Just the Two of Us

Posted in Liz's Life by

Last week I reached the halfway point in my pregnancy – 20 weeks! I seriously cannot believe it’s only halfway because it feels like I’ve already been pregnant forever. Probably because it’s literally what I think about 85% of the time. It’s hard not to have baby on the mind when she’s literally poking you from the inside!

Anyway, one of the thoughts that has gone through my head at times is how this is the last time (until we are empty nesters) that life will be just Luke and me. I want to make sure I cherish our quiet Sunday mornings, ability to come and go as we please with no plan and being able to put each other’s needs before anyone else’s.

I’m really grateful that we got two and a half years of being a family of two. It helped us build a really strong foundation before throwing another person into the mix. I also joke with Luke that if I had gotten pregnant right after we got married, he probably would have thought he made a big mistake with how sick/cranky/and frankly slightly crazy I was those first three months!

Anyway, summers always seem to fill up with trips, events, plans. In fact this coming weekend we’re off to Napa and the next to Las Vegas,  so I was really happy to have the past weekend just the two of us at home with nothing scheduled.

We spent most of it together enjoying this beautiful place we call home. On Friday night we walked the Incline Golf course and Luke helped me work on my swing.

Photo credit: http://jeffwallach.com/golf/1159/hitting-the-mother-lode-golfing-reno-tahoe-and-the-high-sierras

Then on Saturday after sleeping in and eating eggs & bacon at home, we headed over the mountains down to Virginia City, NV. Virginia City is an old mining/western town with a lot of history. Mark Twain lived here and it was part of the Comstock Lode. These days it’s a fun tourist spot with old timey saloons, cowboys and mining museums.

Photo credit: http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/western-region/virginia-city-nv.html

From there we went to get our favorite ethnic food – Ethiopian at Reno’s Zagol restaurant. Luke’s brother Matt joined us. If you’ve never had Ethiopian, I highly recommend it! They bring out a large platter of different meat and veggies dishes and you eat family-style with this yummy gluten-free bread called Injera.

Photo credit: http://kitchentalks.com/restaurants/know-your-way-around-an-ethiopian-restaurant/

On Sunday, we went where the day took us, which included more golf, Mexican food, Church and the Incline Village beach to do some reading in the sun.

Photo credit: http://phinvv3.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/bonanza-and-tahoe-blue-come-together-at-le-petitie-ponderosa/

When the weekend came to a close, we were left sun-kissed, well-fed and filled with an appreciation for just how lucky we are to have one another.

Baby Girl

Posted in Kids, Liz's Life by

Today we found out that we’re having a little girl!

Leading up to our ultrasound, we had a lot of friends and family throwing out their guesses and the overwhelming consensus was boy. Mainly I think based on how I am carrying – all in the front. My best friend also did the old wives tale with the pencil and the string and it clearly said boy every time we did it.

But it turns out all those tales and superstitions were wrong and come November we’ll have a sweet baby girl to add to our little family. She’ll be the third granddaughter for my parents in a year meaning she’ll grow up with two girl cousins right around her age. What fun!

We did our best not to think too much about what the gender of our baby would be before the ultrasound. Mainly we just wanted him or her to be healthy and thankfully she checked out perfectly on the ultrasound.

I will say though, now that I’m letting myself think about having a girl, I can’t stop smiling! I’m already day dreaming about braided pigtails, pink blankets and the sweet hugs from  a little lady. When I told my mom today, she said “boys are great, but I think every mother should get to experience having a girl.”

I couldn’t agree more, mom!

Now that this big milestone in my pregnancy is done, I’m excited to start decorating a nursery, buying some dresses and picking out a name. One thing’s for sure, this baby girl already has her mom and dad totally smitten.

Home Sweet Home

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There’s one thing I’ve learned since moving away from home, getting married and thought about starting my own family …. there’s nothing better than coming home.

This past Wednesday – Monday, Luke and I went to visit my hometown of Toledo, Ohio. It had been nearly nine months since I’ve been able to go home and I was severely homesick. It’s just not right for a girl to go that long without seeing her parents, siblings or best friend, right?!

Our time home was absolutely jam packed with events and activities with the people I love, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Here’s a rundown of our schedule:

Thursday: My birthday! Lunch with mom. Mud Hens baseball game for my birthday with my parents, best friend & hubs, brother & very pregnant sister-in-law.

Friday: Baby time with my godson and best friend. Surprise birth of my niece (4 weeks early, but healthy as can be). Dinner on the back deck with my parents.

Saturday: Golf with Dad. Beers (for everyone but me) on the patio at my best friend’s house. Our High School reunion (I went to an all-girl’s school). More beers on bff’s patio.

Sunday: Sister-in-law’s baby shower with aunts & cousins. Other bestie’s wedding shower with Chicago friends. First visit with my new niece.

We managed to pack in as much special time with all the people I love in Toledo as possible in four days. It filled my heart and soul up big time in the “people I love” category.

Daydreams of a New Father

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There are a lot of moments I am looking forward to when it comes to meeting our baby in November, however, one that has been stuck in my day-dreaming mind lately doesn’t involve me at all.

It is the moment I’ll get to see Luke become a father.

Going into this Father’s Day weekend, I can’t help but think about what kind of dad Luke will be. To be honest, I think he’ll actually be a much better parent than me in many ways. He’s more patient, organized, responsible, even-keeled and maybe most important … can function on MUCH less sleep than I can! :)

I know that really we’ll both be great parents in our own way, but I’m grateful for all the qualities Luke will bring to our parenting dynamic that hopefully will compliment my own.

Anyway, the daydream I keep having about the first moments of Luke’s role as a dad, is in the hospital after the craziness of childbirth has calmed down. I imagine Luke holding our baby while peering into his or her little face. He’s not an overly emotional guy, so I don’t expect any tears or loud exclamations of his love (that will be me most likely), but the shift into fatherhood will be apparent to those who know Luke best.

Knowing what I do about Luke, I imagine him not having a moments hesitation when it comes to holding and caring for our baby. He’ll be confident and curious at the same time – wanting to learn everything he can about our newest addition. Then he’ll jump into his role of provider and attend to all the little things that come with taking care of a newborn and a post-childbirth mom – making sure we’re both healthy and happy.

And most of all, I imagine how I’ll feel watching this man I know as my husband become something even more beautiful … the father of my child. I’m pretty sure this moment will send me into what will likely be the 20th crying jag I’ll have that week. Good tears of course.

For now this is all in my head and it could go much differently, but any way it goes, I can’t wait to witness Luke’s first minutes as a dad.

If you have children, do you remember those first moments your partner became a father? I’m curious what it was like for you.