mischievous ways

It was almost 60 degrees today-- a real treat for the girls to be able to sit outside in the sun.  As my friend Kathryn observed, they make a wonderful security system.

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I told James to say "cheeeeese" and snapped this photo so I could send it to Smalls and show her how to open text messages.  What I didn't expect was for it to become such a fan favorite among the familia.

a bittersweet day

Today is the day the girls and I head back to the east coast... for good.

As I (feel like, or I may have) said so many times, I would love nothing more then for you to just be able to be inside my head and my heart and see/feel how this day is.  I tend to be a little more forgetful these days, but I do believe I've written before about how bittersweet today is.  Bitter because Mike still has to commute back and forth between coasts until end of April and sweet because my days of being home alone until 11 at night (poor babe, working so hard for our family during 'busy season') are over.  The girls will get to play with their cousins, Molly and Harley, and I will get to see my friends, family, and have a workout buddy for the gym every day (thanks, Kristen!).

Another chapter in our lives is coming to a close and we're preparing for the most exciting one yet -- becoming parents.  Towards the end of this journey I've started calling our time in San Diego a blessing, and I couldn't be more right.  Not only did Mike and I get to experience living on a separate coast, by ourselves (which meant a lot of us time!) but we also created life and soon we'll get to meet him.  Oh yeah, and of course we found Cali. :)  Ironically, I cried when we left and I teared up when we were leaving.. I know, I need to get my shit together.

Thanks, Deloitte, for this wonderful career and move opportunity for our family, and thanks San Diego for the amazing memories we will forever cherish.

One of Mike's co-workers, Jessica, sent this to me the morning of our departure.

How sweet is she?

Driving Cali back from the vet I got the chance to snap one more photo of the view I will no longer see on an (almost) daily basis.

side note: surprise, surprise, Cali was back at the vet just in time for them to tell us she has Giardia right before our redeye flight. 

This is certainly something I hadn't seen before -- the two ladies sharing the small bed.  Hey, there's a first for everything.

Caught this number on Instagram... it feels good to be loved and I can't wait to spend time with her daily as we sweat our bump's off at our gym's classes.

belly bump at 7 months

Mike and I are continuing to take our weekly baby bumps and this week we've reached the 7 month mark!  I can't believe how close we're getting, yet we're still so far away.  Since I usually do side pictures, I thought it'd share a frontal view.  Declyn has definitely made himself at home and now I'm starting to not only feel his kicks, but I can visually see him moving around and if I sleep at a certain angle on my left side I can feel his limbs jab me.  I can't wait to hold those limbs in my arms.

Per usual, some sisterly love.

thanks a bundt

Today is our last appointment at the Cali doctor's (btw - Dr. Lee at Scripps La Jolla Campus = amazing!)  Not only did she make our first pregnancy as easy as possible, but she was super sweet and helpful.  Therefore, we wanted to show a small token of our appreciation.

Apparently bundt cakes are the shit, at least according to Mike (and confirmed by Dr. Lee).  When I picked it up at the store, after ordering it online at Nothing Bundt Cakes, I couldn't be more happy.  Look how cute the wrapping is - AND there was a thank you card clipped with a clothespin to the wrapping, so we were able to write a nice message before we gave it to them.  Lastly, we ordered a "serving set" to go with it, not knowing that too would be adorably wrapped and have more than just utensils in it.

Just a little close up shot of this beaut.

I probably should have started with the good news for today -- we got to hear Declyn's heartbeat again!  It was 155 and not only did we get to listen to it, but Mike got it on video.  I can't believe we're at the 7 month mark (and he's weighing in at about 2.25 lbs).  Time is flying and that's OK with me because I can't wait to hold him in my arms, and I know Mike feels the same way.

double wrap, extra clean

Today starts the process of packing up our San Diego home.  I would love for you to be inside my mind and heart, so that I could explain all the emotions that I'm feeling as we get ready to make this move.  As I've said over and over again, SD has been a blessing in disguise - we've made some good friends, have a little one growing in me, and got to spend 8 months of just Mike and me time.  Change is a coming very soon and SD has almost been the calm before the storm, and it will be missed.

Laticia was here cleaning from 8:45 to around 1:15 -- we got the full package deal for moving out -- and while that was taking place the girls and I were bunkered down in the bedroom.  In between play time, Cali found a moment to lay her bod on my belly.  She loves her brother already.

And of course keeping dibs on Cali was Fen -- always making sure she's within arms reach.. literally.

I don't even know how to explain this move.  They were both sleeping (until Fenway heard me unlocking my phone) and Cali was sleeping sort of upright with her head down, touching Fen's body.  Who knows.

I spent most of today going through and double wrapping most of the decorations -- picture frames mostly, and storing them in the den.  I don't have boxes, so for now I'm putting things in the bags I've saved until Mike decides how he's going to pack the U-Haul.  I love organizing like this.  Although moves are a pain in the ass, I do love the feeling of cleanliness as I throw away things we no longer need and organize our life.

SD zoo

After 10 years together, the Elantra was sold to Carmax.  I'm going to miss this lady.. she sure was good to me.

The last shot before they took her from me and in her place get me a nice check.

Mike and I spent most of the day at the SD Zoo.  If I'm able to remember I'll have to post the pictures we took, but this was the only one I had on my phone.  I forgot how huge the zoo was!!

Not only is the mileage ridiculous, but it'd like to note that I gave her away with literally no gas left.  When I pulled it into the parking lot it as right below E.  I was panicking because I thought we missed the exist and I wasn't going to make it to Carmax - oops!

A few of my favorite shots from the zoo...

one last beach day

Michelle drove from LA to visit and I was thrilled!  Since the weather was around 80 degrees we decided to make a beach day of it - and of course we brought the girls along for the ride.

Typical Fenway needing her shade / breaks throughout our time there.

This little monster went from white to black and I'm almost positive this was the only time she was calm the whole time we were there.  I thought for sure she'd want a breather at some point (especially being there for as long as we were) but nope, all she wanted to do was run around and get in the faces of those innocent bystanders laying on their towels.

This is them every day, regardless of their surroundings.  I like to call it the bear hug.

Patiently waiting to meet Daddy for lunch.

When we got home from dinner Fenway wanted a little QT with Declyn.

Understandably this picture looks odd, but I love it.  She literally had her head rested only on my belly.

all clear

It's a tradition to always take pictures of where we've lived (the actual house) so I decided to start with our Unit.

Hopefully these are the last health certificates these girls will have to get to fly -- here they are a little tired after an hour at the park and almost an hour at the vet's.  I have to give them credit, they were well behaved for waiting in that room for awhile.  I'm sure their daddy meeting us there made the wait easier.

Date night dinner at Prep Kitchen.  My favorite dessert was the last thing on the menu -- Kitchen Sixer. What a creative idea.

happy v.day

Two out of four of my Valentines.  My favorite quote from the day was when I sent my mom this pic and she responded, "I need to get Molly a pair of those glasses."  I had to clarify it was just an app.  :)

My other little valentine was staying chill on V.day -- almost 7 months in this picture.  I can't believe how fast time is flying... soon we'll get to meet our little man!

The hubs always pulls through for Valentine's Day with my favorite -- roses.  These were grown in a volcano in South America.  Special?  I think so.  

This year since I had some time on my hands, I did a little arts and crafts DIY for Mike from the girls -- he had to reach into the bag and pick out something new every hour.  At the end of the day he sent me this collage of what he had opened.  Top right -- baked cookies for his work until 12:30 at night.  I swear that man is a machine.

B had me to open the wine fridge and guess which wine he had purchased for the special holiday.  His choice definitely made me smile.

I threw together a little app before he got home and started cooking the meal -- can you guess the theme we had going on?

My favorite gift from him was Declyn's sock monkey.

Here I am trying to get creative with the gift wrapping.

And again... more hearts.  Dessert was Mike's favorite -- fruit pizza's.

ash wednesday

For someone who was convinced we were having a girl, it really made me happy to get this text from Mike after he purchased the Red Sox tickets.  He's going to be such a wonderful dad and I'm convinced that Dec's going to look just like him.

B hasn't missed an appointment yet, so it was no surprise when we woke up at 6 to go to 7 AM Ash Wednesday mass and then headed straight to the lab for my glucose test -- I had to drink this blah drink then wait an hour for them to draw my blood.  Of course Mike had to be there to hold my hand while they stuck me with the needle.  To be honest, it didn't hurt but I work myself up to the point where I can feel the blood rushing to my face.  I can't even imagine what I'm going to be like during labor...

PetSmart didn't have the food Cali normally eats (I tried 2 different ones), so after hand feeding her some bites of a very similar food (it's just not Healthy Development) I put the rest on a plate and she went to town.

Mike bought this baseball bank for Declyn the other day and when he went to take the sticker off, the paint came with it.  So when I went back to exchange it I found two more treasures for his nursery -- non-slip hangers and a wire basket that matches the nursery colors and will allow me to store his blankets in a more fashionable way.

February's Burch Box.  

I made 20 of these for Mike's co-workers.  Inside the ziplock bag was chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows.. everything you need for the perfect s'more.  

sister sister

I would love to put these pictures together and quickly look through them, like a flip book.

Our little darling was enjoying her personal space and time on her love seat... simply relaxing.

That was until her sister found her...

Being the polite lady that she is, she took it without compliant and instead just sort of re-adjusted...

Then she got pissed and shun Cali for sitting on her and me for laughing and taking pictures.

Just a little shot out from Meag via Instagram.  #nbd