Santana Row

Elektra checking out a store selling gourmet chocolates on Santana Row

My niece, Tia and my mom joined us in California for two weeks. During their time here I took Tia to every teenager's favorite place- the mall.

We did what any two sensible women would do, we shopped. Well, actually we did 10% real shopping and 90% window shopping.

Across the street from the mall is yet another mall called Santana Row. I'm sure Mrs. Winchester would be happy to know that her home, now a tourist attraction, is across the street and adjacent to two major malls.

Santana Row is an outdoor mall filled with high-end stores like Gucci and Coach. Above the stores are posh loft style apartments. Tia was amazed that people could live right above these stores. I think she started drooling at the very thought of it.

This is the type of place I totally see someone like Frank living at. Top restaurants, European stores, VIP clubs/bars, live weekly entertainment and a vibrant youthful vibe all in one place.

Okay, I admit, even I'd love to live here. But considering that their 4-bedroom cost $5,000 a month, I seriously doubt we will be moving here any time soon. Oh, but one can dream...

Checking out the apartments above the shops.

Strolling down the row

I'm not even going to ask how much that top corner loft cost.

More shops and apartments

So, How Do You Feel?

"So, how do you feel?"

I get this question a lot and it seems to have increased about 90% since I've been pregnant. The hard thing is trying to answer this question.

I feel a thousand emotions and at the same time I feel nothing at all. Yes, I feel pregnant. Yes, I feel tired. Yes, I feel hungry. I also feel like crying, screaming, throwing something breakable at a brick wall, and running away where no one can find me.

I feel like I never have the time to do any of the things I want to do. I feel like I move too slow to get the things done that I should do. I feel like I'm trapped on a roller coaster that I never asked to be on.

I feel like I don't have enough of what I want and too much of all the things I don't need.

Oh course, I feel happy to be having another baby. I feel needed and loved my Ray and Elektra. I feel nurtured by my family and I feel peaceful when I pray.

But there are times, yes, many times, when I don't feel like being polite and I don't care to be sociable. There are times when I just feel like 'going black' on everyone who I think deserves it and be unafraid to tell people how I really feel about them.

No, I don't need counseling or mental help. I'm not depressed or stressed. I'm just me. If you really take a look inside yourself you'll realize that there have been days when you felt the same way. Being pregnant just makes you notice these emotions a bit more.

So, when you ask me how I feel and I respond with the same old, "I'm fine", it is because to express to you everything I just said above would take too long and I'm so emotionally charged with these pregnancy hormones that I'd probably start crying before I even got the first sentence out. Just know that I am alive, the baby is healthy and after all these emotions settle down, I truly will be 'just fine'.

Sun & Surf

So I finally did it! (No, not that, you nasty minded people! Shame on you!)

Anyway, I finally went tubing down the river! I've heard rumors for years about this mysterious place in Arizona where there is a river with actual flowing water in which people get on tubes and float down it for fun.

At first I thought this to be one of those desert myths like the jackalope, but it's true, water does actually flow in the Arizona in the middle of summer!

Our clan consisted of Bruce, Mauri, Linda, Ray and my nieces, Keisha & Tia. Of the seven of us there, only Bruce, Linda and Ray had ever been tubing before.

During our float down the river we got stuck in the trees a lot. Bruce got beached on a large rock, and I killed a crab.

Okay, let me explain the crab killing part....

Ray, my wonderful hero, swam through the water to rescue a kid's floating crab tube that I then used to keep my butt up in the tube. Earlier, the rapids had torn a hole in the sheet that was covering my tube and helping my butt stay up.

Well, we hit another major rapid and this time the rocks popped a hole in my little crab, (although Ray swears it was my big butt that killed the crab).

Halfway through the tubing experience, Tia took off without us and we didn't see her again until it was time to get out the water. This was a shock to see considering Tia was screaming bloody murder when we first got in the water. Keisha refused to take off here top and show off her cool bikini. And both girls seemed disgusted that the college guys there kept looking at them. Go figure!

Yes, we saw plenty of boobs, both barely covered and fully exposed. We took part in the famous marshmallow fight and did our part to keep the river clean by collecting about six bags worth of floating trash.

No, none of us ever flashed our boobs for beer. Mauri and Linda wouldn't. Keisha and Tia better not. And I really didn't think my sagging boobs would get me much more then a half drank can of some warm, cheap beer.

Overall, it was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again.

Tia settling into her tube

Keisha having a good laugh

Bruce getting himself un-beached from a rock

Our awesome floating cooler

Trying to keep together after hitting some rapids

Going in circles

Look, its a floating Mauri!

Mama Linda and half of my hubby

Visiting Uncle Frank

On Memorial Day, we drove to the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California to visit Uncle Frank.

"Elektra, this is your Great-Uncle Frank. He served in the military just like Grandpa Lou and like your daddy is doing now. Today we remember him and all the other soldiers who died for our country."

"He is Grandma Ann's son and the brother of Momma Linda and Uncle Bruce. He died a long time ago, before you or I were born. But we never forget him and how much he is loved and missed by the family."

"You know what, Elektra? I think if Uncle Frank was alive today he would be tickled pink to have you as a Great-Niece."

"It's time for us to go now. But we'll be back again to visit him. Say goodbye to Uncle Frank, Elektra."

It's All About The Hair

Sometimes Ray and I feel like we are already living with a teenager. Elektra is sooooo into her hair. She goes through the glossy magazines pointing out different looks that she wants to try. We told her that she is not allowed to dye her hair until kindergarten, but that hasn't stopped her from trying other styles:

The 'Pebbles' look. Inspired by the character with the same name from the Flintstones.

The Afrocentric Hair wrap

Why we no longer let her listen to Blondie and Sex Pistols.

Yup, already into stealing her dad's hats

The Sleek flapper-girl look

Girl Meets Swing

So, the weather is finally warm enough to enjoy days at the nearby park. On a recent trip there Elektra had her first experience with a swing:

"Okay, this is not so bad. The seat is kinda big, it feels a little strange not feeling the ground, but it's okay. Hey wait a minute, I'm moving and no one is holding me. Hold on..."

"Oh my God! I'm flying. Nooooooo! Mommy!? Daddy!? Someone come save me. Get me off this crazy thing, NOW!"

Next week we'll try the slide.

A Stranger Calls

On an ordinary day at the Mattingly's, a stranger arrived in our mailbox tucked between a Macy's bill and a Domino's Pizza flyer. His name is Stanley and he had just flew in from Washington state. He was here on a mission- to eat our food, trash our house and party like an animal. (I won't even began to tell you the stuff he did in Washington with Mike's family. Let's just say there was alcohol and strippers involved.)

Anyway, we were told by the note that came attached to Stanley that we had to show him a good time here in California and in a few days kick him out of our house so he could freeload on the next family member. We were then told to send pictures to Florida as proof of his wild behavior. 'Supposedly',these pictures were going to an elementary school as a class project, but my sources tell me that the address we sent the pictures to was actually the Florida Bureau of Investigation where they have been building a case against Stanley for some time now. He is wanted in several states which now include Washington, California and Arizona.

Hopefully the pictures we took will help the authorities catch this crazy freeloader and make him do some community service to pay back for all the trouble he has caused. If you ever see this guy in your mailbox, do not let him in your house! I'm still pulling pieces of toilet tissue out of our trees and gutter.

See, I've Got Proof!

For those of you who still can't believe I actually went to Florida, here are some pictures that prove my travel to the other side of the United States:

A Blurry Picture of Corinna snapping a shot of me at Chucky Cheese

The boys fast asleep. (the only time they look innocent!)

A very laid back Christina chillin' at the nearby pond.

Look, more blurry people. This time it's a blurry Mikey, a blurry Zack and a blurry Corinna boob.

Hi There Ya'll

Baby No. 2 at 12 Weeks

So, let me explain what you are looking at here.

The baby's head is near the upper left-hand corner. It's belly is in the center of the picture. The baby's left arm is almost in front of it's face.

During the ultrasound the baby's hand opened and closed as if waving "Hi" to us. During the time this picture was taken the baby was about the size of two martini olives, (mmmmm......martinis!)

Unless the doctors really tick me off, I'll be giving birth at Stanford Hospital. (I have no problem flying down to Phoenix and giving birth there if I don't feel comfortable with the treatment I receive at Stanford).

Because Stanford Hospital is attached to Stanford University, it is a teaching hospital. You spend the first half of the appointment talking to a resident or fellow doctor and the other half of the appointment talking to your actual doctor.

So, the doctor and resident I have at Stanford are pretty cool. My doctor's name is Dr. Chueh, (pronounced 'chew'). She is a high-risk OB. She agreed with me that as long as this pregnancy goes normally there should be no reason why I can't have a VBAC, (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).

Even though baby looks normal and healthy my doctor still strongly suggest that we get a nuchal translucency test to make sure the baby does not have Down Syndrome. We also have to do genetic counseling where we get to hear all about the wonderful disabilities our baby could be born with. I'm really looking forward to that appointment...NOT!

We are still going for an all natural birth and I am doing as much as I can on my end to improve my chances- praying, yoga, praying, eating healthy, praying, keeping active, praying, taking my prenatal vitamins..... did I mention I was praying?

Since every pregnancy is different, we are approaching this one with the hope of having a more enjoyable birthing experience. We are trying to let go of our sour feelings we have towards Madigan Hospital in Washington and keep an open mind and good attitude toward Stanford and it's staff. However, this time around we will not ignore our intuition or blow off our gut feelings as just first-time parent fears. So mom, you may want to get that phone number out for Thunderbird Hospital, just in case.

The Wake Up

The Date: One ordinary Saturday morning in March
The time: Too damn early for decent people to be awake
The place: The Mattingly's bedroom

Asleep in the bed is Ray and Michelle, with Elektra sleeping in 0between them. Slight movement is made on Michelle's side of the bed.

Michelle's thoughts....

'.....I've got to go pee. Oh, but I don't want to wake up Elektra. I can't believe she work up at 2 am. This is crazy. If I move slowly, maybe she won't wake up. Okay Joi, slowly....'

Sound of baby moving. Elektra turns over and pops her head up.

'.....Damn! Well that didn't work. No peace for mommy this morning...'

"Well, hello princess. Good morning."

Bright smile and giggle from Elektra.

"Okay, mommy has to go to the bathroom. Come on. Let daddy get some sleep."

They both waddle their way down the hall to the guest bathroom.

"Oh, I needed to take that test. Your dad asked me to. Where is it?"

Sound of Michelle rummaging through bathroom drawers.

"Ah, here it is. Okay, turn your head Elektra, you don't need to see this. If I ever see you using one of these before you turn 25 I'm going to kill you."

3 minutes later.....

"Oh wow, look Elektra, we got two pink lines. Yeah! Okay we have to surprise daddy. Lets see..."

Elektra and Michelle leave the bathroom and head down the hall into Elektra's room.

"Daddy asked me not to throw any more toys at his head like I did when I found out I was having you, so we have to think of something else. Let's have one of your toys hold the test result and we can put it where daddy will see it. What do you think?"

Elektra, who lost her attention to what her mother was saying the moment they walked into the room, was now focused on picking up a piece of red lint on the carpet.

Michelle proceeded to scan over Elektra's vast selection of stuffed animals, her eyes settling on the baby Tigger.

"This one will do. Okay, now lets get the test stick and put it somewhere easy for daddy to find.

The two of them went back to the bathroom to retrieve the test stick and then made their way quietly into the master bedroom.

"We'll put it in the master bathroom so daddy can see it as soon as he wakes up. I'll put it up here on the sink."

Michelle places the Tigger and the test stick on the bathroom sink. They then make their way down the hall all the way into the kitchen.

Moments later, while Michelle is checking her emails and Elektra is enjoying a nice bottle of strawberry rice milk, sounds can be heard from the master bedroom.

Moments later, Ray is heard coming down the hallway.

"So, wait, I don't understand. Is two lines good or bad?"

Michelle gets up from the computer desk and meets Ray near the end of the hall.

"Two lines mean, yes, silly."

"Well, I don't know. Every test has some different way of telling you. Some have lines, others have crosses. You got ones with little babies on them, or you have to look for a colored design or you have to do the hooky poking and you turn yourself around. You women make it all confusing."

"Well, there is no confusion. We're pregnant."

"That's kind of what I thought, but I just wanted to make sure. Yeah, Elektra is going to be a big sister!"

Elektra, who has now joined her parents at the end of the hallway looks up at the two of them and smiles. Ray then leans over to Michelle's belly, "You better be a boy. "

Michelle pats her belly, "We'll love you not matter what you are".

"Yes, but you're still going to be a boy."

All three of the Mattingly's head to the kitchen to eat breakfast and start their day.

The End.