Introducing Baby Schellenberg the Second

Today, Cam and I had the incredible privilege of meeting our second child. Behold it's utter awesome-ness. The entire process of the creation of a child is both equally beautiful and mind blowing. After drinking a liter of water and having to make several laps of the waiting room, TRYING to hold in my copious amounts of urine, I was ushered into the ultrasound room. I remember like it was yesterday my first ultra sound with Isla... and my emotions today were equally as strong as they were the first time around. Instantly, love filled my heart and my eyes filled with tears and immediately I knew how much this baby will change my life (obviously in a positive way... despite the lack of sleep). The technician took several photos of baby and then brought in Cam and she showed us BABY... it's limbs (if you look carefully in this photo, you can see a skinny baby leg *tear*), its stomach, it's little heart beating at 144 bpm (Isla's was always in the 160's... could this mean a boy?), it's big brain, its developing spinal cord and of course, its adorable little face (what a cute shot of baby's nose and mouth, right?). All of this on a tiny human that is 3 inches long... absolutely breath taking, isn't it? I am so incredibly blessed to be able to experience pregnancy again, and then to get a gift like a healthy, beautiful baby at the end... how could I be so lucky. Thank you Jesus for Cam, Isla and my little baby. 

Seattle!

September 30th to October 3rd, I am going to Seattle... and I couldn't be more excited! Not only am I visiting one of my "Top 5 American Cities to See" (I have a list), but I am going with Christy and her mom, Sue! Christy is most certainly one of my oldest and dearest friends! We met in a hot tub in grade 7 (that sounds somewhat inappropriate but I can assure you, it wasn't), were reconnected at SBS Junior High and spent most of our adolescent and early adult years glued at the hip. I lived at her house for a solid month in high school, where Sue quickly became my surrogate mom! Christy is getting married in June of 2012 in Vancouver, and as her maid of honor, I take my duties very seriously! I feel extremely privileged that I am able to be a part of this trip... to be present with Christy and her mom while they shop for one of the most important days in ones life... it's an honor to be included! I know it is going to be a great weekend full of good food, great laughs, lots of delicious bridal shopping and fond memories. And also... SEATTLE! Pike Place Market is something I have been longing to see for AGES and I can hardly believe I will get to spend time there... perusing and shopping and eating and tasting and laughing. It's going to be simply wonderful! 

Sue works for AMA travel, and as a result, she has booked us an incredible hotel in downtown Seattle for an extremely low rate. The hotel is called Hyatt by Olive 8 and it looks so beautiful and modern! I love people who got the hook ups (I love Sue anyway, but definitely an added bonus). Check it out. www.olive8.hyatt.com

If any of you have been to Seattle before, please pass on great restaurants, great shopping, MUST SEE's and DO's and if you know of any great bridal boutiques, that would be extra awesome too!

Monday at the Zoo

This past Monday, both Cam and I had the day off (almost unheard of these days). We really wanted to do something fun with Isla, so we decided to take her to the zoo. As most of you already know, Isla LOVES animals. She can point out almost any animal you ask, complete with their corresponding sounds. She is just the cutest, sweetest little animal lover. We are thinking of buying her a fish for her birthday. Anyway, the sun was shining and we had a blast! We rode the train, we went paddle boating (which was not Isla's favorite but I think it had little to do with the paddle boat and more to do with the life jacket), and went into the petting zoo. Anyway, it was a perfect way to spend our long weekend... as a family!

loves of each other's lives.

watching the tiger.

us.

my deep sea diver... who apparently turned african american. 

making our way through the seaweed.

Isla & a parrot! 

taking a train ride. *choo choo*

giving the goat some love.

petting a rat *barf*.

adventurer of the sea.

my beautiful family.

what she REALLY thought of the life jacket.

Marvelous Michelon

This past weekend, we took Isla camping! Cam and I love to camp and this was our first time attempting this with Isla. We were definitely nervous about how she would do, more specifically, in the 'sleeping in a tent' department. After several conversations with her explaining that she would be having a slumber party with Mom and Dad under the stars for 2 nights, we packed up and headed out. Chris, Nicole and the girls joined us for our camping adventure, and all I can say is that we had a great time! Despite one 5 am wake up call and lots of grumpy and cold tears, we had an incredible weekend! We had campfires, went on lots of walks, went frog catching (Cam & Nicole were successful), played at the park, spent an afternoon at the beach and basically just hung out for 2 days. It was lovely spending time with our friends and seeing Isla enjoy the outdoors. She really is a tree hugger... she loves being outside, loves nature, loves trees and anything to do with the ground (ie: dirt, mud, rocks, eating dirt, mud and rocks). Here are some photos.

Matthew, NKOTBSB and my Bestie

Last night was the NKOTBSB concert. For those of you who do not know who this is, shame on you. It is the epic collaboration that is New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. Nicole and I purchased our tickets for this event on January 18th... 6 months prior. We have literally been on the countdown ever since. Now, I could be the Backstreet Boys biggest fan EVER (maybe a bit of a stretch, I don't have them tattooed on my body or anything crazy like that) but I have followed them for their 18 year careers as a boy band. My walls were plastered with photos of each of them (minus Howie and Kevin... not my faves), Brian being my absolute favorite. As I said to Nicole on the way to the concert... "I have memories that correspond to each BSB song". "What's your memory to 'I Need You Tonight'"? asks Nicole. "Lying on Christy's floor in grade 9 talking about the boys we liked that never liked us back". "What about 'Quit Playing Games With My Heart"? "Well, I sang karaoke to this song in Vegas, not to mention obsessing over the video where they are shirtless in the rain... taking note that Brian was the only one who's shirt remained on his body and tacking this up to mean that he was modest and therefore, the best one for marriage material". Honestly, I absolutely love them. And even after all these years, I still hold them and their music very dear to my boy-band obsessed heart. New Kids is a bit different for me as I was a mere 1 year old when their career started. However, I can appreciate a great boy band when I see one and they certainly are. They paved the way for the likes of the BSB and N'Sync (another personal fave). Not to mention that Donny Wahlberg is like 43 years old and he DEFINITELY has still got it (Becky, I think he has emerged into my top 10). Yowsers. And then, as if this evening could not get any more jam packed with hotness, Matthew Morrison (aka Mr. Shuester from GLEE) signs on as their opening act. We almost lost our minds when he performed. He was UNREAL. He did a great mix of his own music and some Glee covers, including an amazing rendition of 'Gold Digger'. Our dancing bums did not touch our seats all night... we had an absolutely incredible time filled with lots of laughs, lots of tears as a result of those laughs, lots of nostalgic memories and lots of delicious food at Famoso prior to the concert (we needed to fuel ourselves). It truly was one of THE BEST times of my life. I couldn't of gone with a better person, whom is equally obsessed with the NKOTBSB + MM phenomenon. I speak for the both of us when I say that it what was worth every penny and more... and the hoarse man-ness that is my voice today.... and the exhaustion that has consumed myself as a result. Feast your eyes on these:

in the car, on our way!

MR. SHUE!!!!!!!!!!!

mmmmmmm.

during the transition time between MM & NKOTBSB, we entertained ourselves with a themed, impromptu photo shoot. Above, we call this look our 'smoulder'.

the 'what if we saw MM in person' look.

as a result, if we did see him, this is our 'wooing him' face. 

the 'pick our nose' look

our 'alien' face

and then.... the money shot. NKOTBSB.

the minute they hit the stage. We were screaming messes at this point.

the ladies beside us let us use their binoculars. I crept Brian the entire time those things were glued to my face. One of my favorite shots of the night.

our 'swooning' faces

my love, Brian Littrell

Donny Wahlberg... mere seconds after ripping off his shirt. You can imagine that this action led us to be screaming like pre-pubescent school girls. And, that is what we felt like all evening. 

The New Kids... with their ballads. "Please... Don't go girl!"

Consequently, our 'ballad' face. 

BSB!!!!

At the end of the night. All of them saying goodbye.

It really was incredibly fun being a teenage girl again for one night! And although I definitely don't miss this time in my life, it was truly refreshing to scream and swoon and sway to the music. So happy.