So it has been a while

I always come on here to see if any of my friends have update their blogs. Then I look at the picture and realize-wow my baby is almost 13 weeks. As a matter of fact she is almost 3 months old.

So this is a little of what is going on. I am in school and half way done. So far out of 2 terms I am holding strong to my 4.0. I would like to think it my competitive nature, but there is a scholarship they give to outstanding students that I cross my fingers I can get. So I probably stress myself out more that I should, but I still love the adventure and right now am trying to find an extership and may be able to find one that pays!! I am glad it is almost done so my girls don't have a stressed out studying for test mom. I can also get back to hanging out with my friends.

Afton and Isabel are doing preschool that some ladies and I in the apartment complex do together. The girls are loving it, at the same time it isn't always fun trying to get them wrangled back in to listen. They do get to make fun things and love showing their daddy when he gets home from work.

Eleanor is growing so fast and it feels like I just had her. I know I did, but I really cannot believe we are coming on 3 months. She babbles a lot to talk to us. She recently was watched by my friend Michelle and her husband so Mauricio and I could go out for our anniversary alone. I was grateful she would take on the task of being the first non family member to take her. I told Mauricio-this is the first time we left her with a non family member, and honestly probably the longest she has been without one of us. I wasn't nervous at all, because Michelle and Dan have done this just as many times as us and they are both great parent with super kids.

I love our little family and love that I have 3 little girls who are amazing in their own ways. I love this kisses the snuggles and the smiles. Thank you Heavenly Father for the super girls you have given us. Thank you for our great little family.

Eleanor Gabriella

Yay our new little girl is here and we love her. She was born on the 25th of August 2010. She was 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19.5 inches long. She has been so amazing and beautiful. We thank Heavenly Father every day for bringing her to our family.

Little pink things

Tomorrow I bring another life into this world. Wow, isn't it amazing. While I am scared to death-I am so excited. I started washing all the clothes and just loved seeing all the little pink clothing we have picked up from already having two girls. I love baby girls, but I am biased in that fact.

Amongst the things being washed was a little dress I bought for Afton. Before she was even born I bought her the cutest little pink ruffle teared dress from GAP. Every time I see that dress it brings me back to when Afton was in the hospital. It was my favorite dress and I was so sad she never wore it. Then I had Izzy and thought-yes, the dress will be worn. I think she may have worn it once. For how cute it is, well it needs to be shown off more than that. So this time around it will be shown off. However, that is what I said last time.

So my bag is packed and I am ready to go-well at least I think I am. With Izzy I was worried I would never love a child like I loved my first. Well Izzy of course blew that theory out of the water. So this time around I look at my two beautiful amazing girls who lighten my every morning with their smiles and it makes me so excited we are adding on to this family with another little girl to brighten my morning. How did we get so lucky? I guess Heavenly Father just loves me so much. I am thankful to him and all the wonderful blessings he has given Mauricio and I by giving us the greatest gifts of all of life. I am loved and blessed by my girls and am so excited to meet our little Eleanor tomorrow.

Being A Mom

I know I post one of my own, but man this hit home when I read it. Warning-very emotional!!

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family."
"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking.
"Do you think I should have a baby?"
"It will change your life," I say, carefully
keeping my tone neutral.
"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on
weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and
stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day
decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children,issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that
restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she
will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to
play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the
belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it
actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

Author Unknown

Idaho

We went to visit an old family friend a while back ago. Mauricio asked where the best fireworks show was around here. They told him that Idaho Falls has the best show in the west. Since our experience last year didn't add up to much-don't ever go to the Oakland temple to watch fireworks. You will see nothing!!!

So yesterday we packed up and headed to Idaho. We wanted to go to the famous Big Judds. Everyone in Idaho knows about this place. It was recently made famous by being on Man vs. Food. Well we got all the way to Archer, ID and it was closed for the 4th-which was being celebrated on the 3rd. Way to keep the sabbath day holy Idaho and Utah. So that put a damper on our trip. We decided to head to Rexburg. We ate at Craigos Pizza instead. It was nice-they were having a buffet. That and they serve apple beer there-yummy. Then we went and took a look at the Rexburg temple. Oh after a stop to Wal Mart. Poor Afton got car sick. We had an extra shirt, we just needed some new shorts and panties.

Well we headed back to Idaho Falls for the fireworks. We got there about 4:15-they had not closed off the road yet. So we got parking and a great spot. We had about a 6 hour wait. We did some walking around. I ran into a friend from California and talked for a little while. Took turns taking each of the girls for a walk. It was a long wait and by the time it came the girls were very excited, but at the same time very tired.

If you have never been to these fireworks think finale of any fireworks show and about 30 minutes. Yes it looks like the finale of a fireworks show going for 30 minutes-could have even been 45. It was amazing. Izzy came to me expressing she wanted to go to bed and Afton was asleep in my arms. So we packed up and tried to get out early. Ha-there is no getting out early of that place. A few minor bumps in the road and we were off to home at midnight. Long tiring drive. I tried to stay awake. I kept falling asleep for about 10-15 minutes here or there. I knew Mauricio was tired. Would try to talk to him. Well we made it home a little past 3 and went to bed. Home sweet home. Short trip-lots of fun-glad to be home!! Next time we will have to stay a night or two.

Back to School

This week I start back to school. It has been crazy and scary to think about it. Considering the last time I went to school was about 6 years ago. However, I am excited and hopeful and it has been something I have had a huge desire to do.

I think the scariest part for me is the fact that I am having a baby in about 11 weeks. Yes, that is right-11 weeks. Mauricio has wanted me to go to school I think more than anybody. So he is totally invested in this and making sure I have no worries when it comes to our girls. It will be night classes four days a week. So I will get to stay home and study Friday-Sunday.

Well wish me luck. I am hoping and praying that i have not lost my skills of studying. Afton has been a little jealous. She keeps telling me-no, I want to go to school. Haha-she is ready.

Durango Colorado

So Mauricio was asked by work to go to Colorado for a few days. I told him how I was going to make Mexican food the whole time he was gone. He was going to drive. I took him to the airport to pick up a rental. So I guess they have a rule if you live in the state you are trying to rent from, if you live here you have to pay them anywhere between $250-$400 and go through a credit check and jump through all sorts of hoops just to take the car. Weird, didn't we just rent a car last month and not even have this problem!?!-hmmm

Anyhow on the drive home he let me know he needed the car and I freaked out a little-no car for 3 days, I didn't know if I could do it. So we came home and I packed for me and the girls in 30 mins and we were off to Colorado.

Other than the rental incident it was a pretty good trip. The girls were amazing on the way there, just sitting back and watching their movies. We got there at 11pm. The girls were out by then. So the next morning we dropped Mauricio off at the hospital where he was suppose to go learn some things from these people. Turns out it seemed he was more there to teach them-haha. So the girls and I found a few parks and went swimming in the hotel pool. Their two favorite parts of staying in the hotel-the unheated pool and the breakfast in the morning. For some reason this was the highlight of Afton's stay-that breakfast.

So all in all it was a fun time. We were in Durango, CO. It is a little tourist town right outside of New Mexico. It is a great place and we actually had a great time. So if you are in the area stop by. Great little down town shops and some river rafting.

So it has been a while

I am deciding to blog because it has been a while and also I took a pic of the baby bump!! It is just starting to show. I am 22 weeks and we still don't know what we are having, but should here soon in about 2 weeks. The girls are beautiful as always. As always they can also be a challenge, but I love them still the same. We are still loving it here in Utah and looking forward to the better weather to be able to get out more. Afton is more excited about the swimming pool than anything. Well that is about all I have for now. Hope to have more in the near future.

Motherhood

At night when the girls are asleep I pick up toys and tiny little clothes and shoes. When did this all happen!?! Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a mother. I wanted children of my own. However sometimes I still get wake up calls after being a mother of 4 years-I am a mom. Sometimes it doesn't dawn on me until I am picking up these little tiny things. I have done it, I am where I have always wanted to be.

I have always watched basketball and thought-wow these people are getting paid to do something that the love. Then I wonder how many people in life actually do what they love and how many people do what they do so they can get a pay check. Obviously motherhood does not give you a pay check. Most of the great things you do go unnoticed. Yet for some reason I love my job. It is the job I always wanted growing up and I am doing it!! I LOVE my job.

I don't know when we really started teaching the girls about saying thank you, but I guess you can say it sunk it well. One night as we were having dinner that Mauricio made Afton said-thanks for dinner daddy, which then Isabel says-thanks for dinner daddy. So then Mauricio gets them water, again Afton-thanks for the water daddy, Isabel-thanks for the water daddy. This goes on with the spoons, the napkins, everything Mauricio does-thanks daddy. I just laughed and Mauricio says-hey we are teaching them right. This happens all day-we have very thankful children:)!

I went to a Relief Society activity tonight and it was full of amazing women singing some amazing songs. One was a song about a mother. I wish I knew all the words, but it talks about all the things she does for her family and how she is not like the women on TV and she doesn't donate hundreds of dollars to charity's, but how much she does and how it doesn't go unnoticed.

Sorry this is a lot of random things, but it also makes me think of my mother. I was talking to my sister about how we had to drive the family van around in high school. How embarrassing right?? However to think back my mother rode her bike to work and let me have the car. Will I be that mom that gives up her car so my kids can drive to school when they could very well take a bus or ride a bike themselves? I just don't know. It is funny the things you don't notice about your mother until you are older. Man I don't look forward to raising teenagers!! Thanks mom.

So for all you amazing mothers out there-Rock On. Know your work doesn't go unnoticed. Heavenly Father sees all you do and he blesses you. Hopefully with kids who chose the right-haha. I love motherhood and look forward to all it holds. I mean if I am willing to keep going through this sickness to have kids-I must love it.

The Honest Scrapbook

So I apparently have been tagged by a friend to write 10 confessions about myself. I will do this and see if I even have 10!! Then I will tag 4 of you!!

1. I go through fazes with my look. I don't really care what others think. I should care what my husband thinks, but I feel bad sometimes to what he comes home to. Growing up I wanted to get to a point where I didn't care if I wore make-up. Well I think I have gotten to comfortable with that, if you happen to see me with make-up on we must be at church.

2. My girls, even though I want to give them away sometimes, at the end of the day I miss them when I put them to bed. However, I do love my alone times too, but still miss them at bed time. I guess that is their sweetest time. I say all this as I watch them get water all over my bathroom floor.

3. I wish that I finished school. I go through fazes where I want to do this and then I want to do that, sometimes it frustrates Mauricio. I can't decide what I want to be when I grow up. I am really sad I never finished, but I still intend to.

4. My poor mother did everything for the wedding. I don't really know if I chose anything, but what my cake looked like. I also don't know if I ever told her how amazing it all looked. She should be a wedding planner!!

5. I don't know how many know this, but I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. I feel this may have something to do with the fact that I didn't finish school, but it has always been my dream and I LOVE it and I love that my husband has made it so I can.

6. Since people are still surprised by this: I met Mauricio on-line. I don't know how many of you know also that my roommate, at the time I met him, grew up with him.

7. I cry when I watch Biggest Loser. It is always when they show the contestants who have gone home. I cry when they have gone home and still lost weight. I chant-please, please to myself-in hopes that they kept it up. So I cry when they do-like I am proud of them because they are my best friends-haha.

8. I am not a secretive person when it comes to my life. I usually tell people everything. Whenever I find out I am pregnant I cannot keep it in. I tell everyone the minute I find out. I have thought of doing something fun every time, but I can't keep it in!!

9. I snore and I am worse when I am pregnant. I went to a ENT doctor and he wants to do surgery on my septum, but I got pregnant. So here I am-snoring all the time.

10. I have a treadmill and I never use it. I have had this thing about 3 years and I have used it 5 times. Mauricio is complaining about it now because I brought it up-haha.

So now it is your turn, Anupa, Jillian, April, and Carolyn. Have fun ladies!!

New Years Resolution

So every year we all make one. Mine of course every year is losing weight. Why do we decided at the beginning of each year this one will be different? I do not know. So that is what mine started out as again this year. However as you all know we were blessed to have another addition to the family on the way-so I put the resolution out of my mind.

So three weeks ago, after once again biting my nails to the point of pain I decided this would be my resolution. So it has now been three weeks. I should have taken a picture of my nubs. It was pretty painful. So how do you take a bad habit that you have had all your life and get rid of it just like that. I just don't know, but I do know it has been 3 weeks and my nails already look like semi presentable nails. I think in another two weeks I might go get a manicure just to celebrate the fact that I have done this and done so well. I have been filing them and painting them with clear polish in the mean time. So we shall see-is it weird this is exciting to me-haha!?!

So back to weight loss. I had to ditch my workout efforts this week only because I have gotten too sick. It angers me really that unless I am sitting there eating 24/7 I get sick. I am so sick of food and that makes me not even want to eat anything when this is all over, I just want to sit and not eat. Give me a break from the food. I went out today-I was gone maybe 2 hours and I took a roll and a pear and that didn't bode well for my stomach. By the time I got home my body was begging for food and as most of you know-if you go to long without it while being pregnant you lose the want to even eat. Then knowing it will make you feel better you do it anyway. Aaaaahhh-It is 6:45 and I just want to go to bed so I don't have to eat-haha. Oh make this first trimester go faster PLEASE!! Oh and by the way-my nurse gave me this half an ambian(sp?) B6 concoction-trust me it does not work!! I am still SICK.

Max and Ruby-Questionable Watching Material?

You tell me. First off if you have ever seen this show you know it is weird. Two kids (rabbits) living alone, hang out with g-ma at times, but for the most part on their own. It is pretty annoying, but Afton loves it. If you have never seen it-consider yourself lucky!!

So there is a episode of Max and Ruby where Max, Ruby and Grandma go to the store to buy Max a new suit. So Ruby is getting Max to try on all these suits and Max continues to say-NO NEW SUIT! So Ruby decides to tell Max the story about the King and his new suit. Well in the end Max comes out of the dressing room completely nude-I know he is a rabbit so what ever-and says, NEW SUIT!! Grandma gets a good laugh out of it.

So here is the thing. I have now had Afton twice get completely naked, luckily inside our house, and tell me-NEW SUIT! So basically this program has now taught her to get completely naked. It is pretty funny, but a little crazy, because we have had people over every time it has happened. Now if we are ever watching TV and that episode comes on the TV goes off!! Keep your clothes on baby!!

Pregnant!!

Yes for those of you who are not on Facebook, I wanted to let you all know that I am about 5 weeks pregnant. We are very excited and hoping for a boy, but picking out girl names just in case. I love Gabriella, but we are thinking Abigal. Don't worry about the boy name that has been picked since before we were married-traditions. So that is our big news for this month.

My 34th birthday is upon me. My birthday is Thursday and my friends are taking me out. So I am excited and hope to have a great time!! Above are my old preggo pics. The yellow shirt is with Afton the other Isabel.