Out of Order!

My Handsome Husband, baby and me at Laura and Darren's Tahoe Wedding!

*a little out of order, time wise, but we finally found the camera connector! 

;)

This was Oct 20th.

34 Weeks

34 Weeks!

Forgive my lack of face in this one but I was crying all day in the wake of the event in Connecticut.

May we all pray for the family and friends of those innocent souls lost in such a senseless act.

*********************************************************************************

In happier news, we continue to be grateful for the health of our family and friends 

and especially the health of our ever growing baby boy. 

Saturday, we took an infant/child CPR course at the hospital.

Wednesday we had our last childbirth preparedness course, and graduated with honors!

Mike was awaiting a cap and gown ceremony, however, we received our diplomas without.

We had a lovely week of Hannukkah, with a fabulous final night where we actually decided to open one of our baby gifts from my parents, baby boys car seat! It was fun to take it out and get used to its features and how it works...and still feels unreal that soon there will be a baby in that seat! 

Thank you Mom & Dad! 

Mike will install it in my car this week so I can go to the Sheriffs Department to ensure it is properly installed in plenty of time before peanut rides in it!

Today, while I was at prenatal yoga, Mikey put together the bookshelf we bought for the nursery, and if I may say so, did a fabulous job! It fits perfectly in the spot we wanted it and it looks just beautiful! 

I just can't wait until the rest of our furniture arrives 

(and Mike is thrilled we paid them to deliver it AND set it up so his hard work is done!)

The nursery is coming together, but the three biggest pieces may be here after the baby is!

I do love our new rug for the nursery though, don't you? 

I will post pictures once it comes together more 

(aka when the crib, dresser and glider arrive and we have hung the wall art 

we ordered and received from Etsy this week!)

Not to brag, but my husband is simply the BEST! With the pains and aches and other 

glamorous side effects of pregnancy I have been going through, he is nothing short of an angel.

Don't think for a moment I don't appreciate that. He is just incredible, and I am so grateful to have him. 

I LOVE YOU MICHAEL JOHN!

Not that I'm sure if you ever read this, since you live it, but just in case :)

33 Weeks, Happy Hannukkah!

So happy my mama and papa came over yesterday to spend Hannukkah with us. 

Breakfast at Brent's Deli 

(where my mother befriended the owner who is also from Cleveland! It is such a small Jewish world!) and then making mama's latkes at home was a great way to spend time with everyone! 

(With a little break to outlet shop with mama while the boys watched football, of course)...

Baby Boy LOVED his Grandma's latkes! He kicked like nobody's business after I ate a few...

Glad Mom got pseudo acquainted with our kitchen so she can work her magic in there 

when she comes to stay with us when the baby is born! Hooray!

Happy Hannukkah!

My Mikey cooking latkes, my Papa EATING latkes...Good team!

32.5 Weeks

Ok Ok, I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while...lots going on 

(both inside my uterus and in the real world). TMI? Sorry! 

Mike would agree...I share too much these days! I'm an open pregnancy book.

We have been busy getting the nursery ready, taking a Childbirth Education Class, and 

getting our house (and minds) set up as best we can before this bundle arrives!

At the last dr. appt I was told not to be surprised if this baby decides to make his appearance 

a week early...so we are looking at January 19th now! 

I am so ready to meet this man!

So here's the belly! A few days ago and yesterday, respectively.

I thought black was slimming! I look like I'm about to pop here! 

And the way he's been kicking lately, he's definitely looking for his way out!

11/25 Baby Strang's Shower in OC

So, my friends decided to throw me a little shower, even though there was so much drama surrounding the idea...and I am SO glad they did. It was beautiful and intimate, just about ten of us, and it was so fun just to laugh with my girls and celebrate baby boy Strang! This is one lucky kid to come into this world with so many loving, caring and may I say BEAUTIFUL aunties who already love him. 

It was so awesome that even though my friends are spread out throughout the country, they found a way to be a part of this shower, even though they couldn't be there physically, and that just made it so meaningful! I cannot thank them enough for doing this for me!  

Thank you ladies! Baby Boy and I love you all!

Less than two months left!!!...

The Great Pumpkins!

By popular demand, after texting this to some on Halloween, I am sharing it on here! ;)

The Great Pumpkins!

Hope everyone had a fun halloween! We didn't get ONE trick or treater so I was really sad, 

and of course ate too much candy since there was no one to share with!

And also perfect timing, as I found out this week that I passed my glucose test! Woohoo!

26 Weeks (Baby Goes To Lake Tahoe!)

It's wedding season! Mike & I traveled to Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe last weekend 

to attend the wedding of one of my dearest friends, Laura. 

Baby didn't really care for the altitude, 

but that didn't stop us from having a blast seeing all my college friends! 

The best part was that some people I hadn't seen in ten years 

(and a few I really hadn't talked to much since college) and because 

I do not share much on facebook, they didn't know I was pregnant! 

Jaws dropped when we walked into the rehearsal night happy hour! 

It was awesome.

I tried to convince them I just had a really big lunch...

Here are Baby & I (and Dad taking the photo) arriving at the Lake for happy hour!

The morning of the wedding, we drove up to Kings Beach in North Lake Tahoe to explore the town and find some much needed serenity in nature. It was simply gorgeous!

So last weeks baby bump comes to you from Lake Tahoe!

Love is Love is Love

Mike, Baby Strang and I attended our first gay wedding last weekend. 

It was so incredibly beautiful, meaningful and truly inspirational. 

I only pray that our son grows up in a world more tolerant and accepting 

than the world we, sadly, live in today. 

Love is love, who are we to judge how others choose to live their lives. 

I wish these two all the happiness and love in the world.  

How is it that same sex couples are threatening the "sanctity of marriage" when heterosexual couples abuse the gift with marrying and divorcing for fun to get the headlines in the news.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now, but NO on 8 PEOPLE! 

CALIFORNIA, I AM DISAPPOINTED IN YOU!

Here are the three of us in Zadoc & Seans photo booth!

We had an incredible time and are so grateful you welcomed us to share in your love and celebration.

We love you both!

Baby Strang had to rock the mustache!

23 Weeks

Hi all. 

So, I really don't like having my picture taken these days, but I'm doing it for YOU. 

I must love you a lot.

You're welcome.

;)

It's crazy how the body changes so much so fast and how so much is out of my control already...

a precursor to my near future? 

This control freak mama needs to get ready to relinquish said control, perhaps?

Random pregnant lady share: I met a girl who is 39 weeks and a police officer 

in my prenatal yoga class this morning. I'm so hormonal, 

Mike won't trust me with the remote control, let alone a loaded weapon! 

I need to become her friend quickly...

Also, wanted to share with you our lil boys newest friend that we met on

(and brought home) from a fun trip to Costco this weekend. 

We haven't named him yet, but are open to suggestions. (The lifesize monkey, not the baby). ;)

COMING SOON: Baby Boy's Nursery! 

We are officially breaking ground tomorrow on the nursery remodel 

(and mommy's office and baby's bathroom, because why not) 

and are SO thrilled for everything to get done so we can start to set up his room 

once the hard work is done by the professionals.  

Can't wait to hang up his clothes that we, ok, I, can't stop buying. 

I'm telling you my son has a nicer wardrobe than I do right now! 

I'm happy to know that he will look awesome while he is pooping and throwing up all over 

his name brand clothing...;)

Before and after pics to come :) 

now, NAME THAT MONKEY!

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

Buddha's belly continues to grow....

and Buddha continues to refuse to buy maternity clothes!

#theyareawful

Boy or Girl?!?!

18 Weeks.

Mike and I had our 18 week ultrasound and instead of the US tech telling us 

in the office with a belly covered in jelly, 

I brought a baby girl outfit and a baby boy outfit wrapped up and asked her 

to hand us the one we should open.

Before we opened it, we had a beautiful dinner at the beach

and the waitress even brought us dessert with a blue and pink candle to celebrate!

We then walked out to the water and sat on a bench and took one last moment of ignorance 

of whether it was a mr or miss strang growing inside. 

Or as we have so tactfully been saying, "pee pee or picachu?"

 I peeked inside and tried not to look until I was ready. 

I took one deep breath and opened the box.  

Here's what we saw!!

Our ultrasound tech even taped THE crucial picture from the U/S that we hadn't seen yet 

(that showed us the goods).

So everyone we know, except for 3 people, including strangers, family and friends, 

and Michael and I even, were wrong! 

Don't let me pick your lottery numbers, people.

Yep, me wearing that pink bra really didn't prove anything! It's all blue all the time from here on out!

Oh, who am I kidding, my son will still wear pink!!

18 Weeks

18 Weeks

Rub my belly for good luck. 

Actually, please don't...I feel really fat.

Wearing pink...still thinking it's a girl!

Morning sickness FINALLY ceases at 18 weeks!

17 Week Bump

17 WEEKS!

Buddha's Belly is a growing!

Strangers, family and friends alike are telling me it is FOR SURE a girl.