Boys have a ----- and girls have a ------!

And the verdict is.....BOY!!!

I apologize in advance for the bad ultrasound shot. I left all the clear ones with my mom and my scanner isn't hooked up so this is a picture of a blurry ultrasound. Its very hard to take a clear picture of those glossy things.

Soooo, what you are looking at is a butt shot of the baby. It's like we are underneath him, looking up. The mass on the right is his bum, then you have legs and then feet. The doctor has the arrow pointing to his little baby wenis. She is pretty darn sure we are looking at a boy.

I can't say that I'm surprised at all. From that very first day when I went back to Target to buy something for B it just seemed right to be looking at boy stuff. B was pretty shocked. Actually, he was unusually quiet at the doctors appointment and the rest of the day.

We had a great ultrasound with a lot of great shots. The baby was moving his arms and legs... it was really incredible.

Did you know that at 14 weeks they can smile? Not on purpose of course... but I'll tell you more about that later.

Everything seems so much more real now that the little one looks more like a baby and less like an amoeba. We can call the baby him instead of just peanut, although I have a feeling peanut will stick. AND I can start planning the nursery :)

In the doctor's office B made the comment that he assumed we'd be having another one to try for that girl :) So I may not be buying pink tutu's (unless one of you has a baby girl...) but I am very, very excited! This insures that B's last name will continue which makes daddy very proud. The more I think about it the more excited I get!

Quick... someone teach me about boy stuff!

Anticipation

This picture is of 2 pairs of shoes my mom bought for the baby. This way we have all our bases covered. I brought them home and set them on the table to show B. The next day I couldn't figure out where they went until I opened our closet to get my shoes. B is always picking things up and putting them away, it's only logical he put them with the rest of the shoes. So there they are, waiting to find out who wins the honor of being on our baby's feet.



Today we have another appointment and ultrasound. I'm 14 weeks exactly so we can all throw a big second trimester party (again). My doctor said if the baby cooperates she should be able to tell us the gender. She won't be 100% sure but I'd still like to hear her guess. Then she will confirm in another month. Did you find out the gender of your baby?

What do you think ours will be? Boy or girl?

And since some of you have already asked....and I feel I should be honest. I want a girl but I really thinks it's a boy. Which will be just fine. I mean, who says I can't buy sparkly things and fairy wings for a boy, too. And bikinis...with little baby bellies showing.

What?

Tina's Bridal Shower

This past weekend was Tina's bridal shower and it was such a fun event! Tina is one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world and I love seeing her get spoiled like this.



They did all desserts at the shower which immediately won me over. Lots of the desserts came from Cinnamon Productions in Rancho Santa Margarita and I can't wait to go there for lunch or dinner.

Amaretto cake in these lucsious layers. I'm a fan of anything almond.



Lemon cake surrounded by a ton of different kinds of brownies. I had the oreo ones.



Where to even start with this? We'll start at the bottom which was a cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, then a layer of custard and topped off with lovely glazed fruit.

I'm still thinking about it.



I can't even remember how many layers this was... or how many times I came by and shaved off a corner piece and then very elegantly ate it with my fingers.



Assorted cookies and biscotti.



Ginormous strawberries with powdered sugar for dipping.



I love tables like this. :)



I love these cupcakes!!



So pretty and colorful, they would be perfet for so many occasions. Like hey, it's Wednesday, let's get one of these cupcakes!



The tables outside had lovely flower arrangements. I do love spider mums.



White roses are always classic and beautiful.



Here we are playing the only game of the day (YAY!) and I have to say this was a lot of fun. Its one of those how well do you know so-and-so games. Our table did really well. Tina's sister won and Stacey and I came close.



What a great idea for a present! This came from Tina's future mother-in-law.



This is what I look like when someone steals my camera. This means, Hey! I'm supposed to be taking pictures of you... not the other way around! This was taken by Teenage Librarian, sneaky thing she is.



Then on to the present opening! I love watching people opening present but I don't like to be in the hot seat. Everyone staring.... everyone staring.... I wouldn't be very good at public speaking.



Lingerie! This wasn't actually what I got her but I made sure my purchase would be a bit racey but not completely XX rated. Nothing edible... but she did get flushed and a bit embarassed so I feel my job was done.



What bride doesn't like jewelry?



These are Tina's cousins and aunts. While Tina was opening presents, her cousin on the left was writing down phrases that she was saying and then put them into a dialogue of what she would say on her wedding night.

Very funny is all I have to say. It could be totally g-rated... or not.



The blushing bride. She had the cutest outfit on... wait, I need to find a picture with her shoes.



Perfect, no?



Lisa, Celeste, Tina and Cat (Kat?). We're gearing up for round 2 of the sweets.



Here we are with Lexi and her stuffed animals. Oh and on the right is Courtney (Teenage Librarian) who also Tina's sister.

I can't wait for the wedding on June 5th!

I love him, I love him not, I love him...

I'll start by letting you know that I have no idea who this dog belongs to. B & I were taking a walk and she was just wandering around the houses and yards. She came right up to B, her long lost friend, and rolled over for a belly rub.

We've always talked about wanting a dog. Actually, when I searched out the apartment we are in one of the reasons I picked it was because it was pet friendly. We planned on getting a dog after we settled in to our new apartment.



We've been in our apartment for over 2 years now. B just wasn't ready for it. Then we got engaged and spent our time running around planning. We decided to get the dog when things calmed down. Then we weren't going to get the dog until after the honeymoon.

Of course, during the last 2 years I have continuously sent B pictures of local animals that needed adopting. Why I do this to myself I will never know. Eventually I gave up the idea.

Last week B & I were taking a walk around the complex. Side note: Having not done any exercise since diagnosis confirmation of pregnancy my legs were actually itching from the extra circulation!

Anyway, as we were walking around B turned to me and said, "Lets get a dog."

????!!!!!!!! Um hello? I have been wanting to get a dog for years and you've decided that now is a good time to get a dog? Now with a baby on the way?

Not only that but where I always leaned towards adopting an older dog B is looking at puppies. Clearly the man is losing it. I give him a week to change his mind.

Road Trip to Becky's!

The lovely Becky of Farmgirl Paints asked me to guest post today while she vacations in Maui (lucky girl)... so please stop on by and visit me there!

Pillow Talk

~A picture from our wedding where I look accurately crazy and B is obviously putting up with me.~

The alternate title could be "Ways to annoy your spouse" or "Please just let me watch MASH" or "Fueled by fruit popsicles".

Me: B, do love me?

B: Yes.

Me: But how much do you love me?

B: A lot.

Me: Are you sure?

B: Yes.

Me: Do you think I should have another popsicle?

B: No. But the peanut can have a popsicle.

Me: Do you love the peanut more than me?

B: Right now?

Me: Yes, right now do you love the peanut more than me?

B: Well, yes because the peanut doesn't speak yet.

Me:

B:

Me: B, do you love me?

B: Yes.

Me: Can you go get me another popsicle?

I hear wedding bells

Today I'm off to Tina's bridal shower!

It's such a very exciting time and I just love seeing her so happy.

I'm sure I'll be sharing pictures of her shower and the desserts that will be there.

You can expect full coverage after the weekend!

Remember what Tina got me for my bridal shower last year?

The "conservative" lingerie and the tickler.

I'm still deciding if I'd like to find a way to really embarass her today.

What do you think?

I'm so happy to see you!

Sometimes when I get to my parents house there is noone home... not even Gingerbread and I know they are out on a walk.

I used to always get greeting like this. Now as the years get on I get this type of greeting only some of the time.

B always gets it. Always. Ginger loves B more than me.



Lets get a close up of that. I like to catch the flopping of the ears.



Go Ginger go!



And she passes right by me.

A few circles around the yard and she is ready to be hugged and kissed.

Unless B is here. If B is here she will completely bypass me and wait for his attention.

Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach

We haven't talked about cupcakes in a while, have we?

A while back I was at a little event... actually I was a hair model for Bumble and Bumble to demonstrate a bob using a razor... and I managed to take a gazillion pictures of cupcakes and none of my hair. :) I know.



Ladies and Gentlemen, please meet the star of our show... Cupcake Couture of Manhattan Beach!

Some lovely lady brought this in for us and I was immediately smitten. Kim (the wonder woman who did my wedding hair and continued to primp me all that day) called me over knowing I would want to take pictures.



I didn't buy the cupcakes and resisted the urge to bite into all of them so I can only guess at the flavors. Their website will show pictures of the cupcakes as well as descriptions but my computer is not currently allowing me to see those pictures.

This one is called Glitz & Glamour: roasted vanilla bean cake with creamy vanilla frosting and garnished with a candied vanilla bean. Just look at all those little curls!



I thought it rude to touch other people food so I didn't poke this. But look how dark those curls are. Are they chocolate? Are they cookie?



The boxes come wrapped in hot pink and black ribbon. Very cute!



Cupcake Couture features both "Couture" cupcakes and "Designer" Cupcakes (that you see in these pictures). An example of a couture cupcake is their Sunday Mimosa Cupcake. This is a champagne cake filled with blood orange curd, topped with marscarpone citrus frosting and garnished with blood orange caviar. The couture cupcakes are much larger.



Doesn't that frosting look so creamy? Is it mocha? Peanut butter? Coffee?



This is the Little Miss Shortcake. Kim loved it. Strawberry cake filled with strawberry preserves, topped with whipped french vanilla frosting and a macaron.



I chose the Caramel Apple and it was heavenly. I love the piece of apple roll-up on the top.



The cake was moist and filled with an applie pie filling of sorts.

I wish I lived closer to Manhattan Beach!

Hello friends!

First I'd like to thank you all for continuing to visit during my very sporadic posting. I'm feeling more and more energy daily and I am so very grateful. I'm not sure what you all come here for as the focus of my blog changes on a weekly basis. Is it food? Travel? Wedding? Baby? Gibberish? If you're hanging around here you must like the gibberish.

This Thursday marks 13 weeks and we're celebrating the end of the first trimester. Some say its 12, some say 13, some say 14 weeks. If you divide the 40 weeks of pregnancy then it's actually 13 weeks and 3 days. If you want to be specific.

I'm spending this week visiting with friends. Literally every other evening is a dinner date with friends I haven't seen in ages. We're also heading into wedding season and all the events that surround it. We'll be attending 4 this summer and 1 this fall. Oh and the baby showers will be starting up.

Right now we have something on the calendar every weekend from now until the end of June. Yay for more energy because I want to enjoy all of this!



Posts should become more regular and I'm dying to catch up on your blogs too. I feel so out of touch :)

What is your spring schedule like?

Some say weird, I say unique

No, this picture does not have anything to do with this post.

Many of you already know of NieNie and follow her blog and I'm sure many of you follow her sister C Jane's blog. C Jane just had a beautiful baby girl that she named Ever. Ever Jane Kendrick.

She wrote all about the naming process here and the post made me smile from ear to ear. It's about the difficulty of finding a name and then sharing it with others. This is especially true when it comes to untraditional names. Even with traditional names someone always knows a so-and-so with that name that they didn't like or so on.

As we don't know the gender of the baby yet we haven't gotten serious about names. I almost cringe when I think about having to name the baby. You see, I'm not a fan of traditional names for our little one. I think good, classic names are beautiful but I'm looking for something unique.

Not that I want to traumatize my child. I really don't. We laugh at some of the celebrity names we've heard. For instance, did you know that Jermaine Jackson named his youngest Jermajesty? Some countries have gone so far as to have laws against certain horrid baby names. I read an article a few years back about court rulings against names such as: Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii (yes the "from Hawaii" is part of the legal name), Fish and Chips and what translates in English to Smelly Dog.

My names aren't nearly that....unique. Or shall we just say cruel.

The problem is that 99% of the names I throw out there get the blank stare, nose crinkle or look of concern. It makes me understand why some people don't tell anyone the name of their baby until s/he is born. I know that whatever name we pick will come with mixed reviews. When I look thru top 10 baby name lists it's in order to cross them off my baby name list. I'm just odd like that.

In a way, this shouldn't be surprising at all. Less than a year ago people were crinkling their noses at my wedding ideas and look how great that turned out! But this isn't a wedding, this is a name that will last a lifetime. I'm sure whatever we end up naming the baby will be just fine down the line. People will adjust and get used to it.


Right?

How did you find the naming process?

All things Bright and beautiful

I apologize for my absence this weekend. I was just too busy taking pictures of this beautiful boy.

He and his mommy were in town and this is the first time we got to meet.



B & I worked with his mom and dad and have known each other for years.

This little man is 7 months old and officially the most mellow child I have ever encountered.



He's a little fish and just loves his bath time.



Oh look, toes!



After this picture we spent a good amount of time playing with a cardboard box and trying to climb on Uncle.

All the toys he could want and we end up playing with cardboard boxes and coasters.



The next day we had lunch with some friends I hadn't seen in ages. It was so nice to catch up!

He would have let me hold him forever so he could bounce and bounce and bounce.

I love his little feet.



If I have a child half as easy as this one, I'll be blessed.