lovely baby humps

hi there..with summer less than a month away Vale got an early dose of pool action at the beautiful Aviara in Carlsbad a few months back and ever since one of her favorite words is "berca" her way of saying "alberca" which is the Mexican word for swimming pool, I say Mexican because other spanish speaking countries call it piscina. I guess we sometimes call is that too, when we want to sound fancy and stuff. Vale had a blast splashing in the 1 foot pool which was fun even for the adults. Kevin and I took turns playing with Vale in the pool while the other parent lounged and sipped cold beverages. It was super relaxing and a lovely time spent with the family it was also a little preview in to what our summer is gonna look like, Vale is currently signed up for daily swim lessons that start in a couple weeks. I'm a little terrified that they'll make us dunk her. yikes, poor V. but alas, she's gotta learn since my parents pool has always been a source of worry. I'll be sure to share some of the many pictures we'll be taking of Vale as she begins her swimming career :)

p.s. thanks to tita J for letting us crash her relaxing vacation a bunch of times, and a shout out to tita Kalani for the awesome mommy and baby swimsuits! gracias!

April

Hi!! I'm soo behind on the blog and I apologize but you can count on the fact that I've taken pictures of all the sh*t that happens in our day to day (more on that later) and that one day it'll make an appearance on here. So lets catch up....Some of these events are slightly out of order but they did all occur in late May and April...Easter in Mexicali, these are the kinds of memories I hope Vale can one day recall...running around in a huge field of dirt with rocks in her hands and a soccer ball at her feet. her aunts and uncles talking and laughing loudly in the casita while her cousins, which she has only met a time or two, play nearby. I don't think I've ever seen her as mystified by her surrounding as she is here. She hardly knows anyone, but everyone seems to know her, she allowed to run alone in the gated dirt field and for the second time in her life (that I know of) she's eating chocolate! This was also the first time she experienced a confetti filled easter egg! We both had a moment of pride when she broke her egg almost immediately and upon seeing her tia Lola distributing the eggs to 10+ kids,charged into the crowd and with a quick pant tug and a loud "wovo, wovo" (huevo) got the attention on my aunt and another fragile egg to crack on herself. You go girl!

There's a whole army of pictures from our trips to hang out with J's family in Carlsbad but I'll save those for another day and instead just share a few from the easter party! I love how quickly Vale catches up on lost time with her titas...There's never an awkward "how have you been?" or "what's new?" possibly because she can't ask or answer such a question yet but whatever they just dive right in where they left off last time and it's nothing but smiles, kisses and fun with her beautiful titas!

April gals

showing off her Easter loot with matching shades and all!

Kevin and I (but mostly Kevin) diligently saved all the egg shells for weeks so that we could dye them and fill them with confetti for Vale and her cousins. They were a total hit with the kids and the adults. We also learned that when cracking the egg on someone's head you should do it on the eggs side not the top or bottom of the egg because....surprise..it hurts! haha!

I turned 30! I'm not sure how this happened as I'm pretty sure I just celebrated turning 25...I guess these things occur...on another note I want to share a job I did last year that might just be the coolest gig I've ever gotten....now I know that most of the bragging I do these days is Vale related but it's not everyday I get to see billboards of myself around town ;) There's also a commercial is you care to check it out right here

And back to the little ruler in our home...we've started potty training, kinda. I stayed home with her for a whole week and in those days she started to run to the baby toilet on her own when she felt she was going. We had many many accidents of the 1 and 2 type that will give me funny stories to tell her when she grows up. But the following week I had to go back to work and with all the fun there is to be had at her grandparents and abuelitas houses she forgot she was in training and well, she's back in diapers. I do hope to give it another go in another week or two and hopefully this one will stick.

baby knickers

Two BEAUTIFUL weddings to celebrate the union of two BEAUTIFUL couples!

oh yes we did!!! Kalani must be a psychic when she predicted in a blog comment months ago that I'd join the 1/2 marathon craze cause I did and I'm hooked! I was so touched by all the people that lined the streets with signs and cow bells and cold orange slices and otter pops to give to the runners. And the traffic control people who snuck a car or two in between groups of runners so as not to disturb anyones running zen. As we reached the 13th mile my dad, Kevin and I spotted my mom holding Vale and in one crazy moment we grabbed Vale and ran with her in arms the last .1 of the race. The whole experience was super emotional for me and I gotta admit as we crossed the finish line I was fighting back tears with all my might!

guess what...??? We got engaged! Kevin asked me to marry him! Everyday with Kevin is the best day of my life and I'm ridiculously excited that he wants to share it with me for better or worse. We don't have a date yet and since we're planning on only being engaged once in our life we might just enjoy this phase for a little while, although I'll admit to looking at dresses and center pieces non stop since he popped the question. :) He asked me in Balboa park, in the same area where we sat on the day we found out we were expecting Vale..I had no idea he was going to do it and was so shocked that I couldn't stop sobbing not even to answer his question all I could get out was "mhm, mhm, mhm." I love the memory of him reading me a poem about all the things we've been through and then me reaching over to hug him and in the process feeling his heart mysteriously pounding uncontrollably, seconds later he was no longer sitting beside me but instead down on one knee. The most beautiful surprise of my life!

Vale of two cities

Oh what a lovely Easter weekend we had, hope everyones was too. On good Friday we traveled to Mexicali to celebrate with my mom's side of the family. Mexicali holds a dear spot in my heart because as a little girl I spent many summers there playing with my cousins, eating raspados, and having a great time. I was so excited to show Kevin the city but we ended up celebrating at my aunts little rural casita just outside of Mexicali so he didn't exactly get to see the city...next time..It was still a great celebration with tons of food, there was ceviche tostadas, breaded fish, chiles rellenos, rice, beans, salads, lots of salsas, capirotada (I'm sorry that most of you have not had this, but I will briefly try to explain it, its a casserole type of dessert that consists of bread softened with piloncillo (sugar) and cinnamon, then fruit is added in layers..bananas, apples, dried plums, followed by raisins, nuts and cheese, its then put in the oven for 40 minutes where it all melts together. what comes out can be compared to a bread pudding only a more delicious Mexican version) DELICIOUSNESS!

The second part of our Easter weekend was celebrated with Kevin's family in Tustin..oh man, more delicious food...spaghetti with meatballs, the green thing, onion and potato caserole, rice casserole, and lots of yummy and oh so decadent desserts, dirt, lemon poppy cake, ice cream, chocolate banana bread (YUUUUUM) AHHHH, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH WE ATE THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!

I love that Vale (and her parents) get to be a part of such diverse families! I also loooove that Mexicans celebrate holidays early so we'll always be able to attend both families dinners. yeahy.. well, here are some of the pictures taken on Good Friday in Mexicali and also from Easter Sunday celebrated in Tustin. Enjoy!




the guys all played soccer

while their daughters cheered them on..

Vale's crew of cousins (the kids of my cousins so I guess they are second cousins)..there are about 10 cousins missing from this picture....back when we were this age, we would put on dancing and singing shows for the parents, there are videos..cringe..I think it's time to bring back that tradition!

She found one!!!Egg hunting at auntie Joann's house..

look who is back in the US of A..its uncle Max (in the background)! Vale's titas and cousins from daddy's side....

hahahaha...little jellybean toes

The last time she encountered the green stuff, she didn't know what to do with it, but several months later she knows just where it goes



my little lady is up from her morning nap so mami is signing off xxooxo