a surprise date for husband + 39 weeks

Last week, I took Chris on a surprise date and I somehow managed to not spoil it! I usually get so excited that I have a hard time waiting to keep things a surprise so I was proud of myself :) Chris is particular about seeing new animated movies on the big screen so he can see all of the details and Ninjago, the new lego movie, just came out. Since baby could come any day, I wanted to make sure he had the chance to see in the theater! It has been on Chris' watchlist for a while but I kept my fingers crossed that he hadn't been paying attention to the release date and that no one at work would mention it. Things worked in my favor and even after he figured out we were going to see a movie, he didn't know which one ;) Yay!

There were definitely funny parts and the animation was great, but it's not one I would watch over and over again. It was entertaining though to hear the parents and kids laugh at different parts and I liked that Jackie Chan was in it (yep, I'm a fan). Afterwards, we stopped by Five Guys for some of our favorite fries and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine on our bike ride home. My bike riding days are numbered but I'm going to hang in there as long as I can, even though I look ridiculous ;)

Dates with Chris this summer have felt special. I've always loved going out and spending time with him but this little date reminded me of how much can change in a year. Last year around this time, Chris left for Pixar for his first internship while I stayed to finish my last semester of college. Now that it's fall, I'm missing Utah's crisp weather and beautiful colors more than ever, but I wouldn't change a thing right now. Despite my efforts, it doesn't quite feel like fall here since I'm still wearing t-shirts and experiencing beach weather, but we are together. And that's all that matters. Those three months apart last year were hard but it has made being here together in California these past few months extra special. And now we're expecting our first baby any day! We made it to 39 weeks and my mom is coming to town in a few days so things are starting to feel much more real! Here's to hoping that our fall baby makes his/her appearance soon :)

 ^^just waiting for a mini cup of mayo for our fry sauce #notinutahanymore

^^This bike seat served me well this summer but I clearly need a new one.

Fall babies

I can't believe it's September already! With today's predicted temperature being 112 degrees and neither of us going back to school (first time since we were 4 years old!), our summer has not ended yet, but I'm ready to embrace fall. Fall is my favorite season anyway but I might be more excited than usual this year ;) Chris and I both have fall birthdays so I'm especially excited to have our own fall baby! 

The other night I sat on the floor while Chris laid his head on my lap, hand on my belly. Music from one of my favorite pandora stations was playing loudly. As the good songs kept playing, little baby rolled, kicked, and wiggled all around. Every time Chris felt movement, his eyes would light up and he would smile up at me. Feeling this baby grow inside me and move around has been so special. At first, it was really bizarre, then cool, then very special, and now borderline painful haha. It's hard to put into words and sometimes I wish I could just hand my belly over to Chris so he can experience it too. But since that's not going to happen anytime soon, it is special moments like these that I tuck deep inside and cherish (and get me excited for when this little baby is actually here!). 

I wonder what this little baby is going to look like every day. We both wanted to keep the gender a surprise so that adds an extra unknown element but somehow we've managed to stay strong and still not know :) We do have a feeling of whether this baby is a girl or a boy but we'll have to see if we're right! Either way, something tells me this little baby is set in the chub department. Look at that chin and those arm rolls! Chris and I were both chubby babies and we have high hopes for this baby's future squish ;) Overall, this pregnancy has been great and things are looking good. Other than waking up frequently at night, I really have no complaints! I'm measuring normal for 35 weeks and I've gained about 15 pounds. I'm feeling a little large but I'm still able to ride my bike and walk comfortably, so that's helping me stay active even though I probably look ridiculous ;). 

With about a month left, things are starting to feel a bit more real. The little baby clothes are waiting to be washed and folded, we're still looking for the stroller, and we're mostly set on names. I've started gathering recipes for freezer meals and our moms have started planning their trips down to visit and help out. We're halfway through our childbirth education class and I've finished the books I wanted to read. So now we just need to wrap a few things up and wait patiently :) We're so excited to meet you Baby! 

Happy Friday and hope everyone has a great three day weekend!