happy 80th to a very special lady

Today one of my favorite people in the entire world celebrated 80 years of life--- my grandma!  The best part was that the family Skyped Mike and I in for the cake and to say hello.  This picture is James helping Smalls blow out her birthday candles.

These two are inseparable at times.

Took the car to Jiffy Lube to get a headlight fixed.  Best part?  I had them pull up their records (since I was there in December) only to find that they had already replaced that headlight in December and with the 90-day guarantee I got it for free!  Boo yeah!  Hopefully this will be the last time I take this car for any repairs/service before giving her up to Carmax and getting our SUV.

 

A little (excuse me, a lot) of time at Target has me pumped for Valentine's Day and some DIY projects.

nothing beats a homemade dinner

Today at training Cali learned how to lay down!!  I'll have to snap a pic next time she does it (which by the way, is pretty much on command now).  Our trainer said that she learns quickly so we should have a lot of progress with teaching her things that Fenway couldn't master (i.e. rolling over).

 

Homemade bruschetta and some Caesar salad before a dinner of mannachadi.

A typical Sunday night at our home --  Mike, the girls and I watching some of our favorite shows: Girls, House of Lies and Shameless.  Don't worry, I clearly made them move so I could join them on the couch.

long lost friends

The meaning behind today's post?  I got to see a friend of mine who lives in PA and I haven't seen in a longggggggg time (I mean years!)  It's funny that our first encounter after so much time was in San Diego (she was here for a grad school presentation), but I was super pumped.  Hopefully our next get together will be over the summer when we're both back on the same coast and Declyn has arrived, although it'd be more than happy with anything in between now and then.

I threw my hair up in a bun this morning and to me it looked like a heart, which I thought was picture-worthy. 

B and I stopped by the Kobey's swap meet but didn't find anything good -- mainly because it was a crappy, rainy day and there weren't nearly as many vendors as there usually are.

Post-dinner dessert... skinny cow ice cream sandwich.  I guess you could call this another 'craving' because it was definitely an unexpected purchase at CVS.

 

Shopping for baby Declyn has consumed my life, but it's a nice surprise when something so cute arrives in the mail!  Now we just need summer to get here.

I told Mike one of his guy friends was the first person to like this picture on Instagram and his reply?  "I bet he thought they were for me."  Mmmmm...

snaggle tooth

I was checking out the house before bed and this was the last piece to go -- I thought it was even more pretty in the dark.

Cal has a baby tooth, located in front of a permanent tooth, that just won't budge.  It has become a nightly ritual for Mike to come home from work and try and pull it out.  At first she let him (he got a few other teeth that way and apparently offered her some relief) but this one she is not OK with him messing with.

I took this in shock -- I think this is the only time I've seen them each have their own dental chew (without trying to take the others) while laying together.  It was a miracle.

 

Although I don't seem to have cravings, per say, I was in the mood for some chips and white salsa and of course a virgin strawberry daiquiri.   Could they make it more obvious that mine didn't contain any alcohol?  And yes, I realize how pathetic our chips looks, but that's because we had devoured a decent amount before I thought to document date night.

laying low

These are how Cali's post-surgery days are being spent...

A little lounging on the couch...

 

mixed with smelling her sisters feet?  She loves to be close to Fenners, no matter what the position entails.

nobody likes surgery

I would love nothing more then to have this picture come out clear, but apparently the iPhone has not yet mastered a clear version of reversing the camera lens in the dark.  Needless to say, you get the picture -- Mike dropped Cali off to get spayed and Fenway took full advantage of it.  Aka, she literally spooned me while we slept in. I mean full on head on my shoulder/head, body in the shape of a spoon and left arm comfortably tucked under mine.  Love at first sight.

Our drugged up babe was completely out of it.  The vet said she had to wake her up multiple times to get her to leave the vet's office.  I called Mike to come home an hour early from work because she she started shaking...

hence the blanket.  

The three of us had a little train going on -- Cali sprawled out in the front, Fenway literally laying her head on Cali's butt and the rest of her body on the second bed and their mama in between.

flight booked

It's official -- Declyn, the girls, and I are headed back (permanently) to Virginia on February 21.   I can't believe that we have booked our flight for the official return.  Despite tears for months before we moved, and maybe some here or there while we were in San Diego, this time has been amazing.  Not only did Mike and I get to spend more alone time then ever, but we got to experience living in another state -- another coast! -- together.  The move, however, is bittersweet.  Bitter because Mike will be commuting weekly to be with us until April and sweet because I will no longer be alone with the girls while Mike works long days during busy season.  Plus, this means that we're getting closer and closer to the arrival of our baby boy.

The last flight (hopefully) that the girls have to take on a plane.

Documenting myself in my gym clothes has been my go-to these days... it's something I get into regularly, so why not capture my growing belly?  The bottom picture is a little intense, but it's a good indication of my view from the top.

sisterly love

I was so tired today that I took a two hour nap after the gym.


These were my views...

before I fell asleep.

the first time I woke up...

when I was finally awake for good...

and the second time I woke up.

At night I caught these two both lounging.  I guess it was a lazy (part of the) day.  Hey, I'm not complaining. 

headed to the super bowl

We skipped Cali's puppy training (whoops!) to hang with Mom and Smalls and watch the Raven's beat the Patriots.  Don't worry, our trainer called and we're making it up next week before our other class.

I thought this was funny.  Alyssa sent it to me (after seeing the picture of my belly at the beach) not via text, but via email.  I think someone was enjoying themselves on a Saturday night and accidentally sent it to the wrong device.

Mike took this himself... he's obsessed with this crackhead.

While this one is still my favorite...

sand between our toes

Mike finally got a break from work - aka the weekend - and treated us all to some time in Del Mar.

B took this picture of me in front of the water at the mark of my 24th week.  I can't believe how my belly has grown over night.  The little man is definitely active in there -- moving about whenever he pleases.

Loving on the belly... we seriously can not wait to meet our little man.

Dinner at Whisknladle to celebrate Small's 80th birthday.  I asked the waiter to please write Happy Birthday on the plate of whatever dessert she chose and I kid you not, he confirmed who she was.... definitely a compliment to her, but an insult to some other people at the table.

We stopped by Gliderport on the way home from Del Mar to see if anyone was taking flight....they weren't, but the view was gorgeous, especially since the sun was setting.

Patiently waiting to eat her lemon tart.

The three of us after lunch- I'll give you one guess as to who's who.

Watching the sun go down.

I spotted this at a little boutique in Del Mar.  We were going to check out the children's boutique, but it turns out it had closed since the last time we were there.

More posing, just mixing up the people.

I have to give props to Mom -- she took this at the dog park right before my dad called.  When I asked to see how it turned out she replied, "I think I cut your head off."  Kudos, Mom.

Taking in the view at lunch -- at Jake's.

Babe finally got a chance to relax from the hectic life called work.

I caught little lady taking in the sun and the scenery before we headed to the dog park.

how many tastings?

We spent today at the wineries and myself as the DD.  :)

I know it's blurry, but I loved this picture of Smalls licking her lips during her first tasting.  She was a little overwhelmed that the tastings offered you 5 chances to try wine (and right after the third she kept telling us we had to go have lunch next... such a trooper).

Tipping it back while the others chat away.

The nice thing about a winery during Friday afternoon is that it's not very crowded.

 After lunch we headed to our last winery.  Everyone ordered just a class of wine, instead of a tasting, and when asked what Smalls wanted, she said, "a small glass of wine."  Ummm... grandma, glasses of wine only come in one size.

a gentleman and a lady

Today was amazing --- Mom and Smalls flew into town for a 5-day vacation celebrating Small's 80th birthday!!


Our first stop?  La Jolla...

I really do admire these fatty's. 

Seaport Village at sunset.

Little lady loves her men, even if they're posted up at a candy shop.

Always on the look out for baby clothes for Declyn --- thanks, Smalls for making his first sleeveless purchase!  Not to mention it's a reminder of where he spent most of his life in my belly.

Such a gorgeous day.

There were seals everywhere... literally.

I saw this artwork while walking and thought it was neat enough to take a picture of.

Aunt Lidia wanted chocolate covered cherries, so I helped myself to some orange slices.

I can't wait to get Declyn's feet into these Toms.

The ladies took a moment to pose in front of the fountain at Seaport. 

 

And Mom added another Jelly Cat to Declyn's growing collection.  These stuffed animals are the best.