NYC, the big 3-0, & the Getty

February's been a fun month so far. Let's see, first, I turned 30:). Second, I had an entire week off of work:). Thirdly, I got to spend it in NY with my sister:). Can you tell I've been all-smiles-all-month?:)

Most of our photos center around food and not much else. The rest of the time was devoted to days upon days of shopping...oh what fun! When I got back, Joey commented that he knows how much fun I'm having by how often I call him when I'm away. I rarely called him that week. Haha. I did miss him though...I think;).

Breakfast at Sarabeth's:

Rice pudding at Rice to Riches:

Vodka pizza at Pomodoro:

Mac & Cheese at S'mac:

Bagels in Long Island:

On the subway:

Cynthia Nixon in Distracted. This was SO GOOD. About a kid with ADHD. I laughed & cried:

Red velvet cheesecake & cupcakes at Magnolia's. My favorite!

Birthday dinner at the Stanton Social:

It was one of the most uppity restaurants I'd ever been to. The food was good...but small. I supplemented with pizza afterwards!
Thai food in Brooklyn:

When I returned, Joey had planned a museum/brunch at the Getty:

My camera lens is a little messed up. The 'clear' photos below are from J.Mita:).
Homemade birthday card...1 of 4 she gave away. Thanks J, I feel special!!:

Like I said, it's been a fun month. More to come in a few weeks, when the celebration continues...yes, my husband spoils me:).

Pregnancy, Week 19, Part 2

Okay, so I admit I knew there was a "Part 2" coming. By Thursday's end, we were already looking into 3D ultrasound clinics. I just couldn't wait!

Plus I was off to NY this week to see my sister... and I wanted to get a jump start on baby shoppping.

I was ecstatic when my husband wholeheartedly said "let's do it."

So we went.

The ultrasound was clear as day. She was smiling & her heart was beating 154 beats/minute=).

Pregnancy, Week 19, Part 1

I heard this idea from my grocery store manager friend. His cousin & wife had gone to their prenatal appointment, all ready to find out the gender of their child. But instead of having their doctor tell them the gender, they asked her to write down it down on a piece of paper. Then they went to dinner together, opened the paper, and voila!--"it's a boy!/girl!"

I told Joey the idea for our upcoming 19 week appointment, and he suggested getting a card to have the doctor write inside it. I carefully picked out a gender-neutral card at Border's for my appointment the next day, and preceded to wait anxiously.

Well, we got to the doctor's, and Baby Oh wasn't being cooperative. First the legs were side by side like wooden chopsticks. Then the foot was up in the crotch area. My doctor swished around for a bit on my belly, then said sorry, she can't see anything, and to please come back in a month.

Up till now, I've had a sense of unreality about this whole pregancy. Denial, not acceptance. Plus, no baby movement so far. So I was so psyched to have something concrete to grab onto. I knew there was a small chance the doctor couldn't tell, but I didn't think I'd be one of those people. haha. I coudn't believe how bummed I was after the appointment. I almost cried over my french toast.

So instead of being the gender announcement post, this is the you'll-have-to-wait-for-it post. I'll leave you with a photo of my out-of-this-world honey orange french toast, from auntie em's kitchen.

Weekend in Seattle

I spent a wonderful weekend up in Seattle for my cousin's Matt's wedding reception. Below, my mom on left, and aunt in the middle.

My sister made it in from NY:

The newlyweds:

It was also a reunion with my cousin, in red jacket, whom I haven't seen for 20+ years.

My aunt, who is an amazing chef, cooked for 3 days for this event, all by herself. To feed 130 people! I wish I had taken a better photo.

Snow, on the last day. First snow I've seen all season:

I miss you Family!

Sabbath Thought

The first year Joey and I were married we read "The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage" by Dr. Laura Schlessinger, and "His Needs, Her Needs" by Willard F. Harley, Jr. We thought that Dr. Laura was a little too anti-feminist. I liked "His Needs.." though, and I highly recommend it if you haven't read it before.

This year, we're reading "The Adventist Home" in the evenings as part of our quiet time together. I'm really enjoying this book.

I particularly like Chapter 16, "A Happy, Successful Partnership." Here are some exerpts:
The Real Union is a Lifelong Experience. To gain a proper understanding of the marriage relation is the work of a lifetime. Those who marry enter a school from which they are never in this life to be graduated.

Affection may be as clear as crystal and beauteous in its purity, yet it may be shallow because it has not been tested and tried. Make Christ first and last and best in everything. Constantly behold Him, and your love for Him will daily become deeper and stronger as it is submitted to the test of trial. And as your love for Him increases, your love for each other will grow deeper and stronger.

In every way encourage each other in fighting the battles of life. Study to advance the happiness of each other. Let there be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Then marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be as it were the very beginning of love. The warmth of true friendship, the love that binds heart to heart, is a foretaste of the joys of heaven.

I would type out the whole chapter, but it's a bit much for blogging. It's just a great chapter to read and reread. Reflecting on this passage and the past 2 years of marriage, I realize that my husband is WAY more patient with me than I am with him. So as I read through Adventist Home, I strive not to love my husband more, but to love my God more. Because I think right now, I know very little about what true love is. This is my resolution for our marriage this year.

Happy Sabbath Everyone.

Itchy Itchy Ichabod *edit*

Mosquito bites.

Chicken pox.

Sweat rashes.

Poison ivy.

I've only had 3 of the 4 ailments above, but none of what I've experienced in the past has prepared me for this. The itchy pregnancy skin syndrome wins hands down as the most intolerable of them all.

First it started at the chest. Yes, that area. Then it traveled without mercy down to my feet, not skipping any body parts along the way (lest they should feel left out).

So I began scratching. Breaking skin. Bleeding.

Then I was scratching in my sleep. And waking up with scars where old scars were trying to heal. Sorry skin, it's gonna take take awhile before you recognize yourself again.

I've been researching the itchy pregnancy skin syndrome, and there's the drink-more-water suggestion, the apply-lotion-2x-daily-suggestion, the cool-shower suggestion, the blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. None of these makes it stop.

Anti-itch cream, here I come.
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Thank you everyone for your concern. It is much better now!!

Currently...

...mesmerized by history in the making.