Going Private

It is with much consideration that I'm going this route. I'm making the blog private. If you're interested in still reading it, then let me know your email address and I'll add it. I know there's really only a very few people that read it, so I'm assuming this isn't too much of a big deal. The blog is really personal for us and with the upcoming addition to our family, I don't think I want it "out there," so to speak.

Memorial Day Lantern Floating

It's only been a few short months since we've moved to Hawaii and we've already had experiences we could never replicate anywhere else. This Monday, Memorial Day, will be another one of those times. 

At Magic Island in Ala Moana Beach Park - the beach you'll normally find us sunning, reading, surfing and standup paddling - there will be the annual Lantern Floating. We took a walk around Magic Island yesterday and saw them setting up for this event. It's not going to be small. On Monday, two-thousand lanterns will be released in the water. These lanterns will be filled with prayers to loved ones, God, victims of disaster, or whatever you want your prayer to be and to whomever you want it to be to. Also, Her Holiness Keishu Shinso Ito who is the spiritual head of the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Order will be leading a ceremony. 

I think we're going to have to arrive pretty early and it looks like it's going to be an all day thing. So I'm hoping this pregnant lady can handle it, especially since we'll probably walk there. Lots of sunscreen, lots of water, a picnic lunch, and extra patience are all in order for Monday's event. In the end, I know it'll all be totally worth it. I mean, just look at these pictures from previous years! Awesome.

Still here...

"However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." -Matthew 24:36

26 Weeks!

This past weekend I got to hang with one of my flight attendant friends, Robert. Well, we went through 5 weeks of Barbie Bootcamp together in Seattle (read: flight attendant training). So we'll always have that "special" bond. Ha! But Robert had a quick little vacation in Hawaii, so we were able to get together for some coffee and an impromptu photo shoot! Even though I'd been running around all afternoon and at this point (sunset) was now makeupless and a hot mess, I was glad he wanted to take my picture because I have not been documenting my growing belly so well. So here I am, out on the jetty in Waikiki, just a few miles from where I live and yes, I'm still in awe that I actually live here!

This week has been uneventful, which always translates into a GOOD week! I am blessed! 

Cake Delight

A few weeks ago I was so blessed to be able to return to Virginia and see lots of family and friends. We had an unofficial Baby-Q - completely non-traditional baby shower/cookout to celebrate. I'm not really into the whole baby shower thing... mostly all those cheesy games, etc. And plus, I wanted celebrate with everyone - boys included! We had a blast, or at least I had a blast and I know my husband did too.

One of my favorite parts was the cake my good friend Lauren made for me. As of a few years ago, I only knew of her through my brother, but when she happened to be in LA for a conference, she stayed a few extra days with me. We had a blast! She even convinced me to go to all the theme parks. So we've remained friends since! I mean, who wouldn't bond riding X2 together?? Which is personally the most ridiculous coaster I've ever been on.

So present time: not only is she a smarty and in Pharmacy school, but she also took several cake decorating classes in her spare time! (Uh, what spare time?!?!) I asked her if she'd make a cake for the cookout and sent her a picture. And boy did she EVER come through. It was an absolute HIT! Not only was this cake exactly what I wanted, but it was delicious. It was so delicious, that I wouldn't let mom take any leftovers to work...because I wanted the rest all for myself. Selfish, I know. But I'm pregnant and I win. Rob and I ate cake the rest of the week and lots of it.

How awesome is this cake?!

25 Weeks

Yesterday I got a high-five from my doctor because my baby has reached viability. (For the record, I hate that word). Anyway, God forbid, if I were to go into labor now and have this baby, he'd have a chance at life. Not without lots of complications, but at least he'd have a chance. So baby boy, as excited as I am to meet you, STAY IN THERE AND GROW!! 

Everything is A-OK with the little one - heartbeat in the 130s but I was measuring 1cm behind, BUT that was of NO concern to the doctor, she reassured me...a few times. The measuring process also seems to be a little...subjective? They measure your belly from the top of the pelvic bone to the top of your uterus. The number of centimeters should correlate with the number of weeks you are. How exactly can one person tell where the top of my uterus is?? But since she's the expert and is happy with everything, I'll leave it at that. Also, two BONUSES! She was happy with my weight gain, for once, and I get to see her every 2 weeks, instead of every 4 weeks, now. (This is standard procedure, by the way). 

Besides getting my weekly shot in the butt yesterday, I also had to do the glucose screening, which will test me for Gestational Diabetes - something only pregnant woman can get, I guess. And then once you have the baby, supposedly it goes away. Anyway, everyone made it to be this big to-do because you have to drink this ultra-sweet punch type drink. I guess it was good that people hyped it up because when she handed me 6oz of sweeter, more syrupy version of pink stuff to drink, I thought, "this is it?" I swear I thought I was going to have to chug at least 32oz of that stuff. Anyway, it was lame and no big deal at all. I sat for an hour, which I really didn't because in that hour, the doctor saw me and I got the shot, then I had to get my blood drawn. 

Now... I know that we just got back from a wonderful trip to Virginia, but we're hoping we can get away just one last time for a mini "babymoon" in the next few weeks. We're thinking Maui or Kauai. I haven't been to either island, and it's a quick flight over to both, so hopefully we can figure out something soon. Free flights + free hotel (Rob's leftover Hilton points!) = a nice cheap mini-vacay. 

As for the week ahead... business as usual! I'm still working part-time and R goes back on-call tomorrow for the next few days. We got to meet our baby boy's future best friend earlier this week - our good friends we've met since moving out here (the husband was in training with mine) just had a boy! He's absolutely adorable!!

And even though, I think I've had my first experience with Braxton Hicks contractions, here's to an easy, low-key week ahead! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mama there is! I can only hope that I will be as great of a mom to my children as my mom was to me. I love you Mom! 

She actually remembers when I was a natural blonde.

I love knowing she's there cheering me on!

One of many hugs!

Giving me away on my wedding day.

Dinner at the top of the Space Needle.

And Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mother-in-Law! I am so blessed to be part of such a wonderful family! 

She has also cheered me on at many races!