Fall in the summer and Summer in the fall????

So the weather around here has been pretty strange we were teased with cool weather last week. (the last week of summer) but summer wasn't over without a fight and the heat has come back. (I really shouldn't complain we have had a pretty mild summer over all.) Which means that we stayed indoors in a cool place all day seeing as I am really horrible at functioning in the heat.

Today called for an indoor picnic.

Checking out his guest at the picnic...Quickest way to make Elliott upset... too long on his tummy. Does anyone else have that problem? I know tummy time is good for them.

Hurry!!! Quick distraction before total meltdown.... teddy will do the trick.Disaster averted.


As you can see it was the most exclusive of picnics with only a few guest invited. Just his teddy bear and Sophie the Giraffe. Mami and Papi were invited too but we were not at all photo ready. It ended up being a great day while trying to beat the heat

Can you imagine waking up to this every morning? I am truly so blessed to have such an easy going happy baby... at least most of the time. He really is a morning person so far.

Happy Late Birthday to the very best husband I've ever had... yes your the only husband I've ever had but you are still the best. Thank you for being my best friend and putting up with me even when I'm not very nice to be around. You are amazing and I am so happy to be raising our beautiful son together.
Okay enough sappy stuff.. thanks for watching really cheesy movies with me and listening to all my silly girl talk babel. That's the stuff that really counts.

A day in the life...

My oh my how time flies when your little one is growing up. I feel like I barely have time to blink and take in the moment before it's gone and he is bigger. We have been trying to work on a sleep schedule as I will be going to work next month and I have the opportunity to take him with me. Which is so great but still majorly stressful for me. I have been trying to completely indulge every waking moment I have alone with him and give him as much attention as I can now seeing as when we are at work I have... well you know a job to do too. So most of our day consist of a fun little routine. (Can you tell I'm a little obsessive about structure and schedule.. maybe a little too much. HA!) Here's what our days look like most of the time with exception of days we go out. To spare you all the details I will just post activity times and skip all feeding and diaper changes.

7:00 am- He wakes up bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to start his day (this is his happiest most active time. We start the morning with morning time songs, a clean diaper and a full

tummy. We play for a while. He usually likes his activity gym for a while before looking exhaustedand falling asleep again.

Clearly not B in the picture but it is the activity gym he has.

At about 12ish he is pretty calm and alert so I take this time to either read to him or teach him a few words in sign and Spanish. Anything from his body parts to playing with finger puppets and telling him the name of each thing. If in the mood to settle he really likes to be read to . His favorite book is Paul Frank High Five which is an adorable touch and feel book. I think he likes all the bold colors

This is by far one of my favorite pictures to date. At around 3 he starts to get a little fussy and just wants to be held so I try to make the best of this time by throwing on some music and dancing around with him. I'll play pretty much anything that has a good beat but we mainly listen to Salsa for Kittens and Puppies. It is the cutest album of classic and new songs done in a salsa beat. Not only is it in both Spanish and English but it actually has a good beat so you are actually enjoying it too. It's a win win situation, I get a little work out and he get to be held.

Finally in the evening we wind down a bit I sing to him (Note all this singing I do is NEVER done on key. He is the only one who enjoys this.) He might go into his activity gym one last time before his bed time we get his jammies on and say our prayers and he is in bed by 7:30 or 8 which is his longest sleep session.

This is just what an average day may look like but obviously he is a baby and sometimes his temperament determines how the day is going to go. I think that, that is the key to really enjoying your time with a baby. Knowing he/she well enough to know how they might react to activities and going with the flow. For me exploration and keeping his mind stimulated is super important. I like to think about it as if I were the ultimate tour guide. Imagine being in a place completely new every sound, smell, color is something you have never experienced before. I feel like God has given me the privilege to be able to show B all these things for the first time and I don't want to take the opportunity for granted.

My how they grow...

B is officially two months old today. While he was napping today I decided to upload some pictures my mother in law took of us on his first trip to the beach last month and I cannot believe how much he's grown in just a matter of weeks. Aren't baby toes the cutest.. I really can't take it.

There is that infamous Moby again boy do we love it. Okay so maybe he slept through the whole trip but look how cute he looks sleeping at the beach.

New Laughs

There hasn't been a whole lot of action here in blog world. Mainly because there has been so much going on here in real world. My little Elli Bear has been pretty attached to me lately I think he might be growing because all he wants to do is eat sleep and be with mommy. Sometimes I feel like complaining. Like when you wish you could eat your meals with two hands or when all you want is like one second by yourself and it not be to use the bathroom. I just have to remember that these moments won't last forever and that sooner than I would like I will be wishing all he wanted is to stay with mommy. So there has been a whole lot of loving and cuddles going on around here these days. We have been going for walks in the evening. Thank you to who ever invented the Moby wrap it has been my hero and the best part is you can go about most activities while they sleep right next to you.

Today was a new day though which left me so excited and full of peace. B woke up early we got ready and we went to Disneyland for the first time! Don't worry folk I did not keep him out too long. My mother in law has a season pass and got me one too as an early birthday present! (Thanks Karin!!!!) so we only went for a couple hours to walk around no rides for us. Then we went to visit my co workers at the preschool where he decided to wake up and be alert and adorable for everyone. We headed home and after he woke up I decided to try to give him his first bottle of pumped milk. ( I plan on giving him one a day so he can get use to it by the time I work again) and guess what??? He took it with no fuss and ate 3oz. I was a proud momma.

But without a doubt the highlight of my day came when we were doing music time. I sang Ol' McDonald with these little finger puppets of each animal and went through the names of each animal in Spanish, English and sign when I got to "cow" he started laughing. Every time I made the sign for cow he would laugh. I cannot describe how amazing that moment was to me. It melted me heart. If I can get laughs like that from him I promise I'll carry him around until he's 30. :)

Consistency vs. Schedule

So as a mommy that wants to "parent with intention" I look forward to the time I get B in a wakeful calm state where I can sing, play, exercise and just plain have some fun with him. I have been blessed with a VERY alert child. It feels like sometimes he fights sleeping because he doesn't want to miss a beat.( I assure him there is nothing fun going on at 4:30am and he should go back to bed HA!) I sometimes feel like he gets frustrated when he isn't stimulated enough. But with that said I have to remind myself that (here's a shocker) HE IS STILL A BABY. I recently had the most awesome 24hr period with him. He woke up so happy and alert we played, got ready for our day. He took naps consistently through out the day woke up to feed and play.

That evening we got ready for bed he slept great in his crib (he slept in a co sleeper for a while) woke up only to be fed and get changed but immediately went back to sleep once put down. Sounds like a mothers dream right? Well I was so excited that the "schedule" had worked out that well, that I planned a whole curriculum for the next day with that same time frame in mind. Boy was I upset when he woke up the next day fussy and all he wanted to do most of the day is sleep. I had to step back and remember he is still so young (one month old today to be exact) and just because some days he can handle so much that isn't always going to be the case.

Hence the consistency vs. schedule. His only daily task is to eat , sleep and poop! And that is the only thing as a mommy to a very young baby that need to be taken care of consistently. Playing, singing etc. is still so important to his development but can't be put on a schedule it happens when he is ready and happy to do it. If not it makes it not fun for either of you.

As a person who thrives and works best when on a schedule it was a really big lesson for me. To really take a step back and realize what he needs on a daily basis. Some days it may be a lot of music, others just being held and cuddled either way he is getting exactly what he needs to grow up healthy and smart. I have to keep reminding myself that art, music, play time is only one aspect of what can make him well rounded but the most important part is that he know we love him and we will be there always for whatever he needs. When writing that sentence I realized that, that is by far the healthiest, best lesson a baby can learn. For now sign language can wait I'm gonna go cuddle my baby.

Mothering with intention... through the hair pulling

The first lesson in being a momma is.... it's hard. I don't think that people admit that enough. Or if they do they are so dramatic about it that it scares the living day lights out of you. The truth is it's harder than they say but in a completely different way so to try to explain it is pointless. . My biggest challenge at first was realizing that I am responsible for someone else, that I can no longer come and go whenever I please. That what my baby needs at this moment is more important than most things on my to do list for the day. My mother in law calls this "working for the eternal vs. for the moment". Meaning that how I raise and influence B today will leave a lasting impression for the rest of his life and his future family (scary to think) vs. doing laundry, cleaning although important is just for today for the moment. It's not easy and sometime you want to pull your hair out... good thing B seems to do that for me.

I can't say that I always follow that mantra. I have found myself trying to lull him to sleep so I can clean the closet or do laundry when I really should be playing and giving him different type of attention. By the naked eye I looked like a great mom holding, cuddling and rocking my baby to sleep but truth is I was depriving him of important stimulation time.

Being an art teacher at a preschool for the last several months has taught me routine, consistency and knowing your intent with everything you do with a child is everything. Keeping some things the same to make them feel safe while changing some things to keep their interest is a hard balance especially when your trying to apply that theory to your own child and your, your own boss. Basically I am treating motherhood as a full time teaching job. I plan the curriculum, the field trips and meals.

Here's to my new job and my first student. I will be posting ideas, projects and activities I am doing hoping that this may help other new moms know that there is a lot more to do with your baby than lulling him to sleep or taking him out to run errands. Both great and need to be done but there is so much more.

Sometimes lulling isn't such a bad thing.... especially during bed time. The hair pulling is so worth it for these moments.

Welcome to mommyhood

He's finally here. Our little boy Bear has arrived on June 28th 2010. And boy did he make for an exciting entrance into this world. Cliff notes version of his birth story.... We wanted a natural birth, during labor I decided that natural birth was not for me. HA! I was stuck at home immobile because the contractions were so strong I kept on trying to muster up the strength to get ready to go to the hospital to get an epidural by the time that happened we got in the car and the first thing I said was... " I think I have to push!" In unison by husband and his mom say "DON'T PUSH!!!" We got to the hospital, I get put in the wheelchair and immediately get taken into the laboring room. The nurse checked me said I was ready and I was going to have this baby in A FEW MINUTES!! 15 minutes later he was here and guess what.... I got the natural birth I planned. God works in amazing ways. Without further ado may I introduce the newest member of out family, Bear

Pretty cute huh? Well it's been almost a month and I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of having someone completely dependent of me. It's nothing like what I thought it was, a lot harder but I am so much more in love with him than I ever thought possible.

swimming Bear

We signed B up for swim lessons as he seems to love water. ( I know, I know every mom says that... but it's true) He seemed to like it okay despite the 65 degree non California weather that surprised us this morning. But he was a trooper and looked like he was having fun towards the end.

This little guy is 10 and half months old and I am in shock at how fast the time has gone. I mean he is almost A YEAR OLD!!!!!! WHAT??????

It's the day before my first official mothers day and I cannot believe how blessed I am to have this baby boy in my life. It's weird I know people always say that kids change your whole perspective on life. I always thought it was pretty mellow dramatic... but you know what? It's true. I am a better person because of him and know the true meaning of unconditional love and putting someone else' need before you. AT ALL TIMES by the way :) And now with a new little boy on the way only God knows what lessons I am going to learn with him. All I know is that I am so lucky to be a mother and a daughter of a mother who always showed me what it was to sacrifice for your children and love every minute of it.

Happy Mothers Day

Week 26...Feeling overwhelmed

source lelove

Where has this month gone? Geez! Well we are at week 26 and right about now I am feeling a little under the weather. Really tired and REALLY overwhelmed. I keep thinking that there are a billion women in the world that have responsibilities while pregnant and they get what they need done. Right about now I feel like maybe I am just not that brave or strong. I feel like there is just so much on my plate. Baby, work, getting the house ready for baby, birthing classes, being a wife, and still being a kind and calm person during all of this is feeling like an overwhelming task. Then add the exhaustion and sicky feelings I've had this week and I give up.

Okay so maybe I'm just having a bit of a pity party but that is just how I'm feeling. I took the day off of work and am trying to rest and regroup my thoughts. I just have to remember that I am not doing this alone. I have God and I have a loving husband and family that will walk with me every step of the way. I just have to make that me mantra for time like this "I am NOT alone".

week 21

Baby has been moving a lot, later in the evening. You still can't feel it from the outside so it still feels like butterflies. It makes me look a little crazy when I get excited and giggle to myself. My hormones are finally kicking in. I keep hearing these crazy emotional stories from women while they were pregnant, and I just could not relate. Until NOW. This week I've been a bit of an emotional wreck crying, getting angry quickly. Which as a result has not been the best week for the family either. Ooops.

On a better note husband and I actually did something for valentines day. (we never do but it just happened to fall on a perfect date day) We rode the train from our house to Downtown LA. Olvera St. to be exact. We ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant that my family and I have been going to since I was little. Then we walked over to Little Tokyo to enjoy some mochi and window shopping. I actually got treated to a few awesome gifts while there.

The latest issue of my favorite Japanese Mag... it even came with a free gift inside.
And two bento egg molds. I haven't used them yet. I'm sure they will be adorable. All and all I felt like a pretty lucky lady that day, and everyday for that matter, (at least when I'm not on a hormonal rampage) Not much else to report. Let see what week 22 will look like.

I want to remember all this

I have no where near documented this pregnancy as much as I have wanted to. So I decided it's better late than never. So here's a few memories I want to remember!

1st trimester

we found out at 6 weeks. We had suspected we were but decided to wait until we both had the day off to find out for sure. It was raining that morning and I was just too eager to find out I snuck out of bed and took a test we had at home. It was positive I woke up husband and in his half asleep daze was excited. I didn't believe it so I bundled up and walked to the store in the rain to buy a jumbo pack of tests. I took all of them that day and they were all positive! We were so excited... later that day we found that our car was broken into. No big loss but a big mess. OH well we were having a BABY!!!

We moved back to California from Oregon at about 10 weeks pregnant. We drove straight through, which was not super fun for husband considering the fact that I was feeling exhausted and I pretty much slept straight through. (Sorry husband)

Like I mentioned before there was a whole lot of sleeping going on these days.

I never thru up but I was ALWAYS feeling like I was. I didn't eat much during that time expect for tons of these..

and some Daphene's Greek food from time to time.

I became a familiar friend with the bathroom after my bladder became my enemy.... I keep hearing it gets worse.

we got our first ultrasound and baby looked like a tad pol to me and an alien to husband.

2nd trimester

I have realized that the fact that you lose brain cells while your pregnant is completely true and it sucks. .... "what was I doing????? oh yeah, I digress" ...

week 16 I felt you move for the first time while we were on vacation in Mexico. People say that is early but I know it was you. It felt like butterflies in my belly. I just think you loved relaxing out there as much as I did.

Week 18

found out that you were a boy (daddy and I had suspected all along). We decided on a name. You seemed like quite a dancer in there.

Week 19

Got the big ultrasound that verifies the sex and lets us know that you are growing at a healthy pace. We got to see you attempt and succeed at sucking your thumb. And for the first time I was able to see your whole body. You looked comfy in there using me as a hammock you kicked a lot but refused to change complete positions,which the ultrasound tech was not to happy about.

here you are resting your hands behind your head. I don't think that I would have moved much either.

Week 20

I officially feel like I am pregnant. I swear it happened over night. I went to sleep okay woke up the next day HUGE. I feel like I have gained 20lbs. (thank God I haven't but I did gain like 3lbs that week... see it wasn't ALL in my head)

We heard your heartbeat at the doctors she asked your name and she said you must have known and liked your name because you came to the top of my belly when I said it. Your heartbeat was so strong and fast I think I could cry just thinking about it all over.

Cravings... so far

1. Apples or anything apple cinnamon
2. this one is a gross one. Taco bell ground meat or any overly seasoned ground meat. I try not to give into this one too much.
3. this one might be the same sort of thing chili cheese dogs (don't worry I don't eat then all the time so please no comment on the fact that hot dogs are bad I spoke to my dr. and she said everything in moderation) I crave it a lot. I give in a little
4. and so far the biggest craving is a good ol' PB & J sandwich. I eat them everyday for lunch and they are so yummy
5. Jamba Juice especially the mango a go go

Well now that I have that all out of the way I will try to keep up my post so that I would have to make them all this long. I am just happy now that I have it started and I have a place to keep these memories. They won't last very long in this prego head of mine.

there is going to be a lot more testosterone around here...

First off I am so sorry to have been missing for so long.There has been a lot of events that have kept me pretty occupied.

1. Husband and i are officially California residents again. YAY I'm a hop skip and jump away from family!

2. Shortly after the move we went to Merida Mexico. Which was amazing to say the least. Pictures coming soon.

3. I started a completely different job

4. And the last excuse for not blogging, the thing that has been consuming this family night and day with sheer joy (insert drum roll please).... WE ARE HAVING A BABY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it? We hardly can. As you can imagine this whole family has just completely gone crazy so now all my web time goes into day dreaming about baby gear. Here are some things that steal me heart

(amazon.com)

all other images fawn and forest.com

I am officially in love with anything on fawn and forest. Thanks to craigslist, my husband driving and my parents generosity I was able to snag a real Modernica rocker for half the price. I am in heaven. I promise I'll visit again soon.