a look back

A look back at a section of 2010...

Xmas 10

The whirlwind that was Christmas was amazing! It was Louella's first and she took it all in and really enjoyed the lights, the people, the paper and the gifts. The Phi got everything on her list and was so happy to spend time with her cousins.

We spent Christmas Eve with my whole family at Big Nana and Big Tata's house. Just like we do every year.
There was pots full of tamales, giant bottles of wine and of course a visit from Santa himself. We had a white elephant exchange and I totally cleaned up. At the end I ended up with an awesome new coffee maker and a purple snuggie!

Christmas morning was spent at Mom and Pop's in Santa Barbara. The whole family was together thanks to modern technology. Before the kids got to rip through their gifts we got Tia Uh-laine and Kelly on the TV from Savannah, Georgia through Skype. It was our first (and hopefully only) Christmas without Elaine so it was so nice to see and hear her.

After a great tamale and egg breakfast Joey made a Christmas miracle and packed everything in our car and we headed out to spend the rest of the day with Joey's family. We had another white elephant gift exchange were I did not clean up at. We also played Bingo and ate some more tamales with sopapillas.

The next day we had the last of our Christmas celebrations at our house with Joey's Mom. Yes even more tamales and even more gifts for the girls.

Enjoy a few pics from our Christmas. (if you are on Facebook please see the original post!)

"Picnik Show"

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Both The Phi and Lou got some amazing gifts. Lots of toys, clothes and even a subscription to Bop magazine! (Yes all the Justin Beiber she can handle!) The Phi really deserves it (Lou? well that's yet to be determined). She is such a good girl and Joey and I are lucky to have her. Seeing her face when she opened her gifts was the best gift Joey and I could ask for. The years are flying by and these magically years with her are limited.

Seriously, how did we make such gorgeous little girls?

 

We hope your Christmas was filled with family, love, laughter and lots of tamales!

Late Fall

We have a giant tree in our front yard. It is great for summer and keeps our house a little cooler with all the shade. This year the weather turned from hot to cold so abruptly our tree lost almost all it's leaves all at one time. It left a nice yellow covering in our front yard. Very fall and festive.

I think it was a play about animals going to Bethlehem but I'm not sure

For weeks and weeks The Phi and her class rehearsed for the big Christmas play. The Phi even had a line. Just one line, but it was a good one. We practiced her line every night before bed, and before we knew it the big night was here!

The Phi was a pink butterfly and I was lucky enough to be able to help get the kids ready.

Oh man, these school plays are crazy brutal. The school tried to eliminate the craziness by selling a DVD of the entire production for $10, but it still doesn't stop these parents. As soon as the light dimmed parents went nuts doing what they had to do to get a picture of their kid. Pure madness. So bad that I could not really hear or even understand what the play was about. I know the kids were dressed as animals and Baby Jesus was somehow involved.

Lou was there and sat with Grandma Kim for most of the performance. She was well behaved.

They sang a lot of songs. My favorites were "This Little Light of Mine" and "Silent Night". I mean when a bunch of little kids try to get those high notes in Silent Night it's just hilarious and cute.

The Phi's line was in the second scene and was "Isn't it great to be one of God's little creatures." She performed it brilliantly! Not too soft and not too loud, but like Baby Bear's porridge it was just right.

As usual Joey and I were super duper proud of The Phi!

Impressions

The Phi does Impressions

Rum Tummy Tum Tummy Tum Tummy Tum

For the Photo Ops

 After Thanksgiving our awesome pumpkin patch turns into an awesome Christmas Tree farm. We didn't got for a tree. Thanks to The Phi's allergy's we go fake. Instead we went for the Christmas-y atmosphere and hot beverages. As soon as we got there we had Joey get us some nice warm beverages. Even though it was chilly it was really that cold. But you can't wander through a winter wonderland without a hot drink.

 

Loved this little sign on the coffee cart....

 The Phi had a warm chocolate milk. A special treat because it was made with steamed milk and well real milk is a treat for The Phi. She drinks rice milk at home.

 

I had a Candy Cane latte and it was as good as it sounds and looked! 

 

The Phi and I spent a little time warming our tootsies by the fire....

 

Then we wandered the Christmas trees. There was a section of flocked trees that were so lovely....

 

 My girls....

Lou and Daddy enjoying the sights. I don't think this kids eyeballs could get any bigger (nah nah nah nah everyday, like my eyeballs stuck on replay- That's for you Tia Uh-laine)

 On the first day of Christmas The Phi gave me to me.......

A Schmonkey in a Christmas Tree!!!

 

I love my girls so much!

It was a fantastic evening with my family.

The Itch

Then.....

......now

7 years together today.

It just keeps getting better.

Extra Thankful

Today is her big day. The day people celebrate her miraculous existence and thank her for the blessing she has bestowed on them. La Virgen De Guadalupe became an important part of my life through academics. As I studied, researched, and wrote about her and her image, its meaning and controversy , she became my constant companion. I wear her around my neck and always in my heart. I ask her to watch over my family and thank her for the blessing in my life. This year I am extra thankful and indebted to her.

When Louella was born she was in the NICU for 5 days. In those five days I never ever prayed to La Virgen more. There were a brief few days waiting for test results where the health of my baby girl was up in the air. One test result would tell us if our daughter was perfectly healthy or would be battling for her life. Every second I was not talking out loud I was praying. In those quite moments when I was pumping food for my daughter I closed my eyes and prayed to La Virgen. As I sat and stared at Louella, feeling as helpless as I possibly could feel, I prayed to her. As I held my tiny baby in my arms, I prayed. I prayed in the car rides to and from the hospital, I prayed as I laid in bed not being able to sleep to watch over my baby when I couldn't be with her. I prayed as I walked in to The Phi's room in the middle of the night to see my oldest daughter.  I begged La Virgen to let my little girl be okay. I asked her to let me suffer and not to let my innocent baby suffer.

Louella came home from the hospital with a clean bill of health. La Virgen answered my prayers. In those days of feeling helpless and out of control emotionally, all those conversations with La Virgen helped me stay focused on being with my daughter. With getting through each day. She gave me hope and saved me from a complete emotional breakdown. She gave me strength and guidance through the darkest days of my life. I am forever thankful.

A Wii for Chrismas?

I am thinking of getting her a Wii, just for this game so I can be entertained by this everyday....

Hand-me-down

When I was a kid my Mom's cousin was owed money by a lady who ran a swimming school. This lady proposed that instead of cash she pay him back in free swim lessons. Since my Moms cousin was a bachelor with no kids of his own and my sister was his god-daughter he accepted the trade and gave my sisters and I the free swim lessons.

Following so far? The main point is that my sisters and I took swim lessons, for many many years. My youngest sister was probably about 9 months old when we started. I can remember when we first started loving swimming lessons, and as the years went on I began to hate them. I remember when I got my very first period. I was stoked because it was on swim lesson day, and I wouldn't have to swim!

Anyways, back when I still loved swimming lessons at Marjean's Swinland my sister Cari and I would drool over these pink satin jacket. It had the places logo on the back and your name embroidered on the front. I am sure they were expensive, and my parents had to buy 3 of them, but our begging and pleading paid off and we each got a jacket. Even baby Mercy had a jacket with her name on it.

I LOVED my Marjean's Swimland jacket. I wore it all the time. I was sad when I outgrew it. Luckily my Mom never threw it out. It stayed at the house all these years and when The Phi was born I brought it home waiting for the day The Phi would be big enough to wear it. It has been hanging in the jacket section of her closet for years.

This week while getting ready for school, in the rush of it all she needed a jacket. I pulled it off the hanger and told her, try this on. It was a little big, but fit enough for her to wear. And she has been wearing it everyday since.

I love that this jacket has a new life. I love seeing The Phi wearing something that was so special to me.

Nom Nom

 So we couldn't put it off anymore. It was time for Lou to start foods. We started with rice cereal for a week or so and then on 12/6/10 we started her on peas. Yes I made my baby eat a food I hate.

So here we go, we went in with the spoonful of peas.....

 She gave me a blank stare which I took meant "WTF MOM" but we kept going...

and going.....

 

She gave me this look the entire time. To be honest is was making me nervous. I mean what is that. Are you happy, are you pissed?

Then she got all Miss Independent on me and wanted to feed herself.

After the meal was done and Lou had time to process the whole experience she decided she liked peas.

Just wait until she tries something good like ice cream!

Compare and Contrast

Happy Half Birthday my Lovely Louella

Dear Lou,

Today you are 6 months old.  I cannot believe that 6 months have come and gone. I swear I peed on a stick like 2 days ago and here you are half a year old already. I must admit it, it's been rough at times. After 5 years of not having a baby in the house I completely forgot how tough it can be. The lack of sleep and the whole having to watch you and keep you entertained 24/7. And boy do you need to be entertained. It's like you know you're the 4th person in the family (Well 5th if you count Roo) and you refuse to be ignored. Unless someone is directly looking at you, you are not happy. But as soon as someone talks to you, you give them the biggest and most beautiful smile there is. Your favorite person by far is your Big Sister.

Just like with your sister, strangers stop us to tell us how beautiful you are, or talk about how much hair you have. I can't even believe your hair sometimes! You look so much like your sister did at this age. One thing that is different is your voice. You have such a sweet little baby voice. Your sister had this deep growly voice. You squeak and squeal, and I love to hear you talking to yourself when you wake up in the morning. You laugh now and Daddy's is waiting for the day you start to really start cracking up. Let's be honest, Daddy's waiting for the day you start laughing at him.

My Little Lulu, you are such an amazing addition to our family. When I go into your bedroom at night to check on you and your sister, seeing your sweet faces sleeping soundly, I know that our family is complete. We were forced to wait a long time for you, but you have already proven, in 6 short months you were worth the wait.

I love you my chubby baby.
With everything that I have,
Mom