Okuma- day 1

Now that you know that the Stepanoff family is expecting a new little bundle of joy, you have probably figured out why i've been so tired!  It's been a long 14 weeks, and I had really been needing a well deserved break.  Dima had spent the last 2 months in the freezing cold of Korea, working insane hours and sleeping in a tent.  We both needed a little vacation!  When we heard that Dima was getting a 96 (4 day) this weekend, we knew this was our chance to unwind after a long few months.  Since travel off this island is very expensive, and we had 2 days notice, we knew we had to stay close.  Where do most people go when they want a little island getaway?  OKUMA!

Okuma is a resort way up on the northern part of the island.  It is only for military and sits on a peninsula surrounded by two beautiful beaches.  There are many water sports to take place in, but because it's not quite warm enough, we had to skip all water fun.  We took advantage of this weekend to relax as a family and have fun.  

We arrived and were put in a very small room.  It is only now that I realize that a small room just doesn't cut it anymore with a toddler in our lives.  We realized that we now need two rooms to be comfortable.  That way, when Zach goes to bed, we can go to bed in the other room and hang out before we go to bed.  But in a single, we can't do that!  Unfortunately, because this was planned last minute, it's what we were stuck in for our first night.  It was a eye opening experience for our upcoming trip to Tokyo.  Lesson learned!

Once we were unpacked we went out to walk and explore a little.  The first stop after a long drive with a 1 year old?  The park, of course!

Going down the slide with Dada!

Excited about a new park.  I can't believe how big he looks walking!

Couldn't be happier!

After a wonderful trip at the park, we took a walk to a very small beach where nobody was around! This was the first time Zach has gotten to really see the ocean since he was old enough to walk around and enjoy it!  He was very confused, but I'm confident he will love it as much as we do when it warms up!

He's deep in thought about this very big bath tub!

Hey Mom!

We continued on a walk along Okuma, taking in the sites.  I promise I did not edit any of these photos!  This is how beautiful it is in Okinawa!

Okuma beach

Playing with Daddy on a walk

A beautiful day ends in a beautiful sunset.  

We had a bit of a tough time getting Zach to sleep that night, as he's never slept anywhere but in his crib. And in a single room?  Not easy!  Luckily, we brought our amazing baby monitor and we were able to walk outside and relax on the beach after he finally went to sleep.  It was a beautiful night, and we spent it looking at stars (we can't see the stars from our house) and talking.  I am so lucky to have a marriage that can consist of sitting on a beach and talking for 3 hours straight.  

And so, we rested our heads for the exciting aventure that awaited us the next day!

The luck of the Irish

Not being Irish, St. Patrick's day was never one of those holidays I looked forward to.  Drinking beer filled with disgusting artificial green dye wasn't exactly on my list of things to do in college, not to mention I don't look particularly great in green.  But just as with valentine's day, I have found ways to embrace this holiday this year.  Beware, more holidays in the making!

This year, a special leprechaun has arrived in the Stepanoff house to hide a very special pot of gold!  Can you find the pot of gold?

 

This little leprechaun is here to announce....

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 He is going to be a big leprechaun!

As in, a BIG BROTHER!

That's right.  Baby number 2 is on the way.  And don't you worry, just as I have photographed much of my pregnancy and first year with my first little leprechaun, leprechaun number 2 will come with his/her own new projects for your viewing pleasure!  

Baby number 2 will be coming to Okinawa in September of 2012, making the kiddos about 20 months apart.  Yes, this is quite a close age difference, but the plan has always been to have them close.  It will surely be difficult, but I strongly believe it will end up being worth it in the end.  

I have kept this a secret for some time now, having found out in early January about our new little one. I am currently 14 weeks along (3 1/2 months), and am barely starting to show.  It has been a very long first trimester.  I struggled with some pretty severe exhaustion, and with the hubby gone, this was a very difficult time for me.  With a 1 year old walking running around, a dog constantly at my side, and lots of other responsibilities, the exhaustion couldn't have come at a worse time.  I just about broke on many occasions.  But alas, the dust has finally settled, and I am feeling much more myself these days (with a quick power nap in the afternoon).  

As for how baby #2 is doing, all seems perfect.  I have been feeling him/her kick a LOT already (they say it's sooner with your second) but it's only that butterflies feeling that Dima can't yet feel.  I recently had an ultrasound done and he/she looked to be growing exactly on target, happily moving around.  We are still trying to decide whether or not we want to know the sex this time around, but my gut is telling me it's another boy already.  Boys are wonderful, so this would be great.  Not to mention Zach would have a great friend in his little brother!

I will be using this blog this time to document this pregnancy.  I will no longer be using my Facebook for those updates!  So please, click the "follow" button on this page to follow our adventures in this pregnancy, raising a 1 year old, and life in Okinawa.  

I end this post with a question to all of my friends and family:

What are your opinions on finding out the sex of your child?  Did you/will you find out the sex of your child?  What are the pros and cons of not finding out?  Is it something you would suggest to someone in their second pregnancy?  

Boy love

As I mentioned in a previous post, Zach and Neko are attached at the hip.  What Zach lacks in the hair department, Neko makes up for with his thick brown coat.  They love each other.  And now that Daddy is home, it's triple the fun.  The three of them are great buddies, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  

This evening, we took advantage of "nice" weather.  It's been cloudy for months now, but at least it wasn't raining!  Zach was cracking us up by giving his doggy big hugs.  Eventually Dima got the great idea to do this to them:

Look at the look on Zach's face!  He is so happy.  And Neko is so content with a bald baby on his back!  

Eventually it was time for Zach to take a bath and go to bed.  I am officially the mom to a toddler.  As you can see by the face I got when I signed "tubby time" and tried to grab the boy.  

No mom!  I'm hanging with the boys!

I sure am in trouble if baby #2 is a boy!