Boating

We went out on Sunday with Bill on his boat for a quick tour of the lake. We were pretty excited, can't you tell? Later on, Dad let us take his boat out whenever we wanted. Some days it was really too chilly to go out but for the most part we took advantage.

Attendance...

We were so excited to go as we hadn't been able to visit Rick's family that lives in Michigan since our wedding.

Bill and Cathy Umbarger and family (Amy, Kurt, Kyle and granddaughter Callie Ann)

Tom and Dina Umbarger and family (Justin and Scott)

Well, here's the whole crew including everyone else: Jason and Cameron with 6-month old Ella, Dad and Yvonne Poling with Ashley, Brook and Kelsey.

A REAL Vacation!

Rick and I boarded a flight for Grand Rapids, MI early Saturday morning to meet up with his Dad and cousins for a week on Hamlin Lake near Ludington, MI. We landed and by the time we got our rental car we got on the highway at the exact same time the crew was passing! We couldn't have planned it better. The place was called Hobby Crest and it was just lovely. Here are some pics of our cabin and the view from the front (as well as my ever swelling belly :-).

Sonagram Video Finally!

So we left for a week long vacation and this video didn't get uploaded as soon as I expected due to technical and user difficulties. But finally - here it is! I edited the original video from the ultrasound so you wouldn't have to waft through 10 minutes of garbage since it's so hard to tell what everything is when Baby Boy kept moving so much. But here are some highlights! Enjoy!

Drumroll please....

Our baby was being especially uncooperative during the ultrasound. The poor technician was chasing his hands and feet everywhere trying to get accurate pictures. He just wouldn't stop moving. We just hope he gets all this energy out NOW! The technician asked me if I'd had a double espresso or something for lunch! No, just a really REALLY active baby! I think she felt so bad that we weren't getting good pictures that she switched it to 3-D so we could at least have one good look. Well, at least the baby cooperated when it came to knowing if it was a boy or a girl.

So without further ado, here's our little baby BOY! Well, at least his cute little foot.

We are so thrilled! Mommy knew it was a boy all along. Daddy needed convincing. I just know we'll have a sweet little tenderhearted boy - just like his Daddy! He's a bony little thing right now but that will soon change!

Now I can't believe I have 19 weeks to go! Like I said, we didn't get a lot of good pictures, so here's video of our little one cuddling into mommy, being bashful, yawning and trying to get his thumb in his mouth (we think). [VIDEO IN PROGRESS]

Water for Energy

A friend had told me about this story months ago. I recently received the video and thought I'd share. Now let's just hope that because water is "free" governments and corporations don't continue investing in this mockery of bio-fuel from corn that has shown no real energy savings and put the money where the real value is without a toxic or environmental drawback - engines run on water!

New York State of Mind

Last weekend I went to New York to visit my good friends Franca and Matt while Rick was in North Carolina. Rick and I have really been missing authentic Italian so Franca saw to it that I got my fill!

The first Italian meal we had was at Dominic's near Fordham University. It's nestled in a "Little Italy" full of shops to purchase the best Italian groceries. This is a great restaurant to go to, especially if you know what you like. There is no menu so they basically make everything. The restaurant is staffed with little Italian men who are SO CUTE! The seating is family style so when the place gets packed you meet new friends sitting beside you. The food was more than what I expected. We ordered a ton and took most of it back to Matt to finish. The highlight for me was the stuffed artichoke but the anti-pasta, penne vodka, chicken marsala and veal were all fantastic. I highly recommend making a trip to Dominic's if you are a true Italian enthusiast. However, go early to avoid a long wait. They do not hurry out their customers so you could be waiting a very long time.

Lombardi's Original Margharita Pizza - YUM!

My second Italian was real NY pizza - something else Rick and I miss here in Texas. Some places come close, but no cigar. Obviously, one of the best places in NYC is Lombardi's. SO GOOD! It was just as good as I remembered it to be when Rick and I stumbled upon it by accident a few years ago. After the pizza we stopped by a contemporary little place down the street called Rice to Riches where they serve a variety of flavored rice puddings. They come in cute little bowls and all over the store are hilarious signs like this one on the front window.


It is very modern and most important, very GOOD! Yum. I was tempted to stop by the Pinkberry yogurt shop beside it afterwards since I've been dying to try some but alas, my tummy would not let me.

Franca herself @ Lombardi's

The third Italian meal was from Franca - well, sort of. She bought the ravioli but made the sauce. I don't remember where she bought the ravioli but - man oh man - you have not had good ravioli until the cheese and buttery flavor just melt in your mouth. I'll have to get the name from Franca of the shop and update the post for any who may be stopping by NYC or would like to order some and have it shipped.

We also ate at the French Culinary Institute. That was quite the experience and the food was out of this world good. Such a treat!

Matt and Franca really spoiled me all weekend. We had a great time shopping around Canal Street. I love being in the city. I love all the people and the varied cultures. Now, don't get me wrong, I love to leave it too! Here are some snapshots from the weekend.

View From Jersey City (Outside Goldman Sachs)

Jersey City Memorial

Lombardi's Coal Oven

More Jersey City Memorial - I love this one.

Baby Update!

I felt the baby move today! In fact, it almost made me sick. I was on my way to the doctor and I had to stop by the bathroom to make sure I wasn’t going to lose my stomach. Then it calmed to mere butterflies. So cool.

The doctor was concerned because I’d only gained 2 lbs. since coming in. She thought that maybe I was sick or not eating. Neither is true of course. So she says it’s probably just because I eat healthier. She said the average is 10-12lbs by the 20^th week. I’m only at 18 weeks but I can’t imagine gaining 8 more lbs in 2 weeks. We have the anatomy sonogram set for June 26^th! I’m so excited I can’t stand it. So only 22 days left to vote for your choice!