Last week

As promised, here is a more upbeat post with pictures from last week.

Last Saturday we went to Dan's parents house so they could finally meet Isela. They had been out of town since the birth!

Isela was really over the flash, but seriously, how can I resist?




Dan's mom, Donna, with Isela...




You know every mom takes those photos...yep, the baby on the lap shot.








Last Wednesday Joaquin went to a puppet show with some of his friends. Here they are all stoked and showing off their tickets...it was pretty frickin' cute.






HUGS!!!!




And here is Isela after a bath with her fuzzy hair, again, pretty annoyed with the flash...




Oh, and before her bath, all sweaty and cute in her cloth diaper...



Tomorrow we're taking the kids out on the Coronado Ferry...I know they will love it, so I'll be back soon with pics!

Also, thank you for the comments here, on facebook and in person about my last post. They all really helped me put things in perspective and understand that this is all just a normal passing phase. That's helping me to chill out a bit which is encouraging Joaquin to chill out a bit. It's awesome to know I have such great supportive people sharing in my life through this blog...I appreciate it more than you know!

Week two

Here are some pictures of last week...week two!

On the first day of Isela's 2nd week of life we decided a trip to the zoo was in order, we even ate dinner at the fancy pants restaurant they have there...and I even had a glass of wine. Crazy stuff, I know.




Not the best of pictures, but it's of the three of us on the Skyfari...







Yep, I'm nursing while walking through the zoo...it can be done, and nobody had a clue!






The next day, Joaquin wanted to be the baby...




while Isela was looking all growns up already, I can't believe she is only one week and one day old here!



The following Sunday, we went to my mom's for breakfast...how does one resist the outfits? Oh and the bows? Oh the bows!






Lucky for me that camera doesn't work anymore...I'm not a big fan of the pictures lately.




Our first photo as a family of FOUR!




We got to give Isela her first bath that Sunday evening, of course Joaquin was a big help...










We had our 2nd pediatrician appointment on Tuesday and Isela was above her birth-weight at 8 pounds 9.5 ounces, so it looks like nursing is going well! No pictures of that even though...but here she is at a whole TWO weeks old!



It's crazy how fast these past couple of weeks have gone. While this newborn phase and adjusting to life with two kids is no easy task, Dan and I realize how fast it goes...we're trying to enjoy and suck up as much sweetness as we can.

More to come soon!

Happy Five Year Anniversary!!!!

I can't believe it's already been five years ago since Dan and I got married! Looking at these pictures, it blows my mind that now we have Joaquin and are about to have our 2nd!

Yesterday we had an unexpected date night because my mom took Joaquin up to Bakersfield for the day to visit his new cousin. We went for a spicy dinner at the new El Zarape and I got some of the best Chicken Mole ever...I swear I could live on that stuff! Anyway, we were just talking about what a tough year this has been for both ourselves individually and for ourselves as a couple. But we both know that when we make it out on the other side of all these outside stressors, and I know we will, we will just be that much stronger.

Happy Anniversary Dan...I love you!


Here are a bunch of photos by Jennifer Thomas Photography from the wedding, sorry there are so many, it's hard to whittle them down, I love them all so much...It was really a pretty amazing day!

Enjoy!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Jennifer did all the color ones and Nelwyn did the B&W ones, this was before I ever knew her as a mama!

Nice weekend at 38 weeks

Yesterday morning we finished up a few baby related items and after our luxurious family nap headed to my mom's. She was having some of my aunts and cousins over "just because", or so I thought. I walked in, to my cousins yelling "Surprise". I was confused, I knew they would be there, so seeing them wasn't too surprising, until they explained to me they were there for my shower! Ahhh, I see! Now that was quite the surprise!

We ended up getting a good amount of gift cards which will come very much in handy come time to buy new baby clothes. She is totally set for the rest of summer and through about 3 months, but then her stash quickly dwindles down, so these cards are very much appreciated!

Here is a picture Dan took of me in the back yard now at 38 weeks and 3 days. I'm thinking this might be my last belly shot. I'm just kind of done!



Today we went for a big breakfast at one of my favorite big breakfast joints, Lake Murray Cafe. It was then off to the in-laws and then back home for another luxurious nap (I'm trying to get as many in as possible, can you tell?).

This evening was spent at the zoo. It was perfect, not too hot and we stayed a bit later than usual. Joaquin is totally in love with what he called the "moving trees", and then he enjoyed a puppet show about dragons and pirates. We walked a bit and I got plenty of contractions, like i do everyday now, but nothing that is sticking.

I'm really trying to enjoy my days as much as possible...I just have no idea how many more I have until life completely changes all over again!

Playgroup Camping Trip 2009

Yep, I went camping at 34 weeks pregnant.

My logic was that if I didn't do it, I would always wonder if I should have gone. You know, if I would have enjoyed it and if Joaquin would have enjoyed it. If I went and hated it, well then at least I knew. If I went and had a great time, then great! Well, it turned into a combination of the last two.

It was not easy, not easy at all. I slept like crap Friday night which made Saturday a rough one for myself and all that happened to be near me. I mean, there were good moments, but for the most part I was a big, fat, pregnant grump. On top of that Joaquin did not sleep or eat well so him impulse control was that of a...well, toddler. I just didn't have it in me to deal and I lost my sh*t a number of times.

Just like last year he was wandering from site to site to visit, we also had a few runaway moments. Nothing like a huge pregnant lady chasing after a manic two year old in the woods. We finally had to implement a time out in the car seat...it helped, but I feel like we started doing it too late in the trip.

The good moments were spent wading in the cold and refreshing falls, hanging out around the campsite and of course watching Lila & Joaquin be cute together.

Of course Sunday morning, after be both slept better and had a decent breakfast, we were both doing much better...but by then it was time to pack up and go home.

Oh well, either way, I'm glad I went. It was an experience for Joaquin and our family that I rarely got to experience growing up. It may not have been perfect, but we still had our fun moments.

Because of my mood, I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked, but here is what I have. I'm also going to post some from Iris' flickr photostream because she was a photo taking maniac!

Enjoy!


Joaquin's attempt to wink.


Cheers!


You got a little somethin' on your face...


Papi & Joaquin at the falls.


Joaquin & a very huge Mama at the falls.


Hanging out at the campsite.


Letting our kids make-out.

Bribery works.

For Father's Day today we decided to take an adventure to the Wild Animal Park. I was a little nervous about Joaquin's potty learning, but he totally put me in my place. I brought three changes of undies and shorts, and did not need a single one of them!



We knew after a couple of hours that Joaquin just had to go, but each time we took him into the bathroom he refused. He had not yet gone in a public toilet, so I knew it was difficult for him. What's a mom to do? Bribery usually works. Yep, I promised him a hat if he went pee pee in the toilet, because if you know Joaquin, you know he loves hats. He quickly asked me if he could get a "Helicopter" hat. He's been eyeballing them every time we go to the zoo and he saw one earlier. Of course.

Here he is right after he went in the men's room with Dan...he was saying "I did it!" It was freaking adorable.



After that he went like three times in the restroom with Dan, no problem. Here he is after we finally found his beloved hat.



So, yep. We went ALL day with no accidents, not one. Can you believe it? I can't!

Here are a few more pics from our day including me at 33 weeks and Joaquin giving Dan his Father's Day kiss.









Yay Joaquin & Happy Father's Day Dan!

A busy Saturday

Since I'll be home with Joaquin and the baby for a while, as of June 16th Joaquin will no longer be in pre-school. I figure I should do some home preschool type of activities with him to keep up the enrichment he was getting at school. I'm not going to drive myself crazy with it, but want to do something here and there. He has a few obsessions lately, and one of them is firetrucks, so a firetruck theme for the next few weeks it is! I made a list of a bunch of firetruck themed picture books and off to the library we went on Saturday morning to get them all.

I am really embarrassed to admit actually, that we have yet to take him to the library. I haven't even stepped foot in a public library in about 7 years. I know, right? I would have put all the books I wanted on hold to make it all easier, but since I didn't have a library card yet, I had to do it myself this first time. It was kind of hard with Joaquin all over the place checking out all the books while I was trying to search for different authors while hunched over or crawling on my hand and knees...but we managed. I also found a few books on becoming a big brother and we ended up with almost 20 books on our first trip. In the car as we were leaving Joaquin told me he felt happy, when I asked him why, if it was because he had so many new books, he gave me a big nod with a huge smile. Adorable. I found a bunch of activities all themed around firetrucks online and will start doing those with Joaquin once I'm off. I'm looking forward to this next adventure with Joaquin and will be sure to document and blog as much as I can!

After the library I had to make a quick trip to the mall to get a bridal shower gift. I have it down now. I pull up the registry at home, circle my options, walk in the store and ask them to point me in the right direction. It took us a whole five minutes, in and out! With a kid like Joaquin, I just don't feel like dilly dallying in Crate & Barrel! Then we stopped off at Old Navy just because their kids clothes are always so cute. As we were checking out Joauqin saw a giant toy dispenser thing with big high bounce balls. He asked me so sweetly "Mommy, can I have a ball please?" They were only a quarter so I said of course and let him put the quarter in and turn the knob. He was in love. In love with a pink and blue high bounce ball. We got in the car and headed home for nap, about half way there while still cuddling with his ball, out of the blue he said "Thank you for my ball, Mommy." My heart melted, "Of course babe, you're very welcome."

During his nap I snuck off to my bridal shower for a couple of hours and returned to Joaquin and Dan getting ready to head to the zoo. I was already pretty tired, but figured why not. We spent a couple of hourse wandering the new Elephant exhibit and shared a big soft serve ice cream. As we were leaving I had the totally random idea of going to the drive-in to see a movie. So we got home and packed up our stuff and headed back out.

We got there a bit early, but Joaquin had fun pretending to drive the car. We battled the big battle to get his PJs on and I totally expected him to pass out by 9 at the latest. Nope, he was into the dinosaurs as we watched Land of the Lost and didn't fall asleep until the ride home.








I was beat, but days like Staturday are too awesome to complain about. Looking forward to the next!C

More real by the day

A bit ago, we started telling Joaquin there was a baby in my belly, he always shook his head and pointed to himself while saying "baby". He made it very clear that he was the baby and there will be no other babies taking his place.

So since we found out it was a girl, I've started calling her "baby girl" and Joaquin "baby boy". That way he still gets to be a baby and nobody is replacing him. He's really taken to the idea.

We went on a picnic Sunday and I brought the camera. When we got home as I was uploading them, he saw this one, pointed to the screen and while smiling said "baby girl". It was the most adorable thing ever.



This morning as I was getting ready he kept bumping his head against my belly. I asked him to be careful with baby girl, so he reached over and rubbed it. Then I asked him, "Where is baby girl?" He answered "Baby girl is in your belly!". "And where is baby boy?" "Right here!"

Made this mama heart just melt.

Here's a few more from our picnic...







c

Party like a Rockstar!

After a few days postponement, Joaquin's 2nd birthday party was a raging success. I can't say I was in tip top shape with all the sickyness around and Dan had to miss it because he was next in line for The Puke, but we still managed to pull off a rager. Not nearly as many people were able to make it on Sunday compared to Friday, but we still had a perfect sized crowd. It was a Rockstar theme, because, well...my kid loves to rock out.


These were a variety of vegan, gluten free and regular...all were chocolate, with pumpkin and chocolate chips and all were dee-lish!


The cool kids munchin' on their rolled tacos my mom made...also dee-lish!


A guitar pinata, of course!


Goodies!


The bags had sunglasses, guitar bubbles...


...little musical instruments and...


...Rockstar tattoos, of course.


He LOVED this part!


It only took him a few tries, and a bit of slobber.


And I'm beat...but happy.


He's two! Happy Birthday little man!