Half Way There and All the Way to Nashville

Last Friday I reached the 20 week mark, so it's countdown time to baby now!!!! Been feeling lots of kicks, punches and flips and the belly is growing.

Also, last Friday I headed to Nashville for girls' weekend/Mel's 30th. We had a wonderful time and ate waaaaaay too much. We also found that we are not nearly as young as we used to be. We always had big plans after dinner, but both nights we ended up in our hotel, in our pjs, drinking wine and talking. Below are a few pics, but be sure to click Mel's blog link (to the right under friends and family) to see her pics as well. Her blog tells a nice story of the weekend.

Mel and her boyfriend

I was obsessed with these dogs.

Looking for shade in the park.

We thought these were so funny! This was at the Bella Meade Plantation that we toured.

Happy Birthday Mel!! We can 't wait to see what your dirty thirty years will bring!

**look how happy she is about her redneck wine glass**

Happy 1 Year!!!!!!

Excuse me, a belated 1 year to my hubby who never ceases to amaze me with his patience, selflessness and love (especially through my pregnancy antics). He actually told me the other day that I haven't been so bad lately. Sadly, that made me so happy. OOhhhh marriage!

Rob skipped out on work and made the trip into NYC with me for his first (my third) ultrasound and dinner to celebrate. So our first stop, Dr.'s office.....

Look at that melon!!! Should I be scared?? Baby weighs a whopping 1/2 lb right now and has all his/her parts. We won't be finding out the sex, so enjoy the anticipation!

While I worked, Diva Rob had his morning coffee, wandered around the city and read in Central Park. During his adventures he ran into Ben Stiller!

Lastly, we headed to Greenwich Village for dinner at Laconda Verde (Robert De Niro's restaurant). It was very tasty, especially the chocolate cake at the end. Oh how I looooove chocolate. When we arrived we noticed secret service and paparazzi surrounding the restaurant. We just figured someone was coming or going around that area. Low and behold, our waitress comes over and says, "Now don't freak out, but Michelle Obama, Oprah, Beyonce, Star Jones, Whoopi and some others would be having dinner there as well." We didn't freak out (in front of her). A few celebrities came through the front, but Michelle was snuck in through the back. Rob was determined to get a picture of her, so he ran outside with the crowd and tried, but was not successful. Below is a link to the festivities.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117606/Beyonce-Robert-De-Niro-Stars-come-Michelle-Obamas-5k-fundraising-dinner.html

Practicing, Late Dinner and A Lazy Sunday

Rob practicing holding baby. Doesn't Yoda look thrilled?

Yesterday we headed to eat a very late, very large Italian dinner with our friends Ginger and Ed. We could hardly move out of our seats when we were done. Rob says he is not eating anything all day because he is so full. Before dinner I was able to pry Rob away from his March Madness games to snap picks of me and the growing belly.

About a week and a half into month 5! Time is flying now!

Sans sweater, so you can see the full package, yeah!

Since we were out late (clearly we never do anything, because staying up until 1:00 was like impossible), we slept in and decided to skip morning mass and opt to go to to the 5PM mass on the Princeton campus. Maybe we will go to Thomas Sweet for some icecream after. Yummm!!!!

Lazy cats and people

Jack playing the with fish pond app. So neat!

Names.............

I pause for a long time and shake my head because this has been a never ending battle between Rob and I. We can't agree on anything!

Let me just vent for a second. First of all, um I'm the girl, I have been thinking of what to name my future children since I was a little girl. Second, does he forget the child is growing in me and I am the one that is doing all the work for nine months, not to mention the really painful, hard work that is needed at the end to get it out! Lastly, he is not the one getting up to pee in the middle of the night, struggling every morning to find something that fits and looks appropriate and who's boobs and belly feel like they are going to explode at times (and they aren't even big yet, but the skin is stretching, ish!)!! So that being said, don't you think the girl had more pull than the guy in this??

All that being said, I got some very helpful naming advice from a papa of 3. See below.

3 Things to keep in mind when choosing a name:

#1- Middle name= irrelevant

In the sense that it doesn't have to sound perfect with the first or last (people hardly ever say or see your full name). Don't worry about the order of first and middle if you think one or the other first has a better flow (again people hardly ever say or see your full name). Just pick a name you like or that means something and go with it.

#2- Don't not choose a name because it reminds you of someone you knew or know and maybe don't favor or just the fact that it's their name too (especially if you aren't that close with them). As soon as it's your child's name, their face is the only one you will see.

#3- Don't not choose a name because someone else recently named their baby the same name (again, if you aren't super close with them).

Oh and this is the bonus rule:

If you decide on a name and do tell people ahead of time, make sure they know.........................

IT IS NOT A TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION

This really helped me because I obsess over the order and flow when really it doesn't matter. Others may feel differently, but to me it makes things soooo much easier.

More pictures to come soon. I promise.

Movement

Little kicks, punches or flips, not really sure, but I have definitely been feeling them. It is so neat and also offers confirmation that all seems to be going well inside. Rob kept giving me a hard time and saying I was making it up, but finally last night he felt two little thumps. For a second his face lit up and he said maybe if we concentrate it will do it again. Baby didn't move for him again, but I did feel a few more and at that point Rob had already lost interest. He said he would wait to feel them when it was bigger. Oh men, they really don't become papas until the baby comes out do they?

Weekly Catch Up and Chick Fil A Nuggets

On Tuesday Rob and I had dinner in the city at The Spotted Pig in the west village. The steak was amazing and oh the flourless chocolate cake!!!!! Though I work in the city, I miss living there so much. After we hopped the train home we arrived at our apartment only to realize that our lil Yoda had snuck into the coat closet that morning and had been in there all day!! It was my fault because Rob didn't wear a coat that day. I'm such a horrible mother. Rob was like, "Is this what I have to look forward to?". He quickly forgave us after Rob fed him. He did manage to pull all the coats down and pee on everything.

Friday, Jevne and I went on a movie date (reminds me Lys, we need to plan a night). We saw Wanderlust and had Chipotle. It's right next to the theatre and both of us could eat it 3 times a week. We love it!

Saturday it was off to PA for Rob's cousin's wedding shower. After that, Rob's sister (Stef) and I headed to the outlets. Of course all I bought were baby clothes!!! Oh so cute you can't resist.

Today, we decided we were going to fry some food for dinner. Rob's parents had brought over a fryer that they never opened, so we figured we may use it. We opened it up, put it together, read the directions and got scared. We opted to fry our chicken in a pan and then finish it off in the oven. Anyone want a fryer???? Okay so the Chick Fil A nuggets. Rob said he read somewhere that they soak their chicken in pickle juice to give it that unique flavor, so I tried it and it worked! Not sure if they really do, but definitely had that tang to it. Next step is figuring out the batter.

So on to next week of working and commuting. Definitely going to need to buy some clothes this week. Fitting into skirts and pants is getting tough and I find myself wearing all the same things. oh no!!!!

Just a few random pics of my babies. They need a little love and attention on the blog. These shots were originally for our Christmas card (yes I do photo shoots of the cats for our card).

Kisses!

Black Jack- He and I are soooo in love. He snuggles up with me every night.

Yoda striking a pose. This is his good side.

Florida, Family and a Tricky Belly

Can it really be???? Two posts in two days?!!!! Wow, go me! Anyway, last weekend we went down to Florida for the long weekend and had a great time soaking up the sun, relaxing and eating.

At Coconuts in Fort Lauderdale

At Guanabana in Jupiter Beach

Just hanging out by the pool

Okay the tricky belly......For those you that have been pregnant probably already know that the belly changes throughout the day. Friends and family that I don't get to see daily keep asking, "do you look pregnant?" and my answer always is, "well sometimes." See below.

This is in the am after a light breakfast. Not really anything there.

This is in the afternoon post lunch! POP! there it is! (clothes make it look bigger too)

By the end of the day your skirt, pants, dress are tight and uncomfortable. Can be frustrating because it all fit when you put it on in the morning. My solution, lots of spandex!!! Stretchy everything!!!

I'm Back!!!!!!!!

Ten things that have happened since my last post. Here we go!

#1- February 4th- I turned 29. My hubby surprised me with 3 thoughtful, very unrelated gifts. I won't share on the blog. :)

#2- December 9th- Rob and I found out we are expecting a baby! Or as our parent's generation would say,"she went out and got herself pregnant." Below are pics of baby at 12 weeks (I'm now about 15 weeks, so just about two weeks into the 2nd trimester). Due August 17th.

#3- November 5th- Haley and Ryan tied the knot in Jamaica! Ya mon!

It was absolutely perfect and like a movie. That is what I tell everyone when they ask me how it was. Haley looked stunning (and was so fun to photograph) and Ryan a handsome groom.

Sorry Haley, I love this pic

#4- Fall 2011- Becky and Max got engaged! Wedding set for June 16th in Savannah. Can't wait to go back there.

#5- My sister in law, Michelle and her man Liam got engaged! Wedding is actually set for August 17th, 2013 (same day as our due date, but the next year (clarified for BECKY)). Their wedding date was set before we knew we were pregnant, so random that its the same date.

#6- July- The Jacobs moved to Minot, ND. They are loving it there, but we are sure missing them!

#7- I spent a week as a mother to a 4 year old and wasn't so sure I was cut out for parenthood (little late for that now). EJ came to stay with me and made our rounds to Philly, NYC and back!!! We had a blast!!

Elmo love in Times Square

What is a girls trip without a manicure?

And a Broadway Show!

We stopped by my office to visit (and so I could rest).

The Big Piano in FAO Schwartz

Visiting the horses up the street from Rob's parents

PF Changs! Ella Joy devoured her sweet and sour chicken and cheesecake dessert.

#8- May 8- Pat and Mel celebrated their 1 year wedding anniversary.

#9- Honeymoon in Maui!

You will see by the pictures that Rob and I don't do much beach sitting. I plan to post more pics of the honeymoon later, but I wanted to try to touch on everything we did while we were there.

Surfing Goat Dairy- tried cheeses, bought soap and best of all petted all the goats!

Luau! And yes call me vain for posting this pic of me, but I never get dressed up on vacation and I was tipsy and feeling sexy, so I made Rob keep taking pics of me.

Sport Fishing- I won the contest of catching the longest fish

Going to the top of Haleakala- we had to get up at 2AM and drive 2 hours to the top of the volcano and freeze our butts off. It was amazing and worth it. We stopped at this awesome breakfast place called the Kula Lodge on the way down. Yummy breakfast and beautiful flower gardens!

One of the famous blow holes.

Sunset horseback riding. Rob insisted he did not need a helmet (which he finally wore) and his horse was the only one to act up and try to throw him off! Guys try to be so tough! Anyway, this was an incredible experience and our favorite activity.

After you drive the Road to Hana you are supposed to turn around and go back because of the danger of the narrow roads and tight turns. Do you think we did that? NO! We drove on through and through a ranch which scared me to death as night came, but it is where I got some really nice shots.

This was on the Road to Hana I think, right by the Seven Sacred Pools

Whale watching

#10- Our Wedding!!! (I still have yet to pick our pictures to print or for our album)

Also, there aren't too many here (I will post more on our anniversary) because the computer sounded like it was going to blow up when I had the CD of pictures in it.