3 versus 2

Looking back!

2012-01-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

I can't stop thinking that this year will mark the 10th year since I graduated high school! AND that I am closer to turning 30 years old. I definitely don't feel like it! It feels like just yesterday I was a freshman in high school, had my quinceanera, got my first job at Chuck E Cheese's, bought my first car, got a real job as a Medical Assistant, and now I am a mother of 3!!! It's crazy how fast time flies when you are all grown up. I remember actually wishing for time to just go by faster so I could have more independence and even wondering what it would be like being married and having my own place. Well, I love it, but it's not as easy as I pictured it in my head many years ago. It's actually harder. I have learned a lot, but there is still much more to learn. Now I know what my mom felt like as a mother and understand why she was the way she was with us. We won't understand it until we are mother's ourselves. I understand now having my own kiddos and I know that nothing I say will change that, but I can love them, teach them great values, be a good example and pray for them.

I can't complain. I have been blessed with a beautiful family. Here's a quick look at our 2011.

January-We celebrated the new year with our family in Texas!

February- My beautiful niece, Kirra, was born

March- had a nice visit from grandparents :)

April-Velani turned 5! (had a cool pirate birthday party)

May-Hubby finally graduated with a Bachelor's degree!

June-A very cute addition to our family! Adan was born!

July- Some aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins went to visit us in St. George (had a blast!)& Mia turned 3!

August-Made the longest car trip ever from Utah all the way to Pennsylvania (about 3 1/2 days with 3 kids)

September- My baby girl started Kindergarten! and the hubster started his P.A. program.

October- Actually went trick or treating this year (door to door rather than trunk to trunk).

November- Spent Thanksgiving in DC with a family I didn't know (Jahvel did back from his mission) very nice people.

December- Made a trip to Texas to spend Christmas and New Years with our families!!! ( I want to thank the best family I have for making it such a fun and memorable one and for your help!!!) Love you all!

I say it was a pretty darn good one!

I pray that everyone has a GREAT 2012 :)

Here are pictures of our 2011.

:-)

2011-12-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why I love December!

First of all, it is the month we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am very thankful for having Him in my life. I know he lives and that he loves me and knows me by name. He is my redeemer and I am grateful for the many many blessings that I have received this year. So many wonderful things have happened this year including the birth of my little boy and finally starting PA school. I am looking forward for next year and see what it will bring. We are a year closer to finishing school and that's what I am really anxious for.

Secondly, it's the month we make the long drive to Texas to spend the holidays with our family. We didn't think we would go this year, but thanks to some people, it seems like we will be able to.

My beautiful mother's birthday is this month and I love to know that as each year goes by and the older she gets the more beautiful she looks and to be honest she doesn't even look like her age.

Earlier last month we went to D.C. for the second time in over 6 years. It was exciting to be back. May 17, 2005 was a very special day. Jahvel and I got married in the D.C. temple and being there with my three kids was a very emotional experience. The girls were happy to be there and know that that was where mommy and daddy got married for time and all eternity!! We went back a few weeks later and spent Thanksgiving with a lovely family in D.C. that Jahvel visited while on his mission. It was different, but we had a good time. We also went to the National zoo with the kiddos and they loved it, especially riding the metro. Living in Pennsylvania is getting easier and I am no longer complaining. I know why we are here and we just have to endure to the end. We've got a future to look forward to and that makes it worth it.

I can't wait to see everyone again and enjoy every minute that we have to be with you guys. I love you all and am grateful for such a wonderful family.

This last picture with all those kids in it is the CTR class I teach at church. They are all 5 year olds and I love them. I have learned so much from them and they are just the funniest and loudest kids ever. The little girl next to Velani, the one with the white skirt, has a little sister (3 1/2 years old) who has Leukemia. I haven't met her mother or sister yet, but my heart goes out to her family. I can't imagine how hard it must be for them. I've learned even more now how grateful we should be for our health and not take things for granted. May this new year be filled with lots of love. I know that I will be counting my blessings and praying to give thanks even more.

Guess who's 5?

2011-11-18T10:26:00.001-07:00

Yes, Velani is 5, but Adan is also 5! 5 months!!!

I seriously cannot believe how big my boy is getting. I'm pretty sure he was born just yesterday, at least that's what it feels like. Let's take a look at how much he's changes in just 5 months.

new born

newborn w/ eyes open

1month

2 months

3months

4months

I need the 5th one which I will post soon.

So there you have it! He's getting big. He's what it's all about around here and we all love him and can't seem to keep our hands off of him, especially Mia!!

He's such a trooper when it comes being around his sisters. No need to worry about him, they will toughen him up and show him how to be a boy. I've caught Mia on top of him pretending he was her horsey and his hands were the reigns, but that's all I will say about that. My girls have played with him, have had tea parties with him, Mia tried to take out a booger that was stuck up in his nose and the eye boogers as well, they have also helped with his diaper, baths, rashes, bottle fed him, burped him, kissed him, made him cry, just name it and they've pretty much have done it. I can't say he likes it, but he doesn't have much of a choice so he just cries and mommy has to come to his rescue most of the time. This little boy has truly brought so much happiness into our lives. He continues to be a very quiet and mellow little guy. People are always complementing on how good he is and how quiet he is, but I think he's learned the hard way. He has 2 sisters that just won't leave him alone so I think he's the way he is so he doesn't draw any more attention to himself.

He has also accomplished a few milestones. He knows how to flip on his belly, sit in his bumbo, jump in his jumper, and here's a biggie, he can put both of his feet in his mouth, booyah! I want to see somebody try that. LOL! And the pediatrician gave us the go for rice cereal, which I think he will LOVE!!!

Now, if I can get him to sleep all night, that would be the cherry on top of the cake. I love this boy!

Pictures!

2011-11-02T08:31:00.001-06:00

look at that big foot!

yummy cheeks!

at Mc D's

at the mall

That's right, he's cool that way even when he sleeps!

At the farm

in NY! look at that creeper!

at the farm again

if daddy won't give them a horsey then he needs to be one!

Aliens at the farm!

I think Mia is the odd one out, but she's still pretty!

at a friend's house

our new "best" friends

Woohoo!

2011-11-01T07:58:00.001-06:00

Can't believe it's November already!!

Random pictures through out this post!

Planking?

So excited about that, but we seem to be having a little bit of a problem with the rotation coordinator at Jahvel's school. Apparently all 4 spots for the Idaho rotation have been filled and Jahvel isn't one of them :(

Three of the guys are from Idaho and because they were "recruited" from there they get to go to Idaho, it's part of the "deal". Jahvel had applied for a position there way before any of them got accepted, but like I said it was part of the deal and that's ok because there was still one opening left and this is where it gets unfair. He found out that the fourth guy was counted as being from Idaho, which he isn't, and they gave him the 4th position. Jahvel and the other 3 guys are pretty upset because first of all they're all good friends, they're the ones that go to church with us and because Jahvel should, rightfully, get that position since he did apply before anyone else. There is still time to get everything settled, but they won't take the rotation away from the 4th guy, it just wouldn't be "right". So Jahvel's 3 friends are going to Idaho for the winter break and will all try to go to hospitals around the area to talk to them and see if they can get another rotation site open for Jahvel. We are not giving up quite yet and won't lose faith or hope.

Things around here have been pretty exciting and chaotic. It seems like my girls are always fighting and that stresses me out a lot, but I guess it would happen sooner than later. Adan is huge yet cuddly! He is just growing uncontrollably. I have been crocheting some beanie hats for the winter and that has really kept me busy. That reminds me of a little incident and how crocheting has it's consequences. When not looking, Mia sat on Adan and pretended he was a horse using his hands as reigns, while he was on tummy time! I literally looked away for no more than 5 seconds. That has always been Mia so it shouldn't have surprised me at all, but I won't say anymore because it makes me feel mad and sad all over again. Velani is still loving school. She's had picture day, a book fair, farm field trip, danced for an assembly, fall/Halloween party with goodies and games and has learned how to read. She is having too much fun in school and I love it! Jahvel is doing good in school. He isn't a straight A student, but he's passed all of his exams and I give him credit for that. He studies all the time and only gets to be home for about 3 hours each day during the week, which I don't like, but I have to keep reminding myself that it's only 2 years and it will be worth it at the end.

Yesterday we went trick or treating and it was fun. Velani chose to be a witch, Mia wanted to be a princess so we chose snow white and Adan was a mummy. We were out for about 45 min. and went down just one street and that was enough for the girls. They got about 3/4 of their buckets full and were as happy as could be. Velani didn't start off right at first. She was a little grumpy and didn't want to say "trick or treat" or "thank you" and was just in a bad mood. After a while and seeing how happy and excited Mia was, and a little bit of a scolding from me, she changed her attitude.

I must admit that I'm getting used to it here. I'm not saying I like it because I really don't, but being home with my kiddos and finding a new hobby has helped. Winter is approaching and I better stock up on yarn and other fun crafting supplies.

Catch up!

2011-10-17T10:04:00.000-06:00

I have been MIA, but it's been good around this side of the country. The Thompsons are still getting adjusted. Velani seems to really be fitting in school. In just a matter of a couple of weeks she is reading really well. She already knew her letters, sounds and could read three letter words, but now she's really getting better at it. I am so happy for her and now she gets to read to me! Mia and I have been enjoying staying home playing, learning and eating. Adan keeps getting bigger and bigger. He is still a very sweet and quiet little boy. We love to play with him and make him laugh. He slobbers a lot, sleeps like an angel and doesn't like when his sisters are all over him. Jahvel has been studying like a crazy man. He's had many tests and has passed all of them so far. I couldn't be prouder. I know it's only going to get crazier and stressful for him, but we're here to support him. I am doing alright. I don't like to stay home a lot, but I just don't feel like going out by myself either. I like to hang out with my family so we just do it on the weekends. We've had some friends come over to play board games over the weekend and have been to the mall more than we ever did in the 3 years we were in St. George.
This weekend my dad came over and we hung out with him and we even went to NYC. The girls and us had a really good time. Every time there is a vacation or even a get together there's always something that happens that can never be forgotten. When we were arriving Mia said she really needed to go to the bathroom and when Mia says she has to go it's because she really has to go, NOW! Well, we weren't exactly able to just pull over then and there so when we finally got to the ferry station she had already gone. We took her underwear and leggings off and just hoped we would be able to buy some shorts at the souvenir shop. I have to mention that the weather was good, but pretty windy and a bit chilly because of it. So as we were walking her little skirt lifted and you could see everything! My daughter was being an exhibitionist. There were several people, but no one was looking. I had to chase after her because she was jumping and running after the leaves and birds having a great time as if nothing were wrong. I took an even better picture than that famous Marilyn Monroe one! I washed her panties and leggings and then Jahvel took care of the rest (thank goodness for hand dryers). Then, we got on the ferry and showed the girls the Statue of Liberty. They got reallly excited and said "Oh, I remember that! we saw it when we went to Las Vegas!" LOL! we explained that this was actually the real deal. We were also able to go to time square, but didn't have much luck enjoying it there because of a protest going on on wall street, but I did get to try one of New York's pizza and it was DELISH!! Adan was on his best behavior the whole time we were there. He didn't make a peep until we got into a taxi cab and Jahvel accidentally bumped his head, poor baby! We got home late, but we had fun and a much needed get away.
Things are back to normal today and it feels good to just be home and rest after a long weekend. I am looking forward to a field trip at the farm on Friday. Velani and I are gonna spend some mommy/daughter time, while the other two stay with a friend. I am way excited! She hasn't ever been to a farm or had an experience like before. I'll be sure to take pictures.

Our fun weekend

2011-09-29T12:10:00.000-06:00

Adan finally had his two month check up, which really was a 3 month check up because he didn't have his two month one, and it was pretty sad. I cannot stand seeing my babies cry when they get poked. Jahvel has always been the one to take them when they are going to get shots or we go together, but this time it was all me. He got 3 shots and of course he cried. I have always consoled my kids by feeding them as soon as the medical assistant leaves the room so they will stop crying! But before the shots I told the nurse about how we were concerned that there was still a little piece of skin that didn't fully detach after his circumcision. I thought she would let me know what to do or explain something to me, but what she did next shocked me and scarred me for life! She started looking at it and said, "Oh, yeah! right here, that's fine,we just do this" and she just pulled it apart from his delicate little penis without a warning or nothing! I couldn't believe it. My baby cried and I wanted to cry with him and punch her in the face (not really, punch her because I'm not a violent person, but you know what I mean). She put neosporin afterwards, but like I said I was scarred and traumatized. Other than that, she seems ok. Oh and it was raining that that and I was carrying the baby carrier, my purse and the umbrella in one hand and holding on to Mia with the other. I dislike going out alone with my kids, it's hard!

On Saturday we had a blast! It was a very special day. It was Jahvel's 29th birthday, 7 year engagement anniversary and Velani's 4th year with diabetes. We went out to celebrate by taking the girls and boy to the mall. The girls made a bear at Build a Bear and then we went to the Cheesecake Factory to have some yummy lunch. We had fun. Later, we went to Chili's for dinner. I didn't cook today, yay! My night ended by going to the RS general conference where I heard some wonderful talks by our leaders that really uplifted my spirit. I thank my Heavenly Father for my daughters, son and wonderful husband. He has been working his butt off and we try to really enjoy the time we get to spend with him on the weekends even if it means spending a lot of money on some stuffed animals!! Let me just say our lunch was cheaper than those bears! but the girls couldn't have been happier and that is what counts!!

Back to school night!

2011-09-21T21:00:00.000-06:00

We had back to school night or as I remember it, meet the teacher night. Her teacher, Ms. Gyza, seems like a pretty good teacher. She went over the curriculum and I loved it. She is gonna keep her students busy all year and Velani is gonna love it! It made me want to be 5 years old again and go back to Kindergarten. They have a pet chinchilla named Violet, it's really cute if that helps any tia! lol Velani is still feeling a little sick so she didn't go to school again today. Let me go back a day. The nurse called me yesterday and told me Velani wasn't feeling too good. When she woke up yesterday morning I felt like she wasn't ready to go back to school quite yet so, I told her she was going to stay home one more day. She seemed to be fine with it until she came out a little later all dressed up and told me that she was feeling a lot better. I asked her if she was feeling good enough to go to school and she immediately said yes. So I hurried up and got everything ready and she went to school. When the nurse called she said Velani's eyes were red and that her tonsils were inflamed. I picked her up and she didn't even want to talk to me because her throat was hurting. Today was early release day and since she is still a little sick I let her stay home again. Anyways, back to the story, I got pretty teared up to see what Velani had been working on all week for this special night. She colored and drew pictures of her family and wrote some of her favorite things. She is doing pretty darn good, even better than other classmates. I can't wait for them to start doing more fun stuff and hearing all about it from her. They will be having special guests and animals come into to her classroom such as a fireman, scuba diver (weird), mailman, fish, chicks and many more.

So I guess that's enough about Velani for now. Let's talk about the yummy Adan. That boy is getting BIG! and cuter, too! He is waking up in the middle of the night again, but he doesn't cry he just blabbers away. He is such a sweet boy. He loves to smile at everyone and hardly ever cries, I love that little guy. I can't get enough of him.

Mia is still being her silly self. I'm sure she misses Velani, but she keeps busy very well. We play together and I am also teaching her a few stuff. She doesn't have a long attentions span, but we'll get there. Friday is check up at the doctor, I'll tell you all about it.

Part 2

2011-09-20T08:12:00.002-06:00

I have a confession to make! I believe that there is someone out there trying to make me look really bad. After I wrote my blog and promised that it would never happen again, it did!
:( I promise I got there earlier, but not as early as the bus! (stop it mom) I feel really bad, I really do!
Let's move on to why Velani got moved to another table. I still can't believe that she told Jahvel and not me! I always ask her what she did in school and I don't get much out of her. She always says she did the same things as the day before like color, play outside and sing. Anyways, Jahvel asked her if they moved her so she could get to know other little classmates better and she said no that it was because she was talking! Great, we have a talker, but then again I already knew that. Velani loves to talk and always has since the day she learned how to do it!
She didn't go to school yesterday because she was a little sick. She had a fever and a sore throat. It got really chilly all of a sudden. I think the climate change really affected her because no one else here got sick, at least not yet. This morning her voice was a little scratchy and I asked her if she was ready to go back to school, but she said she wasn't and didn't want to get anybody else sick. I was going to let her stay until later she comes up to me and tells me that she is feeling a lot better. I asked her if she wanted to go to school and she said yes! I think that she realized she was going to get bored here and that she would probably be better off in school with her friends. I have noticed my days are actually less stressful when she is in school; there isn't a lot of yelling or screaming or fighting and that feels good. I'm not saying that it's Velani's fault because it's not, but since she is the only one that is school age then, it works out for me and my sensitive nerves!
Moving on, on Saturday we had the chance to finally go out again and have fun. We went with some friends to Valley Forge and had a good time. We had the opportunity to be in the same place where Washington and the continental army once gathered during the revolutionary war and we took pictures of the different sites. It was such a good feeling to know that we were standing in a very important historical place AND we went on the 224th signing anniversary of the Constitution of the USA. It was also a special day for members of our church, the groundbreaking for a Temple here in Pennsylvania. It was a good day!
Next weekend will also be a good one. It is Jahvel's 29th birthday, our engagement day and Velani's diabetes diagnosis! We will be celebrating that day, especially Velani, she will be sticking it to the man, aka "DIABETES", by eating some yummy ice cream! We won't let that bring us down. Celiac...that's a different story!

Worst mother of the year!!

2011-09-16T09:00:00.002-06:00

I feel horrible! I'll tell you why in a minute. First, I would like to let you know how Velani's first full week of school went. Good! Every time I ask her that is her response. I don't know if it's because she really hasn't learned something she doesn't know already or if that's really all she has to say about it. She doesn't say much about it and it frustrates me. I have to ask her questions and she still answers with a yes or a no. I can't wait 'til meet the teacher night, which is next Wednesday, to know what's been going on in school. She did teach me a couple of songs that she learned in music class and has told me about how she likes getting on this spin thingy at recess, but that's about it. Her glucose at school has been ok, not exactly steady like we'd like, but it's better than being low. She did go a little low yesterday before riding the bus back home, but the nurse called and told me about it and stuck with our plan. They have been great about calling me and letting me know how things are going with her.

Alright, now the rest of the blog will be about me and why I might get the "worst mother of the year" award and it's not a very nice and prestigious award by the way!

Monday morning I woke up at the usual time and did the usual things up until fixing Velani's hair. I promised myself before school started that I would actually take some time to fix her hair instead of just putting it up in a pony tail. She has the "thick hair" gene and a pony tail doesn't cut it because it would just fall off before lunch time. So I had seen this cute hairdo and I attempted to do it with plenty of time, so I thought. What's funny is I even told Velani, "We have to hurry and do your hair so we won't be late" and she said, "NO! YOU BETTER HURRY!" Before I knew it, it was time to go and I mean GO! I quickly grabbed Adan and strapped him on me and we started speed walking. I just have to go to the end of the street, but with 3 kids it's not all that easy. I saw the bus at the corner and thought we weren't gonna make it so I just started walking normally. Kids were still getting on so I told the girls to start running. Velani was tired and Mia was running, but her little legs were no match for my speed walking. I saw the doors close and thought oh well! but one of the mom's their saw me and waved to the bus driver and she waited for Velani. I was embarrassed!! but hey, I had a baby strapped on me and a 3 year old who really was trying to run fast, it's not easy I tell you!

Tuesday was fine.

Wednesday was ok, too.

Thursday wasn't all that great! Everything seemed to be fine that morning. It was time to start our walk to the bus stop and I had just finished feeding Adan and I noticed that Mia hadn't put on her shoes like I told her to. I knew we wouldn't make it on time so I decided I would just take her. I told Mia to hurry while I put Adan in his car seat. She was taking her sweet time so I took over and she threw a tantrum. She didn't want me to help her. She wouldn't get up from the floor and I told her I was going to leave her thinking she would follow, but she didn't. I had the carrier, my purse and the keys in my hand and she never came down that dumb, narrow staircase. So I was upset that we would be late to school. I went back upstairs and she had already taken off a shoe and a sock. I was mad. I couldn't find the other shoe. I looked for it and couldn't find where she had taken it off. I just took the other shoe and sock off and put on her sandals and all this time she is still crying and screaming. I wasn't happy, but she finally realized I wasn't going to put up with it any longer and she followed. We got to school at exactly 9 am, which is when school starts! We hadn't said a word that whole drive and when Velani finally got off I apologized to Mia. I don't know how to keep my cool in situations like those. I get stressed out and frustrated and I cry, but I do apologize when I make a mistake and realize I could have handled things differently. Know I just have to learn how to actually handle things differently before I start yelling or screaming. I talked to her and I let her know that I love her. She smiled at me and of course I cried!

Anyways, another guilt moment came later that afternoon. It was time to pick up Velani. I was on the phone with my mom and we were about to hang up and I told her it was about time to go pick Velani up. Mia was watching a movie and I told her we needed to go pick her sister up and she said she didn't want to because she wanted to keep watching her movie. For a split second I thought she'll be ok here, but I immediately said, "No". I told her we needed to go. She got up and we left. For the past few days I have been at the bus stop for more that 20 min. waiting for her because the bus is supposed to be there by 4, but has arrived around 4:25-4:35. So I thought this time I would leave the house at 4:15 and get there at 4:20. BAD MISTAKE! That little incident with Mia took another 3 extra minutes and when we walk around the corner of the house I can see all the way down the street where the bus stops and it wasn't there and no one was there. It was about 4:24 PM and the bus had come earlier. I knew that Velani was ok. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but that bus driver lady won't let any of the kids off if they don't see their parents. The bus had already turned down the street where we live and was waiting for me. All this time I was feeling AWFUL and nervous! She opens the doors and Velani comes out of the bus. First, I thank her and then I apologize! She said she hadn't seen me so she just waited. Velani was upset. She asked me why I had been late and told me that all of her friends had left. She said she had looked out the window and didn't see me there. I can only imagine how she felt when she didn't see me there. I apologized to her and told her that I had brought her a cheese stick, she immediately changed her attitude and her reaction was priceless. She smiled and said," Oh, thank you mami!" I still couldn't believe it, I still felt bad. I kept wondering why all these things were happening to me. I really thought we would be on time and I even grabbed her a cheese stick knowing she would react exactly the same way she did when I told her about it even when I was late.

My daughters are great and so forgiving. I wouldn't forgive myself that easily. I have to try and be a better mommy and never, NEVER let this happen again. I don't ever want to feel the way I did and don't want Velani to ever have to look out her window and not see me there again.

This morning a lady reminded me how I felt yesterday. She was nice and all, but she told me that she noticed I wasn't there to pick up Velani on time and that the driver is really good about not letting the children get down if the parents aren't there and that she drove her closer to where we live. I asked her what time she had arrived and she said 4:20. Those must have been the longest 4 min for Velani.

I guess my mom was right when we spoke earlier on the phone and told me that everyone would know Velani at school. First, with the whole speaking up on the first day of school then, being at the nurse's office everyday, being late to the bus stop, being the last to be picked up from the bus stop and lastly, being moved to another desk in her classroom!

To be continued....

Is it too soon for a school disappointment?

2011-09-11T07:19:00.000-06:00

It's not what you are thinking, it's actually the opposite. On Thursday morning, the second day of school, Mia walks into my room and asks, "Velani is not going to school today?" and I said, "no" and she went and told Velani, "I told you you're not going to school today!" Velani came into my room and asked me if she was going to go to school and I told her that she wasn't ,but she replied with a "Yes I am!" I explained to her that I had received a call at 6:00 am and that it was an automated message from the school district saying the schools would be closed because of bad weather conditions. Apparently, it rained a lot during the night and caused a lot of flooding. She was disappointed, but accepted it and went on to play with Mia like always. Mia was so happy her sister would be staying home to play with her.

I have to admit I felt really happy! I then thought that her disappointment would come again sooner than she thought. She would go back to school on Friday, but then stay home again for the weekend, but she's pretty smart and figured it all on her own. She told me in an asking sort of way that she wouldn't be going to school on Saturday and Sunday. I know she will be grateful later on that she doesn't have to go to school on the weekends.

So Friday morning we went through the same routine as Wednesday and headed out to the bus stop. I felt scared and nervous! She, on the other hand, was excited! When I saw the bus getting closer I began to really feel nervous and when I saw her going up those steps I started to cry, but I tried to not let her see me. I wanted to run up there with her. She sat next to two other little girls at the very front. I don't know how to explain all the mixed emotions I felt, but she looked happy and she was just waving at me and I was waving back at her. I guess I was all emotional because it finally hit me then and there, she was growing up! I wouldn't get to spend all day every day with her again. I realized that maybe I didn't spend enough quality time with her and that I wanted to go back in time when she was little again and relive all those years with her again. I know I have to let go and accept that she is growing up and that's part of life, but I guess I'm just feeling like this because I'm going through all of this all by myself, since Jahvel is in school.

Anyways, I wasn't the only one that cried, Mia threw a tantrum because she wanted to ride the bus with velani, too! I felt even worst. I had Adan in a carrier and Mia crying and not wanting to come back home. I broke down once we made it home. Once I composed myself I talked to Mia and made her understand that Adan and I needed her to stay home with us. She felt better! An hour later the nurse called and asked if I could go to school and teach her how to use Velani's glucometer, which I gladly accepted. I felt better after seeing her in school. I guess what I am really worried about is not being with her to make sure her sugar levels are ok and that she is feeling ok. I have always been there for her diabetic needs and I guess not being there now worries me a little, but I know that she is in good hands. The nurses there are nice and they really do care about her and they told me that they would call me if they needed me and now I know they will. After school we went to Target and spent a long time there because when I got home it was just about time to pick her up from the bus stop. The bus took forever to get there, but once it did the bus lady made sure each parent was there before letting each child out. Velani was happy to see us. She hugged Mia and kissed Adan and told us all about her day. She is happy and I am happy for her. I guess it will get easier as the days go by.

School and more!

2011-09-10T16:40:00.003-06:00

I know I've already said this, but I'm gonna say it again, I cannot believe my baby is growing up!

She is already in Kindergarten! I can't stop thinking about MY elementary years and how I LOVED them. I had very good teachers, except that mean old lady in 3rd grade, Mrs. Levy!! She made me cry more than once and I'm pretty sure she didn't liked me, but other than her they were all nice! I can still see the school in my head. I even remember having my first crush in kindergarten, uh oh!

On the morning of her first* day, Velani woke up all on her own, got dressed, I fixed her hair, served her breakfast and prepared her lunch. She was all ready to go by 7:30 when school actually starts at 9:00! I had to explain to her that she woke up early and that it wasn't exactly time to go. So I then told her to just sit on the sofa and watch cartoons while I got ready. While I was getting ready I heard a very familiar tune on t.v. and got really excited, so I went to check it out. It was inspector gadget!!! I sat down and watched it with them ('cause Mia was awake too, of course!). Then, the pink panther came on so we watched that one too! It brought back so many memories. I remember when we were little, we would get ready, eat breakfast and then, if we still had some extra time, before we had to catch the bus, we would sit down and watch cartoons. It was still a little dark outside just like it was on Velani's first day. I just can't believe that now it's my daughter going through the same thing. Anyways, a friend came over to watch Mia and Adan while I took her to school and stayed for an hour orientation with the teacher. When we arrived we were sent to the cafeteria to wait for the school buses to arrive. Again, memories. The lunch line, the tables, etc...when we finally went into her homeroom, the kids sat on the floor and the teacher started asking them questions. She said that there were a lot of books to read and she asked who liked to read and all of them raised their hands and Velani just had to say, " I have lots of books at my house, too!" The teacher kept on going and then I decided to record and she told the kids that the assistant teacher would read them a book so she could talk to the adults and Velani again just blurted out, "That's my mommy right there!" LOL! Hopefully she doesn't get in trouble because she just speaks out.

I picked her up a few hours later and she was just as happy as could be, but then she got upset at me. She realized that a few of her classmates were actually going to ride the bus and not go in a car like she was. She kept telling me she wanted to ride the bus back home and asked me why I had gone back to pick her up. I tried telling her that we missed her and wanted to pick her up, but she wouldn't take it. She told me to just let her ride the bus next time :(

*her first day really was on Tuesday. I guess I wasn't paying attention to the papers they sent with the day she was to report. I had received a paper that said that kids with last names A-L would go on Tuesday and M-Z would go on Wednesday so that stuck with me, but the correct date was on the papers I received through the mail a few days later. When the teacher called me telling me that Velani was supposed to be there that day, I felt horrible. How did I miss that?! I went back through the papers hoping she was wrong, but it was there. She told me it was ok as long as I went on Wednesday, but I still felt bad. She had missed her real first day of school! I felt better the next morning because the weather was actually better than the day before. It was a little foggy, but no rain to ruin her first day of school pictures.

"I miss St. George"

2011-09-01T09:59:00.000-06:00

That is what Velani told Mia today! She also said, "I miss mom, too!" Mia responded, "Mom misses us, too!" The reason she misses St. George, besides mom, is because they don't have their t.v. where they used to watch their vhs movies AND they miss a place named Jumping Jacks (lots of bounce houses). They only went there 3 times and they miss it?!

So today's blog will be about why we miss St. George.

Here is my list of reasons:

- Of course Mom!

-my beautiful Kirra mamas (her makers too!)

-I actually miss our ex-condo, with the big pantry and more counter space in the kitchen, the attic, our assigned parking space & having a washer and dryer all to ourselves!

-Menchies

-Cafe Rio's salad and pastel de tres leches (MMMMM!!!!)

-25 main street (yummiest cupcakes EVER!)

-the new hot dog place (it took only one time to get hooked on the hot dog I ordered and too bad we only went there one time)

-Playing croquet

-going to the splash pads with the girls

-carne asadas at mom's place

-watching dumb movies (no chick flicks)

-sleep overs at mom's

- GARAGE SALING

-Killer bunnies and other board/card/dice games

-Dixie college (why not?)

-the weather (what?! it's humid here)

-the red mountains

-Braulio and Alison's BYOC condo (but never really took our chairs because we didn't have any)

Ok, fine! I couldn't think of any more legit reasons, but you get the point, basically it was mostly EATING and hanging out at MOM'S place/with each other)

We just hope those people mentioned above will come out and visit us soon! just remember that Kirra flies free before 1? or is it2?

Here are a few pics of the reasons mentioned above!

Stefani

The PA life

2011-08-29T14:40:00.000-06:00

Living the life of a P.A. in PA!

We were sort of welcomed into our place with two events, first an earthquake and then a hurricane. I now know what that shaking was. It wasn't strong so I questioned it. I was in that little bathroom minding my own business, if you know what I mean ;) and I felt a shake, but at first I thought it was the people working on the apartment next door, so I looked out the window and saw nothing. Then, I thought I had just gotten dizzy. Later, I read a text message that Jahvel had sent to me asking if I had felt the earthquake; that's when I knew! LOL! The Hurricane arrived here Sunday morning. There were strong winds and rain the night before. I have to admit I got a little scared. We have some huge trees in front of our apartment that were shaking and making lots of noise. On the news we also heard that tornadoes could possibly form so I started to worry even more. The children were already asleep and I kept thinking what we would do if we needed to take shelter. We have no space in our closets, all of the rooms have windows and we have no bottom level. I got worried, but I was also very tired and sleepy so I just went to bed! If anything happened I would be asleep. Luckily nothing happened here. Around the corner, on the other hand, a tree fell. It came out with soil and all. No one got hurt, but it was pretty cool.

Did I ever tell y'all that it took me about a year to finally get the streets of St. George down? I really doubt I'll figure Philly out. Traffic is horrible and I don't know the good areas from the bad ones, so I don't know if I'll ever venture out on my own. I guess I have plenty I can do around the house with the kiddos.

Well, we finally settled in! The girls' room looks good and ours has a crib in it, but other than that they're alright. We still have to get another dresser to put the baby's clothes in and hang up some decor on his part of the room. The living room is probably the simplest looking room in this tiny apartment. It is the biggest room as well, but we didn't really bring anything for the living room, except MY comfy couch!! The kitchen finally has a real table in it, but I'm still hating the smallness and the no counter space. The restroom, let's just say it serves it's purpose!

Moving on.

Jahvel is getting the ball rolling in school and Velani will be doing the same pretty soon! Let me just express in one word how I feel about that "WHAAAH!!" is that even a word?! I am excited for her because I know this is what she wants, really! But I am sad. I can't believe my little Nani isn't so little anymore. She is 5 years old now and ready to conquer the world, not really, but I mean she has grown so much. I know she will succeed in school and will always give 100%. I am just amazed at how much she knows. I was telling Jahvel the other day how she doesn't play pretend because she knows what's real and what's not. Mia would start playing pretend dinosaur and Velani would ruin it for her because she would be like " that's not even real, Mia!" On the bright side, I get to spend one on one time with my Mia before she grows up and leaves me too!

Velani will be in a fake school this year! Fake school building that is. Apparently the school she should be attending is going to be demolished! It's an old building so they are in the process of rebuilding a brand spankin' new one, but we won't be here for it, HOPEFULLY! And darn! Her first year in school and she's going to be in a modular or portable building. That's not fair! I'll try to make the pictures of her first day of school look good!

Oh and Adan is doing great! He's getting chubby, smiling more, making noises and growing healthy. I love that he is such a good boy especially at night!! We will try to make the best of everything while we are here and enjoy the ride! So far we have only been to Ocean City in New Jersey and enjoyed a few hours at the beach. Hopefully we get plenty of other opportunities to go out and explore the east coast!

Stefani

A new chapter

2011-08-06T15:06:00.002-06:00

We have started a new chapter in our lives and so far it's not going the way I thought it would. I was really excited to move, not knowing what was ahead of us. Sometimes things just don't always work out the way we want, but we just keep on doing our best.

It all started with getting our stuff ready to move to Philly. It was a HUGE pain. I thought we didn't have much, but I was wrong. We had to leave a lot more of our stuff in storage than we expected, but looking at the stuff we brought with us, I guess I am ok. We loaded and up and as we pulled the trailer around St George, we got a little worried. We had never pulled a trailer before so we thought we were a little heavier so decided to leave the heaviest thing we had, our super heavy marble top table. We left Sunday morning and I was still a little scared. The trailer kept swaying side to side, but once Jahvel got the hang of it we were good. The trip was long. We drove all day and pulled over every night about 9:30 pm at a hotel to sleep. We did this for 3 days until we finally arrived on Wednesday at around 5 pm.

*funny story: As we were entering Pennsylvania, Jahvel told the girls that he had forgotten something back in St George and that we had to go back. Velani immediately responded "You're going back alone!" Jahvel asked her why and she said that it was a long trip and she didn't want to go back because it wasn't her "thing" that was forgotten.

The girls were good and I understand how tiring that trip was and I am surprised by how well they behaved. They did fight a bit, but I don't blame them. We all got cranky once in a while, but it sure felt good to have finally arrived.

That is until the following day when reality finally hit. We went out to look for a place to rent and didn't have much luck. Everything is so expensive and UGLY!! I began to feel sad and "homesick" I actually missed St. George. The only place we saw that has been by far the best place yet is a little further than we wanted, but because our student loan hasn't been disbursed, we can't do anything.

We are staying with a very nice family who kindly let us stay in a mother in law suite they have. The only bad thing about that is that we only have until the 20th because they have rented this place out. We feel frustrated and sad that we still don't have anything yet.

I will keep you posted on what happens. I know things will work out and that we just have to have faith, be patient and keep looking.

Happy first month Adan!

2011-07-18T13:39:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it has been a month since Adan was born? I can't! It's hard to believe that the last few weeks of my pregnancy actually, the last few days, well more like hours were taking FOREVER! and now with the blink of an eye 4 weeks have gone by, unbelievable!

Adan is getting chunky and has grown a lot. He is waking up less at night so that's wonderful. I can't get enough of him. I love to just stare at him and wonder what he will look like when he is 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, etc. I am in love with my baby boy and what a wonderful feeling it is to have a boy. I love my girls too, but my mom was right, you love them each in a unique and different way. I just can't imagine that this little guy will be driving me just as crazy as my girls in a couple of years!!!

I am feeling pretty good and have about 10-15 lbs. I would love to lose. I really really want to stop wearing my maternity clothes, but I guess that'll take some time. I also have a little pain from my wisdom teeth extractions and Adan seems to be doing really good after his circumcision. The girls are crazy like always. They have nicknamed Adan "Los Papis"I don't know why, but it has stuck. It sounds funny, but I love it! Jahvel is a little stressed about the whole moving thing and trying to figure out how we are going to do it, but other than that we are good.

We were able to spend some time with some of you family last week and it was GREAT! I am so happy we had the chance to see some of you before we moved. We don't know what it's going to be like in Philly or how we will be economically so, we don't know when we will be visiting Texas again. We are blessed to have such a wonderful family like you all. We love you and will miss each and everyone of you! I will try to keep this blog going and updated so you know what's going on with us.

I forgot to show and give y'all Adan's picture when y'all were here so choose one and I will mail them to Grandma's house soon. Let me just say that he was such a good baby during the whole session. He slept right through it and at the very end he decided to let us know that he had enough pictures taken, it was only a little pee pee.

Well, I guess this is the end to this post.

Choose your favorite picture and let me know which one you want.

I can't talk!

2011-07-06T16:49:00.003-06:00

I am in a little bit of pain right now because I got my wisdom teeth pulled out this morning. I can't talk, my mouth feels dry and my lower mouth is numb.....not a good feeling, but I'm not the one in pain. My little guy had his circumcision done today and as soon as he got home he started crying a lot. I'm guessing that he was hurting, but was also hungry. I had to give him some formula since I couldn't breastfeed for 24 hrs. due to the anesthesia. He ate as if he hadn't eaten in days, poor little Adan. I feel a little bad about making him go through that, but supposedly it's a good thing.

He is FINALLY here!

2011-06-23T11:55:00.003-06:00

It's been almost a week, can you believe it?! I certainly can't. We are so happy to have him. He is a very sweet and calm little baby.....when he's not hungry! LOL! like every baby he sleep, eats and poops and when he is awake he is quiet and just looks around. I love this little boy more and more every day. I can't believe that we have a baby in the house and the girls are just thrilled to have him. They take turns carrying him and are always willing to help when it comes down to him.

Almost there!

2011-06-04T09:35:00.000-06:00

I am only 3 weeks away from my due date! I really can't take the horrible ligament pains that won't let me walk like a normal human being, won't let me sleep, and won't let me do much. Other than that I am way excited. My girls were both born a week earlier so maybe and hopefully he decides to come early too. I just want to be able to carry him and why not, share him with his sisters, but mostly walk and "sleep" again.

I don't know if this baby will be bigger or not, I have gained about the same amount of pounds as the last one, but I do know this pregnancy has been completely different than the other two. The morning sickness wasn't just during the morning hours, it hit anytime of the day and I am literally wobbling and feel like a whale and carrying a HUGE baby.

So, I have to talk about my baby shower. It was exactly what I expected, but with less people than I expected. I didn't want to invite all of the ladies from church because we wouldn't have fit here at my house and well, I honestly just wanted the closest friends and family. The list was only 15 ladies including my mom and myself. Alison wouldn't be here, but in Texas (jealous! :-D), my friend would be having her baby around that time, but she said she'd come if she didn't go into labor (got induced the night before) 2 down and 13 to go, a sister from church told me from the beginning she had to work and wouldn't make it, another friend would be in SLC that weekend, my sister in law was leaving to Dallas that weekend too, but I didn't know when exactly (she was actually here that day and could have come, but I don't know why she didn't) 10 left, right? actually 8 because my mom and me don't count. So only one sister from church, my good friend Daneka and her mother in law showed up. The other 2 ladies from church, my mother in law and 2 other friends didn't show up. We still had a good time! we also had a lot of food and thank you gifts left over ( chocolates and hand soaps) LOL!!

So now we are trying to get the house in order and just taking more stuff out for a last garage sale we will be having with our good friends, who are also moving. I can't believe we move in about 6 or 7 weeks! We finally got a SUV with 3rd row seating. Our baby boy will now be able to fit. I am so very grateful that things are working out so far for us and hopefully we'll find a nice and decent place to live in Philly. I am really gonna miss this place now that I know how Pennsylvania is.

Well, it's time to keep on working and cleaning this house, but here are some pics for your entertainment. Hope you enjoy!

acting cool!

Jahvel's graduation.

Me acting like a whale trying to get up, Mia took this pic without me knowing! LOL!

the chunky girls.

Baby shower decor

The cake was DELISH!!

Kung Fu Panda 3D

The countdown begins!

2011-05-13T18:08:00.000-06:00

Our baby boy is almost here! I can't believe that sometime next month our little guy will come into this world and join our family. I am sure the drama with these mamas will only get better. We have a new title though because it just wouldn't be fair not to add the guys.

I have been feeling so good! I love the last months of pregnancy because I can just feel my baby more and I love to see how my belly moves. Mia and Velani have felt it and I don't know what they are thinking, but their reaction is priceless. Mia has been so loving and caring with her baby brother (well, my belly) and I know she just can't wait to see him. She is always rubbing and kissing my belly that it's just too funny. If she sees my belly exposed she will say "Aww, my baby!" or she will be in her room and I will just call out to her and ask "Mia do you want to see the baby?" and she will run out and rub on my belly. She is just so cute! She has sung to her baby brother so many times that I'm sure her brother will immediately recognize her as soon as he sees and hears her.

We are all just very thrilled! We still have many things to do to get ready for his arrival. We just don't know where to start. There are so many things on our minds (packing, moving, loans, a new car, another birthday, and a baby) and it gets a little overwhelming because we really don't know what to do. We will be moving by the end of July (don't have an exact date yet) to Pennsylvania and we think it might be a good idea to start packing and getting rid of stuff before the baby comes. I just have so much junk that I really don't want to think about it. I don't like moving!

Ok let's change the subject.

So it's been a while since I last wrote, but the excitement in this family hasn't stopped. We had Velani's Pirate party, which I think was pretty cool. So, yeah she is five now and will be starting school in September. She is soooo excited, but I'm not because that just means that she's growing too fast. Mia has become more sensitive and is always crying, but still with her same little attitude. Every little thing we say makes her cry...... I wonder who she gets that from? Jahvel graduated with his Bachelors...YAY!! I finished a year of school and passed all of my classes with A's and B's. We've been hanging out with the family playing lots of croquet, which by the way, I really suck at! It's been great! I just can't believe our time here in St. George is coming to an end. I thought I wouldn't miss it, but I think I am. It's a quiet little boring place, but just thinking about moving to a new, big and crazy city is making me really nervous.

Alright, I guess this will do for now. Here are some pics for you to enjoy.

Our family book

2011-03-16T20:03:00.001-06:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Just thinking!

2011-02-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

   I am so happy that little Kirra Skye finally came into our lives. I can only imagine what the new parents are feeling. It is so wonderful to become a parent and have kids! ( I really mean that) I couldn't imagine how much they would change our lives as soon as they were born. I would and still always pray that I can be a better mother. It's such a huge responsibility and a growing and learning experience that never stops.

   I see Alison and Braulio so happy for their little girl and it just brings back all those memories of when both Velani and Mia were born and how I didn't want them growing up and just staying like that forever. That feeling you get when they place that baby in your arms for the first time is just so GREAT! I felt so close to my Heavenly Father because I knew that my babies were with him before being sent here and I knew that it was my responsibility to care for and love them. We, as mothers, have "an Eternal partnership with God" and this is something unique and special that only us as women have and that's where that closeness that I felt came from, me knowing how special I am for being a woman and a mother.

   I now love that my girls grew up and are still growing because it's the special things they say and do that makes my love grow for them each and every day. I just think time is going by so fast and that it needs to slow down just a bit so I can have time to accept that they won't stay kids forever. I love being a mom and I'm gonna say it now.....I want to have lots of children as many as I can. I really don't mind that they drive me nuts or make me mad here and there because I still love them and they still make me happier than they do mad.

   I just know that I am happy to be a woman!!

Here's a video about mothers that I just wanted to share by Jeffrey R. Holland that I really loved. Just click on the link and it should start up or copy and paste on the bar. Hope you like it!

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?autoplay=true&index=1&locale=0&sourceId=852721bf16a89210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD

It's a BOY!!

2011-02-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

I just can't help myself. I am ECSTATIC!!

We are all very happy and excited for our little guy! I have to admit I am a bit nervous. I have had two girls and I think I can handle them, but a boy? How much different are they? besides the obvious one?

The truth is that I felt it was a boy, but kept thinking and saying to my self it was probably a girl. I guess I was just preparing my self. I promise though that if it was a girl, I would have been very excited as well. I love my girls and they are so much fun and there are way cuter stuff for them than boys and I actually wanted to start making my own hair bows.

Velani wanted a baby brother at first and then changed her mind and stuck with a baby sister 'till she actually found out that it was a boy. She said " I knew it" when the doctor said it was a boy. Mia on the other hand didn't really understand the difference and I'm not sure if she actually knows what a boy is yet even though she is already going around saying "It's a boy". I tried to explain the difference to her by asking her if she wanted a boy like Tony or a girl like Velani and she said " I want a Tony!" So I guess she meant a boy and doesn't actually think we are gonna just take Tony away from his family.

Thanks for sharing this exciting time with us! We have had a boy name for a while.....because we like to just think of both, girl and boy names, when we find out we are expecting and we've actually had this name since before Mia, but don't know if it will actually be the ONE! it's Adan and it's pronounced like Adam not the biblical name in spanish. For now that's what we will start calling him. Andres suggested another name that I actually liked, but I don't know if we will change. He said Arian. It's very close to being Ariana, but I thought it sounded cute I guess it's like Adrian with out the "D" I like it!! ok now I really want to go shopping for boy stuff, especially a cute little tie.

I will post our sonograms as soon as I get a chance. Oh and by the way I really need y'alls help. I want to change my blog name and I need something cute and unique. So PLEASE help!! Thanks!!

Year coming to an end!

2010-12-21T13:50:00.042-07:00

It's true! another chapter in our lives will be closed in a couple of weeks. Can you believe year 2010 is almost over?! I just can't believe it yet. It seems like just yesterday we were in Dallas with our party family celebrating Christmas. Alright, so do you remember when my girls got sick and were puking and then my mom got sick too? Well, right now we're going through that again except my mom's not puking. Jahvel, Mia and I have been sick since Sunday night. Alison got sick too, Braulio, well, he had the runs, mom she had stomach problems too. At first we thought it was probably the chorizo we ate that day or maybe even the ice cream cake, but after taking Mia to her doctor the next day, we concluded it was a virus. Poor Mia was throwing up all night. She was all scared because she didn't even want to open her mouth to let all the junk out. Velani is fine and hasn't gotten sick. I'm still grateful that this has actually been the first time to get sick all year long. They are pretty healthy girls. I still hate that it happens, but that's part of life.

It has been a good year. I always say that, but it really has. We have been blessed all year long and that is what's important. Some of the most memorable things that happened this year have been:

The arrival of my family to Utah. It's great having them here! We're really gonna miss them when we leave next year.

Velani's 4th birthday party. We had a really cute Belle party for her. The reason it was memorable is how windy that day was. We had tostadas and several peoples plates were blown away and mine was one of them.

Velani's celiac disease diagnosis. This limits the type of foods she can eat more than diabetes so we're not gonna be to strict with sugary stuff as long as we give her the correct amount of insulin. Finding gluten free foods that actually taste good is hard, but hopefully they come out with more variety of foods.

My in-laws move to Utah too!

Finding out in a very special and fun way that Braulio and Alison are were expecting a baby!!

Mia's 2nd birthday party. We didn't invite as many people as Velani's and it was actually less stressful, but just as windy and again things flew away.

Begue, Begua, Lisette, and Ariana coming to St. George was Great!! And then our trip to Dallas for Andrea's quinceanera!!!

First time ever to go to Disneyland with the girls and family. It was great to see my daughters little happy faces as they met the Disney Princesses. I will never forget how happy they were and how good I felt inside!

Going back to school again! I was so nervous, but so excited to go back :)

Getting pregnant for the third time!!! I really want a little boy, but a girl is just perfect too!

Applying to 17 universities, going to the first interview and getting accepted into that one within a few weeks.

Having our first halloween party and seeing Andres in some short spandex shorts dressed up as the Apple guy was actually pretty priceless!

Finding out the Bralisons are having a Girl and not a boy and that I still have a chance! ;)

and finally,

Going back to Dallas to spend Christmas and new years with the family!!

This year has actually been pretty great! I'm sure I'm missing some more stuff and if I remember I will surely add them on here.

Crossing fingers for another easy peasy pregnancy!!

2010-11-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

I really believe now that all pregnancies are different! I have a feeling this baby will probably be our boy! If it's another girl I will be just as thrilled. I am having it pretty rough though. I feel nauseous pretty much all day on and off. I Can't eat alot because then I feel like I will just puke it out. I have to have constant snacks between meals or I'll feel exactly the same way (you know...about puking it all out). I can't sleep, but then again ever since we got the new mattress I haven't been able to sleep so maybe this isn't the baby's fault. I just started waking up at least twice each night to go potty, and I get sleepy ALOT! Seriously it's weird. I just hope it all goes away by the end of my first trimester so that I may continue saying that I enjoy my pregnancies. How is it that we forget about all these things we go through once we have our baby? I am now just thinking about this because I am reliving it again. I am also dreading the first few weeks of nursing. There's only one word that comes to mind everytime I think about it " OUCH!!!" notice the capital letters. I really really don't like that part. Are there any safe numbing creams for that? Ok so I guess I should just suck it up because there is no turning back now. Oh and I am getting an epidural. I thought that maybe I could try going au natural, but what if this baby decides to take it's sweet time like Velani did? No thank you! I still want to have more kids after this one so maybe I'll wait for the last baby to try being brave. I also hope the hospital that I go to (which there's only one)let the epidural last long enough for me to not feel a thing like my last 2. So there you have it: my thoughts, complaints, wishes and fears for this 3rd pregnancy. I'll try to keep you posted on this journey. I am not making any promises ok, but like I said I'll try!!

Ok so now for an update on the girls...they continue to drive me nuts and I feel like it's more than ever because I get grumpy all the time, but I am gonna blame my hormones. I just hope they become good little girls by the time the baby is born.

Mia is talking more and she is slowly becoming more of a drama princess, but I have to thank her sister for that. She is still pretty funny and loving! She is also still "mamando" and loves to rub on people. She loves bellies, but she decides which ones she likes and which ones she doesn't.

Velani is getting so big. She's not a baby anymore and I just can't believe that. I am in denial... Really!! She is still a drama queen! These two girls are cuhrazy that's for sure, but I know they will be a great help when the baby comes, I just know it :)

Sweet November!

2010-11-02T09:40:00.004-06:00

I am beginning to feel pregnant now. I am being way more emotional than normal, I'm feeling nauseous (no vomiting though), I'm feeling cranky and more lazy. Velani and Mia seem to be getting naughtier by the second and I definitely feel like I'm going insane! Mia just entered the TERRIBLE two's and I don't know what to do anymore.

I seriously need more than 2 hands and 2 heads wouldn't be so bad either. I know I would look like a freak, but I don't mind. I promise to stay home and not go out until I take a potion that will turn me back into a normal looking person. Ok so maybe I've really gone crazy!

It has been crazy around here. We are still in school. Velani and Mia are now being babysat by their aunt and uncle (Jahvel's brother and sister in law). November is finally here! which I find hard to believe, but I'm glad it is.

We're having a BABY!!

2010-10-20T14:21:00.001-06:00

It's true!! I am sooo excited. I always feel the same way and same excitement as my first pregnancy. We had been trying before, but nothing happened. I noticed my "dreadful day" hadn't come yet so I started to count the days to see if it was time and I was late indeed. I know my body and I knew at that moment that I was pregnant. I told Jahvel I needed to go to the store and he asked me why and I told him I needed to buy a pregnancy test. He smiled and said "why? you're not pregnant!' I said, " I know I am and congratulations you're gonna be a daddy again!" he smiled some more and said, " I knew you were." We went and bought it and he told me not to take it until he got back from school, but I told him I wasn't gonna be able to wait that long. I went ahead and took it and as soon as I saw it I had the biggest smile on my face when I saw those two lines. I started making a congrats banner and hung it on a wall so that as soon as Jahvel walked in he would see it. He walked in the house all serious and it took him a few seconds before he saw it and his face lit up with a smile.

I am so excited about the news. I have been wanting another baby for a while now, but because of our situation right now we were really hesitant and thought a lot about the timing. Jahvel and I have been on a different boat for a while now as well. He'd tell me he wanted another baby and I'd be like,"No, not right now, I'm not ready" and then as the weeks and months went by I started thinking about it and then I would be the one telling him I was ready, but then he wasn't and it went on like that for a while, until we finally agreed on it.

I do feel a little nervous about it though because of Jahvel going to PA school and us having to move again. It's like going through everything we went through 2 years ago when we had Mia. It's not easy moving with a new born. One thing is for sure though......the baby is going to be born in St. George, UT. Now we still don't know what the future looks like and what is going to happen. We have a lot of praying and planning to do. I just know that whatever it is our Heavenly Father has planned for us it's gonna be ok and we are gonna be very blessed for bringing a new life into this world and into our home.

Velani and Mia are both very excited and they have already begun to rub my "lonja" because I still don't have a baby bump. Every time Jahvel tells Mia that she's not the baby anymore she just says "OH!" and when he tells her the baby is in my belly she laughs and rubs it. Velani is excited and asks me if I'm gonna have the baby tomorrow. So I already told her that when it's Mia's birthday I will have the baby. Velani also kept saying she knew what the banner read and she would say it slowly "CONGRATS" and Mia kept telling her "No! no cograts" she would ask me what it would say and I would say "Congrats" and again she would say "NO!" and then she finally said in a slowly way while pointing at it "dice, NO BABY!" bwahaha. I don't know how she feels exactly, but I'm sure she's gonna be happy for the new baby and maybe a tiny bit jealous.

My thoughts now are:

The baby's gonna be due end of June early July.
Mia and the baby will be 3 years apart.
Hopefully it's June so that I don't have two July babies.
I'm so glad Mia is out of diapers.
I'm not trying to steal Bralison's thunder.
I'm glad Jahvel decided not to take the crib to the garage sale we just had.
I'm gonna get big.
I need cute pregnancy clothes.
I really want a boy, but I'd still be very happy with another girl.
I need to prepare myself mentally in case it is another girl.
I hope I don't go crazy if I do have a 3rd girl.
I'm gonna go to school for only one more semester.
I'm still very excited about Bralison's baby and I can't wait.
I feel weird and nervous.
I need to start exercising.
I wonder what this baby will look like?

So now you know.

Another side of me!

2010-10-08T14:49:00.000-06:00

I kind of left this little experience out from the last blog and decided to do a blog of it's own. I have many sides and I think we all do. We choose to let others see our good side most of the time and kind of keep our other sides personal. Well, I have a good side, a bad side, a sentimental side (which I'm sure everyone has definitely seen before). I cry a lot and sometimes I wish I didn't, but I just can't help it, really!! When I'm happy, I cry. When I'm mad, I cry. When I'm sad, I cry. When I'm sleepy......well I sleep of course hahaha (ya seria el colmo). This bothers me because I feel like others see it as my weakness, which it very well could be, but I'm the only one who really knows me very well and even though I would like to change that it's just not gonna happen. So now you know I pretty much cry all the time, but that's not what happened in this case. I was surprised to see this side of me come out and to be honest it caught me by surprise. I am not the confrontational type of person at least not with strangers and if they say something I just ignore them. I have never really had any problems with anybody before though.

As I am telling you the story I want you to put yourself in my situation and let me know if I was wrong. So we were @ Disneyland taking a picture with Donald Duck and as soon as we finished I noticed Snow White walking by. I didn't want Velani to miss the opportunity to take a picture with her and get her autograph so I took the stroller and tried to catch up to her as fast as I could. Now, of course, I am not the only one after her there are other people chasing after her as well. When we finally get to the place where she was at I kind of just stood next to the other people (about 4 or 5 of us get to her first). We are kind of circling her so we can get the picture taken, but then Alice and the mad hatter arrive and start talking to each other and we are waiting for her so she cant take those pictures with us. By this time more and more people arrived, but I never turned to see anybody. I was there for the autograph and picture and that was my purpose, but Miss Snow White is still talking to those other two and ignoring the people who are there to take pictures with her. She finally notices there are a lot of people waiting for her and she says "If you want to take a picture with me you have to get in line along this fence." So that first family that was there when I arrived still hadn't taken a good picture with her until she announced that ( 7 -10 minutes have gone by now since I got there ). So I'm standing a few feet away from the fence waiting for my turn when this Chicana lady says "Um, ma'm, you have to get in line" ( as she pointed back). That is when I noticed how many more people had arrived AFTER us and she was one of them. So I said, in what I thought was a nice way, "yeah,but I was already here" and she said "yeah, but she just said to get in line if you want to take a picture with her." then I said with a little attitude "OKAAY, but I was here first" and she gave me this look and turned to her boyfriend or husband and said " Gosh! some people just don't have any class!" and I turned around again and said more strongly and with a nastier attitude " Yeah, that would be you!".

I still think about it and it still bothers me because I have never been told anything like that before and wonder of how I really must have sounded and acted for her to say that. I probably would have kept on going at it with her if I kept on listening to the rest of the things she said, but Snow White finally acknowledged us and we took our picture and just left. So my point of view is this: I wasn't gonna go stand behind a huge line knowing I got there before all of them just because they got in line faster than I did when Snow White made that announcement. I mean if I knew there was someone else before me I would have let her gone first because she got there first, right?

Anyways, I guess I just need to let it go. The point of all of this is I noticed a different side of me. I knew I had it within me, but never really used it on some stranger before. It kind of felt good telling her what I thought instead of keeping quiet. It showed I had a strong side and guess what? I didn't cry!

P.S. Now I know that if Snow White had just payed attention to us as soon as we got there instead of chit chatting with her fellow colleagues none of that would have happened. I was upset at her too, but don't tell Velani.

Here is a picture to prove what I just said. Hmm I wonder how long I really took from the time I got there to the time I left? mom?

And still ignoring!! argh

Disneyland

2010-10-06T14:20:00.000-06:00

We finally had the chance to take make our trip to Disneylad and it was GREAT!! I think I enjoyed myself more than the girls. It was such a short trip and I wish we actually had money to have stayed there longer, but I guess it was better than nothing.

At the beginning of the year we volunteered in our community through a program from Disney so we could get free tickets. Jahvel and I volunteered at an auction for about 3 hours or so. We then printed our tickets and waited 'til September to go. Mom, Braulio, Alison and Andres cleaned school buses and got their tickets too. The girls were so excited to go and we even watched videos about all the rides and they chose the ones they wanted to get on. I made them costumes to wear. Velani wanted to be Ariel from the Little Mermaid and Mia wanted to be Minnie. Everything seemed to be perfect until we actually got there. First of all we were going picture crazy and the guys didn't like that very much and the girls got tired of it as well. Then we couldn't decide where to start first. So we got on a ride that looked alright from the outside, but it ended up being a little scary and the girls cried when we got off. That kind of ruined everything else. They didn't want to get on anything not even the ones they said they wanted to get on (like the flying dumbos). So I had to force them to get on some other non scary ones. We all had to put up with them while waiting in line, but as soon as they realized it wasn't too bad they seemed happy.

What really made their day was meeting all the princesses, getting their autograph and picture taken with them. I even got all teared eyed because my daughters were so HAPPY especially Velani. It was and still is such a great feeling. I would love to always do something that makes them feel so happy like that day. It got really hot and we hadn't even made it half around the park when we took a break for lunch. After lunch no one wanted to go back because they were tired and hot, but I wasn't gonna miss out and the girls weren't either. So Mom, the girls and I went back and actually stayed longer than we said we would. We got to see a little more of the park, but not all, maybe just half. We also got on some other rides with the girls. We ended up leaving at about 9 (I think) and when we got back to the hotel we went to the pool and sat in the jacuzzi for a while before going back to the hotel and ordering some food. Our feet were aching, but I think it was good overall. I would like to go back when the girls are a little older and when they aren't so scared of getting on some rides. Oh and wait they actually got on the carousel before we left after they had said they didn't want to get on (that made my day).

I don't ever want to take a trip as short as that one again. The girls are already asking to go back. Velani says that we have to go back or the princesses are gonna cry. Yeah like that's gonna convince us! That just makes me want to take more vacations with them so that we can all spend time together and enjoy ourselves.

I can't wait for our next vacay!!! (hopefully a cruise).

Funnies!

2010-09-28T13:37:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't been updating our blog, but I promise to catch you up on some things pretty quickly here.

First thing's first.....I don't consider myself funny, but my daughters are quite funny especially when they don't even try or know it themselves. Let's start with Velani's funny that happened about a month ago or so. We had our church stake conference and as we were waiting for it to begin Velani saw a few of her friends and teachers and started to wave at them, but then she said "Mami look!" and saw a little boy with a black patch over his eye and I thought it was probably somebody else she knew, but I was wrong. She then said "A PIRATE!" I couldn't help but chuckle a little. I did have to tell her to keep it down and explain to her that he wasn't a pirate and why he might have had that patch. Oh the things kids say, right? or do.

That brings me to my next daughter's funny and oh, the drama! We were at Lowe's trying to get some tools for Jahvel. Mia and Velani were playing around and grabbing things so I told them to stop, but Mia kept going at it (she doesn't listen to mommy very well) and so I took something away from her and she just started crying and threw a fit so I just ignored her for a few seconds and when I turned around to see what she was doing she had already taken off both of her shoes and pulled down her shorts and undies. I guess she did it as a sign of rebellion and to let me know she just isn't scared of me and won't take it from me because she will embarrass me LOL!!

I totally love these girls. I don't think my life would be as much fun and dramatic as it is without them. I'm not gonna deny that they drive me insane most of the time, but they are just too cute! I can't imagine my life without them. Now I'm gonna let you in on something, but don't take it wrong. I kind of, sort of, on purpose went back to school so I could get away for a few hours and to sort of feel like an adult again. I am going to school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 to noon while granny "bonds" with her granddaughters. So that's half the truth. The other half is I want to get my associates degree. I am loving and hating it at the same time, but it's really not all that bad.

Here are some funny, but cute pics of my silly girls for you to enjoy.

Summer Vacation

2010-07-28T14:20:00.000-06:00

I am so tired right now and sleepy, but I had to just write about our too short summer vacation.

I have the best family ever and I'm not even lying.

Who goes on vacation knowing they really can't afford it? Who travels with 2 toddler girls 19-22 hours only stopping for gas and drive-thrus? I'll tell you who.

People who love their family so much that they just want to spend a short week with them. It's true! I love my aunts, uncles, and cousins back in Texas. We had such a really GREAT time. But it all started here in St. George. My grandparents and cousins Ariana and Lisette came to St George to spend time with us for a few days and we had a good time while they were here. We went to the lake and had a carne asada on a really HOT day and played games and had a good time before our long journey to Texas.

First we attended Andrea's beautiful quinceanera on Friday July 16. We ate, danced (the girls and I) because most of the guys ok I think all of the guys were at a table playing with their phones, and then we had some cake, which was missing the almonds, but the beautiful quinceanera doesn't like them so I guess it's ok. We also got together again and again with the family almost every day until it was time for us to come back home. We had dinner Begua's house a couple of times and then we had dinner at Tia Sandra's house another day and celebrated Aaron's birthday, then at Tia Fabi's house to celebrate Ivan's birthday, but they also celebrated mine.....thank you!! We swam and had such a fun fun time. We also went to tia Vero's house for dinner (breakfast for dinner) yummy!! and then spent our last day with the Gallardo's (thanks for breakfast AND lunch). We spent some other days with our ex-single adult leaders playing games and having some carne asada (that is where I met Jahvel for the very first time) and another day had dinner with my dad. I gotta say we stayed pretty busy while we were there and that is a very good thing. Oh and I can't forget that we went shopping!!!

On another note, my girls were surprisingly very connected to the family. I knew Velani would be ok with everyone and I seriously thought Mia was gonna be attached to me or daddy, but she wasn't. The funniest thing was how she just loved being with tia Fabi. We think she thought it was "mom" but I'm sure she knew she wasn't, but like my mom said "la sangre llama" she knows she's safe with all these wonderful people that I am proud to call my family. I am happy my daughters got to spend time with their grandparent's, aunts, and cousins... I mean more aunts and that they got to know them a little better. Thanks everyone for such a good time.

So when's the next reunion?

Happy Birthday my sweet Mia!

2010-07-02T21:33:00.004-06:00

Terrible Twos?

NO WAY!!!

I think it's more like TERRIFIC TWOS!!

This sweet and spunky little girl turned two today AND finally pee peed in the potty. We sang to her this morning and made some purple pancakes, but forgot to take pics and then got ready and took her to Jumping Jacks (a place with bouncy houses) which she really didn't like at first and was really scared to get in them, but she finally got brave and got in and actually had fun. Mom then treated us for lunch, yummy and thanks!! It was a great day, but that's not all.........Mia peeing in the potty was like the cherry on top.

Yes sireeee, Mia went to the potty all by herself for the first time.

We kind of noticed that she had been ready, but just a little scared. She didn't know what to expect before. She's been in underwear a few times now and has had minor accidents. We have sat her down on the potty so she could go, but nothing ever came out. Today was different. She was already in her underwear when she came out of her room and said she had to go and we thought she had probably already peed on the carpet, but there were only a few drops here and there nothing big and so Jahvel took her to the restroom and left her in there all by herself and she went. When she was finished we all went in and celebrated her accomplishment with her. I can't describe how beautiful that moment was and that big smile she had as we cheered for her.

I love this little girl even though she drives me nuts most of the time, but I am proud at how fast she is learning and I have to give her big sister a little credit here so thanks Velani for being such a GREAT big sister!!!

This has really been a great day and I just want to let her know that I love her and that having her has been really exciting and fun. I just knew this girl was gonna be different. I seriously thought she was gonna be a boy before we actually found out she would be a girl. She was always moving and kicking and making my tummy look sooooo weird and seriously making me say "OUCH!" many many times. She is full of surprises and I just never know what to expect next, but I do know that it's not good. She has done sooo many things that make me get frustrated and I just want to pull all my hair out, but I love her and when I think of all these things now it just makes me laugh.

1- found her in the restroom with powder all over herself and on the floor and walls.
2- caught her with mommy's make up and her face and carpet were covered with pink blush.
3- found her in the shower with shampoo all over her hair, hands and legs and half the bottle on the shower floor.
4- caught her on top of Velani and pulling her hair and making her cry

just to name a few.

I knew she'd be different and I am glad she is.

Goodbye June............ Welcome July!

2010-07-01T17:20:00.000-06:00

Oh how I loved the month of June. June was a good month and I'll give you the top 10 reasons why I just loved it.

Wonderful weather!
Celebrated Father's day
Went camping
I'm gonna be an AUNT!!!
Went to Zion's park
My princess went from sharp to square.
Eclipse
Got an Iphone
I finally have a normal looking bed
Enrolled in school again

Now let me go into detail and show you some pics.

1- I love nice weather and although I can't say it was nice everyday most of it was and that is good enough for me. I just know it's gonna get pretty hot and I'm gonna hate it. I wish I was on a beach right about now and believe me I wouldn't complain about how hot it was then.

2- My girls had fun knowing it was father's day and we made (ok I made) him some blue french toast for breakfast and he had some chocolate covered strawberries and marshmallows at church and had a decent dinner with the family.

3- We attempted to go camping, but was a FAILURE! we had fun though ;-) it was colder up where we went and we really weren't that well prepared. It was windy and then it rained and some of us couldn't sleep others were high maintenance with their cots and inflatable beds while three of us slept like you should sleep while camping....in sleeping bags (that was Jahvel, Mia and I by the way......oh Velani? oh she probably slept comfortably with my mom in her inflatable bed, but don't even think for a second that mom was getting away with it that easy, she's not allowed to sleep comfortable when Velani is around.

I really want to do it again, but hopefully it isn't too cold nor too hot next time we do.

4- It was great finding out. So unique and well planned out. I'm glad I was the first one to finally catch on. See this is what happened........we played some games and the girls were getting fussy and I was ready to leave, but it was not meant to happen quite yet. So Braulio and Alison got another game ready and well you have to write a statement on a piece of paper for example: what not to say to a pregnant lady ( it was one of the ones they did) and then everyone gets to write an answer example: Dang your Fat!!! (that was mine) and put it in a bowl and no one can say who wrote it. Then the person who read the statement start by guessing who wrote the answer and if he doesn't guess right then the next person gets a chance at it and so on until everyone took a turn and then we move on to the next statement and so on and so forth....did that make sense? anyways the point is that all of the statements had to do with pregnancy and none of them were the ones that we each wrote and finally the obvious statement that went "what would you get for Braulio and Alison's baby shower?" and we were all about to start writing when I was like "wait, are you guys pregnant!?" and then came the tears and hugs and that's how it went down. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am to the new addition to the family. Congrats to my big brother and sister.

5- We went to Zion's park (with some of the Relief Society sisters from church) because it was national park day.

   This is one of those pictures where you have to see what's wrong or different

*That sister cracks me up! she knew it we was a family picture, she's nice and all, but really!?!?

6- Click HERE and you'll see what I mean.

7- We went to watch Eclipse yesterday and it was GREAT! I loved it. I love those books. I hadn't read a book since high school and Braulio, yes Braulio, got me hooked on those books. Once I started I couldn't put that book down. Jahvel made me stop every night, but he saw how I loved them and bought them for me and so now I'm reading books again. So recommend some good ones for me please.

8- I finally got a "new" phone. An iphone!!!!! My pink phone was messed up since the day I accidentally dropped it in the tub (bathing the girls) and I was really sick and tired of that phone because it wouldn't charge all the way due to a short circuit or something.

9- When we moved into our house back in Garland my in laws gave us a queen size mattress and the box spring, but we never bought a frame to go with it and we slept like that until we moved here and finally bought a bed frame. I loved having it off the floor, but it just wasn't enough and we couldn't really afford buying a new bedroom set or never saw anything that matched the furniture we already had, but now we have what I've been wanting for a looooooong time. Jahvel put it together and I am loving it, but now I need to find some cuter bedspreads.

10- I'm going back to school and I am thrilled! I enrolled and I want to major in Psychology. It's gonna take a while and I am not gonna rush into it. I'm gonna take it nice and slow........I hope. I gotta start all over again though. Apparently the school I went to before where I got my associates in applied science isn't a regionally accredited school and so I have to take basics again. I guess since it was a technical school it's only good for a medical assistant, but that's not what I want to be for the rest of my life. I have to think of the day my children will get married and leave (that will be a sad day, but it's gonna happen) and so I don't want to be stuck as a medical assistant at who knows what age and then go back to school so I'm doing it now (no offense to those who are older and medical assistants).

So there you have it. I do have a reason I didn't like June and that's because my Velani not only has to deal with diabetes for the rest of her life, but with Celiac disease as well. It's tough, but we'll learn and we'll do good, but hopefully they will find a cure for diabetes in her life time and get more foods out there that are gluten-free. Jahvel and I were also tested for celiac and the results came back negative, but we still have Mia to check.

Busy, busy, busy

2010-06-16T15:08:00.003-06:00

It's gonna be a long busy week

I'd like to start off with Monday:

Remember the story about the sharp tooth? If not let me tell it to you really quickly. One day at church Velani asked me to draw her a picture and I drew a smiley face with teeth, but then she told me that the sharp teeth were missing and if I could draw them in for her and so I did. These sharp teeth represent her "sharp teeth" (she named them that herself). I promise. She was always proud of them until uncle Andres would make fun of them from time to time and she became more conscious about them and embarrassed. I have a few pics I want to share before I go on.

I want you to see for yourself what she means by "sharp tooth". She mainly refers it to the one on your right (the front top ones), but just recently she refers them to both.

Here's another one. Just want you to get familiar.

Ok that's good. Now this next picture is what I meant by being embarrassed when someone points it out or talks about "it".

So back to the story.........yesterday morning I told Velani we had to hurry up and get ready because we were going to the dentist to get her teeth fixed. With excitement she said, "The dentist is gonna fix my sharp tooth?! and I'm now gonna have square teeth like papi, Mia and you?!" LOL I cracked up and responded "yes, you are now gonna have square teeth like us." "Hooray!" she said "but, I have two sharp teeth, this one and this one" she showed me her now two sharp teeth. "They're gonna fix them both" I said "Yay!" she said.

Ok so are you ready to see her new square teeth?

Aren't they beautiful. She couldn't be more happy. She loves them. And to prove that to you here's another story. I'm so full of them aren't I? It was dinner time and she wanted to say the prayer to bless our food and here's how it started: "Padre Celestial, gracias por esta comida y gracias por que I now have square teeth porque el dentista fixed them y porque ya no tengo a sharp tooth........" and she repeated it twice, I guess just to make sure she didn't forget to thank HIM. I seriously wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. My girls are so funny and so innocently humble. I am happy that she is happy and that she won't be embarrassed anymore.

Tuesday-

We went to see the a doctor before Velani's endoscopy on Friday. The test results were surprisingly high. We knew that they had come back positive, but didn't know what the normal range was and what her results looked like. The normal range is 0 to 19 and her number was 221. That is freaking high! but he assured us that once we got her on a gluten-free diet that number would come down and her lining would look normal too. We are assuming she has it because that number is just way too high for her not to have Celiac disease. We are also planning to get checked for the same thing because he says that people can go their whole lives having it and not know it because they don't show any symptoms. Jahvel will go first since he too has an autoimmune disease and it's more likely that he has it. It's common in diabetics so I guess that's why Velani has it. Mia will be checked for it as well at her next check-up. The doc also says it can be hereditary. The sooner it's detected the faster we can control it and well if it's not taken care of there could be complications: infertility, miscarriages and even cancer. Here are a couple of links I read.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/stomach/celiac.html

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/symptomsofceliacdisease/a/complications.htm

Ok I think I'll stop now.

Prayers

2010-06-02T13:42:00.004-06:00

Today we took Velani to her well check-up and she's on the low percentile in height and in the middle for weight. She's been doing pretty good with her glucose readings ever since she got the pump. Last month they ran some blood work, but we never got the results back, but didn't think much about it because when you don't hear back from them it usually means everything is ok, but I still told her pediatrician that the endocrinologist had done some tests, but that we never got any results back and so she kindly checked for us. One of the tests was a thyroid test and that came back good and the other one was the celiac test and that one came out positive. Now she said it was strange that they hadn't told us about it, but that we had to be 100% sure she is positive for celiac disease so they are gonna have to do another test and this one requires a biopsy.

As I write this all I can think about is that day when she was diagnosed with diabetes and the feeling I felt that day. I cried A LOT and I prayed A LOT too, but I knew she'd be ok. I am going through the same thing again. I read about the disease and I just pray that if she has it that I can be a better mom. That I can take care of her and her diet. I know my Father is listening and that he knows me and the desires of my heart. I just want my girls to be ok no matter what. I know he listens and answers our prayers. He has answered many of mine and I still remember when I gained my own testimony about prayers and I'd like to share that with you:

I think I was about 7 or 8 years old. I remember Braulio having this bike my parents had just fixed up for him. I don't remember the details, but I think we went into a little shop for a few minutes and when we came out it was no longer there. We were devastated. Somebody had stolen his bike! We were heartbroken and I just remember going into a room, in my grandma chatas home, all by myself and began to pray the way I was taught to pray. I asked our Heavenly Father to help us find my brother's bike because he was really sad. We had just picked it up at the bike shop that day where they had fixed it up for him. I don't remember how long I was in that room, but I do remember I was just crying and pouring my heart out to Him. I kept that to myself and didn't say anything the rest of that afternoon. They drove around looking for it in the neighborhood, but no luck! It was time to go home and as we were leaving I kept praying in my mind as I just stared out the window of the car. A few seconds later they saw it. I don't remember where or exactly how it happened, but I will never forget the feeling that I felt that moment. I cried and cried and when they asked me why I was crying I told them what I had done. I knew for myself that day that nothing was impossible to our Father in Heaven. He knows the desires of our hearts and he knew mine that day. That was only one of the many times my prayers have been heard and answered.

Now I am teaching my girls what I was taught and how to pray and every night my little girls and I pray together for their health, for our families, and for ourselves. I want them to know God lives and that he hears our prayers no matter what.

Mother's Day part 2

2010-05-10T14:48:00.001-06:00

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Daughters of God

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T14:14:00.007-06:00

It's mother's day in Mexico today and although we celebrate it on the first Sunday of the month of May in the U.S. well, I forgot to post something yesterday so why not do it today.

There a woman who don't want to become mothers because it will mess up their figures, others who have them and then abandon them, some that just can't have any even if they wanted to, and whatever the reason may be, but I am one who fortunately can and one who really couldn't wait to have children (really!). I always dreamed of getting married and having my own children way before I even met Jahvel. I knew exactly what I wanted in life and the type of life I wanted and the person I wanted to become. Now I know that life isn't as perfect as I imagined it would be, but the life I have now is exactly what I wanted. I have married a great man who loves his family and who strives to give us the best he can. I have two beautiful girls whom I really love and I would give my life for these 3 special people.

I constantly pray so that I can become a better mother. I want the best for my daughters and my family and there are many things I have yet to learn. I realize that time won't stop or go any slower so I need to enjoy every moment I have with them. I thank my mother because she has been my best friend and a great example to me and that's exactly the type of mom I want to be. I want to have the same relationship with my daughters when they grow up.

I understand the importance and the sacred calling it is to be a mother. As I was looking for a quote that has helped me understand the importance of being a mother, but I found something else and I really loved it as I know I have been guilty to some of the things mentioned and well, I wanted to share that with you ( I posted it seperately). Well, I hope y'all had a great Mother's day and I know that each one of you is a great mother and I really love y'all.

Birthday Girl!

2010-04-25T09:27:00.003-06:00

What Velani woke up to

She had pink pancakes (can't really tell)

custom made princess hat

with her princess unicorn (it's actually Mia's, but she let her borrow it on her day)

Princess cake that was suppose to be a castle(It was really good. Don't let the look of it fool ya).

Her princess invitation with her hat

She even got a photo shoot from mommy (I wish I had one of those expensive cameras)

Princess dress was a gift from mom

look at those eyes

She even got a cute hair do

Seriously, I love this girl! she was really spoiled today. Can you tell she loves taking pics?

I need an agent.

Sister got to dress up too. It'll be her day pretty soon.

After church, celebrating with the gang!

Dear Velani,

I know you love stories and love them even more when someone reads them to you, but hopefully one day when you learn how to read yourself, you will enjoy this one. It's about a princess. This is how it goes:

Once upon a time (4 years ago to be exact) a little princess was born.

Now you should know that the mother was not a real queen nor the father a king and they don't really come from a royal family, BUT somehow they did have a princess! Go figure.

Now this mommy was excited when she was told that she was having a baby girl. It was her dream come true. She patiently waited for this child to be born. She remembers singing and talking to her little princess while she was still in her mommy's tummy. If she didn't feel her move she would try "waking" her up by touching her big belly, it was a little scary when the baby didn't move in there for a while. Mommy wondered if she'd know when it was time and boy did did she know! The big day finally arrived and as she started feeling what are known as contractions (a big OWIE) mommy and daddy got ready and headed to the hospital. Oh, but not before they stopped to pump gas. It's funny now, but 4 years ago it really wasn't (LOL). There she is in the car having contractions while daddy pumped gas and in between contractions mommy is plucking her eyebrows and putting on makeup.

Another funny thing happened: Let's go back a few days to April 22 2006 ( Saturday) the mommy demanded a pedicure before the baby was born ( she wanted to have a nice french pedi while delivering) so she remembered being with uncle B and daddy and they were driving home and daddy said,"Ok lets do that pedi of yours here" but mommy said, " No, that's ok I'll go on Monday" and he said, "Are you sure?" Now mommy's reason for this was that the guys were gonna have to wait for her in the car ( she wouldn't have minded if daddy waited, but she kinda felt sorry for uncle B having to wait) and another reason was she wanted to enjoy the pedi and not be rushed AND she was gonna have a baby shower later that day and there really wasn't much time. Now she wasn't gonna do it on Sunday either because it's the sabbath so it would have to wait 'til Monday.

So now it's Monday the 24th, the day mommy was supposed to get her pedi, but that didn't happen as you now know. Mommy and daddy arrived to the hospital and were told that she needed to walk for an hour so she could dilate more (don't ask questions yet and keep reading) and that's what she did. She finally got admitted and it took a looooooong time before little Princess Velani arrived (Yup! this story is about you). Now if you are expecting an ending....there isn't one yet. You have a long life ahead of you so make it a good one. You will have to create an ending yourself, but I'm here to help you along the way. But keep reading a little more.

On April 25th 2006 @ 12:03 AM Velani Thompson was born. Weighing only 6 lb 15 oz and measuring 20 and 1/4 in. I remember that day so vividly, you didn't cry when you finally came into this world. You were wide awake looking all around you. I loved the feeling and still do every time I think about it.

Now you're 4 and BIG and BEAUTIFUL and SMART and have been such a blessing to our family. Where does time go and why can't you just stay little forever? I know. That's the plan. I have learned so much from you. I love you and always will. Now please just be a good girl and listen to mommy she just wants you to be happy and enjoy life. Be a good example to those around you and remember who you are. You are our daughter, but most importantly a daughter of God and he loves you too so always choose the right.

all about Mia

2010-04-13T15:51:00.003-06:00

I am blogging about Mia today.

My little "dangerous" one, like we like to call her, is such a sweet little girl (not quite little anymore). She is very feisty, loving (when she really wants to be), active, she's a milk-a-holic, she's a fast learner, funny, squeezable, short tempered, hitter, pincher (she's not all fun and games you know) and the list really can go on and on. I can't believe this little girl has really kept me on my feet more than Velani has. I mean when she was kicking and doing somersaults in the womb I thought she was just bluffing, but boy was I wrong! I keep postponing having more kids because of her.....REALLY! but man do I love her. I can't imagine my life without her. I think I'd really go crazy if she wasn't around to make all the noise she does. I know I'm not as patient or nice as I was when I had Velani, but it's normal right? I mean having 2 kids isn't easy so I guess it's a life changing process a mother goes through it's not only her body that changes, but I really do pray and hope I loosen up a bit. Thank goodness for nights and the ability to sleep (my sympathies for those who suffer of insomnia and any other sleeping disorder) because without it I'd really be a crazy woman I mean I just can't imagine what life would be without it.

So anyways I have a funny story to tell about this "dangerous" one. Did I mention she's brave and is a true Mexican? Since she was a little over a year old she started eating hot cheetos and some other spicy things, but like Velani, I thought she would stop. Well, she took me to the pantry and asked for a snack. I gave her some Dora fruit snacks (I know they're candy, but it says they are made from real fruit) anyways she came back and wanted something else.....more candy, but I said no. I offered her some crackers, but she refused. So then I saw a small bag of Fritos and gave them to her. She immediately took them and started pointing up at something saying hmhmhm (oh yeah like I should know what that means) "no te entiendo Mia" and then started saying "paca, paca, paca" Ok now I know what she's talking about, but you don't.

Ok so if you look up the word "Paca" in the Mia dictionary it says:

Paca (PEE - KAH) adj. Spicy. Something that makes your tongue burn. Warning: Not to be given to small children unless they are true Mexicans and/or they throw tantrums.

So there you have it. She's a true Mexican because she asked for it. She wanted some Valentina sauce on her chips. So I gave it to her. She was happy with her chips and "paca" on them. She has seen a lot of us do it and she doesn't want to be excluded. Isn't she brave? and funny?

Oh how I love my sweet Mia.

I am one lucky mommy.

Once a month

2010-03-31T18:55:00.011-06:00

Ok so I noticed I've only been writing 1 post a month and I couldn't let this month go by without one so here it goes......

My brothers, s-i-l and mother are finally only 8 minutes away. It's been a month and it's been a pretty busy one. For a full week our 1 master bedroom and 1 loft condo turned into a living space for 6 fully grown adults and 2 little girls with adult attitudes. We had to pull out the inflatable queen size bed for the "Bralison" and the couch became Andres' sleeping quarters, until he couldn't handle his scoliosis any longer and begged for an inflatable bed, which he then slept on for 2 or 3 nights because he would forget to get it out of the room before the girls went to sleep and for the "meemaw" aka "mom" she slept in a twin size bed with crazy sleeper Velani. I think Mia was probably the only one who slept perfectly fine. Oh and did I mention they all slept in the same room?

Ok so after a week the Bralisons got their condo and we helped a little with painting and..... I think that's all we helped with. They did everything else and their condo looks wonderful now!

*Changing the subject*

I have to brag a little now......... I planted a small garden all by myself today and am so proud. Hopefully everything I planted lives as long as it's suppose to live. I planted tomatoes, yellow squash or is it zucchini? I'll let you know later, red onions, Japanese cucumbers, and garlic just f.y.i and I'm still hoping to buy some jalapenos, tomatillos, cilantro and some type of fruit. I'll have to take some pics soon and post them.

Furthermore...

My girls have been crazy about having mom so close and I think Velani still can't believe it's true because she cries almost every time she has to leave. I remember the times my grandma use to go to Mexico and I would cry..... oh the love of a granddaughter towards her grandmother I understand my baby, but every time, really? she's obsessed with mom.

Alright so I guess that's all I can think of for now and hopefully I get back on track.

*OH NEVERMIND THERE'S STILL MORE*

So I have to let you know a few more things. Mia is now saying more words, but I'm not liking the fact that she knows more english words than spanish, but I have to not thank Velani for that since she's the one who is talking more english than spanish now. Daddy isn't gonna let her get away with it though.

So some of the words she's saying are:

mo (more)

no shush it (don't touch it) most of the time she's referring to her hair or herself when Andres is messing with her

leshe (milk) yay one of the few words in spanish

top it (stop it)

nana (banana)

nite nite (goodnight)

and I could go on, but I don't want to anymore.

Ok The End.

Pics for your entertainment

what are they staring at?

mad because she wanted more candy

crying because there wasn't anymore.

Happy they got candy.

can you see the tear?

I hadn't noticed we were all in pink

Cried because someone knocked her down

but happy she actually got some eggs who knows how? (mommy sneaked some in her bag)

Mia picking up eggs.

Silly bunny ears we made

she's bad I tell you

just us girls.

too much love.

Picnics are their favorite.

Making Valentine cards.

Beyond excited!

2010-02-17T08:48:00.003-07:00

I can't express how excited I am. I have been feeling beyond happy and excited for the past few weeks. My prayers have been heard and I will have my family with me once again. It has been nice living in St. George with my 2 girls and my hubby, but it'll be different now. My brothers, sister-in-law and mother will now be joining us. I really believe that we all have a purpose here and that it's different for each of us, but whatever these purposes are I know we will all be blessed. At least I know we have been blessed. My husband and I are faithful in the church, each one of us with a calling we love, Jahvel is also in school and will be graduating soon and our girls just keep growing and there is no way to stop them.

I have been really happy here and I just know it will get even better when the rest of my family arrives. I just can't imagine how much more happier it'll be for my little girlies to see "mom", tios and tia.

So for today's funny.......drumroll...........starring Velani:

She wakes up and greets her daddy with great excitement (since she hadn't seen him in 2 days due to his speedy trip to Dallas) and then notices all these boxes, a t.v. and a big black bag in our living room and says: "Oh my, that's a lot of junk!"

Yup Velani it is and it's all mom's "junk". She knows mom is coming, but isn't quite sure how long before she arrives, but after seeing this so-called "junk" she knows it very close.

Let the countdown begin.

New year new beginning

2010-01-23T09:21:00.004-07:00

So it's a new year and that means I have resolutions to keep up with.

It's great to have another year to make life better and more enjoyable. I am very excited about this year (no reason in particular). I have a feeling that this year will be a good one. I guess it's because I will have my family close to me. We decide how to live our lives and what direction to take and if we keep a positive outlook then I believe good things will come for us all. So 2009 is now a time in history, it was great, including the rough patches we may have had. It's a thing of the past now so let's either learn from it or leave it behind and continue to look forward with a positive attitude. Let's plan our year now. What do we want this year? and how are we gonna accomplish it? it's not just about writing down what you want to accomplish. There has to be a plan of how we are going to accomplish that particular goal. Let's plan it with the help of our beloved Heavenly Father. I know that he's always there for me and I love that I just have to kneel and talk to him when I need his guidance or when I need to feel better in a moment of despair, sadness, or even just to share my joys and accomplishments with him. He's always there and he knows us all.

One of my resolutions this year is to just be happy and enjoy my family by spending time with them and forgetting about things of this world, material things and enjoying life, that's the purpose right?

Happy 2010 to everyone!

It's now history:

Velani turned 3 and we celebrated at the pool with friends and family.

Braulio got married with a great woman

traveled to Dallas in the summer and celebrated Mia's 1st birthday at the pool.

lived a full year in St. George

were given the best Christmas present: paid trip to be with our family for the holidays.

Girl time!

2009-11-09T09:04:00.004-07:00

I've been wondering why my girlies have been very cuddly with me lately and I think I know why? I've been thinking a lot about another baby and whether it's time or not. I feel like I can't handle an addition to our family, but then there is all this thinking about another one, why? So I wonder if they can sense it or could it be that they just love me too much? I'll go with the idea that they just love me too much. No more babies quite just yet, unless I receive a revelation.

This morning Jahvel took both girls to my bed and they were fighting with each other because they both wanted to get on top of me, but did either of them care to ask me if I was ok with it? NOPE! so I had the chance to cuddle with both of them for a little tiny bit before one started to say "agua, agua!" and the other "quiero comer." I feel so used! but I love these girlies so much. I guess I wouldn't mind having all girls! (I really want a little boy, though).

Here's the funny for this morning:

Jahvel was getting ready to leave and Velani asked him where he was going and he told her he was going to school so she asked him where his backpack was (if he's going to school he better have that backpack of his, right?) so then he thanked her for reminding him and so as he gave away kisses and said goodbye, Velani said, "Bye papi, Good luck, don't forget to come back home!" we both laughed and he assured he would come home so I said "you better" and she replied with a loud "YEAH, YOU BETTER!"

The promised pictures!

2009-10-28T09:14:00.006-06:00

Some pics are out of order and you have to start from the bottom!

My hubby and I with Velani
behind the camera.

Velani took this picture!

All Done!

Cutting away!

Getting ready.

She was mad because I didn't

have money for the candy

machine.

No need to explain!

Velani was feeling sick. Mia

doesn't even look like she was

sick.

They really wanted some of

that orange. Jahvel was

nice enough to share afterwards.

Beauty beyond the flower!

Don't mind my double chin.

We went prepared for Conference.

Sisterly love.

Tired, but not too happy!

Tired, but still happy!

We're back.... for now!

2009-10-27T14:32:00.005-06:00

I have been really really busy and blah, blah, blah you know the rest.

I really do need to keep up with this, but I just have to find the right time to write. So anyways I want to tell you a funny story, but I already forgot what it was (I had a call and that's what made me forget it). I guess I'm not good at writing, but how 'bout some pictures? I'll try to do a story tomorrow or the next day. Enjoy the pics.

***********BrEaKiNg NeWs************

I just noticed that my pictures are missing. Jahvel installed the new Windows and so I guess pictures will have to wait until he's finished doing whatever it is he is doing. So I guess I'll have to tell you a story, but I have to think first.................(2 minutes later)

I had a horrible night last night thanks to Mia. She wasn't herself last night. She cried and cried until I finally decided to take her to my bed and then Velani decides to come out of her room and make herself comfortable in our bed shortly after and then Mia kept tossing and turning and wouldn't let me sleep so then I decided to take her back to her crib and after a few minutes she was crying again and then Jahvel was like " I'm waking up" which I know means if he COMPLETELY wakes up he won't be able to sleep so then I go downstairs and rock Mia for a while and put her back in the crib and so she starts crying and I am just SOOO tired that I decided to just sleep on the floor next to her crib and finally that worked out for her, but it was HoRrIbLe for me. The floor is so hard!! I couldn't sleep well and before I knew it Jahvel's alarm was going off and then I decide to just go to my bed and sleep for at least an hour in my comfy bed before the girls woke up and Ohhh did that feel good ( *GASP* and breath)! This all happened around 3:30 am with the alarm going off at about 6:45 am.

So there you have it! My girls aren't always that cute you know. I know I know somebody call the Whaaambulance! and I'd sure love some cheese to go with all that "wHiNe" (Haha, I read that somewhere).

STAY TUNED.

Next time on this blog: PICTURES!!!

Girls, girls, girls!

2009-09-29T09:26:00.004-06:00

Oh my Girls!! they are better than I expected them to be.

I always thought my girls would be the best-behaved, girly girls there could be and although they are not the best behaved they sure are very girly girls.

Velani was well-behaved while in the womb. She was quiet when she was born and didn't cry or make a fuss. She would just look around the room silently. At church she was the best-behaved, she wasn't like all those other kids crying and running around. I thought I had made it, my dream of having good kids was fullfilled, that is, until Mia was conceived.

Mia was the total opposite. She was always moving around and kicking me as hard as she possible could while in the womb. There were many nights that I couldn't sleep because of her. When she was born she cried and cried. At church, she wasn't well-behaved and she WAS like those other kids who cried and wanted to just run around.

She eventually took over Velani and convinced her it was the best thing ever to drive mommy crazy.

Now, as I am writing this, my girls are playing and bringing out their toys into the living room, which drives me crazy, but I couldn't have asked for anything better. Even though I may feel like a crazy, mad woman most of the time, they are just Great! They are also funny and it's quite interesting how these two girls are the ones who make me mad, cry and scream, but are also the ones who make me happy, cry of joy, and laugh so hard. The way they say and do things fill me with an unexplicable joy. It really is better that what I dreamt it would be.

I don't know if I am quite ready for another child though because I think these two girls have yet alot to teach me about patience before the other one comes, but I really do want to have more. I have recently joked with my mother about not having anymore kids, but we both know that that's just not true.

I guess I wouldn't mind having all girls because these two, I tell ya, are a hoot!

Velani is the sweet one, the lovable one, the sentimental one, just like her mamma and Mia is the tough one, the bossy one, the pinching and biting type of one, just like....well, I really don't know who she is like, but both of them rock my world (literally).

So just imagine my home.......lot's of drama because of these girls!

Special day!

2009-09-24T08:25:00.004-06:00

Today is a very special day. Today is Jahvel's birthday. 5 years ago we got engaged. And Velani was diagnosed with Diabetes type 1 exactly 2 years ago today.

Happy 27th birthday BABY!!

I also can't believe 5 years ago today I got engaged to this man. It's been cuhrazy! but so fun and worth it. Now a little something, Jahvel doesn't like celebrating his birthday, he doesn't like having a party or being the center of attention (I know hard to believe) so he proposed on this day so that everyone could think about me and the whole engagement thing instead of his birthday, awww! whatever.

So you might be thinking how does that make Velani being diagnosed with diabetes special and well, maybe it's not, but she was a real trooper and has been ever since. We have been really blessed. We have been trying to manage her diabetes the best we can. We have talked to her doctor and have decided to test the pump on her. This will be easier for her and for us to manage even better. She won't have to get poked all day now. Yay! She will have the "needle" inserted for a period of 3 days at a time and all we have to do is input the correct numbers and the insulin will be administered.

So we will be celebrating Jahvel (happy birthday), us ( 5 years IS a long time you know), and Velani (in your face diabetes). So here are a few pics for this day. Please don't cry mom.

Jahvel's 24th b-day

25th (26th didn't upload)

7 months engaged (couldn't find an earlier one)

Engagement picture

Velani in the hospital with her gifts

Resting beauty

Eating all by herself

Love you baby!

Jesus had a little lamb

2009-09-21T10:37:00.003-06:00

I know, it's been 2 weeks since I last wrote. Sorry! it's all I can say.

Ok so now that that's settled let's move on to the Velani's funny.

Everyone knows that Velani loves to sing and when they sing to her. Before she was even born we would sing to her and I guess that is how she fell in love with music. But what y'all might not know is that she also loves to make up her own lyrics to any music. That is precisely what she did to the famous 'Mary had a little lamb' song. We were sitting on the couch, she and I, when she took a look at our picture of Jesus with the lamb (The good shepherd) that was hanging up on our wall and started to sing: Jesus had a little lamb, little lamb....and then she said, " Oh no, it's Mary had a little lamb." She has a bright future I can see it.

So there you have it.'Till next time.

Fun night.

2009-09-04T10:18:00.003-06:00

I am so sore today. How do you know you are in bad shape? Well, this is how I know that I'm in bad shape...

Yesterday, for our enrichment night at church, we had a sister teach us some relaxation techniques. We practiced some of those techniques and today I am all sore. They weren't even hard and we didn't even do that many.....so that's how you know you're in bad shape and that your muscles need a little exercise. We also had another sister show us how to give a nice and simple massage. We even got a free hour massage with her. I am sooooo excited. I think after all this soreness I really need a good massage.

I am so grateful for all the learning opportunities that we have. There are some great activities prepared for the upcoming months that have me all excited. I'll try to keep you posted and I'll even take pictures.

After my activity we went to Jahvel's indoor soccer game and they WON!!! we were very excited and by WE I mean Velani, Mia and I. They were cheering for their daddy. I think they will also enjoy sports. The only bad thing or funny thing about his soccer game is that in the middle of his game one of his shoe fell apart. It was too funny!

I guess that's it for now and sorry, but no pics today.

Nice bum!

2009-09-02T13:10:00.004-06:00

If there is something I appreciate the most......it is a nice and quiet morning, especially when I wake up. I have to thank Mia for making this possible.

She has been such a sweetheart to respect mommie's precious sleep. She started to sleep through the night at 9 months which I must say is just WONDERFUL. Since then, I have caught up with my Zzzz's. Those sleepless nights are a thing of the past now never to be remembered or thought of............. until the next child that is and I can't say I can't wait for another baby for that one reason.

Anyways, Mia wakes up quietly. She doesn't scream or cry once she opens her beautiful little eyes and sees the sun making its way out ( I have a feeling she wakes up around 6 am, but I haven't been able to prove it since I don't wake up that early, hee hee). I thank my little one for being so considerate and letting her sister and I sleep in. She just hasn't discovered that if she cries and screams at the top of her lungs she has a strong chance of getting out of that crib earlier than usual. Hope that doesn't happen soon.

BUT there is a question I asked myself a lot..........What does she do in her crib while she waits for someone to go and peek through the door and see if she is already awake? (that includes naps too).

THIS IS WHAT SHE DOES...........SHE GOES COMMANDO!

(After her nap. She had only her diaper on since it was a bit warm.)

This was a night before Mia's picture. Velani really wanted to sleep in there, but I put her in that little yellow Dora couch/sleeping bag, but when I walked in that morning to get Mia she was sleeping in there.

rolling over.....

Ooops, I woke her up!

Funky Friday!

2009-08-28T08:11:00.010-06:00

It feel like it's gonna be a funky day today. I woke up feeling (ugggh) funky. We have been busy all week and out of all days today we have nothing to do (which is a good thing) but still isn't that funky? okay maybe funky isn't the word, but at least it sounds good with Friday.

Mia messed up my groove on Wednesday so today I will make it up by telling you a story about a little girl whom we'll call Vela.

One Saturday, early evening, Vela's parents told her they would be going to a little boy's birthday party. She got so excited and happy because she just loves birthdays (at one point she actually thought it was her birthday everyday). Vela and her family get to the little boy's house with a present, but before getting out of the car she wonders if she will get a present too and her mommy tells her they will get her a little gift some other day.

There were parents everywhere and the little boys and girls were all in a room playing with toys, there was food and balloons and it just looked like a real party house. All the children got to pin the tail on the donkey and got to hit and break two pinatas filled with so many yummy chocolates, for the mommy, inside them. Vela didn't settle with one bag filled with candy, oh no! that wasn't enough so she got another one and filled it up, but her mommy had to hide one of them. She was so happy with her candy bag and was such a good girl in asking mommy first if she could have a candy, but mommy told her she had to wait 'till she got home. Vela was actually ok with that.

A few minutes went by and Vela said, "Mami, I want to go home." Her mommy knew exactly why she wanted to go home, but that didn't happen until after some cake and ice cream. Vela seems to like cakes, but only because that's where the candles go because she didn't want any and after her mommy ate some cake and ice cream she insisted that they needed to go home. Finally, the family said 'thank you' and 'goodbye'. As the little family of four were walking out of the house towards their car Vela said in total excitement, "This was the best house ever." She asked if they were going home, but her parents had other plans. They needed to go to a store first. Vela asked if she could have her candy then and her mommy told her she had to wait until they got home. Vela didn't throw a fit and obeyed. As soon as they got home she just grabbed herself a bag of M&Ms and told her mom that's what she wanted to eat and asked if it was ok if she had two. Her very nice mommy agreed since she had been so patient and good at the party. The End.

So it really does pay off to be patient. I wonder what my reward will be if I am actually patient one day, hmmm?? Maybe a cruise? I really want one of those. Anyways here are some pics.

Velani's tail is #2 the one on the donkey's face!

Are you able to speak freely?

2009-08-26T14:35:00.006-06:00

Don't answer the question because it's not for you...........it was a question I was asked.

I wanted to blog about our experience at a birthday party and other funny things the
girls' say and do because that's what this blog is all about..... right?

Well, that's not gonna happen today because something else happened. Something I thought would never happen, but I guess I should never say 'never' because today it happened. I am now wondering how the heck it happened.......okay okay I'll get to the point in a second. Seriously how did she do it. Do you have any idea of who I am talking about? Nope not Velani. Of course it's Mia. It has to be Mia.

Before I go on and tell you what happened I have to tell you a little about Mia. She has been by far the most curious of both of my girls. She loves exploring and being in things she shouldn't be in. If we say no or stop she does the total opposite and she does it with a smirk on her face. She is good at getting away with anything because she is the baby and let's just face it she is just TOO DARN CUTE!!

So as I was sitting on the couch with Velani by my side, watching cartoons, I was on the computer checking out Facebook and getting ready to write today's blog.....not this one remember? and Mia was well, being Mia.......exploring and being curious............ and she had taken off with my cell phone. Then I heard a little noise and when I turned around I saw her in her room playing with my phone so I got up and took it away from her and I noticed the screen said something like emergency I don't remember because I took it away and quickly cleared the screen back to the main page or screen, whatever, and I came back to sit on the couch and as I was logging in my phone rang and it was a 435 area code which is here in Saint George. When I answered I immediately knew.......the man on the other end said, "911 what is the address to your emergency?" I said in a calm voice, "I am sooo sorry my daughter was playing with my phone." He then replied with the question, "Are you able to speak freely?" and my response was "Yes and I am sorry." He then went on to say, "Ok well just be sure to lock your phone next time." I said "Ok and thank you."

I cannot believe my 13 month old dialed that emergency number and HOW? I checked my phone and there isn't an outgoing call to 911. I tried checking my cell phone to see where that emergency screen is and I can't find it. It's a mystery..........ok not really, but out of all the numbers it had to be THAT ONE.

So now I go back to the call I received. I keep thinking about that one question and I am just thankful for our country. I don't know if that happens anywhere else.......I think it doesn't, but anyways I just kept thinking about why they ask that question and know that there are so many victims out there that aren't able to speak freely and it's a way to safely let that person respond if they're in any type of danger. Let me just say that I was surprised by this question that I actually had to think about it..........no just kidding. I felt so nervous afterwards that I guess it was because I got to thinking about the true emergency calls they get and well, they don't know what is going on on the other end of the line.

So there you have it. I guess I'll blog about the cute stuff next time. Mia still has alot to learn, but I know I learned something today: No more girls' playing with my phone.......Never and ever!!!

P.S. here is a pictures of Mia's famous shoes I talked about and how she is obsessed with wearing

them.

Velani and Mia playing with chalk. Do you notice Mia's curious face? believe me she is being curious. I'll post the picture that proves it next time.

My little beauties!

New semester. New look.

2009-08-24T10:06:00.005-06:00

Yay! today the hubby goes back to school. I am excited for two reasons:

1- We're getting closer to Medical school

2- I get back on my routine with the girls

Now about medical school, I am so excited for Jahvel. I wanted to go to med school too, but I get to see my dream fulfilled with him first. I am a mother now and that's my priority at this time in my life. And it also means that we are one step closer to moving again and who knows where we will end up next..........hopefully back in Dallas. Although, I have to admit that I will miss Saint George. It really is a good place for a family. It's nice, quiet, everything is so close and it just feels good to be here.

About the routine.........I don't know exactly what that routine consists of or if we really ever had one, but I am planning to really get into one for my sake and the girls. I am also planning to get together with other moms for a playgroup. There ARE other mothers out there that feel the same way I do so it will be good for us and the kids. I also want to start teaching Velani to write and count past 11 while she is still very interested in learning, it is the best time to teach someone right? and maybe even start the potty training with Mia, it's worth a shot.

I am excited and I don't know why, but I have to say that our summer vacation was GREAT!

Going to San Diego.

Braulio getting married.

Going back to Dallas.

Partying with the family.

Going to a lake with a beautiful scenery.

Many other things I can list, but don't want to.

What more can I ask for?

I even gave my blog a new look! what do you think? Me likes! Alright I guess that's it for today. Here's another pic.

At the lake eating some chips.

Shoes are made for walking...

2009-08-19T15:27:00.003-06:00

I am sooo happy to see my little one walking now. It brings a smile on my face everytime I see Mia walk, it's just too cute! She looks soo funny with her legs open and slightly bent and her arms out as she walks, it's just priceless.

She just loves it and what a great accomplishment it is for children when they learn to walk. It kind of seems to me that Mia actually knew how to walk for a while now, as if she practiced it while no one was watching her. She just walks so fast and so good you would think she's been a walker for a long time now, she is a PRO I tell ya.

So here is the funniest and cutest story that goes with this walking phase:

Monday afternoon the family and I went to Target for one reason only: Buy shoes for Mia, but a couple of other family members didn't think it was fair to just buy something for Mia so they got a little something for themselves as well, except......for me.......and why didn't I get anything? Oh well! I'll go shopping for me someother year!

Anyways back to the story. So we went to the shoe section and saw a few that I liked. So after I picked the first pair I told the hubby to try it on her (note: she wasn't wearing any shoes) and he did and while he was doing that I got a hold of another pair and told him to try those instead, but when he gave me the first pair back little Miss Mia started to scream and cry (also known as a "throwing a fit") she wanted back the other shoes. So we handed them to her so that we could try the second pair on, but she just threw them at us and continued with her fit. So what was this girl crying about? we took the shoes away and she cried so we hand them back and she throws them and continues to cry, what the heck? well, it didn't take us that long to figure it out.......she wanted them ON! and as soon as we put them on she was happy and just dangling her little feet with shoes on, but it didn't end there, oh no.......she wanted to walk in them as well and she looked cute in them, but there is more...

Yesterday while Velani and I were out and the hubby stayed babysitting.....Mia once again showed him how much she loves her shoes and enjoys walking. Jahvel was sitting alone minding his own business doing who knows what while Mia was in her room doing who knows how much mess. Then, out of nowhere and without Jahvel hearing a beep because he was so distracted Mia just slams her pair of brand new shoes on the couch next to Jahvel! and he asks her if she wants him to put them on her and she answers him with a HUGE smile on her face. So he does and she just WALKS away happily with her shoes on.

AND........after I walk in to get her from her nap today she is with a worried look on her face and making these "uh uh uh" sounds pointing her little finger at her new shoes that are just sitting on top of a shelf........she wants them on!

I love this smart girl, how can I not be smiling all the time?

Whoo hoo!

2009-08-12T10:25:00.007-06:00

It a special day today!

Mia has finally started to walk.

She's known how to walk for 2 months now, but has been scared to try it...alone! she has take 2 or three steps before, until today of course. We were having a fun time dancing and boy does she looooves to dance (she is following in sister's footsteps) and out of nowhere she just let go and started to walk and shake her little bum bum. She looked like a total pro and seemed to enjoy it. I should have known that music would do the magic. So now to keep her walking rather than crawling......I think she'll do just fine. I'll let you know how that goes.

This is a HUGE accomplishment for Mia and I know that after this there is no stopping her except.......Velani haha, but Mia knows how to defend herself with all 6 teeth.

but now we have another thing to accomplish.....

to eat all by herself....

with a spoon.

She can do it!!

I'm baaack!

2009-08-06T08:53:00.006-06:00

Ah! it's been a long time.....and I am sure there will be many good stories to tell now that Mia is a little older.

Today I want to talk about Velani though. You would think that there is no way she could get into any mischief, but I would have to say "Oh, but there is!" and this time she has really done it. I am gonna start off by telling you that she didn't get what she deserved and that she didn't cry either, surprised? I was.

It was time for a bath......for both girls, but as soon as we said that Velani just left the room and as I was filling the water and Jahvel was undressing Mia, Velani had gone upstairs. We put Mia in the tub and then Velani shows up! Now how much time do you think went by? Not much, right? Maybe 5 minutes. Well, what I am gonna tell you next is gonna surprise you or even shock you.

Velani had the baby nail scissors in her hand and a chunk of hair just hanging with the rest of her hair! Oh my...... I'm beginning to feel those heart attack signs again. Jahvel was in total shock because he hadn't said anything yet. I began to ask her many questions and even told her that what she had done was not good. Then, I started to comb her hair so that any of the cut hair would fall out and as more kept falling out Jahvel just went to get the camera and started taking pictures of the damage she had done and that's when he started asking away. No spanking? Nope. No crying? Nope. Velani just said, "Oh I'm sorry" and the whole time she was like: what's the big deal!? my daddy just got a hair cut and no one said anything to him. She really didn't think much of it and was just ready to get in the tub with her sister............and that's exactly what she did.

Jahvel kept asking her throughout the day "Why?" and she just ignored. He has lost all hope with Velani's hair and he even said we could take her in for a real haircut! but he did tell me never to touch Mia's hair. Yeah, ok she will probably do the same in 2 years! So I agreed and Velani does indeed need a good haircut, a professional one that is!

Now a moment of silence in rememberance of Velani's beautiful hair....well so long for now.

2009-06-18T09:28:00.004-06:00

We are counting down our days for several things. It is just that time again when we count down for major and very important events. We are very excited and can't wait for these things to take place. Velani only cares about one of these things and well the rest are just extras for her, but I am sure she will enjoy them all as they occur. So here is our list and a short funny story.

Enjoy!

1. Mom's arrival

2. Braulio & Alison's wedding

3. Fun road trip back to Dallas (a hint of sarcasm in my voice)

4. Mia's Birthday

5. Hanging out with the family

......and then there is just plain ol' counting.

The other day Velani called "mom" and just chit chatted for a while. Velani had been a little sad and upset right before that because she had dialed a wrong number and thought it was "mom" and then they just hung up on her. So after finally talking to "mom" for a while she went silent and "mom" said "okay Velani, cuentame algo" and Velani did just that and replied with "uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco.......doce" in a low sad voice. My mom and I just started to laugh. It was funny and just very sweet.

So as you can see we really are doing alot of counting in this cuhrazy house of ours. Mia just claps, dances, screams and looks cute!

XoXo

Stefani

Ready or not...

2009-06-15T09:21:00.005-06:00

I am so excited that in a few more weeks I will be back in Texas!

I have been in St. George for 9 months now and even though I like it now it's not the same being away from our family. We are here for a reason and we have been privileged to have met good people. People have made a difference in our lives and I'm sure we have made a difference in theirs. We have learned to be independent. It's not easy and I know it'll only get harder before it gets any easier, but we will not give up. We will keep pushing for a better future. I will keep encouraging and cheering Jahvel on. We still have about a year to go before he starts to apply for medical school and who knows where we will end up next, but I know it will all be good. We are not gonna give up. We set ourselves up for a better future and this can only be accomplished if we persevere.

It's hard to believe that we have been here for almost a year. We have had many good experiences here and I'm not gonna lie we have had our lows, but we have truly been blessed, we have each other and to me that is more than I could ask for.

Now it's time to go back, say hi and spend some good ol' times back in Texas before we continue with our purpose here in St. George. So Texas start getting ready for the Thompson's come back!!

XoXo

Stefani

2009-06-05T14:32:00.003-06:00

See this Gorgeous little girl here? she is my baby!

She is now 11 months. Where has time gone? I brought her here to Saint George when she was only 3 months old and look at her now.

We have been through so much. I have learned many things one of which I haven't quite gotten down yet and need to accomplish and that is enjoying each and every minute with my girls. I let them play, but realize I need to play with them too.

I realize that time is just going by so fast and I need to make good use of my time so here is a list of things I need to work on.

I need to just let go and not be so picky about having the house upside down and a total mess. One day I will just laugh about it, okay not really, but still. I get frustrated and sometimes I end up in a bad mood when I try to do many things at once so I guess I just need to slow down, take a breath, count to 10, drink some water, and relax!! It'll be ok. I need to let people help when they offer to help, why not? sometimes mothers need a break too. I need a date night and spend time with my hubby. I need to quit writing about me and stay on track.

So my little Mia is growing up beautifully.

She sleeps through the night, yay!
She is eating yummy, adult solid foods and will not have more of that what is it called, oh yeah, baby food.
She is crawling and cruising ALL over the place.
She says and waves HI and BYE.
She bites (not a good thing) if she is being bothered or if we try to take something away from her.
She yells and screams in a high pitched tone when we chase her or when she is happy and excited.
She smiles just like in the picture above.
She loves being in the water.

The list can go on and on. So for now we just count down till the BIG 01!!

XoXo

Stefani

What?

2009-06-03T10:21:00.005-06:00

I don't know what to say. I am hurt!

A few weeks ago we went out to the park as a family. The girls were having fun, but we weren't. So we decided to just take a walk. The Temple here in St. George is walking distance from the park so we decided to take a walk and just hang out there for a while. When we got there there was a couple taking wedding pictures and Velani kept starring at the bride's dress and then she said the following:

"Wow, she is a princess! you see mami I told you! you have to be a princess."

What!?

What does she mean I have to be a princess?

I mean don't I already look like one? Oh wait, no I don't!

I was a "princess" 4 years ago and I guess I kinda lost it a little after my first child and then completely lost it after the second one.

I thought our children always saw us as princesses and beautiful, but not my 3 year old, oh no! she knows exactly what her mom looks like and apparently she doesn't look like a princess at all and that's why she told me I had to be one. I guess I'll have to start looking a little more like one and less like a person who cleans, mops, and well, less like a mommy.

I will take her advice and start little by little. I started with a nice new haircut and now I gotta start dressing better.

You know, I'm starting to actually feel better now. When I dress up and fix myself up I feel better about myself than when I don't and that's exactly what I need, to feel better so I can do better.

XoXo

Stefani

Got milk?

2009-05-28T10:09:00.002-06:00

That is the question Mia keeps on asking day by day.

I am trying to wean her out, but I don't think she wants to give in quite yet.

I have been putting whole milk in her cereal every morning so that she can get accustomed to the taste and she also gets a sippy cup with more milk in the evenings and she really doesn't seem to dislike it. So then why oh why does she keep coming to me right after she finishes her milk and lies down on my lap and waits for more? (it is the cutest thing, don't get me wrong, but not the point). I guess she is not ready to give up the comfort and special bonding time with mommy yet (I kind of don't want to either) but now that she is sleeping through the night (Yay!!) I think it would be better for the both of us.

We will just have to keep trying, but without putting either of us through a sentimental breakdown. I love our own little bonding time and every time I think about it I get very emotional because it reminds me of how 2 years ago Velani and I had our little moment and now she is all big and I know Mia will continue to grow and I will never get that special bonding time back. It's a mommy thing, but at least I love it!

XoXo
Stefani

Crabby patties?

2009-05-22T13:23:00.004-06:00

Every time I think about this I just laugh!

Here is how it went:

My mom bought Velani an activity book for her birthday and like any good grandma, she was helping Velani with it. It is like this sticker book and you have to match the picture with the letter that it starts with or something like that. I wasn't there helping them or anything because I was doing something else, but I was listening to them while they were working on that activity book. Then I heard my mom ask Velani what a certain picture was and Velani said "it's a crabby patty!"

Do you know what that is? Have you ever seen an episode of Spongebob? watch one and you will know what a crabby patty is.

We just started to laugh. It was just so funny. I guess I haven't taught her what a hamburger is.
I saw Spongebob the other day and I just started laughing again. She was just so cute that day because she seriously thought that's what they are called.

Kids really do say the cutest things.

XoXo
Stefani

New names

2009-05-18T09:20:00.006-06:00

I just had to share this.

I like my name a lot! and I think I chose cute names for my daughter, don't you?

Well, I am sure Mia will like hers and I know Velani likes hers too, I think. So my guess is that Velani just wants a change. Out of nowhere, this child of mine decided she was no longer to be called VELANI. So her new name, or nickname I should say, is Vela. Oh and that's not all! she no longer calls her daddy Papi she now calls Jahvel papito (pronounced pah-pee-toe). I promise I don't call him that and I have no idea where she came up with that.

So who's next? and what will she be calling us?

In the mean time I am still mami and Mia is still Mia.

XoXo

Stefani

Thankful Thursday!

2009-05-14T10:37:00.006-06:00

I am VERY thankful for this little girl!

I can't say that I am always on top of things, but she just won't let me forget when I need to do some very important things, for example:

Snack time
Popsicle time
play time
cartoon time
reading time

and many others that she considers extremely important. But when it comes to things that aren't in her list then it's up to me to remember. I recently bought a big wall calendar so that I can keep up with things because I am very forgetful. Today one of those big things happened. Velani had her endocrinologist appointment. Every three to four months they have to check her A1C, an average of her blood sugars, to see how she's been doing with her glucose and it was at 8.2% and that is GOOD. As long as she stays below 8.5% then we are doing good with her management.

I am very thankful that we have been able to keep her within normal levels. It's not easy and she still doesn't quite get it, but as a mother it is my responsibility to teach her and it's my duty to keep her healthy until she is at an age where she will have to take that responsibility and make good and healthy food choices.

Oh Brother!

2009-05-08T14:01:00.005-06:00

Today's blog isn't about my daughters nor my hubby nor myself!

So can anybody guess whom or what I will blog about today? *hint* look at the title.

It's about my brother. I know I have TWO, but today I want to talk about the older one .

The one that is getting married.....like in about 1 1/2 months.

Yes, BRAULIO! He is such a special person. He is quiet, funny, discreet, loving, he has a good sense of humor and a person that always tries to please the people he loves. He is a great brother, son and uncle.

You might be wondering why the heck I am writing about him, but I guess it's because I am just very excited that he is finally getting married. I am very happy to know that he is not only getting married, but getting married to a person I know very little of, but that I know is a nice, lovely and a sweet person, but most importantly a person that LOVES my brother (I can tell).

Braulio is my eldest brother and he is very special to me. I am pleased to say that I have a good relationship with him and I guess there aren't many that can say the same, but family is always #1 and it's nice to be close to those you love and care about. So anyways, Good Luck to him!

XoXo
Stefani

Friends, Friends

2009-05-06T08:59:00.004-06:00

I was thinking of what I should write about in today's blog and couldn't think of anything, but then I remembered that Velani has some new "girlfriends."

Velani has been a sweet, but shy girl when it comes to being around other people especially people she doesn't quite know.

Last weekend she went out to the patio and started playing. I noticed our neighbor's little girls said something to Velani, but she just came inside. I told her that it was ok to play with them and if they said "hi" that she could say "hi" back. She immediately said, "Ok, mami" and very excited she ran outside and said "Hi!"

That was the beginning of a new friendship.

Now I can't get Velani to listen to me when I tell her that it's not time to play outside and as soon as she sees her friends outside she says "Oh mami my friends are outside!" and she will put her shoes on and run outside to play with them. She also brought them in the other day to show them her room and that just felt weird! but she is happy and I guess I can be too! but when it's time to come in she gets a little rebellious and that's when she has to learn to obey and learn the rules at this early age.

I guess I can use her having-friends-and-wanting-to-go-outside-to-play to my advantage. I guess someone's gonna be eating all types of food and cleaning her room and being more obedient if she wants to go out and play. She will be learning how to compromise and making her own decisions from the options that I give her.

XoXO
Stefani

What a day!

2009-05-04T08:26:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was a day to remember.

It is a little difficult to be in church with........MIA now that she is all over the place and doesn't like to be carried or held for a long period of time and a long period of time being....oh....maybe.... 3 minutes! No really! She will scream and wiggle right out of your arms. Sooo like I said it gets hard. So Jahvel and I usually take turns watching her.

Yesterday, Jahvel watched Mia for 1 hour while I enjoyed one of my classes. 5 minutes before it was over Jahvel was there at the door with guess who? yep! Mia. I went out to get her and he said, "Man, she's bad!" I just giggled.

If you are thinking about Velani and where she is well, she goes to the nursery with all the other children her age, she loves it by the way even if at first she doesn't want to stay.

So during our Sacrament meeting the congregation had the opportunity to bare their testimonies and I asked Velani if she wanted to go share her testimony and she said, "Yes! I want to go and talk" I didn't think she would go through with it, but she did. I was with her and helped her a little and she did just fine. When we were going back to sit down she said, "Yes! I did it!" She was very happy and excited and I couldn't be any more teared up for this little girl of mine. She sure is special and full of surprises.

Mia was with a cute engaged couple. They took care of her for the remainder of the meeting and at the end they told me she was really good. Yeah....ok. I guess after how she acted previously she was pooped by the time they got her.

Well, at least I made it through another day at church! but it was a good one after all.

XoXo
Stefani

New day back to normal

2009-04-29T12:07:00.004-06:00

We are back to our normal routine after a very fun weekend.

Velani had a blast this weekend. She was spoiled a lot by "mom" and just loved having her around. She kinda forgot about mommy and daddy, but hey mommy and daddy were just fine about that.

The birthday party she had been waiting for had arrived and I think she didn't expect that much. She had the Dora cake she wanted and had fun at the pool. She kept telling her little friend Alina that it wasn't her birthday, that it was Velani's party.

Mom was here and tio Braulio and Alison surprised her with their arrival after she really thought they wouldn't come. Unfortunately, tio Andres didn't come, but he sent a very special gift that we all loved and enjoyed. She also received many gifts from her tias back "home." Thanks!

We had a good time, but it wasn't gonna last forever. Velani had to say goodbye, again! She didn't want her "mom" to go. She was willing to get on that plane with her. She didn't want to let go of her hand and told us that she wanted to go with "mom" to her house. A few nights before that she felt that "mom" was gonna leave and without anyone mentioning that, she said to mom, "tu no te vas a ir a tu casa" and mom said "si, yo me voy a tener que ir a mi casa" and then Velani said "pero yo te amo!"

How dare she leave after that?!

Later that night when she was in bed she asked me to lay next to her and she said:

"Mami, I like it that mom is here and she is not going to her house"

"Oh! why not?"

"because she is here en mi house and I love her and she is going to stay with me"

"Well, Velani, she has to go to her house, but she will be back"

"but, I have to show her my pictures!"

but the big day came and "mom" left, but Velani is back to herself again and now the countdown begins once again. I will post some pictures and video clips soon.

XoXo
Stefani

For she's a jolly good baby......

2009-04-22T09:23:00.004-06:00

I can sing that song over and over again!

I really wouldn't want to jinx it, but oh well! I just gotta tell you why she IS a jolly good baby. My precious little Mia gave me a really nice gift on Monday night and again last night.

Like I said before my allergies were horrible on Monday. I had a terrible headache, but that little one of mine gave me a break.

She slept through the night!!!! and I slept through the night too!! (even when Velani decided that night she didn't want to sleep in her bed, so she decided to go up stairs and sleep in our bed. Oh! but not before she turns OFF our fan! and then jumps on Jahvel causing him to groan, but I was too tired and sleepy to care) and I really don't know how long it has been since I last slept like that, but it sure did feel good.

When I woke up Tuesday morning I thought, "Wow! I slept more than 4 hours straight" and I was grateful for that and I didn't care if it wasn't the beginning of those kind of nights where you actually get to sleep, but I had one good night and that was more than I could have asked for. Oh! but it doesn't end there...

Last night when I put Mia down for bed I silently prayed she would sleep through the night again. My prayers were answered and she slept through the night, again! but I should have prayed that I slept through the night again as well. Now I don't know if my girls talk about it or what, but it seems like every time this happens the other one decides to take over. It's like they say, "Ok, I already let you sleep for a whole month, but now it's my turn to get some good night sleep, so you wake those parents of ours up at least once every night for the next month, or at least mommy who doesn't seem to mind if she sleeps or not."

I seriously think that is really what happens behind closed doors when I believe they are sound asleep.

Velani listened to Mia and last night I heard her door open and then close and heard her little footsteps coming up the stairs and then she was in our bed. It would have been nice if it ended there, but NOOOOOOO she had to be moving and making noises for a while, then she gets up and goes to the potty and comes back and starts moving and making noises again. I am not gonna lie to you, I got upset! I went into the attic to out her Dora couch/sleeping bag or whatever and moved her onto it, she cried for a little and then......Silence.......for the remainder of the night.

Now last night would have been great if it weren't for that little interruption, but that Mia is a jolly good baby and I just hope she keeps it up that way. I'll let you know if I jinxed it.

XoXo
Stefani

I have what they had plus more

2009-04-20T14:34:00.003-06:00

I don't know what it is, but it seems to me like I have what the girls had.

I thought that it was allergies, but not anymore. I woke up with a horrible headache and a very stuffy nose, sore throat and feeling very very blah!

I can live with the stuffy/runny nose, sore throat (kinda) but not the horrible headache. I hate headaches!!!! so anyways I should just stop whining since no one is gonna help me anyway (get over it Stef and just look at the bright side.......ok don't look at the bright side it only makes the headache worse). Ok somebody call the WAHmbulance!

Changing the subject.......I have been getting ready for a very special day.

Any guesses?

Yep! Velani's b-day and the arrival of "Mom" of course. For the past 2 1/2 months Velani has been waiting patiently for that day to arrive, but I guess enough is enough. Earlier today she found a present I have been trying to hide from her. She saw it long enough to realize what it was and that she wanted to play with it NOW! when I got her out of the attic and told her it was for her birthday, she just yelled and said "NO, para mi birthday no !" So guess what I did? I gave it to her and said, " Happy early birthday!" and she replied in a surprised voice, " OH THANK YOU MAMI!" yeah, yeah. I would have probably reacted differently if I didn't have this horrible headache and the blah-feeling.

So much for surprises I guess, but I know she will be pretty darn excited the moment she sees "mom" coming towards her at the airport, so I'll be sure to record that special moment. Last time we were suppose to record that moment, but SOMEONE decided to come earlier and didn't have the chance to do it.

Ok back to my headache........ I gotta take care of it, so gotta go.

XoXo
Stefani

One sick family

2009-04-16T10:26:00.004-06:00

Kleenex anyone?

The Thompson's home has been taken over by yucky germs and more yucky germs!

I have 2 sick daughters and a sick husband, how can in not be? I am the only "healthy" one. I guess it's meant for me, the mommy, to stay that way so that I can help them (the un-healthy ones) to get better by giving them whatever it is they think they need so that they may feel better soon.

Medicine, of course, is not on Velani's list, but with the "impressive ear infection" she has, according to the Pediatrician, it is a must! She is not used to taking oral medicine since she hasn't gotten sick. Let me go ahead and tell you that it's not easy, we have to hold her down so that we can get that antibiotic in her mouth. So let me get this straight, she is ok with having about 4 injections a day, but not with 2 doses of oral medication!? and it is strawberry flavored too! but you know what? I'll take injections over medicine any time! I hate medicine, yuck!

The little one, a.k.a as Mia, has a cold as well, but she doesn't have to take any meds. Yay! she just has a yucky runny nose and a yucky cough. I hope she gets better soon, although she is acting like her normal self. I just don't like having to hear her cry when we clean her nose and still try to keep it from getting like Rudolph's nose. Sorry Mia!

Jahvel, well he definitely needs to get better soon because it's getting really annoying hearing him sneeze! and if you have heard him sneeze, you'll know it's true and if not, boy you are just lucky!

So I hope they get better soon just in case I do get sick it'll be their turn to take care of me and pamper me, why not!? I deserve some good pampering.

XoXo
Stefani

.

2009-04-13T08:20:00.003-06:00

It's Monday again and I can't believe it! A week ago today we were in Salt Lake City visiting and meeting some of Jahvel's aunts, uncles, and cousins. We had a good time! but now a week later....

Velani is sick. I am shocked! Velani has been a healthy girl (besides her having Diabetes). This morning we woke up with 2 girls in our bed. One is sick and I totally understand that, but what about the other one? well, she just didn't want to be left behind, but then WE (Jahvel and I) don't sleep comfortably!

So with that being said I declare today: Lazy Day! I don't feel like doing anything today after a night like last night. I know! I have had worst nights, but I still do my chores and other things around the house, but today I'm really not gonna do anything besides finish writing this post and hanging out with the girls, oh! and I have to feed these hungry people when it's time.

Well, now that I think about it, I guess it won't be a Lazy day after all! Maybe next time (yeah right, sure! I'll keep thinking that maybe just maybe there will be a next time where I won't do anything at all).

XoX
Stefani

Thankful Thursday!

2009-04-09T09:42:00.006-06:00

I am thankful for many things, today and everyday, of course, I am thankful for prayers.

I know that our prayers are heard and answered. I am thankful for the blessing we all have to communicate with our Father in Heaven and to know that he hears our prayers and that he answers them in the most amazing ways.

But I am especially thankful for Velani's prayers.

Velani has been saying prayers for a while now. When she was about a year younger she began by assigning people to say the prayer. She wouldn't let anybody say the prayer without her assigning one first.

She then learned how to do one herself and would pray for everyone she knew, including Barney!

Now that she is a little older and that she understands more she knows how to say a prayer we can actually understand. She began by saying her prayers in Spanish, though. Now that she speaks more English and that she has been going to the nursery at church, she has learned how to say a prayer in English and only wants to say it in English.

Yesterday morning I asked her to say the prayer for breakfast and she did. I thought it was sweet and very cute! this is how her prayer went:

"Heavenly Father thank thee for this day and for the waffles that mami made............name of Jesus Christ (pronounced Quiste) Amen.

I giggled because first of all I didn't make the waffles, they were frozen! and of how she pronounces Christ.

Velani has a sweet, sweet spirit and I just love her prayers especially because some have been pretty funny. Once she just prayed about her birthday party, presents, Dora cake and of the people whom she thinks are coming.

So what else are we thankful for?

XoXo
Stefani

Lewa's Designs Giveaway!!

2009-04-08T12:28:00.003-06:00

Everyone wins giveaway!

I don't know if you have seen Lewa's designs, but let me tell you, they are really cute!!

She is giving away some cute vinyl wall art and all you have to do is blog about them. I love the Baby Swirly Bird wall decal and many others. So if you want one just head on over to their site.

http://www.lewasdesigns.com

GREAT NEWS!!

2009-04-01T09:59:00.004-06:00

I am so happy and excited!

I have 2 lovely girls in my life that just bring lots of happiness, excitement and headaches to our family.

Velani is almost 3 and is super excited about "mom" coming and buying her Dora birthday cake. We will be having her party at an indoor swimming pool and a few of her little friends will be there to celebrate her turning 3 years old!!

Mia, she will be 9 months tomorrow! she is growing up so fast and let me tell you she is a little explorer. She likes to be in everything and has gotten in trouble so many times by her big sister. I mentioned in a previous blog how Mia is a determined little girl and will not stop until she gets what she wants, even if her sister yells at her!

Well, we are truly blessed and even more now with a new addition to our family! Isn't that great news!? Hopefully we'll have a little brother for these girls. Someone who will set them straight.

So anyways we will keep you posted!

Oh and by the way have you played a joke on anyone today? It IS April fool's day today isn't it? hee hee! April fool's!!!

XoXo
Stefani

What do you think?

2009-03-30T10:43:00.003-06:00

I have been spending time on my blog, can you tell?

I wanted to make it prettier and well, I still have more work to do on it, but what do you think of it so far?

I am determined to keep this blog up to date. I know I have said that before, but hey I am gonna keep saying it until I do!

Ok so now it's time for a funny moment that occurred a few nights ago. As I have mentioned before (about the 2 and 4 am awakenings) it is hard to keep my girls in the same room because when one wakes up the other will wake up too. So this time it wasn't any different. Mia woke up and here I go all groggy and tired, it's hard to go down those stairs in that situation, but I don't want the other child to wake up so I try to do it fast. I nurse Mia and she falls asleep and now I have to put her in her crib nice and slowly so she won't wake up. I fail! I rock her until once again she falls asleep and again I try to put her in the crib and again she wakes up. I do this several times rocking her longer each time and it just doesn't work sooooo I give up! that's right it has been an hour and it doesn't seem like it will work at all so I just give up. I put her in her crib and hope she will just cry it out a little and fall asleep.

Velani is still sleeping and I figure she won't wake up. I go upstairs and lay down while Mia is crying it out. A few seconds after I lay down I hear the door open. "Oh no, here we go!" I say to Jahvel who is now awake.

"Mami! que le hiciste a Mia?" yells Velani "dale boob!" She then went back to bed and fell asleep again and Mia? she is still awake and crying so for Velani's sake, I did exactly what she told me to until finally Mia fell asleep.

Jahvel and I were just cracking up afterwards. Velani is just a hoot! she said the word boob. How does a 2 year old now that word? Well, she learned it from her father, of course. He doesn't say go breastfeed or nurse, he says give her boob and that is how Velani learned it.

So there you have it, another funny story thanks to my daughter. My life is just more fun and sweet with my girls. You just never know what will come out of her mouth next and it's not always fun and games, read previous posts.

TTFN (ta ta for now)

Drama Mama!

2009-03-27T09:45:00.007-06:00

I know I have said it many times before, but Velani IS a drama queen and I am her mama.

I have been going through some difficult times with my precious 2 year-old-going-on-13-instead-of-3!!! and I am not exaggerating when I say that.

The day before yesterday we had our first big fight. Like one of those fights I had with my mom when I was way older because I couldn't go out with friends, except Velani isn't way old like I was and it wasn't because I didn't let her go out with her friends.

She loves watching cartoons. Anyways the point is that she can watch cartoons, but not when she is eating. So I turned off the t.v and boy, I didn't see it coming to me. She threw a huge tantrum and was screaming at me like never before. She went into her room and slammed the door, SLAMMED it, can you believe it? she toldme to leave her alone and not talk to her.

Where did this all come from?

Well, I left her in her room until she calmed herself down and when she came out she asked me to say sorry because I yelled at her, yes, I am guilty! I yelled at her, but after I kept asking her nicely to stop yelling at me, she was totally out of control, I tell ya. I did apologize and she apologized as well and we had a talk, I explained to her why she couldn't watch t.v while eating and well after everything was said she said "Ven mami, dame un hug" so we hugged it off and everything was ok again.

I don't want a preteen in a 2 year old body. I want just that, a 2 year old! I want my baby to enjoy her childhood and I hope this is just a phase she is going through. The funny thing is that she has a little sister who looks up to her and is watching her.

Uh-oh! I think I am outnumbered.

Patience!

I'm a mommy first!

2009-03-23T09:31:00.006-06:00

There are many things I want to do, but can't or don't know how to. I stress myself out a lot because I try to do many things at once. I want to keep myself busy and learn how to do new things so that I can be a better mom, wife and person.

I was working as an interpreter and the phone was turned on from 9 am until 6 pm. At first they told me that if I couldn't answer calls to just put the phone on Do Not Disturb until I was ready to take the calls again. The calls came in at any random time. I could be cooking, changing a diaper, bathing my girls, you name it. It was very frustrating!!!! I would put it on Do Not Disturb during these times, but they would call me on my cell phone and ask how much longer I would be off line because they needed me!? I didn't get it then! I found myself being mad most of the time, stressed out and frustrated. I kept trying to keep the girls quiet so that I could do my job. At times I wanted to just give up and quit, but then again I didn't want to. I wanted to work from home for some extra little cash and help pay off some debt, it was an easy job and it paid pretty good.

I prayed many many times and asked my Heavenly Father for some patience and instead he made it a little easier for me. It was all over on Wednesday of last week. I received a call from my employer and they asked if I could take the phone back to the corporate offices and that they understand that I am busy and that they would just transfer fewer calls to my cell phone instead. It hit me and very hard!!!! I was mad very mad, but then after letting the anger out I realized that I wouldn't feel frustrated, mad, stressed, hurried and like a prisoner in my own home anymore. I would just be a mommy! That is the most important calling I could have. I don't need to answer to anyone or stay locked inside my home all day until 6 pm. I can do and go anywhere I want with my girls and have fun, all of us or just stay at home and watch movies, play games, sing songs and just take our time doing these things. No need to be quiet anymore, not like it was before, heehee! I don't need the extra cash, I need the extra time to be with my girls and enjoy them.

I feel great this Monday morning! waking up taking my time to feed some hungry people and watching cartoons at a volume louder than 8 and actually enjoying it. Not running to the phone and hushing up these girls and making hand signals to Velani to watch Mia.

I know that my H.F. wants me to be a mother first and he knew how I was feeling having that job and knew that I really wanted to quit deep down inside, but couldn't or didn't know how to. He knew that I was wasting precious time. He wants me to be a better mom and wants me to be patient and now he will begin to test my patience some other ways so that I may learn to develop this "virtue" because I'm sure you've heard that patience is a virtue, right? Well, he's testing that patience at 2, 3, and 6 in the morning. I think I'm getting better at it!

So now all I have to do is make some time to learn, but not before taking care of my babies, they're first.

"There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine.

Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all,

but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak

with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

"As you create a home, don't get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning

for you or your family. Don't dwell on your failures, but think about your successes.

Have joy in your home. Have joy in your children. Have joy in your husband. Be greatful

for the journey."

-Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Tooth be or not tooth be!

2009-03-17T10:24:00.006-06:00

Tooth be!

The tooth fairy has decided to stop by at our house this weekend and not to pick up a lost tooth I must say, this tooth fairy is actually a different type of tooth fairy.

There is an 8 month old little girl who finally has her first tooth! I am excited, but then again I am scared and you can imagine why. You can't imagine why? then all I need to let you know is that I am still nursing her.

I have to tell you that Mia is a very sweet sweet little girl, when she is in a happy mood that is, but when she isn't......MOVE OUT OF THE WAY! She has a bad temper and throws BIG tantrums. She will throw herself back or at you if you take something away from her, even if it's not hers. It's not a pretty sight, but it is kinda funny. So I guess I just need to make sure she is in a good mood when nursing.

So I better stock up on yummy finger foods for little Miss Mia who has been ready to eat other foods for a while now. She wants what we eat and what Mia wants we have to give or else!

Thankful Thursday!

2009-03-12T10:35:00.003-06:00

I have a few reasons to be thankful today.

I have finally been getting some sleep, more than usual. I have to thank both my daughters for that.
I am thankful for Velani's sense of humor, this girl can really make me laugh, I tell you what.
I am thankful for Mia, this little precious-not-so-baby-anymore has such a sweet spirit.
I am so thankful that I am a stay-at-home mom and that I am able to enjoy every moment of these two little girl's lives, even if it means grey hairs!
I am thankful for sweets, I have been eating too many sweets lately! and I love it.

and just off the record, I just have to let you know how Velani's vocabulary has been increasing, she has come up with some of her own unique words, kinda reminds me of Tony.

Readamelo (it's read and melo as in leemelo or read it)
pongemelo( ponmelo )
vengiste (veniste) she likes to add that "G" in some of her words.

These are just some of the newer words.

Mama!

2009-03-03T09:52:00.004-07:00

Those were Mia's first words. I know she knows what that means. I got very emotional when I heard that word coming out of her mouth one morning.

Like every morning, I am too tired to get up. I just want to stay in bed and get a little extra sleep, ok a lot of extra sleep, but Mia just doesn't quite like that idea. She is determined to get some mommy time before big sister wakes up. There is this routine we all go through every morning. Jahvel wakes up and starts getting ready for school, Mia wakes up after him (around 7:30 AM) Jahvel will go downstairs and bring her up and plays with her in bed, so then they wake me up and Velani is the last to wake up (around 8:30 AM). This special morning was a bit different. When Jahvel went to get Mia I really really didn't feel like waking up so I covered my face with the blanket (that's his hint). They were playing and being loud and I just couldn't fall back asleep, but I was determined to stay in bed longer. I took a quick peek and saw Mia, but I didn't let her see me, a few minutes later I took a peek again and that time she saw me and smiled. What happened next was the sweetest thing ever. She said MAMA and started crawling towards me with that beautiful smile that could make everyone melt, ok maybe not everyone, but it sure makes me melt. I was completely awake and smooching on her and rubbing it in Jahvel's face.

I deserved that moment and let me just tell you that I love that my girls are always happy to see me and want to be with me even though sometimes it doesn't seem like it. Really, after everything we do as moms how can we not enjoy and love that feeling when we see the glow, excitement and love in their eyes every time they see us? we can and I feel very special.

Energy saving tip!

2009-02-27T08:59:00.003-07:00

So we all know that we have to start saving energy and taking care of our planet, since it's the only one we have, right!?

Alright so we should start from home and how can we save energy? Well, this is the way we do it:

Velani. Yes, you read it right, Velani, she does it for us. I have to admit we are teaching her some good habits. Jahvel and I are very picky about leaving lights on, it just gets on our nerves to see lights on, especially if we aren't in that room, so we will go and turn it off. Alright so we do ask Velani time to time to turn off the light if we are just too lazy to do it ourselves and she is a sweetheart and will obey. So now we don't even have to ask her anymore she does it herself, it's a habit I guess. The funny thing is she won't just save us energy she will save the family whose home she is in, at least the couple of hours she is at that specific home.

Here is an example of a time she saved a family a few bucks while we were at their home. We had been invited to this family's home for a birthday dinner. While we were eating, Velani and her little friend were dancing in the living room, having a fun time together. Many lights were on during our short visit and Velani had noticed that, I'm sure. While they were dancing and Jahvel was recording, we noticed she just couldn't take it any longer,she disappeared into a hall for a couple of seconds and we wondered why she had left and then we realized that she went to the restroom that was in that hall and turned off the light!! She came back out into the living room like nothing, dancing, and having fun once again. We couldn't help, but laugh. We have it on video and will eventually download it so you can take a good laugh yourself. I don't think anyone else noticed the good deed, but I'm sure they would have appreciated it.

So the energy saving tip is to have a toddler do it for you. I guess I'm doing a good job with this little Drama Queen after all. Okay so I only mentioned one saving tip and I don't know if it's a good one for you, at least for us it is and it works, but hopefully it shows that these toddlers are just too funny and that they do learn from other people. So watch what you do and say in front of them because they are paying attention. I have many stories that prove this and will share in future blogs.

Well, I didn't want you to be disappointed because I didn't give you more energy saving tips so I looked for a website that does and here it is if you are really in need of saving some bucks!

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/

Midnight sweetness!

2009-02-17T12:24:00.007-07:00

It happened once again and I am sure it won't be the last time. This time I wasn't upset and groggy like other times. It was actually a sweet and special moment for me. I was able to cuddle with both of my daughters in a way I normally don't do and not because I don't want to, but because of how crazy the days get (I have to admit that sometimes I can get too caught up with my stuff that I pay less attention to them).

So at about midnight, Velani had an accident. We had to change her clothes and her bedding. While trying to do all of that I tried to do it as silently as possible in order to not wake up the little one, I also decided to check her glucose just in case (it was normal). So then I noticed that my attempt to be quiet, failed. Like every other night Mia awoke and wanted to be part of the midnight sweetness that was in store for me. She was standing in her crib waiting for mommy to get her and feed her. Velani was in her bed at this point trying to fall back asleep. So I took Mia and sat down with her in my comfy rocking chair that I just love so much! I began to nurse her and a couple of minutes later Velani got out of her bed and came to me and told me she wanted to sit with Mia and me. I don't know how I did it, but I had both of my girls with me, one was nursing on one side and the other was just resting on the other. They both fell asleep and I was able to just admire both of them and think of how blessed I am for having a family. I just kept thinking of Velani when she was Mia's size not too long ago and now I have another little girl who is growing so fast. I had always dreamed of having children, but never imagined myself like this and how it would feel like to have them in my arms this way. Each day I love them more and each day I find myself loved more by these precious girls. I love them sooo much and wish I could slow time down, but I guess I can't. I just have to spend my time wisely with them and love them and smooch on them as much as I can.

So during that sweet moment I was spending with them I thought "how the heck am I going to get up and put them each in their own bed without waking them up?" Well, I managed, but not like I thought, they did wake up, but fell right back to sleep.

I don't mind these midnight sweetness at all, I just hope to wake up in a sweet mood more often.

Friday the 13th

2009-02-16T14:23:00.005-07:00

I know, I know, today is the 16th. By the way it's my brother's birthday so Happy Birthday Braulio!!

Ok so let's continue....

So Friday the 13th is known for what? an unlucky day right? I am not superstitious at all, but this is how the day started for my "chunky" Mia....

I decided to clean up my daughters' room and reorganize it. While I was doing that, the girls were playing with their toys. I turned around for a few seconds and then heard a thump followed by Mia crying. I immediately looked up and saw her under the toy storage bins which had fallen on top of her. I took her in my arms and calmed her. She wasn't hurt!! So she was back to her bubbly self in no time and wanted to keep playing, so down she went. I continued with the cleaning and organizing and a few minutes later I hear her crying again and this time Velani's chalkboard easel fell on her. Velani had been playing with it and left it on top of the rocking chair and Mia was being curious, again! Back in mommy's arms she went. She received more hugs and kisses until she felt better again. I had no idea all these accidents could happen in what I thought was a "safe" room, but I guess nothing is that "safe" when there is a 7 month old who is curious about everything and is crawling and pulling herself up on anything she thinks is "sturdy" (ex.toy bin, rocking chair) So.... you think it ends here well, it doesn't. A few minutes later she pulled herself up on Velani's bed and her little legs couldn't stay still and down she went bumping herself on it and you guessed it.....she cried some more.

I'm sorry my poor Mia, you started your morning on a bad note, I thought. So when I told my mom about everything that had happened to her littlest grand baby that's when she reminded me that it was Friday the 13th. OH! ok so now it make sense! It's not Mia's fault nor mine, it was just an unlucky day!

Note: The rest of the day went really well for Mia and for the rest of us too.

Thankful Thursday!

2009-02-12T09:43:00.005-07:00

It's that day again, I'll tell you what I am thankful for and you can too.

I am so so so thankful for a good night's sleep last night.

I am thankful because I did chores last night and I don't have to do it today.

I am thankful for the quietness today (my work phone hasn't been ringing much today).
I am thankful for my girls who say and do the funniest things.

I am thankful for cartoons (the ones that actually teach you something and at the same time are cute and funny).

I am thankful for naps.

So that's it for today!

Cell phone please!

2009-02-10T09:32:00.004-07:00

Dear Mommy,

I have been wondering for some days now of why everyone has a cell phone except me. I think I deserve one too. I always see you and daddy talking on it and it seems fun. I don't think I'll be doing too much talking on it though, there are so many other ways to use a cell phone. I like putting it in my mouth better and banging it on almost anything. I could probably even use it as self defense when my big sister tries to tackle me.

I truly believe I deserve one, I mean my big sis has one and when I try to borrow hers she just takes it away from me and says " No Mia!". I have also noticed that hers doesn't turn on like yours or daddy's, but she still talks on it a lot with "mom" is that like the only person you allow her to talk to? and please don't give me that big colorful toy phone that sings and counts. That phone is too big for my little hands and it's not as fun, it's just a toy! I want the real thing like everyone else. I may be little, but I know. So just think about it please.

Love,
Mia

P.S. I promise not to cry bloody murder next time you take your phone away from me if you just promise to give me my own.

What's up Doc?

2009-02-04T09:34:00.005-07:00

Everybody has gone to the doctor in the past few weeks and now it's my turn!
I am getting a physical done and well, so far everyone is healthy. Remember that 4 hour drive to SLC? That was Jahvel's appointment and there has been some changes on his medication. Oh! and I don't know if you ever noticed my hubby was gaining weight! well, apparently the medication he was on was causing all that weight gaining and now that he is taking lower dosages of that medicine, he is losing the weight.
A week later we took Velani to her Endocrinologist appointment and she seems to be doing good too. We switched to a different insulin, which is supposed to be a better if we want to be a little more flexible on what she eats. We are still trying to figure out the right dosage, but I think once we figure it out she will do better.
The week that followed was Mia's visit and she is up to date with all her immunizations and seems to be healthy, except she didn't gain as much weight as they expected. So I started thinking it was probably my fault. It's not that I don't feed my daughter because I do, but I think I'm not eating as much as I should be. I am not on a diet and don't believe in those either. I love to eat!! but I have lost a lot of weight and I haven't weighed like this since maybe my early high school years (and I'm not bragging!). I am a little worried, but maybe it's nothing. So today I go to the doctor! better to be safe than sorry. I'll let you know what the doc said.

Baby got big!

2009-02-02T09:56:00.006-07:00

My precious little Mia isn't so little anymore. Mia now has a say in things. So when Mia says, mommy does. She knows exactly what she wants and I am pretty good at guessing. Can you believe that she has quite an attitude problem? I think she gets it from her sister. Mia is a really fast learner and she has figured out how to control mommy and daddy, she still hasn't gotten to Velani though. So here are a few of the things she knows how to do:

Sits up from a lying position (I finally saw her do it). When I go get her in the mornings, she is no longer lying down, she is waiting to get out of that darn crib.
She "crawls" actually she's more like a little soldier dragging herself.
She screams, what happened to the cute little cooing sounds?
She makes scary noises when she is either upset or way too excited.
She rolls over
She loves to be free, roaming around in her room all by herself.
She loves her big sister, mommy and daddy!

So there you have it, just to name a few. This girl has me wrapped around her finger and I love it! She is changing day by day and it's not enough time to enjoy these changes because she is moving on to the next cute thing soooo fast. I can't keep up with this little girl.

3 more months!!

2009-01-29T11:36:00.006-07:00

Can you guess what we are counting down for?

Well, Velani has been reminding us everyday for the past 3 days that she wants a Dora cake. I don't think she will be forgetting about it anytime soon.

It all started with a cartoon she watched where they were celebrating a birthday. She then requested one for herself. I informed her that her birthday was in April and that she would soon be turning 3 years old. We started planning her birthday, just the two of us. I asked her what kind of cake she wanted and she said Dora. I gave her other options like: Spongebob, Clifford, Pooh, and Barney, but she kept choosing Dora, so I guess Dora it will be. I then asked her for her guest list and these are the people she wants at her party, in this order: "Mom" (of course) Lalio, Andres, and Tony. So I guess the rest of us are not invited.

Velani is so excited about her party and well, I get to share her enjoyment for the next 3 months. I guess my mom won't stop hearing about it either since Velani reminds her every time she calls. So you better have your luggage ready in April, Velani is counting on you being here.

Velani

2009-01-26T10:55:00.003-07:00

This daughter of mine is made up of both parents. Just like her name is part mommy and part daddy, her personality reflects both of us, as well.

Vel (from jahVEL) ani (from stefANI)

I have noticed that this girl doesn't know how to speak in a soft, low, quiet, or whisper voice. She is just plain loud like her daddy and like grand"mom" too! I just had to say it.

I work as an interpreter from home and when the phone rings I tell her to speak quietly while I'm on the phone, but she doesn't. It's not that she doesn't want to, but she just doesn't know how to. I show her how to whisper and she starts off great and slowly gets loud. It's in her genes.

I know this isn't a good trait, but Velani is bossy and likes to yell. I'm not bragging at all either, but she gets that from me. While I'm on the phone interpreting and she is being loud, she is also being bossy telling Mia what to do and sometimes even yelling at her. My little drama queen is just full of mommy and daddy. She has other traits as well and I'm sure she didn't get it from me or daddy, but she is special and unique and I just love how much she knows, how funny and silly she can be at times and how active and talkative she is.

Velani just makes my day when she says or does things that reflect a little bit of me or a little bit of her daddy. Gotta love this girl, I tell ya!

I'm too young to feel old

2009-01-22T14:54:00.005-07:00

I think I am aging faster than normal.

I feel tired all the time and some days I feel like I just can't keep up. Last week as I was getting ready and doing my hair, I found a grey hair! actually it was white and very very thick. I couldn't believe it. Is it possible that my daughters or maybe even my husband are to blame for this? I think I'll just blame my husband, my daughters are just too cute, although they do wear me out most of the time. Well, it isn't fair for me to blame Jahvel for one strand of white hair, maybe it's just me. I just wrote a nice blog about him the other day so I won't start nagging about him for a while.

Ok, I know that no one is to blame, it just happens, no more melanin is being produced there, so my strand of hair grew in without pigment. So there. I just really need to start getting active and get out of this routine which is making me feel tired and old. So if you have any ideas let me know. Keep in mind that I have 2 girls that are attached to my hip.

Thank you!

2009-01-19T20:48:00.003-07:00

I am always talking about my girls or myself and I never really talk about the man in all three of our lives, Jahvel.

He is a very special man. He is hardworking and tries really hard to please us and give us what we need. I don't mean to brag, but I rarely take the time to really thank him for everything he does. He is a full time student and I have seen him spend many hours doing homework and seems to be stressed at times, but he does more than just that.

Last night as I was feeding the girls and barely doing anything, he began to do the laundry. I didn't say anything at all. I thought he might just throw in a load and let me finish it up. I was wrong! He put the first washed load in the dryer and started another load. He then started to fold the clothes and put it up. He didn't stop until all of the clothes was washed, dried and folded. I am gonna say he did about 5 or 6 loads of laundry last night.

I am very thankful for that and for him doing it without me asking.

I usually wash when he isn't here and I never do that many loads in just one day. He has done many things like this without me asking and I hardly ever let him know that I really appreciate it. He also helps me alot with the girls and let me say he makes it looks easy when he does these things. Well, it's not that easy and especially when you try to do 3 or 4 or even more things at once. It takes up alot of time and patience for me to do everything I do and when he helps out like this, alot of weight is taken off my back and not to mention the extra time that gives me to do other things.

So, Jahvel if you read this blog, I want you to know that I really do appreciate your help. I may not say it alot when you are actually doing these things, but Thanks! We both know that there are things both of us should help out with and well, others that I prefer to do with out any help, since I can get a little picky, but it's the thought and effort that counts.

Thankful Thursday!

2009-01-15T10:46:00.003-07:00

I am very thankful for days like today.

Nice and sunny outside
Peaceful
Quiet
clean house
when the girls are in a good mood (most of the time)
when Velani finds things to do on her own
when mommy has time to surf on the internet
when Mia is her bubbly self
when Jahvel is in the mood to do anything we want
when we all go grocery shopping

I thinks it's nice when everything runs smoothly like today, at least in my home. Hope y'all have a good Thursday. What are you mostly thankful for today?

A trip to remember

2009-01-14T09:24:00.004-07:00

I am sooo tired right now, I don't know where to begin.

I mean, it was only a 4 hr trip going to Salt Lake City and 4 hrs coming back, what's the big deal?

Well, Velani and Mia, of course!

I thought it would be a good idea if we accompanied Jahvel to his doctors appointment and got out of the house again. Well, didn't I have enough traveling 2 weeks ago when the whole gang was here? guess not! I'm beginning to realize that due to a lack of a good and long night's rest, I can make really bad choices.

We left our house around 8:30 am. We did pretty good on our way to SLC. Velani was reading and coloring on some books and Mia was sleeping, like always. Hmmm, I thought, this isn't so bad. I THOUGHT too soon. About an hour before getting to our destination, both girls started getting fussy and cranky. I tried to keep them entertained by acting really silly! We finally arrived and went to eat, oh but before that, little miss Velani didn't like to see Mia in what used to be HER stroller and well, we had a melt-down. We had to carry Mia and let Velani ride on the stroller.

We went to the appointment and during that time Mia decided it was time for HER melt-down and then Velani again. Duh! it's nap time and they're both tired and can't fall asleep alone in a doctors office. How come I didn't think of that? We really thought the appointment would last an hour at the most, but noooooo, it was more like 2.5 hours. Oh and don't get me started on the 4 hour drive back home (they eventually fell asleep), but it did take us about another hour to get them in bed when we finally got home. I am also omitting many other small details, by the way.

So yeah! it will be a trip to remember, not a real pleasant one, but ohhh remembered. Jahvel and I have both agreed he can go alone to his next appointment and we are soooooo looking forward and preparing ourselves both mentally and emotionally for our 20 HOUR drive this summer!!!

"It's Tradition".....in my best Yoda voice.

2009-01-10T15:18:00.003-07:00

You might be wondering, what tradition?
Well, not all of us follow this particular tradition. Only a few are the lucky ones, or as I like to call it, The Chosen Ones!
Still can't guess?
Ok, I'll give you a clue: 2 women with the same first name just love doing this!!! :)

It all started a while back. Velani fell and scraped her hands and knees for the very first time last year, while living in Garland. I hope you know what I mean by now.
I don't know how it happened, but that's when it all started. She is following in grandma and great-grandmas "footsteps" haha! She just falls. It didn't click until today. She just doesn't walk right, I guess, because there was nothing there that could have caused the fall, there never is and yet people always look back to see what could have made them trip or trip and fall.

She was actually lucky today. She was holding on to my hand and I was able to catch her before actually falling. Oh and then there is something about whites always getting dirty. I had just washed her dirty white shoes and she put them on today. Well, thanks to her feet being all clumsy and stuff, during this incident, she got them all dirty again! that's a different story though.

So I don't know if there is like this pattern forming, I mean I can't figure it out yet, because I mean, I don't fall. So I guess it's just them for now. Would tradition be the right word to use? I don't know, maybe they have a club going on that we just don't know about and if they do well, don't sign me up........I can't believe it!!! hahaha lolol!! I just remembered something I haven't shared. The thing is that I have fallen down my stairs twice now, but that doesn't count because it's within the walls of my home, they do it in public.

Ok, now I have to do a little sucking up. I love you mom! you know I do and my grandma too. It's funny though, right?

Ok well share your thought on this if you wish. Maybe there is more of you who like doing this as well and we just don't know about it. I hope I didn't just jinx myself.

Did someone say, more?

2009-01-09T11:48:00.003-07:00

Last night I went to church for a Relief Society activity. Several sisters from church approached me while I was holding Mia and were telling me how beautiful and happy she always is. One of them even asked me how it felt to be a young mother? I said "Great!" She asked "Is this your first one?" I said "No, I have an almost 3 year old, too" and then another sister sitting next to me asked if I was planning on having more? Well, of course I am.

I love my girls and love being a mom. I can't imagine not being one. Of course I want more. I want to have as many as I can. I don't know what the future holds or how many children I'll end up having, but I can say that it is wonderful to be a mother, it has been a life-changing experience. Some women want 1 others 4 and well, I think it's up to each individual and whatever that number is, it's ok.

I believe that as women, we all have a mission and I believe that one of our missions is to form a family by getting married and having children. At least I know that's my mission. So this is only the beginning of my family, there WILL be more to come, that's a promise.

Playtime!

2009-01-08T09:01:00.003-07:00

I woke up this morning thinking it wouldn't be as busy as yesterday. Boy was I wrong!

I had to clean the girl's room and put away lots of clothes. The problem with that is that I am running out of space. I don't have anywhere else to store their clothes. When I finished with the "cleaning" I was ready to fix myself some breakfast, not before I had to feed a very demanding little baby. "Ok, I think it is time for breakfast now," I said to myself. Didn't happen. Velani got some toys out and asked me to play with her. I could have said no to her, but I saw in her little beautiful eyes, how much she wanted me to play with her. It's been such a long time since I last played like that. It brought back so many good memories of my childhood years. I have to admit I am a little rusty, but I think that if my daughter is ready to play make believe, then I can give her a little hand with that. I could use a little distraction from my everyday responsibilities and start creating unforgettable moments for both of us.

I always had fun playing like that and now I want my daughter to enjoy it as much as I did, although, she is only just 2 years old, but if she's ready, then I better be too. Once I start doing this, there will be no turning back. I will become a child again, at least for these special moments between a mother and a daughter playing.

Ok, so I took a little break to write and check all my stuff and eating breakfast before I go back to the room of "make believe."

Determination

2009-01-07T09:50:00.004-07:00

It is amazing when people get what they want when they are determined to get it if they really put their heart into it.

My little Mia is that person. I was watching her try so hard to get this one toy I put on the floor with some other ones, but it was the toy that was furthest away from her and the rest of the other toys that she wanted.

She is only 6 months now, but a few months back is when I first noticed what a determined little girl I had( I'm sure she isn't the only child like this, but I would like to keep thinking she is).
If there was something within reach that she really wanted, she would try to get a hold of it. I would take it away from her before she actually reached it. Now I don't. I want her to get it. I figured that if I let her get what she really wants she will learn that with a little determination she can accomplish anything. If you really want it, then go for it, nothing is impossible. There may be a few stumbling rocks down the path, but we just have to find a way to get around them.

I love to see how smart my girls are and how pure and innocent they are. I hope to be a better mother and learn from them as much as I possibly can.It is amazing what one can learn from them by just watching and listening to them. They enjoy life, no worries, no grudges, they love unconditionally and I want to be just like them. I have to make the change within myself here at home and NOW! I know that I have to learn how to be patient and believe me I am determined to accomplish that first.

I love this simple lesson I learned from my little one. If babies can be determined, why shouldn't we?

Bye Old Year! Welcome New Year!

2009-01-05T16:09:00.007-07:00

So it's a New Year!

I am very excited and looking forward to it. I want to make it a good one and enjoy it more than the previous one. I have to say it ended very good. We got to spend it with my family. It was crazy, but we enjoyed welcoming the new year together.

2008 in short

Jan. Started a new year with lots of goals.

Feb. Velani took Valentine pictures at a studio and enjoyed it and then sent them to all of her aunts and uncles. It's a year since I started working at T bar M at the kiddie court.

Mar. This is why I need a journal, so I will remember what happened this month. Sorry!

April Velani turns 2 years old. We move out of our house in Garland.

May Moved in with in-laws. 3 year anniversary.

June Stopped working at the kiddie court and started getting everything ready for little Mia. Had another baby shower. Remember how that went?

July My precious little Mia was born 2 days before her uncles birthday and I turned 24!! Velani is potty trained, yay!

Aug. Jahvel drove many many miles with all of our stuff to St. George, Utah for school, it's good to seek out new opportunities and take a chance once in a while.

Sep. I flew with my girls to Las Vegas and daddy met up with us there. It felt good to be reunited again even if we were away from each other only for a short period. Velani has been diabetic for 1 year.

Oct. Had a little pumpkin and witch for Halloween this year.

Nov. Spent Thanksgiving with brother-in-law and family

Dec. "Mom" "Lalio" "Andes" and Lisette came to spend the last days of the year with us and it was G R E A T!!!

There are many other things that happened and they were great. I hope that this year is better for all of us and hopefully we can all keep a journal so that next year we can all share our year's highlights. It will be fun to see what others write. Hugs and kisses!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T14:24:00.004-07:00

Another year has gone by. I know I barely write, but I will be having guests really soon, so now I won't be writing at all until the new year. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

I would just like to let everyone know how thankful I am for this year. We have been through so many good times and we've had some rough ones as well, but we have been blessed, overall. I am very thankful gor the gospel in my life. I know that my redeemer Jesus Christ lives. May we all remember his sacrifice, not only during these times, but always.