Baby update

So I went to the doctor yesterday for my 24-week appointment. The baby's heart rate was 153 bpm and everything is looking good. I'm still measuring ahead and the doctor was a little concerned about the baby being big (surprise, surprise). She said that once they have the call schedule done for November, I could probably schedule my c-section for the early part of the month...the sooner, the better! We should know the exact date next month. I'll also have another ultrasound at my next appointment to get a better estimate on size. I'm thinking if I deliver about a month early, I'll have a normal-sized baby!!!

Disneyland

On Friday, we completed our vacation with the grand finale...Disneyland!!! AJ was in awe of everything! As a fan of all the Disney movies, AJ couldn't believe that the characters really come to life! We first went on Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, then over to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (2 of his all-time favorite movies)! I think AJ really thinks that Nemo lives in the water there at Disney! Then we traveled up to Fantasyland and rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, and Peter Pan's Flight. These rides were more Mommy's speed, since I couldn't do the big roller coasters. Speaking of which, I don't think I know any other 2-year-old that loves roller coasters as much as AJ did!!! He luckily was about an inch above the 40-inch height requirement, so Andy took him on the Matterhorn to see how he would do. I've never seen a kid's face light up so much when he was done...he couldn't quit telling me about it!!! Then, from that point on, every time we asked AJ what he wanted to ride on, he said a roller coaster! So Andy took him on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad twice, the Matterhorn again, and he even rode Space Mountain! Crazy kid!!! It was a long day, as we got up around 6:30am, and didn't leave the park until after 9pm, but AJ was still going strong (despite not having a nap). On the five minute shuttle ride back to the hotel, the day caught up with AJ, and he konked out hard!!! It was so cute (with his Mickey Mouse ears and stuffed animal in hand). Andy had to carry him up to the hotel room, but as soon as we layed him in his bed, he perked up and kept saying how much fun he had and kept thanking us for taking him there (too cute). Overall, it was a great vacation!

Standing in line to enter Disneyland

Posing with Buzz Lightyear on the Astro Blasters ride

The submarine for the Finding Nemo Voyage

Looking out the porthole of the submarine

There's the diver that caught Nemo!!!

Driving Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Trying to get a decent picture in front of Cinderella's Castle (and not succeeding)

This one was a little better

Riding the carousel with Mommy

Playing in Mickey's orchestra fountain

No trip would be complete without meeting Mickey Mouse!!!

Riding the train around the park and looking ultra-cool

The Matterhorn

Andy and AJ riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Andy is in blue and AJ's little head is down next to him)

Here's video of Andy and AJ riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Looking down Main Street at night at Cinderella's Castle

All tuckered out

This was one fun vacation!!!

Scenic Drive

On Thursday, we decided to take a scenic drive up to Anaheim. The drive took us through the hills along the coast, which had some amazing views (not to mention, some amazing houses). We stopped at La Jolla to snap a few pictures before finishing the trek to LA. We realized we are glad we are not living in California, as the traffic was rediculous (the northbound traffic, which we were in, was fine, but there was a wreck in the southbound traffic that caused a standstill backup for 20 miles)!!! As we were driving down the road to our hotel, we realized we were staying about a mile from the Crystal Cathedral (the one that's always on tv for the Hour of Power). It was an amazing building!

AJ at the beach in La Jolla

La Jolla Cove

Enjoying some cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory

The Crystal Cathedral

Mission Beach and Sea World

On Wednesday, we went to Mission Beach in the morning. This was AJ's first time seeing the ocean. He absolutely loved it! Besides the beach being the world's largest sandbox, he loved the water. He kept running in and out of the water because he couldn't decide whether he wanted to be playing in the ocean or in the sand! Everytime he went in the water and a wave would hit him, he would squeal...it was so funny! We also went back to Sea World that night (got to love 2-day park pass for 1-day price)! We went and saw all the animals that we didn't have time to see on Monday (like the sting rays, flamingos, aquariums, etc). Anyone who knows AJ, knows that Finding Nemo is one of his favorite movies...he couldn't just call the animals by what they were. It was either Nemo or Dorie or Crush or Mr. Ray, etc., etc. Of course, we had to watch the nighttime Shamu show.

AJ and Daddy arriving at the beach

Taking a time out to pose for a picture with Mommy

AJ's favorite...building sand castles!

AJ's first ocean wave (he loved it!)

Video of AJ's first ocean experience

He actually layed down on the beach towel and said "Ahh. This is the life!"

By the looks of the backs of AJ's legs, I think we brought half the beach home with us!

Petting the sting rays at Sea World

Playing in the tide pool and petting a starfish

Feeding the flamingos

Shamu at night

San Diego Zoo

On Tuesday, we went to the San Diego Zoo. AJ was thrilled that we got to go on a tour of the zoo via a double-decker bus (of course, we had to ride on the top)! AJ's favorite animals were the elephants, giraffes, and panda bears. He also liked riding the Sky-Track across the zoo. The zoo was big, but with the sky-track, buses, and escalators, getting around was made simple.

Daddy and AJ getting ready for the tour on the double-decker bus

AJ actually wanted his picture taken by this waterfall

One of the panda bears enjoying the sun

Riding the big turtle

AJ loves petting zoos (too bad this goat was peeing the entire time AJ petted it)!!!

Mommy and AJ riding one of the escalators up the hill

AJ and Daddy on the Sky-Track

Mommy and AJ posing in front of one of the bushes

Sea World

On Monday, we went to Sea World. When we got there, it was overcast, but we put on sunscreen anyway. I must have had my head somewhere else, because I forgot to get my face and chest and when the sun came out, I got so burnt (I blame the pregnancy)!!! AJ absolutely loved all the animals, especially Shamu! They did a Shamu chant at the whale show, and AJ kept singing it the whole vacation. He also got to feed the sea lions some fish (although the pesky sea gulls kept trying to steal the fish away). They also had a Bay of Play with the Sesame Street characters. We got our picture taken with Bert and Ernie. AJ wouldn't quit hugging Ernie!!! There was also a 4-D Elmo movie that AJ loved! It was funny to watch him try and grab the objects that were coming out from the screen.

AJ and Mommy posing with the manitee

Feeding the sea lions some fish

Being silly before the Shamu show

Shamu doing one of her leaps and dives

Video of Shamu splashing the crowd

AJ watching Shamu at the underwater viewing area

Hugging Ernie

Nothing like a family picture with Sesame Street characters (might I add, this is a very un-flatterring picture...can you pick out Shamu???)

Nothing is more masculine than my 2 boys riding in a pink Elmo pig!!!

Vacation 2008

So, we haven't posted anything in a while because we've been on vacation. We went to San Diego and Disneyland and had a great time!!! The cool coastal breeze was a nice break from the desert heat. We visited Coronado Island, downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarters, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Mission Beach, La Jolla, and ended it all with "The Happiest Place on Earth"...Disneyland. I'm going to try to post retrospectively by what we did each day.

A view of downtown San Diego from Coronado Island

The family on vacation

The Coronado Bridge that connects San Diego with Coronado Island

A.J. couldn't resist taking off his sandals and getting his feet wet in the bay

He wore this stupid crown the whole day!!!