beach, bbq, and great friends

What better way to spend memorial day than at the beach with great friends? That's exactly what Leith and I did. Bathing suits, towels, and beach chairs in hand (actually in the trunk of the car) we headed down to Imperial Beach to spend the day at our dear friends The Powells' condo. Sara came along and so did a delicious chocolate cake she made! The day was filled with beach fun, grilled burgers and hot dogs, and lots of hilarious story telling. Leith and I feel so blessed to have such great friends in San Diego and we will definitely miss Aaron and Tammy when they move up to Sacramento at the end of the month. It's been a long 4 years endured through medical school full of many memories that will be cherished forever. On Sunday we get the opportunity to celebrate all of Leith and Aaron's hard work as they graduate and become big, bad MD's! Congrats guys! I am so proud you!

Sara and I soaking up the sun

best buds enjoying a second round of hot dogs. the gilligan hat is apparently in preparation for Isaiah.

great friends...we are gonna miss you guys so much!

just after sunset on the balcony

view from the condo...paradise!

so they say that pregnancy makes you do crazy things, have crazy cravings, and forget simply everything. I never really believed it until now. I have never been so absent minded in my life! I have even gone so far as to send a $50 check to our leasing office for rent when in fact we definitely pay alot more! My bad!

I suppose you could say that I am quite attached to my long locks of hair and have been for as long as I can remember. My sister has even compared me to Samson and called my hair "my strength" (i know...kinda dramatic)! well, to top off the pregnancy randomness I make the crazy decision to chop off my long locks this week. That's right...8 inches gone! I had a sudden craving for change and did it before I could change my mind. Fortunately for me I love the new look. It's easy and ecomonical! I think I will use half the amount of shampoo and conditioner now and Leith is quite pleased with this.

So anyway...here is a picture of the new look and the latest of Isaiah before he makes his debut. I am almost 38 wks already! Hospital bag packed...check! nursery ready...check! car seat installed...check! new mommy friendly hair style...check!

nesting

Although I have heard so many times of this so called "nesting" stage that all pregnant women go through, I never exactly knew what that might feel like or when that sudden "urge to organize" would hit me. Well, I am proud to say that I am officially nesting! The realization that Isaiah will be here in 5 weeks has definitely caused Leith and I to literally re-arrange our lives (and furniture) in preparation for his arrival. Leith has worked hard and completed building the crib and changing table. I have already done several loads of laundry including crib sheets, burp cloths, and onsie after onsie. Drawers are beginning to fill up with all the great gifts that people have been so generous to give us. Toys are already piling up and he even responds to the ones that make noise! (today when I put one next to my belly he started kicking around.) I still have lots of work to do, but I think we are almost ready for him! Below are some pictures of what Isaiah's room looks like so far.

the "toys" bag was handmade by my dear friend Sara. It's so cute and I love it!

april showers

I can't even begin to express how thankful Leith and I are for all the friends and family that have been so generous to us and helped in preparing for Isaiah's arrival. My family threw me a baby shower this past weekend at my mom's house up in LA. I got to see alot of friends that I had not seen since my wedding 3 years ago and it was so great to catch up! We got tons and tons of clothes and great things for Isaiah that I can't wait to use! Thanks again to everybody for your generosity!

All my sister...I can tell that Isaiah will be very loved and spoiled by his aunties!

very proud and excited grandmothers!

Family

So with my recently obtained time off and with Leith gone it gave me an opportunity to spend quite a big of time with my family up in LA. Not only did I get some much-needed R&R but I also was able to spend some quality time with people I love most like my parents, grandma, siblings, nieces and nephews. I loved seeing everyone and realized how much I miss them while I am away. And I must say that being babied by my mom while being pregnant was absolutely wonderful! Its amazing how pregnancy gets you the best treatment wherever you go! From letting me to the front of the line in the women's bathroom to homemade dinners made by special request! I felt so blessed this week to have the parents that I have and the support that I have received while Leith has been gone. Thanks so much to all of you who have prayed me through these past 5 weeks. Leith gets home this Friday...3 more days! At the beach with mom
and dad!

when life gives you lemons...

So...the recent happenings in my life hasn't been exactly as planned or as I envisioned. I am on disability/maternity leave already due to some bad sciatica I have been experiencing related to the pregnancy. I must say that I didn't expect to be out of work this early in the pregnancy, but there's a reason for everything and I am determined to make the most of it! So with the most positive outlook possible I have given myself a list of things to do and things I would like to do for myself! I figure this is the last time I will have "me" time so I better take advantage of it. Fun things I have added to my list include: reading (and actually finishing the books I start), spending time with friends and family, and cooking and experimenting new recipes on my very-easy-to-please husband! I already started this week with my parents testing out a new baked tilapia recipe which was a hit! I also make smoky turkey shephard's pie last night for my sister and nephews...and everybody had seconds! Perhaps I am entering the nesting phase of my pregnancy early but that's just fine. So...needless to say...life has given me lemons and im gonna make some darn good lemonade!

28 weeks!

So...somehow 28 weeks has come faster than I ever expected! I feel like I am growing daily and can't imagine how much bigger I will get. As Leith says, "Isaiah is sure making himself at home!" He is kicking more and more everyday, but definitely flips out at certain points during the day. For example, he get super excited after mommy has her daily bowl of fruit which lucky for him (not me) is right before bedtime. I can't complain though because the feeling of him kicking and moving around is the most amazing feeling in the world. I can't wait to meet my little peanut and start this new journey in our lives.
As some of you may or may not know, Leith is gone at ODS training in Newport, RI until April 9th. He has been gone 2 weeks already and my countdown till the day he comes home could not go any slower! I can't wait to see him again. Please pray for him and his safe arrival home. Thank you to all of you who have kept us in your prayers the past few weeks...we love you all!