Who I Want to Be

There have been many extraordinary people that have influenced my life and the select few I truly look up to and hope to be like, but none come close to my mom.

I've been proud to realize I have some of her qualities and traits.
I have her laugh ... that uncontrollable, hard to breath laugh,
I have her phone voice, some of her mannerisms when I'm teaching, her silliness, her smile and her blue eyes.
(There are many more traits, but we'll just highlight those for now)

Most of the advice I gave to my Young Women who were struggling has come from her. Most of the times I've been frustrated or sad, the advice I give myself is from her. Most of the times I've served someone in need, I think of her example.

And every time I think of holding my own daughter and giving her kisses, hugs and all the love I can give, I think of my mom.

We didn't have the typical family dynamic growing up, but the one thing I regret in my life was being a teenaged-brat to her when I was cranky or frustrated. My mom sacrificed what she wanted to help and heal others. And looking back, her example has been the best life lesson I've ever had. I look at her and see such a strong, hard-working, loving woman that I hope to be one day.

I love that I have more time to get to know her as I move into the mom phase. Her advice and guidance has helped me through this pregnancy and it's been so amazing to sit and talk to her about motherhood with a different perspective than I had before.

And knowing that I'm lucky to have her as my mom, Cookie is going to be extra lucky to have her as a grandma!

So Mom, when you are reading this post (because I know you are my biggest blog fan), know that I love you, more and more each day and I'm so very grateful to have you by my side as a coach and a best friend.

Love you!

xoxo

Slightly Uncomfortable

The countdown has officially begun! We have 46 days left until our Cookie is done baking.
And let me tell you, I'm ready!

Sure I have anxiety about being a mom, or weird pregnancy dreams that I'll lose her or drop her which doesn't help with the anxiety...but boy, am I ready to not be pregnant any more. Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant and I'm enjoying every moment I can, but motherhood is just one sacrifice after another I've noticed...and I'm technically not even a mom yet.

I had the best dream last night that I was actually able to sleep on my stomach and see my feet while standing.
*Sigh* ...one day.

On the bright side, we are still tickled pink every time we feel Cookie's big kicks, so it's worth it. I've grown fond of the kicks she gives me right before bed. I've learned to put my stomach against Mike so he gets a small sense of what it feels like. He is still amazed how hard Cookie can kick. I think she is just showing off for Daddy.

We are also starting some of our parenting classes next week which I'm hoping calms my anxious side and helps the uber excited side to come out more.

Below are just some pictures from my phone showing me slightly ornery, proof from my What to Expect When Expecting book that my crankiness is justified, and then lastly, Mike and I playing Donkey Kong together on our old Super Nintendo for Family Night.

Just a glimpse into our day-to-day.

xoxo

My Friend

I've been debating posting about this subject, but then I thought..."this is why I have a blog, so might as well."

Most (if not all) women have some issue with their body and I'm no exception. I've been guilty of looking in the mirror and cursing my thighs, my tummy, my hips, etc. and just hating the fact that I got stuck with this abnormal body.

(or if you are in my family, what we like to call Abby Normal thanks to Young Frankenstein movie)

I remember during one of my internships while working in Hollywood at a PR firm, all these women would starve themselves, smoke and take loads of diet pills to achieve their size 2 status and then in walks me who is not a size 2. I remember these women appalled that I was eating a salad for lunch and not just content with a cube of cheese and a diet shake. After a few months working there, my self-image suffered even more and I started following suit by not eating and neglecting my body who had done nothing wrong. Thank goodness I had another internship at NBC to offset such a gloomy environment at the PR firm!

Well, I've worked through some issues and have learned to love myself but it wasn't until I became pregnant that I started to respect my body. Even though I can't see my feet anymore (and those said feet are probably swollen) I am so proud of the journey this body has taken me on and how it instinctively protects such a blessing and miracle that is growing. I've changed my thoughts from "ugh, I hate my thighs" to "I'm so proud of what my body is doing, I don't care if there are marks or scars."

So, my little life lesson this week has been to give my body a break, let it do it's thing and realize what an amazing job it has done and will do soon and to cherish it. I loved the quote pictured above (which for the record is not my body...I do not have a tattoo.) and it stated exactly what I have been feeling this week.

Yay for my body! Flaws and all, I'm so proud of it.

Lodi Baby Shower

Oh what a weekend! Fun was had by all! 

I felt like such a lucky girl the weekend of the Lodi Baby Shower. It so good to see family and friends all together and I felt so blessed to have so much support for my new phase in life. 

And who can resist baby stuff? No one...that's who!

So here is how the weekend unfolded...

My aunts, my sister Marci, my second mom Teresa, my mother-in-law Teri and my sister Rach (plus Mike and myself) all congregated at the Anderson House on Thursday. There was loads of laughing, baby belly-touching and hugs flying all around in a glorious chaotic reunion. 

Friday, we had a girls day at the cutest tea house in Sutter Creek called Tea Era. We put on hats or crowns and even some boas and had tea and crumpets, desserts and yummy sandwiches. Completely girly and the perfect way to welcome the newest member of this family with style!

In this photo is myself, Marci with the perfectly matching outfit, my mom, Sandy & Teresa, and finally me with the grandmas to be.

After Tea Era, we headed home to prep for the baby shower and to go head to head in a vicious competition we like to call... CUPCAKE WARS!!

Each team made a delicious batch of cupcakes for the shower the next day, but to make things interesting, we brought in professional judges to choose the best cupcake of them all. The winner would receive bragging rights and a Target Gift Card. 

I know...pretty intense!

Teresa is getting her game face on, Mom is showing her big baking guns, Aunt Patty is helping every team so you can share the prize no matter what (smart girl!), and finally, my beautiful cupcakes...Yeah, it's ok to drool!

After hours of hard work, we presented our cupcakes to our prestigious judges...my dad and Mike. 

Teresa made a yummy carrot cake cupcake with burnt sugar frosting (yum!), I made an Oreo Truffle Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting, my mom made a Gingerbread cupcake with Lemon Frosting (gourmet!), Teri & Rach made a Vanilla cupcake with super yummy Strawberry frosting, and my Aunts Jeanne and Carol made a Triple Chocolate Organic cupcake with Chocolate frosting. (someone was playing to one of our judges who has a chocolate weakness!) And Aunt Patty and Marci helped everyone...sneaky girls.

Safe to say Mike and my Dad were in sugar heaven! But man did they have opposite tastes.

The winner you may ask? Well, since the judges could not decide on one, they chose Teresa's Carrot Cake Perfection cupcake and Aunt Jeanne & Carol's Triple Chocolate Coma Cupcake!

And I have to say, I totally agreed. 

Saturday was the big shower day. Our family friend, Sandy hosted the perfect shower at her house which was completely and utterly elegant. The only thing I can complain about is how puffy I look in the pictures! It's like my body knew I was going to be in every picture, so I felt a little sabotaged!

I couldn't contain my "Awwww" when I opened this perfectly crocheted owl beanie! I wanted one in my size. Me with Sandy, our baby shower cake and the food buffet. 

Safe to say, at any Anderson function, you are going to get a lot of sugar. It's how we roll. 

We had cake, chocolate covered pretzels, lollipops and our assorted cupcakes. I was telling my family we should open up a sweets shop!

It was so fun to catch up with everyone at the shower! I had my Young Women leaders there, Church members that mean the world to me, family and great friends. A girl couldn't ask for a better group. And the gifts were just too precious. Pink was everywhere as well as poofy dresses and cuddly blankets.

Me opening gifts & my mom handling the logistics, a porcelain elephant from my sister Rach & MIL Teri which matches our nursery theme perfectly, my mom admiring the cuddly toys, and the best little sweater HANDMADE by Mama Teresa.

More shower shenanigans...

Sugar shot, my name tag for two, opening gifts, and being silly with my BFF Holly.

Sunday Mike, Rach, Teri and I packed up our Expedition, said goodbye to all our loved ones and headed back to LA. I felt a little sad leaving Northern California and all the people who have supported me throughout the different phases of my life, but I just felt so special to have these amazing examples and friends!

And boy did my Northern California peeps spoil my Cookie! She is going to be so stylish when she arrives.

A big thank you to everyone that made that weekend special! Big Hugs.

xoxo

Curious

With 10 weeks left until we meet our little Cookie, we can't help but wonder what she is going to look like.

After looking at Mike's and my baby pictures, I think it is safe to say she will have some chubba-wubba cheeks... and some awesome style!

I think it's pretty safe to say she is going to be adorable!

Bliss for the Senses

A weird side effect happens when you are pregnant...

you get the power of Super Smell!

Why this is, I have no clue. I'd rather have super strength or the ability to fly. But for whatever reason, pregnant ladies get this special power and it sucks! Everyone's perfume or lotion smells 10 times more potent and sometimes just plain awful!

So, you can imagine how happy I was when I found a lotion that I just loved to smell. My late aunt D.G gave me this amazing lotion for a wedding gift that was Eucalyptus Spearmint from Bath & Body Works. Ever since then, I've always bought the same lotion since I was obsessed with the smell and I was elated that my new-found pregnancy powers agreed with my obsession as well.
(It's the little things that count)

Yesterday I ran out of my beloved lotion and went to Bath & Body Works, just to find a whole section of Aromatherapy lotions. It was a blissful moment on my senses.
Like a cheap day at the spa!

Here are the scents I picked up and my senses are just tickled pink to have something so yummy to smell all the time.

Orange Ginger Lotion:Good ol', Tried and True, Eucalyptus Spearmint Soap:

Last but not least, Lavender Chamomile Body Wash

Well done Bath & Body Works...well done indeed!

So Long 2nd Trimester...

I was browsing through pictures on my phone and realized I should post them on my blog for those of you who haven't already seen these shots on Facebook.

Plus, it's time for more updates.

It's almost time to say goodbye to the wonderful, happy, cute preggo pictures, nausea-free 2nd Trimester and welcome the "holy crap this is coming too soon and I'm going to be a mom" 3rd Trimester.

In last week's appointment with my wonderful Dr. Kim, I voiced that I'm a little nervous about the quickly upcoming birth and couldn't believe how time flew by...
She said she heard that a lot.

On the baby news, our little girl is healthy & growing right on schedule. I'm hoping everything stays that way till it's time for her to come...in June...no earlier than June.
I keep telling her, "Remember, Mama wants to be ready for this too... Early arrivals will stress her out." Hopefully she listens.

In other news, Mike and I had our 4 year anniversary in February and took a weekend vacation to Catalina Island (which is about an hour boat ride from where we are.)

Catalina is one of our favorite little places in the off-season.

We hate the on-season. Too many people.

But, we spent the weekend in this cute hotel and walked around the little town...which seriously is just one main street. The weather was perfect and we ditched our cellphones to just be with each other before our little Cookie arrives. It. Was. Perfect!

Mike insisted we buy this stuffed animal for our girl. It is a mix between a monkey and a duck...or otherwise known as a Dunkey.

...I'm betting this creepy thing gives our girl nightmares, but who knows, maybe she will love it.

Here we are getting on the boat to Catalina. It was our first sunny day in weeks!

After Catalina, I headed up to Northern California without Mike (sad..) to spend time with my parents before I become a parent. (happy!)

The last time they were with me, I was smack-dab in the middle of my 1st Trimester and I was NOT a happy camper. Nausea will do that to a girl. So, I was determined to leave a better memory of myself before the baby...and since the 2nd Trimester has been heaven, it seemed like perfect timing.

It was a quick trip, but we accomplished so much! My mom and I went to Babies R Us to register
(which took 3 hours!)
I never knew there was so much stuff for babies...totally overwhelming.

Then we relaxed with pedicures (hallelujah!) and dove right into Baby Shower planning. We also ordered the cutest baby blessing dress together and her adorable bedding. I can't wait for her to use it! I'll post pictures of both so you can bask in the total cuteness with me!

Then on Saturday, my dad joined the Baby-palooza craziness and we all went over to San Francisco, my favorite town, for some good ol' fashioned fun.
Our San Fran musts consist of the Cliffhouse restaurant for brunch, Miette bakery for macaroons, salted caramels and lavender shortbread cookies, Smitten ice-cream which is beyond good, the Marketplace and then Boudin for some authentic sourdough bread. I had to pick up a loaf for Mike since he was bummed he couldn't be with us. I'm such a good wife! And to finish off the day, we go to Scoma's for dinner and a trip to Ghirardelli for more ice-cream.

We did do other things besides eat, but those things don't matter as much apparently. Haha!

Then, to finish the perfect weekend, I went to church with my parents and saw all the familiar faces that make me feel at home again. It was fun to catch up with everyone and get tons of hugs. Hugs make me happy. :)

Plus, everyone commented on my growing baby bump, which I purposely saved for last.

Here is my bump with my little girl (aka: Cookie, Little Miss, The Kid) ...

...or as we've decided to name her, Charlotte Elaine.

Charlie for short.

Say hello to everyone Charlie...
xoxo