Updates

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm now about 20 weeks along and will be having my ultrasound on Wednesday! Don't worry, I'll let you all know whether it's a boy or a girl. London is consistent in signing "boy" whenever she's asked what it is, but I'm still not convinced. I am feeling definite baby movements these days, and wore an official maternity top to church yesterday, generating questions from the more senior ladies in the ward. We had a great weekend: Friday night we hosted some friends for dinner. Even though all of the recipes I made were guinea pigs, it came out very tasty! And we all know what happened Saturday at midnight...but I didn't get my copy of the new Harry Potter until Saturday morning, and immediately dived in! The sad thing is every time I pick it up, I'm either interrupted by London or by my sleepy eyes...the flesh is weak! I'm only on Chapter 3, but no rush...it is the last one after all. Tim worked all day Saturday, and then we picked up his dad from SFO who was in town for a work meeting. We ate dinner at the Cheesecake Facotry at Union Square, then drove over to Sausalito for some Lappert's ice cream. London stayed awake until after 9pm, and fought it till the very end! She had a great time with her grandpa John. Sunday we went to church, enjoyed another one of my home-cooked meals, attended Tim's boss's birthday party, took a drive down the coast, a walk to the park, and stayed up late into the night strategizing how to solve the education and immigration problems in our nation. Even working until after midnight, we didn't figure it out. And now a new week begins...

Pioneer Day Picnic

On Saturday our ward held a picnic in honor of Pioneer Day. London is starting to have some separation anxiety and wanted to be held for about the first hour we were there. Then she loosened up and had a great time watching the older kids slip 'n' slide (Tim coached them on how to get a running start so they could slide farther). She even got so friendly as to sit in her friend Jackson's lap! We're trying to teach her not to be fresh with boys...

London and Ella

Ella is one of London's best friends. We go walking together every week and London gets very excited to see her and usually greets her with a hug (that's what she's trying to do in this picture)! At our last playgroup they wore matching outfits from Gymboree, so we had to take a picture! Meagan (her mom) and I are hoping they'll be roommates at BYU.

Strollerobics and AquaMa

Since I quit working at the gym in January, I was concerned about how I would maintain my youthful figure. Joining a gym with childcare was just too expensive. Lucky for me, while browsing the City of San Mateo park and rec booklet, I discovered the hidden gem of Strollerobics! That's right all you fellow moms out there--you do aerobic dance routines with your baby in the stroller! And the kid doesn't even cost extra! So I signed up for Strollerobics on Fridays, and the same teacher does Power Stroll in the park on Wednesdays, so I signed up for that too. We meet with our babies at Central Park and power walk, run bleachers and sprints, do push-ups, etc. It is very fun and London gets to watch the squirrels and laugh at her mom. Last month San Mateo sponsored a city-wide exercise campaign and invited our class to perform at the kick-off. As a former cheerleader and BYU folk dancer, how could I pass up an opportunity to be on stage? I debated on whether or not to put the video on here, but couldn't figure out how. Too bad for you and the rest of those scoping youtube!



For the summer, my teacher is doing another seasonal class called Aqua Ma. In this one, you do water aerobics with your baby in a floatie. I'm a big fan of this teacher who, as a fifty-something woman has a great body and possibly more spunk than my sister-in-law, Jill, so I had to try it. Also, I read that babies should be introduced to the pool before 18 months to prevent pool phobia, and London was already starting to freak out in the bathtub, so I considered it my duty as her mother to get her acclamated to the community pool, pee and all. I even got my good friend Meagan and her daughter, Ella, to join us! So who would want to work out on the treadmill or stairmaster when you can have this much fun?

4th of July BBQ

Our good friends, the Beckers, hosted an awesome BBQ to celebrate Independence Day! They even got a blow-up pool for the backyard that all the kids enjoyed. We had a rubber ducky race, made friendship bracelets, and played in the "human elastics!" Of course there was tons of great food--so much that my two pans of Barefoot Contessa flag cake were hardly touched! Oh well...more leftovers for us! London had a great time in the pool, exept when Russell jumped in and made her cry. We didn't do fireworks that night--Tim had worked until 1am the past two nights, so he was tired. Instead, we rented "Breach" a movie about the worst traitor in US intelligence history. Looking back it wasn't the most patriotic movie, but at least he got caught!

Bride & Groom shots

These are photos I shot of Tim's little sis & fiance. I think if you double click the slideshow it will get larger.

Megan & Matt Engagement Pictures

I took engagement pictures for Tim's sis and her fiance on Saturday. Tim helped by coming up with some of the poses, holding up a white sheet for added light, and providing comedic relief! We started out at Kohl Mansion, only to get regulated by some nazi wedding planner: "There's a wedding going on right now inside! They are at the alter!" Apparently we were ruining the view, so we obligingly relocated out of site of the ceremony. Then my battery died, and we had to go home and recharge it and change locations. I'm such a rookie! At least we got some good pictures--how could they be that bad with a couple this good-looking? Megan & Matt then kindly put London to bed and babysat while Tim and I went to a community theater production of "The Woman in Black," a play I saw while I was in London. (I think that's the first time I've used her name and the city in the same sentence--kind of weird!) I'll be taking some bride & groom shoots tomorrow in the city--this time I'll be sure to charge my battery! If anyone wants to vote for their favorite photo, I'm sure the happy couple would appreciate help in narrowing it down...