Waiting for baby

I'm 40 weeks plus 2 days pregnant and anxiously awaiting the birth of our son. The calls, texts, emails, Facebook messages, etc. have been insane. Appreciate all the love but everyone wants to know where he is (um, still in my belly...) and when he's going to make his debut (your guess is as good as mine...). I've been doing everything possible to stay busy and enjoy these last few days as a family of three - yes, I'm including Rusty. So for all the future mamas out there eagerly awaiting the arrival of their own little bundles, here are some things that may help pass the time.

1. Get out of the house. Stop nesting, put down the mop, and just leave. Meet up with friends for lunch, go to a bar (even though you can't drink) and make friends with the couple sitting next to you (we did that last night and it was so fun), visit a museum, etc. etc. You're going to be housebound very soon!

Girls lunch! 

2. Go for lots of long walks. Rusty and I have been walking about two miles a day. We hear this might get the baby moving towards the exit sign. No luck just yet. But it's been really nice to put on a pair of headphones and explore our neighborhood. Make sure you bring water for your trek.

Belly shot while walking the poodle

3. Plan some date nights. Last weekend we did dinner and a movie. Nothing fancy, but something we know we won't get to do for a while once baby arrives.

4. Finish your non-baby to-do list. The nursery is ready to go, newborn clothes have been washed and put away, and the car seat is installed. Now what? Take your car to get serviced. Get the dog groomed. Back up all the photos on your iPhone. Return that thing you've been meaning to return. You get the picture.

5. Get into a good non-baby book. I just downloaded The Hand that Feeds You and am excited to start reading it.

Ok, that's enough for now. Everyone is telling us to sleep now (!!!!!) but I have major pregnancy insomnia and am up every couple hours to use the bathroom. If you're in the same boat, I feel your pain - hopefully these few things will keep you busy until baby arrives! 

Graduation Day

Where does the time go? Feels like just yesterday that we packed up our Uhaul and moved from Miami to D.C. so Mark could go back to school. It takes a lot of courage to make such a big change and leave a life so comfortable. I never had a doubt about joining him on this adventure. If he was going, I was going too. I look back at the past nearly two years and feel so proud of all that he has accomplished. Change can be a very scary thing. Resigning from a great job, signing an apartment lease in a new city sight unseen, leaving our best friends and family behind. Tough decisions were made. But in the end I wouldn't change a thing. This has been an incredible journey and I'm so excited for what's coming next.

Cherry Blossoms Galore

Hundreds of thousands of people each year travel to Washington, D.C. to see the beautiful cherry blossoms. It's a total gamble because you never really know for sure when they will hit their peak. Lucky for us, the National Mall is just over a mile away from our apartment so I traveled by foot (with Rusty) to catch a glimpse of the blooms. With all the tourists, it was hard capturing great shots without someone's head or arm in the frame! But I managed to snap a few I'm happy with.

Sign of Spring

Spotted today on my morning walk with Rusty...a sign of spring! Not to mention, birds were out chirping away. Ladies and gentleman, spring is almost here...

Monday Music: The Lumineers

Last week we saw The Lumineers play an incredible sold-out show at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. I have to say my favorite moment was when the band left the stage and set-up shop right in front of us to play "Ho Hey." I would have captured video but lead singer Wesley Schultz had a strict no cell phone recording policy that I wasn't about to break. Second favorite moment was when they played this new untitled duet. Warning, this song is really catchy! The band will be back in the D.C. area July 26th to play at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. Buy tickets soon before they sell out!

Election Night 2012 on U Street

This is what my neighborhood looked like on Election Night 2012 after Obama was re-elected as President. Screaming, dancing, hugging and crying! U Street was completely shut down because of the celebration. Such an exciting time to be in Washington, D.C.

Apple Picking

Ever since we moved to D.C., I've been dying to go apple picking! It's just something kids growing up in South Florida don't get to experience. However, I do have fond memories of riding around in my grandfather's golf cart going orange picking! Nevertheless, I was really looking forward to apple picking this fall season. The weather could not have been more perfect so we rented a car and ventured out to Larriland Farm after reading great reviews. The apples were plentiful and we got to pick several different varieties including Braeburn, Stayman and Fuji apples. We also went home with some fresh broccoli. And of course, we had to stop by the market for fresh, ice cold apple cider and fried apple fritters before heading back. All in all, totally worth the trip! 

Exploring DC

Sunday was a gorgeous day and I really didn't have much to do except for a few errands. I decided to take advantage of the time and go exploring around town by bike. Let me just say that joining Capital Bike Share was a brilliant decision and I highly recommend to anyone living in DC without a car. And yes, I am that dork with a bright pink helmet! 

My first stop was the National Sculpture Garden. I brought a book along and sat by the fountain sunning myself. It must be tourist season here because the National Mall was packed with people and graduates in cap and gown, and the double decker tour buses were out in full force clogging up traffic. 

Next was a quick trip to the National Archives Museum on my way to grab a bike home. Said hello to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Ya know, just an average Sunday. 

I felt a little guilty knowing Rusty was inside all day and not getting to enjoy the beautiful weather. I picked up the poodle and we spent an hour or so lounging at Meridian Hill Park. 

You never know what you're going to see when you come to this park. Tightrope walkers, hula hoppers, yogis and you may even catch a few arrests! Yup, saw some dude getting hauled away in a cop car for what I assume was selling or possessing illegal drugs...but that's just my speculation. Nonetheless, we had a good time and met some new friends. 

The day ended with dinner at Lauriol Plaza but of course the restaurant had a ridiculously long hour and a half wait so we walked across the street to find $2.50 sake and Kirin Light. Not a bad day at all!

Soul Food for Breakfast

When I first moved to DC, about eight months ago now, a friend drove me around the neighborhood in the pouring rain and pointed out a little diner on the corner and said go there when you're hungover and craving greasy food. I actually stuck my head out of the window to take a picture so that I wouldn't forget Florida Avenue Grill, on the corner of Florida & 11th Street. 

Well, it took me some time but I finally made my way back, only I wasn't hungover and it was 1pm on a Thursday. Doesn't get more southern comfort food than this place and I practically licked my plate clean. My scrambled eggs and turkey bacon came with a side of buttermilk muffins and spiced apples. And of course we had to order a side of the famous hotcakes. You practically had to roll us home but it was well worth it. 

Spring Dandelion

Day at the National Zoo

Last weekend I took my sister, her husband and my nephew Dylan to check out the National Zoo when they were in town. On our way in we caught a glimpse of one of the Giant Pandas, couldn't tell if it was Mei Xiang or Tian Tian, but he or she was too far away to snap a good photo. The great apes were out and about though and we caught them during feeding time which always draws a crowd. It was a fun day and definitely worth the trip! Plus, the National Zoo offers free admission because it is a Smithsonian. Gotta love that about Washington, D.C. Keep an eye on the zoo's Twitter feed to find out if Mei Xiang is preggers with a baby panda! She was artificially inseminated last month and you can actually view some pretty crazy photos of the process here. 

Cruisin' on U Street

On Saturday, we were heading to our friends' housewarming party in Mount Pleasant and spotted this pup cruisin' along U Street on his skateboard. People couldn't help but stop and stare, including us. This is why I love our neighborhood. Now I have to teach Rusty how to do this!

Springtime Blooms

Love that spring is here! When walking home from brunch at M Street Bar & Grill on Sunday (bottomless mimosas!) we plopped down in the grass at Dupont Circle to soak up the rays. Beautiful red tulips were in bloom all along the circle. In fact, you can find tulips in all different colors all around DC. 

Blind Dog Cafe

I stopped into the Blind Dog Cafe yesterday for a quick bite. I first learned of the new pop-up cafe taking up residence at Darnell's through the U Street Listserv. It's located just a few blocks from our house so we decided to check it out. 

This cozy corner spot is perfect for catching up with friends, answering e-mails (free wifi), or taking a mid-day coffee and croissant break. There is a nice size patio too which will come in handy as spring gets closer. We ordered two sandwiches - the roast beef with pesto and turkey with spicy mayo. Both were pretty good, just a little pricey ($11 each) and next time we need to tell them to go easy on the sauce. The atmosphere inside is very comfortable and relaxed. There's ten or so tables and a couple plush antique couches and chairs. Below are a few photos and for more on how Blind Dog Cafe got its start, check out this Huffington Post article. 

Colors of Fall

Um, is it really mid-November already? I can't believe how fast the last few months have flown by. The holidays are just around the corner.

This DC fall weather has been funky. It was 70 degrees just a few days ago. Now it's in the 30's. The colorful leaves are all starting to fall off which makes me think winter isn't that far off. I've already started shopping for a big puffy coat. I've been told it's a necessity for a girl from Miami...and it will feel like a giant warm sleeping bag. I'm ok with that!

Hello Fall

I'm happy to report that after three days of straight rain, the sun is finally out and the air has turned cool and crisp. The leaves are also starting to change! Can't wait to get out and take more photos this weekend. Here's a little sneak peak.

Lunchtime Stroll: Current Boutique

One of my favorite things about working from home is using my lunch hour to explore the neighborhood. When deciding where to live in D.C., we asked a ton of friends for suggestions. Most people said Dupont area, others said Arlington, VA and a couple recommended U Street.

After scouring Craigslist for weeks, we found a great one bedroom/one bath on 12th and U and we couldn't be happier with the place. While our rent is a bit pricey (and drastically higher than Miami), location was the most important factor for us when moving. Oh, and finding an apartment building that allows dogs. That was kinda important too...wouldn't want Rusty out on the streets!

The U Street Corridor has so much to offer. Great restaurants and bars. Adorable boutiques and one-of-a-kind vintage shops. Weekend Farmer's Market. Sweet jazz bars and music venues. Lots of people. Cool vibe. And so much more!

During lunch today, I was strolling 14th Street and stopped into Current Boutique. The shop is half consignment/half new. The ladies behind the register were really sweet when I asked if I could take pictures for my blog. Too bad I didn't have my DSLR because there were some awesome finds. Like designer dresses for under $50 bones, funky shoes and purses, and a good selection of coats. I left empty-handed, but know I'll be back the next time I get an urge to do some shopping around my 'hood.