WEEK 2

tender moments with family:







Week 2 also brought a few visitors. Terry, Anita and 7 week old Ani came to visit. We visited Ani when she was 2 weeks old. I don't think either Ani or Elena liked sharing the limelight:


College buddies Terry and Mick, with their girls:


Generations:
Soth Men and baby (Grandpa,Uncle Tom, Daddy and Elena):


Andrews Family (Daddy, Gran, Elena and Great Grandma):


New toy from Uncle Tom. She was initially unsure if she liked it. Verdict is in. She likes it on her own terms:



Mommy and Elena (and her super cool WB-57F onesie)

Elena's first week

Labor is hard...on Mick:


Elena's first photo:


Daddy and Ellie:





Grandparents on parade:






Tio Tom:


Visitors:
The Acevedos...only Tia Mavy got to hold the baby as she wouldn't share


Newly married Gannet and Ian..with their daughter Ocean


more Elena






We need to get pictures of mommy and baby as there doesn't seem to be any...at least on my camera

Until next time

She's Here

So I lied in my last blog. I started contractions the next night.

Elena Cristina Soth Lopez was born on her due date (July 23rd) at 17:14, weighing in at 8 lbs 1 oz, and 19.5 inches.

Just a couple things to note:

1. if you think your labor pains are really bad, and go to the hospital, they will send you home (twice), if you are only 1 cm dilated both times. even though t hey are separated by 12 hours and excruciating pain.

2. If you can walk around downtown Palo ALto during labor even if you have to stop and hug a pole every block due to the pain...contractions aren't really strong enough to go to the hospital.

3. If after 12 hours more, your contractions still aren't 5 minutes apart, they will send you home again. It doesn't matter that hey are 6 minutes apart and lasting over 2 minutes a piece and have been doing this for 6 hours

4. No matter what the doctor says, do not take an Ambien sleeping pill when in labor. It pretty much guarantees your water will break within 5 minutes and you will be too drugged out to understand what is going on....but you still feel pain.

5. Epidurals RULE...when they don't wear out right when you have to push and the anesthesiologist is nowhere to be found.

6 Stitches hurt a lot when there isn't any pain killer down there

Not that I would know anything about the above points. Just hypothetical, of course.

This what labor looks like in Palo Alto...notice mick's watch and the fact that he is not paying attention to me:




Mick read the Harry Potter book during my labor...it was charming

Not going anywhere

With 5 days before my due date, yesterday at my doctor's appointment, I was 0% effaced, 0 cm dilated. And haven't really dropped yet. No contractions yet. Haven't even felt the Braxton Hicks contractions.

looks like she ain't going anywhere

Week 37 and counting

Someday I will see my feet properly again

Life has been busy since I last wrote. To begin with, we threw a going away backyard bbq for some friends that are going to Switzerland for one year. We had about 50 people show up. I was 34 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos because somehow they got erased off my camera. Either way, I think everyone had a good time. We will miss you guys, Matt, Marzia and Abigail



The following week, our friends Laura, Jen and Darlene gave us a co-ed baby shower. We got lots of great gifts and good times were had by all. We may have even made a love connection between Samuel and Abby. Abby is an older woman so she was a bit more aggressive than Samuel was used to. He must be bragging at the park now!

The following weekend (pregnancy week 36) we drove down to Southern California for Jimmie's friends Mads and Janna's wedding. When arriving in LA at about 11:30 pm on a Friday night, Mick remembered why he hated Southern California....the TRAFFIC. we were stuck in traffic forever! Mick got a bit a road rage. We finally arrived in Orange close to 1:00 am where we were staying with our good friends Frank, Cris, Mike and Meg. Next morning, we got up early and drove down to San Diego (traffic AGAIN) to see Mick's college buddy, Terry and his wife Anita. They just had a baby girl (Ani) 2 weeks prior. Ani behaved beautifully during our short 2 hour visit. We hope to have one that well behaved!

We then drove back North to San Clemente to attend the wedding. The actual cerermony was at a small park in a residential neighborhood overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful. Janna's brother performed the ceremony so it was quite personal and moving. Everyone teared up (except for mick who is dead inside). Friends Laura and Jeff also came down from Northern California for the wedding. We tried taking a picture of us together. Everyone looks crappy except jeff, who is Mr GQ in every photo we have.

This is unfortunately the only photo we have of the happy couple...I really need to learn to take better pictures. The reception was in San Juan Capistrano at Janna's uncle's house. It was beautiful as well. The reception had all sorts of weird Danish traditions. Mads socks got cut off, Janna got kissed by all teh men at the wedding, songs were sung, and lots of toasts were made. When we left the wedding, mick said "I don't know Mads and Janna very well but this wedding makes me want to know them better". I think that is quite a testament to how lovely the wedding really was.

Beyond that, Life has just been chugging along. I am a bit over 37 weeks pregnant. baby hasn't dropped. She seems quite content to remain inside. i am ok with that because it is easier to take care of them when they are inside! Today we are headed to Livermore to spend the Fourth of July with the Acevedos. We will see baby Daniela there. She is about 3 months old now. We haven't seen her since she was 2 weeks old.

Have a Happy Fourth of July

jimmie

Memorial Day Weekend

Hope everyone is having a Happy Memorial Day weekend. This is our 11 year anniversary of dating. We don't know the exact date. Didn't do much for it (what else is new). we went up the city to see Michael Soto (Frank and Cris's son) play with his high school band at Pier 39. It was fun, even if we were the uncool parents' friends. We then hung out with Huan, ate dinner and then I got tired, so we went home. i think I was asleep by 11:00...I am exciting.

Today, Mick spent all day at work (still there) and I washed baby clothes (so cute) and adult clothes (not so cute). I also bought new shoes that will fit over my swollen ankle. Yup, that is right, I have reached the swollen part of pregnancy. But I can't get swollen like a normal person. Nope...only my left ankle is swollen. My right one is perfectly fine. I am weird. My one cankle disturbs me.

but enough of gross thoughts. Here are some pics from my trip to DC where I saw Sebastian, Isabelle and Maria

In the picture above, Isabelle and Sebastian barely took their eyes off the cartoons to smile for the pictures


Here, Isabelle is driving the boat while Maria and Sebastian navigate using the North Star. This was at the National Geographic Museum.


Here, they are just cute

Week 30

So, it's been a while. Life...busy...all that. We have had several ultrasounds now. It is still a girl. We make them check every time. things progressing. Our ultrasound last week said she was 2 pounds 14 oz. She is also a heavy sleeper. Ultrasounds are usually at 8:00 am. She doesn't like performing for us that early. She usually sleeps the whole time. This last time, her lips were puckered. very cute.

Saw my sister Maria and her kids in DC a couple of weeks ago. She took photos of my belly...What a difference 10 weeks makes! She told me to upload them. I am very obedient.




I would have preferred her sending pictures of the kids. I am big as a house

My other sister Claudia has some news...maybe she will start a blog and be better at updating than I am (hint hint)

We registered a couple of weeks ago. It was stressful and not fun. Good thing our friends and family have already been incredibly generous and we really don't need much. Otherwise, I may have cried at BabiesRUs. I was completely overwhelmed. Every decision you make has potential of killing your child.

Mick set up the baby room, while I was in DC having fun. Once we get a dresser and wash all the clothes, etc I'll take a picture. The little dresses are too cute, even if Mick hates pink. Plus everyone can see all the cool things we have received so far.

All for now

Jimmie (and baby girl Elena)

It's a .....

It's a GIRL!!!

Now we have to come with a name...any suggestions?







You can click on the pictures to get a larger view

17 weeks 5 days

(maria, this is for you)

Here is a blurry picture of my belly at 17 weeks 5 days...I have yet to master taking a photo in the mirror). It looks less big when I am wearing jeans instead of my cloud pajamas. But those pictures are even blurrier.



The baby is doing all sorts of gross stuff inside of me...stay away from websites that do pregnancy week by week unless you like hearing about the baby's bodily functions occuring inside of me. I am pretty grossed out. But on the bright side, the baby's ears are now no longer attached to its neck and should be in the proper orientation. Let's hope that the baby gets Soth ears, and not Lopez Palma ears!

We've have also started receiving some gifts.



The cute onesies you see above came from Tia Claudia. She is nuts. Mick asked me "what's a onesie?", so Claudia is going to come help me raise the baby and Mick will go cuddle with Claudia's husband Albert. Looks like Mick and I are ill-prepared for parenthood! It also looks like I need to learn how to focus with my camera before the baby arrives


My friend Lesley gave us the cute little elephant you see here. She was out in California with her husband Mike on a little mini vacation and we had dinner together on Sunday night. It was fun.

I think that is it for tonight. We find out the sex of the baby next week so stay tuned!

The beginning

Hello all

Because y'all have asked me to keep you up-to-date on the baby "Pat" and our lives, I have started this blog. We'll see how long I will keep it up. I am pretty much a slacker...Maybe I will get Mick to update it as well. Doubt that will actually happen. Anyhow, HI!!