Pregnancy Tests

So this was my reaction in October 2006 when we found out I was pregnant with Lucy. Even though we were "trying" I was still slightly shocked when we actually got pregnant. As you can see from the picture I was kind of overwhelmed. I had no idea at the time how completely amazing and satisfying parenthood would be.
Compare that to my reaction this past December when we found out we were preggers with baby number 2. After having such an incredible daughter like Lucy, how could we be anything but thrilled by the gift on another little joy?

Another Girl!!

Last Friday we had our ultrasound which informed us that Kim, Lucy, and I will be welcoming another girl into our lives. We are all very excited about this. Now I am outnumbered 5 to 1 (including our two female dogs, Kailey and Payton). I can hold my own as the only male. Kristin was in town last week to participate and also helped out tremendously on that day with Lucy.

In 2007, before we had Lucy, we had a similar experience with Kim's parents who came into town for the ultrasound. To celebrate, we went to a Red Robin restaurant afterward to celebrate. Here we are in 2007.

Naturally, we went back to the same place after our latest ultrasound to continue the tradition. After informing our server of the significance of our visit, during the meal the manager came over and presented us with an entire cake and a card signed by all the employees in the restaurant. We were amazed and impressed by such a thoughtful gesture. Of course, I left a pretty good tip (which we normally do anyway b/c of the mess we tend to leave behind).

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Scottsdale Spa Trip

Last weekend my sister, my best friend, Mary, and myself went to Scottsdale, AZ on a spa vacation to celebrate my sister's 30th birthday. We stayed at the Camelback Resort and Spa which is one of the top 10 spas in the country. Kristin and Eric have been there before so they told us about it. It was an AMAZING experience!! I have never been so pampered and so completely relaxed. We indulged in spa treatments everyday. I got a honey nectar body wrap, a facial, a maternity massage, and a manicure. By the end of the weekend I don't think I could have handled another day of pampering. The best part of receiving the spa treatments was that you could stay all day by the spa pool, which was very serene and picturesque. We ate yummy food from the spa restaurant, Sprouts, and had delicious drinks by the pool. We took a yoga class and walked around in our robes drinking the spa tea and listening to the calming music that was playing. One afternoon we partially hiked up Squaw Peak and then drove through the mountains and looked at the fancy homes. Two of the nights we went out to dinner in downtown Scottsdale which was really nice. For Kristin's birthday dinner we went to a 70's retro jazz restaurant where she was serenaded by this old guy that was singing in the band. Below is my sister and I at her birthday dinner.
We spent lots of time in these spa robes. Here are Mary and Kristin before they got manicures.
We ate dinner at a Southwestern restaurant another night. At the restaurant we met up with Kristin's dear friend from junior high that she has recently reconnected with thanks to Facebook.
The grounds at the resort were so lush and meticulously manicured. The landscaping design was incredible! On our walks from the main area to our room we enjoyed passing by this orange tree.
One of the ultimate highlights of the trip was the INCREDIBLE breakfast that was included with our room. It was the most lovely buffet with every kind of fresh fruit imaginable, decadent croissants/muffins, and made to order omelets, pancakes, and waffles. It was heaven! Below you can see how beautiful it was just to sit outside and enjoy a leisurely, delicious breakfast.

It was fun to see the giant cacti and palm trees everywhere.

Here are the fabulous threesome! Thanks so much to Eric (Kristin's husband) for making this trip possible for us! It is a memory that we will cherish for a long time! I can't wait to do it again someday!

Obama Fan

So Lucy is a huge Obama fan! So much so that every time we are reading a book and she sees an African American child or an adult she points and exclaims, "Obama!" I don't know whether to be proud that she recites Obama's name with such fervor or to be slightly concerned that she thinks every black person is Obama.

Lucy Goes to the Theater

Last weekend my parents were in town and we took Lucy to her first "show." We went to see Dora the Explorer and the City of Lost Toys. It actually was much better than I had anticipated. Lucy was so totally mesmerized by the show and was clapping her hands and watching intently. I was shocked that she actually sat still for the duration of the show. It was so cute to see the enthusiasm she had for the production, it reminded me of how I was as a little girl--totally captivated by theatrical performances. It was really special to be able to share this experience with my mom and dad since theater/the arts were such a major part of my childhood.

Of course she had to hold her Dora doll the entire show!

Coming August 20th