We're having a....

It's been awhile since I posted on my little blog and there's a reason... I have had NO energy due to being 14 weeks PREGNANT!! Yes, Darrin and I are adding to our little family! It's so exciting to finally say it now!  We found out at five weeks and it's still crazy that I have a little bean growing inside of me. I've waited for this moment since I was a child and it's unreal that I will be a Mom by Christmas time!

My first trimester is exactly how I pictured it... Sick:( My Mom and my sister were both the same way when they were pregnant and I am just like them. Guess it runs in the family! Now, that I'm into my second trimester, I'm getting better and feeling more energy. Darrin's been so caring and understanding of how I have been feeling. He's taken on roles that I can't do and doesn't complain. He's an incredible husband and he will be an amazing father.

I just went maternity shopping the past two weekends because I'm starting to show. Things are getting a little snug;) We had our thirteen week appointment last week and heard the strong heartbeat. We also switched to a wonderful midwife in my practice because my original doctor left. We are so happy with her and she was so informative, which we need! We don't get another ultrasound until we know the sex, which is in six more weeks! We have our instincts on the gender, but who really knows? We just can't wait!

Since my last blog post in April, we haven't done too much since I haven't been the life of the party lately, but some things we have done:

-Beginning of May, we flew to CA to tell my family and friends the exciting news in person!

-Told my Dad at his 70th Birthday and will never forget his reaction;)
-We celebrated our one year anniversary!

-Finally had a small housewarming party.

-Maddie turned one and has been loving swimming in the lake a lot. She's a huge water dog!

-Lot's of positive changes at my work.

-I have been doing more freelance design work at night.

-My Mom retired after 32 years of teaching fourth grade! I'm so proud of her. 

We have a lot of projects to start this summer. I'm surprised that I haven't done any baby planning, but hope this trimester will be the time to get things done.

So, that's our exciting news! We are so happy and looking forward to the next six months until we meet baby Quesenberry!

First ultrasound

Right when we found out! The whole fam together.

The shirt Maddie wore to tell my family on Skype

Seven week ultrasound

12 weeks, first maternity shirt and a little bump showing

April in North Carolina

So, I'm getting caught up on my April North Carolina trips! I've been twice and plan on going again next weekend... In the beginning of April, Darrin and I went to stay with his younger brother in Raleigh. We went to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers play and it was an awesome show! I have never seen Darrin so pumped before! The next day, the guys took me around Duke University and I was in awe. The campus was so gorgeous and it made me want to be back in college again. Miss Maddie Duke got a picture in front of the chapel of course! We had lunch in Chapel Hill and saw UNC. Their sorority/fraternity row was so beautiful. It reminded me of the houses in Palo Alto.

Then last weekend, my Mom came to visit! She flew into Charlotte and we stayed the night. The next morning, I showed her around the area and she was very impressed. Then we headed off for a two hour drive to Asheville, NC. I had no idea this town was so artsy! I felt like I was in Santa Cruz again. We had lunch downtown at Mayfel's which is a New Orleans style restaurant. The fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and muffuletta were sooo good! This place had such a cool atmosphere and loved how they were dog friendly;)
I found this Antique Tobacco Barn that is #1 in the Western NC. My Mom and I drove up and our jaws dropped. This place was 77k sq. ft. and we had only an hour to look before they closed! This store was amazing and not like the crappy antique malls. I wanted everything, but found one item I will cherish forever! That will be a separate post:)
That night we wanted some Carolina bbq, so I found this cute place online that had great ratings. We had the best ribs, collard greens and mac and cheese! We had the best Bloody Mary's too! They make a BLT Bloody Mary, which we didn't try. It had bacon, lettuce and tomato all stuffed inside the drink. Talk about Southern! Yep, we ate pretty well on this trip.


Our last day was spent at the Biltmore Estate. One of the most beautiful house tours I've ever been too. It makes Hearst Castle look tiny!
This weekend we are going back to Asheville again and it will be fun to experience it with Darrin this time.

Miss Maddie Duke at Duke Chapel.
Who's named after her Daddy's favorite bball team.

HUGE!!

The Biltmore Estate

The Estates Backyard. It was a gorgeous day.

My big redneck NASCAR weekend!

My first NASCAR experience in Martinsville, VA was a great one! 

I remember watching a couple of races with my Dad on t.v. while growing up, but NASCAR is not a big deal on the west coast. I would have never imagined going to a race, but now that it's on in our house eleven months of the year on Sunday afternoon's, I am beginning to like it. Mostly, I like the goss on the racers and the wrecks. Then Darrin fills me in on the rest, ha!...The past weekend was quite an experience and quite a party! The weather was absolutely perfect, but the ticks were out in full-force! I had a total of 7 blood sucking ticks attached to my skin! I guess that's the nature of camping in a field;)...We had a group of about fourteen and we all wore our high fashions from Walmart! Goooood times!

"If you ain't first your last!"--Ricky Bobby

American pride.

Of course you have to have camo solo cups!

Camping field that was right next to the track.

Will's sweet mullet for the weekend!

So stylin'

Chuck who's creeping in the back.

Race time!!!

My man Tony #14 didn't win, but his team mate Ryan Newman won.

March sunroom goal: Completed

My whole family and my coworkers have been really sick this whole winter and I'm surprised I haven't gotten anything. I thought it was helpful since I have my own office and don't pass tons of germs?... Well, this week was my turn and then I passed it to Darrin yesterday:(  I took Monday off since my head was pounding. I tried to rest, but that didn't last, since it was lawn day around our neighborhood. That didn't help my head at all! So, I got busy on more house projects.

My goal this month was to get the sunroom done and it is 90% done! It's pretty close to my board I did a few weeks ago. Just need a few more items to fill it, but I feel this room will be always changing. I'm just happy it's not empty anymore;)

Craigslist buy

NOOO!!! Caught her in the act!

This painting was a surprise gift for Christmas from my Dad and his wife.
It was painted by their friend who is a local artist in Clear Lake, CA.
It's very special to us because it's a scene at the winery where we got married.

Left over shelf that I did in the kitchen, so I bought three Anthropologie door knobs.
Screwed them in and instant coat hanger!

Also, this past week we had a lot of FIRSTS: 

1. First bbq at our house. We need to buy a real homeowners bbq soon! 
2. Darrin mowed the lawn for the first time and I planted new flowers.
3. Maddie got her first haircut at the groomers
4. Maddie was boarded for the first time. Don't think she slept one bit!
5. Our nephew turned ONE. 
6. Our other nephew turned FIVE this week.
7. Both nephews got their first Virginia Tech hat!
8. Finally found a good hair salon! I don't have to fly back to CA to get it done;) Close to home and reasonable!
9. And this weekend will be my first NASCAR RACE!!! CAN'T WAIT for the GOOD people watching!! I promise I'll post pics.

First cookout on our deck.

Savannah wanted to join.

First snip snip and got a cool bandanna too!

What's all this excitement about?!

My buffet bargain find

My hunt for a buffet/bar is over!


Buffets are so expensive at Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel and right now, I couldn't imagine spending those prices. Since getting all new barware from our wedding registry, we haven't had anywhere to display them. I have been looking for a nice bar for a long time and I finally found one at a garage sale last fall!


Our reaction pulling up to this garage sale was pretty funny! We felt as if we were in a horror movie out in the boonies. I asked the lady if she had any bigger furniture and she pointed out to her cow pasture towards this metal shed. I didn't get it? It didn't look like any place to put your nice furniture. I was imagining that it would look like Dexter's kill room inside, so I made Darrin come with me. After struggling with the massive metal door, we opened it and my buffet was starring at me! There were about four dressers and other junk in this shed. I saw the imperfections in the two pieces I took and all for $30 each! 


I knew the buffet would look nice stained... but that meant hard work for me. 
This was my project while staying at Darrin's Mom's in December, while we were waiting to move into our new house.

It was in pretty bad shape.

Maddie didn't like the fumes

A lot better, huh?!
Next: The reveal of the dresser. I've been staining it this week!