Our life as of now!

What a year it has been! I am sitting in my apartment in Trinidad right now overlooking the beautiful ocean, and can't believe what has happened the past couple of years. We are coming up to our fifth year anniversary this week and can't believe we have already lived in California, Florida, DC and now Trinidad.

Where to start, we will start at the very beginning, its a very good place to start. (Sound of music, singing through my head.) I will put it all in an nutshell that way I will be up to date and right on time to start what I call a new blog of sorts.

Brandon recieved his official offer to work for the state department in February of 2011. We moved from Orlando, where Brandon had been working with Charles Schwab, (if you need a great bank, Schwab is your guy!). Anyways, we headed to DC where Brandon began diplomat training and where we received our first assignment. That is why I am looking at at the ocean as we speak. We are posted to Trinidad and Tobago for the next two years. We haven't even been here two weeks, but I feel that with a new change comes a new blog. Hopefully this one I will be able to keep up better than the last.

The day has finally come!

Cosette Marie Baron has finally made her entrance!

She was born on Friday November 5 at 2:35 in the morning. She weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 18 inches long. We are so happy that she is here!

Eamon's room is finally complete!

I wanted to do a beach themed room ever since Eamon was born, but since we moved to Florida and didn't know are plans, I thought I would have to put it on hold.

I found too many cute things to wait and everything in his room was found on sale or handmade, so I couldn't pass it up. I just love what a bargain can do for you.

We have been busy!

It has been a while, and I know my weekly updates are now turning into monthly. But I will at least blog about more than one thing, which will make up for some of the slack of not writing so often. It has been a busy time, but also a time of monthly celebrations.

We first celebrated Brandons 26th birthday. We saw Robin Hood, ate at the delicious Cheese Cake Factory and had a staycation at a hotel nearby. I then surprised Brandon the next week and had his mom fly out to Orlando for memorial day weekend.

Following that we celebrated the Lakers Victory!

The last celebration has been the most busy for me. Our baby girl is growing quite nicely and is expected to arrive November 7!

Starting at an early age

For those of you who may not know, I am an extreme book worm. Give me a great book to read I will have it finished the next day. I have a tendency to forget what is going on around me and just dive right into the book. Brandon sees a book in my hand, he knows not to talk to me. (Sorry dear.)

I was so happy to see that little Jai is taking after his mothers footsteps. He loves reading all books, but especially chapter books upside down. Here are a few photos I couldn't pass up on.

For those of you needing a good book here are my suggestions.

1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

3) Wish you Well by David Baldacci

4) Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg, writer of Fried Green Tomatoes

That's it for now. I am on a roll! Two posts in a row.

I'm loving it!

We went to Daytona Beach the other day and it was perfect. We had warm weather, warm water and a son who fits right in. Did I mention Eamon loves the sand, loves it. So here are a few pictures from that beautiful day with a delicious fish sandwich dinner afterwards. (The fish didn't taste like fish one bit). Eamon was sure in heaven!

Welcome to Brandon's world

Brandons first apartment in FrogTown, aka the Ghetto

St. Paul Cathedral

Eamon's cute Hmong friend, she was so adorable

Where have we been lately?

I thought I was going to highlight our lives once a week, but that obviously hasn't happened.

But as of late we have had quite an adventure. We went to visit the land of the Hmongs otherwise known as St. Paul, MN.

Brandon has been talking about going back to his mission ever since he got off and we finally got the chance to go. What an experience.

For those of you who don't know what Hmong is, or who Hmong are they are an indegenious people that live in the mountains of Loas and Thailand. They helped the CIA during the Vietnam War and now there is a huge Hmong population in Minnesota.

We were able to visit some amazing families that Brandon served with. When we stepped into their home, I thought I had stepped into another country.

Highlights of the trip

• visiting my friend and college roommate Natalie and Dave who are there for school.
• Brandon eating squirrel
• Brandon eating Hmong sausage
• Brandon eating Hmong pork
• Brandon eating fish
• Brandon eating duck
• Brandon eating seafood delight
• Brandon eating spring rolls
• Brandon eating tripe (cow stomach)
  
• and Sienna eating chinese broccoli
  Brandon speaking Hmong and seeing the joy in his face as he once again came in contact with the people he loves so dearly
• Visiting the Hmong Flea Market and buying Eamon the cutest chinese silk outfit for $5
• The Plane ride home for which Eamon screamed the last half an hour of the flight and he wouldn't stop.

It was a trip well worth it.

I