Keela's First Mini Hike

Our dogs have been sending us signs that it was time to get them out for a little more than just their two walks daily.  How do we know they are sending us signs?  Well they run circles in our living room chasing each other from the floor to the couch, and they sit at the back door whining on a constant basis.  And I think the amount they torment the cat, it was time to give them all a break.

We caught a break in the rain last weekend so we decided to take the dogs on the first "hike" of the year.  Now granted this is not really a hike (more of a steep walk), we still called it Keela's first "mini" hike.  We went to Meadowdale Park, where we took Coda for his first "mini" hike when he was about Keela's age.  The steep trail down and back out was enough to wear our dogs out!!

And boy, I never realized how hard it was for a pregnant lady to do a steep walk.  I was huffing and puffing as we hiked our way up the steep hills on the way back to the car.  Ugh...I hate having limitations!!

The best part of the hike this time though was that the beach access was open!  When we took Coda about a year ago they were doing some sort of construction, so we couldn't even get to the beach.  The dogs loved the sand and being able to dig freely!!

Can you tell the dogs are ready to get moving?!

We spotted these adorable baby birds on our hike

These dogs were far from interested in stopping for pictures :)

Jason with the dogs while trying to dry off his feet from going in the water

The best family photo we could get with non-cooperative dogs

Mother's Day 2011

I guess I can officially celebrate Mother's Day this year since I have a little one on the way.  Although to be completely honest, I celebrated Mother's Day ever since I was a mom to my furry kids, Rascal, Coda and Keela.  Yup that's right...being a mom of 3 furry kids is pretty hard too and I felt I deserved a day to celebrate.

Well I still celebrated being a mom to those 3 cute furry kids this year, but I also celebrated the one that has been taking over my belly the last 24 weeks.  This time next year, I will have her here to hold and really celebrate this special day!!  (P.S. I tried to get a photo of me, the belly, the dogs and the cat, but it just wasn't happening.  Getting 3 pets to cooperate at the same time is quite the challenge!)

Mother's Day with my "little nugget" at 24 weeks

Me and my puppies on Mother's Day

Me and Rascal on Mother's Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS AND MOMS-TO-BE OUT THERE!!

THIS IS TRULY A DAY TO CELEBRATE YOU!

Baby Shower and Family Fun

My closest college friend, Alli, is also pregnant with her first baby.  If you are wondering, yes we tried hard to time it so we could both be pregnant together.  Alli is having a baby boy named Rylan, who is due at the end of this month.  Her baby shower was in CA this past weekend and I knew there was no way that I was going to miss it.  So I left Jason with the furry kids and headed off to CA.

It was such a great trip!!  Visiting time with Alli has become less and less since I moved to WA, so any time we have together is a special one.  It was such a treat to be able to celebrate this new adventure in her life!!!  And it was a fun little glimpse into the near future when I will be having my own baby shower.

We can't wait to meet you baby Rylan!!!

Baby bumps!!!

Alli and her mom

Me and my mom at the shower

I never make my CA trips simple and relaxing, so we added in a big family visit as well.  We liked to call it a belated Easter with my dad's side of the family.  It was so nice to be all together again and to be able to spend a little extra time with my brother, sister-in-law and my parents.  Family becomes a lot more important when we don't get to see each other as often as we want to!!!

The sibs, just missing Jason

The girls...including the little one in my belly :)

My wonderful family! (a rare picture these days)

Playing pool together before everyone arrives

My grandma trying out my uncle's new Harley (no she didn't want to drive it)

CAUTION: Nursery Set-up in Progress!

The reality of this little girl arriving is becoming a little more each day.  Not only because my belly is growing by leaps and bounds and everyone is asking me if I am pregnant, but also because we have finally started to put the nursery together.

I have the BEST parents in the world, because they came up to visit us on my mom's Spring Break from school and pretty much the entire week they were here they worked on getting the nursery painted and prepped.  An easy project turned into a long one, but the outcome is just what we pictured!  THANKS MOM AND DAD!!!!

My mom painting the room

My dad painting the room

Mini construction zone to get the chair rail up on the walls

After a week of hard work, we got a call that some of our nursery furniture had arrived and was ready for pick-up (sooner than we expected that's for sure).  Of course it had to be the day that my parents left that they call about the furniture though.  We wasted no time in putting the crib together and getting the dresser/changing table set-up.  The room is definitely a work in progress, but it's getting us both excited for this little lady to arrive!!

Some of the furniture in the room (placement is not certain yet)