Us, multiplied...

we celebrated our six-year-anniversary over the weekend with a little trip into the mountains. we like to take a trip every year although last year's was just for the day since i was about as big as a mountain myself :)

we stopped on our way over carson pass for a nice little morning hike. somebody was in a very good mood and ready to go after her nap!


early july, the mountains are so alive and vibrant, opening up to show us earth's treasure box.




and speaking of treasure boxes, i've just got to shout it from the mountaintops: I'M HAVING ANOTHER BABY! after trying so long for our first, it was almost more surprising this time around ;) everyone says once you have one, it just opens the floodgates but i had a hard time believing that for us and even though we always wanted a bigger family i thought, i will be content with this child no matter what happens. and then bam, here we go again! needless to say we are very excited to expand our family, and have little siblings just 18 months apart. lucy is going to be the most amazing sister.






onward with the journey. we found frog lake with nice cool water and shade to eat our lunch.

lucy wants to hold her own sandwich these days, which doesn't last long before all the contents slip into the dirt.


....so mommy helps.


our little adventuress.



she loves to goof around with daddy.



 mother nature's goddess garden, wildflowers all in a row.

it was heaven to be up here with my family, feeling great and lively again after several weeks of consuming nausea and exhaustion. i felt like i had stepped out of a fog. i love the beginning of the second trimester!



hit the road in the early afternoon and crossed those mountains to the east side.


a sparklingly HOT day in the mountains, a sizzle of sunshine on everything, all of it glad and welcoming.


after about an hour of sleep i peeked back to find this. lucy quietly reading.


we stayed at El Mono Motel in Lee Vining, which is right at Mono Lake and Tioga Pass. a tiny town and a quaint little place with the prettiest garden you ever did see.  


the perfect setting for a beer or a cup of coffee.





we had dinner at the world-famous Mobil gas station at Tioga Pass...i'm not even kidding.
it is supposedly a five-star gourmet eatery inside a gas station. did it live up to the hype? kind of, but there were very few vegetarian choices. the pizza was good though, really good. it was fun to people watch as folks from all around the world stopped by and stood in line on their way out of yosemite.




then back to enjoy a perfect sunset in our paradise garden.



delicious coffee at our motel in the morning, such a treat.


plus lucy made an international friend :) this little german gal was one month older than toot.


of course i had to follow tradition and wear my anniversary dress. in case you haven't seen it before, my mom made it for me to change into for dancing and partying at my wedding and i wear it every year on my anniversary. it is made of white cotton eyelet and it wraps around, so it fit a big pregnant belly last year :)


and it fit a little pregnant belly this year. (well not really all that little, i am shocked how fast my belly is growing this time around!)


after a stop by strange and haunting mono lake....


we were on our way across Tioga Pass. one of the most breathtaking drives i've ever taken, it was truly a spectacular way to come into Yosemite. we stopped at the tuolomne meadows visitor center. we only had a day to visit the busiest national park in california, so we didn't really plan anything, just wanted to take in a few sights. next time we will go back with more time, better plans, and hopefully some secrets from seasoned park-goers ;) knowing now how crazy it was down on the valley floor, i'd go back and spend the whole day in tuolomne meadows, where it was cool and refreshingly sparse on visitors.


first glimpse at the valley, it is indeed pretty spectacular.

it was 106 degrees in the valley and we can't run the air conditioner in our car. so it got a bit hairy. we were sweaty and grumpty after a hellish traffic jam in the vast network of parking lot loops so we skipped the visitor center and headed on, admittedly, the park's easiest and busiest hike, yosemite falls. how could we miss a glimpse at the tallest falls in north america?


it was a nice little hike, and i tried to detach myself at least once in while from the crowd and enjoy the beauty that surrounded me. i admit, it was kinda hard, it was just too crowded for me, as much as i'd expected that. maybe if i lived in the city and was used to crowds it would feel more bearable, but next time i am definitely steering clear of the big crowds and heading for the lesser used parts of the park!


yosemite falls. i was so desperate to get in the water down by the bridge (a thousand other people were too) that i could barely take in the height and majesty of the waterfall!



in the afternoon on our way out we found a quiet spot along the merced river and had a quick picnic in the shade with all our leftover food. lucy is a huge fan of mangoes.


and i got to take another quick dip before a fairly grueling drive home in 100+ heat with a fussy sweaty baby and no shade for miles and miles :) and in the interest of honesty, when i run out of ice water, and i'm pregnant, i am not a pleasant person.


i loved our weekend getaway and wouldn't change a thing, not even the crowds! i love having a stash of crazy memories of all sorts and road trips gotta include it all...besides it gets me feeling adventurous and spirited which i'm gonna have to be with two babies under two! i'm ready!
i wish you all peace, love and freedom for the fourth of july :)






Comments

kerttu said…
Congratulations !!!
Place looks pretty and so do U:-)
Heidi Ann said…
SO happy for all of you and your growing family! I love reading the tales of your adventures, and seeing the pictures. I just adore the photos of Lucy "reading" her books. So sweet.
red moon arrow said…
Yay the announcement has been made! So delighted for you and Darin and Lucy too! Loving all the pictures of your adventures and I loved those sheets on the bed at your motel. SO bright and cheerie! Lucy is so beautiful Heather! Such a bright little star. Love you and Congrats!!!!
xo
Amy Beatty said…
woot woot!! LOVE this. Luc is such a doll. I love her with her little sandwich and then on the bed with the book! so crazy cute and perfect! and speaking of perfect!!! you never looked so lovely. you look amazing and a love the new fresh hair cut. I can only imagine the heat and crowds!! We have been there enough to know what trails to take, during what seasons,, and so on. What a fun trip. They are so wonderfully addicting and just fill my with such bursting love for life and being in the wild with my family. CONGRATS!!! couldn't be any happier for you guys and little luc xoxo
lasophia said…
Congrats! That is so exciting! Your belly is so cute. Baby girl is going to be a big sister soon wow!
congratulations!! wonderful photos as always :)
regina said…
ack, sorry pville baskets is a weird google thing, its regina :)
polly compost said…
okay, i have 1000000 things to say about this post:


congrats on the growing baby!! you are a goddess mother. so stoked.

I WAS AT FROG LAKE FREAKIN YESTERDAY!!!! and the wildflowers were blowing my MIND!

106 in yosemite valley? with those crowds and dwindling waterfalls? yeah, the lady didn't make her finest impression. i really hope to take you next early summer and reintroduce you.

mono lake and tioga pass and tuolumne meadows = crazy perfection of sierra dramatics.

dude, the majority of my driving years with teddy have been sans a/c. i splashed him with water with the windows down.

happy anniversary!

what the eff, climate change??? if this is an indication of the way things are going it ain't pleasant. :/


xoxo
Anonymous said…
Congratulations! So very happy for you! You are gorgeous glowing beautiful Heather.
Tina Dawn said…
Wonderful news. Keep the ice water flowing. Love Tina
anne said…
yay! more baby cuteness to come :)

what a fun trip! oh yes, and happy anniversary! the place you stayed at is adorable. i will be leaving for yosemite next week. i can't wait! i agree the crowds can get crazy and the park is always super crowded around the 4th but regardless it is awesome to be there. i've hiked yosemite falls twice, it's hard but i highly recommend it. of course with little ones it's doubtful i (or you) will be doing it again any time soon :) and i do have a couple secret-ish spots in the park that i'd be willing to reveal to you for your next trip ;) anyway, glad you all had fun and may the ice water flow like the falls!
amy*lou said…
congratulations! so very happy for you all :)
hillary said…
Oh, congratulations! That's so wonderful. You have transitioned to motherhood with such grace after your long wait for Lucy, and it must be a dream to expect another child so easily and soon.
Nichole said…
congratulations!! again!!

the way you're raising lucy reminds me a lot of how my parents raised me (down to the location, really). she looks bright and curious and creative, your next will be as well!
Teeny said…
Happy Anniversary!!! I can't get enough of little toot; I predict you'll have at least five! Please do! I need my baby fix. Does she fit a size one? I've thrifted a vintage crochet dress - purported to be a size one and I'll send it to you if you think she'll fit? As always, I love reading your words. xo
THANK YOU ALL!!!

haha teeny, i wish we would have five!!! but that would put me well into my forties, yikes :) yes i think she fits a one, that is probably the same as our "twelve months" which is what she wears right now. she is a bit on the smallish side now that she has thinned out and i think that size will fit her all summer. thanks for the offer! i miss you darling.
Geny said…
Oh so happy for you Heather!! Congratulations! You are the most amazing momma!!! xoxoxo
Jenna E said…
ohhhh myyyyy gooooodness graciouuuusss!! I am so happy for you guys! Congrats!!!

Loving all of your adventures. You are so lucky to be going on all of these roadtrips.
Anonymous said…
Many, many Congratulations! What a blessing for you all. Much love from my little patch in Norfolk, England.
Unknown said…
oh my congratulations a hundreds times over. love how you just tried to throw that little gem in the middle! babies close in age is just wonderful.
Crystal Lee said…
Congrats on expanding your family! What wonderful news!

I love the Sierra Nevada so much! I hope to get out along Hwy 395 for Labor Day weekend!
Juliana said…
Ooh, I think you have a blossoming bookworm! Which is fantastic as we're in the midst of a serious bookworm shortage right now. Point is, the pictures of her reading are ridiculously adorable. And I'll join in on the choir of congratulations!
annalouise said…
It's a year since I started reading your beautiful blog. Your creativity and spirit are a pleasure to behold! Huge congratulations on your pregnancy!! I'm was catching up on your entries when you casually referred to Lucy becoming a sister, and I had to scroll back through the entries to confirm it! Wow, such great news. Keep posting :) Anna x
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