Northern part of the state, but our little guy came down with a combo of Impetigo and Hand Foot Mouth Disease! We'd made it 14 whole months before ever having a dose of antibiotics.   :0) Anyway, he handled it like a champ.  Then the Aviator woke up  throwing up and feverish. This lasted about 24 hours but it definitely took closer to two days before he was feeling even 90%. So we didn't make it up to the Canyon. NEXT TIME!

Enjoying the pool. 

After Arizona, we took off and headed to Tacoma for work.  But it was a long weekend for us so we took the opportunity to drive down to Astoria, OR otherwise known as Lewis & Clark country.  It was gorgeous! We drove around and visited lots of neat sites like Cape Disappointment for example.  We also took a drive even further South to see Haystack rock.  It's neat to know that the locals say Haystack Rock is the third largest 'intertidal', meaning it can be reached by land, structure in the world.  There were sand dollars everywhere!

Gigantic slugs near Cape Disappointment

Cape Disappointment

Best Fish n Chips I've ever had, besides the ones that my sister Juicy makes... :0) Astoria,OR

Cannon Beach, OR

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

 After our adventures in the Northwest, we trekked on down to Southern California. We got to see all of my sisters and their kiddos, celebrate Hannah graduating High School, Jessica graduating from the USCG Basic training, and celebrate Titi Miche's newest addition, expected in August! It was so fun to see Miles with all of his cousins! It is also really fun seeing my sisters as Moms!  Yia Yia had a great time reconnecting with her grand babies. I think Miles' favorite part of the trip was getting to play with Moto, Varro, Porter, Sampson, and Marley! The kid LOVES dogs!

Kickin' it with Hunter!

Titi Tats with the boys

Titi Juicy

Sisters and the Birdy :0)

Sweet girl!

Blueberry picking at Underwood Family Farms

 We went berry picking on the weekend.  It was a perfect So Cal Summer day. The berries were absolutely delicious!

I'm pretty sure I ate most of this pound of berries.

Relaxing Shmoo-style at a mexican restaurant... Yes, his feet are on the table...

Checking out this awesome fountain with Titi Hannah

 We are really looking forward to the next time we all get together again.  It'll probably be a year or two before that happens, unfortunately.

Getting back to Japan has been great! I couldn't wait to stop in at my favorite Udon place and chow down. Miles was excited too! The Aviator hit the ground running with work and won't be home again for a week or so. My garden is really going wild too!  Last year I had a battle with Green Horned Tomato worms.  This year I'm winning. Last year, they definitely were the victors.  :0) We have watermelon, Green beans, grape tomatoes, regular tomatoes, potatoes, corn, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, and all sorts of bell peppers.

I'll post pictures soon!

TTFN!

Remember this

Remember when we were little and we used to watch these Disney sign alongs. Miss you

38 Week Baby Boy Belly

My baby belly is 38 weeks.  Do you know what that means??? A baby boy will be moving into our home in about 2 weeks.  It's crazy!  I've certainly had my moments of mixed emotions about all of it, but now, i'm mostly just excited.  I can't wait to see him, to hold him, to smell him.  Our little lover.  Until then I suppose he will continue to torture me with rib kicks, side jacks, and cheap shots to the groin. Bruce Lee...is that you? I tell him daily that if he's too cramped in there, to just come on out.  He's doesn't listen.  Kids...what are you gonna do with 'em?

Please pardon the fact that I look absolutely wretched in the photos below.  This is what I look like at the end of week when i've maxed about 3 hours of sleep 4 nights in a row.  I know, I know, just wait until the bean arrives, right?

Here are a few behind-the-scene photos.  What you all don't know is that it takes at least 30 minutes to get a shot that I will deem acceptible to post.  MC says i'm a terrible model at which point I'll grab Maceo and try to bring some life into the session.  MC is not amused because i'm usually keeping him from his nightly dose of Sportscenter or The Wire and Mewker is usually making his all too common "shoot me now" look.  I, however, am quite entertained.  Also, pardon my full-frontal wide-ness.  I'm 38 weeks pregnant, i'm 38 weeks pregnant, i'm 38 weeks pregnant. (That's my current "living with the fat" mantra!)

We'll baby bean is due the first week of July.  Any guessers on exactly when he will come knocking?

It's MY Birthday

But it's hers too...

Happy 31st Birthday to my other half.
Love You,
Tats

Ps.  Happy Flag Day!

Lost and Found

This weekend with MC out of town I was in Ultimate Nesting Mode.  Whilst cleaning the house top to bottom I found the following feminine ankle sock, known to the French as une socquette.

This dirty little thing was found in the upstairs bedroom which may have been inhabited by Cats or Juice around the last weekend in April. 

Claim it here, or it gets the boot. And by boot i'm not referring to a winter shoe!

Love,
Tats

34 Weeks and 5 days

Finally, a new shot of my ever growing belly!  I must admit i'm feeling pretty big lately and by BIG, I mean uncomfortable, achy, barfy and tired.  I can't believe that we will have a little mini-MC in about 5-6 weeks. We are really really excited to meet our little man, but i'd be lying if I said I didn't have one or two little moments of fear thinking of how drastically our life will change in 30 something days!

Me: "Sweetness, I don't know about this whole having a baby thing!"
MC: "Too late for that Baby..."
Me: (disapproving groan)

Sitting next to pigpen

We Took a rode trip for Nats baby shower.

I somehow got to sit in the middle...to my left was pigpen, who btw went through two wardrobe changes during our 8 hour drive :)

Please notice my tidy space.

Lovingly, your sister

29 Weeks Huge

Having officially been in my 3rd Trimester for 2 weeks now, i'm surprised that I still don't really feel pregnant.  It's funny.  I always daydreamed that pregnancy would be different somehow, that it would make me feel or act a certain way.  When I open my eyes in the morning I feel like me...but then I try to move and I have no stomach muscles, and my back aches, and I step in front of the mirror and my body is 2 times bigger than normal and I say...humm, I guess I really am pregnant. 

29 weeks...in 11 weeks, give or take, we will have a little baby boy. What a mind blowing concept!  Hopefully he will have his daddy's blonde hair and stunning blue eyes and my long fingers and toes.  We already know he's got super long legs...there was no way he was going to escape that trait, but its a good one.

We have a monthly check-up appointment next Tuesday and i'm proud to say that I have not gained a pound since that infamous last appointment when my doctor called me a fatty.  We are really excited though because I was able to talk them into giving me my 30 week scan next Thursday morning.  Caitlin will be in town and since she will be living in Japan when he is born, I thought it would be cool for her to come with.  All you have to do is tell someone that a loved one is leaving for the  military and they will do what they can to accomodate you.  Umm Caitlin, I told them you were the pilot so you may want to brush up on your Aviator Lingo just incase they ask.  Here's to hoping we get a good look at his face.  I'm just dying to know what he looks like.

Progress at 25 Weeks

Even though everyone thinks i'm tiny and I hardly look pregnant, i'm going to side with my good friend Aislinn, who thinks I TOTALLY look pregnant.  Perhaps she's bias because she has felt and seen the little beans powerful moves more than anyone because he likes to show off while i'm at work...or maybe he is just showing off for the pretty lady? Regardless i'm in my 6 month and I feel huge and wobbly. 

You can form your own opinion below.

(looking a little tired)

(how can you say that I don't look pregnant?)

(fun with kitty)

(i'm gross here, but look at Mew and MC...hilarious!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day my lovely sisters.  I hope you enjoy a cold Guiness for me.  In celebration of this happy green day, I registered for this little beauty.  Green and beautiful.  It's a diaper bag, but so much more magical.  Kinda like Mary Poppins bag of goodies...didn't she pull a lamp out of that thing?  Now, if I can convince someone that spending almost $400 bucks on a diaper bag is a good idea...that will be magical.  Sister's Gift...wink wink. :O)

And for Daddy...Let's stay in the green as well with this lovely Olive PPB Masculine Diaper Bag!  Half as much, but twice as nice!

Photos courtesy of Petunia Pickle Bottom

Progress at 21 Weeks

I think we've made some significant progress in belly size over the past few weeks.  I love my growing baby bump, I don't love the cronic sciatica that is making me seriously consider a cane.  Monday morning we get the "real" anatomy scan, so we will find out for sure if this little bumpkin is actually a girl...stay tuned for the dramatic reveal!

Happy Weekend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH - BANANA

I cant believe your 17! Hope you day is special.

xoxox -

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day My Lovely Sisters and Momma. 

Hope it's FULL of Love! 

xoxo

Birkram and tings

Day 3 of bikram yoga! I hate every min of it, but come the next day I am determined to go again. For the past two weeks I have made a conscience effort to eat less and healthier and im starting to look, feel better. My skin is looking a little more even toned too.

So far Vancouver world is alot of work. I am exhausted, but it feels so good to plow through these shipments Rock-It Cargo Style. Seeing and hearing how happy our clients are is so rewarding. I cant wait to watch the games. From bobsleds, luge sleds, ski, snowboards, hockey sticks, clothing for games and opening/clothing ceremonies, media, staging, sound, tv trucks, video. Feels pretty cool to be a part of this world event.

I go home for a few days on Thursday night and I cant wait to see Dave, Hunti and Marley.

On a side note... the attached picture is of Papa in a bobsled...in a gift shop. It was so great to hang out with him last month.

Lots of love...