Christmas

Greg got some time off work so we rented a car and drove up to Northern Cali for Christmas.  We spent most of the trip with his family; this was the first time they were all together again since our wedding coming up on 4 years ago.  There were lots of pictures so the easiest way to show them is in the book I created.  It is also on the Sims Peanut Shutterfly site if you'd like to order a copy for yourself.  You will need an account to order anything from the site but it is very easy to set up.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly baby photo books are the perfect way to preserve your baby's precious moments.

It's a.......

We had our big ultrasound and everything looked great!! The baby is measuring about a half a week bigger and at my last appointment there was some discussion about it but it would only change my due date up by a few days..... so I told him the baby will come when the baby comes and I've always planned late April.  (I have a feeling it will happen around the 18th for some reason.... have had that feeling for quite some time)  We told the tech we wanted her to write down the gender and put it in an envelope.  Later in the morning, Lillian and I took the envelope and a box to Babies R Us.  We picked out a boy outfit and a girl outfit, took both to the register and asked the to ring up the corresponding outfit that is revealed in the card.  The cashier was very excited she got to be part of this surprise for me.  I had her ring it up, put it directly in the box with the receipt so I didn't even know.  I also bought a card there and asked her to put the gender inside the card so I could mail it to one set of grandparents.  We took the gift home, wrapped it and took it to Greg's parents for a big Christmas reveal.  We mailed the card to my parents so they could open it Christmas Day as well and we could all find out together even though we were going to be in different places.  Greg's dad, Gary, did the honors of opening the gift and we found out it's a...........

Mama's Birthday Weekend

We took a little day trip up to Santa Monica for my birthday weekend.  As a special treat Lillian got to spend the day with her Mimi, Papa and Auntie Jess and Sandra too!  Jessica was trying out for a new baking show premiering on CBS this fall (unfortunately she didn't make it but that doesn't mean we didn't still have fun!)  I convinced her to talk my parents into coming down so we could all spend our birthday weekend together.  Here are a collection of pictures from that trip: 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted a little late but still have photos to share.  Lillian helped me bake this past week getting ready for Thanksgiving.  I even tried out all vegan recipes that were surprisingly very good.  Lillian helped me make an apple cranberry crisp and mini vegan pumpkin pies.  She loves to help and knew what to do without much guidance.  At home she has a large collection of wooden food, some in connected together with Velcro so she can "cut" them apart.  She calls it "make it" (she came up with the name since I always say wait I have to make it).  That collection of toys is a big hit at our house for play dates.  I pull out wooden spoons and pots and pans for the kids to use.  Oh she also really enjoyed wearing an apron; it is one of mine I just tied around her a few times..... she kept calling it a dress.  Below is Lillian enjoying her finished product.... unfortunately she was saying "cheese" in the second picture with pie in her mouth.

Santa fun!

We had lots of fun with Santa this year! He even noticed Mama's early gift of our new little peanut.  Lillian made progress this year and didn't cry although she was still hesitant of sitting on Santa's lap.  Of course she warmed up to him at the end when he gave her candy!  Maybe next year we should try that first.  Even though she showed some hesitation, there were no worries, Mama and Daddy came prepared this year and were ready for a family photo op.  It looked like the photographer gets that a lot, stools and boxes were already set up for us to sit on.  We found Santa hiding out in Seaport Village and it was a lot better than his big rush at the mall.  I believe his photographer helper were more about capturing the image, and a good image at that instead of just snapping a quick photo.

Santa has arrived in San Diego!

Santa arrived in beautiful San Diego today on his surfboard!  Daddy and Lillian caught a wave with him.  This year Lillian is still a bit hesitant of Santa when asked to go alone but no tears were shed this year so that is an improvement!  If the song doesn't play above, click play.... very cute and should be San Diego's official Christmas Song especially with our surfing Santa!

Peanut #2- 16 weeks

We had a doctors appointment yesterday and my uterus is measuring a little ahead at 16 1/2 weeks (not that it really matters, the baby will come when the baby wants to come).  Both Lillian and Greg came with me to the appointment and it was their first time hearing the baby.  Lillian knows there is a baby in my belly (actually she thinks there is a baby in daddy's belly too!) but I'm not sure if she understood why we could hear it. I've been feeling some kicks here and there and finally have my energy back!  I feel like I'm not showing as much this time around and I've been doing well with weight so far, gained nothing yet.  I've been taking weekly photos again first thing in the morning before I have any food or liquid to really show the actual size of the baby bump, not bloat that will accumulate later in the day.  Some days I can stay the same size as I started in the morning, others I have a noticeable bump.  I tried to set up the camera (I even have tape on the ground) to make it so the photos were the exact same each week but the camera has been bumped a few times. Here is an animated clip from 9-16 weeks: 

As a fun comparison, I also put my belly photo from last pregnancy next to this weeks.  The one with the writing is last pregnancy.  

 

At 16 weeks, the peanut is about the size of an avocado, 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces.