Brainerd and the weekend

I am 34 weeks pregnant now. The clock is really ticking down to Logan time. 

We had a wonderful weekend. Doua went up to Brainerd on business for the entire week last week -- and Chloe and I went up to join him for the latter part of the week. 'Twas a much needed oasis away from home for Chloe and I. We got to hang out at the indoor water park all day (sorry no photos) on Thursday while Doua was working. In the evening, we had dinner on a secluded beach on Gull Lake. 

I finally did it -- eight months pregnant and all -- we took some maternity photos on the lake. Doua was the reluctant photographer - there were a lot of overexposed and underexposed stuff, but some photos actually turned out! ;)

 

Back in the hotel room, Doua and Chloe took some time to bless my belly with a beautiful painting. I absolutely loved it! It was all Chloe's idea, but Doua helped a lot too.

Making water plants. 

Adding rocks at the bottom. 

And viola! "Mommy's belly is an ocean!" - Chloe. Every time Logan moved around, my belly would ripple about and it did really feel and look like I had an ocean in me!

It's Daddy's turn. Chloe did it all by herself -- and drew a self-portrait on Doua's belly. 

Because Daddy and Mommy's belly were painted, Chloe couldn't be left out. 

She wasn't too happy about hers. Lols! She didn't like that her belly button was utilized as the girl's mouth, and didn't think it was too funny when we showed it to her.  

Our family of bellies. 90% of our family portraits are brought to you by the wonderful photographer, Mr. Self-Timer.

On Friday, Chloe and I spent a nice relaxing afternoon alone on Long Lake - fishing and hanging out with snails and worms.  

She's the calendar girl for all sissy girls. She was so frightened by worms and didn't like it so much when I offered for her to bait the hook. It was too funny. And no, she never baited the hook, or even got close to the worms. In fact, I had to be very careful when taunting her with the worms, as she was inches away from toppling over the table's edge from scooting as far as she can away from me. 
 

Lookie, a Pumpkinseed! No, she never touched a fish either. We caught about two dozens sunnies that afternoon (all catch and release fun), and we only had to use one worm! That lake is infested with sun fishes. (Doua says it's because little Hmong kids haven't gotten to the lake yet, as with our lakes in St. Paul -- Phalen, Como, Keller, etc -- where catching one sun fish would be a prize for the whole afternoon).  

"Mom, this one is my Cheetah fish," says Chloe of the last catch of the day -- a baby bass. She wanted to take it home, but I told her we couldn't -- that the fish still had to finish growing up and we'll have to come back to get it when it's ready. "Just like Logan needs to finish growing in your stomach before he can come out, right, Mom?" she then inquired. Right. 

We spent the rest of the weekend, relaxing with friends and family back in town. I've closed down photography shoots for the rest of the summer, so I can prepare for the baby. I can't wait to get back to it. 

Today, the family threw a baby shower for Doua and I. Thanks to Khoua and Chris for organizing it. We had a great time and the food was delicious. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful gifts. We love them all!

Doua's back in Brainerd for another week, so it'll be pretty empty and quiet around the place. We can't wait to see him again come Friday. 

-Yeng