Long Awaited Belly Shots!

OK... you guys didn't believe me when I said I was HUGE! (well, Jen believes me, b/c she saw me!) Well, here is the proof. I have gained 22 lbs already and still have 6 weeks to go! So I will probably be around 28 lbs or so at time of delivery... which I guess is good b/c they wanted me to gain 30-35lbs. pahshaaw.....

Anyway... I really hope I can lose all this weight... I know that it is most important for our little girl to be healthy so I never hesitate to eat (as if i ever did) but it sucks not being able to work out like I used to.... the dr. flat out told me no more running.

I have decided to run a 1/2 marathon in April.. that is my goal... :)
The first pic is 7 months.. the last ones are 8 months.

Congratulations Stacie & Brent!

Two of our closest friends just became parents last week!
Stacie & Brent welcomed Quinn Addison Jaquith into the world... she came early, but healthy and beautiful! I will post a pictures as soon as I get one!
Stacie and I both got pregnant on our Costa Rica trip and were due w/in a week of each other...
I can't wait for Mailee & Quinn to meet in a few months... and am very jealous that Gracie (kitty's daughter) and Quinn can play together... but then again... so very happy for them too!

Happy 35th Birthday Liz!!!

September 30th, Liz turned 35 and wow, does she look great!
Liz, I love you very much and feel very lucky to have a sister like you!
Can't wait to see you next month!

A weekend get-away to Victoria, B.C.

John and I decided last minute to get out of town and away from the madness of renovations in our house last weekend... We picked Victoria, B.C. b/c we heard it was beautiful and one of the best city's in North America (and it is just a 2 hour ferry ride away).
It was such a perfect weekend! We spent the first day at Buchart Gardens (GORGEOUS) then strolling around the city window shopping. We had Dim Sum for lunch and then a romantic dinner w/ a view of the Harbor at The Blue Crab. We stayed at the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel and enjoyed the traditional afternoon tea there on Sunday. My favorite part of the trip though was on Sunday when we drove up the coast and admired the beautiful views and explored the amazing neighborhoods along the way. I highly recommend a visit to Victoria to all and can't wait to go back next year. Here are a few pictures!

I'm Back....

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this blog... I have gotten so many emails, calls etc. w/ people wondering if I had gone into labor early or something since I've been MIA.
Well... things have been hectic - but not THAT hectic. HA.
We are still undergoing all of our renovations (crossing our fingers to have the bulk of the big stuff done before our little girl makes her debut).
We added a new bathroom addition in which I lost use of my office for the past month + making it nearly impossible for me to get to my home computer and my camera hook ups for blogging....
So that is my excuse...

Let's see... some updates. Sine I last blogged... a lot has happened.

John and I spent 4 days in Cannon Beach, OR over Labor Day weekend. It was a nice trip... a perfect mix of family time (w/ Jay, Deanne, the boys and her Mom) and a couple of nights of some couple time too at the Surf Sand Resort. It was a second trip there and we just love it!
We went hiking, had a bonfire at the beach and enjoyed playing w/ Austin and Jack on the beach.

Jen came for a visit the day we left the beach! Although she was here during the week when I had to work we were still able to enjoy time together. (working East Coast hours helped!)
We did the Chuckanut drive and stopped in a cute little town called Fairhaven (near Bellingham) to stroll around the shops. Of course, I took her to Deception Pass and Washington Park too.
Dinners and nights weren't quite like the good old days since I couldn't quite unwind w/ a drink.
I miss you Jen and can't wait for you to come back!!







The day after Jen left, Rod & Lauren came into town and stayed with us! We all went to Helen's wedding in La Conner and it was the PERFECT setting for a beautiful wedding.

August - A BIG BIRTHDAY MONTH!

August is an important month for my family as so many special guys were born in August!
My dad's birthday is TODAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!
I love you very much and feel soooooooo blessed to have been born to a father like you! You have been everything a dad should be and so much more! Thank you for all your love and support and understanding through the years.


My little nephew shares a birthday month with his dad (my brother-in-law), Fred who turned um... thirty something (he is at that age where you don't share the age - HA) on Aug. 14th.
AND.... Liam turns 1 on the 26th!!
His big bday party is this weekend and I'm so sad to miss it. Have fun and Happy Birthday Fred and Liam!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!

Logan turns 3! She is the closest thing I have to a little niece and I am so glad I got to see her when she visited last week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABER!

John turns 31 today!! What a treat to celebrate his bday together, since he was deployed his last 2 birthdays.

Vistiors and some sightseeing!

My mom made a trip to WA b/c she was dying to see our new house! It was nice to have her around and wish she lived closer and could pop on over any day. It is especially hard to say good-bye to her this time and strange to know that the next time I see her she will be a grandma to my little girl!
Here are some pictures of us before we went out to dinner at the Star Bar.

A few short days after Mom left, Heather, Chris, Logan and Finn visited us to see a little bit of the Pacific Northwest.
We enjoyed spending time together and visiting The San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor) with them. We ended our trip in Seattle (Pike's Place Market) before they took off for their Alaskan Cruise!


When they left John and I spent the rest of the day in Seattle... and hit the Experience Music Project (EMP) and then met up w/ the whole Hilburn family for an early birthday dinner celebration! John will officially be old tomorrow (the 19th) when he turns 31!

Looking forward to our next visitors - Jen and then Lauren in Rod in a few weeks! :)

BIGGER AND BIGGER!!!!

OK, so here are some fully dressed pictures of me at the start of my 7th Month!
Wow!! I don't know that my stomach can stretch any more than it has!

Showered and so grateful!!

Just wanted to thank all of my friends and family that planned such an amazing Baby Shower for me! I had so much fun seeing everyone and being showered w/ so many cute baby items.
I will say that our little girl will be one of the best dressed girls in the state of Washington.
It's funny b/c John and I don't think we need to buy her another article of clothing for a whole year! ;) I'm sure we will anyway though! HA HA

Anyway... I feel so very lucky to have such a loving group of friends and can only hope the same for our little one too.
You all are the best. Here are some pictures from the day!

Babies Galore!

I guess I'm at that age now.... all my friends (like me) are popping out babies! It's just so exciting and I have post some pictures! My friend Carrie had a handsome baby boy, Ryan a couple of months ago that I FINALLY got to meet.

Then a beautiful baby girl, Kelan entered this world into the arms of Kerry and Sean. I can't believe that at 3 weeks she was able to sit through a 2 1/2 hour dinner with us - what an angel!

Next came Graysen Elizabeth... I am so sad that I haven't met Kitty and Jeff's southern belle yet.. but know that she will have pearls in her ears in no time. check out the Harper Blog link to the left to see pictures of the sweetheart, as I don't have any of my own to share yet :(
UPDATE - JUST ADDED GRAYSEN'S PICTURE!!

On top of all this exciting news...Heather just found out that she is expecting her 3rd!! I can't believe that we are actually having babies together w/in in months of each other! Stacie is due w/ her first (sex a mystery) 1 week before I'm due and Sally is having a boy (so they say) a month after me (although, her belly had not yet popped).
I WISH I WERE CLOSER TO ALL OF YOU MOMMY'S AND MOMMY'S TO BE!! LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU TONS!
oh, also had to post the latest of my adorable nephew, Liam - he is almost a year old!

Happy Birthday Elena!

Hope you are finding a special way to celebrate in OK!

Happy Birthday to Jack & Dad H!!!

Little baby Jack turns 1 today and Dad turns, well... we won't say.. but another year older tomorrow :) How wonderful it was to be able to celebrate all together last Saturday and J&D's house!
The celebration will continue when everyone heads to Anacortes this weekend for a "Hilburn Men Fishing Excursion"! John and Mom treated Dad & Jay to a charted fishing trip for their birthdays! (Sorry Jay I missed posting your bday on the blog in June) oops!
Anyway... let's hope they catch something so we can feast on salmon Saturday night... the last meal to be prepped in our kitchen before the renovations begin on Sunday.

Happy Birthday Kitty!!

Soooo sad that I'm not there to celebrate with you! Sucks being so far away from some of the best friends we've made... I can't imagine our time in JAX without you and jeff (and of course all the other jax five). The memories we made there will last a lifetime.. but I know there will be many more adventures w/ you, Jeff and Graysen very soon!
Happy Birthday!!

THANKS DAD!!!

So I really think I have the kindest dad in the world!
Dad came out and slaved away in the yard for a week with John... they worked 12-14 hour days doing their best to clean up the mess of a yard we had! It still doesn't look amazing.. but I will say that it honestly looks 100 times better than it did! I can't believe how overgrown it was... our neighbors said it was neglected for 7 years!
Here are a few shots... luckily we did get to enjoy showing my dad around a bit too... we took him to Deception Pass which is GORGEOUS and only 15 minutes away!
Come visit and we'll take you too!!