Felicia & Brandon

Baby Valentine

2012-02-14T14:59:00.000-08:00

I love my baby! She's our tiny Valentine this year We filled the house with over 50 pink and red balloons for her enjoyment :) She also got a giant card and a big stuffed love doggie from daddy <3

The true meaning of Blessed

2012-02-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

A sweet friend of mine tweeted this verse, Matthew 5: 3-12, and it prompted a mini devotional while the baby was sleeping. Turns out it was just what I needed for that particular bummer of a day. I hear and see the word "Blessed" so much. I am guilty of even saying things like, "I feel so blessed". Turns out I was using it with the wrong state of mind. I recently was not feeling very "blessed" while our little family was going through a hard time and boy did I have things completely backwards. God's favor does not rest upon some people and not others but His favor rests upon us all. Being and feeling blessed has nothing to do with material things; again, I am guilty of thinking this way at times. In that sense, the word blessed should be changed to "lucky" or "fortunate". The true foundation of feeling blessed is knowing that you are loved by God. Period.

We have the unconditional love of the Almighty God. We are all truly blessed!

And I am one lucky mama to be able to love this little one!

Scootin' child

2012-02-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

Abigail is quite the busy body and she is trying just about everything to get around the house. She doesn't crawl yet but she's on her way. She thinks she is quite the superstar scooting backwards these days :)

Special Delivery

2012-01-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

A special package came for me today... its my giveaway win! I won a fantastic giveaway on this blog and got a beautiful and super soft blanket from this shop. Yay me! Abigail loves it and so do I!

Sunny Snow Day!

2012-01-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and Brandon told me that he wants me to get ready because he wants to take his girls somewhere. Turns out a park in Lake Forest was having a snow day today! Abigail got to touch snow for the first time. She was not amused.. Ha! But we loved taking pictures of it!

Abigail and I were hot in our boots in the 80 degree weather

Didn't realize we should have worn flip flops to the snow ;)

Park Day

2012-01-26T22:25:00.000-08:00

Our little family loves being outside! The sunny California weather never lets us down, even in January. We are lucky enough to live in a wonderfully planned community where we can walk just about anywhere (except Michaels; if only Target sold yarn I would never need to go to any other store). We have great parks in every corner and we finally took Abigail to go on the swings for the first time. The pictures crack me up because she is just the tiniest little pea and is not even close to filling out that baby swing so we put a huge blanket behind her. Ha! It was a tad embarrassing but whatever works right?! She was loving it!

A few baby months behind

2012-01-25T22:11:00.000-08:00

Funny how my sis can motivate me through her blog to get my butt in gear and catch up on pics! She was a few months behind in posting about Graham's monthly cuteness and, I too, am a few months behind in posting Abigail's little growing girly face. Here she is... my little lovey

The first few months she was always cute laying on the floor but now, she is learning new things! I love to catch what she is learning and working on for that particular month.

3 months

I had way too much fun experimenting with different hairstyles for her!

4 months

Just learning how to sit up. She is concentrating hard on balancing in that Bumbo

5 months

Sitting up all by herself and loving it

6 months

Learning how to crawl! She tries so hard to be "on the move". She's my little busy body

2011: A look back

2012-01-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

With the new year upon us and Abigail turning 6 months old tomorrow it made me take a look back at last year and all the memories...

January 2011:

Whole fam started out the New Year at a very fun wedding

February 2011:

At 5 months pregnant I got in a bad accident but luckily Abigail and I got out safe and sound with just a few bruises

March 2011:

Graham was born! Love my nephews

April 2011:

Our cousin Romi and her boyfriend Julian visited from Argentina

May 2011:

Baby shower for Abigail! Couldn't have happened on a prettier day

June 2011:

Couldn't take a look back and not show my huge belly at 9 months pregnant

July 2011:

Abigail was born! 5 days late and an 18 hour labor... worth every minute!

August 2011:

Brittany got married and I was proud to stand by her side as her matron of honor

September 2011:

3rd wedding anniversary AND my biggest selling month on Esty!

October 2011:

Happy Halloween and o so much fun dressing up my daughter and my pup (A flower and her bee)

November 2011:

Happy Thanksgiving! Special first holiday season with Abigail

December 2011:

Our first family Christmas

So many memories to cherish! Thank you Lord for all you have blessed us with!

Happy New Year and Bloopers!

2012-01-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Abigail and I had so much fun at a New Years Eve party. She was a big hit. At one point the women were all on the floor surrounding her and making her giggle. She's my little party animal. Brandon had to work late but got home just in time to ring in the New Year with me after Abigail was comfy, cozy in her bed.

And then the parents went wild! Haha! Not really, but we were having fun taking pictures :)

Sunny Cali baby

2011-12-29T23:43:00.000-08:00

Abigail got these adorable sunglasses for Christmas from her Aunt Katrina. She got to break them in at the Spectrum the other day while shopping with mama. She is quite the stylish orange county baby.

Love little Grahamy-bear in the back eying Abigail's bow. He loves to pull her bows out of her hair :)

Abigail's first Christmas

2011-12-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

Ahhh... My baby's first Christmas has come and gone. I remembered to soak up every precious moment! How fun it was to have a little 5 month old this Christmas! Our concern of what to get her was quickly thwarted by the fact that she only cared about the wrapping paper itself and all the pretty bows on the presents. She was having a blast making noise with the paper. But after all the wrapping paper had been thrown away she is loving all her new fun baby toys! Thankfully amongst the hoop-la of the weekend I remembered to snap a few pictures! Definitely have some favs...

Best. Christmas. Ever.

Christmas laughs

2011-12-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

Abigail's little laugh never gets old. While putting together our Christmas card she thought it was so funny every time I licked an envelope! It worked every time!

On a side note... 2 great giveaways going on over at Delighted Momma and The Color Issue!

Our family pictures

2011-12-16T19:53:00.000-08:00

These beautiful pictures were taken by the talented Emily Tingley of Oopsy Daisy Photography

In awe of how they turned out! I can't stop looking at my little girl. Love her!

Thankful Thursday!

2011-12-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Why do we stop saying what we are thankful for as soon as Thanksgiving is over? I made it my goal to say what I am thankful for every Thursday to remind myself how gracious God is. Maybe I'm not quite ready for Christmas yet and I'm trying to still relish the Thanksgiving holiday but its still part of my New Years resolution so I'm going for it! I am feeling quite ambitious this year and made 2 New Years resolutions that I am starting early. Cross my fingers I can stick with them!

What better way to start off than to say I am so thankful for this little munchkin! My baby is girl is my whole world and her little face and expressions light up my day. I am so thankful I get to spend all day, everyday, with her!

These pictures are especially for her Aunt Katrina :)
Featured on top of Abigail's beautiful head of hair is the sweet little crochet bow headband that her aunt Katrina made for her. My super talented sister is a fellow crocheter and she is opening up a pop-up Etsy shop soon and you may see a few of these precious little bow headbands. You can find information about her pop-up shop and her crochet creations here!

Win a pair of my fingerless gloves!

2011-11-22T09:39:00.001-08:00

A big day for me!
A giveaway for a pair of my fingerless gloves!
Visit Delighted Momma to enter!

Don't forget to check out my shop for a handful of new items!

Also happening this week is this amazing giveaway over at The Color Issue!

Be of Good Cheer!

2011-10-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

The holidays make me so cheerful! I just can't wait until all the holidays because I get so excited for "Abigail's firsts"! Already so excited for her first Halloween! Got her costume early last month. I am way on top of things!

Its almost already the middle of October so that means I must start making my Thanksgiving inspired crochet items for my Etsy shop. Found these cute ideas online. Can't wait to get started!

This adorable pumpkin beanie is still for sale in multiple sizes! If you need something cute for your kiddo for Halloween or maybe for a trip to the pumpkin patch don't hesitate to mosey on over to my shop!

The Title of this post was in honor of this giveaway by a sweet friend! She's doing a fun poster giveaway. Head on over to her great new blog, Color Issue, to enter.

New Etsy Items!

2011-10-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

A few fresh items for fall!
Pumpkin beanie comes in multiple sizes!
Apple beanie also comes in multiple sizes!

A few SOLD items...

There's more where that came from!
For all these items and others check out my Etsy shop HERE!

Etsy

2011-09-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

Felicia's Crochet Creations
Open for business!

I carefully craft crochet baby creations.
Hats, headbands, and baby booties.
Snuggle up your precious baby in one of my soft baby hats for fall!
They also make the perfect gift!
Check out my shop here

In honor of the beautiful fall weather we are already getting a small taste of, I will be adding scarves and adult slouchy beanies to my shop!
Thanks for shopping!

Magic

2011-08-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

The sling = Magic!
Abigail loves loves loves this thing!
Its an instant soother and she falls asleep within minutes of being in it. Apparently its a way to pop her back in the womb where she likes it and my favorite part is having 2 hands to do things. I get a workout carrying her around in it while doing household chores. Its amazing! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!

I found this adorable picture and apparently everybody loves the sling! I imagine this little boy is probably carrying his little baby brother and the baby looks so cute, cozy, and happy in there. Too cute!

Family Photo Shoot

2011-08-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

And the WINNER is...............

Too much of a good thing... or not

2011-08-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Milk
"Its whats for dinner"
Or, if you have a newbie at home then its whats for breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, dinner, snack, late dinner, midnight snack... AND repeat!

Recently, I was honored to be the matron of honor in a wedding. I purchased my dress for the wedding while I was pregnant and I got a size bigger than my normal dress size thinking it would be perfect 6 weeks after the baby, well.... everything fit just fine except the top of the dress. Holy milk! I had no idea what size nursing would make my bosoms. On top of that, I couldn't wear a bra with the dress... what to do. Welp, I got a great tip on a great product, Lily Padz! Nursing pads that are seriously amazing. No leaking, super comfortable, and they are reusable for 6 months. No bra, no problem!

The 4th trimester

2011-08-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

For 9 long months this little one grew inside my belly, towards the end I couldn't wait to get her out and meet her face to face. I wanted to talk to her, sing to her, smile at her, show her off; I just couldn't wait. No sooner did she come out of my belly that I realized she just wanted to be popped back in and, at times, I wish I could just pop her back in. Baby experts say babies need and want a 4th trimester but then we would never be able to push them out, so out they come at the end of 3 trimesters. Its strange that you know this little person inside you but when she came out, I realized I had an endless amount of things to learn about her, did I really know her at all?

Babies are precious little angels with their own distinct personalities and they surprise you everyday. The saying that "you learn something new everyday" is an understatement when you're a mom. You literally learn something new every hour, at least! And when you learn it and use that information again, you suddenly feel so accomplished, I did it, I followed her cue and was successful. Give myself an applause, yay me, I'm not clueless after all.

My baby girl is 6 weeks old and she is doing all new fun stuff, like smiling when you talk to her. O, how it makes my heart melt every time. Even after, what seems like the worst night, that smile in the morning can instantly make it all disappear. How blessed I am! How lucky I am to be sharing this "4th trimester" with her outside my belly :)

Sweet little face

2011-08-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by a fellow blogger to write a little story about remembering to call on God first.
This picture of my daughter's precious face was taken earlier in the day yesterday when we were all happy and playing and then things went downhill very fast and I had an unhappy baby on my hands. Not her fault, we had quite a few problems nursing yesterday, we just couldn't seem to get on the same page. Baby girl was trying to figure out why she was so frustrated and I was trying to figure out what she needed. Living my life on a 2-3 hour feeding schedule has been one of the hardest things I have ever done but I am so happy that my baby is healthy, thriving, and growing as she should.

Ever since we have been home from the hospital Brandon has been working around the clock to provide for his family. We are so grateful! However, that means the responsibility of baby falls on me. I love her to pieces and cannot get enough of her but sometimes little things like eating with 2 hands and taking a shower can seem like heaven.

Last night Brandon was working really late and I tried everything to soothe my poor baby. Nothing worked and I believe that sometimes babies just need to have a little crying time but it had been hours and I knew she wasn't feeding right and I just became so sad. I called Brandon just to hear his voice and I told him the baby was probably not going to sleep well tonight. I hung up the phone and realized that I wasn't giving my baby enough credit, we just had to figure out what she needed. Then I thought, I will pray for her, DUH! Why had it taken me so long to just pray for her little body to be able to relax and eat well. God came through, she got a full belly and slept well last night and only woke up twice to eat so I even got a little extra sleep.

Its safe to say that this young mom has learned her lesson, pray first! God soothed her and me!

A little story

2011-08-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Abigail and I am 1 month old!
My mommy and daddy have taken such good care of me this first month and I feel very safe around my protective dog, Jeter! I've met lots of new friends and spent time with my family and cousins who love me! I always wear a pretty bow in my hair and still fit into lots of cute newborn clothes. People keep saying I look like my dad, it must be my eyes that my mom and dad think are going to be blue. I still love to sleep in my boppy and am getting good at holding my head up! I love spending all day everyday with my mom and am thankful to my dad for working so hard to make sure I have everything I need. I am a happy little baby!

Birthday celebration

2011-08-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Brandon!
We are spending the day together and then my lovely sister Katrina is babysitting so Brandon and I can go out to dinner and a movie! Such a treat! This will be the first time we will both leave the baby. So excited for a night out and I'm pretty sure Aunt Katrina is excited to babysit :)

A picture is worth...

2011-08-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

One thousand hugs and kisses!
My little babe is turning 1 month old tomorrow and I know this sounds cliche, but I cannot believe how fast this month has flown by. So many new little beginnings, so many little noises and cute little faces, so many things learned and things still to figure out. A few things I know with certainty are how much I love love love my baby girl, how much I appreciate my husband, and what a great little companion Jeter is. My life is beautiful.

Taking charge

2011-07-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

Sleep is so hard to come by so today when Abigail was sound asleep I knew it was my chance to lay down and catch some z's. Unfortunately, there have been workers in our place for the past 2 days doing some repairing on the roof through Abigail's room. Today they were suppose to come by in the morning and finish up by just painting the ceiling in our dining room. Welp, they did not show up this morning so I decided to take charge and put a note on the door. Please do not disturb. Its time they come when its convenient for me. Who knows if they even attempted to come by, all I know is I got to sleep for an hour and a half with my sleepy newborn and my sleepy puppy without any disturbance.

My beautiful life

2011-07-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

This is Brandon's favorite time of day and mine too! Brandon can't wait to hold sweet Abigail as soon as he gets home from work and I love being able to sit and eat dinner with 2 hands. Such a beautiful, simple life we lead. We are happy.

cousins, nephews, niece, aunts... Sisters

2011-07-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

We were all in the same room yesterday! Kids everywhere, sisters swapping stories, cameras flashing, and lots of love for everyone. So blessed!

Abigail's story

2011-07-21T15:04:00.001-07:00

July 7th, 2011... that was the day I had circled in pink on my calendar for 9 long months, Abigail's due date. Well that day came and went very quickly with no sign of progression. Boy, were we frustrated. We went ahead and scheduled and induction date for the 12th. In the mean time we tried just about everything to induce labor and she just wouldn't budge, until the evening of the 11th, at 11:15pm, right after we laid in bed, POP, my water broke! Brandon immediately hopped up and started getting dressed, putting his shoes on, getting the bags ready to bring down to the car, and I sat in the bathroom, very calm, contemplating everything that was about to change. Brandon, still slightly hysterical, beckoned me to get out of the bathroom and get dressed so he could rush me to the hospital. I very calmly said, "let's wait a few minutes while I call my doctor." Doctor said since I haven't started having contractions yet that I can wait at home for a while until I start feeling strong ones and then I can go to the hospital, or I can go now. Up to me! About 10 minutes later, hello contractions! They were coming on strong and fast. But we were able to wait long enough at home to get admitted after midnight so that Monday did not count as a day. Good timing Abigail!

Contractions are no joke, truly intense pain for a few hours, until about 3am when I got my epidural. All I remember thinking is Dr. Tran, the anesthesiologist, was my hero. Bye bye pain, time for bed. Brandon and I dozed off to sleep most of the morning. So peaceful.

Hours and hours later, the epidural slowed things down, cue the pitocin, it definitely got things moving a lot faster. So fast, that at times Abigail was having a hard time coping with it, cue the oxygen. I was amazed at how smoothly things ran, they had a solution for everything.

There I was 9 and 1/2 centimeters dilated, I asked Brandon to grab Katrina and my mom from the waiting room so we could chat and spend some time together. They gave me tips, took some pictures, and we had a few good laughs. At this time I was thinking, this is great, everything has run so smoothly, I'm excited to get this show on the road.

Finally, it was time for me to push, and I saw the time pass, and pass, and pass, and pass and still no Abigail. Low and behold, she had one more attempt to stay inside my tummy, which she seemed to love, because she was turned the wrong way. It was clear that she was not coming, no matter how hard I tried. 3 looooong pushing hours later, I was exhausted and it was time for my doctor to step in and assist me with the help of forceps. There really is no way to describe the amount energy it took to push for that long, I was simply delirious and slightly hysterical.

One last contraction, one last push, and at 6:07 pm on July 12, 2011, Abigail arrived! All 8 lbs, 2 oz of her, with a beautiful full head of hair, big eyes, a button nose, and pouty lips. She is perfect!

No one tells you how bad the recovery is going to be, this has been the most painful but rewarding week of my life. We are so blessed to have a beautiful baby to enjoy, dozens of pictures to take, lots of love from daddy, and help and well wishes from family and friends. And its good to know that everything will go back to normal in 6 weeks.

Abigail Lin Lykins

2011-07-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

Abigail
Born 7/12/11 at 6:07pm
8 lbs 2 oz
She is just perfect and has stolen our hearts! We love her so much!
Here she is, 1 week old!
While sweet baby sleeps I have just enough time to get on the computer for the first time in a week and put a few pictures up. There are many more to come! Now back to mommy world.

Jeter loves sitting with Abigail. He follows her wherever she goes :)

Love my fam

2011-07-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

They are the BEST!

Trying all the classics

2011-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

With my due date just 4 days away and little to no progression in the labor department, Brandon and I have resorted to trying all the "classics" to induce labor. Maybe this little girl is waiting for the 4th of July so she can get some fireworks. It has been quite amusing to try all the old wives tales. Yesterday we wanted to shake things up a bit from our normal long walks so we went on a hike and made it up a huge hill to a beautiful looking spot. Poor Jeter was exhausted and so were we but it was definitely a fun adventure. Later that day I ate the spiciest burger ever, with jalapenos, habanero sauce and pepper jack cheese. Today maybe I will try raspberry leaf tea. Any other suggestions?

Pool party

2011-07-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

So far on the maternity leave agenda, pool party with my sis and nephews! We definitely had some fun in the sun. I never gave my sister enough credit though, she is an amazing hard working mother watching over her 2 beautiful boys everyday. How she makes it through the day is a wonder, I got tired just watching her! She has such a wonderful little family unit and I just love them all!

"A" is for Abigail!

The last day of June

2011-06-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

July starts tomorrow and my due date is exactly 1 week away. I started my maternity leave a few days early and I couldn't be more happy staying home and resting. 39 weeks pregnant and I dared to put on a bathing suit, thank goodness I still have one that fits!

Waiting...

2011-06-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Seems like all I'm doing is waiting for this baby to come... time is moving as slow as a snail right now. Almost 39 weeks pregnant and STILL working full time, I cherish the weekends to be able to tidy up, take naps with my pup and soak my feet in my very own Homedics foot spa. So for now, I'm still waiting, and working, but boy am I READY!

A night at the beach

2011-06-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

On a whim we decided to go to the beach for the evening. This was little Jeter's first time at the beach and it was a beautiful night. Yes, our dog is very spoiled but it was nice to get out and spend some time together before the baby comes. As proud parents to a Yorkie-Poo we had to video tape this experience. If you fast forward in about 1 minute, you will get a glimpse of the 38 week belly :)

Untitled from Felicia Lykins on Vimeo.

In baby news... Abigail gave us a little scare this morning when she decided to sleep for hours and not move even after putting on music for her, drinking orange juice, and eating a yummy egg breakfast. She was monitored all morning and perked up within in a few hours. She is back to her old, active self. Who knows when this little one will want to make her appearance, but hopefully it will be soon!

Fun family photos

2011-06-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we had some fun family photos taken at the Lake by photographer extraordinaire, Darla Abigt. She has an amazing camera and always takes great pictures for us. Jeter and my belly pretty much stole the show :)

This is Rancho Santa Margarita Lake. I love living by it so much and walk around it daily.

Jeter was pretty cooperative but not the whole time. Its okay, he can be distracted by the ducks for one shot :)

I was going to just tie a ribbon around my belly but I decided to whip up a crocheted ribbon instead.

Hello Belly!

2011-06-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

Here I am
36 weeks pregnant
Just waiting around for the time to pass...
Along with being 36 weeks pregnant I also have, swollen feet and ankles, major back ache at the end of the day, irritability, exhaustion, and I can't pick up something off the floor unless I get really creative.
On the other hand, I have excitement, joy, great skin, shiny hair, an excuse to just lay around, and a baby girl that moves and grooves around as if she is trying to find the exit.
All I can is, hurry up June!

Hard to believe that this was me, at just 12 weeks, when I had discovered the belly band. Now that thing is shoved so far in the back of my drawer I don't know if I could even find it. I pretty much don't plan on wearing pants this summer, only long flowy dresses, so its safe to say I have retired the belly band for good and it will just stay in the back of my drawer. It most definitely worked and came in handy when my belly was this small.

Blessed with another shower

2011-06-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

We have been beyond blessed with support from family and friends for the upcoming arrival of our daughter, Abigail. Brandon's friends threw us a co-ed baby shower this past Saturday and we all had a blast.

Enjoying the sunshine

Here is Brandon trying to demonstrate a baby shower game... he cheated, but we all got a good laugh out of him trying to scoop cotton balls into a bowl on his head blindfolded.

Great hosts and great friends

Etsy shop coming soon!

2011-06-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have a good little collection of hats going now, a beautiful baby boy to model them, and now I just need to take pictures of the rest so I can officially open my Etsy shop! I make all different sizes, colors, boy hats, girl hats, you name it, I will make it! Here is a little preview of a few that Graham graciously modeled for me :)

Showered with love

2011-05-31T09:33:00.000-07:00

A beautiful shower, thrown by beautiful people, on a beautiful day, surrounded by beautiful loved ones, to celebrate my beautiful baby girl to be.

Love my family :)

Decorating and personalizing baby clothes!

Always a few pregos in the house ;)

High school friends

Amazing friends!

Testing...

2011-05-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my wonderful husband threw me a surprise birthday party with family and friends. Such a wonderful treat and so nice of everyone to drive to RSM to celebrate. My lovely family got me some great gifts, including a Flip video camera to record the baby! We were testing it out yesterday, so here is our very first video. We actually made this for Brandon's mom so she could see the baby's room all done :)

Abigial's room from Felicia Lykins on Vimeo.

Dr.'s orders...

2011-05-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Saw my Dr. on Wednesday and everything looks great! She said, start thinking about getting a carseat... well, little did she know I was way ahead of her! My lovely mom and dad got me this great travel system, carseat included, and Brandon put it together for me last night. We were practicing folding it up and taking the carseat in and out... o we had fun :) But we LOVE it! Thanks mom and dad!!!

Read and researched

2011-05-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Didn't take me long to go through this book and write some notes about what I would talk to the pediatrician about. I have researched this topic before but I feels very personal now because I want to make sure I am aware and ready for this process to start. Some may think this is not a big deal or have no opinion about it but its definitely worth getting informed about! This is a very unbiased book with great information.

Done and Done

2011-05-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

Finally we are done with the baby's room! Big relief! I'm so proud of Brandon for refinishing most of the furniture for me and working hard to get it done.

This was the project that ended up taking me much more time than I had expected but I love the finished product.

Big props to Brandon for finding those perfect green curtains for only a $1 a panel!

Get excited!

2011-05-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Baby bedding has arrived! Okay, so you don't have to get as excited as me but I still thought I'd share this picture of it all put together. I love it so! Thank goodness for Target and their amazing deals on all things baby. You can also see in the picture that cute little table in the corner that I found at a thrift store, Brandon stripped it down and painted white for me. I love the little basket at the bottom, I plan on putting some cute stuffed animals in it. Brandon and I are very happy with the way the room is turning out, especially since we found a great deal of things at thrift stores and refinished ourselves, including a cute little light green shelf that I found at a thrift store today for only $2.99! It was in great condition so I snatched it right up! We have made a pact to finish the room this weekend because next weekend is my shower and I would like everything to be organized before then. So, tomorrow Brandon is painting 2 walls purple, my friend Sam is helping me finish my framing project, and then on Sunday we are hanging everything on the walls and putting everything in its proper place. Pictures will be up soon!

A few fun photos

2011-05-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

I work in a building that has many perks, and it just so happens that buy.com is the sister company to the company that I work for, and they have their studio where they film and shoot in my building. The director of buy.com/buy.tv graciously offered to take a few fun pregnancy photos of me in their studio. Such a special treat and a blessing to get these unexpected photos done on just a regular Monday at work. There is many more but they are not yet touched up, so I will be waiting patiently to see the rest.

Lovely Saturday

2011-05-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

I love that we live so close to so many beautiful places, including this one, Dana Point harbor. Brandon and I spent a lovely Saturday morning there with Jeter. We got my favorite breakfast craving to-go, Denny's french toast (Yum!), and ate it on the beach. Then we walked with Jeter over to the Wag-A-Thon on Dana Island. Jeter loved all the friendly dogs roaming around. The weather could not have been anymore perfect!

Getting organized

2011-05-02T15:56:00.001-07:00

Looks like we forgot to unpack a few things! What we really did was neatly stack these boxes in the spare bedroom closet when we moved and were unpacking, shut the door and just left them in there! I guess we didn't need anything in these boxes. In an effort to organize the baby's room yesterday, I had Brandon drag out all these boxes so I could go through them and condense them down and take anything out that we need, the rest is garage or trash bound. I managed to do a fairly decent job and throw away a lot, and now Brandon just has to take them out to the garage and the baby's closet will be empty! I already feel more organized :)

On another note, my lovely husband is also almost done refinishing all my thrift store and Craigslist furniture for the baby's room. I can't wait to post the finished products! I also can't wait until the dresser is completely done so I can start washing her sweet little clothes and putting them away.

While I was going through all the boxes, I found this little gem that I made for Brandon back in 2005 as an anniversary gift. I love all our young, fun, dating pictures displayed in here.

In the middle of the frame is this poem. It still means as much to me today as it did then.
Love you babe!

Love

2011-04-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Love Easter, love the Lord, love my husband,
love my family, love my baby girl, love my pup, love California.

What a mess!

2011-04-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Poor baby girls room is such a mess. Brandon and I really need to start making this room a priority, otherwise we are going to be trying to paint and organize when she is here. Maybe I should start recruiting some people to come and help me on the weekends... Or I could just keep napping on the weekends like I have been doing. O this room is so daunting to me right now... But what a blessing it is to already have all this beautiful stuff for her! We just have to make it look nicer :)

Need to start putting little newborn things in those cute baskets on the changing table

Definitely need some bedding (which is already on my registry), and you can't tell just by looking at the picture but there are little girl clothes piled up in the crib that need washing and need to be put away in the dresser

Such cute gifts we've already received from friends and family, plus that awesome bag of newborn diapers that was given to us!

Finding the lamp was easy... its painting this cute thrift store table white that is proving to be more of a challenge

Need to get more little baby hangers so I can hang up more clothes, after washing them, of course

What NOT to say...

2011-04-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

Maybe its hormones, maybe its me being too self-critical, maybe its them... Whatever it may be, I have become extra sensitive on the subject of my belly. I am in the home stretch now and its very clear that I am pregnant, but for some reason I keep running into people that feel the need to say something about my pregnant belly. It would be great if they had some good or positive things to say, but I have heard, "Wow, you should lay off those donuts", "You are HUGE!", and my favorite, "Are you having twins?" Really people, really?! I am carrying a little human being and I am 7 months pregnant, what am I suppose to look like? So, I have complied a very special list of things not to say to a pregnant woman of any size, I read this list off a great pregnancy article and it truly made me chuckle and think, "Thank goodness, I am not just being paranoid!" Those of you who have had babies will chuckle and nod your heads in agreement and those of you who haven't had babies will get well informed, so feel free to pass the new info along ;)

1) "You look like you're ready to pop!"
---The last thing a very pregnant woman wants to hear is how big she looks. We are already frustrated and tired of being pregnant and reminding us of this isn’t good for anyone. This could potentially turn into an emotional situation that no one wants to be a part of. Might I suggest saying instead, "You look great. How are you feeling?"

2) "Are you sure there aren't twins in there?"
---After a comment like that I would love to say, "What's your excuse? I'm carrying a life!" But instead of lashing out we just feel horrible about ourselves. Women are self-conscious enough as it is and when we're carrying an extra 20 or so pounds its safe to assume that we are extra sensitive about our looks. You can always try the old classic, "Do you know what your having?"

3) "Can I touch your belly?"
---The first thing I want to say to people when they ask this is, "Who the heck are you?" Unless you’re a close relative or friend, this is just awkward. Maybe just try skating by with, "Your belly is so cute."

4) "Enjoy everything now, because once the baby comes, you can kiss it goodbye"
---Well thanks captain obvious for telling me that my life is about to change, as if I already didn't know that. I have had 9 months to think about that. Pregnancy is such an emotional time, so reminding me that I will never enjoy sleep, skinny jeans or a minute alone ever again is not helpful. Why don't you say something like, "Kids are a lot of work, but they are worth it! Enjoy every minute."

5) "You shouldn't be eating or drinking that."
---Well gosh person I hardly know, I am well aware of my food restrictions and limitations, if I have made a conscience decision to eat or drink anything, then that is my business. I know whats best for me and my baby. There is not even a good thing to say instead of this, because bottom line is, I craved it, I'm eating it, and its probably the best food I've had in my mouth all day so leave me alone please. Thanks!

6) "I don't believe in natural childbirth or my wife had a horrible labor"
---Awkward! The only person I need to be talking to about labor and the birthing process is my Dr. so please step away quickly. Enough said.

7) "Are you going to breastfeed?"
---Unless you are my mother or a close friend, there is no need to put this question out in the air. Breastfeeding is completely a personal choice and when the time comes, you will know whats best for you and your baby. No one should make you feel guilty of that, nor is it anyone's business.

There you have it, my very special list of all the things people have actually said to me. Maybe working in a building of 90+ companies has set me up for all those questions, but when in doubt, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Just smile and keep walking, and everyone will have a happier day :)

7 months

2011-04-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Today marks the day of my 3rd trimester! Only 12 more weeks to go! Brandon and I are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our sweet baby girl.

Thank You!

2011-04-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Brandon said it perfectly last night, we are so blessed with all the things we have been able to get for our baby and all the wonderful gifts we have gotten already from our amazing family and friends. Last night Brandon stopped by the Stires household to pick up baby goodies for us! They graciously gave us this super cute bassinet, a bag full of diapers, and a sweet little bouncy seat. We have also gotten baby girl clothes from friends, and Brandon's mom already sent us so many cute girl things, including a beautiful quilt.
To all our family and friends...
THANK YOU!

The test

2011-04-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Glucose that is... this is the test that for some reason scares everyone, probably because if you don't pass this first one, then the next test up sounds awful and time consuming. I decided to go into it with an open mind and just chug the drink, getting it down was no problem, keeping it down, on the other hand, was what I was worried about. It was mind over matter at this point in the appointment to keep this stuff down no matter what! The clock was ticking and I just wanted my hour of waiting to be over so I could rush out of there and get some breakfast. The hour actually went by pretty quickly and then it was off to Starbucks for breakfast as a treat to myself for doing such a great job. Yay Me! :)

In other baby news, I will be in my 3rd trimester at the end of this week and I could not be more excited! The countdown is on until the end of this pregnancy. I just want to hold my baby at this point and I'm anxious for the end. I did get to see one of her tiny limbs poke through my belly last night, first time for that! I feel her move constantly and I see my belly shake and move but this was the first time actually saw a hand or a foot. Definitely something I can't wait to see again!

Cooking

2011-04-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

At 4 months...

At 27 weeks...

Still cooking away in the kitchen almost every night. Brandon appreciates home cooked meals still, but I see this phase soon coming to an end because I am starting to get so tired at the end of the long work day.
Only 13 more weeks to go!!!

Busy weekend in pictures

2011-04-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

Seems like every weekend is starting to get filled up fast with lots of things to do! Good thing about that is, it will make my last few months of being pregnant fly by (hopefully)! So, here it is, my busy weekend, though pictures!

I wake up to this cute little face every morning, and Saturday morning is no exception :)

Love waking up Saturday mornings and making myself a yummy breakfast that I can actually sit down and enjoy.

Snapped this picture of my sweet little nephew Graham when I went to pick up my sis to head out to a baby shower in Lake Forest

Congratulations Stephanie! Baby shower was beautiful and she looked great!

After the baby shower, off to South Coast Plaza I went to watch my beautiful friend try on wedding dresses!

Returned home fairly late on Saturday night and since Brandon had already eaten dinner, I took this opportunity to stop by IHOP and pick up my favorite crepes for my dinner! Strawberry syrup anyone?! Yum Yum!

Woke up so early Sunday morning to drive to Murrieta to watch Brandon play football at 9am and then head to my parents house for a bbq. Although it was cold in the morning, the weather turned out beautiful for the rest of the day.

Cousin Romina and her lovely boyfriend, Julian, are visiting from Argentina and they surprised me with a baby gift, little tiny pink Vans! So cute!

Graham's first Argentine bbq, he loved it, as you can tell... lol! Sleepy baby bear in my mom's arms.

Me and my fur baby... poor Jeter was wiped out at the end of the day, he jumped up into my arms and fell right asleep. He is one spoiled dog, but we love him :)

There you have it! My looooooong, busy weekend! Now for a full work week ahead... o boy, its only Monday morning and I am already exhausted! Looking forward to another busy weekend ahead, lots of fun things in store!

Finished product

2011-03-31T17:09:00.000-07:00

Finally got the little hat just they way I want it! Took a few attempts, but I'm lovely the little cupcake-looking beanie. Can't wait to give it to a mom-to-be this Saturday!

Starting over

2011-03-31T12:58:00.000-07:00

Got very far with a white baby hat and decided to unravel the whole thing... O boy, I hate being a perfectionist sometimes. Back to the hat I go! At least its a nice project to do on such a beautiful day!

Love this evening

2011-03-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

I love every evening that I get to spend with Brandon and Jeter. On most nights of the week, we come together after long days at work, and Jeter's long day of sleeping, and take a long evening walk. Its something I look forward to everyday. Today we were lucky enough to get a walk in before the rain came. Love my boys and baby girl to be.

Newest nephew

2011-03-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Graham Orlando Lohman!
He is pretty much the cutest little guy ever! We are all in awe of him and his squishy little face. I just love love love him!

Baby Shower for Graham!

2011-03-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

So I realized that I was way behind in posting these pictures from Katrina's baby shower from last weekend when her little bundle of joy arrived this morning!
(Picture of Graham will be up soon!)
This was her SURPRISE baby shower and she couldn't have been happier with all the new cuddly things she got and all the family that came out to surprise her. She is such a good hard-working mama and we couldn't wait to bless her on this special day!

4, count 'em, 4 pretty pregnant girls at her shower :)

The blanket I crocheted for Graham

Here's me in all my 6 month glory

It sure was fun being pregnant together!

Getting thrifty

2011-03-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

My mom is the best thrift store finder but she taught me well because lately I have found some great things for the baby's room!

I found these super cute purple tubs at Michaels and they were only a penny a piece!

This well taken care of glider and ottoman was Brandon's find at the Children's Orchard in San Juan Capo. We snatched it up and already washed the cushions and Brandon has decided to paint the wood white. It will be a great addition!

I also found a great little side table at another thrift store that will go perfect in the nursery! Brandon also has to paint that, along with the shadow box frames that I crafted my wall art in! His list of things to do is getting pretty long... :)

Better get started

2011-02-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

Purple yarn, purple fabric, purple tulle, lots of projects to do for baby girls room...
I better get started! First on my list, painting the shadow boxes that I got for a steal of a deal. Can't wait to start and post the finished product.

A fun morning project

2011-02-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

A tiny little headband for our tiny little girl :)
I love crocheting her fun things to wear!

A little pink for a little girl

2011-02-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already guessed from the title of this post,
ITS A GIRL!
We are so excited! I made these little mary jane booties in honor of precious baby girl to be.

Favorite quote ever

2011-02-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Being pregnant can be scary, wondering if your going to be a good mom and good parents can be even scarier. I read this quote on a blog and I just love the absolute truth of it. Its nice to know that you don't have to be perfect to have a happy, healthy baby.

"You may be nervous because you've never been a mom, but your child has never been an infant either -- you will figure it out together."

Yes, we got something!

2011-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

A crib! And it was a steal! Good find Brandon! First piece of baby furniture, which I must say, I'm glad Brandon took the reins on finding it because I was so indecisive about picking one, we probably still wouldn't have one. It cute, its sturdy, its perfect :)

Happy Thoughts

2011-01-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

I was inspired, yet again, through a fellow blogger to make a list of all the simple everyday things in life that make me happy. It makes you sit down and think about the little things that really matter. Its good for the soul, so good ahead, try it, make your happy list!

1. Hearing my husband coming up the stairs after a long day at work

2. My sweet pup snuggling with me in the morning

3. Making dinner for Brandon

4. Getting an “I miss you” text from a friend

5. Reading the new US Weekly

6. A vacuumed house

7. Seeing my nephew or hearing his sweet little voice on the phone

8. Fresh flowers

9. Lighting a good smelling candle

10. Hearing great worship music on the radio

11. Slipping my wedding ring on everyday

12. A hot shower

13. Going for a walk around the lake

14. A good drink from Starbucks

15. A piece of chocolate

16. A phone call from my mom or dad

17. A full tank of gas

18. A little bit of sunshine in the fall and winter months

2010... What a difference a year makes

2011-01-03T16:45:00.000-08:00

I stole this idea from my friend Aarean's super cute blog; a picture from each month in 2010. Today I went searching through my pictures and through my brain to remember each month from 2010. Brought back some good memories!

--- January ---
This picture was taken Jan. 1st while we were still in New York city celebrating the New Year. Such an amazing trip!

--- February ---
We picked up our sweet little puppy Jeter. He has brought so much joy to our lives, we couldn't have asked for a better dog.

--- March ---
This was our very first Gorria bbq of the year with our special guests, the Medina family. I think we had bbq's every Sunday after that!

--- April ---
Happy Easter! We spent the holiday at my grandfathers as part of our yearly Easter tradition.

--- May ---
Happy Birthday to Me! Celebrated with a girls night out of cocktails and the new Sex and the City movie.

--- June ---
Congrats to two of my amazing friends, Samantha and Lindsay. They had their baby showers in the same weekend in two different counties. Worth every mile, I love them.

--- July ---
Happy Birthday Jared! We celebrated by going out to lunch and then to Knott's Berry Farm. Spent all day at the park in the beautiful sunny southern California weather.

--- August ---
Happy Birthday Brandon, Ewan and Mom! We have a lot of birthdays in our family and we always have a blast celebrating. This was also the month Katrina announced baby #2!

--- September ---
Happy 2nd wedding anniversary to us! We celebrated this occasion by getting some beautiful anniversary photos done at the Santa Rosa Plateau. It was also a great excuse to get into my wedding dress again ;)

--- October ---
A very fun and festive Halloween. This was also the month we found out we were expecting! I had to pretend to drink at this Halloween party because we had just found out and we were still getting used to the news ourselves. No one suspected a thing!

--- November ---
A very exciting Thanksgiving! This is when we shared the baby Lykins news with my family in a very special way. We also had some special guests at our Thanksgiving table, the pastor who married us and his family.

--- December ---
Holidays and more! I realized while I was searching for pictures for this post that I had barely taken any pictures for this holiday season. I am going to blame it on not feeling like myself through this first trimester, but really, I just kept forgetting to charge my camera.

Here's to a great 2011, and hopefully many more amazing memories, and a charged camera :)

2nd trimester

2010-12-30T09:53:00.000-08:00

Today marks the first day of my 2nd trimester and I couldn't be more thrilled that the yuckiness of the first trimester will soon be behind me. In honor of this occasion, Brandon brought home a beautiful orchid to mark this next stage and to say that he loves me and he loves our baby. Sweet husband!

My new favorite thing...

2010-12-29T11:28:00.000-08:00

The Belly Band!

As the weeks fly by, I have noticed a lot of changes, one of them being that I simply cannot button any of my work pants anymore. A few times I tried the rubber band trick and just leaving them unbuttoned and wearing a long shirt but working in a professional office, that doesn't always look so great. So, off to Target I went to get the coveted Belly Band. It hides the fact that I clearly don't have my pants buttoned and it keeps them in place! A huge help for a more comfortable work day!
(14 weeks tomorrow!)

Techspace Company Christmas party

2010-12-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

Usually we go to Brandon's company Christmas party every year but this year I'm working for a big company so it was my turn to introduce Brandon to all my coworkers and friends at work. I was proud to have him around my arm and he was happy to hear all the "congratulations on the new little one" from everybody. It was a rainy, yet lovely, evening at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in Newport Beach. Boat parade, dinner, open bar (not for me), and a lot of great conversation. Never hurts to buy a new Express dress for the occasion either ;)

Its Official!

2010-12-16T16:33:00.001-08:00

Baby Lykins due July 7th!
Feels so official now that I have shared the news on Facebook and here! I held off for a long time because I was hit with the morning sickness bug pretty badly, but I'm finally starting to feel better now, just in time for the Holidays!

Its November!

2010-11-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

Annnnd I just realized that I have posted anything in about a month. My bad! Well, a lot has happened, Brandon's new job, moved back to Orange County and a lot of other things in between. Hopefully once we are fully settled in our new place I will be up to date!

Until then...
Happy Holidays!

Truly Touched by Trinity

2010-09-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

Just had to share some more adorable picture of the beautiful Trinity and my beautiful friend Lindsay who looks pretty amazing after just having a baby!

Trinity

2010-09-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

My good friend Lindsay just had beautiful baby Trinity yesterday and she posted this precious picture of her wearing one of my headbands :) Brought tears to my eyes and a big smile on my face.

A special gift

2010-09-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

Our 2 year wedding anniversary is coming up and we got a great opportunity to take some "Day After" wedding pictures for our anniversary. The pictures were done by Kenny Grill (www.kennygrill.com) and they turned out amazing!
A big thank you to him and his wife, my old friend Brianna for taking the time to do these for us. "Day After" pictures are a spin on the "Trash the Dress" pictures that many people do. I didn't trash my dress but it did get a little dirty :) These pictures were very special and meant a lot to us and we couldn't be more thrilled about how they turned out!

Happy Birthday Brandon!

2010-08-31T09:59:00.001-07:00

Brandon officially reached 31 years of age on August 11th. Shows you how far behind I am on my blogging! Whoops! We stayed low-key this year and just spent time with family. He, of course, got a load of Yankee gifts which he was very happy about!
Love you babe!

With homegrown tomatoes

2010-08-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

This picture doesn't look like much, yet, but it turned into a fantastic meal that was really easy to make. Next time you see boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale grab them for a simple, easy dinner.

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Fresh basil pesto
Tomatoes
Shredded Mozzarella cheese

To make:
Preheat oven to 400
Line cookie sheet with foil
In a bowl, toss chicken in the basil pesto until covered
Bake for 20-25 min.
Remove from oven, top with tomatoes slices and sprinkle with cheese
Return to oven, cook another 2-5 min.

(I paired this meal with some healthy whole wheat pasta drizzled with olive oil, basil and fresh garlic)

I think Brandon's exact words were, "Babe, where did you learn how to cook like this?!" Simple, easy recipe that impressed my husband, cooking mission accomplished!

That's right!

2010-08-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

Its almost time! September 1st we put our 30 day notice in to an apartment that we have loved so much. However, it is time to move on and make the move to Orange County. I have been waiting for this day since April, the day when my commute will finally end! Can't wait to find our new home!

First haircut!

2010-07-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

My 6 month old little boy got his first haircut! When we first got him I couldn't imagine shaving off all his cute puppy hair but then the summer came and the poor guy was getting so hot with all that hair. He sure does look cute!

One happy customer!

2010-07-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Last crochet post for awhile, I promise! A special little girl received one of my headbands as a gift from her Aunt Lisa, who I know from work. Lisa sent me this picure of her niece, Rea, and she just looked so cute I had to post!

Another baby gift

2010-07-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

A bright sunny yellow for a little girl. I loved the big pink flower for the headband. It was the first time I attempted to make a bonnet that ties in the front and the back and thankfully it turned out cute! I was not thrilled about my ribbon choice in the end but now I know for next time not to use that brand. A lot of learning as I go.

Crochet Creations

2010-06-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school my very talented mom taught me how to crochet. I never forgot it and today I made my very first sale on a baby blanket. I always used to make scarves for myself and gifts for my friends, but I am now able to read patterns and design my very own! I have done a lot of crocheting in the past couple of months and made two baby gift sets and one blanket that I sold. Hopefully I can drum up some more business and add to my crochet creations collection, but for now I am working on two more baby gift sets.

Praise the Lord!

2010-06-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

A couple of Sundays ago, my sisters and I headed down to Del Mar to the Spirit West Coast Christian concert festival. It was a great day full of amazing musicians all worshiping our Lord. Best part of the day was watching my sisters try and enjoy fried avocado for the first time.

"Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name." Psalm 30:4

Forever a Lucy fan!

Celebrating and more...

2010-06-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

So much blogging to do with so little time. Lately, most of my time has been consumed by my crochet creations (posts to follow). Also, a lot of celebrations as well these past few weekends, starting with my golden birthday; 25 on the 25th. Officially half way through my 20's and I hear its all down hill from here to your 30's. My beautiful, talented, and most wonderful sister ever got some of my friends together for a fun night out of cosmo's and *Sex and the City 2*.

Such a fun and girly night!

Thanks Katrina!

Made possible by...

2010-05-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our great day yesterday was made possible by my lovely mother, sweet sister Audra, and best brother Jared, who watched our little baby Jeter for us.

Thank You!

(Scroll down for some fun pictures)

Windy Weekend

2010-05-24T12:02:00.001-07:00

We had a sports marathon day yesterday! Thank goodness it turned out to be beautiful weather. My dad treated us to a great Sunday with some great games. First we joined the Miller Lite bus for some lunch and beers for a tailgate party at Dodger stadium. We then headed into the stadium to sit field level and watch the game. We left the game, hopeful that the Dodgers would be able to finish out the last few innings without our cheers, and headed to the Home Depot Center.

Windy Weekend

2010-05-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Our next stop on our sports marathon day was the Home Depot Center to watch LA Galaxy play Boca Jr. It was my very first soccer game and our seats were right on the field, and included free food and drinks, what a treat! I loved the atmosphere, the chanting, and the game. Although Argentina didn't win, it was a very exciting game! Thanks dad for an amazing Sunday!

Getting Back Down to the Basics

2010-05-17T12:54:00.001-07:00

Pool, sunshine, family... all that is needed. Liana, Tarisa, Jared and Audra are regulars at our pool. Love lounging around with the family on the weekends and enjoying the beautiful weather.

A special lunch

2010-05-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

Okay... not so special but o so good! Although I still have quite a drive for the next few months, one of the great things about working in Aliso Viejo is living near my sister! She lives right down the road, which means more opportunities to meet for lunch. Today was free In-N-Out day at my work, so Katrina and Ewan headed my way to get their share of the action. Ewan had fun playing in the rocks, while me and Katrina scarfed down our delicious burgers; a whole hour to chat it up! Thanks you two for making my lunch so special :)

First 5K

2010-05-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

I had a great first experience in the OC Marathon! It was such an inspiring environment and I loved being amongst all the dedicated runners. After I had finished the 5K, I realized that I could have kept going, so I decided to count this as the start of my training for the half marathon; 3 miles down, 10.1 more to go! A special thank you to my husband, mom, and little sister Audra for getting up so early to come and support me. It meant a lot to me to have you all there!

Officially on my Wish List

2010-05-03T14:31:00.001-07:00

Can't wait to read these!

Its the little things...

2010-04-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I have never been super "mushy gushy" with each other because we think a frozen pizza, wine, and a Redbox is just as romantic as a candlelit dinner in a fancy restaurant. Its the little things that matter, and because my husband is such a romantic at the little things, this post is dedicated to him, my wonderful, hard-working husband! Below is a picture of one of the sweet little things that he does for me... every night when I come home from a long day at work and many hours of driving, he always has a good smelling candle lit in the entry way, just so that I can take in a nice big breath and sigh of relief that I am finally home for the day; the moment I have been waiting for all day, to see him!

His least favorite time of day...

2010-04-20T17:46:00.001-07:00

Bath time!

Jeter has strong feelings against dog hygiene, such as, taking a bath, brushing his hair, and cleaning his face. He would prefer to be a dirty dog but I won't have it. I need him smelling good all the time. This is a picture of him right before I brushed and blow-dried him, he knew it was coming and was not happy. Poor little pooch.

Best Friends

2010-04-11T16:02:00.001-07:00

Jeter loves his uncle Boo. They are best friends for life! They play together, follow each other around, share the same food and water bowls, and they like to lay next to each other when its nap time. In dog terms, that all equals up to the greatest friend and pooch could ever ask for!

Easter 2010

2010-04-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Love, love, love our annual big family Easter celebration at Grandpa's! Always a good time!

Received the confirmation...

2010-04-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

I'm officially registered for the OC Marathon! Can't wait to run my little heart out on May 5, 2010. Cheer me on!