iPhone House Tour

Okay okay, you've been very patient, friends, so here are a few snapshots of our home in Denver. It's a work in progress, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. I've gotten most of the major projects I wanted to get done out of the way...now it's just about sprucing it up little by little as time and funds allow.

Here are some photos I took with my trusty iPhone:

Here is our living room. It's so cute and quaint. I love our coat rack in the corner, very convenient seeing as we don't have a coat closet. And that piano is Andy's. We're holding on to it until he gets his own place. I wouldn't mind keeping it though! It's lovely getting to hear Alex play it.

Another angle of our living room. 

Across from the couch is our fireplace. It doesn't work (boo) but it's still nice to look at. 

I love this little group of pictures and ornaments. An iPhone wedding photo. An iPhone photo of Baby Ace. A polaroid of my beloved Jaxon. That little green and brown bird I brought home with me from my grandma's house in Nicaragua. She passed away a couple of years ago. She was an incredible woman and I love having this little reminder of her in our home.

Close up of our Polaroid coffee table. I love it! It was a really fun project.

Moving on from the living room, here is our dining room. We dream of changing out that light fixture and getting one of those big square dining tables that fits eight people. Having more than two people over for dinner at a time always poses a seating problem. 

Kitchen! Isn't it lovely? I love the stainless steel appliances and all the cabinet space. 

And  here's Alex being a good husband and cleaning the kitchen. I married an excellent man.

Our bathroom. In case you couldn't tell.

Laundry space in our bathroom. I want to hang curtains in front of this to hide this space so it's not so obtrusive in the bathroom.

Our bedroom. Drew painted the walls gray for us. Thanks Drew! I want to make (or purchase) an upholstered tufted headboard when we get the chance. 

Other side of our bedroom. I don't know where to put that laundry hamper...soo that's where it stays for now. We'll see if I can stick it somewhere that it doesn't look so...ugly, hah.

Jaxon says hello. :-)

Down the stairs to the basement.

Jaxon's corner behind the stairs.

Our office. Drew also painted these walls gray. Thanks again Drew! We want to sand down these chairs and paint them white and reupholster them. We also want to add shelving above the desks and just...organize this room better. 

The other side of the office. Eventually this will also be the nursery. So the purple chair will be out and we'll have to figure out how to fit some baby furniture in here. I'm sure my mom and sister will be a big help in getting that done when the time comes!

Hallway from the office to the rest of the basement. 

A fun little window display. 

TV Room. We got that couch for a great price at the American Furniture Warehouse. We couldn't pass it up. Mostly because watching tv while sitting on the floor gets old fast.

Alex's music corner. We got the rug in Turkey on our honeymoon. We got the poster when we saw the Police live in Miami. My friend, Tammie, made those paintings. And the floating shelf holds all the rest of Alex's quirky little instruments (maracas, harmonicas, etc). It's a fun little space for Alex.

TV. I love TV. :-)

Little Library. If I get any more books we'll have to get another shelf. It was tough getting everything to fit in there.

Floating books! It's magic. That white thing on the floor is a lamp we got at Ikea. Haven't decided where it's going to go yet. I'm leaning towards the office/nursery.

My lovely little camera collection (not counting our Polaroid, Holga, fish eye camera, and 60D). I love these babies. They all work just fine except for the Kodak and the Yashica. The Yashica (a wedding present from Alex) was working for a little while but now the little crank advance thingie gets stuck. Sad.

Jaxon says hello again.

Hallway that leads to the back of the house to the garage and backyard.

Second bathroom. Love the colors in here. It reminds me of the beach. And Lord knows there's no beach around here! It's also the warmest room in the house. I wish I could just hang out in there all day...but that would be weird...and boring.

Well, that's it. Thanks for taking a peek at our home. We love it. We feel so blessed to be homeowners and we hope that when we have visitors they will feel welcomed and comfortable. So come visit us soon!

Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos

You all know I'm not much of a cook, but I'm trying to do a little more in the kitchen. Since I got pregnant I have not been craving meat (especially steak) and even chicken is a little iffy for me sometimes. So I'm trying to explore the world of vegetarian cooking.

Alex's co-worker and some of his friends took us to this delicious vegetarian restaurant called Watercourse.  Seriously, everything we tried was amazing. They have a lot of vegan options as well, in case you're hardcore like that. Alex ordered the sweet potato black bean tacos and I was instantly jealous that I hadn't ordered them as well. So I hunted for a recipe online and found this one from The Mama Bee. It seemed easy enough.

One of our college church plant team members who is finishing up her degree at UNC and is a pescatarian was in town last weekend so we had her and the Barleys over to try these delicious tacos. (I think Bryan was a little shocked that there was no meat in his dinner, but he enjoyed it)

I'd say they turned out pretty well. I will definitely be making these again, with a few changes to the recipe. I'll probably try adding some peppers and some sort of lettuce/tomato/slaw mixture.

I served these tacos with a side of cilantro lime white rice (inspired by Qdoba) and Megan was kind enough to provide a salad with some yummy avocados. Try this recipe out, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

P.S. I hope everyone has a fantastic Valentine's Day!

Week 14

Here we are on 14th street in the 14th week of my pregnancy.
I'm standing in front of Larimer Square in downtown Denver. Larimer Square is full of fun restaurants and shops. It's where we went to eat frog legs. It's fun to just walk around and check out all the quirky little shops. I'm dying to get a little something for Jaxon from this doggie boutique.

I had my second midwife appointment last Thursday. We got to listen to the baby's heartbeat again. It's seriously the most beautiful sound in the world. You can't imagine how reassuring it is to hear that sound. I love hearing it and knowing that the baby is okay. That he or she is doing just fine in there. I also can't wait to hold that little baby in my arms! Just six more months to go...

We had to take this week's photo in a hurry because we were kiiind of illegally parked. So we just jumped out, snapped the photos, and hopped back in the car to take off. So I feel like my belly looks slightly bigger than it does in real life because I'm slouching slightly, lol. Oh well...enjoy!

Frog Legs

Alex and I haven't really been out much since we moved to Denver. He's been working really hard and the first trimester had me exhausted. Most nights I was in my pajamas by 8 o'clock. Plus, we have been taking advantage of every spare moment to fix up our house (pictures soon, I promise!).

But last Friday night Alex whisked me away to a fun dinner downtown. We went to Bistro Vendome. It's a cute little French restaurant in Larimer Square. We decided to be a little adventurous and try the frog legs as an appetizer. I had my doubts at first, but they were absolutely delicious! I don't know what spices they used, but they were so tender and juicy and the sauce it came with added a little bit of sweetness. It was perfect.

I just wanted to encourage you, if you've never had frog legs before, give it a try. And let me know what you think!

Week 13

Well, here we are, my first weekly belly photo. There's not much going on but I thought we might as well get started and hopefully the photos will only improve over time.

I thought it would be neat to feature different parts of Denver as well since we just moved here. Today we were driving down 13th Ave (Get it? I'm in my 13th week of pregnancy!) and we noticed this view of the capitol building and we thought it'd be a great first weekly belly photo...to introduce the belly and to introduce our new city.

[Shout out to Megatron for contributing this idea, by the way!]


So without further ado, here's my 'Week 13' photo.

Snow Walking

Denver has fickle weather. Just a few days ago the sun was shining and the high was in the low 60s. Gorgeous! I was laughing at all the people who said I would never survive Denver winters. It felt more like spring than winter.

But then...it started snowing, I mean, really snowing and temperatures dropped to the negative. I have to admit that when it gets that cold I don't even bother stepping foot outside (thankfully I don't have a job I need to go to). I wrapped myself up in blankets and watched movies with Jaxon. Yesterday, however, Alex encouraged me to take Jaxon for a walk in the afternoon. I have to admit, I was going a little stir crazy...and I'm sure Jaxon was tired of napping all day. So I put on layer upon layer of clothing and headed outdoors for a walk in the snow.

It wasn't so bad, especially because the sun was bright and shining...but do not be fooled, any part of my skin that was exposed was feeling the pain of the zero degree temperature. I'm verrry thankful for warm coats and the Sorel boots my parents bought me as an early Valentine's Day present.

All photos shot with my iPhone and edited with Instagram...you should download this app...it's the best.

Not Ready

It's funny how many people say to me they're not ready for a baby once they talk to me about my pregnancy. They usually have a look on their face of fearful amazement.

Well, actually, I'm not ready either. I'm not ready to wake up to a crying baby every two hours instead of sleeping peacefully all night. I'm not ready to be spit up on everyday. I'm not ready to change poopie diapers. I'm not ready to give up my freedom. I'm not ready to live on a baby's schedule instead of my own. I'm not ready to give up my selfish ways. But it's happening. I don't think anyone is ever really ready.

I'm not saying you should go get pregnant right away even if you don't feel ready...because even though I'm not ready, I kind of am. I'm excited about this journey we're getting ready to embark on. I know it's going to be difficult and there will be days that I will want to rip my hair out and cry because of how exhausted and frustrated I am. I'm not ready...but I am. I know the moment I lay eyes on my little one it's going to be one of the happiest moments of my entire life. I know when I wake up in the middle of the night to a hungry baby, it'll be a special privilege to be able to give him/her nourishment. I know when I change a nasty diaper, it'll be to keep my baby healthy and comfortable. That's what I want. To really give myself to someone else, to my child. I want God to peel away the layers of selfishness that have built up over the years.

It's not going to be easy...and I'm not ready...I would much rather be spoiled for the rest of my life...but at the same time, I am ready. I'm ready to grow up...to love...to care for my child. And when you're ready, you'll know it too.

P.S. I began my second trimester today. Praise God! I have my next midwife appointment a week from tomorrow, so please pray for a healthy Baby Ace. 

[cute print from etsy]

Bento Boxes

I love bento boxes. Some ladies (and guys I'm sure) really get creative with preparing bento box lunches.
Maybe someday I'll create beautiful lunches like these for my kids...or just for me. ;-)

Weekly Belly Photos - Ideas & Inspiration

My belly hasn't popped yet. I suspect I'll be like my friend, Michelle, and I won't start showing until about halfway through my pregnancy. But I'm already thinking about taking weekly photos to document the belly growth. I always think it's so neat to see the changes pregnant women go through even on a weekly basis. I love seeing that belly grow and thinking about how much that baby is developing inside.

Anyway, that being said, I would really like to do something fun and creative with my weekly belly photos but I'm a little stumped for ideas. By far, my favorite belly series has been this one from Pacing the Panic Room. The images are so beautiful. The concept is simple really. It's just the mama standing in front of a white background, but you can't deny the quality and beauty of the photographs. And the video the guy made with all the photos is darling. 

The same guy did another belly series for a friend which I thought was pretty clever. This one followed the mama-to-be on a walk along a pretty sidewalk in her neighborhood. The whole slideshow viewed together is pretty sweet. 

So I'd like to do something simple and beautiful but I'm not sure what yet. Any creative ideas out there that you'd be willing to share? Maybe I'm over thinking it but I'd like to hear about any ideas are out there before I settle on what exactly we'll be doing. 

Gracias!

[all photos via pacing the panic room]

Why I Chose a Midwife

Many of you may remember a blog post I wrote several months ago about some of my favorite documentaries (I’m a documentary junkie!). In that list I included “The Business of Being Born.” This documentary was integral in making my decision to go with a midwife for this pregnancy...but even before I saw this movie I knew I wanted something different from the “norm” when it came time for me to have children.

I’ve always been iffy on the epidural thing. My mom had natural births with my sister and me and I’ve always thought that if she can do it, so can I. She’s a big fan of lamaze and says that if you prepare your mind and body for what is to come you will definitely be able to give birth without the use of drugs. I have to say, that I agree with her. The way I see it, pregnancy and child birth are natural processes. They do not require medical intervention unless there is a high-risk situation. Women have been giving birth for centuries...it’s natural...it’s how life happens.

Midwives are trained in natural childbirth. They see childbirth as a beautiful part of life. I’m not knocking on doctors. I am thankful for doctors who are trained to act quickly if something goes wrong. I am glad they know how to remove a baby via caesarean if things are not flowing as they should. But again, I don’t want to be rushed to make any rash decisions. I don’t want to be pressured to take pitocin or pain meds or hurry my labor along so the doctor can get home in time for dinner. Again, I’m not knocking on doctors...I know there are some very caring OB’s out there who would never dream of pressuring their patient into doing anything they’re not comfortable with. But for me, I’d just rather go with a midwife who I know shares in my birthing philosophy

Every pregnancy is different, every woman is different, every baby is different. So if you disagree with anything I’ve said and you want the pitocin and the epidural and the induction, that’s fine with me. It’s your body and the beauty of living in this country is that we can all decide for ourselves what is best for our pregnancy. I’m just saying, if you’re low-risk, want a natural childbirth with as few interventions as possible, want someone to take care of you who will be more of a partner than a director, then maybe you should consider getting a midwife. In my opinion, they’re more personable and I know she will be my advocate during my birthing process.

In a later blogpost I’ll write about why and how I chose my specific birthing team here in Denver. In the mean time click on over to babycenter’s momformation blog and read this post about choosing your birth team.

Elsewhere on the Internet

I don’t pretend that I have legions of fans reading my little blog, but I know some of you out there read this and enjoy my musings so I thought I would let you know about a few other places you can find me on the internet.

Recently I have been asked to blog for the Soma Church web site. You can find that here. This blog will focus on the latest news of Soma Church as well as a few features about different events/businesses in Denver. This city has a lot going on and we want you to know about it.

I am also one of the guest bloggers on Southeastern Seminary’s Women’s Life blog called Walking Worthy. I can’t tell you how much of an honor it is that they asked me to participate. So if you’re a woman I highly recommend you bookmarking this blog. A lot of fantastic ladies will be contributing to the blog and I think it’ll be a refreshing little spot on the internet.

Happy Reading!

[Image via: weheartit]

First Soma Gathering

Last Sunday we had our first official Soma Church gathering in Denver, CO. It was pretty thrilling to finally be able to meet together in this city. A group of us came together in the Barley’s living room and Bryan shared the story of Soma Church - how we came to be, why we’re here, what we hope to accomplish. We were also able to briefly share our individual stories of why we have chosen to live in Denver and participate in Soma Church. There were quite a few people  that I had not met before and it’s always fun getting to know new people in a new city. 

I’m thankful for Soma Church and I’m overjoyed that we are finally meeting together weekly to share in this journey. If you’re in the Denver area and want to visit us just let me know and I’ll give you the time and location. We’d love for you to check us out consider being a part of this new adventure with us. 

[Photo by: Creative Alex]

Heartbeat

Yesterday was a very exciting day for us Acevedos.

I had my first midwife appointment and loved it. Alex was able to come with me which was really nice. I really enjoyed meeting with the midwife. She was really kind and she shares the same philosophy on pregnancy and childbirth as I do. I might blog later about why I chose to go with a midwife over an OB.

Anyway, the point of this blogpost is to share that we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time! As I shared in my previous post, I had been feeling anxious about the pregnancy. I really haven't experienced many symptoms and I kept wondering if something was wrong. Well, thankfully, everything is checking out fine. The baby's heartbeat was so strong and it was really the most beautiful and relieving sound I've ever heard. I feel so much more at ease now.

So thank you all for the prayers. My next appointment is in four weeks. I can't wait. :-)

Greetings from Denver!

We're here!
We've been here for a while now but I haven't had the chance to update the blog seeing as we have no internet at home yet. Currently Alex and I are sitting in Coffee at the Point in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver. It's about a five minute drive from our house. Their vanilla chai latte is excellent (way better than Starbucks) and they have free wifi!

Moving into our home has been an adventure. Right now our washer and dryer are sitting in the dining room because it won't fit through the laundry room door. Also, for the past couple of days we had no running water because our water pipes froze (we got our water back today, yay!). I have also realized that most of my wardrobe is completely inadequate. I should get rid of half of my closet and replace it with warm clothes, very warm.

Despite some of the hardships we've experienced along the way I think we love it here. It's definitely a surreal experience. We're really doing it. After all this time of planning and dreaming, we're living here.

Our house is nowhere near finished yet but it's definitely livable. I have my wonderful husband and amazing parents to thank for that. They've all been a huge help! I'm amazed with how handy Alex is and how tirelessly he works. And when my parents left to go back home on Sunday I was sad to see them go. I can't wait for them to visit again. I'm excited for what the future holds.

So that's just a quick update on what's going on in the life of the Acevedos. We appreciate everyone's love, prayers, and support. I can't thank everyone enough. Here are a few prayer requests to keep in mind over the next few days:

• Alex needs a job! He has an interview with Apple (the Broomfield store) tomorrow at 3. There have been some complications with the store that's in Denver and it looks like his best option might be to work at the Broomfield store (about half an hour away). Nothing is set in stone, but our income and health insurance are dependent on his job.
• I guess I should get a job too. ;-) I would really love to get a job at a school. I like kids and I have a lot of experience in that area. But I'll take anything that isn't high-stress. 
• For our home. I would really like to get everything in order (meaning, I'd really love to get that washer and dryer out of the dining room!) so that we can feel at home and start inviting guests over.
• Baby Ace. I admit, I've been very anxious for the past couple of weeks. They say once you become a mother you worry for the rest of your life...sheesh! They weren't kidding. But I would really like to give God all my worries and focus on Him instead of what might go wrong. 

Again, thank you for your prayers. We love you all!

Cheers!

Greetings from TX!

We successfully drove from Miami to New Orleans and then from New Orleans to Dallas over the weekend. Hoorah! We had fun in New Orleans. We stayed with my dad's cousin and his family. They took us around the city and we were able to eat beignets from Cafe du Monde. Yum! They also showed us you don't have to wait in that ridiculous long line that goes down the block. You just walk right in on the other side and seat yourself. So if you're ever in New Orleans do NOT wait in that line. :-)

I was starting to go crazy in the car. I am just not good at road trips. I can't imagine anything more boring than being stuck in a car for hours on end. Give me an airplane ride instead! But my husband has really been a champ. He has driven the entire time and not complained once. I don't know how he does it. Jaxon has also been behaving himself. Poor little guy. He must be so confused with all the changes happening. I'm sure he'll be happy once we're settled in to our home in Denver. I'm also happy to report that I haven't felt sick this whole car ride! This is huge for me. I usually get car sick very easily and I thought it might be exacerbated with the pregnancy...but I have felt just fine and I am thankful for that.

Anway, we'll be in Dallas with my parents for the next couple of days and plan on driving out to Denver on Wednesday. Thank you to all for prayers and support. We feel so loved and blessed! Hope everyone had a happy new year.