Memories

Hello hello! 

Sorry for my recent hiatus. We have been so busy settling into our new life and apartment, I had to take a break from blogging! Just didn't have enough time. I suppose that is to be expected having just had a new baby and all. I will try to write more often now. I have some pics that I want to share! 

My favorite thing to do here is have adventures with our little family! I explore a little on my own, but have so much more fun when Nick is with us. I am better able to relax and enjoy myself. We have seen several beaches, parks, playgrounds, and had a few outings in the city. I know that one day, these will all be some of my favorite memories of my life. The beaches are so beyond gorgeous. The air always feels light, cool, and refreshing. The water is always a little chilly. AND there are cliffs surrounding the sandy shore. It is so beautiful. I get such a feeling of peace, like I know I am supposed to be here and experience this. Anyways, more to come!

favorites

gloucester

borderland state park

manchester

hello hello!

Well hello banpan fam.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the Summer! We sure are. A bit homesick, but you already know that! It seems that we will be moving back to Florida in the next few months and are looking forward to that. What a roller coaster ride it has all been. I look forward to the day when I can look back and say "ohhhhh that's why all this happened." I really look forward to that day. In the meantime, just living and loving. We explore some while Nick is at work. I still feel a bit nervous with two kids (a toddler and a baby) and am not completely confident in an unknown place with my two babies. However, I am making the most of my time here and am taking "baby steps" into the unknown. Today, we ventured to Walden Pond, just outside of Cambridge. It was a beautiful place, the water was warm and it was full of families enjoying the nice summer day. So far, the people I have come across on my outings in Boston are really nice people. Everyone is genuinely nice and family oriented. There are so many different kinds of people here, speaking different languages, from different backgrounds. I really enjoy that and hope that William does also. But to him, at this age, there are no barriers. It is my hope that he will always be this way. He sure is a special little boy. A special two year old little boy!! Yup, we had a birthday. I think he had a good day on April 29, 2015. He got his first bike and we are still learning to ride it. It is difficult in an apartment. My, oh my, how different life is for us now! In ways that will not sink in until later, but that is ok. I hope to take from this experience a newfound confidence in myself, as a mother. I sure do love my boys. The adjustment has not been easy, especially on my own (pretty much). I have had to really search for balance, which I am still in pursuit of. I think it will come easier once we are more settled in Florida. I look forward to our move, a big backyard, the Florida sunshine and a SWIMMING POOL! It will be nice to be with Nick's mom again and have her help out with the boys. It will give Nick and I some much needed time together after this whole whirlwind (what a whirlwind it has been!!). Anyways, sticking to my faith and beliefs that everything happens for a reason! I have so much to be thankful for during my time here. The main reason being the healthy delivery of my new baby boy, Lucas! He is so sweet and smiley all the time. I can tell that he is a big lover! I have so many pics to post, I don't know where to begin! We will start with a few faves.

at Borderland State Park (first family outing)

two years old!

visit to the Berkshires 

birthday bike

getting so big! 

first lobster roll 

first "frappe"

so beautiful 

angel babe

first smiles at each other 

fave so far. 

introducing.

lucas elan soto
born 4.4.15
@ 9:57 pm
7 lbs 10 oz
weymouth, ma
i love you

due date.

Today is my official due date. I am so glad that we have made it to this point. We have been through so much in the past 10 months and just to have reached today makes it feel like we are making progress! The first signs of Spring are showing themselves and yesterday, we got to spend almost 2 hours outside, basking in the sunshine. I even wore my tank top for a little bit (60 degrees and this Florida girl is in a tank top! woohoo!). It was amazing to breathe the fresh air and feel the sunshine on my skin. SO amazing. One of my first recollections upon seeing my due date reminder pop up, was sitting in our mini van on our way to Boston, completely unsure of what lay ahead for me. It feels like a lifetime ago now. We endured Winter and did a pretty fine job. There were mostly good days, a few that weren't so good. But, I got to spend every one of them with my William and that, in my opinion, is always a good day.

Honestly, I feel so grateful for the time I got to share with him. The winter kept us in doors most days, so I really just got to be with him a lot. It was some much needed quality time together since I feel like our last few months in Key West were terribly unhappy and distracted. We made up for lost time and then some. I feel closer to him because of it and he is such a wonderful little boy (Have I said that before?).

So, today is due day! I celebrated with a bowl of cheerios and peanut butter (my breakfast of choice!). It's actually only about 30 grams of carbs, which is what I am allowed for my breakfast. Anyways, any day now really for baby Lucas! I can't wait to meet him.

East Coast Grill

My son.

Dear Lucas,

I feel compelled to write to you today, as we are nearing the day that we will soon meet. I want you to know how much I love you already. I know that this pregnancy has been very difficult for us. A lot has changed since the day we found out we were having another baby. You have been so strong and given me something wonderful, and positive to focus on through it all. I have worried a lot, especially once we were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. But, we are powering through that as well and you are growing and we are healthy and that is all that matters! Parts of me feel bad that I have not been able to give to you the attention that I was able to give in my first pregnancy. With the move, being in a new place, and keeping up with your big brother, I feel like some days I just don't have enough time in the day or my mind is preoccupied with a million different thoughts. But, you never fail to let me know you are in there with a gentle nudge when you hear the drums or your brothers voice! I don't talk to you much, but you hear our voices all day long and I think you would prefer the chatter because it's always fun and happy! My hand is always by your head (or your heart, I'm not quite sure) and I feel our sweet connection already.

Although, I have not met you yet, I feel like I already know some things about you. I think you are going to be a very sweet, active, fun boy! Your name, Lucas, means "light" and I think this is exactly what you will bring to our family! I feel that you are going to be a best friend to your big brother, William. I think you boys will have a lot of fun together! I am so grateful that William will have you as his brother. I know that he will love you from the start and he is a good person to have love from! We all love you so much Lucas! I am so proud of you for being so strong with me through all of this and I cannot wait to meet you! Until then, we will rest and get ready for our next journey together, which is bringing you into this world! I pray that all goes well and that you are healthy! I love you my son. You complete us!

Love, Mom

we love you and can't wait to meet you! love, your family! (about 6 months pregnant)

Tapping my heels together.

It's funny, I have a friend here who sometimes asks me questions about Key West. He will say things like... "well, you guys don't have a Spring do you?". I will pause for a moment to think about the answer... "well, no things are always blooming." Thinking to myself how true this is... the Poinciana trees bloom in Spring, Bougainvillea bloom in Winter, Frangipani's bloom in Summer... there is always something blooming! The thought had never even crossed my mind. What a beautiful thing to have a year round Spring. Another question he recently asked... "Well, what do you do when it's hot? You must have to stay indoors." Hmmm... "Well, we go out on the boat. Or we swim in a pool with lots of shade." Another thought that made me want to teleport myself out of this Boston Winter.

Soooo.. I decided to take a day trip to Key West today (in my mind). =) It really kind of felt like I was there! I miss home so much. It's funny how you don't realize what you have until it is gone. I have a whole new appreciation for Key West now that I have left and a lot of love for the life that is offered to us there. I think Nick and I both are truly island souls and it is something that we have passed onto William. Although, there is not much opportunity there, I do feel like for us, locals, there are opportunities for us that are not available to others. It comes from knowing people and people knowing us and having an understanding of the place that is difficult for others to comprehend. The culture becomes a part of you, the laid back lifestyle is ingrained in us, the ocean... it runs through our veins. There is just something about this quirky home of mine that is hard to get out of my system. I have left several times and always come back. I do hope to be able to make Key West my official home one day. I know right now is not that time and I am okay with that. I think it is important for me to experience a new and different way of life that I am experiencing here in Boston. I think life led me here to see things from a different perspective, which I am finding every day. I am realizing how truly BLESSED I am to be an island girl, to have been close to my mom and have her a part of my every day life while we are still on this earth together, and to call Key West my home when others can only dream of it. Well, thats all for now. Until next time Cayo Hueso, this girl is dreaming of you and has you in her heart <3