whats going on these days

There has been a lot going on these days...

my mom painted this gorgeous abstract for the baby's nursery... ya know the nursery she doesn't have yet but someday will.

Brady let me order these fun M&M's for the hospital for any family or friends that come to the hospital to meet the baby.  

For our Young Women's New Beginnings Program, they had me speak.  The theme was follow the yellow brick road and embark in the journey.  I dressed up as a very, very pregnant Dorothy. 

My good friend and neighbor Heather had her 30th birthday and so we celebrated by lunch and getting our nails done with her girls.  It was her first time ever getting a pedicure! For reals!  I have never met a girl who hasn't ever had her nails done before. 

We spoke to Jackson vis facetime...its always my favorite way because we don't get to see him much these days.  He is showing me what I look like in the first picture and then we facetimed him while we facetimed my family when my youngest brother Blake found out where he is serving his mission for two years... Boise, Idaho Spanish speaking!  

I drove down to Orange County to meet friends for lunch at Zinc cafe and did some shopping.  I finally got my favorite diaper bag. 

My sweet friends of South Pas threw me a shower at Jordan's house.  It was a lot of fun to get together and talk babies.  Here's a picture of Heather and I... we are due the same date, but our baby is just a lot bigger! I'm huge.

Lastly, I went to my childhood friend's baby shower, Tracey... she is having a boy and girl! It was fun to see high school friends here and celebrate her.  

Valentines

My sweet friends and sister-in-law put together a baby shower for me.  It was a little last minute because it was going to be in the middle of March, but the doctor said the baby is growing ahead of where she should be, so I could be having her early.  At 31 weeks she measured 4.3 pounds which means she will be big!  My OB doesn't want me to deliver a baby over 6 pounds but won't induce me unless I'm 39 weeks.  So... I'm getting more and more uncomfortable.  My friend Brittany mailed out invites... 65 to be exact and only around 25 came I think because it was so last minute and two other events were going on the same night. 

I went over to South Coast Plaza to see what I registered for at Land of The Nod and fixed a few things since they looked different in the store.  I wish there were more stores, instead of only 4 nationwide.

On Tuesday night we chaperoned my youngest brother, his girlfriend and their friends while at the concert, Ben Howard at the Shrine.  We got up on the VIP section because I look so pregnant. 

It was my dad's birthday and they stayed at the Ritz for a few nights to celebrate so we all met at their room to give him our gift to him... he is very patriotic since both his dads served in WWII and a fireman so my sister found a vintage flag that flew over the capitol in the 90's, my brother in law custom framed it himself and we all wrote on the back.  He was so stoked.  The kids all went swimming at the pools there while we girls had to go to the shower in San Clemente.

So many of my close girlfriends came which made me feel so special.  It was a gorgeous backyard and my friends spent so much time setting up for it.  

I opened gifts in front of everyone... which I so don't like because attention like that isn't for me.  Everyone was so thoughtful. It's funny to see new baby things that wasn't around with Jackson or such girly things I'm not use to.  I kept thinking 'what the heck is this?' or 'where on the baby's body does this go?' Oh man, those big bows get me every time.  What do I do with these big things?

So many people contributed to the group gift of a stroller and carseat... so nice of everyone! 

I feel ready.  I didn't get much from my registry but am so grateful for a stroller and car seat.

My friend Tracey and I have been good friends since before high school and she is 4 weeks behind me but with twins.  We both found out we were having twins around the same time so it was exciting and it is still exciting that both of her babies are healthy.  She as well is having a boy and girl, and I couldn't be more happy for her.

Here are more people that planned my shower...

Linds (my sister-in-law) and Jessica (my bff since we were 4)

I was so tired the next day, so I took it easy taking naps and getting ready for Jackson to come.  He arrived around 9:45 pm since they drove in and we were so stoked to have him.

In the morning we went to Universal Studios.  I didn't bring my wheelchair because I didn't think we would walk very much.  It happened to be a very hot day and lots of crowds.  I had to sit down a lot and my feet were swelling like balloons.  Near the end, they went on one more ride so I made myself comfy sitting on this empty bench no one was near.  I read some emails, minded my own business with both of my feet up and low and behold, a korean lady comes next to me, gives me the look to drop my feet and sits right next to me.  I wasn't surprised but I put my feet down and sat normal.

Then a few minutes later, a HUGE group full of chinese came up to my bench and three elderly ladies looked at me to scoot over even more.  My purse was covering my stomach so I uncovered it to show them I couldn't scoot further over but they could care less.  Three tried to sit down, but instead two only fit.  So here I am sitting next to three elderly ladies that smelled like a nursing home (sorry for being so rude) but they did...and then Brady texted me saying they were looking for me.  I described to him what bench I was on and he captured this moment right after the ladies held up a sign that said, "I am from Hong Kong, I do not speak any English" So classic.  It was as if I got stuck in the Alhambra Costco's bench and couldn't get out.

Later we went to Jackson's basketball game and my parents came up to watch it as well.  Jackson scored two baskets out of the eight his team scored.  He really is getting the hang of things.  Brady took lots of videos and pictures of him playing.

After Jackson gave my dad his birthday gift, a TP roll of Obama and then we headed to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. 

My dad took this of us walking to dinner.  They went to the art store while we waiting inside.

They came over for a little but and then Brady took Jackson to play basketball at the park we walk to all the time.  They played while I took a bath... the baby is getting so big that she is sitting on some painful nerves.

On Sunday we went to church and then we rallied up some friends to play some father-son basketball at the school down the street.  The boys had a good time!

On Monday Brady played basketball at the church with the guys and then I brought Jackson and his buddies to the church to play with their dads again.

They played for hours, getting sweaty and pumped.

We took his friend to the beach while we met his friend's family and many other families from our ward at Ocean Park near Santa Monica.  

Jack and his friends covered themselves with towels and we threw fishies + chips trying to get birds on them, so they could try to catch them.  They sat there for 30 minutes but the birds knew what was up!

We grabbed Cafe Rio and then had to drop Jackson off.  It was hard as always to say goodbye.  I sat in the back with him and scratched his little back.

When we came home, Brady made me a little snack... my favorite.

The best part about my obsession of cheese is that I normally can't stand cheese but this pregnancy is ruling my body.

Pre-Valentines Weekend

I registered at The Land of The Nod and Buy Buy Baby but am having a hard time finding the colors I really like for this baby's nursery.  Since we are in a small space for now, she won't have her own room so there isn't a big rush to decorate it but I did at least want to make her a quilt.  I am into neon peach and mint green for her... maybe someday I'll second guess why I chose these colors like I did for Jackson's room nine years ago with blue, brown and navy but then again they were the colors that were in back then.  It was fun going to anthropologie, paper source and downtown LA for fabric to create inspiration for it all.  This triangle quilt won't be easy but I'm excited to do some labor of love.  One of my strongest love languages is service so since I don't work as much as I use to, this fills in that space.

Jackson came into town and we were so excited.  I had all my sewing stuff out on the kitchen table so I told Jackson I wanted to teach him how to sew.  He was against it on the drive back from the airport saying it was too girly, but once I showed him how to, he LOVED it.  I had him practice on the scraps from his blanket I made him last year.  He was hooked.  We made a headband next, then we planned out the rest we were going to sew the next day.

I went into his room to see if he was asleep and tuck him in, and this is how I found him.  All that sewing wiped him out.

Saturday we sewed all morning.  He made pajama pants, felt monsters, handmade valentines out of felt and he even helped me with the quilt.  He said, "If I get good enough, I want to sell something at Mermade Market for auntie Elise!"

I took him to his first game he had here in South Pas.  He did so good... he even got a basket!  His first basket at a basketball game.  I got it on video but am the worst with technology so I don't know how to upload it here.

Brady and I took Jackson to Universal Studios for the night.  They pushed me around in the wheelchair.  We went to shows, they went on Jurassic Park three times because it was so empty.  After we grabbed dinner and rented a movie.

Jackson's class spent some time writing down names, submitting names for this baby girl.  It was the cutest thing we have ever seen.  The names on both pages were hilarious... Mary Poppins, LaLa, Starleenna, Firework, Snowflake, Mertle. 

On Sunday we had church, watched a movie, walk along Palos Verdes with other families, and we worked on the valentines he wanted to give to his classmates.

On Monday Brady had to work so we sewed a little in the morning and then drove to Disneyland!

He pushed me in the wheelchair and loved it.  

I so don't like that he had to go on rides by himself 

but he got on the rides pretty quickly having me in a wheelchair.  

We went over to the Frozen Snow-play area and it wasn't what it was all cracked up to be but we made the most of it.  

He got VIP services on most of the rides including Space Mountain and loved it.

After Disneyland we drove to Orange County airport and he read to me the whole hour and a half early we were there, waiting for his flight.  It was so hard when we had to say goodbye.  Our days were it's just Jackson as the only child are numbered but our time will always be cherished.  I loved all of our moments together.  He has a phone but doesn't charge it so I can't just call him to tell him I love him that easily.  I got a call that night and he was crying saying how much he has cried since he left.  I wanted to run over there and hold him and tell him everything is going to be okay but a facetime call is all we could do.