Whatcha Lookin' At?

But something I said soon after made her genuinely make eye contact and smile.

Our New Blue

Now all we need is a few thousand gallons of water, some chlorine and a few more sunny days to heat it up!

(As we began to fill the pool today, the gardener and I removed the red flowers along the back wall and replanted the good ones to the right of the pool in preparation for a few more tomato plants and green beans. We also removed the eye sore --a.k.a. rosemary bush -- next to the fence to make room for watermelon and the other tree on the inside of the fence. This patch is now looking forward to next Thursday when it will house a lemon tree.  There is more change in the works, but this was enough for today.  Sophia needed attention. More pics to follow.)

Palin on SNL

Great Book

Now I am looking forward to this movie... (hopefully it is as well done as the book.) It certainly has an All-Star cast.


I just read this for the first time a couple of months ago based on Alicia's recommendation. I had no idea it was being made into a movie until today an now I don't have long to wait!

Happy Birthday Mom

..and 50 years young!

Two Weeks

This has been the fastest two weeks I can recall in recent history. We have been so busy, with little to report. We are just a family of 5 now and it requires a lot more of my time. Unfortunately, my attempts a taking pictures of Sophia have failed miserably. However due to high demand, here are a few more pictures of our family from the last 10 days.

She was so content outside in this soft blanket in the Moses basket.

My Big Helper

"Ah-Choo"

Our First Walk

El Indio celebrating Dia de la Raza

Planting a small garden

Wide Awake

She obviously has a nearly 3-year-old big sister

Could we have another talker?

Personalized Gifts

Check out these unique family trees at Leaves of Legacy Gifts. My sister-in-laws have just opened this new Etsy shop just in time for the holidays!

Whoo Hoo!

After 8 days, 25 down and 25 to go!

Our Little Angel

Coming Home with Sophia

Sophia Jane

Sophia Jane

Born 30 September 2008 1120AM (BsAs time)

7lbs 12oz

20inches

Everyone is happy and healthy... will upload more pictures soon

Straight From the Mouth of My Abe Part II

As we buckle the kids in the car to head to the doctors office after a few hours of minor contractions, Abe becomes pensive. (This is not an announcement - there is still little to report)

Abe: Mom, I am going to cry.

Me: Don't cry honey.  What is wrong?

Abe: No mom, I am going to cry because I am so happy that we are going to have a new baby.

What a sweet boy.

Straight From the Mouth of My Abe

Just when I was beginning to think that being a stay-at-home mom was a real job... 

Abe: Do you know what I want to be when I grow up?

Me: What would you like to be?

Abe: I want to be a a guy who battles bad guys.  (Insert just about any occupation that requires physical labor, saving someone or protecting mankind here - it changes everyday)

Steve: You'd be really good at that Abe

Abe: Dad, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Steve: I am grown-up and I made the decision to work for the State Department

Abe: Oh, well Mom, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Me: I choose to me a mom so that I could stay home with you.

Abe: Well, how come you are only a mom? Didn't you want to be anything...  you know like a firefighter or work for the State Department?

Perspective

In english, we call it giving birth.  

In spanish (not in castellano, of course), it is referred to it as  "da la luz" or giving the light.

Today this is my reminder that the events of the next couple of weeks are of far greater importance than my own worldly perspective.  

In the end, it is all the same

I have spent the majority of this pregnancy substantially smaller than the previous two and had high hopes of of minimizing my weight gain. However, in the past couple of weeks, I have begun to swell and am now carrying water weight. As a matter of fact, in the past 7 days, I have gained nearly 4 pounds. For the Love!

So apparently, having started this pregnancy about 5 pounds heavier than that of Abe and 10 pounds heavier than Peyton, I will still plateau at nearly the exact same weight. Am I am ticking time bomb with 2 pounds to go?

Is there any chance that the 50 pounds will come off just as easily as the previous two times? Hopefully nursing will treat me as kindly as it has in the past and offer some much-needed assistance.  

Distinct Personalities

As we sat around the kitchen table coloring cartoon printouts, the kids had a conversation that reminded me of how differently their little brains work.

Peyton: (coloring Elmo's eyes blue and face purple) Look Mom, I did it. Isn't Elmo silly?
Abe: Pey-TON, Elmo is red, not blue.
Mom: It is okay Abe. We can use our imagination when we color. Sometimes, I like to color the grass blue and the sky orange. It is just using our imagination.
Peyton: Yeah Abe, it's my imagination.
Abe: Yes, well I like to color the grass green and the sky blue. (as he sat and colored all of the crocodiles on his paper green and the lake blue)

Well, what do you say to that?  He put me in my place.

El Dia Especial de Peyton

On Monday, Peyton was the "Child of the Day." In honor of this special occasion, we brought baby pictures to share with the class, a CD of her favorite music, her favorite toy and a special treat. So for journal keeping purposes, I thought that I would share those things with you.

Here are the pictures that we shared:

Leaving the Hospital

First Mother's Day (7 months old)

10 Months Old

Her CD included:
-Twinkle, Twinkle
-Row, Row, Row Your Boat
-Wheels on the Bus
-It's a Small World
-I Wan'na Be Like You (Jungle Book)

Her Favorite Toy(s):
-"My Little Pony". I tried to encourage her to pick a favorite, but she insisted on bringing as many as would fit in her arms.

Her Favorite Treat:
-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our Rumbero

Abe has been preparing for the school concert for months and was finally able to showoff his stuff friday night at the final performance. Photography was not allowed, so these pics are from the dress rehearsal on Wednesday morning. We have video to post soon as well.



It was such a joy to watch him and and his classmates. The costume did not call for a shirt underneath, but Abe insisted that he could not go to school and show everyone his chest. I wholeheartedly agreed, but we do not own a plain black shirt and it would have been difficult to locate one at the last minute... until I remembered that Peyton has a black ribbed tanktop in 2t (which is too small for her). Abe was more concerned that everyone would know that he was wearing his sister's shirt than he was concerned about the ruffles on his arms!

Baby Shower

My wonderful friend Elena threw me a baby shower last Saturday. There was a lot of great food, pink decorations and, of course, Kendra's carrot cake adorned with pink diaper pins. Somehow we were having such a great time that I did not get a picture of the table. Thanks Ladies! Now it is time to have this baby!

The Group

Sheri and I

A thoughtful gift sent all the way from Honduras!

What do you see?

Is it just me or did you notice these yard signs look strangely similar to "Osama Bin Laden"? I wonder if their campaign has noticed or if their graphic designers and proofers considered another format.

Disclaimer: I do not believe that Obama is a terroist.