Votes are in.

Between our blog and facebook polls we have a tally of Boy: 18. Girl: 7
(there is still time to get your vote in-poll in the right margin)

Chloe is certain she wants a baby sister.
Great Grandma Mana insists it's a boy.
I'm so excited and curious to know more about this little growing soul.

Can I just say maternity jeans are the best ever invention?

H is for Health. And Hooray!

Hello faithful 9 followers!

I haven't forgotten about you.  Thank you for standing by while I iron out this new season.  After 10 weeks of (all day) morning sickness followed up by a cold and allergy attack for another 12 days, I've been just barely getting by.  Now that the yucks have mostly retreated, I'm vowing to not take for grated my health.  Something I am so, beyond words, thankful to have restored.

My little family is probably even more happy to have me back.  Let's just say, I was a grump.  And then got cranky about not feeling well and then was so disappointed that I wasn't able to be the same cheerful mama and wife I'd like to be.  It was a vicious cycle that I'm happy to leave behind.  I am so thankful to my husband for the constant support, extra rest time and reminders that I will feel better.  I was starting to think I would be in a constant state of yuck.

I was so caught off guard with the morning sickness.  With Chloe I felt fantastic from day one, tired in the beginning but fantastic.  The start to this pregnancy was a humbling experience.  Which makes me wonder, could baby #2 be a boy?  We will see.

Let's say I'm finding silver linings everywhere, now that I've mended.  I forgot I was a optimistic person even.  Hooray for health!

And today I celebrated with an extra pick me up, a hair cut.  Nothing makes me feel more like a new woman than a fresh cut & color.  Not to mention, the time to just sit and have someone take care of you.  It feels like a mini vacation, really.

Also, exciting news...we find out this sweet baby's gender very soon.  I can't wait to know more about who this little, growing babe is.  I'm feeling more movement all the time.  Which is so exciting.  Any gender guesses?

Happy 2013!

I have so many favorites, I couldn't just share a few. Our dear friend Lisa Lytton is a very talented photographer here in Phoenix. We met her at Market Street in DC Ranch to catch some candid shots of our little family. I was so happy with every shot she took and the crisp bright colors and natural lighting look so fresh. I can't wait to get one printed large scale for our new home, perhaps us laying in the grass.

And we swam.

In the warm November sun, we swam.  The guys took turns chasing and catching Chloe in the pool while I soaked my feet and relaxed.  It was the perfect way to run off those holiday calories and have fun together.  Then back home to clean up, eat homemade nacho's and play for hours.

 

 

A favorite of Chloe and my dad.  Their laughter was contagious.

AJ passing down his childhood car collection.

Chloe was thrilled.  What a nice uncle!

Thank you, LuLa for the yummy recipe.  Try them!

Tree Shopping, back in November.

Popcorn! while tree shopping, thank you Home Depot.  

This man knows how to pick a good tree.

For the first time ever we ventured out to a store on Black Friday.  One quick trip to Home Depot to pick out the perfect pine for our desert home.  It instantly made our apartment cozy and brought some of the holiday feeling we'd been missing with the still hot temperatures.  That might be the only shopping we ever do on Black Friday.  For me the time is all about family and setting foot into a busy, crowded, retail crazed store is the last thing on my list.  I like our time together to be cherished.  That night AJ and Kevin hit up the iPic theater to see a movie and my dad, Chloe and I continued the family tradition he and my mom started when we were children and watched The Velveteen Rabbit before bed.  If you don't have this movie you must get it for your Christmas collection.  Meryl Streep narrates, as usual, she (and the illustrations) is perfection.

Let's just say our tree was one crispy little guy by the time we traveled to Temecula for the holidays.      He was removed for fear of fire a week before we left.  But oh how we enjoyed that sweet pine scent.  And the twinkling lights.  Oh the lights, my favorite part.

We are thankful.

Grocery shopping, on my own.

I am so thankful for this man.  

Dancing while I cooked.  Such a cute sight.

Sister, you were so missed.  

We were so happy to have my dad and brother AJ with us for Thanksgiving last year.  (I'm about 4 months behind here.)  Here were a few of my favorite photos from the day.  It was a quiet holiday at home.  And the food was so delicious.  We are so thankful for all the blessings in our lives, but most of all we are thankful for family.