Virginia is for Lovers

After a long two days (by choice) and three flights later, we have made it from the middle of the Pacific Ocean to the east coast of the mainland. We stopped to stay the night in Phoenix for some sleep and to see the hubby's family. The next afternoon we hopped on a flight and headed to Virginia. And in true Virginia "spring" weather fashion - we've been welcomed with muggy weather, and tornado watches and warnings. However, I have yet to hear any thunder or see lightening. I'm ready for a good (non-damaging) thunderstorm!! (For the record, if this were 20 years ago, I'd be hiding in the bathroom or closet).

It's great to be here with my husband and I'm excited to see family and friends throughout the week. And in perfect small town form, we walked into to Arby's last night where my aunt/uncle/cousin and cousin's family were also having a quick bite to eat. When I asked if we'd see them at the party on Saturday, my aunt replied, "God willing and the creek don't rise!" Oh, how I love the South.

No matter the weather, I'm excited to be back in the house I grew up in enjoying the central A/C...even with a 6 hour time change, which surprisingly hasn't made any difference to our bedtime. It is a little scary to think though that we're crawling into bed at 6pm Hawaii time and waking up at 3am Hawaii time. Wonder what that'll mean when we return... 

A New Toy

Since this surfer girl is playing it safe with this belly and not paddling out to the lineup, this is definitely the next best thing, and it's a great workout!

The best feeling was hitching a ride on the front end while my hubby paddled. We parked ourselves in the water and I just couldn't get over that this is my life. I live here. I can do this everyday if I want (except today because yesterday, I officially met the Hawaiian sun). There's no feeling in the pit of my stomach I get when I'm on vacation that says, "reality is waiting... soon you'll have to leave..." Nope! Just pure feelings of bliss knowing that I am so blessed to live here! 

Celebrate!

This weekend I turn 30 and I'm celebrating! I'm celebrating 30 years of growing, learning, living, and loving. I'm celebrating life and the life growing inside of me! I'm celebrating having made it halfway through this pregnancy. I have true and pure joy in my heart and a lot to be thankful for. And believe me, I am. 

Last night my husband took me out to dinner for my birthday, which is on Sunday. He picked a well known restaurant in Hawaii Kai, on the east side of the island. Besides being equipped with their very own koi ponds, the food being ridiculously delicious (we had THREE desserts), the phenomenal service, we had a fantastic view to boot. We got to watch the always fascinating outrigger canoes and SUP-ers on the calm water. 

Rob came home from his trip with a traditional lei for me to wear to dinner. It smelled amazing! But because I am hapai, I am wearing it open. It's Hawaiian ancient belief (that is still a practiced tradition), wearing a closed lei symbolizes the umbilical cord around the baby's neck. So we're taking no chances here! This goes along with the many things I LOVE about Hawaii: how deeply they still hold onto old traditions and their culture. 

I couldn't have asked for a better evening. And here's to a new decade - my 30s. Where I've been told, life truly begins. 

20 Weeks = HALFWAY THERE!

It's amazing what results you'll get when you Google "halfway mark" or "halfway there" - lots of pictures of Bon Jovi.

But yep, that's right! I'm over halfway there since I always manage to write these updates late. On Tuesday, I reached 20 weeks of being pregnant! Well...technically you're not actually pregnant the first 2 weeks, but whatever, "they" still count it. And I finally figured out the "how many months pregnant am I dilemma?" And I feel like a ding-dong. I blame pregnancy brain. Which is real. Ask my husband. I'm four-and-a-half months pregnant...in my fifth month. Like, I'm 29, but since I'm 29 + lots of months...I'm in my 30th year. But I don't say I'm actually 30 until I fully complete being 29. Make sense? Whatever.

Lots of exciting things happening this past week! I'm really starting to feel baby move! One morning he was kicking so hard that I put Rob's hand on my tummy and he totally felt it! His reaction: "WHOA!!" and quickly pulled his hand away. I think it genuinely startled him. It was hilarious. It's just so cool!

A lot of things have been on my mind this week too! I'm going to Virginia to visit family and friends, and I'll get to see so many people! I'm seriously so excited! So I've been planning and preparing for that. My mom's having a cookout and a celebration of baby - and I honestly think there's going to be more people there than were at our wedding. My co-worker/boss is going to Baxter sit for me, which eases my mind A LOT.

It's our 5th wedding anniversary at the end of the month and this upcoming weekend is my birthday. I'll officially be...30! I don't know why everyone makes such a big deal about turning 30 - who cares? My 20s have been awesome...but geez, how life has changed (read: gotten more AWESOME) since I was 20. Whoa. I started the best career (yes, I LOVE it!) I could ever imagine - being a flight attendant - I have met SO many people and have made awesome friends that'll be in my life forever. I met my husband, I got married, I've moved all over the country, I've traveled all over the world, I've experienced great loss and even greater hope. My walk with God has become way more personal, my FAITH in God has multiplied infinitely. Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" And even though we have been through some major storms in our lives, this verse is Truth, and we have lived it.

Ok - so what's baby doing this week?? BW is breathing and swallowing more regularly now... breathing and swallowing what? Amniotic fluid. Tasty. Hey, we all did it once too! His head is becoming more proportional to the rest of his body. And he's basically kicking the crap out of my uterus. I love it!

And congrats, you're a banana!! I love bananas! And you too, baby, of course!

Baxter LOVES to...

...sit just outside our door and do this over and over and over. But being that we're on the 12th floor and the only thing between us and a concrete parking lot is a chest high wall, we keep a close eye on him.