Havasupai

Marcus was lucky enough to go down to Havasupai with two of his brothers, Matt and James, two of James' friends, his dad, and his friend Tommy.  I was a little sad I couldn't go...but that just means we'll have to go again!  Here are a few of his pictures.  They are just so gorgeous!

25 Weeks

(May 25th)

Wow, how can I already be 25 weeks along?  This pregnancy has flown by. 

This pregnancy has been quite a bit different than mine with Asher.  Although in the beginning I was queasy and generally didn't feel well, I wasn't as sick as I was with Asher.  I never threw up and could handle all foods better.

How far along: 25 Weeks  

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well.  In general I think I am more comfortable this time around than I was last time.  I am not too achey or itchy which I remember feeling much worse last pregnancy.  I wonder if after your first your body is just more used to it?

Movement: I finally started feeling this baby girl right around 21 weeks.  It is amazing and one of my favorite parts of being pregnant.  She is very active already and my favorite thing is when I lay down at night and she starts moving all around.  Marcus has been able to feel her and just yesterday Asher felt a little kick as well.  

Food cravings: I feel pretty normal as far as food, but Thai food (especially fresh spring rolls) and gummies have been my main cravings.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.  I feel lucky to feel so good! 

Exercise:  I was able to ski this winter throughout the beginning of my pregnancy and went for the last time at 16 or 17 weeks.  I've been going to a cardio barre class that I really enjoy even though my stomach is starting to get in the way.  I recently had to stop running because I feel contractions and like I have to go to the bathroom the whole time, which is pretty uncomfortable so I've just switched to walking.  

I love being pregnant this time and having Asher so involved.  He is so excited for his baby sister.  He kisses my tummy, pats it, and gets really, really close and says, "I love you baby sister."  It is so sweet.  I think he is going to be a really great big brother.  He also loves singing her songs and giving her loves.  We talk about what to name her practically every day and his favorites change.  

Asher wanted to show off his little tummy too!

Seattle

May 1-4

We have been talking with our good friends, Matt and RaShae Tillotson for about a year that we need to plan a trip together.  We finally made it happen and planned a last minute quick trip to Seattle.  We stayed in a townhouse on capital hill and had such a fun time.  Asher did great and just tagged along with us wherever we went.  (And we were very grateful to Matt and Shae for keeping him so entertained.) We enjoyed so much good food and a lot of exploring outdoors.  

We walked along Alki Beach, skipped rocks, and Marcus and Asher dipped the tips of their toes in the cold water.

Beautiful, beautiful view from Gas Works Park.

We rented canoes and spent a couple of hours on Lake Washington.  We saw turtles and herons and paddled through a beautiful arboretum.  Asher was thrilled to be in the canoe and loved that he got to paddle with his own yellow paddle.  He was so adorable, and after awhile he fell fast asleep.  He slept for about an hour until it started to downpour.  It was kind of a rude awakening for him, but we were able to wait it out under some bridges until it slowed down.

We drove out to Snoqualmie Falls.  The falls were huge and so beautiful.  (It was sunny and misty here...a little hard to keep our eyes open.)

We got delicious sea food at the Crab Pot.  Asher was so curious about the shrimp (with their beady little eyes and legs still on and why we were hammering our food.  He did not want to try any of it and was happy eating his noodles. 

We rode the big ferris wheel that went out over the ocean.  The boys would probably say that it wasn't worth our money, but I thought it was fun (and really kind of scary) and Asher liked it too.  

Afterwards we walked around in the rain for awhile.  It was getting dark and raining pretty hard.  Matt encouraged Asher to run around and jump in the puddles and although he ended up soaked from head to toe, he was in absolute heaven.  If you ask him what his favorite part of the trip was, it was jumping in puddles.  

Beautiful walks and views from Discovery Park.  We could have spent lots more time here, especially if it wasn't so rainy.  

One last visit to Pikes Place before we had to go to the airport.  

Until next time, Seattle!

Easter

We had a beautiful Easter Sunday.  Stella was still here with us, and they were just so adorable together in their cute Easter outfits.  They love each other so much and I was so happy to have captured a little bit of it in these pictures!

After church we went to my parents house for Easter dinner and a fun egg hunt.

Quick California Adventure

April 3-6

We took a quick trip to California and had such a good time.  We stayed in a beautiful Hyatt Resort in Huntington Beach which was amazing and just a walk across a bridge to the beach.  

Disneyland!
(Friday)

I know it is called the happiest place on earth, and now I know it is called that for a reason.  Asher was so happy there and it was seriously so fun to just be there with him and watch him love every second of it.  He loved riding the rides and didn't mind the lines too much.  He didn't love the rides that were in the dark with loud music, like Toad's Wild Ride, the Buzz Lightyear one, and Winnie the Pooh.  He would sit close to us, lift my hand to cover his eyes, and say he was ready for it to be over.  Once we were out he would say it was ok though.  He really liked Dumbo but his all time favorite ride was the teacups.  We rode it three times and he would have kept riding it over and over again.  He was just so happy!  He loved spinning it and would giggle and giggle.  

He also really loved the parade.  He would cheer and wave to each character as they went by.  He especially loved Donald Duck, Mickey and Minnie.

Probably my favorite part of the day was when we met Mickey Mouse.  We explained to Asher that we had to wait in line to see him and go through his house.  We asked if he wanted to do that or if he would rather ride rides, but he said he wanted to wait to meet Mickey.  We went through his house, and when it was our turn to go into the room where Mickey was, Asher absolutely lit up.  When we got to go stand by Mickey, Asher leaned over and gave Mickey the biggest hug.  He had a huge grin on his face and turned to us and said, "I gave Mickey a hug!"  Then he hugged him again and said, "Two hugs!"  He was completely thrilled and kept talking about it all day.

horrible picture quality but it's the best we've got...

sharing a dole whip...

Beach Day! 
(Saturday)

 It was a gorgeous sunny Saturday at the Huntington Beach.  The water was freezing but Asher wanted us to carry him into it over and over.  He was nervous to be set down but he wanted us to dip him in and didn't mind getting soaked by that cold water.  He played in the sand and built sand castles with Marcus.

We warmed back up and finished the evening at the hotel waterslides, pool and hot tub.  Asher loved the slides.

(Sunday)

 We watched the first session of general conference in our hotel and then wandered around at the Huntington Beach Pier before heading to the airport to fly home.  

And suddenly I felt like Asher was a teenager or something.  What the???