Breakfast in the Air!

As the birthday celebration in Napa came to a close Dan's actual birthday was the very next day. We all decided that taking Dan out to breakfast would be a good thing to do. We chose to go to a place in Lodi. All the while we were telling Dan it was breakfast that we were going to it really wasn't. His girlfriend Caroline wanted to surprise him by having him sky dive for the first time! Of course after Nick and the rest of the gang heard this of course they all wanted to do it too! Caroline and I stayed on the ground and took some good pictures! Happy birthday Dan!

Waiving their life goodbye!

Nick strapped up nice and tight ready to go!

Nick and Jonas waiting for their jump!

Dan pre-jump

Ready to go...

and off they go!

Jonas first one out, first one to land!

Nick right on Jonas' tail!

Dan coming in hot!

Way to go Dan!

Survivors

Celebration in Napa

The weekend following my birthday we had planned well over a year ago to go to Napa for my birthday and our friend Dan's 30th birthday as well. We Started the day off by going to Cakebread Cellars then on to Peju (the best darn wine ever!), and we stopped for lunch at V' Sattui (it was awesome) and then went to a new winery Caroline Yelped that had gotten a 5 star rating called Vincent Arroyo (seriously the best at least that's what everyone was saying) it was free for our entire group and the birthday kids got a free bottle of wine their choice! yeah well worth it!! After that the girls surprised me by taking me to a spa to get a pedicure! it was a nice twist to a wine filled day that i couldn't really enjoy! Thanks again ladies! Then on to dinner at Press! We had to get reservations 3+ months in advance and it was well worth it! The filet was to die for as well as the $40 bottle of wine (the cheapest on the menu!). It was a great birthday celebration! One that won't be forgotten!

 

 

 

Waiting for our tasting to start at Cakebread

31 Weeks

 

 

The birthday kids!

 

Caroline and Katie enjoying a tasting at Vincent Arroyo.

Jonas and Dan doing the same thing.

Birthday dinner at Press - Highly recommend eating there!

Birthday ice cream!

30 Years and 31 Weeks!

On August 16th I turned 30. Yep still hard to say but, overall it was a good birthday! I worked half a day and got to sleep in that morning and really it was great taking my time getting ready that day. Except when I got into work everyone kept saying "Happy 30th Birthday"... why they couldn't just keep it simple and say "Happy Birthday" I'm not sure. We went out to dinner that night with some friends to Claim Jumper and it was perfect! I got the ribs... just what I have been craving! It was a great way to say so long to my twenties! It was a good decade but, I've got to be moving on!

Birthday shot... Nick doesn't know how to use a napkin!

 

 

Tooth pickin'

Josh and Chelsea

and Tim

Summer of the Floor

As you all have probably noticed i haven't written anything in a while! Over the past month or so Nick and some of his friends have been working diligently on ripping up our downstairs carpet, linoleum, tile, and baseboards. It has been a HUGE chore to say the least but, it is coming together nicely and looking really good!! I just wish i could help some! Thanks everyone who helped us and a round of applause to Nick for working 18+ hour workdays and coming home to hurry up and saw and whack wood into place before our neighbors get mad! Love you babe.

Nick ripping up carpeting

Ripping up the Linoleum

Bye bye ugly linoleum!

Laying the pretty new floor!

Loving the new floor at 30 weeks!

Happy 4th!!

So we had a fantastic 4th of July weekend! Nick went camping with some of our friends from Reno, S.F., and South Lake (which were all alum from OSU) but, this year as I am getting bigger I opted out. They did a lot of fun camping stuff while I sat at home and really was able to relax and enjoyed every minute of it! Nick was able to get home in the morning of the 4th and we just relaxed that day until the evening time when we had Tim, Sarah, and Justin over for BBQ and fireworks! Oh and Sarah made a killer berry cobbler! We had a blast just sitting in the drive way setting off little one footer fountains and Picello Petes! Nick of course made two of his famous "bombs" and made a few babies jump! Over all it was a great weekend!

As for Baby Merriss news... he's moving and wiggling and getting bigger that's for sure! He still moves around right after I eat spicy things. Mostly at night now I am experiencing heart burn pretty much with anything I eat. Which is a bummer but, at least it goes away fast after my friend Tums comes around. I believe I am starting to feel elbows and a rump and possibly a head poke out every now and again! It's always fun when that happens especially when Nick is around. Sometimes it's almost foreign to Nick to feel a body party thru a stomach but, he's getting used to it and he says 'good night baby' every night! It's awfully cute!

One of my friends Sarah that I used to work with (who is also the same Sarah from the 1st paragraph) is also pregnant and 9 weeks behind me! We have been able to rely A LOT on each other and the question asking and answering! Pretty soon she will find out what she is having and I couldn't be more excited for her! It's really really nice to have someone else going thru it too! Thanks Sarah for working that one out for me!!

25 Weeks & 16 Weeks

 

 

Had to throw this one in there Sarah!

Justin & Sarah enjoying the fireworks spread!

The parents to be

Nick and his bomb shell

And Tim trying to use up his sparkler packs!

The heat is on...

And the heat is turning up in Sacramento! July has hit and is supposed to be 102 this weekend! Great weather for fireworks and BBQ but, if you're pregnant and wearing 'Mom Jeans' with a full panel and a tank top it still feels like you're wearing your winter coat at times! I think i'll just stay inside with a pint of Ben & Jerry's in my hand!

The little man is rolling a poking and at times jolting! We are able to visibly see him kick from the outside! it's pretty exciting and at times it makes me laugh to think that there is something just like me... in me just trying to get comfy! At the doctor this past week she had told me I had only gained 6.4 lbs. since the beginning which she tells me is a good thing. I had asked her why i had such a small belly and she replied with... 'No worries... you have an extremely long torso and with that you'll probably stay somewhat comfortable the entire time' so thank goodness for that i guess! I just thought i would have for sure by now gained 15 to 20 lbs.

This past weekend Nick and I went to a car show here in Sacramento and it was a ton of fun! The sun wasn't too unbearable and the cars were really awesome to see! Nick got to enter his truck in the show and was able to show off his newly restored oak truck bed - Thank you Mark! Here are a few shots from the show.

 

 

24 Weeks - And for the record I'm holding a root beer!

Ultrasound 5/23/2011 & 5/26/2011

When we found out that the little man was actually a little man Nick and I were so excited! We had both wanted a boy and here he is! The only bummer about the 1st ultrasound we got was that he wouldn't turn! I ended up having to go back a few days later to get full frontal shots of him! Here are a few!

People are noticing!

Within the last day three strangers who didn't know i was pregnant noticed the bump! Apparently it is starting to stick out now! I was taken off guard one time someone asked me "What are you having" i said "I don't know"!!! Clearly my memory sucks now and i retorted with "Oh a boy, duh a boy"! geesh! 

Little boy is kicking up a storm especially after Mexican! I tried to keep my hand on a spot where i know he's kicking but, if I go to reach for Nick's hand and put it on the same spot within seconds he's moved! Let's just say I don't think he's lacking space in there! He is almost a pound and is about 8.5 inches long... about the size of a spaghetti squash! I am still able to eat pretty much whatever I want except when i eat raw onions I WILL get heartburn, but i won't get heartburn if I eat jalapenos! Whatever I'll take it! Sleeping is still going great! I have yet to wake up in the middle of the night to pee which i find awesome!

Over part of this last week/weekend we were on Lake Shasta on a houseboat with some friends and we were able to take some good belly shots! We are 22 weeks now and going strong! The belly isn't the only thing that is changing. The weather has turned from a cool 60 during the day to a blazing 97! Yeah, I'm feeling it!

It may have looked nice and warm but, it was so not!

 

 

 

22 Weeks

Just had to throw this one in there!

I'm on a boat - I got my flippy floppys!

Things are getting bigger...

19 Weeks

It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As everyone probably knows by now... it's a boy!!!! Nick and I couldn't be more excited over this news! Not that we wouldn't have been just as happy with a girl but, it's just so fun to think about the first born being a son! I'm sure Nick cannot wait to get out all his matchbox cars and legos and start playing!

The ultrasound yesterday went really well except for the fact that the stubborn little man wouldn't turn so we weren't able to get good shots of his manhood, face, and heart. So next week or so i am going to have to go back and get those! Hopefully he'll turn by then! As the tech was measuring his head yesterday he saw that he was measuring a little small. So finally the tech figured out that he was measuring small because my due date was off! Not sure what the new due date will be but, the October 17th due date is not accurate. It's probably going to be more like October 27th or 28th!!! Which makes me happy... i'm rooting for a Halloween baby! When I get the pictures of the face and other parts I'll be sure to post them!

So thanks to all of our friends and family for being such a support to us during this time! We loved how we got so many texts, phone calls, and Facebook posts! This is just helps us realize how much love there will be for this little boy!! We are so excited! Thank you again!

Someone's Tickling Me!

So as of Saturday i have felt little flitter flutters from my stomache! I'm pretty sure about what I'm feeling! it's just crazy and weird to think that it's probably a little hand or foot or both stretching out in there! Just had to let everyone else know too!

Mom Jeans

And we've entered into maternity clothes aka 'Mom Jeans' finally! I can't explain to you how wonderful (for the most part) my new jeans are. They allow me to eat so much more than usual and drink my liters of water daily! I know it was just a few weeks ago when i was complaining that i didn't think i was gaining anything well now at times i almost feel like i'm busting out of these newbies! For the most part it's been great! Not just the jeans i mean... this pregnancy has really been a sinch! I know some of you women out there are probably shaking your head and saying "lucky" like Napolean Dynomite but, it's really been a breeze! We've entered into the second trimester almost a few weeks ago now and the only thing that really seems to be getting me down is my Sunday afternoon cry fests. I can't explain it really and i can't say i really like them but, if they only last a few minutes and the only way i can fix it is to nap it off then so be it... i'll take that over barfing all first trimester! Nick and i are so thrilled to get to find out what this little bean will be on May 23rd! I can't wait to be able to figure out what to do with the nursery and what to register for! Not to mention what to name him or her! Lately so many people keep saying it's a her... very few say it's a him. My brother has got a double or nothing bet going and he thinks it's a boy. We'll just see about that! I think and i feel it's a girl!! On the 23rd we'll see! So stay tuned because i'm sure there will be a post! That's all for now folks!

16 Weeks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just before Nick jumped out of a perfectly good airplane for the 3rd time!