Whirlwind

The past month and a half has been a whirlwind!

Ready for the first day of the Expo!

We were excited to have my cousins, Brian and Elizabeth Stoller and Brenda Ramsier to visit during the Expo. They also helped me out since Miguel was gone for a couple days at his cousin's wedding. 

Leah and Anthony are only a month apart in age, so we had to get a picture. Leah is Francisco and Jaqueline's daughter. Check out the featured post to see pictures of their wedding in 2021!

Anthony turned 3 months on August 9th.

He's been rolling over both ways and likes the bumbo seat and exer-saucer. With me working some, he's gotten some practice taking a bottle.

For the past month, I did some work as the kitchen supervisor again.

Also,  a couple of the teenage girls from CVE spent some mornings/afternoons at our house. They enjoyed spending time with Anthony and we appreciated a flexible way to support the houseparents.

As mentioned a couple posts ago, in July Miguel started a new job at Carnisimo Burger's new food truck in Santa Ana. He works evenings so that was quite the adjustment, but that also allowed him to care for Anthony some mornings while I worked and continue his schoolwork. One Saturday, Anthony and I went to visit him and eat a hamburger (pictured above). Between Miguel's job and school, my job, and a baby, August and September have been very busy.

On September 9th, Miguel and I celebrated four years of marriage. Thanks to some willing babysitters we got to go on a little date.

Anthony also turned 4 months on September 9th and got his first tooth. What a day!

We've been wrapping things up around here as we prepare to go on sabbatical for the next three months. We will be leaving Monday (Sept 19th). Please pray for a safe, smooth trip and that we can have accurate expectations in the coming weeks as we spend time with friends and family while continuing to care for a baby. God bless!

Update from July!

It's been far too long. I started this post back in July, just before Expo week and starting work again on August 8th. So here's an update from July.

Walk to the park!

Family picture

Mommy and Anthony. I was realizing that I hadn't taken a nice picture with him in awhile, so we snapped these.

They had a little dedication for Anthony after the church service this Sunday. A prayer, a few Bible passages, and some words of blessing for our family! We pray that we can raise Anthony to know and love Jesus.

Working on those tummy time skills.

Anthony has always been alert and observant. He kept eyeing this picture of Carson (my nephew) and I on the fridge. We joked that maybe he was jealous. :) Then Daddy printed off a picture of him and I to put on the fridge too.

Comparing Anthony to my baby pictures. 

Maybe because Miguel and I look so different, we were really curious who Anthony was going to look like. As he grows, I'm more and more convinced that his appearance is a very equal mix.

 Two months old in July!

At the end of July we were getting ready for my cousins to visit and Miguel to go to Colorado for his cousins wedding, all during the weekend of Expo Esperanza 2022.

Life with our Little Guy!

There are beautiful moments and tough moments!

It's been so fun to watch him grow. A couple weeks ago he started smiling (6 wks) and just this week he rolled over from his stomach to his back. (7 wks)

 

He turned one month old on June 9th.

Happy first Father's Day to Miguel in June!

He's getting chubby.

We enjoyed a visit from Aunt Emily and Carson. It took us a bit to figure out how to spend time together with a toddler and 1-month old, and them staying at a house on the CVE campus, but ultimately we enjoyed time with each other and each other's kids. Carson is starting to talk which is super fun!

I had my 6 week appointment in Tucson the day before they flew out, so we ended up staying at a hotel together. Anthony loved the warm water in the pool. So relaxing!

Thanks to a tip from Emily (hold his arms in so he doesn't startle) we are also finally enjoying bath time!

Cousins!

It's hard to believe we are all grown up with our own kids!

 Please pray that I can enjoy these moments and that my daily goals/expectations be small and that I would feel ok about them being small. I will begin supporting at CVE again on August 8th (still a month away), so please pray that I don't worry about that too much but also that we wisely plan/prepare for how to do home life, work life, and meet the baby's needs. Also, Miguel is starting a new job soon, so please pray that transition goes well and we can settle into a new routine. 

Thanks for your prayers!

Family of 3!

Introducing Anthony Javier Aviña, born May 9th at 9:55 p.m. 

He weighed 7 lb. 8 oz. and measured 20 in.

This photo is from 1 week old.

Here he is right after delivery.

The next morning. 

Second photo as a family.

We headed up to Tucson on May 5th and were really blessed by the generosity of a couple from Tucson who lent us their guesthouse. We were surprised to be driving back one week later as Anthony was born a few days early. We arrived back to Magdalena on the 12th. My due date was the 13th.

Hanging out with Daddy. We think he looks like his dad.

Grammy had gotten her plane ticket to come for May 9th a month or so previously. We talked (kind of joking) that if I was in labor, she would have to take an uber. She arrived that evening and took an uber, getting to hold Anthony an hour or so after he was born right in the delivery room. She has been here for the past week and a half and leaves next week. It has been such a blessing to have her help and support and we are going to miss her so much! In the photo above we were enjoying the refreshing evening breeze by Miguel's little corn patch.

Anthony has been a really calm baby. He is eating and sleeping well so far and already passed up his birth weight. The temperatures here are climbing and he gets warm easily, so he's been wearing onesies and light swaddles. We are so in love and soaking up every moment. 

                                    Thanks so much for your love and prayers and support!

Twenty-seven, Thirty-seven

For my 27th birthday on March 21st, Miguel took me out to eat and I really enjoyed trying a new restaurant here in Magdalena!

They serve hamburgers, tacos, traditional Mexican food, and sea food. The hamburgers we had were phenomenal, so it makes me curious about the other food genres. Hopefully, we make it back sometime!

My gift was the flower pot in the picture above and we also repotted some of my other plants which was exciting. 

Thank you for your prayers for my transition out of the kitchen and starting maternity leave. It has gone better than I expected, probably because it happened somewhat gradually. These last two weeks were spring break and therefore the general routine at CVE was different which I think helped me to ease my way out. My brother Justin's visit and weekly trips to Tucson for appointments and birthing class have  also successfully diverted my attention!

Also, a shout out to the ladies below who are carrying on without me!

Justin was here the second week of April and we really enjoyed having him. We ate delicious Mexican food, climbed cross mountain very slowly, and participated in a mini CVE "work team" that Tuesday and Wednesday. For the mini work team, CVE staff and kids signed up to help and participate. We had breakfast and devotions and split up to do painting and landscaping and maintenance projects. It really brought a lot of life and fellowship! 

On another note, my younger siblings continue to transition into adulthood one-by-one and I always enjoy witnessing it when we get to be together (and from a far). Justin is graduating this year and it's such a blessing to see the young man that he is becoming.

It's been exciting to really focus on preparing for the baby's arrival! Getting clothes washed, cleaning around the house, packing bags, reading up on helpful information. 

I'm now 37 weeks pregnant! Saturday we had maternity photos taken and today I had my last ultrasound. So enjoy the bump and baby update...

We had so much fun taking these pictures with Addy Beyer! 

Three and a half years ago, she took our engagement photos and wedding photos when she was just getting started with her photography business. 

And here is baby Aviña, peaking from behind his hand! According to the doctor's measurements he is about 3 kilos and nearing seven pounds. He has been really kicking and wiggling and last night for the first time, I was like, "I think I'm ready for this baby to be out!" My ribs and pelvis and muscles are getting some hard shoves. 

Please pray for a safe delivery and that no matter how things go, we can feel God's peace and presence through the process! Also, pray for our transition into parenthood. So many unknowns, but so much excitement as we meet a new little person who will be such a big part of our lives!

We can't wait to meet him!