family photos

I feel like these could be still shots from a sitcom from the eighties or nineties.  Hello, Family Ties, Growing Pains. . . 

 

in other news

So I took a summer hiatus from blogging.  Poor Mom checked everyday for something and got NOTHIN'.  Being preggars, my goals for the summer were very simple: Nest, nap, exercise and make freezer meals (which we are now thoroughly enjoying). 

Nesting was a big chunk of time since we moved nests in June.  We didn't move too far, just several blocks from where we were, but we are loving our new place and the new-to-us area of our neighborhood!!   
We weren't really looking to move, but our new place kinda fell into our laps when our good friends, The Lockes, suggested we move to their place since they were moving out of the city.  Very, very sad to not have them so close, but very happy to have the extra space, a very convenient market, pizza place and cafe across the street, and the major selling point: WASHER and DRYER in unit---quite the luxury with SF apartments.  
I'll have to take a few pics of the new place here soon, although we're slow about getting pictures nailed on the wall and empty boxes out of the dining room.  At least the baby room is complete!!       
For now, here are a few pics of our very first home on 9th Ave so that we can look back and remember our first place.   We have so many good memories there from our first two years of marriage, so much that I was kinda sad and nostalgic about leaving.  I quickly got over that once we moved.  Home is more who you're with than where you live.  

Our building

I loved all the natural light we got being on the corner/top floor!

Our retro "Rachel Ray" oven.  It had a mind of its own. 

Views from our back stoop.

one month old

Baby G hit the one month mark yesterday.  She's still pretty busy with the eating and sleeping, but during awake time she can focus on our faces, bright lights, and a few objects/pictures.  She also stares and smiles all the time at either our headboard on our bed or the white wall behind it.  I haven't quite figured out what's so fascinating about either of those, but she's quite captivated.  
We've each gotten a few real smiles from her. Melt.  She loves to be sung to, talked to and read to--although still working on the attention span for the books.  I guess we'll give her a few more weeks till she starts reading.  She's still quite young.   =)

A few photos from her first Halloween as R2D2:

introducing . . .

Gabriella Rose Mercado. 
Born on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 1:21 pm.  
Weighed 6lbs, 9oz, 19 1/4 inches

We love her beyond words, so here are a few pics instead (okay, and maybe a few captions. =)

1st Family of 3 photo:

My favorite place to sleep: Next to my Daddy's heart.  So warm and cozy.  

singapore/thailand 2012

Here are a few pics from our Singapore/Thailand adventures.  Finally!!!  (I've had major photo/laptop issues.  Basically, my laptop hates me.) Enjoy. 

First stop: Singapore

Our tour guides and hosts:

Basically, we ate:

and ate some more.  Chili Crab!!!  Claw as big as my hand!!

Next stop:

 Kamala Beach Resort

 Beach time:

 Next stop: Ko Phi Phi. Absolutely beauuutiful!!

 We took a day trip to Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay (a.k.a. The Beach)

Quite possibly the most beautiful place I've been.  Of course, pictures don't quite do it justice.

 Our beverages of choice:

(Being 8 weeks pregnant, all I wanted was soda water with lots of BUBBLES!!)

Our favorite meal in Thailand: Banana Pancakes with Sweet Cream!  AH-mazing.

We shared (and fought over) the same book the entire trip.

 Good times with my love.