Being Christopher's Mommy

30 months!!!

2011-04-05T21:41:00.000-04:00

Dear Chris,

( I have neglected your blog for close to a year! I have been writing your letters in a journal.)

I start this letter as I do most of these to you, by saying," I can't believe how big you are getting!!!".

Lately you have been really into helping me cook in the kitchen, it fascinates you to pour and stir things in bowls. We baked a cake together from scratch the other day! I must admit it wasn't perfection but you ate with such joy that it didn't matter.

We have finally arrived at a time where leaving the house is very simple, no diaper bags, no extra clothing. Just grab my kid and go! =) And we are on the go very often these days. We joined MOP's, we go to the park on an almost daily basis and we also have fun at the library.

I love you so much my little munchkin! You are such a little person, we have " conversations" that only I could understand!

Loving you always,

Your mommy.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T23:03:00.001-04:00

We have been in Jersey just over a month, our home is still not move in ready so we have been living at Abuela's house. It's been very crazy and we are still not settled as you can imagine.

However we always enjoy Halloween with you so this year was not going to be the exception to that rule! We were late in getting you a Halloween costume because of everything going on, so we were stuck not having many choices. We were going to buy a vampire costume, but then I thought to myself..."Chris is going to want to choose his costume next year for sure, this is my last chance to dress him up in something adorable and get away with it!" so I searched for the cutest costume that was still available and bought it!

Sorry Chris, but it was my last chance, I dressed you up as a penguin from Madagascar the movie and you were sooo darn cute!!! I could hardly stand it.

We also decided to go back to our old neighborhood and go trick or treating, it brought tears to my eyes to see our old home occupied by someone else. To see our front garden we had worked on before you arrived, to see the front stoop were I would sit at after a long day at work and see you move in my belly.

We saw some of our old neighbors and they were shocked at what a big boy you were! It was a great Halloween!

Our big move...

2010-09-27T13:46:00.000-04:00

We left Miami on September 25th 2010, we loaded up our car to the brim and headed north. We left behind beautiful memories, tears and loved ones. But it was a necessary change in our lives.

We documented our road trip with Lightning McQueen! Your favorite character in the world...=)

There is no looking back....The Arias Family is NJ Bound!

Abuelos

2010-08-31T13:55:00.000-04:00

We have made the decision to move back to New Jersey in the upcoming weeks. Although we feel that this is the best decision for our family at this time it comes with a bittersweet taste. You are so close with your Abuelos , so used to spending time with them that it breaks my heart that you won't see them as often.

On the other hand you have an Abuela in NJ who is dying to get to know you and love you. She was there when you grew in my belly and when you were born but hasn't seen you since you were six months old.

I am from the old school, I believe grandparents are and should be a big part of a child's life...I just wish we could all live in the same place so these hard decisions wouldn't have to be made.

2010-08-25T22:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Chris,

It is now the end of August 2010, and while usually our summer is filled with beach outings and fun times this year it was different. Mommy and Daddy had a rough summer, and in turn so did you.

This year our family became a stronger unit, but not without pain and not without tears. Thankfully you survived it unscathed and without a scar in your soul, for that I am eternally grateful to God. I thank God for giving me the strength to get through it while putting you first.

Being your mommy these last few months was eye opening, I never knew what it was like to sacrifice while being in pain. But you my baby, you gave me smiles and hugs when my world was upside down. You were my core, I love you dearly!

Someday when you are a grown man, with your own family and your own fears you will understand the transition that our family went through. For now just know that we are all stronger for it, that our family is strong and present in eachother's happiness.

Loving you more each day.

Mommy & Daddy

Be there the Fair!!!

2010-04-17T11:33:00.000-04:00

We took Chris to the Fair this year, it's his firs time to go and he had a blast. It was disgustingly hot that day but we made the best of it with our little man. He loved riding on the 18 wheeler truck rides....which he called "MAC" (think red truck from CARS which he is still obsessed with)!

We had Pinchos, and Frozen Lemonades.....so good! That is my fave part of the fair the Frozen Lemonades!!! I used to love the rides, well I still do its just that I don't have a partner to ride in anymore. Chris is too small and my hubby doesn't like them.....someday Chris will be big enough and will be my Partner in Crime at the fair!!! Till then I will stick to the kiddie rides.

Life's a Beach....

2010-04-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

Chris LOVES the ocean, he is a total waterbaby. So we take him to the beach as often as possible and he always has a blast.

I'm in love....

2010-04-06T11:16:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I look at my two men in my life and wonder how in the world I got so lucky!? I love you both so much my heart hurts!

Seven Days Later

2010-03-27T11:14:00.001-04:00

We have been potty training for 7 days...wow...so much progress.....so much easier then I thought it was going to be!!!! His poopie schedule has changed though, he doesn't go everyday like he used to, he goes every other day. And today was the 2nd time he did it in the potty!!!! Haven't had an accident in a couple of days, so proud of him.

So I am really proud to say he is Potty trained!!!! It took a week....not bad!!!!!

3 Day Potty Training- Day 5

2010-03-26T11:09:00.000-04:00

We have poop in the potty!!!!!! Yeah yeah, do the potty dance! LOL....so excited.

I'm really tempted to post a pic!! LOL but I won't!!!!

3 Day Potty Training- Day 4

2010-03-25T10:56:00.001-04:00

Two pee accidents in a row this morning =( he was doing so well......I think he is getting tired of running to the bathroom. And he won't do #2 in the potty. I need encouragement.

However I know this is part of the process so I'm trying to stay positive. I mean it really hasn't been that bad, he has had very few accidents.

We have been locked up at home for days and it's time to get out of this house!!! I bought him the PeaPods. They are like pads that women put in their underwear during mother natures monthly visit. It forms a cool gel like substance if they pee so it trains them not to do it, and they were big boy underwear.

3 Day Potty Training- Day 3

2010-03-24T10:53:00.000-04:00

Okay Chris has been doing sooo good , until today he didn't want to sit in the potty. =( he finally went because he couldn't hold it but was a bit resistant. Is that normal?

3 Day Potty Training- Day 1

2010-03-21T19:40:00.000-04:00

Potty Training day 1- went better then expected!!! When he woke up, we did our regular morning routine and then I had him help me in putting away his diapers for his baby cousin. I put a big boy underwear on him and took him to the bathroom and told him how big boys use the potty (the kid one) and no more diapers.
Well a... 30 minutes later he pee'd all over himself and my floors, scooped him up and ran to the potty. He was done..lol. Kept saying to him <"Tell mommy when you have to pee." He did the same thing 10 minutes later. Oy!

I thought for sure this was going to be a LONG day and I was starting to second guess myself.
Anyway 20 minutes after that he had an odd look on his face and I told him..tell mommy when you have to go potty, you have to keep your undies dry. he yelled....Peeee!!!! and ran to the bathroom, he wouldn't go on the small potty so I sat him in the regular potty and Hallelujah!!! We had peepee in the potty!!!!

I gave him a potty sticker and he put it on the wall in front of the potty. He has 9 stickers up on that wall as of now!!!! WOW....he had 2 more accidents....poopie accidents. He won't do #2 on the potty but I guess that is normal.

...At naptime I put a diaper over his undies....LOL and he slept an hour and a half. Woke up and yelled Pee!!!! I ran in and got him but it was too late he had peed. But he didn't get it all over the crib!!! LOL. took him to the potty where he finished. I am so proud of us!! He
exceeded my low expectations!!

It's going to be a long night, he just went now and is being put down by Daddy. I figure there are going to be a couple of potty runs and sheet changes tonight.

Last day out

2010-03-20T10:34:00.000-04:00

I have decided that tomorrow I will start the Potty Training process, I've had it with diapers! I don't want to have to be cleaning a 3 year old's tush, I tell him he is a big boy then I guess it's time I start treating him as one!

I am going to use the 3 day Potty Training method, which basically says to get rid of all your diapers.....they are a crutch we can fall back on when the going gets tough. Use only underwear and focus on Chris entirely, which means no going out on errands, no cooking or cleaning.....just be completely present for Chris. So today we took him out to the park for the last time in diapers. Please oh please pray with me that this goes as planned!!! LOL

27 month letter.....errr...a bit overdue

2010-02-27T12:17:00.000-05:00

2/20/10

Dear Christopher,

You are now 27 months old! What can I say? I am awe of how fast you are growing and learning. I have learned that I have to live in the moment because now I look back at how big I thought you were and I realize how small you really were. You will always be my baby, your Grandmother was right when she said,"Kids never really grow up.".
Every three months you change so much, in the last three you have become a great communicator! ha! You talk my head off most days, I used to worry that I wouldn't be able to understand however we can hold "conversations" pretty well.
Potty training keeps getting put on hold, however I hope that at my 30 month letter to you I can claim that you are fully potty trained!!! Haha...I know that is a lot to wish for but we will see how it goes. I have already stocked up on Lightning McQueen, Elmo, Thomas, and Diego underwear and I am keeping my fingers crossed! I hope I can stick with it, I know it's going to be "fun".

Baby boy I love you so so much, I am completely in awe of you.

Mommy

Soccer baby

2010-02-27T10:27:00.000-05:00

Ever since Chris was in my belly I have said that I didn't wan him play Football, because its so violent. However he has shown interest in Futbol Soccer and I can get used to this. We often take him to the park and run around with his soccer ball, he has gotten really good at kicking and returning the ball. I think I see Soccer in his future, once he turns 3!!

Bad to the Bone

2010-02-07T10:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had a fun time playing with Chris before his bath time! Jorge put a bandanna on his head and they were dancing in the living room. Bad to the Bone!!! LOL Chris surely fits that description, okay I'm lying he is really a good boy!!! Most days! Love these pictures of him, his happiness radiates out of them and I am so proud to be his momma!

Christopher's First Disney Trip 12-2-09 to 12-7-09

2010-01-18T20:09:00.008-05:00

Soon after Christopher's 2nd Birthday, we headed north to Orlando to this magical place....."The Happiest Place on Earth" Disney World! We had planned this trip for months and months, hoping and praying the Chris enjoyed every minute of this awesome vacation.

Our first day we decided to head to Disney's Hollywood Studios, we happened to arrive just in time to catch the Micky Mouse Clubhouse LIVE show! Chris watches this several times a week and he always seems interested. However we had no idea just how much he would love it, he danced and shrieked with delight each time he saw one of the Characters.
This picture was taken as he hopped and danced to the "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" song. Jorge and I smiled at each other and immediately knew it was all worth it.

If any of you are planning a trip to Disney, don't pass this up it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Since we visited in December Disney was even prettier and breathtaking then it usually is, it was wrapped in garland, lights and bows!

We enjoyed the Spectacle of Dancing Lights, it was awesome to see the lights dancing to holiday music. Chris danced along with the music and it was so fun to watch.

Our second day was spent at my favorite park, The Magic Kingdom. You can get there one of two ways, on the Mono-Rail or the Ferry Boat, when approaching the Magic Kingdom I choose the boat it has a wonderful feel to it.

This was our first time visiting as parents as opposed to kids, and it was truly amazing to see it through our son's eyes. I finally got to ride the Dumbo ride!!! I always wanted to but I was able to finally do it with my son. I had no idea that you could control Dumbo and make him go up and down, Chris had a blast with that.

We made our way to Toon Town and visited Minnie and Mickey's house. But the best part was that we met Minnie and Mickey for the first time! We made the 15 minute line, and in the final minute of waiting we turned the corner and there they were!!! We had a small family in front of us and Chris started softly shoving them in hopes of getting to Mickey!!! He was in awe of them, he waived and walked up to them and hugged them tightly when it was finally our turn! There was no fear, we had heard horror stories of kids freaking out when seeing the characters, what a relief. During our visit to Disney World he met Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck several times. He also met Turk from Tarzan, Chip & Dale, the dog and kid from UP, the Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, Buzz Lightyear and Woody... and he wanted to hug and stay with all of them.

We had a great lunch in Tomorrowland and rode the BuzzLight Year ride. There was some Play time at Pooh's Thousand Acre Playground.

That same day we made our way to Animal Kingdom, Jorge and I had never visited this park before so it was new to us too. We made our way to the Lion King Live Show, but we only got through 20 minutes of it, Chris wasn't having it!

So we ventured out to the Dino Land area where we had some play time.

We decided to head to the parade that was about to start, on our way there we heard the music getting louder and Chris was fussing a bit, 5 minutes later he was out like a Light! If you knew my son and his inability to fall asleep anywhere that isn't his crib or the car you would be in utter shock as we were!!! We actually filmed it and took pictures of this moment!!! And we left the park with my hubby saying ,"Animal Kingdom, where we saw the rare beast that is our son sleeping in his stroller!!!" LOL to us it was hilarious, and even more so that we left the park, got on the shuttle (since we had parked at Magic Kingdom) got off the shuttle, walked to the tram, rode the tram and walked all the way to our car and he was still asleep!!! First time ever.

The next day we had planned to go back to Hollywood studios to see Christopher's favorite CARS!!!! Unfortunately there was an 80% chance of rain that day and guess what? That other 20% never showed it's pretty face! We had forgotten our umbrella in Miami, so we had to buy ponchos and the most expensive umbrella known to man...okay okay not so much but it was $40 bucks!!! For a stupid umbrella that had Mickey on it, sorry Mouse but you totally ripped us off there. Anyway, we weren't the only ones braving the elements, the good thing is I did pack the stroller rain cover which was a life saver, I was so glad he was protected because it was also about 58 degrees with wind and rain made it feel much colder. But you know what made it all worth while?

Chris was able to meet ,"McQuinn (McQueen) and Mater!!!", He is obsessed with them and he was so in awe of them, he touched them and talked to them it was really sweet.

On our Fourth day we visited Epcot, Chris was thrilled with the,"Ball!!! Mama the BALL!!!", he was fascinated by it.

We visited the Finding Nemo attraction which was a hit. We walked around after wards and ran into Chip & Dale! Chris was happy, no line no waiting, we just happened to run into them while they were walking out of secret hall...=)

We then left to meet with our friends Carol, Alex and their son Brian at Animal Kingdom! Like I've said in several post's before, Brian & Chris are PIC's (Partners In Crime) and we loved being able to share a small portion of our vacation with them.

Anyway getting back to Animal Kingdom, there must be some kind of sleepy dust in this place! Chris fell asleep in his stroller again on our way into the park! We were trying to make Mickey's Jingle Jungle parade, and we made it!!! However Chris slept through the entire thing! SHOCKING!!! This parade was LOUD really LOUD! And we were right in front and he missed it all. We had lunch at the Tusker House in Africa =) with our friends and again he slept through that too!

I am going to draw this post to an end because it's super long, but to anyone thinking that a 2 year old might be too small for Disney, ours had a total blast and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

Belated Birthday Post....

2010-01-16T21:31:00.003-05:00

It's been about 2 months since Chris turned 2 and we celebrated with a wonderful and small birthday celebration on Key Biscayne! The weather was perfect, the sun was shining, and the company was great. Here are some pictures from that great day....

Dear Chris....it seems like yesterday

2009-11-20T23:16:00.005-05:00

Dear Christopher,

Two years already, for the last 3 days I have been replaying the events that were going on this time two years ago. It seems like yesterday you were doing somersaults in my belly, it seems like yesterday that you were so tiny that I could hold you with one hand while vacuuming, it seems like yesterday that I was crying as I drove to work after staying home with you for 6 months, it seem like yesterday that I was smiling ear to ear on my way home after quitting my job to be with you, it seems like yesterday that you took your first steps toward me, it seems like yesterday that you called me ,"Mama.", for the first time, it seems like yesterday that I had to wear earplugs around the house because you had discovered the sound of your own voice, it seems like yesterday that we chased ducks around the pond, it seems like yesterday that we celebrated your 1st birthday.

It was yesterday that you said,"Mama!" while I was driving and I responded,"Yes baby?" and you said so happily," I love you!" and it melted my heart.

You are the love of my life, the reason life is so sweet. We thank God for blessing us, we are so humbled by you and your joy for life. Being your mommy has been amazing and I can't wait to see what this next year brings us!

Loving you always,

Momma

Halloween Rewind

2009-11-08T21:41:00.003-05:00

I have been so busy lately that I completely forgot to add a picture of my Halloween cutie.

Rib Fest 2009

2009-11-08T21:09:00.003-05:00

We took Chris yesterday to RIBFEST 2009, LOL!!! We had never been to such an event but we love ribs so what the hay???

The weather was in the low 70's upper 60's, a rare event in Miami these days so we loved being outdoors.

The Ribs were fantastic!!!!! YUMM

There was a petting Zoo and Chris loved it!!! He touched Geese, Chickens, Goats, Sheep, Rabbit....oh my!!

One of the most amazing things we tasted yesterday is this beauty the half pound Cookie!!! OMG it was so yummy and moist!

Chris had his very first pony ride!!! He enjoyed it so much and I just couldn't believe how big our baby had gotten!

Ribfest 2010 is absolutely on our calender for next year!

It's that time again!!!

2009-10-14T11:18:00.002-04:00

It's Gap's yearly casting call for beautiful babies again!!!! Christopher has been entered, and you have to admit with that big smile who wouldn't want to vote??? Right? =)Vote for Chris!!!

Thank you in advance to all of you who take the time to vote!!!

Official launch....

2009-10-04T22:05:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is the official launch of my design business, and I am a so excited and nervous! However I am looking forward to what the future holds. I wish something like iBaby had been around when I was pregnant...YES I know I am a designer, however when I was pregnant I was too busy designing other people's home that I didn't do nearly enough with Christopher's room.

If I had to make a list of things that are essential for a baby it would look like this...

1) Black out shades for the nursery, they are awesome for keeping a napping baby...napping!!!
2)Pack and Play in place of a bassinet, babies grow out of them far too quickly!
3)Jumparoo- Loved it and Christopher loved it too...I credit it with giving Chris the ability to walk so early (9 months)!
4)Lullaby CD- to this day it keeps Chris down all night!!!
5)Receiving Blankets - but not for swaddling, but for spit ups!!! Chris did it a lot!
6)Aveeno Baby products
7)Chicco stroller system- I still use it today!
8)Breastfeeding cream for your nipples.....a MUST!!!
9)Swaddler- i couldn't swaddle Chris to save my life, he would always break free!!
10)Boppy- Used for more then breastfeeding Chris, he would nap in it, and used it for support before he could sit on his own, tummy time.

These are just a few of the things that Chris and I both loved.

Also before I forget, sign up for my amazing giveaway at iBaby!!!

www.iBabyInteriors.com

Busy, Sick, Busy, Sick....

2009-09-26T00:21:00.003-04:00

For the last month our home has been attacked by the plague!!! My husband brought it home from work one day and a couple of day's later my little man got it and low and behold then i got it!!!!

There was an ER visit in there somewhere with Christopher who was completely miserable and not sleeping, so that meant I wasn't sleeping and I was just as sick. It was not pleasant, even being sick changes when you are a parent, you can just hit the sack and sleep to your sick heart's content! Christopher was diagnosed with Croup, or "Barking Cough" as the pediatrician at the ER called it.

In the mix of all this I was working on launching my new business, there were business meetings, endless emails, and phone calls....I was pooped.

But the plague LOL as we called it has left our home (knock on wood) and we are all feeling more or less back to our normal selves!

I would love to introduce to you my other baby.....the website is almost completely ready except for a few things here and there, it will have it's Grand Opening on Oct. 5th and I have a fab giveaway that a lot of you might be interested in!!!

www.iBabyInteriors.com

Spread the word, word of mouth is always great advertising and visit the blog page on the website to view info on the giveaway!!!

Ode to Daddy...

2009-08-23T10:39:00.003-04:00

I was going back through my blog and I realized I didn't have many posts dedicated to my hubby Jorge, who is and A-M-A-ZING father.

Daddy changed the first diapers at the hospital.

Daddy bathed you the first few times because I was scared since you were so small.

Daddy was extremely supportive when breast feeding seemed impossible.

Daddy took care of you for 3 months while I went back to work before I decided that being away from you was too much for my heart to handle.

Daddy has the ability to make you giggle almost on command.

Daddy has no problem with packing you up and taking you to the park to give me some mommy time.

Daddy has an amazing amount of patience that comes in handy when I'm running out of mine.

Daddy built the most amazing play area for you so you could be safe and happy! BTW he nicknamed it the Christa-Fort!!! Ha!

Daddy looks forward to planning outings for you and our weekends are focused on you.

Thank you honey for being such a loving, caring and present father to our little boy, from you he will learn how to be a man, a humble and respectful man.

21 months flew by! (letter)

2009-08-23T09:47:00.003-04:00

Dear Christopher,

I am in awe of you each and every day, and it seems impossible for my heart to love you more and more each day, however it's the truth.

In three months you will 2 years old, WOW, you are growing into a very confident little man.
As I write this small letter you are watching a music video and dancing you little heart out!!!! You love music, I mean LOVE music. You love to play with instruments, dance, and sing!

There have been some amazing things that you have accomplished in the last three months, some of which I have been dreaming with since you were in my belly. On July 29th at approximately 11am I said ,"I love you!", and you replied back," I love you too Mommy!", my heart instantly melted and I attacked you with kisses and hugs!

You are learning to count, well at least I think so. You often put things together, for example you blocks, and you say " one, tuu, one, tuu, one, tuu." apparently those are the only numbers in you mind right now but I think it's simply genius!

These days you love brushing your teeth and your getting pretty good at it as long as I say ,"Brush, brush, brush, brush, brush, brush.", in the Elmo song melody. Hey whatever works right!!!?

Along with the amazing things you have accomplished, you are also quite the impatient little person. And I can understand the frustration of not being able to fully communicate and wanting you way and not getting it, however sometimes I just want to throw a tantrum alongside you too!!!! You are extremely strong willed, you know what you want and you want it now, unfortunately for you I don't really give in to your crazy demands and that sometimes embarrasses me in public but I am doing it for your own good....I don't want to spoil you too much. At least that's what I keep chanting to myself when I have a stiff and red cheeked shrieking toddler in my arms. I have discovered that speaking to you in a very stern but almost whisper in you ear seems to catch you attention, so I don't yell I just get down to your level and whisper, I wonder what people think Im telling you!!!! Ha!

You still LOVE Elmo, and Cars but you have also discovered The Backyardigans, so most days I have become an avid watcher of Sesame Street after all these years, I remember being addicted to that show as a child, however I loved Grover's silly ways!

My sweet boy, I love you so much it's impossible to put into words and this is my attempt for you to understand what was going on between you and me during these first few years that you won't remember. Being your mother is an absolute joy and honor and I thank the Lord for such a blessing.

Love,
Your proud mommy

PS My next letter for you will be for your 2nd Birthday, I should get my Kleenex ready for that one!!!

Yay Chris!

2009-08-04T21:39:00.001-04:00

Just a quick blog post to document my son's huge accomplishment! He used the potty twice today!!! WOW...my little baby is such a big boy!!!

Show us your life- Wedding and Flowers

2009-07-31T11:07:00.009-04:00

It's Show Us Your Life Friday over at Kelly's blog, this week its Wedding Party and Flowers.
Our wedding was small, we only had about 100 guests and it was just right. Jorge and I were very young, 23 and 24 respectively and we paid for it ourselves therefore we had a very small budget.

But we did a lot with our small budget and our wedding turned out just right, I do dream with renewing our vows some day and having another fabulous wedding! All in do time though....

Our wedding ceremony was set to being at three o'clock, at least that is what the invitation said, however living in Miami I should have accounted for Latino time.....what? you don't know what Latino time is? Depending on what country from Latin America you are it can also be called, Cuban time, Nica (Nicaraguan) time, Puerto Rican time.....etc etc. anyway it means that we Latinos run on a slower clock, so if you want us to be there by 4pm tell us it starts around 2:30ish and we will be there right on time!!!! I, unfortunately forgot about this little issue and put the actual time on the invitations, well not to go into all the awful details on how bridezilla made an appearance in the bridal suite at the church....eeehem....I walked down the isle at exactly
3:37pm (thanks to a picture taken by a friend) with the church half full. What is funny is when we walked out of the church there were more people there then when I entered the church.
Anyway moving on from this, this picture was taken by a close friend of ours (and I'm not sure why it looks fuzzy, it looks great on my monitor) and I love it, it was the moment when my Dad and I were about to walk into the church, it's when all my emotions came flooding in. I was fine up to that very moment, I was so filled with love and hope that I started to cry. Not weeping but just a couple of tears flowing down my cheek here and there. It was very emotional, I will never forget that feeling.Here we are up at the alter saying our ,"I do's". Our ceremony was bilingual, we had a lot of people who did not understand English and vise versa. Jorge and I feel more comfortable speaking in English, so the beginning of our ceremony was in Spanish and our I'do's were in English. It worked out really well.

Our wedding party was not huge but it was filled with great friends and family members. I could not choose one friend over another for my Maid of Honor, so I had two! My friend on the left is Ivette, we met my first day of High School and we've been friends ever since. My other Maid of Honor was Carol, she and I met when I transferred to a new high school at the beginning of Junior year, we didn't like each other but somehow we got to know each other and became inseparable . We now have little boys only three months apart!

This is my brother, Carlos he is 8 years older then me but somehow we remained close growing up, and his wife Gema.This is Jessica and she flew in all the way from Dallas to be there that day!!! She and I were in college together, we were not roommates but we wanted to be, we were both Interior Design majors and loved spending time talking design and our future plans in life!!! The two Groomsmen with her are my husbands younger brothers, Pedro on the left and Danny on the right. One of my dear friends could not make it at the last minute to the wedding and so Jessica walked with both of them.

These are my nieces, Luisa, Marcela and Karina. They looked like little princess's that day!!

Our theme was Fall, since we got married 11/28/04, my flowers were this beautiful shade of burnt orange that doesn't come through in the photos. It was a great day.....I don't have any of my professional ceremony pictures on this computer so these will have to do! Hope you enjoyed your visit to my little humble blog!

Late Blog Hop

2009-07-29T17:40:00.004-04:00

Im very late to posting in this weeks blog hop, but Ive been super busy. These are two of my fave pictures of my little man. Above he is 20 months, so big and handsome! And below is a picture of him when he was a baby, when I could cradle him in my arms and he still fit easily on my chest. I miss him being so small, but everyday is an adventure with him now that he is a toddler!

Will it survive?

2009-07-27T12:50:00.001-04:00

This picture was taken when Chris was a little over a month old, he was all warm and fuzzy in his little blanket. My mother bought him this blanket, she bought him two actually (very smart woman) it is very soft and it has a texture that looks like a giant waffle.

Well that was then and this is now...it is very loved. Christopher has become very attached to these blankets, he sleeps with them every night and no other will do. I wash them about 3 times week and I am just keeping my fingers crossed that they will survive his toddler hood.

You see, he doesn't just love it, he loves it to death...haha, he pulls on the strings and wraps his fingers around it and it somehow comforts him. There's pieces of hanging thread here and there, my mom finds it hilarious on how tattered they look, I just pray they will survive.
I have a part of the Peanuts gang always....

Memorable Mondays

2009-07-27T10:38:00.002-04:00

Those cheeks. Those chubby hands. Those yummy feet. That spikey hair. Need I say more as to why this is a moment in time that I will always treasure.

The Plane, The Plane....

2009-07-25T21:09:00.004-04:00

My son has an obsession with airplanes, be it toy planes, planes in books, planes on TV, planes in the air or planes on the tarmac at the airport, he screams with glee and points!!!! "Bye aion!! Bye aion!!!", for my non Spanish speaking readers....err... well for that matter, for my non-toddler speaking audience he is saying ,"Bye Avion!" (Bye Plane).Last week we had a total meltdown at WalMart, it was one of his first public tantrums! My husband says it's the negative vibes that place sends out!!! HA!!! So when we left with our heads hung in shame we headed down to the side of the airport to watch planes land...and that made his day and his mood!!!!
The above picture is pre-meltdown, he had the meltdown because we took him off the skate board, although the minute I saw my husband put him on the skateboard I knew it was coming I just had no idea how bad it would be. I should have kept the camera out and taken pictures of it to laugh at later...oh well.

Anyway moving on again, we shot this video of him saying bye to planes and being his normal self again!!

Show us your life- wedding dresses

2009-07-24T11:24:00.004-04:00

This week I'm participating in Kelly's Show us your life, and this week it's wedding dresses.
I can't believe that it will be 5 years come November that my hubby and I got married! WOW time does fly!

My wedding dress was from David's Bridal, I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg for it, however it was beautiful and I felt like a princess in it. It had a cathedral train and it had a waterfall effect, I don't have a digital image of that detail...but it was so pretty! Another thing my dress was Ivory with rum pink details, pure white dresses did not suit my skin tone at all!!!

Fave Food blog hop....

2009-07-20T21:34:00.002-04:00

This week's blog hop is about food, YUM, I LOVE FOOD and my hips can vouch for me!!! LOL No but seriously I wish I was one of those skinny girls that always say they can eat anything and not gain an ounce!!!! Well I can look at food and feel it creep up on my scale, so for about 3 years now I have been very cautious about what I eat and where I eat. Since being diagnosed with PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) three years ago I no longer eat all the yummy Latin food I was so accustomed to on a regular basis. So I will give you two of my favorite foods, one from my unhealthy past life and one from my healthy but not as happy present life hehehe!!! I am a Latina woman who loves Latin food and one of my favorite dishes is, Tostones!!!! Tostones are Fried Green Plantains. This is the basic recipe for this dish...

Heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the plantain slices to the hot oil and fry, turning frequently, until they begin to brown on all sides. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and repeat with the remaining slices.
When all the slices have been fried, use a glass or small plate to press each slice to a thickness of about 1/3-inch.
Return half the flattened slices to the hot oil and fry again on each side until well browned and crispy. Drain on paper towels and repeat with the remaining flattened slices. Serve hot with mojo sauce.

Now if you were to eat them this way they would be good, however you have to try a trick that is not known to many, before you do step 3 I recommend you place them in a bowl of salted water for about 15 minutes! Then continue on to step 3, WOW!!! Now that is some good food!!! When you do this trick it makes them crispier and much more flavorful. This is the Mojo sauce (Yes I can see all of you thinking about Austin Powers as you read this!) This recipe makes one cup.

1/3 cup olive oil
6 to 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
2/3 cup sour orange juice or lime juice
(or equal portions orange juice and lime juice)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Heat the olive oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly toasted. Don't let it brown or it will be acrid tasting, just about 30 seconds should do it.

Add the sour orange juice, cumin and salt and pepper. STAND BACK; the sauce may sputter. Bring to a rolling boil. Taste and correct seasoning, if needed

Cool before serving. Mojo is best when served within a couple of hours of making, but it will keep for several days, well capped in a jar or bottle, in the refrigerator.

Now on to one of my new fave foods, Raspberry Chicken.
Ingredients needed are...

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp dried thyme (or substitute 1 tbsp fresh thyme)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced
8 oz raspberry fruit spread (double fruit, no sugar added)
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
salt/pepper to taste

Season chicken with thyme and salt on both sides. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until browned and soft. Then add chicken and cook until well cooked, approximately 8 minutes each side. Then, remove chicken and set aside.

Add low GI fruit spread, balsamic vinegar and pepper to oil in skillet. Cook for several minutes until ingredients well combined and fruit spread is melted. Add chicken back in skillet.

Serve chicken with sauce poured over top.

This recipe serves 4 and is very yummy but boy do I miss my Tostones!!!

Memorable Mondays

2009-07-20T21:15:00.002-04:00

I've decided that every Monday I will post a favorite picture, one that will always make me smile, smirk, or even cry every time I see it.
This week I have chosen this picture, it was on my mom's birthday and we headed to the beach to grill and have some good old family fun. I was so exhausted that morning that I really didn't want to go, however I couldn't not go because we were going to celebrate Mom's birthday like I said before.

Once we were there my wonderful husband put up the hammocks and I was in heaven!!! Chris was on his best behavior and loved being in his little play yard playing with all his shovels and buckets. This picture is exactly that, Perfect.

Remembering Christopher's First Birthday

2009-07-19T23:43:00.003-04:00

This week Kelly is hosting Children's parties! I am 4 months away from my son's 2nd Birthday!!! Holy moly where did the time go?

Here are a few images of his big first birthday!!! BTW it was a Sesame Street Luau theme.
My hubby made the balloon arch, which was amazing unfortunately I didn't think to take a picture of it until late into the party, when some balloons had popped!
Christopher is letting you know he is 1!!!!
The most perfect cupcakes ever!!!

3 things you didn't know about your mother...

2009-07-14T21:29:00.003-04:00

This week McLinky's blog hop is three things people don't know about you, in my case it would be 3 things Christopher doesn't know about me.

Being that Christopher is only a toddler at this time there are a whole lot of things he doesn't know about me yet, so I will share 3 obscure and random facts about me.

I was born on the same day and pretty darn close to the time this happened....

if you didn't figure out what the above image is it's the Regan assassination attempt. (I find it pretty morbidly funny that I am a democrat.)

Another thing about me is I love, love, LOVE....soggy cereal. Nothing makes me happier then Frosted flakes that have been sitting in milk for a good 10 minutes! Yummm

It's hard to think of your weird odds and end's this way, it took me a while to get a third but I found one! Last but not least, when I look out the window and say,"It's a beautiful day outside!" this is what I am usually looking at
I love gray, windy and rainy days, I always have. There is a certain serene feeling I get when the weather is like this outside, and now that I am a mother it reminds me of my pre motherhood days, when I would curl up in my favorite chair with a good book and let the hours go by with the rain hitting the window pane.

******

Devito....

2009-07-07T22:02:00.003-04:00

I just adore this picture, how can I not? Christopher was giggling away and in the process ended up looking like a miniature Danny Devito, I just can't get over his cuteness. I will always cherish these moments and remember how tiny he once was and we found joy in the smallest things!!!
________________

This post is for the MckLinky Blog Hop, whose theme is "Favorite Picture" this week. Come join in!

***Replace this line with your content. This week, on TUESDAY, 7/7/09, the theme is A FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH. Post up one of your favorite photographs and a caption that tells the audience about it. Here is a sample: http://mcklinky.blogspot.com/2009/07/mcklinky-photo-blog-on-tuesday-sample.html Do not change any part of this snippet of code except for this paragraph only.... replace the text that falls between (and includes) the opening and closing asterisks. Be sure to enter your own link to your own blog hop post as soon as the blog hop starts!***

Mommy Parking Privileges.....

2009-06-30T21:56:00.002-04:00

I was reminded that I NEEDED to get one of these the other day when Chris and I were at the mall, when we got there is bright and hot however when we had to leave it was raining cats and dogs... and no umbrella was going to get us to the car dry! We were parked like a mile away, and then I spotted one of those Stroller Parking Permit signs about 20 feet away from me.....SIGH....if only I had one of those I could make a break for it.

I finally got my Stroller Parking Permit today!!!! Running errands with a baby is never a task most mothers look forward to. It gets a little easier when you get to park in those neat little green stroller spots!

Training wheels ?

2009-06-28T23:05:00.002-04:00

Uuum, Honey? I think he is a bit young for this, still. LOL, Chris was loving every second of his daddy's crazy antics, he held on tight and kept his game face on the entire time. He is such a BOY!!!! At the rate he is growing training wheels are not too far away!!!

You were so tiny....

2009-06-04T22:44:00.005-04:00

Christopher once upon a time you were a tiny, tiny baby....you were only 6lbs 3 oz at birth and 5lbs 14oz when we left the hospital. Now you are a big BIG boy and you are only going to get bigger right before my eyes, wow I wish you would slow down....actually I wish I could slow down time....hehe it would have it's advantages!!!

2 weeks old.

At 18 months I can't believe you were once that little thing!!!

Much needed cuddles...

2009-06-04T22:33:00.004-04:00

I don't know if Chris sensed my sadness, but since my last post he has been such a cuddle bug with me!!! It just melts my heart, I love him sooo much and I am so glad he has decided to share some of those wet kisses, and big bear hugs!!!!

Thank you so much to all my fellow mommy bloggers and SC mommies who helped soothe my hurt ego!!!! Love you all very much!!!

Here is a pic of my wittle baby...hehe.

Rejection hurts....

2009-05-31T20:19:00.002-04:00

If you are a consistent reader of this small humble little blog you know that it's a very cheerful and lovely little blog about my son. The light of my eyes, Mr. Christopher. HOWEVER....

This post is going to be a bit different, I started thinking to myself," Being Christopher's mommy, being Christopher's mommy is the name of my blog.....I should be honest about how being his mom feels like right now." So I will....

**Disclaimer- Dear Christopher, when you read this you will know that this was a passing phase since you know that I love you more then life and hopefully you feel the same about me.**

Okay- I will get to it. Several months ago I posted this. At that moment I really thought that it would be a passing phase, that surely he would grow out of it and show me more affection. Or that he would go through a "Mommy" phase and I would revel in it and just enjoy it.

This phase has not made an appearance yet, hugs and kisses are only reserved for Daddy and half the time he cries if I hug or kiss him. I am so heartbroken, I didn't know this was part of being a mom, and what is even more scary is that I feel completely alone in this. Maybe everyone else's kid loves them. I don't know....these are the ramblings of a hormonal mommy, but it HURTS, it hurts BAD.

I carried him for 9 months, enjoyed all his movements and awaited his arrival with joy and excitement. Now he is 18 months old and he would rather be with his father then me. Sometimes I feel like I should go back to work and if he was in daycare he might appreciate me more.

**The reality is that I would never actually do it, but it hurts that I even think that.**

Daddy says I bring it upon myself, that I walk around with a cloud over my head because I just expect the rejection. And maybe part of that is true,but rejection no matter who its from or how old that person is hurts and stings, especially when the little person doing it was once part of you.

SIGH, I love my son! I love everything about him, his silly laugh, his chunky little belly, his love for new discoveries.

I know this too shall pass, I know that one day I will hear, "Mommy, I love you." and that will be one of the happiest days of my life. Till then I hope this subsides.......

Found it!!!

2009-05-29T18:50:00.003-04:00

We went to ToysRus yesterday for diapers and wipes, but we also found this.....what we suspect will be Christopher's Birthday gift this year!!!! Remember this is his new obsession. He was so happy when he saw Lightning...he kept screaming ,"Cars, cars, cars!!!".

New Obsession

2009-05-26T15:30:00.003-04:00

Chris seems to like the color red, his first obsession was anything Elmo. Even though he still loves Elmo and now calls him Momo, since he can't pronounce Elmo, he has a new obsession. His name is Lightning McQueen and he is bright red as well !!! I kid you not he begs me to put the DVD on about 4 times a day, I actually let him watch about 30 minutes a day. He "sings" Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts which is part of the sound track and laughs up a storm when Mater drives backwards and is chased by Frank.

He still fits!!!!

2009-05-23T21:30:00.001-04:00

Christopher has been bathing in the big boy tub since he was about 8 or 9 months old and it has worked out great. He has tons of fun, and I usually end up soaked which makes him giggle a great deal.

However a couple of weeks ago I hurt my back while playing with him at the park, cartwheels don't agree with me anymore, and it has become increasingly difficult to bathe him in our tub. So what is a mother to do? I say put him in the kitchen sink!!! LOL he still fits!!! He looks so big, love this picture!!

Wii man....

2009-05-23T21:15:00.004-04:00

I knew that Chris was going be a gamer like his Daddy, I just didn't think he would start so soon!!!!

Ha! Daddy even made Mii for Chris! (For those of you not familiar with the term the Nintendo Wii has an option to make yourself a character in many games which is called a Mii...clever..hehe)

We laugh because we actually think it looks like him!

My hubby can't wait until Chris becomes older and he can take him fishing and such adventures which I will not be included in because frankly I would be bored to death fishing, however I am dreading how fast he is growing and he can wait until Chris gets older!!!!

18 Months Old!

2009-05-20T09:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Christopher,

Happy 18th month old milestone! I can't believe that you are a big one and a half year old toddler!!! Daddy thinks its funny that we still count months for your age, and that soon that won't be the case...I mean I'm not going to be saying, " He is 39 months old.", am I?

What have you been up to lately? Lets see, well you talk allot, ALLOT!!!! Just two days ago you mastered a Spanish word, VAMOS, which means lets go. You love to be out and about as much as possible, so when you want out you walk to the door and start saying,"Vamos mama, vamos mama." You also say," What's that?, Bye, Bobo (Binky), Ball, Abuela, Moo (Cow), Baa (boo), Mas (means More in Spanish) There", your vocabulary is constantly changing and I love it when I hear you say new words. You still have your favorite word which is Mama!!!!

Brandon, your dog, has become a real playmate for you. Both of you play fetch and you throw yourself on the floor with him and giggle up a storm!!!

You have become more confident in going down the stairs, which of course takes my breath away until you are safely down, I only let you go down three max and it's usually at the playground. (Notice in the picture below, Grandma is freaking out!)

Your utensil skills have gotten much better and I enjoy seeing you eat your food like a big boy, however my once non-picky eater has become a bit picky. Some days I just don't know what to feed you!! But you are growing and gaining so I'm doing things right!!!!

As much as your personality has changed over the months, I've really noticed that you are expressing yourself much more and your personality is blossoming! You are really silly, and love to laugh and play jokes on me! At such a young age you love mommy to play the Boob like the book Happiest Toddler on the Block says.

Happy 18th Month birthday sweetheart, I love you soooooo very much that there is no possible way to put it into words. May God keep you safe, healthy and happy.

Love,
Your proud Mommy.

My Picasso!!!

2009-05-16T23:28:00.000-04:00

Today Christopher did his first finger paintings and it was soooo much fun!!! I bought the Crayola wonder paper and wonder paints, which only work on each other which is great for clean up!!! And my sanity. When he is older I will let him use real paint and let him get messy but right now this works!!! I am so proud of him, and he seemed so proud of himself!!! We hung them in the hallway since I can't put them on the refrigerator since its Stainless Steel, the only real downside!!!!

Here is hoping...

2009-05-13T21:41:00.000-04:00

I went out and bought a copy of The Happiest Toddler on the Block. Since I have documented the "fun" I've been having with m strong willed child. * Breath in Deep* I will let you know how it goes....to be continued...

It's really OUR day..

2009-05-10T22:39:00.000-04:00

Thank you God for the honor of being Christopher's Mommy! For as long as time exists I will be your mother and you will be my son. These last 17 months have been full of love and awe, as i watch you grow before my eyes.

Happy Mothers to all loving and caring Mothers out there and our babies.
I love you Chris!!!

Chris what's in your mouth?

2009-04-29T11:51:00.000-04:00

I was driving home yesterday and my son watching Cars on the DVD player, (that another thing the DVD is almost always on in the car) I was watching him in the mirror and I realized he was chewing on something but I had not given him any snacks. I couldn't pull over so I had to wait until I was closer to home, anyway he is chewing away and I ask him "Chris what do you have in your mouth?" he smiled and continued, when I got to the red light I saw that he promptly put his finger in his nose and into his mouth!!!! Eeek!! I reached my hand back and told him," Give it to mommy." he did....a big big booger!!!! It didn't phase me and I was relieved he was not chewing on something else.

Feeding the Ducks

2009-04-28T10:47:00.000-04:00

We have a lake behind our house in our development and since Chris was about 5 months we take him out there to feed the ducks. It is a life saver on those days when I don't know what else to do to entertain him. Yesterday I took him out for a long walk and then we stopped to feed the ducks. I love to hear him squeal in delight when they eat the food he throws and the way they splash around in the water.

Terrible.....17 months???

2009-04-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

Being Christopher's mommy this last week has been draining! Apparently the same people that came up with the phrase morning sickness when indeed its all day sickness, are the same people who coined the phrase "Terrible two's"!!! Apparently this stage starts at around 12 months and last until the 24 month mark, well uuuuh I guess I didn't get the memo.

Christopher has always been a very happy and easy going child, this however has changed in the last week with him throwing tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants when he wants. What do these tantrums look like you ask? Well lets rewind to last Saturday, when we went to our storage space to drop off some boxes, there was a lot of heavy and dangerous things around so I decided to hold him the entire time. This did not sit well with my 17 month old, he screeched, wiggled, cried, and got stiff as a board all the while getting a quite impressive snot nose!!! Oh Lord, give me the patience needed for what is to come.

He loves to be out and about, and when we get home he is never actually ready to go in, the minute I close the front door he runs to it and reaches for the knob and cries bloody murder! This has been really hard on me since I didn't expect this quite this soon.

I am running out to get a book that was recommended to me by many moms, Happiest Toddler on the Block, I need a few pointers to better educated on how to assist him and myself during these tantrums. I don't want to just ignore him because I think that might make the problem worse in some cases.

All in all, being Christopher's' Mommy is a blessing and I love him so much, this will look so foolish when I look back I'm sure.

One....

2009-04-22T11:18:00.000-04:00

When asked how old he is Chris always like to tell them!!! ONE!!!! Pretty soon he will have to hold up two fingers......so fast!!!!

I am so sorry....

2009-04-18T21:07:00.000-04:00

I must apologize to you Christopher, I have done something very stupid!!! I never backed up your pictures, my computer has never crashed and I just didn't think it would happen, BUT IT DID!!!! I have only recovered about half of all the pictures I have taken in your lifetime and I am so heartbroken! How can I let this happen!? I have learned the hard way, and I think I will never get over this.

Here are a few of the priceless pictures I rescued from our hard drive...

At the Car Wash....

2009-04-16T19:38:00.000-04:00

Chris and I had a very eventful afternoon today!!! We picked up Grandma so we could do a few errands and still spend time with her, on the way to the mall I decided that my car needed some TLC. I finally realized that most people don't have cheerios and animal crackers all over the floor, and that in my past life I would never allow it, so we stopped at a car wash. Its a new place where they hand wash your car while you sit in these comfy outdoor tables under some trees and enjoy the breeze....however....there was no breeze today as it was about 90 degrees already!!!! Miami just skips Spring, Fall and Winter, we are on Summer time all year round!!!

Anyway we are hanging out talking and playing with Chris, when I hear a small fart, then another, followed by a louder one!!! I looked around to make sure people didn't think it was me, I looked at my mom and she looked at Chris...and that's when I realized it was HIM!!!! He had such a sly smile on his face, then I heard a really icky, goopy, slimy sound. It was major Poopage as we call it at home. I decide to investigate further, I peer into his diaper from the back and my fingers are full of poop!!!! It was all under my nails.....not pretty!!!

I put him down on the bench and look in my diaper bag, and I can't find the baby wipes!!! My mind rewinds to my mom's house, when we stopped to pick her up I wiped his face and I left them on her kitchen counter!!!! Not good.....oooh no! I always feared this might happen but never really thought it would. Good thing the car wash was next door to a gas station, I hand my mom Chris and I run into the station to wash my hands, it took about 4 lathers to get the smell out!!! On my way out I bought a travel pack of baby wipes and rushed back out to change a very smelly and big Poopy diaper! Crisis averted.

As I strap Chris into his car seat in a very clean and fresh car, I look down underneath the seat and I see a brand new pack of baby wipes that my husband and I had decided to put in the car for emergencies!!! It would have been nice if Id remembered it earlier!!!

Our Birth story....

2009-04-13T11:30:00.002-04:00

We went to the beach yesterday afternoon for an Easter Egg Hunt / Birthday party for our next door neighbor's little girl, and I met a really nice woman who had a 4 month old little girl. She was adorable and very healthy. As we were talking about motherhood our conversation drifted onto breastfeeding and then to onto childbirth. When I told her about my experience she was floored that I had been able to do.....which got me thinking.....," Wow, I did do an amazing job!".

So I've decided to post my birth story as close to detail as I remember it to be, because I don't want to forget it!

Lets rewind to November 16Th 2007....

Jorge and I went to our third Dr.'s appointment that week, we were being monitored closely because of low amniotic fluid and low birth weight. This was a Friday, when we had gone in on Wednesday they had measured my amniotic fluid at 8.96, and my amniotic fluid was now 6.89!!
We were told that I had to come in for our induction the next morning! I was a mess, crying because I thought I had time! I wasn't ready for this to happen like this!

November 17Th 2007...

We were scheduled to be at the hospital at 8am, but we didn't pull out of our driveway until 8:45am......no surprise really! We drove to the hospital, video taping the whole ride. My stomach was full of butterflies and a baby! We got there and were shown to our room, I changed in to the very flattering hospital gown and was prepped for my IV. The nurse who was setting up my IV was a complete novice, she hurt me really bad, and we had another nurse come in to get it done. I had a bruise that lasted for days. They started me on Cervadil to soften the cervix, and watched TV. I was waiting for my mother to get in from Miami, she finally arrived at the hospital around noon!!! I was so happy to see her, Chris was jumping all over the place, he was happy to see her too. At 5pm my Dr. told me that I was progressing very slowly, I was at 2cm, so she would allow me to have dinner and continue with the gel through the night and in the morning we would start on Pitocin. I was so happy because I was starved, well we were both starved!

November 18Th, 2007

I had breakfast around 8am and was started on Pitocin around 10am, still at 2cm. As the day progressed the contractions became stronger where they could take my breath away. At one point I sat on my birthing ball while Jorge massaged my back. Around 2pm I was at 2.5 cm, I was going soooo slow. I really wanted to have a vaginal birth, and I was determined to do so. Christopher was very stable no decels, so as long as he was fine no one could mention the C- word to me. I was uncomfortable but not in horrible pain but I was again starved. My awesome Dr. Pisatowski gave orders to turn off the Pitocin and let me have dinner! I was so happy to eat hospital food!!! I was given an Ambien to sleep....it was great.

November 19Th, 2007...

Around 9am I was started on Pitocin again, Dr. Bowers was now on call and she told me we would not shut off the pitocin again....this was it, we would continue until I had a baby in my arms!!! I was bummed that I had been there for so long that I had to deal with another Dr., I had met Dr. Bowers before but didn't particularly love her. My favorite, Dr. Kaflamarian wouldn't be on call until Tuesday so I was out of luck there.

However Dr. Bowers proved to be very caring and nurturing during this time for me. They checked me about 5 hours later and I was at 4 cm. I went for several laps around the maternity floor with my mom and Jorge, I was tired of the whole process.

Oh before I forget I was really sacred, I had woken up that morning to screams from the next room....," Aaahh, Get him out, I want him out....ooowoww....Get him out!!!!" yea nothing instills more confidence then hearing this.

Soon after Dr. Bowers came in and broke my water, I thought it was going to hurt but I didn't feel a thing, just the warm gush of water underneath me.....a bit gross. She told me that there was no going back now, that I was soon going to start feeling the worst of it....but that I had been a trooper and I would be fine. Within minutes my contractions went from 0 -60!!!! I was holding on to Jorge and staring into his eyes while doing my exercises. He said to me later that he was in a very uncomfortable position and that his leg had fallen asleep but he dared not move!!! Hours went by, and I was dilated to 6cm. Around 9pm I requested an Epi, I couldn't do it anymore without it, I was exhausted and hungry too....odd that I actually felt hunger during this time.

My nurse Kelly had to let everyone out of the room while my Epi was administered. I was scared and resting my head on her shoulder, my contractions were no joke and it was hard to sit and stay still while this was going on. I felt a small sharp sting, and then within seconds RELIEF!!!! I remember the Anesthesiologist referred to the Epi as a Pina Colada...LOL....it wasn't funny until later though.

Jorge and my mom came back in and I was a new woman. Relaxed even cracking jokes! It was about 10pm and I drifted off to sleep, but awoke around 1am with pain, the epidural had slid out and had to be reinserted. I never worked fully again though, I felt a dull pain with each contraction which got stronger as my labor progressed. Around 3am I was at 8cm, I was restless and impatient. I started crying, I wanted it to be over already, I wanted to meet Chris already. My mom, mother in law, and husband soothed me and I fell back asleep. I woke up at 4:30 am and told them to check me , I felt pressure.....sure enough I was at 10!!!!! Time to push, within minutes everything was being set up to welcome Chris.

Dr. Bowers told me that Chris was really low and I would probably have him out within 15 minutes, I was so excited! I started to push, Jorge was on my left side and my mother in law (yea you read right) was on my right side. My mom couldn't bear to look and was holding my hand. Moments later my Dr. told me that Christopher was posterior that she would try to turn him but he wasn't budging.

The Epidural machine beeped, it was over no more medication. I started to panic, I had to get him out or I was going to feel everything!

After an hour of pushing, I was exhausted, my Dr. tried to keep me going by telling me he was right there....that I could feel his head if I wanted. And she was right, I could feel his little head!!! OMG, I pushed and pushed. I remember at one point my poor husband kept saying, "You're doing great, he is right there honey!", to which I responded ,"You've been saying that for over an hour!!!"

I kept pushing and he was not coming ,he was stuck under my pubic bone....it was an awesome feeling * cringe and roll my eyes* , the Dr. asked me if I wanted her to use the vacuum, I said No...I wanted to do this alone! Ha not 20 minutes later I told her to go for it. The vacuum is a tiny little round suction cup that is placed on top of the babies head and she pumps air into it and while I push she pulls a bit. Well we tried it and I felt him coming, I was pushing hard and it hurt like hell. I remember everyone was excited and I could see the joy on their faces, I could feel him coming out and then all of a sudden a "pop" sound and every one's face was deflated! I felt him go back in! YES people he went back in!!! OMG I wanted to die....we were more then 2 hours into it.

I was so tired but wanted him out NOW!!! I started pushing through the 1 t0 10 counts and didn't stop once they were done. I told them I wasn't stopping.

Three hours into the pushing phase, my Dr. told me to push the hardest I had pushed, and I did.....I could feel him crowning....I wanted him out!!!! Finally his head was out, everyone celebrated and I gave one more strong push and he slipped right out. He was a slippery little thing and it was an odd feeling to feel the rest of his body pass through.

Christopher Alexander was born on November 20Th at 7:32 am!!!

I had done it, I had delivered my son, I had given birth and it was the most unbelievable accomplishment!

So Christopher when you are older and give me lip or roll your eyes at me I'm going to make your read this! I love you!

Ouchies & Frog butts!!!

2009-04-13T00:08:00.000-04:00

Christopher is growing up, and I don't make this statement just by his ever changing shoe size! He is learning that others around him have feelings, that if he has an ouchie someone else might feel an ouchie as well. My little man is learning empathy!!! What a milestone, don't you think?

Weeks and weeks ago we were playing with his toy cars, and he bumped the car on my hand (and it really hurt!) , in a split second I went from angry to Epiphany....this is a learning moment!!! I said ," Ouchie! That hurt mommy, that was not nice.," in a very sweet and calm voice. He just looked at me and continued to play.

About two weeks ago something similar happened, only this time....DRUM ROLL please....he came over to me, patted my hand and kissed it!!!! Oh my God, my little man knew that in someway mommy was hurt and he came to the rescue with kisses. He has learned that each time he has an ouchie mommy gives him a kiss and a little saying in Spanish that goes like this...

"Sana sana culito de rana, si no sana hoy sana manana!" LOL....now I'm going to translate it for you and I want you to understand that it doesn't make any sense to me either but as a child I was told the same phrase and it has always made me smile even as an adult.

So it means , " Heal, Heal froggys butt, if it doesn't heal today it will heal tomorrow!"

My little man is growing up!

Praying for Jonah

2009-04-06T20:04:00.000-04:00

I stumbled upon a blog through another blog.....and was heartbroken to find what a family is going through. Their sweet baby boy was born with a rare skin condition which causes the upper layer of his skin to fall off. There is no cure, and they are doing the best they can to keep Jonah comfortable. I can't imagine what this mother is going through, I was heartbroken to read her blog, pain, frustration and hope are present in each word. Please pray for this baby and his family, let them know because I am sure that every word of encouragement helps just a little bit.

http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/

Our BK king...

2009-03-26T21:00:00.000-04:00

I am a really into making Christopher only home made food, he eats more veggies then I do, but every now and again we give him a little treat by taking him out to BK or McDee's. He has very particular ways about how he likes his food, if we go to McDonald's he only has the Nuggets and they have to be peeled (all the breading has to come off) and apple dippers. At BK he won't eat the nuggets, but he will eat the Chicken fries and apple fries.

Since Jorge and I have been together we have debated ( I use this term lightly) which fries are better....BK or Mc'dees?? Jorge prefers the latter, I prefer the former.

However our kid.....

gives the stamp of approval to BK!!!!!

PS- I have no idea why the underline is on...I can't take it off.

Two years already....

2009-03-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

Today it's been two years since we conceived Christopher! Thanks to a freak snowstorm in mid March we cancelled our plans and stayed home that night!!! We are so glad we did. Happy St. Patricks Day indeed!

With a Cherry on top....??

2009-03-09T20:41:00.000-04:00

Molars are evil, evil little things!!!! Before they made their appearance you slept through the night wonderfully, I would put you in your crib awake and you would drift to sleep on your own...my how things have changed! For the last week I have been playing a wait and see game with you, its really tiring, some nights you drift to sleep only to wake 2 hours later, other nights you refuse to go to sleep and it takes me 2 hours to get you down for the evening and my very favorite (which happened last night) is when you sleep until I hit the sack and then you are up and so am I!!! Every night since this began I leave your room with a little prayer on my lips....

"Please God let him sleep through the night."

We look good together....

2009-03-06T22:50:00.000-05:00

Unconditional love is always in style!!!

15 Month Letter

2009-03-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

Dear Christopher,

You are upstairs in your crib sleeping for the night, if I close my eyes I can pretty much guess what you look like right now, you are probably facing the opposite direction from which I place you in, and in the Yoga pose called The Child!! How perfect!!! You are a fellow Yogi like your mommy!

I love you so much, you are such a handsome and confident little man. You have no fear, and that scares mommy. =) Strangers don't phase you, rain and lightning don't phase you, dogs of every shape and size don't phase you!!! For example today we took you to the beach, it was your third visit but the first time you were interested in the water, and you didn't approach the water cautiously and with a little hesitation instead you took off from the sand dune straight into the water. It was so beautiful to see how happy and thrilled you were to be splashing around on the sand bar. Complete strangers were amazed at your bravado...way to go Chris!!!

You have been really walking since October, but you are now a full fledged marathon runner!!! Keeping up with you is no joke! You love to dance so much, you do it everyday to any song that your little bum wants to shake to.

Molars! Are! Not! Fun!...yes you are teething those suckers out, and you have been really upset by them, cranky, clingy, did I say cranky? It's taking a toll on mommy but I'm sure its worse for you.

Before I end this letter, I want to tell you of a beautiful moment we had together at the beach today. (I am really mad at myself for not having our camera) You and me took a nap on a hammock tied to two palm trees while the ocean breeze swayed us. It was so wonderful, to have you in my arms, with you little head on my chest and my hands on you back. I love holding you , and breathing in your scent, these are the moments that I will cherish forever.

I love you.

Your mommy.

Shake it !!!

2009-02-18T20:11:00.000-05:00

I love watching Christopher shake his little money maker...LOL!!! Please ignore my voice, it always makes me cringe when I hear it on video....=)

Jungle Island

2009-02-09T14:29:00.001-05:00

We took Chris to Jungle Island last weekend and he had a blast....well most of the time! We went with our friends who have a 17 month old son , Brian. It amazes me how at this stage they really have no interest in each other.....I guess there will be plenty of time for them to become friends. I just keep thinking that we have to make sure that they see each other often.

Here they are "holding hands" they are exactly 3 months and 7 days apart. Brian being the older one.

Here we are throwing rocks into the bay, Chris has quite the arm on him....future Hall of Famer maybe!!! =)

Here are the two men I love most in this world!!

They are afraid of nothing...eeww they touched snakes!!! Meanwhile Carol (Brian's mommy) and I made a run for cover! We stayed at a safe distance behind the camera....and had the Sanitizing Lotion in hand, ready to "Sanitize" their hands!!!

Yay for Christopher!

2009-02-06T18:38:00.001-05:00

I got good news today, things are okay for now. Christopher is very healthy and happy little boy!!!

Our Pedi told us that we have a wait and see case, surgery is still a probability but not a sure thing!!! That is semi- good dont you think!? We are going to watch him closely for the next 6 months and see how the suture is doing....all his other sutures are open so that is great. And there is only minor pinching on the sides that can resolve themselves, so that is why we have to wait.

GRRR....

2009-02-04T17:56:00.000-05:00

I was informed today by our Pediatrician's receptionist that the Dr. was too busy today and didn't even GLANCE over at the results that were on her desk!!!! WTF!!!???

My little trooper...

2009-02-03T23:13:00.000-05:00

Today was so busy, we got to the hospital at 11am and there was like a million forms to fill out and lots of waiting.

Christopher was such a little trooper! His dad had to hold his arms and legs while I held his chin...he had this scared look on his face, and his bottom lip was quivering! I felt like I was breaking apart inside, I got as close to his little ear as possible and talked to him so I could soothe him.

When it was over, he held on tight to Daddy big arms. The results won't be given to us till tomorrow!!! GRRRR....so I will update tomorrow!

Tomorrow...

2009-02-02T21:48:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow at 11am we will be at Miami Children's hospital for Christopher's CT scan and X-rays.

Dear Chris,

Thank you for being such a wonderful son, you gave me such a big good night kiss today like if you knew mommy was scared. Thank you my Gordo Bello!

Your scarty cat mommy.

365 Days of Love and Fun

2009-02-01T08:06:00.000-05:00

Scared...

2009-01-29T20:44:00.000-05:00

My perfect little man has been diagnosed with a Metopic Ridge. I had never heard of this until now....when Chris was born he had a slight ridge on his forehead, they told me at the hospital it was because of the hard and long labor I had and it was nothing to be concerned about. His Pedi also said there was nothing to worry about.

So what is a mother to do? I trust these medical professionals to take care of my son's health.

I should have asked more questions, insisted that they double check, but I didn't and now the guilt is too much to handle.

Most metopic ridges require surgery, and it's no walk in the park outpatient type of surgery, its the general anesthesia, cut open my son's skull and reshape it! OMG!!! I am so scared for my little perfect man. He is the most important being in my life, and I want him to be safe and healthy.

We will be going next week to a Pediatric Neurosurgeon, a CT scan and X ray's have been scheduled and now we play the waiting game.

___________________________________

Dear Christopher,

Mommy needs to be strong for you, but mommy is so very scared right now. I love you so much my Gordo Bello! You are my everything and my reason for going on each day.... I pray that God keep you safe and healthy. You are in his hands.

Your mommy

Flashback....

2009-01-28T17:16:00.000-05:00

When Christopher was still my little bean in my belly, I made a promise to him that I would keep a journal during my pregnancy so he could read back on that time and I would write him letters that he could also read as he got older. I've kept up with the promise, and I've decided to post them here, after all this blog is about him.

Letter # 1 (Birthday)

Dear Christopher,

You were born today, November 20 th 2007, and it was life changing already. You came out swinging with a very strong cry that melted my soul, you were placed in my arms and that was it, I was wrapped around your tiny finger. You are so precious and amazing, you have 10 perfect fingers and toes, a full head of black hair and a sweet dimple on you chin.

Daddy is just as in love with you as I am, he can't stop looking at you and he has changed all your diapers so far! I am so proud of him, he is going to be an amazing father to you and will be loads of fun since he is a kid at heart too.

Mommy is running on adrenaline, I don't feel tired or sleepy I just want to sit here and stare at your sweet face . I am still in disbelief that I was able to bring you into this world, God is great.

I have been trying to breastfeed you but you keep falling asleep, I would think you'd be hungry after such a long day but I guess you are more tired then hungry. I hope you nurse like a champ when you finally wake up, I want to do what is best for you.

Mommy is going to go back to holding you because that is all I want to do today, I love you so much and I will give it my all at being the best mommy I can be.

Loving you always,

Mommy

Letter # 2 ( 3 months old)

Dear Chris,

You are 3 months old today!!! It's been quite the adventure, you have changed so much since you were born! You are much bigger and alert, you give us toothless grins every chance you get and we love it. The first three months were full of ups and downs, from sweet cuddle time to sleepless nights, you have been a blessing to us.

Since you were born I tried breast feeding you but you wanted nothing to do with it, but I have been determined to do what is best for you so I have been pumping my milk for you. I know you are probably cringing right now but that was best source of nourishment I could give you. I am very proud that I have been able to exclusively breast feed you so far.

You are very alert, you love ELMO! You are only 3 months old but you will turn you head towards the sound of his voice and stare at the TV when you see the furry red monster, I wonder if this will continue?

You love LOVE your swing and so do I ! You nap in it all day and it soothes you to sleep, if it weren't for that I would never have a chance to have dinner ready for daddy or clean laundry for you! You hate Tummy time, but you are a sport and put up with it for about 10 minutes before you loose your mind...=).

I love you so much my baby, my life would be meaningless without you and I am so thankful to have you.

Your sleepy mommy.

Letter #3 (6 months old)

Dear Chris,

You are half a year old!!! That is unbelievable, where did the time go!!?? I wish I had a way to slow down time so I could enjoy you at this stage longer but I know that won't be possible so I try to enjoy you as much as I can.

At 4 months old I had to start supplementing you with formula, it's was a bit rocky at first, you became colicky and cranky but when we found the right formula for you it was smooth sailing. You have been sleeping through the night since about 5 months old and its been great. Mommy finally doesn't have bags under her eyes! What an accomplishment. Every time you wake up , you do so with a huge smile on your face! It is so cute! You still have toothless grins which I adore, I might be a little sad when you get teeth! You still sleep swaddled and that is the only way you settle down to sleep so I will keep doing it until you let me know you don't want it anymore. Your Uncle Carlos says I should stop because you look uncomfortable...he is so silly.

We have been living in Miami now for almost 3 months, it was quite the move and it was difficult on mommy and daddy. We are so thankful to be together again under the same roof, I promise you that I will always love your daddy and we will always be a family.

Your loving mommy.

Letter #4 (9 months)

Dear Gordo Bello!!!

You are so big!!! And you no longer have the toothless grins I used to love, but I was wrong when I thought I'd be sad when you got teeth! A little after your 6th month you got your first teeth, the bottom two and they are so cute! Since then you have gotten your top two as well, you look so handsome when you smile.

You took your first steps back on 9/8/08!!! It was so lovely, you were cruising along the sofa, and decided you were going to take a chance. I saw you calculate the distance from the sofa to me....you opened you eyes and mouth wide and went for it, the whole time shrieking !!! You took 8 steps!!! Wow my baby took his first steps!

You love LOVE food, that is not a real surprise though since Daddy loves to eat too. You had your first taste of solids back in April when you were 5 months old, since then you are quite the food lover. You love sweet potatoes, green beans, bananas, peas, carrots...and so much more. I cook for you everyday so you can have healthy food instead of pre-packaged foods. I know this won't be forever but I will try to feed you home made food as long as I can.

You are crawling!! There is no stopping you and I worry you will hurt your knees but you seem to be fine. Brandon ( your dog) isn't too happy about this because now there is no safe resting area for him! You love him and he is very sweet to you, it is adorable to see you together.

Your cat Minnie, is still her laid back self, she really can't be bothered ...hehehe. I don't know if they are still around as you read this, but mommy loves or loved them very much and was very happy to have you grow up with them.

Love,

Your very busy mommy

12 month update-

Christopher started full blown walking at 10 months and is now running circles around all of us!!!

Letter # 4 (1st birthday)

Is in the November portion of this blog.

Best Friends....

2009-01-21T21:34:00.000-05:00

I love watching Christopher interact with our dog Brandon, it is the funniest thing. His new thing to do is grab Brandon's tennis balls and run away from him while brandon chases him, the whole time he is laughing and saying, "Bow wow, wow, wow!" Hahaha...he cracks me up!!!

Christopher also has a remote control car which Brandon HATES!! And Christopher knows this very well, so he chases Brandon with it!

Not his favorite....

2009-01-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

I know toddlers go through phases like it's no body's business but I was surely not expecting this....

I am not Christopher's favorite person!!! Can you believe it??? He is completely attached to Daddy right now, he cries when he leaves and lights up when he comes home, but when I leave he just says," bye bye". I know I shouldn't take it personally but I can't help but to feel a little hurt by this, after all he was once a physical part of me..* sigh *

I miss those special moments when it was just the two of us...

Maybe next week I will go back to being his favorite, although Daddy is absolutely loving it.

So big...

2009-01-08T12:35:00.000-05:00

I have once again realized I have a little boy....no longer a baby boy!

Goodbye Christopher's First Year...

2008-12-30T21:26:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of 2008, so many good, hard, bittersweet moments will go with it.

The year started with me breastfeeding my little man around midnight, that is how we rang in the new year! Throughout 2008 Christopher's changes were a mile a minute!!! He left his newborn stage, became an alert infant who sat on his own, started crawling and is now running circles around me!!

I don't think there will ever be a year with so much momentous change, our little newborn is now a toddler!!! Goodbye 2008, Goodbye Christopher's First year!!! 2009 should be ton's of fun with an active little boy!!!

I do it!! I do it!!...

2008-12-16T22:12:00.000-05:00

That is what Christopher seems to be trying to tell me all the time now a days!!! No mommy...I do it!! I do it!!! ( Brush his teeth, feed himself...ect.)

So I've decided to bite the bullet and just let my little independent munchkin be!! LOL...gone are the days where he was completely dependent on mommy.....gosh...soon he'll be asking me if he can drive ME to the mall!!!

This is Chris "feeding" himself and what happens when he tries!!!

I love you Chris!!!

It had to happen someday....

2008-12-08T19:31:00.000-05:00

My baby boy has gotten sick for the first time ever!!! He had a fever and diarrhea and was so miserable! The Dr. said it had to happen someday!!! She's right, but as a mommy I wish it didn't have to happen.

Obsess much???

2008-12-04T19:07:00.001-05:00

So I should have seen this coming months and months ago, I know I should have done more to prevent this, but once Christopher heard that red furry monster laugh... it was all over!!!

He was only 2 months old when he would turn his head in the direction of the voice of his beloved buddy Elmo!

It has now become a full blown obsession!!! He must watch Elmo's world in the morning after breakfast. He must play with Up Up Elmo while he watches the Elmo Live Doll tell stories! His birthday theme was all about Elmo, diaper changing has become easier because while I change his dirty diaper I give him a clean diaper with a picture of you guessed it! Elmo!!

And those in the picture are just the tip of the iceberg!!

Fun & Stressful

2008-11-24T10:28:00.000-05:00

My little man had his big birthday bash on Saturday the 22nd, while we were packing everything up and saying good bye to friends, I was thinking, "This was so worth all the stress!" Yes by the end of the night I was okay with doing this again next year,but I was very thankful that it's only once a year!

A lot of things went wrong, lets see where do i begin?? Okay well, the party rental company delivered gray chairs instead of the white ones I payed for, we bought Goldfish to give out as Dorthy's as favors ( Elmo has a pet goldfish in a bowl and that's where we got the idea) , someone sprayed air freshner right above them and they were all floating minutes later, some idiot cut me off right as I was 1 block away from the party and the cake was in an accident, Christopher was almost 2 hours late to his own birthday party because he took a longer then usual nap, Christopher decided he didn't like touching cake so he just stared at the camera like saying, " Why don't you put frosting all over your face?"and so on.....

But I wouldn't change a thing, we had a blast, and best of all Christopher seemed very happy and excited about everything going on........so now I will start planning for next year...maybe I will pay someone to take on all the stress and that will just leave me with the fun part!!!

Happy Birthday

2008-11-20T11:29:00.000-05:00

Thank you God for this amazing blessing!

The 2008 Britax Debacle!!

2008-11-17T16:37:00.001-05:00

I remember since I was pregnant I started researching car seats, come to find out that the Britax is considered the safest out there. I proceeded to fall in love with the Cow-Moo-Flage pattern seat, then I saw the prices and I realized I couldn't afford the "Safest" carseat for my son! Bummer, heartbroken I bought the next best thing...The Evenflo Triumph.

Yesterday the blogs were a buzz about Britax Marathons on sale at Target.com for 59 dollars!!! they were 79% off!!!! And they had it in the print I had so lusted after!!! I bought it and went to bed with a huge smile. It was too good to be true!!!

Well it was....Target made a HUGE mistake and is cancelling my order! But I can buy it on sale for $249!!!

"Smirk"

Never Again!!!

2008-11-15T19:45:00.001-05:00

I had a very frustrating day today, we took Chris to get his 1 year old portraits done and it didn't turn out the way I wished. I'm very upset about the customer service or lack there of at Ollan Mills Portrait Studio, we were scheduled for an 11am sitting, we didn't get called in until 1:30pm!!! That is unacceptable!!! Christopher was cranky and grouchy by then... it was a lost cause.

I scheduled with JcPenny Studios on Monday, we have never had a problem with them before. Wish us luck.

Spring Forward should be fun!!

2008-11-15T01:16:00.000-05:00

Okay so we are now more then a week into the new..."Fall Backwards." time change crap.....notice the excitement???

An 11 month old doesn't care about time changes or technicalities, he goes to sleep earlier now at 6:30 pm which would be really great if I would just sit on my butt and go to sleep earlier instead of doing laundry and washing dishes. But of course that is not the case and most of the time I don't make it to bed until 1am!!!!

So if he is going to sleep early that means he is getting up earlier......DING DING DING.....exactly my problem!!!!

Which brings me to last weekend....

We went to a baby shower , and they had someone going around with a video camera asking to give advice to the new parents. When my friends watched the video at home they called me laughing saying I was so "Dramatic" with the advice I gave them. To which I had to laugh because I do remember saying "SLEEP! SLEEP ALL YOU CAN!!! I haven't slept since

September of '07!"

Let's give them a few weeks into parenthood and I should be vindicated.....no parent is safe from these little adorable creatures!!!

Each time I see this picture, I see his real intentions!!! " Are you sleepy mommy??? Really??That sounds like a personal problem!!! hehehe"

Say what??!!!

2008-11-09T20:57:00.000-05:00

So several weeks ago we were at the mall and noticed a banner posted on The Gap windows....2008 Gap Casting Call....looking for adorable new faces!!!! Well seeing that I have the most adorable child this side of the Mississippi , I went ahead and entered him. I was completely convinced that he would be chosen.....the terms and conditions said..

"Finalists will be notified on or about November 1st, by email or phone."

Well November 1st came and went and so did the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on.....and no call, no email!!!

Say what!!!???? My kid didn't make the cut!!!?? There must be some mistake!!! There is no way.....

OH DARN IT!!! Wow.... I never thought I would be one of those mothers who thought that their kid was the cutest child. Ha!!! I have to tell you that I have been laughing at myself since the realization hit around the 5th of November....OK OK....the 7th!!!

When all is said and done, Christopher is the cutest in my eyes, but the best part is that he is healthy and thriving......but I tell you when the finalists are revealed.....they better be cuter then my kid....LOL....ok I will stop now.

Catching up...

2008-11-08T21:56:00.000-05:00

I am trying to catch up on posts since I have been slacking in that department so here I will post a few milestones....

Christopher's First Day at the beach!!! He loved it, but I'm sure that smile backs up my claim.

Christopher's Church Dedication

Christopher's First Halloween......he was Po from Kung Fu Panda!!!

It's already November.

2008-11-08T21:27:00.000-05:00

Dear Christopher,

I am in disbelief that it's already November! Where did the months go?, we just started counting your milestones...."Today he is 1,2,3,4 months old!" and so on. Today I look back at where I was this time last year, you were still physically a part of me, you did somersaults every night as I was going to sleep, you woke me up with your hiccups constantly. I was washing your newborn clothes, I was staring down at your crib trying to imagine what my napping baby would look like.

On November 16th, I was told you would be making an early appearance due to low birth weight and low fluid! I was a an emotional wreck, your Daddy reassured me that we would be fine and we would look back on this with a smile. He was right, now I smile at how nervous and scared I was, there was nothing to be scared of! I was going to meet you earlier then expected and that was great news because I got 3 extra weeks with you that I would not have gotten if you would have waited for your due date.

The following morning, surprise surprise, Daddy and I were late for our induction! We got settled into our room an hour after our expected time, but hey you were 3 weeks early so we were early in my book!!! The next few days were a blur of Pitocin, Ambien, contractions, breathing excercises, and foot massages that your Daddy gave me. Your Grandmother Mari had flown in from Miami, your Abuelita was there as well, we were all a bundle of exhaustion and anticipation.

Finally on November 20th at 7:32 am you were put in my arms for the first time!!!! Your cry was strong but vunerable, all it took to soothe you was to be in my arms. I will never forget that moment as long as I live, all the pain I had felt diappeared as you appeared in my sight! Your father was estactic, he was smiling ear to ear. That was the first day of the rest of our lives!

You are such a joy to me, you will be unable to understand the magnatude of my love until one day when you make me a grandmother!!! I want to slow down time, because surely in a blink of an eye you will grow up into a fine young man. But for now, you are my baby and you belong to me and your Daddy.

This month we will be celebrating that wonderful day that you came into our world as our little baby boy! It's amazing how you have left babyhood behind and are now my little toddler full of energy and curiosity. We celebrate you, me, and Daddy because you made us a family a year ago! May God guide me in raising you into a strong, self reliant, humble man.

Mommy Loves you!!!

Seven!!

2008-07-06T21:49:00.000-04:00

Christopher has now been blessing our lives for 7 months!!! He has survived the teething, yay and he is back to being his bubbly self. He has started getting on all fours, and rocking....he is taking his time finding out if he wants to crawl or go straight to walking! I think he is going to skip the crawling phase if you ask me but we shall see.

He has started doing something that resembles talking, he says mama and papa....and dada. Sometimes he says "mapa" which mean map in spanish...LOL...he is going to travel the world someday I guess!

Here is a picture from his first Fourth of July.

Patience

2008-06-15T07:53:00.000-04:00

Wasn't a large dose of patience supposed to come with giving birth???!! LOL....I've misplaced mine!! It's going to be one of those days.......where Chris pushes me to point of exhaustion.....so I will be handing him over to daddy!!!!

The joys of a teething baby...

2008-06-15T07:43:00.000-04:00

My poor little man is teething, well actually he has two bottom teeth already! They came in fast and furious, he went from sleeping all night to waking every 2 hours in a fuss, I wish I could do more to stop his discomfort but short of letting him chew on my finger there is not much else I can do.

Everything he can get his chunky little hands end up in his mouth, and he is a champ at drooling! I tried to take a picture showing his teeth, but he wont let mommy document this occasion by sticking his tongue out each time i try.

Here we have teething Christopher.......haha....he is also a future musician! He is putting my old pots to good use!

Half a year old!

2008-05-20T22:43:00.000-04:00

My sweet baby is 6 months old today, where did the time go!? He is such a blessing and I love him more then I could ever express!!! He has started to hug, he puts his head under my chin and holds on tight with his hands......he is starting to sit on his own......

I'm crying because I wish I could stop time, and enjoy him at this stage longer! I'm sure every mom can relate!

Our first Mother's Day!!!

2008-05-10T20:32:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited that this year I get to celebrate Mother's Day as a mother and not just as a daughter!!! This time last year Christopher was inside me growing and I was falling madly in love with him!

I am a better person because of him, my love for my husband is much deeper and more intense! I sometimes look at the two of them together and can't imagine my life without either one of them, they ARE my life! We are a family, I have a family of my very own and that in it of itself amazes me!

Tomorrow we celebrate me!!! Thats right I deserve a day in my honor after carrying him inside me, waddling, the few stretch marks I got on my belly, oh and let's not forget the 3 hours of pushing!!! Tomorrow we celebrate being a family!!

I do remember....

2008-05-08T10:39:00.000-04:00

Well this is my first blog ever, I don't know what compelled me to add something else to do when I already have allot on my plate! Crazy I know.....but I think this is a good way to document this incredible journey I'm going through. First and I want to point out that there was a time that I thought I'd never be a mother and that I'm truly blessed to be a mother.

I've been some one's mommy for almost 6 months now, and I do remember what my life was like before but it seems a world away. Lazy Saturday mornings, late night outings, selfish purchases because you just had to have it.....surely that was about 10 years ago right!?

I feel like I've aged 10 years, somedays I look like Ive aged 10 years too!

Now let me introduce you to this incredible being who has allowed me be his mommy.....his name is Christopher, he is 5 months 4 weeks and 2 days today. He is the cheese in my macaroni...=) He is amazing, loves to baby talk, smiles from ear to ear when he wakes up, loves to jump in his jumparoo, wants to bear hug our dog Brandon every chance he gets, and the list goes on. He was born early, was a posterior birth.....as you can see he wants it his way, something I will have to contend with as he becomes a toddler!!! That should be loads of fun =)

So this is the beginning of a blog to document what we learn from each other as mommy and son!