Shakin and Quakin

We just had a fairly large, yet moderate earthquake here in Virginia.  It was a 5.9, and the epicenter was about 80 miles south of my house. 

I really didn't know what was going on, but headed to a doorway.  I don't think I ever made it there or if I did stayed there because I was distracted by pictures falling off shelves and the dogs barking (I'm watching my friends dog while they are on vacation).  The few minutes it lasted I tried calling Josh over and over to quickly find cell phones were not working.  I just wanted confirmation of what was happening, and someone to talk to about it!  I finally got him on our land line on his cell, where he told me he was evacuating his office building.

Then I turned to google-"DC Earthquake," nothing - then gchat, "um, was that just an earthquake" to all my open chats then more started popping up-are you ok?  I turned to facebook for confirmation, and my newsfeed was on fire.  Ok at least I know that it happened.  Texted my parents, and a few friends.  Turned on the news.  White House, Pentagon, The Hill all evacuated.  Ok, I felt better I know what it was and our house wasn't imploding-ha!

The news just reported that impromptu happy hours are breaking out all over DC, if only I could have a cocktail, it is a truly beautiful day to be sitting out on the waterfront in Georgetown...

Side note, the dogs are still very skiddish even though currently snoozing-the ice machine in the freezer just made a noise and they both started running around like crazy, I guess we are still on high alert over here!

Seattle

Earlier this summer Josh and I trekked out to the West Coast to for one of my college roommate's and good friend's wedding.

I hadn't been to Seattle, so we were originally planning to make a week and a half stint out of the trip, due to the demands of my then job, we cut it down to just a long weekend.  Little did we know, I would have resigned by the time we went out there.

I was super sick for most of the trip, so maybe it was a blessing that we just went for a short time.  Heading out I had grand plans of seeing all the sites, having dinner in the space needle, NONE of which happened-ha.  I have learned to be much more flexible, and that I don't call the shots anymore.

We did take a short stroll around the Public Market, I of course loved it.  

Amazing fresh flowers!

Josh liked the fish mongers tossing their orders around.

I realized early in the day I needed to cancel our reservation for dinner at the space needle, and we planned to do something a little more low key with for dinner with Josh's mom, who was in Seattle for a conference.  Low key is right because I "took a nap" and they just had appetizers in the concierge lounge at the hotel.  Josh brought me back a small plate, which was good because when I woke up from my "nap" at 11 pm, he was already asleep.

The next morning we headed out to wine country for all the festivities!

Football Season

Wow, I can't believe it's right around the corner.  What I really can't believe for the first time ever my life doesn't feel completely engrossed by it, cha-cha-cha-changes.

Of course we've made plans, we're going to a handful of games, but I need to get on the ball and coordinate all my outfits-ha!  I've been enjoying Copacetic in Carolina's Tailgating posts the past few weeks, but looking at her brunch recipes made me think of how good our tailgate breakfasts are.  Then, I realized we pull into the RV lot right after the gates open at 8 am, which means getting up at 6:30 to meet our group at Law School Publix by 7:00.  I don't know if I ready for this after all...

I do know we won't be making the trip to Florida until the Tennessee Game, and our seats for the 3:30 kick-off are a few rows off the field on the 50 yard line.  I've decided to help me cope with the Florida sunshine I'll be needing a big ole hat!  Since it is the Tennessee Game, I'll be sporting a blue dress.  I did want to get a cute orange a-symmetrical number, I just couldn't do orange for Tennessee.  So I'm recycling a dress from last season (Josh, you did just read that):

and I'm thinking this Marley Lilly hat with a blue monogram.

I've got a little more time to figure things out for Kentucky, LSU and FL GA.  Even though I'm helping to plan the DC Gators road trip to Kentucky, it's still 50/50 in my book.  If I can convince Josh that we need to take an extra day on the way to Lexington to stay at the Greenbriar, it may move higher on my priority list-ha!

To get into the spirit, I wanted to share this little number, also seen first at Copacetic in Carolina.  Of course they picked the TACKIEST Florida fans, but hey it is what it is. 

Bad Mommy

Apparently to be good parents, we needed to have put down a deposit to be on a waiting list for nursery schools back when we got engaged 3+ years ago.

The next available birthing class at our hospital is when I'm far into my 8th month, and I'm feeling like a failure already. I guess everything will be fresh in my mind, as long as I don't have the baby before my class is even over!

I feel like if we were back home in Florida, I would know all the right things to do, the exact school to enroll our children in, when to do it, where to go, etc, etc, but since Josh just turned down a job offer back in Tampa, that along with the 5 bedroom waterfront home I had already picked out will not be happening anytime soon.

Here, in Virginia, I don't even know what the good schools are, to even look at their missions, admission process, curriculum-yet alone get on the wait list.

Let's not even talk about what color we are going to paint the nursery, that another topic that makes me want to throw my hands up in the air and sigh.

At least I'm able to take my prenatal vitamins now (thanks to the sour gummy form I found them in).  Ahhhhhh

Babymoon

It's defined as a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby.

Wait you mean to tell me that after the two months of extreme sickness and fatigue I just overcame, I have countless sleepless nights ahead of me?  I need a vacation!

Our trip to Greece was supposed to "kick-off" our baby making voyage, but with the demands of my new job we had actually decided to postpone the baby making part of the voyage until this fall.  The joke was on us because, we had already made a baby!

So here I am getting to plan a second trip of a lifetime just a few months after returning from our last.  Thank you hard working husband (you're welcome for carrying your child). 

I posed the question on facebook last week:

and was surprised with the responses.  The overwhelming opinion was to head to Hawaii.  Points were made that I'd miss out on the Italian wine, but others countered to say the gelato makes up for it.  One of my friends was even lucky enough to go to both Hawaii and Italy while pregnant.  I have to say going into this I was leaning toward Italy, when we vacation we typically hit the perfect mix of seeing the sites, eating amazing food and relaxing.  But as I've learned in this past four months of pregnancy is that my perfect mix of activity vs leisure time varies greatly by week even by day.  So the though of lounging in the warm sun by the pool or ocean has become more appealing, especially with my most recent pregnancy development of Sciatic.  


Yes we will be planning this get away during football season.  Josh even went so far as to suggest we stay at the Ritz in New Orleans or Amelia Island the week before the LSU or FL GA games.  While we still plan to go to both games, I kind of feel been there done that, and with his newest airline status level we get to fly first class everywhere we go (no more hoping to be upgraded).  I feel personally responsible to take advantage of this "perk".  

Plus who can say no to this?

My top three Marriott Resorts in Hawaii

So where did you, are you or would you go on your babymoon?

Back to Work

via

In my younger days, I used to joke that Junior League was the full time job for stay at home mom's.  Oh little did I know...  I've always loved volunteering and now I sure am glad that I started getting involved with some different organizations around town instead of sitting on the sofa and veggin out every night with the hubs and our dog.

Now that I'm coming out of the first trimester coma I've been in.  I can have as many or as few of activities to fill my schedule that will work.   Granted, I have some catching up to do on some projects I couldn't get to these past few weeks.  But, I'm really looking forward to chairing a fantastic committee this year with JL and can't tell you how much I enjoy spending waaaay too much time gchatting with the VP of Membership that I advise about sorority recruitment-ha! 

Today I actually have things to do outside of the house, like help prepare the DC DAR Chapter House for the upcoming year in addition to going to my water walking class in the evening. 

OK-yes I did just sound like a 70-year-old there. 

Today is also thank-you note day and make next week's menu/grocery list day in my home management schedule.  Ahh what an adventurous life I lead, well at least I am getting to things that are seriously overdue.  I may actually mail a package to my mom that I've had in my car for a few months on errand day-wow!
 

Walking on Water

Well, walking in water.  In addition to climbing Mount Washmore, I also did a water walking class yesterday.  It was sooo fun!

A water park here in NOVA, closes it's Lazy River at 6:30 to the public for a water walking class.

We did stretches and exercises a la water aerobics and walked laps with and against the current.

One word.  Amazing!

My friend Chris told me about it and we went last night, it was sooo super fun.  We are sad we didn't know about it all summer, but will be making the most of it for the next three weeks.  I'm still getting used to all the pools closing Labor Day, here.  This FL girl is used to 365 days of pool time, but I'll be happy with what I've got!