overwhelmed much?

So Josh and I ventured to Babies R Us today to just get a feel for what is out there in terms of car seats and strollers and cribs, etc, etc... Oh. My. Word. There is just so much out there!! But... at the same time... it all is basically the same thing!!

So - we found a car seat we thought was great... cool handle that didn't twist or strain your arm, cool looking, seemed to have everything going for it, $99. Great. Sounds good. BUT. There's a seat that looks exactly the same for $149! Same safety features, different brand. Is one safer than the other?? Are we selling our baby's safety short by registering for the cheaper brand?? I think our problem is that we just don't know what to look for - we don't know what features are important, what is a non-negotiable and what is a convenience, or what is the best bang for our buck. It's frustrating.

So moms... or sisters of moms... or moms to be... or anyone who has any knowledge of car seats/strollers. Please. Enlighten us. What are non-negotiables? What are the best features to look for? Are there certain features that are worth spending the additional $50 or $100 on? Brands that are the best? Any and all information would be most helpful... I'm sure I'll have more desperate cries as we try to decide on a crib and pacifiers and bottles and changing pads and diapers and breast pumps and bassinets and... ... ... ... oh vey!

rose colored glasses...

2010 New Years Day... 6AM... some are taking the walk of shame back to their home after a long night of partying. Some are sound asleep in their bed. Some are bundling up to go sit on Colorado Blvd to watch the Rose Bowl Parade. Josh and I fall into the final category.

6AM comes early but for front row seats, it was worth it. Well... that's not an entirely true statement. We wouldn't have had front row seating without the the help of Lindsey's brother bear Kevin taping off space since 10AM on New Year's Eve... thanks Kevin! But the front seats = totally worth it.

The floats are incredible... all organic material and such detail! It's incredible...

All the floats were incredible. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity to sit front and center for the parade. Happy New Year!

lost in time...

So the past week or so has totally lost me... I left you with "Southwest cancelled my flight" and since then have been home in Arizona, watched at least 8 movies, celebrated Christmas, felt the lil baby move, ate Nick's Feed-Your-Face (a Prescott classic), received lovely gifts, ate my weight in homemade goodness, and alas have made it back to the Bay Area again!! Where has the time gone!? So to expand on the highlights...

Yes, we made it back to Arizona and had a lovely time with family. I love Christmas at my house. I love the stockings, the breakfast, the laid back feeling of it all... I just love being home. Josh and I received our first "adult" camera -- the Rebel -- my parents way of guaranteeing themselves lots of pictures of lil lop once she comes in just 4 short months! And what's funny is we tried practicing with it and taking pictures of any little ornament or knick knack around the house... and managed not to take one single picture of ANY of my family members. Wow... a great start to our camera adventure. Ey yi yi. We'll get there.

Baby news - yep, I've officially gotten to the point where I can decipher a baby kick from indigestion or gas or cramps... it's pretty fun. Pretty crazy - but really exciting. Can't wait for Josh to get to feel the baby move...

Belly news - it's a'growing... fast. But not fast enough for someone to look at me and say "she's totally pregnant"... so I'm getting self conscious about it and am constantly touching my stomach so hopefully people will assume I'm pregnant and not that I just overdid it with the holiday goodies... which I did... but that's beside the point. I'll post baby bump pictures at some point... maybe when it gets to the point of "she's pregnant!" and not "she's pregnant...? or eating a lot...?"

Anyway - one day of work and then we're off to Pasadena for New Years/the Rose Bowl Parade! HOPEFULLY pictures to document the weekend... with PEOPLE in them...

the long road home...

So we're going back to my hometown for Christmas today... everything has been set in stone for over two months now and we were good to go. Then I get a voicemail this morning from Southwest airlines letting me know that our flight was cancelled... Yes. They called me about T minus 7 hours before my flight was to take off to tell me "Sorry - you're not really going home, sucker!"

Luckily they had the next flight out available - granted it's a midnight arrival, but at least we'll be home sweet home for the holidays.

for me? you shouldn't have...

We did our little family gift exchange tonight (that way we don't have to lug our gifts to AZ just to unwrap them and lug them back... smart, huh?).

For Josh:

As of late, Josh has had a hankerin for his nightcaps... scotch on the rocks if you will. But as of late, he's been using our stemless wine glasses - so I opted for the whisk(e)y lover. Along with its mouthblown glasses, it has ice cube "stones" that you freeze to prevent the regular ice from watering down your drinks... so you really have scotch on the rocks. Now Josh can have his occasional drink in style... For Me:

Josh has promised me a jewelry box for... ummm... 2 years now?? He's built 2 of them himself but hasn't been fully happy with them. I finally said that I NEED one (mine is falling apart and holds about 2 rings and a chunky bracelet and then it's full). SO, we found one that looks just perfect for "the meantime"... until Josh can build the perfect box. BUT, since the box was promised to me 2 years ago, as a present, Josh got me jewelry to put IN the jewelry box. Good man... a beautiful necklace from J Crew and lovely earrings from Anthro... thanks baby!!

Merry Christmas!!

mmm. mmm. mush.

So our farm box came last Friday and we've put some good use to it... bok choy in pad thai, fennel and orange salad, fruits galore, and last night - cream of mushroom soup with leeks. And not just any cream of mushroom soup, but Ina's cream of mushroom soup. Which you KNOW has to be good because 1. it's got lots of butter. 2. it's got lots of cream. 3. it's got lots of love... I love that Ina. It's Josh's favorite homemade soup to date... and (bonus!) there's enough for a leftovers lunch!

lil lop

We've been referring to the bambino as "lil lop" (coined by the Olsens... very clever guys, thanks!). Well, now, we can refer to the baby as "lil LADY lop"... or at least they THINK. She (if she is a she) was being very modest and not opening her legs for the camera (good girl!), so the technician only got a quick view and is pretty sure it's a girl. Obviously they don't want to be held responsible for the whole switch-a-roo-out-pops-a-boy, so we'll ask our doctor to do another ultrasound when we go in January. But until then, we're saying GIRL!

Boy or Girl...?

Any votes on what the little bambino is? We find out TODAY! Well, hopefully... we go in for the anatomy ultrasound and hopefully find out if we buy pink or blue... well, moreso purple or green... or maybe yellow or red... oh goodness. So many options.

gettin old...

I love this commercial. I think it's so cute. The wrinkles, the dancing, the song. Just precious. Makes me excited to get old... well, at least not as scared to get that old... thanks Kaiser!