What a fun way to start a slow Monday morning! A girlfriend/fellow blogger nominated me for an Liebster Blog Award and I now get to answer a few fun questions and share with you the blogs that I enjoy catching up with. I am glad that people are reading along and haven't become totally bored with baby letters and weekly updates.

Kelly, I love reading your blog [Pee In The Beans] and I am excited that you enjoy mine, thank you for thinking of me and congrats on your two noms!

What is this Liebster Blog Award anyway? [Stolen from Kelly Rathburn]

Well, it’s more of an acknowledgement, really. Nominees answer questions crafted by their blogging nominator and then pass the love along to their own list of nominees. It’s a great way to spread the blog love for those that you enjoy with fewer than 200 followers. Introduce your readership to your favorites and make it known that you love their words!

Liebster Blog Award Rules in a Nutshell:

1. Thank the person that nominated you
2. Answer the 11 questions that they asked you in their nomination post 
3. Nominate 11 other blogs
4. Ask your nominees 11 new questions

 so, here we go

1. Why do you blog?
I used to be a very very active Livejournal user in high school. I created html for other Livejournals, I posted multiple times a day and overall was really annoying about it. I had given it up around the age of 21 and just stopped writing, there was no real reason for it I just took a break. I decided to start Celebrate We Will when Ryan and I had decided to start a family, I thought I could use it to write down everything I was feeling and going through and it would be an outlet for me. I had not really considered sharing it as much as I do and I also didn't expect anyone to enjoy reading along. I am not known for my grammar or spelling and I tend to write in a train of thought style which I know can drive some people insane. Now that I have been doing weekly updates, writing out recipes and just sharing to share I love it and I hope I can keep it up once Claire is here, eventually she might want to read along too.

2. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
I think I answered this above haha I love that I can look back to see how I felt when something in particular was happening, I also really love that my husband is such a fan. 

3.  Which song can make you start dancing immediately?
Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend.
Watch & try not to dance [extra points for the Robyn roll]

4. What is the achievement you are most proud of?
That is really tough. I am going to make a list.
- Top Fish: 3rd place finalist for my stuffed squid recipe, I am proud that I actually entered and then had the follow through to practice and win tickets to Sea Fare which is all I really wanted.
- My nomination for Long Beach Post's 40 under 40.
- Making a long distance relationship work and now have a thriving marriage that is bringing a baby into the world.

5. If you could give your 16 year old self a piece of advice, what would it be?
Oh  man, even though 16 year old me had it going on there is so much to tell her!
- Become friends with your sisters now, there is no reason to wait until you are older. They are awesome and you should start enjoying them right away.
- Take control of your emotions, letting yourself get so wound up isn't good for you and you are going to eventually regret it.
- Tip better.

6. What location is top on your vacation list?
Fiji, I want to stay in a cabin over the water with a glass floor. Bad.

7. What is your favorite thing to do outdoors?
Roll around in the grass and picnic.

8. If you joined the circus, what act would you perform?
I would want to ride around on an elephant.

9. Nap or no nap?
Always nap.

10. What item/experience would you or do you splurge on?
Food. I can justify a good dining experience. I love food so much.

11. What makes you smile every time?
My husband. Ryan is the best around.

1. Russell Conroy Photography - Not only does he take amazing photos, but he is hilarious in his blog.
2. Lend Me Your Kite - Andrea Franklin's blog about life and pregnancy. Always fun to read, so excited for their baby Declan.
3. My Mommy Diaries - Brittany Kurowski's blog about life and pregnancy. Great advice on this blog since she is a mommy of 5. Excited for baby River.
4. Beerologue- Sarah Bennet has a lot to say so follow her here and on the Long Beach Post!5. PLEINE DE VIE - Evelyn talks about fashion and music and it is fun to follow along!
I know, 5? I will look through and add some more soon!

1. Why did you start to blog and what is your favorite part of your blog?

2. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

3.  What is your single biggest time waster in your life that you would never give up?

4. Pick three words to describe 2013 so far.

5. What is your favorite movie?

6. If at 18 you knew what you know now what would you do differently?

7. What trait do you most admire in others?

8. What trait of yours do you most appreciate, and why?

9. What did you do on your 21st birthday?

10. Have you ever been in a fist fight? Why?

11. If you could learn one random skill, what would you learn?



Happy Monday!
xo
Nikol

Dear Audible,

I know we don't know each other that well, but I think I am in love with you.

I know we just met in December, when I joined for the free audio book, but now it's so much more.
Not only do I look forward to my monthly credit, I buy additional books! I find my self bragging to friends about how awesome you are and what a great relationship we have. 
At work I day dream of the next time we can be together. You enlighten me with nonfiction(The Happiness Project), scare me with a thriller (Gone Girl), and help me escape with a young adult fiction (Divergent) - its great!

I think the thing I love most about you is your flexibly and ease. Listen on my drive home? Of course! Listen while I clean? A must! Listen while I paint my nails? Sure! You are always there for me - you are the best!

I am a believer that if you love someone, you should let them know - so here I am. I love you Audible. There, I said it. Thanks for being you, because you are awesome.

Love,
Rachel

AUDIBLE RESPONDED!!

Dear Rachel,

Today we opened our mailbox and couldn’t help but hear birds sing, like in one of those Disney movies from the old times.

Shakespeare once said ‘If music be the food of love, play on’. And just like that, we keep on playing the books you’ve enjoyed so much. Believe us, we shared the chill and thrill of ‘Gone Girl’ and hope ‘Kitchen Confidential’ opens your appetite as much as it did for us.

In all honesty, we get to brag about you as well. Come on, how not to? It is this kind of love that makes us feel happy we met each other. It was a nice day of December when a mutual acquaintance introduced us. And from there, nothing was the same.

In short, Rachel: thank you. For all the good times. The rides in the car, the conversations while cleaning or doing your nails and for the future times. We look forward for these.

Love, Audible

Sincerely,
Jose V.

Audible Customer Support

Friends, do you love something enough to write them a love letter? If so post it here, I wanna see
xox
Nikol

These are in no certain order but these are things that have made me laugh, smile, cry and feel happy over the last few days.

Hope they do the same for you.

1. From our hearts to yours. Well Cast written and spoken by my girlfriend Caitlin. 

2. Now this one is not safe for work, will not make you feel better about life but if you are anything like me it will make you laugh.

3. Make some cookies. These are the ones that I made because I really wanted banana and chocolate chips:
Banana chocolate chip cookies
I used whole wheat flower, greek yogurt instead of butter and only half of the sugar.
They were still really tasty and fluffy :) since I have been wanting unhealthy things so much lately I tried to change around a few things but make them any way you would like them.

4. This photo

This just does it for me, tehehe. Babies and baby friends.

5. This post took a God turn at the end, which isn't a bad thing but it is not really MY thing or a thing I need you to be into but overall I really enjoyed reading this.
The Upside of Extended Adolescence. 

6. 

so just don't worry about it.
What other people think of me is none of my business.

7. This is my weekly go to for a laugh. 
My friends are married



Hope you have a nice day, a nice week, and a great weekend
xo Nikol

and it is pretty heavy. 
Am I really going to have to get one of those support belts? Really!? I would prefer not to but as Ryan has pointed out waiting until things are unbearable hasn't been working for me, so maybe I'll go and check one out, it wouldn't be the worst thing.

At least the food has been amazing :)

This past week has been good, it really flew by. With Grand Prix, lady dates [had a blast Morgan & Teresa], husband dates and sleep - it felt like a blink. Last night  Ryan and I went to the Disney Concert Hall to hear some jazz [thank you to Dana & Todd for the Christmas gift] we had a great time and it was a beautiful venue. We also got dressed up and went to Roy's for dinner which I have been hearing about a lot. It was delicious. While I sipped on my sprite and dreamt about a filthy martini Claire just kicked away. Her kicks aren't "cute" anymore, she means business. All kind of new pains are also making their way into my body, overall nothing too bad but all very noticeable. 

Belly news: its big. La linea negra has begun and its kind of weird, I had no idea my body could do all of these things and through most of my twenties I really had never considered children so it never crossed my mind to look into it, but wow. Congrats to all  you ladies out there, kids or no kids your bodies are awesome and I really am trying to appreciate mine more.

Babies are on the brain, and not just mine! Kristen is due any day now. I can't wait to meet her! I put myself down for May 2nd on the arrival date pool [mostly because I'll be there May 4th and I really want to meet her!] I don't know much about baby arrivals so lets just say I have my fingers crossed.
Last week I was able to meet Roni's baby, Cole Valentino, he is just adorable. So teeny tiny and the skinniest little thighs. I could have ate him up. When he would cry Claire would get a little crazy in there and finally he slept on my belly and man she did NOT like that, she kicked and kicked until he woke up and moved.
This weekend we will be celebrating Eva and her baby, Chip, should be a blast. There will be lots of women there and lots of excitement since her due date is less than two months away. This is all happening so fast, so much fun!

Hi baby Claire!
You are kicking up a storm right now, I think you liked hamburgers and cookies! You can thank Andi for the craving after looking at her cute baby shower pictures the thought of camping food was on my mind.
Lately you and I have gotten into a groove, thankfully I can still get up and dressed pretty quickly but once night time falls you want slow movements and relaxation. I can work with that little one. I love you and cannot stop thinking about you. In about a week we get to hear you and get my glucose tested, I have to tell you I am a little nervous but the thought of hearing you and getting an update from our midwife makes it easier to deal with.
This past week and weekend we had lots of fun things going on, many new people wanted to touch the belly and Sarah even rubbed her belly on mine so she could be closer to you. How are you already so adored? Get ready for another busy weekend - our friends Andrew & Carolyn are celebrating their engagement AND we have baby Chips shower! You have so many baby friends already.
Lets take a bath
xo
love ya, Mommy

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her. When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

I have really enjoyed these past few weeks, I feel like Ryan and I are getting a lot more one on one time. Date nights, getting my cravings met, and spending most of our time at home. I really am soaking it all up.
I am also getting some girl time in, I love my girl dates and I think Claire will too. She is coming into a big group of loving girlfriends who I know are going to spoil her with hugs. This weekend will be no different, Ryan has a lot going on with the Grand Prix, I am sad that Ill be missing it but I have three lady dates lined up and I can't wait to eat and chat it up haha.

Last weekend I went to Shar's baby shower and it was so much fun, she is due a few months before me and it'll be exciting to see it happen before I go through it all. That same day we had some family friends in town from Utah and Temecula. We went to lunch on 2nd street with them and my parents - everyone got Claire the most adorable clothing and blankets. Everything is so soft I am in love! Her little closet is really filling up.

On the bump front, it sure is getting bigger and heavier. I wonder what she is doing in there, I feel her a lot more now during the day then I used to. Just little kicks here and there while I am helping customers. Pretty soon I am going to try the flashlight test - her eyes are developing and supposedly if I hold a flashlight over a part of my belly she might kick it or try to get away from it and I am really excited to find out how that goes. The chiropractor has become my best friend, I wouldn't say that I am in a lot of pain but the headaches are frequent and the back aches are starting. He has been helping me a lot and I am also going to start upping the massages, might as well milk this while I can haha.

Baby Claire! Can you hear me? I know that you can :)
They say pretty soon you will be able to know my voice and your dads voice from everyone else's and that is really exciting. I feel such a bond with you already and I hope that continues to grow over the few months we have left while I still get to carry you around. Your dad has been very supportive as per usual but he wrote a blog for you last week and everyone flipped. I hope when you read these one day you can tell just how much he adored you before you were even born.
You are getting pretty big inside of there, are you squished? I will keep eating cookies to make more space for you :) We just made our appointment to get to see you in 3D and I really hope that you are awake and active for the video and pictures. We made the appointment for mothers day weekend, I don't know if this really counts as a mothers day for me but whatever you are my baby and I am your mommy and maybe the two of us can go out and celebrate. 
I love you so 
xo
Mommy

Hi again! It’s Kristen and Baby Girl Montan, Baby Z’s first best friendJ. It has been awhile since we last checked in and so much has happened! So I thought we could fill you in on some of the fun stuff. I’m currently 37 weeks and quite literally counting down the days until I meet someone very special.  If it’s possible to feel every single emotion there ever was that’s about where I am at right now.  I’m excited, anxious, nervous…the list could go on and on. I’m sure she is ready to be here too because she is quickly running out of room. Her jabs and kicks hurt a little more every time. Here are my most recent belly pictures to keep you up to date (disclaimer: I am HUGE)! These were taken at 8 months, 8.5 months and 9 months.

Since the last time I posted, we have had three baby showers. Our friends and family are so generous and we are so grateful and thankful to have all these amazing people in our lives during such a special time. Baby Montan is already spoiled for sure! I have also started my maternity leave and can I please tell you…I LOVE it. I get to run errands, meet friends for lunch, take naps…it’s amazing. How do people go back to work after this?? We also got to take our maternity photos. I am dying to see them and will share as soon as I get them. Lastly, we have finished Baby Montan’s nursery! It’s by far my most favorite room in the house. I can’t believe a tiny little person will soon be living in there.

We are just wrapping up some final details before Baby Montan’s arrival. We have our hospital bag packed, birth plan written, freezer meals made and I am currently making a playlist for the hospital. The CD I’m currently downloading is “The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World…Ever!” Sounds like that should do the trick!

Thanks for letting me post again Nikol! If anyone has any advice or tips for me during these last few weeks, I’m all ears! Hopefully the next time you hear from me Baby Montan will have made her arrival and we can finally stop calling her Baby Montan!! I’m dying to share her name!

Love,

Kristen

For me, this stage is about waiting. In the nursery that has slowly come together
with blankets and books and toys and furniture, time stands still. You look around
the room and see things, things, and kind of wonder what they’re all doing here.
Why that blanket? Why that DVD? Why that Eeyore doll? No matter what they
are, right now they are all doing the same thing, waiting, so what is it about those
specific things that earned them a home in this room? The answer is that they all
offer something new for Claire to discover. Same goes for me. At this moment I’m no
different from Eeyore. We’re all waiting to be discovered.

The first connection a baby has to the outside world is sound. With Claire growing
bigger inside Nikol’s belly every day, she can’t see or speak or touch anything. But
she can hear, and she can already discover things that way. By now, she’s already
discovered “The Little Engine That Could” and Frank Ocean. When she’s ready to
come into the world, she’ll come into it having already discovered what English and 
a little bit of Spanish sounds like.

I don’t get to watch that discovery, but I’ll get to see all the ones after it. Blankets
will become colors and materials. Books will become stories. Stuffed animals will
become friends. Before Claire understands what something is, she’ll understand
what it represents. People will represent interaction and socialization. Family will
represent close people. Mom and Dad will be the closest people. Labels won’t exist,
only purpose. Function. For her.

The thought of watching her discover things is what excites me most at this point.
Interest turns to curiosity turns to knowledge and understanding – what’s more
beautiful? There’s a whole world out there to discover, but it’s going to all start in
here, probably in this rocking chair surrounded by things hand-picked by friends
and family to help Claire understand the world. Again, that goes for me, too. I’m just
another thing until the day that Claire discovers me as Dad.

Right now, the nursery is filled with things. Claire will fill it with life.

Post by Daddy aka Ryan ZumMallen

Am I really 6 months pregnant? This is getting real. I mean, it has been very real since the day I took the test, then it got more real when we saw[and then heard] the heartbeat, and oh man then there was the ultra sound. Every single step it seems to get just a little more real. Now I know we are having a daughter named Claire, who likes to kick and enjoys spicy food and bath time. My belly is expanding and customers/strangers just adore commenting on it. It doesn't really bother me until they use the word huge, or "I think this is happening really quickly for you" Oh you do? Hmm 6 months doesn't seem like the perfect time to be showing that there is a child growing inside of you? Alright. 
Ok enough of that rant I guess I needed to get it out haha.

This past week hasn't been very eventful belly wise but we did do a lot of things! Saw Jurassic Park in 3D I am hoping that Claire loves dinos because they're already filling her nursery, she did kick a lot throughout the movie so maybe that is a good sign. I also saw Evil Dead which was FANTASTIC I cannot recommend that movie enough. If you want to see someone chain saw someone else in half WHILE the sky is raining blood then this is the film for you! Claire isn't even scared! Since I can't say the same for Ryan I went and saw it with Shannon and Shaun and we all loved it.

THE NURSERY

We set aside a block of time and got it going! We moved around the furniture, hung up a few things and got all of the clothes either hung up or organized in the dresser. I am really happy with how it is turning out. It feels really cozy in there and I hope that Claire enjoys it. While sitting in the middle of the room surrounded by her little clothes and all the cute shoes I just could not wrap my head around how something so tiny can already have so many things haha. We have the basics down I think so no more buying things until we get closer and once we have our showers and I can decide what fundamentals we really really need. My mom just sent out the baby shower invites for the one she will be throwing in SCV and I could not be more excited, she is having it at La Cocina like we did my bridal shower, yuuuummmmmyyyyy!

I have to say that cravings aren't really what I thought they would be, I was hoping for the kind where I wake up  in the middle of the night and MUST HAVE DONUTS like my mom had. I thought that sounded fun and Ryan was excited to be able to take care of those for me. Mine are like hmm this sounds really yum lets make it happen. I think I am just going to create some crazy ones just for the fun of it. Great ready babe :)

Hi sweet baby girl, you are getting so big! This week you were kicking up a storm, they seem a little different though. They don't feel like jabs as much, I think you might also be rolling around in there and just having a ball. I hope you are feeling good and getting big. Your dad and I are setting up a 4D ultrasound because we just love to see you and we found a place that will let us watch you for awhile and then we even get to take home a dvd of you playing around in your home. This week we got most of your room arranged, clothes all washed and folded. We have talked about you so much, we have decided that you will probably be really good at sharing. You are a little person to us already and we think about you non stop, thank you for making us parents.
love you Claire xo
Mommy

Tomorrow I will be having Indian food, isn't that exciting!?! I am also seeing the chiro. All in all its going to be an amazing morning & I am glad that Shannon is on spring break and I get to do those things with her. Later in the week I am hitting up Ikea and Aaron brothers, I want to get the nursery going and my first plan of action is to start hanging the cute gifts that we have been given and the few things we have purchased ourselves, I want to hide all those ugly internet cords and figure out how I will be organizing her sweet little clothes. If you have any tips or tricks or just feel like coming over and hanging out while I do this just let me know :)

Working out is still going pretty well, I go when I can [2 - 3xs a week bootcamp and I attempt cardio also] and I try to make sure I don't get down on myself when I am just too tired to make it. My job is still awesome and customers are finally starting to bring up the belly haha I am glad that they waited 23 weeks to do so. One of my employees just left on her maternity leave and I am looking forward to meeting her baby Cole in a few weeks. Hearing about her labor should be interesting I want all the tips and info I can get. Speaking of other people having their babies Kristen is due in a month! What?! It feels like just yesterday when we helped them carve pumpkins to announce that they were expecting. Time sure is flying by, hoping her baby girl comes on her due date because we have that weekend open and want to drive to SD and meet her/learn her name right away!

Birth center news - IT HAS FINALLY OPENED!!

& I love it! I couldn't be more in love with it. The bedroom is so cute, the tub is huge, there are skylights above my bed and its so close to home. I can't wait to fill the room with loved ones aching to see Claire Olive and here's hoping my birth plan can go off without a hitch. I think about labor sometimes and get pretty nervous but other times I just get so overwhelmed with excitement. A little baby girl is making a home inside of me while I prepare her home outside of me and it is just too much sometimes. I never thought I would say this is a miracle but the closer we get the more I can see it, the more I understand the glassy eyed mothers who have told me that it is a gift and that there is nothing like it. I get it and I laugh at myself for when I used to just shake my head. They said someday I would understand and I know I am not fully there yet but I am getting there and I am thankful for my mother and my friends who listened all those years when I said "kids just aren't for me" for my husband who knew this at the beginning of our relationship and made sure I knew that if it ended up just being us for the long run that he would be happy with that and for my biological clock haha it started ticking at the perfect time. 

Dear Baby Claire
I adore you, you tiny eggplant sized baby girl, I can't believe it has been 23 weeks. Thank you for teaching me so much before I even actually get to meet you. You must be very energetic in there because you sure are zapping all of my energy, I go from being just fine and dandy to blacking out from exhaustion. Thankfully your daddy takes care of the two of us and I think we will be able to get past this. I know you still  have awhile before you are ready to join us but I think I will fly by. 
xoxo
Mommy