Dear Santa,

As Christmas (and my birthday) draw near...I've been pondering what I would love for Santa to bring me...since I've been good all year long and all! :)

One of the many cool electronic gadgets I would love to get my hands on (aside from a DSLR camera and all) is an HP TouchSmart Computer!!! Since I don't think Santa can hook me up with such short notice (we have 2 weeks till Christmas) and all...I figured I'd enter a contest that MckMama is holding right now and see if I'm lucky enough to win one!!!!

When I read about the awesome capabilities it has - like the great photo storage and the recipe organization - I was nearly salivating at the mouth with excitement!!!! I got lost in dreamworld at the thought of owning my very own HP TouchSmart!!! Oh a girl can dream....and dream big I will! The contest ends on my b.day...so I'm anxious to see if I'll end up with one of these bad boys under my tree!!

Check out MckMama's post here - http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving & Giving Thanks

As I sit down to our Thanksgiving table next week my heart will be overflowing with thanks giving to God for all that he has truly blessed me with this year and all 30 years prior! :) My little one is already 14 mths. old and every single moment of every single day has been an adventure with him! Jose and I often look at each other in amazement when the 3 of us are together and just marvel in the greatness of God...we are forever grateful for the gift of our son! Cristian is such a blessing in our lives...we are so priveleged to call him our son and he is one of our greatest blessings in life, the thing we're most thankful for! We're so excited for him to sit down at the table with us this Thanksgiving and eat his first official turkey dinner! This time last year he was a whee little one - only 2 mths old! Wow!

I have so much to be thankful for...far too much to list here...but among the many blessings I thank the Lord for everyday is my family. My husband who is such a wonderful man - so kind and loving and he takes such good care of me and Cristian, my son who is the light of my life, my parents who have helped me so much in my life (Mom your support is priceless, don't know what we'd do without you!), my grandparents (Mama and Papa Moon, I love you), my sisters, my brother, my nieces and nephews, my aunts and uncles, my cousins and friends who are not just friends but family! I'm thankful that my son is healthy and strong and such a happy little fella. I'm thankful to have just celebrated 4 years of marriage with my main man. I'm thankful to host my first Thanksgiving in my home and to share this special day with my family (although I'll miss the ones who aren't able to make it this year). I'm thankful for all of the little ones in my life - my nieces and nephews (Jackie, Amadis, Connor) AND for the little one who will be with us next Thanksgiving!!!! Yes, my sister Kim is pregnant!!! I am so thankful for that and can't wait to meet my next niece/nephew in June!!! I'm thankful for so many things...blessed beyond measure...that I am!!

And, as a follow up to my last post I'm happy to report that Stellan is SVT FREE!! He's doing great and back home with his family now and I am thankful for this miracle! Little Stellan and his family have a lot to be thankful for - what a miracle - God is GREAT!!!

Stellan

Friends and Fam - the sweet little boy named Stellan, who is the son of Jennifer, who's blog I read faithfully is not doing so well right now. I am posting to ask that if you're reading this that you'll take a moment and pray for Stellan and his family. What they're going thru right now is hurting my heart and the least I can do is pray and ask for you to do the same.

Tomorrow just so happens to be Stellan's 1st birthday and it's just even more sad he's going thru such a bad time right now.

If you aren't familiar with his story check Jennifer's blog by clicking on the tag below.





Life is precious and so easily taken for granted when we're going thru the mundane ins and outs of our days...each moment is a gift so cherish it people. Things can change drastically in an instant. Make each moment count! Situations like this really humble you.

God Bless Stellan and his family...we're rooting for you little buddy!!

MckGiveaway!

I love blogging, that's a fact! It's so nice to read about people's lives and share ideas and mommy stories...just life in general. One of the perks of blogging is also the giveaways that pop up from time to time. I love to partake in those, too!

MckMama (Stellan's Mommy) has a giveaway going on, just like the one Angie has going on (Bring the Rain blogger) and I thought what the heck - I need to enter this one too!! Angie got to sample and review a Samsung washer and dryer...MckMama got to sample and review a Samsung refridgerator! Ahhh...both are awesome, and it's a toss up as to which one I would prefer if I had a choice. Enjoy it, MckMama!!!

What appliance would make my life easier...hmmmm? I have given it some thought and although a new fridge and washer/dryer would be awesome...a mother's dream really...I still have to say a brand spanking new double oven that self cleans would be so stinkin sweet!!! I do enjoy baking...and if I had a double oven that would be such a treat b/c I could bake more than one thing at a time...and then if it was a self cleaning double oven...fuggedaboutit!!! LOL! Ahhh...a Mama can dream can't she!!

Cowboy's Excellent Adventures

One of the blogs I read from time to time is called Cowboy's Excellent Adventures. Cowboy is too cute - you can see for yourself by clicking on the tag below.




I really do love reading other mommy blogs...they're so insightful and funny and inspiring and just good stuff to share.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Blogging & Laundry...

The title refers to one of my favorite things to do and one of my LEAST favorite things to do!! I love to blog, it's become one of my most treasured hobbies! Laundry on the other hand...not so much...I have never been a big fan. Ask Jose, I was just commenting on this very subject a week or so ago when we decided he would be in charge of laundry in our household! Of all the household chores doing laundry is the one that I really dispise! LOL! I would much rather scrub the toilets than do laundry. I think the part that bothers me is having to fold and hang up the clothes...maybe if I had a bigger closet it wouldn't be so bad...and an actual laundry room to work in...I dunno...but either way it's still the pits.

Well...the reason for my post on laundry here is that one of my favorite blogging mama's has a giveaway going on (for a $200 gift card to Best Buy) and I want to win so to get an extra entry I am blogging about laundry b/c she scored a sweet washer and dryer from Samsung and BlogHer and I was green with envy after reading her post about it! I think if I had a washer and dryer like hers I would love to do laundry and joyfully take over that duty from my hubby!! Angie's giveaway blog can be found here if you want to check it out - http://angiesgiveawaysandreviews.blogspot.com/

And for the record...if you care to know...my b.day and Christmas are right around the corner...and I've been talking to Santa about getting me a super nice gift this year (a SLR camera, if you must know) and if I win the BB gift card...that would be, well, awesome!!

"We've got a walker on our hands..."

It's official folks! Cristian is now a little walking bandit!! He started walking on his own about a week after his 1st b.day and now there's no holding him back! Jose was 13 mths. old when he started walking (not sure when I started walking) but he seems to have a lot in common with his Papi.



I was just taking a walk down memory lane and looked back the beginning of this blog and it's so weird to see Cristian so little! You forget just how small your babies are and how they looked when they were little infants...they change so fast and so much right before your eyes! That's one reason why I love photos so much...they're priceless memories of precious times that time you back to the exact moment they took place. Photos allow you to record history...moment by moment, they're little pieces of the puzzle of our lives.



Cristian is an amazing little boy! He is for the most part smiling from the moment he wakes up until the moment he goes to sleep at night. The slightest look will cause him to break out in laughter. He's our silly monkey! Never a dull moment with him in our lives. My heart swells when I think of him...that little boy is something extra special I tell you. How blessed we are to have you in our lives sweet boy...we love you so much! xoxoxox

Happy 1st Birthday, Cristian!

Today is bittersweet for me because I have seen my firstborn child grow by the speed of light right before my very eyes! I sound like a broken record but I just cannot believe a whole year has come and gone. I can remember that wonderful day a year ago when my life changed forever. It was by far the best day of my life (next to my wedding day, which I know is cliche but so very true)!

The day you were born, my sweet baby boy, things were never ever the same. My world had changed for the better and I finally knew what I heard other mom's say about that different kind of love that you have for your child. It's amazing really - one of life's great mysteries - how you spend 10 mths. nurturing this life inside your womb...and then giving birth and instantly having this bond that no words can really quite define. The day you were born was such a wonderfully peaceful day...I prayed and prayed that God would give me the strength and grace to get thru delivery! I was scared out of my mind...but I prayed and prayed and had faith everything would be ok...and just as it has always been in my life, it was. Faith really does carry you thru anything, your Papi and I will teach you that one day when you are old enough to understand. Let me tell you about the day you were born...
On Sept. 16, 2008 I had a Dr. appt. to see how things were coming along and we discovered that you were in the breech position. So we were instructed to head to Piedmont Hospital the next day Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 which just so happened to be your due date. We ended up deciding to get a c-section instead of trying to do an aversion (where the Dr. tries to turn you around by pushing my belly). So on Sept. 17 Papi and I woke up early to get ready to head to the hospital. We were both filled with nervous excitement as we took our showers and got ready to head out. The car was packed and we made arrangements for Nana and Papa David to come check on Scooby while we were away - we told Scooby when we came back we'd have a little brother for him and that life as he knew it would never be the same! Papi fixed his coffee and I straightened up the house a bit (well actually, before we left the house I was in full on nest mode and I had to straighten our closet before we left - which meant I was down on my hands and knees arranging your Papi's shoes on his side of the closet and vaccumming - everything had to be just right for when we brought you home)!! We left the house and drove to your Abuelos house (Papi's parents) to meet Abuela Rosa and Dalma so they could follow us to the hospital. Nana and Papa David were going to meet us at the hospital. The drive to the hospital was nice...it was a wonderful cool morning and I even did the whole mommy-cam where I recorded our drive and did a play by play for you! Your Aunt Kimmie and Mama and Papa Moon (your great-grandparents) called on the way to the hospital to wish us luck and let us know they were thinking of us and couldn't wait to get the news that you were here!! We got to the nurse's station on time (which is something short of a miracle for me as you'll learn when you're older!) and I was so relieved to see one of my mid-wives there! I loved all my mid-wives and having a familiar face there the day I delivered you made me feel much better! We got settled in to our room in Labor & Delivery around 8:30 a.m. Abuela Rosa and Dalma kept me and Papi company as we waited to see the Dr. Papi is a big man and they didn't have any scrubs that fit him so he looked silly in what they gave him! :) A sweet nurse found some that worked a little better, thankfully, b/c your Papi looked like big bird and I was worried you might get scared when you saw him for the first time!! I remember feeling such peace as I was sitting in the hospital room waiting to see the Dr. - I could feel God's presence so strongly that day...it was such a blessing!! It didn't even upset me when your Nana called and was upset b/c her and Papa David got lost and would be late getting to the hospital. We waited as long as we could but we had to get things moving and around 11:00 a.m. or so I had to kiss Papi goodbye and walk to the operating room. Everything went so smoothly and at 12:10 p.m. you were born!!! You came out with no problems and I remember hearing your first cry...tears just flowed down my face and I could hardly speak. I saw you for a brief second before they wisked you away to get you all cleaned up and then they brought you over for me to see and you were so darn cute! I got to kiss you and we took our first family picture! Papi was so excited too...he didn't leave your side for one minute. It was so cute when they were ready to take you to the nursery they asked Papi if he wanted to stay with me or go with you and he practically ran out of the room. :) From that moment you were his little man and he never left your side. Nana and Papa David finally made it to the hospital and just in time to see you being rolled into the nursery. Nana and Abuela Rosa screamed and had tears in their eyes when they first saw you! You were the first grandson on Mami's side of the family and the first granchild on Papi's side...so there was so much to celebrate!!!!! You had many visitors the day you were born...and then of course when we brought you home.
My sweet, sweet boy...so much has happened in your first year...so much that I want to share with you...so much I want to tell you so you can remember all of our special times...but it would take a lifetime to do that. You have brought more love and happiness into our lives in one short year than most people get in a lifetime. We are so in love with you and we thank God for you every single day. We are so proud to be your parents and we're so proud of the wonderful little boy that you are. You are our blessing...we love you more than the stars in the sky. Happy 1st Birthday...we love you so much! God Bless you today and always! Love, Mami & Papi xoxoxoxox

I had a hunch...

Last night - just shy of one week until he turns 1 - Cristian started walking!!!! We are so proud of our little guy...it was such a wonderful sight to behold! He has been cruising (walking holding on to things) for some time now and he's been standing by himself and taking a few steps here and there...but last night he was full fledge walking! We tried to get it on tape...but of course, once the camcorder came out all bets were off. He was tired from all that walking and it was past his bedtime already!

I have been saying by his 1st b.day we'll have a walker...and my little man has proved me right! He's such a blessing...and we adore him more than anything in this world!!

This week is going to be bittersweet...as we prepare for Cristian's 1st b.day! :) We love you baby bubi! xoxoxox

Jesus Storybook Bible

I just learned of this little gem and wanted to share! Next month the new deluxe edition of the Jesus Storybook Bible will be available and I can't wait to get a copy for Cristian!



I learned about it from a fellow Bump Mommy's blog (The Bump is a message board of many wonderful local Moms that I frequent).

Check out the website for yourself to learn more.

http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com/index.php

Enjoy!

Moo-Moo!!

It's official folks - we are off of formula and on to cow's milk for Cristian! He is a few short weeks shy of his 1st b.day so we decided as soon as our last can of formula was used up we'd transition to whole milk. And let's just say our little man didn't skip a beat. He drank his bedtime bottle all up and slept all thru the night as usual. Good times!!!! We are stoked to be off of formula...no more mixing...just pouring straight from the jug! :)

I'm still trying to get a grip on the fact that we've made it thru the 1st year...looking back I can say it was a piece of cake...lol, but then I remember all those sleepless nights...and I'm so proud at what all we've accomplished together...as a family...Jose, Cristian and me! :) We are truly blessed...beyond measure. I'm so very thankful for it all!

Foto Frenzy Friday...JJ & CJ

CRAZY HAIR ALERT...LOL! His Papi loves to comb his hair back after a bath...and this is the end result...can we say Lil Richie?? :)


These are my boys...each of them stole my heart...and I love them more than the moon and the stars in the sky! :)

Picture Catch Up...

I have tons and tons of pics to share...but finding time to upload them has been a challenge. I thought now that we're approaching Cristian's 1st b.day I better get on the ball...so I can have a collage of sorts of how he's grown and changed over the last year by the time his b.day rolls around. I have been digging thru some old files...and here are a few I thought were especially cute! Enjoy my little slice of heaven...otherwise known as Cristian! :)


Cristian's first taste of watermelon...perfect 4th of July fare!



Mami, Cristian and Papi - we all got the memo to wear red!


Cristian's first 4th of July was fun! He wore his red, white and blue proudly. He's so happy he started to eat the flag! LOL



I won this Baby Be Blessed Lamb for Cristian...and he loves it!! They are so adorable and so hard to get your hands on b/c they're in such demand. Check out their website - www.babybeblessed.blogspot.com



This was one of Cristian's Father's Day gifts for his Papi...and Papi LOVED it!!


Flying Superman...up, up and away!!


Thank you Titi Lilly & Tio Guelo...I love my very first Superman PJ's!! :)


In my carseat being a good boy!


My 4th of July stud muffin!


Talk about a cutie pie...I could just eat him up I swear!! :)



Cristian and Mami...being silly!


Superman is outta here!! Beep...Beep!


Riding along in my automobile!



What's happenin hot stuff!? lol

11 wonderful months...

Our little cutie...check out those curls! For some reason the left side was a ball of curls and the right side was all slicked back...lol - the curls have a mind of their own as you can see!



Sometimes the curls are unruly...too cute! Jose and I refer to it lovingly as "crazy hair" :)



Our beautiful, big, blessed baby boy!!



One more month...and then pics with monthly signs will be a thing of the past!




How can this be? My little boy is less than a month away from his 1 year old birthday!? WOW - I cannot phathom that my little bundle of joy is soon entering the toddler world. This year has zipped by. Jose and I have learned a lot over these past 11 months...Cristian is the light of our lives...and has really transformed us in wonderful ways...he's a miracle and soon we'll be celebrating his 1st year with family and friends...and we can't wait!