Lanikai, Lava Tube, and Duke's Ocean Fest.

My first weekend back in Hawaii was extremely fun! Attended the Aikahi Park End of Summer Family Craft Fair and Festival (free shave ice!) with Aubrey, met up with Jen & Ted for Teddy's Burgers, and soaked up some sun while floating my preggo belly at Lanikai Beach.

Later that week Aubrey and I made a Costco run, on the way we stopped at the Lavatube lookout for some fun photos, the entrance was a little slippery but both of us managed to stay on our feet (good thing since she's 4mo pregnant and I'm nearly 8mo!).

Quinn got home from his Ohio Trip just in time for the last weekend of Duke's Ocean Fest. So we drove down to Waikiki and parked in the Ft. DeRussy military lot. From there we ended up doing a 4mi walking tour of downtown! We watched some surfing, ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise, got some yummy swirl soft serve cones at Happy's Snack Bar, and enjoyed floating around in the ocean. That Sunday we also celebrated Jeff & Brittany's 1st Wedding Anniversary along with Quinn's birthday at Hale'iwa Joes, if was a great night with good friends.

AZ Baby Shower

Littlest and I were completely blessed by our Arizona family and friends this past weekend! Mom and Alexis planned a wonderful and non-traditional "beach party for baby." We had delicious food, a beautiful cake, and played fun games (with a unique twist that the prizes came from vendors- Origami Owl, Doterra, Mary Kay, and Shoebug Cards- so everyone got to shop too!).

Roughly 30 women came out to bless me (us), I was expecting mainly gift cards, but the physical gifts I received were all unique and beautiful! Hand knitted blankets, crocheted newborn outfits, blessing books, and more!

**Funny story regarding the diaper penguin:
I wanted Quinn to be able to see it in person, not just photos so I managed to pack it in my carry-on. I get through security and the TSA agent says "ma'am I need to pull you aside for a bag recheck. He takes my bag to an inspection station telling me I have a "un-identified powdered substance inside." I was pretty confused thinking, uhhh... I have TUMs? But he pulled up the scan of my bag and I identified the source as the penguin! He gingerly pulls it out as I explain the baby shower gift and looks at me sadly saying "I'm sorry but I have to take it apart." The middle of the penguin=baby powder! He opens the bottle, places it on the test strip, and proceeds to clear me... definitely a story I won't forget! Thanks for the gift Ellen, we did manage to re-assemble him and he is sitting on baby's dresser at the moment.

More friends and family...

Sunday I went to Lex's church (Light in the Desert) to watch her play piano on the worship team, they even did one of my favorite songs- "Oceans" by Hillsong. After church we grabbed Del Taco and headed back to her house for some pool time!

Monday Phil, Stephanie, and little Luke came over bringing the deliciousness that is known as Chick-fil-a! It was great catching up with them, especially considering the last time I saw them she was pregnant and now Luke is 14mo old! Where does the time go? We chatted, got caught up on each other's lives and played with awesome baby toys!

Tuesday I picked up Chipotle and met Lex in her classroom, we ate lunch, then I helped her do some die-cuts and put together one of her classroom boards. On my way home I stopped at the new Wrigleyville West to check it out. I'm super glad Mesa finally got something nice to fill the area since they missed out big time on the Cardinals Arena! Maybe someday I'll get to watch a spring training game here...

That evening I met Lisa at Dierks Bentley's new bar "Whiskey Row," it has a really cool atmosphere, a few of the tables have beer taps built in, and the food was tasty but didn't break the bank - my dinner was only $9! She's "miss fitness" these days, seems to have a triathlon or marathon every month!

Wednesday afternoon I had a sweet tea & cookie date with the lovely Emily, who I am so excited for since she and her husband just purchased a home and are also expecting! Like I said in an earlier post- so many babies! It was great to hear about her job and where she and Jonathon are heading especially within the church plants they are a part of!

That evening we celebrated Nick's birthday, he loved our gift, I told him I expect to hear him play "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World!" After dinner dad & Lex tried comparing their food babies to Littlest... lets just say I don't think Lex will have to worry about stretch marks when she becomes a mom!

Thursday Kaley treated me to Serrano's - only my favorite Mexican food restaurant in Mesa! Best bean dip, hands down, if you disagree... well... I'm not sure we can be friends... haha! Once again, it was great to catch up, we talked about everything from our trip to the South Pacific, to the fluidity of friendship, to politics, and the ignorance of the current generation... quite a vast lunch discussion. Good thing delicious chicken tacos and sopapillas were involved!

Finally, today... We loaded up the truck and headed to Canyon lake to wear the dogs out! They LOVE swimming, Tank was hilarious because he didn't want to pick up a sandy retriever yet he dug at it until it was covered, and Storm flat out refused to leave the water the entire 3hrs we were there since he thought we would make him go home! It was a nice breezy 95*, perfect for relaxing! I missed the perfect photo, when dad threw the retriever backwards from his chair and in slow motion just kept tumbling that way into the water, oh well! Some people don't think Arizona is beautiful, I think they've only seen Phoenix, probably from inside the airport!

Celebrating New Life & Praying for Healing

Saturday was a long but eventful day-

It started out with celebrating the coming of baby Andrew at April's Parisian themed baby shower. The food was delicious, games were entertaining, and the alphabet book activity was super thoughtful. They had each letter of the alphabet printed on card stock along with a French word underneath, there was a key for the words and we had the opportunity to illustrate the cards. I ended up doing elephant, sun, and wagon! Baby Andrew is going to be one well dressed and well read kiddo, she received so many adorable clothes and unique books as gifts. I am glad I got to attend this shower since I miss out on so many "life events" living so far away, it was also great to catch up with high school & college friends I haven't seen in a long time!

After the shower I swung by Lex's house to pick her up before heading to Phoenix Children's Hospital. When we arrived the lady asked me if I had an appointment, initially confused I said "no, we're here to visit a friend in the oncology ward." In the elevator Lex asked my why they had asked if I had an appointment, especially on a Saturday, my only thought was my pregnant belly? Seeing people with cancer can be hard, seeing babies with cancer can be gut-wrenching... However, neither Lex or I cried, I know we can attribute this to visiting dad in the hospital when he was going through his treatments. There were tons of kids on his floor, I remember holding back tears and crying in the car after those visits, for myself, my dad, and all those kids. Now, I just want to show them all that they are loved, that I don't care if they are bald, have scars, have rashes, have multiple tubes hanging off them... They are warriors not someone to be pitied! 

Lucy didn't have a "wonderful" day while we were there, but she did get to go to the playroom- hurray for small victories! I also ended up being right about some anxiety issues she was having with her medications, due to knowing how my body reacts in a panic attack. I was happy to see Kim, Andy, and Ike doing fairly well despite hospital living. I still pray daily for this little warrior, she's been through more in the last 2.5mo than some will ever experience in a lifetime, she is so strong! Honestly, I feel like I need to keep a picture of her close at all times in the event I start grumbling about some nonsense...

Dinner & Baby Bellies

I still can't seem to get on the right schedule, I fall asleep around 2/2:30am here (which is actually much earlier than normal for me in Hawaii- 11/11:30pm), only to be woken up by the dogs around 5:45am. Once they are finished playing and have eaten their breakfast, etc. I generally sleep for 2-3hrs, which isn't necessarily bad but that has me waking up around 9/10am. An afternoon nap generally occurs whether I plan it or not...

Oh, and doing my pregnancy workout DVD is infinitely more challenging with two huge dogs trying to "help," haha!


Anyway, I am basically a home-body during the day but I have been able to catch up with April & Eric, then Liz for dinners!

Thursday April & Eric treated me to a new taco joint called Joyride, it was delicious! Funny story- April called to make the reservation while we were hanging at her house waiting for Eric to get off work, she mentioned not wanting to wait long or sit outside since two of us were pregnant. Once we got to the restaurant we were actually the THIRD party of THREE for "April," crazy! right? But, we were the only party with two pregnant women.

Today Liz and I went to Red, White, & Brew... They told us we had a 40min wait so we did what any pregnant ladies would do- went to the bar in search of a place to sit down! We actually ended up just eating there, haha! Neither of us made much of a dent in our huge delicious dinners, so I've definitely got an amazing steak dinner for tomorrow as well. We chatted then went back to her house for a movie. 

I'm super glad I got to meet up with these two wonderful ladies, I cannot believe April is due in a little over 3wks, and I am only ahead of Liz by 14 days. Babies everywhere!