"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