Bday weekend !

So I turned 34! gulp, last Friday the 13th. It was a really nice bday week (yes, bday week around here) with dessert with friends, dinner with family prepared by mom (so good) and dutch blitz, dinner with Brandon and a shopping and lunch date with Ann. It was a great week. Kind've sad it's over. But it's nice to have a slower week and relax and nest/organize the pantry as inspired by the House of Smith blog.

On my actual bday, I dropped the girls at my mom and dads house for the night and they had a blast. Doing things like hanging out with their cousins Ethan and Charlotte (these pics are from yesterday) and getting waffles and ham. Um, their fav.

I met Brandon for a pre-dinner coffee since we were 20 min early and then we headed over to Tucci's (entrance photo). It was so beautiful and relaxed and we were seated right away. And it's our fav. place to eat. We started with the server's suggestion, mussels in a light tomato broth, and they were amazing. I was dredging up the broth with my sour dough bread. Brandon was in the mood for a pizza and salad and I wanted a full out bday dinner so I ordered the short ribs in the kona coffee sauce with sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts. We both had the house salad with their homemade shallot dressing. I once got the recipe out of the server. :)

I loved the food and especially loved the french silk pie Brandon had the server bring out for dessert. The chocolate was a definite craving I had! After dinner we went to our first IMAX movie and watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. It was awesome with the IMAX screening. Kind've want to watch every movie that way. We made sure to sit in the middle so that it wouldn't be too loud for the baby. I included a photo from outside Starbucks since I didn't take a 22 week prego shot. The pre-prego black coat is starting to fill out and pop my buttons. :

23 weeks

This week I am 23 weeks. Brandon and I have started organizing around the house, talking about having the girls take a big sister birth class and planned some baby purchases. I also went baby shopping with Ann and got the cutest boy outfits. We are talking tons of blue baby.

I am still having the round ligament pain and the update says to expect the baby to double in weight over the next four weeks. So those pounds I was gaining wasn't because of the half pan of cinnamon rolls I devoured. Nice to know....I am craving sweets baby. I made Martha Stewart's brownies from her classic blue recipe book and they were...i.n.s.a.n.e. Brandon laughed because I asked him 4 times how much he liked them. Cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies, donuts, I could marry you all.

Fresh face

With the new year upon us, resolutions abound. Just going to the gym shows how many people want to look their best, shape up and make a change.

I was swimming laps yesterday and had to wait almost five minutes for a lane. It was crazy. It's never that busy. The treadmills are packed, the weight room is busy as well as the nursery. I am secretly glad that people do those resolutions if only for their opportunity to see how amazing working out can be--both mentally and physically.

Yesterday I swam about 500 yards and worked on my flip turn, pretty much sucking in as much water as possible. It wasn't pretty and at one point I hoped the lifeguard didn't think she had to rescue me as I downed water from the turn like it was my job. If you want to learn more about doing a flip turn, check this out.

After I get out of the water, for some reason my face is usually totally makeup free and it's sometimes intimidating to have no cover up on like these famous stars here.

Today we are going to the library, making some tortilla soup from my fav Barefoot Contessa and facing my nemesis--the laundry.

House of Shmidts..

I love discovering new blogs that pack loads of fun information into their space--home, family, MAC makeup, which is why I found the House of Smith blog so entertaining. They focus on decorating on a budget and feature product reviews and photography tutorials.

Our iPhones have the Instagram app and HOS featured StickyGrams, a company that turns Instagram photos into magnets for around 14.99/9 pictures. A great birthday idea or just fun thinking of you present.

Funday Monday

My first fire! We had hot dogs and chicken sausages.

Ava and Sophia's favorite thing was riding their bikes around a loop that is at Glacier Ridge Park. Saturday morning I had about 30 minutes to drive and get in a quick 2 miles before I was meeting Becca at Piada. The weather was gorg. So beautiful with the clear sky and relatively warm (50) temps so I called Brandon and we decided to have him cycle to the park (20 miler) and we would meet him with food and hot chocolate.

I used to wonder why people used the bbqs at parks when they had them at home. But just getting out in nature and being surrounded by the beautiful park made you feel like you were on vaca.

Besides hot dogs and sausages we had strawberries, hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows and had chocolate chip cookies that we warmed up on the grill. Such a great memory snapshot.

Brandon really enjoyed biking and then having dinner at the end. Now if I can only save up my 600-plus dollars for a bike to join him. :) I am on the way, currently I have $100, so 1/6 of the way there.

Oh, and on the way home the girls were pooped. Ava kept saying, "Best day at the park ever!" and Sophia loved riding her little trike all around the circle and even rode it into the bathrooms. She's becoming such a little comic. She always makes me and Brandon laugh with her funny sayings and her little spunk. Ava is so good on her bike and I bet it won't be long before she gets rid of her trainers.

Happy Monday!

What was something fun you did over the weekend?

Erin

Empty Fridge Giveaway winner

Okay. Big fail. I announce a contest and then wait two weeks to post the winner. But in my defense the holidays and a broken keyboard sidelined my blogging attempts.

The winner was LaRonda Stauffer! She wins a five dollar gift card to Starbucks for her comment.

Today we had a great day. It started off a little later than usual, but we got Ava to school only 10 minutes late since we had slept in (always okay when you are pregnant.:) Soph and I went to the gym and I ran 4.2 miles and then did some free weights. While running, I was not into it at all until Owl City came on my Pandora. I love when songs motivate you to run longer.

I posted some early December photos like when my awesome brother helped us add sconces by the fireplace. After trying four different types of lights, we found these at Home Depot and Luke and Brandon both liked them. Sophia had a birthday and turned 3! She loved getting money from Aunt Rachel and Uncle Myles. And then we found out in early December that we were having a boy! We visited First Expressions at Polaris to do a private screening in a room with a big movie theater screen. The experience was extra special since I had been so nauseous 24/7.

Seeing our baby boy was just a big relief and made it real for the girls. At first the tech was not able to spot anything, while I could plainly "see" what we were having. So I was somewhat disappointed when she said we would have to come back in two weeks until another tech walked in and said she was 100 percent positive we were having a boy.

21 week update

Feeling really good! Sometimes I get tired at night and take more naps, but I am still running and eating normal foods. Baby boy is a straight up kicker. He kicks hard and it hurts. But, thankful that I am feeling good. Belly also is stretching out and getting bigger. This week baby boy is the size of a banana. And almost 1 pound.

Cravings-hmm. I crave chocolate and fruit. And of course the ginger salad from House of Japan. Mmm.