Giants Fever Outside my Office...

Before game two of the World Series yesterday afternoon, I went for a stroll around SoMa (South of Market in San Francisco) to see what all I could find.  

Being that I work two blocks away from AT&T Park, I can hear cars honking and people shouting "Let's Go GIANTS" without even having to crack a window (which is good considering the fact that our windows don't open, but I digress...).  

With all the madness going on outside, I couldn't help but grab my camera and take some photos...here are some of my favorites!

Fans getting creative with T-Shirt designs...

Local businesses showing the Giants some love...

Parking lots taking advantage of the World Series (this lot is typically $10 a day)...

Momo's PACKED at 2:00pm on a Thursday...

With a line already formed down King Street...

Parking lots taking even MORE advantage of the World Series as you get closer to the Park...

San Francisco Psycho...I don't even know what this is, but I liked it!

Women painting on beards in honor of Brian Wilson..."Fear the Beard!"

Lines EVERYWHERE...

And a going-out-of-business Borders Bookstore turning into a Giants Dugout for the week...

All in all I must say that I'm quite proud of San Francisco's Spirit - There's MAGIC Outside!

Happy Friday and GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bump Report: Week 27

First and foremost, let's start this update on the right note...

 

Week 27

Now that we've gotten that taken care of, I can update you on my Bump.  I have some big news to share with you this week! 
 

The Bump informed me that I've officially entered the Third Trimester!!!

And while I know this is quite possibly the most feared trimester (due to the rapidly growing belly, swollen limbs and reality that life is about to change FOREVER), I'm quite excited about it!   It could have something to do with the fact that I'm still feeling pretty darn great...or the fact that I'm way more excited than I am stressed...but either way, I think it's a milestone worth noting.

The email also said, " Got a sudden pain in your rear? That's just baby, settling into place for her upcoming debut. Her head might be pressing on your sciatic nerve, which can cause pain and numbness down the backs of your legs."  Eek!  Luckily I haven't experienced any of that yet, but we'll see how long my positivity lasts through this final Trimester (I'm sure all you Moms out there are thinking to yourselves, "Just you wait, crazy woman...you have no idea what your body's about to go through!")...

Oh, and shockingly enough, Abby is still the size of an Eggplant...apparently about a two pound Eggplant.  It's amazing how visible her movements are now!  Last night while sitting on the couch watching the Giants WHOOP on the Rangers, Abby was showing off for Mommy and Daddy...doing flips, punching Mommy, etc...and you could see her various limbs protruding from my belly - CRAZY!!!  There's really a little baby in there! 

Question for you guys: What were the biggest challenges you faced during your Third Trimester?  (so far my biggest challenge has been putting on shoes while standing up and attempting to balance on one leg all at the same time!)

Here are a few more pics that were taken first thing this morning (hence the no makeup and sleepy eyes).  And one more thing...GO GIANTS!  

Week 27

Week 27

Week 27

Change Isn't Good...It's GREAT!

Well now that it's officially posted over at TapMommies, I can post it here as well...just in case you aren't aware of what's been going on over the past 6 months...

Change Isn't Good...It's GREAT!

Changing careers. Getting married. Starting a family. Moving.

What do each of these events have in common? They’re consistently categorized as some of life’s most significant (and oftentimes stressful) events.

Why does any of this matter to me? Because in the span of six months, I’ve been impacted by every single one of these events…in SIX MONTHS.

My story goes a little something like this…

In March of 2010, I made the tough decision to quit my job as a Financial Analyst at a Commercial Real Estate company where I absolutely loved the people I worked with but no longer found joy in my day-to-day tasks…

In that same month, I married my best friend and after celebrating with friends and family, we enjoyed the most amazing Honeymoon in Costa Rica…

After taking a month off to “re-evaluate my career path” and become a Master Chef in the kitchen (I had much more success with the latter), I began hunting for a new job in May (there’s only so much downtime a person can have before going stir crazy!)…

One whole week later, I landed a new gig as an Executive Assistant to a Partner at a C-Level Recruiting Firm in San Francisco…

The day after my 26^th birthday in June, my new journey as an EA began…

Right as I was getting settled into my new career (I was literally a week in), my Husband and I learned that our time in Costa Rica was even more magical than we’d originally thought…a Pregnancy test came back POSITIVE…helloooooooooooooooo Honeymoon Baby!

And just in case a new marriage, a new job and a newly forming fetus weren’t enough, we were also forced to face the reality that our one bedroom apartment in San Francisco was no longer going to cut it. Cue the two bedroom apartment hunt…

By the time August rolled around, we were officially settled into our new apartment and bedroom #2 was officially deemed Abby’s nursery.

I must admit – as I’m describing this journey I can hardly believe I managed to maintain any sanity whatsoever over these months. Thank goodness I have my husband, Travis, as my rock – he’s unbelievably talented at keeping me grounded when I’m convinced the whole world’s about to implode. He’s also great at reminding me that while each of these changes have been significant, they’ve all been incredibly POSITIVE! Sure, at times they’ve been a bit overwhelming, but here’s the bottom line: I have an unbelievably supportive husband, a steady yet flexible job, and a family that’s about to grow exponentially with love.

Plus, I feel like these changes are simply rounding out the past few years which have been quite amazing all on their own. I met my Husband in 2008. We were engaged in 2009. We got married in 2010. And we’re expecting baby Abby to arrive in 2011. That’s not a bad run…

Enter 7x7xMommy…

With so many changes and stories to share (paired with my passion for writing), I decided to embark on my blogging adventure with 7x7xMommy on August 18^th of 2010. While I’ve only been at it a few months, it’s quickly become a passion, an obsession, and a way of life.

And as life continues to evolve in the coming days, weeks, months and years, I look forward to sharing these stories with you. I’m both flattered and humbled to be joining the TapMommies team at HealthTap and I hope my contributions will be insightful, informative, and most of all, irresistibly entertaining!

7x7xMommy

TapMommies has Officially LAUNCHED!

I am in the middle of one of the craziest weeks at work, but that WILL NOT stop me from posting this EXTREMELY exciting news...

Robin (the Social Media Director and CFO *Chief Fun Officer* at HealthTap) just informed me that the newly designed TapMommies Blog has officially launched...and after taking a peek at it myself, I couldn't be more excited!  

The design is AMAZING (props to Robin!) and the content is pretty darn amazing as well (check it out and you'll see why I'm so keen on it...)!

PLUS...could the logo be ANY CUTER?   I think not.

Please go poke around the site, read my Featured Article Change Isn't Good...It's GREAT!, and stay tuned for updates...

This is TOO fun...TOOOOOO FUN, I tell you!!!

7x7xMommy

Spotted...HealthTap in the San Jose Mercury News!

OK, OK, so I may not have Spotted today's post on my walk to work this morning...and I can't even take credit for spotting it (thank you, Travis)...but it is most definitely Spot worthy!

Last Wednesday I announced that I will be joining the TapMommies crew over at HealthTap (yay!), a blog that "helps pregnant women and new moms make better decisions about their health and well-being."   And yesterday morning while we were enjoying a delicious breakfast at my parent's house in Redwood City, Travis was flipping through the Sunday Business section of the San Jose Mercury News and all of a sudden looks up and says, "Hey, HealthTap is mentioned in this article..."

The article?  Get ready for the decade of Gamification by Chris O'Brien.  It's a great piece that examines how "Gamification" (which "developers believe...will make the dreariest of tasks more fun and engaging") will not only become more and more commonplace, but it will soon become expected in the consumer online experience.  

HealthTap, therefore, is on the cutting edge of the internet trend - people want to have engaging experiences online...and not just engaging experiences, but fun experiences.  If HealthTap can channel this desire and create a positive, educational, and health-promoting experience all at the same time, then I feel like they're truly tapping into (pun intended - I crack myself up...) something special.

As stated in the article, "Ron Gutman, founder of HealthTap, a valley startup that's in early development, said his team is trying to figure out how to use gamelike tools to motivate people to share their health concerns, find treatments or providers that can help them, and then take better care of themselves. 'If you can get hundreds of millions of people playing a game like 'FarmVille,' what can you learn from this kind of engagement?' he said. 'And can we deploy it in a place that it will do good? Like helping people lead healthier lives?'"

I must say, not only was it fun to read about HealthTap in the paper (and to understand more about the significance of Gamification), but I'm proud to be a small part of such a positive initiative. 

Sunday Cravings: Pacific Puffs

What a perfect Sunday...

We can rest easy knowing that not only is our laundry done, but the Giants are officially in the World Series (GO GIANTS!)...

We can enjoy the much needed rainy weather from the comfort of our couch...

And most importantly, we can spend quality time with wonderful friends, they're ridiculously adorable sons, watch some football and enjoy some absolutely delectable food...

After indulging in an amazing feast from Nick's Cripsy Tacos (love that it's half a block from our apartment), Kam and Lauren surprised us with some dessert...cream puffs from Pacific Puffs in the Marina.  

All I have to say is WOW...I've never had a Cream Puff before (I know, I know...where have I been?), but these things were mouth-wateringly scrumptious. 

I enjoyed the Puff with the Chocolate Filling and I kid you not, I could have eaten fifty of them (but I'm glad I didn't...pretty sure that would have left me feeling a little guilty).  

Anyway, if you haven't tried them before, you must.  They're located at 2201 Union Street in San Francisco - if you're in the neighborhood, check 'em out!

Thank you, Kam and Lauren!!!  

Happy indulging, friends! 

Keeping Things in Perspective

I think everyone can admit to getting caught up in the moment every once in a while and forgetting to keep things in perspective. I'm certainly guilty of this.  Life can be stressful and overwhelming and there are definitely times when all I want to do is bury my head in a pillow and forget about everything that's going on around me. 

And while I think mini-meltdowns like this are completely normal from time to time (and possibly even necessary once in a blue moon), I do think we can all improve on (and benefit from) keeping things in perspective...

So when I was listening to Pandora the other morning while getting ready for work (with my self-proclaimed amazing mix of stations including Zac Brown Band, Tim McGraw, John Mayer and Lady GaGa), I connected emotionally (though I'm not admitting to shedding tears...but I'm pregnant, so if I did, that's totally acceptable) to one song in particular, Darius Rucker's It Won't Be Like This For Long.

First of all, let me just say thank you to Darius Rucker for making the transition into Country Music.  While I most definitely enjoyed your time with Hooty & the Blowfish, there's something about your writing (not to mention your voice) that was truly meant for Country Music.  I have yet to hear a song that I haven't enjoyed. 

More specifically though, thank you for writing this simple masterpiece that paints such a clear picture of what it means to keep things in perspective when it comes to being a parent.  Being that parenting is one of life's biggest challenges, it's nice to have songs like this that can quickly remind you of what's most important - being present, patient and loving. 

The lyrics are below, but if you haven't heard this song on the radio already, I'd highly recommend checking it out on iTunes (or wherever you prefer listening to your music).

Have a great weekend everyone!  And if you have any music/song suggestions, I'd love to hear 'em!  My iPod is always in need of new tunes...

Darius Rucker - It Won't be like this for Long

He didnt have to wake up
He'd been up all nite
Lay'n there in bed listen'n
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laugh'n
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
It wont be like this for long

Four years later bout four thirty
She's crawling in there bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now dont you worry
This will only last a week or two

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll drop her off
And she wont even know your gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It wont be like this for long

One day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times you'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the isle
And he'll raise her vale
But right now she up and cry'n
And the truth is that he dont mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watch'n her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows
It wont be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah this phase is gonna fly by
He's try'n to hold on
It wont be like this for long
It wont be like this for long

The Bump Report: Week 26

For those of you who have been living under a rock (or who could care less about Baseball), something big is happening in San Francisco...

The Giants are ONE WIN away from being in the World Series.  And for those of you who don't know what that means...well...I just don't know what to say to you, but I suppose I'll let it slide considering this isn't categorized as a "sports-focused" blog. 

Anyway...if you've been following 7x7xMommy you know how devoted Travis and I have been to the Giants.  That being said, for all you LONG-time devoted fans out there, I'll be the first to admit that I've been a bit of a bandwagon-jumper since moving to San Francisco - but hey, at least I have the SPIRIT!!!

If you haven't been following or if you've missed some of my most recent posts, then I highly recommend checking out this video {Click Here}.  I think it'll help to explain a few things...

I just wanted to spell all this out before posting our pictures for Week 26 - there is a reason why I'm wearing the "outfit" I am.  We took these pictures right in the middle of watching Game 4 of the Giants vs. Phillies series last night. 

And thanks (in part) to our spirited couch-cheering and obviously overdone Giants paraphernalia, they won (yes, we're taking some of the credit...without wacky fans like us, I'm pretty sure the Giants wouldn't be quite as amazing...)!

In honor of Game 5 which is taking place TODAY at 4:57pm PST, please enjoy the following pictures...

Week 26 - GO GIANTS

Week 26

Week 26

Go Giants!  Even the Pandas were showing their spirit!

In baby Abby news, she's still the size of an Eggplant, she's flipping and flopping all over like it's her job (which we love!), and she's still allowing her Mommy to walk 5 miles a day without too much discomfort (the only change has been an increase in bathroom breaks...). 

She's also becoming "Daddy's Little Princess" at a VERY young age...check out what Abby gave her Daddy for his birthday last weekend. I wish I could have a pair of matching slippers!

   
She's going to have him wrapped around her little finger in no time...

The New Adventures of 7x7xMommy...

Friends, Family & Followers,

I have some very exciting news to share with you! 

I'm about to embark on a new adventure in the world of Blogging. 

I'm not sure if you remember my very first post back on August 18th, 2010, but I made the following statement:

" I, of course, happen to be the type of idealistic crazy person who actually believes that this blog might bring me new friends, increased wisdom, and overwhelming fame - the last one might be a bit of a stretch, but not a big one..."   - 7x7xMommy-To-Be :: 8.18.2010

An idealistic crazy person...yep, that's me!  And so far, it's the crazy in me that has successfully propelled me through so many of life's challenges, adventures and triumphs.  And today, I feel like I can celebrate a small (yet extremely meaningful and noteworthy) triumph.

I'm extremely happy and humbled to report that I've been asked to become a regular contributor over at HealthTap, a blog that "helps pregnant women and new moms make better decisions about their health and well-being."  Based out of beautiful Palo Alto, this Start-Up is "committed to creating a healthier, happier world – one decision at a time."  HealthTap will be launching a dedicated Mom section on their site and I'll be one of the Voices in their effort to continue building a community.

Please stay tuned for more information on both HealthTap and on my Posts over on their Blog...

Overwhelming Fame?  No. We're not quite there yet...

Overwhelming Excitement?  Absolutely!

Things I DO Like to See...

On a lighter note, I wanted to share something else I saw on my walk to work this morning.

I have been drooling over one particular window display for weeks now...I can't say I'm crazy about the dress (or the hair for that matter), but I CAN say I'm madly in love with the boots.

For the life of me, I can't think of any occasion where I'd be able to confidently wear them and not feel like a fool (or feel like I'm dressing up as the lead character from Harry and the Hendersons for Halloween). 

Plus, being that I'm not a shopper and don't like to spend $$$, it would be difficult to justify the cost.

BUT!!!  Just for the heck of it, in the event I did own these boots, where on earth could I wear them?  Do you think a Preggo woman could pull them off?  I'd love to hear some ideas...

Things I DON'T Like to See...

I've said this before, but the combination of living in San Francisco and walking to work every day can really add some color to a person's life.  

And while most of the time I look like one of those crazies from a first-generation iPod commercial (you know the ones...dancing, skipping, singing, etc), there are definitely mornings where I'm stopped in my tracks either by something absolutely spectacular (gorgeous window displays, artwork, random acts of kindness), or by something much more eye-opening and sometimes even tragic or scary, like what I witnessed this morning.

Today started off as a "typical day" where I woke up, prepared breakfast with my husband (I'm in charge of "making" the cereal...he's in charge of the coffee...we're quite the team), and turned on the news...but this morning, instead of tuning into Brent and Laura making bad jokes (which we're most definitely guilty of laughing at), we saw  "BREAKING NEWS" flash across the screen. 

And while "BREAKING NEWS" on the newly re-branded "Today in the Bay" typically involves a cat getting stuck in a tree or a toilet seat misplaced in the middle of the freeway, today's news was actually significant - there was a 4-Alarm Fire in San Francisco only blocks away from our apartment.  Luckily, I haven't heard any reports of serious injuries, but 75 people were displaced from their homes.  Another thing to note is that in the event there were serious injuries, there's a hospital located around the corner from the fire (a positive to living in a City...).

Being that this 4-alarm fire occurred on my route to work, I decided to walk by and see it for myself...it looked like the entire San Francisco Fire Department was helping out - great work, everyone!  

Just another morning in San Francisco...I'm just thankful everyone is OK! 

I'm Totally Slacking...Week 25

Trust me...

I'll be the first to admit when I'm slacking...and right now, I'm completely slacking.  Friends and family have been emailing me saying, "Where was The Bump Report for Week 25!?!"  

And I must say, while their questions make me happy because that means people are actually keeping up with my blog, it also means I'm being held accountable - SHEESH!  :)   

But the truth is simple -  we never even got around to taking pictures for Week 25 (shocking for those of you who know how diligent Travis and I are about taking pictures regularly).  More than that, I never even found the motivation to WRITE about much of anything last week...well, there were a couple posts, but I can't say they were my best posts of all time (this one included)...

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm extremely aware that I've been MIA...more than that, I am committed to stepping it up this week. 

For those of you who are curious, Abby has finally graduated from her role as a Papaya - she is officially the size of an Eggplant!  Here's a little visual The Bump sent along...so helpful, right? 

Long story short, please stay tuned for this week's Bump Report for Week 26...I PROMISE to have pictures up this time! 

Abby's College Fund

I am a Planner. 

I am also a Saver. 

I get both of these characteristics from my Parents (and it doesn't hurt that my Dad is a CFO).  

Thanks to them, I've always had a piggy bank (yes, I still have one for loose change) and I've almost always understood the importance of saving (except for those stubborn teenage years when I thought nail polish was a wise investment).  

Also thanks to them, I was fortunate enough to have the ability to attend college and walk away from that experience debt-free (THANK YOU, Momma & Daddio!). 

And since I'm a planner and a saver and I want Abby (and her siblings) to walk away from College debt free like I did, I am looking into College Savings Accounts.  My goal is to have one set up within the month.  

After doing quite a bit of research today, I feel like I'm more confused than anything else.  

529 Plan...Stocks...Bonds...CDs...

If you have any thoughts, advice or suggestions for me, I'd love to hear 'em!  If you've been really happy (or disappointed) with a Savings Plan, I'm all ears!  And if I get the kind of feedback I got on my Registry questions, I will be a very happy Mommy-to-Be!

Oh...and and because I want Abby to become a planner and saver too, I might just have to find her a Piggy Bank like this one...who wouldn't want to save with something this adorable!?! 

Rub my Belly (if I know you...but if I don't, prepare yourself for a Pregnant woman beat down)

At nearly 25 weeks Pregnant, I fear I'm approaching that "magical" time when strangers feel it's appropriate to grope my baby bump.  I'm not sure how you feel about this, but in my opinion it's one of the scariest aspects of Pregnancy. 

You see, I have a confession to make: I'm not the most touchy-feely person around...

Ever since I can remember, my family has called me "bubble girl" (or some variation of that nickname).  You could say I'm a little claustrophobic, but that's not necessarily it...I just appreciate and value my personal space.  I'm aware that this could possibly make me sound like a cold, unloving person, but I promise I'm not.  In fact, I'm a very warm and incredibly loving person...I'm just very particular about personal space (hence the reason I walk 2.5 miles to and from work each day instead of riding the over-stuffed bus). 

Other examples?

1. When I'm standing in line at the deli for a sandwich, it stresses me out if the person behind me gets too close (and starts breathing down my neck)...all I can think is, "Please notice the space between myself and the person in front of me...you do the same...it's common courtesy. Thank you."

2. When I'm leaving crowded baseball games (GO GIANTS!!!) or basketball games, I prefer to leave on the early side to avoid the crowds of people pushing and shoving each other to get out (unless, of course, it's a REALLY good game...then I'll just wait until most people have left). 

3. After a movie has ended at the Theater, I try to be one of the first people out of the venue (this serves two purposes...I get to avoid the mad rush down the stairs AND I get to be first in line for the bathroom).

The list could go on and on but I think it's obvious that I value personal space.

So when I envision strangers coming up to touch my belly, I experience some anxiety...I say strangers for a reason - PLEASE NOTE - friends and family, I welcome your warm and loving "hello's" and belly rubs...Abby welcomes them as well...soon enough, she'll probably start doing flips to show off for you (not just in the middle of the night to wake Mommy up). 

But if you don't know me, please respect my personal space...last I checked I'm not wearing a sign on my Belly that says "Please Rub."   Nor am I wearing this...

In the event I ever do wear this, then I give you (and anyone else for that matter) permission to Rub my Belly...but trust me, I will never wear this shirt (although if I wanted to my Husband does own a "Rub my Belly" shirt).  

I officially give you permission to rub his belly the next time you see him...unlike me, he'll probably like it.

I'm curious...I have a question for both the "Mommy's" and the "Someday Mommy's" out there...

1. Mommy's, what was your stance on strangers rubbing your belly while you were Pregnant?  Any horror stories?  Think I'm nuts and overprotective (because that's ok too)?

2. Someday Mommy's, where do you think you'll stand on this issue when you have a baby bump? 

Happy Tuesday everyone...sorry I was MIA for the past few days!!! As always, I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

The Bump Report: Week 24

I'm super disappointed...Abby is still the size of a Papaya.  If you read last week's update, you'll understand why I find this so disheartening. 

And like The Bump, I don't have any special updates to report either...I'm still feeling great for the most part, still growing and showing, and still looking so very forward to meeting our baby girl. 

Also, I've already posted these pictures this week but I didn't feel like taking more after over-indulging in Indian food last night (shout out to Shalimar!  If you haven't been, GO!). 

Happy 6 Months, Abby - I hope you're having fun swimming around in there!!!

24 Weeks - in Seattle!

24 Weeks

Baby Registry: What to Register for?

 

Friends, Family and Followers (have you ever noticed that I always seem to address you like this when I need advice?)... 

Well today is no different - I need some serious advice! 

I know I owe you a Bump Report for Week 24 (I still can't believe I'm 6 months along), but right now there are more pressing matters at hand.  After having a totally fabulous dinner with some absolutely wonderful friends last night ("hi Michael and Lauren!") who asked a lots of awesome baby-focused questions, I realized that I'm sort of slacking in the baby preparation department. 

My focus has been on being healthy, on traveling as much as possible before it becomes a hassle, and on myself (because let's be honest, I only get to be selfish for a couple more months...) - what I haven't started is the huge laundry list of "To-Dos" that need to be accomplished before little Abby makes her grand entrance.

We haven't begun any decorating in the Nursery (other than coming up with the Pink & Panda concept); we haven't done any research on strollers or anything else baby-equipment related; and we most definitely have NOT started a Registry...

To be honest with you, I feel like we just finished registering for our Wedding (which is sort of the truth considering we were registering for that event around this time last year...).  More than that, I've said it before and I'll say it again - there is not one bone in my body that would qualify me as a "shopper."  Luckily, that's why I married my wonderful husband who enjoys shopping...even Registering...so yet again, I will look to him for some much-needed motivation to get this Baby Registry under way...

But before we head out start making selections, we need HELP! 

We're seeking the following advice:

1. STORES to Register at
2. MUST-HAVE Products
   
3. Products that you found USELESS and Overrated (and that we should therefore avoid)
4. Lists that you found helpful
   
5. Products that are nice to have around, but not necessary
6. Nursery items that would help put a personal touch on Abby's room (nothing too terribly pricey, please!)
   
7. Anything else that I'm not thinking of...

I will be anxiously awaiting your thoughts and advice - I can't wait to see what everyone recommends.

THANK YOU in advance!

7x7xMommy

Pregnant in Seattle: A BabyMoon Story

I say Pregnant in Seattle because it would be a complete and utter lie for me to say that we were Sleepless in Seattle...that was the most rest I've been able to enjoy in a long time.  

No big plans in the evenings + nowhere to be in the mornings = a happy Pregnant woman catching up on some much needed R&R. 

And let me tell you - it was fabulous!

The reason for our quick jaunt up to Seattle?  2-for-1 flight vouchers on party-airline Virgin America simply for attending a Giants game a couple months ago...what a brilliant promotion.  The only restrictions included booking by a certain time and flying by a certain time...done and done!  

Even though we could have selected other destinations, we wanted to head somewhere relatively close and somewhere we'd never been before as a couple...so Seattle it was.  And I must say - we were very happy with our selection! 

Not only did we catch up on sleep, but we spent quality time as a couple (well, and with Abby), spent quality time with friends, and spent quality time with family.  How much more could you ask for in a such a quick trip?!?

We were even fortunate enough to have had amazing weather on Saturday and weather that resembled San Francisco on Sunday...check out some pictures from our adventure!

Do you have any favorite special destinations???

On the way into Seattle - Stunning!

Four blocks away from our Hotel - nice work, Travis!

Love how perfectly everything is displayed

Honestly, I've never seen more amazing flowers for $5.00

This is just silly!

We stopped in at the very first Starbucks store on Pike

Here's our proof

Amazing seats at a Seattle Sounders game

Supporting the team in our new Sounders gear!

Taylor and Travis - old soccer teammates at Stanford

I told you the weather was amazing...

This is the view from our hotel room...perfection

Supporting Stanford...too bad they lost to the Ducks

Abby's first trip to Seattle

Almost 6 months along

The sunset view from our room...not bad either!

Yay for touristy pictures!

Visit with the fam!  Aunt Jess & Natalie came to see us!