Another girl!

Have I mentioned how happy we are to be expecting another little girl?!

 We found out on the day of our anniversary. Enoch and I took the day off work and Melany was with us for the ultrasound appointment. Enoch and I were very shocked because we really thought I was having a boy. I thought that because my nausea and other symptoms were worse than with Melany, this time around it would be a boy.

After the shock, we were able to really imagine how wonderful it's going to be for Melany to have a little sister. And I thought how fun it is to dress and shop for little girls!

My pregnancy has gotten better but I am still feeling very tired. Working 9 hour days makes for a very tired Mama. And we've also been working on potty training Melany so I am extra tired. But I can't complain, I am 24 weeks tomorrow (6 months) and both the baby and I are doing well.

Our little girl kicks so much and it can get interesting  being in a therapy session at work, and all of a sudden a little kick reminds me she is there.

We also just finished taking birthing classes taught by our doula.

Yes! I am having a doula and I am aiming for a VBAC. I want to experience natural labor without meds (as muCh as possible).  I will be using skills I learned in grad school about CBT and relaxation exercises, meditation..as well as reading up and studying everything about hypnobirthing.  I will also be doing prenatal yoga.

23 weeks

Melany is super excited to have  a baby sister

Melany says "this is my baby"

21 weeks

Easter 2014

We've had such busy weeks in April. I need to write another post on all of it.

But I don't want to forget to post the pictures of Easter. We teach and talk with Melany about Jesus all the time. However, she is still young to understand the resurrection, so we just reminded her how much Jesus loves us. On Easter day we didn't do much but had dinner and hid eggs for Melany in our "under construction" backyard.

 It was that weekend that Enoch barely finished putting up the gazebo so we hid the eggs in the grass and Melany jumped for joy looking for them. She had an Easter basket but only to place the eggs in them. A lot of people here bought their children baskets full of toys and gifts. We opted to just placing small chocolates inside the eggs. We also took some pictures of each other and our little Sariah (Melany's middle name).

 

Our 5 year anniversary

“Marriage is a mosaic you build with your spouse. Millions of tiny moments that create your love story.” — Jennifer Smith

     It seems like just yesterday on a November day in 2007 that I met a sweet, funny, tall, blue-eyed gentleman. Almost a year and a half later in 2009, I got sealed to him in the San Diego temple for time and all eternity. It's been five years since that we embarked on the journey of marriage. As I look back, I realize just how much I've grown and learned about myself, Enoch, God and marriage. One of the things I learned from the start is that marriage is not easy. I realized that it takes so much more than just love, and it's surely a work in progress.

          I am less selfish, more considerate and patient than I was before. I love Enoch more because of our trials than I ever thought possible. In these past five years we have traveled to another country, been separated for 6 months, endured a miscarriage, moved 8 times, moved states, joined the military, received a Masters degree, cried much, laughed often, bought our first home, had our first child and now expecting our second. Our marriage is not perfect. I am not perfect. Enoch is not perfect.

      We understood each other because of our upbringing. We saw the potential in each other and like our patriarchal blessing said we had an "instant bond." I fell in love with Enoch because he offered me things that others could not. He gave me unconditional, genuine love, patience, empathy, kindness and laughter. Growing up, I never thought I would find someone like him nor have the happiness that I feel in his arms.

     I know I am blessed to have such a hard-working, humble, loving man in my life. John Legend has a song with lyrics that say "'Cause all of me..Loves all of you..You're my end and my beginning.. Love all your perfect imperfections."

I love Enoch for his imperfections and admire his willingness to work for our children, our, happiness and marriage. I am really looking forward to spending the rest of my life and eternity with Enoch. And I am so grateful for the family we have.

The first picture we took together-November 2007

 



 

Honeymoon in Hawaii

We baked a cake the Sunday before the date to celebrate our anniversary

Enoch took us on a horse drawn chariot ride around downtown

Dinner at our favorite place

Enoch building a Gazeebo for our backyard

Enoch the builder really wanted to put a gazebo in the backyard our house. We chose not to pay $3,000 to the home builder as we wanted something different and not pay so much. We way paid less than that and saved tons on labor.  Enoch spend every time he could after work and on the weekends to finish the gazebo. And it looks great. We are still working on adding plants, and stones on the ground but for now, we are loving it! Now we have shade for the hot, summer days ahead.



 

 

How our backyard looked before.

 

 

 

Cowboys for heroes event

          Last month we were able to attend a free event for military families. It was held at Fort Sam Houston (Army base) and it had a Western theme. They had authentic "cowboy" cooking on 1800s-style chuck wagons, live music, ponies, sheep and we also got to see a  Rodeo Show. The weather was nice and the base was not too far from our house.

     The food and drinks were also free so Enoch had a blast eating all of the BBQ, burgers, baked beans and corn bread possible. Melany opted to not ride the mechanical bull or horses.  She would say she would, I would get in line and then she would freak out at the last minute. Melany did manage to run and land her whole body in a big puddle of mud. Daddy came to the rescue and changed her clothes quickly.

 And I was wishing I could get on the bull, horses and crave all the food Enoch ate but I couldn't. Nonetheless, I was happy with spending the day with my family. It was a  very nice event and we are grateful we got treated to all the fun.

 

Right before she landed in the mud-watching the sheep

 

We love the USA!

 

All about Social Work!

NASW(National Association of Social Workers) first introduced National Professional Social Work Month in March 1963. The purpose of this introduction was to encourage public support and interest in social work as a profession. It wasn't until 1984 that the White House officially recognized March as National Professional Social Work Month.

Many think they know what social workers do. But unless you are one, it’s hard to really understand what we do.

I am a member of NASW. I’ve been doing “social work” type of jobs for about 10 years now. I’ve worked with the homeless population, children in elementary through high school, foster families and children involved with CPS, hospice, home health, the elderly, probation, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. My most memorable jobs have been working with Autistic children, families, and immigrant communities.

However, I feel more in my “niche” doing what I do now which is providing psychotherapy and other types of mental health interventions/modalities for individuals. Most are referred by our doctors who often jokingly tell to me “fix” them.

In these past 10 years, I’ve helped people move in to homes after being chronically homeless, assist young girls/boys in realizing their full potential and self-worth. I’ve assisted people from being evicted, advocated for my clients in front of judges, lawyers and/or doctors.  People have yelled, cursed, cried, had panic attacks, hallucinated, and smiled right in front of my eyes. Individuals have recounted severe traumatic experiences in my office, only to find out I was the first person they disclosed this information to. This is why I love my job! This is why I love being a social worker(minus the yelling and cursing).

 I’ve been given the blessing of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I try to instill hope, love, compassion, empathy, and motivation to my clients. I want them to see how important they are in the sight of God.

And there have been times for example in the earlier years that a client was so mean that I cried in the bathroom. But I learned so much: about them and myself.

 I know I still have a lot to learn and can really say this is my calling.  I know my own experiences, and trials have led me to this field. Being a social worker has helped me be a better mother, sister, friend, wife and overall a more consciences human being.



Picture with co-workers taken by MHM photographer

 

And this sums its up

Disney's California Adventure

    We decided before leaving San Antonio that we wanted to take Melany to Disney's California Adventure. And to be honest, I felt so exhausted from all the activities that weekend that we almost didn't go. But I figured I would take one for the team and suck it up.

    Well, I'm glad I did because we had a great time. Emily joined us which was nice because I was only able to watch Melany and get on the baby rides due to my pregnancy and nausea. Melany really liked the Little Mermaid and Monsters Inc. ride, carousel and taking pictures with Mickey and Princess Sophia.

With my lovely sister Emily

Boy Scout Russell