Returning to California

Sadly, my trip had to come to an end.  I would've stayed longer, if I could have.  Luke and I had to go back to California.  Carl knew I wanted to stay in Florida (desperately) and made a comment to his coworker that he wouldn't be surprised if I "missed" my flight.  He was half-joking.  

My parents drove us down to Orlando to the airport and...get this... I missed my flight.  Ha!  I rescheduled it for the very next non stop flight before I even called Carl and told him.  It TRULY was an accident!

Well, since we were in Orlando and had to wait SEVERAL hours for the next plane, I called up Mia.  She let us come to her apartment and stay for the day.  We got to spend a couple of hours with her, and then she left us the key and her alarm code for us to let ourselves out since she had to go to work.

I'm glad she got to see her nephew one more time before we left!

It was actually a nice relaxing day, to the end of a whirlwind trip.  We were all exhausted and napped on Mia's floor and couch!

And we got to spend some time on her balcony which overlooks a lake.  It was SO pretty!

 

(Luke could get used to this!)

I had an awful headache for two or three days in a row, so leaving to board a six hour flight was super difficult on me.  I snapped this picture of Luke and I after we boarded the plane.  He slept the entire flight.  People around me asked if he was a real baby!

Once we made it back home to California, we went straight to bed.  We can't wait to go back to Florida and see everyone again.

Luke meets Auntie Laurel

"Squirt," as Laurel lovingly calls him, got to meet his Auntie Laurel.  She's one of those salt of the earth people who you can't help but love.  She's been such a blessing to our family.  (And, she was the one who gave Luke that precious book of his first days!) 

Last December, Laurel and her daughter Emily came and played cards with Carl and I.  I was super nauseous, and thanks to Laurel I learned that white cheddar popcorn stayed down quite nicely!  The night after we played cards, I found six more bags of popcorn on my parents' front porch waiting for me! 

Since Luke has been born (and sheesh, even throughout my whole pregnancy), she has provided me with lots of advice!  She has three kids, so she's basically an expert.  ;)  

Luke slept through their first visit, but the second visit (which I didn't get pictures of unfortunately), he was awake to hang out.  Since he slept through the first visit, Laurel came a second time even though it was early in the morning (because our schedules were SO busy)...she brought yummy frappes for my mom and I!

I know I've written a lot of posts about specific people, and as I do so, I can't help but realize over and over how incredibly blessed we are to have so many friends who we consider family.  They truly are blessings to our lives!

Luke meets Aunt Donna and Uncle Scott

Aunt Donna and Uncle Scott got to meet and love on baby Luke.  They have lived across the street from my parents for..... ever... and I loved going to visit them almost every day growing up!  

When I was little, my friends and I would go visit them and they would tell the embarrassing stories of me getting baths in their sink!  Now, I have a baby of my own who might one day take a bath in their sink!  (Who am I kidding, my baby is already too big for a sink... he's quite the chunk... but that's beside the point!) Aunt Donna and Uncle Scott would give me yummy goodies, like bottles of coke or yoo-hoo, and chocolate chip cookies! Many times, I also "helped" them garden!  If I remember correctly, I went digging for potatoes, as a tiny tot!  They loved on me for the past 26 years, and now they got to meet a new little one to love!

Aunt Donna gave Luke this little stuffed hippo, and do you know what his name is?  Yep, Lukapotomus! 

Luke is so blessed to have so many people that LOVE him!

Look at this adorable little outfit that Aunt Donna got for Luke!

 

Go Gators!

She also got him a precious outfit that Luke had his professional 3 month photos taken in... I cannot wait to show you those!

Aunt Donna and Uncle Scott, thank you for loving on Luke, and the wonderful memories you've given me!

Luke meets Aunt Mia

Luke got to meet my best friend of over twenty years, Mia.  Auntie Mia, I think it's safe to say, fell for Luke at first sight.  Actually... I think it was when I got to tell her she was going to be an Aunt... I think she loved him from that moment.

Last December, for Christmas, I was visiting Florida and Mia came to my parents house to hang out with me.  I had awful awful morning sickness (that lasted all day, if you recall) and I was JUST starting to tell people we were expecting.  So Mia was over at my parents' (where I was still in my PJ's), and we were hanging out and talking about future plans.  My mom asked her (as far as schooling goes) where she sees herself in a year.  She said she hoped she would be done with school and in a professional job (mission accomplished, by the way) and at a break in the conversation, I asked her if she knew what we would be doing the following year around Christmas time.  "What?" she asked.

"Celebrating a baby's first Christmas!" I beamed.  The squealing commenced, and she inspected my belly for any sign of a bump.  

I made sure to call Mia the day I learned if Luke was a boy or girl... "Do you think you're having a niece or a nephew?" I would ask.  

She helped when we brainstormed names for our little boy, she was one of the first people to get a text when I went into labor, and she was one of the first people I called when Luke ended up back in the hospital after his birth.  To say she's been through thick and thin with me would be an understatement.  These type of friends don't come around very often, so when you get one, you gotta hold on to 'em.  

Without further ado, here are some photos of Luke meeting his Auntie Mia!  

We went to lunch with Mia's parents, so Luke also got to meet Aunt Kathy and Uncle Saul!

We're so blessed to have such wonderful friends that we call family in our lives.  Luke will understand that too, one day.

Luke meets Aunt Patti and Jill

Aunt Patti and Jill came to meet baby Luke while we were visiting in Florida.  I haven't seen them in a few years, so it was really great to see them once again.  I'm so glad they were able to stop by for a bit and meet the newest addition to our family.  

Jill is about to graduate from high school, and this girl has some major band talent!  She plays multiple instruments and is really going places.  The boy on the couch next to her is her boyfriend...I'm sorry, I don't remember his name! (Can I blame it on mommy brain?  Sorry Jill- it isn't anything personal!  Just me having an awful memory!) But anyway, they came from a band competition that was held at my old high school.  Aunt Patti showed us a video of Jill's band performing, and Jill playing the marimba...with two mallets per hand!  Like I said, impressive!

We had to get some shots of us all together!

Thank you for stopping by, Aunt Patti.  I'm so glad I got to see you and Jill again!  

Here are a few more pictures from that same day... Luke loving on Momau! (I know they are all similar, but I can't choose a favorite!)

I LOVE this shot of Luke leaning in to Momau's love. 

After that picture was taken, Luke gave his first "hug"..... he buried his little head into my mom's shoulder, so she hugged him right back of course!

That same day, Luke got to meet someone else very special.... stay tuned!

35 and 36 Weeks, Baby Shower, and More!

When I was 35 weeks pregnant, my mom flew in to California to help me out around the house.  She knew my last few weeks of pregnancy would be draining and exhausting, so she wanted to be around to be the extra set of hands that are coming in super handy right now.  I feel guilty allowing her to do dishes and cook, and run errands for me.... but she says that's what she's here for, so I will take it.  Thanks, mom!  We have a sort of ongoing joke... she referred to me as "miserable" to someone and I was quick to correct her that I'm in fact very very happy.  She said that she considered me being so exhausted and in some pain and discomfort to mean I was miserable... but I said I just feel that miserable is such an extreme word.  Even though I'm exhausted (I could sleep around the clock), I moan (and occasionally ask for a push) when I get up off the couch, I have to sit when we are out and about for too long, I whine about heartburn and getting kicked in the ribs.... I'm not miserable.  Sure, it sounds like it, but you just have to understand that even through the discomfort, I TREASURE this time with Luke in my belly.  I absolutely adore feeling him kick and seeing him move and get comfortable.  It's an incredible feeling that I am going to miss in just a little while!  So mom now understands that I'm not "miserable" but rather just exhausted and achey.  Haha :)

So anyway, mom flew in on the day I became 35 weeks pregnant, and that day also just happened to be  the day of my baby shower.  My girlfriends out here put on quite the shindig!  It was beautiful!  In our church fellowship hall, we entered to see stars hanging from the ceiling and walls, blue for my baby boy, and food and gifts galore.  The star and moon theme came because Luke's nursery theme is "Twinkle twinkle."

Here I am just entering the room... you can see the balloons and the decorations throughout the room.

Here's the food table... complete with sandwiches cut into stars, and a huge and DELICIOUS chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  YUM! 

And the adorable little party favors... MOON PIES!  BECAUSE WE ARE OVER THE MOON!

Isn't that just precious?!

And look at this cake that was to die for... "Sent from heaven above, a baby boy for you to love!"

On the table across the room, there was a table full of gifts and an ADORABLE diaper cake that Rose made... check this out:

There was a sweet elephant on top for baby Luke, wash cloths stuffed throughout, an embroidered bib, a bottle brush, car seat toy, and a pacifier with a cover that closes when it falls on the floor!  It was adorable!  Rose had to be out of town, but she was there in spirit.

Here we are at the shower... she has a "Grandma to be" pin on her shirt, and I have a "New Mommy to be" pin on my "New mom to be" sash.  The girls were just so sweet to us.  I'm still kicking myself for not getting a photo with them!  I can't believe I didn't think to do that!  Doh!

We were blessed with many baby items that will help us take care of our little prince.  Marramonie sat to my right and kept track of all of the gifts, so that I could send out thank you cards.  Amanda brought gifts to me and then shuffled them to the gift table, and cleaned up the trash from opening the gifts.  Ruia and Michelle made sure everyone was comfortable and replenished the food and drinks... and Rose had to be out of town on this specific day.  But these girls... man, I can't thank them enough.  Oh, and see the banner over me in the photo below?  It's in three sections that reads "Welcome Baby Luke" and it was handmade by our friend Megan.  She was unable to come to the shower as well because her sweet girl had her second birthday on this particular day... June was a crazy busy month for everyone.

We played one shower game... everyone was given a blank bingo card that they had to fill out with items they thought I would receive as gifts.  Once I opened it, they marked it down on their card and the first person to get "Bingo" would win a prize!  There was also a signature mat for my shower attendees to fill out, so Luke will have that hanging in his room soon.  The hostesses also had guests write silly and encouraging little notes for midnight diaper changes.  They wrote them right on the diapers, and I have to admit I did take a little peek... and they are hilarious!  Some of them are encouraging, reminding me that this is only a short season that we are going through, and others say funny little things like "Daddy's turn!"  So sweet.  Women of encouragement, let me tell ya.

Here is a belly shot of the 35 week bump (taken after church the day after my shower).

And then here we are this week at 36 weeks.

This week, we are slowly working on getting Luke's clothes washed and organized, and putting all of his little goodies away.  We are also working on finishing his nursery... I'm working on sewing his crib skirt, valance for his window, and changing pad cover.  I also hope to make him a pillow for his rocking chair, and we will use extra fabric for a few other little projects I will share with you soon.

We've also been enjoying the leftover party favors (moon pies) every night.  Yesterday, when we got home from church, we discovered SOMEONE had two moon pies while we were gone..... she had chocolate all over her face, her little pink belly was poking out, and she was passed out for the entire afternoon and evening.  That night, when my mom picked up a moon pie for her dessert, this little girl ran over to my mom and started begging for one.  Up until that day, she cared less about us eating the moon pies...but she had a taste of the goodness and wanted more.  Belle!  Mommy's not happy about that, little one... chocolate is bad for you!  

She says "I don't care, it was worth it.  Yum!"  See the chocolate on her face going down by her neck?

Hopefully my next update to you all won't be TOO long away... like I said, I've just been worn out.  Blogging hasn't been a priority, unfortunately.  I feel like there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done.  Millions of errands, lamaze every Wednesday, laundry piling up and the regular cleaning and maintenance to take care of.  But these are all wonderful "burdens" to be blessed with, so with that in mind... I'm going to go straighten up my room and head off for a prenatal massage that Luke got me for mother's day.  It is time to use it!  That is considered a priority!  Right?!  Yep, I thought so.  ;) 

Cat's outta the bag!

We were previously the people that never missed a church service, never missed a lunch with friends, and never missed any dinners with friends either.  All of the sudden, we became sporadic attendees.  My nausea wouldn't let me attend many activities. 

Thus, our friends were starting to think I was either avoiding them, or dying.  So, Carl and I felt that we had to tell them what was going on.  We had avoided telling them because we didn't want any chance of the news making it to Facebook before we were able to tell our families.  Before telling our friends, we decided to go ahead and tell Austin.  We impressed upon him how huge of a secret this was and I may or may not have alluded to never trusting him again if he let the news leak.  Thankfully, he came through for us and kept his lips sealed.  

Let's rewind...About a week ago, Austin had told Carl he would like a sibling… what timing!  The night we decided to tell him, Carl said "We are getting you something you have asked for, but it'll take about 7 months before you can see it."  Austin started naming all these toys and video games that he wanted but Carl just kept shaking his head.  Carl said "Think about it, why would it take 7 months before you could see it?"  

Austin unknowingly (yet, appropriately) answered "Because it hasn't come out yet?"  Carl and I busted out laughing and told him that was indeed correct.  Finally, Carl ended the guessing game and told him he would have a little brother or sister in July.  Austin was ecstatic!  We all hopped in the car and headed off to our friends' house where we should share the news with them as well.

The three of us walked in and I leaned against a door frame, feeling weak and nauseous.  Carl nonchalantly walked in and announced "Lindsey was admitted to the emergency room on Thursday, and it turns out she has a condition that doesn't allow her to keep food down."  He paused.  "It's called pregnancy."  Ruia screamed and hopped out of her chair in excitement, and she came and gave me a big hug.  Marramonie and Michelle both came over and congratulated me and said Carl's words had them thinking something was seriously wrong, but they were all so excited to hear about a new baby coming!  It was so much fun telling them, and finally our secret was out of the bag.  We told them that we couldn't tell anyone yet because we didn't want the news making it back to Florida before we did, and so to please keep it hush hush.  Everyone did a great job keeping it under wraps for us.  Over the next couple of weeks, Ruia rethought many conversations we had from the previous weeks and she was able to piece everything together.  All of my elusiveness made sense finally. Just that day, we were texting about how we were both feeling (she was battling allergies) and I mentioned "Yeah, this season is really rough."  She interpreted it as the winter season, but I meant this season of life (in my case, the nausea from the pregnancy).  It was so exciting and such a relief to finally let our friends in our secret surprise.  Just a couple more weeks and we can tell our families!

Here's a picture of Ruia and I at lunch a couple of days ago.  She's due with a baby girl in just a few weeks, and I am just shy of four months pregnant.  We went to a dinner a couple of nights ago and she laughed at the site of us... she said "You're about to puke, and I'm about to pop!"  So we had to get a picture of this exciting time in our lives.  It's amazing to think our babes will be five months apart!

Retreating In The Mountains

A couple weekends ago, we hightailed it over to Yosemite for a church-family retreat.  We left our troubles safely locked up in our homes, knowing they would be waiting for us upon our return.  This weekend was a get-a-way.  Troubles and stress were not invited on our trip.

Since I knew this weekend wouldn't be dirt free, I packed a bag I could carry that could easily be thrown into the wash.  When I took it out and laid it on the floor, Belle saw her opportunity.  And I saw a photo-op.  ;)

She cracks me up. She just hopped in there as if to say, "So where are we going?" In reality though, she could care less where we were going. As long as she gets to go, too. I snapped her photo and then laid her (within the bag) on the bed, next to my other bag that I was filling with clothes for the weekend. I stepped out to grab some towels out of the dryer, and when I came back into our room, this is what I found.

 

She upgraded. 

Apparently, she wanted a more roomier, and girlier ride for the weekend. I understand, little Belle, I understand. We made our trek over to Yosemite (yet again, haha! maybe I should rename the blog to "something about yosemite."  just kidding :)) and I think the ups and downs of the hills made Belle a little resentful toward the car. She started breathing heavily and I just KNEW she would lose her supper any moment! Thankfully, she made it to the camp with her supper still in her belly. We arrived and set up our bed for the night, inside the cabin with our friends. As you can see, Belle was happy to see our bedding.  She quickly rooted around and found her spot for the night.

The theme for the weekend was "Face Your Giants." We participated in classes revolving around the idea of over-coming your hurdles, and "leaving it on the field."

If you haven't had a chance, go read my thoughts on "leaving it on the field."  

We brought Austin's best buddy with us on this trip, which I truly believe, made the retreat about 1,000 times better for Austin.  He had a friend that he could explore and roam the hills with.  They had real "guy time".... no Playstations, no Wiis, no computers.  Just two young men out to explore the wilderness.  And his friend is such a great kid- we sometimes forget he is even around!  He's very well mannered and soft spoken.

We all hiked up to a creek in the hills of Yosemite. The water was ICE cold.... well maybe not ice cold, since then it would be actual ice, but you know what I mean!  

The kids really got into gold-searching. Hey, we are in California, you know...the golden state.. And there were sparkly flakes all throughout the creek.

   

I'm not sure why Belle looked sad in this picture, she was quite happy to be out in the woods. Even if one of our friends did have to pull a tick off her nose while I held her down. Small price to pay.

 Saturday night, my husband let out the card shark within himself. I was going to post some pictures of the card playing group- but I'm pretty sure the people in them would ask me to remove them from the blog.... in every shot, someone is making a dramatic and horrible face. The shots were all candid, so it was bound to happen at some point. 

So our weekend was spend truly retreating in the mountains. 

No work, just relaxation, connecting more with friends, and studying God's word.