showered with love

I felt so much love on my baby shower day! My sister and mom did a perfect job at planning the most special day for me - it was everything I could have hoped for and more. I was truly showered with so much love and support for our family and baby boy. Brian and I are so lucky to have such a supportive group of family and friends and I can't wait to share his arrival with everyone.

The room looked so cute!

My sis (and mom) planned everything perfectly!

They thought of everything! I loved reading everyone's advice - I need it.

super cute centerpieces.

Best. Sister. Ever.

My loves.

35 weeks!

I also have an amazing mother-in-law who happens to make the best cookies in the world.
And Aunt Carol came all the way from Arizona!

Lucy & Elsa

Jill, Jenna and Ana

Anna and Karen

This cutie helped me open presents :)

love my friends!

Obsessed with my beautiful mom. Our baby is going to adore her.

The rest of the day, Brian and I had so much fun going through all the gifts and putting them in nursery. Only a few weeks left until we have a baby in there too! Eeeek!

maternity leave, part 1

For many years, I've worked two jobs - a full time 9-5 career, while also bartending in my "spare time." I always did it with the mindset that if I'm capable of doing it, why not? It's great extra money and has helped us to pay off our debt and save some money for the baby. It's also allowed us to splurge on ourselves every now and then when we otherwise wouldn't.

But as this belly grew, I hate to admit that bartending became increasingly difficult. I tried to keep up, but I started moving slower and some of the tasks that I've been doing for years (clearing plates, bending over to wash glasses, squatting to search the beer cooler) started to take its toll! By the time my shift was over, I felt like I had run a marathon, then been hit by a truck.

So, I decided to start my bartending maternity leave at 34 weeks. I want to rest up for the big day, and I also want time at home to organize the nursery and the baby's stuff, and get my house in tip-top shape for the arrival of our son. I still have 4 more weeks at the office, but it will be nice to have my weekends open to get as much done as I can.

I can't believe our baby boy will be here in just 6 weeks (or sooner, as everyone keeps telling me that it's common to go into labor at 38 weeks!). I'm looking forward to getting ready for his arrival on the weekends, and sneaking in some naps in as well.

Dad is also working hard on finishing up the nursery. He and his mom have been at it for months now and it's really coming together! He's in the garage at this very moment working on building by hand a piece of furniture to hold our son's toys and books. He's such a good daddy already.

last day on the job - 34 weeks and ready for maternity leave part I!

32 weeks

Brian took this pic of me right before I left for work on Jan. 2.

It was a rough morning trying to get out the door in the 7:00 hour after a New Year's 4-day weekend that involved sleeping until 10 or 11 every day.

But I thought I was having a good hair day, so I let him snap away :)

32 weeks!

Of course Penny had to sneak in, too. Not many photos exist in our fam without her somewhere in the shot!

adios 2012

Happy 2013!

I think 2012 has been one of my favorite years, so I'm a little sad to see it go. 

I thought the highlight would have been the graduation ceremony for my master's program in May, but little did I know my favorite moment would come less than one month later when I saw those 2 lines on the pregnancy test. While that moment was followed by at least 3 months of nerves, anxiety and disbelief... it definitely changed my life forever and I was blessed to spend the second half of 2012 with a baby boy growing in my tummy.

I'm sure it goes without saying that I'm thrilled about what's to come in 2013. My only New Year's resolution is to be the best new mommy I can be, every day, and to take great care of my family.

Happy New Year to you and yours. xo

celebrating 11 years of dating; getting "robed" at my graduation ceremony; finding out it's a boy!; spending time with some best friends at my birthday/graduation party; hanging with my crazy family at my nephew's 1st birthday party; attending my 1st professional football game (go 49ers!) with friends; doing Tae Bo with the one and only Billy Blanks; watching my belly grow; and seeing my sweet baby boy at our 4D ultrasound.

big belly deli

... or just a big belly. 31 weeks pregnant and growing!