What we've been up to!

Ha, I am thinking about my Uncle Tim and what a great story teller he is. He has this thing where he refers to the two eras of his life as "B.K," and "A.K." Meaning, "Before Kids," and "After Kids." So I can only imagine how much our lives are going to change when the babe comes!

I feel ready though! I am 34 and Marcelo is 42. We are so blessed to have had ample time to create a really solid foundation for the babe! To be quite honest, when my Mom died 6 years ago, I was so devastated and truly heart broken that for several years I was not in a place emotionally or spiritually where I could bring a child into the world. I have put a lot of time and genuine effort into my healing process, and still do, but have finally reached a point where it is OK and I can move on with my life. And of course I know my Mom would want me to and would be so very happy for us!

So yes, I am grateful to be a part of several weekly healing activities. I am an active member of an amazing grief support group where I have an awesome community, I see a great therapist, and meditate, journal, and exercise regularly. I also put a good amount of time and effort into healthy eating and cooking.

It is quite a gift that, in addition to my formal studies, much of what I have learned on my own healing journey, and many of the lifestyle practices that I am passionate about have translated into a wonderful job. I work as a Health Educator at a major medical center teaching classes that have to do with mental health, mind/body connection, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle practices. It's kind of an amazing thing! I am so grateful that I got my Master's in Social Work, went through with licensure and now have a great part-time job that I love, that pays well, and provides great benefits! Yep, Marcelo, myself, and the baby are all fully covered under my health insurance plan. We have super low co-payments and no monthly premium. We are so lucky and have been getting great care so far!

After graduating with his Master's in Non-Profit Administration from Harvard, Marcelo accepted a job as Administrative Director for an environmental non-profit and has been working in that position since 2011. I must say, he is a very dedicated worker. In addition to that, he is the Vice President of the Board for a local non-profit that provides medical and dental services to 70,000 low income folks per year. He really enjoys this work. He also does pro-bono financial consulting for another non profit that provides scholarships for under-served youth.

In addition to that he continues to run his car business on the side in which he buys cars and trucks, fixes them up and then sells them, also something he really enjoys. In fact, he just bought a 15 passenger van for our trip to burning man in a couple of weeks! So awesome! We are going with 2 of my girlfriends.

So yes, we have both been busy and up to good stuff! I truly feel ready for a baby and that's a blessing in itself. I have built an awesome career, had ample time to pursue my own hobbies (dance, yoga, vintage, etc), and we are both in a great place physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially!

Blessings indeed. Lulu, Mom and Dad await you!

And one of Marcelo being silly!