Monterey Bay Aquarium

My roommate from college, Anya came to visit us with her fiancee Chase this last weekend. So we decided to go with them to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We had heard from everyone here that this was the place to go if you came to visit the area. And they were right but due to the time and the size of the aquarium, we were not able to see all they had to offer. We will make it a plan to re-visit it.  Nonetheless, we had fun viewing all the amazing marine life and learning so much about the ocean's creatures. It was so nice having them visit us, we really enjoyed their company!

What a cute clam!

Melany enjoyed the puffins

Thick fur

Dinner the next day

Birthday and update on my weight loss goal

 “The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment"- Earl Nightingale 

   My birthday weekend and birthday was one of the most peaceful I've ever had. I was happy to have a calm, relaxed weekend enjoying the area and spending quality time with Enoch and Melany. As I grow older, and more mature, I realize that I am no longer interested in "gifts" but rather spending time with those I love. However, it was nice to get some lovely birthday cards from my family and friends and going on a date with my hubby. It felt so nice to be remembered.

         And I was very happy when I remembered a goal I made to myself on my last birthday. The goal was to loose my baby weight.. As some of you can recall, I made a goal on New Years eve to loose weight. Well, my update on that is that I have lost about 15 pounds since then! Wow! I can hardly believe it! I have lost my baby weight and more! I am not stopping there though.  I don't want to be stick thin because that has never been appealing to me.Instead, I want to have a healthy weight for my petite height. 

         How have I lost this weight? First, I made lifestyle changes that have helped me be happy and well. For starters, I do yoga, zumba, and/or individual workouts 3 to 4 times a week. Combining these exercises help  add variety and fun to being active. I also have to watch what I eat, and eat smaller portions. I limit my bread, rice and sweet intake and add more vegetables and fruits to my diet. Practicing yoga helps to easy my stress and dancing to the zumba routines is by far my favorite. In Zumba, I combine my love for dancing and exercise. The best part has been being able to put on those pair of jeans that I thought would never fit me! 

     Being overweight is something I've struggled with almost all my life. I seriously thought that I couldn't loose weight because that's how my body was built. I would listen to my family criticize my weight growing up, that I eventually believed them. And  I was always so embarrassed to talk about my weight because it would bring back those negative comments and re-inforced that silly idea. 

    Well, I decided t put in to practice the components of a type of intervention I learned in my MSW program. I brushed up on the components of Cognitive Behavioral therapy and used them on myself. Months have passed since I decided to do this and I realize how much it was all in my head. I am being patient with myself and loving this new lifestyle change. I feel great, so great that I am currently training myself to run in a 10K. Yay!  

The only picture I took at then end of my bday, so tired!

A trip to the National Steinbeck Center

"It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him." -John Steinbeck
 

      We've been wanting for a while to visit the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. It was a 30 minute drive from Seaside but boy was it worth the wait. I grew up reading Steinbeck in high school thanks to one of my our teachers who insisted we read both the Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.  I've always had a love for books but at the time did not realize how important these books and  authors were. As I entered college, the love for reading really blossomed and I found myself being grateful for books and authors who chose to be honest and candid about certain historical and literary topics.
      Hence, was my joy when I walked in to the John Steinbeck Center and was able to experience all it had to offer. We were able to discover Steinbeck’s world through interactive, multi-sensory exhibits, unique artifacts and seven themed theaters showcasing East of Eden, Cannery Row, Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath and other books he wrote.
  Instilling this joy for reading and appreciation of literature to Melany and our future children has been very important to Enoch and I. We are very happy to say that although Melany is just 13 months old, she prefers to pick up a book, or ask to be read to than anything else. She can say "book" with a very cute baby accent and absolutely loves it when we engage her in a good book reading.

At the entrance to the museum, we had to pose with Marilyn!

 

Ta-Da!

Wrong way Melany

Hello! Anyone there?

Saturday fun day

This Saturday we wanted to have some fun after not going out for a while since Melany's cold. We started our day by driving to the Montery Museum of Art. I happen to be a big Art lover, and was treated to viewing contemporary galleries and more specifically, one titled In Sharp Focus: The Legacy of Monterey Photography. This gallery is the third in a series of major photography exhibitions organized by the Monterey Museum of Art. We also walked around their rose garden, which was a delight to see. Melany enjoyed viewing some of the work and although she is still young, I want to instill this love for Art in her as well.
  After the Museum, we walked around the cottage like shops in Carmel. We walked all the way down Ocean Avenue and stopped at Carmel Beach. Melany enjoyed herself playing and at times eating the sand despite her mom's pleas. She couldn't help herself but what baby could?

At the Museum entrance

We love photography!

Kids photography activities

At Carmel Beach

I love sand!

First year as parents

     Being a parent has been the most rewarding job I’ve had and will ever have. There is nothing more fulfilling than to see my child grow up and knowing that I helped them in that process. It also has its tough times and moments when you don’t know what to do or how to best help your child. Recently, Melany had to go to the ER again! She fell down and landed on her head and to make sure she was ok, we took her to the hospital. She ended being fine but I have to admit, taking her for the 3rd time this year to the ER left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I felt powerless because as parents, we would do anything to have our children not go through pain. But thankfully she was ok and even smiled after she was checked by the doctor.
         When I have encountered those troubling moments, I try to remember what I have learned in my schooling.  But in the end, the most effective tool for me has been to pray. Kneeling down in prayer for help from my Heavenly Father has helped me get through this first year as a new mom. While I know I am not perfect, nor do I pretend to be, I know that all I can do is try my best and love Melany with all my heart. I am looking forward to having other children in the future but in the meantime, I am enjoying the ride with Enoch and Melany by my side.

Happy 1st Birthday Melany!

  

I am in total denial that our Little Melany has turned 1. In fact, I have to admit I’ve been putting off writing this post for that same reason. I don’t know what it is, maybe because I don’t want to think of my baby as a toddler, or a little girl for that matter. In my eyes, she will always be my little baby. I had heard people say this before about their children but it’s not until I had my own child that I understood exactly what they meant.
We were lucky enough to celebrate Melany’s 1st birthday with our loved ones in Los Angeles. But unfortunately Enoch was not present due to training responsibilities. However, I flew to LA for the weekend and had a blast hanging out with my family and friends. Melany is one lucky baby. She is truly loved by many! And yes Melany, you will always be my baby girl, now and forever!

Cute cousins: posing with Anabelle and Danielle

So happy to be in LA

The birthday girl at Monterey Beach~ 7/10/12

All about Melany

Melany is 1 year old now so here are some important milestones/favorites in her life.

For starters, she started walking at 11 months, weighs 23 pounds and is 30cm long.

Melany does not watch T.V (nor does she like it the very few times its on) but she does loves to play with all her toys and enjoys when we read books to her.

Her favorite books are: “That’s not my dinosaur” and a book about rhymes

Melany is already bilingual, mommy speaks mainly in Spanish and daddy in both languages. She can say “nena (little girl), nana(mommy), da-da, beso(kiss)”

She goes to sleep listening to Portuguese Children’s Hymns.

She loves going to the park and getting on the swing and playing with her caballito (horsie) at home

During the day she loves it when mommy makes a fool out of herself by dancing and singing Melany’s favorite songs like “itsy bitsy spider” and other Spanish songs.

Melany’s favorite foods are: black beans, brown rice, tomatoes, banana, apples, peanut butter/jelly sandwiches, spaghetti, turkey, carrots, potatoes and broccoli.

She loves to wave to some strangers and blow kisses(depending on how comfortable she feels with you)

She enjoys throwing our clothes all over the place!

Melany loves car rides at the store

Dancing is in her genes

She is quite the social butterfly!