Dodger Games and Fortune Cookies

This last month,
Travis and I have enjoyed a couple L.A. nights attending Dodger games. 

It's something we both really enjoy doing.
And you can't beat a game at Summer's end.
Tank tops in the warm night air,
and the sun setting over the Hollywood Hills 
as the game approaches the bottom of the 2nd inning.

There is something so exciting,
so exhilarating, so contagious
about a stadium filled with like-minded fans,
all dressed in Dodger gear and cheering for our home team.

It's impossible not to indulge in the simple things the American tradition offers:

Dodger dogs, the wave,
singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game in the seventh inning stretch,

arms wrapped 'round each other,

and the irresistible sway from side to side.

There is nothing quite like it.

And these last two games were more special
than any game we've attended in the past.

Not because Kershaw was pitching against Bumgardner.
Or because we had amazing seats behind home plate.

But because we knew something no one else knew.

There was something more to it than just Travis and I going to a baseball game.

Because I got a fortune in a cookie a few months back,

and I did something I don't normally do.

I kept it.

Why?

Because it was the best damn fortune I've ever received from a cookie.

I mean, I've had "fortunes" that were more like factoids.

For example: "Digital circuits are made from analogue parts."

REALLY!

I'm being totally serious. I received a fortune cookie that said that.

You can't make this stuff up.

As you can imagine, I felt jipped.

 

But this cookie?

Well, THIS cookie said,

"You will soon have something you've always wanted."

I read it, looked up with a grin

and tucked that tiny piece of paper in my purse pocket.

I knew it was one I wanted to hold onto.

And you know what?
A couple months later that fortune came true!

I do have something I've always wanted.

It's growing inside me right now.
It was growing inside me those nights we cheered on our boys in blue.

It's only the size of a lime now,
but it is getting bigger every day.

It's a baby people!

No, no. Not a food baby.

 
I apologize if the lime reference threw you off.

It's a real HUMAN baby!

This was our first look at Baby Mandala! (8 weeks)

Hi sweet lil' baby!!

It has a brain, spinal cord, vital organs,
arms, legs, even lil' fingernails, etc., etc., etc. . .

. . . but most importantly, a beating heart.

And Travis and I are over the moon excited about it.

This is me at work the morning we found out.

It was a Tuesday morning.

A Tuesday we will never forget.

Do I look nauseous? Because I am.

But happily nauseous nonetheless.

Since we found out it seems like time is moving lightning fast.

So, so very fast.

And I am trying my very best to slow it down.

Source

To enjoy this moment. These moments.

Because before we know it, life is going to be a whole different ball game.

There will be a learning curve, some foul balls and strike outs for sure.

But more importantly,

there will be arms wrapped 'round each other,

and irresistible sways from side to side.

 And I'm really looking forward to all of it.

Only 28 weeks to go!

In the meantime,

I will enjoy the cute nicknames Travis has coined for me.

My favorite thus far?

Precious Baby Carrier.

Hehe.

I can't help but giggle at such a sweet thing.

Happy day to you readers!

XOXO

Aimee

Summer's End

Summer is quickly coming to a close,

and I'm holding on to every last bit of it I can.

I'm holding on to tank tops, jean cut-offs, bathing suits,
sand at my feet and sun on my shoulders.

I'm holding on to quiet days at the beach,
where I find myself reminiscing about the very close past,
just inches away from the present.



I'm holding on to warm nights out,
quiet days in,
afternoon naps and late night ice cream fixes.

I'm holding on to all of it.

But I admit, I'm being a bit greedy,
as it's been an over-indulgent Summer.

We've had our share of road trips

 & birthday celebrations.

Travis' 30th Birthday at Mahe.

My 31st Birthday. A day out on the Duffy boat in Naples
with some of my best girlfriends and their handsome men.


We enjoyed multiple dinners out with family.

Travis' 30th birthday. Here's Trav with his Mom, Pop,
and sister, Tami at our favorite Chinese food restaurant.

Travis & I at Mahe, our favorite surf & turf restaurant.

My fam and stuff.

Brian & Trav are there, but not in pic. :(

We spent a weekend away with friends at Big Bear Lake.

We rented a pontoon boat.

We fished.

We played over the line and boccie ball.

We bonfired. We BBQ'd.

We played an epic game of jenga.

We had a long weekend away in Cambria with Travis' family.

We went wine tasting.

Beer tasting.

And ate at Main Street Grill like 5 times.

What? It's just so good!



We got to see our dear friends, Jessica and Ross,

who were on a visit home from their 18 month stint in Israel.

Yay!

Aren't they supremely cute?

 

We had to celebrate with Jameson shots,
a fav that Jessica has not been able to enjoy in Israel.
Unless, of course, she was up for throwin' down some serious cash.

Travis went to Las Vegas.
Twice!
(Sorry, no pics. Because you know what they say, 
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.)

I've had my share of beach days. . . 

. . . and my beloved evening runs with my pups
while the sun still shines at such an hour.

(Soon we will be back in our reflective gear for our night runs.)

Our last trip of the Summer
 was a weekend up to Santa Barbara

to celebrate our friend Mikey's 30th birthday.

Mi-key!
(He was catching up on some much needed sleep.)

We stayed at a small ranch house about 10 minutes from the beach

and across the street from a nature preserve in an amazing neighborhood.

The ranch had a beautiful horse named Peaches. 

Mikey and Peaches.

And an adorably charming miniature donkey, 
Oliver, who liked to try to eat your pants.

Look at him moving in for it!

I think it was his way of showing affection.
Like, Thanks for petting my ears, I want to eat your jeans.
Seems logical right?

There was a dog named Logan, a cat named Hunter (ahh, no pics!),

about 20 chickens, 10 baby chicks, and 1 very loud Rooster.

I could've gone without the Rooster at four in the morning.

And again at 5, and 5:30, and 6, and 6:30 and 7... basically I could've
shot the Rooster for disturbing my weekend sleep-in sesh.

But all in all we enjoyed that lil' ranch. 

 The morning walks at the nature preserve.

Aren't the trees lovely?

The backyard pool. 

And the gorgeous beach.

The sand was fine and the water calm, excellent for intermittent dipping.

It was the perfect trip to end a pretty perfect Summer.

And I am grateful for all of it.

So very grateful.

Because I know it's fleeting.

Fall is upon us.

And although I'm a fan of Fall leaves,

Fall fashion and Fall holidays. . .

. . . the reality is,
 I'll take Summer over Fall any day.

But I know Fall, Winter and Spring
only make Summer that much sweeter.
And sometimes you just gotta give in,
and let go.

So I guess I'll do just that.
I'll get ready to break out
 my boots, scarves, and sweaters. . .

. . . breathe in the cooler night air,
and embrace that Fall is just around the corner.

I know this Summer is going to be hard to top next year,

but I have a gut feeling it might be even sweeter.

Happy End of Summer friends! 

XOXO
Aimee