oh, ooooh, we're half-way theeeerrree!!!

it's unbelievable.  i can not even wrap my head around it!  we're 20w,2d.... that's half-way, folks!!  here is a shot of our little greenbean at his/her 20w ultrasound yesterday:

baby green #2 at 20 weeks

i know with the holidays and my super-huge to-do list that this second half will fly by even faster.  it makes me want to get my butt in gear, but we're sick :(.  i've been battling a horrible cough - without medicine, so no sleeping! - since sunday.  jack is suffering with more of a runny nose, poor guy.  i'm hoping we're up and running by friday, we're going to Reno!  jack is off school this week, so at least i didn't plan much around-the-house-to-do-before-babe-stuff.  just playing and going on outings *which now include abandoned parks so i don't get the evil-eye from other parents*.

and 'cause i like to see the similarities, jack at 20 weeks:

baby green #1 at 20 weeks

i've come to the realization that all babies in-utero may look the same, however, jack looks exactly like this, so i'm thinking there has to be some individualization....right?

living room to-do list!

last week i was a little short on time, so i chose the shortest list to work on.  plus this list has a couple things i can't do (due to pregnancy and lack of know-how), so it seemed perfect!

living room to-do:
1. clean out dish cabinet
2. paper back of cabinet
3. clean out tv stand
4. wash couch covers
5. buy screens for doors
6. stain fingerprints on ceiling from construction
*these were off limits -- didn't get doors, nor can i install, don't want to be climbing ladders to stain.  these have been added to pete's to-do list :)


i cleaned out the dish cabinet/hutch thing removing dust (eek!) and taking out a few pieces.  here is the cabinet, picture also for 'before' of papering the inside:

plain-jane
i also noticed that there is a TON of space above.
need to think of something to go there!!

after many emails with les, we decided to paper the back with removable adhesive so i can change the colors -- i regularly change the towels in my kitchen with the season (or mood!) so we thought this was the wisest idea for the hutch as well.  i'm pretty pleased with the after and even more pleased i didn't do anything permanent!  it was an easy project with the impact i was looking for, though really the ability to change the paper will be awesome for me.

before and after vary in size, but
i wanted to show the paper detail!

i cleaned out the tv stand cabinet, but didn't put anything inside to replace the dvds.  i'm planning on using it for blanket and toy storage when our little greenbean arrives.  currently (bad mom), i don't have toy storage/baskets/etc. in our living areas (except the little kitchen).  i'm kind-of a 'we'll play in your room or bring out bins of toys and put them away before nap or bed' kind of mom.  is that bad?  i have one or two baskets for 'nonbelonging' items in between cleaning or pick-ups.  then i take that basket when i go to the bathroom or bed and put everything away.  

washing the couches required no before or after :).

because i am going to show you the amazingness that was my living room before we took possession of the house, i've included another view here:

we spent the most money and time remodeling this area of the house.  this side was 'sinking' into the groud as the fireplace was too heavy (and probably all the tile and junk, too) for the foundation.  this made the house 'unloanable'.  the buyer needed to pay cash and sign all sorts of papers and bids describing the damage and repair costs from companies all over the bay area.  the estimates were around $100, 000.  obvisously this scared a lot of buyers, but, with the help of my dad and his years upon years of construction experience, we were confident in our ability to make this home livable and pretty.  we got a construction loan and (with the help of these super high bids) borrowed enough to raise the roof house by digging pillars, pouring cement, and building a very cute porch.  we were also able to compelte the rest of the projects mentioned in previous and future posts.

gorgeous.

we hired a mason to resurface the lower part of the fireplace with salvaged bricks from buildings that were torn down.  the brick hearth was cut to the width of the fireplace, and we tore out all the shelving.  the dark wood ceiling was kept since we added so many doors to the room.  we covered the top portion of the fireplace with sheet rock and paster to lighten the place up and cover the remainder of the fireplace.  see, the house was so 'crooked' that the bricks slanted big time.  in fact, the whole floor was ridiculously slanted - it made this vertigo-haver sick to stand in the place!

left of the fireplace
you can kind-of see the crookedness at the bottom
that little window turned into a door to our porch

view to the right of our current hutch
we took these cabinets out too - kitchen at a later date!
this is now a walkway

'cause i know you love to look at creepy dolls, you are very welcome.  are you getting it?  let me know if you want more 'after' pics to get the entire feel.  i mean, i know you're dying to know all the ins and outs of my house, right?!?!?

joc's bach + downtown fairfield tomato festival

jocelyn is tying the knot in three weeks, so she had a saturday night bach to celebrate!

cowboy hat + veil
future mrs. martin tank

she has amazing friends and the night was so fun!  we met up for dinner/apps/drinks at her future hubby's sister's house, then they took a party bus to the saddle rack!  

becca and i followed in my car (i can't drink - obviously - and becca doesn't do mass transportation, especially involving alcohol!).  we had such a good time line dancing and normal dancing to an awesome country band.  it was a late night, but totally worth the headache i have this morning!  seriously, i feel really horrible considering i didn't have a sip of alcohol -- the other girls are feeling it pretty bad today :(.

there was a  mechanical bull!
abby kicking it up for the party

i'm just holding a beer, not drinking it :)

a classic joc dance move
all brides + birthday girls were invited on stage

i got home late, but had to make it out to the downtown fairfield tomato festival.  jack, gran, unc david, and i cruised the vendors.  we had fun, but didn't get any delicious snacks like last year....i didn't take any pictures either :(.  i had to include our little trip because i received an email this morning from baby center.  guess how big our baby is now?  about the size of an heirloom tomato!!

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. 

i should also report (for record keeping sake) that i've been feeling this little one move around since 161/2 weeks!  i'm 19 weeks along today, almost half-way there!!! 

marine world, just the two of us!

this is the last week marine world (six flags discovery kingdom - was marine world when i was growing up!) is open during the week.  i'm not really into braving the crowds on the weekends, so i decided jack and i should try a day at the park - just the two of us!

i was really worried because they have a lot of rides jack needs an adult to ride, but in my condition, i can't ride! luckily, we found a couple he was tall enough to ride alone and i scheduled our day to make it to three animal shows!  we were also able to see some animals we've missed in the past.  check out our last trip.

jack loved the alligators
{even though they never move!}

we spent some quality time with the butterflies - they were fluttering all about!  jack was in awe.  i kept feeling baby butterfly kicks from greenbean #2.  precious moments here.

admiring the butterflies
such amazement

butterflies fly all around you

we walked to the 'sea' portion of the park to go to the sea lion stadium and had to stop by and say hello to our friend 'bruce'.

a favorite - shark experience
a walk-thru aquarium

the sea lions are a fav (maybe tied with dolphins).  i love that they seem to love to perform and they make funny noises.  the show always has a fun story line with adult and kid jokes.  these sea lions passed out like charlie sheen, but also said 'aaargggg' like jake and the neverland pirates.  perfect combo!

entertaining jack while waiting for the sea lions

it was pirate themed!

after a quick train ride, we watch a walrus regurgitate and re-eat a fish (lost my appetite), then purchased this little souvenir.  it was only $1.  SOLD!  surprisingly, this theme park is really reasonable in the toy department!

jack likes his 'mustache'
and this was the best smile i could get -  stinker

next we headed to the children's rides where jack was tall enough to fly a helicopter!

all by himself :(

jack was excited to see bugs and tweety.  he just waved at bugs, but gave a full-on high five to the birdie!  guess size mattered here...

 i was totally ready to head home at this point, but we noticed that the dolphin show was starting in about 25 minutes.  i figured we were both tired enough to sit and wait.... we were until the cotton candy vendor came through, then jack got a little sugar-high!  fortunately the show started and the amazing dolphins captured his attention for 30 minutes.

loving the blue...proof all over face, hands, and my leggings...

magnificent dolphin jumps

jack clapped with his hands above his head when he really liked what he saw

all five in the air

these dolphins were on fire!  they were playing with each other for a bit before the show started and seemed to really enjoy showing off!  i tell myself they are happy here, it makes me less sad that they live by a roller coaster.  i mean, they may not even be alive in the wild -- the one on the far right is 21 years old!

i was able to sneak out of the park with jack not really noticing where we were going - i felt bad about not telling him, but sometimes it's better this way.  i knew we he was getting tired - the little man conked out not even 5 minutes into the ride home. 

it went well, i think i'll brave it again!  maybe even by myself with two little ones next summer :).

alameda antique fair finds!

i know my new entry design is super summery {in my defense, indian summers are our 'thing' with temperatures really kicking it into high gear end of august until early october [with no wind!] -- and sometimes into halloween}, but i just had to incorporate my alameda find: a super old window!  i picked up this goodie with no idea how to use it, but with so many ideas at the same time!

new entry set-up

from above with better view of find!

isn't the yellow fun!
it has a darker turquoise-y green on the edge and flip side

the placemats are from anna maria - i just LOVE them.  i'm figuring out a way to make my kitchen yellow and bright pink come springtime :)

and, in a previously seen post, the letter G and number 19 were dug out from a ginormous pile of letters, numbers, and symbols of all sizes!  my belly hurt from crouching so long looking for the perfect G, 1, and 9.  kristin got a W and an A -- we both wish we had picked up more!

i can't get over the monogram thing

as in our address

on another note, i am completely digging my gladiolus stems from trader joe's.  $1.99 and blooming perfectly!  they were the inspo for the impromptu decor today.

btw, those are the tissue poms frombecca's shower
the baby's room has housed all my crafts
it's time to use 'em or move 'em!

camping trip #4!

we are camping machines, seriously.  we have one more trip scheduled this summer.  it's nice to get all the kinks out and get a real system going so next summer will be easier (or we'll have to throw all of it out the window, who knows!?!) with our family of four.

we welcomed the giacobazzi's and willis family this trip.  it was my sister's first time camping, ever.  check out her post on her new blog HERE.  we had a great time exploring yet another beach and determining the best spot to try and reserve next year.  fashoda campgrounds, you are our fav!

we ate cantelope + cheesed for the camera

we took a family hike

we swam naked in the resevoir

some rolled in the sand

we took preggo pics 

and family pics

cheese

pete + pepper jumped off rocks

we warmed up in the sun
(see laura's post, we got sunburned, jack lectured us on the use of sunscreen)

we threw pepper a ton of sticks

and gazed out over the water
(kristin + autumn)

we sang songs around the campfire
a favorite?  itsy-bitsy spider!

the boys took turns building bigger + better fires

we slept with pepps + enjoyed it

we had fun in our tent

and enjoyed each other's company!

it was a great trip and hopefully the first of many with the giacobazzi's!!!!!!!!!!!