Another bike around the lake

On Friday evening I told Evette we were going to ride around White Rock Lake again the next morning. The first thing out of her mouth: "Papa too?" And she asked about my Dad the entire time (he came on the last lake ride with us). 

Even without my Dad's presence, we still have a great time. We rode around the lake in 35-40 minutes (~9 miles) non stop and then played along the shore for a while.

I usually leave "photo overload" moments to Heidi... But I can't resist. 

She chased a butterfly.

Sat on rocks. (and walked along them, but I couldn't get a picture of that since she was far from stable alone)

Tried to sit on posts.

Chased a muster of wild peacocks on the way home, in a neighborhood near our house (notice to albino ones!!!) (muster is the peacock equivalent of flock/gaggle/herd/etc., just googled it - now you know! Ostentation is also acceptable, apparently)

I'm loving this weekly tradition. I think Evette likes it too.

Biking with the Babbs

After Heidi and I ran our half marathon together I decided I wanted something just as physical but perhaps more fun than running. (I know, I know, who doesn't love running? The first mile or so is always fine, but no matter how far I'm running every mile after that is decidedly awful) So I got a bike, since my last one was stolen just before we moved out of Provo. Heidi's one rule: if I got a bike, we also had to get a baby carrier so she could partake in the fun. Deal.

So I got a the best ~$250 bike I could find on Amazon - a single speed, steel frame, Vilano brand. Beyond being cheap but good quality, it appeared to my wannabe hipster in me: it has cool coloring (see below) and its single speed makes it easy to maintain and feel "connected" with.  Now that I've ridden it a bit I appreciate the workout the single speed forces - I don't have gears to rely on as I crank my way up and down our hilly neighborhood.

Turns out I love cycling. I don't see myself getting the neon monotone spandex unofficially required of any adult cyclist (can someone explain this to me? I don't understand why no one questions this mob behavior) nor riding hundred+ mile races, but I thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoy the workout but mostly love the scenery and exploration.

I also love the time I get to spend with this girl.

She loves biking. "Bike, bike!" is something we hear just about every time she steps into the garage. It took her a while to warm up to the helmet but it's seriously one of her favorite things. Before she could say "bike" (as of about a month ago) she'd go "th th tss th th tss" to signal she wanted to go on a bike ride - her version of the sound the bike makes, I guess.

We've gone on several long-ish bike rides together but I'd always considering the ride around White Rock Lake (9 miles) to be a daunting challenge, likely thanks to the horrific memory of when Heidi and I ran around the lake in February. We didn't prepare ourselves adequately, didn't bring food/drink for baby, and it got dark 3/4 of the way around the lake. Miserable. Near hysteria. We survived. 

But I got gutsy and took us around the lake a week ago Saturday morning. We loved it. "Wa-wa!" (water is one of her favorite things, so seeing it in such abundance is sheer joy for her. Seriously, water bottles are her equivalent of teddy bears or blankets most toddlers cling to). 

We took a few breaks to walk out on the docks.

And just take pictures.

And enjoy the scenery.

And feed/chase the geese and ducks.

^Thanks to that lady in yellow for giving us bread!

Or feed herself? 

And then this last weekend my parents were in town for the 4th of July. Thankfully we were able to borrow  a bike from our friends, the Hasslers, so my dad was able to come on the second of what I'm trying to make a weekly tradition.

We had a great time. So glad my dad was able to come! Heidi and I are very blessed to live so close to our parents. We're also so blessed to live in such a beautiful area with great cycling routes nearby, a beautiful lake a mile away, and wonderful old trees everywhere. Our little corner of Dallas is awesome. If you don't believe us, come visit us. We love it here.

{Recent Happenings}

Mimi came over to visit! [Evette has a hard time saying Grandma and so we are "trying on" different grandma names. Right now it's Mimi]

Mimi came over to visit! She didn't stay for super long, but I think it was good for her. She had just finished her long week at girls camp and she took lots of naps at our house to recoup. I was terrible at taking pictures and these are the only 2 from her visit that I have! oops.... Sean had to work extra long that weekend so it was fun to be able to spend some one on one+baby time with her!

Evette loves to go on bike rides with her daddy! She talks about it all week long and can't wait for him to get home on the weekend to talk about it. At some point, the husband will blog about all their adventures.

Sometimes we take trips downtown to pick up Daddy and have impromptu family dates

Evette went to her first couple birthday parties recently! She did great and told them, "Happy Day!" - adorable. Great parties, great friends! 

We also went to our neighborhood block party! We were anti social and didn't meet anybody.... but we got some free food and enjoyed the festivities so.... that was good!

Evette loved this slide and this series of pictures crack me up!

{Pregnancy Questions}

This blog post will be organized into two sections. The first being questions that you are allowed to ask me/Sean during the pregnancy - and the answers to them. The second being questions that you are not allowed to ask me or any other pregnant woman ever. [Yes, there is such a thing as a "bad" or "stupid" question - so don't ask them] I, or my friends, have been asked all of the questions that I have included.

Good Questions and Answers

What's your due date?
Our guess date is January 8th

When did you find out?
On my birthday!!! Happy Birthday to me!

How far along?
13ish weeks

When and will you find out the gender?
Yes we will find out in 2 more months

How is this pregnancy compared to the previous?
It's like comparing apples and oranges. I pretty much slept through my entire first trimester with Evette but now that little one is running around and requires much more of my time. Overall - it wasn't too bad. Mostly tired, a little bit nauseous. I'm pretty much back to normal now.

Can I come pick up Evette so you can take a nap?
Yes!

Cravings?
Not really. Right now I want eggs Benedict - anyone wanna make me some?

Can I make you some Eggs Benedict?
Yes!

Names picked out?
Only girl names - boys are trickier. And no, we're not going to tell you because if you have your baby before me and steal my name I will cry.

Another all natural birth?
That's the plan!

Is Evette excited?
Yes!! She pats my belly and says "Baby!" all the time. We got some older sibling books and we read them dozens of times a time. The baby is one of her favorite things to talk about

Bad Questions and why they are bad

Was this planned?
Really? How awkward is this question and why is it your business? Don't ask this question.

Are you excited? Is Sean?
Ummm if you expect anything other than "yes" you're crazy. Don't ask this question.

Another one? Already?
Apparently. Don't ask this question.

Do you have to go to the bathroom all the time?
When has it ever been appropriate to talk about bodily functions? Don't ask this question.

How much weight have you gained?
No. no. no. no. this is not appropriate. Remember how you're never supposed to ask a woman her weight? Just because she is pregnant doesn't mean that she isn't a woman or human or doesn't have feelings. Seriously. Any questions regarding my weight, size, girth are completely off limits. Don't ask these questions.

Are you sure you're not having twins?
Thanks for telling me I look like a ginormous elephant. Don't ask this question.

Should you really be eating that?
Me, my body, and my midwife get to discuss what I eat and how much. Period. The end. Don't ask this question.

Horror Pregnant stories....
This is not a question but I don't wanna hear any of it. None. Not even if it's "relevant." Absolutely not. Yes, I have heard enough scary pregnancy/birthing stories to last a lifetime - no, I do not want to hear another. Don't ask share these stories.

Shouldn't you be working out more/less?
None of your business. Don't ask this question.

Can I touch your belly?
No. It's still my body. Don't ask this question.


EXCEPTIONS - If you are a close friend of mine I will probably/have already talked about all of these questions and you probably know more than you want to. Also, I will also probably let you touch my belly. That's what close friends are for - but let me divulge all this information.

And an adorable picture of Babbs just because.

{Friday Five}

1. Swimming with my favorite little buddy in our pool outside

2. Pool time with some of our friends

   3. Watching this little girl studying a black fuzzy caterpillar 

 4. Having Daddy fly home a day early and surprise us! We went swimming as a family - so fun!

5. Hearing the new baby's heartbeat and celebrating by eating froyo. Thanks for all the congratulations, friends! We're excited!

{Expiring}

There is nothing worse than realizing that your gallon of milk in the fridge expired a few days ago - especially after you've poured it on your cereal and your little one is drinking it from a sippy cup - true story, friends.

Or when you've planned a whole meal around the fact that you have a tub of sour cream in the fridge only to open it up to finish off the casserole and realize that it has expired and is covered in green fuzz - also a true story.

Or the coupon for the package of diapers you're about to buy expired yesterday.....

Maybe this blog post is revealing too many family secrets.

But you know what - sometimes it's great when things expire.

For example - check out this shirt that the Babbs is wearing:

You read that correctly, friends! Evette's "Only Child" title is expiring early January 2014!

Another little McQuay Baby is rolling in with the New Year!

We are thrilled and feel blessed beyond measure!

{Garden Update}

We got to eat this summer squash for our Father's Day dinner :)

Pretty Pepper

Tomatoes are getting big......

 But I gotta get them before the birds do :(

But when I do, they're delicious

  

My rose of sharon bush has exploded in these beautiful blooms

The pole green beans are doing fabulously! We had them for dinner this weekend when my mom was in town :)