Sweet little Tres, 9 months old

Thinking of my little girl brings tears to my eyes. She is so sweet, so mild tempered and a love bug. About two weeks ago she got her first tooth (bottom right) then the next week got her second tooth (bottom left). They're still barely coming through the gums but they are there enough to hurt. :( She can say "more" which sounds a little more like "mmmmo" or "mmm" but she's trying. She says "hi" and just yesterday she waved. I thought she had waved before but I wasn't sure if it was a fluke. But this time it wasn't. She did a full wave to the doctor yesterday! It looks a little like a bird flapping its wing but it is so cute!

She's growing up so fast! I can't believe how fast 9 months has just flown by. I start crying uncontrollably in the car when songs come on about little girls all grown up and their daddy walking them down the isle. Before I know it, we'll be picking out prom dresses, wedding dresses and watching my little babies get married. I know some of this is pregnancy hormones but some if isn't. I just love them so much! Them growing up is a love/hate thing in my mind. I dream of what they will do, who they will become and all that but I already feel my heart breaking for when they leave me. I will definitely be one of those moms that lets my kids live with me forever. But for now I will just love on them as much as I can and watch all of the new things they learn, because "one day, she'll.. be..gone". Ahh, bring on the tears!

It's a bird, it's a plane...

it's a seahorse!

Not only do we look at the clouds and find shapes, animals and many other things in this house but my potty training curly haired two year old find shapes and animals in her poop! This girl is obsessed with poop! Every day, every where, and any animal that we see...she discusses poop. Oh the joys of parenthood!

But at least she is almost 100% potty trained! :)

I'll save everyone the urge to throw up and not post a pic of one of her discoveries

My CD Journey

I attempted to cloth diaper with my first child with gDiapers back in 2007. With many leaks and never really taking it on completely, my cloth diaper journey ended right there with him. Fast forward a year and a half to two years, I wanted to venture into the cloth diaper (CD) world again. I had a few reasons 1) I wanted to know that future generations would not have to deal with “my” diapers in the landfills 2) I'm trying to go green little by little 3) I wanted to do the best thing for my baby and any future babies in our family and 4) I wanted to prove to people that CDing wasn't as bad as everyone thinks it is and that I CAN DO IT!

So with a little advice from a friend, researching and getting a chance to view a bunch of CDs from a private seller I knew what I wanted and what I didn't want. I wanted something easy, I wanted velco (snaps just seemed too hard since I have very wiggly babies), I wanted a “one size” diaper so I could use it with all of my kids no matter how big or small and I didn't want to have to worry about folding, stuffing or anything else that would make my diaper change take more than 30 seconds. So, low and behold, I found the GroBaby (which just changed their name to GroVia) AI2.

From the moment I saw the GroBaby, I knew it was the diaper for me! A shell that can be reused and a soaker pad that snaps in. The shell can be used a couple times before needing to be washed (unless it gets a lil poop on it) and the soakers take all of 2 seconds to snap in during a change. I also loved that the colors were all very simple, very gender neutral and only a few (mandarin, blackberry, kiwi and vanilla). I didn't want to have tons of options because I know I'd go overboard and go crazy!

So, I ordered a “part time” package just to try them. A few soakers, a few shells and a few boosters (to keep the munchkin extra dry). Ater no time,I was hooked! I loved them! I loved the way they fit (all three of my kids ...3.5 yrs, 2 years and 8.5 months, fit in them!)! I loved the ease of use! SO, I ordered more. And more. And more.

I'm now on my third baby (8.5 months), my second one in these CD's and I'm still loving it! I have about 30 soakers and about 15-20 shells. GroVia just came out with new shells (and new colors) and new soaker pads that are amazing! The shells are a tiny big bigger so it allows for even longer use, they have tuck under laundry tabs so they don't get hooked on other diapers in the wash and the soakers have true leg gussets and a waterproof backed soaker pad.

I cannot say enough good things about GroVia diapers. They have saved me so much money, I'm keeping yucky disposables out of the landfills and I'm having fun!

Gifts from God

I've always known that God made me to be a mother. I've always known that I wanted a big family. We've always said that children are a blessing and should not be "planned" but come on God's time. We were told about 5 years ago that we would have fertility issues and would not conceive without medication or other assistance. I cannot help but think and know that God has a plan and he is using us to achieve his plan. People may think that we have too many, that they're too close in age or that we're not spending enough quality time with each one but that's their opinions and not ours. God chose us to be parents. He chose to bless us with three beautiful children and now he has blessed us again with a fourth. It may seem crazy, chaotic or insane but I believe with all of my heart that God has a plan for us, for me, and for each and every one of our little gifts. With each child, my faith becomes stronger, I turn to Him more and I strive to be a person, wife and mother.
We are truly blessed and so excited to announce our newest addition to our family! Quatro is due April 21, 2011 and I am so excited to be a mommy once again!

Tattles

I think it's hilarious that Dos on herself. She woke up before the rest of us and when I got up and was following her down the stairs she said "I bein naughty". I asked what she did and she said "I colored on My-dona's legs". lol. Too cute!

MTM...I mean MTT

It finally came! Our swap box!

We had a very busy day yesterday so we didn't get a chance to do our MTM :( But today when I checked the mail, our swap package arrived! My partner sent us tons of fun stuff so we decided to do a MTT!

UNO showing me some of the goodies.

DOS checking out the mini cookie cutters.

Thank you so much for all of the MTM goodies!

Our MTT meal ...Mandarin oranges, cheese stick cut into pieces, more mandarin oranges. hot dog bites (Nitrate and Nitrite free), shredded cheese and chocolate pudding (a huge treat!)

A new addition

Mommy and her new baby

Sunday my mom came over to watch the kids while D and I went to go see a movie (with TRES in tow). We just missed the 12 o'clock show so we decided to walk around the mall a bit. No mall trip is complete without going to the puppy store, right? So in we went, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at all of the little squished faces, tiny paws and pitiful little looks that they give you. We walked by one of the big windows and saw a beautiful Boston Terrier. BEAUTIFUL. Big hazel eyes and seal/brindle/white coloring. So of course we asked to hold her. I fell in love instantly.

We discussed buying her but we had to go back to the theater since the movie would be starting soon. We put a hold on her, just in case. We went to the movie and came back to see her. We had sort of decided not to get her but the second I saw her, I cried. I couldn't leave her. I felt like she was already my baby and I couldn't stand not being with her. We came home that day with a new member of the family. Princess Bella. Bella because she's beautiful, the name of our neighborhood and because we just finished watching the newest Twighlight movie. Princess because the second we got home, she ran and grabbed DOS's crown and it flipped on her head like she was really wearing it. She was a princess. So we attempted to do a vote but it was tied so we just went with what was easiest and combined both names. The poor dog might be confused for a while but she'll figure it out. What a great little addition to our family! Welcome to the craziness Bella! We love you!

A little love bug!

Name Changes

I've been wanting to make my blog public for a while but kept putting it off because I got busy taking care of my littles, cleaning, doing endless loads of laundry and cooking (HA!). Well today is the day! I changed my blog address and my picture website so make sure you update it if needed. I am also going to change the names on here to keep it as private as possible.
So from here on out we will be referred to as ...

J- Uno
S- Dos
K- Tres

and my hubby will be "D".

(I did steal this naming system from a new friend Valerie. I hope you don't mind! I've been trying to think of nicknames or whatever but came up blank and seeing how my hubby is 1/2 and my kiddos are 1/4 Hispanic, this just made sense to me).

DOS turns 2

April 4, 2010
DOS turned two today. It seems like just yesterday we welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world and already two years has passed. She is no longer a baby, she is a little girl and that makes me so sad yet so happy at the same time. She loves dressing up, loves all that sparkles (like her Mommy), climbing, coloring, counting, singing, dancing and copying everything that her big brother does. She loves having a little sister to take care of and help out with. She is a love bug, a ray of sunshine and a blessing.
Happy second birthday, My Love. You are a gift from Heaven. I love you so much!

One year! May 16, 2010

There were so many times that we wondered if this day would ever come. For years we struggled as individuals and as a family. We fought to stay together, to fight the bitterness, loneliness, and fear. But a year ago that all changed. May 16th 2009, my mom got sober. It has been a year of picking up the pieces of damaged relationships and trying to be as supportive as possible so as to not have a relapse. But she made it. She took on this challenge, she fought it and she beat it. I've always thought of her as the strongest person I know but this year she has shown her strength is greater than I ever imagined. She made it seem easy but I know it wasn't and I'm sure she still struggles. I'm so thankful to have my mom back, my friend back and I'm glad she has her life back. We can't go back and change the past but we can look forward, enjoy each day together and be grateful to have each other. Congratulations to my mom on her first year of sobriety! We are all so proud of you and love you so much!

Here are a few pics from the little celebration we had.