An old friend of mine from SC moved back over from San Diego with his family and decided to come down for a visit. The last time we got to see them was when we went for a visit after my cousin Cheech's wedding in Vegas.
At that time Lorenzo, my godson, was just a baby and Zachary was just a peanut in Carla. This past Friday they drove down with the boys and I took the day off to meet up with them.
We ended up taking them to the Celebration Market Cafe for lunch and then out for sushi for dinner after at our spot Shiso Sushi.
Saturday we were up early to hit Disney World - Lorenzo's second visit to Uncle Walt's and Zacahry's first. The day was dry and wet on and off, but the lines were fantasticly short. I don't even remember going to as many rides on previous visits. Heck I even got to see the newly renovated Tiki Room which had been closed (almost permanently) previously. I hadn't been there since I was a little boy. After full day we left and had a cookout at the casa.
Eventhough it was a late dinner (9pm!) we were able to sit outside eventually and have BBQ al fresca with some tunes and the temperature dropping to a cool breeze. It was nice to sit and chat as adults once the boys were put to bed. A few hours later we decided to call it a night.
The next day was really low key with visits to the Farmer's Market, which ended up being the American Pie Cookoff (check it out on Food Network!) and then a Disney Liquidation sale nearby. After a short stop to the bookstore (thanks Carla for the baby book!) we headed home to say our goodbyes. A good visit overall. We'll see them again on Memorial Weekend for my (our) birthday deep sea fishing trip in SC.
(see picture)
Now Zachary quit yer bitching or I'll really give you something to cry about!!!
Friday, April 28, 2006
It was a nice break for us to have visitors again. It had been a little while since El has gotten to hangout with another pinay other than siblings. Too bad we don't live closer - we'll work on that.
Carla is a great complement to Steve - she's made him a better person, not that he was an ass to begin with or anything. Ha ha! I kid! I kid!
Carla is a great complement to Steve - she's made him a better person, not that he was an ass to begin with or anything. Ha ha! I kid! I kid!
For Lorenzo, age 3, it was definitely a Pixar weekend for him. Before they got into their room I bought the boys a Buzz Lightyear and Woody talking action figures. Little did I know it happened to be one of his favorite cartoons. Sweet!
I seem to get along well with kids (Really! Ask El) and have fun, but I really spoiled the hell out of Steve and Carla's kids. Their just so damn well behaved and affectionate it was hard not to. Plus, he's one of my god sons. That helps, too.
I seem to get along well with kids (Really! Ask El) and have fun, but I really spoiled the hell out of Steve and Carla's kids. Their just so damn well behaved and affectionate it was hard not to. Plus, he's one of my god sons. That helps, too.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Still No Video!
Today was our second ultrasound for Ellen and Baby. We showed up a little early and were very anxious to see the baby's progress. We met up with Dr. Melissa Moore who after a quick update got the show started.
Once she had the equipment set up we immediately saw how baby was doing and how big (s)he got. I was definitely surprised! The little heartbeat was pumping away. The one feature that got me wasn't the size of the baby, but rather the arms and legs moving around. What looked like like a alittle peanut not even a month ago now looked like a tiny tot.
To me it actually seemed like the little one had their thumb in their mouth. The little legs would kick whenever Dr. Moore moved the ultrasound rod around. Such a great moment for us.
All our concerns about the baby were dashed away as soon as we saw how active the baby really was. Too bad the ultrasound didn't have video record capability. Dr. Moore let us know that Florida Hospital would have the right equipment once we go back for the 20 week check up. I can't wait!
Once she had the equipment set up we immediately saw how baby was doing and how big (s)he got. I was definitely surprised! The little heartbeat was pumping away. The one feature that got me wasn't the size of the baby, but rather the arms and legs moving around. What looked like like a alittle peanut not even a month ago now looked like a tiny tot.
To me it actually seemed like the little one had their thumb in their mouth. The little legs would kick whenever Dr. Moore moved the ultrasound rod around. Such a great moment for us.
All our concerns about the baby were dashed away as soon as we saw how active the baby really was. Too bad the ultrasound didn't have video record capability. Dr. Moore let us know that Florida Hospital would have the right equipment once we go back for the 20 week check up. I can't wait!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Set the Oven to 350˚ and Place Bun Inside...
It had been a hard week and El and I decided to have dinner out that Sunday night. She had been craving sushi so we went to our favorite spot near home, Shiso Sushi. After dinner she mentioned again that she was late for her period.
Now this in itself is not necessarily abnormal. It's happened before and she always jumped the gun and bought an EPT test to see if she had "A Bun in the Oven". It always ended up being negative and her upset. She really wants to have a baby. With the EPT she said she would get a more accurate response in the morning vs. that evening so we waited.
Forward now to about 330am Monday...
I hear a scream in the middle of the night and awaken startled by the sudden outburst. Groggily I look at the clock and then to the sliver of light coming out from the crack of the bathroom door. I know what's coming next.
Immediately I see the door swing open and El run out and jump on top of me "OOF!". What can a guy do? I'm happy for her. If anyone deserves a chance to be a great mother, it's her. We stay up till daylight talking and it's time for work. I'm dead tired, but happy.
We promise not to say anything to anyone until the first trimester, just in case. We'll see how long that really lasts (later I found out it didn't last long, but I'm just as guilty).
Fast forward to today...
We broke the news to our parents this weekend for their anniversaries (April 23) in the form of an anniversary card and baby booties with a picture of our first ultrasound taken a few weeks ago.
Tomorrow is our next ultrasound and El is closer to her 12 week mark. A little research revealed to me this past weekend that the baby is almost the size of chicken egg right now. Whoa!
Arms and legs should be in place and nails are starting to grow. Crazy how fast this baby is going to develop. Just a month ago it was no larger than a dime. I'll keep you posted of the results. Keep your fingers crossed...
Now this in itself is not necessarily abnormal. It's happened before and she always jumped the gun and bought an EPT test to see if she had "A Bun in the Oven". It always ended up being negative and her upset. She really wants to have a baby. With the EPT she said she would get a more accurate response in the morning vs. that evening so we waited.
Forward now to about 330am Monday...
I hear a scream in the middle of the night and awaken startled by the sudden outburst. Groggily I look at the clock and then to the sliver of light coming out from the crack of the bathroom door. I know what's coming next.
Immediately I see the door swing open and El run out and jump on top of me "OOF!". What can a guy do? I'm happy for her. If anyone deserves a chance to be a great mother, it's her. We stay up till daylight talking and it's time for work. I'm dead tired, but happy.
We promise not to say anything to anyone until the first trimester, just in case. We'll see how long that really lasts (later I found out it didn't last long, but I'm just as guilty).
Fast forward to today...
We broke the news to our parents this weekend for their anniversaries (April 23) in the form of an anniversary card and baby booties with a picture of our first ultrasound taken a few weeks ago.
Tomorrow is our next ultrasound and El is closer to her 12 week mark. A little research revealed to me this past weekend that the baby is almost the size of chicken egg right now. Whoa!
Arms and legs should be in place and nails are starting to grow. Crazy how fast this baby is going to develop. Just a month ago it was no larger than a dime. I'll keep you posted of the results. Keep your fingers crossed...
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Thanks Easter Bunny! Bok! Bok!
So it was Easter Weekend. Every Friday since about two years ago I had been pretty good about eating fish for lunch and dinner, but what have I given up for Lent? How about "trying"? Just kidding. El and I have been very busy in more ways than one. ;)
With Steve and family coming down for a weekend next week, I was pretty busy with preperations. Lots of landscaping and home maintenance, freelance design work and such have consumed me for the past few months. This weekend was all about relaxing and being outside.
Saturday afternoon Paul and I decided to drive up to Tommy and Lyndsey's to help them move into their new house. Congrats guys! Afterwards, I was wiped out!
A quick nap later I was back outside planting and working on getting my patio into cookout condition.
Sunday, El and I got up early to make it to church in Kissimmee and see Jenny and Joe Lamy do their thing with the choir. The church itself and the choir are very impressive. I've been to quite a few different churches and Mary Queen of the Universe, despite it's kooky name, is one of the best I've been to. Designed with the Florida tourist in mind, there is no real local congregation, but it never fails to draw a HUGE crowd even on regular Sundays.
Afterwards, we had a nice brunch outside at the Market Street Cafe in Celebration and then off to pick up more plants for our landscaping project. We worked well after sundown and spent the evening in the backyard chilling outside (72 degrees with a breeze!) listening to some music.
Not bad overall, for an Easter Weekend. Hope yours was just as productive, yet relaxing as mine.
With Steve and family coming down for a weekend next week, I was pretty busy with preperations. Lots of landscaping and home maintenance, freelance design work and such have consumed me for the past few months. This weekend was all about relaxing and being outside.
Saturday afternoon Paul and I decided to drive up to Tommy and Lyndsey's to help them move into their new house. Congrats guys! Afterwards, I was wiped out!
A quick nap later I was back outside planting and working on getting my patio into cookout condition.
Sunday, El and I got up early to make it to church in Kissimmee and see Jenny and Joe Lamy do their thing with the choir. The church itself and the choir are very impressive. I've been to quite a few different churches and Mary Queen of the Universe, despite it's kooky name, is one of the best I've been to. Designed with the Florida tourist in mind, there is no real local congregation, but it never fails to draw a HUGE crowd even on regular Sundays.
Afterwards, we had a nice brunch outside at the Market Street Cafe in Celebration and then off to pick up more plants for our landscaping project. We worked well after sundown and spent the evening in the backyard chilling outside (72 degrees with a breeze!) listening to some music.
Not bad overall, for an Easter Weekend. Hope yours was just as productive, yet relaxing as mine.
Howl at the Moon
I got the booty call from Paul to head out somewhere after work different than our typical boozing spots (MonkeyBar, Room 3 Nine, or Casey's). I usually stay away from the touristy spots, mostly on International Drive, but I was swayed to go to this piano bar, called Howl at the Moon. Once a spot downtown on Church Street it closed down once the street lost popularity and became stereotyped as a tourist area.
Now located conveniently near Universal Studios and Wet & Wild it would never be a personal choice to decompress. Ingrid said she had come out here previously with some cowerks and so I was game to try.
The dueling piano players were an interesting element - they were actually very good. Tons of tourists, think bachelorette parties and conventioners, comsumed the joint and it was obvious it was pretty much a meat market.
It was a good time despite it being a bar for out-of-towners. Definitely pricey on the drinks, a line outside and a COVER CHARGE was ridiculous. Oh well - it was all about hanging out with friends...
Now located conveniently near Universal Studios and Wet & Wild it would never be a personal choice to decompress. Ingrid said she had come out here previously with some cowerks and so I was game to try.
The dueling piano players were an interesting element - they were actually very good. Tons of tourists, think bachelorette parties and conventioners, comsumed the joint and it was obvious it was pretty much a meat market.
It was a good time despite it being a bar for out-of-towners. Definitely pricey on the drinks, a line outside and a COVER CHARGE was ridiculous. Oh well - it was all about hanging out with friends...
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