a girl??

The morning after we found out the baby's gender, I woke up with the worst sore throat and cold- probably because I was really cold at the park.  I had two surprises come from good friends of mine that out of the blue asked to bring me something... homemade tomato soup and chai from two separate friends.  It was so sweet and actually made me feel better. I'm so grateful for friends!  I have felt so far away from all my friends I've grown up with so having so many new friends here, it's been so great.  

The next day I felt loads better, to the point where I moved all the chairs, the table in our dining room and started to maybe turn up the music, and possibly dance like I was on a maternity version of So You Think You Can Dance. I think I only pulled of a double, no axles or fuetes, but I did however dance my large bellied-body off.  As I was pumping the music and having the time of my life by myself, I thought... what the heck, I get to have a little girl to do this with -- how lucky I am!  Being a hairstylist a lot of people have thought I would always want to have girls, but truly, it's something that seems kind of scary.  I had two younger sisters and two brothers, but I'm a girly girl with a heart of a tomboy.  I don't do the big bows, the hot magenta pink, the tutus, the ruffles, the over-done polka dots, but I do do the braids and beachy kind of style for girls.  I want our girls to be tough, brave, confident, anything but sissy, but love the ocean.  Having Jackson first makes me feel like a boy-mom.  All of our names are very boyish but we are completely okay with it.  

(my sister took these two years ago when Jack and I were playing in the water, I love them!)

Brady told me to go out to the store and buy girly clothes.  I am not a shopper, so this didn't sound fun.  I had a doctor's appointment next to a huge open mall so I walked around, just looking at the girls sections and managed to find about 7 new outfits.  They all look straight-lines, bohemian and one floral jumpsuit.  It was pretty fun... then I walked into Anthro and saw this collection, and held back for now... but oh my book-loving self wants a pretty collection for this little miss!

Gender Reveal Weekend

On Friday night I went to a Halloween party with some friends, we had dinner, and took the kids trick or treating around South Pasadena.  The streets really are alive here on Halloween.  Brady met me after he was done with his surgery and we hung out with our friends for another hour or two. 

On Saturday night we had to get Brady's tires fixed and then went to the UCLA game with my dad and he invited our family friend Stan who happens to be my childhood dentist.  The game was finally good!  UCLA beat Arizona.  We had a good time.

On Sunday we drove down to Orange County for little Theo's baby blessing.  After we had to return something at J. Crew and I snapped this picture... I'm huge!  17 weeks!  We were so excited to find out if this baby was a girl or a boy. 

Around 3:45 we went over to Elise's house where we held Theo and helped Elise get ready for Finn's 2nd birthday party.  After he opened presents and we ate dinner, we did the big gender reveal. 

We got Jackson on the phone and Brady's parents.  We bit into the cupcakes our neighbor friend made us, Heather, and it was... 

A GIRL! 

Whattttt??? 

I've never had a girl.

No Lundquist woman has had a girl yet. 

We are so excited and thrilled. 

Jackson called it that he would have a sister, and when he found out, he said, "I knew it, but I really wanted another brother!"

We are so glad we did it with the family instead of finding out alone on Thursday night when I had the ultrasound. 

 

I got all emotional in the middle of everything, thinking of how great of a father Brady will be to this baby girl.  He is such a kind, gentle guy that I know this little girl will be wrapped around his finger.  We are excited!

The Price is Right

My best friend Jessica and I got tickets to go to the Price is Right.
We use to watch it when we four and five, guessing all of the products and getting excited over the showcase. 

I woke up at 5:30, drove over to the Grove, took a nap in the car while I waited for Jessica.  I got us breakfast and brought it to her in line where she met me.  We went inside and had to go through line, after line, waiting. We then got interviewed and we tried to be as outgoing as we are but were sitting next to a guy that wasn't outgoing, only when were we being interviewed.  He told the interviewer that he was a Veteran.  We waited another hour sitting next to this guy talking to him.  He said if we go up, he will come celebrate with us for the showcase, or if he goes up, he wanted us to be there as his family since he came alone.  

We got seated near the front, and had high hopes we would be able to get on (at least one of us).  The set itself was sort of cheap-looking and very 70's.  It was so small and not what you would expect.  We had to stand and clap, and help with people that got called up.  The last person getting called up was Robert, the guy sitting next to us!  He got onto the showcase!  We couldn't believe it. He ended up winning the whole showcase.  It was nuts!  So exciting. We ended up not going up there actually because it just was not feeling right but it was fun watching our buddy win.  I don't know if we will do it again anytime soon, but it was sure an experience.  The show won't air until January 12 at 10 am.  I am sure you will see me and Jessica a lot of the show.  

Halloween Weekend With Jackson

I am on this super strict diet, per my acupuncturist, so I ventured out to try to make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.  I used my sister-in-law's recipe and tweaked it to be allergy friendly.  They actually turned out really, really good.  Brady thinks I need to make a recipe book -- it would be fun if I did but maybe down the road.

Jackson came into town and we were so excited about it!  We got dinner at Cafe Rio by LAX after seeing his friend Phoenix on the flight and came home.

I had these pajamas ready for him.  He was so tired by the time I took these that he doesn't look like he loves them but I know deep down he actually does.... or maybe this is the last year I can do stuff like this.

In the morning we woke up early and went to Disneyland. 

I wanted Jackson to see all of the Halloween decorations before they change it to Christmas. 

Being so pregnant, we went on pregnant-friendly rides together and am glad he was such a good sport about it.  We were able to hit up both parks and made it in time for his soccer game.  

I got him a book about Walt Disney that he loved.  He wants to bring it next time we go and get signitures from the characters.  He would read it aloud to me while we were waiting in line with magic in his eyes.  It was pretty cute and fun!

swollen cankles much? 

They smoked the other team with Jackson getting 3 of the 8 goals his team scored.  Near the end of the game we were cheering on the other team to score or run faster but our boys were just a little bigger than the other team. 

We headed over to the Pumpkin Patch close by after the game and Jackson picked out a HUGE pumpkin. We relaxed when we got home, finally, before getting ready for the church Trunk or Treat.  Jackson went as the color red?, Brady as Bob Ross and me as "Happy Tree"  We found that people in our ward that were born in the 90's had no idea who were were, or maybe they didn't watch PBS.  Jackson had fun trunk or treating and running around with his buddies.

How much does Jackson look like my little brother Blake? 

We came home and watched E.T. with the girls while Brady fell asleep downstairs.

On Sunday we went to church, had a yummy lunch and carved the pumpkin Jackson picked out. 

We had such a fun weekend.  We sure wish we could go trick or treating here in South Pasadena with him next week.  He still hasn't been able to with timing.  He would love it here!

October Happenings

I wanted to tell Jackson about one of the twins just in case he heard about it from someone else so I called him and told him.  He didn't take it very well and I felt so terrible I couldn't be with him.  He was crying so hard and didn't understand why one of his twins wasn't going to make it.  My parents called him to console him and I think that helped.  I couldn't just fly up there last minute so I asked one of my friends with Well Mixed Sweets, Megan, to go over to his house there and give him a hug from me.  She did and bonus, she brought him Halloween cookies.  I couldn't believe I have a friend that would do that for me.  So so sweet.  I cried.  I am so grateful for friends like this to be there for me when I am not able to for Jackson.

The week wasn't the easiest, so Brady was so sweet to take me out on a date down in Hollywood.  We ate at Veggie Grill and walked over to Amoeba.  We got ET and another movie. 

I got to see the baby and the other baby that didn't make it which was so bittersweet.  The other baby, Twin B, was getting so small compared to Twin A.  Twin A was thriving and Twin B was shrinking.  It was so hard to see them both facing each other and it will be hard to see this baby every ultrasound since this baby will be with me until the end of this pregnancy.  I wish my body could just heal this baby and then we can have them both again. 

3-D pictures are a little creepy at this stage but so sweet.