Bianca's Baby Shower Photos

As I mentioned before my dear friend Kelly threw a beautiful baby shower for us a few weeks ago. She has such a big heart and we really had a wonderful time. I can't thank enough all those who came and presented us with their company and so many cute gifts!

Yesterday I got the CD with all the pictures another dear friend, Mindy, took from that day.

Thank you guys! You are awesome!

36 Weeks

Just a few weeks until we finally meet our little girl!

Today we had an appointment in the morning and everything is looking good - measurements, heartbeat, blood pressure. I also made some additional tests.

Then we spend the day trying to get the house organized for my mom and our little girl arrival. My mom is coming on the 11th and baby Bianca on the 17th. I am so excited to see them both! I miss my mom so much and she is such a huge help every time she comes.

Giovanna can't wait to see her grandma! She is specially excited to finally wear the Elsa's dress my mom sewed for her. She is also bringing some decorations for Giovanna's 5th birthday party. It is always so fun opening the suitcases! I'm counting the minutes.

Happy Birthday to our big daddy!

Today my handsome husband turns 31.

As I write this post I lay down in the couch with my feet up. They hurt. It was a long, long day.

In the morning we woke up dad to sing happy birthday and give him his present - a brand new computer! Then I started to work on his birthday cake. 

We went out for lunch and when we came back I kept working on the cake. I also made some Brazilian esfihas. Yum! The day before I had invited some friends to come over to celebrate with us. So later on today they rang the bell and surprised Ale.

 We ate, played some games and sang happy birthday. It was so nice and fun! I'm so happy and I feel so blessed for having him as my eternal companion. He is such a gift in our lives.

We love you big daddy!

Happy Birthday!

Pioneer Day

Today we celebrate Pioneer Day here in Utah. It is celebrated every July 24 to commemorate the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into Utah's Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Parades, fireworks and shows usually happen everywhere around the city.

This year we decided to spend the day at the pool. So we gathered some friends from our ward and headed to the recreation center in West Jordan. It was a lovely afternoon. Giovanna got home exhausted and had an early bed time. She went to sleep as happy as can be. 

Happy Pioneer Day!

Shopping

Remember Giovanna's 1st deposit? We are always putting some money on her piggy bank, and lately she's been asking to buy stuff with her money. When we go to the store and she sees something she likes, she says: "Oh, no! I forgot to bring my money!".  I think she finally realized that she can actually use the money to get things. 

Today we went to Costco and they have the cutest costumes for kids. I don't know why in the world they already have costumes for Halloween if we are still in the middle of July. Of course Giovanna asked for one.

 So I let her use her money to buy it and I took the chance to teach her a little lesson about finances. I think it is important for her to know how money works and how to be responsible and make the right choices. Apparently she was very confident about what she wanted and got really happy with her very first purchase.`

 Money as You Grow - 20 things kids need to know to live financially smart lives.

Outdoor Girl

Giovanna loves being outdoor. Everyday she is ready for a new adventure and this is just one of the things I love about her! I just fell bad I am felling so tired, and so swollen and in a lot of pain to go out with her more often.

Yesterday dad decided to take Giovanna to the park in the morning. The weather was really nice, it was a little cloudy and cool, so I went with them and gladly I was able to follow them to the library, then to Chick Fil A for lunch and finally to the pool later on. It was a really fun day!

Home

Music has been always a big part of my life. I like the rhythm, the melody and I like (some) lyrics too. Songs are the best way to describe how I feel sometimes.

I've been listening to Daughtry lately. He was one of the participants of America Idol on season 5. I love all his songs, but Home is by far my favorite. I remember first time I listened to it. I was living in Massachusetts as an Au Pair. This song brings me many good memories.

I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love remains true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,

Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home 

Bianca's baby shower

This past week was really busy and hard on my poor swollen feet. I had to run here and there all day, which made my feet ginormous and really sore. At this point of my pregnancy I don't think I can do anything to help with this puffiness, but wait. Next month everything will be different. No more pain or discomfort, just smiles and snuggles. I can't wait!

Last Saturday a friend of mine threw a beautiful baby shower for us. Kelly is awesome and picked the cutest theme to welcome our baby Bianca. We had a great time and we're deeply touched by her kindness and friendship. Baby Bianca is already so loved!

She planned everything and carefully prepared every detail. My favorite part was the fabric hot air balloons she sewed from scratch.

We also played fun games that made me laugh for hours. Husbands were there too!

And so the kids.

Thank you Kells! Everything was perfect! You rock!

Spa Day

Today was a spa day for my "bread loaves". My legs and feet are sooooo swollen! It was nice to have them massaged and taken care of. I don't know why I get so swollen on my pregnancies. :(

I also got a hair cut a couple of days ago which I'll be showing on the next posts, and tomorrow I am getting my finger nails done. This pregnant woman here deserves it.

Inside Out

Yesterday we took Giovanna to the movies. We watched Inside Out. This is her third time at the movies. The first movie she ever watched was Frozen, then Cinderella, and now Inside Out. She liked it, but you know, it wasn't about a princess so....

 

 Also, my computer battery died. Literately. I have to buy another one. In the mean time be patient and I'll update the blog as much as I can through the iPad.

Story time with Rapunzel

Giovanna still loves princesses. And how happy she was when we took her to the Library for a story time with the one and only... Rapunzel!

They read stories, sang songs and took pictures. The whole program was about fifteen minutes, but I'm sure this memory will last forever.

Copycat

Who knows me also knows I usually copycat all my favorite recipes -  Zupas cauliflower soup, Olive Garden salad dressing, Cafe Rio tomatillo dressing, McDonald's Big Mac sauce, etc.

So today for dinner I decided to copycat the Taco Bell chicken quesadilla, and I am proud to say it turned out delicious! It was so good, creamy and tasty just like the Taco Bell one.

 Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 Tb chile powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder (but you can use 1 clove finely minced/pressed)
1 tsp salt
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (or cut into tiny chunks), about 2-3 cups worth
1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, drained (I cooked for just a few minutes 1 can of diced tomatoes and 1/2 green pepper, and used it instead)
1 package burrito sized flour tortillas
spray oil or butter

Beat the cream cheese and sour cream in a medium bowl until smooth and well softened. Add spices, then cheese and Rotel.

 Cook the chicken and add to the mixture.

 Heat a skillet over medium heat. Grease pan with either spray oil or butter ( I used the same pan I cooked the chicken). Fill half a tortilla with about ⅓ cup chicken mixture. Fold tortilla over and place in skillet. Toast each side until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

 And in about half an hour you have a delicious copycat Taco Bell chicken quesadilla! Yummy!

5 ways fathers influence their daughters

Today I was reading a really cool article about fathers and daughters relationship.

Sometimes I wonder if fathers around the globe realize their important role in their daughters' life.

The article starts:

“Fathers bring something very different to the table—many things that mothers can’t. The biggest mistake dads make is not understanding their significance.”

And continues:

"Without question, fathers are a powerful influence on both sons and daughters—an influence that reaches well beyond the roles of provider and protector. And as new studies emerge, it’s becoming clearer just how deeply the father-daughter relationship can affect a woman throughout her life in a variety of ways, including self-confidence, body image, education, career, and romantic relationships".

Unfortunately I wasn't raised by a loving father, and although I have always had the most wonderful mother, I think having the positive influence of a father would've made a huge difference in many sectors of my life. 

I'm grateful for the opportunity I had of giving my daughters a father that loves, cares and nurtures them.

You can read the entire article HERE.

4th of July 2015

This 4th of July we drove down to Lehi to spend the holiday with some friends. It is actually the fourth year we celebrate it together. It is always fun to see them and catch up. We ate delicious food, played games and watched the fireworks.

The kids ran around, played in the pool and on the trampoline all day long. Then in the evening we ate s'mores and watched the fireworks.