Ezra Azul Valencia

I haven't had much of a desire to stay connected with the outside world lately, via phone or computer. I might even duck and hide if I see someone walk up the driveway. Baby and I will come out of hiding soon. And when I do, I'll post more details and pictures about the birth, our new baby boy, big sister Esperanza and everything in between. I promise. For now though, here are the basics:

Ezra Azul Valencia (Azul is Blue in Spanish)
Born at home on Friday, June 10th at 3:21 a.m.
Weight 7lbs 4 oz
Length 19 1/2 inches
Healthy, happy & perfect

Getting checked out by the midwives about an hour after birth

Big sister Esperanza with her 2 day old brother He's a wonderful sleeper so far! Please let this last Hello world! He finally opened his eyes on the 3rd day

Pool Time Pictures

I sent Armando & Esperanza to the store to buy a pool today. While they were out, our neighbors just happened to set theirs up in their front yard. I'll set ours up in our back yard on the next nice day, but for today, Esperanza got to play with Lily in her pool. Since I kinda had to sit out there to watch her anyways, I took a ton of pictures. Good ones!

Miss Lily & Esperanza"I gotta go potty!" And then there's the close up facial expressions Esperanza gave the camera today...

Just Cute The TongueThe Laughing TongueThe SneerThe 'tried to hard to sneer' SneerAnd my personal favorite...the face that says it all. She had fun today.

Random Happenings...

Geneva & her kids stopped for a quick visit recently. She brought some fresh raspberry leaves so we sipped on tea while she and Esperanza french braided hair. Esperanza slept her first night without a diaper last night We borrowed the Taco Bell dog again for a few days We went to our niece Addy's 13th birthday party. Here's Kiko, Rafa and Esperanza eating cake Some kid ran into our carAnd yes, I'm still pregnant

Daddy's Birthday Day

About a week before Armando's birthday (which was May 30th), I made the mistake of telling Esperanza that it was almost Daddy's birthday. All day, every day, for the next week, Esperanza would say 'it's almost Daddy's Birthday Day'. I have no idea why she added the extra day to it. We held a little party at the house for his birthday for friends and family. Val commented that she hadn't ever seen so many people at my house at one time. True that - twice a year I might have a big gathering - Esperanza's birthday and Armando's birthday (which I plan to combine with Blue's in the future).

Pictures will tell the story yet again...

A bunch of nieces Burnt out on cake, I made blue and chocolate rice crispy treats instead ring around the rosies....we even fed all the neighbor kids And we found a snake

Now, Esperanza is saying, 'it's almost my birthday day'. I keep tryna remind her that it'll be her brothers birthday day first. I hope so anyways.

Maricela & Amador's Wedding

Our niece Maricela Madrigal (previously Jimenez) got married yesterday. Here's a picture story of the day...

Baby Emanuel (Mari & Amador's son) Blue cake! Esperanza's reason for living...her finger print is on the bottom left tier! Okay, you do get a short story... ALL day Esperanza had been asking for cake. This girl has a rather serious sugar addiction (specifically when it comes to cake). I had told her several times she could have some cake if she ate good. And she did, twice. This was a very big deal to Esperanza. As the evening was nearing it's end for us though, they still hadn't cut the cake. After a long day, we were all ready to pass out, so I really didn't want to wait any longer just for cake. We don't always get what we want, right? I was okay with her screaming in the back seat of the car on the way home for her 'blue wedding cake' until she passed out. But, being the daddy's girl that she is, she got just what she wanted. Daddy stopped by Safeway on the way home and got her her very own blue cupcake! Crazy, I know! But guess what, she ate the cupcake before we even got back in the car and was fast asleep as soon as her head hit the carseat.
She's such a Daddy's girl

Prenatal Home Visit

Catherine made her home visit with us last week. Like Regina, she confirmed baby is head down and ready to go. She even predicted a weight of about 6 1/2 lbs, and gaining. It's usually just Esperanza and I at the appointments, but this time both Armando & my sister Mary were around. I got Mary to snap a few photos. It didn't occur to us until it was too late that we should have done a video recording to record the hearbeat - darn it! Maybe next time if we make it two more weeks.

Esperanza got to put the gooey stuff on my bellyShe also got to help Catherine measure my belly

When Catherine walked into our home that day for the first time, she commented on how warm & inviting the house felt to her. Though I don't recall the exact words she used to describe it, she got a very positive sense of family and warm energy from the home. I explained to her that indeed it is and has been a family home for many years. Armando grew up in this house with all his siblings. Over the years, many of those siblings have returned (like us) and lived with their kids in the home as well. It truly is a family home! I was humbled by the fact that my midwife who will be here for our son's birth, felt and appreciated the history & warm welcoming our home has to offer. If only I could pick it up and move it out of the neighborhood.