Luna May Olive: A Birth Story

#lifeloveandIVF

I've wondered so many times how I would write this birth story since Luna joined us earthside, primarily because it is so extremely different from what I imagined, from what I prayed for. Although it went nothing like I wanted, I went in knowing that the goal was a healthy baby, and a healthy mami. Since we got both out of it, I'd like to start off by saying, it was a success!! My miracle IVF baby girl is here and we couldn't be happier!!!

39 weeks, 6 days pregnant 

With the journey to this baby being such a treacherous one, my prayers for delivery were for a healthy and speedy one (especially since Oliver's delivery was amazing) and I kept hearing that second babies come even faster than the first ones! 

Prior to that, I had gone into preterm labor at almost 32 weeks and was put on restrictive bedrest for almost 5 weeks. He arrived two days before his EDD, to everyone's surprise. I went into the hospital two days before my due date, at 9am and had him at 4:51pm. 

With Luna, I started getting contractions at 20 weeks- no one thought I would make it even close to her EDD- especially since she always measured 4-7 days ahead. As the weeks passed, my contractions became stronger. At 37 weeks, we started checking for progress and each week was shocking, as I had not dilated from 1 cm. I spent my due date with Oliver and our friends at a water park, and later that day I lost part of my plug. I had an appointment scheduled from the next day and was so excited and sure that I had made major progress. I was shocked to hear that I was maaaaybe at a 1.5 and 50% effaced. Then I was checked for water leakage, and just like with Oliver, I tested positive for nitrocin and ferning (meaning, my water had started leaking). Since we were unsure of how long it had been leaking, and I was NOT in labor, I was sent to the hospital to induce labor. 

Now induction was far from anything I wanted. My labor with Oliver was unmedicated and although I was open to the idea of medicine if we needed it, I did not want to start off labor before my body was ready to. But I also had to do what was best for our baby- and the risk of infection was high so we decided to start on Cytotec to soften up my cervix and allow me to dilate. We all imagined that within a dose or two, I would go into labor on my own and deliver that night- after all, there was a full moon on the forecast and it couldn't be more perfect than that (Luna means Moon in Spanish)!

The excitement in the room was incredible! Geoff and I were thrilled. Oliver had been telling us that his baby sister was going to wait to come until he started Pre-K. That morning, at 40w1d, I was able to take him to his first day of Pre-K! As I was leaving he held my belly, and said "Okay, Luna (which really sounds like Wuna), you can come now!" Calling our parents later and sharing the news with Oliver that we were on our way to the hospital to have his baby, hearing his excitement, oh man, it was palpable! We let all of our loved ones know and prepared for it all. 

Day Uno: 

We arrived at the hospital and we immediately knew we were in the absolute best hands: from our nurse to the Director of Labor & Delivery, everyone was a familiar and happy face with our best interest in mind. I got into my own gown to labor in, got my essential oils plugged in, own pillowcase, music going, *yes, ladies, I'm super extra*,  got hooked up to wireless monitors so I could labor freely, took my first induction dose, had the rest of my water broken (so now I could REALLY feel each contraction) and we all were so sure that by the evening, our baby girl would be in our arms! We even recorded a "Push it" video that's on my IG! We had Oliver come visit that evening (which ended up being a mistake in hindsight)! He did great the entire time there, but when it was time for him to leave, he became very emotional, not understanding why I was in the hospital if the baby wasn't here yet, and why we needed to be separated. Thank God for his wonderful grandparents who were there for not only him, but a huge support system for Geoff and I. 

I had the max amount of Cytotec doses over a 24 hour period- that's 6 of them every 4 hours- with each dosage making us believe it would be THE one! We spent all evening and night, making our rounds, walking, squatting, etc in the hospital hallways, making friends with the staff, knowing it would be any hour now...By the next morning there had been zero progress even though I was still having hard contractions and doing every thing we could think of to get labor going. Talk about feeling defeated. Everyone was so sure she would have arrived by the previous evening. Seeing the nurses finish their 7am-7pm shifts was even more defeating. We brought in donuts for the staff because bless each nurses heart, they were each SO amazing and critical to our story. We truly and wholeheartedly had the best support system through our nurses, midwives (my beloved friend/midwife was out of town for the summer so her BFF became my midwife and it was so nice to have both of their support), our friends/family that constantly checked in, and our social media support- so many people we have connected with! 

Day Dos:

By the evening of Day 2, my contractions were harder and closer, but still not consistent enough for progress and with having had my water fully broken for over 24 hours, the risk of infection was high. I had to decide what to do since they couldn't give me more Cytotec. After much consultation, we moved on to Pitocin- which I truly and honestly feared. I hadn't heard of many mamas being able to make it without an epidural after Pitocin was administered and my contractions were already really painful so I couldn't imagine them getting worse on medicine before I peaked. But my options were limited and I truly felt that after one dose of Pitocin, it would work! So I started it around 5pm of Day 2 with internal monitors so I could still labor in positions I wanted. The way Pitocin works is that they give you 2 units with an IV every 20 minutes and it goes up to 20 units, with contractions getting harder and stronger each increase. It can be turned off at any time, which is great because I knew my body would take over. Weeeeeell, by 1am, I was up to a level 12 without pain meds, and zero sleep. My mind was totally focused, but my body had started to shut down. I hadn't sleep more than 1.5 hours the night before, and had hardly eaten anything because we all thought the baby was coming! But shout out to the oatmeal I had for breakfast, the Pitaya bowl I had for lunch and the Quest protein bar I had for dinner for powering me through)!  Meanwhile, each contraction radiated every inch of my body but I was so focused, I could melt into each one knowing they would pass quickly. They were on top of each other, hardly giving me any rest in between, each fighting to be off the charts. Unfortunately, my body was done for and would violently shake during each contraction, wanting to fight them. I didn't care because I knew with the amount of pain I was in my body would have definitely made progress. At this point, I was excited and we all decided it was a good time to be checked. 

To all of our disbelief, I had only dilated to a 3ish!!! The shock of this lack of progress made me feel extremely defeated- our entire team couldn't believe it. We all met several times trying to figure out the best course of action. Everyone wanted me to be healthy and have energy to push, but the only way to do so was with an Epidural, which I did NOT want. 

Now, I know, trust me, I know it was difficult for anyone to understand why I didn't want medicine. & although I don't have to explain my reasoning, I've always been so raw and open that I want to express this part of my journey...

My baby took two years of back-to-back IVF cycles. The amount of medicine it took to conceive her truly blows my mind. Me, the girl who won't even take an aspirin for the debilitating migraines I get that last days. Not because I get an award; no one knows...it doesn't make me a hero...not at all, there's no badge of honor or trophy I would get by going unmedicated. But knowing this is my last pregnancy meant everything to me. I wanted to birth my baby on my own- finally without the assistance of medicine- although I was grateful for medicine to provide me with my baby! But for this, I wanted to be led by my faith in my God, and my body. I also had gone through an unmedicated labor with Oliver and although it was the hardest physical experience of my life, it was the most amazing, to FEEL him being brought to our world, and I didn't want to be numb to her being delivered. This was my very last chance to do this on MY own, and I was really excited and ready to do so.

birthing in all its glory

BUT at this point, I wanted my baby, and if they needed to up Pitocin and give my body rest, then so be it. I reminded myself that my only real plan was a healthy baby and mami! Plus 90% of my girlfriends all swore by the beauty of epidurals and a lot of them said they could still feel the pressure so I felt secure in my decision to get one (once we did decide). And I could see the relief on everyone's faces once we decided, too! But I'm still so grateful everyone let me figure it out on my own. So I was blessed with the #1 anesthesiologist who was the sweetest woman and took her time in making me feel comfortable. My midwife came in and held me and prayed over me and I still felt that damn needle go in and even flinched- of course, my luck, lol! But as soon as it went in, omg, after two days of pain, it felt like a dream! AND I could still move my legs and felt pressure! YES! Why didn't we do this sooner! It felt amazing!!! Until I heard commotion and rushed voices, and nurses start rushing in, because Luna's little heartrate had crashed down (a side effect of epidurals). I was turned this way and that, my belly shaken and shifted to try to get her in a better position and it felt like nothing was working. But luckily, she got settled and all was well, considering. 

Day 3

SO, I am finally able to get well-deserved rest, with the exception of a side-to-side flip every 20 minutes throughout the entire night and the constant drip of fluids, buuuut I got some rest! A few hours later, its Day 3 around 5:30am, the Pitocin was cranked up to its max dosage of 20, my body has the shakes, and we decided it was time to check again. This was it, I thought to myself! The somewhat still full moon was descending in the horizon as the sun was rising....To my dismay, I had dilated to a 5. Let's recap, started at a 1....after a whole day of Cytotec and Pitocin, I was at a 3, and now with full dosage of Pitocin and an epidural, I was only at a 5. WTF?! This time the whole team was beyond confused and defeated. They started wondering if she was big (she was tiny), or hitting the wrong part of my cervix, flipped, etc. My midwife was called in and she looked so disappointed. We knew a C-Section would be next. So the Pitocin was shut off and everything for one started. By this time it was 7am and my entire body from the mid-waist down was beyond numb. I couldn't feel A THING; I couldn't move my legs- they were SO heavy and it took ALL my strength to get into positions. My epidural had gone from great because I could still feel pressure, to horrifying (for me) because I felt completely numb and heavy and useless. But I didn't care, I just wanted my baby. So I woke up Geoff and told him we had shut the meds off and were prepping for a C-section. My midwife goes to check me one more time before putting in the orders, and would you believe it, I had actually progressed to a 7 all on my own!!!! Everyone got so pumped and excited and we canceled C-section plans! I had Geoff call his parents immediately because I felt like it was going to happen really fast from there! by 8:15am, I was at a 9!!! She was coming!!! It was time to push any second now, and we got everything ready for it! Yay!

The Birth

So I start pushing and....nothing....I can't feel a single thing, so I have no idea what I'm doing, but my contractions are being erratic again and there's no pattern to them. We try a few more times, and nothing. What is going on?! Luna's heartbeat goes from 160ish to the 40-50 range. My heart sinks. After all of this, there is no way we are losing our baby. NO WAY. The slow beeps make my own heart stop. My midwife shakes her head, I see the nurses look at each other with disappointment in their eyes...she sits down, shoulders slumped, and tells me we need an emergency C-section and pages the OB (who luckily happens to be in the hospital this morning). I don't even care. I just want my baby to be healthy and earth side. Within minutes, he comes in and gets me to start pushing. Again, my contractions are being sporadic and not consistent, they are monitoring Luna's heartbeat, trying to give it one last shot before a C-section. The room is full of so many nurses, my midwife/friend is on FaceTime, our parents are behind the curtain (because the room was too full to fit anyone else), there is talk of re-starting the Pitocin, the OB says no, he starts massaging, and telling me when and how to push, her head surfaces, they wheel in a mirror- I mean, a full length, wooden framed mirror on wheels, where I can see EVERYTHING, more than I EVER want to see again (why did I think it was going to be a small, compact mirror to just witness her birth, haha). The OB, grabs a swaddle blanket, twists it in his hands, and tells me we are going to play tug-of-war, when he tells me to. Each push/tug is a few minutes in between but we are making progress, everyone is so encouraging, I am pushing with all my might, my incredible husband being my number one supporter, telling me everything I need to hear in this moment, until finally, they all happily exclaim she is on her way out, her head is out and then her shoulders...and then the OB steps back, the midwife steps in, and it's time for me to reach down and pull her out. I grab under her slippery shoulders and pull up, greeted by a full head of hair and a tiny little human being, who isn't crying much. It all feels so surreal, the room is so dark, I pull her to my chest, I start to cry and cannot believe it. Then realize she's not crying much, so I ask, and she starts to cry a bit. My head starts pounding, and I can't see very straight, but I know she is here. I don't seem to recognize her, like I thought I would. I lift her to admire her, count her fingers and toes, call her by her name, and ask Geoff "Did they put in the right embryo?!" Haha, the long labor, the pain, the numbness, the beauty of her life, all come crashing down on me and I'm not sure what to think. We get the next couple of hours to just BE with her. Her teeny, tiny little body curled up against mine. My mind and heart in disbelief. I'll never know why it was so hard, not just our struggle leading up to conceiving her, but our actual labor and delivery...but she's here...and we couldn't be more blessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the heartache, the pain, the loss, the angel babies, the time Oliver begged me to not give up while he cried on the kitchen floor...all for this moment... here she is, earth side, finally, completing our family. Just. like. that. 

Luna May Olive- you are a true testament of love, patience, and fear. You're a miracle in our lives and we couldn't love you more than we do. You truly complete our family, baby girl. Thank you for being here, we adore you more than words could ever convey. "and if you are to love, love as the moon does; she does not steal the night- she only unveils the beauty of the dark."

P.S. If you're interested in Oliver's birth story, go to web version, then the search bar on the middle right hand side, and search "birth story." That one is divided into two parts!

P.S.S. After writing this birth story, I spent some time reading the blog posts I wrote about our IVF journey. I didn't document it all, I never really told anyone I was documenting at all, but my heart aches and is equally full by our journey as I look over at Luna May Olive sleeping in her bassinet. God and Science, how i love thee.

Nana

Nana & Oliver D Cruz


"Are you ready, Baby?"
He kicks his little feet, clasps his dimpled-knuckled chubby hands, and with a glisten in his bright eyes, happily chants "Na-na, na-na, na-na!!"
I get out of the driver's seat and open the backseat door, as he kicks his little legs and starts getting louder with his chant. His anticipation is contagious and I struggle to get him unbuckled fast enough, as he is also trying to get out of his carseat in the most hurried way.
I carry him down, and he pulls away from me, running to the side door.
He starts knocking, I pick him up and he starts ringing the doorbell, repeatedly. We can hear as someone approaches the door, and as it opens, he squeals with delighted excitement.
He throws himself onto her and wraps his little arms around her neck.
She has a twinkle in her eyes, and a huge grin on her face.
"Why, good morning, Oliver! I missed you!"
She smothers him in kisses and he does the same, tilting his little head and staring her right in the eyes, with a huge, warm mesmerizing smile.
He starts pointing to the kitchen for a snack, then changes his mind and wants to be put down. He races to her shoes, picks one up and brings it to her feet, trying to get it on the wrong foot.
He runs back to the door and starts grunting and talking at it, looking back at her.
We laugh and I ask for goodbye besitos. He rushes through them and waves and says "bah-bye" to me.
With tears in my eyes, I wish them a happy day and leave. Before I drive off, I look back and see them embracing each other and laughing.
& they are off on their daily adventures.

I think to myself how amazing it must be to grow up with and spend your days with your great-grandmother. What a blessing she is. How I always wished I could have had a grandmother or great-grandmother to grow up with. She devotes herself to him and he couldn't be more in love. She teaches him and loves him. She selflessly adores him. & we adore her.
I wipe a tear of happiness and gratitude.
"Yes, Baby Boy, Nana is, indeed, the best."
<3

15 months

odcm <3

Age: Fifteen months?! Seriously, baby boy?! Why is time flying by? I am grateful for your health and tenacity for life, but I do wish I was less busy to soak in all that you are- every itty bit of you, every day. You are, undoubtedly, heaven-sent. You are my wild. 

Stats: I was way off on my estimates! You are actually 27 lbs and 33 inches (97th and 98th percentile- the size of an average two-year old). You grew 2 inches and 2 pounds since your first birthday! 

Activities: These days you are all over the place! Running, climbling, trying to be involved in everything around you! Some days you just want to be on us, while other moments, you just want to be independent. You really are your own little soul. 

Moods: You now throw tantrums. & we walk away, every. single. time. 

Sure, you're beautiful & you are unique. But that does not mean you get to be bratty, rude and/or disrespectful. So time-outs do happen. You throw fits, and even if we are in public, you are left to sort it out. When you are ready, we explain our reasoning and tell you what would be a better behavior for next time. You'll understand soon, if you already don't. ;) Don't be a little turd, okay?

Oh, that smile, that laugh. Literally, brightening the world since Day 1. It is beyond me. I have never, ever witnessed a baby, a child, be so happy and smiley. Even when you are upset. Making you smile or laugh is not a task. The only times it is, is when you are tired. haha! Go figure. 

Sleep: You now sleep through the night! Well...kinda...You still wake up once or twice a night, but we let you settle down on your own. If you really need us, you insist and we are there...but we have struggled to get you to sleep for so long- an entire year, actually! I'm sleepy even as I type this! haha! & the last few nights, you actually tell me you want to go "ni', ni!" Miracle! haha! You wake up every morning at 6:45am and go to bed at 8:15pm on a good night. Some nights you fight it for an hour or two...ahhh! You take one or two naps during the day, (either early morning and early afternoon or one mid-day longer nap). You like to be rocked to sleep, or if you're home with me, you want me to dance with you... and you fall asleep on my shoulder for your day time nap....which totally, makes me a pile of mush. At night, you still want to nurse to sleep.

Words: Your language is soaring! You say:

-dadda

-mom/mama

-ball

-ni' ni' (night night)

-ah ah ahh (which means no)

-nana

-knock knock

-quack quack

-grampa (loud and clear, haha)

-up

-hot (you whisper it which melts us, haha- and you use it for cold stuff, too)

-bnana (banana)

-baba (bottle)

-at (hat)

-gamma (grandma)

-kit kat (nana's cat)

-tito (abuelito)

-uh, oh

-ice

-vroom & an exhaust sound (car)

-awa (water in Spanish)

You can sign:

-all done

-I don't know

-dog

-come here

-bird

-airplane

Your pediatrician was beyond impressed by your words! He said high for a 15 month old is 7 words! Haha!

Favorite Foods: You are still obsessed with food and will eat anything and everything! Your favorites are bananas, apples, strawberries, smoothies (you literally act like the world is over if we can't get one to you fast enough and you see it- same for pouches); puffs; broccoli; sweet potatoes; we found out you love pizza; brown rice; quinoa; green beans; carrots; cauliflower; turkey breast; chicken breast; avocado; oatmeal; pancakes; toast; the list goes on and on. You are not picky and we are grateful. You did start to spit out tomatoes this week- but they still go on your plate every time we have them because it always depends on your mood. I don't think I'll ever stop offering you don't like, haha! We do not "baby" any of your meals- you eat what we eat and eat healthy. We have given you some treats- Yogurtland- which made you the most hyper I have ever seen you, since you don't have sugar, and I think your grandparents have given you a bite of dessert, here and there. ;)

Nursing: I cannot believe we are still nursing! FIFTEEN MONTHS! That's a year and three months! Wow, after the horrible struggle we have had with breastfeeding, I cannot believe we even made it through that first month. I definitely will write my breastfeeding journey soon. We have been weaning for the last few months- the mamas who wean in a week--- I have no clue how you have done it!! I stopped pumping mid-December and had enough frozen, pumped milk saved up until March. I was nursing him first thing in the morning, right after work, before bed, and in the middle of the night. As of now, we are only nursing at night. We are not in a huge hurry to stop and Oliver is definitely calling the shots with this. Which I am 110% okay with. I'd like to have him not nurse to sleep, but I treasure our time together. <3

Favorite Things: your blender- you know exactly how to put it together, blend up your fake fruit, and slurp your smoothie! haha, cutest thing! You also love your cozy coupe and your pedal car. Any time an airplane flies by you insist on being taken outside to watch it fly over you. You are in love with being outside and running wild! You looove taking things apart and putting them back together! You love "walking" Honey Munster and taking her outside. You love rocks- obsessed. You love throwing them. You love your family so much!

Signature Moves: This baby boy still loves to turn on the radio and start dancing. Daily! The cutest thing! 

Mommy's Proudest Moment: My phone fell on your face while I was texting and you were nursing!! So sorry, Bubba! haha! Just like the old days! Also, while carrying you, I bumped you in the wall twice...oops! You never seem phased by any of this, though, haha!

Daddy's Proudest Moment: Running up to Oliver to tickle him and accidentally knocking him down to the point of tears- mind you, Oliver rarely cries if he falls! haha!

Easter 2014

Oh, Easter 2014, you sure did spark something new in me. My memories of Easter growing up are two-fold. One comes from a distant memory captured in old 35mm developed film. My older sister and I in matching outfits, with perfectly clean shoes, ribbons in our hair (well mine, because my head was shaved- don't ask), and bright white tights. I can clearly see these pictures in my head...the memory I do remember is peeking through our bedroom window into the neighbors as they searched for eggs- something that we didn't get to do...I don't even know why...but Easter simply wasn't celebrated at the time- although, the pictures of me circa 1988 prove otherwise...

This year, with Oliver, something struck me. I realized how important Easter is. I have always been extremely spiritual, albeit not necessarily religious. But having a baby, especially a miracle baby, restores the need for faith and passing that belief down to your baby.

Easter Sunday

Because my faith has gotten me through so much in life. My God has rejoiced with me in times of happiness and has gotten me the toughest hardships I have been through. I thank Him every day for my life and everyone in it. I pray multiple times a day for everyone and everything I can think of. So this Easter, beyond the excitement of building new traditions, making themed pancakes, wearing bunny ears, and gift-giving, I enjoyed teaching our baby about our faith...

& it was beautiful, for me.

We spent Easter Saturday with our family and enjoyed seeing Oliver search for eggs with some serious concentration and lack of a nap, with his cousin (they are almost exactly one year apart). On Easter Sunday, we went out to the desert and had a picnic and did a little egg hunt, some off-roading, and hiking. It was a pretty splendid and faith-filled weekend for us. Feliz Semana Santa!

Easter 2013

Month 11

Hi Baby Boy,

How amazing are you? Walking and talking away! You celebrated Thanksgiving with all of our family and you enjoyed it so much! You had us laughing because you were talking away during dinner! You loved eating everything! Thank you Baby led weaning! ;) We are getting all ready for Christmas (post-Thanksgiving) and we are so excited to celebrate your first one! All the holidays have so much of a better and more fun meaning than they ever did before! I just love experiencing all of your firsts! Both Nana and Grandma gifted you an ornament (the same one- great minds think alike) and Daddy and I did the same. We decorated the tree together and it was amazing to see you watch everything with so much curiosity! We took you to the San Diego Zoo and had such an amazing time together! You enjoyed all of the animals and the perfect weather! It felt like we had most of the zoo to ourselves! Loved it! We also went to a birthday party which you enjoyed, too! Mommy is loving all of your cute holiday pjs! Too cute, Baby! We visited Santa Claus and you did amazing! Until you realized you were on his lap and cried, haha! He gifted you a little tractor that you came home and played with a lot! You have mastered how to drink from a straw cup and we are excited for this! Mommy stopped pumping at work so now we will be using all of our stored milk! Let's see how we do- one month away from our goal of a year! For Christmas, we visited our loved ones! You did amazing! We had a lovely lunch at Urth Cafe with all of your uncles and Titis- how loved you are! We also go to visit Auntie Zvart and her baby boys! On the day you turned 11 months, we celebrated by going on a hike in Whittier with Titi Anita! That was fun! You rode with Mommy! Then you had a lovely Christmas Eve with your familia! On Christmas Day, we drove back to AZ and celebrated your first Christmas with your family there! Oh how loved you are Baby Boy! 

Month 10

Oh Baby Boy, 

You truly are the sweetest most amazing baby I have ever met. And you are ours. I cannot express enough how much we absolutely love you! You are so sweet and special! This month, we took our Christmas card pictures. Just you and Honey Munster- it was such a quick and easy shoot because you are simply adorable. Most stylist baby ever! You wake up so happy on the weekends! On one of these, we took you to chase air balloons- still in pjs and all! It was so fun! Daddy even had to help rescue the giant balloon while we waited on the side of the road! You are on the move! You won't even sit during your baths! You love to play rough with Daddy! And you have officially taken off walking! There is simply no stopping you!

Month 9

Happy 9th month, Baby Boy!

We celebrated Halloween and my goodness, could you be any cuter. You had a few costumes, haha! A strongman and a donut, hahaha! Mommy was a theif, Daddy was a cop, Honey Munster was a loot bag, and you were a donut! Oh man! Both were hilarious and so cute! Mommy couldn't decide which one for your first so we went with both! You really love your family! The bond you and Nana have is amazing! You can take a step or two here and there- does that mean you're walking?! I think I'm in denial! You laugh and giggle so hard and loud- it's the sweetest sound in the world! Honey loves giving you besitos- not my favorite, haha! You really enjoy being with your cousin, Karston, too! So happy you two get to grow up together! We already know you are going to be the troublemaker, haha!

Month 8

Dear Baby Boy,

You are spectacular! This month started off so excitingly! Daddy had to go to L.A. for a work conference! We got to tag along and stay in Downtown L.A. and have such a blast! The first couple of days were your photoshoot in San Diego! You did AMAZING! It will be a long time before we find out what your pictures will be used for but you made us so proud! Daddy couldn't be with us so Titi Maritza was amazing and took us! You are our shining star and everyone just loves you! Mommy got to celebrate her birthday with her girls for an evening, too! Mommy and you had our own little date in Malibu and sat on the beach and had a great time together! We got to hang out with Allie and Asher, too! We love them! We took you to Titi Marlyna's job and you loved playing at her office! We saw Auntie KK there, too! She loves you so much! We just had such a blast! You got to spend so much time with your Tito, Mama, and Titis and cousins! Exactly what we wanted! I hope we get to have this mini vacation next year again! You had your very first pancake- shaped like a Jack-o-Lantern nonetheless! You loooved it! You are such a great little eater and you stand non-stop! I think you may be starting to want to walk any day now, too! But it's way too soon! Don't grow up too fast, son! We took you to the pumpkin patch and you chose the biggest pumpkin! So naturally, we did what any parents like us do...you got your very own photoshoot in it, hahah! You got more shots at the doctor this month and you were such a trooper- such a brave baby boy! You give tons of "besitos" on command, too! Cutest thing ever! Titi Anita came to visit for a few days and boy, did we love having her here! Best trip ever! 

Month 7

The day you turned 7 months old, you started to crawl! haha! Now you are unstoppable! You workout with Mommy every day! You are still running Baby .5ks with Daddy every night! You are enjoying going to your Nana's while we work; she takes such great care of you! You love to sing- especially sing yourself to sleep or sign along to the radio! You are still the smiliest/happiest little baby boy we have ever met and everyone cannot get enough of you! Every other Friday, you and Daddy come visit Mommy at work! You wear your owl backpack and are the most stylish little guy ever! On Friday nights, we go to Mommy's school's football games and you love watching the game and being passed around from person to person; but you don't appreciate the loud crowd all the time. You pick yourself up on anything and everything you can! Mommy is still nursing you and pumping at work every day so that you get nothing but what is best for you! You got to celebrate Daddy's 31st birthday in September! You had fun helping him blow out his candles and giving him your birthday gifts. I think you are his greatest gift ever- everything he has ever wanted! The weekend after Daddy's birthday, we surprised him with a trip to Julian, CA- just like he used to go when he was little. We had such a great time even though it was pretty rainy! We had lunch with your grandparents and family and then we went to a wine festival! Mommy and you went grape stomping, haha! It was awesome! Then we had fresh pie and ice cream! Such a perfect trip! We also had to get you a work permit because you were chosen to be a baby model! Later in September, we are taking you to San Diego. The Step2Company and Infantino Company will be hosting a photoshoot for the Everybody Plays Campaign shot by Kelli Hampton! We are so honored, humbled and excited! You still love your veggies- always stealing Mommy's asparagus! You say "Dadda" all the time! I keep telling myself it's just "ta-daaa!" haha- just because I'm bummed it's not "mama!" Haha! You helped Mommy celebrate her birthday, too! Mommy left you for the first time on a Saturday- but only during the day! Titi Squirrel flew into town to spend the weekend with us and you loved having her here! We went to visit your little cousin Asher at Titi Becca's this month, too! He is so precious and itty bitty! Excited for our lives!

Month 6

We started you on solids the day you turned 6 months! Your first foods were sweet potato and avocado which you enjoyed very much! Mommy is trying out babyled weaning! She is making you baby food, but mainly going to give you little pieces rather than purees. We'll see how it goes! So far you love it! You even love Chipotle's guacamole, haha! And bananas- you literally went bananas for bananas! haha! You are determined to feed yourself using your spoon but are definitely not there yet haha! You have had a couple of playdates this month! We visited your Titi Becca, Aiden and Rian- and the little baby that is in her belly- we think it's a boy! You also played with two of Mommy's friends' little boys. It was cute! Daddy sold his '51 Chevy this month. It was so bittersweet for him, you watched in awe. And boy, are you teething! It feels like you have been teething since 2 months! You also took your first sink bath! We were waiting until you could sit up properly on your own and you have been doing that since last month so it made for the cutest picture! You also got to sit in a shopping cart for the first time! It was fun- and at Target just like a lot of our firsts! You are standing while holding on to things and really like to do that! And boy, do you love books! You are trying to crawl! You have the perfect plank! You get up on your toes and arms, and hold it forever! Then you'll get on your knees and rock back and forth! Mommy had to go back to school full-time this month because the school year started. You will be going to Nana's house instead now! This will be the first time Mommy doesn't get to come home for lunch. So sad! You love playing with your Daddy! He makes you laugh unlike anyone else can! It is the sweetest thing! You love to nap with him! You take much better naps with him than with Mommy! You love to walk around Nana's coffee table! Or pull yourself up and hold on! Grandma and Auntie Sarah come over a couple times a week to watch you so Mommy and Daddy can go to the gym together! You really enjoy your time with them! You went to your second birthday party (the first was Auntie Jenn's Sophie's and Zoey's). This one was Titi Yuky's Natalia's second birthday! You wore a birthday hat and enjoyed yourself! Daddy was working so he couldn't go! You are still doing those baby-5-point-k's with Daddy most nights!

Months 4-5

You are so cute, Oliver! You discovered you could eat your feet and it is the sweetest thing in the world. You took an empty Starbucks cup and had so much fun with it, trying to eat it! Are you ready for food? You try to stay calm for Mommy and kick kick kick while she works out everyday with you! You got a freshly pair moccs in gold and they are divine! You like to eat them! You want to be strong and workout like Mommy and Daddy! We are both pretty hardcore about our health and fitness right now and you are no exception. You pick up toys that are way heavy and love it! You watch Mommy train her clients in the living room, too!

It is summertime and it is hot outside! We try to get you out as often as possible but this desert heat is insane. You are perfectly chubs and we love your thighs! You still hardly have hair and we love that little old man head of yours! You love to go on walks with Honey Munster! Mommy took you shopping and you did great! Had to nurse you for a long time but that's okay! That's what dressing rooms are for, right? So, if Daddy props you up, you can stay standing! Actually, you started doing this around 3 months but Mommy didn't find out until 4 months!

You also flew for the first time on June 29th, 2013. We spent the night at your Titi Maritza's house and then won the popularity contest on the plane! It was hilarious! We flew into Oakland, and you got to meet your Titi Shei, Israel and your cousins Joshua, Andrez, Monika and Kassandra! Andrez was born just three weeks after you! You had so much fun and actually did a lot better with your sleeping! We visited San Francisco and you rode a swing for the first time! It was actually in the Full House park! You will probably watch the show someday and we will make sure to point it out! We spent 4th of July there and you enjoyed the fireworks. You really are the most stylish baby boy ever! We submitted your picture for a photoshoot campaign for Infantino and Step2Company (baby product companies) just to see! We returned on July 7th and spent a few days in San Diego at a beach resort. We even had your almost-6-months-photoshoot on the beach and were able to capture the first time the ocean water hit your chubby little toes! It was heaven! Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie Sarah met up with us and we celebrated Grandma's birthday. You really enjoyed it! We even extended our trip a couple of days and it was worth every penny! We hope to make it a yearly tradition! We think you may be ready to try food. You go absolutely craaazy over trying to eat anything we are having! Waiting for you to turn 6 months though! You are scooting around everywhere trying to crawl. So stubborn and determined! Mommy and Daddy finally went on their first date without you. We went out to dinner and then went grocery shopping, haha. We are boring! And super obsessed with you! Mommy has had to bring you to work over the summer a few times and although I don't get much work done, it is fun- everybody loves you! You really are adorable! You sit up so perfectly on your own, too!