Aaand... We're Back!

Hello, friends and Happy Spring!!! It's been quite some time since an update on the blog but I'm happy to announce that we are on the grid and back in action! First, I want to give a MAJOR shout out to Oscar for all of his wonderfulness and the time he has spent creating a new site for us. Doesn't it look beautiful?! He is still working on some things here and there, but I'm just smitten!

Speaking of smitten, we've been struck by so many changes and blessings over the past month. There's no way to catch you up in one post, but I'll try to highlight the good stuff and get you up to speed! 

After celebrating a wonderful first Valentine's together and reveling in the news of our coming baby girl, we really started to get more serious about our plans and intentions for family life and parenthood, which led us to the desire of connecting with our own families, which led to spending a weekend in Pine Valley with my folks, and one in Tijuana with Oscar's. It was fantastic!

It had snowed in the Laguna Mountains the day before we arrived at my parent's house, and there was talk that the roads might require chains. We decided to go for it anyhow and to our surprise, even though there was TONS of snow on the ground, and signs flashing *Chains Required*, the roads were perfectly clear and cars were being allowed through! My Dad suggested the possibility of an earlier rain, not knowing how else the roads could get so perfectly clear after the snowfall. Even snow plows couldn't have paved a way for us like that! If that weren't enough, what made it even more perfectly special, was that it was Oscar's FIRST time in the snow. Ahh... There truly are no words for how magical of an experience it was! My heart was filled to the brim as I watched him make his first snowball, and, of course, throw it at me. We spent Saturday in the vintage-mountain town of Julian and it was so fun to imagine Luna being with us, experiencing the beauty of discovery and nature as we were.

Our trip to Mexico was equally special, as I got to experience a taste of Oscar's childhood and family life, more than I had been able to on our previous trip there. It was totally fun and exhilarating to communicate through what little Spanish I know, and for the opportunity to tune myself in to other forms of language and expression that go far beyond the verbal. His family is SO sweet, (no surprise!) kind and giving. We laughed, we played Dominoes, we ate enmoladas and soaked in the family love. On Saturday, Oscar and his Dad gave our car a little makeover and I got to sit back and enjoy amazing coffee from a local cafe and the warmth of Tijuana's sun. Such a happy lady! Even though I was nauseous and throwing up for the 2 plus hour duration of our border-crossing drive home, all I remember is feeling happy and humble to be closer to Oscar and our baby Luna's roots. It was such a blessing to be in the Castro Vargas household and to know that they will be my family forever! 

Last week, we went for a routine checkup at Best Start Birth Center, where we have been receiving our prenatal care and plan to birth. The midwives have all been wonderful and our experience there has been great! The Birth Center is very non-medical in relation to a typical hospital setting, and that has always personally felt much more comfortable for me. It is still, however, a place of business and a health institute that must operate under certain regulations and protocol. With Oscar and I truly believing that God intended birth to be a natural experience, and one that can't be measured or controlled by man, we left our appointment feeling strongly that perhaps even Best Start was not the right place for bringing Luna into this world. We spent the day meditating on what we felt and later discussed options and variables.

To be honest, it was a quick conversation. We believe and have faith that no one can better facilitate Luna's birth than the hands of God, guiding our own. And so it only makes sense for us to birth in the comfort and sanctity of our own home, with just the love of our family there to welcome Luna. Let me tell you, nothing has felt better than that decision since finding out we were pregnant! Such relief and peace, it's overwhelming. I also must once again give SO MUCH gratitude and attention to the fact that none of this would be possible without the support and mutual interest I have with Oscar. (In fact, when we first received the news of pregnancy and started making plans, it was his excited first suggestion that, "We should just do birth on our own!") I'm so blessed by his spirit and guidance and we are so blessed for the opportunity to bring life into the world as we believe it was created to be.

Well, that's all for now, friends. Stay tuned for a more in-depth photo recap of our recent adventures. And once again, Happy Spring!

May this new season bring fresh blessings and journeys for your hearts and lives.


*top photo by CJean Photography.