Due Date?!!???!!

So instead of huffing and puffing and pushing you out today as expected, it's just another day and mommy had to be at the store otherwise she'd lose her mind. So a different kind of work must be done!! I was super sad and bummed yesterday but your daddy got all rational on me and i calmed down. You're coming anyway so i guess it's just an extension of pre-birthday celebrations. Mommy is just so desperate to meet you and hold you. You've been moving like crazy in there since yesterday as if you're singing and dancing to  "It's my party and i'll come when i want to, come when i want to, come when i want to..."  Just because you're not here yet doesn't mean i haven't picked up on your sass, yup i've got your number missy!!

" Hey, Party over here" Zoe

dear zoe..love daddy

Daddy is so excited to meet you!!! I remembered the day your mommy picked me up from work very excited!! she brought me a special gift. As I reached inside it was a pregnancy test, and it had 2 lines, which meant mommy was pregnant with baby Zoe! I was very excited, I'm going to be a daddy with my beautiful wife! You are my gift from God. When we got home we both were talking about all the fun things we will do with you. Mom and Dad had a variety of books that the Ryans gave us just a week before we knew mommy was having you. I remember thinking to myself wow Jason just handed me a baby book, what if Bebe is pregnant? Mommy has read tons of books( and made me read some too) and it has helped us prepare for your arrival. Your mommy makes fun of me when I tell her what "new " information i read about that day and tell her she likes to give me the "really honey, i'm so glad you shared that with me since i have no idea what the book i just read and asked you read says" look. It's very funny, and you know how much i love the "looks" you rmommy has. When we finally meet you (which will be soon) I'm probably going to be crying with joy, that's why mommy thinks it's best aunty Chenai be in the room to help maintain calm (she's been there before, when your cousin Jenny was born) I pray for you everyday, my favorite thing to do is talking to your mommy's belly and your almost always start moving. You're most definitely daddy's little girl!! Now i have to go help you mommy get up from the couch, just kidding (sometimes though)

 

 

Pre-birthday celebration with Aunt Jenni and Uncle Josh

More pre-birthday celebrations, we got a call from your aunt Jenni and uncle Josh that they wanted to take us out on a last couples night out without babysitter, and we were more than game. Everyone and their puppy keeps telling us we have to "go out and have fun NOW!!!". Which we get but sometimes it's like calm down people we actually sometimes just like hanging out at home and we actually have fun..but what do we know right? We'll know soon enough.

Anyway we were up and game for a night out with the Thielens, and we had a great food, lots of laughs with awesome friends..just what the doctor ordered. Now since you're "5 days away" the question is who
babysits on our first date night after you get here....



Yum Yum

Happy Birthday Auntie Chenai

31 years ago, your aunt was born!! She has been an amazingly delightful, challenging and best sister and friend to all her siblings. She once told your grandpa that she didn't feel special because she wasn't the first or last child, or the only boy like your uncle Shingi. He reminded her that he was # 3 child and he was pretty special, and therefore so was she. And she has lived her life with the knowledge and confidence that she is special. She has been the glue that keeps the four of us together, the sibling mediator, and everyone's loudest cheerleader.
We love auntie Chenai and are so blessed to have her in our lives and pray for many more years of her delightfulness:) And best of all she drove down to San Diego to celebrate with us and she enjoyed the birthday dinner daddy and I made for her..yummy carne asada fries, with guacamole that I made ( first timer) with lamb grilled by daddy per her request. Thanks for sharing your day with us auntie Chenai, we love you forever and can't begin to express how much you have blessed us.

Shower Pictures..Thanks Auntie Jenni

Yummy cake

Aunts Kay and Chenai

Cupcakes by Aunt Jenni to die for!!!

What's a party without these two

Decor extraordinaire Aunt Lizze

Yes we are kind of happy

pre-birthday countdown life

Glo

Almost there

Daddy's favorite, he always orders it..Cinnabon Waffle

mommy enjoys a side of choc chip pancakes

Daddy's hungry

Long wait

we just keep growing..and i don't care:)

whoa..look at that belly

On Saturday as I slowly( my new speed) walked into one of our favorite stores( no men's clothes but your dad loves shopping with me there, it's the best) Anthropologie to buy a birthday gift for a friend, Candice, who works there and sings in the choir at church with me, hugged me and exclaimed " Oh my Gosh Bebe should you be out, and on your own??!!!" I feigned surprise "why??" She was just expressing out loud what a lot of looks I got that day were saying "you look like you're about to pop!!" I find it delightfully hilarious and for kicks exaggerate my waddle a little. You're going to show up when you're good and ready anyway so in the meantime it's pre-birthday fun, right? Right!
However you do have some blackout dates that have been imposed by your dad and aunt Chenai. This Saturday was one since she was having girl's day out in Santa Barbara with some friends, next Saturday your dad has a fight he HAS to watch and the next weekend your aunt has a yacht party she's been invited to. I know, I think it's Hilarious too, like they could ever really tell either one of us what to do!!
So to keep our minds occupied while we "patiently" wait we're squeezing in time to catch up friends, like I did with my friend Gloria on Friday. It was delightful! Or having Sunday breakfast before church at our favorite spot, even if it means waiting for 20-30minutes to get a table. Then taking a long nap that is pretty sweet, as we most likely won't be able to do that as much once you're here. Or a spontaneous day at the beach for some quality time:)
And now I look forward to a taco/ burrito sometime next week from a local favorite Lolita's. These pre-birthday are truly a delight..17 days and counting. See how big I've gotten, it's time little one it's time:)
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September 11-remembrance and prayer

"You stay the same through the ages, Your love never changes...Your Love never fails"
10 years ago today I was awakened by a frantic call from my friend Portia who was at that time living in the UK. She asked me if was safe and okay and I had no idea what she was talking about until she told me that the US was under attack and to turn the TV on. That was the beginning of a scary, shocking and sad day. I had nightmares for at least a month and had to stop watching the news after awhile. To see such evil, destruction, despair and almost 3000 lives lost in an instant is something too awesome to comprehend. Getting on a plane to the UK five months later ( portia and sam as my amazing hosts) and Zimbabwe a week and a half later was pretty nerve racking. Things had definitely changed.
Watching all the documentaries and stories 10 years later, carrying a child who will be born in September as a second generation American, reliving such evil has affected me more poignantly than I expected. But as the worship songs and message at church conveyed today..God is still on the throne. That gives me comfort and keeps the nightmares at bay, and instead I feel sad yes, but grateful.
Today Lord I pray for all the family members of those that lost their lives 10years today. I pray that you may embrace them in your loving arms. That you may cover them with a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray for the families of those who've lost their lives in the war in an effort to protect the rest of us from the knowledge of or the experience of more evil. I pray for the leaders in the country, the FBI, CIA and all agencies that worked and have worked to keep us safe. I pray that you may continue to give them wisdom to do what you have called them to do, at the risk of losing their lives. I pray that we may honor the lives lost by honoring You and the lives that you have blessed us with.
Amen

Labor Day Labor of Love

After a day at the store on the first holiday we have stayed open, we got to work on your dresser. We were so excited, I got to help your dad more than I thought I would. After 30minutes we were done and your dad three hours tops we could put the knobs on and into your room. He could not wait so yes he was a little off on the timing. After a yummy dinner of grilled steak and corn on the cob, we went back to the garage to check on our masterpiece.. It needed more time:( after hanging out for about an hour and nighttime prayer time your dad went to check to see of we missed a package at the front door that day. He never even checked!! I followed him downstairs and he was in the garage attaching knobs!!! The man wouldn't let up, so he finished them and we carried your dresser upstairs to your room. An absolute fun rewarding labor of love..

"dropped"

So this Friday you hit another milestone, you "dropped" in mommy's belly. I was at first totally freaking out, my belly felt soft on top, it was painful to walk, it felt like if I went to pee you'd come out and you weren't moving as much!! I decided to start cleaning the kitchen and do your laundry, which took all day, to keep my mind busy. When your dad came home he felt my belly and we looked at each other speechless,  without knowing if we were just deluding ourselves cause we want you here so bad. So daddy suggested we go out for dinner so he could "gaze into my eyes" one last time before you got here. I know, your dad thinks he's funny (sometimes)  After he left I figured he was right so we went to buy more " necessities" for you and went out for a yummy dinner. On Saturday mommy's friend Emily called to check on me and confirmed my suspicion.. You'd definitely "dropped"!!! I was officially freaking out. So I got busy cleaning again, watched some stupid TV and finally packed our bag for the hospital. I had planned to do it with your dad but he was picking up your dresser and playing basketball after work with uncle David, so I had to....  I couldn't wait:). By the time he came home I was calm and your dad kept messing with me , cause he thinks he's funny, so even if I wanted to keep "trippin'" I couldn't keep a straight face.

"Before" dresser

 Sunday was a great way to end the weekend. After church. (I love how you ALWAYS move during worship) we went to Con Pane ( I know we are obsessed) to pick up sandwiches ( and a loaf of chocolate bread for home.. I know chocolate bread..ahhh) for us and auntie Martha and Jason    ( who first introduced us to Con Pane a year ago) who we were meeting for live music and hang time at the Rancho Bernardo Winery. No wine for mommy and Ally though:) Before we met them we stopped by Home Depot to get tools to get your dresser from black to white and some knobs that mommy could paint to make your dresser specially yours. As always it was good times with the Ryans and Ally was as adorable and easy as ever. Mommy and daddy are blessed with some amazing friends and today was a great reminder:) 

Con Pane bread

best sandwiches ever!! i dream about them:)

Daddy, Jason and Ally

Sweet Ally, perfect play date for you soon:)

She loves to chew

When we got home ( after a stop for ice cream for mommy and you of course) mommy got her craft project done, but daddy had too much fun today and after another 8pm  Home Depot run after we gave up on the sanding idea, daddy passed out before 9pm. Dresser will be done today. In fact daddy woke up super early before work to start the process. He's the best right? Right!!!
So thanks baby girl for an eventful weekend filled with the major realization that you're going to be here.....any day now...:))))

Sun and Surf at the Beach

We can't wait to take you the beach with us, and your dad can't wait to go in the water with you. As soon as we can you will be paddling in some pool to get ready to one day swim with mommy and surf with daddy.
Since I'm so heavy with you i didn't swim this time, but i got to sit, eat ( seriously yummy sandwiches from our favorite sandwich shop right now, Con Pane..yum yum) and catch up with your aunt Jenni, while your dad surfed with uncle Josh. It was an absolutely gorgeous day out at La Jolla shore, we literally dragged ourselves away from the beach to go home close to 7pm.
check out daddy after almost two hours in the ocean