Holidays | Baby Shower

It's been a long time since the last post, but with the holidays... and the lack of prepping for this semester... time flies!

Let's see, we spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in DeKalb with Lara's parents and had a good time. The farm is pretty picturesque for a winter scene! We also got to go to Chicago both times. The first time we saw Lara's good friend Carl and walked around Chicago and had lunch at this awesome place called The Walnut Room. The second time we went into Chicago, we got to hang out with Cerj and check out the Museum of Science and Industry as well as see a comedy show at The Second City. Both times were crazy fun with great attractions and even better company. I can see why people love Chicago so much :)

We're ice skating...or are we ice skating?!

The Bean :)

Lunch at the Walnut Room with handsome Carl

At the German Christkindl Market

Christmas at the Srajers

Cerj and me at the Museum of Science and Industry - Ahoy!

Lara and me working the farm look at the Museum of Science and Industry

Front of The Second City

We are cold, but not too cold to get a picture :)

The show we saw - SO FUNNY!

Inside The Second City - 2nd row, center :)

Cerj and I stuck in the snow in a golf cart on the farm (Lara taking photo) - Lara's mom had to come pull us out!

New Year's Day, we flew out to Las Vegas for our baby shower and so I could see my family while I'm still pregnant. Beyond the shower, we spent a lot of time eating at places we desperately missed (EVEN Port of Subs), hanging out with our friends who came in from Reno for the shower, and after the shower, spending ample time with my family and our friends living in LV. 

As for the baby shower, it was more than amazing. My mom put a lot of effort into making it a great shower for Lara and me, and we couldn't be more thankful. The help she had from my sister (invites), dad (decorating the cake), Nalleli (getting the reveal cake and helping us get ready ;)), and Mel (games and emceeing)...it just made everything perfect for us. Not only did our good friends from Reno come down to show support, I think every person I've known since I was in diapers and who is currently living in LV was at the baby shower - my godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family/family friends, and co-workers of my mom's.  It was overwhelming for me, but we felt blessed to have so much support at our shower. There are too many pictures, and what I'm going to share doesn't really capture the full night, but these are some of my faves:

Dessert bar and gender reveal cake

Dad's cake decoration

Table setup

Drink cups

Some of our Reno friends :)

The ladies and my lady!

My godmothers and their families

My uncles and aunties...and cousin JR

Wow, a photo where I'm sitting down...not how I spent the evening

Teya breaking it down for everyone

Onesie decoration game - it got crazy!

Joe and Amanda's son Oliver - he's really that cute all the time and my family gushes over him

Mom surprising dad...that's nice after 43 years. LOL!

My love and me :)

Actually, the morning of the baby shower, we also did a 3D ultrasound at Miracle in Progress, my sister's gift to us. It was awesome! We were allowed to bring family and friends into the ultrasound, and it was great to share the experience with everyone. They got to listen to the heartbeat, watch the baby move around, and I even saw a grin! It was pretty funny hearing the commentary as I was lying on the table - "Look at the nose!" "Oh wow, it looks like Lyn!" "I think it's a boy!" "That is a very Filipino nose!" "The baby moves a lot!" Anyway, here are photos:

Heartbeat chart

Very Filipino Nose

See the grin?

Breakfast at Omelet House before the ultrasound - Oliver is right next to Amanda :)

Prepping for the show

:) Love Lara

The audience - so fun having everyone there!

The Vallejera Ladies

For those who don't know, it was a gender reveal baby shower. We had no idea what the baby's gender was! I think the video was posted multiple times on FB, but just in case you didn't see it (forgive me, I'm not good with any kind of media):

It's a boy!

I was beyond shock to find out we are having a boy! I was anticipating a girl...God, I've been calling him a girl since about 4 months into my pregnancy! What's crazy is that I actually wanted a boy since I could fathom having kids, but I just felt like it was a girl. I got used to the fact that I would have a girl. It took me a week to realize that the baby is in fact a boy, and we are having a son! :)

So, the baby shower and LV trip in general was almost a month ago! Since then, we have started decorating his nursery, had a growth ultrasound (he's right on track!), and just getting ready to welcome him home! 

He's sucking his thumb!

Lara painted the walls gray and it came out great!

Rocking chair - it was the same rocking chair in Lara's nursery!

At some point, I will update about how Lara and I are doing, but for now, it's been all about baby for the most part! I leave you with a marker of where we were and where we are now - baby bump alert!

Just Moved to Altoona - 8 Weeks

Days After the Baby Shower - 28 Weeks

About a Week Ago - 31 Weeks