Monterey & San Francisco

Last week, Jarrett, Lindsay, Carol (Jarrett's Mom) and I took a mini-vacation to Monterey Bay & San Francisco! Warning: Lot's of pictures! Here are some highlights of our adventure...

One of the first stops was the Monterey Bay Aquarium... Lindsay loved seeing the "ish" aka "Fish" and watching all the kids. In the photo above, she liked looking at the tide pools, but was so not going to put her hands in there with the seaweed. LOL.

One of my favorites... Daddy and Lindsay checking out the coral reef display.

She was pretty into the sting rays... I think she wanted to go swimming with them.

My favorites were the jelly fish and the sea turtle... looked like the turtle we saw in Hawaii a few years ago. It was so relaxing watching them swim; I think I could have stayed there all day :)

Nonna & Lindsay

Our little pearl :)So, inside the aquarium was a little area made special for toddlers... it was too cute! Daddy & Nonna took Lindsay on a simulated wave jumping thing...

You can tell she liked it :P (I was reaching for her because it the sign said, "No shoes" which meant sweaty toddler feet on the mat, and here my daughter is, rubbing her face on it...gross!!)

They even had a water exhibit where the kids could play with plastic fish in their "tank". She loves to splash, so this was right up her alley!

After a lovely dinner in Santa Cruz, we ventured up to San Francisco and spent the next morning at Pier 39. We walked by the Merry-Go-Round, and guess who wanted to take a spin!

Nonna, Lindsay & Daddy on the ride... She was waving the entire time!

We stopped to shop for some souvenirs at the magnet shop... Lindsay went straight for the fake ice cream cone. Mmmmm.

Drove down the crookedest street in America... Lombardi Street...

We took some time from out sigh seeing to play at Golden Gate Park. Mama (Which I should mention she is calling me "Mommy" now!) and Lindsay picking flowers.

On our second day in San Fran, we visited the Bay Kids Museum in Sausalito, a quick 15 minute drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. It was too cute... Perfect for her age! They had an exhibit with a "stream" with plastic fish and frogs for the kids to splash in. I think their little aprons are pretty darn cute.

Here our girl is TASTING the water... yuck!

Lulu helping the salmon swim upstream...
Nonna, Daddy & Lindsay

They also had a Curious George exhibit... Lindsay likes to watch CG on PBS some mornings. She has been really into pointing to eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hair etc. She was showing Daddy all of CG's features.

Love it.... Out of all the things in the museum, (and amidst all the chaos and kids running around) all she wanted to do was have her Daddy read to her.

After the museum, we had a delicious lunch at Yank Sing, a Dim Sum restaurant near Fisherman's Wharf. It was an experience, with sweet Chinese ladies bringing around trays of yummy bite size little dumplings, spring rolls, cream cheese crab wontons (my fave) which you got to choose. I was surprised how much Lindsay ate... she loved it!

At the end of our trip, we had to get a little something sweet before heading out on the long, 5 hour drive. Ghirardelli's was just the ticket.

We enjoyed a Rocky Road and a Peanut Butter Chocolate Sundae.... Some one's a fan of whip cream.

We had such a fun time! Thank you Nonna for going with us on a wonderful trip! We love you!!

10 Weeks and Growing!

Baby Fish in 3d, 10 weeks. He/She has arms covering face, and stubby little legs! Not sure if that is an umbilical cord or something else between the legs :) Too soon to tell...lol.

I feel like with this baby I am going CRAZY not knowing the gender. With Lindsay I was curious, but I was just so excited experiencing my first pregnancy,and busy subbing, I really didn't care as much. Maybe it is because I have more time on my hands (as much as you have with a 17 month old) or I think I should be able to tell naturally because I am doing this whole pregnancy thing over again, but I have been checking out all the old wives tale and even did a baking soda test. Here are the results:

1. Carrying high or low: Too soon to tell. Blowing up and huge already.

2. Y in the eye: Can't see one.

3. Morning Sickness: Nausea, signals girl

4. Cravings: None specific, but love sour suggests boy, however, with Lulu I loved fruity/sour too.

5. Baking Soda Test: It fizzed and foamed, signals boy

6. Leg hair growing slow/faster: Slower, suggests girl

7. Heart Rate: 61/2 weeks= 123 bpm, 10 weeks= high (Dr. didn't give me a #, but said high) The baby was also moving like crazy. Mixed results?

8. Chinese Gender Chart: Said girl for Lulu (correct), said girl for this baby too.

Thankfully, Jarrett and I have agreed to not let my gender-craziness go on for too long... we are going to spend the extra $ to do the ultrasound at 16 weeks to find out! Thanks, Honey!! Can't wait to find out if our little Baby Fish is a She or He! Love that precious little baby all the same... what a blessing :)

Baby Fish

Somebody's going to be a big sister...

Baby Fish.... arriving early February 2012!

We are excited to share our new little blessing, offically due February 3, 2012. When the baby is born, Lindsay and he/her will be 23 months apart, which is the same age difference as my brother and I. Two babies under 2? Are we crazy? Possibly. However, Baby Fish was completely planned and right on schedule. We love thinking about the experiences that await, which can be shared by both kiddos since they'll be so close in age, and possibly, even friends (someday :).

As of today, I am 9 weeks along. We've been to the OB and everything looks perfect! The baby is situated nice and cozy; busy growing and with a heartbeat at 123 bpm. I have been hit with a few different symptoms with Baby Fish than I had with Lindsay, including all day nausea and fatigue, but overall, everything is great.

Naturally, most people almost immediately ask us what we want... a boy or girl? Of course, it would be nice to have one of each, but as long as our little baby is healthy, that's the most important thing! I have a feeling it's another little girl, but, we'll just have to wait and see until sometime after August 19th.

How I told Jarrett...

After taking the tests in the afternoon, I waited until almost bedtime. In our offical evening routine, Jarrett gives Lindsay her bath, I do the dishes, then I read her her book and put her to sleep. I told Jarrett that I wasn't feeling great, and asked him if he could read Lindsay "Goodnight Moon" and put her to bed. Jarrett jokingly said, "Really Katie?! You are already acting like you are pregnant before it even happens." I waited quietly by the door as he read Lindsay the story, and when he turned to the page and finished saying, "Goodnight stars, Goodnight air..." he paused because there was a piece of paper that read "Goodnight New Baby Brother or Sister!" followed by the last passage, "Goodnight noises everywhere." Surprise!! I kept thinking he would rush out of the room for all the details, but it was just quiet. Being the dutiful Daddy he was, he made sure Lindsay was fully asleep before we got to celebrate our new Baby Fish!

Fourth of July 2011

Happy 4th of July!!

This year for the 4th we stayed in Malibu, and had a nice and relaxed holiday! One of our friends invited us to the Pepperdine Kids 4th of July Parade, made up mostly of kids who live on campus. It turned out to be more of a 'race' than a parade, and we were cracking up at all the kids racing around the parking lot in a loop. Lindsay enjoyed waving to all the kids passing by. Maybe next year we will decorate her Princess Mobile...

I wanted to get some shots of our little ham in her patriotic dress.

Giggling at what? I have no clue.

Mommy & Lindsay.... It was like 84 degrees that day, (hot for the Bu') and we were out in the sun, so she is making her tired face :)

We BBQ'd for dinner, set off the smoke alarm (promised public safety we were not setting off fireworks indoors) and put the baby to bed. She tried to make it until 9pm, but that is super late for her, so she missed out on seeing the firework show. We did too, unfortunately, but were not about to leave our sleeping kid. So instead we watched the HBO miniseries, John Adams, (Which is fabulous if you are into American History) which detailed the first 4th of July and Declaration of Independence...so there's our patriotic spirit! Then we went to bed. LOL Hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday!

Lindsay loves Daddy

This is a little early Father's Day posting... dedicated to Lindsay's wonderful Daddy. They have such a special relationship, one that makes me laugh and cry happy tears of joy. Lindsay pretty much adores her Daddy, and whenever he walks into a room lights up. He always has a silly song, a tickle and a kiss waiting for her. He is the best rough-and-tumble playmate, flying her through the air and tickling her feet, and yet, a minute later will read her a story softly and hold her close and give a snuggle. Let me tell you about his patience.... he will read the same story over and over again, or sit with her while she eats the very last pea on her plate (she is a slow eater like him). What a sweet man I married. Boy, I always knew he was going to be an amazing father, but Dear, you blow me away every Father's Day that passes. I couldn't imagine a better Daddy for my child... you are simply the best! Love you!

Daddy taking her for a ride on the Princess Mobile...

Trying on Dad's sneakers... so chic!

Giving her Daddy her best smile... Love you Daddy!

Fairy Wings

Lindsay's into flowers right now... we take a walk every day and she has to point to all the flowers and bees. I will pick a dandelion or two for her and she carries them around like treasures.

She's waving and telling me "Bye Bye"... I had to run after her a second later.

My favorite.

She was saying "Oooooo" when this shot was taken...lol.

My sweet friend Jolene Roberts got the CUTEST little dress-up fairy wings, necklace and toy for Lindsay's birthday. We had planned on seeing each other for the longest time, but things just kept coming up: sick babies, long drives, weather etc... we gave up after 3 months and got the gift in the mail the other day. Lindsay absolutely loved them! Jo has a daughter, Faith, who is 2 yrs. and knows just the right kind of gifts for little ladies. I decided to practice with my camera and get some shots of my super cute girl! Thank you Miss Jolene and Princess Faith for the sweet gift!

Bunny Chair

Jarrett had a great idea for a 1st birthday present for Lindsay: A bunny chair! When Lindsay was born, Jarrett got her the matching stuffed bunny, and he remembered the chair all the way back when he was shopping over a year ago! When we ordered it in January, it was back ordered until May, so here are a few pictures of its arrival:

"Excuse me Mama, I think I shall keep it." Lindsay had to explore the many things you can do with a bunny chair.... for example, practice pointing to its eyes, nose and ears.

Rest your head and give it a snuggle.

Jump on it.

Dance around it.

Tickle its ears. Hehehe.

Bury your face in its soft plushy fur.

Tell everyone that comes over, I'm ONE! Sweet Girl!!