GEMMA: Rosaura's Day Off

Ok - so we didn't end of singing 'Twist and Shout" in a city parade like Ferris Bueller but we did have a wonderful and relaxing time.

One of my best friends, Magda (college buddy, Director of Plugged In, and awesome mother of 2 kids), flew in from out of town to help me prepare and celebrate Gemma's arrival. :)

First we had an easy Friday morning and slept in - yahoo! I needed a break. Then we headed off to Redwood city to have lunch with an old friend, Mark Wallace. We have a great time chatting and eating at this yummy restaurant called Milagros (means 'miracle' in Spanish), a nice coincidence. :)

Before lunch we had a tour of Hope Lab - a wonderful non-profit organization that makes video games and other products to help young people with chronic illness. Their most recent release is called "Re-Mission" a PC video game that helps children/young adults learn more about their cancer and their part in it's successful treatment. The game is based on tons of medical research - and it is FREE! If you know anyone who is interested, please see the links above.

Next we headed out to one of our favorite stores: Babies R Us! LOL! We didn't get much but it is always neat to see the new stuff. :) BTW, I am looking for a 42" x 42" stretchy-fabric swaddling blanket. Let me know if you know where to get one.

Ahhhh, next we drove up to S.F. for some major pampering:

SENSPA

This isn't just a place to get a massage or facial, it truly is an event, an experience. If you go, get there early and chill out. We didn't know what were in for and instead of heading in early, we finished our conversation and munchies in the car parked just outside the oasis! Hilarious! Now we know better! :)

We both received 80-minute massages. WOW! I had never received that long of a massage and boy, did I need a prenatal one at this point since everything seems to ache! I felt like a steam engine coming into the station and giving the hugest SIGH as we started the massage. They had this special pillow that allowed me to lay down on my tummy. At first Gemma was squirming around which got me a little nervous. But she calmed down as I relaxed and it was just heaven. Here's a picture of us just after:

Oh my goodness... and the tea and snacks they gave us were soooooo yummy - dark chocolate, dried fruits, fresh organic fruits, almonds and nuts. If you go, see if you can get Martin Aguilar - he's fantastic!

In our blissful state, we meet our good friends, Art and Moosh. Magda and I went to the university with Art. He's a mechanical engineer working at Lunar and is super great with kids. She's a child psychologist working at the CA Pacific Medical Center in child development, wonderful dancer and is glowing from the pregnancy. They are expecting their first baby 2 weeks before us!

We brought them some gifts and checked out their awesome remodel. They made a herculean effort to get it all done before baby Maya comes and they did a great job! Scott and I have been redecorating too - funny how babies inspire this sort of nesting in us! :)

We at this fabulous Middle Eastern restaurant named Fattoush and chatted and laughed up a storm. I can't wait for our babies to meet!

Here's a picture of the 2 expectant mamas with one of our inspirational mamas!: