Growing.

Yesterday evening we spotted the first green sprouts of the grass we planted! Miles felt so accomplished, and I reveled in joy with him. This encouraged me to start my spring cleaning. I've been reorganizing our little space, making room for the baby. Is it too soon to be nesting? I'm at the stage in my pregnancy where day by day it is becoming more and more real that this is actually happening. Sometimes I feel like time has flown by, while in other instances I can't remember a time when I wasn't pregnant. In reality, time is really flying though, and in no time at all life as we know it will be completely changed.

One of my favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, once offered advice saying: "And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is." He observed that humans seldom notice when they are happy. Well it is about time I offer my own happiness some brainspace; I can honestly say I can't think of a time I've been happier, or a time I've been more proud to be alive. Whether it is budding grass or Miles and I in our life path, things wont stop growing around here, and I couldn't be more gratified. And I keep thinking, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."

Sending endless wishes of happiness your way...

I just can't wait for the sun to come out!

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It all runs together.

I was rummaging through a ton of video clips Miles and I have compiled between our two phones over the past couple of years and I came up with the idea to create a little video montage to re-cap some of what we've been doing up until now.  I was so happy with how cute it came out, this will definitely turn into an annual thing.

The past few years have been filled with moments of love, change, travel, hardships and prosperities, but most importantly they were overflowing with life and watching this makes me so grateful for the one I have.  Hope you enjoy!

Is it friday yet?

Today I'm taking a "lazy day." After a restless night, I feel too tired to do anything but write this post and I promised myself I wouldn't feel guilty about it. Poor Miles is having his first ever bout with seasonal allergies and can't stop sniffling and sneezing, but off to work he went.

Our bathroom flooring is currently being replaced. I was about to hop in the shower one evening and I felt the floor sinking under my right foot. Our landlord had someone come rip the flooring out on Tuesday only to leave it completely in ruins for the night with lots of termites and mildewed cement to keep us company. Miles and I felt like we were at some sort of campground as we 'rubber sandaled' it to and from the shower and toilet. It really says something when you're brushing your teeth with flip flops on at 10:30 at night and a sleeping bag isn't your next destination. Anyhow, they came yesterday and laid down some wood floorboards, mending the unevenness of the floor, yet still leaving our feet potential victims to splinters and loose nails.  Lucky for Miles, he just so happened to get a tetanus shot two days ago. As for me, let's hope I won't need one in the near future. Still no word as to when we will have flooring again, but with a roof over our heads, and the beach just a mile or two away, I cannot complain...

It is times like these when my mind escapes to the day Miles and I will own our own home. I don't know where it will be or when it will happen, but I know it will have lots of open windows that look out over our vegetable garden into a green abyss.  I will have my own library and crafting nook, while Miles will have his own skate ramp and ledges. I can envision myself reading storybooks to our son in our backyard with Miles napping in a hammock across the way. Ahhh yes, this is the life we are cut out for: 

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pictures via pinterest. 

chelsie

A moment on the lips...forever on the hips.

We usually eat pretty healthily, which is why I didn't feel guilty when the other night my craving headed in the direction of a diabetic's death wish. I was desperately longing for a Cinnabon. Miles liked my style and suggested we go to the market and scoop some up. I declined. I wanted the ooey-gooey, melt in your mouth, would-you-like-a-cinnamon-roll-with-all-that-butter type and I just knew Vons down the road would not be stocked with what I had in mind.  I'm not even going to try and blame my pregnancy this time, I would have just as much enjoyed these pinwheels of frosted deliciousness even if I wasn't expecting. Miles can bear witness that my cinnabons are impossible to deny (no pun intended)--although, I'm pretty sure my actual buns are packing some extra bulk after indulging in these.  With no solution other than to take matters into my own hands, I found an amazing Cinnabon-imitation recipe here. A couple sticks of butter, a profusion of sugar, and three hours later, my mock Cinnabon cinnamon rolls were born. And how sweet they were... 

Let them eat cheesecake.

Yesterday, Miles and his green thumb got a jump start on Earth Day. He tilled the soil and planted some grass seed in the planter box in front of our house. It looks so much better without all the mulch and mushrooms that claimed it home before.  I slept in as long as my bladder would allow me to, which at this stage in my pregnancy isn't very late. Our birthing class instructor tells us to view our lack of sleep as preparation for when the baby comes. As much sense as that makes, I somehow think it'll be much less annoying waking up to soothe my baby rather than to release my bladder for the gazillionth time.

Later in the day we went to the mall and came up on some whimsical floral plates and a new cheese grater. Back in my early college days when I was rubbing together nickels and dimes, I cheaped out and bought a mini cheese grater. I have been regretting it everyday since. It really says something when the cheese block is more than double the size of your grater. Anyway, I finally gave in and bought a grater designed for full sized humans.

Following our purchases we decided to stop for a slice of cheesecake. We couldn't agree on a flavor, so we ended up with two slices against my recommendation to split one. Afterwards, Miles wished he would have listened to me! Either way, they were delicious. Here they are in all their white chocolate macadamia nut and fresh strawberry glory.

Stonesteps Beach and Topper Soil.

With the amazing weather outside calling our names, we just knew we had to make our way to the beach. After discussing which beaches I have yet to have seen, we settled on Stonesteps. Miles is a north county native and has covered nearly every square inch from Encinitas to El Cajon and so I have complete faith in his beach-picking judgement. We threw on our suits, lathered up on the SPF, and off we went.

Miles went for a quick swim. I attempted to join him, but only ended up making it knee deep as the water was painfully cold. We walked along the beach, collected a few shells, and Miles even found a really cool looking piece of washed up coral. As we walked, we talked about how fast time has flown by and how hard it is to believe that we only have 12 more weeks before the baby arrives. We both were enlivened at the thought of me no longer having to struggle with morning sickness and how much more freedom that would bring me. Oh how I cannot wait to feel like myself again!

As we made it back to our belongings there was a wedding proceeding on the shore. I thought about how great my wedding day was just two months prior and just how great marriage is. I grabbed Miles' hand. As happy as I am to be starting a new chapter, I'm trying to relish in the time we still have as 'just the two of us.'

Later in the evening we went and bought some topper soil so tomorrow we could plant some grass in front of our house. As you can see, I let Miles do all the heavy lifting, but of course I offered eleven soil bags worth of moral support.

Another beautiful day comes to an end in sunny Encinitas, another one for the books I might add. I must say my books seem to be getting awfully full these days. A home in paradise, a stomach full of food, a bun in the oven, and a superb husband. Life is good.

Embarking on a new journey...

My blogging skills haven't been so successful in the past, so don't be too shocked if this too falls to shambles, but I thought I would try once again to tackle a new project. The idea is for me document the life and times of my growing family. I thought it would be neat to journal about everyday happenings and events as a means to have something to look back on in a year, two, or three from now, and as an added bonus I can keep everyone in my life updated as to what I am up to these days, especially those who I may not see so often.

So for those who may need a quick briefing:
I finished school at Cal State San Marcos about a year ago and am now currently working as a life insurance agent under an independent broker--not exactly what I earned my degree in, but it pays the bills, so I can't complain. Miles is working for a company called the Kayo Corp., a skateboarding manufacturing company that houses four major skateboarding brands. He loves it, and the fact that it immerses him daily in the industry he most adores is an added perk. My grandfather once told me, "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life," so cheers to you grandpa Ray, I think Miles may be on to something.

Miles and I were engaged in December and married on February 9th. I got real "Khloe and Lamar Odom" with my wedding planning seeing as I put it all together in approximately 3.5 weeks. Did I just make a Kardashian reference in my first post? Well, that pretty much sums up the randomness you may come across while exploring this thing. And I'm not even going to apologize; don't say you weren't warned! Also, we are with child, physically speaking anyway. I am 27 weeks today and we are due on July 20th although realistically he can come anytime in the month of July and still be full term. Oh yes, we are having a baby boy! We are very ecstatic to be starting our little family.
 The past year has brought with it so many changes and new beginnings, and as I reflect on all that has happened, I also welcome all the many things that have never been.

I hope everyone is doing well, and I really am going to try and update this blog on a regular basis. Time will tell.