Mother's Day

Morning sickness on Mothers Day should go away, but it makes it all worth it when I look at Alex's sweet face. If you look carefully you can see a baby bump.  I'm trying to wear all my dresses before my belly is too big and nursing starts again.  I feel very blessed to not only be a mother, but to be surrounded by so many amazing examples of what a mother & woman should be. My own mother, mother in law, sister in laws, grandparents, aunts, friends, strangers... the list goes on. Some have children & some do not. But every single one of them have taught me something to make & shape me into who I am today. For that, I am grateful to all of you. Thank's for making me a mom Alex.

Paradise

Last weekend we went to Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl.  Coldplay is one of my favorite bands and has always been on my list to see, so I was beyond thrilled when I heard they were coming.  

The Hollywood Bowl is huge.  As much as I would have loved to buy the $5000 tickets in the front I opted for the middle which were still a ridiculous amount of money.

In our pictures it looks like we are so far away, but they were actually pretty amazing seats.  We were sitting 2 sections behind the green seats.  

At the gate they handed out different colored bracelets to everyone that walked in.

When the show started everyone's lit up a different color and they would do different things during different songs.

It was pretty amazing to look into the crowd and see everyone's bracelet lit up.

From the moment they came on it was a great show.  This was their opening song.

Another one of my favorite songs was when they threw these huge balls out into the audience.

If they popped confetti fell out everywhere, so awesome.

One of the last and best songs they sang was Paradise.  I looove them.

They kept making jokes all night about how they knew all the people in the back were there and they appreciated them.  They mad a surprise appearance in the middle of the Bowl right by us and sang a few songs, pretty cool.

One of my favorite concerts, so much fun.

13 Weeks

Oh boy where do I begin.  I must have forgot everything I hated about being pregnant otherwise I would have waited another 5 years.  I'm done with my 13th week and I've already gained 8lbs.  I know I don't look like it in this picture, but I can't fit into most of my jeans and I worked sooo hard at losing those 45lbs after Alex was born.

If you care to read about all my first trimester symptoms then here you go.

I'm sick in the mornings for a couple hours and usually throw up right when I wake up while Alex is standing next to me looking in the toilet. I'm not one of those pregnant ladies that loses tons of weight in the first trimester, instead I still throw up and gain weight.  

I'm the sickest at nights and seriously just lay in bed from the moment Alex goes to bed at 7PM until I can't stand it any longer which is usually around 9:30.  

I have to get up 2-3 times a night to pee and I have the craziest dreams.  

Water tastes awful to me which I remember the same thing in the first trimester with Alex.

I dry heave all the time over smells and just because.

I get car sick super easy and dealt with that last week on the way to the IE.

I have an awful taste in my mouth all the time

I have awful acid reflux and indigestion.

I'm so tired, but luckily can take naps while Alex is taking his nap.  

I am soooo hungry all the time.  It can't be normal.  

My stomach already hurts from growing

In the beginning I was craving fruit and didn't really want anything to do with sugar.  

I've had the most random cravings sushi, Greek, Mexican, Chinese, Subway, pizza, cheese fries.   

With Alex it was always Mexican, but I want everything with this one.  

Let me just say Pinterest and food commercials are not good for anyone pregnant.  One night I was on Pinterest and saw a Strawberry shake and I had to have one that night, but I wanted a Strawberry shake with real strawberries, so Al went and bought me ice cream, and strawberries....lol   I haven't really been on Pinterest since because a lot of the food pictures make me sick.
All my symptoms have been really similar to when I was pregnant with Alex, so I'm convinced it's another Boy!!

When people find out I'm pregnant they love to say something like well how old is Alex?  Was it an accident?  You are going to have your hands full, just wait.  Your life is going to change

Yes we wanted them 18 months apart and yes it was planned.  No accidents here.  I'm sure I will have my hands full and of course my life is going to change.  It changed with Alex too, but all for the better.  

Of course I worry about Alex and if I made the right decision about having 2 so close together, but I wanted him to have a friend and I know it will be worth it.  Another question I get a lot is....is it hard to be pregnant and chase around a toddler? Yes, but it's so much better than working full time, commuting an hour each way, sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day, and then doing it all over again.  Being a mom is way better.  It may not sound like I'm thankful, but I am.  I know there is a lot of people out there that can't get pregnant or it takes a long time and most of those people are the ones that would make the most amazing parents.  Just a couple more weeks and hopefully I will feel more normal with a growing baby inside me.  

Weekend Party

My mom came at the last minute to visit us. I don't know if you read this blog Patty, but thank you for helping us get her on a flight :)  Alex was in heaven.  He must recognize her voice since I talk to her everyday and we Skype a lot.  He had entertainment for 4 days and loved every minute of it.  

It was great.  I could lay on the couch without him whining and go upstairs without him crying.  

Our first morning Al went on a long bike ride so I took my mom to one of my favorite breakfast spots called Julienne.

They have the most amazing creme brulee french toast

and their omelette's are so good.

My mom let Alex play with her phone until he basically thought it was his.  Now that she is gone I'm trying to break him of the habit from constantly wanting mine...lol

Al on his long bike ride straight up the mountain (there are mountains in LA too:))

We went on a Saturday morning walk around the Rose Bowl.  Alex wasn't having it about half way around so we ended up carrying him.

The fat I worked so hard at getting rid of is slowly creeping back. 

Later that day we went to Manhattan Beach.  Looks like I will be buying another beach chair because that was Alex's favorite thing to do while we were there.

Checking out the snack bag.

Al tried to take a nap, but Alex wasn't letting that happen.

Every time my mom or I got up from our chair, Alex ran over to steal it, so funny.

Claiming his chair with his sandy cookie that he kept eating.

That night Al and I got to go on a date and even better we didn't have to pay a babysitter, thanks mom. We tried a Japanese Steakhouse in La Canada called Sakura.  

Usually I can't eat half of what they give you, but I ate everything on my plate.  I don't believe when the Dr says your not really eating for two because in the first 3-4 months of pregnancy my appetite  doubles, it's crazy.   No wonder I gain weight so quickly.

This was one of Alex's favorite games to play with Grandma.  She would sit up and then he would push her back and she would pretend to fall over.  He seriously laughed for 20 minutes.

One day we took her to Balboa Island to walk around.

Ferry ride over to Balboa Island

The original plan was to ride bikes but I got nauseous so I had to sit down for awhile.

You can't got to Balboa without getting a Frozen Banana or Balboa Bar

So much fun at Balboa

Alex with his phone on the way home just chatting it up.

Serious conversation.

We went to dinner with my Uncle David at the most amazing Whole Foods.  I can't believe I've lived in Pasadena for 7 months and that was my first time.  I will post a picture next time I go....the salad bar is like nothing you've ever seen. AMAZING. 

Her last day in LA we went and walked around Old Town, had some spicy fruit for lunch, did a daily Target run, and went to the IE for my Uncle Ben's Birthday.  I had a bunch of popcorn and soda at Target before we went and while we were stuck in traffic it all came back up.  Talk about gross.  This throwing up everyday has got to stop and the worst part is I still gain weight, haha.  

Ben's wife Geisa made a yummy dinner and let me just say it is so nice not to cook right now.  I hate eating anything I have to make.  If you would like to cook me dinner just let me know :)

My mom with all of her brothers.  6 sisters are missing.  

Alex loved Cassie or maybe just her hair, it was cute.  

It was a great weekend that ended too fast.  Thanks for coming to visit mom, we miss you already.

Seventy Percent

I'm getting behind again, but that's what morning sickness does to you. I would rather relax when Alex is sleeping than write a blog.  I'm not sure what this picture is from, but it makes me laugh.

Al read reviews on this IntelliGender test that says it's 99% accurate so we bought one.

You have to take it in the morning and these were our results.  BOY

I posted this picture on Instagram and there was a few people that said they took this test and it was wrong bla bla bla.  Everyone has an opinion right:)   It was fun to take so we will see if it's accurate in 6 more weeks.

We took a day trip to Newport Beach to test drive a car and get a gender Ultrasound at this clinic that can tell you the sex of the baby at 13 weeks.

Alex waited patiently in the waiting room or more like destroyed everything he could get his hands on. 

The girl that was giving me the Ultrasound was having a hard time because the baby wouldn't really move which is crazy because I drank a huge Sonic Cherry Lime aid and had a little bit of a Snickers before I got there.  She said she thought I was more around 12 weeks and the tailbone is really prominent around then so it's hard to tell if it's a boy or girl.  The final verdict was  it's 70% a boy and that if I came back in another week she could tell for sure.  I'm still not convinced, but I'm getting another one at a different clinic on May 31st.  If you're wondering why the name says Jenny Dannels that is another story you will have to ask me in person.  

After my Ultrasound we took a stroll around the Newport Beach Temple.

Alex was having a hay day running around, he loves to be outside.

His new thing is to put his arms behind him when he runs.  It must help him balance or something.

Mesmerized by the fountain and playing with his belly button.

My sweet little toe head, love him dearly.