9th Month

I am 36 weeks and 3 days....officially in the 9th month.  I figured there is no better day to take 9th month pictures than at the baby shower.  My mom and sister put on a casual, fun, co-ed shin-dig.  Lots of delish food, fun games, family and friends, and great gifts for the baby!  A big thanks to my mom and Jamie for hosting, and all those who were able to make it to the party.  Leo and I really felt the love!


Anywho, here they are.  My 9th month photos. 

Top 5 reasons I am ready for Fall

Don't get me wrong, I like the summer and the heat.  Who doesn't love Summer vacations and tans?  But Fall is my all-time most favorite season.  I can only imagine how awesome it would be to live somewhere that actually had seasons and you could see them coming (i.e. color changing leaves, golden hued skies, crisp air).  There is just something about the food, the cozy comfort and the holidays that make me love Fall.


So here they are in no particular order...


1.  Picking out and sewing Halloween costumes.  You may think I'm crazy but I love to sew a costume!  And I'm already deep in discussion with the boys over what they want to be this year.  


2.  The heartier, more flavorful food - soup, stew, roasted everything, baked goods galore, everything pumpkin, and yummy Starbucks coffee flavors.


3.  Comfortable, cozy clothing - I feel like there are more options in the Fall vs shorts and tank tops.  Especially boots!!  I'm a flip flop girl at heart but dang I love me some nice new boots!  And I'm not talking UGGS, but those are great too.  Cashmere sweaters and scarves get to come out of the closet.  Shearling and fur (fake or not) are totally acceptable in the Fall.  The rich colors of Fall clothing and accessories are much more my speed too.


4.  A roaring fireplace.  Ours will be used to it's utmost capacity.  We will sit in front of it drinking tea and hot chocolate at night while watching TV.  Can't wait!  


5.  Last but not least...and this is a new one...my baby girl is due!!!  I can't wait to meet her and do hope she comes a little early, but I am totally fine with a September arrival.  Then I will have 2 Fall babies (Noah is Spring)!


So hurry up Fall!  It's time of you to make your appearance, your #1 fan is waiting.  And stay as long as you like because I'm never in any rush for the Winter to come.  


PS - here is a no. 6 I just thought of...I am chomping at the bit to start wearing all my new Fall hued nail polishes.  I'm so over all these brights and neon's.  Blah.    

8 months...getting close!

I'm so ready for this baby to be born.  It is finally hitting me that I am exhausted and done being pregnant.  I have some energy during the daytime hours, but once I am home and ready to wind down I barely have any strength left to enforce bedtime rules or play referee.  With a month to go I really hope this little girl decides to make her appearance early.  That would make me happy!  I know all the guys in my house would be happy too as the boys are very eager to meet their sister and Leo his daughter.  So possibly one more set of monthly belly shots to come, but fingers and toes crossed that the next round of pictures are of a precious little newborn princess.  

Little Fish

I am so proud of Noah.  He has been taking swimming lessons off and on since he was 3 months old.  This summer has by far been the most beneficial to his swimming repertoire.  Along with being older, he fully understood what the instructor was asking of him and had the enthusiasm to actually learn how to do it.  After spending 10 days in Maui, and swimming 8 out of 10 of those days, he came back to his lessons with a little more confidence.  So much in fact that he decided he could swim on his own.  

Jen = uber-proud mommy!!

Aloha

There are so many pictures from our recent trip to Maui...I couldn't possibly post them all on here.  I will however share a great pic of the boys with some tropical friends they met.

I wish we were still there.  So many great memories that I hope to always remember...and being a bit older this trip I hope Noah will remember too.  Playing in the ocean, sand and pools.  Snorkeling and boogie boarding.  Getting to proudly watch my guys surf.  Seeing how confident Noah and Julian became in the water with each passing day.  Eating delicious fresh fish.  I already miss my mango smoothie every day.  I liked smelling of suntan lotion on a daily basis and waltzing my pregnant belly around the resort in a bikini with nary a sideways glance (in fact I got several compliments a day on how well I'm wearing my pregnancy).  


There truly is an amazing island spirit in Hawaii and I hope it stays with me and my family for months to come (along with our truly bodacious tans)! 

Cuddle time

Summer Camp has worn me out.  All the waking everyone up in time, feeding, dressing, sun-blocking, teeth brushing, preparing lunches, getting out of the house, and driving back and forth is making me so tired!  But I'm not the only one.  Noah has come home every day for 3 weeks telling me how tired he is.  He just wants to have a snack and rest once we get home.  He seems to have all the "oomph" wiped right out of him.  So today when I got us home Julian was asleep as usual.  I laid him on the couch and all I had left in me was to take up the empty spot available next to him.  Noah decided I looked pretty dang comfortable so he laid down in front of me, covered us both up with a blanket and we all slept.  A good deep sleep for at least an hour and a half.  But the best part of it all was that I got to cuddle with Noah.  He is such a big boy now and like his mommy - a total busy-body.  He rarely takes time to sit down by me (or anyone for that matter) anymore.  And we are always on the go that often times I don't get to sit with him and just hug and talk.  Knowing that he will start Kindergarten soon, I'm making a personal vow to myself to slow down and spend more time babying my baby before he's off to school all-day, every-day.  

Happy Camper

Noah loves his sumer camp.  He especially loves the dress-up days and face painting.  Here are a few of his costumes and face art over the last couple weeks.  

Stars & Stripes Noah

Captain Noah (Super Hero Day)

Tiger Noah

Mustachioed Noah (Mustache Monday)

Detective Noah (Disguise Day)