9 months of....

emotions. huge boobs. growing belly. charlie horses. glowing. constipation. morning noon night sickness. little kicks and squirms. exhaustedness. waddling. hormones. dr appointments. anticipation. questions. random people belly touching. stretch marks(thank god i don't have any....yet). quick growing hair and nails. nausea. constipation. WAITING.

Pregnancy is all the above plus more. I have never felt so many different emotions and feelings at one time before. I have never been so up and down. People say pregnant is the best they have ever felt. I beg to differ....and part of me feels horrible for saying so. I have never barfed as much or been so constipated before in my life! Of course now that is all better...well the barfing part at least...and I have almost forgotten about it. And I know as soon as little Mila Jay arrives all of the listed above will fly out the window. Maybe all but the emotions. Exhaustedness. Questions.

I can't wait for Fall. It is my favorite time of year. Pumpkins. Leaves. And Halloween candy. And we will be that much closer to December 22nd. We are half way there and I am just so full of anticipation. We cannot wait to meet our sweet baby girl.

Tahoe!

Having just arrived home from our sixteenth summer vacation in Tahoe, I am feeling relaxed and happy as a clam! This was an especially wonderful week being that my brother asked his amazing girlfriend, Rachel, to marry him!!!!!!! I am finally getting a sister and I could not be happier! The entire family loves her and was thrilled to hear the news. This was also a bit of a bittersweet week knowing it will be Trevor and I's last vacation sans baby. We received the (good) news that I am a week farther along than expected so new due date it December 22nd. Please come on any day other than the 25th baby!!!!! Our first summer vacation in Tahoe, my cousin Sam was 8 months old and when we go next year, our little bundle of joy will be 6 months....Crazy! Anyways, we had a great time hiking, biking, boating and just plain relaxing.

 A freezing start to the trip!

 I could not believe the amount of snow still on the mountains! Emerald Bay.

 Eagle Falls hike

 Cousins! My baby bump just didn't want to hide :)

 Our new family of 7!

Amazing hubby :)

And there goes 50!

This was her choice of celebratory things to do on the day she turned the big 5-0 (see above). Our view was gorgeous and the weather couldn't have been better. Well, at least Friday and Sunday were spectacular. Saturday was a rainy day and the day of the party but we had plenty of friends, family and bloody mary's to make us forget all about the storm! Friday night we had a fabulous dinner at Hoppe's with lots of laughs and reminiscing of my parents first date...on their shared birthday of 18 and 20 at the Harbor Hut in Morro Bay. She has been my mother for half of her life now and I couldn't imagine a better mom!! Now if only I could find more reasons...and dough....to rent that amazing house in Cayusos!! Being a beach bum could be my calling...

Into the New Year full speed ahead!

We are thrilled that the new year is driving ahead! 2010 was an amazing year full of life changes; some awesome and some a bit scary. We celebrated Thanksgiving by cooking our first turkey's for 18 of our friends! It was so much fun having everyone together. Holidays quickly came next and we spent them surrounded by family and had a birthday dinner with all friends near and dear. New years was celebrated with the Pera's and baby E. It was a blast-and we were tucked in tight by 9:30! Oh how things change :) Roo is going to be 1 and I can't believe we've had her for a year already. Trevor is loving every minute of his job and I am still doing some searching on that path. We have snow trips planned for the next few months and come Spring it will be weddings galore!

Thanksgiving Table


Christmas Eve.
Missing the husband at work :(

Christmas at the In-laws

Halloween

Halloween was a blast! Celebrating with friends, some beer pong and a warm cozy fire was just the prefect way to spend the evening. From hippies, a nurse, gansters and pirates to a mexican and Flavor Flav, we saw some of the best costumes yet!

Waiting For Superman

I am sitting here watching Oprah in her last season and I had to get on my blog to reflect on this episode. Public Education. I am a substitue teacher studying to get my credential. I am completely appalled at what I am hearing about public education. It is absolutely disheartening that 1.2 MILLION children do not get a diploma every single year. Growing up, I do not remember public education sucking so incredibly bad or teachers stating that they will get paid whether their class learns anything or not. "Waiting for Superman" is a documentary that any person with a child in the public education system, or going into it someday, HAS to see. For the first time in history, our next generation is not as educated as the one before....Is anyone gasping?

"Children's lives are hanging in the balance. We, the adults, are the problem-NOT the children."

It irks me to hear people talk so badly about pub ed. I have been put into a horrible situation by opening my mouth in defense of the teachers and public education; unfortunately to no avail. The children are not the problem-Teachers being shitty teachers is the problem. I have never once in my life thought that I would think twice before sending my children to a public school and I have high hopes that there will be changes implemented before I get there.

AND....I am adding this last bit after watching the viewers reactions on Friday's Oprah....What responsibility do the parents hold? My response-just as much as the teachers. A child cannot simply go home and do homework; parents needs to ensure they are studying. And they need to be an active part as well. No one can blame teachers, blame parents, unions etc. Everyone needs to take responsibility and take the leap into paving the way. Asking "who is going to help?" isn't the answer. Being the change you want to see, is.

Coming to a close

We have had such an amazing summer full of big changes! From graduating college to golf dates to bachelor/bachelorette parties to new jobs to getting married, it has been the best thus far. We didn't have as many lake trips with friends as we would've liked but, the few we did get in were great! We also missed out on our 14th Fourth of July in Tahoe but for a gooood reason, our wedding! I can't wait for next July already! I feel like this summer has been one of changes for all around us. New beginnings, new babies and new friends have been in abundance! Trevor and I feel so lucky to love our jobs (I am now officially a substitute teacher!!), be so close to all of our family and have amazing friends that keep us laughing and enjoying life. We look forward to next summer which will be full of weddings and love! But, most of all I am looking forward to Fall and a first holiday season as husband and wife.