A long needed vacation...

For Memorial Day weekend, Brice and I went down to Southern California for a little get-away, our "babymoon"! The weather wasn't the greatest, rain was forcasted all weekend, but it was just the fact that we weren't home!! We stayed at a really nice place called Ayres Hotel & Suites in Costa Mesa. It was nicely located to all the things we wanted to do, and luckily for me I married a California boy. My man was manuervering us all over the place. It was great, I just sat and enjoyed the scenery! Aaron was minutes away from our hotel in Newport Beach at a meeting on Friday, so Kristen and the kids came and stayed with him. Friday morning Brice and I went to Dana Point, where Brice's mom's ashes have been spread. It was cold and windy, but nice for Brice to visit and reflect. It's a beautiful place that overlooks the Bay. Friday afternoon (after Aaron got out of his meetings) we got together and went to Balboa Beach to visit and walk around. Our growing little Payden was so hungry, she kept telling us, so we ended up having an early dinner and then went back to our hotel to visit. Saturday morning we woke up to blue skies. Brice said "let's go to SeaWorld today." So I called Aaron and asked if they could come play along!! They loaded up their car, we loaded up in ours and met in San Diego. As we drove there it was rainy and dark clouds overhead. I was worried the whole drive! I didn't want to spend all that money to get in if it was going to rain on us all day long, and here I had involved Aaron, Kristen and the kids in our wet looking immediate future. When we got there it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Blue skies, and just a light breeze to cool you off. I even ended up with sun burned arms!! (left the sunscreen in the hotel room!!) We headed out to explore the park with Payden as our guide. She was so cute, she would pull out her map, tell us what she wanted to see next and then she would roll it back up. She held it in her hands all day!!! It was such a fun day. It was so nice to have Aaron, Kristen and especially the kids there. It's alway makes things more fun to see them through a childs eye. We fed fish to the sea lions, walked under the sharks, watched Shamu and the dolphins jump out of the pool, touched the sting rays and star fish, and enjoyed great company!

Luckily, for me, no one wanted to ride any rides, although I did offer to sit with the kids if they did. I wanted to go on the Atlantis ride, but none of us thought it would be a good idea. There were two big drops in it. When we had seen all we wanted to see, we loaded up in the cars and followed Aaron to dinner. It was a life threatening event in itself!! After dinner we said our goodbyes and went our seperate ways. Sunday was just a nice relaxing day. We didn't do to much, did some window shopping, relaxing, napping and eating. All in all a good day.

Monday we woke up, loaded the rental car with our stuff, checked out of the hotel and went to beach hop. We started out at Laguna Beach and ended the day at Huntington Beach (this beach was my favorite!) Again it was nice weather, but not warm enough that you would find me swimming in the surf. We walked through the sand and surf, took silly pictures of each other, and walked around the towns. It was a great vacation, nice to get away from reality for a few days. All the walking around was good for me too, my ankles and feet returned to their normal size for a few days. It's good to know my ankles are hiding in there somewhere!!! It was funny, on the second day I woke up...inbetween awake and not, and I thought.."don't move." I didn't want Sadie to know I was awake yet because I wasn't ready to get out of bed and she would want a walk. Then I remembered we were on vacation and she was with mom. I did miss the puppy and was glad to get home to her. Mom said that Sadie really had a good time and seemed happier this time. All we can think is she is out of pain this now! I guess the surgery was worth all that money and stress!! Thanks to mom for watching her for us!!! It's good to know that she is with her sister, and Mom and Gram that love her! Imagine what I will be like when I have to leave the baby!

It's a GIRL!!!!

Okay, let me just start by saying Brice is so excited. An hour after the ultrasound I called him and asked him if he was still smiling, he simply said "yes!"

Today was the day we (and many others) have been waiting 5 long months for. Today was our ultrasound. We are going out of town this weekend, so when we scheduled the Ultrasound Brice said "Make it before we go out of town so we can do some shopping!!" I ask you, who is more excited about this baby? I think it's a toss up!! So from the time we found out we were pregnant it has been a war of the sexes. Brice wants a little girl, given the fact he already has 3 sons. I want a little boy!! Before we even started trying for a baby, actually I think this started on the second day after we were married, Brice has been talking about "his little girl!" I told him to talk to his swimmers and to talk to the Lord, I had no part in that decision making process! Once we became pregnant the war began. Brice would call the baby his girl, and I called it my boy! Brice would then retract with "Well, if it's a little boy then it's going back!" To which my reply would always be "Then it's going back through you, cause it's a one way street through me!!!"

As time has gone on, and the closer we came to the ultrasound, I knew no matter what the sex of the baby was I would be excited. When we got there the Dr. asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby. We said yes, and told him of our "battle". He was really cute and was explaining the different parts of the body and why they take those particular measurements. When he got to the little private area's he said "Well, looks like indoor plumbing to me! No parts hanging out!" I turn to look at Brice who was already doing his victory dance in his seat! What was fun for me was to see the changes in the baby. The first ultrasound I had, at 6 weeks, there was just this black blob with a flutter (the heartbeat). This one I could see her bum checks, her lips, her nose, her fingers, her leg bones!! This truly is one of life's miracles, growing a baby!

I love the picture I posted with this. It's kinda hard to make out, but it's the profile of the baby. Her head is on the left, with the brain the shadowy part at the bottom left corner. You can see her hand is up by her mouth, you can make out the nose and little lips. Her arm is bent and you can see her elbow. I can't wait to hold her in my arms and love her!!! Now we just need to agree on a name. My uncle said Tom was a good choice when I first told him I was pregnant. Somehow I don't think it will fit now!! Next.....