The Mekhail Family

I've Moved!

2010-06-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

You can follow me HERE!

A Nautical Birthday BBQ.

2010-06-11T13:31:00.001-07:00

My Loves.

2010-05-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Being An Aunt.

2010-05-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Oh you guys! I'm a real. live. aunt. My sister Engy {more like sister in law, but they're sisters to me!}...anywho! Back to my bragging! My sister Engy had her baby girl last Thursday! She named her lil' sweet pea Ireland Grace and weighed 7lbs. 70z and was 20 inches long {which is pretty much what Saxyn was too!}. It was THE CRAZIEST birth story so if you happen to know her, ask her about it! Some quick highlights? Okay! I'll tell you!

She was 2 weeks early!
She had miss ireland on her daddy's birthday at 11:25pm...barely made it! Best present he ever got! :)
Her water broke at home and had the baby within the hour and within 10 minutes of being at the hospital!
Proud parents and sweet baby girl are all healthy, happy and at home!

Congratulations Sister! I love my niece so incredibly much I could cry! Thank you for making me an auntie and I can't wait to spoil her rotten! :)

Saxyn's First Photoshoot.

2010-04-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorites!

Random.

2010-04-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yes. I'm still alive. Barely. Here's a bullet point outline of things going on around here:

Saxyn:

Cute as a button.
Going on 3 weeks old Tuesday! Wow!
On her 2 week check up she had gained over a pound, weighing in at 8lbs. 5 oz. Good golly miss molly, she's putting on some weight.
She's having lots of troubles digesting her food. The doc switched up her formula {insert all you breastfeeding fanatics dropped jaws here} and it's helped a little, but we're still working on it. It's actually a whole new world for us cause Kingston didn't have any troubles, nor did he spit up...once. Saxyn, however, spits up constantly...projectile vomits...fusses...squirms...cries...hiccups...you name it. Feedings can be an all out disaster sometimes. Makes me sad.
Was forgotten in the car yesterday. We all piled out to get some ice cream and suddenly heard Anne yell in front of everyone, "Wait! Where's the baby?!?!" So George did the walk of shame back to the car to get her and as he walked back up to the ice cream shop one of the bystanders intruded with, "You forget somethin'?" Yup. Sorry.

Kingston:

Kingston is becoming a little punk slowly but surely {we still love him to death though}.
Needs a slight haircut.
Loves on his baby sister so much it makes us smile.
Threw the word "mommy" out the window and has succumbed to called me "D!" Hm. Figuring out how to fix that one.
FINALLY advanced in swim lessons. Sheesh. He was held back in his last class 3 times, but just started his new class last Wednesday with George. It's been nice for them to get to do something together.
Loves to pray. All the time. He asks to pray probably about 3 or 4 times while we're eating. He has the whole "hold our hands, heads bowed" down pat.
Likes for me to kiss his "boo-boo's" and I'm happy to.

George:

Love of my life.
His time home has come to an end {tear...sniff...}. He officially goes back to work tomorrow morning and then I'm on my own. I'm nervous, but mostly sad. His time home was a God-send, not just to have his help with the kids, but for our marriage. We've gotten so close and am so thankful for our 3 weeks together. I cried yesterday cause I don't want him to leave and I'll probably cry tonight.
Super-husband.

Danielle:

Getting used to being a mommy of two and a wife {still}.
Currently listening to Saxyn cry and watching Kingston out of the corner of my eye taking my dirty laundry from my closet to who knows where so I can accomplish a blog post.
Having the baby wasn't enough, I got a horrid pinch in my lower, left-hand side of my back about a week and half ago. Couldn't even walk. Can still barely walk. George carried me to the dr. last Friday and now anti-inflammatories are in order along with physical therapy twice a week for 6 weeks. Riiiight. And when do you think I have the time and energy for THAT with a newborn and toddler?
I'm getting excited for Spring and Summer weather and spending more time outside with my kids!
I'll be an aunt in about 4 weeks and can't wait to meet my niece Ireland!

Lots of things to find to complain about, but lots of blessings that trump the negatives and so much to look forward to in the next couple months!

One {Weak}.

2010-04-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

Miss Saxyn is a week old today. Time is already flying by. This morning we had her newborn shots done and I'm hoping they turned out really good. The whole family woke up super late this morning so it was a rush to get ready, pick out outfits, etc. So I wasn't totally with it this morning and it's hard to gauge what we even did.

Kingston's very touch and go these days. He is SUPER sweet with his baby sister. He loves to hold her...wants to hold her hands and pray with her...always wants to help with feeding...However, sometimes I feel he's giving me the cold shoulder. He has become really cranky and whiney. He acts out a lot and has gotten a strong attachment to George. My poor husband can't even go to the restroom without a tantrum breaking out.

Speaking of George. He's amazing. I'm so grateful that he took off so much work to be with me and our family. He has picked up so much slack at home. He takes care of me...he takes care of Kingston and of course helps out with Saxyn so much too! Amidst all that, still makes a little time for work as much as he can and for things to be done around the home. Such a trooper.

Saxyn is your typical newborn :) She has her days and nights mixed, but hopefully that will be changing soon! Her eating is out of this world! She is the complete opposite of Kingston and eats A TON! She'll definitely be my chunky baby and can't wait to see it.

I'm hanging in there. Not sure where I would be if I didn't have the help of George right now and our families. I'm resting and sleeping as much as I can. Even though I feel like the labor and delivery was a lot faster and easier than it was with Kingston, I feel like the recuperating is rougher. I haven't felt really all that well the past week. Mainly, weak. My whole body just aches and aches with other post-partum issues to deal with {to remain nameless for the sake of disclosing too much}. :) I'm either too drugged up to know what's going on or in utter pain that I want to crawl under a rock and die. I get a little baby blues here and there too. I had a minor incident involving a dark onesie, which got mixed in with my sweet baby girl's whites in the wash. Everything turned purplish-pink. Devastation set in like none other and I bawled for a good 5 minutes.

All in all though we're doing well. Kingston and Saxyn are just two sweet children needing cuddles from their mommy and their mommy is just a wife needing cuddles from her husband.

Look-A-Like.

2010-04-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

I found this baby photo of myself at my mom's house the other day and she scanned it for me...I'm pretty sure it looks like Kingston with blonde hair and blue eyes. The best feeling is knowing you look like your child. Saxyn on the other hand...we're still trying to figure her out. She's still pretty young to tell who she's gonna model.

Saxyn's {Birth}day.

2010-04-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

My long awaited induction finally arrived. Most people thought this little one would come on her own, but I know my children, they need a little help. Monday the 29th was the longest day ever too. All I could think about was having my baby. I was really nervous. REALLY nervous. I preoccupied my time as much as I could.

The late evening soon rolled around and we arrived at the hospital about midnight. Walked right in...immediately got settled...did the necessary paperwork and began my IV. Ohhh, my IV. Bless my {first} nurse's heart. She was so cute and sweet, but perhaps a tad new to the labor and delivery? Just perhaps. She poked me about 3 times and kept "losing" my vein and had to call in an IV specialist to finish the job. Yikes. That really hurt. But didn't have time to really complain. It was around 1/1:30am and the pitocin and fluids have started.

Everything started off slow, but by 4:00am I was done-zo. So done I couldn't even tell you. Labor hurt like hell. Oh but Mr. Anesthesiologist is in a c-section and will be another 45 minutes. You're kidding. Another yikes. Welllllll okay, here we go. Just breathe, right? Riiiiight. I wanted to die. I'm still only maybe 3 cm. and hating life. And now, come to find out, my newbie nurse sliced her finger open and had to go to the ER for stitches. Of course.

And in comes my {second} nurse. Whoa, look out! She blew in like a tornado and rearranged the whole room and got me setup with about 15 pillows {she actually stole pillows from other peoples rooms} in a matter of minutes and was absolutely amazing. Oh good! Great news! Anesthesiologist is here! He was in and out in about 10 minutes and did a wonderful job...kinda. I got some relief but soon found out my epidural mainly numbed up my right side and left my left side hangin'. Ouch. Literally. I tried to get some sleep but that didn't work. I was drugged up and felt nauseous.

Upon 7am I was re-checked: 4cm. Great. Aren't we moving along a tad bit slow. Sheesh. BUT...I had my final nurse change and my lovely Nicole {whom I requested at the beginning of this whole thing...she was with me during Kingston's birth and goes to my church too so I was dying to have her again with me on this delivery} was finally here. She followed up with my Dr. who was on his way in to check in on me. So sweet of him. By 7:30am though I was not feeling the greatest. My pain was increasing on my left side and I threw up a couple times. Nicole decided to check me again and realized my sweet baby girl was about an inch away of coming out. Super yikes! She left the room to inform my Dr. that I was indeed ready to deliver asap. However, even though he was on his way he was still about a half hour out. So, of course, knowing I needed him there I laid on my side with my legs shut to keep this baby in. :) We were all trying to pass time.

It was a little past 8am and I couldn't hold it any longer. Nicole said, "Oh, maybe we'll just do a 'practice' push." Ha. She was putting gloves on right as I rolled over onto my back and not even a second later lil' miss saxyn started sliding on out. My mom is hovered over in the corner and points, saying, "Uh, the head is coming right out." I wasn't even pushing yet. My nurse quickly shoved her other glove on, yelled out the door for a 2nd nurse and ran over just in time to catch my baby. It took a matter of about 10 seconds for saxyn to come into the world and right as George was cutting the cord my Dr. walked in just in time to catch my placenta. Lovely. I think he was pretty bummed he missed the whole thing. As was I. And every single one of us are still shocked that everything went so incredibly fast. My daughter is finally here though. She is healthy...happy...sleepy...and hungry! She already eats way more than Kingston. Maybe I'll have a chubby baby this time around! We have her newborn photo shoot next week and I'll try to get photos of my own up as soon as I can! Life with two kiddos under the age of two is busy!

Showering Me With Love.

2010-03-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

Beautiful flowers.

Personalized Picnic Lunch.

Adorable Table.

Sisters Having Baby Girls! {Engy is due middle of May!}

BFF and Her Sweet Daughter Nora. LOVE HER.

Thoughtful Hosts. Thanks Girls!

~And THANK YOU to all my friends and family for coming! I got spoiled with alot of great things and cute outfits for Miss Saxyn.~

Update.

2010-03-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Well blog readers...I'm still pregnant...George is still hard at work...Kingston is still a toddler. Team Mekhail is in that dreadful holding period...baby watching. I'm 38 weeks and as of this morning...still counting down. Not much progress has been made. My latest check up was this morning and I'm 1 cm. dilated, 50% effaced and about a -1 on the "Where's the baby's head?" scale. All the same stats as I was last Tuesday. Boo. These stats, along with good blood pressure, good fluids and baby movement, don't exactly help plead my case on getting this baby out so I had to think fast. The only things I could come up with are: horrid back pain, leg cramping, excruciating groin pain and abdominal pain. My back feels like it's breaking in half and every time George even tries to massage it, it feels bruised. My reflux is getting annoying and I feel like I'm just carrying around a 40 pound sack of potatoes. Doc didn't buy it. He proceeded to tell me he LEGALLY couldn't even do anything until 39 weeks and he himself wouldn't do anything until I'm 40, which brings us to March 30th...my due date. Lovely. And please don't say, "Oh that's only 2 weeks away!" I won't even spend the energy to respond to that one. I will roll my eyes and assume you've never been pregnant. So March 30th. Here's the thing about March 30th...what if...just what if...I have my child on April 1st?!?! An April Fool's baby? I don't think so. So I politely, but firmly said I didn't want to deliver on the 1st, to which he replied he will be skipping town the morning of the 1st to go to Great Wolf Lodge anyways AND if you're just now joining us? My doctor being out of town while I deliver? Not an option. Plain and simple. And because my doctor is amazing, he said he wouldn't let me go late and I'm signed up to go in late March 29th to be induced if baby girl doesn't come on her own. THANK THE LORD. And by late? I mean, literally...11:30pm. Which is fine by me cause I also really want my child born on a even number so it gives me a full 24 hrs to get my sweet girl out on the 30th. You see where my priorities really are? :) Sounds like a good plan, right? I wonder how it's all really gonna go...my luck, my water will break in an hour and I'll have a St. Patrick's Day baby. Ooft. All in God's timing I suppose. Sigh.

Preg{Show}.

2010-03-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: You'll need to turn off my blog music to hear the slideshow music, otherwise you'll get Casting Crowns meets Joshua Radin...it's not pretty.

{Sneak Peak}.

2010-03-08T14:52:00.001-08:00

Missing Someone.

2010-02-16T13:43:00.001-08:00

I sadly lost one of my good friends yesterday to a tragic, sudden brain aneurysm. Rose & I were best friends in high school and after splitting ways after graduation we still managed to keep in touch very often and find ways to even see each other. She lived in Florida with her husband Justin and when she would fly back home to Oregon, I would make it a point to drive down to see her when I could. We swapped emails OFTEN and she would even send me things in the mail just out of the goodness of her sweet heart.

This was our last photo taken together in 2008, just 3 months after I had Kingston. We were supposed to see each other this summer. She was going to meet my baby girl. I was going to meet her hubby. We were going to catch up. We were going to laugh as usual and at the end we were going to say, "See you soon!"

It's a different feeling now: missing a friend who lives across the country and now missing a friend who lives with our God. I'm heart broken and a little jealous all at the same time...I think more heart broken. Why not me? Why her? I don't understand. I JUST talked to her. I'm sad. I'm sad for me...for Justin...for her parents...for her sister. A part of me is even sad for Rose thinking she's missing out on what could have been. Chances are though she's having the time of her life and I'm the one in fact, missing out.

Life is fragile. You just never know what's going to happen.

I Think I Need A {Vent}ilator.

2010-02-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

33 weeks and counting and today couldn't have been a worse day to start the week off. And right as I just wrote that, someone just rang the doorbell to my home that has a sweet little sign above it that says, "Please, do not ring doorbell, Thank You!". And I thought it was just FedEx that couldn't read.

And speaking of people who can't read: Walgreen's is NOT the pharmacy you can trust. They need a new slogan. I called in a prescription refill this morning to be picked up at 3pm. They call me at 2pm with their lame automated voice recorder telling me it's delayed. CRAP! I totally forgot to tell them we switched insurance. I proceed to call them back and tell them and ask if I can give them my info over the phone or if they need me to come in with my card. After pushing 1 for the pharmacy department and 0 to speak with a pharmacist, clueless Sr. Certified Pharmacy Tech. #1 gets on the line. I tell him the issue and ask my question. He tells me I need to hold on while he accesses my file first. THEN says, "Oh, it looks like the issue is your insurance denied your request for a refill." Why yes Mr. Pharmacy man that is what I just told you so thank you for repeating the obvious. THEN says, "We will need to see your new insurance." Why yes Mr. Pharmacy man I also stated that as well. THEN he says, "So all you need to do is just bring your card with you and then we can get the new information in." Yeah, ok, thanks.

Now I'm at Walgreens and clueless Sr. Certified Pharmacy Tech. #2 proceeds to "help" me. I tell her the issue and she asks to see my card. She hands it right back and says my card is only for medical and not prescriptions and to let her know when I have it figured out and walks away! Wtf. Figured out? So I call George. He tells me all the info is on the back of the card, which it is. I understand why I wouldn't know, but homegirl is supposed to be a Sr. Certified Pharmacy Tech. Can't she read insurance cards correctly? So now I wait for her to come back. She comes back. I tell her where the info is and she's like, oh. Yeah...oh. THEN {as she's holding and looking at the card} says, "So, are you the primary cardholder?" Um, no. That would be my husband. THEN she says, "Oh, what's his name?" Really Mrs. Pharmacy woman? It says RIGHT on the card, primary cardholder: George Mekhail and dependants: Danielle Mekhail.

This vaguely reminds me of when George is looking for something in the fridge and says it's not there. Oh it's there. You're just not looking hard enough. The 'ole open the fridge door, do a quick scan of the elements without attempting to look over or behind things is getting a little old.

Think people. Look a little. Perhaps, read a little.

Dear Walgreens,

Please higher your standards when hiring.

Cordially Yours,

One angry pregnant lady who almost skipped a 2nd dose of Prenatal Vitamins cause you couldn't get your shit together.

{can I swear on this blog? I think so. I mean, it's my blog and Kingston can't read yet so I'll unleash some unmotherly vocabulary on here just this once.}

Hormones, hormones, hormones! I'm constantly annoyed and so DONE. I literally bawled to my dr. for about a half hour at the end of today going on and on with my pregnancy woes. Yes. Woe is me. I won't divulge my fellow blog readers of all my mental...emotional...and physical issues, but I tried so desperately to convince the doc the baby was ok to come out at 33 weeks. I had as much luck as Martin Short. I have til' 37 weeks and I get a re-evaluation of my "current state" and may make a case for me on delivering early. Pray I make it through.

Rock-A-Bye Baby.

2010-01-23T19:44:00.001-08:00

Here's a peek into our baby girl's nursery! Don't mind the random blue chair and the framed photo of Kingston when he was a baby...it's all I had :) Enjoy!

The Homestretch.

2010-01-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

30 weeks and counting. Hopefully only 10 more weeks to go until we get to meet our baby girl. I'm really wanting a March baby and of course MY due date is March 30th. It just had to be one day shy of the end of the month. It just had to be.

Life is already getting difficult. I can't imagine having two kiddos under the age of 2. My braxton hicks are out of control. My sciatic pain is often dibilitating. I'm an insomniac. And homegirl moves entirely way too much that someone needs to tell her the floor routine is two years too early. It's the winter olympics this year, not the summer olympics. You see...the thing is...Kingston NEVER moved. I was in and out of the hospital doing stress tests because of lack of movement so to have so much kicking, flailing, twisting, turning and spasming was enough for me to think she was having some sort of conniption.

I had one of my many check-ups last Friday and boy was it a doozy. I went in gun's blazing. The morning consisted of my glucose test. Boo. Then I had my regular OB appointment in the afternoon where I oh-so-kindly let my doc know I had reason to believe my baby girl had 5 legs, 2 toes, 1 eye and a cleft lip perhaps. I needed to see her asap. Good thing my doc loves me. He overlooks my craziness and obliges to my request of an ultrasound. Phew! Don't worry, she has two eyes and her lips look great! Then he said I could have another extensive ultrasound on the 29th to do measurements and such. I feel much better about the situation and received even better news when my glucose results came back that afternoon! PASS! I don't think I ever craved dessert as much as I did in that moment in time. It's possible I may have overdid my binge on Jelly Belly's too, but that's ok. It was a celebration.

We're ready. Can't wait.

*P.S. I will post nursery photos up soon when we have finished the big stuff. I haven't even gotten the crib situated yet.

*P.P.S. I realize I'm really behind in even posting photos of our new home {I'm hearin' you Jen!} those will come eventually. We are all moved in, but there are SO MANY projects and visions I have for our home that have been put on hold until after the baby and I'm a stickler for taking photos of unfinished work. :)

For Women Only.

2010-01-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

Ever read it? I strongly believe every woman {especially married women} in this world needs to read For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. If you let it, it will change your life. In a nutshell it's "what you need to know about the inner lives of men" and it doesn't come across very softly. A lot of the surveys, studies and information provided is shocking and harsh, specifically when it comes to the common stereotype that "men are visual". {If any of you have been on Facebook lately, you may see where this is going...}. Recently, I have personally been shocked on how many women fall short in working to support and protect our men against visual temptations, me being one of them. I fall short all time and not afraid to say that I'm proud of myself when I actually do stand up for my beliefs and stand to protect my husband and disappointed when I get torn down by others because I do so.

FACT: Man was created by God. And, FACT: Our men {young, old, single, married, Christian and Non-Christian} are wired to carry around a mental rolodex of images...stored...sensual...available at anytime...lurking around waiting to make their appearance. 87% of our men actually. For some it's just annoying and they have to work hard to block them out and for others it can cause them to stumble. Especially as our young men grow up and grow into their 20's, 30's and 40's anything can trigger it. As blatant as a Victoria's Secret television commercial or as simple as an attractive colleague dressed in a business suit. It doesn't matter. Our culture is a minefield. It wouldn't be fair to say it's not a big deal or if it trigger's sensual thoughts in our men then there must be a deeper issue. I strongly believe those stances are really naive. It's true, not ALL men have a deep rooted struggle, but why even go as far as tempting them even if you think they won't fall into temptation and sin?

I'm a woman who isn't at all visual. I don't get it half of the time and I don't realize some of the things I say or do. A couple things I do know {as a wife especially} after reading this book is I have a duty to pray hard for my husband cause ultimately only the Lord can lead and guide our men...to continue to educate myself and be proactive so I don't become naive and transparent to what is ACTUALLY going on...to support and protect my husband...I need to be on his side, not against it. Why would I want to do something that would tempt him or others? And most importantly "Champion modesty" in myself. Just because one man isn't struggling, doesn't mean another isn't. Married women are called to respect our husbands, but I find it hard to believe our God wouldn't want all women to champion with all of our men to help them continue in honoring their God. I pray with all my heart that everyday when George walks into our home he can say he honored me with all his heart, mind and soul and soon when he stands before his God he can say he honored his wife. I hope this for every man.

You can't stop everything and can't control what others do, but you can listen to your heart and work hard to do your part. It's a good book. Promise.

Aloha!

2010-01-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

Um, anyone else amazed it's 2010? I hope everyone survived the holidays! We barely did...and we were definitely in bed before midnight on New Year's Eve. Besides being pregnant tired, I had to wake up early to catch a morning flight to Honolulu with Anne. Oh yeah...I shipped off to Hawaii...Kingston shipped off to the Grandma's and George was left with the house to himself for a week. I just arrived back last Friday evening and let me tell you: It's been a whirlwind trying to get back into the swing of things. It's so hard to go from doing nothing all day or thinking about nothing to bedtimes, bathtimes, timeouts and WHINING. George also had to leave last night to spend a week down in Tacoma teaching a class for work so I went from a week of "singleness" to a single mom. Oofta. I may need another vacation come Friday. Here's some photos from the trip!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T13:07:00.000-08:00

...and A Happy New Year!

Team Mekhail hopes everyone had a very happy holiday with their friends and families this 2009. Did you take lots of photos? Cause we sure didn't...

That's ok. This year? Kingston still had no clue what was going on so he didn't open a single gift and still hasn't even noticed he has some new things around. However, he thoroughly enjoyed his Radio Flyer wagon rides around Grandma and Grandpa's the other day. He's such a sweet bear. I love him.

I'm secretly {ok ok clearly not secretly} over Christmas. I'm glad it's done. I actually started packing up decorations a little by little over the past couple weeks. Time to move on. I gotta baby girl comin'!

Twas The Night Before Christmas

2009-12-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

...when all through the house...not a creature was stirring...not even a mouse...cause they were ALL at Eastlake Church rockin' out in celebration of this Christmas holiday! Stop by at 4:00pm-5:30pm-7:00pm!

What Child Is This?

2009-12-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

Friday December 18, 2009 2:50-3:00pm: Santa Appointment. Utter failure. Mr. & Mrs. Mekhail poorly planned the days events and our poor bubs was dragged all over town to accomplish a heep of errands. Here's the Mekhail's recipe for Disaster:

Please combine all ingredients in small mixing bowl and mix together for 7 hours:

~Blueberry waffles

~In carseat-Out carseat

~In stroller

~Nordstrom

~Out stroller

~Refusal of lunch

~Refusal of stoller

~Pottery Barn

~Pottery Barn Kids

~Game Stop

~In carseat

~Will Call

~Pit stop at home to pick up new outfit

~Out carseat

~Quick diaper change in back of Tahoe

~Quick outfit change in back of Tahoe

~Run to Santa's Workshop

~Quick do-of-hair

~Shove into Santa's Workshop

~Smile! {errr, Scream!}

Bad news: we don't get our classic picture of Kingston screaming as he's running AWAY from Santa until 7-10 days. Good news: he was happy as a clam right as we let him run around outside to chase the ducks and chickens. Here's my mini photoshoot:

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

2009-12-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

Christmas? Yeah Right. Kingston FINALLY fits into crewcuts! It's amazing...it's beautiful...it's everything I imagined. I've had my eye on these lil' toddler clothes since they were designed. I have secretly gone to every doctor appointment anxiously awaiting for the words, "He's currently 33-36" and weighs 27 1/2-30 1/2lbs." The perfect size 2. My heart sank at his 18 month appt the other day when he weighed in at only 21lbs. The little poopsie is literally a little poopsie. BUT he was about 35" tall and well? If you fit in one category, you fit! I tried to buy the entire store. I gleefully arrived at the cash counter with all the looks that I love and heard a voice in the back of my head {George, not mine silly!} telling me the whole store was unneccessary {at this time of course}. So I walked away with one outfit. One glorious outfit.

This Gets Me Through My Day...Sometimes...

2009-12-16T13:18:00.000-08:00

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing and butter the bread,

Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(Pat-a-cake, darling and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

{Song For A Fifth Child by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton}

Especially being pregnant and then thinking about having two little ones under the age of 2...it's nice to think to yourself you don't have to have it together. I'm a mommy.

Why Hello 3rd Trimester!

2009-12-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

{Shocking!} I know it. Oh, don't I know it. I was attempting to fall asleep in my not-so-comfortable bed {well, comfortable when I'm not pregnant, but somehow everytime I have a baby Mekhail brewing inside of me I'm CONVINCED we need to sell it on Craig's List and invest in a Tempur-pedic} when I realized, "Holy moly guacamole! I'm 25 weeks pregnant!" {Guacamole sorta sounds good right now...} and then realized the easiest solution for now was swap my pillow with George's pillow while he was in the bathroom. It's helped a little. A little. George didn't even really notice until I said something 2 days later THEN he actually started bargaining for his pillow back. Really George? You're trying to bargain with your pregnant wife? He should be grateful I give him a few feet of the side of the bed since I hear some wives actually kick their husbands out totally. Time is flying by though and I know it will continue to fly by. I have THE busiest next 3 months. I'm not ready. I'm just not ready.

We The People Of The Mekhail Family...

2009-12-09T11:57:00.001-08:00

A long time ago {about a year and half} in a far away land {Kirkland} I came up with this brilliant {not so original though} idea: Let's establish a family consitution. George was immediately on board. It's finally finished. Phew. I was pregnant with Kingston and really REALLY wanted to make sure that George & I were on the same page of what we stood for as a family and be able to teach it to our children as they grow. We worked for quite some time researching what it meant to have a constitution, examining others and began building a list of things we wanted to include in ours. Then baby came and it all got put on hiatus for a bit. Just a couple months ago, through the help of others, we pieced it all together and my AMAZING sister-in-law Samar turned it into a beautiful 16x20 masterpiece and got it printed onto canvas. It now hangs in our home to remind us each day why we are here and to help us grow a little more each day as a person and in Christ. I also hope that others who love to welcome us with their presence in our home know exactly what we stand for as a family as well.

Good {Tie}-dings I Bring!

2009-12-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Love, love, love, LOVE this idea! What a great gift for your papa, hubby, boyf or bro! And of course, leave it to Martha to discovering it. She has this posted as a great Father's Day gift, but you could surely use it for Christmas as well! Use your handsome male's old neck- or bow- ties as a garnish {OR} use it as a great way to give a new one! I always like to see my man properly dressed. So hot.

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree!

2009-12-04T13:22:00.001-08:00

Last night George & I hosted his Wells Fargo company holiday party. Of course, in the 2 week time frame, he hired PREP to design and coordinate the project. It's been a super busy couple of weeks, but it turned out great! When I get our photos back I'll post them up, but here's a teeny tiny sneak peek:

And you thought you would get away without seeing Mr. & Mrs. Mekhail at their finest?

We hope everyone enjoys their very busy holiday season full of festivites!

Oh Tannenbaum!

2009-12-04T12:54:00.001-08:00

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

2009-11-27T21:13:00.000-08:00

Moving on from one holiday to the next...it's my favorite time of year! It's also a Mekhail Family tradition to go to Snowflake Lane in downtown Bellevue the day after Thanksgiving. It's such a fun show and parade of Christmas characters and drummers for the kids to enjoy. AND since it's opening night, it's the only night Santa arrives on his sleigh! Kingston had the time of his life and thoroughly enjoyed his Snowflake Lane treat as he licked his Candy Cane lollipop so fervantly. Next on our list...Christmas tree!

Happy Thanks-For-Giving! {4}

2009-11-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

Team Mekhail would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! We hope that your day was full of love and thanks and got to spend it with your friends and family! Today I'm especially thankful for:

~My wonderful double oven {that made shuffling food around much easier this year!}~

~Whole Food's 20lb. Heidi Hen {and George's ability to stick his hands places he never thought he would!}~

~My mom's recipes for Orange Jello and Stuffing! {Yum! Almost don't think I could have a Thanksgiving without it!}~

~Warm peach pie with vanilla ice cream~

~A sometimes and not too often quiet home~

What are you thankful for?

Thanks-For-Giving {3}

2009-11-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

Let's just get straight and to the point: What are you thankful for? For me?

~A nice, good pair of socks {they do amazing things for cold feet}~

~Family {G & I get to spend it with both sides this year together!}~

~Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte {de-caf? caf? doesn't matter}~

~My Monday Mommy Playgroup {these girls save me most weeks!}~

~Eastlake Church {a constant, consistent and amazing community of Jesus lovers}~

Thanks-For-Giving {2}

2009-11-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

And so it continues...our week of Thanks! What are you thankful for? My list is rapidly piling up:

~My daughter in my belly {causing raucus already}~

~A hot shower every day {notice I didn't say morning ;)}~

~Friends who can make me laugh {really hard}~

~Red apple slices {uh, yum!}~

~My new, big, beautiful home {courtesy of Select Homes & George, what what}~

Just A Little Insight...

2009-11-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

into my mind:

{George leaves with my car to fill it up with gas. Upon returning, we swap seats so I could go run some errands.}
Danielle: {yelling out the window ready to kill somebody} Georrrrrrge! There's something wrong with the Tahoe! {Thinking to myself: he's had this thing for about 10 minutes, how could he break it!}
{George just stares at me from inside the garage like huh?}
Danielle: Georrrrrge! I can't move the steering wheel and it won't go in reverse!
{George walks over, motions for me to roll down the window, leans in and starts the car. Problem solved. I guess. Whatever.}

And tonight? I kept forgetting that I had a fork for dinner so ended up with 3 used forks on my dinner plate and didn't even realize it 'til the end. That's all.

Thanks-For-Giving Week {1}.

2009-11-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

A week of Thanks. That's not too much to ask now is it? What are you thankful for? Here's a sneak peek at what I'm thankful for this year:

~George {but who isn't thankful for George, c'mon}~

~God's Grace {cause I need it everyday}~

~Wells Fargo and their love for my husband~

~Simply Orange juice~

~Barack Obama {cause he reminds me of how many people need Jesus}~

~Kingston's big brown eyes {and their ability to sometimes make me giggle when I'm upset}~

I hope everyone takes the time to remember even the littlest of things!

Being An Advocate.

2009-11-17T14:25:00.000-08:00

What are your passions? If you ask me, I have no stinkin' clue. Blue has better clues than me. I know I can say I have advocated for a MAC computer rather than a PC to my husband. I guess I'm an advocate for Jesus. I've even played a little devil's advocate here and there, but somehow {as of last night} I have an inkling to be as passionate as Summer Roberts was for the otters in the O.C. Just maybe not really otters. I mean, I love otters and all. I just need to find my niche. Examine and educate myself. Then...Advocate. Look out legislators!

Honey Do.

2009-11-14T08:23:00.001-08:00

Honey Do what? Honey Do who? honey do. LOVE this new website, these girls and this business! I will definitely be taking them up on their offers probably very soon once this baby arrives. It's like having your very own personal assistant without the financial stress of anyone full or even part time! Need a grocery run? Last minute sitter while you run to the doc with your other lil' one? Dry cleaning picked up? Important documents delivered? Someone to stand in line at Wal-mart on Black Friday? Ohhhhhh yea. These girls would love to help you out! Gift certificates available as well and would make a PERFECT {and personal ;)} gift for the holidays!

Calling The Santa Hotline

2009-11-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

Just another lil' some'n some'n to help celebrate the Christmas season with your kiddos! I mean, what child doesn't want to get their own Ho Ho Ho personalized call from Santa and tell them how nice {or naughty} they've been. This website lets you send sample phone calls for free and even for a small price of $3.99 you can get your very own personalized one and setup an exact time and date to have him call. It's a steal actually cause even if you have more than one child you can make their day, even their year, by spending under $20. Done. Oh and P.S.? They have so much other fun stuff on the site including letters from Santa, Good List certificates, Santa Proof Evidence Kit and even other letters for other holidays like Easter! It's so fun to get all into it with your children. Start building memories...

Halfway {House}

2009-11-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

I made it 20 weeks. Into pregnancy that is. I'm halfway to the finish line {or the starting line as some may look at it} and I'm pretty sure I need to be admitted already. I'm feeling great overall, but just so so tired and I've lost my mind. I swear, I can't remember a darn thing or hold a thought for more than 2 seconds. I try to get things in a calendar asap, but still manage to get the days and/or times wrong. George tries to have a decent converstaion with me and more often than not he loses me at "Hey what do you think about....?" or " How are you?" Not that I'm not interested, I can't wrap my mind around what I even want to try to say. When I try to talk? It doesn't even make sense...I have to think twice of how to form a sentence. I'm emotional and have a patience level of about zero. One time {at band camp...} I found myself standing at the cash register of a Jamba juice and blanked so hard on what I was even doing I forgot I was even there and lost my child behind the counter not even noticing the guy was holding him. I'm surprised I even make it on my own throughout the day sometimes. Can't wait for another 20 weeks!

Hallow-Weenies

2009-10-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

This is the one and only picture that has been and probably will get captured this Halloween season. Yup...we're officially weenies. It just so happens the closing of our home falls on the 30th and moving day is the 31st. We're busy butterflies getting all the last minute details in place and Halloween has taken a back seat. Just so we're not total Debbe Downers {wah-wahhhhhh} we did spend a lovely morning at Remlinger Farms with lots of our friends several weeks ago and will attempt to make an appearance at a little party for the kids on Saturday and take K trick-or-treating. However, there has been no pum'kin pickin', carvin', decoratin', or costume findin' here. Everything will be last minute. Everything. {Boo.}

Think Pink!

2009-10-26T11:05:00.001-07:00

It's official. Kingston will have a baby sister come Spring. We're really excited. Really...we are. We are a little shocked...but that's ok. George & I (mostly me maybe) always had the idea of having 3 little boys. George would raise them up to be Godly men and I would hold my throne as Queen Bee and rule the roost. But then I heard those fateful words: "Sorry Danielle...looks like you'll have to share your throne..." As usual, I didn't believe. I made her double check there was no scrotum and no penis. Then asked if it could still grow. Turns out, no. All there was, was labia. We have no idea what to do with a girl, but it will be so much fun and we'll learn! Here's to a new, different and very exciting 2010! {insert raised glass here}...{of water...maybe a diet coke...}

Auntie.

2009-10-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

I thought being a mommie was exciting, but being an Auntie is just as fun, if not more! I have officially took on the Auntie to role to two poopsies {Ashley with baby girl Payton} and recently...my sweet lil' Eleanora Grace Baltera! Futhermore, {am I writing a term paper?} I'll soon be an Auntie by blood in May 2010! My sister-in-law Engy is pregnant with her first and I CANNOT WAIT for K to have a cousin! Exciting things...babies. Anyways, back to the task at hand: I got to fly down to Las Vegas a couple weeks ago and spend some very quality time with my bff Savannah and her baby girl Nora. And when I say quality, I really do mean quality: Soapnet...Old school movies...Pretty much annoying the heck out of JB...what more could you ask for? :) Here are some photos of the week! Actually...that's a lie. I didn't take one photo all week, until the day I left and desperately needed to capture a few for keepsakes.

I Think This Is The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship.

2009-10-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

As if being a stay-at-home mommie isn't enough...or joining the Junior League of Seattle...I had to go and start a business...it's true. Please check out your favorite ladies at their finest as they introduce Prep to you!

Read it...Love it...Share it...

Going All In!

2009-09-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Please don't miss your chance to listen to this! Not only life changing, but so encouraging! It's exactly what I needed after writing my previous blog...

Having A Story To Be Told.

2009-09-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't that be nice? To have a story. So when someone finally asks you {I don't know, maybe God?}, "Hey, so what's your story?" You can tell it. I mean, just picture running into Jonah. You ask his story. Then you feel as big as your 15 month old's span of vocabulary cause well...did you get eaten by whale? I highly doubt it...although sometimes I feel like it would be nice to get eaten by a whale, wouldn't it? Just eat me already...

In spite of my lows, I still have to look at the highs and all the blessings that surround me. I actually DO have a story being written. I can't say that I can tell it yet, but perhaps soon? The Lord is preparing our family for some big things. I'm not sure what but it includes changing the world. But Danielle...how do you know this? Well, you see...I don't really know...George maybe? Something about a revelation from the Holy Spirit and my husbands {sometimes creepy} confidence that tells me this. George has an amazing life story already at the young ripe age of...wait, maybe I shouldn't tell you. And already, together, we have journeyed through this road called life reaping many blessings from the Lord. All for which we are very grateful for and at the same time, can't help but think He's setting us up for something. Something great. Something amazing. I don't know much about revelations from the Holy Spirit {my listening skills aren't up to par with the Lord these days...I tend to be the talker...} but when George looks me dead in the eye and says a long time ago he was told we were meant for big things. I listen. I got a little squirmy and freaked out, but hey...when you don't know your future? Who isn't scared? I mean, I tend to think drastically too. Do I need to pack my bags for Cambodia? Is there going to be a car accident? People have crazy stories and if I'm gonna be one of those people my mind just goes...gone.

That's the hard part though...trying not to question it. Everyone has a story. And at the same time no one really knows what it is {FYI: it may or may not include a whale}. It's so easy to forget your blessings, focus on the lows of your life and turn into a worry wart about what's to come. That's not what God has planned for our lives. He wants so much more for us. I just know it! For the Mekhail's? Having kids isn't the end of our rope, either is reaching the top of the corporate ladder or getting a home. As far as we know, there's so much more life to live. And WE choose to live in the present, to let God continue to write our story and to do what we can to bring this world to Christ.

These Boots Are Made For Walking.

2009-09-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

A couple of you have posed questions on and off my blog about which UGG boots did I merrily purchase not too long ago. My choice for the season was: the Classic Tall Stripe Cable Knit Boot in Navy! It's like wearing Nantucket, Cape Cod and The Hampton's all on your feet! So nautical of me, right?
I have to say, I do have a slight obsession with UGG boots...next on my list is the Classis Argyle. I am THE coldest person alive. They're just all around comfy, cozy and so easy to wear. I would definitely choose a pair of these boots over any stiletto or pair of flats anyday of the week. Done.

I'm {Fall}ing In Love...

2009-09-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Twenty-two more days to go and it's officially Fall. However, there are already so many sure signs that it's practically already here and that makes my heart smile.

*Pumpkin Spice Lattes*

Who doesn't like pumpkin pie in a cup? Decaf for me please!

*Darker Nights*

Slowly but surely the sun is setting sooner. I DESPISE 9:00pm sunsets...5:00pm is so much cozier!

*Cooler Weather*

Comfy T-shirts, Cashmere Sweaters, Barefoot Dreams Blankets...Yes. Thank You.

*Football*

I don't like football, but George does and I like George. You get the pattern right?

*T.V. Show Premiere's*

Gossip Girl...House...Otis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert?

*New UGG Boots*

Yup, they've made their arrival in the mail a couple weeks ago and I CAN'T WAIT to prance around in them! Well, I may have already done that, but only in the house!

And I have to say, I'm a little biased towards Fall 2009 for two reasons: We get to find out if Kingston's going to have a baby brother or baby sister and we get to move into our new house! It will be such an eventful season and I. can't. wait.

Stealing Kisses.

2009-08-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hopeful Predictions

2009-08-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Me: Hey babe, what do you think we're going to have?
George: A boy.
Me: Really? Like, you really think that?
George: 100%
Me: Why?
George: Well...I'm a good man. I really think God will use me to raise good men and the world needs better men.

Pregnancy: An Update

2009-08-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's official: I'm pregnant. I know there were those sceptics out there...okay, okay, I was the sceptic. My biggest fear was going into the Doc and going through the process and talking about my symptoms, then he would give me an ultrasound and be like, "Oh sorry, it must have been in your head!" But, I can sleep better at night {or not} knowing George & I have a lil' peanut in my tummy. 8 weeks. 1.25 centimeters long. Due to come March 30, 2010. Looks as snug as a bug in a rug with a beautiful heartbeat. The appointment went great. Very basic. Come to find out though...Dr. Nudelman has a new assistant. Guess who wasn't the happy camper? That's right. Me. I hate change. I was really looking forward to seeing Jeanette and was thrown off my railroad track of hormones to find Sib. So what if she's nice. I KNOW Jeanette. But clearly not even me could bring Jeanette back so I accepted the newbie and warned her of my crazy, irrational and sometimes very dramatic outbursts that I don't even think Doc was even ready for a 2nd time around. He already tried to reiterate their "process" and how at the end of the pregnancy I'll get to meet the other Doc's in the office "just in case" he wasn't around, blah blah blah. I guess somebody forgot how I work. I kindly, but firmly told him that not a chance would anyone else deliver my baby. I don't want some yoohoo down the hallway catching my child. I trust you and only you so you better check your calender and make sure you're in town. I then carried on to say that I needed him in this 100% with me, which he then followed up with a look to George and a "Where did you find this girl?" But surely promised me he was in 110%. Phew. Good thing I still have a doctor.

Other than those 2 minor panic attacks, everything went great! This pregnancy is already twent million times different from the first. Quite amazing. I was expecting the same. Here's the breakdown of pregnancy #2 so far:
~I'm tired. Nope, not just tired. I'M TIRED. Dead in a ditch tired. Most of the time I can't even move my legs tired. Sleeping 12 hours a night and still taking at least 1 nap a day tired. Last pregnancy I worked a full-time job {granted I didn't have a 14 month old}, but still. I feel way more tired this time around then I did the first time.
~I have an utter and complete, outrageous obsession with cereal. Had it last time. Have it this time. It's the only thing that ever sounds good so I tend to eat it...ALOT.
~Besides the cereal staying the same, my eating habits are dramatically different. I eat normal this time around, if I even eat at all. Last pregnancy, one of the ways I knew something was up was cause of my need for an Outback steak dinner at 2am. I probably ate around the clock, stuffing my face and ate at least once or twice in the middle of the night for a good half of the pregnancy. This time I don't have any dramatic hunger pains. I eat breakfast, good til lunch, then good til dinner and sleep through the night fine. No real cravings at all, but there have been some smells that make me completely gag in my mouth.
~Speaking of gagging...who doesn't ever have nausea? Except this time it's not as constant. Hallelujah! First time around I had that 24/7 nausea. Never threw up, but it was always there and nothing ever sounded good {but cereal of course}. Round 2 isn't necesssarily better though even though I don't have CONSTANT nausea. It comes and goes when it feels like it {sometimes more when I'm getting hungry so when I eat a lil' somethin' I feel better} but I have thrown up a couple times because of it, which is odd cause I feel like I rarely throw up. And on top of all of this, I have THE WORSE stomach aches ever. By the end of day especially, my stomach has blown up into a huge balloon and I have so much trapped gas I cry sometimes. And instead of being constipated? I probably go diarhea once a day and on some multiple days I go every 20 minutes. Not joking. It's horrible. Doc says it should subside by the end of the trimester. But seriously...

I'm hanging in there. George is a GREAT husband and he has worked over-overtime since this has all started. He is such a blessing and a HUGE help with Kingston and doing things around the house on top of working hard at his job everyday. He has even come home from work on some days when I'm having a really bad day. I love him.

Our Future Home: An Update.

2009-08-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many have forgotten...sometimes I forget I bought a home and of course there are days I WISH I could forget too. Ha! However, 4 short months ago, we bought a home. It was just a lowly piece of land, but now it is coming along so nicely! It is due to be ready the middle of October and can't wait! This home is such a blessing...it gives us a GREAT backyard, definitely more space, good location and an amazing new neighborhood with lots of kids and nice neighbors including several families from our church! We're right smack in the middle of finishing picking all our "stuff" out...so annoying and so exhausting...and I'm so anal that I've already become besties with the Project Manager (shout out to Gary! woot, woot!)...even the electrician...I just pray I like the outcome of everything! Only 2 months to go!

Blogging Blues.

2009-08-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

I feel like it's been a long while since I last posted. It's practically Fall and Neiman Marcus will open their doors here in just a few short weeks. In the meantime, I've fallen into a blogging rut. And I'm not gonna lie...I may be here for awhile. Maybe when I get my own life together, I'll be able to get my blog life together. Oh wait...I'll almost never have my own life together so maybe after my 1st doctor's appt. next Tuesday? I stay hopeful.

Labor In Style.

2009-07-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Talk about a must have for the delivery room. This will for sure be coming in the room with me come March 2010. dearjohnnies has these AMAZING and CUTE hospital gowns that you can even monogram!!! You heard me. I seriously can't even contain myself. My heart is racing. So many adorable styles...just enough to make you want to do your first labor all over again, yeah?

Are You Sure? {Positive.}

2009-07-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Kingston on my left hip and my Kate Spade wristlet in my right hand I scuffle into the nearest QFC in the middle of the afternoon. I track down their unecessary locked display of condoms and pregnancy tests in the back corner. Now, most people get embarrased by this stuff. Nope, not me. I thrive on it. I spy a group of girls behind the Pharmacy counter and quickly shout out a *Yoohoo* and say I need a pregnancy test and I need a good one! Don't get me wrong. I already have my mind made up on the best pregnancy test out there {ClearBlue Digital, but who's asking?}, but to my dismay QFC didn't carry ClearBlue Digital and I'm on a time schedule. So the innocent, sweet, asian pharmacist walks me over to the unecessary locked display of pregnancy tests and is giving me the rundown of tests, which I'm barely listening to anyways cause I'm still appalled they don't have ClearBlue Digital, but do catch enough to realize that she's trying to sell me on the "Kroeger" brand and asking if I've missed my period yet. *THINKING* Here's my chance to spill my life story to a complete stranger...ready...go! I indulge my innocent, sweet, asian pharmacist and tell her exactly what I'm about: Listen, my last period was June 23, I'm due Tuesday the 21st, I'm 5 days out and need to know NOW...give me the test to do that, thank you and goodbye. "Kroeger" went swiftly back into the cabinent and I was handed that pretty pink box of First Response. She sent me down the produce aisle with a farewell and a "Good Luck!"

So I bustle to the check out counter and barely make it out alive amongst the millions of Eastsiders who decided to do their grocery shopping on that lovely Thursday afternoon. All I wanted to do was pay for my pregnancy test so I could go home and pee. Okay...and Kingston just got out of World's Worse Swim Class and was grumpy and hungry. I make it through the line...pass on getting a bag...run back to the Tahoe with Kingston still on my left hip, my Kate Spade wristlet on my right arm and my future waving in my right hand.

And this is why I stand by ClearBlue Digital for life: I pee'd on the stick, set it on the counter and watched it like a bird preying on a sea of fish. One dark pink line...and wait for it...wait for it...1/2 a line? What? What does that mean? It's so pale I had a put rewetting drops into my eyes to refresh my contacts I thought I couldn't see. Nope. Still 1/2 a line. I consulted everyone I knew...mainly Google. There was so firm evidence that it meant pregnant or even not pregnant. So I dwell on my 1/2 line for the rest of the afternoon. *THINKING* Well, I'm still 5 days out...It's still really early...AND I used mid-afternoon pee and not first thing in the morning pee. I concluded, I would try again the next morning.

Chalk it up to impatience. We ran to the nearest Walgreens that evening and picked up my pride and joy: ClearBlue Digital. George is putting Kingston down for bed and I decide I'll just pee then. It's probably the worse pee to use too cause of all the water and everything else I have drank that day. But as I saw the hourglass blink before my eyes it didn't even take 30 seconds before "Pregnant" popped up on the screen. I FLEEEEWWW out of the bathroom, overjoyed, startled my half asleep baby boy and screamed, "We're gonna have a baby!"

There are already people who are shocked I would even announce something so early, but this is how I see it. We are so excited and it's such a wonderful thing! God's Will is not affected by my blog or by facebook or by anything else. God has a plan for my baby and I can't wait to see what it is! And no matter what happens I'll be {write} here sharing it all with you!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...

2009-07-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

My Dearest Blog Readers,

I am pleased to formally announce that our beautiful family of 3 will soon be a family of 4 and we are OVER THE MOON excited! Already this pregnancy is way different from the first {stories to come!} and it's still in the early stages, but couldn't resist sharing the blessing that our GREAT God has bestowed upon our family. We're so thankful and would appreciate all your prayers that our lil' peanut will remain healthy and grow into a beautiful addition to this family. Team Mekhail can't raise our hands high enough to our God! I have tears in my eyes...

Blessings,
George, Danielle & Kingston Mekhail

The Novel Nest

2009-07-15T11:45:00.001-07:00

Already many of you has expressed interest in doing a book club blog with me! So fun! I have my website up and running! Check it out here!

Let's Crack Open A Book Or Two...

2009-07-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished the book "My Sister's Keeper". Hated it. I still want to see the movie though and see how it compares. Alot of times I find myself reading so so many books...from mindless reading to honest to goodness life changing novels and never having an real discussions about it. I thought it would be so much fun to start a book club. Perhaps a Book Club Blog! I would setup a different blog...pick a book...and me and my trail of blog readers would read together and "meet" once a week and dish on what made their head spin as they read how Lauren Conrad survived her divorce with Heidi Montag or what Screwtape was really trying to say to Wormwood and how maybe we think, act or live a little differently! Details aren't officially made up on how I will EXACTLY execute this thing, but it will be done. So...my fellow bloggers...

Would You Be Interested In Joining My Book Club Blog?(answers)

She's Having A Baby!

2009-07-12T17:40:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I headed down to Portland, Oregon with Kingston to throw my bff a Red & Pink baby shower. From the sounds of it you can probably guess...she's having a girl! Yup! Eleanora {Nora} Grace should be making her debut September 28, 2009 and can't wait! I got there Friday about noon and it was non-stop, go-go-go, until we made it back home late last night. The original plan was to come back Sunday morning, but mama-to-be wasn't feeling the greatest so she changed her plane ticket to fly back home to Vegas right after the shower and then we headed out as soon as we cleaned and packed up! Man, my head spins when I do parties, but had so much and it was good to see Vanna. Hope you're feeling better roommate! Can't wait to get the phone call of "It's time..." so I can meet your newest addition! Congratulations again!

Daddy's Hat.

2009-07-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

Just cause I have the *cutest* boy in the world.

4th Of July!

2009-07-06T10:02:00.001-07:00

Team Mekhail would like to wish everyone a Happy 4th Of July! We hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend and got to get alot of relaxing time in. This time of year tends to be one of the busy ones for us since my birthday falls on the day before. So even after the whole shindig Friday evening we still ventured out for a day 'o fun bright and early the next morning. We hit the road about 7:30am with Daniel & Anne and dropped Kingston off at Teta's and Gido's home then headed to Daniel's parents home on Lake Steven's for the day {shout out to the Kelliher's for lending us their home that day...woot woot!} We had soooo much fun just hanging out, laying in the sun, playing volleyball & badminton, swimming, using the water trampoline, tubing, boating and enjoying the fireworks. Enjoy some photos from the day! Cheers!

27th Birthday Dinner.

2009-07-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well my fellow blog readers...another year is recorded in the books. I'm officially 27 now. I had such a great day and would love to give a shout out to all my friends and family who wished me a happiest of birthday's {woot woot!}. I slept in...hubby brought me starbucks...Anne & I went and got massages...we soon joined back up with my hubs & bubs for lunch at Purple Cafe where I got to open up my new charm for my charm bracelet...spent the rest of the day relaxing and getting ready for a small and quaint dinner party and bonfire I threw that evening! Enjoy my photos of the evening! Cheers!

Prayer.

2009-06-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

There's always something, isn't there? It's not a perfect world and that's just unfortunate. I tend to be a real pessimistic person. It's good to be married to George because he counters my negativity with positivity. I see disaster and he sees opportunity. I panic and he remains calm. Just when I think things are gonna go our way, a huge door gets slammed in our face. I take the easy route: panic, cry, worry, stress, maybe spout off a couple profanities...whatever works for me...I'm currently trying to concentrate on the harder, but more peaceful route: thank God, count my blessings, trust George and move forward {wherever that may be}. Team Mekhail needs lots prayers regarding our housing situation. We currently have a home being built for us {due to be ready in October}, but have run into some trouble in what to do with our current home that we are living in now. Plan A has failed so now it's time for operation plan B and fast! Please pray that I can put my stress and worries into Christ, that we will seek His guidance every step of the way, that He will continue to open and shut doors for us so we know where we need to go with our finances and where we should live and finally that George and I will continue to work together in peace as God as the center of our marriage and family that we make the right choices for us & Kingston {right now I see cardboard box under the Aurora bridge...George sees Assets...quite a pair we are}. Thank you all!

Family Photo Slideshow!

2009-06-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

[You'll need to pause the song on my blog below before watching! :)}

'a lighthearted take on everday life'

2009-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you read Real Simple magazine? {*hand raised*} I came across this very interesting and almost "I wish they had a book like this for reals" piece in the most recent July 2009 issue. Go pick one up. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200 dollars {actually, if you are lucky enough to collect $200 dollars on your way, please, collect.}. It's a piece written by Sarah Schmelling and I have to say it made me chuckle. You ever wonder when you actually became a grown up? Or when it should be starting? Or sometimes you just find yourself sitting down and thinking, "What in the world do I do next?" Cause you just moved out of your parents house at the ripe 'ole age of 30, or you just quit your job, or you just got a new job, or you haven't married yet or you got married, but somehow you always feel like there should be a next step. Kinda like when you were in highschool and you just say to yourself, "Welp, I guess I'll go to college now..." Cause, that's what you do? Maybe I feel this way, cause I've been to college, got married, started having kids, bought a house and now I'm looking for my next venture. Who am I? Tori Spelling? Don't worry...I won't be opening any fry business anytime soon with a trillion million variety of dips to go along. However, I did try to convince George to "pretend" we were getting married again and to go ring shopping for the next great thing just so we can be in that stage of "going after something". He didn't buy it {the idea or the ring}. Maybe I'll start writing a book? Whatever it is that's coming my way, I do wish I had a What To Expect When I'm Expecting Life book. {Maybe I'll write it?} That I can just open up to MY year and see...well...what to expect! I'm coming up on the big 2-7 in two weeks. Yikes! It doesn't sound that old to most people but when you robbed the cradle and married a man who's 4 years younger? Let's just say my breathing becomes a little heavier at each birthday. It would be nice to open up to page 114 and have a well acclaimed new york times best seller say, "Your 27-year-old is looking younger and younger each day. She's a knockout of a woman and out to change to world. By this year, your 27-year-old should be able to text 100 words a minute, will probably be able to find her way around Whole Foods and may even be able to find that perfect outfit on sale to go with your matching bright colored Tory Burch cluth you just HAD to have."

Swaddle In Style.

2009-06-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Uhhhhh...could these be any cuter??? To swaddle in style and then top it off with an adorable matching hat? Motherhood keeps getting better and better! You'll be one lucky mom if your child loves swaddling as much as my lil' guy did! I'm for sure picking many of these up the next go around! A Lady & Her Baby sells these for both boys and girls. Go ahead and snag a peek when you get a chance. Oh, and husbands? Make you sure you clear up some breathing room on that credit card of yours if your haute mama is expecting anytime soon! :)

Celebrating 2 years as Husband & Wife.

2009-06-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking: that George is one lucky son of a gun. I mean really...all the joy and love you experience by being married to me? Who wouldn't want that? But let me fill you in on a lil' secret {just a lil' one}, there is no one in the world like George. No one will ever compare. And I will never love anyone as much as I love George for the rest of my life. Today, we recognize...we honor...and we celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. Seeing as though today is also a work day and George is the hardest working husband I know {sorry husbands, don't even try to compete ;)}, we did most of the celebrating last Saturday. George planned an entire day and evening for us while Kingston spent the day and night at Gido and Teta's home. The day didn't go ENTIRELY to plan, but we still had so much fun! We kinda forgot what it was like to not have an agenda and how much fun it was to just be us...together.

Recently, G & I have been reading a parenting book called Parenting with Love & Logic. I read it first, loved it, now George and I are reading it together and still love it. Our Saturday celebration was built around this book. If you haven't read it, it is basically about teaching your children to make their own decisions early. Give them choices. So when we loaded up the car bright and early Saturday there was a sweet love note from George and my intinerary for the day and night. He planned the entire day from breakfast, to many series of activities, lunch, dinner, movie and thensome. And for each category, there were 2 choices to choose from. I had so much fun picking what I wanted to do and trying new things together! Of course, no day goes perfectly and we had minor hiccups here and there, maybe throw a marital spat in the middle of the day and by the end of the day dinner, movie and getting home to bed early soon became a..."Hey, let's invite our friends out to eat with us!" Which then turned into a night out on the town, a late night and a very miserable and tiring Sunday. But, we made up for the dinner and & movie tonight and had another great time out! Happy Anniversay baby! I love you lots and can't wait for many more years!

Book Recommendation.

2009-06-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

I certainly do not know in the name of Mary why I have never even talked about this book. (I know, some of you are probably super bummed it's not a photo of Mommywood, or Baby Proof...excellent reads by the way...the chickest, flickest books since the day they invented the printing press and so entertaining!) It has been such a blessing these past weeks, even days to watch, observe, enjoy, interact, talk, laugh, sing, pray and so much more {with my son}. It brought me back to this book that George and I bought at the beginning of my pregnancy with Kingston and just today, thought to myself, "Why in the world am I keeping this book to myself!" This is a wonderful prayer journal for expectant, new and 'already been down that road...several times in fact' mommies and dadddies! Lord, Bless My Child by William & Nancie Carmichael has opened up a whole new realm of connecting with Kingston and in our prayer lives. I feel like it is far to easy to just "pray" for our kids. As an expectant mom it was, "Lord, thank you so much for this blessing you have bestowed upon us. Please be with us throughout the pregnancy. Wrap your arms around our little one and keep him healthy and strong until his debut into this world. I pray you keep me healthy and strong as well. Amen." However, this book opens your heart, mind and soul up into praying not only for their health, but their CHARACTER. To pray for the character of God in my child. George and I have been lifting Kingston up to Christ since we found out I was pregnant and it wasn't just about his health. We prayed that Kingston would have a compassionate heart...that he would develop a love and passion for God at an early age...that he would learn humility, obediance and responsibility...that he would make good choices...that he would be creative, thoughtful, so full of joy and laughter...that he would have a heart for missions...that he would learn to share, be a good listener, stay pure and convicted in his own personal walk with Christ and so much much more. I almost cry just thinking about it! There are 52 "chapters"...one for every week out of the year! And you just keep reading it back through....over and over and over again. Never stop. Buy one to use for all your children or buy one for each of your children! Each week will bring you to your knees and bring you to God's word to reflect, pray, teach you some insight, how to incorporate each "little blessing" into your families everyday life and space to journal. This is truly one of the greatest parenting books you can get your hands on.

A Good Refresher {Now & Then}.

2009-06-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

As much as a nice ice cold blended strawberry lemonade sounds right now, it's not the kind of refreshment I need these days {Although, I'm for sure running to the nearest Starbucks for one shortly cause now I just don't think I can go one without one:)}. One of my fav's in music is Shawn McDonald. If you can, play the song below and I'll let you in on one of my most biggest struggles in life: calming the crap down.

Sometimes I feel like I'm racing through life and can't catch a breath. And I can't be the only one feeling this way. I don't know what it is for you, but for me just in the past week? Let's see: My son's first birthday, our 2nd anniversary coming up, a messy house, a trillion things going wrong with George's car including being hit in a parking lot, our freezer DE-freezing and everything I just bought at the grocery store RUINED, chasing baby, and stupid stupid stuff like I gotta get a blog in or OMG, I didn't set my DVR. I stress over that people and much more. My anxiety runs high and it's all I think about. Sometimes I skip breakfast or lunch just so I can either get stuff done or so I can sit on my lazy bum and think about all I have to do. Yup, I just admitted I sit alot just to stress over what needs to be done. But check me out...I'm not a total Debbie Downer {wah wahhhhh} cause in Christ is where I find peace. In Him, I soar. And TO Him I can say, "Pour out your mercy and clear this busy mind...You are all I need." So much stuff is gonna come and it's also gonna go and what matters is how I handle it. Do I tend to handle it the right way? Eh...not so much. But I try. And I just found out that over half the stuff I stress about it not even a big deal. {I know, right?} Like, on a scale from 1-10, one being not a big deal at all and ten being hold up mr. lover, that's HUGE deal...I think everything is 10. It's a huge deal in and of itself that I think everything is a HUGE deal! I would have to say I cause alot of the chaos in my life. That's just my life. And it's a refreshment I need everyday to know that I am able to follow the footprints of Christ and know that he embodies the peace I need to catch a break in this world.

A Sneak Peek.

2009-06-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon Team Mekhail went to Juanita Beach Park and took family photos since Kingston turned one. {I'm gonna go ahead and plug Amy Walton Photography here...she's done our belly shots...newborn shots...and much more for us! A-mazing!} I'm not gonna lie though...it was sorta difficult. It was a tad windy at first and Kingston was super cranky. I don't even know if we got any smile shots of him :( BUT, Amy did say she did get some GREAT ones so I can't wait to see! She sent me a few over now, but it will be about 2-3 weeks for the rest!

A Frog Prince Birthday!

2009-06-08T14:20:00.001-07:00

Who will forget your lil' boy's first birthday? I sure won't! I threw Kingston's first birthday party last Saturday at my parent's home. It was so much fun to plan and the day turned out so well. Thank you to all our family and friends who came. We feel so blessed to have you in our lives and appreciate so much how much you love and support Kingston! Here's some moment's of the big day!

You're Invited...

The "Welcome" table, featuring: goody bags for the kids, a personalized matte frame for the guests to sign and of course, a photo of the birthday boy!

The candy bar!

Our centerpiece for the table. :)

Happy Birthday to you...

Don't be fooled...he screamed and cried and refused to eat any cake. Not even a finger dipped into it...

Check out my new shades from Grandma & Grandpa! Matching Ray-Bans for daddy and son. :)

I ordered awards for "Best Daddy" and "Best Grandparent's" (for each of the grandparent's) and then I totally forgot to give them out to them at the party! :( I'm so bummed! So I will be delivering them. Below is a picture of G's acceptance speech...It was so funny. Too bad, I was the only one who saw it.

Kingston enjoying his new rocking horse from Teta and Gido!

Happy Birthday Bubba!

2009-06-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today is Kingston's FIRST birthday!

A year ago today, our sweet lil' boy entered the world.

Now, he's grown up into such big boy!

I feel like even from 11 months to one year, he's changed so much! His walking has gotten so better, he even tries to run. However, that's when he tends to trip over his feet. :) Kingston's back to teething too...he has 2 more teeth coming in on the bottom, which will bring the grand total to 8 teeth! Wow!

We had his one year check up today at the doc. Healthy as a clam. Is that the saying? Who knows...but he's perfect! Still a little peanut: 30 inches in height and weighs 19 pounds. The greatest news of all is the nurse said, "Wow...he looks EXACTLY like you!" And was looking at me! ME! Not George...ME! Did you hear me? ME! She made my day! Yup...she said he was a spitting image of me, just a tan version...ha!

I can keep going on and on and on about Kingston...he is so sweet, so funny, so handsome, so everything! As you can see above, he is such a daddy's boy. To think God has entrusted us with this precious lil' boy is just so A-mazing. We feel so blessed and can't believe one year has gone by so fast and that we actually survived it! :) G and I have absolutely no idea what we are doing, but we're doing it together and that's all that matters. We seek Christ everyday to give us the strength...the patience...the wisdom...the love...to raise our son. If you are any sort of reader of my blog, please...continue to lift our family in prayers that we will continue to seek Christ as we journey through life, build and raise our family in this crazy world and lay your hands over my son and future children, as I lay mine out for yours, that they will learn to love Christ at an early age as much and George and I do! I love you bubba! Happy 1st Birthday!

P.S. We're have a birthday party for Kingston this Saturday and taking family photos at the park on Sunday! Stay tuned for blogs about those! :)

A Simple 'Thank You' Is All I Need.

2009-06-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

I do not care who you are, how old you are, where you were born, where you were raised, what kind of car you drive, how many kids you have, what kind of music you listen to, who you voted for or who your father is...where's the common courtesy on the road these days? Let's see: I'm the one who's been sitting in a single long line of cars, trying to get through a traffic light and pass the road construction. I didn't HAVE to let you in, as you sat pathetically, with the sun beating down, in your run-down with probably no air-conditioning car. I realize you've been sitting there waiting to turn. Probably not patiently either. I've got a screaming toddler in the car, who's hungry. He wants to eat. I want to eat. I still stop and let you go cause even on the flip side, I can't stand it when people see you waiting and waiting and waiting and no one let's YOU go. So I let you go. Then YOU see me stop, smile, wave for you to go and YOU stare at me, go, and keep going, arm hanging out the window and all. What? No courtesy wave? Rude. Get a clue. You're lucky I'm somebody's mother.

Monogram Mayhem.

2009-05-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

I find that on a bad day, everything's better with a monogram (or a bow in the hair...it depends on the day {smiley}). And in this day and age you can pretty much monogram anything you can get your hands on. I LOVE it! So because the sun is shining, I wanted to share my top favorites that I am currently obssessed with:

Who doesn't feel better after a sip of tea or coffee in your own personalized mug? These ones are courtesy of Anthropologie! So cute! I would actually just like the whole alphabet piled in my home...just for the fun of it.

I fell in love with the wall monogram a long time ago while surfing the Pottery Barn website, but found that three hip chicks sells a whole lot more styles and colors! I want, I need, I have to have!

Monogrammed plate? Enough said! This is especially so cute for your lil' munchkin's. You can get them their own special plate at La Plates to eat off of for special occasions!

Yes please. If you haven't cruised through the Monogram Shop at Jcrew your severely missing out. So many things to monogram for men, women AND children! I absolutely can't wait until Kingston can fit into Crewcuts! I actually bought George this grey button up cashmere sweater last Christmas and he looks so sexy and handsome, I suggest if you have a significant other...go...now...don't wait.

This serving tray is right up there with the plates. Definitely have to have one for the new home (...ah em...)

Last, but certainly not least...you always need a staple piece of jewelry to say it all! You can actually almost get any piece of jewelry engraved with initials or even quotes. George has a pair of monogrammed cufflinks (equally as becoming as the sweater I might add) and a watch I engraved with a verse we used in our wedding. I also know of friends with charms or lockets engraved with initials or special dates.

Photo Editing Made Fun.

2009-05-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

One of my many loves in life is finding something new and then becoming head over heels in love with it. I've received countless inquiries about my photo editing so I thought I would blog about the awesomeness of Picnik! It has definitely made my life a little brighter these days...it could be the trip to Maui and the Seattle sunshine, but eh...I'd like to think it was this photo editing program. Think: Photoshop for dummies. Completely user friendly and you can do so much with your photo even when you have no idea what you're really doing and know nothing about photography! There's no trucking to the nearest Best Buy so you can stand around for an hour while a no-good-know-it-all tries to tell you how to work it, just register online through the website! They offer some free things to do with your photos, but if you ask me? (Which you kinda were...) It's worth paying the $24.99 a year to use the entire program. Happy Picniking! :)

Look Out!

2009-05-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

My 'lil munchkin is growing. I know, I know...kids grow. But when things happen that REALLY let you know they're growing...I mean, it's ten times better. We have one of the refridgerator's that has the double door up top for the fridge stuff and one big drawer on the bottom for the freezer stuff (which I HATE by the way...can't stand it...I've been trying to get rid of this thing since it entered my home). The only convenient thing about it is I can open and shut the fridge doors even if Kingston is standing below it cause he can't stand that tall to reach it. Or should I say was the only thing. I'm making dinner last night and as I go to get something out of that annoying refridgerator...BONK! Right into Kingston's head. "OMG! He grew!"

We're Back!

2009-05-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Just in case you were DYING to know, we are back from Maui! I've posted a few photos...I didn't take a whole bunch :( I wish I got more of George and I, but that's ok! All of us who went collaborated our photos, but some aren't blogworthy and some I haven't even gotten around to looking at. So definitely check back, cause I just may add some more! :) George and I had a superb time though! Very fun...very relaxing...and very nice to be back home with Kingston! I think the highlight of the trip (besides sleeping in of course) was the men going deep sea fishing, catching an awesome Ono, bringing it back to the resort and had the restaurant cook it up for their women! YUMMY!

And We're Off To Maui!

2009-05-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

George & I have been planning a vacation for 10 months now! Can you believe it??? We're headed to Maui with 6 of our friends bright and early tomorrow morning! Kingston will have the pleasure of hanging out with both grandma's for about 10 days here at home. I'm having a complete panic attack about the whole situation, but I know that George and I both need this. George works so incredibly hard, I can't wait for him to get to relax and sleep in for 8 days straight! Please pray that we have a safe and fun flight and stay out on the island, that I don't have a complete mental and emotional breakdown from being away from Kingston for so long and especially that Kingston does great while we are away! Loves! Talk to you when we return! Mahalo.

Uh-Oh...I spy: blood.

2009-05-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here's the recap of our tragic accident this afternoon: Homeboy's running around the kitchen, falls head first, bites his upper lip. Mom, in the meantime, is making lunch, and thinks he just fell so ignores him for a good minute (I know, right?). Mom soon turns around to see blood gushing from the poor kids mouth. I practically have a huge heart attack and almost dial 9-1-1...for myself (Homeboy was fine in 2 seconds...he didn't and still doesn't even care he has a huge gash on his lip). Here are some cute photos of the poopsie with his fat lip :)

11 Months!

2009-05-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

The poopsie turned 11 months today! He will be a year old in just 4 weeks and I can't believe it. Time has flown by. I guess the biggest change of all is he started walking! It is not his main mode of transportation yet, but I'm sure it will be soon! His curiousity of cupboards and drawers and everything else has officially begun too! We've even had to fish out dog food out of his mouth. I turned my back once and he was walking away with prescription meds and a bottle of pine sol...oopsie! Time to get some cabinet locks, eh? He is also eating more and more solids. I think we are officially over "baby food". He refuses to eat it and would much rather have something off my plate. Overall, he's still such a great boy. We have loved watching him grow up so far and learn so many new things. He is a spitting image of his father more and more and I just love him to death!

Topher Got Married!

2009-05-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we (and when I say "we", I mean Team Mekhail, along with Grandma and Grandpa Jacobsen) all traveled to California for my cousin's wedding! This was Kingston's first plane ride and he did GREAT! He slept both flights, on the way there and on the way home! The wedding was a really beautiful ceremony and reception outside in this HUGE backyard, next to a creek and with so many trees. It was in a town just outside of Fresno (Sanger)...if any of you know Fresno...OOFTA. Smallest airport alive...practically one flight in and one flight out so we were bonded to inconvenient flight schedules...bars on every window...no real decent hotel...almost everything was in a different language...no real restaurants...basically, not our cup o' tea, but we made it work and we had a ton of fun!

PHOTO MONTAGE:

Like father, like son.

Hangin' out with cousin Jenn!

Photo op with mommy!

Cousins!

Look-A-Likes!

Family...

Team Mekhail.

Husband & Wife.

Grandpa with his 5 sisters! (They ALWAYS have to the do the family lineup photo op when they're all together...oldest to youngest starting from the left)

Fun with Grandpa!

George and Damien!

Money dance with the Bride! (Welcome to the family Kelly!)

Waaaayyyy past our bedtime and trying to make the most of it!

My 1st In-N-Out burger!

Yummy! Thanks Mommy!

Had to kill some time before our flight so we opted for the Fresno Zoo...(It was either that kids or the real sketchy Cinco De Mayo street fair in downtown...eek)

I'll start with the highlight: Kingston feeding the Giraffe.

Then Kingston nodded out and we were left with boring animals...seriously...this monkey just sat there...didn't move...just stared at us.

Then we saw about 20 tortoise exhibits. (insert yawn *here*)

Uhhhh...me trying to make the most of the zoo trip?

This photo sums up the trip!

After the zoo, we killed the rest of the time hanging out at the airport!

I took this one myself! Pretty darn good!

Hehe.

Are we EVER gonna get out of this town?

Being Inspired.

2009-04-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

Breaking News!

2009-04-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

Kingston's starting to walk! He's so darn cute! He's working on standing up when he falls down...but he's walking and taking more and more steps each time!

**Disclaimer: George is aware his shorts appear to be playing peek-a-boo, but don't worry...he's actually wearing two pairs of shorts :) Oh boys....

Our Future Home!

2009-04-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has kept our family in your prayers. We have successfully found and purchased a new home for us and CAN'T WAIT! We are having it built so it will be finished in 6 months time. UGH! Our original time frame for moving was 3 months, but we have made adjustments to our arrangments to make this new home work. I'm getting more and more impatient as each day goes by, but the Lord has blessed us with this new home opportunity and I am willing to work on my patience for the next 6 months. :)

Here's our lot! (I'll keep you updated on the progress ;))

My boys! :)

Yoohoo!

What Happened In Vegas Isn't Going to Stay In Vegas!

2009-04-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a 5 day trip to Vegas to visit my bff Savannah. I stayed at her and JB's apartment in good 'ole Hendo (that's for you roommate! :)) That's Henderson for all you non-vegas locals! We had such a blast! We basically did nothing but lay by the pool and eat most of the time (I feel like I ate so much...I had to keep up with prego). Here are the highlights:

The flight there was miserable. I was in the very last row of the plane and never got so motion-sick in my life back there. Right before take off the pilot came on air and said, "Yeah...we have some possibly maintenance issues, but we should be fine." The landing was out of this world. People were raising their hands like they were on a rollercoaster, that's how bad the turbulance was and then everyone had to clap that the pilot actually landed the plane. I wanted to die.
The first night there we played lots of RockBand. I had a sold out show on the drums and did an amazing rendition of Alanis Morrisette's You Outta Know (A-mazing...seriously...). This was also the first night roommate would complain that her back really hurt.
Roommate & I got great pedicures the next day. I stuck with the good ole french manicure and Vanna picked out black...for SPRING!
Laying by the pool was amazing.
Roommate's back hurts again.
We ate at Joe's Crab Shack, which was the most stressful meal I've ever eaten. There were like 5 birthdays and a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. Everytime it started spinning and flashing it's lights all the employees of the restaurant would scatter across the restaurant and do a little diddy dance. Uh, please don't. Then roommate and I couldn't crack open our crabby legs so JB had to do them all and complained all weekend that he punctured his thumb and it would never be the same. Ever.
Roommate's back hurts again.
That night we went and saw The Haunting Of Connecticut. Great flick. Minus the 20 billion middle schoolers that ran in 10 minutes into the movie. Then proceeded to run about the theater stomping their feet, climbed over chairs, switched chairs a billion times...then their cellphones would go off and they would talk extremely loud and this one girl kept laying across this guy, then get up, then lay across him again. It was ri-diculous. Prego wasn't having any of it so she went and got the manager and he shaped them up real quick.
Roommate's back hurts again.
On the way home from the movie, we saw a ridiculous drunk driver. I'm pretty sure they never made it to their destination.
The next day we headed out to Primm, NV to ride the Desperado! Google it. You tube it. I don't care...it's crazy though. It was the highest and fastest roller coaster in 1998. The drop is higher than the casino and drops so far down, it even goes under ground. I wanted to die (again).
Everywhere we drove we played "Name that band" for every song on the radio and I'll let you try and guess who won everytime. Music major or stay at home mom? Yup! That would be ME! Roommate knew nothing...she guessed either Goo Goo Dolls or Green Day...everytime.
Again...roommate's back hurts.
We watched Dan In Real Life. Also a great flick. In the midst, I had to grab a tissue from the bathroom...came back out and got bum-rushed by their 65lb. golden retriver named Bailey. Literally. Bum-rushed. She stole my tissue and ran and I went flying into the kitchen counter. Oh how to describe Bailey. The cutest darndest 10 month old golden puppy, but CRAZY. Think Marley & Me.
We did lots of shopping as well on the strip and JB made us sit and watch a lame laser light show at Caesar's.
Then some crazy guy came up to JB and goes, "Scuse me...are you from the United States?" Uh....yeeeessss?
The last night we ate out at PF Changs where roommate swore up and down to China that she was so freezing cold she couldn't handle it (FYI: it was 95 degress out) so proceeded to dramatically order hot tea then just at the waiter was bringing it out, she flipped out and all of a sudden was sweating bullets and changed her mind and needed an ice water. Then JB ordered a coke...extra cold.
Oh yeah...and her back hurt...AGAIN. :)
All in all, it was a GREAT trip! Can't wait to do it all again!

PHOTO MONTAGE:

Fun In The Sun!

2009-04-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's Official.

2009-04-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

I recently became a Provisional Member of the Junior League of Seattle. For those who are unfamilier with JLS you can go to their website to learn more about them (www.jrleagueseattle.org). In a nutshell: it is an organization of women who promote volunteerism and do a variety of service projects and charitable work within their community. I am actually quite excited about my new endeavor. I have always had a heart for missions and service and there never seemed to be a "perfect" time to get involved or go somewhere or do something. I want more in my life besides being a mommy and would love to have my children grow up in a home where they see their mommy not just focused on her own family, but her community and others who are in need as well. I am hoping that I enjoy this program and that it is something that I can be involved in for many years. My good friend Anne has also joined with me so it will be extra uber exciting to do something like this with someone like her. We're going to change the world. Look out!

Prayer Request.

2009-04-06T14:02:00.002-07:00

Team Mekhail is out growing their home. We are in the market for a new home that is a little bit bigger for us and our growing family and that we can stay in long term. We are very thankful that we are also in a situation where we do not need to sell our current home (Praise the Lord, cause let's just be serious...in this market?), but we are up against a timeframe for moving. We have made a solid decision on where we want to be for location and finances, etc. If you are a reader at all of this blog, please pray for us. It's so stressful buying a home and trying to make a decision that you hope is a good one, especially when you now have kids and future kids to think about. Please pray that God opens up the perfect home for our family in the right time. Thanks everyone!

Almost Walking!

2009-04-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is my lil munchkin walking away...then whining when he comes to an obstacle...don't worry...I have like 5 other videos of this same exact thing in every area of our home.

10 Months!

2009-04-06T09:22:00.001-07:00

Kingston has learned so much this past month! I'm so bummed too that I have started to dwindle on the photo taking again so I don't have any new photos yet for you. Here's a quick breakdown:

As you know, he was worming his way through life until he started "officially" crawling at exactly 9 months. Now, he has learned to pull himself up, walks around the furniture and has even begun to walk with his lil push/walker toys. Aw, he looks so cute. The only thing: he hasn't learned to turn around on his own yet so he pushes his toy straight into the wall or a piece of furniture and then wails cause he can't go anymore. It's pretty exhausting for me cause I have to keep trying to teach him to turn.
His balance is getting better and better on his feet. When we used to walk him around the house he would mainly use his tip toes. Now, he plants his foot on the ground pretty good. He just may take off on me one of these days!
Kingston babbles a ton and will mimic your voices, especially when you say, "Kingston, say mama..." And he'll actually repeat it!
He learned to clap his hands! He fully understands you when you ask him to do it too!
He has finally taken a liking to feeding himself. Boy, I thought this day would never come! He has seemed so clueless on what is food and it finally clicked one day.
We're still working on signing. I've been signing to him since he was 7 months and he for sure won't repeat it or do it back, but I think he is starting to realize what it means when I do it. Not sure though...
Kingston is becoming quite the traveller. We had to road trip to Oregon 2 times within a week of each other and he did pretty darn good for a wee one (I, however, barely survived...there's just something about a fussy/whiny child in a car when you know you still have 2 hours to go...I couldn't handle it very well). And, we will be going to Cali in 3 1/2 weeks with him too for a wedding! Our first plane ride! Woohoo!
It's becoming a huge challenge to change his diaper. All he wants to do is take off on me.
He's suprisingly not into much around the house. Our main concern is his love for cellphones and laptops and he sees one and beelines it for one. Other than those, he doesn't touch Gracie's dog bowls...doesn't play with the tv/sterio stuff...doesn't touch the bookshelf...he plays with one drawer and one drawer only in the kitchen and just so happens to be a drawer I don't even keep anything in...he doesn't go play in the bathroom, unless someone is in there, then you have to be careful not to leave him in there cause one thing he does love are DOORS and he'll end up shutting the door and he'll be all alone in the dark and get scared.
A new and recent thing for him: he carries his toys in his mouth. He's pretty much a squirrel. If he likes a certain small toy, he tucks it in his mouth, under his teeth and carries it around like that. If it falls out? He shoves it back in. :)

Those are your Kingston updates! Oh yeah...I have him on video walking around with his toy...I will try and post those later!

A Funeral.

2009-04-02T19:19:00.001-07:00

Gordon Ray Vannatter March 29,1931 - March 27, 2009

My last grandparent (My mom's dad) passed away last Friday afternoon. Just two days shy of what would have been his 78th birthday. This is the most recent photo I had of him. This was taken at the beginning of September when Kingston was 3 months old. George & I drove to Oregon with Kingston so my grandfather could meet and see him. I'm so glad he was around for his first great-grandchild. The weekend of March 21st, I received word that he wasn't doing to well and his days if not minutes were numbered. So George & I (with Kingston) drove down to Oregon to be with him. He couldn't really move, see or talk, but could hear. And I know that he knew we were all there. Since the 21st, life was super hard. I felt like my whole world was on hold. It was just a waiting period...watching the time literally tick by every second, wondering when he would take his last breath. To watch and wait as he slowly passed was horrible. In that time though, he came to Christ and was baptized! I'll miss him dearly, but I know he's in a better place now...with my grandmother...and with my Lord.

A Wedding.

2009-03-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

George and I had the priviledge to attend my friend Jenna's wedding last night at the Arctic Club Hotel in Seattle. Has anyone else been there? The room was so beautiful, I LOVED it! I told George I wanted to throw my 30th birthday there-Ha! To that which he replied: No. I'll keep working at it....Anyways, the wedding ceremony and reception was so awesome. We had so much fun! Congratulations Jenna and Kamran!

Super quick photo op with the Bride. (Not the most flattering photo of myself...ya know...it's one of those that you have to do super fast and you're sitting down so the person next to you is taking the photo so you have to turn around awkwardly and lean back as far as you can only to accomplish what you didn't want to accomplish? Yeah...one of those...but Jenna looked so GREAT!)

Anne & I (Anne was one of the bridesmaids...)

The hubs...

Weird Dream.

2009-03-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have many weird dreams. Most, I actually have to draw out diagrams to really show George how weird they were. Last night? It was short, sweet and to the point. I had a dream Kingston's first real word was goggles. He said it so vivid and clear. Everything else was extreme baby babbles then if you would point to the goggles and ask him what they were he would say, "Goggles." Then look at you like what else would they be mom? Michael Phelps is that you?

Join Us For Easter!

2009-03-25T11:47:00.001-07:00

Oh, Baby!

2009-03-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Ashley came into town from Denver for her baby shower! Anne & I hosted it at Ashley's parents house in Kirkland and I must say, it turned out so cute! The few pictures that I have don't even do it justice really. Ashley is having a baby girl (Harlow Grace) so of course the theme was pretty in pink! :)

You Know...Just Some Adorable Photos...

2009-03-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

Feeling Blessed.

2009-03-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

One specific incident moved me to write this blog (and you would think it was my negative attitude the other day, but it's not ;)). George and I were picking up some ice cream at Coldstone yesterday evening (The Pie Who Loved Me...get some...you'll love it!) and the gal behind the counter asked us if we wanted to donate a dollar to something of a sort to support someone of a sort (could you tell I was really paying attention...I was actually more enthralled that they had ice cream cupcakes). So of course George was like, of course, why wouldn't I? Then we were chit-chattin' about it and the gal goes on to say, "You would be surprised on how many people are really against giving one dollar. A man was in here the other day and jumped down my throat when I asked him, saying, 'Why in the world would I donate a dollar in this economy, when I'm the one that someone should give a dollar to?!?!'" My initial reaction was: Really? It's a dollar. How selfish are you? Again: It's a dollar. I understand the economy sucks. My husband is in mortgage. You think his job has been candyland the past 6 months? And who are you to think that someone somewhere owes YOU? Alot of harsh accusations there's, especially coming from a girl who basically has a 2009 resolution to be less selfish (talk about being a hypocrite, sorry :()Here's the thing though: Christ has meant for this life to be enjoyed, but at the same time never guaranteed that it would be easy peasy for us. So alot of time, I don't get the complaining. And if you ask me? I think life is super hard. And I tend to DWELL on the hardness of it and oh how tough it is and what I don't have and what I think I need or what I think I deserve and all the pain and suffering and sickness and fear and death and anything negative you can think of. I think I am so negative, I don't enjoy life. I'm constantly looking for the enjoyment. Waiting for it to drop on my doorstep. I don't take the time to even look at the things I am blessed with that actually make my life enjoyable. And yes, there are the easy blessings: Great family, Good Friends, Awesome Husband, Beautiful and Healthy baby boy, the Best church (shout out to Eastlake, what what), etc. Then this is where it gets tough...I feel like it's hard to notice details, so I'm going to do my best to pour out some things I feel blessed with:

I feel blessed that I even know Christ.
I feel blessed to even be married.
I feel blessed to have even been pregnant and given the opportunity to raise a handsome lil' boy!
I feel blessed George even HAS a job.
I feel blessed that George even got a promotion within his company.
I feel blessed that we own a home.
I feel blessed we each have a car.
I feel blessed that finances suck so bad and yet we can still manage to put food on the table and eat and pay bills.
I feel blessed that I can still shop every now and then.
I feel blessed that I feel my attitude changing a little each day into a more positive one.
I even feel blessed that even though marriage sucks sometimes that our marriage doesn't even really suck.
I feel blessed I can CHOOSE to stay home with Kingston.
I feel blessed to know I have a husband who becoming a better husband each day and he has a wife who is becoming a better wife each day.
I feel blessed that we have hot water (weird I know), so hot that our doctor made sure that we turn it down so it doesn't burn our lil' one's hands when he attempts to turn it on. I mean really? We have so much hot water that we need to turn the heat down? How many people in this world can say that?
I just feel blessed.

I would rather have a life that is ultimately unknown, uncomfortable and a bumpy road cause it constantly brings me to my knees to Christ. If I had it "good". If I lived in the house I wanted. If I lived in the city I wanted. If I wore what I wanted to wear. If we made more money. If I drove what I wanted to drive. If I get to travel all the time where I want to travel. I can honestly say I don't think I could seek Christ out as much as I do and really work on being humble, less selfish and to see the many blessings in my life. God would much rather have a relationship with me and guess what? I would much rather have a relationship with Him.

Just A Few Pet Peeves...Just A Few...

2009-03-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

How the parking spaces in this world don't exactly accomodate SUV's.
When you're parked in a huge parking lot with lots of space choices and someone else feels the need to park RIGHT next to you.
Then it just so happens that person parks on the side your child sits making it extra uber difficult to get them in and out.
When old people are still driving...run a red light...almost hit you...then stare at you like they have no idea what just happened..."Uhhhhhh, you just ran a red light dumb a$$" (Yup, I just swore on my blog.)
When an extra cheerful employee of McDonald's offers me half of their menu after I already ordered, like I'm not embarrassed enough that I'm picking up fast food, "No, I don't want another double quarter pounder with cheese or a fresh hot apple pie right of the oven for 50 cents!" Thanks though.
Even further...when extra cheerful employees of any fast food restaurant feel the need to guess my meal size or what I would like to drink. I feel like purposely changing my order so they are never right..."So you would like that a large?"...."Noooooo...a smaalllll."...."So you would like a coke?"...."Uhhhhh, nooooo...a DIET coke."
And P.S...anyone ever notice how Wendy's tries to trick you by just saying, "Medium or Large?" As if they have no small...well I don't fall for it...ever.

That's it. For now.

9 Months!

2009-03-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

Kingston turned 9 months old yesterday! The lil' man is growing up. So much has actually happened in the past month too! Here are the monumental recaps:

Weight: 17lbs. 13oz. (10th percentile)....so when I say lil'...I really mean lil'. It's ok though cause doc says judging how tall and thin George is and how thin I am, he's on the right track! Kingston actually had to get weighed twice cause the first time the nurses messed up and called his weight at 15lbs. 4oz (less than 3%)...talk about a jaw-dropper, I thought my kid was anorexic.
Length: 28 1/4 in. (50th percentile)...average.
Head: 17 1/2 in. (25th percentile)...whatever...I don't care about his head.
Kingston is actually crawling now! He seriously did it yesterday while we were at his check up! The doctor scared Kingston so Kingston scurried his way to George and I'm like, "Did our son just crawl?" George confirmed: it was a crawl.
He's pulling himself up. He has actually become really disinterested in his toys because of it. All he wants to do while he is awake is stand up, sit down, stand up and sit down. It's cute that he's learned but now I have a tugging toddler at my feet yanking on my legs and pants when he gets a chance! He is also standing in his crib now...I'm just waiting for him to figure how to climb out :) Actually I'm more like hoping he doesn't learn at all, but that's just a long lost dream I'm sure.
His two front teeth are FINALLY coming in and Kingston's been an absolute terror in the meantime! He has a total of 6 teeth now at the expense of mine and George's sanity. These have been the worse so far. He is constantly fussy, I feel like I have a newborn again. There was a little bleeding too so I really do feel bad for the lil' man and wish he weren't in so much pain.
Last but not least, Kingston's babbling so much more. MOST of the time it really does sound like "mama", but I know that he really doesn't understand that and it really isn't him saying it...soon I hope!

If All Else Fails...Post Photos!

2009-02-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

Serve With Grace.

2009-02-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

OMG, these would make any girl want to be a better hostess! I have to have one! Anything that makes me look cuter while I'm working away...Sign me up!

http://www.heavenlyhostess.com/