Family Baby Shower

We had our family baby shower today hosted by my mom and Aunt Juliet.  Chris and I are so blessed to have such wonderful family on both sides.  I loved seeing my Big Fat Filipino Family mingle with Chris' Cute Little White Family!  My mom and aunt prepared everything and worked so hard to put on the baby shower.  I am overwhelmed by everyone's love and generosity and Baby Jake is so blessed to have all these people in his life.  I know that today was not the last time that this baby is going to be showered with so much love!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love Fall season, the food, and spending time with family.  This year, I have so much to be thankful for:

First of all, I am grateful for the life that is growing in my belly and my heart goes out to those who have lost their little babies or who are unable to bear a child...

For my husband who treats me so well, who makes it his purpose in life to make me happy, who rushes to my side when I am aching in any way, who relieves my stress, who makes me laugh, who takes care of me and provides for me, who makes life complete and beyond satisfactory...I love you babe!  I'm so happy that you're my life partner and baby's daddy.

For my family...for my siblings, my parents...I know there will come a day when they will no longer be with me and until then I plan to show them just how much they are loved and appreciated.

For my in-laws who welcomed me so warmly from the beginnning.  They are the perfect in-laws!

For the BEST girlfriends in the world...I am blessed to have an abundance of close girlfriends that I can go through life with, have girl talk with, dance, drink (pre-pregnancy), and karaoke with, celebrate many milestones with, have fun and enjoy breakfast/lunch/dinner/coffee/dessert with :)

For our home that we love so much...thanks to Mom and Dad Harrison.

For the opportunity to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a psychologist.  I am so thankful for my education.

I thank God for all the blessings in my life.

Model Mom

We were at my parents' house tonight talking about the baby and childcare and I thought I was being realistic by saying no one wants to be with their child 24 hours a day.  My mom said, "Why, I would.  I wouldn't mind that...I didn't work when you guys were small."  I felt so selfish right then and there! 

My mom is the most generous and selfless person that I know.  She always puts other people's happiness before hers, which in itself makes her happy.  I love and appreciate her more than she will ever know.  I hope to be just like her when I become a mom.  Jake is so blessed to have her for his grandma.

Finally Pregnant!

It's funny how as soon as day 1 of the third trimester hit my belly popped out further and my body decided it was time to finally feel pregnant.  And I realized today that certain body parts are now out of sight (haha).  I know I've said this before but this time I really actually do look pregnant now!  I received a lot of comments this week (at 29 weeks) about how I finally look pregnant.  I am not going to lie, I don't mind the attention and special care and compliments I have received throughout my pregnancy.  I really love being pregnant so far!

I still have chocolate on the brain.  I do give in to my chocolate craving to an extent.  My new obsession is creating Hershey bar graham cracker sandwiches, like s'mores without the marshmallow.  I do try to limit my intake of sweets and chocolate to about one small serving a day and substitute it with fruit or choclate soymilk as much as possible. 

The baby is very active in my belly and his movements are stronger.  It seems that whenever I am awake and lying still, he is moving around.  Tonight I was sitting in class and I felt a sharp kick to the point that it hurt.  Baby Jake is definitely the son of a P.E. teacher...I think he likes to do jumping jacks and push ups in my uterus!  The doc told us last week that this trimester is when I am supposed to gain the most weight and that the baby is slightly small but it's nothing to worry about.  I will now be going for my check up every 2 weeks.  I can't believe that I have been pregnant for 7 months!  I can only imagine how much bigger my belly is going to get!

Better Together

Celebrating 5 years since our magical 6-hour first date on 10/21/2005!

10/22/2010

Five years ago, we went on our first date.  Now we are happily married and have a baby on the way.  We could not ask for more.

Better Together
by Jack Johnson

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of postcard
And no song that I could sing but I can try for your heart
Our dreams and they are made out of real things
Like a shoebox of photographs with sepia-toned loving

Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart
Why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing, it's always better when we're together

Mmm, it's always better when we're together
Yeh, we'll look at the stars when we're together
Well it's always better when we're together
Yeh, it's always better when we're together

All of these moments just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that they'll be gone when the morning light sings
Or brings new things for tomorrow night you see
They'll be gone too, too many things I have to do

But if all of these dreams might find their way into my day to day scene
I'd be under the impression, I was somewhere in between
With only two, just me and you, not so many things we got to do
Or places we got to be, we'll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Mmm, we're somewhere in between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

I believe in memories, they look so, so pretty when I sleep
And when I wake up you look so pretty sleeping next to me
But there is not enough time
And there is no, no song I could sing
And there is no combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing:

We're better together
We so much better when we're together.

The Second Trimester

What a good pregnancy this has been so far!  I hope that is a reflection of how the baby will be!  The second trimester felt very long but I can't complain, I felt great the entire time and the baby looks good and healthy. 

Second trimester highlights:

• Announcing our pregnancy to the world!
• My appetite coming back around week 13
• Must have food: chocolate soymilk 
• Craved: hot dogs, root beer, Pirate's Booty, chocolate (towards the end)
• Finding out that we are having a baby BOY!
• My first baby-related purchase: Boppy full body pillow for me
• Feeling the baby move in my belly (around 21 weeks)
• Registering for baby items
• Finally buying maternity clothes at 22 weeks
• NAMI Walk
• Babymoon with my hubby

13 weeks

14 weeks
At my 10 year high school reunion with Katie and Ana

15 weeks

16 weeks

17 weeks

18 weeks
In Palm Desert with Kimmie and Kristin

19 weeks

20 weeks

21 weeks

22 weeks
With Michelle, Sophia, and Ebony

23 weeks

24 weeks

25 weeks
At the NAMI Walk with Norma

26 weeks

27 weeks

In just 12 more weeks, Baby Jake will enter our world and surely change our lives forever.  We can't wait to meet you, little one!

Babymoon

First comes love, then comes the engagement, then comes the wedding, then comes the honeymoon and marriage, then comes the babymoon!  Chris and I went on a "babymoon" trip this weekend as a last hurrah before the baby comes and changes our lives.  We found a cozy bed and breakfast in Encinitas where we stayed for 2 nights.

We arrived Friday evening and found a great Italian restaurant/sports bar for dinner.  After dinner we went back to the inn to relax, cuddle, and watch a movie on the laptop (thanks Netflix!)

On Saturday morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast provided by our hostess then walked about 2 blocks down to Moonlight Beach.  Afterwards, we headed over to La Jolla to watch our nephew Camden's soccer game and spend time with the Green family.  The rest of the day was spent at the La Jolla UTC Outdoor Shopping Center where we had lunch, walked around, and indulged in some Ben & Jerry's ice cream.  For our last night there, we had dinner at Silks Restaurant in the Hilton at Del Mar.

And on Sunday after breakfast, we headed back home...just in time for kick-off :)  What can I say, we love NFL Sundays at the Harrison household!

Like any trip that we go on, our babymoon felt too short.  But we had a nice, relaxing weekend enjoying our time together...just the two of us.