35 weeks pregnant and the heat is miserable!

Touching sea stars at Birch Aquarium.

Look at that big fish!

Peyton and Tallulah with happy cupcakes faces.

Yummy!

Super pregnant mama and Tallulah at aquarium!

When Tallulah was born in July of 2010, that was one of the coldest summers in San Diego and with Joaquin being due in October, so far it has been the hottest summer on record for San Diego.  In particular, the coast.  Usually, people escape places like Poway or Chula Vista to come to the coast where it is cooler.  Not this summer!! It has been hot everywhere.  It was actually in the low 90s in Encinitas and Cardiff.  We have never experienced that since we lived here!

The bonus of places like Poway etc., is they usually have air conditioning.  Not in North County Coastal.  It has been rough trying to keep Tallulah busy while not suffering from the heat.  I am so pregnant at this point, that it is getting uncomfortable to walk around or be on my feel a lot which is tough when you have a busy toddler.  Let's hope it cools down soon.  I cannot imagine laboring at home with this heat!

The worse part is that I had a stomach virus from bad food at a party a couple weeks ago. It was mild for Aaron but since I am pregnant, it hit me harder.  Horrible stomach cramps, chills, achy body, all I could do is lie down.  Once I started getting better, we ate at this restaurant we always go to and then I got sick again.  Aaron had it mild but I was hit hard again and then the heat did not help!  With the baby taking up so much room, I also cannot eat as much so I have to take things slow.  Aaron has been a huge help since it was a rough two weeks. Good news is that I am feeling much better and back to normal except for being almost 36 weeks pregnant!

Joaquin's room is still a mess.  We have not painted Tallulah's room or Joaquin's room yet, it seems it has either been too hot or just too busy.  We hope this weekend to get it done!  There are things we still need for Joaquin like more diapers, some baskets for his clothes etc. and maybe a few more random newborn outfits but it will come together.

Tallulah seems to sense that the baby is coming soon. She talks about Joaquin all the time and wants to play with him and feed him milk.  She really is going to be an amazing big sister.  She has been happy painting, playing outside, running errands in the air conditioned stores and just hanging in there with her mama.  In November, she will start a tap and ballet class which I know she will love.  We have to get her shoes!! She loves singing and dancing.  That girl has a natural ear for sound!

Last weekend, we had a great day hanging out at Shelter Island with Uncle Jeremy's parents and all the family was there.  Tallulah loved playing with Jeremy's niece, Peyton, who is 3. It was a special day since she got to eat a cupcake.  Here are some pictures.

This weekend, we are celebrating Uncle Rich's birthday and going to Barrio Star in North Park with the family and Aaron's Tio Julio and Tia Yolanda.  It will be fun!

Stay cool!  Next doctor's appointment is next Friday.

More to come.

The Bravos

September is here but it is hot!

Tallulah and her boats.

Watering the strawberries.

I cannot believe how hot it has been.   Not ideal for a 33 week pregnant lady but it looks like it will cool down later this week.  We had a great labor day weekend.  The weather was great and the waves were pumping.  On Saturday, Tallulah loved digging in the sand and splashing in the ocean with Papa and Mama.  However, I think it may have been one of my last beach days, we will see!

On Sunday, we took Tallulah to one of her favorite places, the gardens and she got to play in the river of boats.  It was pretty warm out so there was no one there so it was nice to be there without the crowns of children.  On Labor Day, we went to Tallulah's friend Jakey's  birthday party.  It was the prefect party with a bunch of kids playing in the back yard, digging dirt, playing with the chickens and eating yummy snacks.  Tallulah must have had a fun weekend because on Monday, she took a super long nap adn woke up like a ball of energy.

Today we have our 33 week doctor appointment and then will meet with our doula Linda to start planning our birth etc.  Joaquin moves all the time.  Last night, he was doing crazy sommersaults or something because my stomach was pushing out in all sorts of places.  He is a busy boy!

We had hoped to paint Tallulah's room this weekend but we could not find the paint anywhere from when we moved so that is on hold until we go to Home Depot. Hopefully, next weekend.

Aaron has been very busy with various bag orders.  He has 16 bags that he needs to complete in the next week or two.  It is hard to fit it in but we love that people want the bags.

We hope you all had a great three day weekend!

Love,
The Bravos

One of Aaron's recent creations for Seapod.

Our little beach girl.

Such a Little Girl

Hiking with Papa. "What is this?"

Breastfeeding her baby Medium

Antique Shopping with Mama and Papa

September is almost here and I am 32 weeks pregnant!  It is hard to believe that Joaquin will be here in less then two months.  His room is still a mess as we are still trying to hang pictures and unpack from the move two months ago.  It is a slow process but we know it will come together.

Aaron and I have been amazed in these last weeks how much Tallulah has become such a little girl.  When did this happen?!  We swear she had another growth spurt and is just forming into the most amazing, smart and beutiful little girl.  She outsmarts us every day!  Tallulah is also growing into quite the big sister and Joaquin is not even here yet.  She keeps asking us to take him out and she wants to have a peek.  It will be such a fun time for her when he arrives.

Tallulah is also in love with music and dance.  We are always amazed with her great rythm and ablittiy to sing any song she hears.  We just got this amazing record player and brought in all my records from when I was little and I am proud to say that she is in love with Annie.  Just like her mama!  Tallulah keeps singing "Tomorrow" and "Its a Hard Knock Life".  Priceless!

Hopefully this labor day weekend, we can paint Tallulah's room and then eventually Joaquin's.  We look forward to getting it all done.

Hope your summer is winding down and is a happy one.

Love,
The Bravos

Third Trimester here we come!

Tallulah driving the van.

Snack time while hiking with Papa.

Dirt is fun.

It is hard to believe that it is August and I have just started my third trimester.  I feel pretty big with my belly sticking out so much in front this time with this little baby boy.  Joaquin is very active and loves to move and kick. He is one busy guy!

His room is not even close to ready but that is ok, we still have time.  The only thing we really need to get is a double stroller so we can go on fun walks with big sister Tallulah.  It is crazy how much they charge for those things!

Tallulah has been busy with loving going to the beach, swim lessons, playing with her new friend Josalyn (our neighbor), they are a perfect sassy match and doing fun things with her family.  We just got home from Abuela's house and celebrated Auntie Sara's birthday.  It was a a wonderful time.

Aaron loves his new job at Nixon and has a few big art/sewing projects he is working on which is he wants to finish before Joaquin is born in October so things are good and busy.

We hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Love,
The Bravos

Auntie Andrea and Uncle Jeremy's Wedding

Amazing Flower Girl

Dancing Queen

Stunning!

Aaron was a natural

Kiss for Auntie

Perfect

Last weekend was Auntie Andrea and Uncle Jeremy's wedding. It was the perfect day.  It was at the South Coast Winery in Temecula.  It was hot but the wedding was in the evening and it was beautiful with a nice breeze.  Aaron officiated the wedding and was very honored to marry them but very nervous as well.  Aaron and I wrote the vows together and everyone was so happy with his loving words.  I have to say that Aaron was a natural up there and looked pretty handsome in his suit but no one looked as stunning as Andrea.  She was so beautiful.  Her and Jeremy were beaming.

Tallulah was the perfect flower girl.  She was so cute and did everything with such joy.  I think she may have stole the show at the reception with her dancing skills as well.

It was a great day filled of family and love and we are so excited for Andrea and Jeremy's future.  They are a wonderful match and his family is such a compliment to ours.  We look forward to all the fun to come.

Thank you to them for a great weekend.

We love them very much.

Love,
The Bravos

Tallulah's 2nd Birthday

Tallulah and her Tee Pee

Blowing our her candles

Yummy Raspberry Cupcake

Tallulah and Lyla having fun playing in the dirt

It is hard to believe that Tallulah turned 2!  She has become such a little girl and has transformed into an amazing two year old.

On the morning of her birthday, we surprised her with an amazing tee pee that Aaron worked so hard on and a bunch of balloons.  As she came down the stairs, she was so surprised and excited.  It was the best feeling to see her with such joy on her face.  ( See video below) Tallulah has been in love with her tee pee ever since.  I am so proud of Aaron, he is an amazing Papa.  Later that evening, we had a family dinner at Tallulah's favorite place, Wahoo's.  After dinner, everyone came over for cupcakes and the fun candle blow out.  We feel so lucky to have our family here.  It was so wonderful to have Abuela, Auntie Andrea, Uncle Jeremy, Uncle Richie, Auntie Sara and Cousin Julien all here for the celebration.  She was giving such great gifts.  A new red wagon, a table she can use for outside for painting etc. and an awesome set of Go Fish and Mama and Baby memory game. Tallulah was beaming the whole day and night.  It was a great day.

Then the following Saturday, we had a beach birthday party with friends and family and Grandma Milanna flew down for the party and Grandpa Richard came as well.  It was the only gloomy day of the week but the kids still had fun playing in the dirt at the Carlsbad campsite, eating cake and then playing at the beach afterwards.  The sun never came out but Tallulah was so happy and covered in dirt and sand by the days end.

As always, we are grateful for our amazing family and friends.  Tallulah is one lucky girl!

We love her so much.

Happy Birthday Tallulah!

Wow, it has been awhile!

Beacons Fourth of July

Peaced after a day at Beacons

Joaquin's baby shower in Anza

First Swim Lesson

I cannot believe the last post I did was in May!  It has been a busy couple months.  First, we moved to our new place in Cardiff at the start of June on Aaron's birthday.  Poor guy, not a fun way to spend a birthday!  We love our new place, it is so quite and it is so nice to have two bathrooms!  The challenge with a toddler is that it takes a lot longer to unpack so we are still working on that. 

We had Joaquin's baby shower in Anza at Aaron's dad's house and it was the perfect day with our friends and family.  Some of our friends stayed the night and camped so that was awesome. 

Aaron started his new job as Facilities Manager for Nixon and has been loving it. He just finished spending time doing both jobs of accounting and Facilities Manager so he is happy to be focused on one position.  He just sold an art piece in the Sea Shepard Art Show last weekend and this is his fourth year supporting the cause.  He is also gearing up to make a bunch of surf board bags for Nixon Europe so that will be crazy for him but exciting. 

Auntie Sara, Uncle Richie and Cousin Julien moved her last week from San Francisco and that has made us very happy.  We look forward to all the great memories to come with them now living here.

Tallulah started her swim lessons last week and is doing great. She was not in love with going under water but now that she is getting used to it, she is starting to enjoy it.  This week she moves up to the intermediate level.  I have loved being in the pool with her since my belly is huge!  I am six months pregnant but feel 8 months so I am getting anxious. 

We also had a fun Fourth of July at Beacons which is our annual spot.  All of our wonderful friends were there.  It was a cloudy day but Tallulah had the best time and was peaced out in the van afterwards.

Tallulah is turning 2 on Tuesday which we cannot believe.  She has become such a sassy and smart little girl, it is amazing to watch.  We have a little family gathering on her birthday and then her party will be this weekend at the beach.  Aaron has been making something super special for her so we are excited to unveil it.

After that, we have Auntie Andrea and Uncle Jeremy's wedding which is a huge occasion and Tallulah will be the flower girl while Aaron will be marrying them! Such a fun day that will be for the family!

After all this excitement, it will be August and then before you know it, Joaquin will be here in October.

Stay tuned for pictures from Tallulah's birthday.  We love you all.

Happy Summer!

Love,
The Bravos

Today's lesson

Sweet gift from Kaley and Micah