Dining In

To make up for my absence on our real anniversary, (although I was able to squeeze in a Big Anniversary Surprise), McKay and I agreed to celebrate our anniversary the following weekend.  I told McKay that I would get the morning to schedule a surprise for him and that he could have the evening to plan something.  So, for my surprise I went ahead and booked us two Thai massages, since we haven't had one since our honeymoon in Thailand.  After the massage I felt 20 pounds lighter and like I could leap over the moon.  They were absolutely heavenly and it definitely made McKay one happy and relaxed husband.  

McKay was very sneaky with his surprise.  Leading up to our Anniversary weekend he continued to tease me with little bits of information about what he had planned, but eventually the only thing I could get out of him was that I needed to dress up.  That was all I needed to hear to make me the most excited lady ever!  (I love getting dressed up!)

Following our massages we came home and I took way too long getting all dolled up.  Then, shortly before we had to leave, McKay came out in his mess dress (formal military uniform), which made me go a little weak in the knees.  I love my man in his uniform!  My interest was piqued!  "McKay, what are we doing, what are we doing!?!" I repeatedly begged to know.  He would just smile and answer, "You'll see!"  McKay drove me in the car, for what was about an hour, as we talked about our past two years of married life.  It was very sweet!  

Then we arrived at this very large parking lot next to the ocean.  I thought, "What the heck are we doing here?  Did McKay get lost"  As we drove further into the parking lot a very large ship appeared.  I squealed, "Are we going on that!"  An answer finally came out of McKay's mouth as he said, "Welcome to the Queen Mary!"

The Queen Mary is a luxury ocean liner that was retired in 2012 and is currently docked in Long Beach, California.  To picture it, just think Titanic, but bigger!  McKay was invited to attend a Dining In ceremony on the Queen Mary that lined up perfectly with our anniversary celebration.    

There are a lot of traditions and ceremonial things that take place at the Dining In, including this setting of an empty table, which is supposed to represent those that are away on service or have given their lives that couldn't be with us for the occasion.  

The food was gourmet and my newly pregnant body definitely approved of it!

Following dinner McKay and I explored the beautiful ship, imagining what it would have been like in its glory days.  We really felt like we were on the Titanic, and there were definitely some Jack and Rose lines quoted.

This map shows the passengers where they were in their voyage.

Here is McKay drooling over the exotic woods in this art piece.  I will be blogging about this soon, but in case you didn't know, McKay is obsessed with wood and wood carving.  He's really cute!

Thank you for the awesome anniversary surprise sweetie!  I loved it and you are just my favorite McKay!   

Anniversary Surprise

Now that the world knows about our pregnancy I can finally share all the fun stories that we had to keep secret during the first part of my pregnancy, which, by the way, was very hard to do!  As soon as we found out that we were pregnant, we both wanted to shout from the tops of the mountains that we were having a baby!

A week or so before I could actually take the pregnancy test I was pretty sure that I was pregnant, but I didn't want to tell McKay anything, because I wanted it to be a complete surprise when I told him.  I wasn't sick, but I could tell that my body was getting ready for something.  At the time, I was in the middle of recording a CD with a friend of mine, so was practicing and going into the studio a lot.  The first day of recording landed right on McKay and my 2nd anniversary, which I felt terrible about, however, it was the only available time.  

McKay and I agreed that we would celebrate our anniversary over the weekend with massages and dinner to make up for it though, but I knew I wanted to give him a special anniversary surprise on our actual anniversary day.  I also knew that our anniversary was the first day that I could actually take the pregnancy test, so I prepared a slideshow of our past 2 years together and decided to put the pregnancy test results at the end, sure that it would be positive. 

I also had work at the flower shop on the evening of our anniversary, (I know, I felt like the worst wife in the world!) but decided to take a pregnancy test with me.  I took the pregnancy test at work, but did it completely wrong and had to buy another one on my way home from work.  When I came through our door I gave McKay a hug and a kiss, then quickly ran to the bathroom to take the test.  I wasn't surprised to see it come out positive, but began shaking with excitement!  I snapped a shot and added it to the slideshow.  

McKay had two wrapped presents waiting for me when I came out that he had been anxious to give me while I was in the bathroom for soooo long.  With a huge smile on my face and jitters all over my body I opened his sweet presents.  One was a sweater for me and the other was a little baby boy's outfit with knickers.  It was adorable!  At this point I thought he must have suspected something, but he said he saw it and just had to have it, because he thought that our first baby was going to be a boy.  He has been getting me little children’s clothes for a while, so I could tell that he didn’t suspect anything.  This was perfect!  

I then brought him to the living room and started this video while we snuggled on the couch.  It was fun to reminisce and see all the many things that we have done in the past two years.  

At the end of the video McKay was so surprised that he couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened.  He said, “Wait, you are pregnant...now?” to which I replied "YES!"  It was such a special moment.  We hugged and kissed on the couch, and cried a lot.  It was a perfect way to tell him and I couldn't think of a better anniversary present for the two of us!  I love my McKay and can’t wait to bring this new life into the world with him!  He is going to be the best father ever!  

Countups

While dating McKay, I never thought the day would come that we could start celebrating real anniversaries!  Instead, we always had countdowns.  Oh, so many countdowns!  Countdowns to talkie time, countdowns to Christmas, countdowns to summer leave, to parent's weekend, to ring dance, to Mexico, to graduation - basically countdowns to any thing that meant we could be together - and of course, the biggest countdown of all, our wedding day countdown (you'd think I could have majored in math with all those years of counting down!)

It is just so nice to finally countup!  I can personally attest to the fact that countups are way better than countdowns.  For starters, did you know how fast a year goes by when you are with the man you love in one of the most amazing cities ever!  Let me tell you!  The words "super duper fast" would not even begin to suffice.  Yes that is right, McKay and I just celebrated our one year anniversary (I know! Can you believe it has already come and gone!)  We thought we would do it in style by celebrating our anniversary in Tinsel town, starting with a romantic Italian dinner.

I could have eaten this bread alone and been completely satisfied.  By the way, if anyone has any knock out bread recipes I would love them!

 Anyways, I think this face kind of says it all.  Or maybe his hands tell it even a little better.  How very Italian of you McKay!

 We strolled along Hollywood Blvd, commemorating some of the great stars of cinema and TV.  

Live long and prosper!  

Look at my cute little Trekkie!

We decided that our Hollywood experience would not be complete without watching a movie in the Chinese theater.  We were right!  The best part was seeing a preview for another film that was shot inside the Chinese theater.  Talk about feeling like you're in the twilight zone!

We tried to get a picture with the Hollywood sign, but we were pretty far away.  Kudos to whoever finds it back there!

The one thing we were sad about missing, especially since it is sort of time sensitive, was eating the top to our wedding cake.  When we moved to California we were not about to transport a cake hundreds of miles in a hot car for it to then take up room in our tiny freezer.  Luckily, I have an awesome mother that has kept it in her refrigerator for us.  We are planning to eat it on our year and a half anniversary at Christmas time.  Thanks mom!  And thank you McKay for the best year of my life yet!  I look forward to each year with you as I know they will continue to get better, just like you!

Happy Anniversary

I can't think of any better word to describe our last year together, except pure and utter bliss!

Thank you for the best year of my life yet!  I love you McKay McLaren!