Babymoon #1 booked

If you are not on Gilt Groupe's Jetsetter.com yet (Gilt login required), you should really check it out. Some of the stuff is out there (like the $5K package to see Coldplay and Jay-Z at the Cosmo in Vegas for NYE, I wish), but they also have some good deals.

I have been wanting to stay at The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago (one of the top hotels in the world) since they opened in 2001. I've been there over the years to visit their spa, their casual restaurant Pierrot Gourmet, and their great bar (many times ;)), and DH and I had my rescheduled birthday dinner there recently at Avenues (which was AMAZING!).

Now we are staying for the weekend. :) Valentine's Day weekend. It'll be our 7th V-day together and our last one alone. So I figured it was time. Let's call it Babymoon #1. This place is not cheap, and we usually like to stay at nice places when we travel or stay in the city (like 4 star) for really cheap (a la Hotwire or something of the like), but with The Pen, this just wasn't going to happen.

The deal on Jetsetter (a room @ ~the regular price) included a $100 food credit, $30 spa credit, and $100 gift certificate to the neighboring Saks, which made it a "good deal" IMO.

I can't wait!

Introducing...

Our seven week little lentil!



Baby is measuring perfectly on schedule (~1cm) and the heartbeat is pumping away! In case you can't tell, that's the head up top, the heart in the middle, and the yolk sack out front (on the right). It was the most amazing experience when it popped up on the screen. We have now officially graduated from the RE, and will have our first appt. with our new OB in exactly three weeks (@ 10 wks). We couldn't be happier and are just counting our blessings.

Rocker (check)

Eames Rocker

As I'm still looking for the perfect upholstered chair for our tiny nursery (@ a ridiculous grand a pop for anything decent), and my nursery design evolves more and more in a surprisingly mod direction, I found this amazing deal ($79, instead of $300 or more), thanks to the Effortless Style Blog. Of course, it'll need a little padding, but that will be easy enough.

If you're not yet a member of Haute Look, you should join... And if you need an invite, here you go...

I recently saw this in The Bump Mag and found some pics from their website, so you can see what it looks like in the nursery.



I'm also thinking about this one, as it seems to be a very popular choice (it's super comfy), and of course is also priced right.
Poang rocking chair

It also has a matching ottoman...

Luck needed

Well, we need to get some good news tomorrow at our ultrasound numero uno. We should definitely be able to hear a heartbeat at 7 weeks and will also
(hopefully) know how many kiddos we have in there, which will obviously set about all other sorts of plans.

S is leaving on Wednesday for 2 1/2 weeks in India. Unfortunately, he is flying through Heathrow (and Bahrain too in order to get what passes for a decent fare at this time of year, i.e. wedding season), but Heathrow has been closed for days due to extreme winter weather. This is what it looks like there now...




He needs to get to India before the end of the year to take care of family business (settling life insurance, closing on the flats that his dad bought when we were there in '06, but are just now being finished before next year's property taxes shoot up again, etc., etc.)

Thinking positive thoughts and hoping all goes well...

My new best friend

Meet Ginger, my new best friend...

Yogi Ginger Tea
(organic, caffeine free)


Knudsen Ginger Ale
(no sugar/HFCS, sweetened w/fruit juice)


Ginger People Ginger Chews
(have sugar and are really strong, we call these the big guns)

All I can say is I'm eternally grateful that I feel sick, it's the only thing that is getting me through the excruciatingly long wait for my first u/s (which is Tuesday! :) )

My first big post-BFP baby purchase

I really debated (I promise), and I don't believe in jinxing (whatever will be, will be) but on Mamabargains, you can't wait. And since I've been loving this Cariboo bassinet for years, now it will finally be mine. Baby will be spending nights in our room for the first several months (since the nursery is downstairs and MIL will be in the guest room), and the PNP is too big. Then we can save it for #2, use as a toy box, or sell it for close to cost.

Now I have reason to buy the activity set, which they sometimes have at the Land of Nod outlet. I love it because it has all the characters from the Cloud B line. So cute.




Amazing deal on Mamabargains.com. If you have kids or are pg (or shop for someone who does/is), you should definitely be checking out this site (if you don't already).

These kids are hysterical

My sister's holiday pic...



Benjamin (nearly 4), Isaiah (nearly 1), Natalie (nearly 2)