The Baby turns 25

 

Happy 25th Birthday Tia Uh-laine.

We love you as big as your hangover was today!

That's huge!

Mama

I try to read to The Phi every night. We go to the library once a week to stock up on books. Tonight we read the book "Mama". The Phi and I were having a rough night with me scolding, her crying and Lou screaming the entire time in the background. We sat on her bed and opened this book. A true story that consisted of 2 words, "Mama" and "Baby". The story starts with a Mama and baby hippo, happy together. Then while in the ocean a tsunami hits and Mama and baby are separated. Baby washes up on shore and can't find his Mama. The picture of this baby hippo on the shore with tears in his eyes calling for his Mama was too much for The Phi and I. We were both crying. Not crying but bawling. The Phi in between sobs says "Mom it's so sad" and in between my tears I said "I know baby". The story continues with the baby hippo being rescued and taken to a zoo where a tortoise adopts him as her baby. We hugged and cried a little more and I put The Phi to bed. A wonderful heart wrenching true story that touched both my 32 year old "Mama" heart and The Phi's 5 year old "Baby" heart.

Runs in the family...

Being crafty run in the family. My Mom is famous for her funny photoshopped photos in cards. My sister Elaine makes beautiful cakes and handmade cards, my Pops makes awesome things out of wood, I knit, crochet, embroider and take photos and Cari..... well she makes cute kids and soccer team banners!

My niece The Chone is a talented little artist. Check out this gorgeous painting she made for Lou.




Want to be more impressed. She is only 11. Technically 10 when she did this painting.

The last time we were in Santa Barbara, Chone and The Phi were inspired by my art show opening and took advantage of the giant filled craft box that my Mom keeps for the kids. They discussed their project. Decided to make something for me and keep it a secret while they worked.

It took them awhile but later in the day they presented me with this......

My very own Virgen de Guadalupe (my favorite) made by my two loves! It is my most prized art piece in my collection. I can't even begin to explain how much I love this.

Speaking of hair...

So there is no doubt that Lou has a lot of hair. It is the first thing people say about her. "Oh my goodness she has so much hair!" I even hear people around us saying things like "Did you see how much hair that baby has?". In my family babies with lots of hair are the norm. Bald babies are the rarity.

What you don't know is that Lou loves to try out different hairstyles...

Of course keeping with the Punk Rock Parents theme she likes to rock the faux-hawk once in awhile.....

Other times she is in a nerdy kind of mood and likes to rock the Alfalfa....

And Lou is a big Jersey Shore fan. She is all about GTL but to Lou GTL means "grub, toot, lounge". Her favorite is DJ Pauly D and when she watches Jersey Shore she likes to rock the "Pauly D" hair do.....

And since Halloween is getting close she has been experimenting with the Grandpa Munster look....

And of course, because even Lou has the fever she loves to sport the Justin Beiber...

So those are all great things Lou can do because she has so much hair. But there is also a negative part to having a baby with a lot of hair. When Lou gets pissed she pulls her own hair....

......and that just makes her more pissed.

Hair hair its everywhere

Remember when I was pregnant and I posted THIS. Yea I am having the compete opposite problem. Seriously I am afraid I am going to lose all my hair. This is major because if there is one thing I had a ton of it's hair. I mean me and the lions from the MGM Grand have very similar hair. About a month after Lou was born I started losing hair. Like handfuls of hair when I comb it, run my fingers in it and especially when I wash it. I knew this was normal after having a baby so I didn't think too much of it. But it hasn't stopped. In fact it has gotten worse. I am tired of having hair all over me all day. My normal pony tails that usually look like a horses tail is a lot thinner than normal. The hair at the top of my head looks thinner. This definitely did not happen when I had The Phi. I have always complained about the amount of hair I have and wished it would thin out, but now that its happening with no sign of stopping I'm getting worried. I wonder what I would look like bald?

The 50's

Now my family has a lot of parties. That's just the nature of a close-knit family and when your Mom has 7 sisters and a brother. All the parties are great, but once in awhile a party is just super rad awesome. On Saturday we had one of those exceptionally rad parties. My beautiful Tia Grace celebrated her 50th birthday with a big 1950's themed bash! Her kids and husband really put together an amazing party. It was so much fun.

Some highlights:

• Decorations were amazing. Giant cut-out Elvis' and old school cars.
• Bounce House (well highlight for The Phi)
• Location was beautiful. And let me take a trip down memory lane. It had been years since I had been there.
  
• Tia taking her first and only shot of tequila with her husband and 4 kids! (all over 21!)
• Cousin Pepe's glasses
• Seeing my Tia's and Mom all dressed up in 50's style
• Chicken in a creamy Chipotle sauce. The food was spectacular! Catered from El Pescador.
• OPEN BAR
• Louella falling asleep in Tia Angie's arms.
• Surprise visit from Arizona family.
• Chone's "pimp" suite and Lili's pink ladies jacket
• Pinata filled with chocolates! Seriously there was a ton of candy!
• Cupcakes with Elvis' face on them
• Pepe's speech
• How beautiful and happy my Tia Grace looked.

Here is my favorite picture from the party....

and because there were so many more great pics here is a little slide show.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Rebel ARTillery: My First Show

I was fortunate enough to be part of the Rebel ARTillery art show. A exhibit put together by my talented friend Jake Prendez. Jake and I met about 9 years ago when we were both graduate students in the Chicano Studies program at Cal State Northridge. He is super smart and a talented artist. He put together a great group of artist and a kick-ass opening reception.

That's right FREE JARRITOS!!

Jake and I with my piece in the background.

Raul Herrera and I.
We were very tight back in our grad school days.
I am so glad to still be in touch with these two guys.
Both are so talented and just good men.

Me and my muse.

When The Phi saw her photo on the wall she said "Mom I'm popular"

I am so honored to have my photo among these great artist. I mean my photo was on the same wall as Lalo Alcaraz! I have to admit it was pretty damn cool to see my work displayed. I was smiley and giddy.

Thanks to my family for coming out and supporting me! Having you there made it a special night I won't ever forget.

The show runs until the end of the month, so if you are in the Ventura area go and check it out!

Bells Art Factory
432 N. Ventura Ave
Ventura, Ca 93001

3 months old

I know, we can't believe it either Lou.
The months are flying by already...

4 years and 4 doctors couldn't compete with Google

Since The Phi was a baby we have been dealing with skin and allergy issues with her. We hoped she would outgrow it by 5, but she didn't. We have seen a pediatrician, 2 different allergist and a dermatologist trying to find something to help. Despite the daily medications and steroid creams, nothing has really worked. Recently her skin was going through one of her dry spells. It's not the typical dry skin, but so extreme that it cracks and bleeds. It itches her so badly she scratches until it bleeds. Her arms and legs were worse than I had seen in a while. The back of her knees, and the top of her feet were gashed up. Just getting into the tub for a bath made her cry in pain. I wish I had a picture to share. It looked something like this......


I kept on with her usual daily lotion regime and nothing helped. It had been a few weeks of The Phi suffering. While we were in Santa Barbara I just couldn't take it anymore. I turned to google and typed in "best doctor for eczema". The results brought up a place called the Eczema Center in San Diego. A place dedicated to helping children with eczema. I started reading through their site and they had a section on the therapies they use. One of them was something called "wet wraps". Yes it is what it sounds like. Putting wet bandages on the skin. I then went and googled "wet wraps" and found a ton of people who had used wet wraps for dry skin issues. Then I found a Mom who's son had severe eczema. So bad he was admitted into the hospital. The hospital used wet wraps to treat him and this Mom found a simple way to use this treatment at home. It was as simple as wet tube socks. It seemed so simple but I had to try it. So that day we headed to the store and bought a pack of men's tube socks. That night I followed the instructions. I soaked 4 socks in her bath water. After I got The Phi out of the tub I applied her steroid cream and a heavy dose of her lotion. Then I wrung out the socks and put one on each arm and one on each leg. Then I put a dry tube sock over the wet ones, put on her pajamas and put her to bed. In just 2 days I saw amazing results. Her skin was soft and hydrated. Her cuts were healing because she was not scratching them at night. She was more refreshed in the mornings from getting better sleep at night. It was amazing.

Okay here is my rant....

4 damn year and 4 freakin doctors and not one, NOT ONE ever recommended this simple solution. Such a damn simple way to help my kid who has been suffering for years. No medicine, no steroid cream, just lotion and wet socks. After all the different medications and lotions doctors have prescribed, good ol' Google found something that worked. Something that finally brought some relief to The Phi.

First Day

There was no way of avoiding it. It was bound to happen. My baby girl started Kindergarten.

The Phi, Daddy and I are so proud of you. You are going to kick major ass this school year. You are smart and outgoing and the sky is the freakin' limit.

Scratch that... whatever is beyond the sky is your limit.

NO... you my dear daughter are limit-less.

and with a wave, I walked out of the classroom and shed a tear because my baby is growing up and I am so proud, and because my baby is growing up and getting closer to that "my parents are lame" stage.

A evening to remember...

I want to write this because I don't want to forget this evening. The Phi and I watched a movie together. Ate dinner. Then it was bath time. I put both girls in the tub. The Phi sang to Louella, and Louella smiled and tried to grab at a rubber duckie in The Phi's hands. It was my first really beautiful, I wish I could stop time kind of moment as a mother of two. My two girls happy, interacting with each other. The Phi making up songs about Louella, and Louella looking up at The Phi in awe. After bath it was time to read and do a book report. I chose my favorite children's book "Frida"

The life story of Frida Kahlo. I loved hearing The Phi telling me about the book after I was done reading. "She got hurt, but she loved, loved, loved painting". After PJ's were put on it felt like a great time for a Bob Marley sing-a-long. So the three of us sat on The Phi's bed and swayed back and forth singing "3 Little Birds", "Jammin'" and "Small Axe" loud and from our soul.

Then it was time to put The Phi to bed. And I came here to write about the evening at home that we had. Because it was an amazing night. A night filled with made-up lyrics, kids laughter, stories about Frida and Bob Marley songs. A perfect evening.

Santa Barbara Day 8

On our last day of our vacation we did 2 special things. After packing up the car, we headed to Santa Paula to celebrate my cousin Selina's 15th birthday. The park was decorated in gorgeous purples and blacks and my baby cousin Selina was all grown-up in an adorable black party dress. There was a taquero and The Phi ate 3 taco. There was also a jumper so The Phi was in heaven. Lou was passed around to all the Tia's and Cousins so she was happy.

During the party we walked over to my grandparents house and Louella got to meet Big Nana and Big Tata for the first time. Lou sat in Big Nana's lap and looked up as Big Nana sang "tortillitas, ta, ta ,ta" and Big Tata used words like "mi reyna" and "Muy preciosa"

I love watching my Nana and Tata shower my babies with love. They adore each and every one of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are the center of our big extended family and the beginning of the family tree I am so proud of. My kids are so lucky to have 6 out of 8 great-grandparents in their lives to hug them and love them.

Santa Barbara Day 7

On Friday we had plans to go to the zoo with Aunt Sam and Baby Eli, but Baby Eli came down with a fever and they had to cancel. So, I had promised The Phi a trip to the zoo, so I was forced to venture out to the zoo, with my 2 kids, by...my...self. I was nervous, and with it starting with being overcharged at the gate while Lou was screaming I thought it was going to be a rough day. Instead it turned out to be a great day. After a bottle and a big poop, Lou was chill for the rest of our trip and The Phi got to enjoy the animals.

It was a beautiful afternoon with my beautiful girls. We headed home and spent the evening with Tia Uh-laine. We hit up a Coffee Bean and worked on a logo we made about 8 years ago We brought our "Judy" skull back. The Judy 20-10 edition. Then we made Lou a couple Judy onsies. Complete with a pink bow.

Oh and while we worked The Phi lost her second tooth!