Hola!

Frank William Beatty was born yesterday. I am in love. Baby is doing well. I am sore, hungry and a bit tired but also can say this is one of happiest moments in my life.

Fisher Price Room To Bloom (a giveaway)

A couple months ago I was invited to a yummy brunch hosted by Fisher Price and Sherwin Williams to learn all about Room To Bloom a very cool interactive tool to help expectant moms visualize and create affordable, fashionable nursery designs.

I brought Audrey and a friend along. We had a great time chatting among moms, eating yummy food and eating way too much from the candy bar. Audrey got a chance to play with new toys and I got to see all the new nursery collections from Fisher Price and all the beautiful new colors from Sherwin-Williams. 

And thanks to my darling friend Liz came home with the whole Snugabunny nursery collection. So very thankful. The item I'm most looking forward to using with new baby is the Snugabunny Rock n' Play Sleeper. It think it will be perfect to have baby with me around the house and even as a co sleeper during our first weeks at home. 

I can't believe in just a few short weeks we will have a baby in the house! To celebrate baby's arrival later this month I have a giveaway from Fisher Price and Sherwin-Williams!

Giveaway

A Snugabunny Rock n' Play Sleeper and a $15 Sherwin-Williams gift card. If you are expecting a baby or know a mother who is visit Room To Bloom and then leave any topic related comment...

What's your favorite color, or collection or product...anything goes...

I will pick a winner on August 17th at 12pm. US only.

For additional entries:

1.Like Fisher Price on FB

2.Like Culture Mami on FB

3.Follow Fisher Price on Twitter

Leave a comment for each additional entry letting me know you did. 

Good luck mama!

*no compensation of any kind was given for this post and was not required to post giveaway. I was invited to a brunch hosted by Fisher Price where I ate a lot...had way too many cupcakes and was given a gift for attending. 

UPDATE: happy to announce mail4rosey as the winner! ( :

the weekend

Hi there! It's Monday afternoon and I haven't done much at all today other than an early doctors appointment.  It's been a lazy but much needed kind of day. I felt like coffee this morning so I made myself a latte with extra whip cream on top! And let the kids have popsicles before lunch!

It was a fun and busy weekend. Friday night Kip and I went out to dinner and a movie. I keep taking advantage of these dates because I know once baby arrives it will be really hard for us to want to leave baby for hours at a time. 

Saturday I had the most amazing time with mom, my sisters and a couple girlfriends. We headed up to Santa Barbara Spa Del Mar for a spa day. I got my first ever pregnancy massage! It was great and really makes my list of must have's during pregnancy. Carrying this big belly gets me really tired sometimes and that made my muscles feel so relaxed. I also got a much needed facial....the spa...heaven really. 

We had lunch there and then spent the afternoon in the pool. 

We then rented surrey bikes and pedaled through the beach walk. After our bike workout we were all hungry, felt like having tacos and hit up Lilly's Tacos, a local spot for the yummiest beef, pork and veggie tacos. 

Mom treated all of us to coffee post dinner and we all headed home very satisfied from a perfect day. 

It was really awesome to be able to have a girls day filled with fun and relaxation in celebration of baby's soon to be arrival and my birthday later this month. Kip was really great about staying with the kids and even daysitting my moms dog!

I got home so ready to slip in bed with Kip and Audrey and slept really good that night.

Sunday morning I stayed in bed late and then we all got ready to visit friends and enjoy their pool and yummy BBQ! The kids had a blast and it was hard to get them out of the pool when it was time to go home. 

We got home last night with just enough time for Kip and I to get kids ready for bed and to catch up on one of our shows. 

What were you up to this weekend?

32 weeks

I'm having all the 3rd trimester symptoms...

frequent bathroom visits

difficulty getting in comfortable positions

difficulty bending over to pick stuff up ( :

pregnancy brain (although this I seem to suffer from all the time)

strong baby movements...where it feels like my stomach is twisting as well and baby might pop out from one side ( :

Kip took some pictures of me last weekend. It was at the end of the day so I was a bit tired and puffy eyed here... but this is definitely how big I am!!! ( :

flew by

Audrey's birthday party is this weekend and there really hasn't been much else on her mind. Talks about who will be there what we will eat what we will do and how it's going to be SO much fun have filled our home.

Iv'e taken the kids out for ice cream every one of my off days this week... and this might be due to more of my own cravings. ( :

We cleaned out Jeremiah's closet yesterday, and I almost wish I hadn't. Every time we clean his things out we give more toys away... and every time we do it looks more like a teenagers room and less like my little boys room.

When did all those action figures not become so important in his life? It just flew by, it seems. And all those times I wished there was less toy clutter...I miss them. 

I think I want ice cream right now...

two piece while pregnant

This post is underwritten by Old Navy. Whether you're looking for a tankini, bikini, or a one piece, Old Navy has you confidently covered at a great price.

Iv'e promised the kids all kinds of beach days this summer. This is a fairly easy request and something I enjoy as much as they do. The beach is a place where I always feel free. Something about just laying in the sun with no worries, kids playing, water near by... it just feels right. 

This summer my beachwear requires a bit more planning. A thirty week belly needs more room, comfort and space to grow. Did I just say thirty weeks....?!?! 

The kids and I went out shopping for new bathing suits recently and I did something daring and not very much like me. 

I skipped the maternity one piece! Didn't even try them on! And just bought a bikini top and bottom in a bigger size!

I'm showing off my belly this summer. It's a bit wild and crazy for me. Truth is though, I feel totally comfortable and confident in this big belly right now. I see myself and although I see a lot of growth in certain places that probably shouldn't be growing and will be hard to loose post baby... I also see how beautiful I am in this temporary skin. 

Thought's about how this might will probably be the last time I am pregnant have also crossed my mind and for this reason I feel like I should embrace my body even more.

So weird for me to write this because I am usually the last person to feel comfortable in a two piece when I am not pregnant. Even during times in my life when I have been in the best shape I have always focused on all of my imperfections. Maybe pregnancy gives me a reason to be just like I am without having these certain expectations about how I should look.  

Definitely leaves me with thoughts about feeling comfortable with who I am post baby. 

Showing my belly off...am I completely crazy for doing this? What are your thoughts on a two piece during pregnancy? Is it a no-no or a do it? 

Have you and the kids shopped for bathing suits yet? 

Thank you again to Old Navy for sponsoring my post. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

26 weeks

At bedtime Audrey and I take turns massaging my big belly with belly rub oils. 

Sometimes I rub her belly too. We compare our baby to fruits and veggies. And wait for baby to kick one more time...again. 

How lucky am I??? .... I have a baby inside...we are soon a party of 5. 

Mother's Day 2012

I came home from work this morning to find everyone ready to greet me at the door. Hugs and kisses, and love filled the room. 


I am so grateful to have this life. To be able to love Audrey, Jeremiah and this little person growing inside me. 


I think the pregnancy has me on a high of emotions. The love inside me...helping to create life. 


I hope you are on this mother high also. Being a mother is a beautiful gift. 


Happy Mothers Day!

Marcela


PS. Wishing all single moms an extra special day. Thank you mom for all your love, patience,and always understanding...I love you. 

Our weekend

...was filled with all kinds of fun. 

Much deserved after spending most of the day Friday cleaning up our spare room (Audrey's room) ...which really has been a catch all since she was born. She still co sleeps... and putting up money on a nursery was never a priority. I figured she would eventually make the room hers...and that seems to be slowly taking place...

(Kip referred to this cleaning as me taking part in some nesting)

Friday night... an Under the Sea inspired birthday party which included a jicama, pineapple and watermelon salad ....and tamales for mom. 

Saturday... we dropped Audrey off at grandmas. Kip, Jeremiah and I headed out to the show (a second time for the boys). After the movie the three of us went out for Mexican food. We came home to relax and somehow a little relaxation turned into a 3 hour nap for me! I woke up with just enough time to do some grocery shopping and watch Wayne's World with Kip and Jeremiah. 

Kip and I hadn't watched in years, it was Jeremiah's first time... watching inspired by rocking out to Bohemian Rhapsody on the way to grandmas.  

Sunday... the boys headed out to watch the LA Kings hockey game. Audrey and I picked up some friends and went to Pregnancy Awareness Month's Celebrate Moms event here in LA. 

Lots of fun products, lots of learning, pampering, including massages, henna tattoos, natural makeup and fun crafts for Audrey. 

And her second face painting of the weekend....something she loves!

We ended our weekend going out for Lebanese food and enjoyed our very lovely dates for the day....

both Audrey and I came home tired and ready to cuddle in bed with daddy... a most perfect way to end a busy and fun weekend. 

What fun did you take part in this weekend?

20 weeks

Belly shots!

Getting ready to have sister in law and nephew (baby Noah) over to help us dye Easter eggs.....Yay!

update: Thank you for all the sweet comments. The dress is from Liz Lange Maternity for Target

moving

Everything is moving along around here. Including baby. 

I feel baby move ...and sometimes feel pressure at the base of my tummy. 

I try and explain this feeling to Kip and the kids but it's something I guess I just can't. 

It's a feeling only a mom can feel. So I take this time to share it between me and baby. 

Jeremiah is on spring break this week. We went hiking a couple times during the week. The kids and dog have so much fun. It's cheap. We get lot's of exercise plus time to enjoy the outdoors. 

After hiking everyone is exhausted and hungry...so we do lunch...or ice cream. (:

The kids argue like all the time about what sex the baby will be. 

Audrey says she will be a big sister. 

Jeremiah says he is going to have a little brother. 

Sometimes Audrey settles the argument by just saying 

"fine! mommy has two babies in her belly ...a boy and a girl!"

(I only have one)

Baby's sex is a surprise...

I'm feeling a whole lot better lately. I still get morning sickness, but thank goodness it's only in the morning and not all day like it was for like forever. 

We are having family over for Easter. Audrey is dying to color Easter eggs... so that's on our list of to do's this weekend. 

So, the other day, I wake up ready to go to work...

Kip says to me...

"you know sweetie...I really want you to consider getting a minivan"

And there you have it....I might be my worst nightmare...

I might soon be a minivan mom....

fried yucca

I am feeling a whole lot better. I still get a couple nausea episodes during the day... like when I leave work in the mornings and walk into the parking lot.  I'm not sure if it's a smell or that it's morning ... whatever it is...my first couple minutes after getting in the car are usually spent gagging. 

Lovely.

I'm definitely starting to show (belly pictures soon) but not enough to wear maternity clothes so everything is feeling snug these days. 

We took the kids to Disneyland and California Adventure recently and had so much fun together. We all played hookie one day from work and school and spent the day getting on rides eating yummy things...like pickles...Disneyland has the BEST pickles!

Iv'e been on this Salvadoran childhood food crave over the last month. I'm not sure why but all the foods I didn't pay much attention to as a child are exactly what make me feel good these days. 

I've raided the Latino markets lately and had a list of foods for my mom to bring back from her recent trip to El Salvador. 

Beans and rice, plantains, yucca...oh, fried yucca...hibiscus tea, vegetable and bean soups...fruits like mangos and guavas...

Excuse my food post....it's that obvious I guess...that I'm pregnant!( :

What foods comforted you during pregnancy? Were they foods that mom made or you ate as a child?

all the ugly and all the happy

After being away for so long...it's kind of hard to know how to start ...
I could tell you all that Iv'e been up to....

or I can just say...

"I'm pregnant!"

and then you will probably completely understand why Iv'e been MIA.

This first trimester has kicked my a$#!!!

Seriously.

The nausea...and the exhaustion!


Aside from all that ugly stuff, everything else is happy here. Audrey is pretty excited about being big sister although I'm not sure how much she really understands.

Jeremiah did a "your kidding right?!?" 
I think being big brother to Audrey felt like a big job already. Yet, after talking a little more about another family member...things are all good and he is happy also.

I'm going on 13 weeks now!

Thanks to all of you for being so kind and leaving sweet comments. You are definitely the best part of blogging!

Aside from baby...and being sick...things are pretty normal.
I think Iv'e told Audrey to "leave the dog alone!!!" about twenty times today.
It's almost time to pick up Jeremiah from school, then get dinner ready, then head off to work.

The house was nice and clean yesterday...now, not so much. I'm not sure when or how it happened.

We are almost completely out of toilet paper...and of coarse I'm going to go to the store to pick some up today and will probably end up forgetting it while I'm there. ( :

See!....things are normal, and good, and happy.

Hoping things are normal and good and happy for you too,

Marcela