Our Day in Monterey

The Rindlisbachers were WAY overdue for a daytrip. It had been over a year since we had even left FRESNO for crying out loud. We used to get out at least once a month! So when some of Richard's old mission buddies wanted to meet up you better believe we jumped on the opportunity.

We were a little worried about how Carter would behave in the car for 2.5 hours but to our complete disbelief...he slept the ENTIRE way there! It was absolutely amazing. Coming back was a different story haha, but we will focus on the positive for this blog post.

Namely....the weather and the water. Ohhhhh my goodness it was glorious.

Richard's getting really good at snapping these cute shots.

 

Now family selfies are a different story haha...

Carter's first time at the ocean. The water was pretty cold but he took it like a champ!
He loved looking out into the ocean.

He was an absolute angel the entire day. We're convinced that he's just grumpy because it's majorly hot in Fresno. Sorry that Mommy and Daddy can't afford to live in Monterey little dude ;)

(Not pictured: The Ghiradelli ice cream that we all had after the fact. Let's be honest,

 I probably didn't get a picture because it was finished off so fast!)

Ivy, Issac & Brett haha :)

We went on the 17 mile drive and snuck onto the Pebble Beach golf course. We saw a bunch of whales from the shore! Best whale watching of my life.

And deer!

At "The Lone Cypress"

...Ivy and I still have no idea why it's a big deal lol

The boys

We finished off the day eating festival food and watching fireworks off the shore at the Feast of Lanterns. The fireworks shot off behind a palm tree that was conveniently right in front of us haha. It was still lots of fun!

I will leave you with this amazing video of Carter being irreverent on the golf course.
Please excuse my obnoxious voice and singing :)

Massive Photo Drop!

Sleeping babies are the absolute best

Me and the little mister after sleeping through the night!

More sleeping baby shots

First official play date!

4th Anniversary with my boo thang. Doing sealings at the Fresno temple

Stuffing ourselves with PF Changs

Bath time with mom!

Before all his hair fell out!

Push ups!

I don't know about this bow tie Mom...

Suns out guns out!

Always climbing up dad

And sucking on his hands

Pretty boy 

Finally liking his baby wrap!

Real life...I hate my car seat 

Duckface for the win

Hot husband

Photo bombs at the family photoshoot

Uncle Mikey

16 Weeks & Some Fair Photos

                                      

1) Weeks Pregnant/Size of baby?  16 weeks 1 day! Baby is the size of an avocado or 5 inches long (from head to bum, legs not included yet). I pulled out a ruler yesterday to better visualize and oh my gosh! So big!

2) Symptoms? I've been doing great! There was one day about a week and a half ago where my back was KILLING ME. I ended up taking a hot bath (suggestion by my wise husband) and fell asleep in my bathrobe. It was just one of those nights. I woke up still hurting a bit and decided to do focus on more back and shoulder weights at the gym and that helped tremendously. 

3) Sleep? Ha funny that you mention sleep....I stayed up til 2:30am last night working on a presentation for school (MKTG 188 is officially going to kill me) only to find out that I present THURSDAY, not today. Soooo cool. I've been sleeping fine though once I finally get the time.


4) Mood? Stressed from school but guess what...only 19 more days left of class....then I'm done FOREVER! I can't wait

5) Fitness? I've been terrible about doing anything. I blame it on my schedule. I know I could always wake up early before I go into work, like the good ol days...but refer back to #3 and you will understand why that doesn't happen.

6) Cravings? No current cravings. I'm just really hungry all the time now. I'll eat 2 big bowls of Cheerios, yogurt at work and still be starving come noon.

7) Maternity clothes? I bought maternity jeans! They are pretty amazing. They made their maiden voyage when Richard and I went to the Fresno Fair last Friday (yay for stretchy pants!). I have worn them twice since then and it's going to be hard going back to my regular jeans...I'm happy I'm finally showing though! Richard and I are not the only ones to notice anymore.

8) Movement? Nothing yet, could be any day now though!

9) Highlight/lowlight this week? Highlight was going to the fair, lowlight was my cray cray back pain. Here's my tangent for the post, fair pictures! (Sorry for the bad quality iPhone pics)

                  
          Adorable bunny and Warren Armstrong & Grrraciela Moreno in the flesh! I was freaking out.

                                    This was officially the coolest exhibit we've ever seen!

     

10) Looking forward to? Still super looking forward to feeling this little guy move :) I also have another appointment on the 23rd so I'll be able to hear his heartbeat and then I have my 20 week screening on November 6th so we'll be able to have another nice long ultrasound :)

How The Office, Pandora & Pinterest Have Soothed my Soul

Guess what Andy? Someone did write a song:



&&&



Lately I've been in such a weird mood. I have COUNTLESS things to be grateful for (don't we all?)


Yet it's been a struggle recently to not compare myself with everyone around me. Pictures of graduates, new houses and Mother's day posts full of babies flood my Facebook news feed. I catch myself thinking, gosh...when I get to that point, that is when life will really start.

Once I graduate, I will be able to work full time and have a steady salary, pay off school & afford a house.

Once I get a house, that is when I can finally buy those fun dinner party plates at Target & start a family.

 Once I start a family, that is when I can be a part of the Mom crowd at church & finally understand that special kind of "love" that everyone talks about.

Until then, whenever people ask me how I'm doing I will continue to respond with
"Oh you know, just work and school, work and school"

WRONG


You know what I did last week? I went to a marketing (my major) conference in CHICAGO! My first business trip! I also have my very own office (& I earned it without a degree thank you very much.)

I have an awesome little apartment and pay practically nothing for it.

Richard & I can go on a date at the drop of a hat. If we want ice cream...we go buy it. If we want to go see a movie...we go. Etc Etc. Once we start a family we know it won't be the same. It will be wonderful, of course...but a lot of that freedom and ease will be gone.

While it is good to have goals and move forward, life is not a race, it is a journey. One day I'm going to miss my job at Julia Vogue (not yet though...ha!)...I'm going to miss that chipped tile on the fireplace surround, our tiny couch, worrying about bills, and my 25 year old, pre-dad husband. It is time to enjoy the little things.

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days...before you've actually left them"
 These are the good old days for me and I'm going to enjoy them. Thank you wise Andy for the insight.