Thursday Thoughts

Today has been a long day. I had to travel out of town for a meeting. I got home late with a headache. So, I'm ready to relax and go to bed. Be back tomorrow for Family Fun Friday.

Wordless Wednesday

Here is my daughter enjoying a huge loaf of bread that my brother-in-law handed her. She got bread stuck between her teeth! It was hilarious. You probably can't tell because the picture is so tiny. I love this picture because I have tried for so long to get a picture of my daughter with her crisp and clear and the background blurred. Now that I got my new camera, it was so easy!!! I am so excited about all the great pics I'm gonna get now.

Tuesday Tips:

Since I still have lots of laundry to do now that I'm back home, I thought I'd share laundry tips I've found learned from my mom or from personal experience.
1. Check your husband's pockets.
Of course, this applies to your kids' pockets and yours, too. In my case, it's always my husband who leaves receipts and gum wrappers in his pockets. Now that I'm having to wipe runny noses, I find tissues in my pockets more often. So, to be sure you don't have a tissue that gets all over every piece of clothing or lipstick that spots red on your husbands khaki's, check the pockets before adding clothes to the machine.
2. Always empty the lint trap.
Leaving a buildup of lint causes your dryer to work less efficiently. It will take longer and use more energy to dry your load of clothes.
3. Don't use dryer sheets.
Dryer sheets can cause a film to build up on the lint trap screen and it won't effectively collect your lint. Also, it causes towels to be less efficient in absorbing liquid.
4. Use tennis balls to fluff a down comforter.
When drying a comforter, throw in a couple clean tennis balls to fluff up your comforter and avoid clumps. You can also use this trick with regular laundry instead of a dryer sheet.
5. Sort your clothes.
I think this is obvious to most moms. Separate delicate items. Wash new red/pink items together. Too many heavy items (jeans, sweats, etc) will take longer to dry.
6. Use cold water.
To save energy (and therefore money), use the cold water setting. Most of the energy your washing machine uses is spent on heating the water. Also, use the appropriate level of water for your load.
7. Don't overload.
Your clothes won't get clean, won't rinse well, and probably won't dry evenly if you stuff too much into one load.
8. Don't let a diaper fall in your washing machine.
Okay, this one's for me. I recently washed *S*'s wet diaper with my clothes...unintentionally of course. And he does NOT use cloth diapers! Major oversight on my part!

I hope these tips help. I don't find doing laundry enjoyable at all, but the more you do to make it easier...the quicker it's over!

Me on Monday

It's taking me a while to get back into the groove of things since I got back from San Diego. I still have to unpack, do laundry, and get the kids' rooms reorganized. So, nothing really to say today. Tuesday Tips coming tomorrow.

San Diego Zoo Live Cam

Since I just came back from San Diego and didn't get to make it to the famous zoo, I thought it was perfect that I came across this post by Helene. If you haven't read her blog, go now! She's hilarious. Her blog is "I'm Living Proof that God Has a Sense of Humor." She recently wrote a post about the San Diego Zoo live cam. Totally cool! You can watch some of the animals live.

[Posted with iBlogger from my ipod.]

Ready for Home

I've had a great time in San Diego, but I'm ready to go home and see my family. Yesterday, I finally had a chance to visit the beach. We went to Coronado Island. Coronado is my maiden name, so I've course I bought t-shirts with Coronado plastered across the front. Coronado Hotel is beautiful! The view of San Diego bay is gorgeous. But my kids are even more beautiful. I'm so anxious to get home and hug them like crazy!!

Family Fun Friday

Today's post will be quick. I'm in San Diego for a conference and running a little late.

Here's something fun you can do with toddlers or older kids, too. Get out some large paper, washable paints, paint brushes, sponges, and any other craft stuff you like. Let your little ones go to town on the paper. Cover the spnge with paint. Let your little one press their hand down on the sponge and then on the paper. (like a human stamp) You can also trace their hand for them with marker or a thin paint brush. Let them be creative. Then, once dry, mat it with a piece of construction paper. You can frame it or laminate it to make it a placemat. You can also scan it and print it out on cards. If they're old enough to write, they can write thank you or happy birthday. Your little one will love seeing their artwork displayed and you'll have a special memory with your child.

Thursday Thoughts

I am currently in San Diego for the Hearts Revolution Conference at Cornerstone Church. Pastor Sergio De La Mora spoke yesterday and he interviewed my dad and brother about family & ministry. My sister and I also were invited on stage to share what our dad did to make us want to be involved in church ministry as well. I briefly talked about how my dad was passionate about people and how I learned from his example. My sister talked about my dad being an encourager. My brother talked about how our dad was a friend, a mentor, an encourger, he was real with us, and an example to us. I was so glad we got to "praise" my dad like that in front of so many people. He deserves it. This year, he is celebrating 50 years in ministry. And all along, he has been a wonderful dad! It really made me realize how much responsibility I have as a parent in shaping my children's future. They are going to learn so much about life and character simply by watching what I do. Wow! Something to really think about.

Wordless Wednesday

Here are a few pics of my daughter (in her PJ's) from our portrait session at Picture Playhouse. This was the first time a photographer got her to smile for pictures. There were lots of great ones, but these are just a few of my favorites. I love that she is so genuine!

Tuesday Tips: Traveling with Kids

As I am flying to San Diego today, I thought today’s Tips should be about traveling. Although I’m not flying with my kids on this trip, I’ve read a lot about traveling with little ones. Moms who’ve done it always give the best advice. I’ve only taken my daughter on one flight, but in November, the whole family will be flying to see Great Grandma. So, here are some tips to help make your flight a little easier.
1. Ear Pressure
If your baby is bottle-fed or breastfeeding, give them the bottle or breast for take-off & landing. It's the best things for their ears and they will also be relaxed. If your child is older, carry cotton or earplugs. This helps the kids tremendously if they don't know how to pop their ears. You can also try chewing gum. *You are allowed to take water for mixing formula, RTF formula, or breast milk with you on the plane. They will just want to make sure it’s a reasonable amount for your travel time.
2. Change of clothes
Pack a change of clothes for your child in your carry-on bag. You might want to pack an extra shirt for yourself, especially if traveling with an infant. Don’t forget hand wipes for quick cleanups.
3. Entertainment
Pack books, coloring books, crayons, and small toys to keep your child entertained. Before your trip, visit a dollar store and pick up some small toys. Wrap them and keep them hidden until you give them to your child, one at a time. For an older child, you might want to take a portable DVD player, DS, or whatever item your child enjoys. If you’ve got an iphone or ipod, download a movie for your child. And don’t forget earplugs for the sake of passengers around you. Just remember, there will be a time after take-off and before landing when electronic items will not be allowed.
4. Stroller
Check-in your stroller at the gate. This way, you have it in the airport and don’t have to carry your tot from gate to gate, while trying to carry your carry-on bag too. Place it in a bag or keep together with bungee cord. I prefer to place it in a bag to protect it from wear & tear. You can ask for a plastic bag at the airport check-in if you forget. That’s what happened to me!


5. Preparation
Prepare your child for the trip. Explain what you will be doing and how the process works. Let them know that it is illegal to make jokes about bombs in the airport. Tell them ahead of time that they will need to remove their shoes and walk through the metal detector.
6. Diapers
Pack a diaper, wipes, changing pad, diaper cream, and disposable bag in a Ziploc bag or small bag so that you do not have to take your entire diaper bag or carry-on into the tiny bathroom with you. Squeeze this small bag into the seat pocket in front of you so that you have it when you need it. Place the dirty diaper in the disposable bag before throwing in the trash bin.
7. Relax
Be patient. Plan in advance that things will take longer with a child. Go with the flow.

Note: I chose not to discuss whether or not you should purchase a seat for your child under 2 because many people feel differently about this. Every parent has to make the decision that is best for them. If you do purchase a seat for your child or they are over 2 years old and require a seat, take your car seat or use an adjustable belt. If you don’t purchase a seat, consider using a travel vest, carrier, or sling during the flight. You will not be able to use these during take-off and landing.

Have a safe and happy trip!

Me on Monday: Mommy's Tough Decision

I decided that one way to motivate myself to blog more often is to create themes for each weekday. So, Mondays will be called “Me on Monday”. I’ll be writing about what’s going on for me as a mom, wife, and girl enjoying life.
Read my post from Friday to read about how my daughter has been getting bit at daycare. I wrote that post during the day. When I picked her up at 5pm, she had another accident report for another bite. So, that was the final straw. Yesterday, I emailed a letter to the daycare director and district manager to inform them that my daughter will no longer be attending as a result of all the biting incidents. When I sent the email, I had a knot in my stomach. It felt so final. The 18 months prior to these incidents were great. She has learned so much from her teachers and the daycare experience. I was so sad to think that she won’t be going there anymore. She won’t be playing on the playground with her friends anymore. She won’t be sitting at the table eating lunch or making art projects with her friends. I really wish this hadn’t happened. For now, my mother-in-law will be watching her. I know she will take great care of her and *L* loves spending time with her. But I really want her to have experiences with other children. So, I’ll be looking around for mom’s day out programs soon. On another subject, I leave for San Diego tomorrow and won’t be back until Saturday. I am going to miss my family so much!!
These pics are from April in the Infant class. I never got any pics from the toddler class.

Pics from the Aquarium

Just wanted to share some pics from our recent trip to the Texas State Aquarium. It was our first time to take the kids. *L* really enjoyed it and even *S* watched the fish!

Decision Time Regarding Childcare

We've decided to stop sending *L* to the daycare she currently attends. I have loved it for the last 18 months...until last month. She started getting bit by another child. The first couple of bites, I was understanding. But then she started getting bit too often. I complained to the director. I was told "we're doing our best." I told the director we were considering leaving. She told me to give her a little time because they were trying something new with the children whoare biting. Let me add, I don't believe that it's several different children biting her. Obviously, there are children (or one child) biting multiple times. In 2 weeks, she had 7 bites! Well, I gave it time and it did actually stop. However, this last Monday, she got bit again. I signed the accident report that stated she was bit on her arm. However, when changing her later that evening, I found 2 more bites! One was on her chest, near her shoulder. The other, was on her thigh, above her knee. When I brought it up to the director and teachers, they said, "She didn't cry other than the one time, so we didn't know." What happened to knowing what's going on because you're watching my child! So, we decided we no longer want her to attend this daycare. It's unfortunate because she has done very well there with the exception of the biting incidents. But I can't keep taking this risk with her safety. I understand that toddlers bite, but I just don't feel the situation is being handled effectively. So, now I have to tell the director and I just can't. Today when I took my daughter, I walked her outside and she waved to her friends. I felt horrible that I'm going to take her away from that. My mother-in-law has offered to watch her. However, I still want her to be around other children so I'm considering a mom's day out program a couple days a week. I feel like I'm doing the right thing by taking her out of this daycare, but then why do I feel so guilty- like I'm taking her away from a place where she has so much fun?

Needing Direction...for my blog world

It's been a month since I last posted because I'm trying to figure out the point to my blog. My subtitle pretty much explains the point right now...it's just about my journey through life. But that seems so pointless, except for the fact that I have friends that keep updated with me that way. So, I started thinking about the blogs I read and why I like them. I realized that my blog doesn't fit into any of those catergories. Most of the blogs I like teach me something... about parenting, going green or keeping my kids safe, tips for all kinds of stuff, etc. My friend Joy has a great "Wednesday Walkthrough" on her blog. I always learn something from her. I also read several blogs that have baby food or kid food recipes. Other blogs I read get me thinking about a certain issue, mostly parenting issues and working-mom type stuff. And still others I read inspire me to be more creative. Sara has a great blog where she displays photos she takes of babies, newborns, pregnant women, and her own kids. She's an amazing photographer. I always feel more creative after seeing her pics. I also look at scrapbook layouts on some great blogs. And there are a few I read that are more like mine...friends just sharing about their lives.
So I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with mine. For now, I'll just keep sharing about my life. But I think I'd like to do something more...and actually be a part of the many women who teach, inspire, and encourage each other. I just gotta figure out what my blogging purpose is. Hm, stuff to think about.

On Turning 30

I was looking back at some of my old posts and read one that I wrote when I turned 29. I realized that I never wrote one when I turned 30, so better late than never. I can't believe how much life has changed in 1 year. At 29, I had 1 baby who had just gotten her first teeth. Now she's got a mouth full of teeth and she's running around like a crazy kid. And we have *S* now. Having 2 kids is a major challenge! (Side note: At 29, I was hoping I'd jump out of a plane before 30. But I got pregnant a couple months after I wrote that, ha ha.) So back to what I was saying, becoming a mom to 2 kids is another milestone I hit, along with turning the big 3-0. At this point, I can say that life is a little more chaotic and a lot more fun. Although I have some moments where I just want to cry or bury my head under the pillows...I enjoy spending time with Aaron and our babies. Today, Aaron was playing with *L*...flipping her around and covering her with *S*'s play gym. She was laughing hard, it was so cute. *S* just watched the whole time, smiling at his sister. When she laughs, he's happy. When she cries, he cries, too! And *L* is our little helper. She takes *S* his paci when he cries. If he's drooling, she gives us his burp cloth. We give them baths together and L likes to help rinse off S with her little water play cups. S just stares at her the whole time. He's happy as long as she's playing with him. They are so cute together. I'm really looking forward to watching them grow up together. When I was younger, I dreaded 30 because it seemed so old. Now, I have totally embraced it. I am determined to be wise, funny, energetic, caring, and sexy...at 30!

Favorite Summer Pics

I couldn't pick one, but here are my favorite summer pics for the FOBTY on sweetshoppedesigns.com . All of these pics are from our vacation to Albuquerque for July 4th.

S's First Smile & L playing by the Pool

Mommy & L (I love her RW&B bow); Aaron & I (& S in sling)

Double Rainbow & July 4th sparklers

My Cute Kids

I have been super busy at work, and I'm exhausted by the time I get home. So, I haven't been blogging at all. But I wanted to make a quick post to show off my kiddos. S is sleeping great now. He falls asleep a little after L goes to bed. He's usually out by 8:30pm, the latest. He wakes up between 6-7am, so he's my alarm clock now. Both my babies are great sleepers, I love it! S laughs a lot now! He has to be where the action is. He doesn't like to be put down and not be able to be around everyone. He's a people person already. L is talking a lot more now. She says 2-word sentences, which is just so cute to hear. I love S and L so much! I am so blessed to be their mommy.

My little guy

*S* is such a happy baby. He smiles all the time. He's sleeping better at night now. Last night, he slept from 8:30 to 10:30, woke up hungry, and then he slept 11pm to 6am. So, hopefully, he's a good sleeper like his sister. I love this picture of him stretching and smiling...in such a good mood.

I'm so pregnant!

I forgot how it feels to be 8 months pregnant. It's very uncomfortable. I am so anxious to have my baby. For one, I want to meet him already, but also because I don't want to feel like a beached whale anymore. I have become a vampire in that I don't sleep anymore, but only because it's just impossible to be comfortable in bed. 5 more weeks...I'm counting down!

oh and I got this from my friend Joy's blog. Yes, her name is Joy, too. Check this out for when I have my baby. :)

ipod blogging

Just trying out my new blogging app

Life with a Toddler

I have come to realize that I will never have a clean pair of jeans. L seems to think I am a human napkin, constantly wiping her hands or nose on my pants. I find crusty stains when I'm already out and can't change clothes! This morning I was thinking, well at least my shirt is clean. (This is the thought process I've come to.) Then, L sneezed during breakfast. There went the clean shirt. She understands "no" and nods her head no to me all the time. But when I tell her no, she laughs!
But she is the cutest kid I know!! She's into making funny faces to make us laugh. She can do this over and over again. And she loves for people to clap for her. She'll keep doing something if it means you'll keep laughing.
So, I'll deal with the dirty clothes cuz her smile is worth it.

My little walker

L is growing up so fast! This past month she has really taken off walking. She walks everywhere now. Of course, if she's in a hurry, she'll crawl to get there faster. It's fun to see how excited she is about walking. Now we have to follow her a lot more tho! She is also a great eater! She continually makes us laugh with her silly faces. She recently started showing off her dance moves. My favorite is her "chest pop" which is what she does when she's laying down but wants to dance. She loves music and playing drums with daddy's drumsticks. I am really enjoying watching her grow up!

A New Year

We're already a month into the new year but I haven't written anything in a while. Aaron and I started 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. We had a romantic dinner on the Riverwalk and we walked along the river and made it to a little patio area in front of our hotel at 11:45pm. At midnight, we watched the fireworks and walked to our hotel, which took about 1 minute. It was a nice romantic getaway (L was with grandparents). The pictures here are from our room balcony.
So far this year has been great. Aaron and I are enjoying L so much. Later this year, we'll add a little boy to our family. We both stayed home to watch the inaguration of President Obama. We're excited about the change coming in our country and in our own personal lives. I still haven't set any goals for 2009, but I'm working on it. I want them to mean something, so I want to really spend some time on it. I hope 2009 has been great so far for all my friends. And I wish you all a year filled with laughter and love.

2 Girls & 2 Guys (coming in May)

Just wanted to let you in on a little secret. In May, I will be changing my title to "2 Girls & 2 Guys" because we're expecting a baby boy! I'm so excited to add to our little family. We're still thinking about names, but we've got plenty of time to decide.

Yeah for Food!

Things are looking so much better now. We still haven't given L whole milk yet. She just turned 1 and her pediatrician wants to see her for her checkup before we switch her from formula to milk.
Besides milk, we've given L lots of new things to try. She likes mac n cheese and crackers and cupcake and all the other yummy stuff she couldn't have before. A couple of days ago she even had a crumbled up cheeseburger. She eats the "school lunch" (at daycare) so she has been trying lots of new things. She still loves fruit and green beans best though. She hasn't really had junk food so she's learned to have a healthy taste in foods. It's such a relief to know that foods are safe for her now. She loves finger foods and eating is getting much more fun now that we don't have to avoid all the yummy stuff! Thanks to those of you who have been praying for her.

I should be happy, but I'm confused instead!

I should be happy, but instead I’m confused. L’s test results came back negative, showing no allergies. Here’s our story.
At around 4 months (April), we switched to sensitive formula because L was always congested and spit up a lot. Nothing changed except that she spit up less. We then tried soy which made her spit up a lot. So, pediatrician switched us to Allimentum, which doesn’t have dairy. It seemed to make a big difference. I’m not too shocked to find out that she’s not allergic because we always knew she could outgrow it by her 1st birthday. Still, I’m leary to try dairy because I’ve avoided it for so long. I think it’s more of a mental thing for me, but I just don’t know if to trust the test results. Pedi wants her to stay on Allimentum until she sees her for 1 year appt, next month.
In September, we started avoiding wheat because the congestion came back and pedi and I suspected wheat. However, nothing changed, so I was guessing that she didn’t really have an allergy to wheat. So, not surprised to hear she’s not allergic.
A few weeks ago, we brought our dog back home after being at my sisters for several months. The first couple of days, we let him play in the house. L and Aaron both got congestion. L’s was major! So I was totally expecting to find out that she’s allergic to dog and cat like DH.
We also suspected an allergy to dust mites since she gets congestion if she’s around when we dust.
However, all tests were negative. Pedi said numbers weren’t even low, they were 0. She is going to show me the results when I go in next month. I’m so confused because I don’t understand why she is always dealing with congestion or a runny nose. Could it be that she’s not allergic, but just sensitive to certain things?

Food Allergies

Again, I haven't posted in a while. This time it's because I have been overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to deal with L's food allergies. Several months ago, her doctor suggested she had a dairy allergy. A switch to a non-dairy formula proved that to be correct. A reaction to a cracker with butter as an ingredient confirmed it again and made me realize how sensitive she is. We tried soy and she's allergic to that too. Dealing with a dairy allergy has in itself been a struggle. Most recommended finger foods are crackers and pieces of cheese or mac n cheese...stuff with dairy. Now, I am suspecting a possible wheat allergy. If that is the case, it's only going to get worse. You wouldn't believe how much stuff has wheat as an ingredient. I recently joined a website called kidswithfoodallergies.com and it has been a great help for ideas and for emotional support. There are many kids that have way worse food allergies. I'm hoping L is one of the blessed ones that grows out of her allergies. I just don't know how long that will take.
In addition to all this, she now has a cough and cold. Since you can't give babies medicine for congestion, there's not much we can do. We have a doctor's appointment Friday. It's hard not to just break down and cry because I feel so helpless. Through all of this, she is still a happy baby. She plays all the time and goes along with whatever we do. She's an amazing little baby girl.
Please keep us in your prayers as we try to figure out these food allergies and what's best for little L. Thanks!

I'm in love with a vampire!

Okay, so this has nothing to do with being green or being a mom but everything to do with being a girl! My niece recently got me interested in reading Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. omg! I fell in love with Edward, the vampire, immediately. It was like a high school crush! I'm already on the 3rd book and can't wait til the 4th one comes out August 2nd. The series is about a guy and a girl in love- with all the suspense of a vampire story. Edward always has the perfect words to say to Bella, just like the romance of Romeo and Juliet, which the author refers to. I was thinking about how silly it is that I am obsessing about Edward as much as my niece who is not quite 16 yet. I'm married yet I'm totally crushing on this fictional character. Yesterday, I was texting my niece about trust issues I have with Edward and his promise to Bella. She said she trusts his word and I said maybe my personal experiences are causing me to not trust his promise. And that's when it hit me. Aaron is my Edward! (If you don't know, Aaron is my husband and high school sweetheart!) No, I don't have trust issues with Aaron, but I was meaning my relationship experiences may be influencing how I see Edward and his relationship with Bella. I shared this with Aaron and he was like..."I'm not Edward. I'm Aaron." Of course he doesn't get it because he hasn't read the story and doesn't get why I'm so crazy about this character. I told him some ways that they are similar, but I can't write all these without spoiling the story for anyone who may want to read it. One thing I told him was this: When Aaron and I fell in love the 2nd time (in 2000), we met up for our first group thing/date after not seeing each other in 3 years and when he left, he squeezed my knee and said goodbye. I melted on the inside! And I knew at the moment that my heart was his. I know it's mushy, but it's also so "Edward and Bella-ish"! So, I'm a sucker for romance and sweet (and hot) guys! I love my husband with all of my heart. My obsession with the Twilight saga has a lot to do with my crazy love story with him. But isn't that what makes a book so good?...you can totally see yourself in the character and feel what they feel. I've always told Aaron that I wonder if other people are as in love as we are. I know Bella probably thinks the same about her Edward! So, if you haven't read the book and you want a good clean love story to sink your teeth into (pun intended), check out Twilight.

exploring new things

This morning I was watching L play in her baby einstein musical jumper. she loves playing in it but she's also at the stage where she doesn't want me to go to the other room. I have to stay close to her. So, I was sitting next to her while she played. I changed around a link toy so she could bite on it if she wants to (she's teething). She was so amazed by it. She pulled on it, dropped it, grabbed it again, bit it...she was having fun exploring this new toy. There have been several times that she has had that focused look as she explores a toy. It's so cool to see her learning. She's really into textures right now. She touches everything...couches, doors, walls, floors...she especially enjoys touching a new texture she hasn't felt before. I know it's simple but watching her explore new things is just one of the things I love about being a mother!

Change

I have lots of friends who are green but most of them don't live near me. I've tried talking to some friends around here and some are starting to get it, other's just don't care yet. I talked to a friend who is in his 40s. First of all, he doesn't believe in Global Warming. He thinks it's a Democrat thing and he's a Republican. When I talk about eating organic food and vaccination concerns and stuff like that, he says "it wasn't a big deal before, why is it all of the sudden something we have to do." Hm, maybe because our society is learning more and realizing that everyone before us has had that attitude and that's why the situation is getting worse. As for global warming, he says "I'll be gone and my kids will be gone by then." First, that's not even true. Second, what about your grandkids and their kids? If we don't think about future generations, we are being selfish. We can't hand them a world with severe problems because we just didn't want to make the effort. I'm the first to admit that there is a lot more I could do to be more green. But I am trying to change a little at a time. I'm learning a lot now. Just last night I was talking about getting rid of the Clorox in our house and other junk I don't want used in our house. But what about everywhere else we go? I hope that this green movement really grows, even if it takes the younger generation to make it happen. We can't wait for others to make changes for us, we have to start now.