Raising my Girl

Baby girl is so much fun. She always wants to play. And she plays very well with others and by herself too. Many times I find her in her room playing with her baby dolls and her rose petal cottage.

She has a little routine every night before she goes to bed as well.

After we brush our teeth and wash our face, and plays in "babba's" room for a bit she goes into her room and she begins by washing her hands, because she is a very clean child :)

She then takes each of her baby dolls and puts them in bed. She usually rocks one to sleep, another might have to go into the corner because "baby bad" and once she gets everyone into bed she then begins to take out the laundry in her little dryer and after it's all out, she puts it all back in.

She checks the oven. And then she goes and has a serves me some coffee (we are hispanicm we don't drink tea at night, we drink coffee :)

And once all of that is done, we read a book, pray and go to bed.

She does this every night.

You know the funny thing is that I never showed her how to do all this, atleast not intentionally.

But even as young as two she watches me. She helps me load and unload the laundry and even the dishes. She watches me cook and clean. She pretends to be a little mommy with her dolls as she rocks and sings to them just as I do to her.

It's almost innate, but also very much learned. She learns it all from me.

I am raising a beautiful little girl. A sweet, lovely little lady. And I want so much from her. I want her to be a good homemaker. I want her to enjoy serving others, serving her family now and her future family. I want her to be content with her calling of wife and mother.

I want that for her as much as I want that for myself, if not more.

The truth is that I struggle with this calling of mine at times. I struggle keeping the house in order all the time. I struggle with the mundane chores. I struggle finding contentment of being mom all day and night! I love it. But there are days when I would rather stay in bed and not want to be needed for everything.

And so everyday I pray that the Lord will help me to find fulfilment and joy in my calling. That there will be a newness to each day and a sweet content every day.

And I pray that my daughter will see the joy of it all and that she will learn from me and desire such a calling in her own life. And that she will do it so much better than I.

"Father thank you for this precious ministry of mine. To minister and serve my husband and children is wnderful work and I thank you for filling my cup each day. Father help me be a good example  to my children. Allow me to speak softly and sweetly, so that they can see that the jo I have is from you and because of them. Help me to find joy and contentment in all I do.In  your precious name, Amen

Linking up at Raising Homemakers...come by for some great encouragement for the beautiful calling of keeping your home.

Happenings...

* Last week we had an infestation of fleas! (Full body shiver....and now I'm itching again!) Yeah. Word to the wise...do not miss one dose of flea medication for you dog because it's a nightmare! I swear I had nightmares of giant fleas talking to me and telling me they liked my pillow!  Bleh! Luckily it is all taken care of and we are in the process of buying a new vacuum cleaner b/c ours no longer works.

* Sammy had a fever for about 24hrs. THANK YOU JESUS it did not last any longer. Have I mentioned how sick of being sick we are over here! Of course he is milking it and says he is still "a little sick."

* He's probably just tired because for the last week or so he has been waking up every morning at 6AM! Luckily he only wants his daddy. The good thing is his pull up is still dry by that time so...

*I taught Emma how to say "Fabulous!" Its Awesome! It sounds more like "abuwas!"

* I went to Mardels earlier and bought the new Francine Rivers book! No idea what its about but I am SO super excited. Perfect timing too because I have been ready to read some good fiction! I need to figure out when to start though...maybe this weekend!

* Sammy's last week of school is next week and I am a little sad. He is having so much fun at school and loves it so much. His teachers are jewels and it has been a very good year for him. He has learned so much and has really become so much fun. He is hilarious and always joking and teasing (like his daddy!). But, I am excited about Summer...already started planning!

* Orlando has been sick with major sinus issues all week. Thus, I have not slept much because I can hear him snore, breathe and get up and cough up a lung all night. I am hoping he is at the end of this soon 'cause ya'll I need my rest.

* My house has been clean all week. I am fairly proud of myself for this feat. Let me tell you, I had been really slacking in this department lately. I just couldn't catch up and tackle anything. But after the whole flea issues (yup, itching again) I got it all squared away. And, needless to say. The house has been nice and clean and organized.

* Mothers day was great BTW. I really enjoyed my family time with the ones I love most. Plus (yeah this is sort of the best part b/c ya'll know I can be frivolous like that) I got a GC to a spa day which includes babysitting from my MIL! I really wanted that. Of course, Sammy told me this morning that he was sad about giving me that. He says it wasn't what I really wanted. He said, in a very melancholy voice, "Mom, what you really wanted was a puppy and I'm sorry I didn't get you that."

What a sweet boy...but after the fleas (still itching!) I am all about pampering myself at the spa!

Tomorrow is the first of many fun nights...

Tomorrow begins a new tradition here in our home. 


A new, fun family night. 


I have been waiting for this year. This time. This day. 


Tomorrow will be our first ever- 


Family Movie Night!!!


Woohoo!


I am a movie lover. I'm the type of person who calls movies, films. The Oscars is my Superbowl. I hate when they make replicas of old films because they never do as good of a job as the original, i.e. Guess Who with Ashtom Kutcher, ugh! Ashton Kutcher v. Sidney Poitier! Seriously? What where they thinking?


Anyways. 


As I was saying...I love films. I love cinema. I love original songs and cinematography...I love a good movie.


I don't like, um, stupid movies that have no reason for being. (Yeah, I know I am sort of a snob when it comes to films). 


What's a good movie? You ask.


Steel Magnolias, Saving Private Ryan, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer, The Blindside, Remember the Titans, Covergirl, Singing in the Rain, Thelma and Louise, anything with Morgan Freeman, Barefoot in the Park...and I could go on and on! Almost anything with Tom Hanks! 


Classic films, black and white, technicolor, musicals, comedies, tear jerkers, chick flicks...ooh The Philadelphia Story...I love them!


I grew up watching good films. My parents introduced us to good films. My mother taught me who Shirley Temple is and the artistry of Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. We had movie nights and shared in that. I loved it. One of our favorite games is to quote films!


I remember watching Casablanca with my grandmother in her room. Crying when they began singing La Marseillaise. 


I remember watching Shirley Temple singing "On the Good ship, Lollipop!" 


I remember watching Dirty Dancing over and over and over again..."Nobody puts Baby in the corner!"


I can't wait to share the movies I love to Sammy and Emma. I want them to know who Audrey Hepburn was and to appreciate how far films have come and how great they are and use to be. I want them to live in a world of imagination and to be able to experience films the way I did. 


I want them to think back to when they first saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and think of the fun they had with us. 


I want to see and hear what they think when Indiana is fighting the Nazis or when Marty goes back to the future or when Scarlet drives the buggy home to Tara or when Anakin turns into Darth Vadar! 


I can not wait. 


And so tomorrow is the first of these nights. 


We'll get out the blankets, make popcorn and put in the film!


What are we watching?

Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Squeakquel! 

Sweet Content

Life has been so sweet. It has been full of blessings and promises fulfilled. 


As I mentioned in this post here, I have been trying to not allow the enemy to take this time away from us and despite that we are still fighting against sickness. 


I had a moment or two of weakness this past weekend. And my sweet friend over at "The best is yet to come" reminded me to savor every moment and not keep looking for the better. 


Wow did I have to hear that!


We have a lot of planning going on over here for summer time. 


My husband and I LOVE summer! We are beach people. We like laying by the pool, going to the beach, soaking up the sun, etc. 


Our ideal vacation includes a beach and good tans! 


So we are ready! It was a cold winter and a rainy spring so bring on the sun! 


Anyways, we have a lot of plans for summertime. We are going on a trip to NYC sans children! I am so excited about this, you have no idea! I haven't been to Manhattan since I don't remember when and our trip is booked, musical tickets are ready and woohoo! 


We are also traveling with my family to Alabama for a family trip. I am very excited about this as well. It's going to be lots of fun, on the beach every day! Love it! Plus we will be celebrating my parents 30th wedding anniversary while there so it will be a sweet time with everyone. 


We also are planning a few trips to our local beach and a few to schlitterbaun as well. 


Anyways, with all this planning I suppose I have gotten ahead of myself. I love to plan. I love control over where to go, what to do, etc. I love lists and laying out all we can do! CRAZY! 


This is where my problem lies. Control. When I don't have control. When I can't plan. When I can't make lists I go a little crazy! 


So, this weekend I went a little crazy b/c I could not plan something, I had no control of it and I really had little power over it. 


I knew nothing nor could I do anything! 


This control freak was having issues! 


And then, I realized...this is just another thing that is taking away from my joy. Another things that is distracting me from this sweet, content, peaceful time. 


And it did exactly that. I was totally distracted. I was sad. I was frustrated. I wasn't enjoying anything. 


Last night my little girl was sick with fever. She woke up around 3:30 and I went up to hold her, soothe her and give her some medicine. Every time I tried to put her in her bed she would clench on to me, her little hands would grasp my shirt and her legs tightened up around my waist and she would start to wimper. 


So I held her. 


I was so tired. I was uncomfortable and her fever broke so my shirt was wet from her sweat. 


But as I sat there with her I felt such a peace and joy...total content. 


Yes, she was sick. I hated that. I had no control over her little body. I was tired, but I treasured that hour. I was able to hold and smell her sweet head and stroke her soft hair. She's getting so big I don't get to do that as much anymore. 


Sweet fulfillment. 


And whatever else comes along or doesn't, whatever plans I have, none of it matters; God has better plans and great blessings in store and in the meantime I will wait on Him and enjoy my gifts now!


"Father, I am constantly tested and thank God constantly growing! Thank you that I am not stagnant! Not anymore! Thank you for all you have blessed me with. Thank you for plans, they are good. We are going to have a great summer, we are going to have fun and enjoy this special time in our lives. You are so good! In your precious name, Amen." 

I like Home

Life right now is pretty boring. There's not much going on. I guess its due to these lazy days of summer.

I really don't have much to talk about.

The days are spent doing not much of anything but going to the pool or mall or finding fun things to do.

I hope that once I feel a bit better I can plan some outings to museums and other fun activities.

We'll see.

The thing is, I am a home body. I like to be home. And though yes I love play dates and getting together with friends, at the end of the day I like being home.

I probably should be better at planning things with friends and I am always telling somebody or other that we need to get together, but...I like being home.

In fact, the other day I was planning to take crazy to the mall. He loves the mall. I told him when he was barely out of the womb that he would have to love the mall, he had no choice. Well he does.

Of course I ensure that he enjoys himself. We have our routine of getting a cookie, visiting the elephant at the Rainforest Cafe and then either riding the carosel or playing in the play area.

So, as I was saying, the other day I was planning to go to the mall and I told him to get ready to go. Usually he is all for it, and immediatedly asks if we are going to get a cookie.

Well, on this particular day he looks at me and says, "No thanks. I stay home."

Part of me wanted to say, "Alright, whatever." But, I needed to do some shopping. He finally obliged and was happy when he received his cookie.

I think I have made him into a home body as well. The thing is, he needs entertainment. He's one of those kids that needs to be doing something.

Now let me say that according to personality tests, I am part melacholy, part plegmatic, though I thrive in the company of Sanguines.

What does that mean? I am perfectly content being home and not doing much. But when I want to have a good time I find an outgoing Sanguine to do so.

My son is an outgoing Sanguine. So I have to kinda make myself do things that are fun for him.

It's a little tiring. But I love him for it.

So far we are a perfect pair. He makes me have fun and I make him like home. I wonder what the next one is going to be?

Fight the Nausea. Beat the Exhaustion.

I am now entering my 11th week of preggoness and though the nausea and exhaustion has not necessarily subsided...I am wishing and hoping and planning that it will.

In fact, I had quite a bout yesterday, but I am taking good advice from a dear friend who puked every single day of both her pregnancies and right before delivery (not kidding. Complete truth.) And she told me on one very low day that I need to get up and say, "This is one day. If stuff doesn't get done, well that's ok. I take this one day at a time and do all that I can to fight it off and enjoy the life growing inside of me."

So, that is what I have been trying to do. Sometimes with not much effort. Sometimes with little luck. Sometimes with tears. But I'm trying.

And in the meantime I have found certain things that have worked for me throughout this time. And here they are...

1. PBS and Disney Channel. God Bless the morning line ups.
2. Disney Movies. God Bless Mr. Walt Disney, may he rest in peace.
3. Oatmeal cookies. The frosted kind that has some ginger in it.
4. Peppermint. Be it in gum, hard candy or those soft marshmallow looking things.
5. Good friends that let me come over and lie on their couch while my kid is entertained by their kids.
6. Neighborhood pools. It ensures a really good nap.
7. Husbands that don't complain too much about the house being a mess.
8. Husbands that don't complain too much about dinner not being made in three, going on four weeks.
9. Husbands that go on a hunt for Subway because you are craving a Italian BMT.
10. Warm showers. Notice that they are now warm and not hot because mean husband yelled at me for taking a hot shower. I know it's "not good for the baby" but I love hot showers, you know the ones where the steam is coming off you after you get out. But FINE, no more hot showers.

So, those have worked for me thus far. We'll see what else gets added to the list as we continue. You know what would really work...for the yuckiness to END! To have that pretty preggo glow and not the yucky green!

For more things that work, click here.

Me...So not Me!

I saw this on another blog and thought it was fun so I figured I would do this every once in a while!


So me...

My idea of a vacation is exactly that...vacating from life. Nothing but sun and breezes and sand and waves.

LOVE IT!

How ideal.

All I need a magazine to catch up on the latest entertainment, a pina colada and a watch so I know to turn every 30 minutes.

Can you smell the air?

Like Pineapple, salt and sunscreen.

This is SOOO not me...

.

I don't camp.

In fact, I don't wear tennis shoes because they make you look stumpy (it's the whole flat shoe/sock thing). And I don't wear boots unless they are pointed with a stilleto heel.

I don't do dirt. I don't do tents. I don't do sleeping bags. I don't do fish. I definitely don't swim with fish.

I don't sleep on the ground. I don't like bugs or animals.

Nature is not my thing. It's pretty, yes, but I can see it, I don't have to be a part of it.

To me, camping is staying at a hotel without a pool.

Am I missing out? I don't think so!

Happy Monday!

One of those weekends

You know how you have those weekends where you don't have much to do.

I love those weekends.

For us they rarely come, for so many times weekends are spent at birthday parties or get togethers or errand overload. And when you have a toddler who, thank be to God, still takes a nap in the middle of the day, your weekends are planned around nap time. The idea is to get everything that you need to do in the allotted times of 9-1 and then, 4-8.

So, if you are having a party from 1-4, Sorry, we can't make it. The kid is sleeping and those are precious hours of me/us time.

Now, I LOVE weekends. My husband is home. I get to sleep in for atleast an hour more because my husband is home. He is such a good guy that he gets up with beby and I sleep. It's a great arrangement.

And then we go and do all that we need to do. So many times we spend the days running from Wal-mart to Home depot, Marshalls to Target.

But, as I have said before, we are homebodies. We like to be home. So the few weekends where we get to do nothing but watch TV all day is pure heaven.

Some of the best weekends are when we flip the channel to MTV cribs, Travel Channels Best beaches, and Giada's best of Italy. Yeah we may end up green with envy and gluttonous, but all in all, a great weekend.

We thought this weekend would be that way.
That was the plan.

Not so much.

We had a few things on the to do list.

Get stuff ready for garage sale in a few weeks.
Clean garage.
Put bug stuff on lawn.
Put clothes away.

(notice most of these chores are his).

So we spent the morning doing such things. I helped. I put ant killer stuff on the ant piles. I distracted little guy with the water hose.

But, by the afternoon my brother in law called and they were heading to this new outlet mall that's not too far and instead of spending the afternoon watching the food network or Man vs. wild, we went shopping.

We were out from 4 to almost 10.

Exhausting. But so much fun.

Crazy kid slept like a champ.

Then we went to church today and were out all day.

Next weekend we have a graduation and graduation party.

I think we are free the weekend after...bring on comedy central and flip this house!

What have I Become!

Oh no! It happened. I was afraid that this would happen. And today I crossed over. Everything I believed in and stood for is gone. Done with. Changed.

How could I let this occur.

I was so careful. SO conscious of my thoughts, actions, behavior.

I swore this would never happen.

I would never become this.

My husband is frugal. He is a saver. My financial guru. I am blessed to have a husband who has a brain for money, because as far as I'm concerned, we make money to spend money.

My husband's family struggled financially when he grew up and because of that he is diligent in his finances and of course, frugal.

He has been this way all through life. He learned to make money at an early age. He was smart. An Entrepreneur.

In high school he would go to the local shipley's and purchase a dozen day old donuts for $1.00. He would then take the box to school and sell each donut for 25 cents.

Genius.

Every morning his lovely, devoted mother would make him a delicious breakfast sandwich: A croissant, bacon, eggs. Her growing boy needed nourishment.

He asked her to make two sandwiched. She obliged.

He ate one on the way to school.
He sold the other for $4.00.

His mother is now waiting to receive the proceeds.

Like I said...An entrepreneur.

He is a garage seller's worst nightmare. He will talk you down with his charm. He will get the best deal.

Your trash is his treasure.

He has made me change. I obliged willingly. I only buy garage sale toys for crazy kid. I look for finds I can "fix up." I, out of necessity, have become frugal. I question every purchase and write down all I spend.

That is...I'm getting better at it.

But, I've come a long way.

Tonight I crossed the line.

We were driving home from small group. My husband pulled into our neighborhood and headed toward our mail boxes.

Two houses from the mail boxes there is a house. Tomorrow being Monday, these homeowners had placed their trash in their front yard.

As we are approaching the house, I glance at their trash. I see that in their trash lies a coffee table.

I look intently at their thrown away coffee table and my first thought is...
"I wonder why they are throwing it away? Can I salvage and use that?"

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My husband turns to me and says, "looks like a good coffee table."

How could I let myself come this far!

What has he turned me into?

P.S. No we did not take the table out of their trash! My husband offered though!

Reality TV

I hate reality TV. I was into it for awhile. I watched Survivor, the Bachelor and the one with Donald Trump almost religiously. We DVR'd them, rushed through commercials, cried when our favorites were fired or voted out and were elated for the winners at the end as if we ourselves had won.

And then, I moved on.

After awhile, I realized it was the same stuff over and over again. The same story line.

Reality became ratings, not real life.

It was now Fake TV. The reality was revealed the following day on the Tonight Show or Oprah when we all learned all about the magic of editing.

Unfortunately, my world, my crazy reality is not edited. My ratings at times are high, but sometimes they plummet faster than Dharma and Greg. Sure, I might have faithful viewers, but they are harder to reach on the Wednesday night lineup compared to the coveted Thursday slots.

I love my reality. I'm glad I'm not edited, because in the end, I'm the director and producer of this show and on some days I send out good messages, make people think and sometimes even cry and other days, I flop.

I have lots of viewers out there. Some have been watching from the beginning and are pretty good at the Scene it game. Some are new viewers, others come and watch every once in a while, while others just happen to stop by.

If the producer was bright, she'd have the best of the best writers. Celebrity guests. Drama. Action. Tears and humor.

But, this is reality.

There are days when I don't like my character. I don't want to be the mom, or the wife or the maid.

Days when I don't remember my lines. When I mess up and am negative, not very encouraging, judgemental, mean and even rude.

There are days when my stylist doesn't show up. When I haven't washed my hair in 3 days. When I quickly put on makeup and run out the door with this huge line across my face and raccoon eyes. When I've worn the same thing 3 times in one week because nothing is washed and the rest is wrinkled.

Days when the cute child actor throws a fit because the set is out of Popsicles and he can only be appeased with candy and sugar. When the set tutor doesn't come in and the child actor watches movies all day long.

Reality.

I don't have it all together. I can pretend and put my editor to the test when I want to, but I've learned that shows like that may sail for awhile, but they don't win awards. And they aren't quoted by fans.

Disclaimer - The producer of this show is responsible for all views and opinions. All that is said is truth. It's real. Perhaps sometimes embellished for humor purposes, but otherwise honest. All pride is put aside.

I hope this show will encourage you by my words, actions and mess ups. I know I'm not alone because there are so many other great shows out there that are just as real and unscripted.

Let's all strive for unscripted reality.

And sooner or later, we'll all walk side by side in our Valentino's and Armani's onto the red carpet and get our reward.

"I want to thank all my viewers out there. Without you, I'd be no where."

Purple "Dream" Dress

I have a dream.

It's not a Martin Luther King kind of dream, but more of a Kirstie Alley kind of dream, before Jenny came along, that is.

They say this dream is achievable. I'm not so sure. It would take a lot on my part. A whole lot.

Maybe...Maybe...

This is my dream. My Purple Dream.



"A dress?" you ask. Do I want to buy this dress? Is it an exhorbitant amount of money? No. I own this dress.

Do I want to wear this dress to some fancy event or special date? No, If I could wear it around the house I would. That is part of the problem.

This is my dress. My pretty, purple dress. It has been in my closet since 1999. It is not that I particularly love this dress or that I'm somehow sentimentally attached to it.

Sure, it's a pretty dress, but no special memories revolve around this dress, except for one. A memory that has vanished especially after the freshmen 15, my first year of teaching high school, my husband's love of pizza and dr. pepper floats and one baby.

The only reason this dress still hangs in my closet and not in some goodwill store is for one simple reason...

It is a size 2.

A SIZE 2!!!

And that, my friend, is a dream!

2 is such a small number. I don't think one of my thighs is a size 2.

I look at this dress that has been in my closet since High School and I look at my post "begining of real life" body, and I wonder...How was that possible?

Then I remember...I barely ate, counted every calorie I consumed and roller bladed 4 mi. per day.

I guess I was crazy back then too!

And now...I think about doing all those things and it makes me tired.

So for now, the dream still lives and the dream dress will stay in my closet and maybe someday...maybe.