I've got friends in all the right places.

I have felt extremely blessed with friendship in the past month.  I've been lucky enough to see all my best friends through all the stages of my life within weeks of each other.  

I recently went on a trip to Virginia/Washington DC to visit Elena...my best-friend from college.  She was having her baby shower for peanut #3 and I wanted to visit her since we last saw each other 2 years ago at a combined family vacation in Costa Rica.  When she asked Leo & I to be God Parents, I wanted to go even more to help celebrate her new baby.  Leo was all for the trip and diligently checked flight dates and prices until a couple days before we found the right flight & price.   So sans children I got to go visit Elena and spend a fun-filled, relaxing weekend with her, just hanging out and catching up.  The weather was crazy (mid-day thunder and lightning) but it was wonderful!

 The following week my best-friend from high school - Shannon, came to town from Idaho to visit friends & family and to show off her new baby #3, Gabriel.  We spent a "totally rad" 80's themed night together with Erin & Millessa; talking, snacking on food, drinks, listening to 80's music, making friendship bracelets, painting our nails and watching 80's movies.  It was loads of fun.  The visit continued the next day when Shan, Gabe, Julian & I spent the afternoon at Santana Row for lunch and a little window shopping.  It was really great having some quiet time together when the kids were napping and we could talk about this, that and the other - which we do on a regular basis, but it's more fun to get to see each other in person to do it.

Just last night I got to spend the evening with my very first best friend ever...Angela!  We have known each other since we were babies, grew up next door to each other, and her mom used to babysit me.  I have countless memories of spending days of my youth with the Lewis' - camping, ice cream (and fake bubblegum cigarettes) from the ice cream man, theme parks, movies, etc...And after last night Danielle (Angela's sister) reminded me of all the home movies we used to make.  I look forward to seeing Killer Cats soon!  But one of the biggest memories is going to the New Kids on the Block at the Oakland Coliseum in 1989.  We rode BART there and totally rocked out at the concert...crying during ballads, sharing binoculars to see all the guys on stage.  Well, 22 years later we did it again!  NKOTB concert!  I was surprised and excited to find out a few days before that Angela's mom had a ticket for me to go with them and I'm so glad they did!  It was great to go to the concert, but even more fun to catch up with Angela, her friends, and a family I grew up with!  

Whether new or old, close or far, it felt like nothing has changed between myself and each of these women.  We fell into old patterns, talked about old times, caught up on new news and enjoyed time spent together.  So to all my best friends...I love you and look forward to when we can see each other again.  You've each been a huge part of my life and I'm so thankful for you.

Spiders & My Husband

Tonight I had another spider episode.  Pardon my french, but it was a big-ass spider on my bedroom wall and will be know for the rest of this post as BAS.  I screamed for Leo a-la Simpson style (open mouth, wiggling tongue) to take care of his wedding day vowed duty.  


Fortunately my hubs is not scared of spiders, yet never seems to be in a big rush to get to them.  I don't think he realizes just how quickly they move and disappear into the dark shadowy depths behind dressers and beds.  Nor does he realize how I am the one tormented by them when they give him the slip.  Ick.  


So here's the story after the house alert went out...
Leo gets up on a step stool with tissues to smoosh the BAS.  I decide to run to another room because he finds it funny to torment me by putting the spider guts in my face to prove he got it and I don't really want to see BAS innards.  I yell over my shoulder to just put BAS in the toilet and flush it.  After a minute and hearing no flush I go to check out the crime scene.  


Me: Well, did you get it?
Leo: Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Me: The good news.
Leo: I got the spider.
Me: So what's the bad news?
Leo: I didn't get all of it.
Me: What?
Leo: Well, I squished it and in then when I checked the tissue all that was there were legs.  I don't know where the body went.  I looked around for the rest of it, but didn't see where it fell.


GROSS!  And of course I find BAS body the second I walk into the room.  I'd post a pic, but really who wants to see that carnage.  Anyways, at least I don't have to worry about any spiders tonight, hopefully.

Brothers

Hug or headlock?  You decide.

Growing baby, growing appetite - 6 months

This has been my most different pregnancy.  Aside from the queasies early on, I've had wacky emotions and wild mood swings.  My skin has been less radiant and my nails are chipping (hello pre-natal vitamins, aren't you supposed to take care of all that?).  I will admit my hair seems nice and full though.
  
Another difference with this pregnancy compared to my past ones is that I haven't been eating nearly as much food.  I've had less cravings and more aversions.  So while I've been eating less the choices have been much healthier - yogurt, fruit, vegetables, and fish - which has probably been my main craving. Seafood of any kind, I can't get enough, bring it on. After months of eating like a bird and putting on one pound here and there I am finally venturing into pig-out mode.  I am starting to notice I will eat anything within arms reach.  I seem to be growing exponentially as a result.  But since my doctor mentioned that this baby seems to be smaller sized I'm not too concerned with my food intake...maybe she is just a late bloomer and only now is having a huge growth spurt.  Mind you I will not be disappointed if she is 7 - 8 pounds when she's born.  No one needs to go through birthing 11+ pounds of baby more than once.

6 months front view

6 months side view

Potty Talk

Julian has me impressed.  We started potty training 2 & 1/2 weeks ago and he is totally getting the hang of it!  It could be that I was putting him on the toilet every couple hours.  Maybe it helped that I let Noah teach him how to pee outside on the bushes.  Or possibly watching his big brother use the toilet has been the main factor in his success.  Which ever it is I am very proud of his strides to becoming a big boy.

In the past few days he has even started to tell me when he has to go #1.  He wakes me up in the morning to let me know he is dry and needs to potty.  And throughout the day he says "MOMMY!  I have to go pee-pee!" and he's running off to the toilet.  Just today he had the same exclamation, but for #2!  #2 PEOPLE!  That's a gigantic step!  Even more gigantic that he actually did it!

I am a very proud mommy tonight.  Let's hope I am not jinxing the progress of this endeavor and Julian continues on his path to freedom from diapers.  Next step...no diaper at night (he is already napping in his undies with no accidents - knock on wood).

Little Froggy Potty Chair only lasted a few says before Julian wanted to use the big-guy toilet.

DOH!

Caution, now entering Bart Simpson territory.  We took an impromptu trip to Vegas over the weekend.   11 out of 13 pictures of Noah - where he was actually looking at the camera, are chalk-full of goofy faces.  I guess when I say "say cheese" it's a sign to go cross-eyed.  Here are a few examples of his tomfoolery.  

Extreme Smile

Sad Face

Crazy Face

Crazy Face revised with Prom Hand

5 months