sleeping in seattle

these next couple posts are going to be photo dumps from our trip

to washington and oregon.  we had so much fun and i'm so glad we went

exploring in the northwest. 

seattle was probably my favorite part, although our next two stops

were gorgeous.  i just loved the city and everything there was to do and see.

our first night there we started with the space needle. 

i figured it was a "must do" when you go to seattle

 and since we could see it from our hotel window

 i thought we could walk there.

ronnie thought it was a rip off because it cost $20 a person to ride up the elevator 

and see the view.  but i think you have to do it.

and if you're really wanting to spend some money, there is a fancy restaurant that rotates below the viewing deck. we decided against it, but the menu looked good. 

 

the next morning we got up and went to the pike place market.

a true gold mine.  i suggest not eating before you go because 

there is a TON of fresh fruit and restaurants to choose from.

also there are these amazing little donuts you can buy by the bag. 

basically, go hungry because you'll be mad if you're not. 

notice the top right picture below?

the famous fish market as seen on the bachelor. 

and yes, they were throwing fish. 

also down in pikes place market is the original starbucks. 

notice the line out the door?

i think its a big tourist spot because there was 

another starbucks not nearly as busy a couple blocks down. 

beechers makes their own cheese and you could watch them make some up while eating 

what i heard is the most amazing mac'n cheese in seattle so we had to try it. (it was good)

after the market, we decided to head to the pier and catch a ferry to bainbridge island.

the pier was pretty cool.  lots of restaurants and shops.

we went into an antique shop and got a little something for brette.

 

 

 

 

the ferry ride was only 30 minutes and the island was beautiful.

i really wish we had our rental car for better exploring,

 but we did walk around a little town and do some shopping. 

the next day we went back to the market for lunch (had to try the clam chowder) and stopped by 

the gum wall - also seen on the bachelor. 

 

and since we had rented a car, we made our way to the other side of union lake 

to look up this local treasure - the fremont toll. 

and yes, he is holding a real VW bug. 

and while we were there we found a nice little park with a huge hill,

perfect for taking pictures.

unfortunately, we didn't see the no parking sign and got a $50 ticket. 

but the skyline shot is probably my favorite so...

so basically i loved seattle

and hope to return someday.

maybe in the summer. 

just add it to the list

i had my first charlie horse in my calf about 4am last night.

holy mother.

have you had one?

its god-awful.

i woke up ronnie to ask him what to do

and he said i just had to ride it out.

it is paralyzing pain and i just laid there

sounding like a cow in labor

until it finally relaxed.

then i laid motionless afraid

to make any sudden movements.

and just so you know,

it is still tender.

in fact, i was limping when i got up.

 

i am praying that they don't happen frequently,

i might saw off my leg.

middle name revealed

thank you so much for all your help with brette's middle name.

from our list, my favorite was annalise.

ronnie's fave was marie.

i went through all your comments and text messages.

i think marie, olivia and london were people's top picks.

ronnie loved the support for marie.

but in the end, i wasn't sold.

 

abbey, a friend of mine, suggested ainsleigh,

which i thought was adorable,

but ronnie didn't like it.

then, last night, i went all sorts of martin luther king:

 

i had a dream.

 

her name was brette annaleigh.

i think its a sign.

and i love it. 

 

we hadn't thought of leigh before and i think ainsleigh was still in my head.

i must have taken anna from my original fave, annalise and combined the two.

i told ronnie as soon as i woke up.

i think he's on board.

 

so as long as i get my way,

(he won the chair fabric debate, so i should win the names.

that's completely fair, right?)

i think its safe to say that this june we will be welcoming

drumroll please

 

brette annaleigh cox

an inlaw easter

 

ronnie and i hosted easter at our house this year.

we finally brought out our deck furniture

and made it an outdoor event since it was SO freaking nice.

we had many rounds of hunting for easter eggs,

a little game of bocce

and lots quality family time.

 

not to mention i have leftovers for the rest of the week.

sa-weet.

 

happy easter!

 

 

 

 

(31 weeks)

help!

we are having a middle name crisis.

i love brette.

but i don't know what i love with brette.

so i need some help.

maybe you can come up with something i haven't thought of.

or vote on your favorite from my list below.

anything is helpful at this point.

 

here are my rules.

1. it needs to be two or three syllables. i prefer three because brette and cox are so short.

2. it needs to be girly.  since brette is so gender neutral, i would like her middle name to scream "she's a girl, you idiot!" most of my favorite names could work for a boy or a girl and i'm not sure if it's fair to give her a boy's first name and unidentifiable middle name.

3. i would like it if it weren't SUPER popular. but really, at this point, its just a middle name, so who cares if everyone else and their mom have it too.

 

brette _____ cox

ready, go.

 

brette annalise cox

brette olivia cox

brette carlene cox

brette annalynn cox

brette gwendolyn cox

brette london cox

brette caroline cox

brette margaret cox

brette eloise cox

brette alaina cox

brette marie cox

brette louise cox

 

 

seriously, this is hard.

and its freaking me out.

ronnie has a favorite, that i don't love.
i have a favorite, which i don't know if he loves.
they're both on the list, i won't tell you which ones.

this is probably the one and only time
i want your opinion on my kid's name,
so take advantage.


 

 

 

 

 

a real looker

beauty comes from within,

yes?

 

so it doesn't matter that my at home outfits

are getting worse and worse?

because i'm pretty sure ronnie is worried that he may have

lost his wife somewhere along the way.

 

want this amazing look for yourself?

just grab your yoga pants, your husband's sweatshirt and an old hat.

really, its that simple.

 

i promise i have better style,

but the snow and the weather are heinous

and in turn, so are my clothes.

wah wah

but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

i bought two new maternity dresses.

they were on sale at old navy

i have showers and weddings coming up

and i needed something to wear.

hopefully the weather starts cooperating.

 

 

 

 



a work in progress

we got our chair for the nursery!

i was so excited because it was four weeks early.

nebraska furniture mart definitely gets my seal of approval.

isn't it pretty?

you can't really see the pattern,

but its a celery green gingham.

very nursery.

and did you notice the adorable pillow?

i got that off etsy.

(pretty much where i've been doing all my shopping)

its coral dandelions. i was instantly in love.

other things i've gotten off etsy?

art for my gallery wall over the dresser.

(i changed the hot air balloon from pink to coral

 - another reason i love etsy. personalization.)

(and this is supposed to be kites over london. a little shout out to my english heritage.)

i can't do much more until after my showers to see what i still need for the bedding.

and really, i'm not missing much else, except for things on the wall,

which i already have everything i want in mind.

i just have to find it.  or have ronnie make it.

i still need a light fixture.

oh, and a mirror.

if you see anything like this for cheap,

let me know.

can't wait to get it all put together.

so much fun!