Cupcake Craze

Recently my friends mom passed away and I have been racking my brain on what to get her that might help cheer her up. After Jessica passed, someone brought me over cupcakes, and believe it or not, it did cheer me up! So yesterday Quinn and I made the haul to Scottsdale to pick up some cupcakes at the famed "SPRINKLES". This store has been open since May, but this was my first visit. The store was very, uh, vanilla. Not a lot of color, not a lot going on. The cupcakes are displayed in a tiny casing and I was disappointed that there were not more to make my tastebuds salivate. I ordered a box of 6. $21.05! What? For 6 cupcakes? I guess for one it is $3.25. When I arrived at my friends work with the cupcakes she graciously offered me one. I had to take her up on it because I needed to try this $3.25 cupcake. I had a dark chocolate one. It was Good. Great? Nah. Just good. I won't be hurrying back there anytime soon.

Summer Shoot

While we were in Manhattan Beach in July my mom and my sister arranged for a photographer to come and take a Williams family portrait. Our photographer was Kelli and she was awesome! After the big Williams picture, she took each individual family and did some shots. Below is a preview of what she "captured" with our little family. She is very talented and amazing. To check out my siblings and their families, and more of Kelli's work, go HERE.

Just for Fun

Quinn has been clapping his hands a lot! We are not sure where he picked up this little "hobby", but think it is adorable everytime he does!

Mystery Solved

For those of you that are faithful Scanlan blog readers (let's face it, not many) you will recall a previous post where I was so dying to get those Joe's Jeans by simply dropping the last 6 or 7 pounds of my 35 pound goal. First of all, thanks to all of you who gave me great dieting advice and even meal plans! (thanks Ang, you know all the tricks!) But the mystery is finally solved as to why that weight would not come off..........I am pregnant. And although my husband is going to kill me for announcing this now, I feel I had to. I am only 10 weeks along and we were going to tell people when I was 12 weeks, but I just ate a huge dinner and now look 4 months pregnant! I cannot hide this bulging buddha. I need an excuse for my now expanding waistline.

I am calling this baby our little miracle. (for those of you that know this story, skip to the end) We have always needed the Dr's help to get pregnant. I have an ongoing list of things that are wrong with my reproductive capabilities. (polycystic ovaries, fibroids, endo, don't ovualte on my own...) We were not even "trying", if you know what I mean. This baby was sent from heaven. I like to think that our little girl up there had something to do with this. She grabbed this spirit and said "get down there! those are your parents and they need you!" A visit to the doctor even had him saying that this was sent from God. (he predicts that this is a boy)
I had very mixed feelings at first. I cried. I swore. There was not a lot of joy at first. I felt like if I got excited about this baby then I was saying that everything that happened with Jessica is OK and it is over and I am OK with it. The truth is, I am not over it. I am not OK with it. I have hope, and I know this is the Lord's plan, not mine, but my heart still aches for baby Jess. Yet time has lessened the sting. I still cry for her. In a mothers weak moments, I weep. I love her and I miss her.
But it is time to grow our family. It is time to give Quinn a sibling. I know this baby will be healthy and beautiful and alas, I am feeling joyful to be bringing another spirit into our home!

Pitiful

Last night I had a dream that I was being honored as an awesome soccer player. huh? And as my reward someone made me this huge, fantastic, decorated chocolate chip cookie. And in my dream, as the creator of my cookie handed me my "award", the only thing I said was "I need to take a picture of this, so I can blog about it." Oh please!!

Beach Getaway

July 25 was the start of the Williams Family Beach Vacation. We went to Manhattan Beach this year and had a great time! The vacation itself was not as I remembered...Oh wait, I never had kids before! I used to lay on the beach from 9 -5 with short breaks to eat and drink. Not this year! Come nap time, I am trapped in that hotel room for 2-3 hours. It all worked out and I really did have a good time!

Some things I learned:

1. I still really miss CA

2. Sleeping in a Queen sized bed is for the birds

3. Quinn loves the beach

4. A 5 hour drive can quickly turn into a 7 hour drive in CA

5. Don't leave the house without a pocketful of quarters for parking

6. A week goes by rather quickly when you are with the ones you love!

Below are a few pictures of the vacation. I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked, but I never do!