what we've been up to lately

The last couple months or so I really have not gotten out much. However since I have been so MIA on the blog I thought I'd put up some pictures taken from my iphone of some of the things that mostly I have been up to. Duke has been in the Philippines for the last 2.5 weeks. He still has a little while longer down there and I have really been missing him! He's been gone for several 10 day-2 weeks stints since we've been here, but this one has been the longest in a while and it's getting lonely. I'm excited for him to come back.

 Pretty poppy field over looking the ocean

 visited the southeast botanical gardens

 winston's fav spot on every sunny day. he's a sunbather at heart.

 at the botanical gardens trying out the mouth wash machine. These Japanese people seriously think of everything!

 we also ran through the aquarium the same day we were at the tropical dream center 

 saw an awesome *free* dolphin show (after watching blackfish I just can't patron these kinds of places, but this was free in the outside park, which duke pointed out this might be pushing it, but whatever)

 this cute & stylish girl was sitting in front of me. She kept touching my painted toenails. Love these little Japanese babies.

 I went to Girl's Camp for a week- a church run camp for girls 12-18. Some girl brought this mannequin. 

 visiting the beach with winston

 a good beach day with flat stanley and friends

 I've been taking walks along the seawall & right now these lilies are in bloom!

 Went snorkeling at madea flats-it was low tide, but was surprised how deep those little pools of water were! The snorkeling here is so awesome! We saw tons of fish and a lot of the Finding Nemo cast :)

 my little weirdo^

 Easter Sunday!

 this is what hanging out with Winston looks like sometimes^ I have to say I really really love having a dog. I never had one growing up and I have become so attached to this little guy. I love having him even more when Duke is gone. It's nice to come home to someone who's excited to see you and to just have another warm body in the house. He's the best!

 the most beauuuutiful day at Araha beach. (photos not edited, its just that pretty!)

 I declare this pizza the best pizza in Okinawa^ Pizzeria Onda in Minnetogawa. The menu is pretty much all in japanese, but I just get the Margherita and it never disappoints. 

 Winston did this to my boppy pillow^ Luckily is was bought used!

 Duke sent me these from the Philippines. He was able to go hike Mt Pinatubo. Looks gorgeous.

 So this always intrigues me. At low tide there are always a bunch of Japanese people out in the seaweed for hours picking it to eat later! To each their own I suppose. I hear they also collect octopus. YUM. ha.

Last week at the beach. 15 weeks and the tiniest of bumps is starting. This is the first "bump" picture I've taken. I wanted to take a "before picture" but when you're sick it doesn't really seem like a priority.

And that pretty much sums up the last 2 1/2 months or so :)

Tropical Dream Center

 Sometime back in early April we drove north and went to the Tropical Dream Center. Let me tell you, this place is aptly named. I love it! I went back in January when they hosted the international orchid festival. It was pretty incredible. It's basically a place filled with crazy amounts of flowers and plants. It was even better this time, because I have had pregnancy super nose -which 99% of the time is awful- but being among all the flowers, the smells were awesome! Here's a few pictures from our visit.

 ^we love all the awesome signs around here

 starfruit tree^

14 Weeks

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you already know but in case not I am pregnant! I'm 14 1/2 weeks right now. It's very surreal. We are very excited and still slightly terrified. I can't believe we are going to have a CHILD. ahhhhh! The above picture is Duke and I at 6 years old. So hopefully they get Duke's smile and the rest of my good looks ;)

This is actually my second pregnancy in the last 7 months. I had a miscarriage in November, a few weeks after we arrived in Okinawa when I was 10/11 weeks. It was really sad and hard. But I feel so lucky to have gotten pregnant again a few months later. And to have made it this far! This time around when we saw our little baby on the ultrasound at 11 weeks he/she was moving all around and I just couldn't help but cry. Such a little miracle.

I am also SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL to be out of the first trimester. It was a dark time. There were a 3 solid weeks of 24/7 nausea and I couldn't eat or move. I lost 6 lbs pretty quickly and am still trying to put it back on. I still don't love eating, but I can manage a greater range of foods now. I remember trying to find SOMETHING to feed my starving self, so I put some peanut butter on some bread and couldn't get through 1 bite without gagging. After about week 9/10, the nausea came and went, but man...it was so awful. During this time I heard a commercial on the radio for depression and I thought-I have all of those symptoms! Except the sadness. "Do you have loss of appetite? Do you find yourself feeling fatigued and sleeping more? Do you have a loss of interest in activities you use to enjoy?" YES YES YES!! However, it was just pregnancy. Just found it humorous.

Anyways, this has been the reason for my radio silence on this blog the last couple months. It's been a challenge to sit vertically. But I am so excited to be feeling more normal and can't wait until I feel totally normal again...ahh..someday.

Ishigaki Island Girls Trip

About 3 or 4 weeks ago I went to one of the very southern islands of Japan called Ishigaki with some gal pals of mine. The weather wasn't very cooperative-we only had one sunny day, but we made the most of it. Also, I will say the food situation there was less than ideal. We struggggled finding restaurants that looked good and were open. We ended up eating at McDonalds more than I would like to admit! So bring snacks if you go! The best part were the goats that lived in the field across from where we stayed. There was a little baby goat who ran free and we named him Rufus until we found out it was a girl. Then we changed her name to Sally. I loved her!

how CUTE is she?! She would run across the street to hang out with us. BFF's

Kabira Bay-the black things in the pic below are where they are harvesting black pearls.

 Stopped by this little juice hut that made different fruit juices from sugarcane juice. They love sugarcane out here.

Then we got crazy with marble sodas! I never had one before, but you use the marble to open it and then the marble drops down and keeps your drink from spilling over. Pretty cool.

We rented a little car and drove all over the island. It's beautiful!

 Sally being adorable ^

Leaving our hostel for the airport! I'm grateful for the good friends I've made here. Also, the Japanese people are mostly the nicest people you'll ever meet. Crazy polite. So it was fun being treated by them. Even though I still hate taking my shoes off everywhere I go.