Citizen of the United States of America at last

Monday I became a Naturalized USA citizen. With almost 2000 people becoming citizens, it was the biggest group that Tucson has ever seen before. This commemorated moment was held at the TCC, like a huge graduation. All the people I am sure waiting for this moment, not really knowing how it could change their lives. For me, it started with feeling that it wasn't a big deal. I passed my test, the day of the oath came, and I didn't think much of it, but that it was a mere formality. I didn't realize until I was sitting down there preparing to do my oath of allegiance how much did this event really meant in my life. I realized, that up to this point I really hadn't belong anywhere. I left Bolivia when I was 15, I felt Bolivian of course, I had the legacy of the customs and culture, but I was just a child with not much involvement of care about the community or the country. When I moved here, I yearned for the familiar places but learned to adapt to this new but different world than what I was used to. I didn't feel like I belonged here, and there was probably a deep hidden hope that one day I might go back to Bolivia to stay there. I remember the first time I went back to Bolivia, probably after 5 years of being here. I was so excited, but when I got there it felt so different, not the Bolivia I remember,it had changed,or more importantly I had changed and grown. The point was that I didn't feel like I belonged there either. Becoming a citizen is giving me a place to belong, a place to call home, finally, a place to be proud of and a place to fight for. It is a big deal to me. I feel very thankful and empowered.

20 Weeks sonogram - HE IS ALIVE

Good bye nausea, welcome heart burn. I am now half way done and we had a sonogram yesterday, our only chance to find out the baby's sex, but we opted to keep it a secret.... For now it is a 'he' or a "baby shrimp" (he looked like a little shrimp on the first sonogram). Everything is well and healthy with the baby. We were able to see all his organs (I don't how they can tell, but they showed us different shaded spots and said that it was this and that, for all we know they could have been lying to us :-) ) The most amazing thing was that the baby kept moving around ! We saw him in action! HE IS ALIVE! he had his cute little feet crossed and at one point he did a little cat strech movement, streching his arms and legs. He is so cute and not so little anymore. The pics really don't do any justice to the baby, but I will post it as soon as we get a new scanner (old one is not working anymore). He really was cute, he kept turning his head, I must say it looks pretty cramped in there, poor guy, and its only going to get more crowded as he grows. I am so excited to feel him move, I can't imagine what it must feel like. I AM SO EXCITED, HE IS SO CUTE (I totally looks like his daddy of course). I Love him already.

Always use sunscreen EVERYWHERE

We finally finished roofing the addition, it looks great. I love the 'desert paint' color of the shingles. One piece of advice, when roofing always wear sunscreen everywhere, especially if you let your pants ride down plummer style. Otherwise this will happen:

18 weeks and counting

Almost half way done baking the baby in my uterine oven. Belly is starting to look bigger, but I am still waiting for that jolt of energy promised for the second trimester. As a matter of fact I am still feeling nauseous some days and don't have much of an appetite. Oh well, I guess i can't do anything else but wait. What I have noticed is that this is probably the first time I remember that I don't feel so self conscious of my body as I usually do when I am getting dressed. The fact that some clothes don't fit me anymore makes me feel excited at the proof that I have a life growing inside me. I don't mind wearing the so long dreaded fitting shirts anymore, instead I now wear them with pride, even though it looks to me that i more look fat then pregnant :-). My belly at 18 weeks pregnant looks and feels very much like my old belly when I was at my highest weight a few years ago.
Oh yeah, almost forgot, I did go to the doc's last week and my sugar was normal (so no gestational diabetes). Got to hear the anticipated healthy 140 heartbeat. Couldn't tape it anymore cause my pda is broken :-) beware those with a Mogul, the screen sensor seems to be fragile. Make sure you keep the shipping receipt as the warranty covers it for one year, with proof.

Chapo on Timeout

Where is Chapo now?