So, we finally joined the many families around here and purchased Disneyland passes. I actually really like Disneyland when it isn't obnoxiously crowded. Our little Zoe loves many Disney movies that she got to memorize while I was sick or on bed rest this year. She gets so excited when she sees a Buzz Lightyear or a Woody doll. There's a lot more where that came from, there is a place so dedicated to these characters she has grown to love I couldn't wait to see how her 2 year old mind would react. We also figured it was something we could do as a family. We seem limited on activities we can all enjoy but Disneyland seemed ideal. I guess that is why it is so busy. To inaugurate our Disneyland pass holder status we decided to spend Thanksgiving day there.

In the morning we had a character breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. It was pure entertainment. The food was so-so but great for kids. Zoe actually ate food there, it's a miracle. Disney characters walk around the tables giving people the opportunity to take pictures with them. Zoe was in awe. When they got close however; her awe turned to fear.

To "take cover"

Jude wasn't scared

When there wasn't a character to cower from Zoe was wondering where they were and wanted one to come back and visit.


Once inside the park it was a toddlers wonderland. If only her parents would let her run freely would it have been better for her. I think I had more fun watching Zoe than anything. Jude of course was a trooper just hanging out in the car seat or sling. I hate to say it but I buy into the whole Disney magic.

5 Years

It has seemed impossible to sit down and put this post together. Even now, I have Zoe sitting on my lap. Most days I wake up and before I know it, I'm giving Zoe a bath and getting ready for bed. Jamin and I celebrated 5 years of marriage on the 1st of November. In creating the slide show I realized I didn't own a digital camera until I was married. That was only 5 years ago, how times have changed. Looking back at our past 5 years I have to laugh at what an amazing time we have had. I also can't believe how young we looked and how different our styles have changed. I am reminded of the good, bad, scary, incredible, wonderful times we have had with gratitude. Thanks, Jamin for a wonderful 5 years.

Halloween Festivities

So we have been celebrating Halloween for a few weeks now. We started off with the Lombardi's first annual Ginger Bread Haunted House Decorating Contest. It was a lot of fun but decorating anything with a 2 year old and black frosting was a little scary. The Jensens won and they actually got a cool prize. The Duncans will be better prepared to bring some competition to the contest next year. Then there was our churches Trunk or Treat. I thought it was a great way to prepare Zoe for real trick or treating. At the beginning she was hesitant but by the end she would walk up all by herself and say "trunk or treat" . We also carved pumpkins for a FHE,aka: family night. We are extremely novice at this, but I think they turned out pretty good. Next year we'll have a better plan for the design. After that was Jamin's work Halloween Party. It's for kids only, they get to trick or treat for candy all around the different desks(it's a huge place), and then there are crafts for the kids. Zoe was totally shy, we'll call it. By the time actual Halloween came around no amount of bribery would get her to put on her costume. We went down town HB. The city closes Main street and the store owners hand out candy. They also provided entertainment including but not limited to a petting zoo (ok, I know that I originally posted "petting Zoe" but come on, I get like 4 hours of sleep each night you can't expect me to be entirely coherent or in complete sentences) and several bounce houses which were all free. It's funny how much fun all of these activities are now that I have a little person who gets excited for them. Even though she didn't wear her costume Zoe was actually brave enough to go in a bounce house and had a great time. I was so proud. She is a bit of a scaredy cat.

2 weeks old!

Well, I have been a mother of 2 for 2 weeks now and so far so good. Jamin has had paternity leave this whole time so today is my first day on my own. I haven't cried yet so I consider it a success but it is only noon. Adjusting to a second child is nothing like the first. I feel for Zoe though. I think her world has been shaken a bit. She acted out a lot the first couple of days Jude was home but seems to be doing better now. She still likes to poke him in the face and tug on his ears so leaving them alone for a second in the same room is not wise at this point(until he can defend himself anyway).

Jude Carter Duncan; 9 lbs. 13 oz.

If anyone has ever delivered at Hoag hospital you know how fabulous it is. One of the pictures is our view from the Labor/delivery room. The whole experience would make anyone who lived even 50 years ago in disbelief. In a small way I feel like I cheated nature. I was induced after all on Monday. I had mixed emotions about it having never gone into labor on my own I sort of wanted to experience it. My lack of patience, discomfort, and depression won over and I decided to go ahead and give my body the extra help it needed. Luckily I did because he weighed 9 lbs. 13 oz.(Zoe was late and weighed 8.2) The doctor had to shimmy his shoulders out of me. Seriously my mouth dropped when I was told how big he was. Anyway, I had been having contractions for 5 days prior to being induced so when they hooked me up to the pictocin nothing felt different. In fact the anesthesiologist came in to give me my epidural and said,"you don't look like you're in pain". I wasn't. My nurse recommended I get it because she thought I would go fast as soon as my water broke. I listened to her and she was right. The whole thing went so fast with out all of the sweating and moaning I so often see on A BABY STORY on TLC. The recovery is phenomenally easier than with my first. I wonder why many of us have to go through the total "but kicking" with the first child? Anyway, I am just really grateful and I am able to enjoy this beautiful little/big addition to our family. We decided on naming him Jude Carter Duncan. This name wasn't really in the running my whole pregnancy and at the hospital I really thought he looked like a Wynston( Wyn for short) but Jude won out. So far, I think it fits him and Zoe says his name sooo cute. He was really smashed in me attributing to his bruised face(what do you expect?). So these pictures are maybe more than some people want to see but they are what we have for now.

Jude Carter Duncan

To induce or not to induce?

So I am a day over my due date. I am 80% effaced and dilated to a 4. I should have had this baby already. Why won't I go into labor? I really haven't minded it until yesterday. Now I have the patience of a 2 year old so Zoe and I are a great little duo. I got induced with Zoe so I was thinking I wouldn't get induced this time. I don't think I can make it. I am going a little crazy. What should I do?

pumpkins are for sitting on

We had Zoe sit on few pumpkins to take some pictures of her. When she sees the pumpkins we brought home with us she wants to sit on them too. I have to say, it is our own fault. The last picture she has that look of,"come on guys, sitting on pumpkins is boring". Anyway, it was a fun night and I love how easily she is pleased by things.

Poonkins

Zoe is a bit of a scaredy cat, so I thought I'd start early preparing her for all of the holiday fun. We got the Target halloween shirt with the black cat to get in the mood and we headed off to the pumpkin patch. Zoe calls them "poonkins". She wanted to pick them up so bad. As we were walking out she grabbed on of the mini pumpkins and would not let it go. For her, a small victory for us $2 for an over priced pumpkin.

Puppy Love

And they call it puppy love...not really, but how cute are these pictures? I kind of think they look like some famous couple being chased by the paparazzi(in baby land of course). We met the Lombardis and the Kochs for breakfast at Sugar Shack. What a great past time. I love doing it, I've done it for years. I'm sure many times with Adam, Dawn, and Jamin long before any of us were ever married. I think it's funny how a location can hold a place in my heart. It's not like it's gourmet food or anything but, in my mind it's where you go for breakfast. Thankfully Zoe and Jack where entertained there with the jellies and cream packs. Oh, a little update on baby #2: I'm over 38 weeks dilated to about a 3 but still no baby. I feel like I'm disappointing many people by not having him sooner. I really have no control I realized, at least until I demand getting induced. Oct. 1st still might happen for me.

So, I have cravings

Unlike my first pregnancy, this baby is very particular about what I eat. Luckily for me, the cravings have balanced themselves out. I have sat down to dinner to something I would normally love and there was just no way another bite was entering my mouth. On the flip side, I want what I want and I do go out of my way to get it. This cheesecake is an example of a craving. I really wanted it. I had extra cream at the house so I thought, "I will have this desert". I couldn't even find the entire recipe that I got from an old roommate. As I lay in bed, it came to me. It was a midnight miracle. I didn't eat the whole thing. My dinner group benefitted from this craving. Unfortunately, they have also been tortured by my cravings.

Another Year older

Zoe helped me open my birthday presents. So, I'm older and not that much wiser. Luckily I have a husband who is pretty good at celebrating holidays and birthdays. It was a good day. We just went to the beach, which is one of our favorite activities, got breakfast at Jamba juice and had La Creperie in Belmont shores. I can't seem to get enough of that place. We usually use birthdays as an excuse to eat fancy ie:expensive but I just wanted those yummy crepes.

Our big girl

Zoe is more and more fun to hang out with. I love that she will say, " cheese" for the camera. Then of course, she wants to look at it. Using a video camera has been difficult lately because I turn the LCD screen around and she just stares at herself and giggles. I just can't believe how grown up she is becoming. We can have conversations now, it's amazing! Too bad that don't show up like this.

36 weeks

People always say that every pregnancy is different. I didn't really believe it until now. I just figured that things would go similarly to my first pregnancy which was fairly easy and virtually painless(until after). Lately I have been having cramps and contractions that wake me up at night. They of course go away by morning. I had a doctors appt. yesterday and he said that I am dilated to a 2 and am 50% effaced. He thinks I'll go early. I decided to look on line to see what others had gone through in similar conditions. Many blogs had women complaining because they were at this stage for 3 weeks. Not what I want to hear. Really, the only problem is that I would like to sleep and be comfortable otherwise Oct. 1st is a much more acceptable date for me. Isn't that funny? I actually care what date he arrives on. I like Oct. 1st. Zoe was born on Aug.1st, my birthday is Sept. 1st, our anniversary is on Nov.1st. How easy it would be to stay organized in the important event category? Anyway, that's just my update it is interestingly insignificant. I could have this baby anytime now or I could have him in 4 weeks. This diagnosis does not satisfy my need to know everything.

Tagged

My 3 joys:
-my family
-the beach
-good food

My 3 fears:
-anything happening bad to my children born and unborn
-anything happening to Jamin
-cancer

My 3 current obsessions:
-going into labor
-finding a new place to live
-Le Creperie in belmont shores

3 Surprising facts:
-I'm psychic
-vivid imagination(refer to above)
-I suck at most video games but the Wii


I tag:

Stephanie

Dawn

Emily

Summer where have you gone?

I seriously blinked and summer is almost over. I don't even know what I did this summer. Luckily I do have a few pictures to remind me. We spent a lot of time at the beach this year. Now that Zoe can appreciate sand and buckets a little better I really have enjoyed a less hands on form of entertaining my child. Looking back now at the summer, we actually had a lot of fun. We played a lot with family and friends. I love where I live for the beach. We live close enough to walk to the ocean and shops. It will be hard to give it up someday soon when we will get into house of our own or simply move into a bigger place. I must say I am looking forward to not being so close to my neighbors but again I digress. I say this because I have had a few total melt downs this summer because of my apartment and car and job and body and......you get the idea. So, even though this summer has had it's melt downs I have some great memories as well. Jamin has been able to spend a lot of time with me and Zoe which was the complete opposite last summer. I actually really like hanging out with my husband which is a nice reminder. We also scored this really cool Woody wagon at a yard sale that has been great for transporting all of the stuff (including mom and baby) to the beach. It rides on the sand great. Much better than tugging furiously at the jogging stroller.

Summer Fun

The Birthday Party!

Last year my family made up Zoe's birthday party along with one or two friends. Most of our friends were out of town. We had such a great time with family that we thought we'd do it again. This time we invited even more family. Although I love all of our family, I don't know that I will do it that way again. Too much drama for a bunch of adults to dish out for a 2 year olds birthday. You'd think it was their party. Anyway, I had a great time regardless and more importantly, Zoe had a great time. She loved having all of her cousins there and her friends too. It seemed like just as I was relaxing and enjoying the party it was over. I was on bed rest so I had a lot of help from our family on both sides. Thanks to the family that came especially those who traveled far and thanks to the friends who came too. We had a blast.

Zoe is 2 years old!

Famous Husband

This ad is a little misleading. Although Jamin has put his name in some of his commercials in a not so obvious place, he did not have a hand in this particular ad. He works for Apple on itouch. The guys who did this commercial just used his name, we aren't sure why maybe because he has an unusual name. Regardless, I think it's pretty cool.

Down for the count

For the last couple of weeks I have been on bed rest. While Zoe was spending some quality time with my mom and I was enjoying some alone time I had a somewhat routine ultrasound appointment. At 20 wks my placenta was a little low so we did a "just in case" ultrasound at 28 wks. In my mind this was just a fun trip to see my baby. The ultrasound tech said the placenta had grown higher into a safe position but by the way your cervix is a little short, let me get the doctor. Huh? 2 weeks of strict bed rest was more difficult and depressing than I had expected. Luckily my family has been a great help with Zoe so I could stay down. At least the 2 wks helped and now I am on "you can take care of your child but that's all" bed rest.

The positive side of things is that I actually feel better. I have evidently inherited some varicose veins on my right leg that actually hurt worse and look worse as days go by. My first pregnancy seemed so much easier. I felt fine with the first one other than mental stress of the unknown. I'd rather have that any day than physical pain.

Did I mention that Zoe had a bladder infection, the flu, and constipation during all of this? One right after the other. Are you kidding me?

Well I am officially done with work as a result of my baby trying to exit or enter too early depending on the context. I imagined the event differently in my mind. Instead of the party that I saw in my mind with the "na na na na, na na na na, Hey hey hey, good bye" song cheering in my head on my last day ,my abrupt exit has left me stunned and actually feeling regret. Weird huh? Anyway, sorry I have slacked on my blogging. I love to read others blogs and get disappointed when people don't update them often. Not that anything I ever post is terribly interesting but I tend to be hypocritical in blogging.

thankful

We love to play at the park. This day, Jamin played pretty hard with zoe. She is so much fun to watch. Zoe has the best laugh. Although she inherited some of her fathers fastidiousness, she is pretty easy. I feel lucky to have her.