There's an Alien in my Tummy (and other ramblings)

Lo siento friends, for the blogging lapse; after our WA trip, I was WIPED OUT. It's taken me a while to get back on the horse... A lot of noteworthy things have transpired and we've taken some photos to share, so hopefully I'll get to that soon! Maybe even today... But in the meantime, I thought you may want to know that little Claire Evans is officially huge. Now people I don't know make comments to me about being preggo. Finally! I only have 56 days to go. (I tell her feel free to come early, though...) She is unfortunately a night owl like her mom, and is up and at 'em from 11pm-1am and again 4am-6am, which makes sleeping for me somewhat problematic. At between 3-4 lbs. we can now see her moving all over the place under my skin (which kind of makes me want to puke, but it's cool). We've started keeping a journal to give to her (either when she gets married, or preggo, or graduates from something, we don't know); and that has been fun to write in. We tell her our hopes, prayers, fears, all kinds of stuff; and are having other family and important people write in it as well. Hopefully it won't get lost, and will be meaningful to her when we give it to her...
Other than that... let's see, my legs are starting to hurt a bit more these days. I have to stretch and walk daily, or else they feel weird. Luckily I still feel okay to walk a couple miles a day, though it's getting hotter outside (80s every day), so that's a new factor, as Burly and I pant our way through the golf course:) And the worst thing is I've started to get STRETCH MARKS on my tummy. Not very excited about that!
On other fronts, her nursery still has yet to come together, but she is starting to have a little wardrobe, since people have been very generous toward her. Our goal this month is to get the furniture and bedding and glider all situated. So many decisions to make, I get really overwhelmed. My current quandary is an issue we're revisiting, the car seat and stroller issue. In Seattle, because of the REI 20% off sale, we bought a BOB jogging stroller and are stoked about that. But in regards to a light "mall" stroller, we'll have to figure that out; current candidates are the Bugaboo, the Maclaren, the Peg Perego... who knows. And unless we get an SUV, no car seat sounds super ideal. And last I checked, we weren't getting an SUV. So we'll figure this all out, I'm sure, but these are the things that weigh on my mind, oh yeah, besides the fact that we have no idea what we're getting ourselves into with this whole parenting gig.:) We're reading a lot of books right now, on labor/delivery and infants: eating, sleeping, crying, activity, vaccines, etc. all the good stuff. I know a lot of parenthood will be trial and error (humbling to think!), but at least this feels educational, stuff we've never thought about before!
We'll report back soon:)

Baby Claire's Bedding and Nursery and Diaper Dilemma

Given that we leave for Cali on Friday and then head to Seattle until March 31st, we won't really be in TX again until I am 31 weeks preggo. In my zeal, this past month I thought maybe I could learn to sew and design all of Claire's nursery to be 100% unique. Nothing but the best for our first born! But let's be realistic... THAT'S NOT going to happen. I would like to learn how to sew at some point, for sure, but maybe NOT right before giving birth... So I had to say goodbye to the warm pink/salmon and green and cream paisley that I fell in love with at JoAnn's fabrics. Another time. Luckily, we found online from my friend Heidi, this great alternative paisley print. I don't want the Pepto Bismol Pink walls or matchy matchy anything in her room, but I at least like this bedding. Los painted a little dresser green for Claire, to put next to a glider, and now we're trying to figure out what kind of crib we want. So hopefully in April her nursery will come together. Just in case she comes early in May:) Diaper options are currently what stress us out most, but other than that things are looking like they'll fall into place nicely before she comes. Would love to hear all your wise counsel on diapers, the more specific the better. Fun fun!

Baby Good News and maybe good or not-so-good news

So my mom just left after a great week in TX. Thankfully the weather was cool enough for us to walk Burly on the beach a couple of days and to feel comfortable in general. She loved feeling Claire kick and "being a part of the pregnancy." We shopped for maternity clothes, which was such a blessing, and a lot of baby stuff. I even found a baby towel with a hood that had CLAIRE sewed onto it in pink. I heart the Pottery Barn outlet clearance section. Everything was 70% off the sale prices that were already marked down. We got her towel for only $3. And after weeks of feeling non-committal, I finally am inspired about Claire's nursery. It started out with a pillow sham that was also in the clearance section. We can put that on the chair that will be in her room. We then went to JoAnn's fabric store with the sham and I got 14 swatches of pinks, greens, paisleys, taupes and creams. I sketched out what her room will look like, and now we just have to find someone to help us sew, (or maybe I will learn?) and to paint a dresser that we want to keep in her room for some funky color. Los' mom is going to make her an adorable lamp shade from coordinating ribbon as well. Even though I am only 25 weeks, I am starting to have more of a vision of what the room will look like when she joins our family and we spend time in there. FUN!

The other news I got yesterday, was that I am "measuring" 4 weeks ahead of schedule. I wish this meant I was going to deliver that early, but most likely, the OB said, we're just having a BIG baby. Great... I was only 6lbs, 13oz. though I was 21" long. I was hoping to be carrying a similar little person, but apparently that's not in the cards? Have any of you moms gotten that news from your OB? How did it pan out for you?! Do tell, please! I would love to hear!

Giving Thanks for our Baby!

So... we're pregnant! Surprise:) Baby Evans will be showing up in the beginning of June. Today begins week 14, and I was hesitant to talk about it before we were in the clear. I was 10 weeks before I found out. Funny story, I'll write it out later. And this week Los got to meet the baby, who WAVED at us, putting it's tiny hand right up to the sonogram wand. Pretty cool.

Many stories will now ensue... After the Thanksgiving food coma wears off. We had an amazing T-day here in Houston, with some LOVELY people and a 34-lb. turkey! And today we're joining the madness, going shopping. I know that's dumb, but come on, we're in Houston, which is so awesome, it's not like we're in CC where there are no good shops. So we feel like we kind of have to do it:) Wish us luck.

Git Er Done… (our last week in WA!)

Well, it is finally down to the wire! T minus 6 days until the epic drive across our fair country begins. We have been conquering the longest TO-DO list in the history of my life (save for the pre-wedding TO-DO list, but that was full of inconsequential things like: borrow flower vase for gladiolas).

Can I just say AMEN for awesome customer service at Patagonia, REI, Super Jock n’ Jill, Williams-Sonoma and Nordstrom. We have made about $700 returning things we didn’t want/like/use without a hitch! Love that. We even MADE money returning 12 mugs we never use to Williams-Sonoma, and this is WITHOUT a receipt. They’ve gone up in price since our wedding 3 years ago, to $21/mug, pricy! So that’s awesome that we were able to continue paring down. We also sold the kitchen table and 6 chairs we got for free for $175, which is fun. On top of that, I brought back Saucony running shoes that are hurting my left arch (but have been used for a year!) and they exchanged them out for brand new shoes at no cost. YES!

So we are feeling good about what we have remaining. I’ve blogged before about Rob Bell’s challenge to his church during the God is Green sermon series. He said, “If you were to move tomorrow, what would you sell, donate, give away, recycle, throw away. Well why not do that today?” That mantra has been something we’ve tried to live by the past year and a half, simplify, simplify!!!

And so our day has actually come, we ARE moving tomorrow, and we no longer have piles of stuff we don’t want or need. Movers come tomorrow morning at 8:15, giddy up! We’ll be living out of suitcases for the next month, as we galavant around the country, taking our time to enjoy different people and places en route to our new home.

Though our TO-DO list is long enough to make any sane person dizzy, we have also been taking time to enjoy our last week in WA. We’ve been getting quality time with everyone we love, and are looking forward to having dinner at Canlis (Seattle’s best restaurant) with Erik and Monica on Friday night, after seeing Erika and Jodi for a last time. I also get to see JJ and Lisa, since I’m going up to the Couv on Sunday night, which will be fun.

We used our last free movie tickets (thank you Boeing!) and saw EagleEye, which was a fun action flick with Shia LeBeouf (I love saying his name) and Michelle Monaghan (I may have a girl crush on her). Yesterday we took our last ferry ride, on a beautiful morning. Then we had lunch in downtown Seattle with Erik at Palomino and shopped for grooming necessities at Aveda/Nordstrom, and visited the newest H+M. We went to Green Lake one last time, for our and Burly’s sakes. He goes crazy at that place, with all the other dogs/stimulation. Last night we had dinner at the fabulous local/organic Tilth restaurant, that I think every Seattleite should try, it is so amazing.

On Kiesha’s recommendation to “EAT AS MUCH FISH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE LEAVING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST!!!!” I had a pistachio-encrusted Cod for lunch that was fantastic. Then at dinner with Jonathan and Lynnea (love them, will miss them, we’re trying to talk them into coming to S. Africa with us for World Cup 2010), we had all kinds of awesomeness. The world’s best Halibut, pork belly, chicken, faro, quinoa, a cheese plate straight from heaven, and heirloom melon with mint, feta and anise hyssop, unbelievable. So creative, who thinks of that kind of stuff! Three hours and two bottles of Northwest wine later, we were quite happy campers.

I’ll miss that place, and everywhere that we have fabulous memories in Seattle, which will remain in my heart as one of the most awesome cities in our country, even if we never live close by it again. So if you’re wondering where I am this next week, it’s either checking off our gargantuan TO-DO list or being sentimental about this place I love so much and am sad to leave.

The Perfect So Cal Day

I am oh so sad that I didn't have a camera to capture today in photos, thus words will have to do. So far, most of my time in Southern California has not been very photogenic, if time can be photogenic.  I went to the hospital, was in school and study groups far too many hours, and have been grimier than normal due to the Pasadena heat/humidity.  I have had a few great meals/conversations with a few great girls, but other than that, not so picturesque until today.

TODAY WAS AMAZING. For a while now, I've wanted to go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market, which is only one Sunday a month. I love the Rose Bowl, it has been home to the Olympics and World Cup, Super Bowls and BCS Championships, lots of history has been made there the past 90 years. The flea market is apparently the biggest in the nation, maybe even world? Before I got Beth as a mother-in-law, I probably never would have had interest in going to a flea market, but it was really awesome. If we'd had more money to spend and a truck, I would've purchased multiple things. All I bought was a tea box, but I wanted some milk cans, a fancy mirror and chairs and 2-3 ft. tall wooden candlesticks. I stayed in the vintage section, but apparently the stuff goes all the way around the football stadium? Intense. The hard core buyers are allowed in at 5am, but normal people go in from 9-3. When I got there before 10, a steady stream of people were in line to enter and many people were already leaving with their bizarre array of goods. A highlight was seeing Anne Hathaway (and maybe Jason Bateman too) shopping. I heard Elijah Wood had been there too, apparently lots of stars go there. Very cool experience.

Then KC showed me some blocks of cute bungalows. Pasadena has great architecture in many neighborhoods, I have loved seeing the houses here. Some friends took me to the Father of the Bride house tonight and hopefully I'll see the 90210 house later this week. It is so weird to be around tv homes/stars, when that's not a part of my reality elsewhere in the country. KC said that Rory from the Gilmore Girls plays on the soccer team KC played against this morning too. I suppose US magazine is right- stars are real people too:)

This afternoon and evening was great as six of us Fuller students/grads spent time in Manhattan Beach. I had yummy blackened fish tacos and we had a good conversation about women in ministry and Reformed Theology, geeky topics I could enjoy talking about for hours- especially while walking in the ocean, as we were:) I love the beach. Not as much as mountains, probably, but I do love it.

Now I am sleepy from the sun and stimulation I got, but I am watching Olympic swimming before going to bed. It was a great day- one week left in So Cal and then home to my love and Puggybear I go!

Buenos Aires

We ended our glorious trip in the European-vibe city of BA. While it is one of the world’s great cities, with fashion and cuisine galore, it is still just that, a city. And when you’re coming from unadulterated creation, it is somewhat shocking to fly into a place where as far as the eye can see, from a puny plane window, is building upon building. And when we were brought to street level, we witnessed grafitti, noise pollution and litter such as we hadn’t seen in the previous 10 days. Again, shocking to the system.



However, there were some highlights. First of all, our hotel 248 Finisterra was such a treat, we loved it. The surrounding neighborhood was enjoyable too. And we got to connect with our friends Marla and Justin there. Justin’s a pilot in our squadron, about to move to Florida. And Marla was in our wedding, she’s completing med. school at U. of Kentucky now. They are global travelers too, and were beginning their trip as we were ending ours. Joel found the six of us a great restaurant that first night, MOTT, which was reviewed by the New York Times, our news source of choice☺

The first half of Sunday was a great time, as we went to their famous San Telmo Antiques Market. I’ve never seen such a big antiques district. Carlos and I bargained with the locals and bought some killer silver candelabras which look great in our formal dining room. I have wanted some like this ever since I saw my friends the Cummins’ with similar ones. They are legit and make me feel like a grownup! Joel and Cara found some amazing artwork and bought one of the most creative paintings I have ever seen. At home, they’re amassing a cool collection of works from different continents.




The latter half of Sunday however, was a waste. We were duped into this “historical” tour that ended up being nothing more a “sewer tour” of BA’s old aqueducts. Ridiculous. Then we went to a half-bizarre/half-disturbing art museum. The night was topped off by my trying certain parts of cow I will never ever try again (intestines, blood sausage, etc.) Oh well. You gotta try everything at least once.

Monday was silly as well, as our book made a day trip to Uruguay sound pretty interesting and historical. I am learning to have a yellow caution flag raise in my mind when I read the word historical. Suffice to say, we were left wanting more.

Tuesday, however was a good last day. The Flory’s picked up some cool wardrobe pieces and we got a chandelier from a local artist that we’re in love with. Trying to pack that was a little interesting. But it made the intercontinental flights and is now hanging in our bedroom and looks great.

By the end of our trip we were missing our dogs and the comforts of home, two weeks was plenty abroad. If we were to do the trip again, I would have added a day in wine country and subtracted a city day. All in all, however, the trip was pretty great. Full of experiences and stories we’ll remember. It was our first time ever traveling with others, and I’m glad to have found the Flory’s are super easy to travel with! I wouldn’t be surprised if we traversed the wilds with them again in the future. As ready as I was to go home by the end, I found myself missing our friends after we parted ways. So thank you, Joel and Cara, for sharing life with us. Joel, thanks for doing all the driving, that was such a huge gift. Thanks as well for taking all the amazing photos we’ll have now to remember the beauty we saw. And Cara, thanks for sharing your beautiful heart with us and letting us walk alongside you in your grief. Your strength is remarkable. We love you and can’t wait to live in the same state as you some day to have more frequent reunions (and Settlers matches). Looking forward☺

REI Garage Sale-ing

This morning Los and I did our first ever REI garage sale. It was awesome. This is an event that is nationwide and once to two times a year, on random Saturdays. It is a members-only sale where everything returned to REI for any reason is massively discounted and distributed around the nation to all of their stores. Back in college I used to go visit my friends, who would literally camp out around the Seattle flagship store for multiple nights, in hopes of scoring some killer deals on all outdoor gear and apparel at their once-yearly sale. I am not that hard core. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal, but the thought of sleeping outside on a sidewalk in the cold just to go shopping was of no interest to me.

So when the person I spoke to in Bellingham yesterday said their sales were more mellow (read: no shoving people and diving to get things) I was pleasantly surprised. I got off work at 8am this morning, and Los met me soon after. We sipped our coffee and hung out with Burly, chatting and reading for two hours until the doors opened. We were numbers 28 and 29 in line, amazing compared to the hundreds who wrap around the Seattle store in serpentine lines before their sale. By 10am, our line had grown to about 150; still not bad.

We decided to divide and conquer as Los really wanted some jackets and a backpack. I didn’t need anything but a water bottle, and was just curious what was available, so as the masses rushed into the store, I snagged Los a great pack and then perused the women’s stuff. No one was really by me, but tons of people were going after the sleeping bags and backpacks, so I watched in amazement while people reminded me of a scene on Animal Planet, emulating a pack of wolves tearing apart a carcass.

I realized the hot-ticket items were the expensive things: skis, snowboards, tents, hiking shoes, packs and bags. Makes sense, you could get a $400 item for $40. Los found great deals on two jackets, and a daypack, plus the big backpack I appropriated for him; I got a pair of shoes and my water bottle. By the time we left, the check-out line went 50+ yards around the back of the store. We walked to our car with purchases in hand, relieved not to be in that long line, and pleased at our morning and money well spent.