Herb Festival

On Saturday Armando, Esperanza and I met my friend Brandy and her daughter Roree at the herb festival in Yacolt at The Pomeroy Farm. The weather was perfect, the place was beautiful and the people were friendly.
While we were there, we took a hay ride

fed the goats, Lewis and Clark

and bought some yummy herbs (pictured below are hops and lemon verbena)
Then, we drove down the road to Multon Falls to picnic and enjoy the scenery

A Camel In Vancouver?

On the way home from the herb festival on Saturday, we took some back roads and we passed a CAMEL! Yes, a camel! In Vancouver - in Washington - on this continent!
A couple of months ago I drove that same road to pick up some free moving boxes I found on craigslist and saw it too. When I told Mando about it though I think he just thought I was crazy and sort of blew me off, in a nice sort of way I suppose. I started to think I was crazy too until we saw it again, together. As we were driving along the road last weekend, I told him to slow down as we approached the area I saw it last. We passed once and saw him (or her) then turned around and parked in front of it to get a closer look. Sure enough, even Mando agreed it is a camel. Neither one of us can think of a time we've ever seen a camel in real life (I don't think zoo's even keep them) so we took several pictures. You tell me, is this a camel or some strange breed of a llama on steroids?
If you want to see this camel, it's on the west side of the main road you take that goes through Hockinson. Mabye 2 miles south of what I think would be considered downtown Hockinson.

Compost, Sunshine, and Relaxation

Yay! I finally got pictures uploaded. Below are several new posts with pictures and stories from the past few weeks, beginning from the most recent...

This past Friday and today (Sunday) Esperanza and I spent the day outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine. On Friday I did a lot of gardening while she played on a blanket in the yard. After a couple of unscary, but not fun choking events, I decided this isn't the year for her to dig in the dirt with me. Too many rocks and other objects that she wants to put in her mouth. So, since she's not entirely mobile just yet, I'm able to set her on the blanket while I garden. The mini baby jail (aka - the portable pack n play we never use) will come outside with me when she can crawl.

Since I did very little gardening last year due to my excuse of being pregnant, hot and unable to bend over or get up easily in the garden during that time, I've had some compost sitting in one of my bins for probably almost 2 years now getting yummier and yummier by the day. Even though the soil here is already great, I thought I'd beef it up in a few areas with my compost. If I remember correctly, it was mostly veggie/fruit scraps, shredded paper and leaves. The only thing that didn't compost were some 'compostable plastic bags' (which obviously didn't do what they said they would), shredded plastic (probably from the plastic film on envelopes you get in the mail), and avacado seeds (are they really called seeds? Maybe pods?). The rest of it composted very nicely. See for yourself.

Happy worms

The last little bit of it

Spreading the Love

Today, we sat in the front yard in a shady area and just relaxed. Because I wasn't in the mood to garden (or burn my shoulders more than I already did on Friday), I got the camera out and took some lovely pictures of my adorable little girl.

Don't ask, I have no idea what she's doing here.

Baby Jail

For the first time about a week ago, Esperanza fell off the bed. Then she fell off the bed again twice since then. I can't help but laugh about it even though some of you might think that is cruel. The other day I was in the shower, Mando was watching her but probably turned his back for half a second or so cause I heard a loud thump, followed by a cry. She didn't get hurt or anything, but it did get me thinking that maybe it's time to get her into her own bed, or crib for that matter. So, the day after the first incident, Mando and I put the crib into her room (the room she never uses - even the one in the old house never got used). I haven't put her in it to sleep yet, but we're getting there. For now, I use it as a play area for her. She actually loves it! I call it 'baby jail'. Take a look at these photos and tell me it doesn't look like a jail.So, I'll probably start her with day time naps in it then eventually nighttime sleeping in it. I'm already mourning the loss of her in my bed at night. But oh, how I am looking forward to sprawling out on the bed and sleeping soundly at night...

Laurelhurst Park

A couple of weeks ago we packed a lunch and headed over to Laurelhurst Park to hang out for the afternoon. I hadn't been there since I was a little kid. My dad used to take us there to feed the ducks. While I have memories of those days, I could never remember where it was we were at. One day while my sister Mary was in town a couple of months ago and we were driving through Portland and passed Laurelhurst Park, she mentioned her memories of going there feeding the ducks with our dad.

While we didn't feed the ducks (apparently you're not supposed to), we did take a nice stroll through the huge park, Esperanza swung on a swing for first time and we sat in the grass and relaxed.

Making messes

One of the very first things I did when we moved in to our new place, was fill a cupboard full of plastic containers and dedicate it as Esperanza's cupboard. It's a life saver in the morning when I am getting breakfast ready, or after meals so I can clean up.

Esperanza also loves to stand in front of our coffe table/bench/diaper holder and pull out all the diapers. Cheap entertainment you could say.

Then, off for a stroll through the ghettoHere's a little video of her standing and pulling clothes out of her dresser drawer - another very entertaining past time for her.

Livin' in the Ghetto

First, I have to apologize to Armando and all the other Valencia's who grew up here. I think some of you may be in denial about the neighborhood - or maybe I'm just a snob trying to get used to an unfamiliar place. Either way, I'm sorry if I offend anyone by going public with my opinion and observations.

Okay, so I'm not trying to scare everyone off from coming to visit me at our new home. It's Camas ghetto, not Portland or other big city ghetto. We don't have drive by shootings or gang activity (that I've noticed). It's just an older, poorer neighborhood with a lot of houses, apartments and duplexes that haven't been kept up.

The neighbors on either side of us are thankfully very friendly people. The neighbor across the street however, is a little suspicious. He's got lots of traffic coming to and fro...and I'm pretty sure he's got some kind of business running out of his side of the duplex. He also seems to attract all the neighborhood stray cats. They sit at his front door all day long. So, all I can say about that is at least he's using his earnings to feed those poor cats. Maybe he could also take them in to get neutered and spayed to they stop reproducing. I've named this neighbor Shaggy, from Scooby Doo. He totally reminds me of him, except he just shaved his head the other day so I might need a different name for him. I can't help but be the 'nosy neighbor lady' - I'm home all day and pay attention to m y surroundings. At least Esperanza isn't out running the streets, yet.

We've gone on a few neighborhood strolls and even though I call it ghetto, it's a very peaceful and comfortable environment. Because it's older, there are lots of mature trees, bushes, flowers all over and lots of birds. There is also a cute little neighborhood park a few blocks away which must be newer and looks out of place with it's immaculately manicured lawn, plastic play gym and a few approved for parks trees.

As for a more personal yet not as interesting update on our move, we are settled in and loving our new home. It's Mando's childhood home so of course it was expected he would immediately feel comfortable. But Esperanza and I feel at home here too. It's cozy and homey. I've also realized having a smaller, one story home with a baby is a lot more convenient than the 2 story mansion. It's a little different going from a brand new home to an older one and getting used to little odds and ends that need to be fixed and cleaned. Mando has been amazing at making a huge dent in the 'to-do' list though and fixed so many little things all ready. I'm still slowly unpacking boxes, getting things organized and cleaning as time allows. Moving is definately not the same with a baby as it was without a baby. Oh, and yesterday Esperanza figured out how to pull herself up to a standing postion from a sitting position. It was cute at first but then once bath time came around and she wanted to stand in the tub, it wasn't so fun.

I'd post a picture of the new home and recent ones of Esperanza but I'm having issues with uploading from my camera. If anyone wants to come over to visit us in the ghetto, you are more than welcome.

9 Months

Esperanza is 9 months old today! She has now been outside of the womb for as long as she was inside. She's adjusted quite well and has become curious and accepting to this crazy yet amazing world we live in. She's growing in so many ways and at a rate that is quicker than Mando and I can keep up with. One day she'll do something new and before we can fully grasp it, she's moved on to another new thing.

Just before lunch

Esperanza eats all kinds of food these days. Yesterday I tossed out the window the 'four day wait rule' b/c we were at my moms and she made some yummy lentil soup. It had a lot of stuff in it I hadn't introduced to Esperanza but seriously, with spices included it could take forever to introduce everything if I waited four days in between a new item. So, I gave Esperanza the lentil soup and she loved it - more flavor than she'd ever had before. We also ate it for lunch today and no strange rashes yet. We gave her some steak (pre-chewed of course) the other day and she loved that too! She really loves food in general. If she's unhappy for whatever reason, I can put a handful of Otie-O's in front of her and they will keep her busy and happy until they are gone. She still has no teeth, but I've pretty much stopped pureeing foods and now just dice them - ever since Esperanza discovered she can feed herself, she no longer wants anyone else to do the job for her, and pureed foods eaten with hands is not always a smart way to go.

She 'talks' even more now and continues to put together various constantants with vowels. While none really come out as words we can understand just yet, she can understand a lot of what we say to her. 'Kitty' is the word she knows best so far, or at least the one she responds to most. She LOVES our kitty's and one of them actually loves her too. Our little black kitty we call 'kitty' will let Esperanza pull her hair, ears and tail all while purring and loving the attention.

Esperanza will sometimes yell really loud and other times she will whisper. She whispers what sounds like the word 'yeah' pretty often. After the bath tonight, she kept saying it and even after nursing her to sleep another 'yeah' came out of her mouth.

Ah, the personality of a 9 month old baby girl. Her personality is growing every day as she discovers her various likes/dislikes & causes/effects all while we learn to distinguish her needs verses her wants and how to balance it all. It has been a real eye opener for me just in the past month or so noticing and realizing that she is her own person and not just my little girl. She tests her limits with us and lets us know when she doesn't like something, whether it be getting in the car seat, being fed something she doesn't want or getting her diaper changed. While she certainly doesn't get a choice with most things, it's amazing to see how she tries. Armando and I always joke that she's trying to 'train' us.

Esperanza is also quick to smile, often playing games with strangers that want to hold her. She'll smile and hold out her arms as if she wants them but then will shy her face away into my neck, then smile and do the routine again. And she's ticklish! Mostly her thighs and ribs but really if you get her in the right mood, you can touch her anywhere and she'll start giggling.

She is intrigued by the game of dropping things and watching someone pick it up for her, just so she can drop it again and again and again.

She has learned to wave hi and bye, sometimes waving with both hands. I give her a bath every evening and afterwards as we leave the bathroom we pass by the mirror to wave hi to Esperanza. There have actually been a few times I thought she really did say the word hi.

Esperanza is working really hard at trying to get around. She can't yet, at least very far. She can 'scoot' on her bottom, will sometimes lunge forward from a sitting position and end up in a laying position or on her hands and knees and she will sometimes roll but not more than once or twice. It's nice for me, but I know it must be frustrating for her. I'm soaking in these last few days or maybe weeks of her being immobile but am also looking forward to the adventures we have ahead of us.

As we approach our move to Camas this weekend, I am anxious to get in there and make the house our new home. There will undoubtedly be challenges the first few days/nights (hopefully not too long) getting Esperanza used to the new place. It'll be an adjustment for all of us, but we'll fall back into a pattern and routine fairly quickly I am certain. I've already set aside Esperanza's kitchen cupboard that I plan to fill with 'approved for Esperanza' kitchen items to play with. As a stay at home mama, I plan to be in the kitchen cooking a lot more for Esperanza, Armando, myself and anyone else who wants to stop in for a visit. I can already taste the rewards!

Sunny Days

We've had beautiful weather the past few days and spent them outdoors soaking in the rays getting some much needed vitamin D. Yesterday was our nephew Brandon's 6th birthday party so we went over to Mando's sister Cathy's house to celebrate.

Here's Brandon with his Yo-Yo we gave him

Nieces Jiselle and Celeste with the birthday boy

And here are a few of Esperanza

Today we went out to Camas to visit the garden. I turned over a lot more grass and got in a few more plants and seeds. So far I've planted Kale, Broccoli, Lemon Verbena, Strawberries, Tarragon, Arugula, several varieties of Lettuce, Cilantro and Leeks from starts. From seeds I've planted carrots, more lettuce, radishes, swiss chard, more kale and chamomile. A few weeks ago I started some seeds indoors including MORE kale, MORE broccoli, basil, more cilantro, hot peppers, sweet peppers, dill and I think thats it. The list will go on though. Once the middle of May comes around with the chance of frost gone, tons of other less hardy plants are going in. Plus, I have to transplant all my herbs and blueberry plants over to the new house. Whew! Lots of work (and sweat) - but at least it is work I enjoy.

The Garden at the end of the day

Esperanza and Mando relaxing in the shade while I shed blood, sweat & tears

And just for fun, I took some pictures of tulips that opened up today in our front yard

Recent Pictures

Beautiful

Dinner Time!
Esperanza sucking the thumb (a rare event)

Unhappy even surrounded with toys

Esperanza and her Uncle Tony
The 80's pack!

The Garden March 29th. It's sad looking now, but just wait...all that grass will be gone soon.

The Garden April 4th. A little less grass, and a little more space for food. Still sad but once the rain comes, it'll perk up.
Sleeping Beauty (also a rare event)

I'm a Great Aunt - Again

Our niece Sarah had her first baby yesterday making Mando and I a 'great' aunt and uncle to her little one (we also have a 'great' nephew from a different niece). Sarah's baby was born 2 weeks early, weighed just under 6 pounds and is super cute. Mama and baby are both healthy and doing wonderful. Mando, Esperanza and I went to visit them at the hospital yesterday after work. It was a short visit but I snapped a few photos of our 'great' niece (I'll probably just refer to her as my niece in the future - and I can't for the life of me even attempt to spell or say her name yet. It's a beautiful name, just a little different for me). Here are a few pictures of her...

And no post would be complete without a picture of Esperanza