Oh Christmas Tree

This is not what our living room looks like right now.



This is what our living room looks like right now.


We are having new tile put into our downstairs and attempting to paint over our ridiculously bright green walls. It was supposed to take a week, and was to be finished by the time we got back from vacation over Thanksgiving break. It has now been over two weeks and is not finished. The work is being done well, and James and I are happy with the results, but there is something to be said for efficiency.

But this is Mexico, where things always take longer than expected and efficiency is not always the main goal.

I was hoping to have the house finished in time to decorate and put up a Christmas tree with enough time to enjoy it before we leave on the 18th for San Diego. It is Isa's first Christmas, after all, and I wanted her to experience a bit of the festivness.

Not to mention, since James and I have been married, we have never had our own Christmas tree. We're going on three years now.

Yesterday I got myself so worked up over not having the house decorated that I found myself crying over it to James. But this is Isa's first Christmas, I said. But, we've never had a Christmas tree of our own... But I just wish once we could have what other couples and families have...

Today I was awakened by a squealing daughter who my husband brought into our room and lied down between us. We lied there as a family for 20 minutes or so, the three of us.

Christmas is not about Christmas trees. It is not about decorations, or jingle bells or snowmen. It is not about festive music or having it all put together. It is not about Christmas cards or pretty outfits. It is not about lights or hot chocolate.

It is about love. The love of family, the love of friends who are like family, and the love that was first given to us in order for us to even have the chance to love each other.

For Isa's first Christmas, she's not going to remember a pretty tree, or how the house was so clean with everything in its place.

She's not going to remember the music or the lights.

And who cares about those things. What I hope she does remember is how much her family loves each other. How much her mom and dad love each other. How much she is loved and cared for. How it's not what others have that matters.

Besides, how much better is this picture than a Christmas tree

Loads to Carry

I walked to the grocery store with Isa yesterday. It's about a 20 minute walk past our neighborhood park, under a highway, across some train tracks and past numerous taco stands.

It's not a beautiful walk, or really even that pleasant, with the traffic and endless sounds of cars honking and the smog filled air.

For a few seconds, I found myself liking the idea of raising Isa here for a substantial part of her life. For the amazing cultural experience that would be for her. But then thoughts of Isa playing by the ocean crept in and the clean, fresh air she would be missing out on back in San Diego entered my mind. A five minute trafficless car ride to a much less crowded store entered my mind, and I quickly focused back in on the pothole I needed to dodge in front of me.

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People here are mobile because they have to be. They walk everywhere. They do not complain.

As I found myself lagging as I climbed the steep steel staircase to cross the train tracks, having to push past the young men and chatting women coming in the opposite direction; I was immediately annoyed. Don't they see that I'm carrying a baby? Don't they think they should be more careful and let me pass?

But then I look around and see five other women my age carrying their babies and walking, some with bags of groceries in hand and they don't complain.

I see a 60-something woman carrying food for her family, slowly but confidently walking down the stairs with her cain in hand and she does not complain.

I have this sense of entitlement going on. I feel as though I should receive special treatment since I have a baby and more to carry, but I quickly realize that this is such an Americanized idea, this feeling of entitlement, because all I need to do is look around and I'm quickly faced with the reality, which is, we all have to do it.

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People here do what they have to do to get things done. They take an hour long metro ride followed by a 30 minute walk while carrying a 5 month old baby, in order to get to the store to buy tortillas and chicken for dinner that night.

They wake up at 4 am to open a tamale stand on the side of a highway to catch the morning commuters in time.

They don't complain.

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I tend to complain too much. I complain about the weather, the smog, the traffic, long lines, heavy loads to carry. Whether that's because of a sense of entitlement, or simply a gap between cultures, I find that it creeps into my daily life.

We all have heavy loads. They are different, they are the same, they are heavy. Sometimes we forget the weight and sometimes it's all we can think about.

Rather than dwelling on the load itself, I will look to my left and my right and chose to realize that I am just another person carrying my load. I am not any greater or any smaller.

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I am thankful to live in a place where I can be reminded of this everyday.

Really?

So I'm not normally one to get all upitty about inapropriateness in music. I love music. I believe artists have the right and freedom to express themselves.

But there's expressing your art and talent and then there's this:



Miley Cyrus' new music video, "Who Owns My Heart."

The girl is 17 (this I know for sure because I looked it up; she'll be 18 in November) and is writhing around in a bed blindfolded in her underwear, then following it up with a wild romp at a club in some daisy dukes and a backless top.

Maybe it's because I have a daughter of my own now that I feel so strongly about this, but WTF. How is this OK? How do her parents believe this is OK?

I don't consider myself a conservative person; in fact I'm pretty much the opposite of that; but this is not OK.

Miley has many fans, most of which are young girls. I just can't imagine what those girls are going to think when they see this video of their beloved Miley. Are they going to look in the mirror and think, I'm just not that pretty, but maybe if I curl my hair, put on some makeup and a sexy top then I will be.

Even knowing it's possible that they will think that breaks my heart.

It makes me think back to Britney Spears' video, "Baby One More Time" and how up in arms everyone got about young Brit in her school girl uniform showing her middrift.

Miley's new video makes that look like Sunday school.

I think there should be a line, or at least, with a girl like Miley who is under 18, a parent who puts their foot down.

I don't care if you daughter's famous. Step it up Billy Ray.

House Tour

I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I wanted to wait until our house was more put together. So here it is...

Our colorful home.

2 years

I have been married to this man for 2 years...



We've shared adventures, low points, air mattresses, 40 ounce beers, friends, family, high points, a baby girl, more low points, and most of all a love that is constant through all of that.

Because that's what love is. It's choosing to love someone else more than yourself; even when everything in you says that's not what you want to do. It's taking your guard down and being completely vulnerable. It's a comfort that you've never experienced before.

I love this man who I get to call my husband. He is often times a better person than me. He loves me fully, he loves me deeply, and everyday I am amazed by our life together.

We moved to another country where we didn't speak the language, where we had no plans, no place to live, little money; and managed to find a house, jobs, friends, have a daughter and ultimately make a home.

But then again, I think we've always had a home together, even if it didn't include four walls and a roof. We are each other's home and that is what I am thankful for more than anything else when I think of our marriage.

Here's to 2 years and many many more to come.

Colic

Colic....


Our child has colic.


It's terrible.


Crying almost every night between the hours of 7 and 9pm until she finally falls asleep.


A friend of ours whose child also had colic said this... "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."


So true.


I hear they grow out of it around 6 months old, which means we have 3 more months to go...


James and I are hanging on by a thread. We bicker like never before because of the frustration and exhaustion.


We love each other; we love our daughter, but man; this is rough.


Luckily I have this to cheer me up.

A Lullaby

A song for my daughter

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

-Dixie Chicks, Lullaby

Exhausted

I am officially worn out and it's only the third week of work.

I have just taken over a third grade classroom as a long term sub for a teacher who is on maternity leave. I was supposed to take over two weeks from now after having a week getting to know the classroom and how everything works. Due to some complications with the teacher's pregnancy, I have taken over this week, unexpectedly.

I feel overwhelmed to say the least and am attempting to fight a cold to top it off.

I want to devote my evenings to my daughter, but I find myself not only exhausted, but so busy with work to do.

I know this is what I want... to teach, but man do I wish I was a stay at home mom lately.

I just need to make it through this year and I know it will only get better.

Easier said than done

Christmas, where are you?

It's almost September and once again I find myself wishing for Christmas. This has been the case ever since we moved to Mexico almost two years ago. The summers here are rainy and drab, which only adds to my want of Gingerbread lattes, boots and warm coats, watching White Christmas, catching up with old friends, and most of all, time with family.

This year I feel it even more now that Isa is in our lives. I so want to show her off to my wonderful girlfriends in San Diego and to watch my grandma hold her and to hear my dad talk to her.

But once again, I must wait; almost 4 months to be exact. I'm trying my best not to listen to Christmas music, and I may or may not have given in once or twice.

But I am hit with reality when I remember that I have 3 grad school classes to complete before then as well as a classroom of children to teach.

So, to get me through til December, I'll listen to some Bon Iver and enjoy my rapidly growing daughter.

This Year

Three things:

Grad School

First year teaching

New baby

If James and I can make it through this next year with masters degrees in hand, a healthy, happy baby, and still married I think we can handle just about anything.

It's going to be a crazy year.

Oh Hey, It's Been a While

Hello stranger... ok, so it's really me who's been the stranger...

Blame it on the newborn.

It's been 2 months and 3 days since Isabela was brought into this world and our family of three has managed to pack in a ridiculous amount of life in that time.

James and I both still find ourselves in awe of this beautiful little girl that we created. It's amazing to see how much she has grown.

Her cheeks are chubby and I do believe there are multiple fat rolls forming on her thighs.

She weighed in at 9.5 pounds last week and is a healthy happy girl.

I head back to work on Wednesday. I'm down to one more full day with my girl.

I have no direct answer for how I feel about that. First off, I do not have a choice as to whether or not I'd like to work or stay at home. I have to work. James and I cannot make it on one salary. So, I work.

On one hand, I'm looking forward to going back and seeing co-workers and friends who I've missed all summer. I'm excited to meet my class of kids and see who I'm working with. I'm still so young and have so many goals yet to achieve. I enjoy working and I love my job. I'm not ready to give that up.

On the other hand, I still tear up when I think of being away from Isabela for 9 hours of the day. I worry that she'll forget all about me in that time; that she'll cry all day wondering where her favorite set of boobs are. I worry that she'll get sick while I'm gone, that I won't be there to comfort her and sing to her.

But, like I said, I have no choice in the matter. I'm going back to work full-time on Wednesday and that's that. Rather than dwell on the hard parts, I'll try to remember that I'm doing this for her. In order for her to have the things she needs. Food to eat, cloths to wear and a roof over her head.

And I have to believe that she won't forget me; that she will always know who her mother is.

And ok, I'm sure I'll bawl my eyes out when I drive away on Wednesday.

One Month

It's been one month since our world changed completely.

One month ago our daughter was born. Isabela Jewell Kitchin.

This past month has been a whirlwind. My recovery from the c-section was brutal, which made taking care of a new baby difficult to say the least. Thankfully we had tons of help with my mom and James' mom here.

While the extra help was wonderful and needed, when everyone left, it was so nice to have it be just the three of us; our new family.

We've had our ups and downs, tired nights and tired days (thank you caffine for getting my through).

The low point was a two day period when Isabela would cry and scream in pain for hours on end, day and night. Needless to say, we were worried and felt helpless. We made an appointment with our pediatrician and the day we were to bring her in, she woke up as happy as could be... and with a diaper full of something nasty.

We think it was a stomach virus, which would explain why it only lasted two days. We still went to the doctor's and had her checked out. She checked out great and we agreed it had passed.

Now, on to happier things...
I could stare at this girl forever. She is cooing and ahhing now and actually looks at us when we talk to her. I like to think she knows us now; mommy and daddy.

Some things I've learned this past month:

-the first time your child gets sick is easily one of the worst feelings ever for you and for her
-burp clothes are a necessity and should be used at all times
-you can never have enough onesies or blankets
-just as you change a diaper, your child will go to the bathroom again, and if you're lucky, you'll have the new diaper on in time
-0-3 month clothing is huge and will not fit a newborn
-the love you have for your child is like nothing else in the world

James and I are in love with this girl, a girl who is solely dependent on us for everything. It is the closest thing to a selfless love that there is.

Introducing Our Girl

She's finally here!

Introducing Isabela Jewell Kitchin




We changed the spelling of her name a bit, dropping one of the l's in Isabela, which is how they spell it here in Mexico. We figure it's a small way to make her name a bit more unique and a nice little way to celebrate her birth in Mexico and the time we have and will spend here.

It all happened on June 5th, her due date. I was scheduled to arrive at the hospital at 7am to begin inducing labor with the hopes that the contractions would move Isabela into the correct position in the birth canal. We got up early, I showered, got dressed, double checked our hospital bag and we were on our way, It was like Christmas times a thousand.

Once we arrived to the hospital they started me on pitocin to get the contractions going. It was slow moving for a while, since the pitocin took a couple hours to kick in for me, but once it did, oh man did those things hurt. The contractions got more intense and more frequent until I felt like there was no break in between.

During all of this, my blood pressure was being closely monitored. It was unusually high when I arrived to the hospital, which my doctor and I chalked up to nerves, but as the hours went by, it got higher and did not go down. Because of this, my doctor had me give a urine sample to check for protines in the urine, which are a sign and symptom of pre-eclampsia.

When the results came back, it turned out that I had high levels of the protine in my urine. That, along with the high blood pressure were two signs that I was experiencing pre-eclampsia. In the mean time, after almost 5 hours in labor on pitocin, I hadn't dialated one bit, so my doctor decided it was best to get the baby out asap via c-section, rather than risk my health.

I was in the operating room within 10 minutes and one hour later Isabela entered this world.

She came in at 6lbs 2oz and 21 inches long. She is absolutely perfect in every way and James and I are enamered.

We are home now, after 3 nights in the hospital and my recovery has been tough, but it's getting better each day. We have a lot of help right now with my mom and James' mom at the house, which is allowing us to get some much needed rest.

We are so happy for our family of 3, 4 counting Lila.

Speaking of Lila, I will leave you with a picture of her big introduction to Isabela.

Isabella's Nursery Debut

Well, it's finally done and we couldn't love it more. I find myself sitting down in her room for an hour at a time just looking around at everything, imagining her there.

I really love how everything came together. It's not perfect or matchy matchy, but it is very much a reflection of who James and I are, even the chewed up stuffed animal that Lila had snuck in and gotten to twice. The first time I caught her, I washed it and put it back, the second time I decided there's no hope for the little guy and threw it away.

We filmed a little tour with our new video camera, which we are excited to use often filming our daughter.

So, without further adu...

Done and almost done

18 days left until the big day... not that that we actually know for sure that will be THE day.

But, in preparation for Isabella's arrival I am proud to have checked quite a few things off of my to do list (with the help of my amazing husband).

X get car cleaned

X instal car seat

X wash dog (not originally on the list, but definitely needed after she spent most of the day in the garage rolling around in her own urine)

X finish baby's room and clean it from top to bottom

X pack hospital bag

X have important documents gathered and ready to grab in a moments notice to present at the hospital (i.e. passport, work visa, marriage license, both mine and the husband's birth certificates... giving birth in Mexico is quite the process)

move furniture back into place and clean the rest of the house

That last one is the final thing to get done. We've been having work done to the house for the past couple weeks and it's somewhat of a disaster zone. Everything should be finished by the end of this week and needless to say I am obsessing about getting the house spotless.

The whole "nesting" thing is not a myth. It is a mind boggling animalistic take over. At least it has been for me. I'm exhausted and am caring a bowling ball in my stomach and yet I have the energy to mop the floors and clean the windows... because this baby just cannot enter a house with dirty windows.

*Note the sarcasm in my tone which proves that my rational mind is telling me this is ridiculous and the house does not have to be pristine and yet the crazy hormonal nesting part of me says, screw that, I'm scrubbing the shower!

All the while, I am ever reminded that this girl could come tomorrow if she wanted to... oh man.

24 days and Counting

24 days til my due date...

Although if this baby gets any lower she just might fall out tomorrow...

OK, not really, but man is she low. So low in fact, that at my last doctor's appointment while my doctor checked me (which by the way is not as no-big-deal as it sounds... do you know how far up the cervix is?!), she non-chalantly said, "I'm touching your baby's head right now."

I of course gawked in amazement.

Saturday I will be 37 weeks pregnant and considered full-term. I find myself jumping from feeling so incredibly excited to panicked that we won't have everything ready in time, i.e. the house cleaned, the car cleaned and car seat installed, my hospital bag ready, my documents gathered to show at the hospital...

I'm trying not to let the panic trump the excitement... trying.

I registered at the hospital yesterday and got a tour of the place and the room I will be in. It made everything so much more real.

I've never had so much fun in a hospital.

By the way, you know you're in Mexico City when the woman giving you a tour tells you that a nurse and a police man will escort the baby to the nursery after she's delivered.

Good Things

It's another beautiful day in Mexico. I can hear birds singing, children playing outside, all while enjoying the coolness of our house during one of the hottest months in Mexico City.

I'm thankful for good things today. Those good things have come in many different forms over the past week, so I've decided to compile a list.

Good baby things:

-Our ultrasound appointment a week and a half ago was perfect. Isabella is growing and healthy and my amniotic fluid levels are up and in the right spot.
-We're back on track for a normal delivery whenever she decides it's time to come out.
-At that last appointment she was already 5lbs 8oz.

Good job things:

-James got offered a job at the International school I work for. He will be working in the high school.
-This means a better salary for him and full medical benefits.
-It also means the same vacations off together and the entire summer off and paid... hello wonderfulness.

Good house things:

-We are hiring a cleaning woman who will start next week.
-Hopefully this will quell my OCD when it comes to cleaning.
-The floors will no longer show a constant trail of Lila's pathway from the front door to the kitchen

Good things. I love when life brings on good things. My current good thing is the husband who is sipping coffee at the dining room table while I relax on the couch with my warm cup.

The Unexpected

Thursday I went to see my doctor to check a stomach bug I'd been having. The bug was just a bug, no big deal, but when my doctor weighed and measured me she found that I hadn't grown since my last appointment almost a month ago. This obviously got her worried and she sent me in for an ultra sound right away.

During the ultrasound they found that my amniotic fluid was a bit low and that the baby's femer bones were about 2 weeks underdeveloped. She said this could be due to one of two things. Either I have just been too active and needed to rest, or my placenta was not doing it's job and giving the baby the nutrients it needed to grow. She put me on bed rest imediately and the next day I went in for a non-stress test.

During the non=stress test, I was hooked up to two monitors on my stomach. One measured any contractions I was having and the other monitored the baby's heart beat. I lied on my right side for 15 minutes, my back for 15 minutes and then my left side all the while holding on to a button that I was supposed to press whenever I felt her move. The point of the test was to check that when the baby was active, her heart rate increased and when she was still it would decrease a little.

Everything went really well and Isabella's heart did really well. This was really good news and means that my placenta is doing it's job and she is receiving enough blood and oxygen through it.

Now, I just stay on bed rest and have another appointment this Thursday. We will do another ultra sound to check if she has grown and that my amniotic fluid levels have gone up. If all goes well we will continue to monitor her weekly with an ultra sound until she's ready to come out.

The worst case senario would be that she hasn't grown and we will most likely look into taking her out via c-section earlier than expected. Just as a precaution, my doctor has given me two doses of a steroid shot to speed up the development of Isabella's lungs, should she come out sooner than later. I will be 35 weeks on Saturday, so I am hoping we can keep her in there until I am full term at 37 weeks.

My doctor is really optimistic and confident that the bed rest should do the trick and that she should start growing normally. James and I hope this is the case as well and for now we are just anxiously awaiting Thursday's appointment.

It's been quite a week. To think I only went in for a stomach bug and we found out all of this. It makes me so thankful that I went in that day and that we are addressing Isabella's lack of growth head on. I have been overwhelmed with the support of our friends and my co-workers here in Mexico City. They have called, brought food, books, movies. They are amazing and have really shown me and James love.

It's hard to be so far from friends and family in San Diego right now, but God provides and He has done that for us where we are.

So I'll end this post with a strong push for Bella to grow. And for now, I'll put all of my energy into resting... sounds like an oxymoron :)

Isabella's Nursery

We are in the process of gathering things for Isabella's nursery and we are slowly but surely getting there. We've painted the walls a cafe brown (a decision that was made before we knew that would be the baby's room) and we decided we're going to stick with it. We've basically been bringing in things from around the house that we already have, such as a white dresser and shelves, a turquoise coffee table that we're made into a storage chest for extra blankets and toys, and some very pale pink curtains that I got on sale at Target for 10 bucks while I was in the states for a visit.

The color scheme for the nursery really came about organically. I didn't plan it, it just happened as we brought things in, and I really love it. I love the brown walls, the pop of color that the turquoise chest brings in, and the hint of pink in the curtains. We also have a white wicker loveseat that we've put in the room, and a beautiful handmade mirror I bought at an art market here in the city. It's a light pink with these pretty handpainted birds on the top. I love it and am excited to hang it somewhere in the room.

We still have one somewhat major project to finish in the room, and that is to rip out the existing carpet. It's a nasty grey stained and dirty carpet that we can't wait to get rid of. We are going to leave the floor with the concrete that's underneath and have bought a beautiful handwoven Mexican rug to cover up the majority of the floor.

I will be sure to take pictures once the room is complete, but in the mean time, here are some pictures that give me inspiration.

Clean Air and Feeling Content

I spent the last week in San Diego visiting friends and family and showing off my growing belly. The week was wonderful. The breaze was so clean and cool, I relaxed and rested, and I spent some quality time with good friends.

As much as I loved my time there, I found myself so ready to head back to Mexico. I kept saying that I was excited to come back home. I realized that Mexico is my home now and saying that felt so natural; calling it home. I couldn't wait to see my husband, who I missed like crazy. I couldn't wait to pet my dog and to walk into my colorful house. It felt so good, like it was where I needed to be.

Yesterday James and I went to a park close by with Lila. We walked a bit then found a quiet spot in some grass and sat down. James played fetch with Lila while I leaned back into his arms. It was such a perfect moment. It made me so greatful for our family, and for our life together.

James and I are about 80 percent sure we are going to be staying here in Mexico for another 4 to 5 years. This is an idea that would have scared the crap out of me a year ago, but now, doesn't seem to bother me. Sure, I miss san Diego. I miss that ocean and that clean air. I miss my friends and family even more; but I have the most important things in my life right here with me and I am content in that.

We know this is the best decision for our family, and that is so important. So cheers to that feeling of contentment. It feels so good.

Thankful and Anxious

Today I feel thankful for this healthy, growing baby inside of me.

The last few weeks have been tough for James and I with one thing after another going wrong. It reminded me of when we first moved to Mexico with no plan and no money. We were each other's only stability, and it brought us closer than ever.

I realized in the midst of the bummers last week that James and I still had and will always have each other. That will never change and for that I am forever thankful.

James and I both are also incredibly anxious to meet our daughter. It's all we can think about and while we feel as if the day could not come sooner, we realize it will be here before we know it. We are trying to enjoy our sleep now and our lazy Saturday mornings, which will soon become a distant memory.

I am thankful and anxious today for Isabella and my husband. Those two people make me the luckiest person alive.

I also can't wait to give Isabella this:



Saw it here: http://www.bethquinndesigns.com/ and fell in love.

Can't wait to give it to my girl.

Daydreaming...

I spent the morning bus ride to work daydreaming about dancing with James and our kids in the living room before we all went off to school/work.

While I daydreamed I was listening to this:

Can't wait for the dancing.

Paaaallease Girlfriend

So, not sure if you've read, but beautiful Brazilian supermodel, Giselle Bundchen says her all natural childbirth "didn't hurt; not even a little bit."

So, I know I have yet to actually give birth, but I'm going to take a wild guess and say that it's going to hurt... probably a lot.

You may also have read that she didn't have to wear maternity clothes. She says she just fit fine in her regular clothes.

Does anyone else want to punch her? I'm usually not a violent person, but if I had the chance, I seriously think I'd give her a little slap in the face. Just a nice little wake up call telling her to snap out of it. Normal people are not like you.... oh, and someone must have slipped you a large dose of body numbness during labor.

Needless to say, I'm not taking any pregnancy and labor advice from Giselle.

Halfway There

As I enter into my 21st week of pregnancy I think about how many times James and I have said that we cannot wait to meet this little one. At the same time, I realize how fast that day is approaching and that before we know it we will be holding our little one in our arms.

I am so thankful to have been blessed with a healthy pregnancy thus far. I realize this is not the case for so many, including friends of ours, friends of friends, and even family. We were so fortunate to get pregnant right away and even more fortunate to have a healthy growing baby inside of me.

Last Friday we went in for another ultrasound. Everything was beautiful and we even got to see some 3-D pictures of our child. They were incredible! It was amazing to see how developed this baby already is. It made it that much more real.

Another highlight from this appointment was the unveiling of our baby's sex.

Drum roll please.......

It's a GIRL!!!

We are beyond excited to finally know the sex of our baby and to no longer call her "it." Our child has an identity and even a name now. We love being able to say things like, "I can't wait to meet Isabella."

I have already been daydreaming of outings with her and the talks we will have about life.

James and I feel as though we are floating on clouds and are feeling our love for this child grow more and more every day.

So here's to tutus, barbies, and pink.

A little 2009 mixed with some 2010

It's 2010 and as excited as I am for this new year, so much has happened in 2009. James and I have lived in Mexico City for over a year, we moved into our first house, we painted it lime green, and we found out we we're expecting a baby in June.

Wow.

So much.

So good.

Life is beautiful for us right now and we are so thankful.

Although, there are some things I could have done without. For example:

Our dog has fleas.

Pregnancy has plagued me with headaches.

The little car accident I got myself into.

Still, I would gladly take the bad with the good.

As for the little baby growing inside of me, we attempted to find out the sex before visiting the states for Christmas, but that little guy or girl refused to let us know and was riding the umbilical cord the entire time. Even with 3 very skilled doctors in the room looking hard at the little screen, no one could get a clear glimpse of the goods.

So, our baby is still an "it" and will be fore the next 2-3 weeks until we go in for another ultrasound.

In the mean time, I will leave you with an exciting unveiling.

some potential baby names.....

drum roll please....

For a girl, Isabella Jewel Kitchin

And for a boy, Colton Morgan Kitchin

So there you have it. The name of our future child is ready. And here is a glimpse of our Christmas 2009.