Yosemite // Babymoon #2

The view shortly after you come into the park.
In the distance you can see Half Dome, right between our heads.

Now that I've gushed about our B&B it's time to talk Yosemite.

We spent almost all of our time in Yosemite Valley, and hiked the trails from the valley on up.
*Fair warning: I took hundreds of photos on this trip, and choosing which to use was so dang hard! This post is insanely picture heavy. Consider yourself warned. 

Day One:

Bridalveil Fall (hike elevation, 80 feet)

The fall itself is 620 feet, however the "hike" to it is basically a 1000 foot paved walking path. It was the perfect little warm up to get our day started. Though the walk was easy it did not diminish the beauty of the fall by any means.

Bridalveil is one of the first things to see when entering the park, so the crowd was considerable. After a couple photos we moved on. We knew there were bigger fish to fry.

Vernal Fall (hike elevation over 1,000 feet)

The fall itself is only 317 feet, but it seems so much more massive than that when you get up close. Round trip the hike is just over 3 miles, and my runner brain thought, "Psh, 3 miles will be cake." HA! So wrong.

The hike to the fall was considerably more difficult that I anticipated. The trail is considered "moderate to strenuous." The first half of the trail wasn't too bad (I'm guessing this is the "moderate" part), some pretty steep inclines, but not terrible. The second half was legit (the strenuous part, for sure). Steep, slippery stone steps that were not to be messed around on. But, oh my, worth every second of burning quads, calves, and hamstrings.

All those stairs.

But worth every shaking, exhausted muscle.

The lighting to get a good picture of us was simply horrible: shadows where we were standing and serious sunlight on the fall - makes it difficult to get a solid shot. But how about that rainbow? I died and went to heaven when we were treated to that.

At the top of the fall we took a much needed break. Snacks and a little lounging while taking in the beauty that surrounded us. 

The top of the fall on the right side of the photo.

 After making it back down the trail - which might have been just as difficult as going up (oh, my knees), we figured we'd squeeze in one more must-see.

Mirror Lake (hike elevation 50 feet)

Two miles round trip, and super easy.

The lake is slowly drying up, as is the natural life cycle of lakes. But, we still appreciated the splendor of it all.

We spent our down time in the valley, enjoying all the surrounded us. 

We didn't know it at the time this picture was taken, but we would discover ourselves at the top of that waterfall the next day. Hiking that fall wasn't on our original itinerary.

The deer were everywhere, and seemed to care a nary about the people all over the place.

Isn't El Capitan a beauty?

That evening we made our way up to Glacier Point and stuck around to watch the sun set on Half Dome. It was freezing (for real, like 38º), but holy smokes was it gorgeous. 

Along with the main event (the sun setting on Half Dome), the view of the park from Glacier Point is crazy. I had a hard time keeping my jaw from hitting my feet.

The fall with the arrow pointing towards it is Vernal Falls. It seemed so massive while we were hiking it. From Glacier Point it seems tiny. And Nevada Fall, above it, is totally on my to-do list for the next Yosemite trip!

 I've said beautiful a million times, but what other word is there?

To end our epic first day we had a local see us out.

Day One: Three hikes, approximately 6 miles logged, and views that blew our minds.

Day Two:

Lower Yosemite Fall (hike elevation 50 feet)

Literally, a walk in the park. A mile round trip, totally paved. Totally easy. 320 feet of falling water and amazing. 

Like Bridalveil we knew we had a lot before us, so we snapped a picture and kept it moving.

Upper Yosemite Fall (hike elevation 2,700 feet)

Round trip, 7.2 miles. The fall crashes down 1,430 feet (sixth highest in the world), and is considered a moderate to strenuous hike. Again, my runner mindset thought 7.2 miles is do-able. No cake walk, but do-able…

Half way up the trail we were treated to some of the most breath-taking views of the park. 

At Columbia Rock - not quite half way up, and we're still smiling.

About 45 minutes after passing Columbia Rock the views of the waterfall were great, but the hike began to be a total mind game. I literally had to tell my legs to keep moving forward and up. It felt like the last two miles of a half marathon, when you know you're close and giving up is beyond an option. 

After two and a half hours we were at the top. Physically I was ready to be done. Mentally I was spent. 

Did I mention, to see some of these views - already at the top - we had to master stairs that were not for the faint of heart? 

That railing to the left is the only support… To the right, nothing but air…

Thankfully, the views were second to none, and made the grueling trip worth every tear I may or may not have shed at the top… 

See the trail on the far right side of the picture?

Yosemite, you have my heart.

If the currents wouldn't have been so strong I would have seriously considered jumping right into the freezing waters.

We rested our weary bodies, replenished with food and water, and began the tedious trek back down. The number of rocky, stony steps on this hike was astronomical. There had to have been at least 1,000 rocky steps to master. No easy feat going up, or down.

On the way down, the fall flashed us a stunning rainbow shot. It was almost as good as receiving a medal when you cross the finish line of a race. 

Finally, 4 hours and 40 minutes later we were back at the bottom. Totally exhausted, yet, elated to have completed such a trail. 

On our ride back to the B&B Scott asked what my favorite part of the hike was. After some thought, and prompts from him, I had to say simply DOING the hike while 5.5 months pregnant was my favorite part. It wasn't easy - honestly it may have been one of the hardest things I've done - but dang it, I did it.

Day Two: Approximately 8.2 miles hiked, and I felt every last step in my sore legs and butt for days.

Yosemite, you were pretty spectacular. I already have a bucket list of trails and falls I would love to visit our next time around!

The Cub Inn

I'll be the first to admit that my idea of vacationing does not involve camping. Often I kid that a Howard Johnson is the extent of my "roughing it" (because, let's be honest, some HoJo's are kind of sketch). So, when Scott and I agreed that Babymoon #2 would be spent at Yosemite I was a little worried what our lodging and accommodations would be like.

After quite a bit of searching I found a Bed and Breakfast that sounded like it was exactly what both Scott and I were looking for (woodsy, in a cute little town, as near to the park as possible, running water and electricity). We'd never stayed at a B&B, so we weren't exactly sure what to expect, other than we'd have a bed and breakfast… Obviously.

When we arrived to The Cub Inn, nestled in the trees on the mountain, we were immediately in awe.

This log house was gorgeous, inviting, and cozy.

When we arrived we were greeted by Joe and Char, and we instantly felt as if we were being greeted by an uncle and aunt we hadn't see in a while.

After our hellos, and a bit of chit chatting, I just had to attempt and capture the house and all its glory.

Don't you just want to browse the collection, grab something that perks your interest, and melt into one of those leather couches with the fireplace going? Gah! Heaven. 

Let me tell you, the pictures by no means do the place the justice it truly deserves.

Our room, named Carla's Room, was adorable.
Quaint, cozy, and exactly where I would want to collapse after hiking all day.

The addition of the four-legged furry friends was just the icing on the cake. Two of the cats must have either loved us, or our room. Any time our door was open they would slip in and snuggle up on the bed.

Our bathroom was spot on.

The soaker tub was huge, and hit the spot after two long days of strenuous hikes. As soon as I submerged myself it took about 45 minutes and a lot of pep talking myself back out.

Breakfasts each morning were so, so good. Joe's delicious and hearty dishes ensured we had full bellies before heading out and tackling Yosemite.

While the food was scrumptious, what I loved the most about breakfast was that all those staying at The Cub Inn gathered each morning, together. We chatted about what we'd done the day before and our plans for the day that lie ahead of us. Those breakfasts were so intimate, and something unlike any I'd ever experienced other traditional hotels/resorts.

Each morning as we packed up and left for the day, we were not only ushered out by Joe and Char, but by the resident deer as well.

To Joe and Char, thank you so much for the exceptional hospitality. We felt like we were part of your family. Our time with you was second to none and we look forward to returning again.

Happy Marcus Monday!

It was a shade wearin', Jeep ridin', pool loungin' kind of weekend. 

Happy Monday!

Week 23

Week 23!

It's crazy to think in just one week we'll be about 2/3 of the way through this pregnancy. 

Size of Baby // According to My Pregnancy app, M² is the size of large mango, or over 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound.

Cravings // There haven't been too many cravings. But, just yesterday I had a hankering for a cream filled chocolate Long John. A) I don't particularly care for chocolate. B) Never in my life have I ever wanted a Long John. So random. Needless to say, I didn't cave to that one. Who knows what kind of downward spiral I would be headed if I gave into that one.

Symptoms // The peeing. The crazy emotional outbursts (sorry, Scott!). The belly. The boobs. The usual. 

Movement // Yep. So much movement all the time. And those kicks and jabs are strong enough that they can now be felt easily by my guys. If I'm being honest, the movement is about the only part of pregnancy I actually like.

Miss Anything // Besides a good beer when the days are really hot I honestly haven't been missing too much. 

Sleep // If Marcus didn't wake twice a night to pee, and I didn't wake twice a night to pee, I'm sure my sleep would be amazing.

Clothing // Mostly maternity and the comfy workout stuff. However, the pants in the above photo are non-maternity, and are actually the first time I've really ever worn them (of course I had to secure the button with the trusty hair tie trick, but I'm still kind of pumped they fit in all other regions!). 

Best Part of the Week/ Looking Forward To… //
1. Yosemite was simply fabulous. I can't wait to share all about it. However, after the trip I was just exhausted and needed a few days to recoup and get back into the swing of things. I'll have a few posts up about all the fun and beauty next week.
2. Marcus and I took Grandma Kathy to Disney last week and had about the best time ever.

3. I have the "BIG" ultrasound this afternoon. I'm really hoping for a good 3D shot of M², and just taking a peek at her sweet little self is exciting in itself.

Have a great weekend!

Two Step DIY Book Shelf

There are so many thing I really want to post, but this has been sitting in my drafts for some time, and I feel the world's easiest DIY book shelf just needs to be shared.

While taking Marcus' room from nursery to big boy it quickly became apparent I needed a new way/place to store all of Marcus' books. For the last three years the books have been sitting on a shelf in Marcus' closet. That shelf needed to go to create more space to hang clothes, and the books were quickly left without a proper home.

There are several really cute and creative ways to hold books, but most that I found required hanging things on the wall. I knew I didn't have the time or patience to measure, level, and then put holes in the wall. I needed something easier and faster.

Insert these ridiculously easy book shelves that took me all of 15 minutes to 'make' (4 hours if you include time for the paint to dry).

What you'll need:

1. Can of spray paint , your color preference (I went with Rust-Oleum's Antique White)
2. Dish drying rack (I used this one)

How it comes together:
1. Spray paint dish rack, make sure you get all the nooks and crannies.
2. Allow to dry.

Seriously, that's it.

I understand the book shelves aren't huge, but they're perfect for what we need right now. And, the shelves are just the right height for Marcus. Each book is easily accessible and easily seen. Some of these books had been sitting in a dark closet, unopened, for a loooooong time. Now not a book goes unnoticed or unread.

Perhaps what I love most about these book shelves is that now Marcus has a designated reading area that encourages him to grab a book. Almost each and every time we are in his room he is quick to grab a book and 'read' it.

Happy Marcus Monday!

Grandma and Marcus sure did have a lot of fun while Scott and I were away this weekend!

Prohibited co-sleeping // rocking throwing // park climbing
Deconstruction and reconstruction // Jeep rides with buddies // Pump It Up play dates
Ice cream treats // illegal breakfast cereal // Grandma and Monkey selfless at the beach

Happy Monday!

Week 22

Week 22, here we are! 

Size of Baby // According to My Pregnancy app, M² is the size of a spaghetti squash, or about 11 inches long and almost one pound.  

Cravings // I'm not really craving anything at this point. Just all the food all the time. I've also taken to making a smoothie every morning, and it's action packed with all sort of goodness:
1 cup raw spinach
1 1/2 cups mixed fruit blend (frozen)
1 banana
1/2 cup non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
1/4 cup non-fat milk
1 tsp ground chia seeds
1/2 tsp ground flax seed
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
SO GOOD and so filling!
After filling up on that I don't feel nearly as guilty for not being able to choke down my prenatals (but I have found the gummy Flintstones that so many suggested - thank you! - have been very manageable). 

Symptoms // Those pesky Braxton hicks. I also have terrible round ligament pains on my right side. 

Miss Anything // The ability to move quickly from point A to point B. Sipping cold adult beverages on the patio. Sleeping soundly through the night. 

Sleep // Ha. See above. I can't make it through a night without peeing multiple times. So annoying. 

Clothing // Aside from the maxi dresses that are forgiving around my midsection, and my workout pants, it's maternity clothes from here on out. 

Best Part of the Week/ Looking Forward To… //
1. This week I was lying down with Marcus, trying to get him to nap, when M² really got to moving around. I put Marcus' hand on my belly and we just laid there for a bit feeling the little lady give kicks and jabs. Marcus proclaimed, "I feel my little sister moving!" And he's since asked me to feel his little sister move. My heart explodes.  
2. At the moment Scott and I are probably off hiking around in Yosemite, and I can't wait to share all about our little Babymoon!
3. My mom is in town, and while she's here I hope to make great strides in both Marcus' big boy room and the nursery.

Have a great weekend!

Preschool Registration is Like Black Friday // 6 Tips to Standing in Line With Strangers

You guys, this weekend I spent six hours - SIX! - standing in a preschool registration line. PRESCHOOL! 

It sounds crazy, yes, I know. But when you learn there are only 10 openings for the school that you desperately want your child to attend, you stand in line for hours and hours and hours. You wake up at 4:15, send your husband off to be in line by 5:00AM, and relieve him by 6:00. If it means four half days of school at a price that is half the cost of any other school, yet double the amount of days, you suck it up and you forfeit your Saturday morning. 

If I had to compare preschool registration to anything it'd be Black Friday. You wake up at an hour so ungodly even the nocturnal animals are calling you a fool, you're lucky if your washed your face, or combed your hair, or brushed your teeth, to make damn sure you get exactly what you want and need. The similarities between the two events are uncanny. Am I right, or am I right? 

I mean, we were up so dang early we caught the lunar eclipse. Anyone else see it? If you weren't up before 5:00 you likely missed it. I guess there are more perks than just preschool enrollment… 

The total upside to such an outrageous weekend alarm, and a morning spent waiting, is that my child was successfully enrolled, and will be on his merry way to preschool come August 18 (which just so conveniently happens to be four days after my due date, so that's fun). 

Aside from learning we as parents will go to great lengths to ensure our children receive what we think is best for them, I also learned some valuable tips and pointers while waiting in line with a handful of strangers for six hours…

1. If you know you're going to be in line for an eternity bring a tailgating chair. Seriously. I only have one chair, and it's for my happy butt to sit in.

2. Do not tell horror stories of your older children's preschool experiences. I am blissfully ignorant, and believe my child's experience will be nothing short of rainbows and unicorns. Keep those nasty stories to yourself. I'm certain I will deal with my own in due time.

3. If it's 8:00AM and we've been idly chatting for a few hours, and you see I've leaned my head back in my chair, and my eyes are closed, it means I really, really just want some quite time. And maybe a few minutes of sleep. My need for conversation has been reduced to negative zero. Stop talking.

4. If I've flipped open my trashy Us magazine that also means my ability to communicate has been compromised - by lack of sleep and coffee - and I simply cannot continue talking. Please, for the love of the ABCs and 1,2,3s, give me some quiet.

5. If you've arrived a few minutes prior to sign up, and you've had your shower and your six cups of coffee, please do not come at me with a ball of energy. You're lucky I washed my face, combed my hair, and brushed my teeth. I'm silently cursing you for being totally put together, and cursing you even more for knowing you didn't wait in line all morning, and will still get your child enrolled.

6. I know we will be seeing a lot of each other for the next couple years. Please do not mistake my silence or lack of conversation as being rude. Rather, accept that I'm tired, hungry, pregnant, and just want to go home already. I promise I'll be all sorts of Social Sally when you see me in the preschool pick up line.

Any tips I missed for standing in line for hours on end with strangers??

P.S. Did you enter the Starbucks giveaway yesterday? If not, be sure to head HERE and enter!

The 1000th Post // Currently // Thank You Giveaway

A little over four years ago I hit the publish button on my very first blog post. In the months and years that followed that first post it's been fun seeing how this space of mine has changed and taken shape over time. It's a fluid thing, and watching it evolve and grow has brought me so much joy. And today is my 1,000th post. That's crazy to me.

To celebrate I'm pulling out one of my favorite types of posts.
(Be sure to stick around for the end, I have a little thank you for following along with me on this blogging journey.)

Currently

Making :: A million lists for the things we'll need, and need to do, for our Yosemite trip this week.

Drinking :: Water. Coffee. The occasional root beer.

Reading :: Out of the Shadows by J.K. Winn. A mystery/thriller that hasn't disappointed since cracking it open.

via

Planning :: So. many. things. The aforementioned trip, our next trip to Disneyland (new week!), Marcus' big boy room, M²'s nursery, summer camp for Marcus.

Wanting :: A big fat glass of Pinot Noir. Come on August!

Looking :: For the perfect nursery ideas for M² s room. I think I know the colors I want to incorporate, but from there I'm kind of at a loss…

Playing :: Legos. Cars. Play Doh. Tents and forts. Baseball. Soccer. My little man keeps me on my toes.

Watching :: Guys, I drank the kool-aid. I've been watching Dancing With the Stars. But, only because The Bachelor's Chris Soules is on this season.

via

Wishing :: For an extra few hours in the day. And maybe for time to simply slow down a bit. There is so much that needs to be done before August and I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible to get it all done.

Enjoying :: The last few months of one-on-one time with Marcus. I'm really trying to take and appreciate every moment we have together. Both our worlds are going to be rocked in a few months, and I'm soaking up this mommy/son time while I can.

Missing :: Wine. Sleep. Fitting into my regular clothes.

Waiting :: For a few items to arrive for Marcus' room. Once those get here we can really get to work pulling his room together.

Wondering :: How our family of three will adjust to being a family of four… And how Marcus will do in preschool. His school starts just four days after my due date, and I hope he will transition well with all the changes I'm about to throw his way.

Loving :: That I can finally share the kicks and movements of M² with Scott and Marcus. It's been so fun having my guys feel the little lady moving around.

Marvelling :: At what the female body is capable of doing. Creating, carrying and sustaining life is pretty awesome (even if I do admittedly dislike being pregnant).

Needing :: Sleep. It's always sleep.

Noticing :: That I can no longer hide the ever growing baby bump.

Worrying :: That I'm getting enough nutrients for this little lady. I simply cannot take my prenatals, they make me so sick. I hope what I'm putting in my body is enough for both M² and me.

Feeling :: So thankful for my two amazing guys, my family, and you, my readers!

Be sure to enter the Thank You giveaway! It's easy peasy, I promise!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Marcus Monday!

We hope you had a blessed and joyous Easter!

Happy Monday!

Week 21

Officially more than half way!

There is still so much to do, and it seems as if time is slipping away at an alarming rate. August will be here in the blink of an eye.

Cravings // For the past two weeks we've been celebrating Marcus' birthday. And, with each celebration comes cupcakes or cake. And, I can't stop stuffing my face. I'm certain my hips, waist, and butt are cursing me. I'm also still loving pineapple and edemame. Those make up for all the cake, right?

Size of Baby // According to My Pregnancy app, M² is about the size of a carrot, or three-quarters of a pound and about 10 1/2 inches long. 

Symptoms // Hello Braxton Hicks contractions. Oof. Also, my boobs are huge(yay, girls!). I'm always hungry. And tired. And have to pee all. the. time. 

Miss Anything // There have been some craft beers in our fridge lately, and man oh man… We've had some downright hot days in which a cold beer would have been simply glorious. I could also go for a heaping sushi platter. 

Movement // Yes!! So much movement now, and I love it. When M² gets to really moving around Scott is finally able to feel the kicks and jabs. It's the best. I can't wait until I can share this with Marcus, too.  

Sleep // I'm 1000% sure I would sleep awesome if Marcus would sleep awesome. So there's that… 

Clothing // This weekend I was thrilled to discover I could fit into both non-maternity pants and tops for church. However, I can generally be found in my workout clothes (which are oh so forgiving when it comes to stretchy-ness) or maternity pants and larger non-maternity tops that I own. 

Best Part of the Week/ Looking Forward To… //
1) Earlier this week Marcus and I joined our good friends at Disneyland. That place really is magical. We may or may not have gotten ourselves season passes (and Dole Whips and Mouse Ears Ice Cream) while we were there… 

2) This afternoon I have an appointment to check in on the little lady. I am so looking forward to hearing her little heart beating away.
3) Next week Grandma Kathy is coming to town so Scott and I can slip away for a mini Babymoon to Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and miles and miles of hiking are calling our names! 

Have a great weekend and Happy Easter!

Jump Up, Jump Up & Get Down!

For the past two years I've done at-home birthday parties for Marcus that were themed (1-year Sock Monkey party, 2-year Mickey Mouse party). While it was fun to find creative ways to decorate and do food for those parties, they were also admittedly a lot of work. That kind of stuff is fun for me, and I thoroughly enjoy it. However, this year I went off Marcus' lead. I wanted a party that focused on his likes, and things he absolutely loves right now.

So, instead of planning a party based around coordinating food items, we took the party to Pump It Up! Marcus' love for bounce houses and jumping his little heart out is second to none. I thought a bounce house type party would be just his thing.

Between 10 kids and two arenas filled with different inflatable features there were smiles, giggles and squeals of delight galore.

For 60 minutes the kids (and parents, too!) jumped and played their hearts out.

Ever tried to capture nine kids bouncing around on camera? It's the easiest thing… Said no one, ever. 

A few of the parents who bounced and jumped and had as much fun as the kids!

The food and decorations were all taken care of in our party package. Hallelujah! I simply assembled a few goodie bags and brought in a cake.

After a little time in the party room, noshing on pizza and cake the party wrapped itself up.

I'm pretty sure every child who left was completely exhausted.

And, I had one little man who had the best. day. ever.