Surprise! We're Vlogging!

Hope you all had an amazing Fourth of July weekend, We sure did! It was spent with family fun and fireworks at  the beach!

So, As I mentioned in the last post, we have a little "blog" surprise... we decided to start Vlogging! I've been wanting to do this for some time but haven't had the courage to just go for it. I've been talking to David for some time now about this and now that he's on board too we're doing it! We were going to start this "vlogging journey" with Levi's birth but we weren't ready to deal with something extra just yet so we started fourth of July weekend since there'd be a lot to vlog about.

It's pretty nerve racking talking to yourself on a camera, especially knowing that people may view you, but looking back at this first video, it's worth it just to have those memories captured. I could warn you about how awful I may look or sound and how maybe some vlogs won't be so exciting... but honestly, it doesn't matter, this is for fun and I want it to be fun. =) so I hope this new journey takes us far and that we may meet new people doing the same thing! Hope you all enjoy and welcome to our life.

The Last weekend of 2013!

Can you believe it is the last weekend of 2013?! My my, this year flew by! So many good things happened this year, so many tough decisions were made but overall we were blessed big time this year! I'll be doing a special New year's post for all the exciting and not so exciting things that happened this year. =)

I had to pull over to nurse Noah and this was my amazing view!

 

On Friday morning Noah and I got on the road, heading North for about 3 and a half hours to see my dad for the weekend. We left early and made a couple stops but even than, we hit a ton of traffic and didn't get to my dad's till about 4! It was super exhausting! Luckily Noah behaved pretty much the whole way there. When we got to my dad's, we kinda just made it a chill night, I mean, we had been driving for so long we just needed to relax. So my dad called a pizza for us and we watched a redbox movie Grown Ups. That movie is pretty hilarious!

This is what happens when you let an aunt play with her nephew. lol

That night, I was ready to go to sleep but little mister was not, my dad got him and started playing with him and getting him all riled up. Jamie, my step sister has a little mini piñata hanging from her ceiling in her room (don't ask me why, it's just always been there ha ) and my dad had Noah try and hit it while he held him up to it. He's getting ready for his big birthday debut!

He actually did pretty good hitting it! My little man is so strong!
 

Saturday, my stepmom, Jamie and I got ready and headed out to catch a couple yard sales. I found a lot of good stuff! We also went to a Goodwill, I found more stuff, but I need to wash the things before I show you what I got. ;)
Here's what I wore for Saturday:

This super cute strapless hi low dress is from a goodwill as well! Rue 21.
Jean Vest also from a Goodwill. (Gotta save where you can when you have a baby!)
 

I know, cheesy but I love to have my little man match with me. =)
 

My dad didn't go with us, he had to work on his house in the town next to us. His tenants had been complaining about a leak and sure enough a pipe had burst so my dad had to work on it all day Saturday and all day and night Sunday. I didn't get to see him much this visit but it was nice when I did.

Saturday was my step mom's birthday so after going to the Goodwill, we treated her to lunch at the Cowgirl's Café. Noah was extremely fussy on the way to lunch. And he only got worst. I had to step out of the café with him a couple of times. I even let him walk around in the front of the restaurant. He finally stayed put in his high chair, I gave him some of my sandwich and than he grabbed his bottle and actually fell asleep while sitting and drinking his milk! So cute!

I took a video too and posted it on instagram. =)

After lunch we drove around town, got Jamba Juice smoothies and walked around. We had to walk to Rite aid with Noah screaming like crazy. I'm telling you he was so fussy! (Turns out another tooth popped out today) We kept driving around and he fell asleep. Later that day we were home and just rested a bit, and than got all dolled up and waited for my dad to come home. He had text us saying to be ready by 8 that we were going to dinner at this beautiful fancy schmancy Italian restaurant called Mama's Meatball.

What I wore. Casual dressy.

 

My dad's pretty plate

 

 

phew sorry for the photo dump. We had a lot of fun at that restaurant! The waiters were super nice and funny. It was a good time. On Sunday, luckily Noah slept in until 8 which was amazing! We got up and had breakfast and than went out to scout for a place that I could take Noah's one year pictures. We found a nice park and they came out so adorable! I'll share them in a different post probably after his Birthday maybe before. We shall see. Here's what he wore:

lol

Auntie and Noah. So cute!

While I waited for the girls to finish getting ready, I took this pic of my shoes and their fun rug! I wish I had a soft rug like this!

Noah enjoying the swing at the park where I took his pictures.

Today, Monday, I decided to stay here. I was going to leave today but my dad took the day off of work and I got to spend some time with him. He made me and Jamie breakfast and played with Noah. Later Jamie and I and Noah went to Target and than to downtown to walk around and shop a little! Got some cute stuff! Girly things ;) Noah was amazing today! Seems like he got all the rest he needed. We went to the neatest café ever, called Kreuzberg Café. The walls are covered in art, cool mirrors and even lamps hanging upside down from the ceiling! Totally my kind of place to be! The furniture to sit at was all antiques! Ugh so awesome!

It was a great day today! Tomorrow Noah and I will head home for New Year's Eve. We don't have anything planned, but as long as we are together as a family 2013 will be complete. =)

Wrapping up The Summer

                         

Summer 2013 is winding down, but before its completely over, The Mcd's are trying to soak in the sun as much as possible! On Thursday, Noah's toddler cousin Mason, came over for the weekend. It's so fun seeing them together now! Noah's at the point where he pays attention to everything and everyone and everything Mason did, it really seemed that Noah wanted to be doing! But here's the problem, Noah can't walk or crawl just yet! So he'd get frustrated trying to reach for everything that Mason would grab and hold. It was cute! And when I'd take Noah upstairs to nurse, Mason would try and follow us and ask where Noah was going. It was so cute! 

On Friday: David's parents were super sweet and treated the three of us plus Mason to watch the Disney movie Planes. 

                                        

  This was Noah's 4th time going to the movies. He's usually pretty good when it comes to enjoying and being quiet in the theatre but this time was a tad harder dealing with him. At one point I had to walk out with him and walk around the theatre until he fell asleep. It didn't take too long so I got to enjoy the movie. He woke up about a half hour after I walked around with him and he actually enjoyed the rest of the movie with us. 

                         

On Saturday: David worked ( Fun sucker ;-) ) but me and Noah enjoyed the day at the pool over at his uncle's house! It was the perfect day for the pool and a steak dinner! Yum! 

                                     

                                    

                                        We even got to see Noah's baby cousin Maddie! 

         

    

                                 Snagged this pic from Instagram @sarahmcdaniels Thank You.

 

On Sunday: We actually missed church. Noah decided to stay up all night, so this mama needed to catch some z's when daddy got home from work Sunday morning. By noon we were showered and ready for the day's adventures! I suggested we go for a drive around LA and then came up with the idea of going to the Historic Farmer's Market at The Grove. I'm so glad we went, it was so much fun! Very crowded and hot but so worth it! 

                                      

The Grove is an LA "hot spot" to go shopping . There's brand name stores like : Michael Kors, JCREW, Crate and Barrel and more! We weren't there to shop but it was neat to walk around that area. They also film Extra Hollywood News there on weekdays hosted by Mario Lopez and Maria Menunos. 

                                     

                                       We found a cool candy shop! Noah's not interested.

                                    

                                    

                         *daydreaming about all the things I would buy at Anthropoligie*

                                   

                    We came across this awesome succulent display. I need to make this! 

                                  

                                  

                                       And then we headed inside the farmers market!

                                  

                                                      A neat little vintage shop!

                                 

                                 

                                

       I didn't go in here but they had all the hot sauces you could ever think of. They even had Slap yo'     mama hot sauce from Louisiana!!! Totally reminded me of when I was on Bourbon st. 

        

       

                                    

And then we got hungry, we HAD to eat from one of the little restaurants from there. So we went with sandwiches . These sandwiches were exactly what I had been craving my whole pregnancy and never got! :( cry me a river. I swear they looked just like something you'd see on Man vs Food! Yum! 

                                   

                                                                         HIS 

                                                                           &

                                                                       HERS

                                  

                               These sandwiches were everything I ever imagined. Sooo good!!!

               We're already planning to make a trip back next week just to indulge in the food! 

                                   

                                         While we ate, Noah played with his pickle...

                                  

                                                                  Literally lol ;)

                                  

        For desert I got Baclava. This one wasn't that amazing but it was okay. I didn't finish it.

     

  

 

We went back out to The Grove and enjoyed a live band that was playing cover songs. 

                                     

                                     

   

       Our day was perfect! It was a ton of fun enjoying something new. We headed home around 5 pm          and ended our day with a delish Carmel Mochiato iced of course;)! 

                       

In more important news ( according to me) : 

                     

                                                                 I'm almost 23!