Lake Havasu 2009

We took a fabulous family vacation to Lake Havasu last weekend and I finally uploaded the pictures  :)  It was our first trip taking Davis--He had such a great time!  I have so many great memories of Lake Havasu from my childhood and I hope Davis and his sister will have the same.  Davis was so adorable the entire time-he loved being on the boat even though it was a little too fast for him and he was so brave while rafting with John and Grandma.  

Mom and Dad had such a good time that they're actually looking into buying a second home in Havasu with a boat.  It would seriously be a dream come true but I'm not getting my hopes up  :)

Our Bucket List

Tonight John and I saw a horrible incident on our way home from dinner at Finn's.  Ventura Blvd was completely blocked off from Woodlake and there were dozens of police cars, a couple helicopters and we saw the channel 4 news van.  As we continued home we saw a dead body in the gutter covered with a bloody sheet across from Jerry's Deli on Ventura Blvd.  We still haven't heard the story but obviously something went very wrong.  I've never seen anything like it and I'm still in shock.  It just makes you realize that life is not forever. 

I got to thinking about things I want to make sure to do in life and I remembered that John and I had made a bucket list a couple years ago.  I found it in my email...we did it almost exactly 2 years ago, on September 12th, 2007.  I went through and updated it tonight with all the things we've done so far and I even added a few to the list.  The original plan was to do about 5 things a year and add about 5 things a year so we can continue it for the rest of our lives  :)  So far we've done 11 so we're right on track!

1.       Own a house with a big backyard

2.       Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty

3.       Ride in a hot air balloon

4.       Bungee Jump

5.       Make Beer

6.       Fly first class

7.       Own a dog-April 2008 Rusty and November 2008 Rambo

8.       Learn how to ballroom dance-2009 took dance lessons

9.       See a baseball game at Fenway Park

10.   Sing Karaoke…an entire song-John’s Birthday 2008

11.    Bowl a 300 game

12.   Visit Stonehenge

13.    Drive the Autobahn

14.    Go to Disney World

15.    Visit the pyramids of Egypt

16.   See an active Volcano

17.    Go to the top of the Empire State Building

18.    Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

19.    Donate Blood-John did 2009 and with being pregnant I consider I have too with all the blood they’ve taken

20.   Give money to a charity-2009

21.   Go to a UCLA USC football game….I think it's Thanksgiving

22.   Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef

23.   Learn how to jump the entire wake wakeboarding

24.   Have at least 2 kids

25.   Have all my kids go to college and get degrees

26.   Save enough to retire by 60

27.   Work for ourselves

28.   Swim with dolphins-April 2008 in Mexico with Tim and Kim

29.   Join the mile high club

30.   Drive a Ferrari

31.   Own a Mercedes-2009

32.   Skinny dip in the ocean-halfway in Mexico but not fully

33.   Jump into a waterfall

34.   Hike up half dome on  June 21st

35.   Raft through the Grand Canyon

36.   Grow a garden

37.   Go in a hot air balloon

38.   Go to the Olympics, somewhere

39.   Watch a fight at Madison Square Garden

40.   See the Northern Lights

41.   Run with the bulls in Pampolona-or at least watch

42.   Float in the dead sea

43.   Go whitewater rafting

44.   Dance in pouring rain

45.   Visit all 50 States

46.   Attend a concert at Red Rocks-Smashing Pumpkins 2008

47.   Go to Octoberfest

48.   Watch a meteor shower-2008 highly overrated 

49.   Bet on a winning horse

50.   Milk a cow

51.   Watch movies for an entire weekend

52.   Make out in the rain

53.   Play in Mud

54.   Visit the Great Wall of China

55.   Get Married

56.   Get a tattoo

57.   Ride a gondola in Venice-July 2009 Honeymoon

58.   Break a bone

59.   Go on an African safari

60.   Eat Kangaroo

61.   Eat Shark

62.   Memorize a favorite poem

63.   Go to a nude beach, naked

64.   Go on a sandals vacation

65.   Wind Surf

66.   See every Major League Baseball Stadium

67.   go to the superbowl

68.   Alaskan Cruise

69.   Salmon fishing

70.   Drive across the country

71.   go to a world cup

72.   golf in Scotland

73.   Kiss each other on every continent-North America,  Europe and Asia DONE!

74.  Horseback Ride on the beach-tried in Mexico but malnourished horses made me sad

75.  Go to a Bobby Flay restaurant

76.  Watch the launch of a space shuttle

77. Run a marathon

78.  Go dog sledding

79.  See Salmon run in Alaska

80.  Be on a game show on TV-Done!!  I had to add this one even though it's after the fact.  Wipeout March 2009 and John has already been on blind date.

26 weeks 1 day Ultrasound Pictures

So relieved after today!  I had the best ultrasound technician who was very informative and walked us through all of her measurements.  I no longer have a low lying placenta and everything looks perfect!  She now weights 1 pound 15 ounces.

These are the 3d pictures Dr. Jadali gave us-everybody says she looks just like John!  Definitely has his nose.  I mentioned to the doctor that it will be interesting to see her in real life and compare her to these pictures-He said she'll look exactly like this when she's born!  I still can't believe the technology.  Anyways, I was so happy to see our little girl and can't wait to see her again in about a month  :)

How far along? 26 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: 20 pounds
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: she seems to wake me up kicking in the middle of the night.  I keep catching myself sleeping on my back....oops!
Best moment this week: No more low lying uterus
Movement: Yes, I can see my stomach moves when she kicks
Food cravings: Mexican!
Gender: "still a princess"
Labor Signs: mild Braxon Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Nothing.  I love her growing inside my belly!

Weekly Wisdom:  Feta Cheese=Bad
What I am looking forward to: I can't wait to hold our little girl  :)

Measurements: not going there right now

Can't Sleep!

I had another wonderful weekend with my hubby-I just have to say I LOVE married life!  It's Sunday night though and I should be sleeping but I just keep tossing and turning  :(  It seems like our little girl is a night owl which doesn't help the situation as I lay in bed with a little person doing gymnastics in my tummy!  

Labor Day Weekend

We all went up to Ventura to visit with Aunt Barbara, Uncle Dick, Sissy, Mike and Niko last weekend and we had a blast!  Davis was so excited to go “camping” for the first time but unfortunately his legs couldn’t keep up with him all day-the poor thing fell 3 times!  I think the only thing that made him feel better was roasting about 50 marshmallows for everybody’s s’mores  J   I can't wait to take Davis to Havasu next weekend!  I have so many good memories of my childhood in Havasu and I want our kids to have the same experiences!

Davis is really excited to meet his sister so he can show her all of her karate moves.  He took a picture of my belly and finally was able to feel her kick!  The kids room is coming along really nicely and Davis was really happy that Daddy put up his Toy Story pictures.  

I've been feeling great except for my ribs have been starting to ache late at night and it's extremely uncomfortable!  We attempted to see a movie this week and thankfully John was really bored because it was unbearable for me-so we left.  Also my calf has cramped up 3 times in the last couple weeks which NEVER happens to me.  I can honestly say now though that I LOVE being pregnant and having her in my belly.  I'm over the feeling fat stage and I'm just so thankful that I have a miracle in my belly.  I love her so much already and I'm so excited to bring her into our lives!  Only 15 weeks left :)

21 week 2 day ultrasound pictures

I've been really nervous about this ultrasound because of the spotting the other day.  Luckily Dr. Jadali says that everything looks normal!  He even said that I no longer have a low lying placenta which should mean that I can exercise again--Not that I really want to!!  I would really like to try a prenatal yoga class though...maybe this weekend?  Well anyways, here are the 4D pictures-They're amazing!

From 134 to 149 in 20 weeks!

So I officially feel like a cow and my lower back is killing me!!  LOL I know it's all for a good cause but I'm seriously in ALL maternity clothes and wish I could get a massage everyday.  I'm in absolute shock and disbelief with my Tummy....John keeps asking--haven't you ever seen a pregnant lady?!?!?!?  Well YES, but it's completely different when it's your body that's gaining weight uncontrollably and when you look into the mirror you see a complete strangers body!  On a happier note, I feel our little girl ALL the time.  I haven't quite learned her schedule but I absolutely love it when I'm somewhere completely random and I feel her dancing around in my belly...I'm like "Hello Sweetheart!  I love you and can't wait to meet you!"  In public I don't actually talk to her but I just smile  :)  She already makes me so happy...I can even feel her right now-she says HI BLOG!  Hi Ava!!!~Our name of the week

I've been cooking lots of healthy dinners lately!  Tonight I made an amazing chicken pesto with angel hair...John requested the leftovers for lunch tomorrow so I think that's a good sign.  I've also made some not so healthy chocolate chip cookies yesterday which probably wasn't the best idea since I'm a little scared I'm gaining weight to quickly.  I'm considering trying to make baby food, of course not til she's ready, but Peggy (my chiropractor) said that's what she did and it sounds like a great idea!  That way not only do you know EXACTLY what the heck your baby is eating, but it's also better for the environment and saves you money!  Who knows, I may be so busy and tired that it's the last thing on my mind but in theory it sounds like a good plan!

How far along? 20 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 15 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes!  I woke up one day in Rome and nothing fit
Stretch marks? still lots of cocoa butter
Sleep: Sleeping on my side
Best moment this week: Baby kicking John in the mouth
Movement: Lots of little movement...my little dancer  :)
Food cravings: nothing weird, just lots of food
Gender: GIRL!!!!
Labor Signs: No, I did have some mild cramps "exercise"
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Being skinny

Weekly Wisdom:  Take your vitamins and calcium-I heard a story about a lady's twins taking the calcium from her teeth and ruining them...Yikes!
What I am looking forward to: Our doctors appointment next Tuesday...I just love to see her!

Measurements:  37" hips 31" waist 37"chest

IT'S A GIRL!!

We found out it’s a girl!!!  I was so happy to find out and I shocked myself by not crying when our tech made the announcement.  The first time she asked if we wanted to know I said NO because John was still on his way and it was just my mom and I...It killed me to wait another moment but I knew John would want to hear with us.  The moment John walked in she told us!!!  Somehow I just knew it-I had even tried to buy baby girl clothes on the honeymoon but John poo-poo'd the idea.  That lotion lady in Mykonos was wrong!  So….our nursery has been my new full time job and it’s going great-We installed the ceiling fan and painted last week and bought a sofa sleeper this weekend and a TV today!  To top it off our floors are being put in tomorrow!!  I’ve been feeling great except a little tired still at times and getting bigger by the minute.  Our next ultrasound is in 2 weeks so I’m really excited to see our little again girl soon J

European Honeymoon

Our honeymoon was a dream come true!  We saw so many beautiful and amazing places and I miss Europe terribly!  Our cruise was absolutely perfect and John honestly planned the best honeymoon anybody could ever ask for.  Thanks baby!

Have to include a few baby bump pix!  This was 16 weeks and I really felt like I was showing...looking back I was crazy!! LOL this was nothing

Amalfi Coast with Larry, Louiseille, Darren, Tamara, Michelle and John

Ephesus Ruins just outside Kusadasi
Beautiful Santorini!!
Our delicious dinner at St. Regis
The Colosseum   

Mr. and Mrs. Makely!!!

We're finally married!  Our wedding Saturday night was the best night of my life!!!  The highlights for me were the toasts, the entire ceremony and our first dance.  The night went by so smoothly and everybody looked beautiful!!  I had the best bridesmaids in the entire world and the most entertaining groom I think anybody's ever seen :)  The bouquets turned out great and everybody loved the service by Reverend Barbara.  The weather even ended up being perfect after the sun began to set--Sorry to all the guys in their black tuxedos!!  And Davis was the best stepson/ring bearer and it meant so much to John and I to include him in our ceremony and thankfully it all went so perfectly.  Everybody was in a fantastic mood, especially Tommy!!!  Hopefully the drinks were delicious and I hope everybody enjoyed themselves as much as I did  :)  I'm dying to get the picture back!!!!!  In the meantime here are a couple non-pro pics...My beautiful mother-in-law Kathy

This is all we really have for now but I'll post more once I get the CD from the photographer!