Bug!

While I was doing the morning dishes Ollie disappeared into the courtyard. A few minutes later he reappeared next to me saying "Mommee! Mommee!" holding something his hand up to show me his latest find. I turned to look and nearly screamed! It wasn't his usual rock- it was a big ugly bug! I didn't want to scare him, he was obviously proud of his bug so I gave him something to hold him in and to my disgust let him be a boy and explore his new found friend. (Yes it was still moving!)

Ollie saying "Oh! Bug!!"

The nasty little creature

Taking his friend for a walk

Laughing because he moved!

He was happily holding him and then he moved in his hand so he dropped him to the floor.

"Ewwww! Bug!"

Mommee made him take him back outside- too much fun for the house.

This is how he showed him to me the first time.

Obviously not afraid to touch him.

A closer look- is he still alive?

Let's go for a walk!

Mean old Mommee made Daddee take care of the bug so that Ollie wouldn't have a colony of friends tomorrow!

Girls Night Out

After a crazy last few weeks I was ready for a girls night out! By Thursday night I had finally tidied up all my plans for our big night, but there were still a few errands to be run on Friday. Being the first to head out I sent the following pics to the girls to get everyone as excited as I was!

(I obviously think I'm a gangster)

I can only blame my mood on my red lipstick, which I actually blame Ollie for. He basically destroyed 3 tubes of lipstick in the last few weeks. Just yesterday I found him destroying another brand new tube!

With no good lipstick left I had to resort to the makeup I have laying around that I purchased for things like dressing up or Valentine's party games. Oh well, let the fun begin! I ran out the door with a short list of errands. My favorite errand was stopping by to see Nick and Thad so I could get Sarah a souvenir shirt from their store. With everything in place I headed out to drop everything off at the hotel and then meet up with Sarah. I walked from the hotel to the mall in 110 degree weather- I was melting! That's what I get for wearing pants in the summer in Arizona!

We met up and then got busy catching up and shopping! Sarah helped me pick out prizes for some of the games we were going to play that night. We were also on a mission to find two baby outfits- one that she will keep, and one that I will bring him home in. We had little luck with that mission though. It really is amazing how hard it is to find a cute baby boys newborn outfit, we saw a few good things but nothing was exactly right. In the midst of trekking all over the mall we ended up by NightRider so we got to stop in and see their new pieces and try on a few rings. When our feet were both killing us and we were done with all the baby clothing stores we finally gave up when I spotted Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. My favorite! We went in and walked out with 7 caramel apples and a box of chocolates (and a big fat receipt!) Sarah had never had their caramel apples before so we took a break and ate one together- delicious!

Other memory from the mall- after we left NightRider Sarah gave me a locket- it says "Always" on the outside. I love it! So thoughtful of her and I can't wait to put some pictures in it. She has a matching one and also picked up a little surfboard charm to go with hers- so cute! In one of the stores when we were checking out the lady behind the counter was talking it up with Sarah telling her how cute she is and asking when she is due, and what she was having and what she was going to name him. Sarah didn't skip a beat telling her his name and that she was placing him with me. When the lady put it all together she was surprised no doubt and asked if we knew each other before. We told her we didn't and just briefly that Sarah had found our profile. She was so excited for us and so touched she nearly started crying! She went on to tell us how lucky we were that we get along so well. We know what a blessing that is :)

After the mall we headed over to the hotel, I still had to throw the prizes together. Sarah and I were sitting at in the hotel lobby putting the prize bags together when Marcee and Jodee showed up to check in. There were hugs all around and then we had to dump the prize bags with them and run over to meet everyone for dinner, we were already 5 minutes past our reservation.

When we got to the restaurant Cindie (my friend from way back in middle school in Tennessee) and Sarah's Mother (Jennifer) were already there. I love Sarah's Mom, she is so super sweet and I feel so blessed to know her and to feel so loved and supported by her. I was super excited for her and Sarah to meet the family! Once we were seated I immediately regretted my restaurant choice, they had our table right behind the bar and it was so loud in there I felt like I was screaming across the table and had to keep asking everyone to repeat what they were saying! But the food was not disappointing. Everyone arrived soon after us, it was so fun to have them meet Sarah and her mother and get to know them (as best they could in a loud restaurant!) One of the funniest things was hearing that Michelle had planned on just showing up in her pajamas because she was spending the night, I guess the picture I sent out to get everyone excited made her double think that plan! Part of me wishes she had shown up in pajamas, I kept cracking up just thinking about it!

Cindie and I snuck out of dinner a little early, I hadn't had a chance to set anything up yet since I hadn't even been up to the room so we headed over to get everything ready. There wasn't a ton to do, just some rearranging so everyone would have a place to sit, and then laying out the desserts and candy, the games and prizes, etc.

When everyone arrived I got them busy filling out prediction sheets for baby Jed, writing 2 truths and a lie about themselves (one of which had to be something embarrassing that happened when they were pregnant or a funny story when they delivered), and I had everyone take pictures. The twist with the pictures was you had to pull a card that told you what 3 expressions to make and the 4th expression was just a big question mark with the title "Crazy Face!" I'm going to embarrass myself and everyone else by posting these, but they were too good to keep to myself!

I'm pretty sure I won the craziest face- it really is scary looking! With pictures done we all sat around laughing about our predictions for Jed and telling embarrassing stories while we filled out our two truths and a lie sheets. My favorite was looking over while we were taking pictures and seeing Sarah writing about Jed's future right on top of him- so cute!

Cindie read all the sheets for two truths and a lie and there were quite a few that had us hard belly laughing- I will refrain from sharing them because what happens on girls night stays at girls night! Natalie won the prize for being the last person to have not been guessed by someone else (we had to go around guessing who wrote what, and if you were guessed you were out). Sarah won the prize for calling out the most lies on the cards. I actually had another game planned, it was sure to produce some craziness (a scavenger hunt specifically designed for the W with all kinds of daring tasks to complete and they had to be documented on film) but it got too late to even think about playing it so we have set it aside for another time and I was completely ok with that. Before those that were leaving snuck out we got some group pictures- always my favorite! I have to also give a shout out to my sister Hydee that wasn't able to make it due to an extended vacation- we missed you!

This is the cousin picture- Natalie and Carrie are also pregnant with boys! Natalie is due in September and Carrie in December, so excited for our three boys to grow up together!

Strange as it may sound before everyone headed out we had a family prayer. It wasn't something that had been pre-planned but it felt right to do it at the moment. After having a good time, it was nice to kneel together and thank Heavenly Father for bringing us all together. Jodee said it and I can't recall all the words but I know our hearts were all full of gratitude for Sarah and her mother and the enormous sacrifice that is being made for our family. Words can never express what that means to not only me, but to all of us. I was grateful beyond measure that we all had this night together. I am always amazed, speechless really as to why I am so blessed. I have done nothing to deserve any of it. I'm glad to have another best friend and to be so loved and supported by my family and friends is truly a gift. Jodee walked back inside the hotel room after saying goodbye to Sarah and she too commented on how amazing it is that she and her family (and all of my family) have prayed for so so many years for Matt and me to have a baby and here we are once again watching the miracle happen!

Baby Jed, I hope that someday when you get to look at these pictures you will see in our eyes how very much we all love your first mother and grandmother, they are so special to us and they will always be a part of you! I hope that you also see the love this big huge family has for you- they prayed you here and celebrated the miracle that you are to all of us!

Good night Sweetheart!

XOXOXO



San Onofre

We didn't get up super early on Saturday, but when we did wake up Matt was anxious to get moving. We headed down for some breakfast where Ollie made some new friends. He's such a social little guy. While eating breakfast he stood up on his chair and kept checking out the baby at the table behind us, and started waving and saying hi to all the other kids. When we did get him to turn around and eat he was making all kinds of faces and laughing while putting his food on his fork before feeding himself. This got the attention of the older couple sitting nearby who were thoroughly entertained. When he realized he had an audience he started waving and saying hi and talking to them too! After breakfast we went back to the room and got ready for the beach. Yes, we left Ollie in his same clothes he wore all day yesterday- I guess that's what beach bums get to do right! He had fallen asleep in them and I didn't want to put him in his swim diaper until we got to the beach so he didn't get changed. He loved his little ride on the cooler on the way out!

 

After stopping to grab some food for lunch and some sand toys we made it to San Onofre a little after 10am. Unfortunately they had already closed the beach because it was full so we joined a big long line of other cars that were also waiting to get in. When a car would leave they would let one in.

 

Luckily it was Ollie's nap time so he slept through the wait and I was glad that he was getting some rest. Matt could have been upset that we didn't get there 3 hours earlier like he had wanted to, but he was a good sport too. No reason to ruin our day over it and he thought the line would move pretty fast. 45 minutes later we finally got in! Would have loved to hang out with our California friends while we were there but our last minute trip didn't work for anyone else's schedule so it was just the three of us. We got our spot all set up and Matt stayed for a few minutes to play with Ollie before heading in to surf.

Ollie was busy playing in the sand before I could even get him changed!

He has been to the beach before, but the last time was this same beach last October so I don't know how much he remembered it. He was so excited to see the surfers and kept pointing at them, and birds and every other little thing he discovered.

Matt heading out- we'll see him in a few hours!

 

After Matt was gone Ollie and I headed down to see what he thought of the water. I wasn't hoping for much, I hate the cold Pacific water myself- I can only get in with a wetsuit!

Poor kid, the waves scared him!

 

He wasn't a fan of the cold water either. I guess we'll have to wait till he's a little older!

 

He was a fan of the sand though and had a blast digging around in it. I started building a shark for him, but he thought it was funny to come and sit on the shark so I had to move him over and help him dig a hole. I showed him how to put water in his bucket and dump it in the hole and watch it disappear. He thought that was fun and even started to take his bucket down to get some water himself but soon I heard "help! help!" He gave me the bucket and laughed at me trying to catch water in it. I even fell down one time as I ran in trying not to get swallowed up in the waves, he thought that was extra funny!

 

Throwing sand was fun too!

 

We forgot his glasses so I let him use mine for a minute :)

 

Matt came in for a minute to eat some lunch. That gave me enough time to go and finish my shark so we could take a few pictures. Not exactly what the fin should look like, but it's kind of hard to do a fin with sand!

Ollie liked it once it was done, here he is giving his scary shark bite hands!

 

And then we got a few pictures with Daddee!

Matt tried taking him in the water too, he was a little better but still wasn't super excited about it. 

 

 We hung out for a bit watching all the surfers while we had lunch. There were two young boys out surfing with their Dad right in front of us. It really was the cutest thing and the boys were actually pretty good. Couldn't help but think this will be the sight I will see from the beach in a few more years when Matt is out there with his two boys teaching them to surf. Can't wait!

 

 

Matt headed back out for a few more hours while Ollie and I hung back and played. I tried to get him to take a nap, he really was tired. I laid down a towel in our shade and gave him his blanket and binky and he did lay down and even rubbed his eyes, but then he just got silly and wanted to play. I was practically falling asleep trying to get him to sleep, but he wasn't having that. He got on my back and started riding me like a horse bouncing up and down and laughing. The couple next to us got good laughs over it too. When I would turn over kicking him off, he would get up and point his little finger at me and then push me over till I was on my tummy again and would proceed to crawl on my back and bounce around all over again. When that wasn't enough he decided to pick up sand and pour it in my hair and in my ears. I have never been so sandy in my life! It started to become torture some. He was so funny but at the same time I was getting tired of the sand being EVERYWHERE! And any time I said "No" he got that little twinkle in his eye like it is so fun to be naughty and would proceed to do exactly what I told him not to- like dump sand inside the potato chip bag! His hands were covered in sand and he didn't like me wiping them off so he probably ate quite a bit of sand throughout the day. Even his drinks were hard to keep clean. Good times! That's about when I started noticing that Matt was still out surfing! I had told him the signal I was going to give him when it was time for him to come in, but there were so many surfers that I had no idea where he was so the signal was pointless. But he finally made his way in. I'm glad he got to surf and I did have fun, but by 5pm I was ready to retire from the beach! We got all packed up and somehow still made it to Noll Surfboards in San Clemente before it closed at 6pm. Ollie was asleep but we still went inside and Matt got to tour the gallery and check out where they shape the boards, etc.

The surfboard from the famous picture of Greg Noll on the beach in Hawaii...

 

We didn't leave without buying a new sweatshirt for Matt (Matt always calls sweatshirts "sweaters" I don't know why but it cracks me up.) Matt started talking to the kid that was checking us out and found out that he was James Noll, son of Jed Noll, and grandson of Greg Noll. He started asking him questions like what time they do the surfboard shaping so we could come and see it (usually Tuesday- Saturday 2-4pm). And then he went on to ask him if his Dad likes his name? Luckily he said "yes," I guess Matt just wanted to make sure that someone with that name actually likes it! He did go onto explain that we are naming our next son Jed and he thought that was pretty cool. After that we went and found somewhere to eat dinner. We ended up at a Thai place, the food was decent but they really didn't have anything for kids. They brought him a bowl of rice, and I was pretty proud of him for how much he actually got in his mouth. He is getting pretty good at feeding himself with a spoon.

 

After dinner we felt like some dessert. I tried using Yelp, and Siri, and Google Maps and had three failed attempts. We drove nearly 4 miles each time and ended up in business parks and residences. I think we were finding the corporate headquarters and not the actual cupcake or gelato shops. So disappointing! We finally found a cold stone creamery and settled for that, and picked up a few cupcakes at a bakery across the street before heading back to the hotel.

 

Once at the hotel we all got showered, it felt so good to get the sand out of my hair and ears! Ollie loved the tub, he was like a maniac in it laying on his tummy swimming around as fast as he could. And then he used the back of the tub (where it sloped for people that are laying in it to lean back on) as a slide. He would sit as high as he could on it and then slide down into the tub. His energy level didn't go down at all when he got out. We got a diaper on him and then he was running around the bed tackling his shark and trying to dive off the side of the bed. Silly boy!

 

 Biting the shark...

 His favorite is putting his hand in the sharks mouth so it can bite him!

 A moment to stop and show the shark some love!

Making a run to dive off the bed!

The shark got his hand!

 

Tacking him...

 

He likes to make the shark bit his tummy...

He is pretty good at putting on a show!

 

Another great day in our little life- love love love this boy! More than once this weekend I thought how much life has changed, and each time I got a great big smile thinking about how much more fun our little family is with this big ray of sunshine in it. Can hardly believe that next month we'll be growing by one more. Two boys! What could be more exciting!!!