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Adios 2014

December 31, 2014

Talk about a crazy year!!!!

Some 2014 highlights:

January
-We found out I was pregnant (unplanned) in the end of January, that alone was a whirlwind of emotions.
– We took the family to Disneyland for an early birthday present for Pella

February
-Pella turned 4!

April
– I turned 29
– Found out I was pregnant with a baby BOY!

May
-Got myself a new minivan!
-Got a bunny for the kids

June
– Nick took his motorcycle to Born Free 6

August
-We took the kids to San Diego for a family vacation
-Pella started Transitional Kindergarten

September
-Nick turned 36

October
– Had to say goodbye to my French Bulldog Lola, she was 10 years old.
– Gave birth to Nicholas

November
-Orla turned 1
– Had our first Thanksgiving in our home with family

December
-Nick completed the construction of his new shop in our back yard

I tried to pick 12 photos 1 for  every month, but that was impossible so heres some of my favorites photos of 2014

2015 Goals
I am looking forward to getting back in shape this year, and push myself to stay motivated and healthy.  I am also making it a point to not use my cell phone/social media as much,  and give the kids more one on one attention. I want to work on myself, and my lack of patience I have at times. Looking forward to having Nick home a few days a week, so definitely going to make it a point to sit down and have dinner as a family on those nights. I want to give back more this year, whether it be via donations or my time. I want to blog and write more this year. I feel like these all are realistic goals, and may seem like a lot, but I think I can tackle these….

Happy New Year everyone, I wish everyone the best year ever!

A day in our bubble.

December 3, 2014

Let me start off by saying I’ve known Joy from Wildflower Photos for several years now. We first met when I opened my childrens store in Thousand Oaks, when she approached me with some opportunities with her business which I was very happy to support. She printed me HUGE beautiful photo of her baby Gracie “drooling” for my shop, since my shop was called “DROOL”
 From there we continued to support each others businesses!. She was the FIRST person I opened up too when I found out I was pregnant with Pella. It was a total “being at the right place at the right time” as she walked into my shop with her baby on her hip. I had just taken my first pregnancy test ever, walking out of my bathroom in tears, she consoled me when I felt so terrified, and scared. Being pregnant for the first time and being only  24 years old, I was a wreck.  When I had Pella, back in 2010, I always looked up to Joy for inspiration and drive. Shes an amazing woman, and will always have a “special” place with me.
 Every photo shes taken for me, and my family is cherished , her talent is beyond words, and I’m so grateful to have been able to have her in our home and shoot our family in our natural realm. We opted to do this kind of shoot bc there is nothing more real then the everyday routine and moments we as a family share in our home. Thank you Joy for always capturing those moments,emotions, and LOVE in your photography.

Nicholas Friedrich Birth Story

November 13, 2014

Oh the birth of Nicholas! 

From the get go he measured huge! I feared the day I would have to birth him. Like all my babies, I opted to be induced, due to his LARGE size, I wasn’t about to risk pushing out a 10 lbs baby at 40+ weeks. At my appt the week before my scheduled induction I was 3cm dilated and about 70% effaced, with that news I knew my induction would likely be “successful” , I was happy that I wouldn’t need Cervidil the night before, and ELATED that I did not have Group strep B, so I wouldn’t need the antibiotics! Everything was looking great! I took a bunch of Primrose oil hoping that would help soften things up, and hoping It would help my body with tearing
I checked into the hospital 7:30am on Monday October 27th 2014 to start the induction. Got into my room, slipped into my beautiful hospital gown and cozy itchy sock slippers, and waited…
I was a nervous a wreck! I knew I would be having a baby that day! I looked at the machines and the area were they prep the baby all too fresh in my mind from having Orla not even the year before! My nurse came in hooked my into all my machines, and asked me about 100 questions, “do you have  suicidal thoughts?” “Have you been to Africa in the last 3 months” “do you use needles”. Within that hour my Dr came in, asked me if I was ready, and checked me. To my surprise I was 4-5 cm and almost completely thinned out. He decided to break my water in hopes to kick start me
Into labor and avoid needing pitocin. Within 2 hours I was starting to feel consistent contractions, slowly getting more intense and lasting a tiny bit longer with each one. By 11am I was ready for my Epidural. I was about 7 cm dilated, tears rolling down my face from the increasing pain I was experiencing. Got that sucker put in and waited for my “comfort” to set in. My nurse told me to take a little nap, and I looked at her like she was crazy, I was still feeling a lot of discomfort and pain. I called her back within that hour, due to my pain, I was miserable, I was on my side uncomfortable as hell being hit with multiple awful contractions, the only thing I could feel was my right leg. She called in the anesthesiologist, and had him turn up the epi. It took a good 30 min or so I began to feel relief, I was feeling a lot of pressure not so much the pain. My Dr came back in around 1:00pm to check me I was 9cm, he told me he had a another baby to deliver before me. He asked how I felt about doing some practice pushing but that hour before I had my epidural turned up and I couldn’t feel my legs at all! He is not a fan of being totally numb while pushing so he called in the anesthesiologist again to shut it off! I figured I’d still be pretty comfortable within that hour or so, but I was WAYYY wrong within 30 min or so I started to feel the cramping,and those contractions rolling in within a  minute of each other. I was in my mind dying by the time he came back in to deliver my son. He wanted to push with each contraction and I couldn’t do it, I could barely breathe when I was having a contraction, they burning and felt like I was getting stabbed with a thousand knives! So I pushed in between the contractions. With 2 or 3 pushes I felt that baby crowning, and that feeling of holy shit this is it! It took me another 2 or 3 pushes to get his head out. Then for the shoulders, well those didn’t come out so easy, they were stuck… There was a lot of twisting and pushing on my lady bits, which wouldn’t end well for me. Once my dr was able to free his shoulder out he came! The first thing I heard was a squeal followed by the nurses saying “wow he’s a big boy!” He was placed on my chest and the rest is history! Nicholas was born at 1:57pm!
I laid there exhausted and busted up (literally) all I could focus on was my sons chubby little face, he was just perfect! After my placenta was delivered I started to hemorrhage I was given a shot in my leg to keep my uterus contracting properly. He spent some time on me when he was taken to be weighed, big boy he was …weighing 9lbs 9oz!  My recovery would be one I wasn’t expecting to be so difficult. I had a nasty tear, which limited my mobility, for a week I could barely walk or stand long enough to brush my teeth, and I lived on a foam “ass donut” for a week. It sucked! A week after he was born I began to hemorrhage again, so I was given some methergine to keep my uterus contracting down, praying I wouldn’t have to have a D&C ! Luckily within that week the clotting subsided and I was finally starting to feel better. Here we are 2.5 weeks in and I’m finally feeling back to my old self!
Thank god becuase Orla turned ONE today and we  are having her birthday party this weekend.

All photos were taken by Chelsea Elizabeth Photography

2 years of Marriage.

November 10, 2014

Today is Nick and I’s 2nd wedding anniversary!
For me its been hard to really take a moment to think about my marriage. The last 2 years have FLOWN by and it doesnt make it any better when I think about having 2 babies in 2 years. 
I have taken the last couple hours to think about how lucky how I am, and how truly wonderful my marriage is. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with Nick, raising our kids, making memories, and just enjoying life together. 
I wont bore you with cliche marriage stories… instead I’m sharing our wedding video and photos, those are much more fun to look at, and they are a constant reminder of the LOVE we have for one another. 

 
 Marcella and Nick from Nanea Miyata on Vimeo.

To view our wedding album.
click HERE! 

Joovy BOOB bottle review

May 16, 2014

We were sent the JOOVY BOOB PPSU GIFT SET to review on behalf of JOOVY, if you have been a follower of mine you will KNOW that I am a huge JOOVY fan, we own 2 of their strollers the QOOL and Ultralight Caboose and just LOVE them.
The gift set comes beautifully packaged with 23 pieces in total that include:

–  (3) 9 oz bottles with stage 2 nipples 

–  (1) 9 oz insulator
–  (3) 5 oz bottles with stage 1 nipples
–  (1) 5 oz insulator
–  (2) breast pump adapters
–  (3) sealing caps
–  additional nipples: (2) stage 0, (1) stage 1, (1) stage 2, (2) stage 3, (2) stage X
–  (1) nipple brush, (1) bottle brush

Breast Pump Adapters.  The Boob Breast Pump Adapters are nearly universal working with all pumps with the exception of Avent. I can not comment on the use of the use of the adapter as of yet, I plan to use them with baby #3 that will be here in late October/early November.
Bottle insulators.  The insulators are designed to keep breastmilk warmer, at body temperature longer and also has the ability to keep frozen or chilled breastmilk cooler for longer.  
Nipple and Bottle Brush. If you’re like me and cant wait for a dish washer cycle to complete (as all the Joovy Boob pieces are top rack dishwasher safe) Having their Nipple and Bottle brush comes in ULTRA handy for a quick and complete clean of the bottles. 
Cleaning:  AMAZINGLY EASY to clean! Just your dish soap of choice pull rinse out, using your bottle brush pop off the nipple brush attachment to throughly clean the nipple and a quick rinse of the vent ring, DONE! NO small parts to clean out and be annoyed at having to be meticulous about cleaning! probably my favorite thing about these bottles! 
Testing.  I started with these bottles with Orla right around 5 months of age, we opted to go with the stage 1 nipples, b/c their nipples start at stage 0, as she was a stage 2 with our born free nipples. She took to the boob  bottle just fine, no gagging, perfect flow for her stage and liking, and fed entire feeds with no problems. Because she’s exclusively bottle fed I can not comment on any nipple confusion personally, but I can comment of behalf of 2 mom friends who use the boob bottle and breast feed, both of their babies 3 months and 2 month of age, took to the bottle fine and they both are satisfied with the bottle in a whole.
As for me, I will be retiring our other bottles and stocking up on some more Joovy Boob bottles for baby # 3! I really like their bottles a lot, I couldn’t seem to find any issues with it, other then the couple times I forgot to put the vent ring on and shook up the bottle to have it get all over me! but thats 100% my fault. I really stand behind this companies products, they are well made, well priced and FUNCTION perfectly
Another point Id like to make about this bottle is 1. they DO have a glass option if you prefer glass over plastic, and 2. their customer service is a reason I support the brand, you can ALWAYS call/email to a customer service rep and they swift to help in any way! You cant beat that! 
Overall I’d recommend these bottles to ALL moms. 
Thank you Joovy for giving us the opportunity to review your amazing products.
ORLA approved!

A journey so far …. guest post link

April 22, 2014

I was honored to be asked to be part of “THESE PARENTS” Blog series called
‘A Journey so far’
It was an emotional post for me,  not only being hormonal but unearthing emotions and feelings I had 5 years ago to DATE was bittersweet. I have worked so hard to be a better person, and the best parent and CO-Parent I can be. I hope that life for us continues to be blessed and AMAZING.
So take a moment to read my post
click the photo
I also urge you to read all the other journeys. 🙂
http://theseparents.com/2014/04/22/the-journey-so-far-marcella-and-nick/

Easter 2104.

April 21, 2014

We had a couple ‘1st’s this Easter.
Orla Graces 1st Easter, and had our 1st blended family Easter Brunch, meaning it was the first time our family (as in Nick and Myself) and Pella’s dads family (as in Joey, Brooke and Ford) spent a portion of the holiday together.
It was really nice to get everyone together for the kids, as thats what life is all about.
Looking forward to many more Holidays with our families uniting for our children.
I busted my exhausted pregnant ass making brunch for everyone, it was humbling for me to have done it as well as felt really good to do it too!
So heres our day in photos! Hope everyone else had a great Easter weekend.

Double Stroller Dilemma

April 10, 2014

 I am such a stroller snob, but the not the snob that has one of everything! I am all about the best bang for my buck and what WORKS for me.
I have always been a big fan of the Uppababy Vista with the rumble seat, and the piggy back board. Mind you that was when I would have had a toddler and a baby. Its great brand, great customer service and priced well.
I opted to actually go with the Joovy Caboose which is a sit and stand double system.
I love it for its function, it is PERFECT with a toddler and a baby!
I also have the their newest stroller the Joovy QOOL which I love when I just have Orla, or even for quick trips with both kids bc Pella actually prefers to walk. 
I know in the near future I will store away the caboose and probably sell the single QOOL.
Now I’m looking for the best double with a single option having 2 babies.
Theres so many esthetically  good looking strollers but to me that doesnt mean anything.
I want to know from these 4 strollers who prefers what and WHY!?
I want to hear from people who have 2 “babies” what seems to work the best for you?
To me at this point I refuse to put a price on what will make my life easier, the price tag is irrelevant.
1. Bugaboo Donkey
2. Baby Jogger City Select
3. Uppababy Vista
4. Joovy TOO QOOL.

for my love of dolls!

April 9, 2014

Ever since I owned my baby boutique I’ve always had a thing for dolls.
I personally was never into dolls as a kid, but yet ALWAYS managed to have a bajillion plushies in my room. Dolls from the 80’s have nothin on the dolls today! so heres a few of my favorite dolls/softies.
Starting at the top from left to right.
1. Blythe Dolls (ebay)
2. Charlotte doll from Sirlig.dk
3. My Gal Pals baby rattle on Etsy
4. Lucky Boy Sunday knit doll from ScandinavianMiniMall
5. Lillie Kanin doll from Sirlig.dk
6. Bamboletta Doll
7. Bla Bla kids knit doll
8. Woodland Doll from CissyWears.com
9. Thomas Paul Annie doll from FawnandForest.com