Summer Vacation 2012

Better late than never, right? 

2012 is a big year for the C*K*Js. The mister celebrated a big birthday (40) this summer and we are just a few short weeks away from becoming a family of 4. Seeing how we had things to celebrate and it was likely one of the last times that Leah would travel free (and quite frankly that we would even travel period for a while), we took advantage and enjoyed one last glorious beach vacation with our little threesome.

We spent 5 days at the St Regis in Dana Point soaking up the sun, playing in the sand, swimming in the pool, splashing in the ocean, eating yummy food and spending oodles of quality time together. It was nearly perfect in every way.

Leah has turned into a great little traveller and loved all of the time at the beach and the pool with Daddy's undivided attention. The hotel was stunningly beautiful and very family friendly... we especially loved the 1.5ft toddler splash pool and the Saturday night monarch butterfly release topped off with story time and smores on the patio. We also didn't hate the otterpops that they brought around to the kids' pools every afternoon! (eating otterpops in the pool on a hot day doesn't suck)

CJ snuck in a round of golf for his birthday and then we treated him to an amazing fireworks show right literally right outside our balcony that we like to pretend was in his honor. (actually, one of the ketel one vodka heirs rented out the golf clubhouse for his 40th birthday bash and capped off the night with a $50,000 fireworks show on the 18th green. it was very cool!)

It was the perfect lazy vacation for a pregnant mama... other than a few evening trips down to the harbor for dinner, ice cream and a stroll.... we barely left the resort. We just hopped from the beach to the pool to someplace yummy to eat. It was heaven!

Loads of pictures from our fun adventure in no particular order...

Happy 40th Birthday CJ.
(and you're welcome for the fireworks)

 It was a little surreal to think that the next time we do a vacation like this, we will be a family of 4!! Who would've ever thought?!?

It was just as surreal to look down and realize on the way home that my littlemiss is now a little girl!! It kind of kills me to see her so grown-up. Bittersweet, indeed. I'm so glad we had this fun one on one time with her and I'm so glad she's ours!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Doesn't he make 40 look good!! 

big sister's new bedroom...

It's a little hard to believe that it has been nearly two years since I finished Leah's nursery in anticipation of her arrival into our hearts, our home and our lives. It's so hard to even imagine and remember what that previous life looked like now. She has been the very best thing that has ever happened to the C*K*J's and my heart has easily grown 3 sizes since then.

Seeing how another awesome thing is about to happen to us.... our sweet littlemiss ellejay is getting bumped from the nursery and upgraded to a new and improved big girl space!

I tell you what... little girls are fun!! I have been a bit consumed these last few months with scheming, imagining, searching and carefully selecting and preparing so many fun details to make her room special. I incorporated a few adapted special treasures from her nursery along with loads of fun new stuff to create the perfect big girl room for littlemissbigsis!

I kinda love it... almost as much as I love her! I'm pretty sure she is thrilled with it and thinks it's totally "awe-mus". We haven't quite ventured into new sleeping arrangements yet, as we still have a bit of time before she is officially booted out of the crib.... but here's to hoping that goes just as "awe-mussly". 

No time to rest! 

Next up.... a newly re-freshed nursery for mama's littleman.

...{times-a-ticking}...

three quarters :: 3/4

Hard to believe that I am already 30 weeks into this pregnancy.... three quarters of the way there. Hard to believe that in 10 weeks (give or take), we will become a family of 4...four!!!

In so many ways (though not every way) this pregnancy has been easier and gone much quicker than with Leah. Part of it is because I am chasing Leah and I don't have time to obsess over every detail of the day and week I am on. Life just moves along at a quick pace these days... pregnancy included. That being said... I still have plenty on my mind these days regarding this sweet little man that has taken over my body and will one day call me mama, especially as I come down the homestretch.

A handful of random musings...

• I am not sure why we have had to have the hottest freaking summer on record while I am as big as a whale and chasing a toddler. Not cool, mother nature....not cool at all. (pun totally intended) I don't know if it's the extra testosterone or what...but I am a hot mess all.the.time. I have never sweat like this in my life. Some days I watch the weather forecast and it makes me want to cry. literally. I blame hormones.
• I have quickly learned that we just trade and swap one miserable symptom for another.... nobody gets out of pregnancy pain free (and if they do, I don't really want to know them). This time around.... I still have ankles and I can still wear my wedding ring.... two things that were gone months ago the first time around...but my sciatic is killing me by afternoon most days, sometimes even first thing in the morning and my varicose veins and spider veins look a bit like something out of a horror movie.
• I am not feeling near as "prepared" as I was with Leah...maybe that's the difference between the first and the second, but by this time my first go around, my nursery was nearly complete, diapers were stock piled and my hospital bag was practically packed and by the door. This time around....not so much. It's just now starting to stress me out and keep me up at night.
• Even though I have done this before, I am starting to have major anxiety over the fact that I will actually have to get him out one way or another. I try not to think about it, because last time was such an awful delivery. Good thing it was worth it or I probably wouldn't have signed up to do it again.
• He is much more active than Leah was or at least than I remember her being. He is wild most all of them time and usually it feels like he is doing karate in there. After Leah has been such a sweet, content baby...it scares me a little bit.
• I have started stressing about and researching circumcisions. Boy things and parts are all new to me and I'm not really looking forward to it. Another thing that keeps me up at night.
• In nearly every way, I can't wait to meet him and for Leah to be a big sister, but I am starting to get really emotional and reflective on how his arrival will change all of our lives. Leah is my best little pal and I love that we have oodles of one on one time together every single day. I love that Chris and I's entire existence revolves around her care, joy and happiness. As excited as I am, I am starting to mourn the end of our little family of three, all the while looking forward to the next chapter. It's such a bittersweet and overwhelming feeling.
• Everything seems status quo as of now.... no sign of bed rest or the need to be induced early, for which I am incredibly thankful (though a day or two of bed rest doesn't sound too bad most days). However, I don't know what it feels like to "go into labor" and it scares me. Add that to the list of things that keeps me up at night. 
• Most days I have to pinch myself to realize that this is my life and that I am being blessed with everything I have ever prayed for. I am humbled and emotional that I have been entrusted with not just one, but TWO sweet, precious souls to guide through their mortal existence. I feel so lucky. 
• (and I also worry and pray that I don't jack it up. yet, another thing to add to the list of things that keeps me up at night)
• It might come as no surprise that I am thankful for Tylenol PM and Unisom. A worried, achy pregnant girls best friend.
• My local grocer has now started putting out their Halloween Aisle stuff (ridiculously early, right?).... and I had to stop and catch my breath when I realized that the "season" in which everything changes is really upon us, it's next and it's coming quickly. Ever since I found out I was pregnant clear back in January.... October has seemed so far off, like several seasons away. But alas, the candy corn has arrived folks and that means I better start getting Halloween costumes going for my TWO little goblins!! 

Ready or not.... here we g.r.o.w!!

Celebrating a little Independence...

Funny how every day feels a little bit like Independence Day when you are living with a toddler. Littlemiss Ellejay is totally at that age where she is continually stretching her wings, testing limits and striving for control in every way possible. And her mama and daddy and continually practicing our patience, taking deep breaths and looking for any way possible to let her proudly soar and explore. We strive on a daily basis to find ways to say YES and let her little free spirit be, well just that, free....all the while, teaching her boundaries that, often times, unfortunately include no. 

Holidays are becoming so much more fun, just as I knew they would. It's inevitable that kids just make you more fun.... I feel like it's literally my job now, to see to it that we have traditions, that we create memories and that we enjoy every minute while doing it, like it or not!! And as it turns out... I do like it! I actually love it!! Seeing and experiencing the world through your childs' eyes is pretty much the best thing ever!

Nope... you don't have give me much of an excuse or twist my arm to dress her up like a ridiculously adorable sailor for church. It's just more fun to sing the patriotic hymns when you look the part!

We have come to LOVE our neighborhood tradition of the 4th of July breakfast and party in the park. It's such an All-American celebration!

It shouldn't have seemed any surprise that Leah and one of her newest besties were dressed just alike in celebration of America! Sometimes I think her mama and I might have been separated at birth... just in a different decade. Oh how I love these girlies!!

Once again, CJ and his buddy BD (with a little help from SL's finest) took charge of providing the best waterslide in town.... 200 feet of pure bliss!

It has become quite an event that seems to bring more and more out every year!! This year the line for the slide seemed longer than ever before!!

Leah was very patient to wait her turn... just like everyone else.

And when it was all said and done... it was totally worth the wait!! 

Mama & Baby Brother avoided the slide this year...due the our current "state of being" and instead enjoyed lots of shade time with some of my besties!! I love my neighborhood for lots and lots of reasons (great view, nice people, street parties, beautiful park nearby, etc) but these ladies (minus a couple) are one of the biggest reasons....they are my morning walking crew, my Thursday night tennis buddies, the ones who loan me a cup of sugar when I need it and the ones who leave treats on my doorstep when I need it most!! ♥

Me, Deedee, Gina & Jane

My little family.... hot, wet, tired and loving every minute of it!!

And look at the difference a year makes....

It's still a little hard to believe that next year we will be a family of FOUR with two little pieces of my heart sitting by that sign!

It makes me feel a bit like as some of us are rapidly gaining our independence, others of us are quickly losing it.

(but gladly, I might add)

Happy 4th of July!

(a little late)